Reclaiming in Black
Chapter 5: Exposition
Rose sat cross-legged on her simple bed; a sizeable inflatable type mattress, covered in black and red sheets. The bed was currently situated in the RWBY dorm and she leaned against the nearby wall. She was reading a small treatise on the use of ice magic on Grimm, glad to have the opportunity to further her expertise. She'd not had any time to learn much beyond simple applications of dust magic under Weiss' tutelage; first, because she hadn't focused on it at Beacon and then because the war hadn't allowed much time for educating oneself.
Obsidian was pouring over the Grimm, she had only given him the fairly standard Grimm, nothing Ancient or even all that old, certainly not any of his tailor-made horror shows, but he was reading up on his modifications. She knew she would have to deal with the repercussions of his presence soon, but for now, was simply concerned about how she would tell the girls.
Yang and Ruby were sitting at a desk in the corner, talking loudly and making boisterous threats. They both had their scroll situated in front of them, connected to a small remote and were embroiled in hectic video game conflict of some sort. Lots of explosions and some impressively colorful language courtesy of Yang lent credence to the theory that the game was competitive (and that Yang was a sore loser).
Weiss was sitting in her bed, idly twirling her hair around her finger, completely engrossed by her own studies. Rose had directed her to one of her old favorites, a series of eclectic fencing forms compiled by an old master. Most thought the forms were utter rubbish, the last whimper of an aged legend sputtering into mediocrity… but not Weiss.
Weiss, in her early years at Beacon, had often bemoaned the predictable nature of her traditional fencing style. She never let it get to her, however. She simply practiced more, becoming a more accomplished swordswoman. Just because you knew how she was going to come at you didn't mean you were actually good enough to fight her off. You might know how a fencer fights but it doesn't make them any less apt to stick a long piece of metal through your eye socket; accompanied with a graceful flourish, no less.
It fit Weiss to a tee and she knew it, but it didn't mean she was happy about it. That is until she had found her current read. The addition of this slapdash collection of maneuvers and strikes whilst at first seemed a poor idea very quickly made a noticeable difference. The whimper of the old fencing master turned out to be more akin to a glorious explosion of insanity and bruises, at least for the other people on the other end of Myrtenaster.
Weiss would originally beat you by being five steps ahead, using her impressive intellect and dueling ability to skillfully corner and defeat you. Once she had mastered her new forms, she'd just as often take you by surprise after an unexpected blow from an odd angle. Cool, collected, skilled and predictable Weiss became cool, collected, skilled and unpredictable Weiss, which made her that much more dangerous.
So Rose wasn't surprised to see Weiss more than a little fascinated by her book. Some other chumps might not see what these forms had to offer but she had no doubt that Weiss with her daunting intellect would be able to understand how it could benefit her.
Rose wasn't really sure how long she was looking but Weiss must have sensed her gaze. Ice-blue eyes regard Rose in turn, having lifted themselves from the book in front of her. Rose is pleased and surprised when Weiss gives her a small, grateful smile, tipping the book up a little to indicate her reason. Rose returns a smile in what she hopes looks like a 'you're welcome'. It seems she manages because Weiss seems satisfied, turning back to her book.
Or at least she did at first. Rose watched as her brow furrowed, more thoughtful than angry (she had more than enough experience to tell by now). Weiss slowly puts the book down, then slides off her bed and approaches Rose quietly, still looking pensive.
"Can we talk, Rose?" Weiss asks politely, softly, shooting a furtive glance at Ruby and Yang.
'Seems like someone doesn't want to be overheard.' Ruby realizes so she responds quietly. "Sure Weiss, what's up?" Rose pats the empty bed next to her.
Weiss sits down softly next to Rose, looking at the backs of the vibrant forms Yang and Ruby. "I wanted to thank you for the book." Weiss says.
"You're welcome, Weiss." Rose returns genuinely. Weiss shifts a little, getting comfortable.
"I can already see just how much this can help me improve." Weiss admits. Rose shrugs.
"Of course, if it helped you the first time…" Rose trails off.
"It will aid me just as much now." Weiss finishes.
"Yup."
Weiss turns to look at Rose for the first time in their brief conversation. "I was wondering if there was anything else…?"
Rose regards her for a moment. "Other books?" She questions. Weiss shakes her head negatively.
"I mean as a whole, other techniques or tools, or yes, more books. Things that I… used to improve myself, in the future." Weiss elaborates. Rose stretches lightly, considering Weiss' words.
"Well yes. I am not sure if you noticed when you were busy cussing me out but I explained a lot of stuff after every spar." Rose says with good humor. Weiss blushes slightly. The spars had been downright grueling and no one had been altogether too surprised that pushed far enough, Weiss' low grumbling became audible, revealing a scathing tongue. Yang, the resident experts on swears, had sworn that calling someone a sadistic whore had never sounded so classy.
"Ah… yes." Weiss nods, dispelling her slight embarrassment. "I know and I'll be sure to keep what you said in mind." Rose smiles happily.
"Good." She says simply. Weiss begins again, trying to explain.
"What I meant is other things like the scroll. Things I found or learned that made large, positive impacts on my abilities. Things you could teach me." Weiss ventures. The proverbial light bulb lights in Ruby's head.
"Ohhh." She exclaims softly, then she smiles a broad, toothy smile at Weiss. "Of course, Weiss. I was your partner for eight years. I know how you fight better than anyone." Rose says then looks thoughtfully at Weiss. "Pretty literally, now that I think about it. Probably better than you do, at this point."
Weiss looks both pleased and a little miffed at that admission but doesn't deny it. Rose had come from the future, she was probably telling the truth. Rose tilts her head slightly at Weiss.
"It goes without saying but I'd be more than happy to teach you, Weiss." Rose says warmly. Weiss' lip quirks slightly, her expression showing her honest appreciation.
"Thank you." She opens her mouth to say more when she is interrupted by a large 'whoop' of triumph from Ruby, paired with Yang's despairing groan. Weiss' gaze swings to the table, watching the two sisters and she groans in exasperation, good mood was forgotten.
"Problem, Weiss?" Rose asks curiously, looking between Weiss and the people on the other end of her glare.
"Ruby." Weiss returns almost automatically. Rose lifts an eyebrow.
"Ruby?" She asks. Weiss seems to realize just who she is talking to but resolves to carry on anyway.
"She's just so…" She pauses as Ruby yells something about 'noob tubes'. "Loud." She waves her hand at Ruby.
"I'd say she's enthusiastic." Rose defends lightly. Weiss gives her a sidelong look.
"She's hyperactive,"
"Bubbly."
"She has no manners,"
"Honest."
"Her attention span is non-existent,"
"Thoughtful."
"She's immature,"
"Innocent."
"She's clumsy,"
"Puberty."
"She's reckless,"
"Pro-active."
"She's clingy,"
"Affectionate."
"And she's annoying."
"Well geez Weiss, tell me how you really feel." Rose says dryly, her patience wearing a little thin. Weiss rolls her eyes with a little huff.
"What I mean to say is, how does someone like her," Weiss indicates Ruby airily with a wave of her hand. "Turn into someone like you?"
Rose furrows her brow. "I'm not sure what you mean?"
"You're an amazing warrior, your scars showed as much." Weiss says with a grimace, rubbing her arm absentmindedly before she continues. "You're also patient, insightful, intelligent, kind and yes, more than a little crass but also everything I want to become as a huntress." Weiss fires off quickly but then realizes that once again her mouth has traveled faster than her mind and she shuts it quickly, blushing hard. Roses eyebrows meanwhile have taken a trip straight up her forehead at Weiss' rant.
"That's…" She begins, a little flustered. "Incredibly sweet of you, Weiss." She says softly as Weiss looks pointedly at her hands folded in her lap. "Not to sound vain, but I feel if looked you would find at least some of those qualities you see in me in Ruby as well." Weiss looks disbelieving and Rose continues her explanation. "You've only known her for three weeks and I know that you don't dislike her as much as you did when you first met." Rose challenges.
"Well yes, she might be a dunce but that doesn't mean I dislike her." Weiss defends.
"Exactly. A lot can change." Rose says, looking out the window and into the setting sun sky. Her voice is thoughtful, but also with a hint of wistful nostalgia. "Talk to her. Get to know her. Ask her about her dreams, her life, her thoughts, and feelings. Ask her to fight you. Tell her about yourself, about what you want and what you've done. You'll be surprised at just how well you two can work together once you understand each other."
Weiss sits in silence, digesting Rose's words. She's not stupid, she realizes that Rose's suggestion is not mere intuition but probably heavily influenced by her actual experience of the same events or similar events. "I'll try." Weiss hedges softly. Rose turns to her with a small smile.
"That's all she'll ask." She says softly. Weiss closes her eyes in contemplation, feeling distinctly vulnerable. She'd taken a chance on opening up to Rose. Only the thought that the woman sitting next to her was her comrade in arms for eight years, and four of those years by choice, gave her the confidence to speak to her. She might mess things up with Ruby yet, but if Rose was still around… she'd probably seen and heard the worst and still stood by her side.
And that meant a lot to Weiss.
"You didn't answer my question." Weiss accuses without any malice. Rose sighs, rubbing her face softly. Weiss is struck by just how tired and sad Rose seems at the moment.
"A huge part of why I am incredibly happy to be here because I can stop many of the things that happen to me, things that turn me into the person I am." Rose says with an undertone of grief in her voice. Weiss mentally berates herself. She should have realised after listening to Rose's story this afternoon not to ask the question she did. How could she have forgotten already?
"I'm sorry." Weiss says, looking regretful. Rose shakes her head slightly at Weiss.
"It's ok, really." Rose says. Before she can continue her scroll vibrates next to her and she picks it up. It is a summons from Glynda, beckoning her to come to her office. "Ah, well I have to go." She says, standing up. "It was nice talking to you, Weiss." She says honestly.
Weiss stands slowly as well, in her usual passively graceful manner. "Yes it was." She agrees stoically, unsure of exactly what to say. Rose pauses slightly.
"Feel free to talk to me about anything, whenever Weiss." Rose offers. Weiss' small, grateful smile shows that it was well received. "Anyway, if anyone wants to know where I've gone, just tell them I'm seeing Glynda."
"Of course." Weiss says. Impulsively, Rose pulls Weiss in a brief hug, causing the heiress to freeze in uncertainty. Before she has a chance to figure out how to respond Rose is already moving out the door and toward Goodwitch's office, leaving behind a slightly shocked heiress.
An heiress who feels a small glow of warmth sparked by Rose and her friendship.
"So they aren't in trouble?" Rose hears a voice question as she approaches Glynda's doors.
"No, I can assure they are both fine. Ozpin and I called you here today due to... circumstances beyond our control." Glynda replies evenly. A loud snorting sound is heard.
"What is that meant-" Ruby knocks loudly, not feeling much like eavesdropping.
"Ah yes, that will be her. Please come in." Glynda's raised voice calls. Rose swings the light blue doors open, stepping into a small office. Really, it looks more library than office but that had always been the case with Glynda. Practitioners tend to collect books, after all.
"Hello Glynda." Rose says genially, then turns to the man sitting in the chair. Her eyes widen in surprise. A large build, a shock of unruly blonde hair, strong features and lilac eyes.
Tai-Yang Xiao Long, her dad, was sitting right in front of her.
Her widened eyes have nothing on his reaction, however.
"Hel-ooooohhhhhhh." His voice starts out strong but rushes out like he was punched in the gut. His face pales, his jaw goes slack, those same lilac orbs go wide as saucers and it looks like his heart skips more than a few beats.
Then his eyes roll up into the back of his head and he falls into a dead faint, slumping in his chair. Rose turns from her father's inert form to Glynda.
"Now about me teaching that combat class..." She says, not missing a beat.
Tai-Yang came back to consciousness quickly, truly a testament to his many years of waking up at the crack of dawn. It could be that perhaps to his training as a hunter, making him alert at even the slightest presence, even in his sleep.
Or it could be his dutiful practice of being knocked unconscious, then subsequently returning to the land of the living.
He was also more than aware that hallucinations were a bad sign when one has just come to.
"Glynda, I think I need a hospital." Tai-Yang says calmly, rubbing his face. Glynda, his lifelong friend, merely gives him a questioning look. A disbelieving look. When he needed a hospital! Some friend!
"Why?" She asks eyebrow arched delicately in that oh so very classic Goodwitch way.
"Unless my dead wife has come back and is sitting right next to us, I am hallucinating." Tai-Yang says roughly, a pang of hurt spiking through him, even after all the years that had passed since Summer's death.
"That is not your wife." Glynda confirms. "That is your daughter, having time traveled from the future." She says blandly, in the same listless tones as a man directing a shopper to the spice rack in his grocery for the thousandth time.
Tai-Yang turns to the woman. A dead ringer for his Summer if he ever saw one. The same eyes (eye?), the same nose, the same hair... his cheekbones. She also wasn't a petite woman as Summer had been. In fact, she was the same height as his own mother.
A woman that looked like Summer, with some of his features and his mother's build.
"Ruby?" He asks, beyond shocked.
"Hey dad."
And then everything went black again.
"I've never seen him faint before." Glynda muses, amusement dancing around the edges of her voice. Rose grins. "That's twice in one sitting."
"Neither have I." Rose says. "If I didn't know how tough the old bastard was I'd be worried about his health."
"Quite." Glynda says primly, but Rose catches the corner of her mouth twitching. Hmm...
Maybe she really should try and get Glynda laid… preferably paired with herself. She pauses however when she realizes that she was about to attempt seducing her old schoolteacher next to her unconscious father.
For some reason, the entire situation reeked of a story she would never live down, so she gave it up as a bad job.
"Now that we have your qualifications…" Glynda says slowly, breaking the silence. Rose returns to the present and then snorts, eyebrow raised.
"Ozpin's managed to forge documents for me already?" Ruby asks, impressed. Glynda shakes her head negatively.
"No. This..." She lifts Rose's black and gold I.D. "...has everything we need on it."
"What? How?" Rose asks curiously, regarding the smile I.D with intense scrutiny.
"As is protocol, you would have tried to get it back to the hunter barracks in the capital once every month, correct?" Glynda questioned.
"Yeah, I missed one or two but I managed to get back pretty regularly. I was in the capital a lot. Why?" Rose queries.
"Each of these contains a complete and comprehensive list of the assigned hunter's relevant statistics. Through reports, videos and other information sources, the data is compiled and scanned onto the memory chip every month, updating it." Glynda lectures.
Rose looks genuinely surprised. "I thought they just changed some of the codes and stuff so that it would still work as a universal keycard as they got new passwords."
"That as well, Ms. Rose." Glynda says, but before she can continue Rose lifts a single hand to interrupt.
"I should probably tell you I've assumed the identity of Rouge Rose, older sister to Yang and Ruby." Rose tells her. Glynda looks at her strangely.
"'Red' and Ruby Rose?" Glynda questions with a hint of mockery in her even tone.
"No one's ever accused my father of having much sense, in names or otherwise." Ruby replies evenly. This time Glynda does smile slightly at Rose.
"True." Glynda agrees. "Now as I was saying, I have the most accurate, or at least as accurate as possible, report on you available." Glynda slips the small I.D into a slot in her computer, opening the file to peruse its contents. Rose waits patiently, watching as her father makes discontent noises in his fitful, spontaneous rest.
Glynda looks on, her mood darkening but honest respect growing for the woman in front of her. The file is so full of operations, the kill count so vast and her skill level so high that if she didn't know better she would think she was looking at the report of a veteran twice Rose's age.
"Ruby Rose," Glynda pauses to tap a few keys. "Now Rouge Rose. Aka 'Crimson Harvest'. Ranked as the Captain of the Hunter Killer corps, served for two years. Served as an Elite level Huntress for a year before that and an official huntress for a one year period as well. Graduated as Valedictorian from Beacon Academy. Assigned the black and gold level pass due to the state of emergency caused by the 'Faunus Reclamation' war. Slated for fast-tracking to High-Commander of Vale's united hunter forces." Rose nods at each until the last, at which she promptly chokes and coughs in surprise.
"Wait, what? High-Commander?!" Rose sputters. Glynda nods.
"For exceptional service and leadership, it also notes that the war would have already been lost without you and your team." Glynda says. "You should be proud, Ru- Rouge. To be even considered for the position is one of the highest honors for a hunter. To be guaranteed the position at your age is an achievement that very few could match." Rose nods dumbly. It's not every day you find out that you were destined for the highest position a hunter can achieve in Vale, possibly the world.
"So, am I qualified?" Rose jokes weakly. Glynda snorts inelegantly.
"A safe assumption, Rouge." Rose waves her off.
"Call me Rose, if you would, I am already used to it and I don't wish to compromise my cover by not responding to my 'first' name by accident." Rose says.
"Of course." Glynda says agreeably. "Now, I would usually take you up immediately but I cannot pretend not to be cautious of hiring someone to teach combat directly out of a warzone." Glynda says slowly, trying to keep her words inoffensive. Rose hums.
"Yes, I can see how that could be bad." Rose agrees. "I want to spend the next week gathering resources and planning. I don't think what has happened has completely sunk in for me yet, honestly, I don't think it has for anyone. It's still too fresh." She says.
"Yes… I certainly haven't adjusted to the thought, to be perfectly honest." Glynda confesses. Rose shrugs.
"As I said, neither have I but if I haven't snapped in the next week it's safe to assume I could manage to teach the combat classes." Their conversation is interrupted by another groan from Tai-Yang.
"I think I've had a stroke." He says groggily, sitting up in his seat, looking beseechingly at Glynda. "Could you call the hospital? Or a mortician? I could be dead."
"Tai, do try not to faint again." Glynda reprimands teasingly. "We have a lot to talk about."
"Yeah, if you keep fainting like a big ol' puss this is going to take forever." Rose says lightly, voice level and her face the picture of innocence. Tai-Yang slowly turns to look at Rose.
"Are you sure I don't need a doctor Glynda? Or are you seriously telling my fifteen-year-old daughter is now sitting next to me fully grown." Tai-Yang asks weakly. Rose shakes her head.
"Not quite. Little Ruby is still around." Rose says and Tai-Yang breathes a sigh of relief. "But I am Ruby, eight or so years from now." Tai-Yang looks at her sharply.
"You really came from the future?"
"Yup."
"You are my daughter Ruby. From the future."
"We've gone over this but yes."
"As in you are my little Rose bu-"
"Yes, dad, I am."
Tai yang pauses, thinking furiously. "How in the fucking world did you manage to do that, Ru?"
Rose grins cheekily. "I ran."
"You ran?"
"I am pretty quick."
"I know that, but actually running into the past is... well, impossible."
"Ok, I am really quick."
Tai-Yang groans. "Goddamnit Ru. I leave you alone for less than a month and you break the laws of the universe? I told you to stay out of trouble."
"Technically it happens years from now." Rose says glibly.
"You and Yang are going to turn me grey before my time." He pauses, then his eyes widen. "Oh shit, two Ruby's and Yang?" He puts his head into his hands and groans.
"We get it from you, you know." Rose informs him casually.
"Curse these Xiao-Long genes."
"I think that's the first time you've ever cursed your genes, ever."
"Being preposterously attractive and talented isn't worth all this trouble."
"Pffft. Liar." Rose says dismissively.
"It's almost not worth it." He concedes.
"And we don't turn your hair grey, at least not within the next eight years, if it makes you feel better." Rose informs him.
Tai-Yang pauses contemplatively. "That does make me feel better." He says happily.
"I honestly don't understand you and Yang's thing with your hair." Rose says, shaking her head.
"It's a Xiao-Long thing."
Rose looks a little affronted. "Technically, I am half Xiao-Long, dad."
"A blonde Xiao-Long thing." He says comfortingly. Rose scoffs.
"Blondes."
"Ah-hem." Glynda clears her throat pointedly, looking between Rose and Tai-Yang. Both rub their necks sheepishly, a shared nervous tick.
"Ah, sorry about that. Didn't mean to exclude you, Glynda." Rose apologizes.
"Sorry, big-G." Tai-Yang says. Rose looks at her dad incredulously.
"Big-G?"
"Well it used to be little-G but when she turned fourteen-" He starts, putting his hands out in front of his chest indicatively. He doesn't get to finish, however, because he is smacked firmly in the forehead by a stapler courtesy of Glynda. "Fuck! Owww, Glynda!" Rose gives her dad a pointed look.
"Aren't you an elite Hunter? Does passive aura shielding mean anything to you?" She questions.
Tai-Yang scowls, rubbing his forehead. "That thing is dust enhanced and she coated it in her aura before she threw it." This time Rose gives Glynda a pointed look.
"Why do you have a dust enhanced stapler?" Rose questions. Glynda raises an eyebrow and lifts a hand toward Tai-Yang. "Ah, of course." Rose says with a nod. Tai-Yang's forehead rubbing becomes slower and his scowl becomes less pained and more thoughtful, brow furrowed. He turns to Rose, face solemn.
"What did I get you for your ninth birthday?" Tai-Yang asks. Rose blinked, nonplussed.
"Dad?"
"Answer the question. What did I get Ru for her ninth birthday?" He says seriously. Rose pauses, looking at him. Then she sighs.
"My cloak and my name. I wanted something to remember mom by, so you got me the cloak and changed my last name to Rose, in honor of her sacrifice." Rose says softly. Tai-Yang lets loose a pent up breath.
"You're really my Ruby."
"I really am." She replies quietly.
Tai-Yang stands, walking over to Rose and gently lifting her out of her seat by her shoulders. He looks her up and down, burning the image into his mind.
"My little girl, all grown up." He says, voice proud and sad, then he wraps her in a firm hug. Rose pauses but then returns the hug, arms tight around her father, head buried against his chest. A long moment passes before they separate, both a little misty-eyed. Glynda's softer throat clearing gets their attention again.
"I am sorry to interrupt..." She says, looking genuinely sorry. "But I think you should know why I called you here, apart from facilitating this... reunion." She hedges.
Rose shoots her father a look. 'We'll talk later.' it says and he nods. She turns to Glynda. "Of course." She agrees, sitting down and focusing on Glynda. Tai-Yang mirrors her. "So why are we here?"
Glynda smiles mysteriously. "You requested a team with a mage and a heavy close combat specialist." She states. Rose tilts her head to the side.
"That I did." She says bemusedly.
"I've found two perfect candidates." Glynda replies evenly. Rose's eye glimmers with excitement.
"Oh?" She asks, the pieces lining up in her mind.
"I feel Tai-Yang and I meet your requirements quite well, Rose." Glynda says firmly. Rose leans back into her chair, looking between Glynda (who seems oddly excited) and her father (who looks a little confused).
"I can work with this." Rose says, grinning broadly.