A bit of a doozy...

REAPER IN RED
Chapter 51

Maybe it was practicing with Cinder and headmaster Ozpin for so long. Maybe it was just the sudden panic which reminded me of that bit of training. Or maybe it was the fact that I was so scared, so tremendously terrified in that instance, that I had no clue what else to do in that situation.

"Uncle Qrow!" I shouted, throwing my hands up into the air and running into the Reaper Hunter, engulfing him in as big a hug as I possibly could.

Qrow's scary smile turned into a confused frown.

"Did you miss me?" I squeaked out, hoping it sounded more like excitement and not heart-wrenching, panic-inducing fear.

He looked around the room, probably at Yang, and maybe my other two friends. "Uhm… Nope?"

Pulling me away from him, he looked me in the eye, clear confusion on his face. If I wasn't so terrified that he'd pull my head off, I'd have laughed at the reaction.

I did my best to put on a convincing pout. "Awe. I bet you missed Yang though."

Yang chuckled, hopping up from Weiss's bed to point a thumb at herself. "Of course he missed me! Everyone knows that I'm his favourite."

Qrow Branwen looked between the two of us. "Am I missing something here?"

"Course you are, you big lug." Yang nudged him a few times. "Though, it probably has to do with the fact that you were gone for months, without even a blip to let us know how you were doing. Seriously Qrow, we were worried. Even dad of all people was worried."

"And just making sure, your dad is… who again?" Qrow gave me a quick side-eye, so fast that I almost didn't notice it.

Yang for her part, just rolled her eyes. "Tai, you idiot. Did you lose a few nuts and bolts while you were away? Don't think I didn't notice that you're using your whiskey flask and not your juice flask, like you promised you would."

At that, Qrow Branwen let out a heavy sigh. Was it of relief? Was it of remorse? Some other word that started with an 'R' that wasn't 'Ruby is a Reaper'? I sure as Salem didn't know the answer to that. But when he raised his head, his smirk was back and now a lot friendlier than before. Most of his attention was still on Yang, and he was still standing with a casual hand rested on his weapon, but it wasn't so tight anymore.

Did that mean I just survived my first interaction with a Reaper Hunter? Well, first solo interaction. Was that how to beat one of these monsters? Just, out-think them? Well, it's a good thing that they aren't the brightest of humans. If it was someone like the headmaster, I'd be screwed…

Or would I? I still wasn't sure how Cinder and him knew each other, but it was clear that they were friends of sorts. And Cinder still acted different. I wondered what was up with that.

No Ruby, don't distract yourself when an evil demon is in your midst. Game face Ruby. Protect your friends by protecting yourself. Don't pay too much thought to the idea that Blake brought him here.

Blake seemed alright with me for the most part. Definitely not 100% on my side like she was after her shtick at the docks, but definitely not terrified to even be in the same room as me, like she was just a few days ago. Speaking of, she was eyeing me curiously, eyes flicking back and forth between me and the Reaper Hunter.

Her hands were in her lap and she was squeezing them tightly between her thighs.

"So… u-uncle Qrow," I tried out the title on him. It tasted dry and stale in my mouth. I sucked it up. I knew I would have to get used to calling him uncle if I was going to survive until he decided to leave. "What brings you here? Erm, h-how long are you staying for?"

Qrow's eyes squinted, as if he was trying to stare straight into my soul. "I was on my way here anyways. I got a call in from an… acquaintance in need of my talents."

Yang guffawed. "Talents? You? Aren't you like, retired in your old age? Scared Rubes is gonna take your place?"

The Reaper Hunter seemed completely thrown off by something. Was it Yang lying down so comfortably? Was it the fact that he has no recollection of me, and I was throwing all his senses and emotions into overdrive? Was it some mystical Reaper Hunter magic that I didn't know about? Probably not that third one, because humans didn't have any really useful magic. Aside from their semblances which were cool.

Speaking of, I tried to recall what Qrow Branwen's semblance was. Yang had told me it during our trip back home. What was it again? Ah, that's right. Misfortune. How apt. I wondered when his misfortune would fall on me. Was a good semblance just as important to being a Reaper Hunter as a curved weapon? Probably. There definitely had to be something super powerful about him that made him so good at killing mothers.

Qrow didn't say much in response to Yang's retort, just standing there confused, before facing me again. "Anyways-"

"-hey!" Yang interrupted.

"-I am technically on the job right now, but seeing that the Vytal festival and all that is around, it's been slow going. Lots of people around here." His eyes narrowed. "Plenty of other nasty things lurking around too. But, I'll be here until the mission is over. Probably until after the festival and such and such. Gives me plenty of time to spend hanging out with my niece…-es. Nieces."

Qrow scratched at his neck with one hand, fiddling with the hilt of his weapon with the other. "Speaking of, Yang, you're great and all, but I think me and this one need a little one on one chat."

"Boo!" Yang said, rolling up on the bed. Then she waved it at us in a shewing motion. "Begone with you! I have my real family with me. Prissy-pants and Kitty-cat are my real family. Who will bring me ice cream and brownies to help me wallow in my sadness at missing out on true bonding time with the dastardly uncle."

As Weiss and Blake bristled at Yang's nicknames, Yang feigned sobbing. An arm thrown theatrically over her eyes, as she cried out in faux-depression, literally exclaiming, "thine eyes are teary."

Qrow rolled his eyes. "At least she's acting normal. Now you, erm…"

"Ruby," I added in helpfully.

"Ruby. We're going to talk outside. No sudden movements."

I feigned confusion, all the while my heart beat rapidly and I could feel my magic pulse along the border of my territory. Qrow froze for a moment, looking out the window. Shaking his head, he turned back to me and all but lead me outside the door, closing it behind him.

As the door clicked shut, he pulled out his weapon -a massive sword I'd be ogling over if not for the fact that it was being held by someone trained to kill me- and held it between us. "Who are you and how do you know me."

He was serious. If looks could kill, I'd be dead.

I gulped, finally letting my true feelings of fear show, even as I did my best to spout my lies. "Q-Qrow? I'm Ruby. You-your niece? Don't you remember me?"

"Tell me something only my family would know."

I thought real hard. This was it. Life or death on the line. I needed something big. Something that I could tell him without accidently giving too much away. Keep it similar to what Yang and Tai know. At once, I mentally scolded myself. How could I have been so stupid to forget Qrow! He was on Tai's team at Beacon! More than that, yang's mom was on that team too. I replaced my mom with… wait, weren't they related in some way?

"Your sister and T-dad were on your team at Beacon. They were partners. The two of them went to Atlas a few times to look for the Wretched Witch of Atlas. She's mine and Yang's mom. We were… at her funeral-"

"-That's enough." He sounded choked up.

Was that a good sign or a bad one? He had placed his free hand on my shoulder to stop me from talking, but now it was reaching towards my face. I froze up, waiting to see what he was going to do to me. Was he going to strangle me to death? Was he going to snap my neck?

I shut my eyes tightly as his hand travelled up, only to whimper as I felt a finger brush my cheek, pulling away liquid.

Oh, had I been crying? I was definitely shaking.

His sword was away, back in its safer place on his hip, as he knelt down in front of me, eyes still holding the same confusion and estrangement it had since I stood face to face, but now sadness of his own.

Both his hands were on my shoulders. "Ruby," he began in his horrible raspy voice. "You know I'm a Reaper Hunter, yes?"

Oh no. It didn't work. I tried to look around for a path to freedom. But his arms were on me. And he killed my mother. Was he too strong for me? I feared he was too strong for me. I had no way to escape. He'd find me eventually and kill me.

Was this it?

Too long had passed, so I nodded rapidly in reply.

Oh god I hated his voice. "My last mission was looking for a Reaper nest to destroy. I was annoyed that I didn't manage to find it."

Here it comes. First, he was going to out me and then he was going to kill me. I was shaking fiercely.

"I can't remember you, but Yang does. So does Tai."

When had he had the chance to contact Tai? What else had he figured out? Why oh why did I think that Reaper Hunters were dumb!

"Even called Susana Bark from down the road."

What?

"What?"

"She remembered you too. Couple of your other neighbours as well. Apparently, you always were hanging off of Yang. And you got into Beacon, early at that. And the headmaster, ol' Ozzy is and was the best of us."

I couldn't tell if he was gloating or not.

"My instincts are telling me to not trust you, but I've fought enough Reapers to know that sometimes, instincts lie. So, for now, I'm going to trust Ozpin."

He stood up, towering over me. I couldn't breath. I was trying my hardest to suck in air, but my body was just not cooperating. My heart hammered.

"Ruby, if you are who you say you are, I'm sorry that all this shit is happening to you. And to me, honestly." He reached into his pocket to pull out that horrid metal flask. He opened it. "Anyways, good luck with the festival and all that. Maybe some day we can be close. Not sure if we were before, but just forget about it."

I couldn't nod. Couldn't shake my head. Was I still shaking? Shivering in panic? Or had I gone stone-still?

"Yang said something about you taking my place, so I'm going to guess that even as young as you are, you're a half-decent fighter. That means that you're gonna learn more than just the Reaper basics. And that also means you're gonna have to say goodbye to ever having the potential at a domestic, happy little life. Unless, this is all some sort of clever ploy that's messing up my head, just remember kid. A Reaper can take away your memories and destroy your very nature."

He scowled, pulling back another swig from his flask. I saw his throat bounce as he gulped down ever more liquid from inside of it.

"I apologize that this is how it had to be. You might be my niece. Hell, you coulda been my favourite niece, hence why those Reaper fu- those Reapers took you from me. But maybe not. We'll… we'll grow closer again. Maybe."

He huffed out a long and annoyed breath. "Tell Yang I'm going to talk with Oz, then to find the nearest bar. I'll catch up later."

Did I nod? I wasn't sure if I nodded. He did turn and leave either way.

As he rounded the corner and left my field of vision, I sank to the floor. The hallway was empty, but my attention was still fully on the wall in front of me. Where the Reaper Hunter had been. My brain was flinging out useless bits of unhelpful questions. Was he coming back? What was he going to do? Is he laying a trap for me? Could I have actually done it?

Was I going to die without being able to avenge mom?

I was crying somehow. Low and slow sobs which wracked my entire body as air finally re-entered my chest.

I went back inside the dorm room, quickly rattling off to Yang what Qrow had told me. She might have asked me what was wrong, but I wasn't sure. I felt all three of their eyes on me as I went into the washroom, closing the door quietly behind me.

I might have locked the door, but it was a blur of lost memory if I had. I was kneeling in front of the toilet, head facing the bowl.

Tears clouded my vision. My heart still beat furiously, pounding away so hard I felt it in my skull. It pulsed in my ears and my entire body shook with each thump. I looked down at the watery bowl in front of me.

I heaved and I heaved and I heaved.

Cun - That was one potential route, that could have gone. Even had a fight scene written up for it and everything. But, I got another idea that I decided would work better with the story. :P

nekojules - Maybe if it was closer to April 1st!

Guest#1 - Lots of stuff will be happening!

JackTheSpades - Either next chapter, or the one after that will be the Blake convo (still deciding). But I'm glad you figured out what was gonna happen

Haley Earthstone - Hope you liked!

Dragon Lord Draco - Not a bad guess you had there.

TM Calypso - The joyful 'canon!Ruby' reply was definitely a way that convo could have gone. It actually did go that way in my first write-up of the chapter.

Somebody Someone - Lots of confusing things

Guest#2 - Ruby is a 115 year old child. Age is just a number and a confusing one at that!

Guest#3 - I can confirm that Cinder and Ruby may or may not be related, possibly... maybe... or maybe not... Who knows?

Sm0keyPanda - Ruby definitely survived an extremely stressful situation

Ninguem248 - Agreed.

CrownofIron - Possibly. I haven't thought of it yet, but there is a chance it could appear somewhere down the line

thewolfgod99 - Yup. Exactly