"Where am I?" Yang asked looking around the environment. A large, dark and scary room surrounded her. Concrete flooring had craters…like something large had crashed in several places. Broken wooden tables and benches were scattered around.
Yang began exploring, "What is this place?" Then it hit her - the Cafeteria. Metal silverware, plates and dishes were stabbed everywhere. War had raged here. Windows were completely shattered and weapons lay everywhere.
Yang gagged as the stench of blood suddenly filled her nostrils. "…THE HELL?" she coughed. "Is that," Yang began, turning to find a figure lying on the ground across the room, "…blood?" The cafeteria was dimly lit. The object on the ground could be anything. Yang knew better from the reverb snaking down her spine.
"That can't be a body," Yang whimpered. She approached the figure, shaking more and more with each step. Yang looked away when she got close enough to realize a body lay in front of her. The body looked like it had been beaten to death. "Oh, god, no…," Yang, gasped examining closer. The body had a familiar white dress in tatters…
"WEISS," Yang screamed in terror turning the body to reveal her deceased teammate. Yang jumped back like a cat. "T-this has to be a dream," Yang cried as her sanity depleted. She walked backwards, keeping her gaze on Weiss's body and tripped. She hit her head putting her in a daze. Yang shook her head, vision clearing and focused on the source of her trip. Yang screamed at the sight of another body in-front of her.
A black bow lay to the side of the body, exposing cat. Long wavy black hair covered the young Faunus's face.
"B-b…," Yang choked. Another teammate lay dead in front of her. Yang cried out as she pushed Blake's hair off her face. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you," Yang sobbed as she closed Blake's eyes. Just like Weiss, beaten to death. Hopefully Blake didn't suffer long.
Yang played with Blake's smooth hair, praying she'd wake up. A horrible thought suddenly stabbed into her head…where's Ruby? Yang looked around in a panic. More bodies appeared and surrounded her.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING?" Yang screamed out in fear at the bodies. She was able to identify Jaune, Nora, Ren and Pyrrha among the many dead. Yang began shaking even worse seeing members of team CRDL and CFVY. All the bodies the same were the same - they were beaten, crushed and…SMASHED? "RUBY," Yang screamed into the air, "WHERE ARE YOU?"
Yang felt a huge thump behind her. She panted frantically turning slowly to face whatever. Her eyes shot wide open when she saw the horrible image.
Ruby's head was in the grasp of a huge monster. The creature's hand was able to hold her head fully in its palm. It began to squeezing, making Ruby groan.
"LET HER GO," Yang screamed. Her eyes exploded red like wild fire.
The creature looked up, spotting new prey. The monster looked back to Ruby and tossed her body to the side. It began to growl as it walked toward its newest victim. Each footstep made the ground shake.
"I'LL KILL YOU," Yang screamed in a blood rage. She felt something wrap around her arms - Ember Celica. Yang had no time to question how she suddenly got her weapons. She could only take action. Yang cocked back her arms and unloaded everything she had in a fury. Shells flew everywhere as the monster stopped it in its tracks.
Clicks were heard coming from Yang's gauntlets, "Damn." She looked down to find she was completely out of ammo. The creature suddenly jumped in her face. Its eyes were red with no emotion. Fangs barred as long as Yang's head, reading to devour her whole.
"SMASH," it roared slamming down on Yang. Everything went pitch black.
"RUBY," Yang screamed at the top of her lungs as she sat up. Her eyes were fully widened as she panted like crazy, the monster still fresh in her thoughts. "What, where, when?" she asked looking around, beginning to calm down. She was in some sort of bed, like the ones that were in hospitals. To her side, there was some sort of medical equipment. It supplied medicine through the needles in her forearm. Yang closed her eyes and took in deep shaky breaths, "It was just a dream." But it felt so real. Could it have been a nightmare? "Maybe…" Yang questioned, "…a vision?"
"Bad dream?" Yang heard from across the room. She looked to find a man sitting in a chair watching her. His glasses had a glare on them from the sunlight coming from the window. His attire consisted of a white buttoned up shirt and purple jeans.
"Dad?" Yang asked. The medicine began taking effect. She felt her eyelids begin to slip.
"He…Tai couldn't make it," the man responded. "He wishes he could have. Grimm invaded in villages near Signal. Airports to Vale were closed and too many people needed help."
Yang began to ask, "Then, who are…wait." She realized this man's voice was familiar and began to fill with doubt, "Get out."
Banner tried to explain, "Yang, I didn't mean to…"
"I said," Yang interrupted. She took a deep breath, "GET OUT!"
Banner stood still and looked at the beaten Yang, "I'm so sorry for what I've done to you. I didn't…"
"Don't," Yang yelled. "I don't need your pity. Banner," she sighed, "You don't realize how much of an impact these losses have had on me, Bruce. You have broken me, mentally and physically more than I ever thought possible. You made me push myself to a new limit that almost burned out my body completely. You have almost taken me and my team's lives multiple times! Just leave and don't ever come back. I don't want you near Ruby or my team again."
"Yang…" Banner said heartbroken. He walked over and stood over Yang who was on the verge on crying. "Do you know much it tears me up knowing what I have done?"
"No, because you don't care," Yang snapped back, fighting off her sleepiness with rage. "I hate you, Banner! I know you mean well, but you do more harm than you could ever make up. Now leave!"
"You're right," Banner admitted. "I have done so much harm, it seems impossible for me to redeem myself. But please, Yang…let me try," Banner said, asking for forgiveness.
"BANNER," Yang screamed at him, "everyone has given you second chances! Ozpin, Ironwood, Glynda, Weiss, Blake…Ruby. The list could go on and on! And it turns out the same every single time. You turn around and stab everyone in the back. But no, you're the good guy. Banner always gets a pass because everyone is too scared to confront the Hulk."
"How dare you," Banner yelled at Yang. He held out his arm in front of her. His veins began popping out and turning green.
"What are you doing?" Yang yelled out in fear. Was Banner really going to turn here and endanger everyone in the area?
"Showing you, I'VE CHANGED," Banner yelled in pain as his arm began the transformation. His fingers broke and expanded and grew. His arm gained more muscle and morphed into a forest green. Finally the metamorphosis stopped. Banner panted hard as he fought back the anger, the Hulk.
"What the hell?" Yang asked in disbelief.
"He is tired, no…" Banner sighed, "WE are tired of hurting innocent people. I just want to be a member of society and he…he wants to be left alone." Banner's hulked out hand made a fist, and slowly began to shrink.
"Y-you can control him?" Yang asked. "For how long…"
"I'm not controlling him," Banner admitted. "It's more like an agreement. No one hurts him…I have more control. More than usual anyway…"
"Then you're still dangerous?" Yang assumed.
"You know, Yang," Banner stated, "you could have actually beaten me a couple of times, if you hadn't relied on your semblance," Banner told her.
"You don't even have a semblance or an aura! You were handed his power and never needed to work for it," Yang barked. "You need his power. All of your weeks of training were for nothing. You are weak. Without the Hulk, you would have died the first day you arrived in Remnant."
"You…you actually think I wanted this, The Hulk?" Banner asked. Just saying his name brought fear into Banner's heart. "This is my curse, Yang. Never once has he ever been a blessing," Banner said as his emotions began taking over. "Every day I fear for what I have done and what I will do! Do you even know what it feels like to know you almost kill someone? Knowing that you have ended lives? I stayed in here with you all night, watching the monitor and hoping you would wake up one more time…Ruby needs you!"
Yang was caught off guard by Banner's sudden how of heart, "Why do you care?"
"I am Bruce Banner, I am the Hulk…and I take responsibility for everything I do." Tears began to drip down his face. "I never wanted to hurt any of you! I never wanted this," he said looking at his arms.
Yang's looked down regretting her stubbornness. How could she have ever thought Banner enjoyed his power? "Banner…," Yang sighed, "I'm…I'm…sorry. I was acting selfish and like a child." How could Yang let her emotions cloud her mind again? Yang's semblance was great in combat, not so much in social interactions.
Banner smiled at her, "It'll be okay, Yang. It'll be okay." He sat next to Yang in the bed and put his arm around her. Yang blushed…and then accepted the hug. "But you could use help on fighting a little bit," Banner suggested. Yang looked him dead in the eyes…then chuckled playfully. They both heard the door close.
"Ah," Ruby yelped when Banner and Yang turned to face her. "Oh," Ruby blushed, "I'll…I'll just wait outside!" The doorknob juggled in her hand as she frantically tried to escape.
"Ruby, pull not push…," Yang sighed.
"Ah, thank you," Ruby quickly said. She exploded into rose petals and hurried out the door.
"Ruby," Banner yelled hurrying after her.
Yang dropped her head on a pillow and thought, "Maybe I was wrong about you, Banner. No, I was wrong about you. Now prove everyone wrong and show you're the hero Ruby believes you are."
Banner found Ruby sitting up against the wall outside Yang's room.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you two," Ruby weakly chuckled.
"Oh," Banner coughed, "It wasn't what it looked like!" Ruby sat there, no response and continued to look at the floor with her knees under her chin. "Ruby…what's wrong?" The answer came to Banner right as his question slipped out of his mouth; him. He was everyone's problem.
Ruby looked up at him, "Banner, there's too much to explain. So many things are wrong," she exclaimed putting her head back into her arms.
"I've got time," Banner said as he sat next to Ruby. "Ruby…," he sighed, "I'm so sorry."
Ruby tried to speak, "It's not your fault…"
"I'm sorry for being who I am," Banner began, spilling his demons. "I'm sorry for the thousands of lives I took in Vale those many nights ago." Tears flowed down his face like a river. "I'm sorry for almost killing all of your friends. I'm sorry I can't be better. I'm so sorry," Banner sobbed. Before he could say another word, he felt something on his shoulder - Ruby resting her head.
"Shush. I forgive you," Ruby said closing her eyes. Banner took a deep breath and let Ruby rest. "The reason I'm upset is…I'm scared for my team, Jaune and his team and…and…Penny."
Penny. Banner hadn't thought of that girl since their duel in Vale. "What about Penny?" he asked.
"I wonder how she's doing," Ruby exclaimed. "I know what she did was horrible, but I'm still her only friend! I knew if she could have a redo, she'd correct every one of her mistakes. She's so nice and caring when she is herself."
Banner thought long and hard about his response, "…I know," he said. Ruby was surprised. "I know what she is capable of," Banner said recalling pain from Penny's swords. "She sure is something special, that's for sure."
"Yeah…," Ruby sighed.
Banner looked at the saddened Ruby. He knew what it felt like to worry about someone who could be in danger. Should he tell Ruby who Penny is? What Penny is? "Hey, want me to tell you a secret?" Banner asked smiling at Ruby.
Ruby looked up at him, "A secret? You trust me?"
"Of course," Banner nodded. Ruby let a huge smile take over, making Banner not regret this decision. He leaned in, "Penny may be attending the Vital Festival."
"Really?" Ruby asked as her eyes widened in excitement.
"Shhhh," Banner said putting a finger over his lips.
"But wait…," Ruby said as her excitement turned into worry, "that won't be fair. Have you seen how powerful she is?"
"I fought her," Banner reminded.
"Oh, yeah," Ruby blushed. "I can't believe I forgot."
"But, yes, Atlas trains their students very well," Banner said avoiding telling Ruby about Penny's robotic...features. "Good news is, you have a few more weeks to train hard and she won't be trying to kill you."
Ruby gulped, "That's assuring."
"Don't worry," Banner said. "I'll step in if something bad happens."
Ruby smiled, "Thank you, Banner. You cheered me up. I honestly didn't think that was possible right now."
"Now, what is wrong with Jaune and his team?" Banner asked. A frown formed on Ruby's face again. "You don't have to," Banner quickly said.
"Banner, it's fine," Ruby began, "It all started after your interview with Lisa Lavender."
Banner remembered the white haired reporter. Lavender didn't deserve to get dragged into this because of Cinder's vendetta against the Hulk. Lisa and her amber eyes made Banner feel as if he could talk and let it all out without losing control.
"After you saved her," Ruby continued, breaking Banner's train of thought, "Jaune began trusting you less and less. Then," Ruby sighed, "when everyone got up and left the cafeteria yesterday before you lost control…Jaune almost joined!"
"I…," Banner said in disbelief. Was Banner that much of a monster that Jaune, the fearless leader of JNPR even hated him.
"Pyrrha has been trying to convince Jaune that you're good," Ruby said. "But…," she said saddened, "Jaune won't hear any of it. He doesn't believe you're safe to be around anymore. You've almost killed him and his team too many times now. The cafeteria incident pushed him over the limit. Now, Jaune doesn't want his team near you. Pyrrha hates it, but she follows his wishes. Ren and Nora…they're split. Nora agrees with Jaune and Ren agrees with Pyrrha," Ruby said, shocking Banner. "Jaune even asked me to do the same with Weiss, Blake and Yang!"
Banner nodded, "He's right. I am dangerous and unpredictable. He's a great leader and I couldn't be more proud of him. Pyrrha is a good girl and has a heart of gold for defending me. Ren and Nora shouldn't be in the middle of those two fighting." Banner decided he had to talk to Jaune whenever he got the chance.
"Then…there's Weiss and Blake," Ruby groaned.
"What's wrong with those two?" Banner asked in surprise. "They aren't fighting again, are they?"
"Weiss is well…Weiss," Ruby shrugged. "She's concentrating on training for the Vital Festival. When I see her, she's in a bad mood and exhausted. She says she has family coming to watch her fight in the festival, so now she's been training non-stop." That gave Banner another reason to talk to Weiss. "Then there's Blake…," Ruby's voice trailed off.
"What about Blake?" Banner asked.
"She's just so upset about the White Fang," Ruby responded. "It doesn't help that Roman Torchwick escaped when Blake had him right there. That night that you lost control to save Blake and Sun…you killed many of her old friends."
"I know…," Banner said filling with regret. "Speaking of Sun," he quickly said changing the subject, "how is he doing?"
"He's…okay," Ruby said. "He still hasn't woken up. He's still in a coma from your atta...," she finished.
Banner swallowed guilt. "Well…,"he said as he stood to his feet, "I better go check on him." Yang had been Banner's first priority. He almost forgot Sun could have died as well. Banner held out his hand and helped Ruby to her feet. "You should go and catch up with your sister," Banner suggested.
"Okay," Ruby nodded. Banner leaned in toward Ruby.
"Oh," Ruby said surprised. She gave Banner a hug.
"I was getting the door," Banner awkwardly said opening the door to Yang's room behind Ruby.
"Sorry," Ruby blushed. Banner quickly hugged her back.
"Listen," Banner said with a smile. "Don't talk about me or anything the least bit saddening with your sister. You two deserve to be happy and have a good time. It's a miracle she even survived. I will make everything up to you. Everything. I will talk with Weiss, Blake, Jaune and his team. Everything will be sorted out. I promise you."
Ruby watched Banner as he turned and walked down the hallway to Sun's room. This time, Ruby believed every word Banner told her.