"Well, not every story has a neat and tidy ending."
"Yin, what do you want to be when you grow up?" Yin's eyes glanced over at his little brother. His cheek bandaged and his arms folded across his small chest. Ruben's cheeks were baby chubby, peach fuzzed at age six. His lone fang dipping out of the corner of his mouth as he leaned up against the tree. Eyes squinted and burning with a relentless fury.
His red overalls ripped at one shoulder, the stands of jean and thread hanging off besides his hip and thigh. His hair was longer, ending just at his shoulders as his nearly translucent white hair began to bleed in patches and shades of gray. An aging, old-man shade of gray. Something that won him the nickname, 'Old Man Ruben.'
To say he hated said nickname was to say he hated broccoli. Which he despised.
"Don't know." Yin smirked, jumping off his feet stretching his arms. His hoodie was golden, shining in the evening sun as he flexed his muscles and felt his spine cracking with every stretch. His hair was past his buttocks, tied off in on glorious golden mane of a pony tail. Black ties keeping the hair together all along his back.
His hands were bruised and knuckles split, especially the middle one. The dried blood crusting and etched into the wrinkles of his fingers. His lips curled into an always beaming smile. His eyes shining as he glanced over at his little brother. "But when I do, I'll be sure to tell-"
"Yin!" That booming voice, one that shook leaves off of their branches and sent local wild life bolting towards the hills, belonged to their loving and dear father. Who was just told of an 'incident' involving Yin and a gang of fifth graders who decided to steal Ruben's juice box. Needless to say. Four boys went to the nurses office for bloody noses and twisted arms.
Two went the principle.
"Come here now!" The voice was furious sounding. Thundering around the area and rocking their small world. The blinds of the nearby class rooms falling in an instance. Keeping the children out of sight of this monstrous man. Who's mere presence was told to terrify those dreadful beasts, of which he hunted for trophy and sport. "Now, Yin!"
"Coming, Pa!" Yin looked over at Ruben, winking at him as he retracted his hands to his pockets. He saw Ruben's cheeks pale, and his lips beginning to quiver and shake. His hands remained balled up, eyes resting on their father's approaching body.
"Don't worry buddy. I'll talk to Pops." Yin approached his father without fear, back straight and eyes unnerved. Lips curled into a smirk and eyes meeting his father's.
"Yin, why did your teacher tell me you fought with a few other boys today?" He asked in a baritone voice, not unlike Ruben's would eventually become. His thick, boisterous arms crossed of his barrel and broad. His head tilted curiously to the side, his thick locks and sunlight obscuring his face. Yin couldn't see his father's face, the figure before him looking more akin to an angel than his loving father.
Yin lost his smile, squinting his eyes as he let out a sigh. This was the first time Yin had actually witnessed the bullying, on the school yard that very day. Watched them circle around his little brother, knocking him off his feet and sending a heel to the cheek. Yin...just sort of went ballistic, to say the least.
"They picked on Ruben, Pops. Pushed him to the ground and kicked him. They don't do that to him. Not him." Yin stated, looking away from his father. Kicking up some dirt as he pouted. Feeling his father's intense gaze piercing through him. Through his body and soul. "I don't-"
"Good."
Yin thought he was going to get in trouble. It was understandable. He had sent his brother's attackers to the nurse for good reason. One wouldn't stop bleeding and the other's arm would have been forever marked red from the twist he received.
Yin would be punished, but how was his greatest worry. Sent without supper? No cartoons? No ice cream? Or worse! Spanked!?
But that single word confused him.
"Wait, wha-"
"Yin," His father got on a single knee, meeting eye to eye with his little man. Hand ruffling the boy's hair as he smiled softly. The bags under his eyes and five oclock shadow making Yin smile once more. His father was a good man at heart, a tired but good man. He spoke with the tenderness that his stepmother would use. That motherly, endearing, warm rhythm with a hand so gently resting atop his head.
"The world is a dangerous place, Yin. Filled to the brim...with...with darkness." He moved to rest the hand on Yin's shoulder next, sighing with the intent of it to ease up on his grim tone. Thumb rubbing Yin's smooth cheek. "I need you to look after Ruben, for when I cannot. There will be days where I am not there to look out for him. I need to do that. Be a big boy and take care of him. Protect him, Yin. With all your strength..."
Yin felt his heart race, the things his father asked him were too much for him. He was just a small child. He was just Yin. Except, that's when he felt it. It was his job. His duty. He was born first for a reason.
This reason.
Because Ruben would need protecting. He was his little brother. His to look after. His to take care of.
"I would always protect him, Pops." Yin smiled, watching the corners of his father's lips curl into that rare vibrant smile. A smile that made his own begin to glow. Yin chuckled as he glanced at his little brother out of the corner of his eye. His small, innocent little brother. "I'll always protect Ruben..."
"Lift on three! Ready?" The voice was strained, tired. The ceiling of Yin's prison saw four claws curl against the edges of this slab of steel and concrete. The darkness broken by sheds of light, of pale flesh.
The nails of his savior were broken, either cracked down the middle of the white crescents or broken off completely. The fingers covered in dried blood, fallen ash and crusted dirt. The fleshy bit of the fingers pressing against the cold rock and beginning to lift. Torn and bleeding slightly under the weight of the sidewalk, another pair of hands curled around the other side, fair as snow and just as light. The knuckles bruised and slit.
The conjoint breathing got heavier, as they got a feel for the weight of this block of stone. It would lift, but not easily enough.
"Three!" The voice of the one fair as snow cracked just when this piece of broken up concrete was being lifted off of Yin's stasis being. The crushing weight of the slab almost mashing him into a fine paste. Luckily, they reached him just in time. He let out a shallow breath, feeling his sternum relieved of such pain and hurt.
Their knees shook and struggled before the slab was finally lifted up off of Yin's body and his eyes meeting the blinding day light. The rising smoke from the explosion and the beautiful ocean blue of the sky.
Yin saw the outline of a massive figure, a crimson banner draped around his neck. The scarf torn at the edges, bits of yarn and string fluttering in the gentle waves of the afternoon breeze. The sleeves of his savior were torn to shreds and covered in handfuls of onyx hair.
Yin swore the man took 'bear arms' too seriously. All the same, he could see gashes as deep as the man's own claws across his forearms and shoulders. Covered in dirt and grime as well. The ram horns remained fine, however, he could see a few strands of the same shade of red dripping down his own cheeks. Draining from where the horns made their hold upon the man's head.
The other one, bless his heart, would have been as pristine as any angel had it not been for the explosion. The cut across his face had been reopened, the wound deeper and wider than it were before, spread bloody against his white cheek. The side of his face profusely bleeding. Still wet, and continued to spill as he stood against the burning horizon. The vest was torn, the buttons missing and the right shoulder strap ripped. The linen shirt underneath had caught all of his blood, sweat and tears.
The darkened white button up had tears all across the biceps and his shoulders. One in particular stretching all the way from his left shoulder clear down to his right hip. Held together by the vest and the sheer will power of the single strands holding on to dear life.
Yin gave thanks as he mumbled a silent prayer. He attempted to reach for his teammates, however, his arms didn't seem to want to cooperate with his thoughts. He remained on the floor, mouth barely open as he attempted to speak. Yet no words seemed to drip out of his mouth. Only drops of blood.
"Yin! Yi- Oh God...Yin..." The booming voice belonged to Blair, who's hand soon clapped over his own mouth as he turned away and began to dry heave. Each retching sound making the vile in his throat climb higher and higher. Soon, the poison left his stomach, and splashed against the grass and sidewalk.
"Blair! What's wro-Goodness." This voice was much softer, but not gruff enough to be Ruben. This one belonged to Winter. The tone of his voice was one of disaster. Sounded defeated, right where he stood. Winter turned his eyes away, shutting them tight as he rested his hands on his knees.
Yin groaned, letting out a shallow breath as he attempted to move his right arm to reach out for his best friends and teammates. Yin blinked, feeling sharp pains in his right arm. He slowly glancing over at his arm, noticing thick pieces of rebar sticking out of his bicep.
In particular, one piece went through his tricep, just missing the bone, and exiting the bicep. The thick, round piece stained with his blood. Several other pieces simply were sent shooting into and through his forearms and upper arm. He groaned, as he noticed he couldn't even move his hand effectively. He could see the tips of his fingers twitch ever so slightly, as his thumb began shaking.
His whole arm covered in dried up blood, the crusts of it had ran against his veins or curved with his muscles, and just remain still. The dips and curves of his arms layered in thick pieces of blood and coated in a sprinkle ash.
He shuddered, seeing several more sticking out of his right shoulder. One piece barely an inch or two away from his temple. Yin leaned back, barring his teeth, and letting out a blood curdling scream. One that echoed for what seemed to be miles, beating that of the roars of Grimm.
Ruben sat upon the rubble and lumber. Breathing in the scorching of the wood and listening to the screaming. Ruben held his broken piece of gear within his hands. The twisted and crooked blade resting against the ground.
His right hand grasping what would have been the handle. Had it not been so bent far back it snapped. The ejector had been blown to hell, the shell resting in the chamber had exploded from the intense heat of the explosion. The barrel was too contorted and bended to even shoot any shells, anyhow.
"Ruben!" The screams were like flatlines, ringing in his ears. He felt the rising smoke sort of ease into his system. Which began making him cough. He turned towards Blair and Winter, who were carrying the incapacitated Yin over their shoulder. Ruben glanced at the blood on their faces, the tearing of their clothes, the look of defeat in their eyes.
"Hey..." Ruben's voice was hollow, empty. He glanced at the blood staining Blair's arms, Winter's bloodied face, and then took notice of Yin's twisted arm. The jagged cut across Winter's face grew wider. Blair's cheeks were stained with blood coming down from his horns. Yin's arms were impaled several times over with rebar.
Ruben's felt his chest rise, before he let out a huff a breath.
Then he let loose a soft chuckle. Then a hearty laugh.
Then he began cackling.
The other's were confused, to say the least. They saw him throw his weapon down, his hands pressing against his temples and he threw his head back. Then they saw tears were streaming down his cheeks.
"We-We-We-We-We totally...totally...failed..." Ruben hollered, as he turned his head towards the rising head of a Grimm Serpent. The monster hissed softly before it let loose a mighty roar. Ruben felt speckles of spit splat against his cheeks, snarling.
Ruben let out a growl, before letting one last chuckle escape his lips before turning back to his team.
"We are out of our league..." Ruben mumbled, breathing in the dust and grime. The smell of fire and gun powder. He spread out his arms, palms facing the sky before he back on his knees. "We were never gonna win this war..." Ruben shut his eyes, feeling his heart beating in his chest. "We were never gonna win..."
He could see his father, dressed in black, standing before his own grave on a cold winter's day. The tears in his eyes slipping down the wrinkles on his cheeks before sinking into the fresh laid snow. Ruben would cry, but that would mean giving these beasts a moment of victory. Ruben wouldn't allow that. Not for one moment.
He heard the sound of mortars and the barrage of gun fire. His eyes shooting open as he saw flashes of gold and red, of pink and green. He blinked, and found himself being dragged away. His shoulders dragging against the cobblestone and gravel. He looked up, the grimaced look on his brother's face as he pulled Ruben away from the battle field. Ruben watched as Jaune fought his hardest against the beasts.
Yin dragged Ruben to the closest Helibird, throwing him onto the floor before boarding himself.
"We...we couldn't." Yin mumbled, glancing over at Blair and Winter joining him on the bird. Winter sat back with his hands resting on his knees. Eyes shut and head against the rest.
Blair was running his paws over his shoulders, staring blankly out into the battle field. Wishing he was in any condition to help. Alas, Blair fell back and shut his eyes. His pained groans breathing in pain and breathing out agony.
Yin, having finally lost all feeling to his impaled arm, decided to shut his eyes and passed out on the seat beside him. His bleeding cheek resting against the seat.
Ruben, however, Ruben remained silent. He kept his eyes painfully on the battle field, watching Hunter after Hunter join the fray.
He saw Ren and Pyrrha fighting their hearts out along side Juane. Sun and Neptune duking it out with those damned snakes. He saw Velvet-
"Vee!" Ruben shouted, sitting up straight and feeling his heart pounding in his chest. He saw her fighting with the best of them, along side her team. He glanced all around, looking for anything to use. Anything to replace his broken scythe. "Vee!"
"Ruben..." Winter softly spoke, his hands coiling into fists. "She's ok...She's with her team. She'll be-"
"She needs me...I need to help her..." Ruben felt his back cringe as he tried to sit up. Felt his body on the verge of collapsing. He took a final breath, and fell back on the floor. Eyes shut, heart beating ever so softly. "Vee..." Ruben mumbled, the darkness suffocating him. "Vee..."
"The Faunus wasn't too bad." The doctor spoke, leading Glydna down the hallway. He flipped over his paper, clearing his throat. "Deep cuts across the arms and most of his back. Second degree burns and shrapnel in his back as well. Broken nails, fingers, and sprained wrists. The area where his horns meet his skull have been twisted and contorted. Several pieces of bone that conjoin the two have been fractured. Recovery will take a few months at the very least. Though healing fast."
Flips a page, mumbling softly to himself.
"Mister Frost...Cut on his cheek has been reopened. Deeper and worse than before. We have knocked needles against his teeth when we tried stitching the wound together. He has a dislocated shoulder and standard cuts along his chest and back. A couple of months. Weeks, if anything."
Flips a page, letting out a growl.
"The blonde one has...I don't even know how to describe it." He glanced over at the Professor, tapping his fingers on the paper. "He sustained the least amount of overall bodily injury. Surprising. He's tough. No broken bones to speak of, or deep cuts that haven't already healed. He's very resilient. Except for the pieces of metal in his arm. He's undergoing treatment at the moment. My best men are working on taking out the debris. However, he might never feel that arm again. The nerve damage might be too sever. Standard, few months."
He flips the page, shaking his head.
"Thorn...he's an odd case. He's been rejecting treatment, tossing away doctors when they try to give him medicine, and noticeably shook up. He's very troubled, and extremely violent. Woken up screaming and shaking most nights." He clears his throat. "Cuts along his arms and back, chest had several pieces of shrapnel lodged in. He's got a cracked skull. Nose is broken." He lays the papers on the table, squinting his eyes. "They all got damaged. They each took a rather...rather hard hit."
"But..." Glynda let out a sigh, her eyes glancing up at the Doctor. He nodded, pulling the clipboard close to chest. "They're ok?"
"For all intents and purposes, they are fine. They'll heal. Just like everyone else." The Doctor nodded and left to attend other patients. Glynda watched him leave, her hands interlaced with each other as she walked over besides Ruben. She looked over the bandages and patches of blood, taking a seat besides his cot.
She kept her eyes fixated on the floor, her hands shaking at the thought of speaking to The Frosts. How the father and mother would hear about their boy dying in battle. She could only imagine the funeral arrangements. It would be something glorious.
Yin and Ruben's father would probably have to scavenge for any and all scraps of coin to pay for the coffins. Having to make two more graves would break the poor man. More than he already is.
Blair, what would Blair do? No next of kin, or real home to speak of. He would have lived, and disappeared. A tree that has fallen in the forest, with no one to hear it.
"We...we lost." Glynda's eyes shot up, a pair of gray eyes meeting hers. "We lost."
"You're alive." She stated, a soft smile breaking her solemn face. "You're alive."
"At what cost?" Ruben smirked, tears swelling in his eyes. "Look at us. We're...broken. We're busted." Ruben tried to roll over onto his side, his hands visibly shaking as he felt shocks up his back. He wasn't moving for a while, as he felt his shoulders settle back into place. He growled, grimacing at the pain. "And Yin? Yin's arm is broken."
"He's healing. The doctors are doing everything-"
"Even if they do pull those pieces of rebar out of his arm, he won't be able to move that arm. He's broken. And it's all my fault." Ruben stated, his hands curling into fists. "Winter's pretty face is busted, Blair's burned and it's all my fault." Ruben sat up, his teeth clenched at the pain as he felt tears stream down his face. "All. My. Fault." He laid back down, staring into the ceiling. "Please...just go."
"Ruben-"
Ruben turned away from her, shutting his eyes and doing his best to ignore her. He listened for the door to close, hearing the heels click against the tile flooring. He heard the hinges move, the door opening, then another set of feet taking Glynda's place. Ruben heard the marching of the feet, then the heels slamming onto the floor.
"You promised." Ruben heard her voice. He turned towards the door, and Velvet stood before him. She stood there, a red wrapped box in hand, tears swelling in her eyes. She looked at the box, placing it at the foot of his bed. She walked along side the bed, standing besides his arm before she sat down. Her hands running along the inside of his forearm. "You promised..."
"I'm so sorry." Ruben smirked, through the pain, his one shoulder attempting to shrug. "Never was one for keeping a promise like that."
Velvet stared into his eyes, her eyes keeping steady with his own. Ruben sighed, glancing away.
"I just wanted to hel-" That's when he felt it. Her cheek against his bare chest, fingers against his side. Her eyes squinted shut as she laid in bed besides him. She pulled close to him, as if he would disappear if she didn't. Ruben, with a soft smile, pulled his arm over her waist. He laid back, feeling tranquility in her touch. Peace in her arms. He heard a series of thunderous footsteps, the squeaky sound of wheels against the tile floor.
"There's a day when our courage collapses. And our friends turn and leave us behind!" Ruben chuckled, hearing Yin's booming voice echo down the hall. "Creatures of darkness will triumph, the sun won't rise!" Ruben couldn't stop smiling, as the doors were pushed open.
"When we've lost all hope!" Yin was reeled into the room, his arm stitched and casted. His smile as bright and shining as ever. His golden locks buzzed short as a series of stitches were made along the sides of his skull.
"And succumb to fear!" Yin, with his only good hand, began to play a mad riff on his air guitar. "And the Skies rain blood! And the end draws near!"
Yin bit his lip as he continued to play, as he was placed in the open area along side Ruben and Winter.
"I! May! Fall! But not like this!" Yin started wiggling his broken arm, bobbing his head from side to side. "It won't be by your hand!"
"Well, that's a sight." Ruben glanced over, seeing Yin playing away. Velvet did her best to ignore him, despite her cheeks growing redder than the stains on Ruben's wraps.
"Look at me! I'm looking chipper than ever! Just a lil worse for the wear!" He roared, kicking his feet against the sheets. "And look at you! Miss Velvet? How'd you land that?"
Velvet shot up, jumping to her feet and tossing the box into Ruben's lap. She bolted out the door, without saying goodbye.
Ruben sat there, blinking.
"I...don't...know?" Ruben glanced down at the box, doing his best to unwrap it. He pulled the wrap away, and the fluffy rabbit greeted him from within the box. Ruben let out a soft laugh, pulling the rabbit into his arms. "But I'm glad..."
"Ruby and VeeVee sitting in a tree!~" Yin flexed his hands, feeling a bit of a sting coming for his broken side. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" He pursed his lips, smacking them together into a sloppy set of sounds.
"For the love of God, shut up." Winter grumbled, grimacing. He started stretching out his legs, barring his teeth. "It's bad enough to be bedridden, now I'm back to listening Yin sing himself to sleep."
"To be fair, I couldn't leave one of my bestest friends to not listen to a hymn as they slip into a cozy slumber." Yin flashed Winter a smile. "You'd miss it too much."
"I miss alot of things. Walking. Sleeping. The sweet embrace of an anesthetic." Winter mumbled. He glanced over at Blair, who was currently under. The lacerations across his back covered in burn relief gel. The edges of his scarred back a crispy burnt black. "I envy you, Blair."
"At least we are alive." Yin smirked, before kicking his feet over the side of his bed. He jumped up onto his feet, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders. "I'm thirsty. Who wants coco?"
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Ruben asked, the rabbit's stuffed head resting against his chest. "Don't hurt yourself."
"Hey! You're not my doctor!" Yin chuckled, with a wink. "Let the rabbit be your cuddle buddy! I'll be back in a jiffy." Yin sprinted off, a spring in his step. Ruben let out a soft laugh, glancing at the rabbit. He brushed his thumb against fluffy nose. He glanced out the window of the hospital room, the aircraft carrier floating over the harbor.
"Let's hope for a quick recovery." Winter said, nodding his head from side to side. "Get back into school."
"Let's hope for alot of things." Ruben glanced at the rabbit, smiling softly. "Like a school to get back too."
Ruben glanced out the window once again, the sound of the aircraft carrier's blades echoing through the city. Ruben pulled the rabbit into his arms, feeling it's soft fabric against his stitched up chest. Ruben was alive, as was Winter and Blair. Yin was getting coco. With a heavy heart, Ruben kept his smile. Things would get better. They had to.
"They see you as small and helpless. They see you as just a child." Yin moved down the hallway, head bobbing side to side as he wiggled his fingers against the cast. "Surprise when they find out that a warrior will soon run wild!" He turned the corner, coming face to face with a person dressed in all black. The raven hair blew in the airless hallway, the armor covered in a layer of crimson red, and wearing thigh high black nylon.
"Who are you?" Yin asked, the figure resembling something out of a dream or a vision. The figure's dainty hands reached for the mask, pulling it off. The face was flawless, a shade of almost milky cream white. With a pair of blood red moon eyes. Her smile was akin to Ruben's. Notably dark and sinister looking, yet almost inviting. Like a demon's whisper.
"Yin..." The voice sounded almost familiar, almost relative. As if he'd heard it before. She let out a sigh, a hand resting on her hip. "We have a lot to talk about..."