A/N Welcome back! Important notes for this story below
I'm juggling three fics right now, so I'm implementing a schedule for them, details on my profile, but to save you the trip; this will be updated every Wednesday, hence why I'm updating today.
Arin: Well guys, thanks to all of those who reviewed this story! Arieko, Clockpop, Stormy Trix, AfroThunda, The Atlantean King, much appreciated. Can't forget about the followers, and favorites too! Glad you like it and enjoy chapter 2!
Chapter 2. No Means Null.
"...Maybe..."
For some reason that word repeated in Ruby's young mind, as she walked to the exit of Signal High; Ruby kept glancing over her shoulder, watching unintentionally as Cinder's form shrank and then disappeared and turned down a different hallway. As Ruby hurried along a slew of questions ran through her mind.
Who was this girl?
Why did she help me?
Was she looking over here shoulder too?
We're the three questions that repeated themselves the most. Ruby had been constantly inched on by her sister Yang to try and meet new people, and make some friends. All Ruby wanted to do however; was stay in the cozy confines of her room and draw, something she spent the majority of her free time on.
Taking one last glance over her shoulder, Ruby frowed a bit as this time all her eyes met was a long, and empty hallway, she squinted her eyes, completely unaware of the impending door in her path. Turning just a second to late; 'Thud' Ruby collided face first with the doors that led to the parking lot at the eastern side of the school. The girl lost her balance and hit the cold floor,
Something she had done an awful lot of today.
"Owww..." Ruby groaned picking herself up, she began rubbing the spot on her head which would no doubt bruise.
"Need some help this time?"
"Gah! Yang! Where'd you come from!?" Once more, Ruby lost her balacne and fell, only to be caught by her sister this time. As Yang righted the crimsonette, she gave her a smile clearly that said; "I told you so."
"Seriously though, answer my question."
Yang stood back "I was waiting and waiting and waiting, for you in the parking lot, you were a no-show, so I decided I'd come and find you, which leads me to ask what took you so long."
"..." Ruby's expression dropped as her eyes bored into then ground.
"Ruby? Is everything okay?"
"W-well I encountered a guy named Cardin Winchester, a-and he started pushing me around... a-and then he was about to punch m-"
"He What! Is that ass still around?" Yang shouted.
Ruby recoiled at Yang's outburst "N-no he ran away after... af-ter..."
"After what? C'mon Rubes tell me." Yang placed her hands on Ruby's shoulders.
Ruby shook her head "I'd rather not talk about it here, can we please go home? I'll tell you then..." Ruby's question could almost be interpreted as a beg.
Placing a comforting arm around Ruby; Yang smiled "Of course, C'mon Bumblebee awaits."
Ruby was upset about something, and Yang hated it when her little sister was upset.
######
Cinder turned a corner and sauntered down the adjacent hallway to the one she just 'saved' Ruby in. Just as the brunette turned the corner, she caught a glimpse of Ruby looking over in her peripheral vision.
For one reason or another; Cinder couldn't help but feel that the innocent little Ruby reminded her of herself when she was young; naive, and lived without a care in the world... However, a new emotion had washed over Cinder, something akin to envy and zeal;
Jealousy.
This new girl probably had the perfect life; family, friends, luxuries, the works. Ruby would never know how to live a life like she has.
Little did Cinder know, she was only half right.
There was a silver lining though, something that kept picking Cinder's brain was the fact that Ruby took the time to look at Cinder over her shoulder, whether it was intentionally or unintentionally Cinder didn't know, but nor did she really care. The sheer fact the Ruby showed even a glimmer of interest in her was a push that maybe she'd make a friend after all. Then Cinder realized something else; even though she may have made a friend, there was no doubt she just made a huge enemy.
Cardin Winchester.
As Cinder's mind recalled, the Winchester family was part of a massive partnership with the Lark family, and the two made both halves of the Winchester and Lark corporation; the largest producer of Military tech around, or so they had been. A company that specialized in planes, and the same company that manufactured fighter jets, the same fighter jets that...
Cinder had known this from her own personal research, after the Crimson incident the Winchester and Lark corporation was put on a pedestal for what they did and received a massive bump in funding from the government of Vale. The rise to fame didn't last long however, something Cinder was ecstatic about. After several incidents that followed; the corporation was chewed out by the public and the government and after several years and many failed appeals; was finally put into bankruptcy. The Lark and Winchester named were tainted and the members that made up said families were forced to live like normal people.
So it peeved Cinder to no end how Cardin thinks he can still push people around like that, can't forget the fact that he's also a Winchester, and a Winchester in Cinder's eyes was someone to outright hate.
Reaching the doors to the outside of the school; Cinder came across Mercury who was leaning against a brick wall smoking a cigarette.
"Oh Mercury, you know smoking is bad for you right?" Cinder teased.
"Yeah, yeah, tell that to my Dad, seriously the guy smokes like five packs a day." Tossing the tobacco stick on the ground and stomping it out with his foot; Mercury approached Cinder, "Besides, I needed something to do while I was waiting for you."
"I though you were giving Em, a ride?"
"Nah, she's got detention with Mr. Tukson, first day and she's already in trouble, but back to my question; what took you so long?"
Cinder galred at Mercury, she hated it when people tried to undermine her "I was teaching someone a lesson, Cardin Winchester to be specific..."
Mercury backpedaled "What? The first day of school and you pick a fight with that guy, what'd you just start kicking the shit out of him in the hallway or something?"
"No you idiot, he was picking on some innocent girl, so I took my chance and showed him a lesson." Cinder explained.
"Oh isn't that cute, Cinder Fall coming to the rescue of the meek, bra-vo, who was it?"
"A girl named... Ruby." She spat.
"Oh, you mean that redhead? Yeah I saw her with some tall blonde chick and some short daddy's girl with white hair."
Cinder stopped dead in her tracks, turned to Mercury and brought her face just inches from the boy "What did you say?" She seethed.
"Whoa! Calm down, she was with two other girls, one with a ton of blonde hair and the other with white hair, I think the blonde's name was Yong, or Yang... I don't know."
"C'mon Yang, she isn't worth it, let's just get to class..."
Cinder put the pieces together, Ruby was friends with two other enemies she made, which definitely threw a wrench in the works.
Mercury's expression turned quizzical as Cinder slowly backed away from him and seemingly drifted off into deep thought. Waving his hand in front of her blank face, "Hello? Remnant to Fall, is anyone home?"
Slapping his hand away Cinder glared again this time however; Mercury was a tad bit nervous. If there's one thing Cinder had was an unreadable glare, you didn't know if she was going to yell at you, hit you, or stab you, and it was beginning to put Mercury on edge.
"Shut up, and let's go home..."
"The malice is strong with this one."Mercury got in one last tease beofre making a beeline to his car, running from the impending wrath of Cinder.
######
Ruby and Yang reached home, the two shared an almost quiet (Because Yang never was) and uneventful drive on Bumblebee, Yang hated the silence, especially when the reason was something to do with Ruby. Killing Bumblebee's engine; Yang and Ruby dismounted the machine, Ruby even did it without falling this time.
The girls lived with their father in a shadier neighborhood just a five minute drive from Signal High, they could have easily walked to and from school, but Yang had always insisted on taking Bumblebee, because the girls love for that bike borderlined on obsession.
Their apartment or rather an apartment complex, was located in not the most ideal of neighbourhoods. The girls had simply dubbed the place 'The Jungle' as the four large concrete buildings were flanked by two parking lots that are surrounded with a myriad of trees, shrubs, flowers, grass, you name it. But looks can be deceiving; even though it looked nice it still sat in a shady part of Vale.
The two young students walked through the small glass doors, and inside the building, as they made their way into the elevator; Yang stole a glance at Ruby, cringing at her little sisters current expression. Those normally excited silver orbs darted around making it clear as day Ruby was nervous, and in her case she had every right to. The drive home had not been entirely quiet; Yang went on about how some girl bothered Weiss that morning, Ruby was totally on her sisters side... at first. As soon as Yang described who she was Ruby's stomach did a flip as the description at hand exactly matched that of Cinder, and Ruby knew Yang would kill Cinder if she ever got in the way of herself or Weiss.
Yang watched intently, eyeing the sweat that now beaded Ruby's face,
"The elevator isn't that hot."
The awkward air that now filled the elevator made the normally short ride to their floor seem like an eternity, trying to break the still air Yang asked Ruby one simple question;
"Rubes? Seriously, are you okay?" Her voice was gentle and comforting.
Ruby bestowed a smile so fake that a cat could see right through it.
Before Yang could prod on, the elevator beeped and they had finally reached their floor. Stepping from the smooth steel elevator; Ruby ignored her elder sisters question and walked down the hall, she tried to maintain a pace to keep herself ahead of the blonde and get to the room as fast as possible. After reaching their door, Ruby failed several times to successfully insert the key and unlock it, and Yang took note of the girls near paranoia and decided that proding on was the only way to get results, and hopefully was the right thing to do.
Hopefully...
After attempt number seven the door unlocked and the two stepped into the otherwise pitch-dark room, all of the curtains and blinds were shut to try and keep the heat out, September's in Vale were hot and the apartment lacked air conditioning, so the family had to get crafty to keep cool.
The only light provided was that of the small amount of sunlight; shining in trough the tiny gap in balcony curtains.
Ruby and Yang's father worked night shifts at a local security firm, so it was up to them to take care of each other most of the time.
Yang rushed to turn of several lights, not realizing that her sister just made her way to her respective room, pausing after turning on a lamp in the corner of the room Yang sternly asked Ruby another question; the same question;
"You didn't answer me before, Ruby?. Are. You. Okay?"
No response once more.
"Ruby! Did you hear a word I said?" Now Yang was beginning to grow frustrated at her sisters stubborn attitude.
"You'd be mad if I told you..." She mumbled.
"Come on... you can tell me anything."
She took a deep breath and spoke "It's about Cinder..."
Yang raised an eyebrow, "Who?"
Ruby used what little willingness she had "The girl who threatened Weiss this morning was the same girl who saved me from Cardin..."
Yang's face went blank, she vividly remembered her scuffle with this 'so-called' girl named Cinder that morning. Her face turned to a scowl, sure she appreciated Cinder's help, but that girl was bad news, and attacking Weiss was one thing, but if that girl laid a hand on Ruby...
Yang didn't want to think of what she'd do...
"Stay away from her."
Ruby looked to Yang with almost pleading eyes "Huh?"
"You heard me, stay away from her, what she did was nice but that girl is bad news Ruby."
Ruby piped up "What! She basically saved my life!"
"Stay away from her Ruby." Yang repeated, a hint of malice in her voice.
"Why?" She blatantly asked
"Because, you didn't see what she tried with Weiss, if I hadn't shown up, Weiss would probably be in the hospital right now, that's why."
"Why're you getting so defensive?
Ruby regretted saying that.
Plates jumped as Yang slammed her fist down on the kitchen counter, she turns to face her sister with a look that could kill.
"Why...? Why am I getting so defensive? Maybe it's because I'm you're sister and it's my job, or maybe because Dad trusted me with your safety, or maybe just maybe it's the fact that the last thing I need is to go visit my broken and battered sister in a hospital!"
Ruby winced at Yang's outburst but the girl didn't let up.
"So I'm telling you right now Ruby; Stay away from her!"
Yang's voice echoed through the small room and Ruby hung her head at how her sister reacted. It wasn't until Yang saw her white knuckles clenching the countertop that she realized how audibly and angry she was. She looked to Ruby who had taken a few steps back.
Genuine worry graced the blonde's features.
"Ruby?"
All she received was an innocent hiccup.
"R-Rubes? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you like that..." Yang completely bypassed Ruby's sensitivity during her outburst.
Yang reached out to grab her sister's arm, only to have it viciously torn away. Ruby turned, her face lined with fresh tear-stains. "No you're *sniff* not..."
Ruby was openly sobbing now, "Why do you always get like this..."
"Ruby please..."
"..."
"Ruby... I," It tore Yang apart to see her own sister act in such a manner.
"Ruby it's okay..."
"Then it's okay for me to go near her?"
"...Yes."
She lied, she flat out lied. Ruby was sensitive, and with how life was going for them right now, Yang lost herself sometimes. For Ruby's sake, she'd lie, given the current circumstances; it was something she had done often. Yang didn't want Cinder anywhere near Ruby, but she'd work it out in due time. All that mattered right now was her sister and nothing else.
Yang brought Ruby into a comforting hug, embracing her fragile sister; Yang spoke softly.;
"Just forget what I said Rubes."
Ruby pushed away from Yang and gave her a slight smile followed by a sniff, "Promise me you won't yell at me again, okay?"
"I promise."
Ruby finally gave a full grin and brought herself back into Yang's caring grasp, the two stood together for a moment until Yang decided the mood needed to be changed, twirling Ruby around and quite literally tossing her onto the couch, Yang grinned, flopping over her sister as her fingers attacked her sides.
"Tickle Attack!" Yang bellowed, fingers moving over her squirming sister, "Stop being such a sad sack you little stink!"
"Ahaahha, Y-Yang! Cut it out!"
As Ruby thrashed about on the couch, it was times like these Yang was enthralled to be the older sister.
It was a marvel she maintained such innocence; even after her mother passed away...
######
Signal Cafeteria - the following day
"So what's on the menu today?"
Blake shrugged ar Ruby's question "Not sure, I'm not eating it anyway, not after last week."
"Yeah, that was really bad wasn't it?"
"When the meat is green, I'm pretty sure it's not good."
Ruby and Blake both sat in the Signal Cafeterias, deciding that it was best to skip out on what ever it was the school offered today. The place in of itself wasn't marvelous, just your standard run-of-the-mill cafeteria. Every lunch period Ruby and Blake would grab their food (sometimes none) and eat at one of the picnic tables behind the school, but it was raining today and the meant the lame cafeteria for them.
Aa for thier friends; Weiss and Yang were never around at lunch... for obvious reasons.
So that left Ruby and Blake together, today however would be rather different one, for Ruby at least.
"So, where's Yang and Weiss off to today?" Blake asked.
"They went to go get Frappuccinos or something."
The raven-haired girl smiled "I can't imagine Yang drinking a Frappuccino."
"I know right?"
Ruby and Blake continued to chit chat, Ruby enjoyed her conversations with Blake because she always liked to talk about relevant things like world issues, and politics. It was a relief from her conversations with Yang, as the blonde went on and on about how to properly take care of hair.
Ruby listened intently as Blake went on; until a dark speck appeared in her peripheral vision, her hair swayed as she shifted her body to focus on whatever the speck was.
It was Cinder.
As Blake rambled on about "The Third Crusade" her new favorite book; Ruby drifted off in thought. She still had no idea why this girl captivated her so much; whether it was out of rebellion, or interest she didn't know. Her mind wandered further, towards the end of their shouting match the previous day Ruby noticed the near look of pity in Yang's eyes. She wasn't stupid, and she knew that Yang when said 'yes' her voice was fake and laced with respite.
However Yang did say yes...
"Wait, what do I need Yang's confirmation for?"
"Hold that thought Blake, I'll be right back."
Ruby spotted Cinder; sitting alone on the other side of the loud cafeteria, the brunette was fiddling with her phone while trying to drink. The red-clad girl used every bit of willpower she had and marched her way right up to Cinder's table.
"H-Hey!" Ruby excitedly waved.
Cinder jumped at the sudden intrusion, and looked to Ruby. Usually when someone approaches her she always assumes they're trying to pick a fight, but when Cinder, with intimidation, slowly turned her body, she was... no that can't be right... happy?
No way.
Ruby took Cinder's intimidated shift like anyone normally would, as she slowed her pace and looked to her with fear.
"Oh, hey Red."
Ruby blushed, Cinder already had a nickname for her, even though Blake called her that all the time; something about Cinder saying it was different.
"Mind if I join you?"
Cinder looked in shock, before she ushered the girl to sit down. The crimsonette took the seat opposite to Cinder and sat down, she had forgot to bring her food from the table she shared with Blake but right now in this very moment; she didn't care.
She had a friend to make.
"So... how's things?" Ruby said, not knowing what to say.
"I'm good."
"Thanks again for saving me the other day."
"You're... welcome."
"..."
Cinder set her phone down on the table and looked at Ruby, "Listen Red, you don't have to sit with me, seriously I'm fine."
"Well you helped me out so the least I could do was... well... something."
"You're sure? I'm pretty sure that sister of yours wouldn't be too happy about that."
Ruby swiveled in her seat and looked to where she was just sitting, she frowned a bit. Weiss and Yang had returned from God knows where and had taken residence at Blake's table. For just a second Ruby and Yang'seyes met and she could see Yang fighting herself to not come over there and pull Ruby away.
But in the end Ruby didn't care, this was her life and she was old enough to make decisions and takes risks.
The crimsonette turned back to Cinder and smiled.
"Don't worry about her."
Cinder took kindly to Ruby's comfort, and met eyes with the girl.
She had a friend to make too.
A/N Yang may have been a little OOC here, but I want to emphasize that the odds are really stacked between these two. Almost like forbidden.
Thanks for reading! Reviews are much appreciated!
-ARMV7
[EDIT 10/28: Cleaned up a little]