Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

Dreamers & Schemers

A whistling stranger striding jauntily through a quiet, empty park glides to a stop, his jazzy musical number slowly stilling on spying a solitary girl in red sat sleepily upon a bench across from a sad little fountain, her pensive bearing and wistful countenance at odds with her tranquil surroundings as she brooded, seemingly oblivious to the golden lances of afternoon sunlight piercing the sprawling tree canopies overhead to fall about her.

The artistically inclined might perceive a picturesque moment worthy of a master painter's immortalising brush. Nature however was not done adding the finishing touches to its circumstantial set piece for a brisk maiden of a breeze lifted, singing through creaking branches and autumn leaves, skirts swirling with windblown petals in a mesmerising saltation of pinks, purples and crimsons.

Yet. Undisturbed the girl remains, sat statuesque still bar the minute rise and fall of chest and shoulders, her breathing, posture and bowed head indicatory of one lost within the internal landscape of their own discordant thoughts.

A less observant passerby might assume she'd fallen asleep. A less grounded passerby might miss the girl's evident disgruntlement, seeing only the moment's superfluously vibrant serenity. The stranger however, while not artistically disinclined nor untouched by the vividly surreal spectacle nevertheless saw only a sulky, pouting child.

Perpetual troublesome companions they were, his natural curiosity and the habitual urge to vex, their combination is like a drug, a vice, irresistible, its siren's call too powerful and the moment too perfect.

Besides, he still had an hour to kill before preparing the coming night's dubiously lucrative festivities. Why not have a little fun annoying the brat? And really. What kind of respectable adult would he be if he didn't inquire after the wellbeing of a potentially lost little girl.

Let it never be said that Roman Torchwick is above performing a public service.

Stirring from wistful ruminations, Ruby registered and dismissed the sound of approaching unfamiliar footfalls. Against expectation their source did not pass but rather drew nearer until a pair of expensive-looking black shoes entered and stopped at the upper-edge of her downcast vision, the tip of a fancy cane settling to join them with a gentle thunk. The dramatic sound coinciding with the quieting breeze felt entirely too deliberate, yet on its thoroughly bemused audience the effect was decidedly wasted.

"..."

"..."

Feeling scrutinized yet refusing to look up, Ruby betrayed no reaction, silently awaiting the stranger's boredom at her disinterest to carry them elsewhere.

It did not. Instead a smooth voice dripping with cocksure curiosity inquired.

"Why the face?"

"... I'm sorry?"

"That face. What's with it?"

"Uhh, its the only face I've got; and I'm pretty attached to it..."

Sniffing slightly, Ruby finally looked up at the rude irritant, her rising gaze noting the black pants, white coat, long black gloves, grey scarf and obnoxiously styled bright orange hair of a dapper, green eyed thirty-something man. Actually his whole getup looked oddly familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. Something about the cane he casually leaned his weight on niggled at her too, but she was too annoyed at her introspection being disrupted to care.

Exaggeratedly squinting at this snarky newcomer, a cheeky smile curved Ruby's lips "What's with the hat?" Alas she'd noticed his eyeliner a heartbeat too late; a missed opportunity.

"Hey don't badmouth the bowler. I like this hat."

"And I like my face... Truce?"

"Diplomacy eh?" He sounded vaguely perplexed "Not the reaction I'm used to, but I'll roll with it. Truce it is... Seriously though. Why the face?"

"Hurrah for second chances!" Ruby inwardly cheered "Seriously though. Why the eyeliner?"

Muttering "Shortest truce in history." He snorted, gesturing dismissively "Now why should I take fashion critique from a brat who dresses like some Gothic Lolita straight out of some crappy Mistralian uwu-anime? I mean come on, you look ridiculous."

"You broke it first; and why should I take fashion critique from an old guy who dresses like an insecure mafioso wannabe from some corny B List crime flick?" Poorly impersonating a cliche mobster's body language, tone and accent, Ruby gesticulated bombastically, quoting "A'ged da hell oudda heah!" That wasn't actually what his appearance reminded her of, but since said resemblance still evaded remembrance, this would do; and do it did.

"Mafioso?! W-why you..." The angrily wagging finger of a man mortally offended made its debut "Alright now listen here you little shit. Firstly, get your fricking genres right. And secondly. This" Waving at himself "Is peak fashion. Do you have any idea how hard it is to pull off this look?"

"No. And do you have any idea how creepy it is for a grown man to approach a girl my age while she's sitting alone in an empty park on a nice afternoon?"

"I want to say no. But I'd be lying."

Ruby pursed her lips and with faux wide-eyed innocence sweetly singsonged "Stran-ger Dan-ger."

"That's a matter of perspective, kid." Simpered The Stranger "Which brings us full circle to my original question. So, eleven year old girl who..."

"Fifteen." Ruby firmly corrected.

"Really? Damn you're short." He raised his hands placatingly at her suddenly stormy expression "Woah, not that I'd ever make light of the vertically challenged; hot stove, don't touch." He shuddered as if reliving some particularly traumatic memory.

"I am not vertically challenged! I'm... I'm just a late bloomer. Okay." She rationalised, arms crossed, pouting "Plus I drink lots of milk, so It'll be fine - I hope." Deflating, Ruby blew an irritable little raspberry, her gaze focusing beyond him to the feebly flowing fountain and the pretty blanket of fallen petals bobbing atop its rippling waters, embarrassed at her own childishness.

"Okay, touchy subject duly noted... Well then fifteen year old girl who drinks lots of milk and isn't vertically challenged. Why are you sitting alone in an empty park this afternoon?"

"Did I not say its a nice afternoon. As in nice for sitting in a quiet empty park alone. Well there it is. Now if you don't mind, I'd like my afternoon to stay nice, which it won't with you hovering over me like a stoned deathstalker." That last line she borrowed from her uncle; paraphrased without his profanity of course.

"Oops, hehe. You're right. Hovering is rude." He agreed and snuffed out her hopes for renewed solitude before they even blossomed by unceremoniously plopping down on the bench beside her.

"Hey!" Ruby objected, recoiling slightly "That was your cue to leave, not steal half of my bench!... W-what's so funny?!" Ruby scowled at the now chortling weirdo.

"Ah nothing really. Its just the first time anyone's accused me of stealing half a park bench." The entitled jerk clearly perceived a joke she didn't, something Ruby hated.

"Unwanted company? Check. Creepily laughing? Check. Yep, stranger danger vibes skyrocketing." She glowered suspiciously. Normally she'd never be so abrasive toward strangers, but this snarky creep was asking for it. Logically she should just walk away, but she couldn't, it'd feel too much like losing to this jerk "What's your deal anyway?"

"Good question. Not exactly sure myself." He tutted at her raised eyebrow "Hell kid, normally I'd have swaggered right on by carefree as ya please. But I've got keen instincts, and right now they're telling me you can handle yourself in a scrap. I mean a normal kid would've already legged it; not you though..."

"You're darn right I can handle myself." Not an idle boast given who trained her. Indeed she felt equal to challenges far more perilous than any this goofball and his overcompensating wardrobe might pose. Nice that he noticed, though "So don't try any funny business. Mr. Creep."

"Wouldn't dream of it. But fair point. Astoundingly, as first impressions go, I'm failing."

"Badly."

"Badly." He agreed, inclining his head, then with a charmingly disarming upward twitch of his lips suggested "Let's start over."

With practiced fluidity the man withdrew a cigar box, lighter and a circular cutter. Flipping the former two open, he slid a cigar free using his teeth, deftly clipped the end with the cutter, lit it then tossed the clipped end carelessly over his shoulder, littering the garden behind them. The show ended with a performative flourish in which, box, clipper and lighter magically vanished.

Ruby's amazement at his showmanship didn't blunt her burgeoning annoyance. Irately she threw up her hands "Oh sure. Sure. Make yourself at home. No don't mind me. Go ahead. Light up and start blowing secondhand smoke into the fresh air I was just enjoying."

"Hey thanks kid. Don't mind if I do." Delightedly he blew a big puff of smoke for added effect, the light breeze mercifully whisking its piney stench away as he stretched, Ruby cringing slightly when his spine audibly, repeatedly popped. Sighing in relief, the stranger lounged against the bench's backrest with hands tucked behind his head, legs lazily extending before him and crossed at the ankles; the very picture of relaxation.

"Wow. Stellar do-over Mister. That was a muuuch better first impression." Ruby slow clapped "Sheesh. Can ya say – Lung Cancer. ?"

"Never heard of it..." This accompanying another puff "So..."

"So what?" Ruby deflected; determined to be equally annoying.

"Sow buttons. What else?"

"Heh." Ruby huffed a laugh despite herself.

"...Soooo." He tried again.

"Why the face? Right?" Seeing him shrug expectantly, Ruby sighed, began "I..." but hesitated.

"Aww c'mon. You can trust me. We're bench buddies." He reasoned, smile exuding a weirdly compelling charm.

Ruby let out an absurdist chortle "Bench Buddies?! I don't even know who you are! Isn't it basic social etiquette to at least introduce yourself before nosing into a stranger's personal affairs?"

"Is it? Huh. Not where I grew up. But suit yourself. Set the example and I'll meet ya halfway."

Huffing "Fine." Ruby shifted and boldly, voice dripping fake cheer, extended her hand "Hi, I'm Ruby."

After a brief pause he accepted her proffered hand, instigating a firm gentlemanly handshake "Roman." then steadily withdrew, presumably to reduce the creepy stranger vibes "Nice to meet you, Little Red."

"Or give me a nickname. Not like we only just met or anything... Well, Roman. The reason for, The Face." She finger quoted, thumbs indicating said face "Is pretty straightforward. I have a dream, and I'm too impatient to go the long way about making it a reality."

"Let me guesssss..." Roman tilted his head in thought then snapped his fingers, pointing "Aspiring huntress."

"Oh, uhm. Yes! How'd you guess?"

"The personalized getup, the smell of recently discharged ammunition and the very, very conspicuous mecha-shift weapon poking out your back pocket, among other telltales. Thus basic deduction concludes, wannabe huntress, well that or underaged fetish model working some scummy establishment's catwalk. Thankfully its the former."

"...What?! Ew! Why would you even?... Wait. Those places exist?!"

"Here? Nah. They used to, but then Vale's current friendly neighborhood Crime Boss took over and put those shitholes to the, pfft, torch." He guffawed as if at some private joke then shrugged "Hey, sometimes even career criminals have standards; go figure."

"Oh. Neat..." Ruby blinked "...Vale has a crime boss?"

Roman blinked "...Everywhere has a crime boss."

"Not where I live."

"Ah the bliss of ignorance. Out of sight, out of mind."

"What is this guy? A roving philosopher? If so, he sucks." Mused Ruby, grimacing exasperatedly "Whatever. You're sense of humor is still awful. Please don't say gross stuff like that."

"I reject that assertion. My sense of humor is the height of gentlemanly refinement. But fair enough, listing that option was in bad taste on my part; fractionally... Sorry." Solemnly he tipped his hat.

Recognizing true sincerity behind the contrarian attitude, Ruby sighed "Apology accepted."

"For the record. My third guess was cosplayer." Roman added nonchalantly.

Ruby shot him a withering look, sneering darkly in monotone "I will dance on your grave."

"...Scary." He warbled, hands raised, fingers and cigar waggling theatrically before taking another drag, holding it and… exhaling smoke through his nose?

Ruby shrugged, nonplussed "Anyway..." Her pensive introspective demeanor returning, she affirmed "Yes, I want to be a huntress. Actually I'm already a Signal student."

"From Patch eh?" He side-eyed her languidly "Okay. So you want to, what? Graduate early?"

"N-not exactly. See, my big sis Yang will be taking Beacon's initiation test soon and..." Lips pursed, Ruby looked away, fidgeting.

"You want to go with her." Roman posited and Ruby nodded sheepishly "Pretty tall order, skipping, what, two grades?" Another nod "I respect the ambition Little Red," Ruby hated that nickname already "But do you have the hustle to back it up? If you wanna cheat the system, you'll need a bold game plan,"

"Don't have one." She groused dejectedly "And I don't want to cheat. I just want to get recognised on my own merits and..."

"Why the hell do you even want to be a huntsmen?" He interrupted sourly, sounding genuinely baffled "Your whole life's still ahead of you. No really. Why?"

Offended, Ruby challenged "What's wrong with becoming a huntress?"

"What's wrong with doing anything other than that?!" As if catching himself, Roman shook his head, snorting "Nyaa nevermind; far be it for me to talk kids out of an early grave."

"...Pff-pfft-hahaha. S-sorry-sorry. Its just for a second there you sounded like my Uncle Qrow."

"Uncle, Qrow?..."

"Yep. He trains me in his free time." Ruby preened, missing Roman's momentary paler "Its partly thanks to his training that Remnant's Future Greatest Huntress Of All Time stands before you." She joked lightheartedly "Err-or sits before you." More awkward chuckling and head-scratching ensued.

"Well holy crap." Roman breathed "You're the ol' drinky bird's niece?"

"Oh, you've heard of him. Makes sense. He is pretty famous in certain circles. But I say he's The Coolest Man Alive!"

"Hey. That's my title."

"You're delusional."

"I am a visionary of unrivaled sophistication. But you, Little Red are the delusional one, wasting time and energy on self-pitying daydreams of joining Beacon instead of actually making it happen."

"How though?"

"Use your imagination. You've obviously got one." A none too subtle jab.

"Wooowww, so helpful." Ruby gushed sarcastically then slumped. "...Its hopeless." Why was she confiding in this random jackass again? "Might as well. Complaining to Dad and Yang only gets me head pats. But maybe this Roman guy can offer some real advice. He does radiate a weirdly roguish sorta worldly wisdom; that and his cane..."

"Then quit moping about stuff you can but won't change and settle for Signal."

"But I wanna go to Beacon with Yaaaang." Ruby bellyached, bouncing agitatedly enough to rattle the bench.

Motioning dramatically, Roman proclaimed "Ladies, gentlemen, faunus and grimm! Today I present to you, Remnant's Future Greatest Huntress, Of All Time... what a world." His delivery tonally transitioning from upbeat to downcast, Roman slumped like a man resigned to Remnant's foredooming and... burped smoke.

"I don't actually want to be the greatest. I mean that'd be nice but all I; I-I just want to be a huntress like my m..." Stopping herself cold, Ruby looked away morosely, gnawing her bottom lip and twiddling her fingers "...I don't want to be special. I just want to be the best me I can be." A heartfelt statement disguising a deeper, more personal motivation that this eccentric stranger had no business prying into. Mercifully he didn't pry. Less mercifully however...

"...Wait-wait-wait, let me get this straight." He was trying not to laugh "You're raring to skip two grades, but don't want to be seen, as special..." Eyelids drooping beneath weighty incredulity, Roman shook his head violently "Yep, that logic checks out."

Ruby flushed "I get it okay! I'm not some naive kid. I know its unreasonable but..."

"Wanting the unreasonable ain't the issue, Red. If anything its an incentive."

"Then what is the issue?!" Her question was more plea than shout.

"Oh for fuck sake. Look. You either take life by the throat or it leads you by the nose. You say you don't want to be special? Well there's your problem Little Miss Humility. You should want to be special, and you know, you, know that deep, deep down you do want to be special! Because if you didn't, you wouldn't even be here sulking about it! Once..." Clearing his throat and recomposing himself back into the smooth-talking rogue of just now with disturbing efficiency, Roman held eye-contact and grinned reassuringly "Once you accept that, Little Red, it simply becomes a question of how you get there."

"Ooooo Soooo deeeeep. Did a fortune cracker tell you that?" Her snippy counter lacked its intended bite however "...Dammit. He's, not wrong... A greedy part of me does want that..."

As if hearing her thoughts, Roman chuckled, and not unkindly "Ya'know Red, you're alright. You've got spirit; I like that. Let's see if we can't channel it more effectively." His reaction visibly baffled Ruby "To clarify. You want a chance to publicly strut your stuff and impress the Beacon bigwigs?"

Curiosity cautiously piqued, Ruby nodded, "Ye-P. Preferably Headmaster Ozpin himself."

"Riiiight. Ozpin, Ozpin..." Some unreadable emotion flickered behind his eyes and vanished. Bitterness maybe? "But to impress the old fart enough to convince him to break established age of initiation rules and give you a shot you'll need to find, or create, a suitably risky situation in which to flash those huntress skills and gain notoriety; ideally without dying."

"Yeah not dying would be nice." She tittered softly, smiling "Although I'd much rather find such a situation than create one; that'd just feel, wrong."

"You're no fun." He tsk'd, disappointedly continuing "And resolve said situation in an honest, above board fashion... without knowingly or willingly cheating... Still, right place right time opportunities rarely just fall into our laps, tragically."

"Sure would be nice if they did, huh. Guess its too much to hope a full-grown Nevermore will slip by Vale's anti-air defences and attack nobody else but me so I can make a super-awesome show of cutting its head off, especially if a bystander records it on their scroll and it goes viral on the holo-net. Uhh on second thoughts holo-net fame might garner too much attention of the wrong sort. Just thinking about it makes me nervous." Ruby hugged herself, her incompletely cured social anxieties making her feel itchy. Receiving no reply however, Ruby looked over.

Sitting unresponsive, Roman appeared to be deep in thought, eyes distant, muttering "Place, time, happenstance..." Abruptly his focused emerald gaze snapped up to meet Ruby's, making her flinch "You're right, that is too much to hope for. Howeveeeeer, there's more than one way to skin a cat, and huntsmen are unfortunately known for more than monster slaying." A slightly manic, too-wide smile split his face, wisps of smoke escaping it like tormented souls fleeing their prison "What if you prove your metal some other way; like...?"

"Like what? Like what?!" Ruby grabbed his sleeve excitedly, leaning in despite his disquieting expression.

"Hey hey, watch the coat." Shooing hands rebuffed her.

"Oh sorry." Ruby withdrew sheepishly; alas juvenile alacrity can never factitious contrition quell "Uh, so. Like what? Mr. Roman, sir."

"Pft, Mr. Roman." He shook his head, amused "To recap. Something public, challenging, heroic and not wilfully cheating?"

"M-Hm-M-Hm" A smiling Ruby nodded exuberantly along before shrewdly stating "You've got an idea."

"I do indeed." He winked "...But I can't tell you."

"...Can't? or won't?" Ruby inquired yet more shrewdly.

"Can't. Not without... ugh, it goes against my very nature, especially given my longstanding disdain for Huntsmen; but alright, I'll illuminate the first step to take. The rest however will depend on you. Capish?"

"...Capish." Ruby agreed, returning his Okay hand gesture.

"You sure you're up for this?" Roman probed, a sly twinkle in his jade eyes.

"A bazzillion percent sure." Flames of determination burned behind her own silver ones.

He nodded "Righty-o. Firstly, locale... From Dust Till Dawn. You know the place?"

"I've heard of it. Word in the workshop says its one of Vale's more prominent middle class dust shops."

His fingers mimed a firing pistol "Got it in one. All you need to do is be in that store at seven oclock sharp this very evening, not a second later. Arrive at five-to just in case and act like a normal customer."

"Wait. That's it. Just, go there and, what?"

"I told ya. Wait till seven; oops. Is that past your bedtime?" He smirked "Your petulant scowl says, maybe; no. No? No. Excellent!" He clapped once, gloved hands rubbing together "Now remember, seven."

"B-but what happens at seven? Why? Where? Ugh I'm so confused! You've gotta give me more than that." She complained, thoroughly mystified.

"Trust me Red, don't overthink it. You'll know when the time is right and your noble hero's heart will guide you from there. Then, If you play your cards properly, there and in the aftermath, I reckon you'll have a good chance of your daydream becoming a reality. That Old Fart's bound to take notice, especially given who your uncle is. Its not a guarantee mind you, but they're odds worth the gamble I'd say; no major drawback either way."

"Easy for you to say when I'm the one going in blind." Ruby groused, some cautious suspicion finally tempering her youthful exuberance, tardily as ever.

"Hey, go or don't go. No skin off my cigar." Roman stood, stretched "Ahhhhsss for me; break time's over. Thanks for the chat kiddo; astonishingly you actually weren't boring."

"Uhhh thanks; I, think...?" Ruby blinked dumbly at his back as he turned to leave, mildly dazed.

Roman took a step, paused, half-turned and shot her a backward wink and a conspiratorially crooked cigar laden grin "Later Red; literally."

With a polite tip of his hat, off he strode, whistling and twirling his expensive cane, a cane Ruby felt increasingly certain was a superbly crafted and cleverly disguised mecha-shift weapon; just not cleverly enough to fool the experienced eye of a dedicated weapons nerd like herself. Predictably the impulse to pursue and pester him with questions about its functionality surged, but something else unexpectedly silenced her baying inner-geek.

"Is he, swaggering?" Ruby shook her head and rubbed her eyes as if trying to wake from a fever dream "Wow, he really is, and the fact he pulls it off so well is really annoying for some reason." Then suddenly it hit her like a random truck hits a Mistralian comicbook protagonist, that familiarity his appearance evoked and the uncanny resemblance which had hitherto eluded her "How did I miss that! The hat, the hair, the cane. Rgghh stupid Ruby! Its so obvious!"

Ruby's gaping fish impression morphed into a big shit-eating grin, unable to resist a chance at taking the swag out of that swagger; in fact she'd be remiss not to do so.

Silver eyes aglitter with mischief. Ruby shouted chirpily at Roman's retreating back "Thank you Mr Clockwork! Goodbye!"

Roman stumbled as if hit in the back by a flung mallet and nearly face-planted into the pavement. Only an innocent smile and friendly wave farewell met the baleful look he shot back at her over one stiff shoulder. Sneering, Roman gathered his remaining dignity, straightened, whirled and stalked off grumbling unflattering nothings under his breath, even as, under hers Ruby chuckled villainously "Swagger De-swagged, hu-hu-hu." But her act quickly degenerated into the giggles of a misbehaving school girl.

After Ruby's uninvited bench buddy vanished first from sight then from earshot, the quiet solitude settled again about her, but no longer of a mood for it she quickly grew restless with chaotic thoughts of Roman's cryptic instructions and a potential shortcut to attending Beacon. One look at the sun's position however had Ruby consulting her scroll's clock. The time startled her. She'd been brooding here for over half hour, not counting Mr Clockwork's advent. Her Dad and Sister had probably returned to the hotel suite by now from, whatever it was they were out doing, or soon would be. Dinner time wasn't far off anyways.

"Okie-Doki. Back to the hotel I go... But first to the fruit shop. My strawberry cravings command it. Hmm, maybe some cookies, too, and milk... Mission log updated."

%&$%&$%&$%&$%&$%&$%&$%&$%&$%&$

...Gambling...

On A Girl's Noble Dream & A Criminals Desperate Scheme.

They make their bets and role the dice

To save one world the girl rolls them twice – Three 4's and a lucky-lucky 6.

Can she claim her prize?

When next his turn arrives, The Crime Lord cheats and swaps the dice.

To save two lives he rolls them thrice – Snake Eyes, Snake Eyes, Snake Eyes

Can he afford such a price?

Gambling. Chancing. Hazarding.

When it is only in strangers no stranger than oneanother they blindly place their trust.

To prevail. To thrive. To succeed! To survive!

Can The Dreamer and The Schemer together tilt the game of life?

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Of Conspirators Unwilling

Part 1

"Why am I here again?" Ruby asked herself for the umpteenth time in the past two minutes she'd spent standing here staring indecisively at the dust shop across the street and fidgeting like some lost tourist. Again she studied the storefront and reread the prosaic rust-brown lettering on the long sign nailed above the entrance.

.

[::[ From Dust Till Dawn ]::]

.

"Why am I here again? Oh that's right! Because a random weirdo I met in a park told me to come here; wow. Am I really that desperate to attend Beacon with Yang? Aaaand just answered my own question."

Exhaling heavily through pursed lips, Ruby's scrutinised her surroundings for clues betraying Mister Clockwork's seven oclock mystery. The vibrant white-gold streetlights only enhanced Vale's eye pleasing architecture and the overall liveliness of a still young moonlit evening. In wardrobe, disposition and lifestyle, a different side to the citizenry was emerging as the humdrum workaday world slowly yielded right of way to its nocturnal counterpart. Pretty as the bustling thoroughfare was though, the city renowned for its radiant nightlife, somewhat ironically, illuminated no such clues.

Drawing a blank, Ruby breathed in the cool air and peppy atmosphere. She'd visited this city before with family of course, but being out alone on this fine Vale eve with its sights, sounds, chattering crowds and traffic, the delectable aromas wafting from restaurants; it felt pleasingly liberating. Ruby yearned to explore, to immerse herself in the night on the town experience and observe this exciting after dark world so contrary to both the peaceful countryside of Patch and Signal's regimented routines. Alas priorities are priorities and seizing this chance, this absurdly dubious chance at getting into Beacon, well...

And besides, if this turns out to be some petty meanyhead prank, which given Roman's off-brand humour seemed likely, Ruby could still spend half hour enjoying herself; maybe even a full hour provided her Dad didn't return to find her gone.

Earlier, after leaving the park and purchasing her supermarket spoils, Ruby had loitered anxiously outside the hotel room chugging an entire carton of milk while debating weather or not to follow Roman's nonsensical directions. Ruby hadn't wanted her family to witness this weird behaviour and get suspicious, which was funny in hindsight since neither Dad nor Yang had even been there; so mercifully Ruby wasn't forced to lie about her outing's utterly nonsensical purpose.

She'd killed over an hour watching reruns of Dragon Bone ZZ while eating an early, healthy dinner of cookies and strawberries that neither father or sister returned to scold or tease her for. After watching The Fruitian Prince transform into a giant monkey, Ruby had departed the hotel, E-Pod blaring, first detouring to the nearby arcade where she'd spent twenty minutes expending her excess nervous energy on a few rounds of Bloody Hunter 6 before embarking on the ten minute walk that landed her standing here feeling evermore silly.

Admittedly her family's absence did trouble Ruby, protective of them as she is, but since they'd all been trained in the hallowed huntsmen ways, they should be fine. Both of them are brawlers who excel at fighting people while Ruby herself, despite being more a fighter of grimm, is nevertheless decently capable against people- and really how much trouble could she or Yang get into anyway?

A laughing, cuddling couple tottering by on the sidewalk snapped Ruby from her musings; their joviality was contagious. Smiling self-deprecatingly, Ruby consulted her scroll "Well. Its five to seven. May as well go in. Besides if I stand here staring any longer people will think I'm casing the joint and call the fuzz. I'm sure Dad would just love bailing one of his daughters out of jail."

Pocketing her scroll, replacing her headphones, raising her hood and un-pausing her E-pod, Ruby ambles purposefully across the road, head bobbing rhythmically as she went. The rock music blaring through her headphones didn't quite drown out the tinkling door chimes announcing her arrival to the elderly clerk manning a glass counter brimming with shiny, high-purity dust crystals while three security monitors flickered at his back. Exchanging polite nods with him in passing, Ruby began pretend-browsing the merchandise.

Scepticism began nibbling at her resolve. For all she knew Roman could've been an escaped mental patient who'd mugged some poor elderly gentleman for his clothes and cane just to look cool while accosting teenage girls in a park; well probably not. He'd been cryptic, smugly aloof and vexingly vague, sure, but not insane, and something told Ruby he hadn't been joking. But how would her simply being here possibly get her into Beacon? It sounded too good to believe; too easy "I feel ridiculous; and my tummy hurts."

Then again tomorrow she'd have scouted dust shops to stock up on ammo unavailable in Patch anyway, a fact that mercifully lent this venture a sorely needed dimension of sanity. Determination to treat this like a regular shopping trip arrived with the next song and Ruby's stiff effort to wile away the remaining five minutes melted into the passionate ardour typical of any weapon's geek visiting a dust shop. In the hobbyist's revery, concepts like seven oclock do not exist; it is the way of things.

"Hmm, I'm good for armor-piercing and hollow points. Where's?... Eeeeee! The new Electro-Grav MK-4 rounds! I've been wanting to try these bad boys out, ooof-pricey, but worth it aaaaand they've got super-boomer casings on sale! And Sale ends tonight?! Yahoo! Ser-en-dipityyy!"

Catching herself drooling on the glass display, an abashed, blushing Ruby wiped away the spittle with her sleeve and skitters to the next isle where her flustered glee became bewilderment.

"An Argo Tricolour shockwave amplifier? But gravity and hardlight dust combos make them explode. Why's this place selling discontinued weapon mods? Maybe Mr Shopkeep missed the recall order; better warn him before I go or he'll end up with a lawsuit. Nice to see the mono-color amplifiers are still circulating, outdated but dependable; the newer version is conceptually awesome but way too resource inefficient. Speaking of resources, I've Gotta replace that glitchy dust purity scanner; that'll cost, lots... wonder if Signal student discount cards are accepted here. Oh good, they sell non-S.D.C brand scanners; that company's been getting super money-grubby lately."

S.D.C dust? Indisputably top tier. S.D.C prices? Highway Robbery. They'd also started expanding their bloated monopoly deeper into manufacturing, gradually muscling out smaller competing brands, brands Ruby deemed superior in quality, customer support and integrity. The S.D.C's offer you can't refuse style sponsorships of independent make-shift workshops were another concern, though thankfully only Atlesian workshops, for now. Then there's the increasingly popular conspiracy that their scanners subtly low-ball the purity readouts of non-S.D.C dust; unproven but Ruby wouldn't put it past them. Thus she avoided buying S.D.C products whenever possible on principle.

Noting a scanner model she liked and deciding she'd shop around Vale tomorrow to compare prices, Ruby jaunted deeper into the store. She ignored the Dust Recycling Units entirely, disliking their inherent designed obsolescence, a dislike that drove Ruby to build her own from scratch.

The back of the store looked promising, the assortment of smaller gadgets and tools particularly eye-catching. Humming, Ruby Half-skipped half-headbanged over to inspect them, mind already re-budgeting her allowance and plotting a cutesy strategy to mooch a little extra out of her Dad or Sister "Never underestimate the power of weaponized cuteness." Words to thrive by :)

A buzzing ceiling light flickered; Ruby glanced up, shrugged "Meh." Then scanned the shelves. After adding a tri-head screwdriver to her mental shoppinglist to replace the one damaged in a recent messy kinetic discharge accident in Signal's maintenance room, which totally wasn't her fault, Ruby spied a magazine rack to her immediate left,

Nerdy crosshairs zeroing in on the latest issue of Weapons weekly, Ruby fought down her curiosity; reading a magazine she hadn't bought would be kind of douchy after all. Besides she already had a paid subscription and would receive this issue in the mail soon anyway. Although, with Patch's outdated postal service being what it is, that might well take days... and a casual little peek wasn't illegal or anything. Just a quick flip through to wet her whistle then she'd put it back, no harm, no foul.

Grinning, Ruby shuffled over, plucked the magazine from its rack and flicked it open.

Soon enough Ruby unknowingly began very softly muttering to herself as her roving eyes ravenously devoured details, blueprints and specs without tarry "Switching to that chamber and extending the barrel by two mill would let me fire faster, punchier physical rounds, it'd mean slightly smaller mags but..." Bouncing in place as one of her favourite songs began playing, Ruby absentmindedly cranked the volume without breaking focus, and this time it did drown out the store's door chime.

"Silencers? Lame. Loudeners are where its at!..." Flipping the page, Ruby blinked, drew the magazine closer, squinting in utter bafflement "...Speed, Cocker?... huh, well that's a thing. Who'd even invent... Oh, La' Solo created it." She scoffed "Why did Mobious Corp trade a savant like Hanko for that goober? All his designs are junk! Junk! You suck La' Solo. Suck!"

Ruby turned another page, her little peek having morphed into a voyage upon her personal mental ocean of calculations, calibrations, modifications, tools, ammo types, velocities etcetera, etcetera and so much more etcetera that Ruby's chaotic rapidity of thought had her randomly reevaluating the most unsuccessful of her crackpot projects in progress.

Her hyperactive brain and its plans to build a functioning Death Ray were abruptly yanked crashing back down to Remnant by a demanding hand firmly gripping her shoulder. Apparently even her aura's sense had spaced out; sure the clerk wasn't dangerous or anything, but still...

Donning an expression of calculatedly childlike innocence, Ruby half-turned, hood falling back as she inquired "Hmm?".

It was not the elderly cashier however. It wasn't even an employee, the black suit, red tie, black hat, red-lensed sunglasses and crimson-bladed machete made that much obvious. His aggressive body language suggested a less than friendly disposition too.

Ruby blinked up at the man confusedly, idly wondering why he dressed like a stereotypical movie gangster. Teeth grit, he angrily mimed, pointing at his own ear and... oh.

Ruby slipped off her headphones and with more politeness than the suited man seemed inclined to reciprocate, cooly asked "Yes?"

"I said put your hands in the air. Now."

Was this guy for real? "Are you, robbing me?"

"Yes."

Ruby smiled "Ohhhhhh..."

Ruby Rose Fact No-13: Ruby's legs are freakishly strong, aura notwithstanding; a fact Mister Robber and his cracked ribs, presently air-gliding across the shop toward the front wall without a glider, would never forget. That went double for Mr. Robber's buddy who leapt out and aimed an energy pistol at her, earning himself a free oneway flying dragon kick class trip courtesy of Ruby Airlines. Flight rout? Tooshie-first through the front window. Destination? The Ground. His outraged yelp sounded like a five star review if ever she'd heard one

"That's called customer service, bitches!" Ruby inwardly cheered as she and her passenger cleared the sidewalk and touched down on the fortuitously empty road, the robber landing in a heap and Ruby nimbly on her feet. Startled pedestrians promptly fled the area; an armed thug and a teenage girl exploding through a window will do that. Lucky her. Now she can host her honorary banquet of butt-whoopings without fear of civilian casualties.

Rising to her full, diminutive height, Ruby deployed Crescent Rose, smiled, and with a skilful twirling flourish buried the scythe's tip into the road, cracking the bitumen beneath its weighty impact, her pose confident, her smile challenging "I must look super-duper epic right now; quick Ruby, say something clever! Actually, don't! Quiet heroes are always cooler!"

Ruby did however pause her E-pod, Fun as kicking evildoing butts to blaring rock music sounded, she wasn't ready to attempt a pro-level flex like that; yet.

The nonplussed "Okaaaay..." of an unseen yet weirdly familiar voice emanated from inside the shop, condescendingly commanding "...Get her."

Ruby had little time to ponder why the leader was hiding from view before the door was thrown open, its poor, abused chime like the starting bell in a boxing match as the four remaining suited henchmen spilled outside, their angry grimaces looking more constipated than fearsome as they fanned out and attacked, demonstrating moderately good teamwork.

Effortlessly avoiding the first assailant's clumsy slash, Ruby launched into a corkscrewing one-armed handstand on the planted Crescent Rose's handle, her gymnastics experiences shining as, legs kicking air she spun like a turnstile once then once more before slamming both boots into the robber's face, feeling both his shades and nose crunch underfoot. Ruby rode the rebound off the now flung away goon into a midair spin that dislodged her baby from the road her feet then returned to.

"Yep. No aura. Gotta pull my punches the way Uncle Qrow taught me. Maintain speed, moderate strength." He had added that non-lethal needn't mean painless, but Ruby ignored that part. Though she'd carefully memorised the correct impact levels required to incapacitate non-aura adepts, she still lacked practical experience; something these kind volunteers would soon become.

Were Ruby like Yang she'd act teasingly meek, all like ::Its my first time guys, please be gentle:: before systematically emasculating them. But Ruby isn't Yang. So, activating her aura heightened senses. The surrounding world and her enemies slowed to a crawl "Adult males, medium build, require about..."

Flicking Crescent Rose to one side, Ruby bodily spun and fired its inbuilt sniper rifle "first shot!" In a safe direction to lend her whirling swing extra momentum. The blunt end of her baby slingshotted into the next goon and punted him clean over the dust shop to crash like a yodelling cannonball through a third story window above it "Whoops; just a teensy-weensy bit too much. Please-please-pleeeease don't be dead Mr Bad Guy."

On the bright side business was booming for Ruby Airlines tonight; and here came her next customer now, impatiently brandishing his ticket. Sadly though, his name, whatever it is, was on the no fly list; thus Ruby pivoted, raised Crescent Rose overhead and, this time even more gently, brought its blunt butt down onto his chest like a giant hammer, effectively laying the criminal out like a screaming, crackling roadside rug "Nope, still a liiiiittle too much. Welp, chalk up another case of broken ribs for the doctor... Wow, now I'm sounding like Uncle Qrow; damn this is stressful!"

The remaining goon was now slowly, to Ruby's temporarily enhanced senses, squeezing his SMG's trigger.

Coughing led, the daka-daka-daka ensued. Weapon calibres vary but this one's bullets, while fast were perceptible enough to track and dodge "Maintain speed." Evasively zigzagging, Ruby shot twice at the ground, partly for extra acceleration but mostly for stylistic points "Second, third..." Stylishly or not though, she had to stop this mustachioed moron before his erratic gunfire endangered the civilians gawking through nearby windows like idiots instead of taking cover. Two fast-thinking teenagers behind a quarter-open second story window were, astonishingly, already recording the action with brandished scrolls poking through the gap, something that simultaneously elated and frustrated her, especially since the dust shop has security cameras.

After confirming the street remained empty, Ruby fired Crescent Rose rearward "Fourth!" to kickstart her forward surge of aura-enhanced speed, even applying a tiny semblance burst for good measure as, wind-whipped hair dancing, she slid under the stream of screaming bullets and enacted a no-handed sliding leg sweep shoulder toss combo. As she skidded beneath him, Ruby's free hand snaked out and deftly engaged the SMG's safety while her other used Crescent Rose's handle as a springboard to give him a soft but firm upward shove that catapulted him yelping skyward.

Repositioning her scythe, Ruby dug its tip into the road, carving a short trench just deep enough to arrest her sliding momentum, whereupon she let the recoil slingshot her flipping back and upward. Now upsidedown in midair, Ruby yanked Crescent Rose free of its dubiously consensual makeout session with the road's ravaged bitumen, completed her flip, spun, then, after confirming her still airborne passenger was buckled in, planted her scythe's head against his chest and gently-softly-ever-so-tenderly shoved henchmen number 6 flying several meters to land right at From Dust Till Dawn's doorstep with Ruby herself alighting in the way of cats.

Sadly these guys probably won't be racking up frequent flyer miles with Ruby Airlines anytime soon. Still, if huntress-ing doesn't work out she can always open an airport; an upbeat thought tragically dashed by that last goon lifting his head to glare glassy-eyed at her and wheeze "You broke, muh ribs. Ugh." Before promptly fainting.

"...Dammit. I suck at this... Moderate strength? pfft, moderate my butt... Nyuuu I'm Ruby Rose, The Reckless Renegade Rib Wrecking Red Reaper! Revere me! Revile me! Rargh!" Ruby sighed guiltily"I have to do better- I will do better... I'll make you proud, Mom."

The crisp sound of slow clapping shredded the post-combat quiet and scuppered her morosely sentimental introspection. Fool her she'd forgotten about their boss.

Flinching, Ruby's attention snapped to the shops open doorway... and the all too recognisable man standing in it looking exactly as he had mere hours ago; tall, lean, white coat, grey scarf, orange hair, red-striped black bowler, a lit cigar at ease between his lips and that make-shift cane hanging elegantly off his right forearm; and he's here...

Ceasing his applause, Roman slowly exhaled smoke through his nose as he frowned down at the unconscious henchman, then, left hand assuming custody of his cigar, he muttered "Well you were worth every cent, truly you were." Whereupon those gleaming jade eyes swang lazily up to meet Ruby's big, round, uncomprehending silver ones as she stared back at him, dumbstruck, slack-jawed and speechless...

"Little Red, Little Red." The bamboozling bastard said "Did ya really have to go and piss in my porridge like that? And right when I was about to take it off the stove, too. Yeeesh, kids these days; bunch of no-good do-gooding meddlers the lotta you."

Somewhere way, way back there in Ruby's frazzled brain, a small, lost voice asked...

…

…

…

…

"What's happening?"

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Of Conspirators Unwilling

Part 2

Mind like a speeding motorcycle racing a gauntlet of illogical loop-the-loops with malfunctioning breaks, Ruby's near-apoplectic confusion-addled outrage left her rooted in place pointing a furiously quivering finger at its source, that eccentric and now not so benevolent stranger in who she had confided her life's ambition and who's council she'd foolishly heeded. Confusion fast became anger and Ruby's pointing finger shook into overdrive as she began subjecting him to the most facile and brutally righteous tongue-lashing that a tongue ever did lash!

"Y-y-y-you-you-you-you-you-you-you-YOU-YOU!"

"M-m-m-me-me-me-me-me-me-me-me-ME-ME!... wait. What are we doing? Nyaa who cares." Magician-like, Roman, with one cavalier wave, suavely flipped his cane off his forearm, dismissed her outburst then caught and twirled it with that same hand while its opposite returned his cigar to its rightful throne. Stepping onto the sidewalk, he mused "Iiiii'm gonna go ahead and assume that tsunami of verbal diarrhoea you just projectile vomited my way means I've been recognised, after all you'd have to be a dimwited yockle living under a rock in the boonies to not recognise the illustrious gentleman criminal Roman Torchwick. Not that that does me any favours;" He sneered, advancing a step, heedless of the incapacitated hireling near him being dragged away by a concerned cohort "I mean just when I thought tonight would be a nice, boring success, some wannabe hero barely out of diapers pops up outta dust-damned nowhere and ruins it!" The loud, punctuating thunk of cane greeting pavement jolted Ruby's already fraught nerves "But alright I'll humour you Little Red. The doughnut squad haven't rolled over yet, so our stars align. You wanna play huntress." Then lowly, caustically "And I want my pound of flesh."

Meanwhile, battered, limping in pain, their suits marred and torn, Torchwick's three least injured henchmen, sensing impending trouble, were already dragging their worse off fellows into the relative cover of a nearby alleyway. The comradely display of solidarity among bad guys might've earned Ruby's respect were she not presently discombobulated.

First Roman deceives her, then behaves like he hadn't all but invited her along, and now he's challenging her to a 1V1? The absolute gall!Just what kind of sick joke is he playing? Implicating her into... "Oh no..." Ruby's heart lurched. She felt ill "I-I'm an accomplice! H-he tricked me! What did I expect, though?! Trusting a complete stranger?! Stupid-Stupid-Stupid!"

Roma...no, Torchwick, whipped up his cane, took aim, simpering "Incidentally..." as a reticle popped up to, unsurprisingly, reveal a wide gun barrel.

Normally Ruby's inner-nerd would've excitedly squealed "Cannon Cane!" but lost in the fog of anger, hurt, betrayal and self-depreciation as she was, not even her reflexive weapons enthusiast tendencies could stabilise the volatile miasmic cocktail of bubbling negative emotion threatening to blow.

Torchwick however, seeing Ruby open her mouth to more coherently express her righteous outrage, snapped "Think fast!"

Trained combat instincts compensating for her distracted mind, Ruby reflexively evaded the high explosive flare shrieking toward her by jumping and firing Crescent Rose downward, launching herself up above the ensuing detonation which gutted the road, its miniature shockwave slinging smouldering bitumen that raked building sides. The dust shop's remaining front window shattered. The nearest neighbouring windows did not. Reinforced glass to the rescue; though cracked, they'd protected the audibly distressed occupants admirably.

Reaching the zenith of her jump astride a scorching air current, Ruby, again lucid, spared the two teenagers a concerned glance. Shaken but unharmed, the excitedly trembling pair stubbornly kept those death-gripped scrolls rolling. Sillies.

"Crud. Gotta stop him shooting more of those." A strategy quickly crystallised "I'll crowd him in CQC. Keep him center-street away from buildings. He's probably got aura, but it should still discourage close range flares while I speed blitz his overdressed butt." Eyes hardening, Ruby, still airborne, reverse fired diagonally downward "Fifth!" propelling herself toward Torchwick's position. Finding him absent however she abandoned her plummeting overhead axe-chop, alighted facing the shop and glowered rearward at the explosion's lingering smoke "Hide and seek? Fine!" , Ruby again vandalised the road with an aura-boosted stomping spin and swung Crescent rose side-on like a fan. With a great whoosh of air the stinky smokescreen, accompanied by an empty soda can, blew away "Right. Now to get..."

Bonk! Right on the noggin.

Sounding like a startled duck taking a full loaf of bread to the face, Ruby skittered crablike sideways for some space to reorient herself, but the flamboyant criminal was already on her. As expected his onslaught of practised aggression boasted the attributes of one packing aura.

"Good."

Almost feral, Ruby answered shrewd aggression with bombastically exuberant aggression. Scythe and cane clashed, whistled and sang as they danced in the evening breeze. Advance and retreat, feint, parry, repost, footwork, positioning circling, circling "Sixth!", just two aura-enhanced blurs of violence, the elder a fleet-footed mobile fortress of impregnable defence and cunning counters, the younger a chaotic crimson hurricane flitting and bounding all about, illusive, vicious and unpredictable.

Parrying the strokes of a scythe wielder trained by a true master is a challenging feat, only Torchwick wasn't just doing so effectively, he was flaunting it and laughing; deflecting and redirecting her every effort amidst crude, throaty chortling.

With a guard-breaking flourish Torchwick elbowed her in the stomach and cracked the cane's handle up under her chin. Aura humming, Ruby darted away, firing "Seventh!" Circled, "Eighth-Ninth." then sped back in after her bullets, launching into a complex sequence of whirling supersonic slashes and handle bashes which concluded with a backward hop and "Tenth! Empty!"

Yet, Torchwick stonewalled everything, then, with amazing skill, caught the bullet with his cane's hook, spun and launched it back faster than she'd fired it. Her own round hit her aura-enshrouded shoulder and Ruby wasn't even mad "Awe-sooome."

Even while staggering, Ruby expertly ejected her empty mag and inserted a new one lightning fast. Exploiting this opening a black-gloved fist made her forehead's acquaintance. Watching her stumble, nigh-tumble back, Torchwick tutted and, like a heckler at a comedy show, drawled "Lame!"

"I take it back. Screw this guy!" Rebounding, Ruby cut low at the lying jerk's shins. Nimbly he hop-stomped on Crescent Rose's blade, pinning it underfoot... and suddenly Ruby found his cane's handle encircling her throat. A squeakily strangled "Whargh" escaped the girl when Torchwick yanked her toward him. The heady scent of cigar smoke invaded Ruby's nostrils as he leaned down and mockingly singsonged into her ear "Still not impressed!"

Snarling, Ruby hoicked and fired her baby "First!" while slamming her head sideways into his, thereby slipping free of his cane, knocking him staggering off balance and using the shot's recoil to swing Crescent Rose in a full 360, her blade whisking for his neck. He ducked it only for her small boot to impact his chest and send him skidding back with a crazed cigar-adorned grin splitting his face.

Alas Ruby wasn't fast enough retracting her leg. Torchwick's cane hooked her ankle, and by that ankle he began spinning her, scythe and all, around once, twice and once more before hurling her at a nearby lamppost.

Feeling obliged to show she can do cool stuff too, Ruby altered her areal positioning and amplified her velocity with another shot "Second!" Loudly Ruby's boots impacted the streetlight's thick metal base where its sturdiest, meanwhile her masterfully angled sniper round ricochetted off a neighbouring lamppost onto a collision course with an impressed looking Torchwick who narrowly rearwardly deflected it then even more narrowly leaned limbo under the blurring slash she'd aimed at his shoulder milliseconds after kicking off the now horribly mangled lamppost which currently resembled a gut-punch victim gone vertically fetal. Had Ruby not carefully calculated her strength, she'd have completely bisected it without rebounding. Her Uncle's special training was paying dividends.

"Third-fourth!" Torchwick was now weathering a veritable storm of blitzing follow up slashes and close range shots from myriad bizarre angles. He actually appeared pressed until some fancy footwork positioned him about perfectly to parry then roundhouse kick her away.

Backflipping to bleed off the impact which would've tossed her down the street like a kicked can otherwise. Decided to try a favourite field-tested combat trick, Ruby murder-stomped more bitumen and propelled herself racing directly at him, feigning an overhead strike. The sucker bought it, cane already prepping a parry-counterstrike. Gunning her semblance, Ruby slid in low, dexterously manoeuvring Crescent Rose's massive head around past Torchwick until its crescent blade practically hugged his flank.

Heady with her success, Ruby mustered all of her ridiculous leg strength further bolstered by aura, took a two-handed death grip on her baby then simultaneously sprung explosively, violently, road-crackingly backwards, twisting her body viciously and, the cherry atop the victory cake "Fifth Baby!" Ruby glanced back, caught his eye, smiled triumphantly "Check m-whaaa?!"

Stillborn, her smile died.

Foiling a surprise move only seasoned combatants could on their first try, Torchwick repositioned his cane pointing vertically upwards at his flank right as she fired. Performing a gentlemanly bow the crook flawlessly angled his weapon to guide Crescent Rose grinding up its shaft and over his dipping upper body until the cane's barrel pointed levelly at "Oh crap..."

Even before their weapons parted, his flare crashed into her unguarded back. The explosion's kinetic force, combined with her semblance boosted jump, flung her hurtling toward a building. Despite everything spinning, Ruby successfully reduced her velocity with one well-timed "Sixth!" gunshot downward before the inevitable.

Wham-Crack Face met reinforced concrete wall; it was a short, ugly friendship, their falling out resoundingly, reboundingly literal as Torchwick's excessively villainous laugh rang out.

Toppling backward off the wall onto her butt, her aura singing, a relieved Ruby almost laughed at the veiny cracks surrounding her human-shaped signature; had she not fired she would've cannonballed clean through the damn building.

Quickly bouncing to her feet, Ruby faced the enemy, readying Crescent Rose which thankfully she hadn't dropped; the mere thought of losing her baby threatened waterworks.

"Better." Torchwick glibly complemented.

While nowhere near her uncle's level, Ruby acknowledged Roman's skill. He'd sacrificed some aura pulling that stunt but it payed off. Why hadn't he gone flying like her, though? Shaped flares? An aura technique? Maybe he's got an awesome gravity manipulation semblance; though if so, he's holding back... Actually, thinking about it, the physical blows he'd dealt her thus far should've damaged her aura more than this. "Is he... sandbagging? Why? To test me? Maybe. B-but his theatrics, behaving like we never met; its like, like he's putting on a stage show starring himself and... me."

Angered by how well the pieces suddenly fit, Ruby forcibly forbore voicing her epiphany knowing he'd interrupt any attempted accusation to preserve the narrative, just like earlier. Instead, Ruby made a, Come At Me, gesture. Smirking knowingly, Torchwick counter-gestured likewise; apparently they'd seen the same movie. "Fine; your funeral."

Tension. Narrowed eyes. Set jaws. Twitching fingers. Raw concentration.

An old fashion standoff...

One second...

Two...

The damaged section of wall randomly half-collapsing was catalyst enough.

Semblance firing on all cylinders Ruby rocketed forward, reaching him long before the falling rubble kissed pavement. Mildly flummoxed, Torchwick fired at the ground between them. However the flare had barely taken flight before Ruby materialised, slashing for his ribs. Scrambling, Roman intercepted, but Ruby, expecting it, used his parry to aim at his stomach and "Seventh." Right as the flare went boom, further mangling the poor road, testing windows and gusting ignited rose petals everywhere; a cacophony concealing the ping of a scarcely deflected 50 calibre sniper round at not quite point-blank range.

The stiff night air reeked of burning roses and rang with weapon violence "Eighth!" Meanwhile on the sidelines, one brave henchman was timidly trying to rescue his fallen hat.

Mid-exchange, Torchwick simultaneously ducked a slash and retrieved the slightly scorched hat then gently frisbeed it to its relieved owner who's expression of uncharacteristically childlike joy and reaching hand fell into abject, mournful despondency when...

"Ninth!"

Ruby's sniper round perforated it mid-flight. The poor thing flopped sadly to the ground at the goon's feet, almost cleaved in two.

Feeling petty, Ruby turned to smirk at Torchwick... and ate an outraged cane handle to the schnoz.

Reeling on unsteady legs, Ruby rallied, scowling fiercely at Torchwick's righteously scandalised expression before zipping forward in a swirl of rose petals, scythe heroically scything at his precious Bowler.

"Woah!" Nearly losing his cigar, Torchwick tap-danced inelegantly clear, free hand shielding his hat. Low and flinty through grit teeth he chuckled, a feral gleam entering his eye "hehehaha, ya just had to make this personal, didn't chya."

Personal?... The hypocrite.

"Grrrr!" Ruby attacked in blind fury... and tripped over Torchwick's extended leg. Two vicious blows followed, heavier than before, faster, unrestrained, driving her to her knees, aaaaand how did his cane handle get around her neck again?...

The next thing Ruby knew she was being spun by her throat then unceremoniously flung, scythe and all, at Dust Till Dawn

Ruby let out a strangled "Woah Momma!" as she sailed through the very window she'd originally broken. Except for a satchel rack toppled by Crescent Rose, Fortune's favour carried her safely above the expensive displays before she hit the sturdy, shelf-adorned back wall. Ignoring their inhumane passenger welfare protocols, Torchwick Airlines' boasted some preemo service;

Aura purring, Ruby hoisted the mangled metal shelf off herself as she stood, tentatively leaning it against the cracked wall one-handedly before reverting Crescent Rose to its more indoor friendly rifle form.

A buzzing ceiling light flickered; Ruby glanced up, shrugged "...Déjà vu."

Leaping over the mess of fallen, albeit mostly intact, merchandise and a familiar magazine rack, Ruby sped to the storefront's window where she beheld Torchwick... impatiently consulting his watch. Rolling his eyes at her reemergence "Well Red. I think we can all say its been an eventful evening," Flippantly he discarded his cigar and pointedly squished it beneath his cane "and as much as I'd love to stick around, I'm afraid this." He took aim "Is where we part ways."

Ruby panicked "He wouldn't."

He didn't. Evidently reconsidering the wisdom of shooting explosives into the powder keg that is any dust shop, Torchwick fired a different looking flare at the ground instead. With a pop, dense grey smoke rapidly engulfed the entire intersection.

Ruby glanced back at the elderly Shopkeeper peering over the counter "You okay if I go after him?"

He nodded "Mhm."

Semblance coughing pettles as Crescent Rose reentered scythe form Ruby ripped through the smokescreen, scattering it. Glimpsing Torchwick a block yonder ascending a tall residential building, Ruby's inner-nerd gushed "Ahhhh-his cane has a grappling hook! I-Want-One IWantOne!", then more shrewdly "Well if he didn't mind letting me ruin his robbery then he won't mind going to prison for me either; after surrendering his weapon specs, of course."

Corralling Nerdy Ruby back into her cage, Serious Ruby slammed her semblance's metaphorical accelerator, executing a heavily aura-augmented running-jump that covered two thirds of the building's height. A booster-shot from Crescent Rose hoiked her the remaining third onto the rooftop "Tenth! Empty! Reloading!"

As her empty magazine dropped to the ground and her last backup mag clicked in, Ruby shouted "Hey!"

Standing frozen meters ahead by the roof's opposite edge, shoulders tensed, back facing her, Torchwick growled "Persistent."

Under different circumstances Ruby would've immersed herself in the gorgeous highrise view, enjoying the cool urban-scented winds, marvelling at the radiant sprawling city or ogling Beacon enthroned atop a distant hill, its great tower's soft emerald glow beautiful beneath the moonlit swirl of the cloudy dark blue sky.

Alas...

"Why?!" Ruby, rather nebulously, demanded, her anger etched with hurt "Wh..."

"Whadoya'mean Why?!" He snarled, whirling, still interrupting her inquiries even up here "I'm Roman Mothfucking Torchwick!That's why! I do whatever I want, and despite the reputation hit I chose to cut and run with my meagre haul without bloodshed. But then you just had to chase me up here." He threw up his hands "You won the battle, kid! Thwarted a legend! Now call it a night and go to bed, Red;" He stared her dead in the eye "Don't make me kill you."

Was he frigging serious right now? As if she'd capitulate to this lunatic farce and bow out on cue. No. She will end this folly and Roman Torchwick's criminal career with it like any true huntress would.

Noticing her galvanising resolve, a vague hint of regret, among other complicated emotions, flickered behind Torchwick's eyes then vanished so quickly Ruby wondered if she'd imagined it.

No warnings this time. When Ruby's mouth opened to counter-monologue, his cane whipped up and shot gunslinger-style. He was finally taking her a bit more seriously now.

Pouring aura into Crescent Rose Ruby spun it like a fan, neutralising the brunt of the explosion. Nevertheless the building quaked, prompting frightened screaming from inside as the parapet flanking her was blasted into scorched chunks of plummeting concrete. Hopefully the street below remained deserted.

Pissed, Ruby sprung over the clearing smoke "First-Second-Third!" firing three rounds at his head midair before bringing Crescent Rose cleaving down, the air audibly cracking with its passage. Torchwick expertly batted her bullets back at her, each hitting her, then horizontally no-selled her follow up only to stagger half a step when her boot once again met his chest, rebounding off him. Not a particularly good kick, but small victories.

Grimacing, Torchwick brushed invisible dirt off his coat where her heel contacted and Ruby used that laps to zoom zigzagging back at him, Crescent Rose becoming a cyclone of streaking red violence that belied its every attack's expert precision. Torchwick met her onslaught with a manic chuckling grin which contradicted his previously expressed vexation.

"VvVvVvVvVvV!" Ruby's aura vibrated excitedly.

"Holy crapples. This guy's Defence Stats are freaking bullshit!" Ruby stepped it up, flitting all over the rooftop, yet he stonewalled everything, holding his position by the parapet with increasingly suspicious stubbornness, almost as if...

Roaring engines quick-starting into an ascent drowned out all other sound. A grey armoured bullhead rose from below to hover behind Torchwick; his emergency extraction stratagy.

The pilot lowered the aircraft's boarding ramp and beamed its non-standard issue floodlight directly in Ruby's face, effectively blinding her whilst her quarry presumably sauntered aboard.

"End of the line, Red." Declared Torchwick, voice laced with some unreadable emotion.

Wary of incoming flares but failing to squint past the obnoxiously bright light, Ruby began trying to use aura to temporarily augment her vision, a technique still new to her, when a disgustingly familiar tinkling clatter emanated at her feet. Stepping back, eyes adjusting, heart thundering, Ruby hazarded a nervous glance down at...

A pure-cut fire dust crystal.

"Not good!" She had no way of stopping the flare that'd already be well on its way without the fire crystal blowing. She couldn't kick it away either; they're sturdy but not six story plunge sturdy, and that's assuming her kicking it over the parapet didn't exploderise it first. With her moderately damaged aura Ruby would survive the combined blasts, probably; but the civilians on the building's upper floors?

The bone-deep dread, like frigid spiders partying on her spine, that Torchwick's flare was instants away paralysed Ruby. The crushing weight of responsibility...

"We Huntsmen and Huntresses dedicate our lives to protecting those who cannot protect themselves; from grimm, from natural disasters and even from the monsters hiding among them... As that old song goes:: a true huntsman's life, is all about the sacrifice... hmm-hmm-la-da-naaa, If not us, then who?... Hmm-hmmm-hmmm, this sacrifice I do; in truth I do it all, for you..."

Those fragmented, half-remembered words, lyrics and the faint sensation of warm lips upon her forehead resonated in the deepest recesses of Ruby Rose's memory and the burning prickle behind her eyes they elicited drove back the grim pall of despondent indecision crippling her judgement, leaving only clarity and an almost spiritual resolve. Ruby couldn't stop the flare, but if she can just...

"Think Fast!" Torchwick bellowed...

Torchwick, who hadn't even fired the flare that triggered her terrifying yet deeply emotional watershed moment. Torchwick who'd just counter-productively announced his impending attack when he probably could've already initiated the supersized kaboom. And Torchwick who'd experienced Ruby's super speed firsthand...

Now, he fired; a flare Ruby immediately recognised as a weaker, slightly slower variant of those previously used. Had he depleted his primary ammo?

Regardless, Ruby cranked her semblance, dove, grabbed the crystal, pocketed it mid-roll and found her feet with moments to spare while amping her aura to shield herself and the crystal both. Simultaneously her aura's passive senses detected a non-malicious new arrival closing in, fast... from above?

All plans to hop rooftops crumbled when Ruby's backward glance scarcely registered the purple-white streak elegantly crushing down atop Torchwick's airborne flare.

"Woohohoho! Eh?" Torchwick's oblivious cheer choked off into confusion Ruby herself shared as the smoke dispersed at unnatural speed, both gaping at the newcomer rising from an epic superhero landing pose.

Green eyes, pale blonde hair, white blouse, black skirt and heeled boots. Most eye-catching was her awesome stylised cape, purple inside, black outside, billowing behind. This woman radiated that intimidating no-nonsense disciplinarian mojo, an impression her delicate glasses and pretty earrings somehow only enhanced, nevermind the riding crop.

Amid her fixation on the newcomer Ruby only half-registered the large, radiant but fading magenta glyph blanketing the rooftop which had warded against further building damage. Only one word described this awe-inspiring and weirdly familiar woman.

"Huntress." Ruby felt giddy

Until now Ruby hadn't seen the dapper criminal truly flustered, but hoo-boy under that blonde's withering glare Torchwick's expression eerily resembled Ruby's six year old self when caught plundering the cookie jar at midnight. Catching himself, his exceptional pokerface ran damage control.

Surveying her surroundings for tactical advantages, Ruby clocked two top floor window-peeping, scroll-toting numbskulls in connected buildings risking death by stray flare for those sweet holonet likes. Had Torchwick noticed them earlier and improvised that dust crystal stunt to make her look heroic? A thought for later examination.

Flicking her riding crop, which probably wasn't also a gun, not that Ruby was judging, the huntress conjured a swarm of radiant homing energy projectiles that peppered the bullhead's heavily armored hull and smashed that stupid floodlight as it span and juddered amid the deadly but waning lights show. Just when the pilot reasserted control however, the huntress summoned... a freaking storm cloud out of thin air!

"Wooaahh." Ruby breathed, awed as that cloud vomited vicious torrents of icicles down upon the poor bullhead turned pincushion. The pilot was skilled however and rotated it until the open hatch again faced them. Within its darkened compartment, their upper body cast in shadow... Either Torchwick had been hiding a red-orange dress and a killer pair of long, smooth lady legs under that snazzy ensemble, or this shady supermodel strutting before them in high-heeled contempt of turbulence was a new adversary.

Two demonically glowing amber eyes raked them from the darkness. Ruby's aura and instincts screamed "Danger!" the former jubilantly, and her Uncle advised her to always heed such warning signs. Cold flint on searing brimstone, the huntress matched stare for stare, professionally unruffled. Patiently, predatorily they sized eachother up; then...

In short; epic Awesomeness ensued.

...Lady Legs struck first, extended palm propelling a jet of condensed fire that broke against another defensive glyph. Some liquid-like splash-off however spattered around the glyph onto the ground, swiftly forming into an incandescent circle beneath the blonde, brightening and brightening then irrupting into a great, whooshing geyser of flames the huntress backflipped away from. The flaming pillar's surge skyward superheated the air about it and slung chunks of reinforced concrete everywhere.

Dust she hoped the residents had already evacuated; its a miracle the entire top floor hadn't collapsed inward. Perhaps the huntress negated the damage like before.

Landing beside Ruby, said huntress wasted no time, or resource, suspending the debris midair and forging the many jagged pieces into a rapidly spinning drill-like spear then launched it whirring at Lady legs who busted it apart with three consecutive fiery blasts powerful enough to create shockwaves. Yet The scattered fragments simply reformed and retaliated, a phenomena only an incredible semblance could explain.

The fast-thinking pilot dexterously angled the bullhead to deflect the homing projectile off its thick armour plating without much damage; a delaying tactic as the blonde badass split the spear into several great coiling serpents contorting to strike from multiple sides and ruin the bad guys day.

Lady legs stumbled as the bullhead righted itself, but those legs kept her upright where Ruby might've faceplanted and their steadfast confidence presaged their owner's coming counter; and what a counter. A massive orange tinted aura-infused pulse burst outwards, obliterating the rubble serpents without harming the bullhead or, oddly, the rooftop at all.

Huntress and Lady Legs paused, both visibly recalculating how to continue a duel against their respectively unexpectedly formidable opponent.

The status quo was clear.

Stalemate.

A Staredown in dilated time.

One second...

The bullhead hovered, idling engines thickening the tension.

Two...

Neither moved.

Three...

Those smugly superior legs betrayed nothing. Being Lady Legs' only discernible characteristic bar her molten amber eyes in a shadowed face, those legs were, all Ruby could, focus on. Those. Tall. Woman. Legs.

With legs like those, she'd have the height required to fully utilise Crescent Rose to a level rivalling her Uncle.

With legs like those she and her baby would become an unstoppable, incomparable terror unto Grimm and Torchwicks Remnant wide.

With legs like those, she could become a huntress worthy of succeeding her mother's legacy!...

Alas...

"There's not enough milk in the world!"

Unaware she'd just shouted that aloud, Ruby reverted Crescent Rose into gun form and emptied the remaining clip at the vile woman who, with infuriating laziness, blocked all seven bullets with one palm.

Click-click-click: went the empty chamber's lament.

Thus it fell to Ruby's far more professional ally to telekinetically shunt the preoccupied girl clear of the five flaming geysers that irrupted all around them; a distraction the wily pilot capitalised on.

The Bullhead made a clean getaway; and Ruby's bout of insanity magically departed with it... only for an entirely different strain of mania to seize the young teen.

That had to be the single most phenomenally creatively, masterfully wicked display of semblance-aura-dust combos she'd ever seen. Movie directors would froth at the mouth to recreate such a flashy contest of power after seeing this civilian-filmed footage. Indeed, she had just witnessed the pinnacle of what she so passionately aspired to become in action. In person. In participation! Incredible!

"Can't, resist... Must, start, fan-girling!"

Vibrating like an overloading reactor, fists clutching her own collar Ruby stared with wide-eyed adoration up at the irritated blonde now looming sternly over her.

"You're a huntress... eeee-can I have you're autograph!"

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

A Tainted Dream

A column of luminous moonlight spilled between half-parted curtains into the semi-darkened suite.

Dustmote-speckled, it pooled defiant upon shadowed carpet, flowing across a polished coffee table to grace the occupied couch beyond.

Sleepless silver eyes caught and reflected its soft splendour; troubled and unblinking.

The balcony door stood ajar, left so by an insomniac pajama-clad girl disdainful of stuffy hotel rooms.

Cool midnight air graciously accepted her invitation.

Teal drapes billowed lethargically.

A rejuvenating breeze kissed the girl's soporific features.

The distant sounds of traffic seven floors below drifted in, accompanied by faint, pleasantly monotonous music from a nightclub nearby.

This cocktail of conditions, long having since coalesced into a subdued ambient repose, soothed her chaotic, clamorous thoughts into a lackadaisical murmur.

Even so: After a wild, action-packed evening, her callow brain should have retired to dreamland.

The introspective worries of a restless conscience however are their own implacable compulsion, a process mental fatigue only exacerbates.

Persistent nattering, niggling, unfading, unrelenting upheavals; their causal issues hounding her, demanding attention, commanding resolution, forbidding forbearance.

Why?

She knows why.

Truly, she does know.

She'd made choices.

Living with them, though...

Rolling onto her side, knees drawing up to her chest, Ruby hugged them as she stared vacantly back at that maimed, melancholic moon, lips shaping an irresolute whisper to no one

"But: I got what I wanted... didn't I?"

(::The Interview::)

If the police interrogation room's spotlight snapping on with startling volume was an inbuilt intimidation feature, it'd worked.

"I hope you realise that your actions tonight will not be taken lightly, young lady. You put yourself and others in great danger." Professor Goodwitch lectured, pacing behind a seated, fidgeting Ruby.

"They started...!" Ruby bit back her reflexive, petulant retort, breathed in and bowed her head, ashamed. Torchwick's crew committed the robbery, but she'd started the fight "...I'm sorry. I-I just..."

"If it were up to me you'd be sent home, with a pat on the back... And a slap on the wrist."

Thwack:The riding crop dropped.

Ruby squeaked in surprise rather than pain, cradling her wrist as her aura chuckled its amusement "Stupid aura."

Miss Goodwitch had paused, then conceded"...You're willingness to admit your misjudgements however speaks well of your character. But putting that aside..." A short, suffering, weary sigh escaped her "There is someone here who would like to meet you."

Relaxed footsteps from beyond the darkened doorway heralded into the spotlight a most surprising and confounding visitor. That white hair, the green suit and delicate shaded spectacles; Recognition struck like lightning "No way."

Huntsmen Royalty approached her, one hand expertly holding a coffee mug and the other a plate of extremely yummy looking choc-chip cookies. Ruby saw no weapon but would bet her allowance he carried concealed an armament worthy of Beacon Academy's Headmaster.

She'd been starstruck with Miss Goodwitch, but confronted with this man her fangirl heart was risking overload, not least because this esteemed individual was very specifically name-dropped by a certain notorious douchebag she met in a park.

"Ruby Rose." That sagely voice she'd only ever heard in holonet vids spoke, to her.

Ozpin leaned closer, slowly, meaningfully, deliberately looking her straight in the eyes, surely seeing through her dishonesties with his super-secret wise old huntsman mind reading powers.

Struggling to act natural, Ruby internally whimpered "Craaap. He-Knows-He-Knows-He-Knows-He-KnowsHeKnowsHeKnowsHeKnowsHEKNOOOOWS!..." ARGGH-I'm so screwed! Should I confess!? ShouldIConfess!?"

"You; have silver eyes."

"...Eh?" Ruby blinked, all anxieties forgotten at that confusingly random observation. Sure her eye colour is a bit unusual, but barring polite, occasionally complimentary remarks in passing, nobody before Ozpin specially mentioned it... Baffling, yet flattering: Bafflatering???... "U-uhm..."

"So..." He gestured and Miss Goodwitch upheld a scroll. On its screen Ruby saw high quality footage of herself fighting Torchwick's henchmen and Torchwick himself. The poor camera struggled to capture the latter duel's speed. It was surreal how insanely fast her battle against Torchwick played out; she could've sworn it was longer "Where did you learn to do this."

"S-S-Signal Academy."

"They taught you to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?" His eyebrows lifted but he appeared more impressed than sceptical.

"Well, one teacher in particular."

"...I see." And indeed he sounded as if he did see.

Torchwick's claim that putting on a flashy show might draw this very man's interest had seemed like utter lunacy. Yet. Here he is, Headmaster Ozpin, taking an undue interest, in her. Coincidence? Probably. But still, this is crazy; mind-blowingly, nerve-wrackingly, pants-peeingly crazy.

Craving comfort food, Ruby eyed the cookies. Observing this, Ozpin deposited the plate on the cold metal table. Ruby's manners were apparently on vacation as she began devouring the confections with gluttonous efficiency that visibly bewildered Professor Goodwitch,

Amusedly unfazed, Ozpin ventured "Its just that I've only seen one other scythe wielder of that skill before; a dusty old Qrow."

"Hmm-thts-mmu-nnclee..." Flushing, Ruby swallowed her mouthful, one hand catching crumbs. "Sorry. That's my Uncle Qrow; he's a teacher at signal. I was complete garbage before he took me under his wing, oops, pardon the pun, hehe." She blushed, scratching her head "Anyway, now I'm all like whooo-chyaaa-fooowaa" An unholy presentation combining martial arts poses and ninja hand-gestures ensued, compelled by pride in her Uncle and her own skills.

"So I've noticed. You even held your own against Vale's most dangerous criminal. Quite the impressive feat." He placed down his coffee mug, continuing "Yet one wonders what an adorable girl such as yourself is doing at a school designed to train warriors."

Ruby met his eye and with all her heart answered "I want to be a huntress."

"You want to slay monsters?"

"Yeah, I only have two more years of training back at Signal, then I'm going to apply to Beacon. See my sister's starting there this year and she's trying to become a huntress and I'm trying to become a huntress cause I want to help people and my parents always taught us to help others and make the world safer so I thought, why, not..." Her rambling excitement choked off as the contrasting realities of her words and choices hit home. Gutt-churning guilt taarnishing the magical moment.

Ozpin, perhaps not unreasonably mistaking her trailing off as self-consciousness or post-babble asphyxiation, ignored it, instead asking "Do you know who I am?"

"Y-your Headmaster Ozpin." She stammered, the reality of it actually slapping her in the face. "...The Headmaster of Beacon." Someone she idolises; someone she is deceiving.

Ozpin chuckled at her sudden awkwardness, as if she'd just realised who he actually was "Haa." He chortled kindly "Hello."

"Hi." Ruby reciprocated meekly, holding her breath, heart dead still in her chest, her morals waging a war against hopeful self-interest, one half commanding she do the right thing, the huntress thing, while the other urged secrecy in fear of ruining... what? An impossibility?

"No... I will be a huntress."

Deciding to come clean, Ruby shakily inhaled and "I..."

"You want to come to my school?"

Ruby's roaring heart triple somersaulted into her throat. He'd asked it... the very question she'd yearned to hear "He couldn't be offering t-that?... N-Nonononono. No way. H-He's just curious; that's all..." Regardless. Ruby had only one answer to give...

"More, than, anything." She croaked emphatically, hope swelling, eyes welling, heart near to bursting.

The Legendary Huntsman glanced at Miss Goodwitch who just rolled her eyes, grunted and shrugged like a weary soul resignedly accepting one of life's many futilities. Looking back to Ruby, Ozpin blandly, like someone tossing an extra can of beans into their shopping basket on a whim, said "Well okay."

Yes. Ruby Rose got what she wanted; but not how she wanted.

All throughout that meeting Ruby, who rated herself a tiptop deceiver, had felt like Ozpin was seeing right through her omissions. Conversely her better nature had almost won out, she'd almost divulged everything. Almost...

Why had she omitted meeting Torchwick in the park pre-robbery? She'd been ignorant of his identity. Why she hadn't tried harder to expose his deception of her around those cameras?

Shame?...Guilt?...Anxiety?...Bruised pride?...Feelings of inadequacy?

Yes to all, and... and the simple ugly truth that a pathetic, detestable part of her sub-conscious, the part that wanted into Beacon no matter what, had held out hope Torchwick's perfidious, dishonourable scheme would work.

Only it had worked, sort of. Indeed Beacon's Headmaster himself had offered up her heart's desire on a silver platter, and the terror of losing it impelled her own dishonesty thenceforth, making thoughts of bean-spilling nigh-unbearable.

So, selfishness won and Ruby kept her peace...

After all. Beacon is just a steppingstone, a big, meaningful steppingstone toward a greater dream.

But... Does realising one's dreams through tainted means not make them tainted dreams?

How can she become an exemplar whom inspires everyone around her when this is the example she sets.

"I'm a fraud. A stupid, lying, selfish cowardly jelly-bellied fraud... acting like I'm some moral paragon among aspiring hunters... Mom would be so disappointed."

Ruby felt like human garbage. A true huntress takes responsibility for her actions. No. Actually a true huntress would never dishonour herself by cheating or taking shortcuts to become what they are. The education process exists for good reason, and in her impatience to join the ranks of those extraordinary people whom she revered, she'd brazenly disrespected the very institution that helped forge those great hunters, hunters like her Mom, Dad and Uncle.

Bamboozled and well-intentioned as she'd been, the choice to heed a shady stranger's council; she made it. Yet. Since she couldn't come clean...Well. Shattered eggs unto omelettes, coal unto gold. Her only recourse is to redeem herself through wholehearted dedication to her studies; because what's done is done.

She must persevere. She must, keep, moving, forward;

And never, ever, EVER again compromise her principles.

She would do better

She WILL, be, better

Yes.

Ruby Rose would live her dream... her tainted, tarnished dream.

Besides, its not like she's unhappy. Quite the contrary, Ruby was elated to be walking the road to huntressdom alongside Yang, even if her performance during the robbery itself had her questioning her worthiness...

As outwardly impressive as her feats tonight appeared to untrained eyes, even her most charitable self-assessments only illuminated how woefully unprepared and under-qualified she really is to skip two grades.

(::Following Torchwick's Gettaway::)

Ruby fan-girled over the pure epicness she'd just witnessed until its purveyor turned frosty eyes her way. Damn could this woman exude stonecold disapproval, That steely scowl conveyed an almanac's weight and worth of scoldings; beneath it Ruby's giddiness shrivelled into nervousness. Verbal censure would assuredly come later.

Clipped interrogatory introductions were made and Ruby was embarrassed not to have recognised Beacon Academy's esteemed combat instructor and Vice Principle sooner, having seen her prominently featured on huntsmen fan sites. Indeed, Glynda Goodwitch in the flesh looming most intimidatingly. Ruby's inner-fangirl stirred but sensibly abstained.

Professor Goodwitch permitted Ruby to retrieve her discarded mag before levitating them both down off the building.

The slow arm of the law had arrived. But the combat-ravaged road had forced them to park further afield. Ruby winced at all the damage the kerfuffle she initiated had wrought; cracked or broken windows, damaged walls, gutted bitumen, scattered debris. nevermind how much worse things could've ended. Just one flare flown astray, one bullet... the myriad morbid what-ifs twisted her insides with unease

Officers congregated around From Dust Till Dawn, some cordoning off the area while colleagues questioned rattled witnesses, some of whom saw Ruby's return and gibbered animatedly, their pointing fingers making her feel self-conscious.

Noticing her charge's discomfort, Miss Goodwitch shepherded Ruby into the dust shop's relative privacy wherein the huntress spent a minute briefing the lead detective and another exchanging info with the leader of a special taskforce, Mister Caltor. Said taskforce comprised tough, disciplined well-kitted individuals two of whom visibly carried make-shift armaments, one wore spiny elbow-high black gauntlets while another toted a glowing drill-like urumi.

Ordinarily Ruby would've buried them beneath an avalanche of enthusiastic questions, but between fearing to annoy the scary blonde, coming off an emotion-furled adrenaline high and conscience pangs, she settled for demurely ogling the weapons while listening in. Amusingly these taskforce guys hated Torchwick's guts, along with some mysterious, nameless partner of his, presumably Lady Legs. Ruby could relate, kinda, but the subdued viciousness in their professional, no-nonsense faces whenever his name was spoken... Man. What had Roman done to warrant such grudges? they'd probably spit-roast him alive given the chance.

Where the officers had scolded Ruby's reckless vigilante shenanigans, these guys gave her stoically approving nods. Seems anyone who, to quote the man himself, pisses in Torchwick's porridge is alright in their book, which got them scolded by Miss Goodwitch for encouraging her... Stonecold disapproval indeed; those tough men looked like misbehaving schoolboys admonished as they in turn, at the blonde's non-verbal cue, administered the most insincere scolding Ruby ever received; one even winked conspiratorially.

Looking about her though, at the mess, specifically the shop's rear where things quite literally kicked off, Ruby began questioning her own judgement. Those auraless goons for example...

Jerking to attention, memory jogged, Ruby had indicated the third floor window she'd catapulted that one goon through. Miss Goodwitch floated up, peeked in and found nothing bar a small smear of blood. Either he escaped or got retrieved by his buddies. Hopefully he wasn't too injured; bad guy or not Ruby didn't want any accidental deaths on her conscience, or her record.

Apparently Miss Goodwitch was well-acquainted with this special unit, well that or Beacon brass had clout with the authorities because one taskforce member, a tall, gangly, laconic fellow sporting a hairdo that weirdly reminded Ruby of Zwei's tail offered to drive them to the station to clear things up, an offer Miss Goodwitch gratefully accepted.

Noting their imminent departure the elderly shopkeeper tottered over, baring gifts. Her first discarded magazine filled with ten fresh 50-Cal rounds, three boxes of Super Boomer casings and, to Ruby's elation, a box of Electro-Grav MK-4 Rounds, all Crescent Rose-compatible types, were pressed into her hands with mumbled gratitude. Evidently he'd paid attention to her gunshots during the fight. Ruby's elation became embarrassment at realising he'd noticed her drooling on the display case containing these very gifts. Awkwardly she'd apologised but the old timer simply scoffed good-spiritedly and shooed them out.

Ruby honestly felt undeserving of such gifts, after all his life and livelihood were imperilled thanks to her. Hopefully the damages didn't exceed the losses she'd prevented. Furthermore she couldn't shake the niggling notion that she'd forgotten to tell the shopkeeper something, something important; yet her bowl of spaghetti brain recalled nothing. Perhaps she'd remember later.

Ruby also wondered why the emergency security systems mandatory to all dust shops, hardlight display shields, armoured shutters etc, hadn't activated. Perhaps Torchwick preemptively disabled them somehow. Or maybe this shop has less safeguards because they don't sell over-the-counter weapons, only ammo...

"Guess its a moot point now." In Ruby's mind, tonight was a colossal failure. Not only had Torchwick and his henchmen escaped, the crook had also completely outclassed her in combat, nevermind the perfidious catalyst to it all, their prior meeting... Bench Buddies indeed "I'm Such a screwup..."

After pausing briefly while Miss Goodwitch repaired the road using her epic semblance, the trio moved to borrow one of the squad cars from a reluctant but outranked and thoroughly browbeaten junior officer. As keys changed hands Ruby spared him a sympathetic smile; getting browbeaten always sucks.

And so Ruby ducked into the cop car's backseat, resigned to the fact she was now in deep poopy "Yep. Dad's gonna be pissed."

"Iron Grandpa-sensei was right. Good decisions do not always good intentions make... heh. Who'd have thunk it? Nooooot me."

Miss Goodwitch's reprimand was on point and Ruby fully accepted her share of blame; the lion's share though belongs to Torchwick. Yes, she'd been naïve, overly-trusting and selfish; but he took advantage, he mislead her and he orchestrated everything.

Yet. Ruby wondered...

"If I'd been at the dust shop, without meeting Torchwick beforehand... would I have started that fight?" Shakily she exhaled "Ye. Alternate Ruby would've, and without questioning her choices afterwards, because she fought for righteousness... and so did I; the dumb way."

Regardless, overall she'd sparked a needlessly dangerous battle

("There's a time and place for everything. You can't always pick your battles. But the ones you can, pick them carefully.") Her Dad once counselled in class. Ruby assumed he meant knowing when to retreat. That seemingly innocuous advice hit differently now though. She'd been impulsive and just started throwing legs.

Indiscriminate violence would've warranted immediate intervention. But robbery? She should've raised her hands when commanded, awaited their departure then shadowed them until a safe place to confront … But the bullhead, and Lady Legs... Besides, Torchwick might've attacked her anyway to kickstart his twisted stage-play.

"Ugh; my head... Forget hypotheticals. Focuuuuuussssss. Starting with..."

Her uncle and sister would say those goons earned their bruises, only Ruby, in her inexperience, hadn't just bruised them, she'd brutalised them, which, conscience pangs aside, landed her in a legal grey area regarding registered aura adepts harming non-aura adepts without a huntsmen, government or police licence; legal acumen Ruby would've possessed if she didn't typically sleep throughSocietal Studies classes. The auraless party being criminals helped, as did her age and basic self-defence rights. But property damage, civilian-endangerment, on-camera vigilante action , etc; Headmaster Ozpin's intercession was what really extracted her from legal poopy.

"Objective acquired: Improve aura control"

Frankly though, Ruby hoped she wouldn't have to fight squishy non-aura adepts ever again. Licensed or not it isn't fun, safe or fair for either side. The idea of accidentally killing anyone threatened to sour the quart of milk in her tummy.

Then there's Torchwick... Much more dangerous. Its lucky his flares hit no buildings. Granted she hadn't known his cane's true capabilities, but that didn't excuse her folly...

("Important as intel-gathering is, you won't always have all the facts, especially in a pinch;") Signal's youngest teacher, the cold-yet-caring Professor Silvia, once lectured.

("A factual argument for and against any course of action.") Signal's oldest professor whom the students affectionately dubbed Iron Grandpa-sensei had jokingly added.

Against grimm Ruby had no issue fact gathering. Tonight though, she hadn't even tried...

The breeze dropped; mugginess subsumed.

Groggily Ruby pondered myriad ways she might've countered Torchwick. A tall order given how thoroughly he'd outclassed her. Ironically the shopkeeper's gifts could've helped. Electro-grav MK-4 rounds would've debuffed his broken-ass defence stats while Super Boomer casing' shrapnel inflicts minor but cumulative aura damage even if deflected; excluding his awesome bullet reversal trick. Nah, she'd still lose. Besides, her ammo expenditure on evasion and manoeuvrability made cheaper conventional rounds a less wasteful choice.

...Trivialities.

…She was stalling; avoiding reexamination of tonight's greatest shame.

She'd heard the responsibility of protecting civilian lives weighs heavy. She'd handled it well enough initially, but her overconfidence had buckled beneath escalating pressures.

("Eventually you will err. I repeat. You, will, err. What counts is what you learn from it afterwards; assuming you survive hahaha.") Kori'addi, Signals sometimes-janitor sometimes-combat instructor imparted.

Err? She'd more than erred. She should've reacted faster. Shouldn't have needed Torchwick's warning...

That moment on the rooftop, blinded by the bullhead's floodlight, Torchwick's dust crystal... Bone deep dread that she could freeze up like that under stress, and could do so again in future... Ruby shivered, curling up tighter "People could've died... What is wrong with me?" A half-sob half-sigh escaped her, one lone tear migrating south.

Breathe...

Breathe...

...Had Torchwick spotted the window-peeping scrollers beforehand? Had he improvised that stunt to reinforce the heroic huntress-in-training narrative? Girl saves building from kaboomy-doomy? Ruby dearly hope so, needing to believe he isn't a total monster, needing to believe those flickers of complex emotion were real, if diluted streaks of human decency.

...Had... Had she done anything right tonight?

Anything?

...One more tear travelled the desolate road.

Ruby sniffled.

("Under the pomp-n-titles we're just people, kiddo; humans, faunus, doin the best we can. Don mean we always get it right, but we try."(Glug-glug-glug) ) Right after saying that, her uncle had apologised for being a gloomy-guts.

…...The breeze returned

Taking deep, calming breaths, Ruby uncurled, legs outstretching, tension ebbing, pajama sleeves drying cheeks.

...Seconds passed.

…...Minutes passed.

("Hindsight is a capricious teacher. Heed it humbly. Heed it sceptically.) Another Iron Grandpa-sensei adage.

...She's trying.

...She's failing.

"...Crud. this reflection stuff is tough... Ugh, c'mon brain. Start making sense or let me sleep; please" trying to order her chaotic mishmash of thoughts, Ruby stretched out on the couch even more, wiggling fingers and toes, then waited...

And waited...

Still no sensible thoughts...

She twiddled her fingers...

Still nothing...

One bare foot began tracing lazy circles in the air...

And still nothing...

Too fatigued, Ruby lumped reexaminations onto a more clear-headed well-rested future Ruby.

((("You suck past-Ruby!")))

Her resolve to become her best self hadn't waned, She just needs time to improve from this, and really, terrifying hypotheticals aside, with all that could've gone horribly wrong tonight but didn't, Torchwick's machinations unearthed a goldmine of valuable learning experiences and a much needed reality check. Now, if only she were attending some prestigious academy where she could learn to effectively apply those lessons...

Oh, wait...

Yep. If nothing else, Ozpin clearly saw potential in her, despite her shortcomings. That has to count for something. Right?

No. rather she'd make it count for something. To honour the Headmaster's generosity. Henceforth Ruby swore to respect the process and work her butt off until she deserves her place in Beacon; no shortcuts, no paths of least resistance and no more accidental criminal dealings.

A mutual problem she and Yang can tackle together!

After all, Ruby wasn't the only problem-child their Dad had to collect from police custody thisevening.

(::Ride To The Copshop::)

Strangely Miss Goodwitch waved frontseat privileges to sit with Ruby. Misreading her guilt-ridden pensiveness the professor had, with surprising softness squeezed her shoulder; a small, comforting, undeserved gesture Ruby accepted with a weak, grateful smile while her gut churned with self-loathing for doing so.

Vale's vibrant nightlife passing the window still enraptured Ruby despite the chaotic past... wow, it'd barely been twenty-odd minutes since she'd entered From Dust Till Dawn, and only four of so were combat-stricken minutes, Torchwick monologues included "Didn't let me monologue. Jerk."

Seeking distraction, Ruby had asked about the group their volunteer chauffeur belonged to. Succinctly Miss Goodwitch explained that they're a special unit comprised of retired hunters, academy dropouts and specialist non-aura adepts dedicated to combating criminals with auras and semblances and even, to Ruby's shock, renegade hunters. Still, the taskforce sounded super cool. Maybe... if huntressing doesn't work out "No! Don't think like that, dumb-dumb!"

Their drive got suddenly sidetracked when the police radio sparked up, crackling reports of an extremely violent disturbance at a nightclub two blocks away. Seemingly recognising the location, Miss Goodwitch had pocketed the scroll she'd been texting on and instructed the driver to detour there, saying it sounded like another situation, pointed look Ruby's way, potentially requiring hunter-level intervention,

Zwei Hairdo Guy Parked across from a large corner building covered in luminous signs and fancy lights. Miss Goodwitch however got only halfway into her "Stay in the car" command when muffled but acutely familiar sounding shotgun-ish weapon reports had Ruby unthinkingly drown said car's occupants in a tsunami of rose petals caused by her abrupt exit.

Crossing the street, Ruby had scarcely registered Bumblebee parked nearby when two figures came crashing at high speed out through a second floor window, sparkling glass shards serenading their journey. They arched a good ten meters, grappling the entire way down to land in the middle of the road, which of course cracked under the impact. Unfazed, the pair stood to their full height and instantly began pommeling the hell out of eachother.

One was an unusually large, bearded, dark haired man dressed like a bartender wielding a really cool looking make-shift bazooka-club hybrid which he was currently slamming into his much smaller opponent's side after tanking a full-on punch to the jaw.

"Maybe if you'd just paid the damn broker fee to begin with..." The big man shouted after they'd knocked eachother staggering back, as if picking up his end of a verbal exchange from before they'd taken it outside.

"I wouldn't pay your stupid fee even if I could afford it! It was a simple question! Just answer it already! Do you know where she is or not!?"

"I'm not telling you squat blondey!"

"Then I'll just have to make you!"

"You'll try and you'll fail because I'm done playing around." Turned out the big man wasn't kidding. With startling speed, ferocity and brute force not previously shown, he drove his female foe onto full defense.

The pit of dread in Ruby's tummy tripled in size however when her mind finally accepted that the second combatant, who actually currently seemed to be slowly losing ground to her larger foe despite the red eyes and flames of her semblance already being in full effect, was indeed...

"Y-Yang?"

The pair froze, both looked over, the tall man frowning in confusion, but her sister's angry sneer instantly vanished, replace with a chirpy, if forced carefree greeting of "Oh. Hey Sis." Acting as if all was right with the world and she wasn't brawling with some club wielding giant in the middle of the road. But Ruby heard it in her voice, the faint hint of the same stress and uncertainty Ruby herself had felt when fighting Torchwick; that creeping, sobering realization she might've picked a fight above her metaphorical weight class.

"W-what are you doing!?" Ruby asked, trying to make sense of the situation as well as discretely positioning herself to backup her sister if needs be.

"Negotiating." She grimaced at the big man "Its a work in progress."

"Oh crap." The big man muttered, half in resignation half in relief, looking past Ruby to see...

"Miss Xiao Long. We meet again." Miss Goodwitch and Zwei Hairdo Guy, presently brushing rose petals off themselves, had caught up "And Mr Xiong too."

"Oh crap." Yang squeaked, echoing her enemy. Her sudden pallor suggested she'd met Miss Goodwitch before, likely during her application interview at Beacon. The older blonde must've made a lasting impression, especially to intimidate somebody like Yang.

"Yup. No way I'm provoking this woman's ire again, no sir-re-Bob... whoever Bob is. The Avatar Of Absolute Wisdom probably."

Miss Goodwitch looked between Yang and Ruby, cryptically muttering "Birds of a feather indeed. Following your uncle's example no doubt; his particular brand of recalcitrance is echoed in both of your behaviour."

"Oh Ruby. What did you do?"

Ruby scowled "Oh no don't you Oh Ruby me Miss I tackled A Giant Guy Through A Nightclub Window."

"It's My nightclub." Said giant man corrected gruffly.

"Oops, Sorry. Through His Own window."

"Thank you. Nice to see someone in your family has manners, Sweetheart." Junior sniped.

Yang gave Mr Xiong the old stink eye, then to Ruby "T-that's different. Junior here started it."

"I did not!" Junior, presumably a nickname, grumbled.

"Did too!"

Crack, "Quiet, both of you." The riding crop had spoken.

"Yes M'am!" The squabbling pair shouted in unison, drawing to attention like soldiers before a commanding officer, then glared at eachother.

More politely, Junior added "Its just that crazy blonde assaulted me and my bouncers, trashed my club, endangered innocent patrons and worst of all, she grabbed me by the-b-b-ba..."

"By the what?" Yang encouraged, hand raised to her ear "You're mumbling big guy. Speak up."

Ruby facepalmed.

Junior's face reddened, pointing "S-she's a menace to society. Arrest her!"

"I will be escorting her to the station personally." Miss Goodwitch stated

"Goo..."

"And you're coming too, Mr Xiong." The huntress stated, tone brooking no nonsense as she disarmed both him and Yang who wisely let their weapons get confiscated without fuss.

Ruby wondered why Crescent Rose wasn't similarly confiscated from her. Different circumstances, maybe.

"But I'm the victim here! I have rights!" Junior protested

"Silence being one of them." Pointed look "And victim or not. Your official statement will be required for the authorities to appropriately resolve this matter."

"Aww, poor JuJu. Big baby gonna cwyyyy?"

"Shut it Blondy!"

Yang snickered "Don't you mean, Sir?"

Junior grunted unhappily and looked away as if Yang no longer existed to him.

Miss Goodwitch looked ready to chew them out again when her gaze rose to the broken window , Ruby's own eyes following, to observe twin girls in similar but different colored outfits, one red, one white, both glowering haughtily down at them, though mainly at Yang "They're coming too." Your, bouncers, I take it." The huntress asked, putting weird emphasis on the word. Junior just nodded "The other officers will deal with them."

"They'll cooperate." Junior grumbled, giving the girls a look; they nodded in unison and vanished from sight.

Chatter ceased as the sound of distant blaring sirens grew nearer.

"...Boss?" A pained, confused voice croaked behind them. Turning, they saw the six battered, suited men who'd abetted Torchwick. They in turn instantly recognised Ruby "Aw crap. Leg it!"

An overly optimistic take on a getaway strategy in their condition; more like limping it, especially since four were supporting two more severely injured cohorts.

"Stop, thieves!" Ruby cried, zipping around to cut off their very, very slow escape "Miss Goodwitch, these guys were helping Torchwick."

"Nonono, we weren't. We were just out buying ice dust for the bar since the club was packed and Rocko forgot to restock, then some guy asks us to carry some suitcases and being nice guys we-woaaahh!"

"Tell it to the police." Miss Goodwitch indicated the squealing squad cars parking nearby, accompanied by ambulances "After getting medical attention."

While Yang charmed promises from a detective to take extra care moving her motorcycle to the station, Ruby had sidled up to the one, no longer telekinetically suspended but guarded, thug she'd punted through a third floor window "Pssst, Hey, Mister Goon. I'm Sorry, about the window I mean." She fidgeted "Uhm, you okay? I Was worried I'd, ya'know..."

Surprisingly he'd just shrugged and grinned reassuringly "Don't sweat it kid. Them's the breaks of the biz. B'sides, we're tougher than we look, plus our suits are armoured with..."

"Shud-uuup. Before she breaks more of our ribs." A fellow shushed him.

Blanching, Ruby retreated. Sneaking back to Yang's side, her sister quietly murmured "Dad's gonna be piiiiiissssed; like sober Uncle Qrow two thousand miles from the nearest bar without a flask pissed."

"Mhm." Agreed Ruby.

Miss Goodwitch glared warningly. Message received, Everyone clammed up tight.

Another short wait, another quick round of sitreps from Miss Goodwitch and Zwei-haircut guy to ranking attending detectives, then departure. Only this time Ruby found herself sharing a backseat with Yang and Junior on the remaining drive to the station.

Yang, having forcefully claimed middle seat, was currently elbowing them both mischievously, albeit elbowing Junior a fair bit harder. They'd spend the last two minutes passive-aggressively sniping at eachother, but Yang was changing tac; Ruby recognized that smile her sister now wore and her worst fears were confirmed. It was starting...

"Look at us all snug and cosy back here, we're like three peas in a, podd-y wagon."

"Yaaaaaaang." Ruby whined, pleadingly...futilely.

Yang's usual joviality was present, but a mean-spiritedness tainted it as her focus lay mainly on Junior, testing his reaction "In fact you might say we've been, In-Car-cerated."

"Oh No." Junior groaned "She's one of those." He'd reacted wrong. By complaining, he'd just made a big mistake because now Yang knew it annoyed him, thus she'd keep doing it for no other reason than she hadn't got what she wanted from the guy earlier; whatever it was they were fighting over.

"You think you've got it bad, Mister. I have to live with this." Ruby jabbed a finger at their remorseless tormentor "Times TWO! And now you just invited more of it on us by complaining about it."

Looking horrified and sympathetic at the same time, Junior winced, "...I am so, SO sorry." he solemnly intoned, and the look of pure remorse he spared her over Yang's head, well, dammit but, if only for that moment, Ruby couldn't help pitying the big lug a little... but mostly herself.

"Me too." Ruby lamented.

"Aww c'mon Rubes. Its like me and Dad always say about the law of fun. Twice the laughs, double the... pun."

Frantically, Junior looked to Miss Goodwitch who now occupied the front passenger seat she'd previously declined, demanding "You can't let this continue! We have rights! And she's..." Indicating Ruby "A minor."

"T-that's right. Minor's get special protections, right?! I'm a minor!"

"We're both minors. This cruel and unusual punishment will have serious legal ramific-HEY!"

A bulletproof, soundproof screen raised between the car's front and back sections.

"...Minors, huh?" Yang grinned evilly "Guess they weren't, digg'n it."

Ruby and Junior began beating on the screen in protest: Ignored.

Yang kicked it up a notch.

Frenzied, the pair tried the doors next... LOCKED.

So they pulled harder until

Snap

Snap

"Wow. You guys really got a, handle, on yourselves."

Ruby and Junior looked down at the broken off doorhandles they held crushed in their deathgrips then hopelessly to eachother.

"Aww poor babies." Yang cooed "They tried to jump out to no, A-Vale."

As the barrage of increasingly objectively terrible puns intensified, the traumatised pair again hammered the soundproof screen, harder, screaming, begging, pleading; in futility.

"I will not murder my sister. I will not murder my sister. I will not murder my sister and frame Junior for it. IWon'tIWon'tIWon'tIWilllll-on't..."

The wayward huntress-in-training and the not-so-legitimate businessman almost resigned themselves to their shared purgatory, which neither dubbed allowed, terrified Yang would redub it as something stupid like, PunGatory. But it wasn't in their nature.

Thus when the car stopped, Miss Goodwitch opened Ruby's door to find a massive tangle of seatbelts and bodies with Ruby wrapped around Yang's arms and legs like a boa-constrictor in a desperate bid to pin her limbs while Junior, like his life depended on it, bear-hugged Yang from behind with one arm while his free hand struggled to keep the thrashing, laughing, twinkly-eyed blonde from spitting out the wadded up dishcloth they'd somehow stuffed inside her noisy weapon of mass frustration. She gave them a heck of a ride but Ruby and Junior's hastily formed Anti-Pun Coalition were just barely containing the menace.

"Can't hold her. Miss Goodwitch; HELP!"

"Hmhmhmhmhm!" Chortling, Yang bucked harder.

"Dammit Blondie, STOOOOOP! Aw-shit!"

"Noooo!" Ruby whaled as Yang slipped loose, expelled the rag and...

"I'm Freeeeeee, Muahahahahaha!"

"Grr-ugh. Geez kid, pin her arms already-oof!" A blonde headbutt cut him off.

"I'm trying! She keeps kicking me!"

"No sister of mine's disrespecting leg day!"

"Oouch, Yang! Fine, you leave me no choice! TickleTickleTickle!"

"AHHH! RuRubyyyyy! St-haha-!stopit!"

"Only when you agree to stop punning!"

"AHHhahaha-NEVER-rrrraaa-I'd rather die-hi-hiiih-hey JuJu! w-watch those wondering ha-ha-hands!"

"If you'd stop squirming, Sweetheart, and settle down this wouldn't be a problem."

"Th-that's Sir t-tto youhohoho! Ah-NOM!"

"ARRGHH! Did you see that, Goodwitch! This crazy blonde just bit my arm!"

"Yang! Don't bite people! What if he has some kind of rare disease or something." Ruby scolded, tickle-attack ceasing.

"Grrrr!" Yang defiantly growled, biting harder and shaking her head like a rabid dog, laughter clear in her eyes.

"Uggh! Somebody get me outta this dust-damned zoo! I'm a human being, not a baboon!" Junior screeched.

Glynda Goodwitch lifted her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose as a vein pulsed murderously at her temple. The Huntress looked absolutely done with this whole wretched evening, Junior's crew and probably Ruby's entire family "Tonight couldn't possibly get any worse..." She huffed.

Pissed indeed, their father was.

He'd cut Ruby some slack for unwittinglystumbling into a situation she wasn't trained to handle. Yang by contrast expressed enthusiastic pride in Ruby for, sticken it to those bums, insisting Ruby did nothing wrong, an attitude that exasperated their dad who was already furious with Yang for her violent actions at Junior's Nightclub.

Ruby loves Yang more than life itself, but it rankled that the beloved sister she'd lied and cheated to attend Beacon with had almost forfeited her own ticket there for something so, so... Why?

When their dad baited out Yang's purpose for approaching Junior, Ruby's irritation mutated into quiet, seething anger; anger she kept bottled and stoppered for fear of damaging their relationship by expressing it, nor could she muster the requisite hypocrisy to levy criticisms. But still. Why?

"Why is Yang trying to find that woman? I don't understand. Wasn't Mum enough for her... No, that's unfair. Mom's gone, I'm bias and Yang... Yang just wants closure, and maybe reconnect with a mother who's still alive... even if that mother left her first." Mood souring further, Ruby throttled the subject "Just stay out of it. Yang supports you're choices even when she disapproves; do her the same courtesy. Dad's giving her enough well-intentioned grief about it anyway without you piling on."

So they'd resurrected the same old, stale argument on the police station's doorstep. Usually they'd keep this feud away from Ruby; usually. Thus Ruby had quietly waited it out, her own opinion wilfully withheld, taking no sides.

Thankfully their Dad didn't similarly oppose them becoming huntresses, despite his complicated feelings about it. The unspoken cause of his reluctance was obvious and understandable, yet he'd always respected their right to live their own lives. Except, Yang's shenanigans aside, he'd been behaving, oddly; specifically when encountering Ozpin. An extremely uncharacteristic cold politeness overtook his habitually warm, friendly demeanour; respect too, but bitterness-tinged; a reservedness that preceded the revelation of Ruby's invitation to Beacon, a place where they'd be outside his supervision and also, the birthplace of Team STRQ...

"...Maybe; Ozpin had a role in organising mum's, last mission... Maybe that's why Ozpin stuck his neck out for me and Yang today. Maybe he feels..." Ruby massaged her temples "...I, shouldn't make assumptions; not about, that."

Gone over a decade and still her echos linger; Summer Rose. The loving mother Ruby scarcely knew, yet to who's legacy she is infinitely faithful: perhaps excessively...

Flinching, Ruby refocused.

Like Yang, their pops wasn't great at hiding his feelings. He tries, but Ruby's a better people-reader than people realise. Recent developments obviously trouble him, deeply, and although his approval didn't always factor into her choices, Ruby wished she could ease his worries somehow.

("Having people who worry about you just means you have people who cherish you; so cherish them back.") -GrimmNoire Vol.2

So it went, a tense mutual silence had overhung their late dinner before showers were had and goodnights were uttered, they to Ruby but not to eachother and vanishing into their rooms. Their family bond is strong but not without its fragilities. Still, they'd makeup; they always do.

Thus here Ruby lay, an insomniac Beacon initiate bathed in moonlight, sorting through the mental driftwood and emotional flotsam bobbing upon the murcky waters of her reeling mind, marvelling at how weirdly this parade of successively bewildering happenings had concluded.

Since Yang supposedly has the back of an old crone, Ruby took pity on her big sis and claimed the springy couch for the second night running, but only after leaving their dad a wide window to play the gentleman...

He did not.

Ruby couldn't object, being a last minute tagalong after they'd pre-ordered a two-room suite, the couch was a fair trade that cosily accommodated Ruby's small frame far better than Yang's bulk and bouncy bits anyway.

"Enough depressing stuff. Gloomies begone! Positivity Time, Commenceth! I'm going to Beacon!...Wow, I actually am..." A silly grin split Ruby's lips "Hahaha. Torchwick's wacko scheme actually worked."

Yeah... Roman Douchebag Of The Millennium Torchwick. To say she was piqued with that duplicitous, crooked peacock would be her short life's crowning understatement.

She'd heard his name in passing, but since she rarely consumed news media, finding it boring, Ruby, lacking any visual reference, naturally hadn't recognised Torchwick in the park; no way she'd forget somebody that flamboyant. Looking back, her ignorance had mildly surprised him.

Yet. He'd repurposed a, probably, pre-planned robbery to provide the armed thugs, witnesses, cameras and even a confrontation with Vale's Most Wanted, thereby allowing her to garner notoriety by resolving the situation... without, knowingly, cheating...

Ruby facepalmed.

"That sneaky, smug, walking-talking-chimney!... Its weird, though. How'd he know Headmaster Ozpin might take interest? And even weirder, he risked capture, forfeited spoils and damaged his rep; all to help a random sulking teenager achieve her dream. Why? What's his major malfunction? Altruism? Haha, yeah right. Nope. Guy like that's gotta have an angle?... blackmail? How, and with what?...Such a weirdo."

Then again, in those flashes of emotion after she chased him onto the roof she'd observed a, reluctance; almost as if he, a career criminal, hadn't wanted to... what exactly? Ruby couldn't interpret it, and that bothered her for some reason. Its like Torchwick was...

Ruby's mighty machine of a brain had an epiphany so hard and so suddenly that she sprung off the couch to stand gaping in awe at her own unparalleled genius.

"It was a cry for help!" Ruby excitedly began half-pacing half-dancing circles around the furniture "It makes complete sense! That was him in the park, just a, not nice exactly, but concerned guy checking on someone he mistook for a lost eleven year old, which was really silly since I look way maturererer but since he's not well I'll forgive him, anyway when I mentioned training to become a huntress and name-dropped Uncle Qrow he must've sensed my righteous nature and-and saw his chance to thwart his evil self and thereby, in his dysfunctional mind, getting me into Beacon by tricking me into capturing Vale's Biggest Baddie without Evil Torchwick catching onto his plan by disguising it as a prank on a cute naïve teenage girl. After all only an insane person would think foiling a robbery would be someone's ticket into Beacon! Further proving that Roman Torchwick has that multiple personality disorder thingy! It didn't excuse him endangering lives one bit, but Good Torchwick really was begging for my help in atoning for Evil Torchwick's crimes and-and I failed him. Evil Torchwick was too strong even with good Torchwick holding him back and shouting warnings and stuff. Evil Torchwick might even be somehow forcing Lady Legs and Junior's employees to do evil stuff and Good Roman wanted to save her too! I-I think...I need sleep."

Ruby flopped back down on the couch, head hitting the pillow. Her eyes had barely shut however when...

(Beep)

Ruby nearly jumped out of her skin at the subdued chime of her scroll announcing an incoming message. She looked over. The scroll cast a faint blue glow across the coffeetable it rested upon. Grimacing, Ruby palmed and opened it. Squinting as her eyes adjusted to the screen's light. The interface's background was a photo of herself and Yang grappling atop a large squished strawberry cake and collapsed table on her fifteenth birthday, both covered in cream and icing while Uncle Qrow and Dad stood in the background, the former laughing his butt off while the latter was mid meltdown over all the cleaning he'd have to do.

Smiling at the ridiculous memory, Ruby thumbed open her inbox, finding one unread message from an unknown, unlisted sender. Ruby's smile melted into aprehention as she read the message's subject header.

– Rubies are Red. Roses are too. But what kind of huntress, does that make you?

...

...

...

"...What?"

Chapter Text

(Final Chapter. Warning. Worst writing quality of the bunch. Too burnt out.)

Chapter 4

Fold & Bail – The Untenable Bet.

-

– Rubies are Red. Roses are too. But what kind of huntress, does that make you?

An emotional slipstream; from blinking bewilderment to unease to suspicion then denial because it wasn't possible he'd gotten her scroll number, just, impossible... But apparently it might well be the case.

In the end, Ruby's natural curiosity decided it. The way the word, Red, stood out couldn't be ignored. Still, Ruby hesitated, finger hovering nervously, as if the message would somehow bite her.

Feeling silly, she scoffed and tapped it open.

From Unknown :: ("A scroll not set on silent within thirty seconds of this message being marked as read sings what?")

"Crap baskets." Ruby scrambled to check the settings tab while scampering to the open balcony door. She'd set her scroll to auto-activate silent mode past 8pm, but better safe than noisily sorry.

Confirming it enabled with tent seconds to spare and feeling glad she'd taken the couch, Ruby padded out onto the balcony, gently sliding closed the door behind her.

The fresh night breeze and star-filled sky provided a welcome respite from the stuffy suite, but it didn't calm the wild speculations regarding Torchwick's motives from blitzing about her tired brain.

Pranks? Blackmail? Mockery? Whatever his reasons, she'd damn well give him a piece of her mind...

Bzzz-Bzzz

Inhaling deeply, exhaling slowly, Ruby hit (Answer), raised the scroll to her ear and, nursing a fragile hope it wasn't him, choked out an almost polite "H-hello."

"Hey there Red. How's my favourite little swashbuckler fairing this evening? Partying hard or hardly partying?"

The voice sounded slightly altered, but its cocksure attitude, tone and inflections effectively fumigated the feeble butterflies of hope in her belly, and from their corpses inarticulate fury irrupted.

"Y-y-y-you-you-you-you-you-you-you-you-YOU!" Ruby sputtered, struggling to moderate her volume.

"This again?" Torchwick groaned "Red, You're worrying me. Did you have a stroke on your way to the dust shop? I don't remember you being quite this retarded at the park."

Recomposing herself, Ruby hissed "h-how did you get my number?!"

Playing coy, he drawled "Sorr-ryyy. Trade secret."

"Theft of personal information is a crime! You're a criminal!"

"Ooo you catch on fast. Way to go clever-clogs. But as you've surely deduced, I'm more than your average pickpocket. See, crime, its my passion, my paycheck my... calling. Something where work and play are one in the same; not dissimilar to what you probably imagine being a full-fledged huntress feels like. Speaking of which. Stellar performance, Red. Bravo." He actually applauded "Absolutely nailed it. I mean, yes, you missing the curtain call and chasing me did slightly complicate things, but ya can't deny we improvised one hell of an encore. Risky but worth it "

"Worth it... I, I cannot believe you!" Ruby hissed squeakily, sputtering "You shot at me, four times!"

"Five, actually."

"Wow that's sooo much better." Ruby falsettoed sarcastically.

"And you shamelessly tried to bisect my precious bowler, you little monster, and you did it right after shooting that poor guy's hat."

"Oh screw your stupid bowler."

Mortified, Torchwick gasped "No. No! This won't stand. You do NOT mess with a man's hat, Red." Such a emphatic admonishment.

"Enough about the hat already!" Ruby squeaked "What were you thinking pulling that dust crystal stunt!? There were civilians in that building!" The floodgates of wrath had burst.

"I know. Wasn't it great." The bastard crowed, his outrage magically vanishing so suddenly it gave her whiplash "You totally saved the day, well ignoring your little, episode. I mean what was that about? You'll never make it as a huntress if you freeze up under pressure. But fear not, Professor Torchwick's patent teaching method has already put you on the right track to cultivating solid stress-tested crisis management skills. Haha, finally that teaching licence I forged is earning its keep."

His cavalier condescension only further aggravated her "You endangered innocent lives and you're treating it like entertainment!"

"No more than any journalist would. And why wouldn't I? Its a solid narrative. Young heroine confronts notorious criminal, protects shop owner, defeats henchmen, saves building full of civilians blah-blah-blah then Glynda Gatecrasher Goodwitch drops outta nowhere to assist... No seriously, how'd she get up there?" He sighed "Only downside was Ol' Witchy-poo and Queen Bitch totally upstaged us with that lights-show. Still; all's well that ends with a bang, I say."

"It did not end well! If it had you'd be in prison!" Ruby snapped, fist clenched "D-do you even care that your actions could've killed innocents?"

"Do you?"

"...What?!" She choked off her shout "What's that supposed to mean!?"

"Pfft. Nevermind. You wouldn't get it. I swear, do-gooders like you spewing your whiny sophistry, can't see the forest for the fucken trees..." Torchwick grumbled, blandly amending "But that's just who you are."

Exasperation flooded Ruby "And if I'd known who you are, I'd have never... Rggh! You tricked me, you stupid jerk!"

"If I'm stupid, what does that make you?"

"Dust. Do you ever deactivate that semblance?" Ruby bitterly snarked, audibly confusing him.

"Semblance?"

"Douchebaggery amplification. Cause you just keep getting doucheier."

"Ohohoho, this coming from the girl who's semblance is farting rose petals."

"I don't f-f-fart, ugh, grr-y-youuu..." Coherency again fled Ruby.

"Sounding a little constipated there, Red. What, the flachalence acting up again? Well don't abstain on my account. As the saying goes; wherever you be, let ya rose petals blow free." He giggled.

Flushing, Ruby got prickly "You'd know about blowing wind Mister Compulsive Monologuist."

"And Glorious monologues they are. No-no, please, keep being jealous."

"Excuse me a moment; my narcissism detector just exploded." Ruby irately sassed.

"Hey Red, shut up a moment. Are you standing outside?"

Ruby blinked, thrown for a loop "Huh? Y-yes, on the hotel balcon...Wait, what's it to you, Creepwick?""

"Tsc. Creepwick, hehe. What hotel was that again?"

"Oh its the... Grrr. Like I'd tell you!"

"Actually wait, don't tell me."

"Wasn't going to." She groused, pouting.

Short silence, then "Brace yourself Red. Ya old pal Creepwick may be about to get creepier.. Sooo, hotels with balconies. The background traffic and wind noise says you're pretty high up, and that faint in-house electro funk, only one shithole nightclub in Vale plays that classless trash; meaning you're either staying at The Freeform Cannery orrrrr more likely The Fort Port Hotel; stupid-ass name. Aaaaand at a glance, on the one-two-three, seventh floor, fifth room's balcony of the latter... Huh, pink love-heart pyjama bottoms, pfft, looking good Red. Teehee."

"Eeeeep!?." Darting closer to and crouching behind the covered guardrail in a puff of rose-petals, Ruby peeked over it, silver eyes scanning the beautifully expansive view of southern Vale, her aura now amusedly warning of observers unseen. She wasn't embarrassed, she was simply... taking cover from potential enemy fire; yes, like any sensible huntress would "W-where are you?!"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

Dust! The smugness of this man.

"Yes I really would like to know so I can come over and kick your creepy, evildoing butt."

"Ooooo, fighting crime in your PJ's. You'll be an inspiration for aspiring huntsmen everywhere. A positively global phenomenon."

"Were you following me? Spying on me?" Ruby demanded, ignoring his provocation, then gasped "You're a stalker."

"Uhh, no. Did you not just hear me piecing clues together. Good grief Red. You'll never make it as a huntress if you're this sloooooow." He drawled in baritone.

"I'll make it just fine because there's no way you figured all that out from background noise alone you lying, stalky, stalking-stalker!."

"Heeey, you make me sound like some low budget B-movie slasher; and accusing me of lying too, how rude." The sound of a lighter igniting followed, then "Look Red, you don't survive as long as I have in this business without knowing your own territory inside and out; although admittedly the helpful clues you blabbed made it way easier. Ever heard of Op-Sec? You'll never make it as a huntress with those loose lips. I mean you just sunk your own battleship." Torchwick chortled.

"Stop saying that." Ruby whined pitifully, peeking further over the rail...

"Oh for the love of... stand up and talk like a normal person. I know I know, tall order; but seriously, the Pjs aren't that bad. Honest."

He had a point, and she refused to be ashamed of her favourite pyjamas.

Standing, Ruby accused "You really enjoy making people feel uncomfortable, huh."

"Wouldn't do it if I didn't."

"How are you watching me anyway?" Maybe if she pressed this angle he'd expose his location.

"Ten points for effort, zero for execution. Buuuut, suffice to say I am the proud owner of a cheaply-acquired specialist spyglass."

"You stole it, didn't you."

"Why Detective Rose, you have me at a disadvantage." His aristocratic sarcasm was palpable.

Scowling into the distance, Ruby vehemently brandished her middle finger.

"Charming, though way too right afield." He advised and Ruby adjusted "A little further left, a little higher aaaand HA! Made you flip off Beacon Academy!" He crowed triumelephantly.

"rrgh... I, hate, you, SO much." The venomous words of a venomless girl.

"Since you're whispering, I'll assume you're sharing that suite."

"I am." Ground Ruby "And I'm whispering because I don't want them waking up to hear me on the scroll to Vale's Biggest Scuzzball ."

"Meh. They'll probably just assume your sneaking midnight chats with your boyfriend or something. You are at that age."

"Boyfriend? You?." Blanching, Ruby actually dry-heaved "That's disgusting."

"Aaaand she completely misunderstands." He sighed in revulsion "Way to make it weird Red. And don't flatter yourself, someone as slow as you could never bag a catch like me; Tonight proved that much."

"Cut the crap already!" She whisper-snarled "What do you want from me, Torchwick? Wasn't tricking me into being your accomplice amusement enough for you?"

"Unwilling accomplice technically. See contrary to your baseless assertion, I never lied to or betrayed you. Lets jump eight hours back in time to recap the standout portion of my presentation when I clearly said, to find and resolve a bad situation in an honest, above board fashion without knowingly or willingly cheating … Ringa-Ding-ding?"

"Dress it up however you want, you still lied." Ruby insisted, now pacing.

"Lying and obfuscating are two different things; just a little life lesson for the future."

"Unknowing, unwilling, it doesn't matter. I still conspired with a criminal to cheat the system."

His shrug was in his voice "Well, its your own dumbass fault for trusting a complete stranger, one whom you repeatedly accused of being creepy to boot."

"Could you please come over here so I can punch you in your insufferably smug face."

"Nah thanks. I'm good right here. Its a cool night, nice breeze, great view, comfy chair, good glass of scotch, a fullbodied cigar and spyglass view of my very own court jester's live performance. Oh, unrelated, but can you dance on your hands while juggling lit firecrackers with your feet and singing I'm a little teapot? Asking for a friend."

"You're not funny, Torchwick." She grumbled.

"Me? Not funny? Hahaha, that's hilarious. Good one Red."

Ruby flipped him off again "Was I closer this time?"

"Do I lie and say yes. Or do I lie and say no. Decisions decisions."

Ruby pouted, upset at his immunity to her moral indignation. Maybe she'd been wrong about sensing glimpses of human decency in him. Is this pointless? Should she just hang up? Not yet. She may yet get him to slip up and reveal his motives.

"...sooooo."

"So what? And don't say buttons." Warned Ruby, fed up.

"Did it work?"

"Did what wor... oh."

"Yes. Oh." Said the condescending ass "Did Ol' Oz take the bait. Do tell, I'm dying of curiosity."

"Hmmm, do I lie and say yes? Or do I lie and say no?" Ruby poked her tongue out. Maybe indulging him in caustic banter might get results where moral indictments failed.

"And she brought it back." Slow clapping sounded over the scroll "Too bad that upbeat undertone you're failing miserably to hide suggests the latter... weeeeelllll?"

Ruby sighed and smiled despite herself "Yes... it worked."

"Congratulations! You've earned your ticket to the prestigious Beacon Academy For Young Impressionable Idiots, Idiot! And its all thanks to me!"

"Yes. All thanks to you being a big stupid, manipulative, misleading jerkface." She tittered, dancing a mocking little jig for his benefit because this jester has sass "Not that I'll ever thank you for it."

"That hurts Red. Can't a guy indulge in a whimsical act of selflessness without ulterior motives? Just how low do you think of me?"

"No Lower than any other insidious creep looking to blackmail young innocent teenage huntresses. That is why you're calling, right?"

"Oh heavens no."

"Then what's your angle. Why help me?"

"C'mon. Is it really that hard to believe I helped you out of the goodness of my heart."

"Hard is an understatement."

"Ouch, right in the altruism."

"Altruism huh. It must be microscopic; like your heart." She jabbed.

"Ha, you've got me there. But lets just say in your case I'm making an exception. Call it my one selfless act of kindness for the year-no, decade, definitely decade."

"Aww you're such a magnanimous soul. Bless you Saint Torchwick."

"No, bless you, Revered Mother Red"

"Thank you. Now bless me with the truth, please." Oh the sarcasm's strong with her tonight. Actually it unsettled Ruby how naturally she'd fallen into bantering with him. She'd even enjoy it were he not utterly deplorable.

Torchwick laughed, a real laugh, and Ruby guffawed despite herself "I just did. Not my fault your too cynical and jaded to trust me on it. Have some faith in humanity little miss hero-complex."

"Fine. Don't tell me." Hands on hips Ruby resorted to her ace, weaponized cuteness and pouted out at the city, at him as the breeze tousled her hair "And don't claim reciprocity, I'd never buy that."

"Spitting the big words now Kid. You read that one in a grown up book. It'd explain the gross misapplication."

"I am not a-ah-ahh-choo." This sneeze came courtesy of the villainous wind and the ticklish wayward lock.

"Uhh, might want to wipe that booger, its one dangling doozy-ARGH no not with your sleeve! Use a fucking hanky you filthy little savage! Ewww-yessh. Can you say hygiene, Red?"

"Snff. Never heard of it." Ruby falsetto'd, smirking.

"...Touche." Roman conceded reluctantly "Well... getting back on track and away from your revolting, tendencies..."

"Right. You were about to tell me why you really helped me."

"I wasn't, but..." He sighed a long, tired sigh, the melancholic authenticity of it piqued her attention "I guess I saw a little of my own younger, driven self in you in the park."

"Are you saying you once, wanted to be a huntsmen?" She was astonished, hopeful even.

"What? Haha. No-no. Crime and villainy has always been my bread and butter, just like heroism and self-sacrifice is yours. What gave me deja vu was your absolute certainty of what you want in life. Very few teens your age get that look."

"So I'm like, your dark mirror? Or light mirror in your case." Ruby sniffled back another sneeze, finding the notion oddly, something, she couldn't quite define it, but she liked it.

"Ho no Red, you're definitely my dark mirror. All that puke inducing, self-sacrificing goody-goody-blargh, ain't anything more dark and dooming than that. But like I said back then. I respect the ambition. Its those simple untainted goals, be they conquering the underworld or defending the innocent from monsters, and whatever personal code you achieve them by; well a retarded personal code in your case, but still."

"Heeeey."

"Not that I'm judging."

"That was totally a judgement!"

"If you say so. Point is you're set on doing it your way. Thus I decided to give you a little help in a way that wouldn't violate your retarded personal code... not completely anyways.

"You're still judging." She sang accusingly, then, forcing a jagged, table-turning subject change, prodded "Actually. Isn't it a bit strange for a guy so contemptuous of self-sacrifice to stain his precious record with a failed robbery all for the sake of a poor sad girl he randomly met in a park? Seems kinda noble for such a big bad crook, hmm?"

"..."

"I'm right aren't I? You're secretly a big softy inside, aren't you?"

"... That's one way to look at it. But Red. How do you know everything I just said wasn't a bunch of bullshit. What if I really do have sinister ulterior motives."

"I don't. But how do you know I didn't plan everything from the beginning knowing I'd meet you in that park after weeks of stalking you, learning everything I could about you all to manipulate you into doing everything you did for my own sake. Didn't think of that did you mister criminal mastermind. Maybe you're my bitch now. How does that feel? Huh?"

"...Hahahahahaha. Hoho, good one Red. HAHAhahaha." The thwacking sounds said he was slapping his thigh or knne in his mirth "Ahhh thanks Kid, I needed that laugh. Hehe, made my day."

"Hey, I was being serious." Ruby sulked but began laughing too, or quietly snickering at any rate. Might as well. Raging at him wasn't accomplishing anything anyway. If only he weren't a baddie, this'd be genuinely fun.

"Red, If you truly were a diabolical mastermind capable of orchestrating this, I would kneel at your feet and pledge myself eternally to your service. But since I know for a fact you didn't, that will never happen."

"Aw rats. It would've been so cool having Vale's Most Wanted as my henchmen."

"Damn straight it would. But ya don't. Besides, having a criminal henchman, you're reputation would be ruined,

"And really, who am I to deprive Remnant of getting its Future Greatest Huntress Of All Time two years ahead of schedule... assuming you don't get eaten by a griffin or something before then, hehehehe"

Ruby's cheeks grew terribly warm at remembering her, in retrospect, rather childish boast, made in jest though it was, not that becoming the GOAT was a bad goal or anything... Still, saying that to a total stranger who later turned out to be Vale's very own crime lord "Why am I so stupid?"

"Aww and now she's blushing. Remembering something embarrassing are we? Hmm?"

"T-that was just a joke, a-a-and stop watching me and giving commentary like that. Its creepy, even creepier than your introduction earlier. Creepwick..."

"Fine, fine, I'll put a more macho spin on it. You sounded more like Haul from the Tokken series boasting about being the strongest in the universe. There, better?"

"But he's so dumb..."

"Hence the comparison."

"Ass. Wait. Y-you play Tokken? I love those games."

"On and off, life takes priority. Bet I can guess your favourite character. Either that stupid girl with the stupid name and the annoyingly evasive fighting style or that skitzo ninja Moshiyutsu and his idiotic moveset."

"Ugh, no. I can't stand Xariou. Moshi is fun and kinda cool, but my actual favorite is two hundred percent Cyan Fury. Didn't expect that, did ya?"

"No, no I did not." He sounded pleasantly surprised "Didn't take you for a fan of villains."

"He's a hulking, highly advanced cyborg who loves guns. What's not to like? and his laugh is really cool, least until they changed it. Also he's not a villain, his cybernetics just drove him insane, he's a tragic character."

"Sure, and you can fix him with the power of friendship or whatever." He muttered, then "Wish they'd hurry up and make 8 though."

"I know right, they've been milking 7 for four years now and... For dust sake, am I seriously discussing hobbies with a real life bad guy. Okay, pretending that never happened, I will now return to biting your head off with suitable moral outrage in three, two."

"Too late... Bench Buddy."

"Shut up."

"Oh don't feel too put out; no way in hell we like the same genres of music. You're probably into that pop crap."

"Uhm, no." Now that one did offend her "I actually don't dislike the jazzy stuff probably you're into, but its not my thing."

"Half right. The jazzy stuff's alright, prefer dark violin themes when on the clock. But off it, I'm a heavy rock fan and metal head to the core."

"...Dammit." Ruby whispered, not unheard.

"What was that? Is precious noble :Little Red a rebellious metal head?"

"No, no, no, we are NOT bonding over rock and metal.. That is off limits."

"Awww, and here's me thinking we could've become such good friends, had slumber parties, done eachother's hair, help eachother with problems. Ya'know, all that friendship crap."

That last part of his spiel, about helping eachother; it reminded her of her ridiculous theory from earlier, and with that reminder... He'd been giving her grief this entire call. Its revenge time and she'd use her own silly theory to get it "I'm going to end this call on a victory dammit!" She mentally psyched herself, them aloud, timidly, tentatively asked "Roman? Do you... need help?"

An extended pause then, cautiously "...If, hypothetically, I did need help... could you look past my actions today to offer it.?"

Certainly not the expected response, she'd anticipated laughter and mockery; perhaps he anticipated her trap and was aiming to verbally trap her first, but no way he'd see this one coming.

Ruby tilted her head from left to right in thought "Hmmmmmm...No-P."

"Nope?"

"Nope."

"Not even to repay my generous help?"

"Nope."

"I, seeeee... Why ask then?"

"Because you need real professional help. I'm not qualified."

"Iiiiiii Don't follow."

"I mean first turning yourself in to the authorities. Then after explaining your, condition, they can hire a therapist to work with you in prison. You'll be able to reform and get treatment. Its a triple victory"

"My, con-dition?... Uhm," Never had she heard him sound so baffled "I pride myself on thinking outside the box, but you've totally lost me here, Red..."

"Its okay. You don't need to pretend with me, it isn't anything to be ashamed of. I'll even vouch for you. I'll testify that Evil Torchwick made you do all that crime stuff and that your good side, you, is trying to make amends. I promise, I'll be there for you every step of the way for moral support and even comforting hugs."

Silence...

Dead, silence filled the line.

The silence of a man slowly, quietly dying inside.

"...Y-you're, you're, an idiot. A completely unhinged, delusional nutcase cabbage patch child. Arrrghh, good lord what was I thinking! T-this... This was a mistake! A terrible, horrible, unutterably hellacious mistake. Hoo shit, what have I done..." He sounded like his whole reality was burning down around him as he choked on its smoke and ashes.

"Shhh-shhh, its okay Roman. The truth is always hard to hear. But please, pleaeease don't let Evil Torchwick keep making you live this way. I know there's good in you, I saw it on the rooftop, little flashes of remorse, the sad expressions you tried to hide, the tears of frustration, trying to resist Evil Torchwick and warning me before he fired at the crystal. You were trying snfff, so-s-so hard not to, to..."

"Woah! Y-you know what Red. Let's just pretend that none of this ever happened. Okay. We never met, I never called. You got into your stupid school, and I suffered a momentary bout of cosmic horror levels of insanity helping you get there. Right, nice chatten but..."

"It wasn't insanity." Ruby quietly blubbered so convincingly that she was even scaring herself "How can you deny your inner-goodnesssspffff-kukukuahuhuhu." Ruby couldn't keep it together anymore and she doubled over, free arm hugging her violently vibrating ribs, almost dropping her scroll with the titanic effort of hold in the tidal wave of deranged laughter trying to tear out of her "J-j-j-just kidding. Ahahahaaaa-your reaction, pricelss-eeehehehekukuku."

"...W-Why, why you little shit-pfff,hahaha," He sounded on the verge of a breakdown "Hahaha-Holy shit kid. You actually had me going there. Never expected that level of acting from you..hahahaha. Well played." Were those tears in his laughter? She'd hoped for annoyance, but his inexplicable relieved humor was, indefinable... Oh well, victory achieved regardless. Target trolled.

"Serves you right." She smirked broadly out at the moonlit cityscape, at him.

As Ruby's giggle-fit ebbed, she heard Torchwick's own peter out into a distracted mutter under his breath "...Huh. Sparkling silver..."

"I'm sorry?" Ruby tremulously queried, feeling as puzzled as he'd sounded.

"Its nothing. Well, you're taking initiation once the new school years starts, right? You excited." He was trying to play off the fact she'd suckered him with small talk, it would've been adorable coming from someone less duplicitous.

"Ignoring my guilty conscience?"

"Dunno what that is but it sounds annoying. So, yes, ignoring that."

Ruby guffawed, expecting as much, but answered honestly "Yes... Yes I suppose I am, and," She gulped, hardly believing what she was about to say "And... I suppose, I somewhat owe making it there to you, uhhm, so, uhhh. Yep, that..."

"Was that a thank you I just heard?"

"N-No... It was an, acknowledgement, of ignoble services rendered." The burning cheeks were back and the cool night air was impotent against them.

"You trying to chew your lip off or are you just hungry. Should be snack machines in the lobby."

"What did I just say about the creepy commentary." An involuntary yawn supplanted her exasperation. She was ready to abort this stupid call, but, aw what the hell. One more try at tripping him up, maybe into confessing...? Oh, yeah, that'd do "Uhm by the way, are Junior's guy's you hired okay. I'm worried I might've, gone overboard." A trick question, she knew they were fine; her guilty tone though was half-real.

Not deceived, Torchwick didn't miss a beat "Don't know this Junior your referring to, but their parents should be ashamed of themselves, stick'n a kid with a name like Junior. As to my helpers, they were just six nice fellas who kindly offered to carry my suitcases for me."

"Uh-huh. Nice, heavily armed not-at-all crime averse fellas who just played along with a robbery. How convenient."

"I'll say. Talk about commitment, bumbling commitment but, free horses and all that. As to their status; dunno, don't care. Can't imagine they're in great shape though; ffffff-so many broken ribs;"

An unintelligible whine escaped Ruby "Oh whatever, I'm tired, I'm drained and I'm done with this pointless conversation. So unless you're going to blackmail me, which I highly doubt you'd be able to do anyway, I'm going back to sleep."

"Nah. No blackmail."

"...Really?"

Softly he chuckled, the sound tinged with self-mockery "Yes, really."

"Oh, uhm, thanks; for not blackmailing me, but I still hate your guts."

"Wouldn't have it any other way, and if hating me helps you pass initiation, by all means hate away."

"I don't understand why you're so invested in me passing..."

"Let's just say somewhere down the road, I may be able to help you prevent something happening."

"Prevent what?"

"Na-uh. You just focus on surviving initiation for now. I'll be rootin for ya."

" Don't bother, I've got family for that... And please don't call me again. I really don't want to go through the trouble of changing my number..." For politeness sake she awaited his acknowledgement but instead...

A deep, complicated sigh reached her ear, then, adopting the air of an old timy radio presenter, he intoned "...Goodbye Red and goodnight. Sleep tight. Oh, and, Ruby..."

"W-What?" Stammered Ruby, startled by him using her name, having forgotten introducing herself to him in the park.

"Don't let the conscience bugs bite."

Ruby's sweet smile brandished its thorns "Goodbyyyye Mister Clockwork."

"OYY!"

Snorting, Ruby hung up, cutting off his indignant objection "Pff, wow. That man is such a, a..." A villain with a shred of human decency? Maybe. She does believe in the inherent goodness of others, or strives to "...uggggh I'm going to sleep."

For good measure, Ruby struck a cheeky smirking pose, flipped him the bird, Torchwick being the only person she'd ever deemed deserving of her middle finger, while switching off her scroll. Turning, she paused, glanced back, and whimsically offered a half-polite half-taunting little wave and bow before sneaking back inside. Leaving the door open to encourage fresh air circulation, Ruby Padded to the kitchen, poured and downed some cold milk, rinsed mug and mouth with fresh water then returned to flop face-first onto the lounge, sinking into it.

She thought insomnia would cost her the remaining hours, but a strange sense of peace overcame the girl and she was out like a light the moment she rolled over and found a comfortable position.

As she sank into the fog between waking and dreaming, Ruby thought it strangely sad that Torchwick was a bad guy, because truthfully, their back and forth just now, her anger aside, was actually fun.

The dreams she submerged into however were only of Beacon and beyond, a journey and destination in which that criminal became a quickly forgotten footnote.

A tainted dream it might be, but it is still her dream.

Thank you for reading. Sorry to end it this way, I'm just burnt out, but I totally understand if you guys get annoyed at my laziness. Though I did make it clear from the start I'm neither dedicated or skilled and to not expect much. It probably shows that I stopped trying halfway into this chapter and just leaned into silly, dorky OOC dialog, out of place refferences etc. But I despise leaving things unfinished, so a half-assed conclusion beats no conclusion at all IMO. Still, I'm surprised I accumulated a handful of followers, especially given my self-depreciating Author Notes. So, my gratitude to those who found value in my fleeting project of whimsy. I wish you all good health, and a nice day. Thank you again for spending time reading my silly little fic. I hope it at least amused you. And a heartfelt thank you to those who review. All feedback, be it positive or critical, is sincerely appreciated..