"Thoughts"-Italics
"Speech"-Regular
"Past/Flashback"-Bold
Unprepared
Sabin laid on his hands and knees trying to keep the bile in his throat from spilling out from his mouth, "I think I hate you..." Sabin said while letting out heavy breaths.
"Good, by the end of these next 3 months you will learn to despise me Sparky." Ash said with a wicked grin, "Run it again." He said evilly, remembering his training with Glynda he had said something eerily similar. Both Haden and Stella raised their heads up and shook their heads, Stella looked at Haden with an incredulous face.
"Isn't he having too much fun with this?" She said stretching her arms.
Haden let out sweet smile, "Probably...But he did that kind of training with Glynda when he was younger so...I can't say he's being especially cruel~"
Stella watched as her brother struggled to continue running, it felt like an hour had passed when he collapsed the first time, after a thirty minute break Ash made him do short sprints, "Even then he was a monster huh?" She said shaking her head.
Haden giggled and shook her head as well, "You should have seen him the week after...that day...he became quite the monster."
Stella laughed, "I can imagine..."
"GET BACK TO WORK!" Ash yelled making both straighten up quickly getting back to their training. Ash kept a stern look on his face has he overlooked his teams training, thoughts racing through his head. He glared holes in the back of Sabin's head making the boy feel the need to sprint faster than usual. If one could hear Ash they would hear grumbling, things like, "stupid brat, stupid Haden, stupid butt, stupid electricity, stupid friends, I am so nettled." he grumbled to himself as he watched Sabin stagger to the opposite side of the room, in all honesty he didn't need any training with his stamina or strength but Ash wasn't exactly inclined to tell him that right now.
"No harm no foul~" Ash thought with a small smirk as the young boy beat his record at that age, looking to Haden he cringed as a dummy was torn into nothingness. Haden gave him a small wink as she finished up her handiwork, a flash went past her and Ash watched as Stella dunked and weaved in-between multiple dummies. He crossed his arms in thought, "We've all known each-other so much we already have chemistry...Our skills all complement one another..." He thought as Haden and Stella pulled a lightning web combination, Stella zipped forward carrying Haden's wire and with a simple charge they became a two person shock web. It had been two straight weeks of training different combination and destro-building up Sabin's body for the challenges that awaited him.
A groan caught Ash's ears as Sabin finally dropped to the ground face first, Ash smiled evilly before kneeling next to him, "Now...push ups as many as you can."
Sabin looked up at Ash and willed himself into a push up before collapsing onto the ground again making his leader laugh maliciously. Ash would have continued his tirade had a hand not tugged at his leg, looking down Ash but his lip as Sabin stared up at him with a look that could only be described as...irresistible. Bright yellow eyes that seemed to take up most of his face glistened with small tears, ears folding down in sadness, and a small voice, "B-boss..." Sabin whimpered to the older boy.
Ash's mouth dropped, " .Ador-NONONO! NO DON'T THINK THAT ASH! ASH FALL HE IS NOT THAT CUTE!" he thought as the tugs continued, "Just look away..." he trying to will his eyes to break contact, "J-just ignore him!" he tried and tried, gritting his teeth as he did so. Two balls of pure light threatened to cry.
Sabin smiled contentedly as a hand ruffled the top of his head, Ash looked away a small blush on his cheeks, internally cursing at his weakness, "Y-you can take a short break..." He managed to say playing with the wolf ears on Sabin's head. If one looked closely they would see a devious grin on the wolf boy's face.
Haden sweat-dropped at the scene, "H-hey that was actually impressive..."
Stella groaned, "He's impossible..."
"That bad?" Haden asked as Ash continued to pet his partner.
"Try 24/7 when he was 6..." Stella said with mock tears pouring down her face.
"I'm sorry." Haden said honestly while hugging her partner.
Ash checked the time and shook his head, "You know what we've all been working hard so let's go get lunch, how does that sound?"
All three members of team ASHS looked at their leader oddly, Sabin looked at his sister and Haden before walking up to their leader and pressing his hand on Ash's head, "Are you sick?"
Ash shot an annoyed glare at his young partner, "Oi...Are you questioning a break?"
Haden shot a suspicious look to their supposed leader, "Who are you and what have you done with Ash?"
Stella put her hand on her chin thoughtfully, "Maybe were in an alternate dimension..."
Sabin shook his head, "Maybe he got abducted by aliens!"
Ash grunted as they all walked out of the training room and into the hall, chattering all the way as they did so. Haden was ahead of the group stroking her chin, "Maybe the moon is fixed..." Haden implored.
"Oh! The planets must be aligning!" Beat added.
"Any second were gonna see a solar eclipse!" Stella giggled.
Ash rolled his eyes at his team, "Idiots..." he thought with a small smile on his face. It was true he was a bit of slave driver but given their profession it came with the territory. Although he wouldn't say it Ash was happy with his team now although he could do without their constant jabs.
"Maybe he found the secrets of the world and now's he confident in his ability to save the world!" Sabin said putting his fist into his hand. Ash rolled his eyes before slamming his fists onto the sides of the boy's head, grinding his knuckles into his skull.
"Owwwww! Boss!" Sabin whined.
"Little smart-ass..." Ash grumbled walking past his team before looking back bashfully a small blush on his face, "You guys have been great to me so...lunch is on me." he said not looking directly looking into their eyes.
"Awwwww." Haden cooed throwing her arms around his neck.
"Bossssss." Sabin said grabbing hold oh his arm.
"Ashyyyyy." Stella said grabbing his other arm.
Ash's cheeks flushed as he tried to pull away from his team as they went through the halls of Beacon, "Let go of me you assholes!"
Ash knew he wasn't normal. Not even a little. He looked odd. His hair was colored strangely. He had a fake arm that was bandaged from sight. When he was younger he was a petty thief. After that he became a hunter and student at Beacon...without a team. Then he was expelled after going on a killing spree...including both of his sisters. After that he became apprentice to Ozpin to become the new headmaster of one of the most prestigious schools in all of Vytal...after being expelled from it. Ash knew he wasn't even remotely normal. BUT. If there was one thing that Ash did, it was making the effort to appear normal...at least in public. Though if his team had anything to say about it, those days were over.
"Haden..." Ash said rubbing his forehead.
"Yessssss?" Haden drawled out.
Ash's eye twitched, she managed to sound sweet and sincere whilst also being completely condescending. Honestly he would have been impressed if he wasn't so annoyed, pointing towards her lap he gave her a deadpan stare, "Why is Sparky on your lap?"
Haden managed to look shocked, "There aren't any seats!"
Ash rubbed his eyes, "We can pull a chair up..."
Haden shook her head playing with Sabin's ears, "Nonsense! Little Spark here needs a comfy place to sit, isn't that right?" She said stroking his tail making Sabin stiffen and blush and nod quickly.
Ash gave her a dry stare, "Little? He's taller than you..."
Haden waved Ash off, "Shhh~" She said continuing to stroke Sabin's tail, "Don't you feel good Spark~" She cooed.
Sabin was completely red, "Uuuuh...mmm..." was all he managed to get out as she continued her stroking.
A small smash interrupted her...ministrations, "STOP MOLESTING MY BROTHER!" Stella yelled trying to reach over the table, held back only by Ash.
Ash held Stella back trying to avoid her chest, holding her by her abdomen, "You're causing a scene!" he yelled in a hushed tone as other people started turning there heads.
"SCENE? SHE'S PRACTICALLY RAPING HIM IN FRONT OF US!" Stella growled trying to throttle the smiling girl.
"Isn't he the age of consent?" Haden said looking at Sabin in her lap.
"U-uh I'm fifteen Haden..." He squeaked out.
"Oooooh..." Haden said with a slow nod, both Stella and Ash looked at her expectantly, "I love a forbidden romance~" She said nuzzling her cheek against Sabin.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Stella roared jumping over the table.
"OI!" A voice shouted out from the front causing all four members to turn the heads around. Heterochromia eyes gazed upon them, a slight roll as she saw just who she was yelling at. Neo strutted towards them her usual white and black boots with brown pants but missing from her attire was her white jacket, only wearing her black corset and bead bracelets on her wrists.
"Hey I know this is tough for you guys and everything but can you keep it down? It's bad business." She said placing her hands on her hips.
Ash looked at Neo oddly, about a year after the incident she came back to Sanctuary stating her business with Roman had came to an end. Ash had found Roman a few months after that day and asked him directly but Roman simply shrugged before stating he other things to attend to, whatever he had meant he had stopped causing trouble in Vale which was good enough for him. Ash was initially icy towards Neo when she came back due to her involvement with his "sister" but a few weeks after Neo arrived things started to work out again. He and Trick had started talking more with one another, the kids were happy to see a new face, and she even came up with the idea to move where they had lived, stating that the environment had gotten a bit...dreary. Since Blue died the old mansion they grew up in felt so much more empty than before. So here they were, moving on. Neo had used quite a share of her own personal stash of money to buy off an open store off the corner off the residential area. It was a quaint store but the real beauty was the extra space on the top floor and basement level where most of the younger kids stayed. The older kids all helped out in the cafe and the younger ones tried their best.
"Look at the pedophile not me..." Ash grumbled keeping Stella down.
Neo put her hands on her hips, "Haden can you please?"
Haden pouted and released her grip on Sabin, the young man got up with blush on his face as he felt a soft pat on his bottom, "Go on now~" She whispered shamelessly. Sabin quickly hurried over to the other side of the table and…...sat on Ash's lap.
The four all sat quietly for a few moments, "...WHY ARE YOU ON MY LAP!?" Ash yelled.
"THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER SEATS!" Sabin protested.
"PULL ONE OVER!" Ash roared back.
"THE TABLES ARE ALL TAKEN UP NOW!" Sabin said pointing to all the other customers.
"SIT ON YOUR SISTER!" Ash said pointing to Stella.
"THAT'S WEIRD!" Sabin said making a scrunched up face.
"WHY IS THAT EVEN REMOTELY WEIRD!?" Ash yelled in confusion.
"Incest~" Haden quipped.
"QUIET/SHUT UP!" Stella and Ash both yelled simultaneously.
"STOP YELLING!" Neo said stomping her foot onto the ground making the entire cafe go silent. Team ASHS all quietly sat looking at the Heterochromia girl. Sabin looked at Ash who gave him a chilly stare before settling in his lap. Ash grunted accepting the situation before looking at Neo who snickered quietly at him.
"So...would you like something to drink?" She asked pulling out a pad.
"Alcohol." Ash said grumbled.
"Underage." Neo said tapping on her pad.
"Coffee." Ash grunted.
"How would you like it?" She said twirling her hair.
"Black." he said bumping his head on the back of Sabin.
Neo nodded and looked at Stella, "Miss Booty?"
Stella grit her teeth, "Water."
"Hadey?" Neo asked scribbling down on her pad.
"Tea~" Haden said with a sweet smile despite the annoyed state of the group.
"Little Spark?" Neo said shooting him a small smile.
Sabin ears twitched slightly, "Uuuuh Dr. Dust!" He said jovially.
Neo nodded and started to waltz away, "Okay Trick will be back with your drinks, try not to cause too much trouble~"
The team all sat quietly together as to not upset their host, Haden looked at Ash who rested his head on top of Sabin's head. She looked at Stella with a small click of her tongue, "So when he's the pedophile..."
"Shut. up." Ash grumbled.
"It does look odd Ash…" Stella said with an amused smile.
Ash looked at Stella in disbelief, "Aren't you on my side?"
Stella sighed, "I'm on the side that doesn't have my baby brother in their lap..."
"He won't move!" Ash lightly bumping his head into the back of Sabin's.
"I'm comfy..." Sabin grumbled leaning back on his partner slightly nuzzling his head underneath his leaders chin. Both Haden and Stella looked at one another and giggled before whispering quietly to one another. A small vein popped from Ash's head, "Oi what are they saying..." He thought with a twitch before sighing and rubbing Sabin's head, "At least someone at this table is happy..." He mused as a few footsteps came from behind him.
"Do you always let him sit on your lap~" A smooth voice asked.
"Asshole." Ash said with a quick roll of the eyes.
"Trick~" He replied.
"Ass. Hole." Ash said sticking his tongue out at him and flipping the bird.
"Well aren't you happy today~" Trick replied dryly placing their drinks down, "So this is your team..." Trick said looking at the group, "They're odd~" he said with a small nod. Ash chuckled as he looked at his group, they weren't traditional that was for sure.
"When is your first mission?" Trick asked lifting his brow curiously. Ash stiffened slightly as he felt several pair of eyes shift towards him. Taking a sip from his coffee he tried to shrug off the question entirely.
Stella frowned making him put his drink down, "Were you seriously planning on not taking any missions with us?"
Ash sighed he didn't want to have this conversation yet, "Look when I think were ready well be out there."
Stella looked at him angrily, "If it were up to you well never get a mission!"
Ash bit his tongue, "Whatever..." he muttered before he felt his shirt pulled over the table.
Stella glared at Ash, "We've been hunters before we were a team. So don't treat us like some babies that don't know what they're doing!" She said throwing him back in his chair and stomping out of the cafe. Ash sighed as Sabin apprehensively got up to chase after his sister, Haden stayed sitting sipping from her straw looking at Ash indifferently.
Trick looked between the two, "I'll let you handle your business Ash~" he said attending to other guests.
Ash sipped his coffee before giving Haden a small glance, "You...dislike my approach?"
Haden casually spun her drink, "Dislike is a pretty strong way to say it...I would say disapprove or something of that nature."
Ash snorted, "You wouldn't take a direct stance on anything..."
Haden hummed, "Hmmm you're probably right but then again so is Stella but who am I to decide~" She said with a small smile before taking a sip of her drink. Ash ran a hand through his hair before drinking the rest of his coffee, "I suppose I can find something from Ozpin..."
Haden didn't look up from her drink, "Well be fine Ash, if worst comes to worst use *that* and make sure Spark and Stella pull back..."
Ash gave her a small glare, "I don't need it."
Haden sighed this time, "I didn't say you did...but you should at least think about the worst case scenario."
Ash threw his cup into the trash from his seat before sitting back and throwing his hands behind his head, "I already have. That's why I don't want to take a mission with any of you." Ash mumbled closing his eyes. Haden looked at Ash with a small frown but she knowing him so well she couldn't really blame him for how he was acting. Despite all his strength Ash was fragile. Few understood this facet of Ash; Ozpin, Glynda, herself, and Ruby being the select few. She watched as Ash's eyes flickered from orange to amber, his face scrunching up in annoyance before they changed back to his orange once more.
"It's bugging him again..." Haden thought as he went through his set of ticks, closing his eyes, tapping his hand on the table, deep breaths through his nostrils, these were all things Ash did to calm his nerves. Reaching over the table Haden cupped Ash's cheek to gain his attention, her gaze much more serious than usual.
"Do you remember 2 years back? In the trenches at Vacuo?" Haden said making him look her in the eye.
Ash flinched, "Yes."
Haden closed her eyes, "If anyone found out what you did there, a lot of people will say a lot of things to you. Some will say you did the right thing. And some will say you did the wrong thing. But that's not what matters. No matter what anyone says, you don't have to worry. Because you didn't do the right thing, and you didn't do the wrong thing. You did what you could and you did it in the moment."
Ash frowned, "Is that really okay?"
Haden gave him a sweet smile, "It's all you can do in the end...Do you remember what Ruby told you before she left?"
Ash frowned, "Death isn't an apology." he remembered with a sigh, "Yeah...but everyone is a slave to their past. No matter how much you wish to move forward, the events of last year will bear down on you like the light of the stars as soon as you glance up. Unable to laugh or to banish your past, you carry it ceaselessly in a corner of your heart, waiting for it to resurrect at an inopportune moment…."
Haden let go of his face and laid her chin in her hand before closing her eyes, she had no argument for that statement.
"There's a limit to the strength of people who are isolated. If we do the best we can we should be fine. We won't grab a hold of the entire future. Let's just think about grabbing tomorrow. I think that's plenty for us, don't you?" Sabin said with Stella in his left hand holding out his other to Ash.
Ash stared at Sparky for a moment before closing his eyes and nodding, taking the hand. Sabin smiled before pulling both Stella and Ash together so the two would face one another. Ash looked at Stella before looking away, "Sorry..." he offered holding out his free hand. He felt a strong clasp and Stella gave him a small but playful glare, "It's fine...But honestly, trust us even just a little okay?"
Ash gripped her hand and nodded, "I'll...try." he said with a half smile.
Sabin looked between the two happily and gave a toothy grin, "Team ASHS is ready for business!" He shouted a bit too loudly. Haden stood up with a small smile on her face and her arms crossed. From a distance both Trick and Neo watched with smiles on their faces as they watched the four. Sabin kept hold of Ash and Stella and Haden was right beside them with a content smile on her face.
Neo nudged Trick, "Think he'll be okay?"
Trick gave her a shrug, "The time when you're happy is also the time when you're afraid that the happiness will end...He's probably terrified right about now..."
Neo shook her head, "That isn't what I asked you."
Trick snorted, "I think...he needs this more than he's ever needed anything." he said with a sad smile. He felt a small hand clasp his and Neo shook her head, "You did all you could for him. He has to walk forward himself now."
Trick eyes suddenly looked tired, "...I wish mentor was here..."
Neo leaned her head on his shoulder, "We all do...Blue did...Ash does...I do...Even Cinder did..."
Trick closed his eyes and remembered the words that made him come to Sanctuary as a kid, "This world that we live in is gentle yet sad, fun yet sorrowful, strong yet ephemeral...but as long as you're alive, something good is bound to happen. I'm sure of it."
Looking at Ash he tightened his grip on Neo, "Please let something good happen to him before it's too late..."
As team ASHS all walked back to Beacon with one another Ash noticed Sabin tightly clenching his fists into balls. He was confused until he listened carefully to the whispers around them as they walked through the streets.
"There's the monster..."
"Murderer..."
"Bastard..."
Ash quickly understood his partners anger and placed his hand on his shoulder and shook his head negatively. Sabin turned to face him with an upset face, "B-but..."
Ash looked forward, "But they're right."
Sabin brow furrowed, "No they-"
"I may have killed their parents, friends, or loved ones. They can feel however they like, say whatever they wish, as long as they don't attack me then I will ignore them and so will you." Ash said letting go of Sabin. Both Stella and Haden looked at Ash sadly but followed his lead and continued on their way to Beacon. Sabin looked down to the ground and frowned, "But that isn't fair..." He thought looking at Ash's back as he moved forward. Ash continued forward and felt a buzz in his pocket and a message the moved across the top.
"We need to talk."-Ruby
Anyone that has ever been in a relationship has probably seen these words at least once. They are the single most terrifying, pulse raising, life-changing words. Whenever you see this set of words ESPECIALLY during an argument, it is never a good sign. This phrase almost unavoidably consists of "I think we need to break up," "I think we need to see other people," or "I don't think this is working out."
Ash looked at the message silently contemplating faking a heart attack of some sort, "Can you fake a heart attack?" He thought aloud. His team looked at him oddly, Haden took a glance at his scroll and her mouth opened up widely.
"Oh...you're fucked." She said looking at him.
Team ASHS stood outside of RWBY's dorm and Ash stood still, looking at the door as if there was a bomb behind it. Haden and Stella both looked at one another and Sabin simply stared at the three in confusion, "Are we going in or..." he said not reading the atmosphere in the slightest. Ash took a deep breath and knocked on the door, a small creak opened up slightly. A pair of silver eyes that he fell in love with peered into his orange. Ruby had grown a lot in three years, not so much in height only standing at around 5 feet 4 inches but she always felt taller.
"As-" Ruby started.
"I'm sorry." Ash said before she could speak, "I was shouldn't have just left like that."
"Yes." Ruby said with a nod.
"I was an ass." Ash continued.
"Mhm." Ruby said with a small nod.
"I should be more careful."
"Always."
"I'm a big idiot who thinks he can handle everything alone."
"Yup, you definitely are." Ruby said leaning on the door.
"And I don't want this to end so please give me another chance," Ash bowing his head. He felt a small pound on his head and his eyes looked up to see an amused Ruby Rose raising her brow at him.
"You done? I would love to hear more actually but we seriously have other things that need to be addressed..." Ruby said looking back into the room.
Ash blinked once. Twice. Three times, "W-wait you aren't...breaking up with me?"
Ruby gave her boyfriend a deadpan stare, "I was angry at you. I really was...and am. But I'm not breaking up with you...when I met you I knew something was different. My heart didn't beat any faster. I didn't have butterflies, not at first. But I felt something inside of me go, 'Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you.' I wouldn't give up on something like that so easily, who do you think I am?" she said jabbing her finger into his chest. Ash was currently doing his impersonation of a fish. A finger pressed itself against his lips as Ruby gave him a smile that still made his heart stutter.
"Well talk later...right now I think you should really brace yourself..." Ruby said looking back into her room again saying something about quieting down.
Ash looked at her strangely, his body visibly more relaxed now that his relationship was still intact, "Brace myself? I've faced Grimm the size of skyscrapers, murderers, all types of scary shit, and I need to brace myself?"
Ruby huffed, "Look...just...you may need to sit down...or...get a drink?" Ruby suggested turning back into the room making a shushing noise. Ash gave her a strange look before walking into the room to see what the commotion was about.
Ash froze as a pair of orange and silver eyes stared back at him, one small boy and one small girl. The girl Ash noted had hair similar to his, slightly short black hair with orange tips. She had a hat on with a ponytail out the back. She looked no older than 8 years old. The other child was a boy with silver eyes and short black hair with red tips. He looked eerily similar to Ruby in...well every way, as if Ruby was reborn as a boy. But the last thing that he noticed that made his eyes widen were the marks on their bodies. The girl had patterns like his, trailing up both her arms and coming up right underneath her cheeks. The boy had patterns more reminiscent of Haden's but it seemed to move up his arms in the pattern of rose thorns, with two small small roses coming up to his cheeks. Before he could even process all the information that his brain had just went through he felt a pair of arms around his waist.
"PAPA!" The young girl cheered hugging the right side of his leg.
"Daddy..." The boy said quietly hugging his left leg.
Ash looked at Ruby with a pale face, "P-papa? D-daddy?" he asked a small bead of sweat coming down his brow.
"Breeeeath." Ruby said walking towards him slowly.
"Papa can you teach me how to use my semblance?" The young girl asked sweetly hugging his leg tightly.
Ash blinked once. Twice. Thrice, "I was not ready for today..." he thought before losing consciousness.
A/N:Heyyyyy reader people readers so Ash is a daddy...Yup that happened. But anyways this was fun chapter to write a lot of team interactio with ASHS in this one, next few chapters will be more plot heavy but I wanted everyone to get a feel for the characters together. Besides that we get a little twist here at the end! Who are the children? Why do they look like Ruby and Ash? FIND OUT NEXT TIME ON DRAGON BALL-WRONG SERIESSSSSS (...Ignore my nerdiness I hope you all liked the chapter!) And lastly thank you to all readers, followers, and favs! I always say this because it's true, you guys are the reason I can wake up after college practices and classes and make this story! So thank you (Y^.^Y)