Chapter Twenty-Five: Harvest Date.
Dinner found a very embarrassed Ruby and Weiss sitting at their table with their heads down avoiding eye contact with the people around them, word of what they had been caught doing in the garden spread quicker than wild fire during a drought. Both girls had a current a light dusting of blush as they ate, one hand still intertwine together on the bench between them. Yang was sitting across from them chuckling softly every time she looked up from her own plate while Blake just shook her head and ignored the few stares that came their way from the surrounding students.
Weiss down right refused to look Yang in the eyes from the embarrassment and Ruby would only make little non-committal noises when her sister asked a question. It was very clear that the blonde was having the time of her life at the red and white duo's expense.
"Sooo Ruby," Yang decided to finally take some pity on her sister, for now. "Looking forward to the Harvest Festival?"
The wolf's ears perked up as she nodded, "Yep. I heard that there's going to be bonfires with costumes on the Equinox night, that's going to be awesome!"
"Equinox night?" Weiss asked Ruby with a raised eyebrow.
"It's what the night of the full moon is called during Harvest." Ruby explained, "It used to signal for when the farmers should be getting ready to harvest their crops and for the Hunters to ready for Grimm Hunts. Since it was the brightest night of the Harvest the Grimm were less likely to attack so a lot of the parties took place then too."
"Since the rise of the Kingdoms and defense walls the significance behind it has diminished slightly but for Hunters it still means we should get ready for the Grimm Hunts." Yang continued, "Mom and Dad used to hold the round robin on Patch during the day then bonfires at night."
"So we have to buy costumes for that night?" Weiss questioned still refusing to look at the blonde.
Yang shrugged, "If you want too, a lot of the times its just masks or small something small that alters your appearance, it would be better to ask an upper year what Beacon does."
As if summoned Coco and Velvet walked up to the younger team. Velvet was shaking her head while Coco had a wide predatory grin that made Yang's look tame. "Hey girl's." The fashionesta purred as she approached. "How's it going?"
"Fine." Ruby shrugged not catching the brunette's grin. "Just talking about the Harvest Festival."
"Oh how fun." Coco nodded as she sat down, "Take you're all looking forward to it?" Nods from all were received. "Good, good. Sooooooo Ruby." Coco smiled as she leveled her eyes with the wolf. "I heard something very interesting just a few seconds ago." Ruby caught the draw in her words and lite up with blush, Weiss snapped her gaze down to her salad as if it had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world.
"Coco." Velvet sighed as she sat down next to her girlfriend.
"So I was wondering," Coco continued ignoring the rabbit Faunus, her grin widening. "Since Ruby's a wolf and Weiss is a Heiress, which one of you is the top?"
Yang who had decided to take a drink sent a fountiouns spray of liquid from her mouth and started to laugh loudly, Blake's smirk that had been growing on her face widened into a full blown grin as she turned her amber eyes towards the wolf and Heiress. Ruby was doing the best impression of her name yet, her face a full blossom of crimson and trying to merge with the bench while Weiss was doing her best impression of a fish, eyes wide mouth opening and closing with no sound coming out.
Velvet groaned as she put her head down on the table. "Coco that is not appropriate."
Coco shrugged as her eyes flashed with amusement behind her glasses. "Inappropriate is my middle name." Velvet just shook her head as she lifted if off the table to glare at her girlfriend.
"Now Coco," Velvet said with narrowed eyes. "I know exactly what your middle name is," Coco quickly looked away from the rabbit Faunus. "And I happen to know that you're not very fond of it, so unless you want me to tell Yang, behave."
Coco coughed as she adjusted her beret giving a subtle nod, "Right, sure bunbun." Turning back to the Heiress who was now glaring at her she just shrugged and smiled again. "Sorry but I couldn't resist."
Weiss huffed and looked away making Yang chuckle, "All good Coco, Weiss is just being icy. So how does the Harvest Festival work here?" The blonde asked changing gears before her teammate decided the older girl would be good for target practice.
"Well usually the only thing that happens on the campus is the bonfires, most of the time students will head down to the city." Coco explained with a shrug, "Though a lot of the times upper years are sent out on missions during the festival so it's a hit and miss as to who's around."
"You're also not likely to see many costumes either." Velvet added, "Most of the students just ware masks. It's really eerie seeing all of the masks at night during the fires."
"Yeah but it's really cool." Coco added as she looked down at her scroll giving a small grimace, "Come on Velvet we need to go get Yatsu and Fox. Well girls see you around."
Shortly after the older girls left team RWBY also left the dinning hall, Weiss was still muttering under her breath as she glared at the ground, Ruby was still holding the Heiress hand though was looking anywhere but at her partner. Yang and Blake trailed behind the red and white duo, Yang couldn't help but keep chuckling while Blake had a small smirk on her lips.
Before they reached the dorm, Yang reached out and grabbed the Heiress' shoulder bringing her up short. Weiss turn to face the blonde, her eyes still flashing with ice. "Hey I need to talk to you." Yang said ignoring the glare.
"About?" Weiss questioned her gaze not shifting.
Yang rolled her eyes, "It will quick. Blake you wanna take Ruby with you?" The panther gave a nod as she motioned for Ruby to follow. The young wolf looked torn between staying with her partner and following the older girl.
With a sigh Weiss released her wolf's hand and nodded, "Go on Ruby. We'll be up in a bit." Ruby nodded and followed the black haired girl into the dorm. Once they disappeared The Heiress turned to face the blonde, "Alright what is this about?"
Yang sighed and motioned Weiss to follow her into the courtyard, "Not much just want to talk."
"And we couldn't have done this in the dorm because?" Weiss left her question hanging in the air as she followed behind.
"Well I really didn't think you'd want Ruby to hear a few things." Yang explained as she neared the tree and leaned against the bark and faced the white haired girl, her words had gotten the Heiress attention.
"Go on." Weiss motioned with her hand.
Yang nodded, "Well you and Ruby seem to be getting much closer. And I know this is the first real relationship for both of you so as her older sister I'm naturally curious as to your intentions." Weiss blinked, her intentions? Wasn't it Yang that made her realize that she wanted to be with Ruby? Yang seeing the confusion in her eyes sighed again, "What I mean is do you see this as a long term thing or are you just in this for the short fun?" The blonde's words picked up a bit of heat at her last words.
Weiss went to answer on a knee jerk reaction when she stopped short. Was she in this for the long term? She knew that she had promised she would be the one to protect Ruby but what happened if things went bad and she was the one hurting Ruby again? Could she protect her wolf from herself now that there were together?
But yet the more she thought about it the more the Heiress couldn't see herself with anyone else. Ruby made her feel safe, Ruby made her feel less stand offish for to the rest of the world. When she was with Ruby everything seemed right.
Shaking her head Weiss looked back at the blonde, "I'll be honest Yang, I have no idea what I'm doing in this relationship. Ruby and I are taking this day by day and seeing where it leads us. So I have no idea what's going to happen between us but if I can tell you right now, I can't see myself with anyone other than Ruby now."
Yang nodded at the Heiress, "Well that about the answer I expected. Ruby is probably thinking a long the same thing but I had to ask you since she is my baby sis. I don't have to worry about an older sister with you acting all protective over you do I?" Yang asked. Weiss felt her whole body stiffen and her eyes grow cold as she looked at the blonde. Yang blinked in shock at the sudden shift in the Heiress' mood. "Ah sorry, didn't mean to strike a nerve."
Weiss closed her eyes and took several deep calming breaths, it wasn't right to get cold with Yang now, the blonde probably didn't even know that she had an older sister, it wasn't something her family talked about. "No Yang, I'm sorry. And no you don't have to worry about that."
"Oh." Yang nodded, "You want to talk about it?" She ventured. Weiss shook her head. "Okay well if you ever do anyone of us will listen."
"I know." Weiss nodded looking away from the brawler, she hadn't thought about Winter this much in such a long time. The reality was just too painful.
"Right well on a lighter note, one more question." Yang switched gears. Weiss raised an eyebrow at the blonde, "Have you asked her out yet?" Blush shot up to the Heiress' cheeks.
Ruby sat on her partner's bed as she waited for Weiss and Yang to return; across from her Blake sat in her own reading her book in silence. The wolf shot a glance at the panther from time to time fidgeting slightly. "You know you could just ask me already." Blake commented dryly as she flipped a page.
Ruby fidgeted some more before sighing, "Well it's just something happened this morning," the wolf looked towards the door her ears twitching for any sound.
"Oh?" Blake questioned, her own ears twitched as she scanned too.
"Yeah, when Weiss and I were waking up." Ruby nodded, some blush made its way up into her cheeks. "Well I suppose it was more afterwards when I finally noticed." Blake just raised and eyebrow eyes still on her book. "Well when Weiss was in the shower I, ah, I smelled something."
Blake's eyes slowly came off her book as she looked over at the wolf, her face was burning with blush as she looked down at the ground, her tail in her lap as she rain her fingers through the fur nervously. "Ruby?" The panther had an idea what she what been hinting at.
"I mean I didn't do anything, I think, that would cause it. And we didn't you know do anything other than cuddle and sleep last night which was really really nice. And then when I smelled it, I was kinda confused at first cause I didn't recognize it right away. And then after I realized what it was my brain kinda went foggy and I was drawn to it but before I got to it I feel and it snapped me out of it but the more I think about it the more I feel this tingling through my body." Ruby rambled as she looked down at the ground.
"I get it Ruby." Blake nodded as she held out her hand to stop the wolf. Silver eyes looked up at her sheepishly as Blake sighed. "I'm assuming I don't have to give you 'The Talk' now do I?"
Ruby paled slightly and shook her head rapidly, Blake was surprised her semblance didn't activate. "NO!" Ruby shuddered, "No, Yang and I had that conversation when I was thirteen. And I'd rather forget a lot of what she said."
Blake let out a small chuckle, she could imagine that talk would have been extremely awkward for the young wolf, especially with Yang. "Good." Blake nodded, "Then I shouldn't have to tell you what happened then right?" Ruby shook her head, "Alright so why are bringing this up then?"
"I don't know if it's too early for things like that to be happening." Ruby muttered. Blake nodded, she could understand what Ruby was feeling, hell Yang and herself had just had this conversation between themselves. "I mean we've only been, well I don't know what we are cause I don't know if I have to ask her out to consider her my girlfriend or if she has to do it because she's an Heiress, but it's only been about a month and this is my first relationship and it's also Weiss' so I want to do this right so we don't wind up hurting each other or something like that and I really want to stay with her so what if it's too early and then we mess up and-"
"Ruby." Blake cut over the rambling wolf, shaking her head the panther went over to her leaders side. The red head looked up from the floor as she took a deep breath, "While you're understandably worried about this because it is your first real relationship, you're making a bigger deal of this than what it is. Is it too early for the next step in your relationship with Weiss? That's something only the two of you can decide. Is it too early to be feeling things like this, again it's something you should talk about but if the two of you are feeling the same thing then probably not." Blake smiled at the wolf, "You have to take thing's at your pace so both of you are comfortable."
Ruby nodded, "Thanks Blake."
"Sure thing Ruby." Blake nodded and walked back to her bed just as the door opened for Yang and Weiss.
Before Ruby could say anything Weiss spoke first, "Ruby can I speak to you for a minute?" The wolf's brow furrowed but nodded and followed her partner out of the room catching a small chuckle from her sister and into the lounge area of their floor. The Heiress sat down on the couch and motioned for Ruby to do the same. "Ruby it's been brought to my attention that I have yet to ask you something."
The wolf blinked in confusion, "Yes?"
Taking a deep breath Weiss looked into the wolf's silver eyes, "Ruby Rose, would you like to be my date for the Harvest Festival?"
Ruby's eyes widened as her heart leapt into her throat, "Yes!" she answered quickly her head bobbing up and down.
Weiss smiled as she leaned in and captured the wolf's lips with her own, Ruby's tail wrapped around to the side brushing up against the Heiress' leg sending shivers up her spine. Pulling back the Heiress moved a lock of hair that had fallen in front of her wolf's silver eyes out of the way. With a smile Ruby nuzzled into her hand, "Alright let's go back to the room and get ready for bed." Ruby nodded along as she hooked her arms around Weiss'.
When they returned to the room they found Yang and Blake already in the bottom bed, Blake still reading while Yang was curled into the panther's side. Weiss quickly entered the bathroom and changed leaving it open for Ruby. Once the door was closed Yang's head shot up and looked over at the Heiress.
"So, I take it you finally asked her out officially?" The blonde smirked as a light blush colored Weiss' cheeks.
"Well you did manage to bring up a few good points." Weiss shrugged keeping her gaze away from the lilac gaze. The bathroom door opened as Ruby exited. After she dropped off her clothes the wolf made her way over to jump up to her bed when a gentle hand on her wrist stopped her.
Weiss held her wolf's wrist lightly as she pulled her towards the bottom bunk, silver eyes lite up with understanding as she quickly joined her in the bed making Yang's head shoot up again. "Hey now, what's going on over there."
Weiss rolled her eyes as she pulled Ruby in closer, "Well you sleep with your girlfriend, so I fail to see why I can't with mine." The Heiress could almost feel the heat radiate off Ruby's face as her wolf burrowed her face in to her chest. Yang was about to protest when an amber gaze silenced her.
Content that they had avoided an unnecessary argument Blake sighed and closed her book. "Well goodnight everyone." A chorus of 'night' were returned as the panther shut off her reading light casting the room in darkness. With a content sigh Blake slipped down into her bed and cuddled close to the blonde.
General James Ironwood stood on the bridge of the Atlas battleship the 'Eisen-Krieger' looking the ever stoic General of the Wall that he should. His eyes forward, back straight, legs shoulder width apart, arms clasped firmly behind his back, face in a natural position giving nothing away. Outwardly the man looked calm, composed and in control. On the inside however he was just barely above a full-blown melt down.
His thoughts flew around his head faster than what he could keep up with. So many things had gone wrong so fast that he was still having trouble figuring out just where exactly it had all started. First things had only been slightly tense then with a sudden flurry of laws and bills being passed in closed door sessions the tension became more noticeable. The laws and bills were followed by an increase taxes on imported goods, and since Mantel didn't have many means to grow enough food to feed its population many families were forced to spend their already meager salaries on food instead of other necessities.
If that wasn't bad enough one of the bills that had been passed had suddenly increased the taxes on the lower class citizens while another all but striped any Faunus of their rights or even to a decent job forcing them either into mandatory military service or into harsh mining jobs. Of course another hidden clause in another bill essentially disqualified most of them from military service.
Then nearly three months ago an 'accidental' death in one of the factories where no investigations were done to see what really happened set the people off. Workers rioted and took control of the factory and opened fire on police when they tried to take back the factory. After five days fifteen police officers were dead and the all the workers had been killed when a 'stray' police officers bullet impacted a drum of Dust causing the whole factory to explode. That was when the riots took to the street. The people were tired of the strangle hold the 'government' had on them. And truthfully Ironwood couldn't blame them. He was just thankful that the military hadn't been called in, yet.
Another problem was the politicians who kept calling this a 'civil war' keeping any of the other Kingdoms from interfering. It wasn't a civil war, it was a God damned Revolution and it was only a matter of time before the people rose up against those in power. And when they did Ironwood knew they would be slaughtered and the main reason was standing right beside him.
The first time he saw, it, James knew something was very, very wrong. They way it acted, talked and interacted were just unnerving. At a passing glance someone would be forgiven for thinking that beside him was just a normal eighteen year old girl with orange hair and shockingly bright green eyes. But if they paid closer attention they'd notice that they girl barely moved. She didn't fidget or sway when she stood, no subtle rise and fall of her chest, she barely even blinked. And then there was that smile, that ever present cheerful turn of her lips as if everything was funny to her.
James knew what she was, sentient artificially created life. She was the success of the esteemed Dr. Collodi after years of research, testing and experimentations. James knew that Dr. Collodi personally and knew that the he was considered a genius in the field of artificial intelligence, the Atlasian Knights were proof of that but they still had to be control and ordered about while this girl could act independently without commands, could think of solutions for herself and even question any order given her. That fact alone was astonishing, then James had learned of the girl's true secret. She had an Aura.
An Aura. The outward projection of ones soul in the form of a shield or as a weapon. And this artificially created life, made of gears and wires had one. To James this revelation shook him to the vary core of his being. If this girl had a soul it could mean one of two things; either Dr. Collodi had learned how to create a soul then infuse it into a machine which would have been very disturbing or more frightening idea that he had learned how to extract a persons soul from them then forge it into a new one. Frankly James wasn't sure which option he found more unnerving.
The girl had been requested to accompany him to Vale. Ironwood had to repress a scowl at that, 'requested'. No he had been ordered without an order to bring this girl to Vale. Dr. Collodi had arrived just hours before he had set out for Vale telling him Augustus Schnee had suggested that it would be beneficial for the girl to see how different Vale was from Atlas. The order was clear, he was to take this girl to Vale whether he liked it or not.
Ironwood's thoughts were broken as his communications officer spoke up, "General. Message from the Vale Council, we have been cleared to land in airfield seven. They are also requesting a full personal and cargo manifest."
James nodded it was standard requirements for foreign airships, especially military vessels. "Send them the requested forms and begin landing procedure." He turned to look at the girl beside him causing her to finally move and look up at him. "You are to remain with an escort at all times, do not wonder to far into the city."
"Of course General." The girl nodded still smiling. "I will probably remain on Beacon's campus to learn more about the Hunters here and compare how they differ from those at the Academy." James nodded, keeping her at Beacon would be better anyways.
As the airship began to descend James left the bridge and entered his private quarters and activated a secure communications line. The answer came almost immediately.
"James good to see you're finally here." Ozpin said as the old man looked into the screen.
"Ozpin, we may have a problem."
Adam was ready. All his work on tracking down his wayward love was finally going to pay off. And these stupid humans were going to unwittingly help him. He almost couldn't keep the smile off his face as he thought about it. He couldn't believe his luck that they just happened to have a celebration where people actually wore Grimm masks out in public hiding their identity.
Of course he had known about the Harvest Festivals but had always deemed in a worthless human holiday and had never bothered to actually celebrate it. Now however it would be serving as a perfect cover for his plans. If they thought their precious bonfires would light up the night then they were in for a surprise.
"Sir." A recruit came up behind him breaking his musings, "We received reports of the Atlasian Battleship the 'Eisen-Krieger' has landed in Vale airfields."
Adam turned and took the report from the recruit, his eyes widening as he thought of all the possibilities of what he could do if they could get their hands on a Battleship, a destroyer class to boot. This time Adam failed to keep the smile from spreading across his face, "Contact Roman, I have a job for him."
A/N: I'm soooo sorry! Things happened and I got behind on my writing. I was going to post this yesterday but my internet went down and I only just now got it back up and going again. It really seems like the days are conspiring against me but I am not going to let it win! Anywho, I know we're stuck in filler mode right now but that's about to change cause someone is about to make their move and the fireworks shall begin. How and who? You'll see.
With that: Thank you for everyone who is staying with this, let's chat yeah, and may any adversity you face fear coming back.