Trapped
Chapter 7: Trust
By Lightningstrxu
Weiss shook off the current wave of dizziness, it was not quite as powerful as the last, but still disorientating. With a resigned sigh, she signed her name in Dirge's disgusting little book.
"There I signed it." Weiss glared at the snake faunus.
"Good." Dirge chortled. "Now why don't you bring it here nice an slow like." He pulled Ruby a little closer to him. "After all you wouldn't want to startle me now. My trigger finger just might slip."
Ruby let out a frightened whimper, terror evident in her silver eyes. She brought her hands up to tug at the tail coiled around her neck but to no avail. Ruby looked to Weiss as the white-haired girl slowly got out of her chair.
"Help me…" she cried weakly.
Weiss could feel her heart break as she heard her partner's words. Ruby had never looked and sounded so helpless.
"I will," Weiss whispered.
Weiss strode up to Dirge with head held high; she would not let this monster intimidate her, she had to be strong for Ruby and show the snake no fear.
"Here." Weiss held the book out to him, glaring at the faunus with utter disgust. Dirge grabbed it, and with practiced skill, he opened it with one hand to the correct page.
"Thank you, Miss Schnee." Dirge grinned ear to ear before putting the book back in his pocket.
"You are very welcome Mr. Diamondback." Weiss said putting on a polite, formal tone, to those that knew her, her voice had never sounded so fake. "Will there be anything else?"
"Hmm." Dirge contemplated the question. "How about a kiss?"
"Like hell, she will!" Jaune shouted finally finding his feet after repeated exposure to Dirge's vertigo-inducing rattle.
"Oh well look who suddenly grew a spine." Dirge turned to face Jaune. "I figured you'd still be out after the last shake of Death Rattle."
Jaune didn't flinch as the man eyed him, glaring at the vile man with absolute hatred.
"Wait a tick…" Dirge looked from Jaune to Weiss and then back again, before giving a hearty chuckle. "Don't tell me now that she's your girl."
Jaune's eye twitched.
Dirge's eyes widened a look of pure glee on his face.
"She is ain't she!" the snake howled with laughter. "Tell me son. Is she just as frigid in the sack, or she a kinky lil thing?"
"My girlfriend is not a THING!" Jaune's voice started as a harsh whisper but ended in a roar anger. He took a step forward.
Dirge's tail rattled again, causing Jaune's stride to falter, but this time he did not fall.
"Oooh looks like I lit a fire in you something fierce son." Dirge's tail flicked forward dragging Ruby along with it. "But need I remind you of the position that you're in." he coiled his tail tighter around Ruby's neck causing her to soundlessly cry out.
"Stop it!" Weiss cried. "We haven't done that yet okay!" she glared at the snake faunus. "Is that what you wanted to know you sick freak?"
The amused look on Dirge's face faded, his eyes turned cold.
"Freak?" he whispered turning back to face Weiss. He brought his gun up so its barrel pressed against her forehead. "Want to run that by me one more time?"
"Nothing sir." Weiss did her best to contain her panic, but even she couldn't stop herself from trembling. She knew here aura would provide almost no protection from a gun that large at point blank range.
"That's what I thought." Dirge's gaze flickered to behind Weiss. With only a minor flick of his wrist, he adjusted the aim of his gun and fired, unleashing a deafening bang.
Weiss fell to her knees covering her ears.
The bullet flew at Blake and pierced her head, upon which she faded into shadow.
"Belladonna!" Dirge roared. "Where you run to this time?"
Dirge lifted Ruby off the ground causing the younger girl's leg's to kick wildly, he leveled his gun at Weiss.
"You best come out if you don't want nothin to happen to yer friends." The hammer on the gun clicked back.
Silence was all that answered him.
"Five, four, three." Dirge began to count down, his eyes carefully scanning the room and upper floors for any sign of the cat faunus. "Two!" A single black feather fell from the haze of smoke.
"One." Qrow Branwen snarled as he burst out of the smoke cloud falling on Dirge with sword drawn.
With wide eyes, Dirge aimed and fired at Qrow in a single quick motion.
The hammer clicked, but no bullet fired..
"What!?" Dirge looked at his gun confused, just as Qrow's sword cut into Dirge's tail. Aura unfortunately kept the tail from being severed, but a jolt of pain shot through it causing his tail to let go of Ruby.
Dirge leaped back glaring at Qrow, with deft hand's he quickly unloaded and reloaded his gun.
"Who the hell are you?" Dirge aimed his gun at Qrow.
Qrow didn't answer he walked forward silently.
Dirge opened fire shooting three rounds; Qrow deflected them, each with a swing of his sword.
Dirge's tail rattled, faster and louder than it ever had before.
Qrow still walked forward, unaffected.
Dirge's eyes widened.
"What are you?" the snake let out a fearful whisper. Well, Dirge wasn't about to find out. Turning around he fired two rounds into a nearby window shattering it. Bolting as fast as he could he leaped through it bursting through any remaining glass.
Qrow started to run to give chase.
"Don't go!" Ruby cried out. "Please stay."
Qrow stopped and mentally kicked himself for almost leaving his niece behind in her current state. That snake wasn't worth the chase. He turned and walked back over to Ruby.
"Hey kiddo." Qrow said kneeling down on the ground next to her. "Sorry I was late."
Ruby's only response was a choked sob before wrapping her arms around Qrow. Crying into his shoulder.
"You're safe now." Qrow rubbed a hand over her back in an attempt to soothe her. "You two okay?" he asked looking back to Jaune and Weiss.
"I'm fine I think." Jaune staggered over to Weiss. "Incredibly nauseous but fine."
"Other than some extreme tinnitus I'll live." Weiss tapped the ear that had been right next to Dirge's gun."
"Is Ruby okay?" Jaune asked concerned.
Qrow looked down at his niece still crying. His eyes narrowed as he saw the dark bruise that ringed her neck.
"She's fine." Qrow sighed, physically at least.
Sirens could be heard in the distance and coming closer.
"Where were you?" Weiss demanded.
"And where is Blake?" Jaune demanded as well.
"Blake's the one who called me when she slipped away." He looked at his scroll. "And she's tailing that snake right now."
"Then we need to go back her up." Weiss struggled to her feet.
"No, you three are going to a hospital. You're needed there any way Weiss."
"What do you mean I'm needed?"
Qrow gave a weary sigh.
"Somethings happened to Winter."
#####
Weiss sat by the hospital bed, just silently staring at her older sister.
Winter lay on the bed, her right arm heavily bandaged as well as a good portion of her upper body. Her once beautiful white hair now charred black in places.
"Hey."
Weiss jumped at the voice, she looked over to see Jaune he was holding a tray with some food and drink on it.
"Hey." Weiss sat up in her chair.
"I brought you some food. I even got you some hot chocolate." Jaune smiled.
"Thanks." Weiss replied "Just put it on the table." She waved dismissively
Jaune sighed.
"Weiss at least take a bite."
"I'm not hungry!" she snapped glaring at him, her face softened a moment later. "Sorry." she whispered.
"It's fine." Jaune set the tray down on the table, grabbing the cup of hot chocolate and a chair he sat down next to Weiss. "Here." He held up the cup to her.
"Thank you." Weiss took the cup and sipped from it. "How's Ruby?" she asked as she leaned against Jaune's shoulder.
"She'll recover." Jaune sighed. "Once her aura comes back it should only be about a day for the bruising to fade."
"Her aura?" Weiss looked confused. "Was she that injured?"
Jaune shook his head, a scowl forming on his face.
"No. The bastard slipped an aura suppressant in her drink. If we hadn't been there." Jaune clenched his fists.
Weiss placed her hand on Jaune's.
"We were there, and she's safe now. Ruby's stronger than all of us, she'll recover, and we'll be there for her if she needs us."
"Yeah." Jaune whispered "Yang, Ren, and Nora will be here in the morning."
"That soon?" Weiss had a look of surprise on her face.
"Yeah, fastest transport possible, along with about a hundred Atlesian soldiers. This isn't about dust thefts anymore, what happened to your sister. Its assault on an Atlesian military officer and Ironwood is on the warpath."
"Tempest could become a warzone." Weiss stared into her drink as if it somehow could provide answers.
"Not if we stop it before it happens." Jaune put his arm around Weiss. "Blake's still out there, tailing Dirge hoping to find their base of operations."
"Is she insane?" Weiss gasped out. "She knows how dangerous they are."
"She's keeping in contact with Qrow, she knows better than to engage them." Jaune said reassuringly. "She checked in right before I came here, so she's still fine."
"Good." Weiss wasn't sure she could handle any more people getting hurt today.
"How is she?" Jaune gave Weiss a squeeze.
"Alive." Weiss said dejectedly.
"That's good." Jaune gave a weak smile.
"She'll live, but there's a good chance she won't regain full use of her right arm." Tears started to form in Weiss's eyes. "They don't know the full extent of the nerve damage yet."
Weiss began to break down; acting quickly Jaune removed the cup from her hand and pulled her into a hug.
They sat in silence for a long while as Weiss sobbed into Jaune's shoulder. Jaune Gently stroking her back in an attempt to soothe her.
"Weiss let's go back to the room okay." He whispered. "You need a break from here, and sleep will do you some good."
Jaune felt her shake her head against him.
"Weiss staying here won't help Winter." He hugged her tighter. "It definitely won't help you. We can come back first thing in the morning okay."
He felt her nod, accepting his conditions.
Jaune and Weiss both stood.
Weiss walked over to her sister's bedside and staring down at her. Her eyes narrowed and fists clenched. She would find the one who dared do this to Winter, and she would make him pay.
"We can go now." Weiss whispered before returning to Jaune's side and placing her hand in his.
Jaune nodded, and they walked out of the room.
#####
Weiss and Jaune stepped into the hotel room, a nice little room paid for courtesy of the Atlesian government. Two beds took up the majority of the room.
Jaune doubted both beds would be used; Weiss would want her pillow, especially after today.
While they still had separate dorms back at Atlas, they would often fall asleep together whenever one of them stayed too late at the others dorm. Maybe it was time to get one together. Jaune shook his head.
"I'm going to get a shower, I still smell like smoke." Weiss scrunched up her face in disgust as she sniffed the air.
"Okay." Jaune nodded. "I'll get one when you're done." He replied a giving his girlfriend a hug. "You'll feel better after one."
"You could always join me and save time." Weiss whispered as she nuzzled his shoulder.
Jaune chuckled and let go of her.
"Now what would Yang say if she heard you joke like that." Jaune turned to walk over to his bed but was stopped by Weiss grabbing his hand. "Weiss?" he turned back to her.
"You don't have to actually join me." Weiss's eyes met his. "But I really don't want to be alone right now."
Jaune stared into her eyes; they were completely serious without a hint of playfulness or embarrassment.
"Weiss, I mean I'd be seeing you…" Jaune trailed off.
"Naked? Well yes, I will be getting a shower." Weiss said in a matter of fact tone, crossing her arms over her chest.
"But what if…" Jaune began
"Don't worry about 'but what if's' Jaune!" she said perhaps more harshly than she needed to. "I trust you." She said more softly before turning and walking into the bathroom.
Jaune followed her almost instinctually, as unsure as he was about the situation he knew one thing. Weiss needed him.
Weiss started up the shower letting the water warm up. She bent down to take off her heels tossing them aside, reaching up she undid the pin in her hair, removing the small tiara-like hairclip allowing her hair to fall free. Without a hint of hesitation, she reached behind her and unzipped her dress.
Jaune's breath caught in his throat as the dress fell from her body. Weiss stood before him now wholly bare from the waist up, her modesty protected only by the scant cloth of her undergarments, and he doubted those would last much longer.
Now utterly unsure of himself he closed his eyes.
"Jaune." Weiss spoke breaking the silence. "You're allowed look, I don't care."
Jaune slowly opened his eyes a small gasp escaping his lips.
Weiss stood before him completely bare a little smile on her face.
"See I'm still me." Weiss stood relaxed before him, not a care in the world. "So stop looking like you're afraid I'll turn into Beowolf at any moment."
Jaune could only nod in response as he watched her step into the shower.
Jaune leaned against the wall trying to gather his thoughts. What even was happening right now? He wasn't sure, but he knew one thing. Weiss trusted him enough to let him be here, to see her at perhaps her most vulnerable. What kind of boyfriend would he be if he didn't show the same level of trust in her?
After a few nervous minutes of fumbling with his armor, Jaune joined her in the shower.
"About time." Weiss commented as she looked up at him.
Jaune looked down at her; he often forgot how small she was without her heels. A soft smile graced her face.
"Well, I figured why waste the water." Jaune shrugged.
"I'm sure that was your only reason." Weiss said with a roll of her eyes.
"One of them." Jaune smiled more embarrassed at Weiss's words than the fact that they were showering together.
Showering together, now there was something Jaune had never thought would happen. Well at least not like this. Usually there was more groping than bathing involved. But other than helping with each other's backs they didn't touch each other.
It was strange here was Weiss, standing not even a foot away naked and more beautiful than he could have ever imagined; and yet he wasn't aroused. It hadn't even crossed his mind, in the end all this was, was a shower. A shower he was sharing with his thoroughly confusing girlfriend, but still just a shower.
Weiss turned the water off, and like that it was over.
Weiss stepped out of the shower grabbing a towel and began drying herself, she didn't bother wrapping it around herself, and modesty didn't really matter anymore. With a carefree bounce in her step, Weiss walked back into their room.
Jaune stepped out a moment later following her into the room, just in time to Weiss standing in the middle of the room with Myrtenaster in hand. With a flourish a red glyph formed beneath her, bathing her in a soft warm glow. After a moment the light subsided, and she paused to inspect her now dry hair.
"Myrtenaster: Slayer of Grimm and dryer of hair." Jaune smirked running a towel through his hair.
"It's better than drying it naturally." Weiss placed her rapier back against the wall. "It would take hours."
Jaune didn't doubt that, unbound from her usual ponytail Weiss's hair nearly reached her ankles.
Weiss collapsed onto one of the beds; she still hadn't bothered to put on a stitch of clothing.
"So I guess we're not getting dressed for bed?"
Weiss shrugged.
"You can if you want to."
"Not much point now." Jaune shrugged as well before joining her on the bed.
She almost immediately snuggled up to him. It should have been awkward, but it strangely wasn't. Feeling her settle against him, it felt natural.
"Thank you." Weiss whispered while wrapping her arms around him.
"I didn't really do anything."
"You've done more than you've realized." She closed her eyes nuzzling into his shoulder.
"You're welcome Weiss." Jaune kissed the top of her head.
Weiss was already asleep, a look of pure serenity on her face.
Jaune joined her not a moment later.
#####
While other's slept enjoying the softness of beds and the warmth of others, Blake instead ran across the rooftops of Tempest tailing that vile snake Dirge.
All of her instincts told her to run away, but she fought them, old habits die hard Blake guessed.
After hours of hunting Dirge, he finally stopped standing in front an old building, all entrances seemed boarded shut. It was strange seeing such a structure in a place of progress like Tempest, but then again every city no matter how grand would have slums.
"C'mon Tuscan!" Dirge yelled as he knocked on the sealed door. "Let me in, damn it."
Blake's ears went flat of course another one would be here, she expected no less, it still didn't mean she wanted to meet another member of Team DSRT.
Slipping back from the ledge Blake pulled out her scroll, Qrow would want to hear that she think she found their base.
Distracted with the scroll Blake didn't notice a figure appear from the building behind her.
Not through a door or even a window, but through the wall as if it wasn't even there.
Shark teeth gleamed in the night as the figure smiled.
The hunter had become the hunted.
Well another chapter down, a little shorter than usual but I didn't want to drag it on for arbitrary word count reasons.
This was interesting to write, that shower scene…I had several versions of that planned. I initially was going to have Weiss basically throw herself at Jaune in an irrational attempt at stress relief due to frustration out of what happened with dirge and winter, and Jaune being the nice guy that he is, realizing what she is doing and talking her down. I cut that because it felt too negative on Weiss's part and too positive on Jaune's.
So I decided to take what would typically be token fanservice, and make it as tender and romantic as possible. I also thought about ending the scene with Weiss and Jaune's first time, but I decided the scene was more poignant without sex.
As always let me know you're thoughts
Also as a random side note I have writing playlist consisting mostly of RWBY and Ama Lee songs, and I kid you not, every time the most White Knight moment possible happens Dream Come True from vol 2 comes on. I laugh every time.
Oh to those who are wondering about winter and what happened, next chapter will be another Snow Bird side story.
And now I am proud to present the first sneak peek of my new collab fic with Goma Lymekine
SLVR Trailer
Sterling Albreight
"A SLVR Lining" (Working title)
Written by Goma Lymekine
Beta and Advisor Lightningstrxu
"Silver Alloy starts so soft, but since refined became so tough~"
"Mister Albreight, are you ready to begin?" A gruff voice echoed out from atop a balcony.
"Always." Said a young man in a confident inflection.
The Young Man took a deep breath and stepped towards the platform in the center of the room. He approached a taller gentleman who stood just near the platform.
" Sterling Albreight." The man near the platform addressed the young man as he approached. "Welcome to your final Examination."
The young man, now known as Sterling, smiled confidently and bowed his head.
"Thank you!" Sterling took a deep breath and stared beyond the older gentleman, looking towards now what would be considered an arena. Sterling removed his trench coat, and walked onto the arena.
He glanced to his left and to his right, checking out the gauntlet on each arm. Sterling made a motion with his fingers, and, from his right gauntlet, emerged a crossbow, mounted onto his arm. He made a second action, and a shield appeared and settled on his left arm. Another quick twitch of his fingers, and his crossbow began to rotate at its base, cycling through various colors.
"Everything seems to be in working order." Sterling said. "I am ready to begin, where is my opponent?" Sterling asked.
"He is almost here." The gruff voice bellowed out again. "Just a minute or so, Mister Albreight."
"Understood Headmaster." Sterling addressed the voice. "I'll be patient."
A minute or so passed and a male of similar age approached the arena.
"Oh,him?" Sterling sighed and stared at his opponent.
Standing much taller than the slightly below average height Sterling, the male stepped onto the arena, and looked down at Sterling.
"Piff." The large male grunted out. "Sterling is my opponent? And here I thought I was actually going to get a challenging final exam."
He removed his jacket, and tossed it to the side, outside the arena. He reached to his back, and drew his incredibly large club. The weapon looked rather crude, a shoddily built metal club with a massive spike sticking out the side.
"Heh, Still using that "thing" huh, Rust?" Sterling said in quite a playful manner.
"Quiet Albreight!" Rust roared out. "Tetanus and I will crush you!"
"Let's just have a good fight Rust." Sterling approached him and extended a hand.
Rust gripped the nail of his club as Sterling walked towards him. The top of the club opened up, and a white light radiated forth. Suddenly, a flash of what seemed to be light shot out of Tetanus. Sterling rolled his eyes and quickly turned his body, barely sidestepping the laser from Tetanus.
"Dude, seriously?" Sterling sighed and took up a ready stance. "Guess we start?" He glanced up towards the Headmaster, who just shrugged.
The fight had begun
Rust let go of the nail, and gripped the handle of the club, and took an aggressive stance. He then took a quick swing at Sterling. Sterling's reaction time was rather slow, and he just barely managed to get his shield in front of Tetanus' powerful blow. The blows force knocked Sterling away. Sterling fired a couple shots at Rust as he went flying, peppering Rust. Rust braced himself using his club. He then positioned the club at his side, and charged forward at Sterling.
"You're crap without your team Albreight!" he taunted
"Maybe." Sterling quickly responded.
Sterling fired a few more shots at Rust, and twitched his finger, which caused his crossbow to load a pale blue energy bolt.
Rust continued his charge. Sterling shot at the ground in front of Rust, discharging the blue bolt. When the blue projectile collides with the ground, an ice field is created. Rust continued charging still and found the sudden lack of traction to be somewhat bothersome, as he slid uncontrollably towards Sterling.
"At least I'm smart." Sterling counter-taunted
Sterling leaped into the air, his crossbow rotated and loaded a green energy bolt. He fired at Rust as he passed Sterling, and the green bolt exploded into a green blade of air, shoving Rust backward.
Rust managed to get just enough control to slam his weapon into the ground. He braced himself and gripped as hard as he could, slowing his momentum to a halt. Sterling watched as Rust stopped, and fired an energy bolt at him. Rust lifted his weapon with great force, and raised part of the floor of the arena attached to Tetanus, and used that to block. The bolt casually faded as it hit the stone floor, and Rust reared back, and swung his club with great force, which launched the rock at Sterling.
Sterling smirked and snapped his fingers, and activated his Semblance. Suddenly, his crossbow was covered in a silver liquid, and a faint red glow emanated from the loader. Sterling shot at the rock, red bolt fired forth, the silvery substance being absorbed into it as it flew at the rock. Once the rock and bolt collided, an instant and very volatile explosion occurred, which flung both combatants away from each other.
Rust landed prone, and staggered back to his feet, ready for the next blow
Sterling was knocked into a wall and his head bashed into it.
Rust paused for a second. "Hey Albreight… you okay?" he questioned concerned, seeing blood flow from a wound on his opponent's head, tarnishing the silver sheen of Sterling's hair.
Sterling stood up slowly and cocked his head to the side.
"Trash." Sterling said in a curious monotone.
"Excuse me!?" Rust yelled. "What did you call me?"
"Trash." Sterling repeated in the exact same tone. He took a deep breath. "Stop talking."
"Fine!" Rust glared angrily at Sterling and gripped Tetanus. "Here I come!" he shouted at Sterling as he charged.
Sterling stood still and stared at Rust as he rushed at him. Sterling closed his eyes and took a breath. Rust came within striking range of Sterling, and swung his club in an upward motion at Sterling, who dodged effortlessly. Rust made a few more powerful swipes at Sterling, who avoided with minimal effort.
"What?" Rust cocked his head. "When did you…" His words were cut short by a sudden punch to the gut.
"Shut up." Sterling said.
Sterling's new emotionless tone seemed to affect Rust, as he staggered back to catch his breath, and look of dread appeared on his face.
"Are you… okay" Rust said with a winded grunt. He gripped his club and stood straight.
"Yes." Sterling said coldly.
"Um. Okay?" Rust shook his head and rushed at Sterling again.
Sterling shook his head. His shield became covered in a pale blue glow, and then was unexpectedly covered in Sterling Semblance. Rust swung with all is might at Sterling, who merely braced the blow, meeting Tetanus with his shield. Ice burst forth from the shield and enveloped Rust, freezing his body in place.
Sterling stared blankly at Rust.
Rust felt unnerved.
Something was not right
Sterling reached for his belt retrieving a red dust grenade attached to it; he then walked over to Rust.
"Now I won't have to hear you talk again." Sterling expressionless tone and stare felt colder than the ice that Rust was stuck in. Sterling Semblance surrounded the grenade
Sterling stuck the grenade in Rusts mouth. Rust was filled with absolute terror, as he knew what was about to happen.
Sterling gave a faint smile as walked some distance away. He sent a burst of aura into the grenade.
It exploded.
Rust exploded.
A stray shard of ice pelted Sterling, knocking him out.
Sterling awoke in the infirmary. He stood up the minute he realized where he was. He looked around frantically. The Headmaster was sitting at his bedside.
"Headmaster Arclyte?" Sterling said in a panic. "What happened? The last thing I remember is getting blown back after I exploded the rock that came flying at me… Did I fail?" It was clear that Sterling had no idea what he had done
"Oh no, Mister Albreight." Arclyte smiled. "I would say that you passed with flying colors."
"Oh, huh…" Sterling looked around some more. "Where's Rust, I want to let him know how much I enjoyed being challenged by him. Is he in the infirmary too?"
NO idea at all
"No Sterling. He is resting in his room, waiting for his next test. I'll tell him for you." Arclyte continued to smile. "this is for you." He handed Sterling 2 envelopes.
The first envelope contained Sterling graduation diploma from Lymelyte Junior Academy.
The Second contained Sterling's invitation letter to attend Beacon Academy.
Sterling fell onto the bed, a smile from ear to ear. "PERFECT!" he exclaimed.
Well let me know what you think of the trailer. Stay tuned for the next trailer Lith Gray