A/N: Hello, I'm here with an early chapter to celebrate Wildhunt Heathcliff's launch, and to entertain you guys in the middle of the maintenance time. Here's my code, Z285110565, feel free to add me.
And, uhh... About the last chapter, I suppose I owe you all an explanation, don't I? I heard a guy saying that I should 'Spare' Torchwick, and I said 'At what cost?'. Also, the timeline might seem a bit convoluted right now, but It will make sense at the end of the next chapter.
This brings me to my next point, I also wanted to put this out early, so I can put some more time between this chapter and the next. Once you get to the end of this one, you'll understand why.
RhoMarck: Peak?! I... I am at a loss for words. Thank you.
Enjoy this one.
With a dead snake-like creature half stabbed in his sword, Francisco returned to Ruby and the officers, he did not bear good news for them. "Hey." He spoke, his voice was low and controlled. The dead creature didn't bleed down his sword's edge, nor did it seem to have any liquid inside of it. "I figured something out on my own... What did you two talk about while I was gone?"
Ruby sighed, apparently, she hadn't noticed that the librarian had left momentarily. "Nothing much... Just her going off about the other officer's theories." She shrugged quietly. "Also, why did you leave so suddenly? We're supposed to do this together!"
"Hmph... I just wanted to... Y'know... Get my suspicions out of the way." The librarian answered, scratching the back of his bald head.
"So?" Ruby asked, prompting him to continue with his excuse.
Francisco raised his Downpour on the impromptu table between Ruby and the commanding officer, showing them the tentacle embedded in the blade. "It tried to attack me once I got within five meters of one of the bodies. Quite tricky this one." He said.
"This is..." The commanding officer began, breathless. "This is what attacked my men." She said, swallowing spit.
"It jumped out of the open stomach of the body. Aimed for my throat. It's not an issue for those trained in melee combat. I should be able to get them down in no time, but they won't be in good shape once I do." Francisco spoke, practically ignoring Ruby and talking directly at the officer.
"That is acceptable." The officer spoke. "Once we've seen that the tentacle impaled their bodies, we accepted that we wouldn't be able to get the bodies without messing them up a bit."
"I'll get to it right away..." The librarian spoke, only to feel a tug on his suit's sleeve. "Hm?"
It was Ruby who tugged on his sleeve. "Don't you mean, 'we' are going to get them down?" She asked as her grip on her Crescent Rose tightened.
The words of Ozpin echoed inside Francisco's head. 'Do not let harm come her way. She's destined to be a hero in the future.' Things of that nature. He glared at the determined girl. "You threw up at the mere sight of the bodies Ruby..." He simply stated the facts of the matter in a way to hide his true motive. "Tell you what though... Let me handle this, and I'll let you handle the next thing we'll come across. Think of it as... Preserving your strength?"
Ruby couldn't argue against a fact, so she relented, sighing in sadness. "I will be watching you though..." She said, still unwilling to holster her oversized weapon.
The commanding officer ordered her men to follow Francisco's lead, staying a safe distance from the bodies as he approached alone. Behind the cover of police cars, Ruby and the officers without aura stood guard, aiming their weapons at the bodies and ready to shoot anything that jumped out of there.
Queasy as she was though, Ruby's aim trembled as her gaze fell on the grotesque art piece that the bodies have become. Francisco knew not to trust her aim in her current state, so he walked towards the shore, readying himself mentally to getting shot in his back.
He approached the twisted bodies with careful, calculated steps, the sand crunching softly beneath his shoes. The dead creature he had cut down earlier still hung loosely from his sword's edge, its severed tentacle draped limply over the blade. His left arm, heavy and useless and covered by metal, remained tense at his side.
Ruby crouched behind one of the nearby cruisers, her eyes flickering nervously between Francisco and the grotesque display of the bodies ahead. She could feel her stomach churn again, her fingers trembling slightly as they gripped Crescent Rose. The bodies were worse than she'd imagined, twisted and mutilated beyond recognition. Tentacles slithered through broken flesh, still moving, still alive. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. Her eyes flicked to Francisco's back, narrowing as she realized how exposed he was.
She had no idea how he could walk so calmly into that mess, acting like the corpses weren't even there. No fear, no hesitation, just cold professionalism. Ruby wanted to be like that, strong, and unflinching. But her stomach still churned at the sight, and she forced herself to look away for a moment, feeling the bile rise in her throat again. The memory of her earlier sickness gnawed at her pride.
The librarian didn't flinch as he drew closer to the hanging corpses, his sword steady in his good hand. He could feel the presence of the thing inside the bodies. Whatever it was, it was waiting, ready to strike again.
He stopped just a few meters from the first body. His eyes narrowed as he observed the subtle twitching of the tentacles still lodged within the corpse's abdomen. His instincts told him they were waiting, biding their time for another strike. He shifted his weight, raising his sword in his right hand, the metal of his left arm gleaming dully in the dim light.
Behind him, Ruby's breath caught in her throat. She wanted to help, to do something, anything, but she couldn't shake the memory of the last time she had tried to approach the bodies. The sight had nearly broken her, and now she was relegated to the sidelines. Her hands trembled on Crescent Rose, and she cursed herself for being so weak in the face of something so monstrous.
Francisco turned his head slightly, his voice low and steady. "Stay back, Ruby," he said without looking at her. "This won't be pretty."
Ruby bit her lip, frustration welling up inside her. She hated that he kept pushing her out of the fight, treating her like a child. But part of her knew he was right, she had already proven that this wasn't something she could handle easily after all. Still, she refused to just sit idle.
"I'm not standing by," Ruby muttered under her breath, gripping her weapon tightly. She readied Crescent Rose, her finger hovering near the trigger. She wouldn't let herself be useless. She'd help, whether Francisco liked it or not.
Francisco stepped closer to the first body, his attention fully focused on the impaled body ahead of him. He used his sword to carefully prod at the body's gaping belly, testing its reaction. As soon as his blade made contact, the tentacle sprang to life, lashing out violently toward him.
But Francisco was faster. With one smooth motion, he sidestepped the attack and brought his blade down, cleaving through both the appendage cleanly and the body. The tentacle hit the ground with a wet thud, twitching and writhing before falling still. The body sagged as it was cleaved in half, the tentacles inside the belly's interior, now exposed to the elements outside, shrunk and dried up. The rest collapsed onto the sand in a heap of broken limbs and disfigured flesh.
"Easier than expected. Perhaps not even a TETH..." Francisco muttered to himself, wiping his blade against the hem of his coat. "One down..." He glanced down at his left arm, it tingled as if responding to the violence around it. But the arm itself remained inert.
As he moved toward the next body, he felt the presence of the tentacles before they struck. This time, several of them lashed out at once, each one aiming for his throat, his legs, his exposed side. He grunted, shifting his stance, he tried to move his metal arm instinctively in defense even though it couldn't block or parry. He twisted his body, avoiding the strikes, and brought his sword up with his right hand, severing the tendrils in mid-air.
"Damn things," he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. He could feel the weight of his limitations. His left arm felt like dead weight. He couldn't fight like he used to, couldn't move as freely or strike as quickly as he once had.
Back in Mount Glemm, he didn't have his left arm sure, but he also didn't have a useless metal thing that actively worked against him in a fight that also weighed thrice the weight of his old left arm. But alas, complaining won't get him out of this situation.
Behind him, Ruby watched the battle unfold, her heart pounding in her chest. She saw Francisco struggle with the tendrils, saw how his metal arm slowed him down, and something inside her snapped. She couldn't just watch anymore.
Without thinking, she stepped out from behind the cruiser and ran forward, her scythe held at the ready. "I'm helping!" she shouted, not giving him a chance to argue.
Francisco turned his head, eyes narrowing in annoyance, but before he could respond, Ruby had already charged into the fray. Her scythe sliced through the air with precision, cleaving through a tentacle that had been reaching for the librarian's back. The severed limb fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Not bad," Francisco admitted grudgingly, even as his eyes darted back to the bodies. He took a step back, adjusting his approach now that Ruby was in the fight with him. "Just stay sharp. These things aren't finished yet."
Ruby nodded, her grip tightening on Crescent Rose. Her hands still shook, but she forced herself to focus. She wouldn't let her fear get the better of her again.
Francisco moved in sync with Ruby now, both of them working together to take down the remaining bodies. His right hand swung his sword with deadly precision, cutting each body in half, while Ruby used her scythe to slice through any tentacles that lashed out toward them. Together, they carved a path through the carnage, severing each limb and freeing the bodies from their grotesque bindings.
Finally, the last body dropped to the sand, the tentacles falling limp and lifeless around it. The air was still once again, the tension slowly easing from the scene.
Francisco sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the aftermath. His left arm twitched slightly, but he ignored it. For now, they've done their jobs.
"We're done here," he said, his voice low and controlled. "But whatever caused this... it's still out there."
Ruby nodded, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she holstered Crescent Rose. "We'll find it," she said, her voice steady with newfound resolve. "And we'll stop it."
the librarian glanced at her, his composure disallowed any feeling to come through in his face. "Just make sure you're ready when the time comes," he said, his tone light but serious.
Ruby met his gaze, her determination clear. "I will be."
The two would spend the rest of the morning and a part of the afternoon there, both scouting the area for further signs of the culprit and securing the bodies without ruining them further.
As the door to the restaurant swung shut behind them, Yang stormed ahead, her fists clenched at her sides. Her footsteps echoed angrily along the empty street, boots hitting the pavement with a steady, forceful rhythm. Qrow followed behind her, his hands buried in his coat pockets, his expression as unreadable as ever. Weiss lingered a few steps behind them, watching the scene unfold with a mix of concern and caution.
The tension that had simmered beneath the surface during the entire meeting with Morello had finally begun to boil over. Yang could feel it bubbling up inside her with every evasive answer, every sideways glance Qrow had given her had only added fuel to the fire.
She spun on her heel, stopping dead in her tracks and blocking Qrow's path. Her lilac eyes had long since turned blazing red, her voice sharp with barely restrained emotion. "Okay, Qrow," she snapped, "you're going to tell me what the hell that was all about. What's this 'Brawnwen Tribe' that Morello kept going on about?"
Qrow stopped in front of her, his eyes darting to the side before meeting her gaze. He'd been expecting this. Yang was never one to let things slide, especially when it involved her mother. He sighed, pulling a hand from his pocket to rub the back of his neck. "Yang, this really isn't the time-"
"Not the time?!" Yang cut him off, her voice rising. "I just heard that name, Branwen, and you expect me to ignore it? You know that's my mother's name! She disappeared when I was a kid, Qrow. And now you're going to tell me it's not important?" Her eyes narrowed, hurt and anger swirling together. "What aren't you telling me?"
Weiss remained silent, taking a small step back to give them space, but her gaze flicked between Yang and Qrow, the tension between them palpable.
Qrow's shoulders slumped slightly, and for a moment, he looked older, more tired than Yang had ever seen him. He'd spent years avoiding this conversation, hoping to protect Yang from the truth, hoping that somehow it wouldn't come to this. But now, with Morello having stirred up old wounds, there was no way to sidestep it anymore.
"Yang," Qrow started slowly, his voice rough, "the Branwen Tribe... it's not something you want to get mixed up in. Trust me."
Yang crossed her arms, her frustration growing with each vague answer he gave her. "Then tell me why, Qrow. Stop dodging the question. What do you know about them? And what does it have to do with Mom?"
The mention of her mother, Raven Branwen, hung in the air like a heavy weight between them. Yang had spent years searching for answers, years wondering why her mother had left without a word, why she had abandoned her and her father. And now, for the first time in years, she had a chance to learn more, and yet Qrow was standing in her way, just like always.
Qrow exhaled sharply, glancing at Weiss before turning back to his niece. His jaw clenched as he weighed his words carefully. "Your mother... she's the leader of the Branwen Tribe," he admitted, his tone reluctant. "It's a group of bandits, rough people, Yang. They live by their own rules, out on the fringes. They don't answer to anyone but themselves."
Yang's eyes widened in shock. This was the first time she'd ever heard anything so concrete about her mother's past. Her heart pounded in her chest. "Bandits?" she echoed, incredulous. "Mom's a bandit leader?"
Qrow nodded, his face grim. "Yeah. That's who she became after she left. She's been running that tribe for years now. And the Branwen Tribe... they're not exactly the kind of people you want to cross. They live by strength. Whoever's the strongest lead, and Raven, well... she's stronger than most."
Yang took a step back, her arms falling to her sides as she processed this new information. Her mother, a bandit leader? It was hard to reconcile the idea of the woman who had abandoned her as a child with the image of a ruthless leader of a band of criminals. She felt a surge of anger rises within her, not just at Qrow for keeping this from her, but at her mother for leaving in the first place.
"So that's why she left?" Yang's voice wavered slightly. "She left us to go lead a bunch of bandits?"
Qrow flinched at the pain in her voice. He'd never wanted to hurt her like this, but now that the truth was out, there was no going back. "Yang... I'm sorry. I didn't want you to find out this way."
Yang shook her head, her expression hardening. "You didn't want me to find out at all, did you? You've been keeping this from me for years, Qrow. Every time I asked about her, you just brushed me off. I had a right to know!"
Weiss stepped forward now, her voice gentle but firm. "Qrow, I think it's time you told her everything. You can't keep protecting her from the truth forever."
Qrow's eyes flicked to Weiss, his expression softening slightly before he returned his attention to Yang. He could see the determination in her eyes, the same fire that had always driven her. She wasn't going to let this go, he knew that. She deserved answers.
"You're right," Qrow finally said, his voice low. "I should've told you sooner. I just... I didn't want you to get caught up in all of this. The tribe, Raven... they live in a different world, Yang. A world of violence, and survival at all costs. I didn't want that for you."
Yang's fists clenched again, though her anger had shifted now. It wasn't just fury at Qrow, it was the realization that her mother had chosen that life over her. "But I'm already caught up in it, aren't I?" she asked, her voice quieter now but filled with resolve. "Whether you like it or not, this is part of who I am. I have a right to know."
Qrow nodded slowly, the weight of his choices heavy on his shoulders. "You're right. You do."
The three of them stood there in the quiet streets of Rubica, the tension still lingering but softened by the shared understanding that some truths couldn't be hidden forever. Yang's world had shifted. She now knew a little more about her mother, but it raised even more questions. She could feel her pulse quicken, and the question that had been burning in her heart for years slipped from her lips before she even realized she was asking it.
"Where is she?" Yang's voice was steady, her red eyes locked on Qrow. "Where's Raven now?"
Qrow stiffened, his gaze hardening as he met her eyes. He'd known this was coming, the moment Yang learned about the tribe, she would start looking for her mother once again. But that was the last thing he wanted. Raven was dangerous, not just because of her strength but because of the life she'd chosen. He couldn't let Yang run off after her, not when they had more pressing matters to deal with.
"I don't know," Qrow said, his voice clipped, though there was a hint of hesitation in it.
Yang narrowed her eyes. "That's a lie." Her fists clenched at her sides, her patience wearing thin. "You know exactly where she is, don't you?"
Qrow shook his head, trying to maintain his calm, but his fingers curled tightly inside his coat pockets. "Yang, I don't know where Raven is. She never stays in one place for long. Even if I did know, it's not like she'd welcome you with open arms."
Yang's jaw clenched, frustration bubbling up inside her again. "I don't care if she'd welcome me or not! I just need to talk to her! Don't you get it? She's my mother, Qrow! I need answers! Why did she leave? Why did she abandon me and Dad?"
Qrow's heart twisted at the hurt in her voice. He hated seeing Yang like this, so desperate for something she'd never really find. He knew Raven, and he knew that she wasn't the mother Yang wanted her to be. But no matter what he said, Yang wasn't going to give up. She was too much like her mother in that way, determined and stubborn.
"I know this is hard, kid," Qrow said, his voice softening just a fraction. "But trust me, chasing after Raven isn't going to give you the answers you want. She left because that's who she is. She's not going to change just because you track her down."
Yang shook her head, anger and hurt flashing in her eyes. "You don't get to make that call, Qrow. I have to do this. I have to find her."
Qrow took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, trying to keep the conversation from spiraling out of control, his hands twitching to reach a flask inside his pocket. "Yang," he said firmly, "right now, we've got bigger things to worry about. There's a murderer on the loose in Rubica, and we need to stop them before more people die. That's our priority."
Yang's eyes flared with defiance. "So what, we just ignore the fact that my mother is out there somewhere? That we're closer than we've ever been to finding her, and you're just going to pretend like it doesn't matter?"
"I'm not pretending it doesn't matter," Qrow shot back, his voice sharp. "But we have a job to do! Being a Huntress isn't about chasing personal vendettas or going off on your own whenever you feel like it. There are people here who need our help, people who are counting on us to stop this thing. We can't just drop everything to chase after Raven."
Yang glared at him, her fists shaking. She knew Qrow was right, in a way, she knew that they had a responsibility as Huntsmen to protect people. But it didn't stop the ache in her chest, the gnawing feeling that her mother was so close and yet still so far away. She had spent so long searching, and now, to be told once again to put her personal feelings aside... it was too much.
"Why do you always do this?" Yang asked, her voice quieter now but no less intense. "Why do you always put the mission first? Why is it never about family?"
Qrow closed his eyes for a moment, the weight of her words sinking in. Did she also blame him for...?
He had always put the mission first, that was what Huntsmen did. They sacrificed their own wants and needs to protect the world, to make sure others didn't have to suffer. But hearing Yang's pain, knowing how much she had struggled without her mother... it made him wonder if he and her father had made the right call, keeping this from her for so long.
He opened his eyes, his expression softening. "Because that's what we signed up for," Qrow said quietly. "We put others before ourselves. That's what being a Huntsman means. And I know it sucks, kid. I know it feels like you're being asked to give up something important. But there's more at stake here than just us."
Yang looked away, her anger simmering but unable to find an outlet. She hated it. She hated that he was right. She hated that she had to push her own feelings aside for the sake of the mission. But most of all, she hated that her mother was still out there, somewhere, and that Qrow wasn't going to help her find her.
Weiss, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, stepped forward cautiously. "Yang," she said softly, "I know how much this means to you. But Qrow's right, we need to focus on what's happening here in Rubica first. Once we've dealt with the murderer, maybe we can start looking for missions related to bandit camps. Small steps, you know?"
Yang's eyes flicked to Weiss, her frustration still visible, but she sighed, letting some of the tension leave her shoulders. "Fine," she muttered. "But this isn't over. After this... we're finding her."
Qrow nodded slowly, relieved that she wasn't going to push the issue any further for now. "We will," he promised. "But first... we stop whatever's killing people in this city."
Yang turned away, her mind still buzzing with unanswered questions. She wanted to believe that she could let this go for now, that she could focus on the mission. But the thought of her mother, so close, yet so distant, haunted her. She clenched her fists one last time, vowing silently to herself that no matter what, she wouldn't stop searching for Raven. Now though? They needed to interview some people.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the streets of Rubica as Francisco trudged down the narrow coastal path with Ruby perched atop his shoulders. The rocky terrain that had been challenging during their race now felt like an endless stretch of punishment for Francisco, who grumbled under his breath with every step. Ruby, on the other hand, swung her legs back and forth cheerfully, as if she hadn't just been dealing with grotesque corpses and twitching tentacles.
"This is so much fun!" Ruby chirped, completely ignoring the sour look on Francisco's face. "I don't think I've ever had a piggyback ride before, not one like this anyway!"
The librarian clenched his jaw, his metal hand attempted to ball into a fist at his side, while his good hand gripped Ruby's legs to keep her steady. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "Don't get used to it."
She giggled, leaning forward slightly to peek at his grumpy expression. "You're just upset because you lost, admit it! You didn't think I had it in me to beat you, did you?"
Francisco scowled, though he couldn't help but let a small smirk slip through. "I knew you had energy. But speed doesn't win races, kid. Stamina does. You only won because I... lost focus." The last part of his sentence came out as more of a reluctant admission than anything else.
Ruby poked his head playfully. "Oh, come on! You know it wasn't just that. I'm faster than you, deal with it!"
Francisco rolled his eyes, but he didn't argue further. As much as he hated losing, especially to someone younger and less experienced, he had to give Ruby credit. She had pushed herself hard during the race, and she had earned her victory, even if it had ended with her being tossed over the finish line by accident.
They walked in relative silence for a few moments, the rhythmic sound of Francisco's footsteps mingling with the distant crashing of the waves against the shore. Despite Ruby's outward enthusiasm, Francisco could sense a shift in her demeanor. She had grown quieter, her cheerful tone fading as her mind seemed to drift elsewhere.
"Something on your mind?" Francisco asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.
Ruby hesitated before answering. "It's just... the bodies, you know?" she finally said. "They were so... horrible. I don't know how you could handle it so easily."
Francisco's grip on her legs tightened slightly. He had seen it too. He had dealt with worse, in fact. His past in the Index had forced him to witness, and sometimes participate in, horrors that would haunt him for the rest of his life. But Ruby wasn't like him. She was young, still learning what it meant to be a Huntress, still untainted by the worst of humanity. He knew that those bodies had shaken her, even if she was trying to put on a brave face.
"It's not easy," Francisco said quietly. "You just get used to it over time. After you've seen enough of it, the shock starts to fade. But that doesn't mean it ever stops affecting you."
Ruby bit her lip, mulling over his words. "I guess I'm just not cut out for this kind of thing," she said softly. "I want to be a great Huntress... someone who can protect people. But when I see things like that... I don't feel brave. I just feel scared."
Francisco frowned, his expression softening slightly as he glanced up at her. "Everyone feels scared, Ruby," he said. "Even the best Fixers. Fear's not something you can get rid of. But the trick is learning to live with it, to not let it stop you from doing what needs to be done."
Ruby rested her chin on her hands, her elbows propped on Francisco's head as she considered his words. "But what if I'm not strong enough to get past it? What if... I mess up when it really counts?"
Francisco paused for a moment, then resumed walking, his tone thoughtful. "Strength isn't just about fighting, or taking down Grimm, or being fearless. It's about facing things you're scared of and doing what you have to anyway. The fact that you were scared but still came to help with those bodies... That's strength."
Ruby smiled faintly, though her insecurities still lingered beneath the surface. "I guess you're right... I just... I want to be like you, you know? Tough. Unshakeable."
Francisco chuckled softly, though the sound was tinged with irony. "Kid, if you think I'm unshakeable, you're not paying attention. Plus, are you sure you want to be like me? Blake would faint if she heard that."
Ruby giggled, resting her chin on her hands as she considered his words. "Blake probably wouldn't believe it either," she admitted, shaking her head slightly. "She'd say you're too bloodlusty for me to want to be like you."
"Smart girl," Francisco said with a smile, his pace steady as they continued down the path. "I'm not exactly someone you want to imitate. Besides, you've got your own thing going, don't need to try and be anyone else."
Ruby's smile faded just a little, her eyes drifting back to the horizon. "Yeah, but... what if my 'own thing' isn't enough? I don't want to freeze up again when it really matters. I want to be... I don't know, braver."
Francisco's smirk turned into something more thoughtful. He knew what Ruby was feeling, the doubt, the fear of not being good enough. He'd been there himself. The Index had shaped him in ways that still haunted him, but he knew that Ruby's journey was different. She had a chance to be something better, something more than a tool for others.
"Listen, Ruby," Francisco began, his voice blunt but not unkind, "you're gonna screw up sometimes. That's just part of the deal. You'll mess up, you'll be scared, and you might even fail. But that doesn't mean you aren't brave."
Ruby's eyebrows furrowed, and she shifted slightly atop Francisco's shoulders. "But how can I be brave if I keep getting scared?"
Francisco grunted, adjusting his grip on her legs. "Being brave isn't about not being scared. It's about doing what needs to be done, even when you are. You think I'm not scared when I go into a fight? When I see those bodies, those things... that doesn't just go away because I've seen worse. I just don't let it stop me. That and my genuine desire to improve myself."
Ruby went quiet again, letting his words sink in. She didn't doubt that Francisco had been through a lot, probably more than she could imagine. The way he spoke, the way he carried himself, it all reflected someone who had been hardened by the world. But even so, she could see the way he still tried to help her, the way he was willing to guide her through her own struggles.
"You're really blunt, you know that?" Ruby said after a moment, trying to lighten the mood with a small smile.
Francisco chuckled. "Yeah, well, I'm not good with sugarcoating. Life's too short for that crap."
Ruby grinned at that. "I guess I can appreciate that. Even if it stings sometimes."
"Good," Francisco said, nodding. "You need people who'll tell you how it is, not what you want to hear. You're strong, Ruby, stronger than you realize. And the more you face, the more you'll see that."
Ruby tilted her head slightly, looking down at him with a softer expression. "You think so?"
"I know so," Francisco replied without hesitation. "You've got guts, kid. And you've got a good heart. That's more than most people can say."
Ruby's heart warmed a little at his words, even though she knew he wasn't the kind of person to dish out compliments easily. It made his encouragement feel more genuine like he really believed in her.
She rested her chin on his bald head again, feeling a little more at ease now, even after everything they'd seen. "Thanks, Francisco," she said quietly. "I'm glad you're here with us."
Francisco snorted, his usual gruffness returning. "Don't get all sappy on me now. I'm contractually obligated to be here."
Ruby laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Sure, sure. But still... it's nice to have you around."
Though Francisco would never admit it, carrying Ruby on his shoulders didn't feel quite as much like a punishment as he had thought.
The night sky over Rubica was a muted grey, the thick clouds hiding the stars as a light drizzle fell over the city streets. The group trudged toward a small, nondescript hotel, weary from the long day of investigations that had yielded no real results.
They had spent hours combing through Rubica, questioning shopkeepers, street vendors, and anyone who might have seen something unusual. Every lead had turned to ash in their hands, each answer more mundane than the last. Now, with nothing to show for their efforts, they were left with little more than exhaustion and frustration.
Qrow led the group into the hotel, his coat dripping with rainwater as he approached the front desk. He was tired, his face etched with deep lines of fatigue. "Two rooms," he muttered to the receptionist, sliding some money across the counter. "One for the girls, one for us."
Ruby looked like she wanted to protest the arrangement, her silver eyes flicking between Francisco and Qrow, but she held her tongue. Yang, on the other hand, didn't bother hiding her frustration. "Come on, Qrow," she groaned, her voice tinged with annoyance. "We're not kids. We don't need to be separated just because you don't trust Francisco."
Qrow's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he glanced at his niece. "It's not about that," he said, though the lie was plain enough for everyone to hear. "I just think it's safer this way. Besides, after everything we've been through today, you all need rest. No distractions."
Yang rolled her eyes, but Weiss placed a calming hand on her arm. "Let it go," Weiss said softly. "Why does it matter anyway, Yang?"
Reluctantly, Yang sighed and turned away, following Ruby and Weiss toward their room. Ruby threw Francisco an apologetic look over her shoulder, but he just shrugged, unfazed. He honestly didn't care, he even managed to understand the implications anyway.
Once the girls were settled in their room, Qrow and Francisco made their way down the narrow hallway to their own quarters. The room was small, barely large enough to fit two single beds on either side of a rickety-looking nightstand. The walls were thick, the faded wallpaper peeling at the edges, and the air smelled faintly of damp wood. It wasn't much, but it was enough to crash for the night.
Qrow closed the door behind them, the click of the lock echoing in the otherwise silent room. He didn't say anything at first, just tossed his coat onto one of the beds and slumped into the creaky chair in the corner. He pulled out his flask and took a long swig, letting out a deep sigh as he leaned back.
Francisco remained standing by the door for a moment, taking in the room with a sharp gaze. He could feel Qrow's eyes on him, the older man's distrust palpable even in the quiet of the night. Francisco ignored it.
He moved to the bed opposite Qrow's, sitting on the edge and unbuckling his sword. He placed Downpour gently against the wall, the blade still stained with remnants of the earlier fight. For a moment, he just sat there, staring at the metal casing that covered his left arm, his thoughts distant.
Qrow watched him from across the room, his flask resting on the arm of the chair. The tension between them hung in the air, thick and oppressive, but neither of them spoke. The day had drained them, and now the only thing that awaited them was sleep.
Eventually, Qrow broke the silence, his voice rough and tired. "You did good out there today. Kept Ruby safe."
Francisco didn't look up, but his lips twitched slightly in response. "That's the job, yes," he said simply.
Qrow grunted, taking another swig from his flask. He leaned his head back against the chair, his eyes drifting shut as the exhaustion began to pull at him. "Still don't trust you," he muttered, more to himself than to Francisco.
Francisco chuckled dryly. "I don't care."
Silence fell between them again, the only sound the soft patter of rain against the window. Francisco lay back on the bed, resting his right arm behind his head as he stared up at the cracked ceiling. He could feel the tension in his body easing slightly, the weariness catching up to him after the long day. His mind drifted, but he stayed alert, always half-listening, half-watching. Old habits, learned from years of living on edge, were hard to break.
Qrow eventually slipped into sleep, his flask resting loosely in his hand. The soft sounds of his steady breathing filled the room, but Francisco remained awake a while longer, his eyes tracing the patterns of the cracks above him, slowly falling asleep.
Francisco's eyes had just begun to drift shut when his Scroll buzzed loudly from the nightstand. The sharp vibration cut through the silence of the room, jarring him awake. For a moment, he lay there, groggy and disoriented, before he realized what the noise was. With a grunt of annoyance, he turned his head toward the glowing device, the screen flickering in the darkness.
The Scroll continued to buzz insistently, the light from the screen casting long shadows across the walls. Francisco sighed heavily, pushing himself up into a sitting position. He reached for the device, his movements slow and clumsy as fatigue weighed him down. His fingers brushed against the Scroll, but he hesitated, staring down at the unfamiliar symbols on the screen.
He pressed his thumb against one of the buttons, hoping it was the right one, but instead, the screen flashed more text and more symbols at him, none of which made any sense to him. His brow furrowed in frustration. The buzzing continued.
"Ugh, damn thing..." Francisco muttered under his breath, fumbling with the device. He tapped at the screen again, swiping in the wrong direction, his frustration growing.
The noise stirred Qrow from his slumber. His eyes fluttered open, and he groaned softly, sitting up in the chair across the room. "Baldy, what the hell are you doing?" Qrow grumbled, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Trying to answer this damn thing," The librarian muttered back, his voice tinged with irritation. "Scroll's buzzing, but it's just throwing a bunch of shit at me."
Qrow, still half-asleep, ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "It's a call, genius. Press the green thing to answer."
Francisco stared at the Scroll, blinking at Qrow's simple instructions. He tried once more, pressing the green space on the screen. This time, the buzzing stopped, and the screen flickered to life with a familiar face. Bemaia's tired expression filled the screen, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion, though there was something else there, a stain right beneath his mouth and cheek. Dried blood? He couldn't tell.
"Francisco," Bemaia's voice came through, sounding rough, as if he hadn't slept in days. "We've got a problem."
Francisco leaned back slightly, his expression hardening at the tone. "What kind of problem?" he asked, his voice low.
Bemaia sighed, rubbing his temple with his fingers. "I just received a call. From Jacques Schnee."
The mention of Weiss's father made Francisco frown. He wasn't a fan of rich, pompous men like Jacques, but something about the way Bemaia said his name made the air feel heavier. "What did he want?" Francisco asked, feeling Qrow watching him from the other side of the room, now fully awake.
"He told me... he received a ransom message," Bemaia continued, his voice edged with something close to disbelief. "Claimed that Weiss had been kidnapped."
Francisco's grip on the Scroll tightened. "Kidnapped?" he echoed, his voice darkening. He glanced toward Qrow, who had straightened in his seat, his face suddenly pale and alert. "That can't be right. Weiss is with Yang and Ruby just in the other room."
Bemaia's face hardened. "That's what I thought too. But Jacques sounded serious. He said he received a message demanding payment in exchange for Weiss's safety. He's panicking, and he's not exactly someone who panics easily."
Francisco's stomach twisted. This didn't make sense. Weiss was fine. She was with her team, safe... wasn't she?
"What's the plan?" Francisco asked, his voice steady despite the cold pit forming in his gut.
Bemaia's gaze sharpened a weary determination in his eyes. "I'm assigning you to deal with it. I don't care if it's a false alarm or a real threat. I want you to get to the bottom of this. If Weiss is in danger, you need to find her and bring her back."
Francisco nodded slowly, his mind already shifting gears. He couldn't ignore the possibility, no matter how improbable it seemed. If Weiss was in danger, he couldn't afford to waste time. "I'll handle it," he said firmly.
I left to be better... I left because I had to.
Did you change?
I thought I did...
But why do I still feel like this?
Why do I still feel so... trapped?
It's like I'm always running. Running from Adam. From my past. From myself. But no matter how far I go... it's always there. Always waiting. Like I can't escape it. I tried to leave that life behind, but...
Why does it keep coming back?
Maybe I haven't really changed at all. Maybe... I'm still that person. The girl who hurt people. The girl who abandoned them when they needed me most.
I thought... I thought if I kept fighting, if I kept trying to do good... that I'd be different. That I'd be better. But all I've done is bring more pain. More suffering. The people I care about... they get hurt because of me. Because I'm not strong enough to stop it. I never am.
Maybe I've been lying to myself this whole time.
What if I'm not really the person I want to be? What if... I'm just pretending?
What if this is who you are?
Adam said I'd never escape it. That I'd never be free of what I am. What if he was right? What if I can't run from it?
Am I still... that girl? The one who hurt people? The one who let them down?
Maybe... maybe this is all I'll ever be. Maybe all this trying, all this fighting... it's just delaying the inevitable. I'm not like Ruby or Yang. I'm not brave. I'm not a hero.
I'm just...
What if... what if you stop fighting? What if you just... let it happen?
Would it be easier?
I've been fighting for so long. But what has it really gotten me? Pain? Guilt? Fear?
Maybe... if I stop pretending... if I let go... maybe I can finally stop feeling like this. Maybe... I'll finally be free of it.
Free...
What do you want, Blake?
What do I want?
I want... I want it to stop. I want the guilt, the fear, the weight... to go away.
And maybe... maybe if I let go of the person I'm trying to be... maybe then...
Maybe then I won't have to feel any of it anymore.
Maybe then... I'll finally be free.