RWBY: Am I your Teacher or Mother?
Chapter 3: Lets Play
"Mommy, it really hurts. Why does it hurt down there?" Ruby asked with a childish whimper to the image of her mother Summer Rose, unbeknownst to her was really Glynda Goodwitch. The pain was excruciating, it made her want to cry and hug her mom or sister right now. But as she drew out her arms to the image of them, the two shuddered to the injured Ruby's confusion.
"M-Mommy? Yang? H-Huggy?" Ruby whimpered. Glynda trembled a bit as she heard this request. She could tell Ruby was seeing things, no doubt from her trauma, and was at a loss at how she should respond.
"Should…should I hug her? Would that help or just, I don't know, trap her in this mindset? I-I don't know…" Glynda thought nervously. Her instincts as a teacher told her it was inappropriate, but as she saw this little bandaged up raising her arms out to her, she felt a strange pull to reply in kind.
Ruby's eyes glistened as Glynda, whom she saw as Summer, slowly reach out to meet her. But as the woman touched her hands to pull her in, a shock ran through her skin as she heard a cry and saw her mother withdraw her hands and step back a bit.
Glynda shook her head painfully. "No! No! Not right now, I can't do it just yet. I can't lie to her just yet." Glynda thought. She wasn't ready to play mother if it was all an illusion. She just had to wait and see how the doctors wanted her to handle this, lest Ruby be trapped in that unhealthy illusion. But as the professor slowly opened up her squinted eyes, she met the gaze of her adopted daughters slowly on the verge of tears from the strange distance, Glynda was giving her as once she withdrew a bit. She glanced over at Yang, really Weiss, sheepishly averting her gaze while rubbing her arm, unwilling to hug her as well.
"Why? They never hesitated to hug me before." Ruby thought. The confusion was making her head throb even worse as she withdrew her arms and clasped her head.
"Ow! Mommy! My head hurts, it hurts!" Ruby cried, burying her face in her pillow as she groaned in misery. Little did Ruby know, her assault from those boys gave her a concussion. Her aura had not healed so her body couldn't quickly repair the damage so it was like knives being lunged into her brain. Weiss instantly recoiled at the sight and went to run back to Ruby's side before a hand grabbed her wrist.
"Not yet Miss Schnee." Glynda sternly whispered, but with a sad look in her eyes. Weiss's eyes soon narrowed in anger.
"What do you mean?! She's hurt, we gotta-" Weiss tried to argue. Whatever delusions Ruby was going through, this wasn't the time to hesitate. Ruby was in physical and emotional agony and needed comfort. She was going to say hug her like the girl requested and was confused and angry at the teacher's denial of that, as much as she was offended by being rudely interrupted while arguing, how dare she?!
"No! We need to talk to the doctor first and have her treat Ruby, then we comfort her. It's not just a mental thing it's a physical one too. We need to let professionals help her first." Glynda sternly yelled as she began yanking her out the room, making Weiss's hand go limp as she looked down frightfully trying to handle the order. Goodwitch's tone frightened her, it was as heart-piercing as her Mother and Father's shouting matches at home while she squirmed in a corner covering her ears. Right here, right now, it was like she was useless again, unable to fight back or help her friend as she squirmed in pain just like in the forest.
"B-But she…she needs me again." Weiss whimpered, desperately forcing her feeling out past the intense fear. Goodwitch sighed as she ceased the yanking and put a tender arm around Weiss and gently escorted her outside the room. They needed to have a talk right now about Ruby out of earshot for what needed to be said. She was about to go back in and press the red button on Ruby's bed to notify the doctor but luckily caught sight of her in the hallway.
"Doctor! Ruby woke up and she's in pain. I need you to go in and sedate her, she's in a lot of pain and struggling in her bed right now." Glynda said, her tone of urgency making the doctor realize this was serious. Before she could enter Glynda shocked her by revealing something else frightening.
"And I need to let you know one more thing, for some reason she is seeing me and her friend here as her mother and sister. She's suffering delusions so please don't tell her the truth yet." Glynda firmly asked.
The doctor sighed with sorrow; she read the full report. First she was orphaned at a young age, then she was raped and beaten to an inch of her life, then her sister was arrested and now she was suffering a mental collapse and seeing things. This poor girls just kept suffering an unfair fate. In all her years as a doctor, she rarely dealt with this kind of patient, but she knew each time she did it wasn't going to be pretty.
"Alright, I'll go in and calm her down. I'll let you two know when it's safe to go back in." The doctor replied as she bolted into the room. Ruby's screams of pain making Weiss's spine shiver. She felt Goodwitch's arm tighten around her as the vice headmistress gave as somber look.
"Why is this happening? Why does Ruby have to….what did you even want to do professor?" Weiss asked solemnly. Glynda averting her gaze a moment didn't bring comfort to Weiss, it brought her to tears from the uncertainty of it all. She knew one thing for sure though, right now Ruby was suffering beyond their understanding and needed them soon.
If Glynda was being honest, she had few options with this situation they were in. She never dealt with small children let alone a teenager with the mind of one. She had no idea how she could hope to free Ruby of the prison her mind placed her in or how to truly heal her pain. The intense screams Ruby gave off from her room only worsened this fear, it reminded her of that dark night she heard her fathers screams as the Grimm slayed him. She was desperate for help as well, someone to hug her. She needed someone who could understand her pain, someone to replace the hole in her heart her father and mother's deaths caused. She had only one idea to help fill the void in Ruby's right now, even if temporarily, but it was risky.
"I need to ask you a big favor Weiss." Glynda said following a hard sigh.
"What can I do!?" Weiss asked determined. She saw a chance at last to help Ruby, and this time she had to succeed.
"I need you to go to the Jail in Vale and request a meeting with Yang." Glynda said. Weiss's eyes widened in shock at the request as she did a double take.
"B-But Ruby's sick. She needs us both right now she's-" Weiss stuttered a meek protest before being cut off by Goodwitch gripping her shoulders and giving her a stern glance.
"She's seeing us as her sister and mother and NOT in a good way. She is sick, and for now we are going to have to work with this illusion she's going through to avoid making it worse." Goodwitch said firmly.
"Shouldn't we just tell her the truth?" Weiss asked nervously, but Goodwitch's stern glare softened as she sighed.
"No. Not yet, she's basically a prisoner in her own mind. It's made her go back to a time where she wasn't in pain. For her, that was when her sister and mother were still around. She sees us as them because it's the only thing that's keeping her mind from shattering. If we spill the beans and try to force all the painful memories back at once her mind will reject it and she could be stuck like that forever." Glynda sadly said. Weiss's eyes watered as she realized the true danger her partner was truly in.
"That's why I need you to keep quite about this to her. She needs to be gradually coaxed into reality. For that, we need Miss Xiao Long to tell us how she and Summer Rose behaved during Ruby's childhood. It can help us with the challenge ahead of us." Goodwitch said.
"You mean help us lie to her." Weiss coldly said. The mere thought of doing that as her partner went through such agony was disgusting, a sentiment Goodwitch responded in kind.
"Yes. It shames me more than you can imagine. But right now her health means more than our pride or happiness. That means some sacrifices are necessary okay?" Goodwitch sternly asked. Weiss winced as she processed all this, the bitter knot in her stomach tightening. Everything about this whole situation was messed up and she just didn't know how to fix it. She could only nod in compliance to the teacher's relief as she sighed.
"Good. Now then, I'm going to stay with Ruby for a bit then head to the courthouse to file for the adoption papers. I do need to have legal custody of her for this plan to work. You also need to get in contact with the best lawyers you can muster for those girls. If Yang can be released we can end the charade softly. Give me your scroll number so we can stay in touch. I'll update you if anything happens I promise, understood?" She asked. Weiss nodded as she took out her scroll and the two exchanged numbers. The last Goodwitch saw of Weiss after this was a trembling child weakly walking down the halls to the elevator, catching a small glimpse of the eyes reddened from crying looking so desolate and beaten. It left her with a deep sense of guilt as well. She wasn't really sure this was the right idea, but it was the only way she saw Ruby having a chance to make it.
(French Narrator): Later
3 girls were grumbling in annoyance as the tight itchy orange clothes they were forced to wear brought a grim reminder of their unfortunate situation.
Blake, Nora, and Yang were all sitting in a cell at the Vale jailhouse, contemplating how they got themselves into this mess. To some they thought, they should have been seen as heroes, cutting down monsters that defiled a sweet and innocent girl. Nora, in fact, had originally bragged about wanting to keep pummeling those bullies who raped Ruby, Blake and Yang's bitter looks had left her silent soon after just like them. Guilt, though not for what they did, was etching into their hearts as the image of Ruby smiling in their minds soon washed away to reveal the sight of the scarred and dirtied mess sobbing in Weiss's lap earlier.
"I just wished I could have saved her. Ruby is the embodiment of purity, and now those pigs had to sully her. Why!? Why do people like that have to ruin everything good in this world, ruin Ruby's smile!?" Blake thought bitterly. Her now exposed cat ears down as she clenched her fists. She always admired Ruby's sweet tender smile, it reminded her of herself as a child, so hopeful for a better future like the one Ruby wanted to give others. It also reminded her of what they said to each other when they first talked. It was a time she couldn't be bothered to give the girl or anyone really a single glance from her books. She wanted to be alone, yet Yang and her kept prying. She never regretted letting Ruby in especially, once she heard those inspiring words/
"I wanted to be like the heroes in those books, to protect and save everyone!" Ruby had said.
I was a bit saddened at first though, seeing the naïve smile on her face. It brought a painful reminder of my failures to do that for my people.
"That's very ambitious for a child, but unfortunately the real world isn't like that. Not everyone gets to have a happy ending."
I had said, letting all my past pain and sadness through just for a moment despite myself. I didn't really want to keep talking to her until she just kept that bright smile and said,
"Well that's why we're here. To make it better, and to give others that CHANCE for that ending." Ruby said undeterred.
The memory brought tears to Blake's eyes as she could only now hear the whimpers from Ruby as she cried into her chest. That better world she was so hopeful to give to others, it didn't come for her.
"I wanted more than anything to let her dreams come true, to be the hero she looked up too since then but…I failed. I failed those who were counting on me again!" Blake thought as she cried into her legs.
Nora saw Blake's state and could easily tell what she was thinking. Ruby's attack left the Valkyrie feeling bitter as well. Ever since she and Ren lost their homes, their parents to that Grimm, all she ever felt she needed was someone else's touch, a bit of warm love and affection that got rid of that chill the Grimm gave her. That's why she and Ruby got along so well when she and Ren got to Patch, the girl loved hugs and playing hunters and Grimm. Ruby was the perfect playmate growing up, she felt she could trust her with anything in life. She even told her about her past, despite the pain.
"As soon as they saw that demon, my parents turned chicken shit and ran off without me." Nora said.
It was horrible saying each of those words. I wanted to throw up my lunch right then and there, but Ruby she…that little hero worshipper didn't try to justify their fear. She didn't show me pity even, she just…yelled.
"HOW COULD THEY!? They were your parents! They were supposed to love you and protect you and they just…. Just.." Ruby had yelled.
"I was honestly flattered she got angry for my sake. She even once said she'd cut them up if she saw them for me as payback for hurting the best friend she could ever ask for." Nora thought.
She knew Ruby treasured the times she spent with her mother and father, the former she lost at Nora's age. It was honestly was drew her to Ruby more, a shared pain only they and their true family could know. It's what made Nora feel even more useless right now in her cell. She just wanted to smash her way out of here and hug Ruby's pain away if not for the anti-Aura lights shining on them, a deterrent for hunter prisoners.
"Now Ruby's in the most pain of her life and I can't do shit to save her. Some BFF I am!" Nora bitterly thought. She shared the urge to smash out of this cell with another brawler, Yang. Nora glanced her way, seeing the miserable state the Xiao Long was in. She hadn't slept all night, nor eaten a bite. She had just been pacing around, muttering Ruby's name, not even blinking. It was clear she was growing exhausted and stir-crazy from imagining how badly her sister was taking her attack, let alone not being there to give her comfort. Nora felt she had to say something.
"Yang, are you-" Shit! Dumb question was all that ran through Nora's head. She knew she wasn't a therapist as it was hard to find the right words. Something Yang's red eyes shot at her as she erupted in her cell.
"Do I look alright!? My baby sister got ruined by those asswipes and I'm stuck in here while she's at a hospital probably crying a screaming for me. IT'S NOT FUCKING FAIR!" Yang roared, startling Blake and Nora. Both looked down in shame, knowing they couldn't compare their pain to Yang's. She was Ruby's closest family and now was confined to a cell devoid of the firepower she prided herself on to protect her sister, a duty they all failed despite their past confidence it couldn't happen. Now Ruby had paid the price for their complacency, something Yang hated every minute thinking about.
"I'd shave my whole damn head just to see her for even a minute right now!" Yang cried.
"I love your hair Yang, it's cool like a fire dragon!" A little Ruby had once told her as she clasped the hair, wincing as she realized what she just said.
"I-I didn't…I couldn't…lose her" She stammered. She couldn't believe she would consider cutting a symbol of their bond. It was why she was so protective of her hair, it brought that warm smile Ruby gave her as a child, a smile she wanted to protect. Now it was like it didn't matter, just like those boys lives didn't matter to her.
"Why did their lives matter to those cops, to that stupid bitch Goodwitch!? After what they did to Ruby!?" Yang cried.
"Watch what you say about her Yang." A familiar voice called out to her, making her bolt to the bar door with Blake and Nora as they saw their angel to be, Weiss. If anyone could get them out of this it was a rich girl who could afford the best lawyers.
"WEISS! You made it! Any word on Ruby!? Any chance we'll get to see her soon?" Nora cried hopeful.
Weiss just stood outside the door, wearing a worn face they knew meant there was no sign of good news. Their legs almost gave out as they felt her sad but angry gaze upon them, starting to lose hope for their freedom.
"I'm getting you all lawyers but…that's not why I'm really here." Weiss sadly said.
Over the course of the next 15 minutes, Weiss bitterly explained Ruby's mental collapse and regression to the distraught girls in the cell. For Yang especially this was soul shattering. She knew her sister would have demons for what's happened, but now her own were gnawing at her heart, insulting every ounce of her sisterly pride as they yelled at her she was worthless, that she couldn't hope to protect Ruby from what's inside her. She just stood their breathing heavily, she couldn't find the strength to speak in denial, she felt it was all too true despite wanting it to just be a nightmare.
"Yang please Ruby needs-" Weiss tried to ask but in that moment she stopped silent as Yang clenched her head with both hands and fell to the floor crying.
"RUBY!" Was all she could scream, this became too much for her to bear. Blake and Nora and even Weiss, who reached through the bars, just knelt down and rubbed her shoulders and back tenderly. Yang couldn't respond right now, she couldn't find the strength. For once in her life, she felt too weak to help even Ruby.
At the courthouse
Glynda sat in her chair nervously as the Judge rummaged through the documents she presented for him. It was thanks to her status as a professional huntress and her ties to Ozpin she got to see him tonight for this request. Even so, she couldn't help but worry the possibility this man wouldn't grant her custody. A mentally damaged girl would be a challenge for anyone, and her fears might have been answered as she heard those stinging sighs in her ears.
"Well this sure is the case you've brought me Miss Goodwitch. I can't honestly say I have confidence success for you is a guarantee." He sadly said.
"And why is that your honor?" She asked, trying her hardest to stay calm despite screaming within.
"While your skills a huntress make me feel you could protect her from any further danger, this poor little girl will need lots of comfort to heal this damage. I hardly think a single teacher would have the means or the hands on deck to handle that task." He said.
Suddenly, her spirit was strangely invigorated rather than dampened, despite the challenge to her competency.
"With due respect your honor, it's because I have experience as a teacher with traumatized children I feel I am this girls one hope. Professor Ozpin gave me that same hope when I was in her shoes. I know I can guide her back to her old self or at least a little bit." She confidently said.
"And how would you start doing that? From what I'v heard and seen from these documents and the doctors she has regressed to her childhood self. That is a tremendous amount of work to balance with your work life. Who would care for her while you work? You obviously can't take her with you, it would not only disrupt your needed work but she can't be at the place where her trauma took place could she?" He asked sternly.
Goodwitch just sighed, which didn't inspire confidence she could tell from the judge. It was a fair counterpoint, but she had her own.
"I don't intend to have her exposed to her the source of her torment. I can work from home using facetime and when I am needed physically at the school I can afford to hire a sitter to watch her. As for her delusions, I am working on that. Her sister will provide me with information on her past to help keep her mind stable while we nudge her back to reality." Goodwitch explained. The judge still put pressure on her, his gaze unyielding like her resolve.
"And how will you heal her when she regains her memories?" He asked her.
"Well, like my other students who went through sexual assault I-" She said before he cut her off.
"That's the issue I have!" He yelled startling her.
"Your thinking just now is from your experience as a teacher. You want to guide her but what she really would need is a mother's love. My real question for you is this, do you feel you can at least provide her with that love?" he asked.
Goodwitch's eyes widened as she heard this question. In all her years as a huntress and teacher batting demons and guiding students to face them, inner or outer, she had never once contemplated doing such a thing.
"I-I admit I am….not used to that concept of love." She sadly admitted. The judge sighed disappointed at her response before being startled as she cried out, realizing her answers bad interpretation. She knew she explain quickly or else her goal would end in failure.
"But it's because I'm a teacher I know one thing for sure. Learning goes both ways." She said, making the judge raise an eyebrow curious.
"When I was a little girl like Ruby, I lost my everything to a tragedy as well. I thought I knew the absolute truth, that the world was filled with nothing worth showing love too." She said bitterly. The judge leaned in, curious of where she was going with this. She bit her lip as she fought the bad memories her father's betrayal and mother's death brought her.
"For Ruby." She thought, willing herself to remember the good times to strengthen her resolve. She didn't honestly know much about parental love, but she had a good role model to help guide her as she eyed the judged confidently.
"But Professor Ozpin, my teacher and savior, helped me realize there were others like him that deserved that love and bonding. He even once told me he was just learning how to comfort children as it went along. He had his hiccups, just like I'm sure I will too, but I am begging you your honor. Just give me the chance to learn to love so I can teach Ruby to reject that dark thought that once consumed me once. I know we can both learn how to do it." She confidently said.
The judge took a moment to gather his thoughts. He eyed the documents, one being of Ruby's adoption papers and gripped it tightly as he groaned a bit to her concern. Was he going to reject?
"I still have my reservations…" He said, but Goodwith gave a tremendous smile as she saw him stamp his name on Ruby's form for approval.
"If Ozpin's student could grow past her tragedy I'm sure she can teach this girl to do just that." He said, his hand soon dropping the stamp as it was grabbed and shaken rapidly by Goodwitch.
"Thank you so much your honor!" She yelled enthusiastically before blushing as she realized her behavior and stopped recoiling a bit as she let go of his hand.
"*fake coughs* sorry your honor got a bit carried away." She said, straitening herself out as she saw him smile, only fueling her embarrassment.
"It's alright. It is a happy occasion and I will toast to your journey beginning tonight. Just remember what I told you, what you'll need to learn to be that girls mother.
"Love." Goodwitch whispered. She indeed had a difficult test placed before her. Could she rise to the challenge for Ruby's sake or really….for her own sake?
A few days later…
The day had come at last; Ruby was being discharged from the hospital. Her aura managed to return and heal the physical wounds she endured at the hands of Grimm and Team CRDL, though Weiss and Goodwitch still felt uneasy as they heard the cheerful humming of the little Rose in the backseat of the car. They were on their way to the Xiao Long residence in Patch, Weiss having managed to get a spare key from Yang once the latter finally managed to calm down from her crying fit.
"I can only imagine the one Ruby's going to have when this all over." Weiss bitterly thought as she sat by Ruby, watching that bright smile once more as the little girl eyed the outside world they drove by. While her physical wounds had healed, everyone knew her mind was holding back a ticking time bomb of anguish. Weiss knew the closer she stayed, the more she kept the charade of pretending to be Ruby's sister the more powerful that bomb would be once it exploded at her for the deception. But….that smile, it brought a warm sense of relief despite it all. It was like she was back in class at Beacon, being around that same little goofball who didn't take anything seriously. The one she truly missed despite having yelled at her for such behavior before.
"Look Yang! Ice cream store oh look it's a puppy outside can I pet it!?" Ruby childishly yelled with glee as she tried to open the car door as they drove. Weiss frantically grabbed her hand and yanked it away and closed the door.
"Whoa Ruby! Take it easy sister." Weiss said as she wrapped her arms around Ruby. Goodwitch pulled the car to the side of the road and stopped, giving Ruby and Weiss a glare. Ruby especially winced, never once seeing such a look from Summer.
"Ruby Rose! Never open a car door while driving its dangerous young lady!" Goodwitch hollered, but her eyes soon widened as she saw the little girl whimper and bury her face in Weiss's chest.
"*HIC* Mommy yelled at me." Ruby whined softly as Weiss pet her head. Goodwitch sighed, though she understood she had to be strict in this case, she admitted her tone may have been a bit too forceful, a habit from her teaching days. She now felt she was off to a bad start with raising Ruby despite what she said to the Judge, that was till Weiss said something to catch both lady's attention.
"It's okay Ruby, mommy doesn't hate you or anything. She was just worried for you." Weiss said tenderly, meeting Ruby's tearful gaze with a warm smile.
"R-Really? Mommy doesn't hate me?" Ruby whimpered and Weiss shook her head.
"No kiddo. Just listen to her, its not safe to jump out a car that moves. I know you want to play with a puppy but we can't. Just wait till we get home, big sis will make up the loss.
Weiss was almost brought to tears as Ruby gave her a warm smile in return. Yang's advice really pulled through.
"Ruby was a real crybaby growing up. The best way to calm her down is to speak softly, even when she misbehaves to let her know you care and just want to help her even when scolding her. Mom and I use to hug her all the time when dad yelled at her for something bad. Trust me, hugs equal a happy Ruby." Weiss remembered Yang saying. It was probably the best tip she had ever gotten in her life as she felt her heart ease at the sight at Ruby rubbing her eyes after a sniffle and smile at Goodwitch.
"Sorry Mommy. Ruby won't do it again." Ruby said softly. Goodwitch nodded at Weiss, silently thanking her for the cover.
"Okay sweetie, I promise I don't hate you, I get mad because I…l-love you and want you safe and happy." Goodwitch stammered, a bit uneasy still playing the role as mother, but thankfully Ruby didn't notice the hesitation. The girl lost all focus easily as her eyes brightened at a new distraction.
"PLAYGROUND!" Ruby screamed with joy, startling Weiss and Goodwitch especially after she petal burst out the car towards the play area.
"RUBY! Goo-I mean mom said-" Weiss cried out, careful to catch herself from stopping the lie before Ruby cut her off.
"She said when the cars moving now come on let's play!" Ruby cried out. Goodwitch rubbed her temples at the defiance.
"She has to find a loophole for any rule even as a 5 year old huh?" Goodwitch groaned. Weiss couldn't help but chuckle a bit. It felt good seeing Ruby annoy her a bit before running out the car.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Goodwitch asked confused.
"Well, gotta get out there and keep up the big sister image!" Weiss cried out as she ran towards Ruby, waiting to be pushed on a swingset. Goodwitch heard Ruby crying "Yang push!" repeatedly and sighed sheepishly as she saw the confused glares from some parents on the playground eyeing the two teenage girls. It did indeed look strange, and Goodwitch shuddered at the idea of explaining Ruby's mental collapse to them. It made her nervous, knowing the glares might not stop as she could tell others would not necessarily understand Ruby's dilemma.
But as she saw Ruby cheerfully smile at being pushed by Weiss on the swing, a small bit of warmth burned the discomfort away as Goodwitch locked the car and slowly walked towards a bench, eyeing the play going on. She ignored the whispers,
"Is that girl mental? So weird, their teenagers whats going on? Grow up."
Those parents narrow mindedness didn't matter, Goodwitch now knew that. All that mattered was that Ruby was happy, it made the huntress happy as well. Her goal was to protect lives, so that they could have this happy life. Goodwitch would unfortunately have to work towards that goal right now as she saw Ruby hop off the swings and go towards a couple of kids on the small merry go round.
"Can I play too?" She asked the little kids who yelled enthusiastically in agreement. Ruby squealed as jumped on the go round and swirled it at high speed with glee courtesy of her semblance to Goodwitch and Weiss's shock. Ruby got carried away as it wasn't just rose petals that flew by out, a kid did too landing on the sandbox and spitting out dirt. The kids crying snapped Ruby out of her glee as she realized what she did. Ignoring the other one wobbling dizzy off the go round, she ran to the sandbox kid.
"Sorry, sorry! Ruby didn't mean to-" But Ruby's apology was cut off as she felt a hard fist connect to her cheek, making her screeched to Weiss and Goodwitch's horror. The culprit who struck Ruby was a gruff looking man, bearing the same hair color as the boy crying in the sandbox, obviously his father, who proceeded to shouted at her at the top of his lungs.
"The fuck is wrong with you!? You trying to kill my boy!?" He hollered. Ruby rubbed her bleeding mouth, shivering as a strange sensation arose within her. She couldn't speak, she couldn't move, it was a familiar frozen feeling she thought she once had as she eyed the man accosting her, his image briefly flickering to a familiar boy that made her tremble before he delivered another punch, this time to her nose making her clasp her face, whimpering as she didn't know she could use aura guard to heal or block.
"Stay away from my kid you freak!" He yelled. At that point, Ruby's eyes flooded completely as she saw everything faded and fell on her side.
The man ignored her crying and pain; only caring about the son she endangered and was about to deliver a kick to her stomach before he found himself literally frozen.
"ENOUGH!" Goodwitch roared as she held out her riding crop, bearing an intense death glare at the man. Her semblance kept him place as Weiss ran to Ruby and cradled her as Goodwitch advanced towards the man, ignoring the whispers and glares from the other parents.
"I'll admit she got carried away, but it was an accident. My daughter suffered an "accident" and is hurt up there. I won't ever condone you trying to hurt it more by striking her sir! Lay one more hand on her and its YOU whose going to need a hospital!" Goodwitch hollered as she flung the man with her semblance into the sandbox by his kids, knocking him out.
Goodwitch then turned to Ruby and Weiss, the former laying her head on Weiss's lap as the heiress looked at them both concerned.
"She's unconscious! Should we take her back to the hospital?" Weiss asked in panic. Goodwitch knelt down to examine the damage before shaking her head to Weiss's shock.
"No need, just a bruised mouth and nose, her aura will kick in while she's out and heal the damage. For now lets just get her home, *sigh* before any more trouble comes." Goodwitch groaned as she picked up Ruby and held her over her shoulder and proceeded to the car. More hurtful eyes were drawn to the family, ones she couldn't ignore this time as she heard hateful whispers sneered at them.
"So she was mental." "Man poor woman, to have to deal with that all day."
But the worst one Goodwitch and Weiss heard aimed at Ruby: "Man what a freak".
Weiss couldn't hold it in anymore and drew her weapon.
"HOW DARE YOU!" She cried out as she formed a glyph and froze the crowd to Goodwitch's shock.
"Miss Schnee!" She yelled but Weiss huffed as she strolled past her to the car.
"Don't worry, they'll melt in an hour. Now come on! Lets get Ruby home already." Weiss cried out as she strapped herself in. Goodwitch groaned as she felt the weight of the girl on her shoulders make them sore. She'll scold Weiss later.
A half hour later they finally arrived in Patch. Ruby's house was a simple one, a wooden cabin with a few gardens of summer lilies and roses, a chimney for a fireplace on cold winter nights. It was the perfect place for a small family to stay, and Goodwitch couldn't help but admire the small life she was about to embrace as she parked by it.
"This is where I'm going to stay now huh?" Goodwitch thought as she eyed Weiss rubbing Ruby's head tenderly. The little girl squirmed a bit as her eyes soon opened, her aura having indeed healed her pain, though Goodwitch worried if the mental one was about to prevail. She saw Ruby breakdown earlier, perhaps that beating reminded her a bit of what those boys did to her was something she surmised. Luckily, the fear wasn't warranted, at least for now as Ruby bolted up from Weiss's lap, crying out after a yawn and saw her home.
"Were Home!" She cried as she bolted out the car and ran around her yard, jumping up and down before lying in the grass bed of their lawn and trying to make angel indents.
"Ruby! Your going to get your clothes stained!" Weiss scolded her but Ruby ignored her. Little did Weiss know, Ruby was actually feeling nervous right now. She still felt scared by that man earlier, and was desperate to play to get him out of her head. He and that strange boy he saw earlier were making her tummy feel odd. Maybe some food would solve that problem?
"Come on! Lets go inside and have mommy make us cookies with dad!" Ruby cried as she bolted into the house. Weiss and Goodwitch recoiled a bit as they heard that last part.
"Her dad?" Weiss asked nervously. Goodwitch sighed, of course they forgotten about that detail. Tai had died a while ago on a mission, just like Summer did years ago. Ruby still had him growing up, so how could they keep up the illusion with him gone. Her question would soon be answered as they saw Ruby weakly walk out the house scared.
"M-Mommy? Where's daddy? He should be home by now." She asked her fearfully.
"Oh God. What am I gonna say to her?" Goodwitch thought frightfully. Another challenge was ahead of her, one she wasn't sure how to handle.
Author Notes
Merry Christmas! Last chapter before the new year, I need a vacation. Ruby's family will need one too as the ordeal she is going through isn't being treated with understanding by the populace. Can Goodwitch handle it well too, especially now that she has to explain why Ruby can't see her father anymore (poor bambi). Next time in CH 4: Where's my Family?
