Argus, Afternoon
On the frigid walls of Argus Base, the biting cold swept over the conscripts as they kept vigil for any sign of Grimm movement. High above the bustle of the base, Jaune and Blake stood side by side, their eyes scanning the darkened horizon.
Suddenly, a sharp "Achoo~!" escaped Blake, her face briefly contorting from the chill.
"Bless you!" Jaune said, leaning over to offer her a steaming cup of coffee. The aroma of roasted beans and a hint of cinnamon provided a welcome contrast to the icy air.
"Thanks," Blake replied softly as she accepted the cup, wrapping her hands around it to warm up. For a moment, the simple gesture was a reminder of their humanity amidst the rigid military demands.
They have been conscripted into service for over three weeks, an outcome of Cordovin's strict terms following Ruby's negotiations.
Still, it's much sooner than waiting for Winter.
Orders now dictated their routine: Blake and Jaune, along with others from Team RWBY and Team JNPR, were posted on various sections of the base perimeter, keeping watch for any irregularities or the telltale signs of Grimm.
"Feels like we've been up here forever," Jaune remarked, taking a cautious sip of his coffee. His tone was light, but his eyes betrayed the exhaustion of endless patrols.
Blake nodded in agreement, her gaze fixed on the vast, snow-dusted expanse below. "I know. Sometimes, I wonder if this conscription was meant to break us or make us stronger." Her voice was low, thoughtful. "But... I suppose it's all we've got right now."
Across the base, different tasks unfolded: Pyrrha and Ruby had been assigned to the opposite end of the city wall, patrolling and reporting back, while Nora was busy assisting in moving valuable cargo within the Atlas Base.
Meanwhile, Ren, Yang, and Weiss manned the docks, ensuring that the maritime perimeter was secure.
Rinko, however, trained Oscar.
For Jaune and Blake, however, this shift in duty provided a rare moment of quiet reflection. Jaune's gaze drifted toward Blake as he continued, "You ever think about how strange this is? One day, we're out adventuring on our own, and now we're—temporary soldiers, part of a big, impersonal machine."
Blake allowed herself a small, wry smile as she glanced at him. "It's not exactly what I signed up for, but maybe it's a chance to learn something new. Besides, it's nice to have a break from the chaos—even if it means polishing the same old walls day after day."
Jaune chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, and if we play our cards right, maybe we'll actually get to see some real action soon."
Blake chuckled, "Of course."
The conversation shifted into a comfortable silence as they both scanned the dark horizon, each lost in their own thoughts.
Blake's eyes flickered with both determination and a tinge of melancholy, reflecting the weight of their new reality.
Jaune, ever the optimist, tried to focus on the silver lining—the promise that their efforts here might eventually lead them to Atlas, and ultimately, back to the mission that meant everything.
Even in the midst of enforced duty and the cold structure of military life, there remained a spark of camaraderie between them. It was a quiet rebellion against the constraints of their new world—a reminder that even as conscripts, they still had a voice, a heart, and a shared hope for something better.
And so, high above the base, amid the perpetual chill and the distant hum of military operations, Jaune and Blake stood together—a small, determined island of hope in an otherwise rigid world.
Pyrrha and Ruby
Pyrrha and Ruby stood atop the high walls of Argus Base, their makeshift lunch spread laid out before them.
The muted hum of the base's activity and the distant clatter of machinery filled the background, but up here, in their little corner of the world, only the sound of their quiet breathing and the occasional clink of utensils disturbed the silence.
Ruby absentmindedly nibbled on a piece of toast as she gazed out at the sprawling base below. For a long moment, neither spoke—lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Ruby broke the silence, her voice tentative.
"Hey... umm, Pyrrha?"
Pyrrha paused mid-bite, her eyes softening as she turned to look at Ruby. "Yes? Is something wrong?"
Ruby hesitated, swallowing hard before continuing. "Yeah... it's just... do you think that was the right decision?" Her gaze fell to her hands, fidgeting with a scrap of paper. "I mean, maybe it would have gone better if Rinko had done the talking? I feel like I rushed things, and somehow—unwittingly—we ended up as Atlas soldiers."
For a moment, Pyrrha studied Ruby. There was a flicker of doubt in Ruby's expressive eyes—a vulnerability rarely seen in the ever-optimistic leader. Slowly, Pyrrha smiled and reached out, patting Ruby's shoulder reassuringly.
"Hey, it's alright," Pyrrha said softly. "Remember, after Beacon fell, our main goal was to help people—no matter what form that help takes. We're still doing that, even if it means playing by rules we never imagined." Her voice was gentle yet steady, like a calming melody in the midst of chaos.
She took another bite of her lunch, then continued, "And look, you've done more than you know. Rinko seemed fine with you taking the lead this time. Honestly, you anchored us when things felt like they were falling apart, especially after the fall. Besides, I think it was still a fair deal—as long as we don't mess it up, that is."
Ruby's eyes shimmered with a mixture of relief and lingering worry as she met Pyrrha's gaze. "Really?" she asked, the faintest smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Really," Pyrrha affirmed. "Every decision has its risks. Sometimes we have to trust that our choices, however imperfect, will guide us forward. And I believe you made the best call with the information you had. We're a team, Ruby—every step we take, even the missteps, brings us closer to our goal."
Ruby sighed, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly as she allowed herself to believe Pyrrha's words. They continued to eat in a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the occasional murmur of encouragement from Pyrrha.
As the sun began to dip lower over Argus, casting long shadows across the base, Ruby tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and looked back out at the horizon. "I guess... sometimes you have to take a leap, even if you're not 100% sure it'll land right."
Pyrrha smiled warmly. "Exactly."
In that quiet moment atop the wall, the weight of their new conscription, the uncertainties of their future, and the scars of past battles all softened into something manageable—just another challenge they would face as a united team.
No matter how much the world tried to dictate their fate, they would fight to shape their own path.
Ruby's gaze lowered, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her cup. For the first time in a while, the food in front of her felt warm, not just in temperature but in comfort. Even if things weren't perfect, they were together. And that was enough.
Later, Saphron's House
Ruby and Pyrrha stepped through the front door, the wooden floor creaking softly beneath their boots. The warmth of the house should have been comforting after the night air outside, but something felt... off.
Ruby's gaze immediately flickered toward the couch—toward Yang.
Her sister sat hunched forward, elbows on her knees, eyes unfocused. There was no lighthearted teasing, no confident smirk. Just worry.
A deep, unsettled worry.
Ruby and Pyrrha exchanged a silent nod before parting ways—Pyrrha heading upstairs while Ruby hesitated only a moment before making her way to the couch.
She sat beside Yang, close enough for their shoulders to touch.
"You okay, sis?"
Yang turned to look at her, her lilac eyes dim under the soft lighting.
"Yeah... It's just..." She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Uncle Qrow still hasn't come home. It's been almost two days now, and it's really starting to bug me."
Ruby stiffened. "Wait, what?"
"Yeah..." Yang's fingers clenched around her knee. "I mean, I know he goes off on his own sometimes, but this feels different. His drinking's been worse lately, and now..." She exhaled sharply. "Now I can't stop thinking about it."
Ruby gripped the fabric of her skirt, her mind racing.
Two days.
Jaune and Blake entered through the front door just then, their arrival breaking the tense silence.
Jaune looked exhausted. His posture slumped, his steps slow and heavy. He barely managed a nod toward Team RWBY before trudging upstairs without a word.
Blake, however, noticed the tight expressions on Ruby and Yang's faces.
Something was wrong.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice quiet but firm.
Ruby swallowed, meeting Blake's gaze. "...We need to find Qrow."
Argus, Outside
The cold night wrapped around them as they moved through the streets. Streetlights flickered overhead, casting elongated shadows against the stone pavement. The ocean murmured in the distance, the waves lapping against the docks in rhythmic whispers.
But the city's quiet beauty felt hollow.
Because then—
They saw him.
Qrow was slumped against a bush in the park, as if mistaking it for a comfortable seat. His usual sharp composure was gone, replaced by the sluggish form of a man barely held together by exhaustion and alcohol. An empty beer bottle dangled from his loose grip, his fingers barely holding onto it.
Ruby's stomach twisted.
Yang's arms crossed tightly over her chest, jaw clenched. "Dammit..."
Blake exhaled, watching silently, her golden eyes dark with concern.
"I've never seen him this bad," Yang murmured.
Ruby stepped forward. The cold bit at her exposed skin, but she barely noticed.
She crouched beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. A light shake.
"Uncle Qrow, wake up."
Qrow let out a low groan, his fingers loosening. The beer bottle slipped from his grasp, hitting the pavement with a dull clink but miraculously not shattering.
A sluggish hand swatted at Ruby's arm.
"Give... me five minutes..." he muttered.
Ruby stared at him.
The bottle at her feet. The unshaven mess of a man before her. The stink of alcohol clinging to the air.
Something inside her snapped.
She reached for the bottle.
She stared at it, her grip tightening around the glass.
Yang and Blake tensed, sensing the shift in the air.
Then—
SMASH!
The bottle shattered against the ground.
Glass scattered across the pavement like tiny, glistening daggers.
The sound was louder than it should have been. It rang in the cold night, sharp and violent.
Qrow's head jerked up, eyes bleary with confusion as he blinked at the broken glass.
"Huh?! Wha—oh..." His voice was hoarse, groggy, as if only now realizing where he was. His bloodshot eyes lifted to Ruby, then to the others. "...It's you guys..."
Ruby was trembling. Her hands clenched into fists.
"Uncle Qrow," she said, her voice low, steady. "We don't have five minutes for this."
Qrow exhaled heavily, rubbing his face with one hand. "Ahh... Yeah... Sorry about this, kid."
But before he could even push himself up—
"No. You're not."
Qrow froze. Ruby's voice was sharper than steel, cutting through the cold air like a blade.
"You're not sorry, Uncle Qrow," she continued, stepping closer. "Because if you were, you wouldn't be like this. You wouldn't do this to yourself. You wouldn't do this to us."
Qrow's expression darkened, but he didn't say anything.
"You've been drinking more. Do you even realize how long you've been gone?" Her voice cracked. "Two days, Uncle Qrow. Two WHOLE days."
She saw the faint twitch in his fingers.
"You just disappeared again. You left us behind."
Qrow's mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. A bead of sweat formed at his temple.
"I've been so worried about you," Ruby whispered, voice trembling now. "And to see you like this?" She clenched her fists. "It hurts."
Qrow's breath hitched.
"And what hurts the most..." she inhaled sharply, blinking against the burning in her eyes. "Is that I used to look up to you."
The words hit harder than any blow Qrow had ever taken in battle.
His throat tightened, his breath catching for just a moment. He could face monsters, fight bandits, take on the worst the world had to offer—but this?
This was different.
Ruby didn't wait for him to respond. She turned on her heel, her boots crunching against the stone as she walked away.
"R-Ruby!" Yang called after her, jogging to catch up.
Blake lingered for a second, casting one last sympathetic glance at Qrow, Then, without a word, she followed.
And just like that, Qrow was left alone.
The cold night pressed in around him, the silence heavier than before. He stared blankly at the snowy pavement, his mind replaying Ruby's words over and over again, each one cutting deeper than the last.
For the first time in a long while, the alcohol in his system didn't feel like enough to numb the ache.
And for the first time in an even longer while—
He wished it was.
Arc-Cotta's Residence
The door creaked open as Ruby strode inside with quick, purposeful steps. Though her jaw was set in determination, the slump of her shoulders betrayed the heavy burden she carried. The bitter Argus air clung stubbornly to her cloak, and faint trails of dampness—remnants of tears shed along the way—glistened under the soft interior lighting.
Saphron turned away from the kitchen counter at the sound of the door opening, her brow furrowing when she saw Ruby's expression.
"Ruby?" she called gently, setting down the dish she had been drying. Terra, who had been seated at the dining table with Adrian on her lap, glanced up as well, sensing the shift in atmosphere.
Ruby didn't respond immediately. Instead, she walked straight to the couch and collapsed onto it, burying her face in her hands. Yang and Blake entered shortly after, sharing a look before closing the door behind them.
Saphron wiped her hands on her apron before walking over. "What happened?" Her voice was calm, but there was an undertone of concern.
Yang sighed, running a hand through her hair. "We found Qrow... drunk. Worse than usual."
Blake sat beside Ruby and placed a comforting hand on her back. "It didn't go well."
Ruby finally lifted her head, her silver eyes shining with unshed tears. "I yelled at him," she admitted, her voice small.
Saphron sat down across from her, nodding slowly. "Did he say anything back?"
Ruby shook her head. "No. He just... sat there."
Terra exhaled, rocking Adrian gently when he started to stir. "That must've been hard for both of you."
Ruby let out a humorless laugh. "I don't know if he even cares."
"Of course he cares," Saphron said gently. "He just might not know how to show it right now."
Ruby let out a sharp breath, her fingers curling into the fabric of her cloak. "I.. Maybe.. But it's like he doesn't even try anymore." Her voice cracked. "We almost died in that abandoned village. We were freezing and trapped with Grimm we didn't even know existed. And where was he?"
Her hands trembled in her lap.
"Asleep. Drunk and passed out while we fought to survive in a basement filled with corpses."
The room tensed.
Saphron and Terra exchanged a glance, the weight of Ruby's words settling over them.
Ruby hugged her arms around herself, her mind replaying the shattered glass, the stunned look on Qrow's face, the weight of her own words. She had been so angry, so hurt—but now, sitting here, she wasn't sure if she regretted it.
"Did I go too far?" she asked quietly.
She had always looked up to him. The cool uncle. The one who always had her back. But that version of Qrow felt like a ghost now—a memory left behind in the wreckage of everything they'd lost.
Yang sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around Ruby's shoulders. "I don't think so," she said. "Maybe he needed to hear it."
"Then why do I feel so awful?" Ruby whispered.
"Because you care," Blake answered simply.
Silence stretched between them, only broken by the occasional sound of Adrian shifting in his mother's arms.
After a while, Saphron spoke again. "You should get some rest," she suggested. "You've been through a lot today."
Ruby hesitated but eventually nodded. "Yeah... maybe I should."
Yang squeezed her shoulder before letting go, and Blake gave her a small, reassuring nod. As Ruby stood and made her way to the second floor, she paused at mid-steps on the floor as she looked at everyone in the living room
"Thanks," she murmured before disappearing above.
The front door opened again, a gust of cold air slipping in as Oscar stepped inside, balancing a couple of grocery bags in his arms.
Selene followed right behind him, adjusting her glasses as she shifted her grip on her own bags. She didn't speak at first, but the heavy atmosphere in the room made her pause just past the threshold.
Oscar's cheerful expression faded as he took in the scene—Yang looked exhausted, Blake was quiet, and even Saphron and Terra carried a tension that hadn't been there before.
"...Did something happen?" Oscar asked hesitantly.
Second Floor
Ruby barely paid attention to the room as she shut the door behind her.
It didn't matter where she was; she just needed a moment—just one moment to be alone. She staggered toward the bed, her exhaustion dragging her down, and collapsed onto the mattress.
For a few seconds, she simply lay there, breathing heavily into the fabric. Then, without thinking, she clenched the pillow beneath her and let out a silent scream into it.
It wasn't fair.
She had tried so hard. Held everything together. Made the tough calls before they got to Mistral, and they kept moving forward because that was what a leader was supposed to do. But when did she get to stop? When did she get to be the one falling apart?
She gritted her teeth, blinking back the fresh wave of tears that threatened to spill. 'It's fine. You're fine. Just keep—'
Her fingers tightened around the pillow.
No.
She wasn't fine.
She stayed in the room in silence for a few minutes, letting her sort her emotions more clearly.
"Rinko..." Ruby whispered into the empty room, her voice hoarse. "How would you do things if you were in my position right now?"
A hum cut through the silence.
"Hmmm, like what?"
Ruby jerked up, heart pounding, and turned toward the voice.
There, sitting casually in the chair near the window, was Rinko Schnee.
He was comfortably reclined, one leg crossed over the other, his blue eyes lazily scanning the pages of Ninja of Love, Volume 11.
The dim glow of the moonlight cast soft shadows over his features, making the sharp Schnee resemblance even more pronounced.
He barely spared her a glance as he turned another page. "You'll have to be more specific, Ruby. I can't give good advice if I don't know the details."
Ruby blinked. Then blinked again.
Her exhaustion must've been worse than she thought. Was she hallucinating?
She ran a hand down her face. "Rinko... what are you doing here?"
Rinko finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. "I was reading." He gave the book a small shake before smirking. "That is, until somebody decided to barge into my room and scream into my bed like a dramatic protagonist having an existential crisis."
Ruby's face burned red. She quickly sat up, gripping the blankets as she glanced around. Sure enough, she was definitely not in a guest room provided for her—she had walked straight into his.
"Oh—um." She groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I didn't even check before lying down, I just—ugh."
Rinko snorted. "I figured. But hey, at least you're not Grimm, been having a lot of experience with them lately. I'd hate to die while reading this masterpiece."
He held up Ninja of Love, his expression completely serious.
Despite herself, Ruby let out a breathy laugh. It was small, barely there, but it was something.
Rinko leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Now, let's go back to that question of yours. What exactly do you need my perspective on?"
Ruby hesitated, staring at the bedspread beneath her fingers. The fabric was soft, but her grip on it was tight, as if grounding herself in something tangible would help keep her emotions from spilling over.
Then, with a deep breath, she lifted her gaze.
"...Qrow."
Rinko, who had been idly flipping a page of Ninja of Love, immediately closed the book and set it aside. His blue eyes studied her carefully. "What happened?"
Ruby inhaled sharply, pressing her lips together before exhaling through her nose. She didn't even know where to begin.
"We found him earlier today," she started, her voice quieter than before. "Drunk. Worse than usual."
Rinko didn't react outwardly, but there was a knowing look in his eyes. "Ah."
Ruby's fingers curled into the blanket. "He's always been like this. I know that. But... this time, I just—I snapped. I raised my voice at him. I—I wanted to tell him that we almost died back at Brunswick Farms while he was passed out. That he just keeps—keeps running from everything when we need him to be better."
Her voice cracked, and she clenched her jaw, trying to hold it together.
Rinko didn't speak immediately, letting her gather her thoughts. He wasn't the type to rush moments like these.
Ruby let out a bitter laugh. "And you know what he did?" She looked up, meeting Rinko's gaze. "Nothing. He just sat there. No fight, no excuses—nothing."
Rinko exhaled, crossing his arms. "And that bothers you."
"Of course it bothers me!" Ruby snapped, then winced at how harsh her own voice sounded. She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I just... I wanted him to care. To say something. Anything. But it felt like he had already given up."
Rinko leaned back slightly, tapping his fingers against his arm. "Maybe he has."
Ruby flinched, turning to him sharply. "What?"
"You said it yourself—he didn't fight back. No excuses, no angry retorts. That's not apathy, Ruby." Rinko's voice was calm, but his expression was serious. "That's someone who knows they're a failure and has decided there's nothing they can do to change it."
Ruby swallowed hard.
"Qrow's been drowning for a while now," Rinko continued, "but instead of swimming to shore, he's let himself sink."
Ruby's hands trembled. "Then what do I do?"
Rinko was silent for a moment, then sighed. "I don't know."
Ruby blinked.
"I don't know," Rinko repeated with a small shrug. "I could tell you to keep trying. To shake some sense into him. Or I could tell you to walk away, to stop carrying a weight that isn't yours. But neither answer would fix him because, in the end, Qrow has to want to fix himself."
Ruby's breath hitched.
And deep down, she knew he was right.
She wiped at her eyes, swallowing against the lump in her throat. "Then why does it still hurt?"
Rinko's gaze softened. "Because you love him."
Ruby let out a shuddering breath, nodding weakly.
Silence stretched between them before Rinko reached over, nudging her shoulder lightly. "You should rest," he said. "You've done enough for today."
She hesitated but eventually nodded. "Yeah... maybe I should."
Rinko smirked. "Good. Because I really want to finish this book without interruption."
Ruby let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "You and your romance novels."
"They're quality literature, Ruby."
"Uh-huh. Sure.." Ruby smiled, and she shifted on the bed. "Rinko..?"
Rinko turned to her, "Yeah?"
"Mind if I... sleep on your bed..? I'm kinda already on it and I just feel... tired." She yawned.
Rinko simply offered a smile, "Sure, suit yourself."
"Thank you..." Despite everything, Ruby felt the tension in her chest ease just a little. And as she closed her eyes, listening to the sound of pages turning beside her, she allowed herself—for just a moment—to breathe.
[End]