Chapter 11: Free
They almost kissed.
Weiss was already walking back to the office with a set of tools in her hand. Her thoughts raced to the memory that had happened not long ago, trying-almost desperately-to preoccupy her mind by previously looking for the said tools. They weren't all too difficult much to Weiss's trepidation. What just happened anyway? They were hugging, giving each other an embrace out of care and kindness. The closeness out of emotional and friendly intimacy.
That's all it was, she concluded.
Right?
She grumbled. It was nothing, to overthink was one of her many traits that managed to fester itself. But who would've thought that an embrace was comforting, Weiss would be lying to herself if she didn't admit how secured she felt in those arms, despite the spikes. It was as if she was starved of the contact that only her partner can sate.
'Come on, Weiss. Pull yourself together. Ruby had been missing for days. You should be worried, concerned. Upset.'
A shattering noise disrupted the silence of the warehouse and she was thrown into a state of alert. She bursts the door open with Myrtenaster in hand, ready to face the
attacker.
"H-Hey," Ruby said, stepping away from the sharp pile, a small crunch here and there. No sign of struggle, just broken glass scattered on the floor and a redhead standing all over them.
"What's going on?" Weiss demanded, still eyeing the room for any danger.
"Relax." The other girl reassured, comically sweeping the glass towards the wall with her boot. "My hand… slipped." She scratches her head, grimacing at her own choice of words. "An accident. Yeah, accident sounds more correct."
Weiss hiked an eyebrow in suspicion, that was so Ruby yet she couldn't figure out the rest, the grip in her Myrtenaster still tensed but she relented for the weapon to lower itself. "I see... well, I have what I need to start. Sit on a chair."
Ruby did as she was told and waited patiently. Weiss had walked in, stifling a question to ask about what had caused Ruby to break the mirror. Completing a survey of the room with caution to her steps, she placed her rapier near Ruby's own scythe. Going around to stand behind her back, Weiss dwelled into studying the metal from its bolts, engravings, and sockets where a tube would be connected. If there was something she was grateful for, it was the books from her Father's library and sample schematics of the company, Ruby's way of geeking about her weapon and performing surgery on it right in front of her was a blessing if not an annoying curse, she swears if she were anybody she couldn't stand it.
There was something so similar to the build on her back that she can't quite put a finger on it. The way it was assembled was intricate and parts used weren't any ordinary junk put together. She started on the broken vials to unload spare parts before fiddling with the main skeleton, unscrewing and popping conduits from their clips until it was loose. Holding one up for closer inspection, her thoughts were proved right of them being Dust vials. And sealed professionally too. The plates of these metal were uncapped by placing the tip of her tool in between the cracks, lightly striking a palm to the hilt to create an opening. She repeated the task until the parts gradually shrank and the metal spine looked more of an exoskeleton. From the sight of it, they could be looking at a device that was injected into her.
Weiss inserted a screwdriver in the middle of the spinal socket, and upon turning it, Ruby flinched from her seat. " Oh, that one hurt." She gasps.
It was just as she suspected. These holes were on each metal part, lined along Ruby's upper spine that covered at least 7 cervical vertebrae. She was dealing with something far more complicated than the average machines she observed. Running a finger along the ridges of where the metal meets skin, she couldn't help but feel uneasy at the idea of these things being a part of Ruby's body for the rest of her life.
They were going to need a surgeon.
"I'm afraid that this is as far as I can go," Weiss said once her options grew thin. "This would be far easier if we just call-"
"Not yet," Ruby interjected. She has not completely refused the idea which was far okay to hear than an outright no. "It was worth the shot. But what's important is this." She points to the collar.
Weiss's eyes widened in astonishment. "Are you joking? You'll be risking yourself if I so much as attempt to pick on it."
She hoped to Remnant she was joking. General Ironwood had instructed to never let the collar be taken off under any circumstances. As Ruby's partner, it was her sole obligation and responsibility to keep it locked for safety. Weiss feared that without the collar, Ruby would lose control of herself. Each of Team RWBY had a specific gear to keep themselves stable, which they only needed was an item crafted to wear and taken off at their own expense (with a small exception to Weiss's power). But Ruby was much, much more complicated.
Weiss had her gloves. Yang had her clothes sewn with dusts, and Blake equipped with visors. According to Ironwood, the collar protected her from the Dust within, stabilizing the crystal at the home of her heart.
"I know this sounds crazy-"
"It is crazy. Don't start with me."
Ruby gave a long, tired sigh, hunching over to rest her arms on her knees. Weiss was not going to do it. She was not going to risk Ruby's life.
"Weiss," Ruby began, turning from her seat just enough to face the towering Heiress without straining her neck. "If you don't… I might not heal."
Weiss crossed her arms, staring down at her as if Ruby had provoked a white bear with a stick. Anything she saw as soft and sweet was now replaced with Ruby being gullible and irritable. "You refuse to let me contact Ironwood, then our teammates-who amongst the two is your sister, and deny to disclose any kind of information with your own partner. How could I possibly not find this crazy?"
Ruby simply gazed at her. There was sadness in those eyes but held back from expressing itself through a body's language. The collar could detect if the user tried to pull it away using their own strength, so to defend itself, it communicates with the nerves of her hands to weaken and pressure at the nape of her neck that it hurt to even try. Just a month ago, an electric shock was installed that simply made Ruby's request even harder to justify.
Ruby pulls away at the bandage of her arm, revealing the fresh cut that could ooze with blood if squeezed. "This should be closing at least halfway, but it isn't." She began. "The blood should have stopped and I feel drained when I'm not supposed to. I should be able to lift my weapon without even trying-," she stands, grabbing her Crescent Rose and struggling to take it without her knees wanting to give away for its weight. "But I can't." She rests it back, usually at this point she'd be clutching at her cloak for some kind of distraction from the impending silence that crawled in between the two, and without it, Ruby felt more vulnerable than she already was being stripped from her powers. "I know you're confused. But, take this off me. And… I'll give that explanation you deserve."
Silence. There was still silence, yet everything around Weiss's posture, demeanor, and aura spoke louder than words. She hated it when Ruby made her do things like putting her life in obvious danger. Hated how she'd blame no one but herself if something terrible happens.
"Is that a promise?" She questioned.
Ruby nods.
"I want to hear you say it." It was a demand.
"Okay. I promise."
After a few more seconds of dead air, Weiss raises a hand towards her, motioning Ruby to take it. The redhead gingerly does so who was then pulled to sit back on the chair.
"Is this a yes you'll take it off?"
"Shut up and let me focus."
If this ended up right, she'd better be the best god damn teammate Ruby will ever have screamed from the top of her lungs.
The Faunus rebel yelped as he was hanged upside down from a tree, arms flailing in fear from falling on his head. Blake pulled her ribbon taut and the soldier was raised to their eye level.
Yang ripped the mask off his face, putting on her own for interrogation.
"Where's Ruby?!" She shouted, starting off fiercely.
He hid his face with his arms before sputtering, "W-who?"
"Don't play dumb with me. A redhead with a red cape. Has a scythe for a weapon. Where did you take her?"
"I-I don't know who you're talking about."
"He's lying," Blake mentions, to which Yang acknowledges by punching the tree beside his head, a wave of immense heat making the Faunus sweat uncontrollably.
"Where?!" Yang boomed.
The boy was bawling. "Okay okay! I know who she is, but I swear I don't know where she went."
Yang glances back at Blake who only nodded her head. Her partner knew how to sense a liar with her heightened senses, for every interrogation, Blake was the butter on Yang's knife.
"Then tell me what you know."
"She, s-she-," he gulps when the smoke from Yang's mouth fumed. "She escaped. Taken by one of your teammates."
"Weiss?" Blake muttered.
"The Schnee. Y-Yes." The boy confirms.
The two partners shared a look again, both perturbed at the answer. "Are you sure he's not lying?" Yang whispers.
"Scent does not lie. I'm not picking up anything odd."
"We should contact her."
"Agreed. We'll have these guys-" pertaining to the few unconscious bodies, "get called in first."
The boy was released and Yang catches him with one hand, hoisting him by the back of his uniform from getting away. The communication between the Stealth ship nearby adhered to their call almost instantaneously and the Faunuses were cuffed.
"Traitor." The boy mumbles as he was taken into the ship for extraction. Yang was busy on her scroll to have noticed, but Blake catches it, the word singing a song of mockery in her head.
Through practiced meditation, she manages to lower the voices that were both a nuisance and a life saver. Even as she perfected the methods of breathing with a clear mind, her cat ears would still twitch in irritation.
The scroll vibrated on her hand while she inputted commands into the program she had stashed in the device, disrupting her workflow. Ruby slightly moves her head at this. "Yang?" She says.
"Yang," Weiss confirms. Her scroll had itself connected between two wires, the other end of it the collar. The Heiress had come a long way being the support her team needed and whenever they were stuck between doors or puzzling mainframes, Weiss had solely depended in her scroll to efficiently hack into the system.
The scroll buzzed, sending a silent ring waiting to be answered.
"And not even a message?"
"Nope."
"Hm. Cold."
It rang, and rang, and rang, but despite all this, Weiss continued with unwavering focus. While the Heiress care not for anyone's outburst in expressing their anger, she couldn't keep away the thought of Yang being on literal fire if she found out that Weiss had been keeping Ruby under the radar. Of course, no one should know about what she felt, not even Ruby. It was that one little scary thing that Weiss acknowledges but refuses to believe.
"You know she isn't going to be too happy being uninformed of all this."
Ruby hummed a worried sound of agreement. Yang was temperamental, the incident's experiment coursing through her veins that made her so. Every day was a raging battle of emotions that Yang keeps in check by letting off steam in the field or training area. When Yang is truly tested however…
"Don't worry, Weiss. I'll make sure my sister won't bite you."
Even without looking, Weiss can hear that grin forming. She flicks Ruby in the ear in annoyance.
Whimpering in pain and rubbing the red area, she couldn't help but follow her hurt sounds with chuckles of amusement. She knew Weiss; the Ice Queen, Heiress of the Schnee Dust Company, can stand up to a thousand angry office directors spitting down at her position with a snap of a few smart words, face a handful of Grimms without so much of a sweat, and can definitely go one on one with Yang if extremely necessary. But one thing that Ruby knew well was that Weiss, despite her cold appearances and witty replies, was cautious around her sister when anger was on the forefront.
"You're totally worried she'll get mad at you," Ruby commented.
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Ruby Rose, I swear I'll stop this operation right now-"
"Hey, I'm just kidding!"
And like Beacon Academy days, the two bickered into nostalgia. With Ruby raising her arms at Weiss's gravitas, they both felt for a moment that they were two students back in beacon fighting over something ridiculous, still managing to end up pledging their allegiance to each other. So they both end up laughing at the silliness of the conversation, lifting the mood where it hits close to home. A few jokes were thrown here and there, but not too long did the quietness of the warehouse engulf the room, the sound of Weiss's tapping into the scroll switching to the tool that picked on the collar's conduits.
Ruby was twiddling her thumbs, a nervous leg moving up and down and a tiny bit of a squirm before she lifted her head slightly to voice out her words. "Hey, uh. Weiss?"
"Yes?"
"About earlier-"
Oh, they were going to talk about this now?
"I-I didn't know what came over me." Ruby was being squeamish that the tip of her tool was unable to stay in one place. Her heart was starting to thump into her ears.
"Its… it's alright. We probably shouldn't do that again." Hm, really though? "Now keep still, you're moving around too much."
"Oh! Sorry."
If Weiss felt anything it was the feeling of being underwhelmed, pathetically so, and relieved at the same time. She wasn't sure if this was good or bad, something to be satisfied with or to be prodding more into the situation. But what was she expecting in the first place? What was there to talk about?
She hushed her mind and kept still her heart. She needed to put the last of her logical brain power if she wanted to get this over quick.
Yang looked down on her scroll, this was the 6th time she had tried to contact Weiss and no answer came on the other side. "She's not picking up."
"That is concerning," Blake remarked, taking out her scroll this time. "We'll have to give word to Ironwood."
Without further ado, the two came together and watched the scroll laid out in Blake's hand splayed out a hologram. General Ironwood's image formed, his hands behind his back and standing with complete authority. The stubble had grown a little more than the previous.
"Yang and Blake, reporting."
Ironwood nodded, urging to continue.
"We managed to get hold with one of the White Fang members, it would seem that they had taken Ruby captive and was saved by Weiss. We're unable to contact her however, we're afraid something is wrong."
Ironwood nods at this, rubbing his forefinger and thumb in the process of thinking of their next strategy.
"I see. We'll gather what we can in our part. I want your scrolls active at all costs. By then, continue your search on the parameter, we tracked an unusual spike of energy Northwest of your position recorded a few hours ago. Your scrolls will be updated of its point of interest. That would be all."
The two gave their salute before ending the transmission.
Ironwood stayed in his position. When Yang and Blake's images disappeared from the screen, a map of Vale was presented before his eyes, the coordinates that should be in their scrolls showing as a boxed crosshair.
"Status on Weiss Schnee." He commanded.
"Has not moved from the current position, sir." Answered a woman behind one of the computers, pinging her location on the map close to the square by a few miles.
"And what of Ruby Rose? Is she still with her?"
"Yes sir, never left our radar. Aura levels low. Her collar is showing signs of being tampered on. Its defense mechanism has also been switched off."
The grit in Ironwood's teeth clenched. This wasn't going according to plan and certainly not what they have agreed to terms with.
"Shall we proceed to dispatch our forces for apprehension?"
Ironwood gave himself a minute to think. A conflict stirred in his mental map of plans that had been stripped down. He was going to have to pay her a visit.
"Sir?"
He glances at the woman who awaited his orders.
A nod was all it takes for his command to be executed.
Ruby didn't know what to say in the middle of being unable to bear the pressure between them. Grinding her teeth in frustration her mind had wondered to the different possible scenarios if she says something, anything, to lighten the mood like earlier. Her heart screamed just say it! And her mind snapped don't or you'll make it even worse! Mentally groaning to herself, she tuned her mind to the situation at hand.
The collar beeped.
It was done.
Weiss ejected the wire from the collar and put away her scroll before going around to stand in front of Ruby.
"If anything happens you know I have protocols to follow."
Ruby nods her head. She knew what her partner meant. Ironwood had given the instructions to subdue her if the situation went sideways. The plan wasn't shared, but she knows how painful it would be.
"Now, hold still." Weiss had her hands holding the collar ready to unmount it from her neck, but Ruby takes one of them in her hold, looking up to meet her eyes.
"Weiss." She whispers. "Thank you… for doing this for me." Then a smile.
Ruby can feel the slight tremble of her hand, aware of the fear her partner had for the redhead. It was endearing to know that her partner was still important in her life.
Weiss returns the smile. "You still have lots of explaining to do. Don't think you're off the hook."
Ruby chuckles. "You'll see Princess."
They gave each other a nod before Weiss returns to the collar. Slowly, with care and caution, unmounts it with an audible click. Ruby shuddered when cool air hits her skin. Two small holes at her nape were visible before her aura kicked in to close them. Her hands come to touch at her neck, fingertips brushing along her throat and at the sides. She felt. Free.
Stronger.
Powerful.
Ruby stands from the chair with a newfound confidence in her stance, the aching all but gone. She unwraps the bandage from her abdomen to find the cuts and holes that sealed in action, this time it had happened a lot faster than she thought it would and it felt great.
Ruby grins from ear to ear, the excitement popping the wolf hears on her head. They dropped a little when she sees Weiss gripping her Myrtenaster. She pouts at this.
"Weiss it's fine. I'm okay, look!" Ruby puts her arms in the air like she was showcasing herself and gave a hearty laugh.
"Hmm." Weiss articulated, still displaying caution around her. A small gasp escape her mouth when she was lifted in the air with two strong arms around her waist. Ruby spun around with her before putting the Heiress down on her feet.
"I'm free." She says, pressing a long kiss on her cheek before leaving the Heiress stunned to make any audible sentences form.
"Look! I can even lift Crescent Rose now!" Ruby proclaimed, hefting her weapon with ease before unfolding it and giving it a few spinning tricks, later giving a small "whoops" and an apology to a plastic plant that was cut from the move. She gives a contented sigh as she hugs her dear beloved scythe.
"U-Um… Ruby." Weiss stammered, coughing into her hand before trying again, putting more order into her tone. "Ruby."
The redhead turns around, the cheeky smile still plastered on her face. It was genuine and enthusiastic that Weiss wasn't aware she had been missing until it showed again. "Try not to get too excited?" She says.
There was a tail that was undeniably wagging. "Of course, of course." She beamed, finally stationing her weapon behind her back without feeling obstructed anymore. "Hey, do you want some fresh air? I want some fresh air. Let's go get fresh air!"
It had happened quickly with Ruby dashing out of the office and towards the warehouse exit. Weiss had to run after her whilst calling her name and telling her to slow down. Upon pushing the door to the outside, her view was met with Altesian Knights raising their weapon, pointing at Ruby in particular.
An Altesian Knight stepped forward, its human voice box coming into play. "Ruby Rose. Stand down peacefully or we will be forced to use aggressive suppression."
Weiss glanced at her partner. The tension on her shoulders hardened and the hand was coming to her weapon, wolf ears erect and prodding on the corners to catch any sound.
The droid lifted its fist toward them, a scope of light flashing a hologram image building itself from the ground up from the space that separated their distance.
White coat, red tie, a strong posture that swept jurisdiction. It was General Ironwood.
"Your collar." He said, almost sadly with disappointment in his tone. "Ruby, I told you not to-"
"You were lying to me." Ruby snaps, baring her teeth that had grew with fangs at him. "You shut me down on purpose."
"Without it, you'll lose control. We can talk about this in a more civilized manner if you let us put you to sleep. Only for a while."
"He's lying. The General hides his secrets from us. He wants to control, to put us in cages, to experiment on!" A voice in Ruby's head barked. "He did everything on purpose. He let you get caught, he let them use you. You'll wake up cuffed to another chair."
Ruby frowned. She saw him as an Uncle; a part of the family. Ironwood had taught her the ropes, had been a mentor and a friend, but her vision was beginning to distort into this twisted reality created from a growing hatred.
Weiss puts a hand on Ruby's shoulder, holding a glance her way before walking up to the man with quick and confident strides, stopping before him with an intent to appease their case. "General there's no need for this. Ruby's wounds weren't healing and I took it upon myself to-."
Ironwood raises his hand, halting Weiss from continuing. "We agreed."
"But General, she's clearly herself if you just-"
"Follow your protocol or I have to resort to alternatives to bring Ruby in from being a danger to all of us and herself."
"Leave me alone," Ruby growled, the back of her spine felt hot and enraged, leaving trails of fire that grew into her skin. Weiss catches her attention with a look that sent a simple message.
"Please."
The fire eases for her, but stayed for the General.
"Ruby," Ironwood starts again, this time more gentle. "You're changing. I know this is hard to believe but you're not you. Not right now. Every passing minute gets you closer to becoming feral."
"He is trying to manipulate you." It said.
"You're manipulating me." She voices.
"He will not leash us." It whispers.
"You won't put it back." She shouted.
Ironwood had usually worn a mask of stone, only ever giving impatient scowls or a judging figure of doubt. Here, for his little trooper, Ironwood had slipped a downward curl of his lip.
"You leave me no choice." Ironwood glances briefly at the white-haired girl before walking away for the hologram to decimate.
Ruby unfolds Crescent Rose. "Weiss, you have to trust me. I know Ironwood is hiding something." Her stance switched to a combat position. "I would never hurt you. Or Yang, or Blake."
Weiss looks down, making no move to sheath her weapon or show any sign of surrender. "I have a protocol to follow, Ruby."
When she looks back up, her face was stripped off any expression, the worry and concern Ruby witnessed was gone, now replaced with a piercing glare. Ruby feels, hears the glyphs behind her, stepping out of them were her summoned beowolf familiars all looking down on her. A pinned weight was felt beneath her feet, and when Ruby sees what was keeping her down, a snowflake patterned glyph was turning from where she stood.
The White knight, Weiss's trusted and powerful magical servant to arms, emerges behind the Schnee, resurfacing from the white glow into the land of Remnant.
Ruby's shoulders slumped, an invisible barbed wire tightening around her chest at the betrayal. The bottom of her lip quivered and her hand around the weapon shook.
The squadron's rifles glowed, steadily humming with charge. "We are giving you up to the count of 3 to stand down or we will open fire." The droid said.
Ruby had never left her eyes off her partner. Neither did Weiss, "do you still remember our training?"
3...
"Of course." Ruby answers.
2...
"What did we call the new one this time?"
1...
"White Rose."
A/N: Typed out entirely from my phone lol. A lot of things didn't quite make it to the cut, but I'm contented with this as of now.
So what do you think? I know you guys are starving for Grimm Ruby, and I promise, that will come very soon.
Constructive criticisms, reviews, questions and suggestions are wholly welcome.