Chapter 32: Desire or Right?
Seth groaned as he struggled to open his eyes, still reeling from the pain Yang's punches dealt him. He honestly wasn't sure which was more painful, getting smacked in the face by the Xiao Long or having her mother blast him with a stream of fire.
"Honor's for the weak like you and Summer." Seth gasped in fear as Raven's spiteful voice resonated in his head the moment he thought about her.
Seth still remembered the immense pressure just her bloodlust put him under. He could feel the power difference between them, he was an ant about to try and bite a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Honestly, he'd rather face a dinosaur right now than Raven, she was much more terrifying and bloodthirsty. But his heart skipped a beat as he found himself reliving an even worse terror before him, a sight more horrifying than Raven's deadly crimson eyes or the jaws of such a beast.
"AKALI! SETH!" His lover Ruby had screamed concerned as she pushed them away from her with Crescent Rose.
Seth clasped his ears as he desperately tried to block out even worse screams from Ruby as he saw the lightning flash before them and strike her Scythe, electrocuting her and making her arms burst open with a torrent of blood spurting. Seth couldn't hide from those painful squeals nor could he stop his eyes from watering as they locked on the image of Ruby's charred body smoking as she dropped her scythe and just stood there seemingly lifeless.
He couldn't find it in him to hope for her survival at this sight, his lightning semblance jabbing at his spirit, as if bragging such power could kill anyone, even his badass lover to his horror. Seth's body in the real world, still unconscious, squirmed as electricity leaked from his skin as his body began going under even greater stress, making his heart monitor spiked.
Soon Seth began feeling a sharp pain in his chest as the image of the yellow blade of hers striking Akali, tearing a bit of flesh from her arm as she fell flashed in his mind. The mere thought of Akali being zapped and hurt mortified Seth, but none worse than his sense of powerlessness right now to prevent it or his girlfriend's supposed demise.
"Akali! Hang on!" He screamed in his mind as he rushed to go over to her, but as he was about to touch her body, he simply phased through to his shock. He began to hyperventilate as he frantically and vainly kept trying to pick her up to get her out of their, only to phase through every time.
"W-What the hell is this!?" He yelled confused before feeling a stabbing heat come for him. His eyes widen in terror as he looked to see a stream of fire from Raven's red blade come for him. He covered his face and screamed with fright as he prepared for the hellfire to consume him before his body suddenly flashed a blue light.
"AAAAAAGH!" He screamed as he awoke, his eyes flashing blue and electricity leaking off his skin, singing his bed's sheets as sweat dripped from his face.
His frightful awakening was met with startled cries from Akali and Bakugo. They saw their friend shaking in his bed before his aura began shining bright, lightning balls shooting off randomly and charring the room.
"Damn that's too bright! Turn down the lights Seth!" Bakugo yelled as he painfully covered his eyes with his arm.
Akali shoved him aside and squinted hers to fight past the blue ray of light and lunged for Seth, still screaming as his aura flared, wrapping her arms around his head and shushing him, her aura guarding her from the electricity.
"It's okay! It's okay Seth breath! Your safe now, she can't get to us again!" Akali yelled at him while rubbing the back of his head.
The soothing touch did its trick as Seth soon began following her breathing and calmed down, the light he was emitting dying down to her and Bakugo's relief. When it faded, Seth's arm in its sling wobbled as he took a deep breath stretched it, now having fully healed it with his semblance, to his friend's comfort.
"Good to see you back in the land of the living bud!" Bakugo yelled with a smile as he smack Seth's back only to recoil a bit when Seth groaned painfully.
"Damn it Bakugo! Not 100% yet!" Akali scolded him making him wince a bit sheepishly.
"Aagh! She's right you know. Still sore as hell, though my face feels it worse than my back right now!" Seth groaned annoyed as he rubbed the bruises and burn marks still on his face, almost feeling an indent mark from Yang's gauntlet Ember Cecilia.
Seth frowned remembering her grief-fueled assault on him. He knew she didn't like him but that didn't mean that she could just beat him for something that wasn't his fault. If not for what happened to Ruby he would have enjoyed zapping that bitch was the thought running his head before he gasped. He jerked his head to his right and saw Ruby's bed now empty.
"Wait! Ruby! Where is she?! Is she-" He yelled in fright before a hand from Bakugo cut him off.
"Easy bud! She made it! We all made it back alive!" Bakugo said quickly, trying to reassure his friend to no avail as the detective noticed Akali rub her bandaged arm shamefully. He knew something was amiss, especially as he saw tears pouring from her eyes, only fueling his fears for his lover.
"Akali… did Ruby really make it?" Seth reluctantly asked, the question tugging at both side's heartstrings, even the normally temperamental and enthusiastic Bakugo.
"S-She…She's heading for surgery right now." Akali bitterly said to Seth's horror.
"Why!? What happened!?" Seth yelled frightfully as he ran up to her and grasped her shoulders firmly.
Akali couldn't find the strength to speak, her sadness and guilt for what happened consuming her as she merely wept and whined miserly. Bakugo put a hand on Seth's shoulder and the boy let his friend go as she fell to her knees and wept into both her hands. Bakugo let out a sigh as he knew it was now his duty to tell Seth.
"She had a bad seizure while you were out. The doctors said the shock to her body gave her brain swelling." Bakugo reluctantly said making Seth double take. Before Bakugo could explain further, Seth ran out the hospital room, ignoring the pain his aching muscles gave him as he just had to see Ruby right now.
"Seth wait! You need to rest!" Bakugo yelled after him down the hall.
"I'll nap again when I'm dead!" Seth yelled as he ignored his friend and ran to the operating room.
He came up to Ruby's friends and family in the hall outside it, Yang being held back by her father kicking and screaming not to his surprise as he stopped his run and rolled his eyes. Even in a crisis, Yang had to try and smash through every problem, his face twitching as his bruises burned being proof of that.
"LET ME GO! SHE NEEDS ME IN THERE!" Yang angrily yelled as she squirmed, her red eyes pouring as worry for her cousin fueled her outburst.
"I know firecracker! But the doctors said they had to operate quickly, you can't distract them!" Tai yelled tearfully, panic also fueling him but he knew he had to entrust his niece to professionals. As much as he wanted to burst in there right now as well, he knew it would serve no help to Ruby. He and the others froze as they heard a small gasp and turned to see Seth, frozen in place as he realized it was all true.
"Seth….your awake huh?" Weiss sheepishly said. She was screaming in her head right now at his arrival.
"Great! Now we gotta explain this horrible crap all over again!" Weiss thought.
She hated having to call team JNPR and tell them the news and hear Nora's screams of terror in the mic, or watching the doctors carry Ruby over to the OR in a gurney, but she knew the boy Ruby loved would no doubt be feel a worse pain if they told the truth.
"Is Ruby going to make it? Is she?!" Seth yelled worried. Everyone's expressions grew more somber as he bit his lip in frustration and sadness.
They weren't sure, brain surgery was always dangerous even with the best doctors. All they could do was hope but seeing Ruby's convulsions, hearing painful groans as she cried unconscious, and her sweating profusely while burning up wasn't encouraging. Blake's cat ears went down as she gasped, her sensitive hearing picking up something in the operating room the others couldn't.
"Oh dear God." She whispered, making Yang pale.
"W-What is it Blake? Did something happen to her?" Yang asked, fear for her cousin's survival skyrocketing as Blake's lips quivered.
"They said she's convulsing too much. They can't safely sedate her for surgery!" Blake yelled frightened to the others horror.
"Then what are they going to do!? Ruby's brain is swelling, an operation's the only-" Seth yelled, but was cut off by Blake.
"If she's convulsing they can't still the needle in her safely to knock her out. The veins in her arms are no good so they can't do her neck or they'll risk hitting an artery." Blake said. Her explanation making Yang and Seth go limp as they collapsed on the floor. For once, they had something in common beyond their love of Ruby, a dreadful soul-shattering thought.
"Ruby's going to die?" They both asked in unison.
Their question stabbing at the unit and Ruby's family and team's hearts, especially Blake's. She had just reconciled with Ruby and now was going to lose her. It was like a cold cruel joke fate was pulling on her, almost making her shut her eyes to cry before she shook her head and willed herself to stay awake. She had to see her friend's struggle to the end as she eyed the doctors in the room trying to hold Ruby down, obviously at their wits end.
"Is there no hope? Can't we do something?" Weiss asked frightfully, unsure what she should do though. Blake merely shook her head, feeling a similar uncertainty and powerlessness.
"If only they could just keep her still they could operate no problem, but it's not like they could glue her down for the shot." Blake groaned.
"Glue? Glue…..Wait….THAT'S IT!" Weiss mused as she heard Blake's complaint before yelling once she got an idea. Everyone was shocked as Weiss gripped her saber tightly and broke down the door to the Operating Room to the doctor's shock.
"MISS SCHNEE!? What are you doing in here? We are trying to save a patient!" The surgeon yelled, not amused by the Schnee's intrusion before she was silenced by the blade Weiss pointed at her.
"YEAH! AND I GOT JUST THE SOLUTION!" Weiss yelled confidently as she soon shoed them aside with a threating glare and motion of her blade before running up to Ruby, still convulsing and gasping for air. Weiss cried a bit as she closed her eyes and gripped her sword near Ruby, charging it with Ice Dust.
"*Exhale* for my best friend." Weiss whispered as her saber glowed bright blue and encased Ruby's body in ice, ceasing her convulsions and making her red and sweaty face pale a bit from the cooldown. The ice also kept her stuck to the table, almost motionless.
"Okay! You should be able to operate now, please hurry!" Weiss yelled enthusiastically to the doctors, who nodded in compliance despite their shock.
"A-Alright miss Schnee, please wait outside while we-" The surgeon said before Weiss glared at her.
"My dad provides the funding here, he practically owns this hospital. Either I stay by her side the whole way or this place goes instead of her got it?" She coldly declared to the doctor, making her recoil and wave her hands frantically.
"Okay! Okay! Nurse get her a gown and mask while I prepare miss Rose's haircut and markings!" The doctor yelled as one nurse did so and another walked up to the busted down door, revealing the shocked faces of Weiss's friends.
"We'll need some privacy for this next part, please…wait outside in the lobby, we'll tell you when it's over but, don't worry. I really think she's going to be fine now." The nurse empathetically said as the others nodded in compliance.
Weiss met Blake, Tai, Seth, and Yang's gaze as they smiled at her, mouthing thank you's to her countless times before being shoved away by Sindel who winked at her in approval. Weiss then turned to Ruby, getting her hair cut and circles to where to cut drawn on her head, and sighed.
"No buts about it Ruby, your gonna pull through and then we're gonna make that bitch Raven pay for what she did to you!" Weiss thought bitterly, her saber used to save Ruby's life trembling with her hand as it itched to take someone else's.
"Just hang on please BFF." Weiss whispered, hoping with all her heart Ruby could hear it.
Meanwhile…
Qrow was trembling himself as he eyed Ruby's scythe in Raven's hands blocking his sword. He couldn't believe what was happening right now. His shock made Raven smirk as she took advantage of his confusion and quickly drop kicked and swept him off his feet, making him land on his ass as she kicked Harbringer out of the drunken man's hand and held the scythe she used to torment him at his throat to add insult to injury.
"A great gift from my niece indeed if it could trip you up or your just drunk off your ass again loser. What was that? your 18th glass today?" She sarcastically chided Qrow who grit his teeth in anger. She was the reason he was drunk in the first place, for all the misery his family had endured.
"WHY DO YOU HAVE THAT!? WHY TAKE THAT FROM HER!?" Qrow yelled angrily, not caring about the blade pointed at his jugular.
This woman had stolen many nights of sleep for Tai and Yang when she abandoned them, and now she had the gall to steal from his daughter her treasure after nearly killing her, he honestly couldn't tell at what point she truly crossed the line. Raven merely scoffed in response.
"She wipes out our weapon's depot and supplies, captures some men, and forces us to find a new campsite and you expect me to not want something in return?" Raven asked annoyed as her eyes narrowed angrily.
"Though she didn't do it alone. Your buddy Ironwood seems to have some new lackeys, did Ozpin send them?" She asked, one of the reasons her being here to find out if Ozpin had figured out her Maiden status.
Her hands trembled for a moment. She was cursing herself a bit for revealing her powers to those kids earlier, but had planned to kill them before they could breath a word anyway. Well…. Most of them anyway, hence another reason for being here she wouldn't bring up with Qrow, who merely grunts annoyed before turning into a bird and flying back away from the blade and turning back to human as she twirls to try and slash him only to have the brunt end kicked by Qrow, disorienting her for a moment and allowing him to roll and grab Harbringer, transitioning it from Blade to Scythe form and catching Crescent Rose by the blade, jamming it into another table before he delivers a punch to Raven's face to her anger. Qrow merely chuckled at her angry face.
"No, because unlike you or Jimmy, Ozpin's smart. You can dodge, but you could never match my skills or Ruby's with a scythe. Never use a weapon you don't know how to use dumbass. You gonnna use your maiden powers on me? You probably should, seeing as though you needed them to beat a sixteen year old girl." Qrow snickered as Raven's eyes narrowed on him menacingly as she recalled something from those words.
"Hissssss, OW!" Vernal had cried, wincing from the stinging sensation on her back as Raven dabbed medicine on the bleeding claw marks on her second in commands back, courtesy of that tiger boy Jago.
"Oh shut the hell up! If you had watched your back I wouldn't need to treat it." Raven scolded her as she slapped a big bandage over the claw marks to Vernal's annoyance at her rough treatment as she looked at her with a glare.
"Just be grateful you kicked one of those kids ass's or I wouldn't have saved yours." She bitterly said as she patted Crescent Rose and her sword at her waist. Vernal bowed in respect at the notion, knowing for a Branwen might makes right so she needed to show gratitude for her leader using it for her sake.
"I am. Especially since you managed to score a nice weapon off those brats as revenge. Who cares if they got shay and a few others, if we fucked up those kids prides." Vernal snickered as she eyed the scythe Raven took off her niece before she had been rescued.
Raven eyed it intensely, still hearing the screams Ruby gave off as she electrocuted her niece. Unlike her subordinate, Raven was not feeling any pride in her prize or victory, it didn't feel like much of an accomplishment to her.
"Seriously, thanks for teaching me to dodge those scythes in case your brother ever came back, I'd have lost my head by now without it. Though they didn't help against that tiger kid, man he hits like a truck. Gotta say though it was satisfying seeing that little red bitch get frustrated when she missed me you know." Vernal laughed, her comment making Raven's eye twitch. Not sensing the danger, Vernal kept up the rant
"If she does live I bet Lil red's gonna whimper at the sight of a Beowulf hahaha-" Vernal laughed before receiving a punch to her nose by Raven. As Vernal rolled on her back painfully covering her nose from the impact, Raven felt her fist shake as the screams of Ruby flooded her head again.
"J-Just shut your damn mouth before I use this to slice your tongue out! I'm not in the mood to hear your rambling!" Raven yelled as she patted Crescent Rose and walked out her tent, looking at the campsite being offloaded into their jeeps quickly as a result of the attack. She eyed the burn marks on the ground in the center especially, the sight where she electrocuted her niece.
"Accident." She whispered. Little did Raven realize, she had also said that in the real world as Qrow grunted at her hearing this.
"What was that now?" He asked confused, never hearing his sister speak so…. Sad? He thought.
Raven grit her teeth as she put for force in the blade lock out of pure embarrassment as she blushed a bit.
"It was an accident! I never meant to strike her but she got in the way she just-" Raven yelled, in her head.
Yes, it was an accident as Raven never meant to hit Ruby. She and her tribe were losing the battle, badly. Their supplies and weapons had been destroyed, Vernal had been electrocuted by that kid in black and Ruby and that kama wielding friend of hers seemed to be skilled enough to hold her off. The lightning was just to get them off guard, but Ruby had to play hero. Of course, Raven would never let Qrow hear this.
"I said it was an accident she and her friends got away alive. I held back too much because we we're family." Raven lied, her words making Qrow give her a glare that oozed true blood lust.
"You have a VERY warped view of that word sis." Qrow bitterly said with disgust before Raven jumped back and ended the lock, tired of hearing her brother speak.
"And again! She attacked mine! Warn Ozpin and his "pet" Ironwood to back off or we'll hunt you all instead!" She yelled as she summoned a portal from her red blade. She was glad deep down that her suspicions about Ozpin were false, but groaned as she heard her brother's irritating voice again before she could leave.
"HOLD IT!" Qrow called out angrily, making her turn back and glare at him, raising an eyebrow annoyed.
"You have something that belongs to my daughter." He bitterly groans, but Raven just laughs a bit to his displeasure.
His sister had a dark sense of humor befitting a bandit, for her to laugh meant bad news approaching. Qrow almost dropped his weapon with his jaw as he was proven right.
"From what I've heard she won't be needing it anymore. You'll be toasting for her at a shrine soon enough like your wife." Raven coldly sneered. Qrow's eyes widen in shock and anger as she said this.
"Y-You didn't! I swear to God if you killed her I-" He was about to scream before Raven waived him off.
"She was still breathing when I saw her roasting. Don't believe me, so what will you do? Kill me? I've always been stronger than you, what makes you think you could take me down if your pathetic daughter couldn't? Why should she deserve an admittingly impressive weapon she "gifted" me?" Raven asked in a condescending manner.
"Either you give that scythe back willingly, or you'll have to kill me for it, and I know you would. But let me ask you this, could you kill Yang?" Qrow asked with venom, Raven gritting her teeth and her eyes flickering for a moment as she almost lost herself to her anger before taking a breath to calm herself. She fixed him a murderous cold glare before answering.
"What does that mean?" She bitterly asked, always hating when Qrow brought up her daughter in arguments.
"I don't doubt you could kill me, but Yang knows that too. I told her you were the only one in the world who could. If Ruby makes it she might not, but if you killed her or me all bets are off. She'll come after you and roast any member of your tribe she comes across to find you. Could you kill her if that happened?" Qrow asked. Raven averted her gaze a moment.
"Fuck! Why did my plan work too well, now I had to hear this." Raven cursed in her head.
She was actually going to give Qrow the scythe to begin with. She never wanted to kill her niece, despite her tribe's laws demanding it. She was the spitting image of her best friend Summer, which was one reason she couldn't stand to be around her.
The girl's pure heart and strong sense of justice sickened the Branwen as it reminded her more of her lost friend. She honestly felt horrified when she struck her down earlier, almost seeing that bitter glare Summer would give her team when they crossed her that chilled her spine every time.
She knew she would always see that glare, and Ruby's charred body as she screamed in her dreams unless she gave the scythe back. Raven just hated the fact her brother was now using her own daughter as leverage to get his way, almost as much as she hated having to apologize or swallow her pride. Raven sighed heavily as she tossed the weapon to her brother's feet, but he didn't cease his glare at her, making sure not to drop his guard again.
"Your daughter said she wanted my head, warn her next time I see her, it CUTS both ways." Raven bitterly said as she gripped her sword and passed through the portal, leaving her brother behind. He groaned as he picked up the weapon as well as a glass of rum that was lying near it on the floor. He looked to the barkeep, shivering as he peeked his head slowly above the bar.
"I-Is it over now?" He stuttered, sweating heavily in fear not that Qrow could blame the man.
"Yeah, do me a favor. Make this a double." Qrow asked as he flaunted the drink he felt he was going to need a lot more to get this shitty encounter off his mind.
Forgiveness or Resentment?
Back at the hospital…
Team JNPR ran down the halls at breakneck speed. Them being worried for Ruby was an understatement, especially as they froze to see a somber sight before them.
Ruby's unit from Atlas as well as her family and Blake, whom was crying into her hands as Sun rubbed her back gently, were all sitting around reeking of dread that filled the lobby.
"Is Ruby okay? Is she…" Nora asked nervously, not having the patience to be subtle and got straight to the point. Ren hugging her shoulder supportively as he too couldn't hold in his concerns any longer.
"Nora's right! Please tell us there's good news." Ren asked hopefully. His slight smile faded as Yang sighed heavily.
"Weiss is helping the doctors while they operate, but no… nothing goods been happening at all!" Yang groaned as she punched a wall in frustration. Jaune and Pyrrah recoiled as they didn't see any holes or indents. It was just a weak punch.
"She must really be dragging herself into the ground over this." Pyrrah thought frightful of the implications.
"If she's this tired and weak, did Ruby take a turn for the worse?" Jaune thought; fear infecting his heart before he shook his head. He had as duty as leader and friend, at least for the first time in months for Ruby, to keep everyone's hopes up before he remembered something he just heard.
"Wait, Weiss is helping her during surgery?" Jaune asked curious.
"Yeah, she froze Ruby a bit to stop her seizures so the doctors could knock her out for the operation." Blake explained as she rubbed her eyes, red from crying, with Sun's shirt. She was startled like everyone else as Jaune yelled.
"Then she should be aces then! Weiss is the perfect supporter, no way anything could go wrong!" Jaune said hopeful. Pyrrah's smile brightened up, proud of her lover's efforts.
"He's right, Ruby is strong too and I have the bruises to prove it. We'd be absolute dunces like Weiss would put it if we doubted her partners will to survive and start kicking butt again." Pyrrah said confidently.
The room soon brightened a bit from warm smile, especially Yang as she ran up to the two and hugged them tightly to their surprise, she just needed to hear that right now even if her heart was nagging her to fear otherwise.
Suddenly the operating light on the sign above bleeped and turned off, gathering everyone's attention as that was indicating Ruby's surgery was finished. But as no one came out the door though, a few silent minutes felt like a dreadful eternity. Even the hyperactive Nora and temperamental Yang couldn't find the strength to yell and charge in to see what happened, fear for Ruby's fate choking on them and tying them to the room.
Before they could suffocate under the pressure they were all under, the doors slowly pressed open, gathering everyone's attention as they leaned in to catch any hint from the expression of whoever passed through.
It was the Surgeon, wiping off a bit of blood from her arms with a washcloth before she soon took her mask off and exhaled. The group soon felt their bodies melt and grow weak with relief to see a comforting smile from the doctor.
"Miss Rose made it out perfectly thanks to Miss Schnee's support." The doctor assured them; leading to a chorus of cheers from the relieved group.
"Oh thank God! My baby's going to make iiiiiit!" Yang yelled with broken English as she cried happily into her father's chest as he too cried with joy before eyeing the doctor.
"Thank you for everything. Can we go in and see her?" He asked hopeful before whimpering disappointed as she shook her head.
"We've already moved her to ICU and only 1 person a time is allowed. Miss Schnee was quite adamant about being first after all." The doctor said as the others groaned annoyed with the heiress before laughing a bit.
"That's so like Ice Queen!" They all said amused.
"Besides… there is something I'd like to speak with her family alone." The doctor said seriously, making everyone's hearts drop as they heard this.
"We are all her friends and loved one, please I'm her guardian so it's fine with me if they hear it." Tai said firmly, causing the doctor to sigh.
"Well… we managed to drain the fluids from her brain and bring down the swelling, also thanks in part to Miss Schnee's ice dust, but the real problem wasn't that." The doctor said, making everyone gulp in fear almost tempted to cover their ears to avoid hearing the bad news they knew was coming.
"Don't beat around the bush. Please tell me what's wrong with my cousin." Yang asked firmly.
"Well her aura should flare up within the day or so and help the healing process, but the fact remains her arms have suffered severe damage." The doctor explained.
"Can't her aura just fix them up like her boyfriends here?" Sun asked as he pointed to Seth's arm with mangled bandages from his healing as proof, but the doctor shook her head.
"Her burns and cuts will heal, but as for the arms themselves well… you can't fix what isn't there anymore." She explained.
"What do you mean? Did you have too-" Tai asked frightfully before pausing, no longer having the strength to finish asking..
"We didn't amputate, but the issue is what happened inside her arms. The veins exploded when that lightning hit, many of them were incinerated in fact. She can't heal things that are gone. Even once she recovers from this, she won't be able to move her arms as well as before without arm braces or surgical implants, both of which are very expensive I might add." The doctor said. Everyone paled as they heard this. To them it was almost like Ruby's dream was about to end. How could she fight without her arms?
"H-hey, she's alive. Lets just focus on that for now and worry about this down the line okay?" Sindel said, trying to bring everyone's hope back.
They all nodded, despite still consumed by dread as they didn't have the strength left in them to yell in frustration, even Yang who eyed the door to ICU, hopeful Weiss would be done soon so she could run in and give her cousin the biggest hug of her life.
ICU Ruby's room
Weiss was sitting in a chair beside Ruby's hospital bed, clasping her partners limp hand. Though the doctors said she was going to pull through, she couldn't get what they said after out of her head.
"Her arms may never be the same again." Those words echoed. Weiss cringed as she eyed those bandaged arms. She wanted nothing more than to pay for the operation to implant prosthetics and get them back to full strength before a bitter thought smacked her hard.
"But Dad probably wouldn't give me the loan." Weiss groaned.
She knew her father was the stuck-up elitist type who wouldn't bat an eye or spare a single Lien for the poor. Unless the media covered a fake attempt at generosity, Jacquees Schnee was as selfish as they come. It brought a bitter knot to Weiss's stomach as she pondered how she used to be towards Ruby, and not that long ago.
She derided Ruby at every turn, abandoned her and broke promises, and only treated her with selfishness and entitlement once Ruby had changed and finally called her out on her bullshit. She'd do anything to turn back the clock and be the partner and friend Ruby deserved way back then.
"Ruby I'm so sorry, for everything. I don't care if you don't ever forgive me just please….please wake up." Weiss cried into her partner's hand, which slowly twitched and rubbed the tears off Weiss's scarred eye to the heiress's shock.
"Hmmm I could hear you scream. Fuck princess, can't a girl get some beauty sleep?" Ruby sarcastically asked as she groaned from soreness.
She felt like that truck that almost ran over her and Penny did the job, especially after looking at her arms. Though she honestly felt more hurt right now seeing her partner cry at the sight of her, the one comfort being the smile on the heiress's face.
"Weiss? Y-You okay?" She said, her throat raspy and dry. Weiss quickly brought a glass of water to her, soothing her throat to her relief.
"Y-Yeah Ruby. I'm okay but… how are you feeling?" She asked before rolling her eyes annoyed as Ruby's did in return. She wasn't sure if she should be upset or relieved Ruby still hadn't changed.
"Oh great! Was just roasted like a pig, but at least I'm not as fat as one so there's that." Ruby sarcastically groaned.
She tried to raise her arm to rub her head but found it unresponsive and heavy. Every attempt only brought her a jolting pain like before as she winced from the effort. Weiss's eyes widened as she realized Ruby would soon learn about her condition.
"Oh god! What am I gonna say to her?" Weiss screamed in her head before the sound of footsteps startled her and made her glance at the door.
"Well hello Miss Rose! Glad to see you've awoken." A nurse said as she walked in with a tray full of medicine and bandages.
"I'm just here to give you some painkillers and change your bandages. Oh! Thank you for the help before Miss Schnee, it's thanks to you I got something to do and get paid for." The nurse joked as she patted Weiss's back before proceeding to unwrap Ruby's arms. Ruby's eyes widen in shock as she heard this.
"Weiss helped me? How?" She asked the nurse.
"Well unfortunately you had a seizure while you were out cold. We couldn't safely give you the shot for the procedure because of your convulsing. Weiss busted in here used Ice dust to keep you steady so they could operate. She saved your life Ruby." The nurse said joyfully. Ruby blushed hearing this, touched her partner would do that for her. Ruby turned slowly to Weiss, looking away slightly in embarrassment to her surprise.
"Huh? F-Funny, I-I thought you would have bragged about that b-by now." Ruby sheepishly stuttered. She was more amazed in reality that Weiss was actually willing to help her despite all their arguments before.
"You dunce! You got roasted alive and we almost lost you! Why would I care about bragging right!?" Weiss tearfully yelled making Ruby shudder a bit.
Her anxiety only grew as she saw Weiss recoil as the Nurse unwrapped her arm. While the burn marks had almost faded from her aura flickering slightly as the nurse put it, what didn't fade were huge red scars all over.
"I'm sorry, I should have warned you to brace yourself. Your arms took severe damage from lightning so some scarring is to be expected." The nurse said softly. Ruby merely sighed in return.
"It's the price of battle sometimes, comes with the job of a huntress. Weiss…." Ruby slowly said as she turned to her partner, who eyed her attentively.
"I would have paid an even heavier one without you. You really are the best partner ever you know that?" She warmly said softly to the Heiress who gasped into her hand, touched. For the first time in months Ruby had said something sweet to her, devoid of anger or sarcasm like her old self.
"R-Ruby I-I just wanted to-" She tried to say before being shushed by Ruby.
"I know. I also heard what you said. Seeing as how I woke up like you wanted I guess I don't really need to forgive you ever right?" Ruby chuckled as Weiss blushed and pouted.
"W-Why you little…. Ugh! How can you joke right now?" Weiss groaned but soon smirked like Ruby.
"My daddy's a bad influence I guess…. BFF." Ruby chuckled before praising Weiss with the sweetest tone she could give her, letting her partner know at last everything was forgiven.
"R-Ruby!" Weiss said as she wrapped her arms around Ruby's hand and sobbed joyfully, having wanted to hear that for so long.
"Ow! Had brain surgery remember Weiss?" Ruby groaned as Weiss panicked and jumped back.
"SORRY! SORRY!" Weiss yelled guilty as she put her arms around her back before the nurse smiled and winked at her before leaving. As she left, 5 people peeked their heads out the door, having slipped past security to see the patient out of impatience.
"Heya Little Rose." Her uncle Tai said warmly as he, Yang, Blake, Sun, and Seth entered. They all momentarily winced a bit as they were caught off guard by her bandaged head making her chuckle.
"Hey Uncle. I get it, no more cute doll haircut, just bald baby for now." Ruby joked as Tai shook his head and smiled.
"Yeah just like old times, only bigger." Tai joked, feeling warm inside remembering cradling her as an infant.
"Hey! I'm not fat. Oh Seth, sorry I lost my rock-star haircut you love, guess I'm gonna need a wig. Good thing I got that 100 Lien off you." Ruby chuckled making Seth groan.
"Aagh! Don't remind me babe." Seth joked as he sat down by her, grasping her hand and kissed her to Tai's irritation, though he kept his silence out of respect, before he glanced over worried about Yang.
To everyone's surprise, Yang wasn't angered this time by the affection, rather she rubbed her arm awkwardly as she slowly walked towards her cousin.
"So Rubes… did they tell you?" Yang asked sheepishly. Ruby averted her eyes, she hated how weak she looked right now to her family, almost as much as she hated talking about this.
"Didn't have to. I can feel it. My arms are dead aren't they?" She bitterly asked.
"N-No Ruby! The doctors said the nerves were damaged, but there was hope you could- OOF!" Sun tried to say to encourage her before being elbowed in the gut by his girlfriend.
"Don't get her hopes up right now. She needs rest before we get to that." Blake said sternly. She knew it would be tough for Ruby's family to afford an operation or support braces, a sentiment she didn't share with Yang.
"Come on don't talk like that. Ruby's strong, she won't get down by this. She'll find a way while me and dad get the money right Rubes?" Yang asked while forcing herself to smile despite the pain her sister's condition put her through.
"You bet. Got to keep you and lover boy here out of danger right?" Ruby chuckled as she eyed Seth lovingly.
Tai groaned silently at this affection; it irritated him to no end to hear her talk to him like Tai did with Raven in Beacon. It brought him more worry his niece would end up like he did, hurt and alone due to a selfish lover. He was particularly angry this reality almost happened as he eyed his daughter's condition in bed due to protecting him. An even greater panic arose in him as he saw Ruby's happy expression turn sour as she formed a bitter death glare at Yang. He knew something bad was coming.
"Yang." Ruby coldly said as she noticed a scar on Seth's cheek. Yang shuddered as she heard that tone filled with venom.
"Ruby maybe you shouldn't-" Weiss tried to say to alleviate the situation, knowing Ruby was in pain as well, but was shut down by a cold declaration from her partner.
"Leave us." She bitterly said to everyone.
The air turned silent as everyone felt immense pressure right now, almost suffocating under Ruby's stern gaze. For Tai, it was a bitter reminder of Summer. That gaze let you know the worse scolding of your life was coming. As much as his heart bled for Yang right now, he knew she had to pay the price and decided to get out quickly.
"Alright kids, my niece needs some privacy. We'll come back later with the others. Lets let them know Ruby's okay by the way." Tai said urgently as he gently pulled the other kids away, giving his daughter Yang a sympathetic glare before leaving.
Yang felt her heartbeat skip though as the sound of that door closing resonated. Her instincts yelling at her to run as she locked eyes with her cousin, feeling an almost murderous rage, but her knees felt weak and couldn't do the job.
"You want to tell me what the hell happened to Seth?" Ruby bitterly asked.
"I ugh- you see he-" Yang sheepishly said as she tried to come up with an excuse, only to recoil as Ruby yelled at her.
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT SHIT!" Ruby yelled hoarse with rage. She could tell by fist indent in his cheek with Yang's gauntlet markings her cousin had beaten Seth while she was in surgery and recovering. Her health be damned, she wasn't going to let this slide.
"I know you hurt him; those are the same bruises you left all your exes. WHY! Why did you have to pummel the boy I loved, the boy I risked everything to save!?" She bitterly yelled. Yang suddenly felt a bit of anger flare in her hearing this.
"It's his fault your arms are fucked Ruby!" Yang yelled before Ruby gave off a painful cry and jerked her body. Yang's eyes widened in shock as she felt a weak slap on her cheek, but it felt heavier than a bag of bricks as she saw Ruby pant heavily and wince in pain from the effort.
"Oh is it really?! You know I don't recall Seth's lightning semblance being what fried me like a chicken! No that was your psycho ass mom, oh great that bitch has my Crescent Rose doesn't she?!" Ruby asked in anger and Yang's eyes widened before looking down.
"Y-yeah, it wasn't on you when you got here and none of your unit saw it." Yang said sadly as Ruby groaned before glaring at her again.
"Anyway, you don't get to justify this! You never did it for me, you did it for yourself, because I'm not a strong huntress who can take care of herself in your eyes right? I'm just some little doll for you to dress up and gush over then put away in a glass case safe and sound." Ruby bitterly ranted after finishing her panting.
To her, that's what it felt like being neglected all those months ago and every time Yang or her team smothered her in battle it felt the same. She wasn't being treated like a huntress despite all her efforts and accomplishments, just some baby doll that was cute and delicate. It was as frustrating as it was degrading, and worse Seth paid the price this time for it, she wasn't going to keep calm about that as she glared at her trembling Cousin.
Yang's eyes watered at that declaration, wanting nothing more than to deny it, but couldn't find the strength to speak as her cousin kept that bitter glare on her. It was the truth no matter how much she hated it. She just wanted to keep her baby safe, she wanted her love back, but hated herself for failing both. She had used Seth as an outlet for her frustration despite it disregarding everything Ruby sacrificed and cared for. Ruby knew what Yang was feeling, but it didn't make her feel any less angry.
"Let me ask you one more thing. What in the hell makes you think I'd ever forgive you after what you did to him, to me?" Ruby asked her cousin with venom in her tone. The sheer contempt reeking from her made Yang shudder, unable to utter a word in return.
"Thought so. Now get the hell out my sight and bring Seth back here." Ruby coldly demanded. Yang could only find the strength to tearfully nod in compliance and walk out slowly, giving the boy outside a somber look as she pointed to him to go back in. Yang pressed her back to the wall in the hall, giving off a huge sigh before weeping into her legs.
"I'm sorry Ruby. I'm so sorry." Yang cried, but she knew it was in vain. Ruby made it painfully clear, Yang was never going to be forgiven so long as she lived. Their sisterly bond had been completely shattered.
Back in the ICU
A few minutes later, Seth was sitting beside Ruby, caressing her cheeks as they grew wet from her crying. Not that he could blame her, she just learned her arms were essentially crippled. They were the cornerstones of her fighting style, her main weapon Crescent Rose as well. His eyes widened at the thought.
"Oh shit! I should have grabbed her scythe back there! It could have calmed her down like a teddy bear or her puppy." Seth cursed in his head.
He really wished he could do something to alleviate his girlfriend's distress. Little did he know, it wasn't the potential loss of her career that was disturbing Ruby right now. She could sense his fear for her, everyone's fear in fact, and it disgusted her.
She felt weaker than she ever did in her life, even more so than when she was 5 and lost her mother, at least she could hug Yang and her uncle as they mourned. Now she felt straight up worthless to help anyone.
"Seth." Ruby weakly said as she willed herself to stop sniffling.
"Y-Yeah Ruby?" Seth asked nervously, as if sensing something bad approaching.
"I want to break up." Ruby said with immense sorrow, making Seth's eyes widen in shock.
"W-What!? Why Ruby? Is it because I-" He tried to protest. He wanted nothing more right now than to be by her side after what she lost, but she cut him off, already understanding his desires and it honestly just sickened her further.
"It's not because "I got hurt because of you" like Yang probably bitched at you earlier when she was smashing your teeth. It's actually the other way around." Ruby groaned.
"W-What do you mean?" Seth asked nervously and Ruby sighed sadly.
"Raven, Yang….I was helpless to save you from both. I was helpless to save our unit, my friends as she struck us down. I was supposed to be a hero like my mom who could save those close to me. *Sigh* But like her, I just fell first and left you all to clean up my mess. I don't want YOU to have to clean up… this mess." Ruby sadly said as she used her nose to poke at her bandaged arms. She cried as she thought of another important reason why she couldn't be with him.
"Hey, don't say that! WE are gonna clean up this mess because you're going to be fine, I know it as does everyone else. Ruby you have to believe everything is going to be ok-" Seth tried to say but was interrupted by his girlfriend.
"NO IT'S NOT! Look at me Seth, I'm like a baby now… no worse, a baby could lift its own arms. What kind of future could I have with you if I can barely move my own arms? Or even hold you in my arms? My career might be ruined and I don't know what I'll do if I can't be a huntress. Seth, I'm useless right now and you deserve better. I don't want to be a burden; I'd rather be dead." She bitterly said as Seth widened his eyes.
All her life she wanted to be a huntress like her mother, but as she grew older she realized she also wanted what she had in life, a family of her own. She wanted to be there for the ones she loved. Now all she had was a sense of helplessness. Seth felt tears in his eyes as he heard the girl he loved was completely broken. He knew it wasn't Ruby talking, it was the pain, and he would do his best to get her to see the light.
"Ruby I promise I'll get you the money for the operation or just the braces even, something! Just please let me stay….let me be the family you need. I can't lose you again." Seth cried, trying to lean in and kiss her to alleviate her, but Ruby just averted her gaze shamefully, denying him. As much as she wanted that too, she just couldn't find it in her after all this to burden him with her condition or risk his safety any longer.
"Raven will come for me. I know you'd fall to protect me in an instant… and I'd rather die before I could stomach seeing that. Please…. Just go." Ruby reluctantly said.
Seth cried as he opened his mouth to protest, but he winced as he saw her tear up and lay back in her bed, burying her face in her pillow and doing her best to ignore him. Reluctantly, he stood up and slowly made for the door, glancing back at her one last time.
"I love you." He sadly said.
He hoped with all his heart she would reply in kind. His heart shattered though when she just stayed silent, no longer having the strength to speak just as he could no longer stay before breaking down completely. She closed her wet eyes slowly as she heard the door closed, silently begging to fall asleep so she could dream her wish to be a huntress, to be a hero who could stop disasters like this awful day.
Dark Continent.
Salem took a big inhale from the nose before sighing relieved. Being part Grimm meant she could sense powerful negative feelings, and being the master of the demonic beasts meant her senses were even sharper.
"It would seem a little rose just got plucked." She chuckled as she sat down at her desk, enjoying a hot cup of tea and petted a Beowulf laying by her side as she reveled in the misery she was sensing. She could tell Ruby Rose had lost her spirit and at a great time for the witch too as the next phase of her plan was near ready to set in motion.
"One silver eye threat down, a whole school to go." Salem chuckled as she felt a small surge of pleasure arise not from that thought, but as she sensed bloodlust in the air.
"Seems my pets have returned at last, and none too soon." Salem said amused as her doors opened, revealing Adam Taurus, Arthur Watts and Neo.
The bloodlust from Adam she sensed reeked the room as he glared at the humans beside him, sensing he despised being near them just for the pettiness of race. She didn't have to sense anything from Neo to fuel herself, she smiled maliciously as she saw the mute pale up at the sight of the witch, it amused her to no end. What didn't amuse her was Watt's indifference to the situation, so she decided to speak up and move along.
"I take it your mission was a success? You wouldn't dare think of coming back empty handed…. Less you want no hands at all anymore right?" Salem bitterly asked, her tone flooding the air with bloodlust that froze Adam and Neo in place with fear. Even Watts twinges a bit feeling her negative energy and clears his throat, hoping to end this now.
"Y-Yes master. May I present, Cinder Fall and the rest of your minions who got their behinds handed to them and needed rescuing." Watts arrogantly chuckled as he waived his arm to allow Cinder and the others to walk in on cue to their annoyance, Cinder's eyes flaring fire as she threatened to burn him.
The feelings of rage and fear made Salem groan with pleasure for a moment before she collected herself and summoned Grimm hands from the black stained ground and walls themselves to wrap around her lackeys as they groaned in pain from the sudden binding.
"What's the big idea you old hag!" Cinder yelled instinctively as she felt the shadow arms around her tightened the more she moved. Her eyes were still on fire as she began to try and melt the arms away with her maiden powers, only for a tighter grip to come from an icy cold human-like hand to her throat.
"The deal, my spoiled little brat, is that you got careless and could have ruined my plans by getting captured. If you had just killed that little rose and her lover, then Lionheart wouldn't have been discovered and I could have knocked down 2 academies at once instead of just 1." Salem coldly said as she scolded Cinder, whose expression paled as she eyed the crimson and black eyes surrounded by black veins from her masters face, almost puking in disgust as her own eyes ceased their flames.
"Speaking of Lionheart master." Emerald said frantically, hoping to save Cinder by distracting Salem.
"Watts said the Ace-Ops have him. Aren't you afraid he'll squeal about everything to save himself?" She asked. Salem removed her hand from Cinder's throat and waved it, releasing everyone who exhaled in relief. Salem merely sat down at her desk and gave an amused smirk.
"Not to worry, I already took precaution's for that little scenario." Salem said with a devilish smile as she sipped her tea.
"Now it's time to prepare for your next mission, but before that I have someone who's going to help you all with that." Salem said as she snapped her fingers.
Almost on cue, the group was startled as a red portal appeared in the middle of the room. From it Raven Branwen stepped out wearing a Grimm mask while gripping her sword as she eyed the terrorists fiercely, as if daring them to strike first.
"I believe I have your transportation for the event ready ladies and gentlemen." Salem said sarcastically as she reveled in their surprise.
The next morning
Winter was sitting in an airship on her way to Beacon alongside the Ace-Ops. She knew Atlas and Haven were no longer safe places, especially after that break in at their most secure prison. Winter groaned, frustrated not from the loss of their prisoners or an Academies safety, but from the helplessness she felt right now as she eyed the two Intelligence agents being tended to by Vine.
"Agent Vine, what's your opinion? Will they make it?" Winter reluctantly asked. Vine could only narrow his gaze, making Winter shiver a bit as she could tell he struggled to find the right answer. This did not inspire confidence.
"With what these two endured, especially Agent Litchi here, I can't be certain." He sadly said as he used his aura vines to whip around Litchi's stomach wound to cease the bleeding while he used his arms to prepare the suturing to Winter's unease. Litchi and Sin's injuries being serious was an understatement. From her peer's stab wounds to Sin's severe burns on his chest and arms, it would be a miracle if either survived.
"At least they both still look prettier than that asshole over there." Harriet said as she nudged Winter to look in the corner, hoping it would distract the captain. Winter sighed as she saw lifeless body of Leonardo Lionheart, the former headmaster of Haven Academy and one of the reasons she was feeling intense dread.
"Good lord it still freaking me out Harriet." Winter said as she rubbed her eyes agitated. It wasn't just Lionhearts betrayal she was ordered to arrest him for, it was why he laid dead before them, not by their own hands but by something almost demonic.
"I hear you, what do you think that gunk was?" Harriet asked. Her question made Winter gag as she recalled the frightening scene last night before they returned to Atlas to hopefully save the detectives.
They were in Haven Academy, Harriet had flashed behind Leo at lightning speed and gave him a full Nelson as Vine snatched his weapon with his aura vines.
"NO! You don't know what your doing!" Leo yelled defiantly as he grabbed Harriet and threw her over his shoulder before he attempted to stomp on her neck until a loud cry froze him in place, literally.
"STAY!" Marrow yelled as he pointed his finger, freezing Leo's body in place before his foot could crush the Atlesian's neck, courtesy of the Faunus's semblance.
"Leonardo Lionheart! You are under arrest for terrorism, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to murder and treason against the four kingdoms!" Winter said as she cuffed Leo in aura dampening cuffs and looking at Marrow who nodded and release Leo from his state.
"We're all going to burn! We're all going to die anyway! You don't know what she's capable of!" Leo yelled frightfully. Clover raised an eyebrow curious of this declaration.
"Who? Who is she and why did she put you up to this?" He asked the former huntsman who quivered at the question.
"She-She is a Grimm. One of the nastiest and smartest I'd ever seen. GOD! I wish I never saw her, she's more monstrous and terrifying then the nightmares of hell!" Leo screamed.
"Who is she Lionheart? Speak and perhaps the General will cut you a deal." Winter told him.
Leo fidgeted a bit before he took a deep breath. He knew she was right, despite Salem's threats he had to think of himself first, like he always did. Maybe if he helped again Ironwood and Ozpin could try to fake his death and hide him somewhere in return.
"Okay, her name is-" Leo began to say before he started choking, collapsing on the floor as a black ooze from his mouth.
Everyone recoiled as they saw his throat spurt open, gushing a torrent of Grimm ooze as Leo screams were muffled. This was Salem's precaution, having used her seer orb to plant grimm ooze in his throat should he ever try to spill her secrets. Now Lionheart was paying the price for his loss and uselessness as his eyes soon rolled back and he convulsed before his body went limp.
Winter gagged into her mouth as she remembered seeing his corpse back then as she typed into her scroll a message to General Ironwood, knowing he'd want full details.
"God it feels twice as disgusting just typing what happened!" Winter groaned as she pressed send.
Ironwood sighed as he eyed the message on his scroll detailing these events. Not only did he lose the trust of his new unit and Qrow, now he just lost a lead on Salem's plans, something he knew would only piss off these two glaring at him further.
He was sitting in a chair at Ozpin's office, being stared down by the dangerous glares of the headmaster and Glynda.
"James, you have a lot of explaining to do." Ozpin said, his tone filled with disappointment, making the General sigh.
"I assume Qrow already told you everything so I am not sure I could elaborate many more details." Ironwood said shamefully, Ruby's damaged body still creeping in his mind as he rubbed his bruised stomach courtesy of her father. His scolding was like a tip of the iceberg he knew was coming from Glynda now though.
"That is an understatement! You kept secrets from not just us but those children and it almost got them killed. Ruby Rose may never use her arms again even all because of your carelessness! Am I off base or is that the right thing to go off on?" Glynda hollered at him angrily. Ironwood gripped his knee tight frustrated.
He didn't want to admit it, but she was dead on the mark with that statement. He grew overconfident of his and the unit's ability to handle Raven and a maiden and it nearly cost detective Rose her life, or maybe even her career. He could only shake his head as he tried to purge such a negative thought from his head.
"You don't believe so despite the evidence to the contrary my old friend?" Ozpin said annoyed as he misinterpreted the Generals action.
"No, Glynda was 100% correct, except for one thing." Ironwood correct as the two raised their eyebrows.
"And what would that be James? How you lied, how you overplayed your hand trying to get a maiden, or how you got a student of this school crippled most importantly?" Glynda asked with venom in her tongue.
"About Miss Rose, while I am ashamed of how she ended up severely injured because of my selfishness, I am not going to let one of the best huntresses I have ever worked with fall here." Ironwood said firmly.
"Oh, and how do you plan to do that James. Can someone you know in your unit heal her arms?" Ozpin asked, his tone a bit hopeful for such a scenario as he leaned in to listen attentively and find out.
"No, but I plan to pay out of my own pocket for Miss Roses operation to repair most of the damage to her arms and support her as she recovers. Even though her arms will need time to recover, she still has her incredible vision. I believe she should be near full power near the time of the Vytal Festival, and will be perfect for something else as well." Ironwood said firmly.
"What are you planning now James." Glynda asked sternly as Ozpin also glared at James, not liking where this was going.
"I admit I screwed up considering I didn't take into account Raven is the Spring Maiden. Now she'll likely go after me and my unit, especially Miss Rose. I don't think she liked us burning her supplies and taking out her men." Ironwood bitterly said making Glynda and Ozpin recoil a bit. They knew such a thing from a bandit was possible, especially if it was one as bloodthirsty as Raven.
"Poor Miss Rose." Ozpin sighed as he chugged his coffee cup, having secretly put booze in it to alleviate his angst from hearing this news from Qrow.
"I know. She's suffered a lot last month, but now she'll have to deal with this the rest of her life, if it last long that is." Glynda said sorrowfully.
"That's why, despite knowing how you will think because of it, I have a proposal." Ironwood said catching their attention.
"What if we have Ruby Rose become the next fall maiden to counter Raven?" Ironwood asked, his request freeing Ozpin in shock while Glynda took a deep breath after a moment of fear hearing this. She simply walked over from the desk and got near Ironwood, delivering a fierce slap to his face that nearly forced him off his chair.
"YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!" Glynda shouted.
"This isn't about helping a girl you screwed over, you just want another powerful officer in Atlas to do your bidding and make yourself feel more secure isn't it!?" She asked enraged beyond belief.
"NO! Whether she has the maiden powers or not, Ruby Rose will always be a powerful officer in Atlas. And after what she did, I would never ask her to do anything she wasn't capable of or if she didn't think it safe." Ironwood said honestly with passion, which made Glynda calm down a bit.
"And what about Miss Nikos? Why change our plan and use Miss Rose when she is recovering?" Ozpin asked in a matter of fact manner to Goodwitch's shock.
"Sir! who it should be should be the least of our concerns right now considering-" She tried to argue before Ozpin waived her off.
"On the contrary Glynda, it should be our first priority especially since, despite his motives being obvious, James isn't wrong about that power being a good deterrent for Raven." Ozpin said firmly.
He knew that with the Spring maiden now a definite enemy they would need someone strong and who knew about her enough to take her on. Ruby, despite her age and injuries was a prime candidate, but he always worried till hearing how they clashed the girl wouldn't have the drive to fight and kill her aunt. Honestly that bloodlust was the only thing the two woman had in common to his concern, that and James's reasons.
"I heard from Glynda a while back while going over the student's in my units abilities how Miss Rose easily defeated Pyrrah before even joining my unit. Before this disastrous mission she has grown much more skilled and powerful. Such a girl is the perfect maiden candidate with the added bonus of being the best chance to protect herself from Raven now." Ironwoods said trying to justify his reasons, but a sharp glare from Glynda showed she wasn't buying it.
"And what about Salem huh? You're fine with putting another target on Ruby's back? You think Qrow won't put one on yours for endangering his daughter with that stunt?!" Glynda bitterly asked him.
Ironwood could only look down at his bruised stomach in shame at that notion. Those were the only notable flaws in his plan and it made even him sick. He could just imagine Qrow trying to cut him up with his sword if he brought this up or cost him his daughter. He honestly cheered like a high school girl when receiving the good news Ruby awoke, knowing he dodged a major bullet there, but not here apparently.
"I'm afraid Raven may have already done that. Thanks to Leo's treachery we knew she helped cripple his academy. Fighting her and damaging her tribe, I doubt her nearly crippling my unit would make her call it even. My only consolation is that Leo paid the price as well." Ironwood said solemnly. Despite his betrayal, Ironwood couldn't help but pity his friend for losing his will along with his life. Ozpin and Goodwitch recoiled a bit hearing this.
"You mean she…." Goodwitch asked fearful.
"Yes, I'm afraid Salem killed him once he was discovered and outlived his usefulness." Ironwood said solemnly making Glynda gasp. Ozpin sighed as he decided enough was enough for one day.
"Alright everybody. A lot has happened and we can discuss this and the maiden matter with Miss Rose and her father later, for now I need to focus on finding Haven a new headmaster to replace Leo and James you need to help replace Ruby Roses arms like you promise?" He asked firmly and James nodded as he left to Goodwitch's anger, she still wanted to smack him harder for what he did, something James knew as he sighed in the halls relieved.
"Thank God Oz usually sees the bigger picture." He said with relief.
At Vale's memorial hospital…
For the past few days Ruby had been just laying in bed depressed. She barely acknowledged any of the nurses or her friends and families presence to their concern. Guilt consumed her as she reeled from the revelation Sindel gave her yesterday.
"Litchi and Sin were attacked by Adam Taurus while we were away. The doctors said they would make it, but for now our unit is on standby until everyone recovers. Try to get some rest sweetie, please for their sake and yours." Sindel had softly ordered her when visiting, but Ruby couldn't do that even if she wanted to.
Despite the good news her friends survived and the news from the General her operation was approved and paid for, which would give her a second chance at being a huntress, Ruby felt no reason to celebrate right now considering the back-to-back failures they endured.
Ruby couldn't help but blame herself for not being there to help them stop Cinder and Adam, whom she felt was her responsibility as she handled their cases. It only aggravated her anger and sadness further as her heart rate monitor briefly spiked from the stress. It wasn't the only thing pestering her like a fly.
"First you Seth and now them?" She groaned.
Not just the injuries she and her friends endured, she was still reeling from her breakup with Seth, something she did to protect him she knew, but was starting to doubt mattered as the frightening images that plagued her dreams flickered in her mind.
"Honor's for the weak like you and Summer." Raven's words taunted her in her nightmares.
Every time Ruby tried to relax or sleep she'd hear them, see that lightning from her aunt flash and strike her, sending a jolt that shocked her awake. Ruby's rings around her eyes showed she barely slept since waking up a few days ago. From the pain of dumping the first boy who made her feel pretty to the shock to her body from lightning, Ruby was in no mood to do anything until her operation was done.
She was angrier than depressed to be honest, eyeing her limp arms she wanted fixed now more than ever. She felt as weak as an infant right now, something being fed too by a nurse only aggravated her further. How could she be a huntress in this state? She soon sighed as her hands twinged.
"My career be damned, I just need to slice up some Grimm or something with these stinking arms already!" She groaned before she eyed Crescent Rose by her bedside, courtesy of her father.
"Got this back from your bitch aunt petal. Hope it cheers you up a bit." Qrow had said as he kissed her forehead the other day.
This affection only annoyed Ruby more right now, knowing her absent dad was likely just boozing away too scared to see her like this. It just made her want to get outside and out of this bed she was confined to and use the scythe to kill something. Her annoyance grew exponentially as she was startled out of her stupor and nearly got her wish in the worst way as she bit her bed frame to avoid falling out when the doors to her room burst open.
"SURPRISE RUBY!" Nora screeched as team JNPR, her unit minus Litchi, Seth and Sin, and Black and Weiss followed behind her smiling brightly to her annoyance, she blushed as she hated being in this position because of Nora. Ruby forced herself back in place on her bed as she groaned sore from the exertion.
"Volume please Valkyrie." Ruby requested sternly as she felt a headache coming from the outburst that rang her ears. Nora giggled as she smiled sheepishly, Ren smacking her back a bit for disturbing a patient with yelling.
"Okay sorry! We just had to see you right away because we got a gift for you!" Nora explained ecstatic as Weiss and Blake came forward holding a large box. Ruby merely rolled her eyes annoyed as they brought it closer to her to their concern.
"R-Ruby? What's the matter?" Blake asked nervously.
"Well I can't exactly open a present right now can I?" Ruby said nonchalantly as she glared at her arms.
"I know, I know, we'll open it for you BFF we just really wanted you to see it. We had it custom made for you with a little help from Sindel and General Ironwood, Oh! They were busy so they send their love by the way." Weiss clarified as she and Blake gently put the box down on Ruby's lap. The girl merely eyed the box intently to avoid hurting their feelings despite not having the energy to care much right now. Slowly the group all gathered around and placed one hand on the box each.
"ONE….TWO….THREE!" They all said in unison as they pulled off the cover. Ruby's eyes widened as she saw them, a pair of black and red robotic arms inside.
"Tadah! 1st grade Atlesian arm braces to keep you safe while your arms heal. We all knew you were gonna fight right away after your surgery so we insisted on chipping in for them. The pain job was my idea though." Weiss said joyfully. Everyone clapped as they saw Ruby gazing at them intensely, assuming from her expression she was shocked in a happy way. Their smiles faded as they saw her tear up and sniffle instead.
"W-Was it too soon Ruby? Do you not want them?" Mira asked concerned as she patted Ruby's back tenderly, but her eyes widened when seeing her friend shake her head.
"It's not that it's just…Thank you, I really want my operation over with already so I can use them right now is all!" Ruby cried.
"Yeah, I know it's tomorrow but I bet you can't wait to cut up some Ursa's right away huh BFF?" Weiss chuckled as she hugged Ruby, followed by Blake and soon the others ignoring the squeals of Ruby being crushed by their love and arms.
"And I thought…*inhale* Yang was bad." Ruby groaned.
Author Notes
Hope Everyone's having a cold and fun Christmas season! In honor of the occasion I decided to have Weiss save Ruby with Ice Dust to earn forgiveness. While one bond is repaired 2 are shattered sadly as Seth has been dumped and Yang has lost all respect from Ruby for making her fears for her boyfriend worse by assaulting him. No matter how much we may want something, especially this Christmas season, one must still earn it rather than just demand it, hence this chapters theme. Ruby deserves the surgery and support braces to help her recovery so she can be badass again as soon as possible, which will be soon as Salem preps to destroy Beacon with her new partner Raven! Danger is up head as the Vytal festival draws near but Ruby isn't in the festive mood. Next time on Ch 33: The War within.