Chapter Text
Her head hurt. Ruby didn't even want to get up with how much her head pounded… But the gentle nudging didn't stop. Opening her eyes slowly, she glanced up at an older girl, who had her friend right behind her. Both were worried.
“Hey… are you okay…? We saw you basically collapse onto the bench…” The brunette spoke in such a sisterly manner… Where was Yang…?
“I… My head…” She sat up slowly, a hand going to her head… And her eyes examining her legs, shoes and skirt…
Her skirt was similar to her Beacon uniforms, but more in the dark muted reds she’d come to adopt into her outfits. Her legs were covered in tights, similar to the ones she would wear as a child. Her emblem embroidered onto the left leg. Her boots had metal plate-looking bits, but matched her boots from beacon the closest. Her eyes wandered to her top. It was a hooded sleek jacket, almost business like in style and a matching red to the skirt. On the notched lapels of the coat, were small pins of her emblem in sterling silver. Her shirt underneath was a lighter and more vibrant red shirt, long sleeve from what she could tell, with a nearly black red tie. What was this style…
“Are you experiencing light sensitivity,” the brunette asked, moving closer and trying to check Ruby’s eyes. Ruby weakly waved the girl back.
“I-I guess… My head hurts and I don't really know where I am…” Ruby offered the words, trying to stay lowkey.
“Oh dear… Haru, go on ahead to Leblanc, I’m going take her to Sae’s and let her rest up there, okay?” The sisterly-one stood up and looked behind her to her friend. “Tell them I’ll be there soon.”
The girl behind the sisterly one (Haru…? What kind of name was that?) nodded, and gave a soft “feel better” to Ruby before dashing off. The sisterly one offered Ruby a hand.
“Let's get you to my car…”
Ruby careful stood, her mind reeling. This was earth, she was sure of it. The lack of Crescent Rose’s weight was plenty enough to tell her such. But where on earth? “Thank you…”
“Of course… I’m Nijima Makoto, and you?” Nijima said, guiding Ruby.
“Ruby Rose…” Ruby offered back.
“Okay, well Ruby-san— Wait, is Ruby your first name,” she asked. Ruby nodded. “Okay, Rose-san, I’m going to take you to my sister’s place. She should be home, last I heard she had off today and tomorrow. She can help you way more than me or my friends, she’s a lawyer.” Niji— no, would it be Makoto if she was making sure Rose was Ruby’s last name? Was that how they introduced themselves in this part of earth?
“Thank you, Nijima-san…” Ruby nodded as the elder held the car door open and carefully drove. It was strange, Ruby was so used to walking everywhere that she didn't know driving was this attention needing. “I should apologise to Yang for those comments…” The muttering was quiet, and though Ruby could feel the increase of intrigue in the air of the car, Makoto didn't ask. She was grateful.
A few minutes later, they were heading up to an upper floor apartment and Makoto was talking to her older sister about what she could gather of Ruby’s situation. Ruby only caught pieces, disassociating terribly as she thought… but then she heard Makoto low her voice and paid attention.
“It might be human trafficking gone wrong. I think she has friends who might be in different places who are in similar situations…” Makoto pulled back a bit. Her sister, Sae, nodded in thought.
“Definitely a possibility… Thank you, Makoto, I’ll do what I can. Go meet up with your friends, isn't today the day Amamiya is arriving for summer break?” She offered with a smile.
Makoto nodded and waved, stopping by Ruby. “Good luck figuring things out, Rose-san. Sae can call me if you need me, okay? So don't worry, the Nijima’s have your back,” she smiled, gently. Leaving the apartment, Ruby held herself and found herself severely missing her team.
“Ruby Rose, is it? Why don't we have a bite to eat while we go over what you know and remember.” Sae said, just as gently as Makoto had been talking.
Sae tried hard to help Ruby open up. Ruby would listen when she spoke, then glance up to see her talk to her… Scroll? The earth’s version of a Scroll. Then glance back to her hands right before Sae talked to her again. She couldn't think straight…
“A practice mission?” Ruby heard Weiss ask Winter.
“Yes. Doctor Pietro has worked with I, Theodore and Oscar to even guarantee the portal to get you there is secure and unbreached. If you four are interested.” Winter explained. “We understand if you want to just rest, however… That trip to the… Ever After…” It was clear Winter didn't like the truth they had gotten confirmed by Robin. “…clearly must have taken a tole on you all. And then to be forced back into fighting Grimm and for your lives… And we nearly smothered you all with attention when you arrived— I almost hope you’ll say no…”
“Yeah, no, I—uh—I’m gonna pass on this one. Sure, it's 100% trusted, but last time I said yes to one of those, we met Batman. Motherfucking BATMAN. And STILL almost died. I just wanna rest…” Jaune said, taking a step back, Ren and Nora both giving him comfort.
“Ruby,” Yang started. “Are you gonna do this…?”
“Yeah. I think I will,” she smiled brightly. “After all, Watts can't mess with it this time.”
Arthur Watts… No way this is his fault, he should be trapped in his own version of a digital world hell… Couldn't be his fault, Ruby thought. A new voice snapped her from her thoughts.
“Heart rate is roughly 107, with small bursts of moments at rate 115. Breathing is slightly increased. I have concluded that Ruby Rose-san is having anxiety, nearing a panic attack. Ruby Rose-San, how may I assist?”
Looking up from her hands, Ruby saw the Scroll-like device from Sae’s hands on the table, and a red-headed girl talking to Ruby from it. A video call…? No, a note taking application was up behind her, almost as if she had made room in the app to be there.
“Wh-Who… are you…?”