A/N: Sorry for the wait, but writer's block has destroyed me lately :/ buuuut this is here now, lets hope writer's block stays fa y...
Also, Ruby/Shade has a very different look to her now. If I haven't described it well enough, or you can't imagine it, then take a peek at the new cover art, or just Google Kirito from Sword Art Online, Brandon got me a little obsessed with that anime...
Oh! Also, time skip, 'cuz this fic needed to get rolling
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY or its characters, they belong to RoosterTeeth and Monty Oum.
The blades were light in her grip, easily allowing her to move and attack with them as fast as she was able. The trench coat fluttered slightly behind her with her movement, shifting with her steps and dodges. The sound of the metal was loud and clear, as it struck hard against her opponent's weapon.
"Is that all you got? Oh almighty warrior?" he taunted her, his antagonising smirk threatening to break her blank mask. She quickly took two steps forwards, parrying with his own blade, bringing her left blade to block his strike, and her right to throw his shielded arm out, leaving his chest open. She knew he realised his mistake seconds before she even shoved his arm, but by now there was nothing he could do. Her eye shone with amusement, and she kicked him solidly in the chest. He grunted and was thrown backwards, rolling a few times before stopping with a groan. She stepped up behind him, brought forwards her right sword, and pushed the point against the middle of his back.
"Do you concede?" she asked, he tensed, and slowly nodded. She too nodded, and spun her swords around before sliding them neatly with obvious practise into the dual sheathes on her back, a smug smile on her face.
She was about to step away, when her instincts flared, and she jumped in the air, avoiding the out kicked foot seconds before it could trip her. She landed in a crouch, unsheathed one of her blades, and slammed its hilt onto the grunt's temple while he was mid way through standing. His mouth fell open and released a strange gurgling sound, and then he collapsed with a loud thud, unmoving on the floor.
A slow clapping caught her attention, and she turned towards it as she sheathed her sword. The rest of the lights in the room faded back on gradually, and she couldn't help the grin that again started on her face when she saw who was walking towards her.
"Hello Mistress." She greeted, dropping her head slightly, bringing her right fist over her heart.
"How many times have I told you, Shadow, you do not need to call me that." Cinder told her, finally coming to a stop close to who was fast becoming her favourite Huntress.
Shade nodded and looked up; locking her silver eye with Cinder's blazing ones.
"Apologies Cinder, but I feel respect should be given where it is due."
Cinder smirked and shook her head with a gentle sigh.
"You're too proper for your own good sometimes, Shade."
"Thank you, Milady."
Cinder turned and walked, gesturing for Shade to follow her, which she silently did.
"I am glad I caught the end of your dual, I have been meaning to check on your progress."
"I am also pleased you saw it, that cheater deserved his humiliation of you seeing his defeat."
Cinder laughed, the sound quiet and low, sending a burst of heat through Shade, causing her to shiver slightly. Unfortunately, Cinder noticed this.
"Are you quite alright?" she asked, her voice now tipped with concern, despite her attempts to hide it.
Shade cleared her throat and nodded.
"Yes Ma'am, I am perfectly well."
"I should think so; your style will certainly keep you safe."
Shade grinned at this and nodded, thinking about what she now wore after burning the hospital clothes she was ridden with for weeks. Walking gave her a new beginning, a way to express her new self. And so, when told to pick clothes, she went with her gut.
She now wore dark clothing. Her under shirt was long sleeved and black with white outlines on the neck line, sleeve tips, seams, two going parallel down her arms and also at the bottom of the shirt. The trousers were dark too, held up by a matching belt, both the same colour her ankle high swordsman boots which were black with white around the top and tongue of the boot, with metal curved as a second strap on the front of the boot, and more metal on the back around the heel.
Over this she wore a trench coat, it was always open, and reached to just below her knees, but never obstructed her in a fight. The seams and ends were all lined with the same white, with dual lines of the white going down her arms and around the ends of her sleeves. Covering her hands was a pair of fingerless black gloves, with metal plates hidden under the fabric over her knuckles, giving her punches a harder hit. Stretching over her left shoulder was another piece of metal, protecting the delicate joint even further. The collar was high, reaching above her ears, and with her hair, which was an almost raven black with crimson tips, could easily hide her face from people, if she so wished.
Going over her right shoulder was a harness to hold her dual sheathes. It went over the shoulder, with another piece going under her arm and a third across her chest. They were all held together by another piece of light metal, shaped to fit and hold the three pieces of black leather.
And finally, she had a patch over the left side of her face, covering her burns, as well as her black and red cybernetic eye. She had told Cinder at the time when questioned for her cover up, that she'd prefer not to be known by her facial deformity, but rather by her skill. It was the same black colour as the rest of her outfit, with the same white silver trim around the edge of it, with a red symbol on the front.
The symbol was that of a shadow.
She nodded to her mistress and the two of them continued on their walk towards Cinder's chambers in an easy silence. When they got to the large room, Cinder immediately walked towards the Queen sized bed and sat on the end, crossing one leg over the other while glancing up at Shade with one eye, the other hidden behind her fringe.
"Why are you still at the door, dear Shadow? Come inside."
Shade nodded and took a step into the room. The second her foot crossed over and the door shut behind her, her instincts once again flared up. Her cybernetic eye, which was completely black with a glowing red pupil and hidden behind her patch, quickly scanned the room, zeroing in on Cinder's desk and highlighting in yellow something behind it. Shade felt anger spur up inside her, and she speed walked towards the mirror, leaning it forwards and snatching the mic attached to the back.
There was a note attached.
Congratulations, Shay. It was written in flowing writing, a style she knew too well.
"Well done Shadow, looks like you passed."
Shade looked up from her hand and to the mirror, seeing Cinder stood behind her with a knowing grin. She felt her face start to heat up as the woman stepped closer, and her hand grow clammy under her glove when she was stood millimetres behind her, her warm breath tickling her neck, causing her to once again shiver.
Shade dropped her arm, letting it fall limp at her side as warm arms came around her, one around her waist and the other around her right arm. She fought off a second shiver as Cinder spoke.
"You know, after having you with us for nine months now, you've really grown into yourself. I'm proud of you Shade."
"T-thank you Cinder."
She hummed, smirking at her stutter, and leant her head on the shorter girl's shoulder.
"How are your dreams lately? You have not mentioned them in a while."
Shade tensed for a second, and spoke almost robotically.
"They've improved. They lessen by the day; soon they will all be gone."
"Good, they were distressing you, and I hate to see you distressed."
Her hands moved towards the buckle holding her swords, and started to undo it.
"You need to relax some more, Shay. While I agree that these dual swords are much more manageable than the scythe, you barely part from them."
She undid the buckle with a click, and pulled the swords from her back. Shade was alert, trying to keep her breathing calm while heat shot around her body.
Cinder touched her shoulders and slowly turned her around. When the younger girl was facing her, she pulled the trench coat from her shoulders, slowly dragging it off. Sparks burst across Shay's skin as her fingers brushed over her clothes.
Cinder's eyes shot to the metal that was in place of the girl's left arm, visible as that sleeve had been removed, and the angry scarring on her neck that could not be covered by her mask.
When the trench coat was off, she threw it with precision at the chair by her vanity desk, with it landing on the back of the chair, on top of the dual swords.
Now in simply her trousers, gloves, shoes and shirt, Shade felt a little exposed. She looked up to Cinder, her silver eye darkened with her hidden desire that she refused to act on.
Cinder smirked and ran her finger nails down on the metal replacement that was now attached to her left stub. It was chrome black with lighter grey highlights, with an array of all sorts of weapons locked away inside of it. It resembled her other arm, so it was toned and had defined muscle, not too much, but enough to be impressive.
Cinder ran her hands up the younger girl's body, to her shoulders and around behind her head. She pulled her towards her, Shade hesitantly pulling her arms around her Mistress's waist, gulping as the taller woman's eyes darkened.
They'd been doing this for a few weeks now, this being Cinder getting closer and closer to finally having a kiss from the amnesiac. But every time it almost happened, something stopped it. And Shade couldn't be more relieved when it did.
Don't get her wrong, she is attracted to Cinder. She is stunningly beautiful and has such a strength and power that Shade envies, and she admits to having a fancy of the woman. But every time they got close to kissing, blue eyes with white hair and light voice would flash in front of her eyes and on her ears, and she would be compelled to run far away to a distant shower and wash herself clean of an unknown guilt of betrayal.
So she hadn't been completely honest with Cinder, the dreams were still occurring. But Shade was intrigued by them, she liked them. So, she lied.
But now was not a time to be thinking about dreams, because the woman who had been the object of her desires was now in front of her, close to her, and tempting her.
There were no interruptions, nothing to stop them. She felt Cinder's hand come up behind her head, her fingers gently threading through her black and red locks. The older woman lightly grasped the back of her hair, and pulled her to the side, leaning her head to the left.
Shade's eye flutters shut, a small groan escaping her mouth when Cinder attaches her lips on her exposed neck. She gently kisses the skin, biting it slightly, and leaving a mark. She moves up higher, and does this again.
She pushes Shade backwards, against the vanity desk. Shade's hands fall behind her to steady herself, Cinder dropping one of her own to lean over Shade's right hand, the other still holding her head. Shade's knees are weak, and she feels her body begin to give into her desire for the taller woman.
To hell with those blue eyes anyway, I don't even know who they are. She grumbles in her head, but as soon as she did, the voice whispered in her ear again.
"I love you too, dunce."
Suddenly her desire is crushed, and instead she is flooded with guilt. She brings up her hands to Cinder's hips, about to push her away.
Then the door is slammed open. Shade grabbed Cinder's waist and moved her to she was stood behind her, standing in front of her Mistress, flexing her arm and causing an eight inch blade to slide out of the cybernetic arm. Cinder sighed when she who was at the door, irritated at having been so close.
"What is it Emerald?" she asked, hiding her anger in her usual tones, smirking in satisfaction when she saw Shade try and fail to repress a shiver at the sound.
"Roman has arrived with the Intel you wanted, Mistress. There is a small gang of thugs sprouting rumours of you, and they aren't the most… flattering."
Cinder nodded, while Shade felt anger course through her veins.
Ever since she had woken up into this new world, Cinder has been there for her. Cared for her, healed her, trained her, and even promised to reveal the identity of the one who had pushed her.
Her eye darkened as her breathing increased slightly. She may have been distracted with Cinder's issues and… advances, at the moment. But she ha not forgotten about that one person who she will hunt down and enjoy destroying.
"… Shadow?"
She snapped out of her funk to see Cinder smirking while Emerald looked at her weirdly. It was then she realised that she was still stood crouched before the older woman, blade still outstretched.
Shade flushed red and unclenched her fist, letting the blade retract just as fast as it had come out. She could see Emerald trying in vain to hold in her snickering, while Cinder laughed almost silently from behind her.
"I said, dear Shadow, could you go with Emerald and Mercury to deal with this 'gang'? I'd appreciate it greatly, and you will be rewarded on your success."
Once again, heat blazed through her, and she winced when her face started to blush.
I'm meant to be an emotionless badass Dust damn it… not a blushing school girl!
"O- okay Cinder. Will do."
She quickly grabbed her trench coat and dual swords, putting them on and fighting her blush so it was completely gone, her composure seemingly calm again.
"Good, I'll be expecting you when you return, dear Shadow."
Shade nodded, biting her cheek to keep from grinning, and stepped out of the room and into the corridor with Emerald, closing the door behind her. She looked up at the green haired girl, who was smirking at her. She scowled, and pulled her collar up to cover her face.
"Shut up Emerald."
"I didn't say anything~" she sang.
"I know you're thinking it, just don't."
Emerald snorted and shook her head.
"Well, Mercury and Neo are waiting for us, come on ya' cyborg."
Shade glared.
"I'm not a cyborg."
"Well, you ain't a shadow either, sweetie."
Shay huffed, and Emerald snickered. She had come a long way since they had first found her. Still the same girl, not that she would know that, but now with more of a… deadly bite to her. She resented the one who pushed her off the train, and while Emerald wasn't sure why Cinder was withholding who this soon-to-be framed person was, she was determined to be there when it happened.
After all, this Rose had some thorns.
Her voice brought her back out of her own thoughts.
"Yeah? Well you're not a green gem stuck in the damn ground, are you?"
"Nope, but she's still as dirty as one."
Emerald gasped in faux shock and spun around to glare at Mercury, who had a smug expression. He caught her gaze, and winked playfully.
"Come on, Em, you know you have the dirtiest mind out of all of us."
Emerald went to complain, paused, and then shrugged, nodding her head in agreement.
"Meh, fair enough."
Mercury snickered and pushed himself off of the wall he was leaning on, signing something quick to Neo, who nodded with her signature smirk. Emerald raised her eyebrows and leaned over to Shade.
"Whatdoya think they we're signing about?" she stage whispered, Ruby snorted yet rolled her eyes, sidestepping as Mercury sent a friendly kick Emerald's way, only for the green haired girl to catch the foot, and throw it down.
"You still can't beat me, old man."
"Just because my hair is grey doesn't make me and old man, I'm younger than you for Dusts sake!"
"Don't defy my logic."
"Do you even have logic?" Shade asked, scratching her head as though she was thinking hard over it. Neo's shoulders moved, and they looked over as she signed something.
"It would be a great surprise if she had anything in there."
Shade basked a laugh as Mercury chuckled, Emerald glowered and swiped at the half coloured girl, only for her to shatter, the real her now standing behind Shade.
"God damn it, that's cheating!"
Mercury then glanced down at his watch, and they sobered up when he said they had to leave for this mission.
Getting to the location wasn't hard, as they all took the roofs to get there faster. As they had arrived faster than anticipated, they had to wait for the gang to return to the abandoned factory they frequented, finding a hiding spot up in the rafters.
They didn't have to wait long, it turns out.
Three vehicles arrived at the end of the alley, two vans and a car. The gang left these vehicles and started down the factory, the people from the cars (obviously the leaders) laughing over some joke while the grunts followed behind, weapons in hand.
"He's not an eggplant, he is retarded!"
The four laughed at the punch line, and Shade frowned.
Damn it, now I need to know the whole joke…
Emerald elbowed her and narrowed her eyes, telling her without words to get her head back in the game. Shade scolded herself mentally, and nodded, getting herself back in focus.
The largest of the four sat down heavily on a chair, followed by the other three. In the middle of the chairs was a table, a deck of cards in the centre.
They settled themselves and quickly had a hand of cards each, and they started their game of poker.
"So, any of you heard about that crazy bitch running around calling herself The Queen of Remnant?" a thinner man asked, lighting a cigarette as he waited for his turn. The largest chuckled and shook his head.
"Who hasn't? That dumb bitch thinks she has a chance of running things. She hasn't even got the streets yet."
"Well," a third said, leaning back in his chair as he fingered through his cards, "I hear she has. Got that Roman whatever he's called working for her. And," he now leant forwards, a dark grin on his face, "I hear she's got the White Fang at her beck and call."
The fourth snorted, and took a swig of his whisky.
"The White Fang? That bunch of animals couldn't tell a gun from their arse. What good will they do?"
"I don't know," the third said again, "they can cause quite the damage. I say we take the White Fang for ourselves. Mongrels such as them can't be too loyal; we could buy them off and knock this queen off her throne."
The second man snickered and shook his head.
"Why bother? The crazy bitch hasn't even shown her face, who's to say she's even real, and not just some crazy story cooked up by the media?"
The first one grunted in agreement, and took a swig from his flask.
"Even if she is real, the woman has no hope of success. This is a dog eat dog world; a bitch has no place in the business of men."
Mercury winced and glanced to the side.
Yup, he thought, as he saw their expressions in the darkness, they're incredibly pissed now.
Surprisingly, Shade was the first to act.
The girl's collar was up, combining with her hair to cover her face. She jumped from the rafter silently, unsheathing her swords as she did. Seconds later, she landed with a crash on the table, crushing it from the force.
The four men yelped and stumbled back, the largest falling onto his rear as he and the others stared in terrifying awe at the figure.
One blue and one black dual swords, trench coat, face patch and a glare from her visible eye.
Then she lunged for them. And chaos resumed.
Using the hilt of her left sword she knocked one man unconscious, and with a twirl kicked a second of the four with a rough grunt to the ground. By now the grunts had caught on and started to rush towards them, unsheathing their standard swords and guns.
She jumped up and drop kicked one of the grunts, sending him flying into two others behind him. Then she landed in a crouch, sweeping the legs out from the men next to her. He fell, and she smacked his head to knock him out.
More grunts tried to rush her, but then her friends finally decided to join in.
With all four of them, the fight, if it even deserved to be called that, was over in under a minute. The four stood at the centre of the carnage, looking over their work with satisfaction.
Then, Emerald frowned, and glanced to the second quietest out of them.
"Hey Shade, how come you didn't kill any of them?"
Shade shrugged and sractched her arm.
"Not really my thing I guess."
"Killing isn't your thing? Why not? It's great! Right, Mer?"
Mercury nodded with a sly grin.
"Giver her time, Em, we've been at this longer than her."
"Yeah, I guess so, whelp," she clapped Shade's shoulder, "no worries bud, I bet you'll get round to it soon. And let me tell you, it's a fan-tas-tic feeling!"
Shade laughed with the others, but thankfully they didn't know that her chuckles were forced.
Neo then bent down and grabbed three of the bodies, she moved them over to a clear space, kicking several corpses out of the way, and dumped them on the ground. She reached behind her back and pulled out a dagger, and quickly slit the grunt's throat.
Shade felt herself feel ill when the innocent looking girl put the blood on her hands, and began to use it like ink to write a warning to the other gang members. She knew what it would say; this was the plan after all.
All Hail the Queen of Remnant.
Still she felt sick.
"I-I gotta go, I'll meet you all back at base."
"What? Why you leaving?" Emerald asked, her eyes narrowing.
"E-erm I have something I need to do."
Emerald opened her mouth to complain, but Mercury's hand on her shoulder stopped her. They locked eyes, and he shook his head, before meeting Shade's gaze.
"Okay, see you later."
Shade nodded in thanks, and quickly left, glad to be far away from that room.
Watching her leave, Emerald waited until she was far away to complain.
"What the hell is she doing." She grunted to herself.
"I'm not sure. She's acting odd. We should tell Cinder about this."
Emerald nodded, and glanced to the writing Neo was still working on. She laughed when she realised that Neo had dotted the i with a crown.
"All hail the Queen…" she whispered to herself, "All hail the Queen…"
~Ax~
Weiss' eyes snapped open; she could feel someone watching her. She cautiously sat up, glancing over to Yang's bunk, where she expected her other two team mates to be. But the bed was empty.
A rustle outside the window made her head swivel around towards it, her breath caught in her throat, and she stilled. She listened again, but there was no sound.
With cautious steps, she edged towards the widnow. Night had fallen hours ago, and she was a little nervous as to what would be out there.
She would never tell Yang, but she was scared of the dark. And now that her light was gone, she felt stuck in it.
Weiss shook away the tears, refusing to cry when there may be danger around. She reached the window and peered out of it.
Nothing.
She sighed and stepped away, turning to head back to her bed. She moved up to Ruby's bunk, where she had now taken refuge.
She felt her heart stop.
Ruby was there.
She hazardly climbed onto the bed, not tearing her eyes from the sleeping figure. Her pale hand rose up, and she lightly touched Ruby's cheek. The red haird girl mumbled a little and opened one eye.
"Weiss? What's wrong?"
Weiss let out a breathy laugh, soaking in the image of her like a drug.
"You're here, you're really here…"
Ruby looked confused, but didn't complain when the Heiress planted their lips together in a sweet kiss. They parted, and Ruby grinned.
"I never left, come on."
She lifted the quilt for Weiss, and the Heiress climbed in the bed with her. Ruby's arm wrapped around her waist, an pulled her close, Weiss snuggled her head under Ruby's chin, and sighed in content.
She was finally happy again.
"Weiss, we gotta go, we'll be late for class."
Who was talking?
"Weiss? Come on, Weiss."
Her eyes opened with a gasp. She clutched at the bed next to her.
No one was there.
There was a hand on her shoulder, and she looked over to see Yang with her ever present depressed and tired expression. She looked at the Heiress, and frowned.
"Weiss, you okay?"
Of course she wasn't, and she sure as hell wasn't going to hold in the tears now.
Yang quickly hopped up on the bed next to her, and held her as she cried. She ran her hand through the Heiress' hair, and nodded to Blake, who was rubbing the fairer haired girl's shoulder.
"Its okay Weiss," Yang said into her hair, "we all miss her too, so much."
They stayed there for as long as they could, comforting each other in the best way they knew how.
They didn't go to class that day.
A/N: Sooooo, like? Please let me know in a review or a PM! I'd love to hear what you think :j
Also, a thing about the shipping. This is a Falling Petals fic (which I started to write for a friend of mine) but I am a White Rose shipper at heart, and reading over my chapters has made me unsure of the endgame pairing, if you'd let me know what ship you'd prefer that would be great, 'cuz I need help on this one guys ;) so, until next time, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed.