Penny stepped into the portal, her eyes gazed on the bridge that led from Atlas to Vacuo. A smile crossed her lips as she watched those from Atlas evacuate, almost surprised at how effective the message had been. She was certain no one would come, that no one would believe them, and yet not only did Jaune and the others get through, but seeing the Happy Huntresses and some of the Atlas soldiers help with the evacuations… It reminded her just how good the world could be.
The tension in her body seemed to disappear when she felt Ruby’s hand take her own. “I can not believe it is working.”
“I know,” Ruby said as she squeezed. “Everything is finally going… right.”
Penny gave a nod and started to walk with Ruby to the portal to Vacuo, her hand loose around the Scepter of Creation as she carried it. “And then we will be one step closer to saving Remnant.”
“Lets get you through the portal first. We still have no idea what’ll be waiting for us.”
“Alright.” Penny smiled brightly as she walked towards the portal with Ruby, her fingers laced with hers. It was the first time she had felt how warm Ruby’s hand was, how calloused they were from the years of fighting, tinkering with, and maintaining Crescent Rose. She knew this body was going to take time to get used to, but as long as she had Ruby at her side, she didnt care how long that took.
KABOOOM!
Penny turned towards an explosion that came from the center of the bridge, followed by a few fireballs and evacuees falling off the bridge. Penny’s heart beat hard in her chest as her eyes started to glow. “Ruby-”
“I know,” Ruby interrupted. “Cinder.”
“We need to go help!”
“I know, and I will.”
“And I will come with-” Penny paused as she felt Ruby’s grip tighten around her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“You… still need to go through the portal,” Ruby answered quietly. “They’ll need you there.”
“Yes, but you will need me too. Cinder’s a maiden and I can help fight!”
“And you will. In Vacuo.”
Before Penny could say anything else, she felt Ruby pull her close before they were engulfed into a cloud of petals. She struggled to free herself as they grew closer to the portal, unable to leave while Ruby brought them closer. And by the time she was able to get away, it was too late.
“I’ll come for you once Cinder’s defeated!” Ruby’s voice echoed out.
Penny felt herself get flung through the portal. She landed with a *thud* on the sand and the scepter rolled out of her hands and onto the ground. She looked around at the raging sandstorm and scrambled up to get through the portal. “Ruby!”
She slammed into the portal as if it was a wall, her eyes widening when she realized she couldnt get back to her. Her eyes started to glow as she slammed her hands against the portal. “Let me through! I have to get to her!”
Tears started to roll down her cheeks as the flames in her eyes started to die down. Her arms shook as they came to a stop and she slumped over against the portal. Her voice sounded ragged as she spoke, almost struggling to. “R-Ruby…”
She pulled away from the portal as she heard a screech just from outside the sandstorm, followed by another and another. Her eyes started to burn as flames erupted once more and she levitated into the air. The sand storm started to come down to a stand still as she willed the wind to stop, the sand falling and revealing the grimm that were circling around, ready to pounce on the evacuees.
Penny took a deep breath and materialized her swords as she eyed the grimm. “Ruby will make it, and I’ll keep everyone safe until she does.”
The swords sliced through the air and into the grimm as she kept a border between them and the evacuees. The wind started to pick up around her, kicking up sand and rocks to throw at the grimm as they tried to get closer to the evacuees.
And yet, Penny couldnt help but keep watch on the portal as more evacuees came into Vacuo. It wasnt long before she watched Nora, Ren, and Oscar come out through the portal. But there was still no sign of Ruby. And as more people gathered, more grimm seemed to appear in the skies and along the sand. Her sword movements started to falter as she grew tired from fighting off, a few strikes missing and serving as warning shots for the grimm.
But no matter how much she and the other huntsman could give, the grimm kept coming.
She created more swords to try to match the grimm, losing control of a few as she focus started to shift to the portal when she realized no one else was coming out. A ravager lashed out at her and its claws struck her cheek, sending her to the ground as she lost focus. She focused on the grimm above, her swords circling around to charge up a magical strike.
Bullets hailed out from above the sand dunes, taking care of the grimm above. Penny let out a sigh of relief when she saw a few familiar faces from her time at Beacon start to ward off the grimm and lead the evacuees to safety, her swords fading away as the flames in her eyes died down. She turned to look at the portal once more, a smile crossing her lips as she watched the image of Crescent Rose come out of the portal… only for the smile to disappear when she saw Jaune finish stepping through and the portal close behind him.
She slowly walked over, her body shaking as she asked a question she was sure she knew the answer to. “Where’s Ruby?”
Jaune looked at her, then to Crescent Rose before folding it up. “I’m sorry.”
Penny dropped to her knees as her legs gave out from under her, tears rolling down her cheeks. “She… she said she was going to come.”
“Everything happened so fast. I tried to help her, but she and Cinder fell down into the void along with the rest of her team. There was nothing I could do.”
Penny nodded and gently took Crescent Rose from Jaune, almost squeezing it. “Then… then we continue what she started.” She wiped away her tears and started to walk to Vacuo. “I’ll make sure no one forgets what she did.”
In honor of hitting 3,000 followers I would like to do something for you - my readers. Let’s be honest this blog and the content I put out is thanks to many of you, you truly keep me going with your love, so with that being said I’ve decided to plan up worldofAUs loves you 3,000!
What exactly is WorldOfAUs loves you 3,000?
I am allowing you my followers to send me in a gif of your liking, so that I can gift you a Drabble! The catch? It has to be of an avenger or there actor! I’m open to writing for any character and any setting/AU.
It can be fluffy, it can be angsty, it can be smutty, it can be dark, there is no limit to what you send in along with that gif of your choice!
Also, be descriptive! Tell me what you the reader want to see what you would like to happen again, possibilities are endless but give me something instead of nothing!
Little disclaimer: All my other requests waiting to be written are being worked on so for those of you waiting for a request from me fear not yours is on the way to being released Drabbles just come easier in this case.
I can’t wait to see what you submit - if you submit NO PRESSURE!
{Just fyi, I (@stellarsebastian), do not write so this is for other writers. If you’re a writer, PLEASE feel free to share this. Please tag me in anything you write! Any of my faves are gonna be reposted on my other account @myfavesebfics which is for my favorite fanfics, whereas this one I made to support writers since I can’t write for the life of me}
1. "So what, that's it?"
2. "I never slept with him/her!"
3. "I know how jealous you get. That's why I did all of this!"
4. "Did you ever really love me?"
5. "Do you know what it's like to have the one person you love more than anything, leave you?"
6. "I don't even know what to say to you right now."
7. "You're being dramatic." "I have every right to be dramatic right now."
8. "Why'd you fuck him/her?"
9. "I told you. I was trying to help you!"
10. "Why did you do that? You lied for months to him/her telling him/her that you loved him/her. And now this??"
11. "I told you, I'm not cheating on my boy/girlfriend with you."
12. "You made me this way."
13. "You and me-- we're not too different, you know?"
14. "So what if we had sex? You think that means anything?"
15. "So what, was it all just a joke?"
16. "I did it because I was in love with you!" "And... Are you still?'
17. "I don't need your help."
18. "I wanted to propose to you! My parents told me they'd kick me out and never talk to me again if I did, so I had to propose to him/her."
19. "Do you want to stay the night?"
20. "You look awfully lonely."
21. "What's the matter, daddy issues?"
22. "You've been acting weird lately."
23. "You want to know why?? It's because I'm pregnant! I need you here for all of this."
24. "All I wanted was a second chance."
25. "I want you out of my life!!"
26. "He's not the father. You are."
27. "Why the hell would you do that?"
28. "I thought I told you to stay away from me and everyone I love."
29. "Of all the lies you could've told..."
30. "My life is over because of you."
31. "I thought you loved me."
32. "There's no reason to celebrate. Why the champagne?"
33. "You're not pregnant, are you?"
34. "How many girls/guys/people have you slept with?"
35. "I miss you."
36. "I thought I lost you-- for real this time."
37. "I'm sorry. For everything." "Why are you the one apologizing?"
38. "How dare you!!"
39. "I risked everything for you."
40. "I was in love with you! But you were too blind to see that!"
41. "You're not even going to try to make an excuse?"
42. "Why did you lie to me?"
43. "You're overreacting."
44. "So what, that makes it okay?"
45. "I can't marry him/her."
46. "I devoted my life to you."
47. "You should know-- I missed you while you were gone."
48. "I've been in love with you since we were 12."
49. "It's a long story." "So what, I don't get an explanation?"
Heres a prompt for you: Hanahaki Disease for Ruby Post V9. I'll let you decide on which of these two ships you'd rather do:
NND: Ruby never got the chance to tell Penny how she felt, now Penny is gone she literally can't and there's no cure.
Ladybug: Ruby didn't realise how deep her feelings for Blake were, but now Blake is with Yang, she refuses to ruin their happiness, even if it kills her.
Have fun~
(Ask and you shall receive. Enjoy the pain.)
Ruby could feel a pain in her chest as she watched Blake and Yang from a few tables away. She clutched at her chest as the words she wanted to say threatened to burst out of her heart, and yet, she couldnt seem to say those words. Maybe it was the fear of rejection or the worries of trying to ask out someone who was a little older than she was, but the feelings she bottled up made her feel like a cork ready to blow at any minute.
“You’re staring again,” Weiss said between sips of her bubble tea. “If its bothering you that Yang’s dating someone-”
“N-no, its not… I know Yang’s spent a long time giving up her life to take care of me, so its nice to see her go after something she wants.”
“Then what is the problem? You’ve been watching them ever since we got her.”
“Its… nothing,” Ruby lied as she turned around and tried to focus on her strawberry scone. Not that she had much of an appetite. “Lets talk about something else.”
Weiss rolled her eyes and sighed. “Ruby, you cant keep avoiding your feelings like this. We’re not in the Ever After anymore and I dont… I cant lose you like that again.”
Ruby winced at the words. “I-its not like that anymore.”
“Then what is it?”
“I-I-” Ruby paused as she felt a tingle in the back of her throat. She picked up a napkin and coughed into it. Once she pulled it away, she paused when she saw a single, black rose petal sitting in it. “Maybe I’m worried we’re getting a bit complacent.”
“A bit… complacent?” Weiss asked.
“Y-yeah! Sure, we stopped Salem and saved Remnant, but if you think about it, we could be doing more. Grimm attacks didnt stop just because she’s gone.”
“No, but I think we earned more than just a little down time.” Weiss finished her drink and pushed the empty cup aside. “We spent a year facing down Salem and her followers, watched a kingdom fall, lost many good friends… maybe its time to, I dont know, settle down?”
Ruby nodded, but once again found herself looking over at Blake. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
“This is about Blake, isnt it?” Weiss finally asked.
“N-no!”
“Then why are you staring at her?”
“B-because I… I’m not…” Ruby looked away and started to get up. “I think its time for me to go. Thanks for inviting me.”
Weiss reached out to Ruby, her voice a quiet whisper. “You shouldnt hold back your feelings for her. Tell her how you feel. Even if it wont change anything, it’ll help.”
“I’m not going to ruin what she and Yang have,” Ruby said quietly as she pulled away from Weiss. “Besides, I’ve moved on. Its for the best.”
“If you say so.”
Ruby flashed a soft smile to Weiss and started to walk out, her eyes avoiding Blake. Soon, she was out of the cafe and started to make her way through the streets of Vacuo with the sun beating down on her skin. All she needed was a distraction, or at least a mission. So she pulled out her scroll and started to look at the mission board postings. Though, she was quick to be disappointed when she saw all the missions had been taken already as she scrolled through them all.
There was another tingle at the back of her throat and she started to cough. She quickly covered her mouth with a cloth to hide that a few more black rose petals left her lips, though as a warm breeze started to pick up, it wasnt long before the petals were fluttering in the wind again. Each breath seemed to make her chest twinge in pain as it felt like something was constricting around her heart.
Ruby took a deep breath to calm herself and started to make her way back to the hotel. While the rose petals werent an unfamiliar sight, every time she saw them her heart raced and her chest felt like it was constricted. But the pain always seemed to fade, though never disappearing. Just lingering out of sight.
She stopped at the hotel door, another coughing fit taking over as she coughed out a few more petals, these ones red. Her heart started to race as if it was ready to burst out of her chest and her vision started to blur. Once she was finished coughing, she opened the door and started to stumble to her room.
Each step felt heavier than the last as she moved through the hallway, her arm bumped up against the wall as she tried to keep standing upright. Finally, Ruby made it to her room and tried to unlock the door, struggling to find her key card for the door. Her breathing started to become ragged as it felt like her lungs were being pressed against. Finally she found her key card and slid it into the reader, her vision going dark as she opened the door and collapsed.
Ruby’s eyes slowly started to open again as the pain subsided. She groaned and slowly sat up, only to be pushed down again.
“Dont you *dare* scare me like that again, you dolt!” Weiss half yelled at her. “I thought something happened to you!”
Ruby blinked a bit and looked around, finding herself in her hotel room and laying in bed. “I-I’m not sure… I follow.”
“You were found outside your door barely breathing with a few rose petals around you. Once you were safe to move, I moved you to your bed. Ruby, what’s going on?”
“Its nothing-”
“If it was nothing, you wouldnt have given me such a scare.” Weiss sighed and sat down next to Ruby. “Please, no more lies or trying to avoid this.”
Ruby looked away, her lip quivered and her throat felt dry as she tried to speak. “I-I’ve been… coughing up rose petals ever since Beacon fell.”
“I see…”
“But I’m fine!” Ruby sat up and put up a smile for Weiss. “In fact, I feel much better now. I guess a little rest has done the trick.”
Weiss picked herself up off Ruby’s bed. “If you’re going to keep lying, then I should go.”
“But I’m not-”
“You’re not fine, Ruby. Those feelings you’ve been bottling up, they’re killing you. You have to tell her.”
“I-I… I cant.” Ruby looked away from Weiss and to her lap. “I… dont know when I started to fall for her, but I know it was at some point while we were at Beacon. After Beacon fell, I felt like I lost my chance when she ran off, so I… pushed those feelings away. Going to Haven to find answers was supposed to be a distraction and let me move on. But then, she came back to us when Haven was attacked. I wanted to tell her then, but I… I saw the way she looked at Yang. I couldnt get the words out.
“Then we started to go to Atlas, the train derailed… by the time I had another chance, she and Yang were inseparable. Then they finally got together in the Ever After and I… If I tell her now, it’ll sound like I’m trying to tear her away from Yang.”
“Keeping your feelings bottled up hasnt seemed to help either.”
“I… I know…”
“You need to tell her. Trust me, you dont want this to get any worse.”
“Trust me.” The words ran through Ruby’s mind as she watched Weiss walk off. She wasnt sure if Weiss had been speaking from experience or if she knew someone else this had happened to, but either way, she knew Weiss was right. She had to tell Blake how she felt.
And yet, she couldnt. She’d find another way to cure herself, but right now wasnt the time to tell Blake. Not while Yang was finally happy.
Penny sliced through a ravager with Crescent Rose, panting as she watched it dissipate into smoke. Her eyes burned as the air around her started to kick up and she created copies of Crescent Rose to fight off the rest of the grimm. Her heart raced and her muscles ached as she leaned Crescent Rose, tired from the fighting. Though, it wasnt like she had much time to rest. Grimm attacks were a near daily occurrence over the last few months, and as a maiden, it was her responsibility to keep everyone safe.
And that’s what she did.
The last of the grimm finally fell and Penny’s legs finally gave out from under her. She fell to the ground and let out a heavy sigh as she let the rest of her body relax. She used the wind to help pick herself up and folded Crescent Rose before putting it on her back. The cloak she wore fluttered in the wind that helped keep her standing until she was able to grab one of her weapon constructs to use as a walking stick.
Penny took a deep breath and started to walk back to Vacuo to let Theodore know the grimm were taken care of. She looked over the tents at the edge of the city, glad none of them were damaged and the refugees were safe for now. And yet, as she walked into the city, she couldnt help but feel like what she was doing wasnt enough. Sure, she was able to keep the grimm at bay, and her powers made it easier to help keep disputes from breaking out between the refugees and those who lived in Vacuo, but as the months went by, it all had started to feel… pointless. Hopeless.
The grimm attacks werent stopping, tensions were only growing between those from Atlas and those from Vacuo, Vale had been destroyed, no one had heard anything from Mistral… everything she did felt like putting on a bandage but never really fixing what was wrong. The world still felt like it was ending and Salem was still out there, waiting to make her move.
Penny stopped and looked up at the mural of Ruby, her heart nearly skipping a beat as she found a place to sit and gaze up at her lost love. She leaned Crescent Rose against the wall and started to clean up the memorial in front, making sure the flowers were together again. As she finished, she sat down and took a few breaths to calm herself. “I… I do not know what I am doing anymore. I am doing everything I can to keep people safe, just like what you would have wanted, but I still feel… lost. I wish… I wish you were still here to help me, guide me. To give me hope.”
She sat quietly as she waited for an answer that didnt seem to come. She stared at the picture of Ruby for what felt like hours before finally getting up and taking Crescent Rose back to the tent she was staying at. She walked through the streets, hood pulled over her head and Crescent Rose on her back.
“Penny, there you are,” Qrow said as he caught up to her. “You missed the meeting with Theodore and the rest of the maidens.”
Penny stopped in her tracks and let out a sigh. “I guess I lost track of time.”
“That’s not like you.” Qrow walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“I am fine,” Penny lied as she kept herself from looking at Qrow. “But I should rest. I have spent more time fighting grimm than I thought.”
“You really should go see Theodore-”
“And I will,” Penny answered as she started to walk again. “After I rest.”
Qrow sighed and followed Penny. “Alright. But please, try not to miss any more meetings. We need you.”
Penny almost winced at the thought of being needed. The only person she wanted to be needed by was Ruby, but Ruby was gone. Her hope, the light of her life, the girl she had loved… nothing more than just a memory. A memory she planned to keep alive. After all, it was why she used Crescent Rose and wore a cloak like Ruby’s. As long as she looked like Ruby and fought like her, then maybe she could convince others to get along.
And then Ruby’s message wouldnt have been for nothing.
She paused once more as she heard the sound of a portal opening behind her, the same one that Raven was known to use when she wanted something. Without turning, she let out a heavy sigh. “Raven, I want to be left alone.”
“Penny?”
Penny’s heart froze as she heard a somewhat familiar voice. She turned around, a smile starting to come across her lips… until she saw the woman that stood behind her. The silver eyes were familiar, but the rest of the woman wasnt. Long greying hair, tired eyes… there wasnt much of the girl she had loved. “R-Ruby?”
The woman almost flinched at the name. “That’s… what’s who Yang said I was.”
“I am not sure I understand.”
“Ruby… she… I’m not…” the woman let out a heavy sigh. “I’m not the Ruby you remember. I’m… I’m the Ruby that has to be enough to defeat Salem.”
Penny gave a slow nod as she looked Ruby over, her heart aching. “But you are still… you?”
Ruby rubbed the back of her head. “Yes… and no. I mean, yes, I still look like me but no, I’m not… Yang thought that maybe if I saw you again once we got back that I’d remember more and maybe be me again. I dont really remember anything after coming out of that tree. Just that I picked who I needed to be, the person who would be the best to help everyone and stop Salem.”
“I see.” Penny’s eyes glanced to the axe that hung from a sash on Ruby’s back. “Then… then who are you?”
“Summer.”
“It is… nice to meet you, Summer,” Penny said as she forced a smile on her lips, her heart still pounded in her chest. “Maybe… maybe you can tell me more about what you went through. After you are settled.”
“There’s not really much more that I can tell you,” Summer answered. “But it’ll be nice to work with you.”
“It will be nice to work with you too.” Penny slowly turned away and the forced smile finally dropped. Ruby was no longer the girl she remembered, now a woman that she’d have to get to know all over again.
Not that she could say that she was the same Penny anymore.
Raven squeezed the brooch that Summer had left her, her fingers shaking as she stared at the rose shape. It’d only been a few weeks since Summer’s disappearance, and yet, she couldnt help but blame herself. It was a stupid mission, one that she should’ve talked her out of instead of helping her out. But now, all that was left of her love was a simple brooch given to her as a gift.
“Raven, there you are,” Qrow said as he made his way over. “Ozpin’s been trying to reach you-”
“And I told him I quit,” Raven interrupted as she put the brooch into her closet. “I cant… I cant do this anymore.”
“We all miss Summer.” Qrow put a hand on Raven’s shoulder. “But avoiding everyone isnt going to help. Besides, it wasnt one of Ozpin’s missions.”
Raven pulled away. “Its still his fault. If it wasnt for him, she wouldnt have felt like she needed to take on Salem herself.”
“It was Summer’s choice-”
“There was no choice!” Raven yelled out, her eyes starting to burn as storm clouds appeared overhead. “Ozpin filled her head with ideas of being a savior of Remnant. That her eyes made her special and the hero that Remnant needed. She went after Salem because of him!”
Qrow let out a sigh and took a step back from Raven. “And you know what Summer was like. She was someone who’d help anyone no matter what. It didnt matter if her life was on the line, if she was cheated or stolen from, and Salem was just another way for her to help others.”
Raven growled out, the wind around her picking up as lightning cracked in the sky. Because of Ozpin, Summer had thrown everything away. A family that loved her, children who needed her… “What if I needed her to be here for me?!” she finally yelled out. “What if I needed her to be *my* hero?!”
“And that would’ve taken Summer away from those that needed her. She was a huntress, her place was always for others.”
“But I wanted her here for me!” The fire in Raven’s eyes started to fade as the wind died down and the clouds started to part. She wiped away a tear that started to roll down her cheek. “I-I wanted her here for me.”
Qrow pulled Raven into a hug and rubbed her back. “We all did. But she’s gone now and all we can do is honor the memories she left us with. Maybe its time for you to come back to Tai and your daughters.”
“I-I… I cant,” Raven answered as she pulled away from the hug. “Not yet.”
“Just know, there’s always a place for you.”
Raven let out a sigh and watched as Qrow transformed into a crow and flew off. Once he was out of sight, she pulled out the brooch once more. Her fingers traced it once more, though her eyes stayed on the edge of the forest. Her hand squeezed around the brooch as she whispered softly and started towards the forest. “I’ll find you, Summer. No matter what it takes.”
Ruby couldnt seem to pull away from the stream of the tournament as it panned from Penny’s torn body to the nevermore that pecked at the shield above the arena. Her fingers tensed as she reached for her scroll and shook as she tried to dial Blake. She could feel her heart pound in her chest as she listened to each ring, only to stop when she didnt get an answer. She nearly flinched as she felt Yang’s hand on her shoulder, slowly looking towards her sister.
“We should go help evacuate everyone,” Yang said, eerily calm. “Blake will be fine.”
“I-I know, but if grimm are attacking like this-”
“She’s a huntress in training and she’s with Weiss. I’m sure they’re heading to wherever an evacuation zone is, we can meet up with them there.”
Ruby took a few, slow and deep breaths, before finally calling for her weapon locker. “If you’re sure.”
“Of course I am,” Yang said with a smile. “Now, let’s get out there and show them why we’re top of our class!”
Ruby nodded and used her semblance to burst through the window of her dorm and make her way towards the ground outside. She quickly grabbed Crescent Rose out of her locker and rushed out towards the arena, slicing through grimm along the way.Though it wasnt long before she found herself being shot at from members of the White Fang and a few of the robotic soldiers from Atlas.
She took cover as she made it closer to the evacuation zone, watching as the rest of the students continued to hold their ground as best as they could. “Why is Atlas attacking?”
“They’re not,” Sun answered as he took cover near Ruby. “The general mentioned something about one of their ships getting taken over. So for now, we’re holding as best we can until the attacks stop.”
Ruby took a deep breath and focused on the soldiers, White Fang, and grimm that seemed to come in almost endless waves. Without another thought, she gripped the hilt of her scythe tightly and rushed out towards the nearest soldier with her semblance. Her body almost felt like it was on overdrive as she sliced through the robotic soldiers and grimm, disappearing into a cloud of petals after each swing of her scythe, only to reappear at her next target. She could feel her muscles ache the longer she continued as the rest of the students in the area started to push the White Fang back to retreat. As the last of the grimm started to disappear, she dropped to her knees, heart pounding in her chest and aura starting to flicker.
Sun rushed over to cover her as the last of the White Fang started to retreat from the evacuation zone and a few other students came with straggling civilians. “Are you alright?”
“I-I’m fine,” Ruby panted out as she picked herself up and off the ground. “Just need a moment to catch my breath.”
“Go rest, I can take it from here.”
Ruby folded up her scythe and started to walk to the rest of the civilians, pausing as she heard an explosion from above. When she looked up, she saw one of the Atlas battleships start to fall out of the sky and the last of the robotic soldiers start to deactivate. A small smile started to cross her lips as it seemed everything was finally starting to calm down.
When she finally sat down, she relaxed a bit when she saw Weiss, Yang, and a few other students come by with some stragglers. But as she watched everyone come by, her heart started to ache when she still didnt see Blake amongst the crowds. She forced herself back up and made her way to Yang and Weiss, voice shaking as she spoke.
“Where’s Blake?”
Weiss looked at Ruby, then looked away. “I-I dont know. We got separated once the White Fang attacked. I tried looking for her but got caught helping a few others fight off some of the Atlas soldiers.”
Without another word, Ruby rushed off in a flurry of petals to look for Blake.
“Rubes, wait-” Yang yelled out, only to let out a sigh once Ruby was out of sight. “We have to go after her.”
Weiss nodded, then paused as the ground shook followed by a loud screech in the air. Her eyes widened as she watched a large grimm fly through the air, her hands gripping the hilt of her rapier. “I’m not sure we have time for that.”
Blake rushed through what remained of the cafeteria of Beacon, her breathing heavy as she rushed through smoke and fire. She hid behind a pillar to catch her breath, only for her heart to nearly stop as she heard a gunshot from behind her.
“Quit running, my love,” Adam yelled out to her. “All of this will stop if you just come back with me.”
“I’m never going back with you!” Blake yelled out as she started to run again. “I left for a reason!”
“And I’m not leaving without you!”
Blake hid behind another pillar as another few shots rang out from behind her, her breathing slowing as she looked for a way out. What remained of the White Fang were still looking for her and trying to get through them and the grimm wasnt going to be easy. And even then, Adam would continue to chase after her. Which meant putting people in danger if he caught up with her.
Another shot rang out, hitting the pillar she hid behind, and Adam’s voice echoed through the ruins.
“Do you really wish to continue hurting me like this?” he asked. “Just like you did on the day of our train heist?”
Blake took a breath and started to rush off again, only to be grabbed by Adam and slammed to the ground. Her eyes widened in fear as she looked up at Adam, her eyes almost glued to the blade he held above her.
“If you wont come with me, then I’ll just have to give you a reason to by destroying everything you love.” Adam paused as he heard one of his men yell out, then looked down at Blake only to see her looking away from him. A smirk crossed his lips as he turned to look at what Blake saw, his hand tightening around the hilt of his blade. “Starting with her.”
“Dont-”
Blake’s words were cut off by a scream that left her lips as she felt the cold metal of Adam’s blade plunge into her side. Her body was paralyzed in fear as time almost seemed to slow down for her as she felt the sword leave her flesh. Rose petals fluttered in the air as she watched Ruby rush over in a flurry of petals, only to see Adam start to glow as he readied his own semblance. She yelled out, but the words only came out as a quiet whisper.
“Ruby! Dont!”
But it was all too late. As Ruby appeared out of the cloud of petals and sliced at Adam, the blade cutting into his side, it was all the opening Adam needed to send out the stored energy he had at Ruby. Blake’s body shook as she watched Ruby’s left arm separate from her body and for Ruby to hit the ground with a shattered scythe falling around her. She struggled to pick herself up as she watched Adam make his way over to Ruby. Once she was able to stand up, she rushed past Adam with the help of her semblance and put herself in front of Ruby, holding her close.
Adam glared at her. “Out of my way.”
“I-I wont let you hurt her,” Blake said quietly, voice shaking. “I wont let you hurt me anymore.”
“Then I’ll just have to kill you too.”
Blake frowned and mustered up the last of her strength to use her semblance again to get herself and Ruby out of the way, running away from the cafeteria as she pulled Ruby over her shoulder. Her body felt like it was on fire as adrenaline kicked in, and blood continued to flow out of the wound in her side. Even with her aura starting to recover, it wasnt enough to stop the bleeding.
Finally, she saw the rest of her friends and she dropped to the ground as she made it, Neptune and Sun helping her and Ruby over to a medic. As she was laid down, she reached for Ruby’s hand, unable to grab it as she faded out of consciousness, a few silent words leaving her lips.
@lesbianneopolitan gave me a fun idea for angst, so.... here's something based off her Neo designs.
Neo recoiled as she heard the voice of the Curious Cat run through her mind. Her muscles tensed up, ready to try to fight for control of her body as she swore she was back at the Ever After. Her heart raced when she heard a footstep behind her in the empty mansion, her own body turning to try to see who or what was behind her. She felt someone grab her arm and on instinct, all she could do was use her claws to swipe at them, only to freeze when she heard Ruby’s familiar scream.
It was the sound of blood hitting tile that finally grounded her, pulling her back to the kitchen she stood in. Then, the smell of blood finally hit her, almost making her stomach churn. And yet, all she could do was stare at the deep cuts on Ruby’s arm as she tried to stop the bleeding.
“Its okay, I know you didnt mean it this time,” Ruby said quietly as she ran water over her arm to clean it before bandaging it up. “It uh… it must have been bad this time.”
Neo nodded quietly and slowly, looking at the blood on her nails. These episodes, as Ruby had put it, were starting to become more frequent and it felt like she was losing herself once more. But this time, she couldnt tell if it was to herself, or to whatever the Cat had made her.
Her ears twitched as she heard Ruby cut some gauze to wrap around her arm. She couldnt seem to find it in herself to look at her, not wanting to see the disappointment or anger she must have felt. All she could manage to do was use her semblance to hide the cat features she had… to appear as normal as she could instead of the monster she’d become.
Ruby gave a quiet grunt as she finished tying up her wound. “There, that should stop it until it can heal.” She then gave a quick look at Neo. “You know you can talk to me about it.”
“You should hate me," Neo signed slowly as she caught a glance of her reflection on a spoon. She used her semblance to hide the cat features and relaxed a bit when she saw herself as normal again. “I hurt you again-”
“And I’ve accepted that having you in my life again is going to hurt,” Ruby interrupted her, her voice almost seeming to hesitate as she spoke. “What you’re going through… what the Curious Cat did to you… you shouldnt have to go through that alone. I want to be here for you.”
Neo flinched as she felt Ruby’s hand on her shoulder. She didnt… couldnt… understand why Ruby was being so nice to her after everything she put her through. And yet, as Ruby’s hand pulled away, she did feel like she had someone she could trust again. Someone that would be by her side.
And then she grabbed Ruby’s wrist.
She didnt want to be alone anymore. She had wanted Ruby to stay but she didnt have the words for it. Her whole body still felt tense, her fingers shook too much to sign accurately, and as she tried to grab her scroll, she couldnt seem to get her fingers to grip it like she was supposed to. All she could manage to do was hold Ruby’s wrist as her body started to shake.
“I’m not planning on leaving,” Ruby said quietly as she freed her wrist. “I’m just going to sit down. You can join me if you’d like.”
Neo shook her head at first, not wanting to hurt Ruby anymore, but then paused and slowly nodded as she followed Ruby to the couch. Even as she sat down, she kept her distance from Ruby and took a few deep breaths to calm her heart. The Curious Cat was gone, she was home in a rebuilt Vale…
She was safe.
Her ears twitched once more as she heard Ruby start to move closer, but this time, she didnt try to move away. Even as she flinched again when she felt Ruby’s arm around her, she leaned into the touch and let her semblance drop. She felt Ruby’s fingers run across her back and she couldnt help but relax into the touch.
Ruby gave her a soft smile. “I dont understand everything you went through with the curious cat, but I do want to be here for you. And when you’re ready, you can talk to me.”
Neo felt her heart start to race as Ruby spoke, her body tensing up once more. On instinct, she pulled away and rushed to the room she was staying in, slamming the door shut as she tried to take a few deep breaths. This feeling was different from before. No panic, no pain, just her heart racing uncontrollably.
“Neo?” Ruby asked through the door. “Are you okay?”
Neo didnt answer, sliding down the door until she held her knees to her chest. Her nails dug into her skin as her mind raced. She wasnt ready for this. Pain and loneliness she could handle, the panic attacks were rough, but she could survive them. But this?
