Chapter 1:
Ruby sighed heavily.
It's getting late. No doubt her dad and sister would be worried by now and probably freaking out that she hasn't answered their calls yet and only sending a short and simple text of 'I'll be late, no need to worry about me.'
Yeah right, as if a simple text as that would assuage her very overprotective family. She loves her family, she really does. But sometimes their protectiveness can be a little bit overbearing.
She was fifteen for dust's sake! She liked to believe she could take care of herself, thank you very much!
Although, if she thought about it. Their fears were justified, because what kind of family wouldn't worry about their fifteen year old daughter staying out late at night in the city of Vale so far away from the island of patch?
She sighed again, this time taking out a cigar and placing it in her mouth before pulling out her windproof lighter and flicking it open. She hovered it closer, lighting up her cigar and took a long drag before puffing it out.
"Sigh, the client really is late… maybe I should update my requirements in being punctual?" She couldn't go home yet, not until her job was finished.
And she couldn't call off the contract either, not that she can't but that she wouldn't. Otherwise her code and professionalism would be in jeopardy and she has never once in her memory failed a job.
To start with, she wasn't most normal girls and not in a Huntress kind of way like her sister Yang. She does more— er- kind of odd jobs.
And by that she meant on the other side of the law. She was a criminal. A professional courier to be exact, and a pretty damn good one too! Never once failed in her deliveries!
From weapons to Dust to illegal substances and even just shipping counterfeit goods you name it and she delivers. Except live cargo of course, given that she lacked the equipment necessary for it.
Lupo II could only carry at least two people, three were pushing it too far. She shuddered the last time she underwent such a contract, the frustration she endured on that job wasn't worth the lien she made and caused her to ban live cargo indefinitely.
And she didn't even do it for the money, but the money was indeed a nice addition and it never hurts to have more money hehehe… Dang it, this job seriously made her crave for money.
No, she did it for her predecessor. The previous Courier, a legend back in her own time with a bounty of 13 million Lien.
Not to brag but she herself got a million Lien bounty on her head herself heh. Thought she might be proud for all the wrong reasons.
That person was sort of like a mother figure after Mom died, taking care of her during the times Dad was depressed, her Uncle being away most of the time and when Yang was too preoccupied.
But that person isn't here anymore either, just like her Mom. A courier never fails to deliver, and when her mentor was mortally wounded on a contract she just happened to be there.
Out of a sense of duty and belonging she finished it.
And so she became her legacy.
She took another drag, pulling all the air into her lungs and puffing it out gently. She gripped her cigarette with two fingers pulling it out of her lips and staring at it.
She did loathe that she got into the habit into smoking because of her, no matter how addicting it is, it's bad for health but she can't for some reason put it down.
Dad and Yang must never find out or else she'll get the dreaded talk and take away her stash. As for her Uncle Qrow…Well, she's hopeful he'll take it better if they find out.
That is if they caught her with it which she never intends to do.
Beep.
Ruby checked her flip scroll — one of her numerous disposable devices — and narrowed her eyes at the message.
'Change of plans Courier, got a Huntress on my tail, sending coordinates…'
She felt her irritation rise, she was never a fan of last minute change plans. She was supposed to transport cargo not the client himself!
Beep.
She felt her eyes twitch as she looked at the notification. She got the coordinates and Lien was deposited to her as advanced payment.
"I can't refuse huh."
She was a courier, not some bodyguard. But with just the right amount of Lien and a few favors to pay back then she's not above doing meaningless errands.
Even if she has to fight someone stronger than her.
She took one last drag before dropping her cigarette and stepping on it.
"Sigh…. Why does he keep getting into trouble?"
She took her helmet and slid it on.
Lupo II was parked under a broken street lamp, hidden in a narrow alleyway where no one could see her.
She mounted Lupo II and pressed a button on her wrist gauntlet. A screen popped out inside her helmet showing the map, and the highlighted destination was on the southern side of the City of Vale.
Close to an old Dust shop she used to frequent.
Lupo II wasn't like any other bike, passed down from her mentor who never revealed to her how she got it in the first place.
Its engine was a thing of beauty and mystery, powered by an unknown unlimited source of power providing Lupo II with a nigh limitless fuel with its only drawback was the hardware.
Use it too much then she risks overheating it.
Her mentor's technician Maxwell called it the Daemon Core, the energy source powering its Zet Reactor. Ruby with her insatiable curiosity tried to research it the moment she had the chance and the right apparatus but to no avail.
Thankfully, Lupo II didn't implode.
However, she didn't say she got nothing out of it. A new type of Dust developed by none other than herself. Less potent and far more volatile than the original but is still more powerful than what the SDC manufactures.
She dubbed it Tempest Dust.
Of course, she has no intention of letting Tempest Dust go public, lest she catch the attention of the SDC even if it gets her more money than what she gets in her side but legal job…
Aagh! Don't get tempted!
Ruby shook her head and pressed the Start button on Her bike's handle. Power surged through Lupo II letting out a powerful thrum. Violet arcs danced around its wheels before disappearing.
No matter how many times she hears it, she never got rid of that exciting feeling as she unconsciously lets out a grin.
Truly Lupo II was her magnum opus, superior to the original Lupo in more ways than one even if all she did was improve on its already good template.
But now wasn't the time to gawk on it again, she has a job to finish.
It was time to rescue an orange haired pompous mophead, no matter how much she didn't want to.
Ruby twisted the accelerator, revving Lupo II into action. Its violet lights flared into life as it charged forward, gaining momentum as its speed increased.
It roared into the street.
It didn't take long before Lupo II reached its first speed threshold. Ruby felt her body get pressed against the seat. Her eyes focused on the road as she zipped past a car.
She weaved in and out of traffic, passing the vehicles ahead and dodging the ones in her path. She was moving too fast for the cars around her to respond.
Ruby grinned behind her helmet, feeling the thrill of driving so fast. She twisted the handle and shifted gears, accelerating further into its second threshold.
Soon Ruby reached the highways connecting to the industrial district. The wind whipped her black jacket with her long red scarf trailing behind as Lupo II raced against the wind and the moon high in the sky.
Her mind was fully tuned with her bike and her eyes was considerably faster than her peers allowing her to avoid collisions to which she has no crashes on her record yet.
A feat not easily achieved considering her track record with speed. This was all thanks to her mentor letting her practice ride the original Lupo and fully mastered it when she inherited it 3 years ago.
She loved the feel of the wind whipping against her body and the thrill of speed. It was exhilarating, the sheer feeling of adrenaline pumping in her veins.
In a way it is akin to flying like the birds with the freedom they have, free to do what they want with no problems holding them back. Though if she put it like that, then she guessed she was a little bit jealous of the birds.
She doubted her client felt the same way, speaking of him however, she was nearing her designation and only hoped that he could stall the Huntress with his own ability and buy enough time for her to get there.
Somehow, she doubted that without that minion of his present. She was always the stronger of the two.
The infamous criminal known as the Gentleman Thief was not having a good day.
Or we'll, that's what Roman torchwick likes to call himself. Sure he was a thief through and through but there was not an ounce of being a gentleman on him right now.
Boom!
Considering he was chased by a veteran Huntress atop the rooftops.
"Ugh damn, persistent old hag!"
He ducked, avoiding the debris thrown as he fired Melodic Cudgel at his pursuer.
He didn't expect to encounter a Huntress near the Dust shop he was robbing! Highly unprofessional of his informant if he must say so.
Suffice to say again, he was definitely not having a good day and he was sure Red was not either, he did have to contact her last minute after all.
And his wallet is lighter now because of that.
It was supposed to be a simple job, get in, take the Dust, get out and give it to his over demanding and quite rude overlord.
Then this old hag just had to interfere and ruin everything.
"What did you say?" Ah shit. Roman broke a sweat. He spoke his thoughts aloud and he swore her pop a vein.
The Hag— he better stop saying that, lest he'll accidentally speak them aloud again — Woman narrowed her eyes.
He knew who the woman was, he would have been sloppy with his work if he didn't at least memorize all the top shots in Vale.
And that woman was none other than the combat instructor of Beacon Academy, Glynda Goodwitch.
If looks could kill a man, then Roman would have already been six feet under with the glare she was giving him
Roman bowed elegantly and spoke.
"Ah— I misspoke of course, I meant to say, to what do I owe the pleasure of having a very beautiful young woman accompany me on this fine night," He took a peek at her and… Well, it was worth the effort, he was of course a charming young man.
Glynda ignored him and raised her riding crop pointing it towards him.
"Roman Torchwick, you're coming with me." She said with a commanding voice, leaving no room for argument.
Oho! Seems he's been getting famous enough for someone of her caliber to recognize him. That's one more step taken into becoming the most wanted criminal in vale.
That is provided he doesn't get caught.
"Now, now, don't be too hasty Miss. We still have plenty of time left for ourselves. How about I buy you a drink and we talk this over, eh?" He asked her with a suave tone of voice, putting on a charming smile, while hastily looking at his surroundings trying to find a way out.
"There is nothing to talk about. You are coming with me." Glynda replied.
"Oh come now, don't be too hasty. There is no need to rush. What's a little robbery and some destruction of property?"
Glynda looked around at the chaos that he caused and raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm, yes, I may have gotten a little carried away with that, but the blame should rest squarely on you. It was your interference that caused me to act like this. So really, it's all your fault." He added a little laugh at the end of his words, but he was not fooling anyone.
He was getting nervous, dammit he should've brought Neo with him and how long does he still have to keep stalling!
Fast and efficient my ass! That's false advertising.
"I am done talking with you, Torchwick. Now you can come willingly or forcefully, but the outcome will be the same. The choice is yours."
Roman felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"Well, it seems I have no choice. I guess this is where we part, but I assure you this will not be the last time you see me. Farewell." He tipped his hat at her.
Before he could raise Melodic Cudgel, she flicked her riding crop at him.
He felt something invisible wrap around his wrists. He tugged but found that his arms were now immobile.
Glynda walked closer to him and raised her hand.
"Now then, let's go. You've wasted enough of my time already."
As Glynda was about to grab Roman's arm, the wall next to them exploded and something large flew out of the darkness. Too fast for Glynda to react and slammed into her, knocking her off the building.
The thing that came out of the darkness drifted around him before coming to a stop, revealing a short person wearing a black motorcycle helmet with a red visor. Then he gazed at the motorcycle that person rode on.
Roman was no motorcycle enthusiast but he could tell that one was of the highest quality he'd seen.
Black in color with violet lights adorning and violet arcs of lightning danced around its three wheels — two in the front — before converging inside its rim.
Although those purple boots were heavily clashing against that person's current attire with a theme of red and black, which poked Roman's sense of fashion.
"Yo! Sorry I'm late!" The voice that spoke sounded distorted and mechanical,, no doubt with the help of a voice modulator concealing the wearer's age and gender.
Roman was glad for the help, though the timing was a little off.
"You're late, Courier."
"Well, sorry I was held up, besides I don't recall ever making an exact timeframe on how long you have to stall." The courier said, crossing their arms and tapping their feet impatiently.
"You got a point there, I guess I just have to put it in the contract. And how did you even get your bike on the rooftop?"
Courier just shrugged playfully.
"Now, are you done wasting our time or not?"
"Yeah yeah, just hurry it up. Before that woman gets back."
"Fine, Fine, get on the bike."
"Finally, I thought I'd have to deal with this lady for the whole night. Thanks for the save, Courier."
"No problem. Just make sure to pay me back in double," Even with the helmet covering Courier's face, Roman knew Courier was sporting a cheeky grin right now.
"This is the place? I would never have guessed such a rundown place would be your hideout given the way you act! " Ruby put an a exaggerated mock shock, even going as far as to put her hands in front of her helmet.
They were parked in front of a rundown warehouse on the southern side of the industrial district of Vale, near the port.
Ruby never took off her helmet on the job, she didn't trust anyone with her identity especially to those who share the same trade as her on the other side of the law.
Though she did indeed wish she could smoke through her helmet, might be something to take note later on.
The night air was cold. She took a breath, and it would've felt refreshing if not for her helm's air filters.
She turned her head to her current client. Roman Torchwick, the infamous gentleman thief, who was currently checking the contents of the duffle bag, no doubt counting the lien that was supposed to be paid for the job.
And why couldn't he just give it to her digitally? Well let's say she was feeling a little spiteful.
Roman was a tall and thin man. He had green eyes, pale skin, and spiked orange hair. His most notable feature was a large, pink bowler hat.
And surely he heard her comment, he did click his tongue after all.
"This is a rendezvous point! A place like this is too shabby for me to stay at, and Neo wouldn't like this place either." Roman stopped counting and lit his cigar. "Besides, someone wants to meet you."
And that's why Ruby was feeling spiteful at him, she couldn't leave yet because he hadn't paid her yet and used that to his advantage.
She sighed and sat down.
She didn't mind meeting the people her clients are associated with since they could provide her with more work, but the thing is, Roman is working under an unknown faction.
And she didn't like the unknown.
The only information she could find on this person was that Roman's mysterious employer is a female.
It didn't help much, especially if that woman is as influential as her sources made her to be.
She doesn't like this, not one bit.
Her musing was interrupted by a sudden appearance of a girl beside her.
Neopolitan was Roman's partner and his silent shadow.
She was a petite girl, slightly shorter than her. Having brown and pink hair with heterochromatic eyes of the same color.
And she was dangerous.
"What do you want?" Ruby asked the short girl.
Neo looked at her with a mischievous grin, and pointed her umbrella at her, specifically her helmet.
She knew what Neo was asking, ever since they met she has been trying all sorts of ways to get her to remove it.
"No."
Neo frowned at her response and looked disappointed, though it quickly disappeared and instead she started gesturing towards her, waving her hands, pointing at her, herself, then making a heart sign, and lastly winking.
Ruby deadpanned, again like she said all sorts of ways. She knew Neo was joking but did she really use such a cheap ploy as that?
"Still a no. Besides, aren't you too old for such childish acts? Aren't you like twenty one?" Wait a minute, doesn't that apply to her too? Nah no way, she was fifteen let her act her age.
Neo smiled darkly at her.
Ah crap, she should've known better than to mention a girl's age and she was a girl herself too!
Before she could react, Neo pounced at her.
"Wai—"
She was caught off guard, Neo was faster than she expected, and before she could react, she was tackled by the short girl.
She landed on the hard concrete floor with a loud thud.
"Ow, what the heck are you doing!?"
Neo pinned her, straddling her hips and pinning her arms above her head. Ruby felt the weight of the girl on top of her, pressing her into the ground.
"Get off me!"
Ruby tried to shake Neo off her, but the girl held fast and kept her pinned to the ground.
"Are you stupid!? Why are you doing this?"
She could feel her chest push against her own, Neo had a surprised expression on her face but just as quickly it was gone then she grinned wickedly like a Cheshire cat She reached for her helmet and grabbed hold of it.
"Don't you dare!"
Ruby felt her helmet tug but wouldn't give in, she let out a sigh of relief. Her helmet was strapped tightly to her head and would never come off unless she pulled a latch hidden inside a compartment of her helmet. She was thankful she built that feature in, in case someone tries to unveil her identity but she would have never guessed that it would be used in moments like this.
Neo pouted, let go of her helmet and reached for her visor, She pushed it upwards but it was stuck fast. That was because she never intended to have that function, the visor was never a plastic glass she can see through. She was only able to see because of her micro cameras and projecting a screen in her visor.
"Hah! didn't see that did you!"
She felt Neo tug harder at her helmet again.
""Damn it Neo! Let go of my helmet! I said let go!"
She tried pushing Neo off her, but the girl was strong and held firm.
"Damn you!" She felt her irritation rise to higher levels, there should be a limit to that girl's prank.
Maybe she should stop playing along now. Enough is enough.
Her eyes narrowed, her hand subtly reached for her wrist gauntlet and was about to use it but fortunately she didn't need to.
"All right Neo you've had your fun," Roman laid a hand on Neo's shoulder causing her to stop. "That arrogant bitch is almost here."
Neo let go of her helmet and pouted at Roman.
"Get off her now."
Neo reluctantly did as told and stood up, but not before sending her a wink, and blew her a kiss.
Ruby's eye twitched and she glared at Neo before getting up and dusting her clothes, "Next time, I won't let you have your way."
The short girl only grinned, not looking apologetic at all. Then did something that caused her to freeze, Neo formed a fist with her thumb raised and slid her thumb twice on her cheek.
She knew enough sign language back at her school to know what that meant. Neo now knew her gender and that didn't bode well for her at all...
After all she had gone through wearing clothes that hid her identity perfectly, Neo was the worst person to find out.
Sigh, at least it was only her gender that she found out. She will never again let her guard drop around her.
"Roman, how much longer?"
"Relax, she'll be here any second now."
"I swear if this is a trap you're dead."
"Hey! I have a code of honor you know, and trust me when I say this, no one can afford to cross her... Not even Neo and I."
It's as she thought, Ruby didn't like this one bit. Roman and Neo, two of the most dangerous people she knows, are scared of their employer.
Roman took out his scroll, checking something and then nodded.
"All right, she's here."
The doors of the warehouse opened and in walked a woman.
"Greetings Roman, Neopolitan, and you must be the infamous Courier I have heard so much about." The woman spoke and walked with a confident stride.
She had long black hair and piercing amber eyes that seemed to peer into one's soul. She wore a red dress with golden designs on her sleeves that extend all the way to her wrists. A simple clothing to the untrained eye, but for Ruby it might as well be a weapon since that is after all Dust weaved into clothes a what she quote as 'age old technique.'
Clever Ruby thought, appearing at a meeting without weapons would be one way to gain their trust. But given their trade only a fool would show up without at least hiding one. If she were younger then she herself would've been fooled also, but through all the years studying Dust and trying to gain an understanding of the Daemon Core that age-old technique might as well have been present knowledge for her.
"I would like to extend my thanks to you, Courier, for your services." The woman continued, her voice was commanding and carried an air of authority.
Ruby didn't like her one bit.
"... And who are you?" Ruby asked, not bothering to give a reply to her false gratitude.
"You may call me Cinder."
Ruby felt a sense of danger from the woman in front of her.
Cinder was smiling, but the smile did not reach her eyes. It was fake, and Ruby could tell.
"So, what do you want with me?"
Cinder laughed.
"Oh, don't be so nervous, Courier. I only wish to offer you a proposition."
Ruby frowned, and crossed her arms.
"What kind of proposition?"
"Why, one that will benefit us both, of course. You see, I've heard so much about you, and I must say, I'm quite impressed. With your abilities and skill, you would make a fine asset."
"So you want to hire me? And what would you be paying me with, exactly?"
"Ah, well, that's where it gets interesting." Cinder smiled. "You see, I'm not just looking for a simple delivery girl, or even an errand boy. What I'm looking for is someone who can handle a more... delicate situation. A person who can get things done, and who has the resources to do so. And who better to fill the position than a young Courier such as yourself with an extensive network and contacts across Remnant."
Ruby scoffed.
"You want me to spy for you." The nerve of that woman... On her honor as a Courier she would never break all her clients. She has customer privacy protection after all.
Cinder smiled.
"Not quite. But you are on the right track. I just want to know if you are willing to join me, Courier."
Ruby shook her head, her eyes were no longer watching Cinder, instead watching at the two heat signatures hidden in the shadows. Invisible to the naked eye but not to her micro cameras, she didn't only have one with just one vision.
"No thanks. I'm not interested."
"Well, that's too bad." Cinder's voice turned cold. "Because I wasn't really asking."
The doors closed with a loud bang.
"I'm afraid I can't let you leave, Courier." Cinder's smile was gone. "You are a very valuable asset, and I will not let you slip away. So why don't you make this easy for all of us and accept my offer?"
"Sorry about this Courier, but I can't risk Neo or my head on the line," Roman said but didn't look at her and Ruby paid him no mind, aware that he and Neo wouldn't try anything.
She has better things to watch for like those two shadows moving in closer. And anything that she needs to factor in her current plan.
Ruby put her hands behind her, with one hand typing at her wrist gauntlet away from prying eyes. She leaned forwards in a playful manner as if to mock her and with an air of absolute confidence, she cheerily said.
"Nope!" Popping the 'p.'
Cinder's eyes narrowed, and she spoke.
"Very well. If you won't cooperate, then I'm afraid I'll have to resort to more... forceful methods."
Cinder's voice was icy and her eyes glowed fiery, igniting a flame. The two shadows moved to her blindspot – too bad for them though, her cameras gave her a full 360 view, she only needed to change the window – and just before it escalated into conflict.
Crash!
The glass in the roof shattered and Lupo II landed beside her, resounding a loud boom! Its engine revved and howled as if a wolf gone mad.
"Hey! What the hell?!"
"Cinder!"
The sudden appearance of her bike distracted everyone, giving her an opening. Ruby briefly spared a glance at her two ambushers taking note of them for future reference with one being a gray haired guy and the other a green haired girl before moving and in a flash she was mounted on her bike and spun around, violet arcs of lightning danced around Lupo II making a display of prowess.
She's not a fan of fighting but for issues like this, her hand reached up and a small device that appeared out of nowhere along with falling rose petals.
"Let's try this again shall we?" Ruby held out her newly produced device, unconsciously and uncharacteristically letting out a devilish smile.
"This here's Clacker, my detonator."
The device in her hand was small, only big enough to fit in the palm of her hand.
"If I press the button, the bomb that is planted on your hideout will explode, and you wouldn't want that to happen, would you? Not after all the effort you put into stealing the Dust in the first place."
Cinder's eyes widened, and her mouth opened in shock.
"What!?"
"You heard me. Now, are you going to let me leave, or are you going to make me press the button?"
Cinder was stunned, her eyes widened in shock and her mouth opened and closed like a fish.
"That's impossible, you're bluffing..."
"It's as you said, I'm not a simple delivery girl, or even an errand boy. I'm a Courier with an extensive network. Which also could make me an information broker. I know everything, and I'm very good at my job. Did you honestly think you could take me by surprise?" She tilted her head.
"I'll give you three seconds. One."
"You wouldn't not while you're still here," Cinder reasoned.
Ruby giggled.
"Then you really don't know me at all, I like to take risks and I believe myself to be very durable."
"Y-you're mad!' Cinder's composure finally broke and Ruby took delight in it.
"Two." No doubt Roman and Neo took advantage of the confusion already and hastily made their retreat. Seems she was right, they have no loyalty to Cinder's faction only the woman herself and her goons remained.
Cinder regained her composure, face twisted in rage.
Ruby didn't bother saying 'three' and pressed the button. or that's what it should have been. fortunately for all parties involved but more on her part, the hostile party was beginning to see reason.
"Stop. You can go."
"But Cinder she's-"
"Quiet Emerald, I won't have this delay my plans." Ruby made sure to remember that green haired girl's name, assuming both hers and Cinder's wasn't an alias.
That gray haired boy... Did she see him in the past before? Nah too much trouble, she let the matter drop.
"... Yes, ma'am."
"Glad we could come to an understanding, miss! It was my unpleasure and I do hope never to do business with you again!" Ruby added further salt into the wound knowing Cinder could do nothing to stop her now.
Ruby revved her engine and sped away into the night.
Ruby stopped in an alleyway and dismounted from her bike and took off her helmet. Her shaking hand reached for her cigar and tried to light it up but her hand was unsteady and her whole body shivered
Her legs finally gave out. This is why she stopped in an alleyway first before heading home, her adrenaline finally left her system.
Aah! That was really scary! It's as she thought, maybe she should retire now. Lately, all of her events have been getting more dicey and just from this altercation alone proved she was now entering in a dangerous game.
And she couldn't believe they actually bought her bluff.
She was unaware that her face adorned an eerily creepy smile that wouldn't stop thinking about that encounter. Nor was she even aware that she was panting heavily due to excitement. Oblivious even to her own true nature.
Yes, the one Ruby Rose was none other than a thrill seeker. The feeling of being in constant danger and fear excites her more than anything!
"Wait a moment, Roman forgot to pay me!"
Or well… A psychopath.
Ruby was about to say more but her scroll — her personal one — started ringing.
Oh no.
It was from Yang, and judging by the time, she missed the airship back to Patch.
She was pissed.
Ah crap biscuits.
Author's Notes:
So I know I said that I would update 'A Rose Blooms in Caelid' First but, I honestly forgot where I was going with it, I'll need to reread it again before working on the next chapter.
As for this story, Ruby won't be joining Beacon at all and there won't be no team RWBY. Should I use a character from the show or should I make an OC inspired by the character Rusty from Armored Core 6(I'm addicted to that game and he's one of my favorite characters.)?
I also plan to mix up their partners which is not only limited to team RWBY but JNPR as well. I also plan to write in CRDL but that's in the far future.
Until next time, sleep calls and so is unfortunately PT early in the morning… Should have chosen a shorter contract but got baited by the bonus.