Chapter 2: Meet Ruby Rose
Author's Note: It's good to see that this story is getting some recognition. Here's another chapter of my RWBY with elements of Batman story. What was the proposal Ozpin gave to Ren and Nora? We're about to find out.
RWBY belongs to Monty Oum (R.I.P.) and Rooster Teeth
Batman belongs to DC Comics
It's been months since Ozpin came to them with the proposal. Ren was busy training, wondering if he made the right decision. Meanwhile, Nora was on the Bat-Computer listening to the police feeds. In order to know any new crimes occurring, the two would either go on nightly patrols or hack into the feeds of the Vale Police Department. Suddenly, Nora heard something that caught her interest.
"Ren, there are reports of sightings of Roman Torchwick being made by civilians," Nora reported to her partner. Ren's eyes narrowed.
"Roman Torchwick, the most wanted criminal in the Kingdom of Vale. He is a notorious thief who has committed numerous Dust robberies and has been known to escape authorities. He's not going to escape from us," Ren stated.
"I'm already checking which Dust shops haven't been robbed. I found a couple, but there's one that's closest to the sightings," Nora said.
"Which is it?" Ren asked.
"A small Dust shop named 'From Dust Till Dawn,'" Nora answered. The gingered haired teen chuckled. "It's actually pretty good wordplay if you ask me."
"Let's get suited up then. Roman needs to be stopped," Ren told her. Nora nodded, and the two of them quickly changed in to their costumes and gathered their gear. Ren, now as Batman, got into the Batmobile while Nora, now as Nightwing, got onto her Wingcycle. The Batcave's entrance opened up, and the two vigilantes drove out towards the City of Vale.
Meanwhile, Roman Torchwick is seen walking to an alleyway. He has slanted, dark-green eyes and bright, long, orange hair with long bangs that covers his right eye. He wears a black bowler hat with a red band and a small feather as well as wearing black eyeliner. He also wears a red-lined white suit and a small gray scarf. He has black gloves with rounded sleeves, as well as long black pants and black shoes.
With him are a couple of henchmen that he hired from Hei "Junior" Xiong. He doesn't want to do any of the labor work, so he needed people to do it for him. That and he plans to use them as a distraction in case Batman and Nightwing show up so he can escape.
They each have an identical appearance. They're dressed in black suits with matching hats and shoes, red sunglasses, and a red tie with a small amount of variation. All of them have black hair with some having a black mustache as well. They all also seem to have the same skin color.
Roman was on another Dust robbery ordered by his superior, Cinder Fall. He didn't know why Cinder wanted him to commit another Dust robbery. He was already laying low ever since the White Fang's criminal activity has decreased. Adam Taurus is still in Blackgate, and the infamous thief doesn't want to end up in that place as well. However, he cannot go against Cinder's orders if he values his life.
'Of all the things that damn woman wanted me to do, she wants me to risk getting caught by Batman? I should've brought Neo with me,' thought the thief. He entered the Dust shop, surprising the old shopkeeper. Roman smoked his cigar before taking a look at the shop and its owner. The old man looked scared as he knew who Roman is.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a Dust shop open this late?" Roman asked as he was flicking his cigar. One of his henchmen pointed his gun at the elderly man.
"P-Please, just take my Lien and leave!" the old shopkeeper pleaded, but Roman shushed him.
"Shhh, shhh, shhh, shhh, calm down, we're not here for your money," Roman replied. He then turn to his henchmen. "Grab the Dust." The men did as they were ordered and began unloaded tools that would help them collect the Dust from the shop. One of the henchmen approached the old man.
"Crystals. Burn. Uncut," the henchman ordered. The old man obeyed and proceeded to give them his Dust crystals. Another henchman noticed that they weren't alone in the shop. He noticed a teenage girl reading a magazine with her back turned towards them. The girl was listening song using her headphones. The henchman unsheathed his sword and approached her.
"Alright kid, put your hands where I can see 'em," the henchman demand while pointing his sword at her back. He didn't receive a response, which annoyed him. "Hey, I said hands in the air! You got a death wish or something!?" The henchman goes over to her and turns her around, dropping to hood to reveal the girl. She seems surprised as the henchman motions her to lower her headphones.
The girl appears to be young, fifteen at best. She has silver eyes and black shoulder-length hair with a red tint to it. She's wearing a black blouse, a black waist clincher with red lacing and a skirt with red trimmings, complete with a red cloak holding onto her shirt with cross-shaped pins. She also wears a belt with a silver rose on it.
"Yes?" the girl asked as she took off her headphones.
"I said, put your hands in the air, now!" the henchman ordered.
"Are you…robbing me?" the girl asked in confusion.
"Yes!" the henchman shouted in anger.
"Ooohhh…" the girl responded, understanding the situation. Meanwhile, Roman was waiting for his henchmen to finish the heist. He heard a "Hey!" and "Hyah" and saw the henchman who approached the girl fly past him. The master thief motions for the other henchmen to deal with her. One henchman raises his gun at her.
"Freeze!" the henchman demanded. The girl uses her speed and tackles the henchman, send them crashing through the window. The other men looked outside as the girl gets up and unfolds her weapon, Crescent Rose, into scythe form. Roman scowls, but the girl smiles back at them before twirling the weapon around, striking it into the ground and turning off her headphones.
"Okayyy…Get her!" Roman ordered his henchmen. They head out of the shop and run at the scythe-wielding girl, who spins around her weapon and kicks the first approaching criminal in the face. She gets Crescent Rose out of the ground and fires it off to hit another one with the butt of her weapon, sending him flying. She fires again and brings the side down on one attacker and dodges the next's gunfire with her rifle's speed, getting close enough to knock him into the air and follow him upwards so she can beat him away to Roman's feet.
"You were worth every cent. Truly you were," Roman said to his unconscious henchmen. He dropped his cigar and crushed it with his cane. He heard the sound of wheels, turning to see the incoming Batmobile and Wingcycle. "Shit." The thief then turns to the scythe wielder. "Well, Red, I think we can all say it's been an eventful evening, and as much as I'd love to stick around…" He raises his cane and opens the bottom to reveal a rifle with a cross grid. "I'm afraid this is where we stop ways." Roman unleashes a red blast at the girl, who fires at the ground and leaps over it. When she lands and looks up, Roman isn't there and is climbing up a ladder on a nearby building.
The Batmobile and Wingcycle came close to the girl before coming into a screeching halt. The Batmobile opened up, and Batman leaped out from his vehicle before landing on the ground. Nightwing got off her motorcycle as well before joining her partner. The girl's eyes widen in excitement as she couldn't believe who she's meeting.
"Oh my god, you're Batman and Nightwing!" the girl squealed. "My name's Ruby Rose. I heard rumors and stories about you two, and I have so many questions to ask!"
"Not now. Roman Torchwick is getting away," Batman said. Before Ruby could know it, the dark vigilante dash towards the building Roman climbed onto and took out a grappling gun. He shot a grappling hook that held onto the roof and propelled himself upward.
"Did you do all this?" Nightwing asked, gesturing to the unconscious bodies.
"Uh…yeah," Ruby responded.
"Awesome!" the female vigilante cheered, flashing the young girl a smile. She then performed the same actions as her partner and propelled herself onto the same roof. Ruby turned to the old shopkeeper.
"You okay if I go after them?" the hooded girl asked. The old man gives a short "Uh huh," and Ruby sets off. Meanwhile, Batman had just confronted Roman, who was now at the edge of the building. Fear and adrenaline filled Torchwick. This is now or never for the thief.
"It's over Torchwick. Your days of Dust robbery are over," Batman said.
"That's what you think Batsy. To be honest, I'm honored that I'm being met by the infamous Dark Knight," Roman said. Nightwing then appear and landed on the roof next to her partner. "Oh, and the little birdie too." Nightwing glared at the nickname.
"You should know that Adam Taurus would be happy to have a new cellmate at Blackgate after we're done with you," Nightwing told the thief. Roman frowned. He didn't like the idea of going to Blackgate. The only person there is Adam, and the two aren't on the best of terms since they first met as Cinder's allies.
"You'll have to catch me first," Torchwick replied. Suddenly, Ruby soared onto the roof and landed next to the two vigilantes.
"Hey!" the scythe user called out.
"Persistent," Roman muttered. Suddenly, a bullhead rises up and opens the hatch to allow Roman inside. The thief smirked. It seems like he's going to get some help after all. He faced the trio and held a red Dust gem. Batman knew what Roman was going to do, so he brought out a Batarang and threw it at the criminal to knock it out of his hand. Roman quickly threw the gem back, and it collided with the projectile that resulted in a large explosion.
"Whoa-ho-ho-ho!" the thief hollered as he got into the bullhead. He turns around to see the result of the explosion. He then saw something on the roof. "Huh?" A woman in a purple cape is now in front of Ruby and the two vigilantes. Both Batman and Nightwing knew who she is. She's Glynda Goodwitch, a professor from Beacon Academy.
As Ruby looks on, the woman waves her weapon and summons several streaks of purple at the craft. Roman is thrown around in the back until he goes to the cockpit, where a woman in red, her face hidden, is struggling with the controls.
"We got a Huntress and Batman and Nightwing!" Roman called out to the pilot. The woman got up and heads toward he back as Roman takes the controls. Glynda glows purple for a moment and aims another blast above the craft, resulting in a dark storm-cloud right over the jet.
"The hell…?" Roman muttered in confusion. Both Batman and Nightwing were shocked at Glynda's extraordinary skills. With a flick of her wand, large jugged hail starts falling that pummels the jet and even breaks through the window, narrowly missing Roman's head. It was then that the mysterious woman made her appearance to the group.
"Who's she?" Nightwing asked her partner.
"I don't know. She must a partner of Roman's. I can't get a good read on her," Batman replied.
The woman's arms and chest light up like fire, aiming a burst of energy at Glynda. The Huntress blocks it, but the flame splatters behind her and glows hot with the enemy's raised hand. Glynda back-flips out of the explosion, which destroys part of the roof, and magically gathers the shards to create a large arrow, which she throws at the craft. The fiery woman shatter the arrow with several blasts, but it reforms just in time to hit the side of the jet due to Roman's quick aerial lean. The wreckage separates and reshapes into more arrows that encircle the jet, but the woman summons several glowing rings around herself that expands and destroys the shards.
With the woman distracted, Batman found this the perfect opportunity to strike. He threw an explosive Batarang while Nightwing threw her version of a Batarang, which she dubs a Wing-Ding." The woman blocked them and their explosions. Ruby tried to help by reverting her scythe into its rifle form to fire at the woman. However, the woman blocked her shots as well.
The mystery woman then creates several blazing circles around her opponents. Glynda telekinetically pushes Ruby and rolls herself out of the explosion's radius. Batman and Nightwing leaped out of the way as well. Before the bullhead's hatch could close, Batman took out what seems to be a small collapsible gun. He fired a powerful bolt of high current electricity at the unsuspecting, mystery woman. The bolt struck her, knocking her down in the bullhead. Roman closed the hatch and flew the craft away. Ruby then looks at Glynda.
"You're a huntress! Can I have your autograph?" she pleaded with the older woman before turning to the two vigilantes. "Can I have yours also?" Nightwing gave a sheepish grin while rubbing the back of her head. Batman only stared at the now faraway bullhead.
Later
Lie Ren wasn't in a good mood. One of the most wanted criminals in Vale escaped him. This hasn't happened since he and Nora started their careers as vigilantes. The teen wasn't going to allow it again. He's going to stop Roman's criminal career and bring him to justice.
"Come on Ren, cheer up. At least we learned something new about Torchwick. He has a partner, a powerful one in fact," Nora told her friend. The two of them are back in the Batcave while Glynda Goodwitch took Ruby Rose to Professor Ozpin.
"You're right on that one," Ren admitted. He remembered the mysterious woman who piloted the bullhead that Roman escaped in. He remembers her abilities that she would use. "The way I see it, she weaved dust into her clothing. There's also the fact she can block Dust bullets and other projectiles."
"That won't be a problem for us. We don't use guns, well, the guns that shoot Dust bullets," Nora replied. Ever since they started their vigilante careers, Ren and Nora have two specific rules. One is no killing, with Grimm being an exception, and no using (lethal) guns of any kind.
The first rule is because they didn't want to be in the same level of as criminals. Criminals kill for numerous reasons. No matter how psychotic or evil the criminal is, Ren and Nora wouldn't kill. That goes for both humans and Faunus. Grimm is an exception because they are creatures of darkness and have no soul. Criminals, despite committing crimes, actually have souls.
The second rule is because it reminded Ren of his parents' death. The teenage boy was sure his mother died from being shot by the Court of Owls while fighting them. He wasn't sure how his father died, by either fighting the Grimm or by the Court of Owls. Ren knew that guns were the reason for his mother's demise. They don't use the kinds of guns that shoot lethal Dust bullets. While they do have weapons that look like guns, these weapons only incapacitates opponents.
"We could probably use close combat on her," Ren suggested, "Though we don't know how skilled she is at that area."
"What if Roman works for her?" Nora asked. "Considering the abilities she has, there's no way she and Roman is equals."
"You're right," Ren replied. "Roman has also been stealing Dust recently for some time now. If she's the mastermind, then what is she planning with all the Dust she has Roman steal?"
"That question is going to be bugging us for a while. Is there anything about the woman in the criminal database of any of the four kingdoms," Nora asked. Ren shook his head.
"I checked to see that when we first came back. Despite not getting a good look on her face, I tried to see if there were any matches of her abilities. So far none," the male teen stated.
"We could probably find more info later. What do you think about that Ruby Rose girl?" Nora asked.
"What about her?" Ren responded.
"Well, she took down all of Roman's henchmen," Nora suggested. A thought just came to her partner.
"Roman's henchmen….that's it!" Ren exclaimed.
"What's it?" Nora asked in confusion.
"The men who were with Roman, they might know some information. We're going to go interrogate them," Ren explained.
"Oh goody, that sounds fun," Nora cheered. Whenever Ren interrogates criminals for information, he either scares them or beats them up. Nora would help sometimes, but she would accidentally beat them unconscious. That's why Ren is usually in charge of interrogation. He put his cowl back on, now Batman again.
"Let's go," the vigilante told his partner. Nora nodded and placed her mask back on, making her Nightwing again.
Later at Vale Police Department, Roman's henchmen were already placed in different cells after they were arrested by the police. One particular henchman, a man named Fred Russell, thought the job was going to be easy. He knew the dangers of confronting Batman, but he didn't expect to be beaten up by a girl. It was after he woken up, he was arrested and taken to jail.
Fred lied on his bed in his cell. This was a humiliating night for him. Not only did he failed at robbing a Dust shop, he gotten beaten up by a teenage girl. He would've felt better if he gotten beat up by Batman or Nightwing instead. He could hear the sound of thunder coming through the roof. Hopefully nothing bad happens to him.
"Fred Russell," a voice called out to him. He sat up to see a bat-shaped figure. Things just got indeed worse. "Age 33, diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, possesses an unnatural talent in ventriloquism."
"B-B-Batman, what are you doing here," Fred stuttered.
"You have answers that I need," the vigilante said. He opened Fred's cell and entered it. At the first few months of his career, the vigilante hacked into the system of the Vale Police Department to allow him to open jail cells.
"Y-You can't be here. The guards won't allow you," Fred told him.
"They're on break," Batman replied. What he meant by break was that Nightwing actually knocked out the guards temporarily. Two vigilantes can't just walk into a police department filled with armed officers. Fred got off of his bed and tried to get away, but Batman grabbed him by the shirt.
"Please, leave me alone!" the criminal pleaded. The vigilante slammed him against the wall.
"Only if you tell me everything you know about Roman Torchwick," Batman told him. "What did he want with the Dust he was planning to steal? Who does he work for?"
"I don't know anything," Fred responded, but he received a punch from the vigilante.
"You should know better than to lie to me. Now talk," Batman demanded. Fred was scared. He doesn't know what Batman is fully capable of, and he doesn't want to find out.
"Roman hired us from Junior. He wanted to steal Dust shops, but he didn't tell Junior why," Fred answered. Batman knew about Hei Xiong. He was a club owner who offers the services of his men to those who needed it. While he knew Xiong has his men work for gang leaders in exchange for information, Batman also knew that the club owner is great informant. While on their way here, Nightwing initially suggested they get information from Xiong. However, they found out he wasn't at his club because it recently got trashed.
"Who is Roman working for then?" the vigilante demanded.
"We're not supposed to say," Fred answered. Batman didn't like the answer and slammed the criminal against the wall, only this time harder. The vigilante then gave another punch to the henchman.
"Tell me now," Batman told Fred. The vigilante was going to get answers, one way or another.
"Roman said that he was told by his boss to steal Dust. He described his boss as a "tyrannical bitch" and called her a she, so she must be a woman." the criminal explained.
"Is that everything you know? If you're lying to me, I'm going to make sure you didn't," the vigilante warned him. Fred nodded.
"I'm not lying. I swear on my mother's grave," the criminal quickly replied. Batman glared at him before throwing him to the ground. The vigilante then left the cell and closed it. Fred just huddled to a corner and whimpered. Batman went to Nightwing, who was sitting on a desk.
"Did you get anything?" the female vigilante asked her partner.
"All of them told me the same thing. Roman didn't tell them or Hei Xiong why he wanted the stolen Dust for. Plus, he didn't tell them anything about having an employer, only the fact his employer is a woman," Batman answered.
"Then we don't have a lead," Nightwing muttered.
"We'll find one," Batman assured her. "Roman's Dust robberies involve large quantities of Dust. Dust is a substance that has many purposes. Whatever he and his superior are planning to do with them, it's not going to be good."
"Is it wrong that I have the urge to break his legs?" Nightwing asked.
"As long as it doesn't have a long term effect, then no," Batman answered. "Now, we have to prepare for tomorrow."
"I still can't believe you agreed to that deal with Professor Ozpin," the female vigilante told her partner.
"He made a few good points. Besides, there are benefits to his deal," the dark vigilante replied. The two of them left the Vale Police Department and headed back towards the Batcave in their respective vehicles.
Author's Note: There was an Easter egg that I placed, hope you noticed what it was. What's happening tomorrow? What was the deal Batman/Ren made with Ozpin? Find out on the next chapter.