MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! Did you really think I wouldn't update this Christmas? Hell naw. 3 months is an awfully long time... I fail at life. It's been a hectic 3 months as usual. National Novel Writing Month happened this November (which I totally won again) so November was a no-fan-fic-writing month for me. My brother got married so there was that and the chaos that came with it. FUDGING WORK. Anyway. I hope you all enjoy this long awaited chapter. Hope it's worth the wait! ENJOY. (Also we need to talk about RWBY V.3 at the end OMGGG)

Chapter Eleven

A Thorny Kiss

Everything is going to be OK.

Yang... I'm coming. Please wait for me.

I feel a kind of warmth - a warmth I have never felt before. The feeling when the morning sunlight first hits your face and makes your skin tingle when you step outside - just like that. It's nice... I wish I could stay like this...

Ruby's eyes flickered open upon hearing a sharp intake of breath, the soft padding beneath her face convulsing like it had fallen victim to a shock. It took a moment to realise she was still rested against Roman Torchwick, whose arms trapped her within, safely pressed up against his body.

The heat...

Ruby lifted her face slightly to look up, catching the line of Torchwick's jaw hovering just above her. The fading scar and bruise now clearly in focus which made her look away instantly to anywhere but at the ugly marks. She could see him grinding his teeth against each other, like he was working hard to keep himself from crying out. The heat was slowly diminishing, like a candle's flame as it died out.

She should have jumped away, throwing herself as far back as possible. Her body was warm enough, no doubt she had dozed off at some point and he remained quiet, silently providing the warmth she needed to survive. This tender side to Torchwick alarmed her, made her feel uncomfortable. He was a combination of ice and fire. A blend of hot and cold. One moment, refusing to join hands, and the next he was ready to save her life. For a second time too.

Ruby could feel the steady beating of her heart began to pulsate, the silence of the cell echoing the beats of her ever-pounding heart. His arms were strong, holding her tight as if she would disappear if he let go.

Why? She asked him mentally, knowing very well that he couldn't hear her. Her eyes softened, moist now and tired.

His eyes were closed, his eyelashes visible from beneath his long bangs. There was perspiration beading up on his forehead and around his face as his breathing began to deepen, almost sounding laboured. That's when she chose to act.

She pulled back, her hands – now with more strength in them – pushed off against his chest, the cool air instantly attacking her skin making her shiver from the icicles that seemed to dig at her exposed flesh. She missed the warmth already. His arms refused to move and remained locked around her like clamps frozen in their position. Ruby craned her neck up to see him open his eyes, now aware of her consciousness. She noticed a faint orange tinted glow surrounding his form. Whether it was his aura or an effect from his semblance she had no idea.

"Hey," she called out softly, forcing her voice to remain steady. "What's wrong?"

Torchwick dropped his arms, resting his head back against the wall with an exasperated sigh.

"Nothing, kid. I'm fine," he reassured although he didn't sound too sure. His cheeks were slightly flushed.

Ruby frowned, now sitting on her knees, ignoring the cold feeling of the rock hard ground beneath her.

"Stop trying to act all tough. The look on your face says it all – you're not fine at all so tell me, what is it?"

He made a sound of irritation, grumbling curses as he kept looking to the side, avoiding her gaze.

"You're sick."

The ends of Torchwick's lips quirked upwards. "So I've heard."

"No." Without thinking about the consequences, Ruby placed a palm flat over Torchwick's forehead, pushing his bangs aside as they brushed against her skin. "You're sick." Her hand immediately retracted as if she had touched a real flame. His skin, was quite literally on fire and it definitely wasn't his semblance. Whatever it was.

She frowned as he pulled away even further, almost in a desperate attempt to get away from her. He swiped a hand over his face with a soft sigh.

"It was no picnic keeping you warm, not to mention you absolutely soaked me in the process." He glanced at her then, somewhat amused by this detail. "I'm not sick – I'm drained."

"Drained?"

Torchwick gave one nod before stretching out his arms and sitting up straight.

"Strength requires energy, no? You do the maths."

Ruby felt her stomach clench, her face paling from the realisation. "That's why you haven't been using your semblance to keep warm," she paused when she caught his eye. "It depletes your energy."

"I would clap for you in celebration but I'm kinda running low on the strength here."

"That's not funny," Ruby scowled. "We can't afford for you to be in this kind of state if we're ever going to get out of here."

"Which would be, oh... never."

Ruby sat up a little straighter. "We're going to get out of here."

They would. They had to. As her mind began to slowly craft her future escape plan, she hadn't noticed Torchwick watching her for a good minute or two without breathing a single word. She blinked, suddenly feeling nervous at his titled gaze.

"W-What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Her voice felt uneasy, deducted of its confidence under the watchful eye of her nemesis.

His face was void of any emotion, of his sardonic nature and devilish grins. He never looked more serious and as the seconds of complete silence passed, each and every moment felt prolonged and the intensity between them began to pile up high. Ruby felt her throat go clammy as she found herself unable to look away.

Why isn't he saying anything?

One corner of his lip curled up into a small smile, tired but a smile nonetheless. For once, Ruby was afraid to ask him what he was thinking.

"We are, are we?"

"You can stay here if-"

He cut her off mid sentence with a raised hand. "Hey kid, I kind of liking the sound of we. Jeez, did you have to ruin the moment?"

"There was no moment," Ruby said quickly, tearing her eyes away.

Her water bottle was still beside them, untouched. The faint memory of her offering the precious liquid to her nemesis seemed like a lifetime ago and she was surprised to see it still unscathed. With effort, she heaved herself up to stand, stretching her limbs out and feeling the dull aches and tightness of her muscles after the long slumber. She wasn't particularly fond of recalling the moment she had thought she was going to drown. It made her blood run cold to think Cinder wouldn't hesitate to instate her threats into her enemies with such brute force. Ruby would have to watch what she said in front of the volcanic queen.

The remaining drops of water sloshed inside the plastic bottle as she picked it up and studied it. Her mouth began to water, throat raw and dry. She could easily alleviate her thirst in a second but a nagging voice at the back of her mind reminded her of the person sitting behind her. How very unfortunate.

She sighed, clutching the plastic before turning around and held it out.

Torchwick stared at it blankly like she had just offered him a brick. He tilted his head up. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing much. I thought I'd just stand here and hold out the bottle to pass the time."

"Hey your sarcasm is getting pretty good! I must be rubbing off on you," he said with a wink.

Ruby rolled her eyes, ignoring the slight flutter she felt in her stomach. She shook the bottle making the water slosh inside against the plastic.

"Can you please take it already?" she pressed.

"As much I appreciate you asking me so nicely, I don't need it Red. You do."

"I don't need it."

"Then we both agree on something!"

Ruby glared, gritting her teeth in annoyance at his stubbornness.

Torchwick huffed out a sigh. "Look Red, don't forget that it was your carcass they were dragging here not too long ago. Now I don't need to know what that witch had done to you but it we're going to get out of here then I need you to keep your energy up. I won't have you passing out whilst trying to make our getaway."

"I won't pass out!" Ruby retorted, feeling offended. Despite everything that had happened, she still had the strength in her to obtain her vengeance. No mortal wounds or death threats would stop that. Her fingers tightened around the plastic until she could hear the crunch and crackle of it being crushed within her fist.

The red cloak hung limply behind her, still a little damp in areas but Ruby was grateful she didn't have to take it off completely.

Without warning, she threw the bottle in Torchwick's direction and grinned smugly when he caught it with some quick thinking. He didn't look too pleased with her. She ignored him and stared out their secluded cage, towards the dark and empty exit.

"Have you tried picking the lock?" she asked, staring at the small gap that was the root of their problems.

There was a pause.

"I am the most wanted fugitive – second to Cinder – with a record for being a mastered thief. You may wish to reword that question."

"Is it really necessary to always be so dramatic when you need to put your point across?" Ruby frowned. "A simple yes would have sufficed."

"But then that wouldn't be me." She turned her head to see him smirking at her with that cocky arrogance that radiated off of him. Though she hated to agree, a part of her was glad he was still the infuriating and overly dramatic crook he was. She tried not to smile.

The cell bars felt cool and sturdy as it always had whenever she clutched them. Even if she willed them to break she knew nothing would come of it but disappointment, and she wasn't fond of being electrocuted a second time. And with that, she remembered how she still hadn't asked Torchwick why he saved her in the first place.

Her stomach grumbled and she prayed Torchwick hadn't heard.

"I just need another opportunity to get out of this cell. There just has to be a way for me to go looking for that key and my weapon."

"Our weapons," Torchwick corrected. "That is if they're still intact..."

Ruby felt an anxious twisting inside her gut at the thought of seeing her beloved Crescent Rose destroyed. And if she was, then it would prove to be extremely difficult to find the utensils and materials to build a replacement. Products she no longer had access to in this world. She just prayed Torchwick was wrong.

"Cinder won't heed so easily for a third chance to sweet talk you into joining her."

Ruby shook her head, releasing her clamped hands from the bars and faced Torchwick who was casually picking at the unravelling threads on his gloves with his teeth. She didn't comment.

"My objective was to plant a seed."

Torchwick stopped mid-chew and blinked up at her. "Seed?"

Ruby tugged at the cuffs of her sleeves, thumbs smoothing over the patches of dirt on her hand.

"A seed of doubt," she added, looking up with a grin. "I think it was a success."

Torchwick sat dumbfounded, continuously blinking with half his gloved hand trapped in his mouth before slowly removing it. A satisfied and amused smile warmed his face, the green eye almost glowing with glee.

"Your habit of continuing to surprise me with each and every move may one day become my downfall."

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "You're caged within an indestructible cell, beaten and almost starved to death."

Torchwick flapped a hand. "Details details."

"Still, we need to figure out how we're going to get that key. It would help if you could tell me a bit more about the place." She crossed her arms, frowning at him displeasingly.

He groaned like she had just asked him to complete an impossible act.

"I don't exactly have a blueprint of the place, in fact I barely know where the toi-"

Ruby perked up, arms dropping by her sides. "What? What is it? Why did you stop?"

The hope began to build up in anticipation on seeing the look of Torchwick's face as the little clock in his mind began to tick and pieced together some form of new information into a beneficial plan.

"Bathroom breaks!" he blurted out suddenly.

Ruby gaped at him, trying to unearth the hidden meaning behind his words but failed. He noticed the annoyed look on her face and raised his palms up in surrender.

"Hear me out before you chastise me."

"I'm listening."

He dropped his hands. "Believe it or not, Cinder grants bathroom breaks. Something about not wanting to clear up my-"

"I get it. Move onto the point."

"Alright alright!" He took a deep breath. "Now, we have the usual royal escort and bindings but I reckon you could do something about that..."

His face lit up with a furtive expression, a knowing look in his eye as he implied his plan at her.

Ruby thought it through.

Escorted and tied up...

"A guard escort?" she questioned hesitantly.

Torchwick nodded. The side of his leg brushed against the water bottle he had placed down. He glanced at it momentarily, like he had forgotten it was there.

"No Cinder. No ex-pretend friends. Just a couple of animals to make sure you don't try to make a break for it."

"And you didn't think to mention this before?"

"Cut the wounded guy some slack, OK! I forgot."

"I'm guessing there was little success in the past with this plan of yours," Ruby interjected, unable to hide away her amused smile at the thought of the thief lord trying to escape whilst bound in chains.

It's probably my imagination but I swear he just looked flustered, she thought on seeing Torchwick turn his face away in a huff as he mumbled to himself.

And in an attempt to hide his emotions, he snatched the water bottle and unscrewed the cap before raising it to his lips, stopping just before the rim of the bottle brushed against them. He watched her from beneath the layer of his hair for a moment before holding out the bottle.

"Are you sure you don't want any?"

It took almost every ounce of her self-control to say yes, because she wanted nothing more than to snatch the bottle away and chug the last of the water. But she couldn't bring herself to say no and instead watched helplessly as Torchwick drained the bottle dry. Ruby felt a new void of emptiness open up side of her. It didn't even occur to her that he hadn't even thought twice about sharing the same water bottle.

Now they had no water. And no food.

Ruby still felt slightly guilty knowing she had a larger meal but she had a feeling that would be the only time she would receive such a 'feast'. Her energy was depleting fast and if Torchwick believed she had the ability to break out of her bindings and somehow overwhelm the Faunus guards and make it out alive, then she had a huge task set out before her. She couldn't help but feel a little proud to think Torchwick even had faith in her to succeed.

His opinion on you is not what's important, Ruby.

She shook her head and sat down, bringing her knees to her chest as she wrapped her arms around them tight.

"What will you do when you get out of here?"

She was curious, as anyone would be. Torchwick would no longer be a part of Cinder's team of monsters but at the same time he was a fugitive that went MIA. Where would he go? What would he do? And why did a part of her hope that he would choose to fight against Cinder alongside the Resistance?

The question was similar to what he had asked her before but now that she knew she had a fighting chance to escape, she needed to know what would happen next. What would happen once they escaped?

She would go back to the Resistance of course, and track down the rumoured traitor who was roaming amongst her friends. Near Yang.

"Who knows, maybe I'll offer my services to someone who would actually pay me and not plan my demise behind my back." Torchwick seemed pleased with the idea.

Ruby groaned. "You never learn, do you? Has working for Cinder taught you nothing?"

Torchwick touched a finger to his chin, looking up as though he was considering her point.

"Hmm...yeah. It taught me I need to up my lock-picking skills and to be a better thief."

Ruby shook her head and puffed an irritated sigh, like she had expected as much.

"And you still won't tell me this great big secret," she added.

He looked at her with a fully satisfied smirk.

She narrowed her eyes sharply at him, hoping he felt the daggers she was shooting. "What do you intend to do?"

"Use it to my advantage against Cinder," he replied.

"Then why not now? This is so stupid! We could eas-"

"It isn't the right time."

Ruby stood up abruptly, fuming until she could just feel the steam coming out from her ears as her blood boiled.

"When will it be the right time Torchwick?" she snarled. "When you're buried three hundred feet below ground? Or when your frozen starved body is left rotting inside this cell? When it would no longer be of use to you to carry a secret that could have saved your life?"

Torchwick's lips formed a thin line as he stared at her with growing frustration. "You don't know what you're saying kid. Stop worrying about the things that don't concern you. You'll get out of here and I'll help you do that but without the aid of my trump card." He silenced her when she opened her mouth to protest. "And we have a plan, if you had forgotten. I trust that you can actually follow it?"

Ruby clamped her mouth shut, her temper slowly dying down. She pouted and pivoted away from him on her heel.

"O-Of course I can!"

"That's settled then! Now, was that so hard?" She could just sense the arrogance in his voice and chose to let it pass.

Ruby turned to face him once more, this time with a less seething expression.

"You still haven't told me what you're going to do after we get out. You can't be serious about jumping back into the world of crime."

He raised a brow, tilting his head to one side. "And if I am?"

Ruby shrugged, suddenly feeling anxious. Her eyes shifted from side to side, unable to look him in the eye.

"You could start afresh..."

"I'm a wanted fugitive, Red. Perhaps you have missed that minor detail."

"No," she answered, looking him in the eye. Her heart rate was beginning to climb. "The Resistance thinks you're dead. Everyone does!"

Torchwick shook his head and rolled his eyes. "That doesn't exactly help me, Red. The moment someone sees me, it's behind bars again. And despite being stuck here for so long, I'd rather not jump back into this situation again thank you very much."

"Can you be serious for one minute please?" Ruby pleaded with a groan as she rubbed a hand over her face.

"You know what? I'm actually not sure that I can..."

"Torchwick."

"Though I suppose I could try..."

Ruby clutched the edge of her cloak, suddenly nervous. Even the hairs at the back of her neck had stuck up. She chewed her lip before carefully wording her next question. Her heart was racing furiously beneath her clothing.

"This is not something I would ask lightly, especially to my enemy. But we're desperate and these are desperate times..."

Torchwick seemed to be listening as he hadn't made a sarcastic remark or laughed yet.

"We?"

Ruby clutched her cloak tighter until she felt like the small muscles in her hands would tear apart. Her face warmed as she used her mussed hair to hide her face. She didn't dare look him in the eye.

"Have you ever considered... joining the Resistance?"

There. I asked him. There's no going back now Ruby.

She hated to ask, she hated the thought of joining hands with the man who had been the root of the apocalypse and the fall of Beacon. But it was true that they were desperate... and if Torchwick claimed to know something of great value, then keeping him within her sights could be the kick they needed to defeat Cinder once and for all. But would the Resistance be willing to accept a criminal to join their flanks? She wasn't sure.

There was still Mercury and Emerald to think about. Cinder's most loyal subjects. Feeling confident, Ruby knew there was a cloud of doubt lingering in Mercury's mind. And Emerald seemed baffled if not a little wary of their leader until Cinder had silenced her. It was a wonder Cinder hadn't killed her off completely. She wondered why that was. It was like the deal with her keeping Torchwick alive when he clearly knew something no one else did.

So what is she waiting for? What does she want?

She already ruled majority of Remnant. The Grimm bowed before her. She held control over their food and drink supplies and had armies at her disposal.

There's something else. Something I'm missing.

Back in the chamber, Cinder admitted she wanted Professor Ozpin. But what could she possibly want with their professor? Whatever it was between them, Ruby had a feeling Torchwick knew about it. But it still didn't clear the question as to why she's kept him alive all this time even after attempting to wipe him off the map.

At long last, she willed herself to look at Torchwick, who had remained strangely quiet since she had asked. As her eyes met with his, she was almost thrown off balance to see him looking like a deer in the headlights. Ruby felt her pulse racing, the knots in her stomach tightening until she felt she couldn't breathe.

Why was she so nervous? Worried that he would say no? It would be best for her never to see him again wouldn't it?

"I have considered it..."

Ruby's eyes widened in alarm. Did she hear correct?

"Really?" she asked with the hope in her voice unmistakably there.

"Pshhh, no," Torchwick snorted. He broke out into a fit of laughter, pretending to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye.

Ruby felt her false hope come crashing back down on her. Her eyes clouded over as she turned away from him in rage. She shouldn't care whether or not he would be willing the join the Resistance but she was angry.

"We're all fighting against Cinder," she said quietly, trying to keep her voice steady despite her shaking fists.

"Listen Red, I'm willing to help you get out of here but that is as far as my allegiance will stretch. Like it or not, I'm a thief. I'm a criminal and I always will be. I can never join your little band of freedom fighters."

Ruby shook her head. "I'm not asking you to stop being what you are. I'm not too fond of having you in our flanks and I'm going against everything I believe in by even asking you to join us." She took a deep breath. "But... we can't ignore the fact that with your knowledge and skills, we can find some way to defeat Cinder and get our world back."

Every word would have felt like a lie if it had been a completely different situation. But after her somewhat short stay trapped inside a cell with Roman Torchwick, she couldn't shake off the thoughts of him saving her life, of sacrificing his water and discreetly making her feel better in his own twisted way.

Torchwick snickered. "Our ideologies are very much different kid, it would never work out."

Ruby faced him to see him looking somewhat sober and willing to cooperate.

He brushed aside his bangs with a sigh. "Not to mention that small little detail about me being a wanted criminal and all... They'd arrest me on the spot."

"I'd defend you."

Ruby had no idea where that had come from. Was that even really her speaking? And clearly she had taken Torchwick by complete surprise because even he looked completely speechless like she was speaking in foreign tongue. His eye was wide and unbelieving.

The pounding of her heart was so loud in her eardrums that she was sure he could hear it. She wanted to cup her warm cheeks and will the heat to go away. Her eyes shifted from side to side as she clutched her elbow with one hand.

"N-Not in that s-sense... I mean, I would – just, I'd make them try to see the advantage... of having you on our side – and quit looking at me like that!"

I sound like such a fool. Why am I so flustered? She cursed herself for struggling to compose herself.

"Now this is something I thought I'd never see!" Torchwick's sudden reaction made her jump. She looked to see him grinning, his face almost glowing with amusement and surprise. "A Huntress willing to defend a wanted criminal? And it only took an apocalypse."

"I said I'm not defending you in that way!" Ruby yanked her hood over her head and sat down in a sulk with her head down. Her erratic heartbeat was not helping the situation. "Uch, you're so annoying."

She could hear him chuckle to himself and frowned. But the tension had somehow lifted leaving a casual atmosphere once more and she had forgotten all about her anger. This would take getting used to. But the weight on her shoulders eased off, her mind a little clearer and her courage a little more solid.

They had a plan.

One that would require her to be at her strongest because this would be the only chance she would get. If all failed and Cinder caught her before she could even begin to look for their weapons then she had no doubt that Cinder wouldn't hesitate to have them removed permanently.

Torchwick believed she was capable, and it was up to her to prove she was more than worthy for the job. Besides, it would be a good memory to rub in his face in the future after they escaped.

Let it be known that Ruby Rose was at a level that even Roman Torchwick could not even touch.

She liked the sound of that.

"But seriously, the notion of me joining the Resistance? A little ridiculous and ironic isn't it?"

She did think it was bizarre. But that was exactly why she had asked in the first place. Cinder would never expect it and it would give the Resistance the boost they needed to win. It was satirical however, that quite possibly the fate of Remnant's redemption lied in Roman Torchwick.

"Professor Ozpin would have suggested the same..." she murmured under her breath. She looked up. "He would have asked for your assistance."

"I'm not interested in saving the world, kid."

"You're interested in revenge! And what better opportunity that to aid those who are fighting to take her off the throne? We all want our vengeance Torchwick, and I promise you that you'll get yours," she replied, her voice taking on the leadership tone she thought she'd never use again. It was like those first days she had spent with Team RWBY all over again.

Ruby thought she didn't need his help. But now everything seemed a little clearer, because she needed his help no matter what past they shared.

She searched Torchwick's face for that flicker of understanding and acceptance, for him to consider the outcome and give in and say yes. Though, if he did say no she wouldn't stop him. She would have to inform the Resistance everything that she knew and they'll have to work it out themselves. If Torchwick chose to be stubborn and continue to harbour secrets then it wouldn't be worth pleading for him to stay.

"You're quite insistent on me joining you, aren't you?" Torchwick leaned forwards, bringing a knee up slowly as he rested his head against it. There was a playful smirk on his lips with a look on his face that warned he was about to say something completely unnecessary that would cause her to lose her composure all over again.

She instantly raised the wall around her.

"It wasn't that long ago that a certain someone claimed they didn't ne-"

"Stop talking already!" Ruby clutched her hood, tugging it further in hopes her entire face would be covered.

"I think you're worried you'll miss me."

Oh dust, why can he never keep quiet?

The atmosphere was beginning to make her feel uneasy and unsettled and her cheeks were still warm. She slapped her hands over them and slouched like a child.

"Please," she mumbled into her palm. "You're such a pain to be around."

"Am I a thorn in your side?"

Ruby felt her eyes widen at the intended pun and raised her chin to stare at him in bewilderment. He was laughing to himself again, amused by his own jokes.

"Very funny," she mumbled though she could feel a smile tugging at her lips as well.

Torchwick suddenly winked. "You'll definitely miss me, so I might just have to stick around."

"D-Don't be stupid!" she blurted out but felt her heart swell, the hope returning. "And you'll... you'll really join us?"

Torchwick shrugged, still amused as he rubbed at his nose. "That depends if I'll get my own royal quarters, a personal assistant to tend to my every need and someone to clean-"

Ruby glared. He chuckled then sighed.

"Well, looks like our partnership will require being extended."

Partnership. Partners with Roman Torchwick? Is that what this was? Yang would have a fit.

Ruby swallowed before nodding. Deep down, she had felt a level of excitement she hadn't felt in over a year. The warm bubbly feeling of adrenaline and looking forward to something, to getting the revenge she needed and being one step closer to destroying Blake's assailant.

Blake... I'll get her. I'll make her pay. I promise you.

"The key will be on one of the guards, so that will save you to go looking for it. I don't know how many of the guards she'll send with you, she usually suffocates me with animals and one of them always has a heat dampener that cancels out my power. It'll be different with your speed so there may not be anything she can do about that. She may send Mercury or Emerald due to your semblance. Speaking of which," he paused to point at the gap in the make-do blueprint he had created from the pack of cards. Using what knowledge he had of Cinder's lair, Torchwick had constructed a brief rough outline of where she would be going once their plan was in action.

"Semblance. Use it. Do whatever you need to and knock out as many fleabags as you can and then you'll need to find the one with the key. I can't help you to break out of the chains, you'll need to use whatever is at your disposal at the time. If it's Mercury or Emerald, you stand down. Do you understand?"

He looked up to check whether she was paying attention – which she was as she stared at the gap his index finger was pointed at. It was a passage just up through the exit that led to the upstairs rather than the staircase which, according to Torchwick, was the popular route to get down to the cells. It was also where she would be escorted to.

The plan did sound a little silly and perhaps they were a bit too optimistic about it. Torchwick had failed to make his escape using the same method and failed... so what were the chances she would succeed? So many things could go wrong. For one thing, if she did have Mercury or Emerald as her escort and that would put an end to their plan for good. There was no way she could fend off either of them. Cinder wasn't stupid. She might just have prepared a special escort just for her.

Ruby chewed the inside of her lip and sighed.

"So let's say it isn't Mercury or Emerald, and I do manage to break out and take out the guards, what then?"

Torchwick grinned. "Well, you come gallantly on your noble steed to my rescue and break me out of this cage."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "All right, fine. But we would still need to find our weapons and I'll need to find that serum."

Torchwick jerked his head up, face pale. "You cannot be serious? The serum?! We won't have time to go looking for magical potions!"

"Shush!" Ruby raised a finger to her lips, anxiously looking out the cell as if she expected someone to step out and catch them plotting. She lowered her voice to a whisper, facing Torchwick. "I need that serum and I'm going to get it with or without you."

"So much for partnership," Torchwick mumbled. He groaned, running a hand through his hair. "We don't have the time, think about your priorities."

"My priority is saving my sister and for that I need that serum."

Torchwick groaned in protest, his face falling forward so his mussed bangs hung limply over half his face. He looked so defeated at that moment but nothing he would say could change her mind otherwise.

Yang came before everything.

Ruby watched Torchwick sigh then look up at her.

"This is what we're going to do. There's a greater risk of us getting caught if we split up at this given point. But since you choose to do this the reckless way, I'll go find our weapons. You go find your precious serum and head east. Did you get that kid?"

Ruby fumed silently at the pet name. "Affirmative."

"Now, you remember the floors and to keep track of the direction you're heading in?"

"Yes, I got it, I got it!"

They had been plotting for what felt like hours and her stomach grumbled a few times since the last. Her body just wanted to lie down and never get back up again. Her muscles were sore and she was freezing. The only worry in her mind was failing in her part of the task.

The entire operation relied on her to break out of her bindings and take out whoever was on guard, assuming it was the Faunus and not one of Cinder's special ops. There was no doubt she would cause an uproar and alarms would be sounded as soon as she freed Torchwick. That didn't give them an awful lot of time to go wandering around the premises with a blind eye in hopes she would stumble upon the room containing the serum. Though she had a feeling it was somewhere in that heavily guarded corridor that Emerald was defensive about from earlier.

Ruby sighed in exasperation and rocked back, falling back against the hard floor causing spasms in her muscles. She winced.

"Shouldn't have done that..." she whispered to herself, hissing as she rubbed the back of her head.

She looked up towards the ceiling, wondering if this last hour inside the cell would be her last. She definitely wouldn't miss it but she would leave with a lot of memories about the place.

Both good... and bad.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

Ruby's heart stopped. Completely iced over as dozens of chills shot down her spine in dreaded agony. Her eyes shot open as she turned her head to look out of the bars towards the dark exit with a heavy heart.

What now?

"Damn it... I forgot," Torchwick murmured under his breath as he gathered up the cards discreetly and began shuffling them as though he had been doing the same for the past hour.

Ruby didn't like the sound of that. She noticed the same paled anxious look he had on from before, when something went wrong or signalled that something was about to go wrong. Cinder's presence wasn't random – she was here for a reason. Ruby hoped she wouldn't be here for long and would get it over and done with so they could get onto their plan.

But one look at Torchwick had her stomach up in knots.

Something's wrong.

Torchwick wouldn't look her in the eye. His jaw hardened like he was biting down really hard and trying not to curse.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

The footsteps stopped. Ruby sat up, her hood falling back as she brushed her hair aside to get a good look. The glowing runes and markings on Cinder's body were hard to miss, that and her fiery eyes that continued to burn holes into her face.

Accompanying her was Mercury and Emerald. Ruby unknowingly turned her attention to the slate haired friend-turned-enemy in hopes to find any new signs that would indicate that he was still unsure about his loyalty to Cinder. But she was disappointed to find a blank face, eyes clear and hollow as they had always been since he switched sides. She looked away.

"Hello Ruby."

I hate that voice, Ruby thought as she narrowed her eyes at the scarlet witch watching them from afar.

"I'm here too, if you hadn't noticed," Torchwick commented.

Cinder ignored him, simply frowning but her eyes never left Ruby's. She stiffened under her gaze.

"What do you want now?"

Cinder took two steps forward, a hand splayed out in a gesture to one of her bystanders. A Faunus guard stepped forward. Ruby exchanged glances with Torchwick to see any sign of amusement wiped from his face as he swallowed hard. The look on his face told her to keep quiet.

"Why, aren't you both feeling hungry?"

Ruby furrowed her brows, wondering if there was some kind of hidden message behind it. But at the same time she was feeling hopeful to receive some food and water to devour. She hated being so helpless and in such a pathetic state but if they were going to escape then she would need all the strength she could get. Food was a must.

The guard stepped forwards and began to unlock the cell door.

Ruby looked to Torchwick once more to see his hands curled into tight fists, squeezing so tight she could feel the pain he must have been feeling at that moment. He was agitated. Again. Like the last time when Cinder had come to take him...

"The kid stays."

There was silence among the room, heavy and thick with tension. Ruby raised a brow at Torchwick, wondering what he was talking about. He refused to look at her.

"That's not how we do things Roman, you know that," Cinder responded, somewhat smug as she smiled at Ruby. "Now get up."

"She's not hungry."

Ruby's jaw dropped, glaring and cursing at Torchwick silently. What was he saying?!

"I say he's bluffing," Mercury added, catching Ruby's eye.

"Well, Roman, this is a new side to you. Have you actually taken a liking to the little brat?"

Brat?

Torchwick laughed it off as if they were sharing an inside joke, that too so casually. Ruby felt her stomach twist another notch until she wanted to be sick.

"I just cherish the precious time we have together, don't you? I don't need a kid to ruin that for me."

Cinder didn't looked completely won over by Torchwick's words – whatever he was trying to do. Ruby remained silent but she noticed Mercury and Emerald sharing quizzical glances with one another and then felt Mercury's eyes back on her. He looked to be fuming silently, face glazed over with a layer of ice, eyes frosty and sharp. She looked at him helplessly, wondering how she could have ever missed seeing through his facade.

The cell door creaked open, snatching her attention.

"Wait," Ruby called out, suddenly fearing the worst. She looked to Torchwick for answers with a racing pulse. "This happened before. Where are you going? And what right do you have to stop me from coming too?"

Torchwick gave her a look that could kill a Grimm. He stood up and quickly masked his face with his usual mischievous smirk as he stretched.

"Be quiet and go to sleep, Red."

As he stepped closer to the door, Ruby shot up to standing positioning, ready to drag him back and demand answers. She was not about to let him go once again at such a crucial point without saying a word about where he was going and what he was about to do.

Because the last time he did...

She remembered the blood, the bruises and the laboured breaths. The pain on his face, the struggles he went through just to move. If he came back like that again then they would never be able to escape.

"No. I'm coming too. I can speak for myself!" she cried, stepping forward towards the cell door.

She was immediately pushed back and held down into one position with force, a heated sensation burning through her clothes and into her skin for a moment. Her body refused to obey any of the commands her brain was sending. A moment long enough for Torchwick to slip through the cell door and for it to slam shut with a successful click to lock it.

Ruby felt her body loosen, like an invisible force had held her body back. The look on Torchwick's was the dead giveaway that he was the culprit. She didn't even care to question him about his mysterious semblance and instead threw herself against the bars, hands gripping the cool metal tight.

"You can't do this!"

She sounded like a desperate child, holding onto that shred of hope that their voice would be heard and all would be safe. But she could only watch with complete devastation at Torchwick's back as he slowly walked towards Cinder whose eyes shifted between the two of them, as though she was considering ignoring Torchwick's request completely.

Mercury and Emerald were oddly silent, only exchanging glances and eyes glancing warily at their leader, unsure on whether or not they should intervene. Clearly the decided on the former and kept their mouths shut on seeing Cinder looking pleased, and somewhat excited.

There's the doubt. Brief. Lingering.

Ruby felt a painful throb tugging at her inside her chest, a gut-wrenching feeling like someone was crushing her internal organs. She was afraid. Afraid he wouldn't come back though just the thought of it made her wince.

"Torchwick wait! Cinder!" she cried out in desperation. Torchwick kept his back to her, continuing to walk away and every step he took away from her felt like another dagger puncturing her heart. Her bottom lip trembled so she bit down on it to stop herself from crying out. Her hands shook against the bars. Cinder continued to smile grimly at her, like she had just claimed a victory of a battle they hadn't yet had.

"Torchwick, please don't do this! You can't make me stay here! You don't speak for me! Are you listening to me? Torchwick!"

Her voice broke off at the last word, feeling her eyes begin to moisten.

Another step away.

"ROMAN!"

Time stopped.

Everything stopped.

All attention turned to her. Eyes watching her in complete awe like she had just spoken a taboo word.

Ruby felt herself intake a sharp breath, frozen in her position. Her throat burned. Her mouth was open, her mind still reeling from her sudden cry. Her heart pounded hard, faster than it had ever been, enough to make her collapse but she forced herself to remain standing.

Cinder, Mercury, Emerald and even the Faunus guards had mixed looks of confusion, shock and disbelief on their faces. Their eyes wide and watching silently.

Ruby's breaths came out more laboured, in short sharp gasps as she stared into Torchwick's still back. He had frozen mid-step and had yet to turn.

And just like he had read her mind, he turned around slowly.

Her eyes met with his, locked and focused. She could tell the green shade of his eyes would be brighter than ever, even in the poor lighting. They were wide, his eyelashes making them seem ever bigger than normal. His lips open a crack, like he was trying to form a word but his voice had left him.

But above all, he looked... touched. Like the one word from her had the power to control him all that time and he had been waiting for it. His face softened, eyes gentle and warm despite his crooked ways. It was a whole new side of him, the side she had been curious about since the moment they met inside this dreaded cell.

And it stirred the conflicting feelings inside of her.

She clutched the bars tighter.

Did she really just... call out his name? A name she refused to acknowledge or use no matter the situation.

It had been completely on impulse. The letters rolled off her tongue, feeling alien and strange yet oddly comfortable like any other name. She hadn't meant to say it but she was frantic, she wasn't thinking straight.

Cinder pointed her eyes at her accusingly, like she was transmitting her excruciating powers to cause pain through her eyes. Ruby tore her eyes away from the witch and focused on the thief who still stood, dumbfounded.

And it seemed Cinder had no more patience to spare.

"Enough. Guards, have him taken to the chamber," she demanded.

Torchwick's raised hand stopped everyone in their thoughts, his eyes never leaving Ruby's for even a brief moment.

"One second," he requested and made a move back towards the cell.

"Roman," Cinder called, warningly.

Torchwick turned his head slightly towards her with an angry snarl. "I said one second!"

Ruby flinched. She had never seen him lose his cool so quickly, in fact she expected for him to break out into a fit of laughter and insult her. But the determined look on his face, like nothing could stop him threw her off guard. And it hadn't pleased Cinder one bit.

Emerald and Mercury stepped forwards in an angry strop but were stopped.

"Wait," Cinder told them, giving them knowing looks. "We shall have our fun soon enough."

Mercury looked conflicted, almost ready to go against her wishes in that moment to pummel Torchwick but Ruby could tell he was fighting hard against the urge because he shot her a filthy look before marching off and out of view with Emerald in tow. The green-haired devil simply gave her a wink that instantly made Ruby recoil.

They would hurt him. She was sure of it.

When she turned back to face Torchwick, she almost jumped back to see him right up close. His towering form merely centimetres away with only a few steel bars in their way. She hadn't released her clamp on them as she craned her head up, looking at him almost pleadingly.

"You can't do this," she whispered, her voice still quivering and unsure. "You have to let me come. She'll kill you Torchwick, I just know she's going to do someth-"

"Hold out your pinkie finger."

He said is so quietly she almost didn't hear. Ruby blinked, wondering if she had heard correctly that time. But Torchwick's face was blank and completely serious. No indication that he was about to make a joke or about to play one of his charades. His intense burning gaze was making her heart rate fly until she could see nothing else but his face.

What... What was happening? Why couldn't she move? Why couldn't she look away? Why did it feel like her breath was being stolen away after each and every gasp?

Reluctantly, she loosened her grip on the bars and stuck out her left pinkie, eyes shifting back and forth between his stern face and her hand that was held out between the gaps. She watched quietly as he held out his right gloved hand, his own pinkie outstretched and reached to touch against hers.

She drew it back a little, nervous and feeling like she was about to spontaneously combust from the thick suspense and anticipation. She was confused, anxious, elated and speechless all at the same time. Her pulse thundering now so loudly that her ears were beginning to drown out all noise.

What was he doing? Why can't I stop feeling like this?

She jumped slightly on feeling the brush of his skin against her own and then the soft cotton fabric of his gloves as he hooked his pinkie to hers into a childish friendship promise.

Ruby's eyes widened at the sight of their entwined pinkies and felt the rush of heat succumb her body and her cheeks set ablaze. With effort, she looked up slowly to see a genuine smile on his face but behind it was his casual gentleman personality. He opened his mouth and whispered words only she could hear and send waves of electric currents right to her core that filled her with the strange feeling of reassurance.

"I'll come back, Red. I promise."

She wanted to yell at him. She wanted to yank her hand away and call him names. She wanted to be furious and angry but... she couldn't.

And when he squeezed her pinkie with his own, she hadn't expected what followed. She felt the warm brush of his skin against hers. She felt as he pulled back, bringing their hooked pinkies together towards his face. She felt the swell of her heart and the rapid heartbeat as his breath touched her bare skin.

And that was when Roman Torchwick closed his eyes and pressed his lips against her pinkie finger, leaving a gentle kiss that sent sharp feelings of euphoria through her body and sealed the promise he had just made.

Did you expect that? ;)

GYAH.

OKAY.

When I read over this chapter a short while back, I felt a little iffy about it. Suddenly didn't love it as much as I did... Let me know what you guys thought.

RWBY VOLUME 3. Anyone else notice a huge difference in the animation? I mean, I'm loving it and all and we're finally getting into the good stuff but the fight scenes aren't as fluid as they used to be... I miss Monty. It definitely feels weird watching it but that won't stop me. MOVING ON.

I totally have a new fangirl crush on QROW. Oh my god. SQUEAL. That rugged drunken charm definitely won me over. Roman has competition XD

Anyway, to address a few things.

This story is not centered around Ruby and Roman trapped in a cell for the entire thing. We WILL see the rest of Remnant and we WILL see other characters. Consider this the opening to a bigger story. ALSO, speaking of story. I have tweaked mine a little. Due to new events in the show, I wanted to keep it as canon as possible and bended in parts of V.3 into my plot and will work on that.

Torchwick's semblance - he can generate heat among other abilities, we'll get to see more soon. (this is based on my own beliefs, I have no clue what his true semblance is sadly)

Thank you SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH to every reader and reviewer for supporting me even with my rubbish updating skills. You don't know how much it means to me to have this much encouragement from the Rwby fanmily. Seriously, I love you guys lots and lots xx

I'm working on a christmas special chapter to make it upto you guys for waiting and as my gift to you. It'll be the same universe... just not a part of the original story at ALL. And it's coming SOON. I swear.

Anyway, til next time friends! And I hope you all enjoyed your christmas and good luck for the new year xxx