Revisions! Well with the cute little embarrassment moment we saw last chapter it's time for something a little more...extreme...KNIVES NUDITY! Jk, kinda...he's topless...but it gets funny and stuff, so we can see how Ruby and Knives go towards the light of looooooooooove! But yeah with all that happened last chapter with Deverou finishing his training, Knives whirlwind resignation, and Luxus' dad typical douchebaggery. Onward to moe!

RWBY: The Darkness Within

Season 2- Chapter 2

Fantasy and Reality

Books are a uniquely Portable Magic

Knives walked back to his room reading his book and entered looking around to see that no one was there before he cracked a smile, "Finally." He threw off his hoodie and shirt and grabbed his remote turning on his stereo and cranking up his songs, dancing first to "The Fuck Train Has No Brakes" by the Achieve Men, before switching to "Heat of the Moment". He hopped up on his bed, tapping his foot as he held his scroll like a microphone, "It was the heeeeeat of the moment," He said as he pointed out at the door and moved his hand back as he tapped his foot, "Telling me what your heart meant. It was the heeeeeat of the moment, that shone in your eyes." He said as he noticed the young red cloak wearing girl that stood at the doorway of his room with Luxus in tow. "Don't you people knock!?" He said as he hoped down and grabbed his hoodie quickly covering his arms.

"You have a lovely singing voice." Luxus said with a smirk.

"Shove it!" His partner said getting in his face with a growl, "What do you want?" He said turning to Ruby.

"I finished your book." She said handing it to him shyly, realizing he had probably scared her he took a different approach.

He blinked quickly and took it from her, "Um, alright. I don't have any new ones right now, but I was about to head to my usual bookstore and grab some new books. Wanna come with?"

"Sure!" She said brightening up as they left walking away towards the transports. They rode one down to Vale and the whole time Ruby eyed his wrists and arms, he'd been the most embarrassed that she'd seen the scars that marked his arms. It wasn't just there either, he hated being shirtless around his team as his whole bay was marked with scars and burn marks. Then of course there were the needle marks along his veins from the years of Dust infusion.

"Go ahead and ask." He said as he rolled his eyes and sighed, dreading this conversation.

"Huh, I wasn't going to ask anything." She said as she looked out the window.

"I know you saw my scars, so just ask." He said. It'd be easier to get this out of the way now; I mean I already told her about my hallucinations.

"Well, you have scars all down your wrists and forearms, and strange dots down your arms and stuff." She said as she looked away.

"It's all from those tests I told you about, and my semblance." He explained rolling up his sleeve, as she looked away a bit. "The needle marks are from injections of chemicals and Dust from my days as a lab rat," He said before lowering his voice, "And a few recreational drugs during my gang days."

"WHAT!?" She exclaimed to his laughter.

"Okay, now that one was worth it." He chuckled, "They're just from Dust and stuff, the scars are from me using my semblance so often. My aura would heal the cuts, but since they open up so frequently scars develop instead of healing like they should. But since Caradin joined us, the scars haven't been as visible."

"You're a jerk." She said as she made a pouty face at the window.

He chuckled and place a hand on her head, "Yeah I am, shrimp."

She pouted further but flashed him a brief smile to which he blushed and looked away. Soon they arrived and Knives stepped off the ship and began to walk to the commercial district to Tukson's Book Trade and entered as the book store owner started his slogan, "Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun." He said as he was stocking the shelves, "Oh hello Alex, who's your friend?"

"This is Ruby Rose, Tukson, she also shares my passion for books." He said with a smile.

"Do you have any old story books?" She asked perusing the shelves.

"Third row on the back, it's always good to find young people who enjoy the company of a good book." Tukson said, "What can I get for you today?"

"Um," Knives said scratching his head, "What haven't I purchased from the fantasy section?"

Tukson scratched his head as well, deep in thought, "The Azure Prince, The White Wolf of Atlas, Fang: Hero of Vacuo, Voltaire the Wanderer, The Adventures of Remmy Locke volumes 6-18, and The Infamous Mister Moriarty." He responded as he counted the books on his fingers.

"Well then I guess I'll buy those, do you also have The Final Solution by Altair Pendrew? I heard it's the prequel to Infamous Mister Moriarty, but the sequel to Sherlocked." Knives said as he showed a picture of it.

"Yeah, it's here in the back, let me get it for you." Tukson said.

"I'll help you look for those others in the back, Ruby can you search the front for the Azure Prince, The Adventures of Remmy Locke, and Infamous Mister Moriarty? I'm going to help him search for the others in the back." He said with a smile.

"Yup!" She said already going through the store as Knives entered the back.

"She's cute." Tukson said with a smile to Knives.

"Cut the shit Tukson," Knives said blushing, "I know the proper titles for those books are the Grey Wolf of Atlas, and Natsu: Hero of Vacuo, what's going on? Has the White Fang found you already?" He asked as he grabbed the books he was looking for.

"Let's just say I'm talking a vacation to Vacuo to visit some family." Tukson replied as he pointed to his bags in the corner.

"Crap," Knives said as he rubbed his temples, "When you came to Volk, I didn't think much of you, but you were pretty nice and taught me how to read, so I thank you for that. If you need help just call me Tukson." He hugged the burly man and patted him on the shoulder, "Stay safe."

Tukson looked at him as if he had been clubbed over the head, "That was uncharacteristically nice of you."

"Yeah, well don't tell anyone about it or I'll have to kill you." Knives said with a cocky smile.

"Better," Tukson said as they walked out into the store where Ruby had found the books and had taken to reading some of the weapon magazines Tukson had up front. "That'll all be about 56.30."

Knives handed him the Lien and slipped in an extra card for safe travels, before they left and went back to Beacon. "So which one can I read?" Ruby asked.

"Whichever one I finish first." Knives said coyly as she pouted at his side.

"You're no fun." She replied to his chuckling as they both laughed as they walked away.

Dreams become Reality, when Intentions become Action.

Deverou kept seeing the images every time he closed his eyes, Weiss' death, unending and perpetual. He sat alone in the darkness, bored, as the blood poured around him and the tortured screams of his mistress echoed through his mind. "You failed me." She moaned.

"Let me die."

"Without hope."

"All alone, as I was before."

"Oh shut up!" He yelled, as he tried to focus on other things in the dream.

His friends circled him, "You failed her." Luxus said.

"You wanted her to die." Ruby accused.

"No more responsibility." Blake added.

"Free." Said Knives.

"Free." Chimed Yang.

"Free." Caradin echoed.

"Free." Added Xich.

"Free." Said his mirror self. "We want to be free."

"No, I want to be left alone." Deverou said.

"And why is that?" Deverou asked.

"Because I want quiet!" He yelled as he awoke from the dream to see Caradin looking over at him from his beanbag chair.

"Dude, you okay?" He asked.

"I'm," Deverou started before pausing and taking a breath, "Fine, just a bad dream is all."

"Okay man, just keep the screaming to a minimum." Caradin said, "I'm on level 8 and I'm about to face the Elite General." Deverou drowned out the sounds of Caradin and the gunfire, and focused on his silence. He just wanted the screams to stop.

A person needs a little Madness, or else they Never Dare cut the Rope and be Free.

It was a long day of worry for Knives as he sat in the darkness as his team slept peacefully. "Knock, Knock." Johann started, reading a joke book with a chicken on the front.

"No." Knives responded.

"Oh come on, it's just a joke." Johann said.

Knives sighed, "Who's there?"

"Murder." Johann said.

"Murder?" Knives started.

"BANG! You're dead." Johann finished before he could even say who, "Now wasn't that funny?"

"It was exceptionally annoying." Knives responded.

"Oh come on, I missed this!" Johann said as he wrapped his arm around Knives shoulder. "You, me, innocent sleeping victims." Knives shot him a glare, "Sorry, innocent sleeping people, and a whole basket of crazy. Don't you miss Scarlet or Dandelion? Or Jet or even Iggy? I know they miss us, I mean who doesn't?" He said narcissistically.

"A lot of people." Knives replied.

"Oh don't be such a Debbie Downer." He responded. "Just a while longer before my plan goes into motion."

"And that would be?" Knives added.

"It's simple." Johann said as he walked over to the wall and leaned against it with a cruel grin. "I'm going to kill everyone."

Aw, kawaii Johann...right, psychopath, shouldn't like him. But that Knives and Ruby moment right?...you're all judging me already aren't you...son of a bitch, I don't believe in rushing things! Just wait, they'll be kissing by the end of this season...jeez.