REAPER IN RED
Interlude 5: Beacon
Blake felt like a knife was about to be plunged into her gut at any second. She rubbed her hands together, trying to keep her nerves in check. Her team leader Ruby Rose, had left with the headmaster, Jaune and two others, excited beyond measure for a chance to tackle another Higher Order Salemite. She was happy for her friend.
Happy that Ruby was able to take a break from watching over them. As much as she hated to admit it, she had been having nightmares. Nightmares about the skin crawler. About the Reaper. And about Adam Taurus. Her one-time love, until she had realized how abusive he had always been. How demanding he had been. Running away from the White Fang and from him had been the best choice of her life. While there were good memories with him, the bad far outweighed them. She shuddered at the thought. Often Adam would take the form of the Reaper, standing there with unflinching eyes and a slight smile which could bring death to whomever he wanted it to. Others, he was the skin crawler, tearing his body apart limb from limb, thrashing around by his ligaments and tendons with unnatural strength. It left her paralyzed.
But Ruby was there. No matter what time of night, she was there. With a gentle stroke of her cheek or pat on the head. She remembered Ruby even singing her a lullaby on night. The tune sounded so foreign to her, as did the words. Like no other lullaby she had ever heard before. It was incredible in an eery sort of way.
The lullaby told the tale of an old woman who lived a long and happy life, choosing to go willingly with a Reaper into Death's embrace. Even though it was about exactly what Blake was fearing, the gentle tune and kind words seemed to make it all okay. How the tale made the Reaper sound like a messenger; a guide, leading souls to the afterlife instead of the cause of death in the first place, was in interesting and very unique take on Reaper lore. A take she had never heard before. It was calming to think about. It made them safer. Friendlier. More peaceful.
Even though her waking mind knew that wasn't the case.
But even with the thoughts of Reapers and nightmares, what was really worrying her then was Ruby. Or at least the idea that she was about to stab Ruby in the back. She liked Ruby. Loved her like the little sister she'd always wanted, even. But because she loved her, Blake had to break her trust.
The trust which Ruby would never break herself.
Blake sighed, defeated by her own mind and conscience. Ruby helped her so much. She treated her like a regular person, even when she found out about her being a faunus. Ruby had said that even with faunus traits, she was still very much human. Like other humans. She remembered something Ruby had said during that conversation so long ago. When Blake had accidentally let out that she was faunus as well as ex-white fang.
"And you're no villain. I know villains. Since coming to Beacon, I think I understand huntsmen's take on villains a lot better. And if you're a villain, then I'm one too."
She hadn't thought much of it at the time, but it was just so strange of her to say. How would Ruby Rose of all people be a villain? Had she forged her way into Beacon? It wasn't possible. The headmaster had let her in himself. Ruby was a weird one, to be sure.
But that wasn't what worried Blake. No, she could handle weird people. It was the inconsistencies with her. Sometimes she was giggly, wild, and very much like Nora and other times, especially when she thought she was alone, incredibly pensive and introspective. Ruby read books; many more than Blake would have thought she'd read. But there were no adventure books or comics or action. It was all self-help. More than that, it was all books on how to make friends, or human anatomy or how to understand sarcasm and turns of phrase.
Blake was ashamed of herself for snooping, but -as much as she hated to admit it- she was as curious as her faunus trait's stereotype. She saw Ruby's diary, tucked underneath her covers. While most of it made little sense, written in her near illegible scrawl, she did see a few things which worried her. Things about how to act more human. Questions she wrote to herself about how strong humans could punch, or what constituted a 'too hard, aura shattering hit'. At first Blake thought it was about weaponry, but the diary didn't mention any weapons or schematics. Just basic questions or notes on human behaviour and movement. It was a little weird, but nothing of real note.
At least, until their fight. Her and Ren versus Ruby. After weeks of dodging her way to victory, Ruby was going to be given a real challenge by facing the two fastest in the class, save for Pyrrha. Blake had struck her. She remembered striking her. She remembered how hard that hit was. How it clashed against Ruby's arm. How as Blake's sword hit her arm, she didn't feel the usual signs of aura. There was no slowdown inches above her skin, keeping the blade from striking. As aura was meant to do. No, Ruby's skin stopped the blade itself. The powerful blow, mixed with the sudden stop had sent jolts through her arm, making her nearly lose her grip on her weapon.
Yet when Blake had checked the aura gauge on the screen, Ruby's aura barely went down a blip. And Ruby looked to be completely fine. As if she barely noticed it.
"It just has to do with my powers, my semblance. It's long and confusing and I don't fully understand it yet. Yang doesn't know either. Just for now, think of it like an… extra aura or something. And please don't tell anybody about it."
She didn't want to break her promise to her friend. Her first real, human friend. But Blake had also made a promise to the rest of her team. That there would be no secrets between them. For better or worse, they were a family and sometimes families required tough love.
No matter how much it tore at her heart.
"Sup Kitty," Yang said as she returned to their dorm room, hanging up her blazer on her yellow hook behind the door.
Blake looked up, "oh, hey Yang."
Yang raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Not even a groan? No ear twitch? Nothing? What's on your mind? And what up with those uncovered ears?" She wiggled her finger at Blake, who reached up to her unprotected feline features.
"I'm going to try taking my bow off back in the dorm. You know, get used to the idea of not wearing it in public… And give them time to breath."
"Hey Yang? Do you know what's up with Blake. She ran off really fast and she wasn't in the library and- oh, hey Blake." Weiss's worried frown turned into a glare. "Why did you leave so quickly like that?"
Blake looked away shyly.
"Oh, don't give us that. Ruby's my sister and this one's partner. Nobody can outdo her pout," Yang smirked and gestured to the two of them. "C'mon, it doesn't take a genius to know when something's wrong. We faced down the literal face of Death together. You'd think you could trust us with your thoughts just a little bit?"
Blake flinched at that. How close it was to her own inner reasonings about her situation with Ruby.
"Blake," Weiss crossed her arms. "We all promised, no more secrets."
With a sigh, Blake began to share, "it's nothing about me. Just… Ruby."
"Ruby?"
"Ya, what about her?"
"Have you guys noticed anything strange with her?"
Yang snorted, "well ya. Ruby is like the weirdest person I know."
"No," Blake shook her head. "I mean more than that. Like.. has she told you anything about her semblance?"
Weiss's eyebrows curled together in thought, "isn't it just a speed semblance? With the added addition of rose petals flying around everywhere."
"That's what I thought too. It's how it's been all her life, from what I can remember."
"So, her semblance hasn't changed? There aren't anything else that goes with it?"
"Semblances don't change, Blake. Everyone knows that. There may be parts that people haven't mastered yet, but semblances are fixed. A speed based semblance will remain speed based, strength will remain strength and, of course, a teleportation semblance will remain so. Excluding dust of course."
"What about yours?"
Weiss frowned and went to sit down on her bed, letting it bounce her. "The Schnee semblance is different. For one, it's hereditary. Every female Schnee will get it and so will their daughters and their daughters after them. For another… my family has always been… experimentative. You know, research into zombies and chimaera and faeries. Apparently they found a way to bind faery blood to us and well, now we have glyphs on top of the regular summoning semblance. It did make both harder to control, but we still ended up with both."
Blake thought on that, appreciating the silence Yang was allowing. She could see Yang shifting in her seat, ready to tell some likely terrible joke at Weiss's expense. With a flick of the wrist and nod, Yang jumped forward with a smile.
"Oh my god you're a faery princess! And you're short too! Did you Schnees get the height deficiency from faeries as well? Do sparkles follow you when you fly through the air? Can I call you the snow faery now? Okay, I'm done. Thanks Blake."
"Those weren't even very good," Weiss crossed her arms, only for yang to shrug.
"They can't all be winners. Don't worry, I'll have plenty more by the time Ruby gets home."
"Oh joy of joys."
"Back to the topic at hand," Blake interrupted Yang before she could let out another retort. "When Ruby, Ren and I fought, I struck her. I struck her and she felt no damage. Nothing. Has she mentioned anything about that to you? She said it was a part of her semblance she was working on, but I don't know."
"She hasn't mentioned anything," Yang said, deep in thought. "That's not like Ruby. We tell each other everything."
"A defense aspect to her semblance?" Weiss asked, "doesn't sound speed related either. Do you think we all made a mistake classifying her semblance? Maybe it's something else, like… something with rose petals?"
"I honestly have no clue. I remember dad talking with us about our semblances and I remember him being very, very sure about it being speed based."
"What about your mom? Maybe it's a hereditary semblance too."
This seemed to stump the blonde.
"I… I remember Summer. I-I remember her so clearly. Smiles that are almost identical to Ruby's. Warm hugs… I remember her being a wicked warrior. She was a huntress, I think. Nothing could catch her; nothing could touch her…"
"And then something did?"
Yang looked away from her two teammates but gave a firm nod. "Someone. She was murdered. She and Ruby were together, I think. Someone was chasing them. Ruby hid in a cave and Summer went out to stop him, but… anyways, I don't think their semblances are hereditary, but I can't seem to remember."
"Whoa, is Ruby alright? Did he do anything to her?" Weiss asked nervously.
"No, next thing I remember is she starts living with us. Uncle Qrow probably found her or something."
"What do you mean by 'she starts living with us'? Where did she live before?"
"I… I don't know…" Yang furrowed her eyebrows. "She lived with me before then, right? She… Of course she did. We're sisters. We've lived together our entire lives. Her, me, dad and mo- mom? No… Summer. I just can't…"
Yang moved to sit down beside Blake, clutching her head. Blake looked at her, her face in a grimace as she was trying to figure something out that none of them were aware of. It looked like something wasn't adding up in her own head. In her own memories. Blake moved to hold her should.
As soon as he fingers grazed Yang's arm, she sat up with a smile.
"Yup! We lived together our entire lives. Best sister a girl could ask for. Like, duh, she's so adorable."
"Yang, are you alright?" Weiss asked slowly, tilting her head.
Yang stared back, confused. "Ya? Why wouldn't I be?"
So much mystery. What could it all mean?
C3l3st14 - Nah, they're synonyms. Grim Reaper is just the full title of a Reaper. It's like calling my Wanders, instead of 0neWhoWanders.
Astral chronicles - To be fair to Jaune, there were three witches all communicating at once and dishing out spells which may contradict other orders from teammates.
ccl1995 - I wanted to write a witch battle since probably the third chapter of this story. There's just so much that can be done with such a unique fighting style.
JackTheSpades - Yes, after all this time of building up Ruby as the unstoppable all-powerful creature that she is, it was still important to show that no, she (and all Reapers) aren't indestructible, immortal creatures. She is still very much mortal... well, with a lifespan a multitude of times longer than any human. And to your side note: spoilers! ;) though the answer, or at least some of them to your question/idea is coming up sooner than you think.
Alucard45 - Yes! Caves are just so cozy. Interesting crackpot theory you have there. I will not confirm nor deny anything. Except for theory #2. Ruby is entirely Reaper.
Dragon Lord Draco - Maybe the mind magic just made Ruby see the thing she desires most? Being Ruby, of course she wanted a cookie.
Pleaseworkforonce - Thank you. Hopefully that trend continues!
Dragonqueen1993 - Who knows? I'm going with luck.
FN75 - That moment when you want to reveal a really juicy detail, but can't because it is going to be super important to the plot... Anyways, that's all I can say on that.
TiberiumSnow - Ruby's new abilities will definitely come into play. They have to, after so many chapters dealing with that issue. And more to come!
Firewyrm2 - Thanks, and I can't wait to write more chapters! Though, my backlog has officially reached zero, which is a scary thing for me.
Sm0keyPanda - Ruby should go learn that sort of stuff... Hmm, I wonder where there is a school, an academy maybe, that can help teach her huntsmen type stuff? Aw, who knows. :) That much harder because she has to act human on top of everything else.
chinaluv - Than you so much!