Hi everyone!
Well, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter even if it was on the short side, I'm going to push myself to improve and do better in the future.
There is not much to say here except to give my thanks to Firestarhndrclan for the words of advice that I will try to follow as best as I can!
But enough of that, let's just get right back to where we left our hero.
Chapter 2
"Release the child."
His head moved from the terrified and awed-filled gaze of the child to the mutant who was still staring at him with what looked like demented curiosity, his body completely still apart from his tail.
His voice though seemed to break him out of his daze and with speed he had only seen being performed by the wretched Eldari Xeno or the follower of the Pleasure God the man jumped out of reach holding the child against him, who weakly tried to escape his grip, the man's golden eyes never leaving him.
"Hooo it seems like the kid has a guardian angel after all hahaha!" The man laughed before moving his mutated stinger under the neck of Ruby, purple venom falling from it.
With a smile never leaving his face he started to slowly back up, "If Atlas ho so values her safety, you must know who I am no? So if you just twitch a finger, you can say goodbye to her, her death would be a shame really, but her corpse is just as valuable to my mistress."
The man couldn't see it but under the helmet, the Astartes was scowling his thoughts going as fast as his super-human mind allowed him.
Fighting was not an option a bolter round would hurt the child or worse kill her he had only one option, distracting him.
The man stood straighter before gazing down at them "Disgusting mutant you dare hide behind a child like the coward you are? I should not have expected much more from a scum such as you."
The smile of the captor seemed to be growing at every word, he could run with his objective if he wanted but taunting Atlesian was so much fun in his opinion, "Really now? Mutant? That's a new one hahaha !" In his fit of laughter, the stinger of the man bobbed up and down wildly, the child was staring at it with terror until with an upward jerk of laughter the stinger cut her cheek.
What happened next was as surreal as seeing a warp storm for the first time, he saw the child getting cut, a mixture of purple and blood starting to ooze from the wound, 'poison' he thought, be before he could move the child started screaming in pain, she trashed harder in her kidnapper grasp a bright red light who started from her feet started to quickly envelope her entire body.
The wound she just received started closing ejecting the poison. The man's eyes widened before raising his empty hand to strike her with his wrist blade. Ardal eyes widened, and he only managed to take a single step and shook the ground.
Believing the light was harming the child with how she was screaming he knew that whatever was going to happen his great speed would not allow him to make it in time to save her from the blow and the light.
But then the unthinkable happened, Ruby dissolved in front of their very eyes into millions of petals of roses stopping him in his tracks, 'A psyker?'was the first thing that came from his surprised mind when he saw it, he stared at the swirling vortex of petals rose.
The man on the other hand was trying to get a hold of the now incorporal girl but every time his hand tried to grab some of them, they would elude him. The vortex then shot forward out of his grip rushing at insane speed right behind the armored leg of Ardal before re-materializing into the little girl.
Both men looked at the trembling mess on the ground exhausted due to the feat she just achieved.
Ardal blinked before turning to the mutant, his voice booming and sounding distorted due to the speaker in the helmet, "At last beast! For having dared touch a servant of the Emperor of Mankind, a mere child! I condemn you to death !"
And with speed, only a hardened veteran of hundreds of campaigns could possess he drew his bolter from his left hip, his helmet tracking system having already locked onto the man, he fired once. The boom of the bolter shot resonated like thunder in the forest.
Instead of seeing the man explode in a gory mess like he had expected, he was instead sent flying through a tree unarmed, the same glow that the girl had surrounded him but golden in color.
Looking at himself and then his gun with surprise the man snarled and screamed in rage and sorrow before running off into the forest. Ardal could very easily chase him, but he had more pressing matters to attend to, one being the trembling child using his armored leg as a shield her hands on her ears. "The shot must have hurt them."
Placing his bolter back on his armored hip he turned around slowly and with a gentleness surprising for a being so big, picked up the child with great care holding her trembling body against his armored chest.
"It is safe to open your eyes now little one. The mutant is gone." His voice was soft and warm even through the speaker of the helmet who distorted slightly his voice giving it a more metallic tone.
Hearing the voice, Ruby started to slowly open her eyes where she was met with the red unblinking lens of the helmet of the giant.
She shrunk on herself, being scared and intimidated, she then said in a slow and weak voice filled with exhaustion. "T-thank you…M-mister big robot…"
The 'robot' let out a soft chuckle and removed some of the hairs from her eyes with a lot of care, "You are most welcome child, tell me where is your home now that you are safe?" His voice was very calming and filled with kindness, at the mention of her home her eyes opened wide her tiredness washed away.
"My daddy! There's bad p-people trying to hurt him!" Ruby pointed behind him in the direction of the fire, from her position in his arms she could barely see the burning house through the trees.
Ardal turned around and looked at the fire before hugging her tightly without hurting her, even though he was kind of scary Ruby felt safe with him, she curled up against his armor plate the grating voice of Ardal then spoke gently and with a tone filled with conviction, "Hold on tight little one I shall save your father this I promised." and somehow without knowing him little Ruby Rose knew he was telling the truth.
She let out a started yelp when Ardal began running at insane speed through the forest, Ruby closed her eyes tightly to avoid some branches that the giant could not push aside fast enough his rhythmic footsteps were thundering through the woods with heaviness if the -THUMP THUMP THUMP- of his boots where anything to go by, in no time the warmth of the fire was starting to reach them and the trembling of the child in his arm started to intensify.
Once the sound of the giant running stopped Ruby dared to open her eyes and looked in front of them.
Her house was a giant inferno the cookies inside were reduced to nothing, this made her a bit sad but the sound of battle on the other side of the house made her jump in his arms.
Ardal had heard the sound of the battle way before he stepped into the clearing, but the little one in his arm pointed with a shaky hand in the direction of the sound, "O-over there!" And with a small nod, he started to run around the house, the view on the other side made Ruby gasp and widen her eyes in shock.
There, more than two dozen people were wearing bandit clothing, some had only pants and t-shirts with the sleeves ripped off and others were wearing sturdy leather armor.
A few of them were on the ground unconscious but they both could see five of them encircling what seemed to be Ruby's dad with cruel smiles on their face while the rest of them were cheering.
Ruby tried to reach for her dad when she saw his wounds he had slashes on his body and some puncture wounds mostly on his arms and legs, his aura must have been broken at some point, distressed by seeing her dad in such a state young Ruby Rose couldn't stop herself before screaming in desperation, "Daddy!"
Hearing her little girl scream Tai whipped his head in the direction of the scream and his body froze eyes widening in horror when he spotted her in the arms of a giant clad in green armor.
Her cry did not go unnoticed, almost all of the bandits turned toward the scream with cruel smiles on their faces.
But like Tai most of them froze on the spot looking at the behemoth in front of them, the battlefield became oddly silent until one of the few who did not get distracted by the scream used the time provided by the distraction to strike at Tai, he saw it in the corner of his eyes, the rapier was about to pierce him when a very loud -BOOM- resonated making some of the faunus bandits flinch, the one about to strike him got flung into the air the arm about to strike him laid on the ground in a gory mess of blood and flesh, looking in the direction of the corpse he could see that half of his torso was gone too, he had been killed on the spot.
One down.
Everyone turned towards the giant to see him holding Ruby in one hand and a giant gun in the other who was still smoking, Ardal placed back his bolter on his hip before putting down Ruby with great care against a toppled tree, crouching next to her he could see her expression of fear if her trembling was anything to go by, he then ruffled her hair with a hand big enough to squish three Ruby head like it was nothing with a lot of care and then he spoke.
"Stay here child and close your eyes it will not take long," Ruby nodded her head weakly not even trying to pray the hand away as she would usually do with her family, but before doing it she looked straight at her dad and gave him a small smile, Tai could see in her tired eyes the conviction and how sure looked so sure that this giant while saving them, he returned the smile before exhaustion finally caught up with him making him fall over, Ruby only had time to let out a small 'eep', she knew he will be fine the giant promise, and with that thought and fear for her dad Ruby past out from exhaustion.
Ardal saw it before looking at the down man his built in Aphoticary program used to help him save his battle brother working a mile a second told him that he was suffering from exhaustion and mild blood loss it also told him that if the man was not treated in the hour he will die. 'It is a miracle that nothing was broken and no organs punctured.'
Nodding his head he raised again slowly before examining every bandit his head turning to appraise them, his red unblinking lens scrutinizing every battle stance and weapon in front of him.
"Leave the man alone heretics and mutants! Your battle is now against me, Vo'Shan Ardal proud son of Vulkan!" His voice was like roaring thunder, his conviction burning as hot as the flame behind him, he was only answered by laughter which made him snarl and without wasting more time he moved.
No being as big as him should be able to move this fast and in the blink of an eye he was standing in front of a woman with ginger hair holding a sickle in each hand his fist was cocked behind him, the woman only add time to blink and let out a small cry of fear before the fist collided with her torso shattering her aura instantly and making her vomit blood on his arm, the momentum of the strike finally caught up with her sending her flying through the air like a bullet, her back collided with a tree with a sickening crunch, she will not stand up again.
Two down.
The bandits stared slack jaw at their deceased friend before turning their focus in the direction of the giant who was already on the move towards the next one.
This time the bandit reacted in time and did an overhead strike with his broad sword his shield held up in front of him.
The giant parried the sword with his arms sending sparks flying everywhere, his other arm the one with the giant drill on it, struck the shield bending it inward and breaking the arm of the man who like his friend was sent flying, his aura shattered but he did not die instantly. He was on the ground cradling his broken arm and moaning in pain though, Ardal did not lose time and without mercy closed the distance between them and with a mighty stomp of his boot crushed his head.
Three down.
Finally broken out of their trance the bandits completely forgot about Tai before charging the man who just after going in a combat stance started charging them too. His footstep was shaking the ground and the first bandit on him, one with a spear thrusted forward.
The spear broke on the armor not even scratching it and before the man could realize what had happened, he was sent flying by a hit to the head, when the corpse hit the ground, where the head used to be there was just nothing exceptblood spewing out of it like a geyser, the body spasmed a few time before stopping.
Four down.
Some of the bandits in the back started a few seconds to the corpse in morbid curiosity before turning back to watch the fight paralyzed in fear, or more accurately the massacre.
Every blow was either dodged or deflected, earth-shattering strikes were delivered at the bandit the strong force of twenty bandits all armed to the teeth who nearly killed Tai an experienced hunter were being pulverized, and the corpses of the bandits started pilling up on the floor around the giant.
One of the bandits in the back one of the smarter ones backed up with fear before screaming while running away, "Retreat !" Some bandit obeyed the order without thinking discarding their weapons to get away as fast as possible, five of them stayed behind thinking they could take him down or gain some time to allow their friends to escape, they did not last more than a few minutes, they got dispatched with the same brutally and efficiency has the rest of them.
Once all his opponents were confirmed dead he looked at the retreating form of the survivors through the tree for but a moment before marching towards the wounded brawler, his fists were covered in their blood.
Ardal approached the wounded man but his stride was halted by the sound of a crow cawing on his left, -Caw! Caw!-, the bird was flying at high speed in their direction before exploding in a puff of black smoke between Tai and Ardal revealing Qrow Branwen holding Harbinger in its shotgun from the gun pointed at the giant.
Qrow snarled at him, "I think you done pal. Back off before I do something we'll both regret." The giant stopped and stared at him his fist clenched, seeing that Qrow took it for a show of aggression before firing dead in his center.
The fire dust shot made him stumble a bit denting his armor a bit, but he quickly recovered, his right hand grabbed the handle of the bulky sword on his side and he pressed the trigger on it.
Qrow was expecting it to change into a gun, what he was not expecting though was the sound of a roaring engine, the teeth of the weapon started spinning rapidly. It was not a sword; it was a chainsword.
Qrow stared at the weapon for a second, before taking his combat stance his weapon transforming back into its longsword form.
Both leaped at one another, Qrow was better in terms of speed and agility dodging and dancing around the man's strike but he was beaten in terms of raw strength, every time their weapon clashed Qrow would grit his teeth, the moving chain of the giant chipping at his weapon sending sparks flying everywhere, his aura held strong but each strike made it glow.
Ardal was relentless, his strike was hitting with deadly precision as if he had done that thousands of times, it looked like the Astartes were gonna win the fight, but then the unthinkable happen, the Marine tripped, Qrow used the misstep to slide past his guard and land a blow on the bottom of Ardal's backpack his sword got stuck in it, 'Damn my luck..." the time it took for Qrow to realize his blade got stuck in it, Ardal spanned around and with a mighty kick of his leg in his stomach, sent Qrow flying into a tree but with Harbinger where it was his movement became slower but not sluggish as if the armor was weighing more, it took him a second to adjust before already starting to run at a daze Qrow, slower punch or not it could very well be the end of him.
But then a flurry of rose petals flew past them and stopped in between the two before reforming into little Ruby whose eyes were still closed her arms facing each fighter as if she was trying to separate them before screaming. "STOP! P-please… no-no more fighting… I-I don't want to lose… Uncle Qrow…" and then she collapsed exhausted.
Ardal had stopped in his tracks when Ruby appeared his fist an inch from hitting the little girl, before starting at her unconscious form and then Qrow, and with a cautious voice he asked, "Uncle?"
Qrow was blinking at Ruby, she unlocked her Aura and Semblance the same day? Did-did she nearly die? Those were all questions going through the head of the crowman at the moment. Ardal asked again stepping between Ruby and Qrow his movement slower than during the fight, "You are her uncle?"
Qrow looked at him now standing up on shaky legs before spitting in front of him, "What if I am? Are you gonna kill us like you killed those bandits? Back of now Tin can"
Ardal seems to tense at the words, "How dare you? How dare you assume I would hurt such an innocent girl ?! You might both be psyker but I vow to protect every citizen of the Imperium of Man, would they be man, woman, child and elder, even psyker and abhuman !"
Qrow seems to recoil a bit at Ardal's rant before holding his hands up "Geez man calm down, look I don't know what a psyker is but humm cool, I guess? Look I just want to make sure my niece is safe that's all and you don't look like the most trustworthy fellow with what you did."
Ardal eyed him for a moment before taking the unconscious form of Ruby in his arms and walking in the direction of Tai, he had forty minutes to save the man his fight against this 'Qrow' lasted longer than he thought.
The man in question seeing what he was doing tried to stop him. "Hey! Hey! What do you think you're doing ?! Put her down !"
Ardal growled in annoyance but placed her gently next to her dad, Qrow seeing the small pool of blood forming below Tai he seemed to forget about the giant next to him and crouched next to Tai, he was about to lift him but an armored glove stopped his action.
"Hey, what's the hold-up?! My best friend Is dying you giant piece of scrap !" Ardal simply turned his head a bit towards him. "Do not stop me I am an apothecary it is my duty to save as many lives as I can."
Qrow looked at him strangely and a bit angry, "The hell in an aphoty-thing ?! They both need to go to the hospital to see a doctor!" He was furious but then the big man raised his bulky hand with the giant drill on it above Tai, Qrow tried to grab his arm thinking he was going to kill him, but then he started pulling...a cable? At least it looked like it with what looked like fluid inside them that was coming from the drill-like device and stabbing Tai with what looked like a needle.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing Tin can ?!" He only gave him what he assumed was a side-way glance due to the helmet before answering with an even voice, "Saving the father of the little one of course it is my duty has-" Qrow groaned in frustration and cut him off tired of his 'duty' bullshit, "Don't care what are YOU injecting him ?!"
He sighed softly, "It is a painkiller made for simple man such as you and him anything stronger would kill him now would you please let me save this soul? And if you would be kind enough to find me water? So I may wash my gauntlet cleaning his injuries with dirty hands might infect his wounds."
Qrow glared at him one last time before closing his eyes in frustration, "Fine but after that I'll get to watch no funny business while I'm gone capiche ?" His only answer was a nod of his head he went back to 'healing' Tai, Qrow quickly flew away toward the deserted bandit camp he saw when he was flying towards Tai's home he transformed back and took as many water bottles he could before going back.
He was only gone for a few minutes but when he come back he could see that Ruby had woken up and was staring at her dad crying, 'Shit' Qrow landed and looked at the giant. "Got your water now what ?" Ardal looked at him. "Now help me wash my hand he only got thirty minutes left the painkiller can only do so much."
With his explanation Qrow reluctantly helped him wash his hands, Ruby was just staring at her dad with a haunted face as if she had seen a ghost.
Once he was done Qrow walked to Ruby and sat down before bringing her in a bone-crushing hug, Ardal now with clean hand started working.
They watched him move with practice ease, he pulled from his back what looked like a small metal box that seemed out of place for such big hands, but he still managed to open it with surprising dexterity inside was a literal infirmary, he pulled out a needle comically small for his hand and some string, and what he assumed was a bottle of desinfectant but he did not recognize the company, 'the hell is a Orders Hospitaller ?' And then he started to clean the wound and stitch Tai back up, it was mesmerizing seeing such big hands performing a task so delicate with that level of precision.
Once done he took out cleaned bandages with the same symbol that the one he had on one of his pauldrons before bandaging him, the last item he took out of the box was a syringe and without waiting he took a blood sample, being broken out of his trance Qrow looked at him curiously. "What are you doin' now ?"
He didn't answer, and a small part of his drill opened up before pouring the blood in it, a faint green light flashed on the blood before the text in what looked like gibberish appeared on a small screen next to it, he nodded to himself before adding a new transfusion to Tai. "And that? What was it?" He was in the process of cleaning and sorting his tools when he answered. "I had to scan his blood to know what blood type was needed I did not wish to kill such a brave man with simple blood poisoning."
Qrow felt Ruby wiggle out of his grasp and slowly walked toward the giant she stopped a few feet from him and asked in a timid voice full of hope. "Is-is my daddy gonna be ok mister giant...?"
Said giant picked up Ruby with his free arm and placed her on his leg which was holding him in a crouch position. "Do not worry little one your dad is going to be just fine now nothing but good rest and a lot of love from his daughter can help him." Ruby gave him a big bright smile when she heard his soft voice give her the news, and then she hugged him.
It was not comfortable for her but she did not care, this stranger saved her and her dad, he was a hero and she couldn't stop herself from sobbing in relief on his chest. "Th-thank you so much..." Under his helmet, Ardal was smiling softly and with his free arm returned the hug. "You are most welcome little one but we could not have done it without the Emperor's blessing."
Qrow smiled a bit, 'The Emperor? Must be some weird religion', during their wait Tai's aura slowly came back healing all his small bruises and scratches Ardal seemed to be looking at the process with interest without letting go of Ruby.
Qrow seeing the giant looking at Tai let out a small chuckle. "What? Never saw aura healing b'fore ?"
He looked at him his head fully turning towards him before asking with some caution, "No, I believe I do not pray tell how can the only persons I met since I came out of the wretched warp have been psykers ?" Even if he was trying to sound friendly, they both could sense the tension behind his words, Ruby tried to hug him even more tightly to calm him.
Qrow looked at him with his brow furrowed. "You keep saying that but what's a psyker? Me and Tai are huntsmen we hunt Grimm we don't do psychic stuff." Ardal looked at him for a moment before a soft beep started to emanate from his wrist drill, his attention shifted to Tai and he started to gently remove the needle from him.
Once the perfusion where cleaned and back in their place, he was about to treat the small puncture wound of Tai but his aura beat him to it.
His work now finished Ardal sat down correctly before gently sitting Ruby on his leg.
She was smiling like a child at a candy store completely ignoring all the bodies around them. Ardal sat down and stared at Qrow his hand iddly playing with Ruby's hair. "A psyker is a being capable of harnessing the power of the warp to achieve feats you and even I can't perform even in our wildest dream; throwing fireballs, creating energy shield, or even for the most skilled of them can heal wounds that is why I'm comparing you to psykers."
Qrow blinked before smiling. "Well, that sound like a sweet deal if I've ever heard one I wouldn't mind doing brain magic'n stuff."
Ardal sighed again shaking his head in disapproval. "Perhaps but the warp is a treacherous place filled with demons and horror you would not dare imagine, every time a psyker taps into his powers for the most mundane task to the hardest of them there is a great chance that a demon might rip his soul from his body and using said body to create a Warp gate allowing demons to cross in our realms."
Qrow cracked a smile at his explanation before bursting out laughing. "What you're gonna tell me demons are real? Like, like the little red man with horn and wings?" The Space Marine couldn't help himself but growl at the narrow mind of this mortal, how can the idea of demons be so hard to understand?
"Demons are not a laughing matter young mortal I possess the marking of my deeds against them on my skin itself." He sounded hurt but at the same time…amused? Qrow almost felt like it was his old man scolding him making him look away seeing her uncle acting like that made Ruby giggle she was currently trying to climb Ardal pauldron her sprained ankle having been healed by her aura when Qrow looked away he spotted Harbinger still embedded in the giant backpack.
Grimacing and scolding himself for having forgotten such a thing he quickly stood up and marched towards him. "A shit sorry man I completely forgot 'bout Harbinger let me remove it for ya" Ardal chuckled before stopping his extended arm and both men looked at each other, one with curiosity and the other amusement.
"Calm yourself I would prefer to do it myself if you do not mind." Qrow stared at him for a few minutes before shrugging and stepping backward, he gave him a thankful nod of the head before focusing on slowly removing the sword.
Once the sword was out a faint humming noise could be heard, and sparks were flying out of the tear before stopping entirely.
Qrow waited a few minutes before receiving a nod from Ardal the latter handing him his sword. "This is a fine weapon you have there, few weapons can pierce a Space Marine armor sadly our powerpack is not the most 'well armored' of our equipment you are lucky you did not hit my generator or my medicae reserve."
Qrow smirked at him, 'Yhea lucky...if only he knew...', Qrow nodded his head before storing his weapon away and sitting back down.
While the two men were talking Ruby had taken a comfy spot around the neck of Ardal her feet beating playfully against his armor neck. "Well you hit pretty hard yourself big man but hey let's say demons exist where the hell do you come from? I'm sure I've heard of a man nearly three feet tall running around in massive armor on this side of Remnant, your a new Atlas secret project ?"
Ardal ponders the question he would be tilting his head if Ruby was not using it as a makeshift pillow. "Remnant? Is it the name of this world? Where is it situated in Imperial space? Or in which Segmentum if you find that easier ?"
The man blinked before staring at him with confusion an eyebrow raised. "Hum look pal I'm thankful you saved them but whatever you smoked or drank it must be strong cuz I never heard of all of that !" Qrow flayed his arms in the air to prove his point, he was getting more and more annoyed with the giant man in front of him.
Ruby gasped atop his head before pouting at her uncle. "Uncle Qrow! Language! And no mister giant come out of a big portal there hum was really scary stuff inside but it's gone now."
"A portal? Do you know what color it was ?" Qrow suddenly became serious making Ruby hide herself behind the helmet. "I-I don't know there was hum blue, green, purple, and red I think? It was weird..."
Qrow seems to visibly calm down at that before sighing. "Sorry Rubes I got some bad relation with portals." Ruby couldn't stay mad at her Uncle so she just smiled at him. "S'ok Uncle Qrow, hey mister giant can I ask you some questions ?"
Said giant seemed deep in thought his gaze was locked on the charred remains of Tai's house.
The sun was slowly setting on the horizon.
The fire had died down a while ago and it was at that moment that Qrow realized something and he turned his head toward Ruby rather quickly. "Wait Rubes where's Yang ?"
Ruby blinked out of her contemplation of the giant faceplate and looked at him curiously. "Yang? She's at Saphire house today hihi." She gasped and put her hand in front of her mouth. "Ho no she's gonna think I burned down the house again !"
Her exclamation seems to surprise both men who looked at her at least one of them and Ruby shrinks on herself. "It-It's a long story..."
"It is fine little one but with all that happens I realize that we never introduce ourselves no ?" She simply nodded her head. "Allow me to begin then. My name is Vo'Shan Ardal an Aphotycary of the Salamander my chapter, I am personally part of the second company - Defenders of Nocturne." His voice was filled with pride when he announced his title and affectation.
Ruby stared at him with stars in her eyes. "Whoaaaa that sounds really cool mister Vo-V-Vo ho geez... but hum anyway! I'm Ruby Rose! That's my Uncle Qrow !" She whispered where his ear should be. "His weapon is really really cool too !" Qrow was sending a small smirk in her direction making her blush and right herself she then pointed at the sleeping man. "Hum and that's my dad his name is Tai Xia Long."
Ardal softly chuckled before gently removing Ruby from his shoulder and holding her in front of his visor, she weakly squirmed in his grasp before pouting at him and crossing her arms and staring at him, she couldn't see it but he was smiling behind his helmet. "Well, little one it is a pleasure to meet you and your family."
Looking at her Ardal couldn't help but lose himself in her big pool of grey filled with hope and innocence and a bit of annoyance about how he was holding her "I'm not little! I drink milk! I'll grow big and strong just like Yang !"
Her reaction made him and her uncle laugh.
The man stood up and ruffled her hair, which made her squirm harder in his grasp. "Uncle Qrow! Stop it !" Ardal decided to place her gently on the ground she immediately went to Qrow and started beating at him with her little fist which made the man laugh harder.
He started at their banter arms crossed and smiling. 'If this is a plot of the ruinous power this is way too calm, apart from the mutants I had yet to see traces of corruption, but if this light was really who I think it was, what is my purpose here ?" He looked at Ruby who was dangling from her uncle's outstretched arm. 'What is her purpose? What could a child bring to the Imperium ?'
His train of thought was stopped when Ruby walked towards him and gently hit his gauntlet to get his attention. "Hum, m-mister giant can I ask you a question ?" Ardal couldn't help himself and he picked up the child placing her on his lap. "Of course, young Rose tell me what can I do for you ?"
She crossed her arms over her chest making her even more adorable Ardal always had a fondness for humans even amongst his chapter, especially children. "Hum, could-could I call you A-Ardy? I-I mean your name is like really hard to say and hum Ardy is super easy and-and! Ho geez..." Ruby started fiddling with her hand while looking at the Space Marine timidly.
Ardal was ready for a lot of things and for once in his life, he was unprepared and was genuinely surprised by her. "You-you want to call me…Ardy ?" She nodded her head smiling timidly all along.
Her question made him look around them, his paranoia flaring up expecting a trap from the forces of chaos at any moment. But after a few minutes when nothing moved in the forest apart from the sound of the wildlife, he looked back at Ruby who was giving him a downcast look as if she had done something bad.
"S-sorry mister I-I didn't think it was such a big deal, I'll get good at saying your name promise…" She looked like a kicked puppy, Ardal sighed and gently patted her back, she looked at his masked face with her big young eyes like she was expecting an answer, Ardal not wanting to see her as sad as she already was sighed and slowly removed his helmet and smiled at her before saying with a bit of hesitation. "You...may call me Ardy little Rose."
Her eyes became wide as saucer and her jaw metaphorically hit the floor, like all sons and daughters of Nocturne his skin was pitch black, the only pink on his face was a scar he had going from my left cheek to my jaw, courtesy of the Salamandre he had to kill for his initiation, like most of his Brother he was bald the only hair on his face being a short trimmed beard of white air but the most important thing about him was his blazing red eyes.
At seeing his face Ruby instinctively transformed into rose petals with the use of her Semblance and quickly reappeared behind her uncle's leg who was now standing weapon pointed at him.
Ardal blinked at such a display before smiling at them. "Do not be afraid my friends my appearance might be daunting at times but I shall not arm you, you have my promise." Ruby slowly looked at him from her position before speaking with a little voice. "Are-are you a-a Grimm Ardy ?" He raised an eyebrow at the question. 'A Grimm ?'
Ardal looked at her curiously before vocalizing his question. "A Grimm? Pray tell what is it little Ruby ?" She pouted again maybe calling her 'little' was a bad idea. "I told you I'm not little." Ha, he was right. "But the-the Grimm are big bad monsters! They hum have black skin like you! Red eyes like you! And they're covered in white bone armor just like- hum I mean just like your beard."
Ardal blinked at her a a look of surprise plastered on his face. "Really now? Those beasts sound like quite the problem." Ruby nodded her head. "Yep! And there everywhere Daddy has to go fight them in the forest every day he even takes Yang with him sometimes! But hum that might be why they did not attack today and the bandits might have killed the rest... Daddy said they are attracted by negative emotions..."
He looked at her before smiling softly. "Well it seems your dad is a very capable fighter if he did such a good job, but even if the monsters had showed up me, and your uncle would have protected the both of you." 'This creature sounds like demons, maybe it is my duty to purge them ?' his train of thought was cut short when he saw Ruby calm down a bit before looking at her dad who was sleeping soundly. "Hey hum Ardy is my dad gonna be ok ?"
He simply nodded his head. "Yes he just needs time for his injury to heal and let his "aura" do the rest." Talking about psykers power as if it was a simple tool was making him feel slightly uneasy. 'I still wonder how none of them have heard of demons, even though this Grimm exists, but with the ability they display I'll have to be careful around them.'
Ruby smiled and went to her dad hugging him tightly, in the meantime, Qrow was still staring at him. "So if you ain't a Grimm what happens to your skin and eyes ?", 'And how the heck do you not know what a Grimm is ?!' Ardal gaze focused back on Qrow which in turn made the man shift uncomfortably. "I hail from the world of Nocturne a volcanic planet extremely hostile, has for my appearance is how all its inhabitants look like, it is due to the lack of sunlight and ash constantly floating in the air that we look the way we do but all is not bad we of Nocturne are a sturdy bunch, we are more resistant to harsh climate and radiation and our gene is purer than some." He sounded proud when he gave his explanation of his homeland noted Qrow.
Ruby had stopped hugging her dad when he started his explanation, once he finished she ran towards him excitedly. "You're an alien Ardy ?! Ho my gosh! Ho my gosh! That's so cool! Can you shoot lasers with your eyes!? Breath fire! Or-or- !" Adal stopped her rambling by placing a finger on her mouth which in turn stopped her from talking and jumping everywhere before chuckling. "No no, I cannot do such things but tell me Ruby do you know what I am ?" He only received a negative nod to his question her eyes were sparkling with youthful curiosity.
Ardal couldn't help himself, this child was way too innocent for her own good and he laughed out loud.
She must have thought he was mocking her with the glare she was sending his way, Ardal simply patted her head gently before smiling at her. "No Ruby I am an Astartes, an Angel of Death, a Space Marine, I am His will incarnate for my way life is on the battlefield killing the foe of mankind but I am so much more than that I am an apothecary it is my duty to ensure my brothers or my cousins, the human just like you are safe with my medical skill and assuring the safe keeping of my chapter gene-seed." He could not help but squeeze her gently and point at her unconscious dad who was by the look of it nearly completely healed only the stitches he performed earlier stayed, this 'aura' was quite something even if he was fairly sure it was psyker power at work he's gonna have to be careful around them.
Qrow seeing the exchange sighed and put his sword away. 'Amazing I got a spaceman super soldier playing with my niece...the wizard is gonna want to hear about that...' Looking back at his niece he could see her playing with one of Ardal's bolter round said man was watching her like a hawk, the thing had big has her torso!
"Hey, Rubes I have a few calls to give don't do anything bad capiche ?" Said girl nodded her head quickly, she was actually trying to dismantle the round but Ardal stopped her quickly and with a smirk Qrow went to the other side of the building, taking his scroll out of his pocket the first number he called was the one of a certain Headmaster.
The scroll rang twice before the man on the other side answered. "Qrow? What a pleasant surprise what can I do for you ?" He grimaced Ozpin's tone of voice was far too jovial for what happened here. "It's not a friendly call Oz, the Queen found her, she-she nearly got Ruby..." Ozpin's voice on the other side immediately became serious. "What? Qrow explain to me what happened and I mean everything." This made the man sigh. "That's the thing Oz you won't believe me."
And so he told him everything, Tayran that he saw from the sky running away from who he supposed was Ardal, said giant, the slaughter he committed on the bandits, the burned house, how he fought him and lost with only managing a single blow on him who didn't even do much, how he healed Tai and seems rather protective and friendly with Ruby but most importantly the thing he said and how he looks like below his armor and the fact that he 'apparently' did not know what a Grimm was.
"Oz could-could it be a new pawn of hers? A more intelligent Grimm? Or hell a mutated man ?" Ozpin on the other side seems pensive. "Maybe Qrow but it is getting late today I will come by tomorrow to see our visitor from space I'll call some people to help get the Xia Long family house gets rebuilt for now keep watching over young Rose, only time will tell if this man is really our "friend" like he says he is."
Qrow rolled his eyes. "Yhea yhea don't worry Oz I got it I'm gonna go pick up Yang now I see you tomorrow wizard." With those last words, Qrow turned off his scroll and transformed into a raven, and quickly took flight.
Looking backward he could see Ruby hanging from one of Ardal's arms like a sloth and laughing hard. The view made him smile as he went in the direction of Vale to grab Yang.
In the meantime, Ardal was watching Ruby jumping around him when a groan escaped the mouth of the wounded man.
Ruby immediately stopped playing and ran towards her dad giving him a bone-crushing hug who took his breath away. "R-Ruby... can't... breath...!" She simply blinked and released him flushing red in embarrassment.
"Sorry...how do you feel Daddy? The bad guys hurt you pretty bad..."
Tai smiled at her daughter before taking her in his own hug. "Awww you are so adorable my Little Rose don't worry about me I feel really good a bit itchy but good." It's at that moment that Tai finally acknowledges Ardal presence and shuffles backward at seeing his appearance. "Ruby? Why is there a Grimm behind you ?"
The little girl blinked at her father before sending him a confused look. "You mean Ardy? He's super cool! He said he was from space! And he fights for the Em-Empeuror ?" Ruby turned her head to look at Ardal who was shaking his head smiling. "The Emperor young Rose the father and shepard of mankind be sure to remember it for in your time of need He will provide his help to the worthy."
She simply nodded her head before turning back to her father. "See? He even got this cool Emperor! If Ardy is big, he must be even bigger !" During her explanation, Ruby began bouncing around her father a big smile on her face. "Daaaad can Ardy stay with us pleaseeee !" She stopped bouncing and was staring at her father with big puppy dog eyes, she even had tears in them.
Seeing the display and how fast the grown man faltered under her gaze he could only nod his head, 'This sure is a strong ability'. Tai only ended up cringing and nodding his ended. "Sure Ruby but I don't know if you have forgotten about it but our house is well, burned down." He pointed at the remaining wall still standing in the house who took this perfect moment to groan and finally collapsed on himself.
Ardal winced seeing that before looking at them. "I am no Imperial Fist but I could help with the reconstruction if you which ?"
Tai looked at him surprised before smiling and nodding. "Sure that would be very generous of you Ardy right ?"
He received a negative nod for an answer. "No it is Vo'Shan Ardal or simply Ardal, Young Rose asked my permission to call me like that."
Tai nodded his head. "Right sorry, ho and I did not thank you for saving mine and Ruby's life we are in your debt."
Hearing that the Astartes simply waved his hand dismissively. "There is no need to thank me, I only did my duty as a servant of the Emperor towards his subjects even if you do not know him yet."
Ruby let go of his father and jumped on Ardal leg before smiling at him. "You're really cool Ardy hihihi -yawn- but I'm sleepy now..."
He simply chuckled at her antic and hugged her gently. "Rest then Ruby the moon is rising and you had a long day." The little girl simply nodded her head smiling before falling asleep in his arms, the two men stared at one another in a comfortable silence before hearing the sound of the turbine in the distance.
A few seconds later a bullhead flew over their head and landed on a mostly cleared spot, when the doors opened a young girl maybe seven years old with a long blonde mane ran out of the craft, she stopped for a second to look at the carnage around her before locking her eyes with her dad and running at full speed at him. "Dad !"
Tai only had time to blink before falling on the floor again crushed by his second daughter Yang Xia Long. "Uncle Qrow told me everything are you ok ?!" Ardal looked between Ruby and Yang and raised an eyebrow. 'Half-sister maybe ?' He heard this term being used in the village where he was stationed on Nocturne.
When the oldest of the daughter finally let go of her dad she finally took notice of him and backed off. "Whoa! Dad! Why is there a big Grimm holding Ruby ?!"
Tai after having found his breath again clamped his hand on Yang's mouth. "Honey Ardal here saved us both and he looks like that because apparently he's from space or something like that so be nice."
The young girl simply stared at her dad and then Ardal multiple times before grumbling. "Fiiine but the moment he tries something funny I'll yang him out of here faster than you can say Nevermore." She smirked seeing Tai give her a deadpan look, however, the joke completely flew over Ardal who just smiled at her.
"Greetings young one I believe you are Ruby's sister? It is a pleasure to meet you I am Vo'Shan Ardal a member of the Salamander."
Yang looked at him and smiled. "Salamander huh? Like the big fire-breathing lizard ?" He simply nodded his head surprised that they knew about the great beast. "Heh. Your 'chapter' must be on fire."
"The jokes are fine Firecracker." Ardal turned around hearing the voice to see Qrow smiling at them. "But it's getting late and I can't let my family sleep outside, the pilot's a buddy of mine he promised us a free trip back to Vale c'mon you all invited to my house." He passed Ardal and smirked at him. "You coming Tin can? Don't think Rubes will be very happy if you're not here when she wakes up."
Said Salamander simply placed his helmet back on his head with a hissing noise the lens coming back to life, he took great care has to not wake up the sleeping girl in his hand before following the little family with the sun setting behind them, the broken moon raising behind the bullhead, Ardal stopped to look at it before chuckling and continuing his march.
'What an interesting place...'
Annnnnnd done it might have taken a bit more time than I would have liked but I had to re-write half the thing because I didn't like it but hey it's done!
I'm going to try to write a minimum of 8k words per chapter now to help me improve in well everything and give you guys more content.
Don't worry the RWBY plot is coming, think of the first few chapters as Volume 0.
I'm gonna try to answer all the questions I get if possible. If it's not in the list below I'll try to answer them in DM I just don't want to stretch the outro too much so yeah I hope you had fun reading it. Keep the critics and advice coming I really appreciate them!
Questions.
Was this inspired by the new Pariah Nexus Trailer?- No I didn't even knew that trailer existed but you got me curious and I watched it I am now really hyped to watch it! =D