Extra chapter this week because of the new release of the starting date and the new exclusive clip, more about that below.
"When we feel weak, we drop our heads on the shoulders of others. Don't get mad when someone does that. Be honoured. For that person trusted you enough to, even if subtly, ask you for help."
― Lori Goodwin
Chapter 9-
As Neo left the cafeteria Blake called out to her, "Neo, wait a minute." Blake said, catching up to the girl.
"Yes Blake?" Neo asked politely.
"Ruby's the Reaper isn't she?" Blake said bluntly.
"What makes you say that?" Neo asked, acting naïve.
"Because she pretty much confirmed it on the first day, look she helped me get out of the White Fang." Blake said.
"Why don't you come by our room tonight? Say about nine and we can talk about everything." Neo said.
"Ok." Blake nodded, and once she got the location of their room she left to go to the library or to the dorm, whichever was quieter.
Neo smiled as she watched the woman walk away before heading up to Ozpin's office, inside she found Ozpin, Glynda, Mizu, Winter and Ruby all around Ozpin's desk talking about the Dust raid.
"We would still like to confirm this through another source before we commit anything but we would like your help." Aria said, speaking for Ruby once more.
"How would you like our help?" Mizu asked.
"Let the shipment go through as normal with no guards, I will keep an eye over it and when Roman appears we will put a stop to him and attempt capture or… Well we'll attempt capture." Aria said.
"Wait. What's the other idea?" Winter asked just as Neo joined them all.
"It's only an idea, mother would like to stress that to you. But there is an idea floating around for Neo to join Roman. This attack would be an easy way to get her into the organisation." Aria explained.
"Too dangerous. We can't endanger a student like this." Glynda was quick to say.
"You forget neither Ruby nor I are actual students but here under that protection. Also it is an easy way into the top of the organisation." Neo explained.
"You said another source, who is this source?" Ozpin asked.
"We have two people inside the White Fang, one on the Faunus side and one on the human side, however if we can get a third right next to Roman then we can maybe find out more." Arai said.
"It's too dangerous, what if she gets caught?" Glynda stated immediately.
"My cover is perfect, the chances of being discovered are extremely low alongside the fact that Ruby will not be far away either." Neo said firmly.
"Regardless it is only an idea for the moment, and most likely will not happen unless an ample opportunity presents itself." Aria informed them.
"Getting off topic here, I'll let the shipment go through but if there is a raid happening we would expect to lose the majority of the shipment, it'll only anger my husband more so if you can save any then I'll be able to calm him down." Mizu informed them.
"We have three weeks to prepare, so for now we shall think on it and inform you of any changes." Aria said as Neo picked up, "We need to get back to our room as we have someone we need to talk to." Neo said, inclining her head in farewell as she all but dragged Ruby out of the room.
"Who's visiting us mother?" Aria asked excitedly.
"Blake Belladonna. Do you remember her?" Neo asked as they moved through the silent corridors.
"The cat White Fang member that we helped get out of the organisation?" Aria said.
"That's her. She's coming by to speak to Ruby." Neo said.
"What time?" Aria asked.
"Around nine tonight. If you want to Aria, you can go exploring." Neo said, letting Aria have the freedom to do whatever she wanted to do, while giving Ruby and Neo some privacy.
A few hours later Blake arrived outside the door unsure whether she was in the right place or not but she when she knocked on the door she heard Neo call out for her to come in.
Blake entered the room to see Ruby pulling on the leather jacket she was wearing over her bare body. As she did so Blake caught sight of something marking Ruby's back but she only got a glimpse.
"Sorry." Blake said, blushing lightly as she noticed the girl's stages of undress. Both girls only wearing their jackets and panties.
"It's fine. Why don't you take a seat and we'll answer what we can." Neo said politely, directing Blake over to a comfortable looking chair as the two girls sat together on a couch.
"Would you like water, tea or anything else to drink?" Neo asked.
"Tea would lovely." Blake said with a soft smile.
"Ruby?" Neo asked, looking at the girl as she got up and moved to the small kitchen area. "Ok then." Neo replied.
It only took Neo a couple minutes to make three cups of tea and bring them back over to the group. Placing them in front of the two girls Neo then took her seat back next to Ruby.
"Thank you. How did you know what Ruby wanted? She didn't say anything?" Blake asked, not trusting the earlier explanation.
"We have a method of communicating non-verbally to each other that is why I can speak for her." Neo explained.
"But why doesn't Ruby talk for herself?" Blake asked the all-important question.
"That is too personal I'm afraid. Next question." Neo said politely.
"Ok. Are you really the Red Reaper?" Blake asked.
"Not pulling any punches are you?" Neo teased gently. "Yes she really is the Red Reaper. I'm also her aid as well." Neo said.
"What is the robotic voice you use? And why are you the Reaper?" Blake asked once more, focusing on questions for now.
"The voice is actually an AI called Aria, she was created by Ruby and speaks for Ruby mostly if I am unable to. The answer to the second question is simple, why did you join the White Fang?" Neo asked.
"Because I wanted change. But that changed when the original leaders were voted out because nothing was happening and more violent leaders came into power and the organisation as a whole became violent." Blake said, looking away from the two girls.
"Why did you stay then? Why not like many others, why didn't you leave?" Neo asked, pushing the topic.
"Because I thought we were doing some difference but in the end all they wanted to do was make Faunus the dominant race in the world." Blake said, "So I needed to get out after I learnt this at that train incident. Which is where I met you, Ruby." Blake said.
"Do you know why she was there? On that train." Neo asked.
"No I don't, I didn't really care at the time I thought for sure I was either dead or going to be captured when I saw her dressed in her Reaper outfit." Blake said truthfully.
Neo smiled at Blake as she corrected, "Ruby doesn't kill, neither do I. She was on that train because she knew it was going to be attacked but when she saw you on the train she changed her mind with stopping it. She simply watched instead." Neo informed her.
"But why did she just watch? She could have easily stopped us but she couldn't have known what was going to happen." Blake said.
"She knew you were becoming disillusioned with the White Fang, in part that was due to someone helping you see the truth but she wanted to see what you would do. There was a good chance Adam would want to kill the civilians and if you went along with it then she would have stepped in but you didn't so she helped you." Neo informed her.
"But why?" Blake asked, wanting to know the reason.
"Why do we do anything? I saw someone who was lost as they lost everything they believed in but you were young and highly trained so I gave you a direction to aim towards where your skills could be best used." Ruby explained, speaking for the first time as her voice was soft and slightly raspy.
"But surely your best thing to do was capture me, find out what I know before turning me over to the police." Blake stated loudly.
"But what would that achieve? All I would do is putting an eighteen year old woman into prison where she has no need to be. You stole Dust, that was pretty much it and maybe hurt some people but that's it. I don't need to know what knowledge you have because I already know it, I have a source high up in the White Fang feeding me information, and it's why I knew about the train raid." Ruby informed her.
Blake remained silent for a few minutes as she drunk her tea as a way to think to herself for a few minutes.
The other two women remained silent in respect, knowing this changed her outlook.
"How bad are the White Fang really?" Blake asked quietly.
"What would you like to know? I will happily tell you everything." Ruby said.
"What type of Faunus are you? I can smell dog but something else as well." Blake asked.
Ruby just smiled as she said, "I'll share if you do." Ruby teased slightly.
Blake just nodded her head as she reached up to remove her bow, revealing her cat ears to the group.
"They're cute." Neo said looking at the ears but didn't make a move to touch them as some people did.
Ruby did the same, removing her headphones to allow her two wolf ears to come up from their conferment underneath the headphones.
"You're a wolf, but I thought all wolf Faunus were dead." Blake exclaimed as she moved closer to look at the ears.
"We are, I'm the last of my kind. It was just my mother and I when the White Fang attempted to kill us, they succeeded in killing my mother but I was forced to run away at my mother's orders." Ruby informed her emotionlessly while Neo wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I'm sorry." Blake said.
"There's nothing to be sorry about, it wasn't your fault. I've already hunted down the ones who attacked us and ordered it." Ruby said coldly, her voice gaining a steely edge.
Blake just nodded her head as she changed the topic, "What are the White Fang planning with all the Dust they keep stealing? And is it really them involved? I hear it's been a human named Roman doing it all." Blake said, her voice hopeful that the White Fang weren't involved.
"He is working with them, we are unsure what they are planning to do with it all but either way we are going to stop them. We have information of a planned raid involving the White Fang soon and we plan on learning more there." Neo informed her, taking Ruby's place for speaking.
"I see. I want to help." Blake said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I want to really know that the White Fang are working with a human and actually doing all this." Blake stated.
"We'll let you know what is going to happen closer to the time." Neo said, receiving a nod from Blake.
"You need to tell them soon." Ruby said softly.
"So do you." Blake shot back.
"Yes but it is different for me, I have a much bigger secret to keep. While yours is big you also have a Schnee to tell, who won't be happy to say the least. I stopped a large amount of attacks against the Schnee family but she still resents the White Fang and she has been under her fathers…guidance for a long time." Ruby informed her.
"I'll tell them, I just don't know when yet." Blake said, deflecting the topic.
"Don't leave it too long." Ruby said.
Blake just nodded and after a little more conversation they bid their goodnights to each other before going their separate ways.
Ruby over the next few weeks purposefully avoided her team, she turned up to some lessons but for the most part she didn't interact with them. The next week when she was teaching them as the Reaper, Yang had stupidly asked to fight against Ruby.
It was the same rules as before but this time the match lasted under a minute without Yang getting any hits on Ruby at all, and it wasn't until Aria spoke to say the match was over although Ruby was prepared to strike again did she reign control over her emotions.
This action however only lent towards Coco's theory that the voice and the person were two different people.
It wasn't until the day before the planned raid on the Schnee shipment did something happen, while Ruby wanted it all along she wanted it more peaceful but instead it exploded in a way Ruby hoped it wouldn't.
A/N
So a lot of talking and boringness in the chapter, sorry. Anyway I can tell you now that I already have a plan for the tournament involving Ruby and Neo, also the new character with the hover board/ guns. I can't actually remember how to spell her name. :/
My head kills like fuck and I've been up way too early the past couple of days so I feel like shit as well, so forgive my bad memory.
Anyway the new clip looks great alongside the fact for the new season although I much more looking forward to the music.
Anyway please enjoy and thanks for reading. (Any fucker that attempts to correct me about it being volume instead of season will lose their head.)