Robotic heart (a RWBY fan fic)

Settling in

Being shown around beacon was a wonderful experience for Penny. The school was so magical and full of life, not like Atlas academy that was very traditional and bland in comparison. As beautiful as the school was Penny found herself continually looking at the girl that walked by her side. The more time Penny spent with Ruby the more she disliked the time apart in comparison. She didn't understand why this was, yes Ruby was her first ever friend but she couldn't shake the feeling there was something more to it than that. Pondering over her thoughts Penny hadn't even noticed the question Ruby had asked.
"Penny you alright?" Ruby asked placing her hand on the girls shoulder which snapped her back to reality. Penny jumped and quickly turned her attention towards her friend. "Yes sorry what did you ask?" Penny fumbled over her words growing incredibly embarrassed.
Ruby let our a small giggle which sent ripples of happiness and confusion through the robotic girl.
"I asked what you think of beacon now you've had a look around" she repeated.
Penny thought for a moment thinking of the words. "It's wonderful" she said not only thinking of the school but if the girl that stood in-front of her. "Ruby I-" Penny began before being interrupted by the arrival of the remainder of team RWBY.
"There you are" the girl in white Penny recognised as Wiess scolded "we have been looking everywhere for you."
"Ice queen here was getting a little worried bout ya" Yang said with a wink which made Wiess blush profusely.
"I was not" she countered.
"Hello Penny" Blake interrupted getting the bickering teammates to turn their attention to her.
"Salutations" Penny said with a grin.
"What brings you to beacon?" Wiess asks "the Vytal festival isn't for a little while yet."
"Well I was gonna surprise you with it buuuuutttt" Ruby began in her normal optimistic tone "since you're all here I'll tell you now, Penny is part of our team and will be staying with us" she said joy evident in her voice.
"Where will she sleep" Blake asks
"Yeah I don't know if there's enough room in the dorm to accommodate another member." Wiess adds.
The robotic girl looked at the ground solemnly which Ruby noticed and glared at her teammates "guys at least pretend to be happy about it when she's standing right here." Ruby scolded as she began leading Penny to the room while guilt over being a burden to there team began to weigh on her mind.
"Maybe it's better if I just go back to Atlas" she said "I don't want to be a bother."
Ruby turned to her with compassion evident in her eyes and placed her hands on her shoulders "don't listen to them" the team leader said "you're not a burden you're a friend and either way I want you here, isn't that enough." Penny's eyes gaze into Ruby's as Ruby's heart begins to beat faster only now realising how close the two of them were standing. Penny smiled which made a blush emerge on Ruby's face "yeah it's enough of a reason for me to stay."

Time skip

Team RWBY + Penny were sitting in the cafeteria for lunch with team JNPR. They had explained how Penny was a member of team RWBY, something that the other team was pretty neutral on as none of them had a particularly strong connection with Penny. Jaune was the most happy about it, partly cause it meant a new friend who wouldn't bully him and partly cause he knew how special Penny was to Ruby as the girl would often bring her up in conversation.
Penny for her part was very excited about spending time with team JNPR as the more friends the better Penny believed as she had spent so long with no friends having such a large group was an exciting prospect.
"Penny are you alright?" Jaune asks in the brief silence that had befallen the table "you haven't eaten a thing."
Penny started to panic, how could she not have thought of something as simple as covering the fact she doesn't eat. As she racked her mind for answers Ruby quickly interjects "Penny doesn't like to eat in front of people." Penny turned to the girl impressed of the cover story she had made on the spot. "Right now she's only comfortable eating alone or when with just me" Ruby added.
"Oh sorry didn't mean to be rude" jaune says apologetically.
"Please don't worry about it" Penny reassured him before leaning close to Ruby and whispering a thank you in her ear.

Time skip

As lessons finished up for the day Ruby and Penny decided to take a quiet walk around the grounds alone. This earned a skeptical look from Blake and Wiess whereas Yang just told them to "not do anything too crazy" before giving the pair a wink that made Ruby blush profusely. As the two were walking enjoying the others company they say down on a bench watching the starts form in the night sky. Penny turned to her friend.
"Thanks for covering for me earlier" she said "I hadn't even thought about not eating." She admitted. Ruby turned to her with a big grin "no problem can't have your secret getting let out this quickly now can we."

The two sat there for a while before Ruby started to drift off to sleep and rested her head on penny's shoulder. The robotic girl felt her thoughts fly off the rails as her emotions went through a rollercoaster of joy and confusion to panic. The girl still had no idea what caused these feelings, she wanted to ask Ruby but for some reason she felt extreme nervousness whenever she attempted to confide these feelings in the girl. "Maybe I can ask Wiess, yang or Blake about it" She thought to herself "or maybe someone from team JNPR"

As Penny pondered what she should do next she saw four unfamiliar figures approaching the pair. Penny felt a sudden uneasiness as they approach. Despite her unwillingness to disturb her teammate she woke Ruby to ask who the approaching group was. Ruby let out a heavy sigh "that's team CRDL" she explained "they're the local bullies of beacon."

As the 4 approaches Penny and Ruby braced themselves for a confrontation. "Well what's this then" Cardin asked "couple of lovebirds sitting under the night sky" he taunted. Penny felt anger start to storm inside her.
"Leave us alone Cardin" Ruby commanded trying to sound confident but feeling concerned for Penny. "Oh come on just trying to have a friendly conversation here" Cardin lied throwing his arm around Ruby's shoulder, a gesture that made Ruby very uncomfortable. "And we're friends aren't we."
"No we are not" Ruby growled as she tried to push Cardin of her. Cardin in response gripped the young leaders wrist and pulled her closer to him "now no need to be rude" he growled. Penny feeling the anger erupting from her grabbed one of her swords and pointed it right at Cardin's neck with the point pushing into him ever so slightly.
"Do not touch my friend" Penny demanded.
Cardin slowly backed away "all right all right, point taken." He glared at Ruby "this isn't over pipsqueak."

As the team left Penny turned to her friend "are you okay Ruby" the girl asked concern evident in her voice. Ruby blushed slightly "yeah thanks to you."
Penny shifted embarrassed at the display she just put on "it was nothing"
"Yeah right you scared the hell out of them" Ruby giggled as she pretended to faint so Penny would catch her in her arm "my hero."
Penny's feelings went on a frenzy as she lifted Ruby back to her feat but instead Ruby lifted herself into the air so Penny was carrying her in a bridal pose "carry me" Ruby giggled with a blush evident in her face.
Penny felt joy spread throughout her as she carried Ruby back to the dorm as her young leader buried herself into the crook of penny's neck. Carrying her friend Penny thought to herself "I could get used to this"