Project ORION (a RWBY fanfic)

Chapter 11

After the incident at the pool, Ruby found herself being distanced from Stalker and as they walked back towards their room, she noticed he hadn't said anything to her.

Serves him right. He head-butted me for no good reason. She thought as she watched him try and go alone.

Problem was, every single one of her friends had arrayed themselves around him in such a way that no matter what he did, he was near one of them. Part of Ruby wanted to forgive him and though she had forgiven him in her mind, she still was upset at what he had done.

Doesn't he know when you play around with one another that you don't hit them in the face with the back of your helmet? Or are Outlanders just naturally tense and ready to fight? Many more questions like these clouded her mind as she walked along and when they came to the dorm room, Yang opened the door to suddenly take a step back and mutter, "Whoa... what's going on here?"

Ruby stepped up and everyone leaned in as they looked at what was going on inside the room.

Apparently, Shadow had begun a game of tag with her shadow and as the team watched the girl run around the room, Stalker was surprised she hadn't accidently tipped over one of the bunk beds. Then, Shadow stopped as she realized she was being watched and as she looked back on Team RWBY and Stalker, Ruby wanted to ask her what she was doing but then Zwei poked it's head into the room and padded into the room. As soon as he did so, Shadow leapt up and grabbed the dog and cuddled him in her arms as she said, "You such a cute little doggy!"

"Uh...." Is all Stalker managed to say and Ruby wanted to hit him over the head as she and her friends walked in.

Ruby managed to get onto her bed and as she sat down, Stalker kept to himself as he scooted off into the nearby corner, where he seemed to be going through his stuff inside of his pack. Ruby watched him with mild curiosity and as she watched him, he took something out and looked at it before he stuffed it back inside of the bag.

"So what made you think hitting Ruby was okay?" asked Yang from where she sat on her bed. Her tone wasn't severe and was more neutral.

Stalker perked up as he looked back and found all of Team RWBY staring quietly at him, waiting for his reply and he steeled himself as he said, "I don't exactly like people messing around with my helmet."

"A better question would be how long has it been since you were around people?" asked Weiss.

Stalker looked at the girl with all white, including her hair, as he said simply, "Didn't you hear Professor Bartholomew? I've been gone for about a year or so..."

Ruby looked at Stalker as she vainly tried to look through his little goggles as she tried to imagine what sort of face was under there. A beautiful face like no other? She wished.

Stalker went back to going through his stuff when Zwei suddenly padded over to him and snuggled up close to the boy and then Stalker suddenly asked, "Who's dog is this?"

"Mine. Why?" Asked Ruby.

"You own a pretty wimpy dog." Stalker said without turning his head as he slowly petted the small dog.

"What type of dogs do you own then?" asked Blake.

Stalker looked back.

"We use mostly Beowolfs. Just sayin." He gave a shrug to that statement.

"You bluffin." Blake called out to him.

"Well, I can control Grimm as you know... so I proved that we did use Beowolfs." Stalker said in a matter-of-a-fact tone.

Ruby arched an eyebrow.

Suddenly Shadow popped up and she suddenly said, "Sure. Just like you controlled Ruby in the garden?"