RWBY Am I Your Teacher or Mother?
Chapter 6: A Waking Nightmare
Ruby was snuggled comfortably into her bed, which seemed bigger than then the teen last recalled. Not that the mental child mind, considering Weiss, whom she still saw as Yang, was busy reading her another story, this time from her scroll. The heiress had been desperate to read an age appropriate book for her damaged partner, but since none were in the house she decided to buy one online. It was expensive, over 20 Lien to her exasperation, but she didn't hesitate to buy it the second she heard the first yell from Goodwitch, needing to drown out the argument she knew Ruby's uncle Qrow was having with her teacher. She couldn't risk giving away Goodwitch wasn't really Summer, her partner's health depended on it.
Ruby meanwhile, while enjoying the story about a huntress in the woods with silver eyes saving a boy and training him to survive, found herself confused as she eyed her "sisters" frantic behavior.
"Why was Yang so nervous earlier? Uncle Qrow visited! She's always happy when he comes." She thought.
Weiss noticed her confusion and knew she needed to distract her. Thinking quickly, she put on her biggest grin just imagining how Yang would, though it wouldn't be easy.
"She has such fat cheeks, almost as big as her rack, I doubt anyone but Ruby could smile like her." Weiss chuckled at the thought. Luckily it worked to bring a giggle to Ruby, soon releasing a grip on her sheets as she tugged at the scrolls cover.
"Story! Story!" Ruby childishly cheered. Weiss sighed in relief that her plan worked, her cheeks were about to bleed as she finally got to relax them.
"Alright, alright. So the boy laid on the ground, his broken leg trembling as it kept him locked in place, unable to run despite his heart screaming for him to desperately as that evil giant bird flew ever closer to him. He had vanquished the evil wolf, now he thought he would be the evil birds snack." Weiss began saying in an dramatic tone, Ruby's jaw slightly dropping as she leaned in closer in anticipation. Weiss was happy she wasn't scared by this, wondering why this was a children's book if it had Grimm in it. She decided, however, to put her faith in the rating label and pressed on.
"Then!? Then!?" Ruby asked giddily.
"Then, just as the boy was sure he would perish, he heard the joyous sound of a blade being drawn from it's scabbard, followed by the birds cry of defeat as it split in half. The boys face blushed bright red as he laid eyes upon his savior, the girl with beautiful silver eyes who saved him and his tribe so many times over the years. It was why he had to go out into the woods despite the Grimm, he had to keep meeting her, despite giving a stupid embarrassed grin as she looked at him angrily." Weiss read.
"Why was she angry? She saved him. It's obvious she cares about him." Ruby asked genuinely confused. Weiss chuckled at the naïve question, having asked Yang and her countless times why they were angry whenever she rushed out into battle despite winning usually unharmed. Even as a 5 year old, Ruby never changed really.
"It's because she cares for him she was mad. She knew he kept endangering himself needlessly just to meet her." Weiss said, finding comfort in that reason as Ruby laid back down, pondering those words. Weiss just hoped this lesson would get through to her as she returned to normal, she had enough of Ruby getting hurt needlessly.
"So the girl asked "Why do you keep coming back you dummy!?" and he replied, "Because…I wanted to give you this back." He said as he pulled out a weapon that made her eyes shine as bright as the blade. It was her dagger, the same one she used to slay the first evil wolf that attacked him the night they met. It was clean and un-nicked, he had obviously kept it well maintained." Weiss read.
"Yeah…Uncle Qrow always said to keep your stuff mai….mai…oh clean!" Ruby stuttered, her young mental health keeping her from being able to pronounce it.
"Indeed, which is what led to the girl forgiving the boy. Despite how much pain she had been in after losing her tribe, despite all the years she thought she was better off alone, she just couldn't just bring herself to turn down his offer to live with his tribe, to live with him and have what she lost for so long." Weiss read.
"Family?" Ruby guessed, interrupting the heiress. She drew an annoyed glare for a brief moment before collecting herself, not wanting to avoid her Yang act for a minute. She tussled Ruby's hair as she smiled.
"That and something just as important…hope." Weiss said softly.
"Hope for what?" Ruby asked. Weiss looked down and finished the last passage.
"Hope for love, hope for a better tomorrow. The end." Weiss said as she closed the scroll.
"That story was perfect." Ruby said softly, taking it all in.
"So…*Yawn* ready for night night Rubes?" Weiss asked hopefully, but frowned as she noticed an excited grin from her partner.
"Nope! More stories! More stories!" Ruby demanded suddenly.
"Ruby. It's 10 PM it's bedtime." Weiss whined, rubbing her eye.
"Pleeaaaaaaaseeeee!?" Ruby pleaded with puppy dog eyes, but Weiss did her best to avoid them. Just crossing her arms in defiance.
"Okay tell you what, your birthdays in a couple of weeks, I'll go to Vale and…get…you a…present?" Ruby began to offer before her body felt weak at the notion.
"Ruby? You alright?" Weiss asked, taking notice of Ruby's sudden drop in enthusiasm.
Ruby just looked confused as she rubbed her head, feeling a slight headache as a strange sense of déjà vu ran through her mind, along with the image of a taller version of her swiping through a magazine in a familiar store.
"Ooooh! Yang will love these grenades for Ember Cecelia, I'd better order them here!" The "older" Ruby cried.
Ruby was beyond confused for a moment. Why did she look older from what felt like a memory? She wasn't nearly that tall either, yet why did it all feel so real? Just as she began to ponder all this, even feeling her arms and legs and noticing them being unusually longer, Weiss's arm soon latched onto her shoulder, making her yip a bit as a pair of lilac eyes locked with hers somberly.
"Y-You okay Rubes." "Yang" asked her. Ruby just shook her head to get the uncertainty out of her. She knew there was no need to worry if her big and strong "sister" was around.
Ruby just tackled her in response, causing the heiress to cry out in pain as the wind was knocked out of her, alerting Goodwitch who was about to run into the room before hearing Ruby whine.
"YUP! More stories sis!" Ruby demanded, making Weiss groan, feeling Ruby made her worry for nothing.
Goodwitch just sighed, forcing a small grin despite herself as she walked away from the door, letting Weiss handle the unruly child.
"*SIGH* Better her than me in there any-" Goodwitch moaned before gasping in fright. She sat on the couch in utter shock as a realization just dawned on her.
"D-Did I…just pass off my mom duties to a child?" She whispered.
She initially passed this notion off as exhaustion, after all, Qrow's outrageous demand to hand over Ruby to him was certainly frightening to say the least. She still felt a massive headache just smelling the booze on him, feeling he wasn't fit to even be in her childs presence. Yet as she held her head in her hands in remorse, she couldn't help but wonder if she was worthy too.
"A child like her needs a mother's love. Not a teacher." The judges words echoed, reminding her of his warning for Ruby's needs.
"Why? Why didn't I even try to read to her. I could have gone in there right away, why?" She whispered to herself. Suddenly she felt sick to her stomach at the thought of even touching one of those books. Her eyes widened as the reason truly dawned on her.
She recalled how her own mother once read to her those same storybooks, depicting brave huntresses saving lives. Yet here she was, avoiding giving a hurt child that comfort, simply pawning it off to her friend. She had ditched her just like her parents had died and ditched her, proving those heroic stories to be utter garbage. She winced as her hands began trembling, a wave of nausea overcoming her before hearing the little girls whines in the room, darting her head to eye it in panic. She was about to rush in again when she heard Weiss's usual grumpy tone.
"Oh fine! One more then back to bed!" Weiss demanded. Ruby cheered as she heard her "sister" sigh in defeat.
Goodwitch sighed, knowing things were okay and just slumped into the couch. She still felt awful, having allowed her trauma to come between her and her adoptive daughter for even a minute. She quickly picked up the remote control, deciding to distract herself with nightly stories of her own.
"Been a while since I watched Truly Grimm. I wonder if Charlene already ate Jason after being turned?" She pondered. But as soon as she turned on the television, her breath shuddered as she saw the news channel. The anchor was a purple haired woman with magenta eyes around her age, though obviously with extra blush to make herself look like a teenager to the audience to the headmistress disgust. But what had truly frightened her was the newscast she was eyeing.
Beacon Students charged with Murder: Day 1 in Court!
"We are live here in Vale tonight as a trio of students from the luxurious Beacon Academy, Blake Belladonna, Nora Valkryie and Yang Xio-"
Suddenly the TV was turned off, Goodwitch huffing in exasperation as she had quickly grabbed the remote. The volume was louder than she would have liked, the moment she heard Yang's name she knew her mission had been in danger. She eyed the door to Ruby's room, still hearing Weiss read another story from her scroll in an enthusiastic tone.
"Phew! They didn't hear it. Thank god!" Goodwitch thought as she slumped against the cushions. She had narrowly dodged a bullet with exposing Ruby to the truth. The doctors made it vividly clear her suspicious. If Ruby was forced out of her delusion, she may reject reality all together from her trauma. Goodwitch's hand shaking at the thought reaffirmed her decision to prevent this, the image of her child-self crying in fright in that bunker as it opened, certain death was coming for her. She wouldn't let this child of hers suffer that same pain, as soon as morning drew, she would make sure to give her the best care a mother could, pancakes, cartoons and full 24 hour Goodwitch care. She sighed in relief it was her day off tomorrow, but as she laid her head back on the soft couch to allow exhaustion to consume her, she bolted out of her seat as she heard Ruby scream in fright.
"M-MOM!" Weiss cried horrified.
Vale Penitentiary
Something other than a child's cry of terror echoed throughout the night. The sound of cell doors of a cold wet prison unlatching sent shivers down 3 girls wearing orange spines. For them, it was a chilling reminder of their current situation.
"Move it!" A buffed prison guard yelled impatiently as she pushed Nora forward, butting her into Blake and Yang as they gave off annoyed grunts at the burly woman. Yang was tempted to swing her cuffed arms at the woman's jaw in retaliation, but the moment she met those brown rage-filled eyes she backed down. She felt the intense aura seeping from this woman, she vaguely recalled from passing guards talking Elm was her name, and knew with these aura zapping cuffs she'd do little more than bruise her at best without her semblance. All she felt like doing then was groan in annoyance as she turned back around.
"Did you not here me? I said to move it! If it were up to me though you'd all be locked in here without trial anyway." Elm huffed.
Blake's cat ears went down along with Nora and Yang's faces as they were reminded where they were heading. They could only wish beyond their freedom right now that their parents or loved ones couldn't see them in this state as they prepared to debate for their reunion with them over continuing to rot in this dump filled with roaches and vulgar women making passes at them in the showers.
Yang in particular, had only 2 such people to reunite with, and was already feeling immense dread one of them already saw her in this place, she couldn't bare the thought of her more treasured gem seeing this unfold.
"Ruby...Please stay asleep for a little longer baby girl. I still need you to be one." Yang whispered as she and her friends walked towards the shuttle to take them to the courthouse for arraignment. She hated herself for feeling this way, but she was secretly glad her sister had regressed mentally to a 5 year old.
"She's probably sitting on the couch right now watching cartoons. Jumping up and down watching a guy with a pickaxe stab himself in the but trying to kill a grimm rabbit." Yang thought with a chuckle as she sat down in the police truck with Blake and Nora, who forced themselves to smile a bit as the former put her hand on a sniffling Yang's knee, assuming she was overwhelmed right now.
"Hey." She said softly, drawing her partners gaze. "We're gonna be okay." Blake assured her.
"How…*sniff* how can you be sure?" Yang asked. It's not like they weren't guilty as charged, despite no one believing CRDL didn't deserve it.
"Come on! Rich cat Weiss said she's getting us the best lawyer money can buy. We'll be outta here and playing with little Ruby in no time." Nora cheered, but retained a sheepish grin, clearly feeling anxious about the whole situation. Yang could only sigh to relieve stress, desperately trying to alleviate her friends who were obviously doing the same for her.
"Yeah." She said with a nod. "Weiss won't let us down." She said firmly with a smile.
(NSFW Content below: discretion advised)
Meanwhile on Patch…
"ACHOO!" Weiss sneezed, drawing a wince form Ruby, tucked into her bed with no way to dodge.
"EEEEEW! Yang!" Ruby whined in disgust as snot rockets sprayed all over her.
"Sorry Ruby. Guess someone's talking about me." Weiss apologized.
Ruby just shakily began to wipe the snot off her face and arms, turning almost as green as them as the thick mucus made her wretch audibly.
"Gross. Why won't it come…off?" Ruby complained before her tone grew quitter, her eyes widening to Weiss's concern, giving her a glance with narrowed eyes.
"R-Ruby?" Weiss stuttered.
Ruby began to breath heavily, her hands trembling as she pinched a bit of mucus on her arm, the stickiness making her fingers begin to burn.
"Wha…What is this? I feel so g-gross…and weak." Ruby thought, her breath choked as she heard her voice in her mind sounding more mature. It didn't sound natural, she focused on that over "Yang's" jostling of her shoulders and her cries for her out of concern. What she did focus on was how her vision of Weiss began to darken and blur, making out faint traces of white in her hair.
"Y-Yang doesn't have white hair? What's going on?" She thought, growing ever more confused and weak, her body only being held up by Weiss's tight grip. But soon that source of support became immense pain for Ruby as the image of her sister was soon replaced by a boy with green hair smirking as he held her in place.
"WHO ARE YOU!?" Ruby cried in her mind. The boy just chuckled as he was soon joined by 3 others, except they had their pants off to her disgust. She soon felt a chill as she looked down, eyeing her own naked body, her clothes in tatters as her chest and vagina were exposed, and bleeding. She soon saw something dark below on their wastes aimed at her as she flailed helplessly in one boy's arms. Soon the mucus on Ruby turned ghostly white, soon making her feel icy cold as more of it soon squirmed on her. Tears stung her eyes, a glimmer of hope they would wash off the bile, but was met with utter disappointment and disgust as she was dropped hard on the ground. Her waist her more than her aching knees as she heard one boy with brown hair snicker.
"Man she felt good." Cardin shamelessly cheered. "Bit of a tight fuck for my liking." He snickered.
Ruby winced as she heard the familiar tone, followed by the other boy's laughter. Their faces soon darkening as she saw mad sadistic grins on their faces.
"S-Stop it…stop it…just stop it." She begged in low tone. But no matter how much she begged, their snickers just grew louder, stinging her ears as she slowly rose.
"What's wrong little red? Not fun being a grown up anymore?" Cardin mockingly asked.
"Go away….go away….Leave me alone!" She cried as she weakly ran off, feeling more humiliated and weak than she ever did her whole life. But no matter how much she ran, still kept hearing their snickers, feeling their perverse glares on the back of her head. She felt something for the first time in her life, fear. Fear that was magnified as out of the shadows came a very tall muscular man grinning at her, a firm hand reaching out to her that made her skin crawl.
"NO! SOMEONE HELP ME!" She cried before she crashed into something hard, hearing a snap as her nose felt an immense stab. She rubbed her bloody nose, feeling it was pointing in the wrong direction now, but she ignored the pain and extra bile oozing on her hand now as she laid eyes upon a familiar woman in front of her. A maiden with hair and eyes like hers, only wearing a cloak of white that brought disgust to the girl as she felt the white still crawling on her and inside her.
"M-Mom?" She whispered as the woman she saw as Summer Rose looking down upon her. She trembled as she quickly covered her exposed body parts, desperate not to be seen like this to the woman she looked up to. But she could feel it, those same eyes of judgment those boys had.
"You look disgusting." Summer spat.
"No…please don't say that ma-" Ruby whimpered, her lip quivering as her tears flooded her red cheeks as she weakly raised a hand towards her mom's image. But Summer's scathing gaze was clear, she would not show any sympathy.
"How could my daughter grow up to be so pathetic?" Summer huffed before turning around in disdain.
Ruby's heart skipped a beat at those cruel words, her arms going limp as they felt as weak as her spirit. The person she modeled herself after, spent blood sweat and tears emulating to have the life she lived, now turning her back on her, discarding her as the trash she felt like. Ruby saw her reflection in her massive pool of tears as she laid alone in the void that was her mind. She saw a pathetic scared teenage girl sullied. She bit her lip as her anger grew, growing just enough power to slowly raise her arm and swipe away the image, wanting nothing to do with it. It was just a constant reminder of her defeat.
"JUST GO AWAY!" She roared as the darkness consumed her. She wanted it all to end, the pain, the shame….herself.
"RUBY! RUBY ANSWER ME!" Weiss cried out as she shook her partners unconscious body. Goodwitch hovered over the girls, hands on her head as she began panting heavily.
"How did this happen? She was fine a minute ago? Did she hear the news after all?" Goodwitch thought with a fright as she eyed the girls bloody broken nose. The loud thud she heard earlier having worsened the woman's fears for her adoptive daughter as she began to draw a blank mentally, unsure what to do as guilt and panic swept over her. Even if she wanted to treat Ruby, who remained unresponsive despite Weiss willing her aura into her to fix her broken nose, could she really save her from her own mind? Goodwitch was a huntress, a teacher, and a mother but felt like none of those in this living nightmare she found herself in. She felt just like she did as a child, helpless and uncertain.
Author Notes
Sorry this took so long, finishing other stories like New Rose and Blood love. So Ruby has experienced a horrific trauma flash, soon followed by her adoptive mother. It will be up to Weiss to pick up the pieces, but can she do it? Next chapter we focus on that test and the start of Yang and her friend's trial. Will they make bail and get back to help their friend? And what will be Ruby's fate after another collapse!? Find out in chapter 7: You don't Get It!
