Chapter 11: Truth — Volume 1 finale
Yang knew something was up the moment she opened the dorm room's door. Weiss and Blake were standing in the middle of their room, with Ilia sitting in her bunk.
"Yang. We need to talk." Blake stated.
Yang couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "About what?" She asked.
"This." Yang tensed as Weiss walked forward on stiff legs with her Scroll in her hand. She wanted to look away, to ignore what her partner's Scroll displayed.
"What are you talking about. I don't see a problem." She lied.
"You don't see a problem?" Blake asked. "You don't see a problem with your "missing" sister looking exactly like Red?" Yang flinched and refused to meet either teammate's gaze.
"Is this why you've been sulking?" Weiss asked.
"How did you-" Yang was cut off by Blake.
"Yang. We're not stupid. We saw that news broadcast. They talked about you in it!" Golden eyes hardened.
Yang looked at the ground. "I've been in denial about it these last few days. Oh screw that, these last few months. I've seen glimpses of her everywhere — but its hard to find out your little sister has spent the last three years slaughtering people and robbing Vale blind alongside a crime lord and his assistant." Her voice turned bitter. "But I'm sure none of you would understand that pain."
"You're saying you've seen her?" Weiss asked.
Yang could only nod. "Yeah... I saw her the night I fought Torchwick. He had a dog with him, and she called it to her. I swear I saw her on that bullhead as well. But the first time was actually at a club. She was with Torchwick and the other chick alongside a few others. I tried to get to her — I'm sure she saw me." She sighed.
"You never reported this to the police?" Ilia asked.
Yang clenched her jaw, a spark of rage flickering in her chest. To her teammates, the blonde's eyes flickered red for a heartbeat. "She's my sister. Criminal or not." The brawler stated, forcing her tone to be even.
For a moment, Blake looked at the ground — and the motion was only caught by Yang.
"Your sister is a mass murderer and thief." Weiss stated. Yang's eyes met Weiss's.
"She's fifteen. Do you know how old Ruby was when she ran away? Nine years old. I'm dead sure she was forced into this life. I have to save her from Torchwick." Yang growled.
Weiss's hard glare softened a hair.
"Weiss. You can't tell me you'd punish a child for something she doesn't know is wrong." Yang pressed.
Weiss remained silent for a moment before speaking again. "I might not, but that doesn't mean the police wouldn't do the same." She admitted.
"I know she's in Vale, I can just tell. I just need to find her and bring her back home to safety." Yang said.
"And what if she doesn't want to go home?" Blake asked softly.
Yang's chin lowered a fraction. "She's probably been brainwashed. We can reverse it, I'm sure of it." She said.
"Yang. Are you planning on looking for her?" Ilia asked.
Yang turned to the girl, determination filling her. "Yes."
Blake was quiet, and Ilia spoke up.
"How do you plan to find her?"
I'm... not really sure." Yang admitted. "I've just been tracking down places she's been spotted at and seeing if there's any decent clues."
"Well its been established that Red works with the White Fang. So perhaps she and Torchwick would be where they are." Blake said.
Yang turned to the team leader, hope flashing in her eyes "You guys would... help me?" She asked, hesitation filling her voice.
"Blake, Yang. You can't be serious about finding a wanted criminal." Weiss stated.
"Weiss. She's my sister. I just want her back." Yang turned on the heiress. "I'm going to get her back — with or without your help." She told her.
Weiss sighed. "I just want to be the voice of reason. Whatever you're scheming is probably dangerous, stupid, and or highly illegal." She responded.
"I think we knew that already." Ilia piped up.
"But," Weiss continued "I'll support you as your partner and teammate. Even if this is insanity." She finished.
"Weiss! Thank you!" Yang rushed at the snowy haired heiress and hugged her.
Weiss shook her head in clear amusement "We're all getting expelled for this." She smiled.
Ruby sat in the airship, Drei sitting next to her leg with his head in her lap. Silver eyes glanced away from gold to look at her hip that usually held her weapon. She sighed, right hand curling at her side and grasping at the nonexistent handle of Dark Glory. They had been unable to recover it, and it was too risky to look for her weapon.
A sigh slipped from her lips, and Immediately was echoed by her canine companion. Her left hand reached up to rub behind one of Drei's ears, the doberman leaning into the affection.
"Red." Footsteps clanked on the airship's floor, followed by the sound of Roman's cane. Ruby looked up to meet his green gaze. "You're not allowed to leave the airship." He stated.
Her mouth gaped open "Roman, but-"
"But your unarmed, Red. If shit hits the fan, you won't be able to fight." He stated.
"I have my semblance. And I'm good at hand to hand!" Ruby protested "That's why you trained me in it!"
"You can dodge bullets, sure. But what if we're faced by huntsmen? You can't fight huntsmen, kid. You'll get killed." Roman reached in his coat to take out a cigar before lighting it.
"What? This is such bullshit!" Ruby exclaimed.
"Language." Roman chided around the cigar.
"You're letting Drei off the ship even if there's a threat of huntsmen, and you say just because I don't have Dark Glory that I can't? Drei's a damn dog!" Ruby argued, said dog yawned before rumbling in irritation at the red cloaked girl.
"Yes, and you know what Drei has that you don't? Anonymity. Nobody expects a dog to be able to fight off police officers. You, on the other hand, have your face plastered all over Vale!" Roman countered. "Not to mention he has a job — sniff out any traps!" He added.
Ruby slouched in her seat. "Fine." She growled.
"Look sharp, Red. We're here." Roman announced as the airship shuddered and moved downwards. "Drei, to me." He commanded. The doberman planted his front paws on the seat next to Ruby and leaned forward to lick her cheek before joining Roman.
"You're sure this is likely?" Yang asked after the Dust had been unloaded.
"I'm sure." Weiss affirmed. "I know the SCD usually brings lots of Dust shipments around Vytal Festival time, so its likely there'll be a shipment tonight." She stated. Team Basil fell into silence again, watching the docks.
"Yang..." Ilia asked "What if they don't come?"
Yang turned to her, "We'll keep looking. We'll wait for Ruby to accompany Torchwick and the White Fang. Then we capture Torchwick and bring Ruby back with us." She said.
"But what if they never come? The White Fang would never need this much Dust." Blake said, her partner gave her a strange look.
"We don't know what their motives are. That's all the reason more to find them." Yang punched a fist into her palm.
All four of their attentions were drawn to an airship's lights sweeping the docks before it landed in a space.
"Well ladies, its showtime." Yang engaged Ember Celica and started to rise from her crouch when Blake grabbed her forearm with shocking strength.
"Yang. Wait." The team leader's voice was hard. "We shouldn't rush in blindly. We don't know what to expect."
Yang lowered herself again slowly. "Ugh I hate it when your right." She sighed but kept her weapons ready, noting how the rest of team Basil 's hands drifted to their own weapons handles.
White Fang members walked out of the airship, and Blake's eyes narrowed. Ilia gripped her partner's hand as the White Fang started preparing to load up the Dust crates.
Then, a doberman trotted down from the ramp. "She's here." Yang breathed, trying to rise again only for Blake's hand to shoot out and grab her wrist again. "Blake, let go! That's the same dog that Ruby called to her! Ruby is here, I knew it!" She exclaimed, breaking free from Blake's grip and standing up.
Then, her blood boiled as a familiar man in a white coat strolled down the ramp. "Hurry it up! We're not exactly the most inconspicuous bunch of thieves!" He called. "Drei, sweep." He commanded. The dog turned to Torchwick and barked once before trotting around the containers.
"Torchwick..." Yang growled, feeling her semblance partially activate.
"Yang, wait!" Weiss and Blake reached for her again, but Yang took a running leap from the building.
As she was falling, the doberman turned around and barked at her.
"Shit!" Torchwick yelled. "Not you again!" He raised his cane as Yang ran at him.
"You!" Was all Yang could yell as she charged. Torchwick blocked her punch and leaned out of the way of a kick. "You bastard! Tell me where my fucking sister is!" She swung a haymaker his way that he ducked under before leaping backward before firing his cane gun that Yang fired a bullet from Ember Celica to intercept it. She dove through the smoke of the explosion with a scream. Torchwick met her with his cane aimed squarely at her chest, his other hand held up to his lips with his thumb and index finger in his mouth.
A whistle pierced the air, and Yang heard Blake yell her name. She turned around to see the doberman run her way. Yang jumped over the dog's leap and closed her eyes before landing a punch to its side. A yelp filled the air as the doberman flew away from her.
Green eyes hardened "You want to know where your sister is?" Torchwick asked, blocking Yang's series of strikes. "Well if I were you I wouldn't have done that to Drei." He said. Yang looked over his shoulder and in the darkness of the ship she could see a pair of silver eyes.
"Ruby?" Yang gasped and ducked under a shot fired by Torchwick before springing up and slamming her head into his jaw. A weight slammed into her side as teeth latched onto Yang's shoulder. Savage growling filled her air. Yang cried out in pain and swung around to throw the doberman off of her. The dog tumbled to the ground with a yelp.
All of a sudden, the silver eyes watching Yang narrowed before they vanished and a red blur streaked out from the ship. Torchwick stumbled to the side and Yang was forced flying back into a crate. She was met with furious silver eyes. "Drei, transport." Ruby yelled.
"Ru - RED!" Torchwick yelled "What are you doing?!"
Yang grabbed Ruby by the arms, but her sister reared her head back before slamming it into Yang's.
"Ruby? What are you doing?!" Yang demanded as Ruby's silver eyes reflected her face in them. Suddenly her sister had grabbed her around her waist and the world flashed red. When her vision cleared, petals floated around the two of them. Ruby's hands were around her throat. They weren't choking her, but Yang knew that her sister was silently threatening it.
"I'm giving you your one chance. Retreat your team and stop looking for me now." Ruby growled.
"What? Ruby, what's going on? We're here to save you from Torchwick!" Yang exclaimed.
"Save me? Save me?" Her sister threw her head back with a bitter laugh. "If anything I'm the one saving you. I got you away before Neo could get to you. She would have slit your throat the moment you touched Drei. I told her to stand down, and she's mad." She informed her.
"What? Neo?" Yang asked.
"Neo. Neopolitan. She's Roman's right hand. If you thought I'm bad, you haven't seen what Neo can do." Ruby explained.
"Ruby, they kidnapped you!" Yang rose with a surge of strength and flipped their positions, restraining Ruby against the Dust container.
"No. I went with them willingly." Ruby said evenly, not even struggling. Yang's eyes widened in shock.
"What?" Was all she could say. Above the sisters, two more airships flew through the sky towards the main group.
"Yang. I ran away, and Roman and Neo took me in. They trained me up and gave me a life and purpose in life." Ruby told her.
No... was the only thought that Yang heard.
"Stop this, Yang. This is your only warning. I've made my choice six years ago." Ruby said. "Do you honestly think I'm as stupid to believe I'll be welcome home? I'll be arrested on sight and probably executed." Silver eyes were full of unreadable emotions. "Stop coming after me. If I see you again, I won't show you mercy. Goodbye, Yang." Yang didn't realize her grip had loosened. Ruby lifted her hand up and pushed hard against her chest. The blonde stumbled backwards and in a streak of red, Ruby was gone. Yang realized her forearm was wet, and she saw droplets of wetness on it. Hesitantly, she put a finger to the liquid and tasted it. It was salty. Ruby had been crying.
Her vision was blurry, and Yang slumped down as tears dripped down her cheeks.
Ruby wiped her tears away on her cheeks as she saw Roman retreat to the ship.
She entered it to see Drei laying on his belly while Neo stroked his head.
"Is he alright?" Was her first words. Neo's gaze was hard in anger, and suddenly Ruby felt a hand clap her shoulder. "Roman..." Ruby turned around to meet furious green eyes as the airship roared and moved.
"You're in so. Much. Trouble. When we get home." Was all Roman said.
Ruby gulped.
Team BSIL sat in their dorm, a heavy silence filled the room. Yang's eyes were red from crying. Weiss was staring at the floor. Ilia was sitting with her back pressed hard against her bed's headboard. Blake was silently holding a black ribbon in her hand and looking anywhere but Weiss's direction.
"You're both faunus?" Yang said at last, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Yes." Blake's voice was stiff, golden eyes meeting Yang's.
"And White Fang?" Yang asked.
Blake and Ilia nodded. "We've left though." Ilia said and Yang gasped softly as the girl's skin shifted to green with her hair turning blue.
Across the room Weiss had glanced up at Yang's gasp, only to flinch when she saw Ilia's skin change colors.
"How can we trust you? How do we know you won't murder us in your sleep?" Weiss demanded, yet her voice shook.
Blake's ears folded downward. Yang turned to her partner.
"Weiss. They would have already if they wanted to." She said, and grimaced as she recalled Ruby's words to her.
If I see you again, I won't show you mercy. She had promised.
"We left for a reason." Blake murmured. Yang and Weiss turned to the cat faunus and listened as she told them how she came to join the White Fang.
"And you?" Weiss turned to Ilia, who froze and her skin turned pale in a way that had nothing to do with her faunus trait.
"You'd hate me. You already do, Weiss." Ilia murmured, evading looking at the heiress. "But I guess I should share my reasons as well." Ilia launched into her own story, Weiss's eyes widening when she heard about the Dust mine accident.
"Illia, I-" Weiss began.
"Don't." The chameleon faunus said harshly, before her skin flickered green and blue again. "I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped." She looked at her hands before they curled into fists.
Yang sighed and crawled into her bed. "I'm going to bed." She muttered. "You guys do whatever the hell you want, but I've had enough for today." She told them. Her teammates gave general murmurs of agreement, and soon the lights went out in Team BSIL's room.
"Ruby, I'm disappointed in you." Roman said. Ruby hung her head as she sat on the couch. Drei was sitting near the television, and the girl could practically sense how upset the doberman was at her.
"You went against my word. I told you to stay put — and you go running off to see your sister!" Roman's hand gripped Melodic Cudgel. "Why do you have to make everything so damn difficult? What did you say to your sister? What did you tell her?" He demanded, whirling on her. "Did you rat us out?" Suddenly Ruby froze like a statue as the barrel of Melodic Cudgel was half a foot away from her nose.
"I..." Ruby felt her throat close up, refusing to let her speak.
"Red, you might have fucked up our whole operation! Give me a good reason not to splatter your brains!" He yelled. Suddenly his cane vanished and Neo stood before Roman with her back to Ruby. "Neo! What are you doing?" Roman growled. Ruby didn't see what Neo signed to him. "You remember our damn promise? For all we know Ruby told Yang where we live and god knows what else!" Once again Neo was signing to him.
"Ro - Roman. I didn't betray you. I told Yang to stay out of my business. I made it clear I'll kill her if we cross paths again." Ruby finally spoke up. Roman's fury seemed to die down as Neo stepped away from him after signing a few more things to him.
"How do I know your not lying?" Roman challenged.
"I had every chance to desert you tonight. Yet I didn't. I swore my loyalty to you, Roman. And only you." Ruby told him.
Roman sighed at last. "I was scared we would lose you, Ruby." He admitted, his tone and posture losing all their prior aggression. "We almost lost you once, kid. We don't want it to happen again." He said and walked towards Ruby with opened arms. Ruby used her semblance to slam into his embrace, rose petals drifting to the ground behind her.
"I promise you'll never lose me, Roman." Ruby buried her face into the criminal's chest. "I'll never leave you." She swore.
"I believe you, Ruby." Roman hugged her back. A pair of slender arms wrapped around the two as Neo joined the embrace, and Roman felt a pair of paws land on his forearm as Drei licked Ruby's cheek.
A/N: A little bit of love to end a chapter and volume. If you want to you can send suggestions for ideas that lead up to No Brakes — because I'm not entirely sure what I'll end up doing for those events, except I know for sure what happens during No Brakes.
Feedback is always appreciated, and thank you all for your immense support in the story! I wouldn't have had as much motivation to write without you guys!
Much love,
Guardian