Zack's POV
I never thought I would admit this just this instant, but I never realized how much I missed being with the gang again. Despite the fact we were separated for only threeish days. That and the whole chaos of our return and the… situation that I caused. As in now everyone had an idea that something for sure happened between Weiss and me while we were separated.
Wonderful.
In addition to that, I wasn't expecting to see Celeste again here of all places, but we're both different, and the years had changed us. As in she has now given herself more personal touches and has a prosthetic arm due to an accident years back, while I… went through much.
Yeah… I guess I can say that… All within months. Well, it also struck me that she's apparently a celebrity to the locals and Atlas for her skills with music and has been here for some time now. Furthermore, she explains that her own interest here is to uplift the spirits of everyone with her art.
Lastly, Celeste informed me that she was supposed to conduct a performance tomorrow before heading back to Atlas.
I'm not so sure if that's going to continue with what happened today…
Anyway, as I had feared, as soon as my childhood friend had sponsored us a ramen meal at one of the restaurants that swiftly resumed service once the crisis was over, everyone started asking questions about Weiss and me. It was… awkward, and neither of us revealed much just yet.
We did reveal a bit of what happened when we were separated, and to say the least, they were happy we managed to find shelter from the blistering blizzard at the time. Then it moves on with our unfortunate encounter with the Bloody Hidesman and how Nerium and her party saved us. Which certainly did not help the tension at the table at all since she's here at a different table with Qrow, Katharine, and Neo across from us.
The four of them were having their own conversations separate from us, and I could hear from their table that Katharine, aka my childhood friend's personal caretaker, who I never realized her parents got after they moved to Atlas.
Celeste never mentioned her in our letters when we still wrote to each other…
Strange.
Anyway, Katharine tersely talks to her about her unknown background and unidentified allegiance, from what I can pick up. In addition to that, my childhood friend's caretaker questions not only Nerium's choice of outfit but also the dress code of the Royal Guards. Which, by Remnant's standards, seems quite uniformed, archaic, and oddly exotic.
Yeah, and what the hell does that make my new outfit look to outsiders? Probably on the exotic side with my features.
Moving on.
Qrow also distrusts her for a wholly different reason since he was made aware that day when I came back to our hotel in Mistral about her fight with me. So, while he didn't know of Nerium's name at the time, my description of her clothing matches, and the rest is him piecing together and concluding that she's the one who sent me back to Mistral earlier than expected.
Something Nerium doesn't deny at all for her actions done to me on that day.
And Neo? I think she just found someone who garners her interest again ever since she joined us. I think. It's difficult to tell what she's thinking of, especially when she's disguised again. For the best, since it would be awkward explaining to the authorities why we have a criminal partially responsible for the Fall of Beacon with us. I'm glad she hasn't stirred shit and caused trouble for the gang while I'm not there.
Now that I think about it, how the hell am I supposed to explain her to General Ironwood? Eh… I'll think about that later.
Understandably, my friends are not happy about Nerium joining us after our last confrontation, and no one trusts her one bit, and I don't blame them. Neither Weiss nor I like it when she volunteers herself to be my personal bodyguard and 'representative' of the Arakan clan to outsiders.
But because it touches more on my clan, I had to stop the conversation because we're in public, and such information related to the Arakan Clan and Sanctuary must not be revealed to the wider world just yet. To add on to that, I did promise that I will reveal it all later as soon as we find ourselves in more private conditions.
Unfortunately, because the topic was cut short, the topic changes and intensifies their curiosity about Weiss's and my private adventure we had while they were in Argus. It's not every day your friend shows up in an entirely new outfit, a newly remade weapon, and bloody bodyguards escorting them while showing utter loyalty and giving them the nickname of Blessed One.
Then again, me having a third tail has indeed ruffled the feathers of everyone. Some had better reactions than others. For example, my choice not to hide my features had earned stares from the locals for obvious reasons, but after today, I believe they will get used to the strangeness of a three-tailed fox Faunus with ears and other traits walking through their streets.
It certainly did not help that several humans who were racist toward my kind were keeping their distance and glaring at my traits while calling me an abomination. Something that every one of my friends and allies rebuked back and forced them to back down. Oh, the irony once it gets out that my people were created by the Sisters to help uplift humanity in this broken world.
I should also mention that the whole time we were out, Weiss was by my side, and so was Ruby!
She's gotten extremely clingy to me and justified it by saying that she doesn't want either of us to be separated again. Is she going through separation anxiety, or is she just worried sick over me and Weiss? Something that is understandable due to the amount of shit that happened when we were cut off. Then again, my girlfriend did inform me the day after she confessed to me that Ruby's likely in love with me too and that needs to be addressed.
And then there's Celeste again.
Having more time talking to her in a long time, she insists on having a private chat with me later without anyone else hearing, which understandably earns the curiosity of everyone and the jealousy of Ruby and Weiss. Something that I had to assure the two of them was that this is just a private talk between friends and nothing more.
And to be honest, I wonder how it has been since we last talked to each other. We even used nicknames we called each other in our youth. Iris for her and Rey for me.
Something that Yang finds utterly adorable since Celeste and I are just about the same age. Sort of. My sixteenth birthday is still coming up in December, while hers was in July. Ruby's already seventeen since we celebrated her birthday after the battle for Haven. Damn. I keep forgetting that I'm the youngest biologically while at the same time, the oldest mentally with Ozma in my skull.
Speaking of the old wizard, he's still sleeping and hasn't spoken even after things had calmed down. My guess is the Sister's magic within me put him to sleep for now at least. I just know that he and I are going to have a long conversation and recap once he's back.
In addition to that, his plan is to reveal his true origins to everyone, as he had done privately for Weiss while we were separated.
Hopefully.
As much as I love to be happy and enjoy the mood before we meet up with Specialist Cordovin for 'debriefing,' I can't help but think back then I was feral on the brink of sanity. I never want to feel like that again. The bloodlust. The animalistic rage to see my enemies dead at my feet. The sheer euphoria I feel while battling against endless Grimm?
All of it scares me.
I wasn't actually conscious the first time I went nuts, so I have no idea what was happening. The second time that happened was not too long ago, and that time I was aware of what happened to me. How it… twists my thoughts and sanity in ways I would never think of. The sheer urge to take both Weiss and Ruby as my wives, or mates, all because our children will be strong and powerful.
…
All of it doesn't feel right at all, but this part of me and part of my subconscious. My fear of my inevitable end. The fear that I would leave nothing to show and that all my efforts and sacrifices will be for nothing. I'm not sure how everyone would feel should they learn this later behind closed doors.
All I know for sure is they won't take it very well. No matter, we'll walk that bridge when we get there.
Then there's our talk with Specialist Caroline Cordovin. It goes as well as you can expect from someone like her. A fuck ton of yapping, ego rubbing, and nonsense that we have to follow her rule among the whole what the fuck is happening. And the whole interrogation of everyone and the occasional discrimination against me and Blake to the point of calling me a science experiment gone horribly wrong.
Something that Nerium did not take too kindly, and she began shit-talking her to her face. It was funny, I won't lie, but I have to command her to stop so we can end this 'debrief' on a somewhat positive note. Which it did, thank goodness. Cordovin had so 'kindly' let us go with no issue and even gave us all a small and actually earnest thanks for helping to defend her city.
In the end, the journey back to where everyone was staying (aka at the Terra Cotta-Arc household) was a quiet one, minus me asking them how they squeezed so many people in that place, and Jaune explained that they mainly slept on any spare beds or in sleeping bags on the floor. Then, to drive the point that I walked into their home, Jaune opens the door to see Saphron and Terra waiting for us.
Oh, and Adrian's also with them…
Out of the craziness in my entire life here so far, I still don't understand where the kid came from…
Anyway, as soon as the door opened, Saphron immediately rushed to her little brother and into a bear hug. "Jaune! There you are! Are you alright? I heard about what's happening out there through the broadcasts and alarms!" Panic laced her voice as she began checking him out in front of everyone, much to his embarrassment.
"Hmm… Okay, I don't see any major injuries, maybe a bit of scratches, but nothing much at a glance!"
"Sis… Please stop it… There are people here." Jaune mutters out before Saphron notices the rest of us, but her eyes soon land on those who have never been to her place here. I.E, Me, Weiss, Nerium, Celeste, and Katharine.
"Oh! We have new guests, and is that Celeste Schmitt with you?! Oh, my goodness, you managed to befriend her?!" Huh… I guess my childhood friend was being truthful about her celebrity status here, and it seems that Saphron and Terra are fans of her. At least from what I can see of the two.
"I saw your performance last week! You're remarkable with your talents! Do you know that?"
Looking at Celeste, I can see that she's flattered and embarrassed at the same time. I guess she wasn't expecting to see a fan so early for today at least. "Oh? A fan of mine? Well, I am happy you and your wife enjoyed my performance. I am still conducting one last performance tomorrow for all. And after the events of today, it might be best to make it free to keep everyone's spirits up despite the losses."
"YES! Renny, can we attend it? If the glorious leader's big sis says it's good, then we've got to see it! Especially now that we're all back together!" Nora, being Nora, began her talk while I glanced at my Celeste and gave a grin at her.
"Well, since you're offering, I think I'll come along. I'm curious about your skill with your flute. I only heard a bit earlier while we're all fighting for our lives, but a concert after today's events does sound incredibly appealing." And to my hidden joy, I can see the embarrassment within Iris growing by the second as everyone chimes in their interest for tomorrow's event.
Even Weiss seems intrigued about the whole thing.
It was then that Terra walked up to us and introduced herself to me and everyone else she had never met yet, all the while Adrian looked utterly adorable and fascinated with me. After all, not every day do you see someone like me walking around. "Well, besides that event for tomorrow. I am Terra Cotta-Arc, and you already met my wife, Saphron and this little bundle of joy here is Adrian, our son."
And as she finishes her introduction, Adrian in her arms proceeds to extend his arms out towards me while babbling all the while.
Ah. He's interested in me. Or at least, from where his eyes are focused, he wants to hold my three fluffy tails. "Well, a pleasure to meet the three of you, and thank you for watching over my friends, but can we come in? It is a bit awkward to remain at the door for this long." I mentioned it before Saphron acknowledged me.
"Right! Come in! Any friend of my little brother is a friend of ours. But… What sort of Faunus are you? You're unlike any Faunus we see here. I mean, and not to be offensive, but you're different from everything I've seen so far. Really different. I have never seen anyone looking like you." Heh… looks like awkwardness does run through the family tree.
"Well, by current classification, I would still be considered a Fox Faunus, but that will change in the future for sure. How about we all rest on the couch, and I'll explain everything?" And with that, we all walk into the Cotta-Arc house and gather in the living room. Even finally meeting Maria Calavera after telling Ruby to seek her out while on the Argus Express!
And our short talk was brief and went relatively well.
Minus the part where she bonks my head for not addressing her properly. I forgot she does that to those she perceives as rude to her. Before she and I had a chat about Ruby's progress with her silver eyes. And I'm pleased to hear that she's training well. In addition to that, Maria also directly let me know in particular that Ruby told her a lot about me.
Uh… Right.
After a moment for us to get some refreshments and a short time to rest. I humbly request both Saphron and Terra to give us some time alone. Something we also gave Celeste and her caretaker, Katharine, was one chance to step out of the room since this doesn't have to involve the two of them. But to my surprise, she refused and stated that after all she and her caretaker had seen?
There's no way for either of them to put it all behind them, and they will join us. Even more so that it came as a surprise that Ruby and the others came to her and asked her for assistance to get us to Argus! And while it was unexpected, I'm happy both Ruby and Jaune still take the initiative to do things without me.
Anyway, once we were ready, and after giving both Celeste and Katharine a brief summary of our adventures and the things I found out, as well as other important context they needed to know, I explained the parts I left out earlier. Mainly on where Nerium came from, the hidden city of Sanctuary, and the heritage of my bloodline. Followed by being issued a duel by the Khan himself, who happens to be my blood uncle I never met, to the first time I went feral mid-fight…
And… the reveal of my impending death at the hands of the Brother Gods all because of a damn contingency plan buried within the Ozma that will kill me eventually.
…
How cruel this world can be for the divinity to condemn someone to death this easily…
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The silence that soon followed was deafening to all, with everyone expressing their horror in different ways. Even more than that, Zack's body visibly shudders, with his tails becoming floppy and ears sinking too. And while all that was happening, Weiss, who was beside her boyfriend, gently took his hand in hers before the first response came in.
"Wha- What? Why? Why would they do this to you?" Yang expressed her horror before getting an answer from Zack, who looked up bitterly at everyone.
"Because the Brother Gods see my connection to the Sisters of Twilight as their champion as a threat to their influence in this world." The fox Faunus spat out. His every word rings of both anger and a hint of despair. "They fear the Sisters reclaiming their place in this world we call home, and I was marked for death to ensure that it never happens, and…" Zack then sighs again before tapping on his forehead.
"The contingency was within the old man the whole time, and he wasn't even aware of this. Once that time has come and our souls become one, it will instantly kill me. It's not a matter of ifs, but when for me." He explains before his brows furrow down. "My guess is that the Brothers were the ones who put him in me, knowing of my bloodline being tied with their rival."
"Why? I don't understand. How could they do something like this? T-this… This is so wrong. T- There has to be a way to stop this from happening, right? Right?"
It was clear to all that Ruby was getting desperate to the point of clutching onto his shoulders, and understandably so. Putting her unknown feelings towards Zack aside, the team had just reunited, so learning one of them was going to instantly die as soon as his soul merged with Ozpin was an incredibly tough pill to swallow.
"This is fucked…" Qrow growls out in the corner. "As if the Brother gods couldn't get petty enough, they just had to put a death mark on you all because they're afraid of losing their influence." The veteran Huntsman sighs out while unease spreads throughout the living room. Celeste and Katharine were also there but chose to remain silent until more information on what is happening comes through.
But the whole time, Celeste's eyes were on Zack and bore a mixture of shock and pity.
"Yeah, Mr Branwen. This is messed up, but there must be a way to slow or stop it. This may be stupid to ask you, but do you have any idea how to stop it?" Jaune then speaks next as all attention returns to the Fox Faunus still silent the whole time. Then the mood drops even further when Zack finally answers.
"No. As far as I can understand. Unless you can tear him out of me, I don't know of any other way. But I… I… Mn… When I first heard of this, days back, it shattered me, you know? Learning that I was just a pawn in the grand scheme of things. That I was only a chess piece? At that moment, it was too much for me that I broke down."
…
"Then how are you still standing here? From the way you describe it, the revelation shattered you." Katharine suddenly spoke and asked before earning what was surprising to all. Zack smiles, and affection returns to his face as he glances at the woman who pulled him out of despair and then at everyone.
"Because of Weiss."
"Weiss? Is that why something seems to have changed between the two of you?" Blake was next before small chatter broke out among everyone while the ex-heiress herself was blushing red in the face. But at the same time, that didn't stop the smile on her lips and the pride in her eyes. "After all, when we met you two again earlier this morning, I'm sure everyone noticed that something happened. You were more coordinated and caring for one another than expected."
While innocent, Blake's comment ended up making Zack's ears perk up and face pale. "Wait a second. So the whole time, including just now, you all knew something was happening?" He then shifts his hands between himself and his girlfriend at such speeds you would think he would snap his arms. "Between the two of us? The whole time?!"
"Yup!" Nora confirms while cheerfully grinning. "We were even betting how long it would take before something happened!"
"And no one won." Yang dramatically sighs. "I bet a month, but from the looks of it, it took less than a week."
"Heavens above! How blind was I?!" Zack proceeds to slam his hand into his forehead while giggles break out. Except Ruby, who had gotten increasingly quiet. "First I did not realize that Weiss was falling for me, and then there was the whole not realizing I was falling for her myself! Or the fact I didn't see that everyone can see that something's happening between us!" He whines.
"For someone who really wants to go against and change what's coming, you're surprisingly blind to what's before you." Blake's smirk just aggravates the fox Faunus because she's right, and it's the same thing Weiss said to him. After several seconds of angry fox noises, Zack admits it after calming down.
"I'm still terrified of my end. But Weiss here, she became my anchor. She gave me something to cling to, to hope for, even while I was drowning in despair. As cheesy as it sounds, she gave me something to fight for after she confessed to me first to snap me out of my nightmare." And while everyone listens to him, Weiss gently squeezes his hand, and soon after, Zack does the same back.
"Aww… how adorable…" Yang coos before she eats a pillow thrown to her face and sends her back onto her couch, courtesy of Weiss, whose face was bright red. "Come on! I thought that you would be the one who would confess to her first, not the ice queen here!" Yang then points out before Zack awkwardly scratches his cheek gently with his claw.
"Well… She was getting desperate to snap me out of it at the time and resulted in…" The fox Faunus pauses when he notices his girlfriend glaring at him silently with her arms folded. As if daring him to continue on and reveal that she has a soft side all along. "Uh… perhaps it is wise that I keep my mouth shut."
"And here I was getting curious about your scents all over each other." Blake hums out slowly, but it is clear that she knows something that the others don't. Of course, that alarms both Weiss and Zack for obvious reasons, to the point the ex-heiress hisses out while glaring at her Faunus friend.
"Blake. Don't you dare."
"What's that about scents?" Celeste joins in with her head tilting before Qrow chokes in the background on his drink with his eyes wide open. All the while, Blake's grinning at the sight of the couple's panicked glaring at her.
"Blake. You wouldn't." Zack adds in, but it was too late because his fellow Faunus had already made up her mind and blurted it out.
"Oh, not much. Just that the only way for their scents to mix that much is for them to… share a bed."
Nora immediately slams her hand onto the couch chair and jumps. "WAIT! Are you saying they boinked?!"
As if that was the spark, chaos quickly descends upon the living room before Zack finally manages to cut through the chatter. "Fuck off, Blake! And no! Weiss and I did not do that! I'm far too young and early for that, what the hell, woman!" But that denial just seems to just add more fuel to the fire. It was also through all that that Zack noticed Ruby's silence as she stared wide-eyed at both him and her partner.
"Right. I need to deal with her and perhaps give us a chance to get clear from all this teasing." But before he could do something else, Ren then joins in with a small smile.
"You did not deny sleeping with her."
And it was finally that moment, Weiss huffs after minutes of covering her face with her hands. Even then, her cheeks were still bright red the whole time. "Oh, how I so missed you guys." She voiced it out sarcastically and could hug herself while glancing at her boyfriend with a soft smile.
"Yeah… Same. I missed this fun chaos…" Zack agrees before looking at his girlfriend, and with a silent nod coming from her, the fox Faunus adopts a more serious posture. "Now, as much as you guys would enjoy teasing the ever-loving shit out of me and Weiss, we have some business to settle."
"Yes, I concur." Weiss agrees before turning her eyes onto her partner. "Ruby, I would like you to take me to your room alone, please. I need to discuss something with you privately." And as if snapping out of her thoughts, Ruby utters a single word.
"Eh?"
…
Yeah, it wasn't much of a reply, but after a few awkward seconds going by, Ruby finally gave a coherent answer. "Uh, sure? Follow me. It's upstairs." And with that, Ruby and Weiss depart while Zack turns to Celeste.
"I think it's time we have that private talk I promised earlier."
And with a soft smile as if expressing the anticipation, she stands up with eager grace. "Agree. I've been anticipating this for some time now. But… I doubt any of us know of any private rooms for us." And with a small glance around, her eyes land on Jaune. After all, the brother of the homeowner would know his way around, yes? "Mr. Arc, could you please escort us to one of the available rooms here? Neither Rey nor I know where things are here."
"Uh, sure? Follow me then." And with that, the others remain in the living room while Jaune takes Zack and Celeste into one of the other rooms available in his sister's home.
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Weiss's POV
"Weiss, what did you want to talk to me about?" I stared at my partner in silence after she took us to one of the rooms Mrs. Arc has in her wonderful home. Ever since that day, I've been thinking about what to say to Ruby and what to ask to confirm what we suspected. Yet, more and more evidence paints a picture that, yes, she unconsciously fell for my boyfriend.
I'm not even sure if she's aware of it. But the symptoms are there. I wasn't deaf earlier the whole time; the moment Zack explains that it was because of me that he had regained his will to keep going, my partner has been quiet and withdrawn. Too quiet for someone as active as her.
Ruby… If only you knew how rushed this relationship was.
It was spontaneous. Erratic and unbeholden to someone like me who would prefer a much slower relationship development, but you weren't there to see how hard the news fell upon Zack. How instantly he collapsed under it and how much it took to snap him out of it. I love him. And hearing him express his love for me too was one of the best memories I could ever have until now.
Which also includes my participation in Team RWBY. While it was rough at the beginning and certainly did not help my behaviour at the time, it became something I will never forget too. Thus, as my duty as your partner, Ruby, I have the responsibility to attend to you as well because we are partners, and we watch over each other.
While I never mentioned this to my boyfriend, I have taken the possibility of accepting Ruby into the relationship, despite how rare it is for a polyamorous relationship to be present in Remnant, let alone how unheard of it is in Atlas. Where I was born. While I doubt most of the world would bear issues with such a relationship, I am also aware that they tend to be more fragile and more prone to fall apart.
Well, excluding Atlas, which believes in a more monogamous relationship, from my time growing up and the whole courting culture, which the rich seem to practice when it comes to finding a partner.
…
Now speaking of which, thinking of my rash choice to confess my love to Zack has led me to conclude one thing. This will lead to me being ostracized by my home should they find out about our relationship. And that's after my father stripped the title of heiress from me when I chose to defy him back in Atlas.
The irony did not go unnoticed by me. I, the daughter of a CEO of a company that exploited Faunuses to maximize Dust mining efficiency, am now in love with one who will no doubt be seen as less 'human' and more supernatural than any other normal Faunus.
I will be distrusted and hated on both sides. For my father's sins upon them, and seen as a racial traitor for loving a 'filthy animal.'
That is for sure.
But this is my choice to love him, and nothing will dissuade me from my decision. And inviting Ruby into this? This might drag her into more problems that stem from my own love for him. My family's name is well known all over Remnant, so if the world learns of this, it will cause unwanted problems down the years.
Even so, I can't help but feel a bit possessive of the fact that I have to share Zack with Ruby if she indeed joins into the relationship.
…
Something that has to be worked on.
Another thing that has to be addressed if it becomes a reality. I honestly wonder if he can handle the two of us at once… Zack did mention that his Earth home country, where his memory was originally from, doesn't practice polyamory. Instead, monogamy is considered the standard. Something that does not exist in Remnant due to the Grimm taking lives every day.
Definitely, this might be a culture shock for him. Unless Ozma had already told him of this, which I doubt.
Still, it is either marching onwards through this plan or, alternatively, risking Ruby's mental state.
I remembered the conversation I had with Zack a while back, that something will happen in the future that will be the final straw and cause my partner to suffer a mental breakdown. He's been vague about it but did make it his mission to ensure that doesn't happen. As will I. Thus, I doubt the term friend-zoning I heard a couple of times in Beacon would go well with her.
Not when my partner shows serious infatuations for him.
Perhaps I should have him come with me instead of making this appointment a one-on-one conversation. He is much better than I in such… conversations. Alas, I chose to confront her alone, and I will do what I can to find a place for us both.
"Weiss?"
I heard Ruby calling out to me again, and now worry is on her face. I need to speak before this becomes even more troublesome than it needs to be. Perhaps being straightforward is a good way to start. And so, taking a short breath, I spoke softly. "Sorry about that, Ruby. I've been thinking about something I have to ask you." With a beat going by and my partner now confused by the fact she tilts her head to the side, I ask the important question.
"How do you feel about Zack?"
While most people would answer the question normally, it appears I have forgotten a key detail. Ruby is innocent in terms of social interactions about romance by everyone's standards. I remember how she seemed to show no interest in anyone back in Beacon and instead found such relationships gross, in her words. And yes, I still remember Jaune's rather awkward attempt to flirt with me before Beacon's dance event.
Still though, even to me at the time, my partner seems more interested in weapons than people. "Eh? Zack? Uh…" Ruby seems to go through several emotions at once while fidgeting in place while I give her the time to get through it all. "I… I see him as my best friend, and I'm relieved to see him back. And… congratulations, Weiss…"
A fake smile… She's hurt that Zack and I are together, and she doesn't understand why.
I need to try something else. "Okay… Now put everything aside, about me or anyone else. What does Zack make you feel?" For a moment, I sat by patiently while my partner thought through her thoughts. I'm happy she's not asking why I'm asking her what she thinks of my boyfriend.
It makes things more straightforward.
"I… I'm confused..." Ruby finally answered me while looking straight into my eyes. But she's conflicted over it. "I keep thinking about him ever since he fell off the train. And when we saw him this morning, I was so happy. Then… whenever I'm close to him, my heart continues to beat, and I want to be with him…" My partner's face then scrunches up as she continues.
"But I don't get it. Whenever you talk to him while I'm around, I feel so upset, and I don't understand why. And when it was revealed that you're together with him now… I… I feel so hurt…?" All the signs of a crush and being in love…
Just as I was with him.
"And what did you feel when Zack mentioned that he's going to die?" I ask next. I have already accepted that time may not be on our side, but I'll make every moment with him matter. He deserves to be happy, and I promised we'll find a way to stop this contingency within him and give him a full life to live.
"I… I feel so… confused and terrified. I don't want him to die. Zack doesn't deserve to die like this, and I want to find a way to stop it before that happens." My partner admits softly before her hand slowly reaches and grabs onto the necklace my boyfriend gave her for her birthday.
You too…
He did mention that by admitting my love to him and being willing to be his girlfriend, I was walking into hell just for him, and there's no guarantee we'll save him. I wonder if you're willing to walk with him to the end like I planned to do.
"I see…" I murmur out with my eyes closed. I've heard enough. Everything Ruby says just proves that she's fallen for him as I had as well. "Ruby, I'll be straightforward with you. You have developed something more than simply seeing Zack as a best friend. You're in love with him." And just as I predicted, my team leader did not take it well because she instantly recoiled back while still on the bed.
Her silver eyes were wide as plates with shock, and her face was a deep red, just like her cape. In addition to all that, Ruby throws her hands forward and begins shaking them at such speeds they are a blur to me. "W-Wh-Wha-?! No! Weiss, that's crazy! He's my best friend! I was just... I was worried because we were separated, and he's always doing reckless things, and I have to keep an eye on him, and-and my heart beats fast because he stresses me out! It's not... that!"
She sputters out while I raise an eyebrow at her.
That's… not really convincing. "You said your heart beats faster when you're near him. You said you felt hurt when you learned we were together. Those aren't the feelings of 'just a friend,' Ruby." I explain before my partner calms down a bit but is clearly still confused.
"But... I don't get it. I've never... I don't know how this is supposed to feel. How can you be so sure? What if I'm just confused because I was so scared of losing him again?"
Letting out a soft huff, I gently reach to her shoulder and give Ruby a firm squeeze to get her to look at me in the eyes. "Ruby. I think we both know you're not being truthful here. Think of the first time you met him months back and compare them to how you feel about him now." And I am pleased to say that she took my advice to ponder it through.
However, it appears that the more my partner thinks it through, the more panicked and horrified she gets.
Which is concerning.
"W-Weiss, that… that can't be right, can it? I mean, I-I've never… I don't-I've never liked anyone like that before! Zack's my friend. He's always been my friend. But lately…" I silently adjusted so I would be beside my partner as she continued. "It's just-whenever I saw you two together just now, I… I felt something. I thought I was just worried. Or maybe jealous that you had each other and I was… alone. But that doesn't make sense. I'm not supposed to feel… hurt, right? When you are happy? I should be happy for you both! I want to be happy for you, I really do…"
I silently signal Ruby to continue as she sighs and stares at her knees as she sighs. "I… I don't understand myself, Weiss. Every time I see him smile, my heart just… does this weird fluttery thing. And after all that happened on the way to Argus, all I could think about was losing him. I thought I just wanted my friend back, but now… now after this? I don't even know what I want."
Ruby… So, you truly care for Zack…
"I don't want to mess things up. I don't want to come between you. I just… I want him to be safe, and I want you both to be happy, and I-" Her voice breaks while trembling, which simply made me tighten my grip on her. "I want to stay by his side, too. Is that selfish? Am I a bad partner? I just… I don't know what to do, Weiss. I really, really don't."
No. I don't think you are a bad partner, Ruby. The fact you acknowledge it to begin with and don't want to get between me and Zack is kind of you. But that's the thing. You focused so much on everyone's happiness that you forgot about yours.
Just as my boyfriend deserves to be happy.
So do you, Ruby.
Knowing that I need to do that, I gently pull my partner into a hug, and seconds go by before she admits it. Though her voice was a whisper as she rested her face on my shoulder. "You're right, though. I think… I think I do love him. Maybe I always did after some time. I just didn't want to see it because I was scared it would mess everything up we have."
…
"More than that, how can I? Can you go on knowing he's going to die?" Ruby asked me next with her eyes dripping with tears. I… it wasn't my intention to make this so emotional… Still, a reasonable question to ask, and frankly, it is indeed illogical to chase love for someone like Zack. He is not only losing his identity to Ozma, and in addition, he will die in less than two years.
It WILL cause me great grief when that day comes. But I won't abandon him after he has done so much for all of us. Not after he gave us a chance to end Ozma's war for good and everything he had done for everyone, even if some are indeed questionable. Still, my love for him will be fleeting unless we find a way to stop that timer on him, but even if we... I failed to save him from his fate. The moments we spend together, I will cherish every one of them and never forget him.
"Because… life isn't fair, Ruby. But it doesn't mean we have to surrender to it or to a predetermined fate. I swear that day I will love and cherish him until the end because Zack may appear strong, but on that day, I learn how fragile his mind is. How easy it was to shatter his will to go on. How… much he clung onto hope to see us achieve our happy endings knowing he will never get one." I softly explain with Ruby still in my arms.
"Then… what should I do now?" My partner then asks me after she frees herself from me, leaving my shoulder soaked in her tears. "I… I still don't- I need... I need to go for a walk a- and think this through."
"Then do it. Clear your mind and think through this at your own time because I still need to see what Zack's thoughts are on my proposal." Ruby wiped away her tears and nodded at me. Though, I suspect she was curious about this proposal I had in mind.
I must never let anyone know that this was inspired by some ideas I found in Blake's book. I'll never hear the end of it. Ever. Since I'm taking romance advice from a… unsafe book. Still, it bothers me how the hell she smuggled that into our dorm in the first place, now that I think about it.
Such content is banned in Beacon.
"So… Now what? Does this affect how we should see each other at all? I-I mean, we both love him."
"No, it does not at all, Ruby." I say before standing up from the bed and offering Ruby a gentle, assuring smile. "It is just that there are more… variables we need to be aware of." And for a moment I see my partner smiling earnestly at me before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
Well then. I hope Zack's conversation with his Miss Schmitt is as smooth as mine was.
==================================================================
It was not as smooth as Weiss hoped.
Instead, it was tensed to the point a brick would crush it. In fact, as soon as the two were alone, unlike the feeling of nostalgia expected from two childhood friends seeing each other again, Celeste went for the throat with her first question.
"Let's just cut to the chase now that we're alone. I know you're not the Zack I remember."
She states firmly while coldly staring at Zack, who grew increasingly unnerved. But before the Fox Faunus could reply or defend himself. Celeste pours more fuel onto the fire. "The fact Oscar isn't here and instead you are is a major sign. Then there's Neo with the others when she's not supposed to be there and that everyone seems to avoid going to Specialist Cordovin for help to get to Atlas. Instead, they're looking for alternatives to Atlas."
At this point Zack's eyes were as wide as plates. To say these things… that would mean… "Celeste… You're from Earth?" A single nod was all the fox Faunus got from his childhood friend. All this time… Celeste was just like him. "How did your memories find themselves in another body?"
Zack then asks before she shakes her head. "No, not like yours. I… didn't know I was one, and it was only recently that I remembered everything." She sighs while rubbing her forehead with her prosthetic hand.
"I had originally thought it was mere coincidence when I saw your name in the Argus Express list. But then, as more information filters in through my caretaker, I have the wonderful opportunity to meet them. Well, it just sealed the deal that you have Earth memories. And you've been busy so far."
"Yeah, you can say that." Zack murmurs softly, but his body is still on high alert the whole time. Another soul from Earth. What's going on here? Did the Brother Gods bring her mind here? Or did the Sisters of Twilight do it instead? "Soo…. This is awkward… I wasn't expecting to see another Terran soul here. So how have you been doing? I wasn't expecting to see you for some time nor learn that you're like me. Did someone bring you here?"
"I don't know." She admits with a pause. "I just remember fragments of my life on Earth, and more come in as the weeks go by. Yours?"
Celeste then asks her childhood friend back before getting a bitter scoff from the fox Faunus. "You were there earlier, Celeste, but in short, the Brother Gods bring me here from… what I remember just to mark me as a threat and use the old wizard to dispose of me by putting him in me. Knowing that I was the Sisters of Twilight's ticket out of their prison and reclaiming what's theirs."
"Sisters of Twilight… This version of Remnant isn't like how it was in the web show, huh?"
"Nope. Imagine my surprise learning of my ties to an ancient Faunus bloodline directly tied to the gods. Also, my people's creation by the Sisters of Twilight to help humanity survive and thrive." Zack rubs his head while glad that Ozma isn't awake just yet to see this.
"Plus your newly established relationship with Weiss?"
Iris interrupts with the most shit-eating grin the fox Faunus had ever seen from his childhood friend. "Ugh… Yeah, that too. Anyway, I guess your restored memories changed you, have they?" Zack then adjusts himself so his three tails can be free, while Celeste couldn't help but watch them sway around.
"You can say that, and I can say the same with you."
"Yup." The fox Faunus attests to that. "So, from one Earth soul to another, where did those memories of yours originate?" Zack asks before Celeste smirks as she adjusts her posture and speaks with an accent.
"Eh bien, et si vous essayiez de deviner ce que je veux dire par là? Et vous? D'où venez-vous?"
But instead of answering the question, the fox Faunus gave a challenging smile instead and spoke in his bilingual language. "Zhège yóuxì liǎng gèrén kěyǐ wán, sāi lái sī tè."
"That sounds like… Chinese?"
Celeste blinks while Zack smirks back and answers, "Yes, more accurately, I'm Singaporean Chinese. And yours sounds European, and from what I can guess, you're French."
"Correct. More accurately, I was born in the province of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in France."
Celeste smiles back before Zack chuckles as he leans back a bit with a smile. "You know, I always wondered if I would be alone here, carrying knowledge and culture that no one will understand. But now, perhaps I have someone who can understand how… sad it can be that no one will understand how it feels to be us."
"Indeed. Speaking of which, and I am a bit sorry to admit, my original intention in Argus was not to be a performer in the name of my family but to find Team RWBY and the others and help them get to Atlas without going through Cordovin." Celeste glances to the side with a sheepish smile.
"Oh. That's oddly convenient. I was thinking of how to get to Atlas without meeting that woman" Zack concludes before changing the topic. "Just curious, with your Earth memories back, how many volumes have you seen so far? I just wish to get an idea of what you know." The fox Faunus admits it before brushing his claws through the fluff of one of his tails, while his childhood friend ponders before answering honestly.
"Up to Volume Nine." But surprisingly of all, Zack blinks and looks back at Celeste in the eyes.
"Wait. Volume nine? Wait, what? There's only up to volume eight, and nine was still in development, last I remember."
But to his dismay, Celeste was also confused and shook her head all the while taking a sip of water from a canteen bottle she happened to carry. "How is that possible? Volume nine came out on the eighteenth of February, twenty twenty-three, and it finished on the twenty-second of April." However, her answer did not ease Zack at all because he was wide-eyed the whole time…
"What? How? If memory serves me well, it was around July twenty twenty-one when my memories were brought into this body. Volume Eight came out during the ending months of twenty twenty during Covid… Right?"
"That is correct. It did come out at that time, and it was an awful time for everyone because of the pandemic. Unless… there's a time gap in which your memories were brought here and mine." Celeste's eyes were also wide as it hit the both of them. They were taken years apart on Earth. But… How then? "How could it be that your memories were taken years before mine, yet we end up in the same timeline here on Remnant? Who could have brought our memories here? The Brother Gods?"
…
"It could be, but hell if I know. Just thinking about it is giving me a headache, so, besides that, will you tell them about this?" Zack frowns while looking at the floor before looking at his childhood friend, confused. "I mean your Earth memories and how you're in a similar predicament to me." As the fox Faunus expects her to react, Celeste's eyes shoot open in panic.
"You want me to tell them of my origins like you did?"
"Well, yeah. The gang already knew of my Earth memories due to a minor mistake that resulted in me having to answer to clear things out and earn their trust. And I can't exactly hide it from Ozma in my head either. So, to fix the whole keeping a secret problem, I told them, and they're completely cool with it." Zack explains while the heiress ponders before nodding.
"I'll think about this. But... I really can't help but ask, can I touch your tails again like how you allowed me to do years back when we were younger?" Celeste once again looks incredibly sheepish while the fox Faunus chuckles.
"Maybe. Weiss gets the priority for tail fluffing now since she's my girlfriend."
"And Ruby?" She quickly interrupts while Zack visibly freezes. It was abundantly clear that Ruby had indeed fallen for him, but the fox Faunus had some doubts. Sure, Remnant is a death world and such, but… the idea of having multiple partners? He isn't sure where he stands on the topic, really.
After all, he and Weiss only recently became an official couple, and the inclusion of Ruby, assuming both of them are okay with it, fills him with uncertainty.
"I… I'm not sure, really." Zack admits while Celeste hums.
"I don't know about how you boys think, even in my time on Earth, but wouldn't you be happy having two protagonists of the story falling for you? All the fanfiction of Jaune in a harem with the main cast really spells out much of the fandom's tastes. Or the main cast loving each other. So out of curiosity, are you pleased with this event?"
Then, shifting awkwardly with discomfort all over his face, her friend answers. "Please don't. I'm not like those people who think harems are a cool thing to go into. I have my doubts about whether my relationship with Weiss will go well enough without major hiccups. Adding Ruby in? That's more things I have to worry about. Especially when I'm on a timer."
"Fair enough. At least you're smart about this." Celeste smiles before it fades. "And as much as I love to chat further, I won't be able to speak so casually like I do here if we talk outside in public. Ever since I became an heiress similar to Weiss due to my parents' company's success, I have had to take up a primmer and more proper attitude. It's exhausting, I'll have you know."
In the end, their chat had veered off for hours into idle chatter and overall catching up with one another. Or at least, that only stopped when Weiss walked in with her arms folded at the sight of Celeste patting two of Zack's tails with her hands. For that reason, the fox Faunus had the right idea to jump out of the window in his fox form, which now has three tails.
Mainly because Weiss looks as if she plans to rip his head out for taking his sweet time talking to Celeste and granting her the chance to pet his tails when they're hers! Oh, and for keeping everyone waiting downstairs for them. But that can be done after she disciplines her boyfriend on time management.
Though while things have come to a close in Argus, back in Sanctuary, things were different.
Fenrir has been reading up on a book called the Tomb of Fate, as it was called by the Seer before she passed away, writing it years back. He has been after sending his nephew off with some of the Royal Guards to Argus while organizing his people to begin reclaiming and rebuilding the underground passageways under Sanctuary towards the continent of Solitas.
"Oh, tales of Fate are ever a whim." He reads while in his throne room alone with the book. "Oh Sacred Flame of the Gods, the Chosen of the Heavens will find struggle against thy Curse of the False Ones. The walk he walks will be a tempestuous struggle against the shadows and the divine. Thy will walk a path that tests his will and leads to the world beyond reality. There, thou wilt find… Ascension."
…
"Ascension?"
The Khan of the Arakan Clan murmurs out while gazing out before looking back at the book only to see that this was the last word left on the last page written. "That's all of it… how strange…" For a moment, Fenrir doesn't know what this means for his nephew. But whatever this ascension Zack would go through is important to be written down in the seer's last breath.
"You may be with your friends in Argus, hopefully, kiddo, but I'll see you again in Atlas when that time comes." The Khan then slams the book in his hands shut before standing.
"And once we do, you'll hear of this."