Snippet 264

Betrayal Only Gets You So Far

Genre: Drama/Agnst

Pairs: Not important

AU-Type: RWBY

Tags: Team RWBY and Ironwood are NOT at odds with each other, Emerald-centric, In response to Emerald's 'redemption', Ruby snaps a bit

Emerald had pleaded her case. She had given all the information she could, and any detail she could remember. It really did not help her nervous to see Ironwood just hanging back and listening, letting others be in front.

"I suppose I should be thanking for the information, but I'm not going to." Ruby said. "Because you're not doing it out of a change of heart. You're doing it to save your own skin."

"I-"

"Emerald, shut up and listen." Ruby said quietly, surprising her team as she got up. "You think your little apology fixes the lives lost, the people you hurt, and the two kingdoms you ruined. Does it?"

"No. It doesn't." Ruby said walking up to her. "I'm sorry, but I have a hard time taking your word seriously. Let me check something."

WHAP!

Emerald was slugged in the jaw by Ruby.

"Oh, you were real." Ruby said before walking back. "Well, we have the information, you can see yourself out."

"But I need protection!" Emerald pleaded.

"Yeah, I can't promise that. That's his decision." Ruby said as Ironwood came to the forefront. "I…"

Ironwood put a hand on Ruby's shoulder.

[Cues: Sergio Valentino - Lost Forever]

"Let me take over." Ironwood said gently as Ruby went back to sit down. "Do you honestly think you deserve anything? You whine about Cinder not caring about you. Must be nice to be so entitled while everyone else has lost something or someone thanks in part to your actions. No, we won't give you protection, but you are going to help us. As much as I would like to put you in the darkest prison right now, we're in a war…and we could all the help we can get. But don't think that alleviates the consequences what you have done, and don't even think of trying to be play double agent because none of us won't hesitate to put you down…if we have to."

Ironwood motioned for the Aces Ops to escort Emerald out and into a room. Ironwood slumped into a chair as Ruby looked up with a bit of worry. The two could feel it…they were holding back a lot. Yang reached out to her sister right as Winter reached out to her commander.

(A/N: I always felt Emerald was forgiven way too easily.)