Time For Love: Ruby Rose X Male OC

Vol. 3 Ch. 25 Not What It Seems

Ace's POV

After the incident between Yang and Mercury happened, I waited in the hallway outside Team RWBY's dorm. The rest of my team had gone to the fairgrounds for the rest of the day. As Ruby, Blake, and Weiss left their dorm, I heard Jaune ask, "She doing okay?" Blake replied and said, "She's doing the best she can." Ruby said, "I heard Mercury and his team rushed back to Haven to be with his family. So, until they land, no one can really question him about what happened." Then Ren said, "If there's anything we can do, please don't hesitate to ask." Ruby looked down for a second before she said, "All right then. If that's the case... Pyrrha?" The red-haired Spartan looked up and said, "Hm?" Ruby held her clenched hands up as she tried to put on a grin and said, "You be sure to win one for Beacon, okay?" Weiss nodded as she and Blake also smiled sadly, and said, "It's what Yang would want." Pyrrha said, "I'll... do my best." Ruby said excitedly, "I'll be sure to watch tonight in case you're picked!" Pyrrha's smile dipped down into worry as she looked away. Blake said, "Sorry but, I think I've had enough fighting for one year." Weiss nodded once and said, "Ditto. Coffee?" Blake replied, smiling, "Tea." I spoke up and said, "I'll join you, Rubes."

Time Skip
(Brought to you by Chibi Neptune flirting with Chibi Cinder)

Ruby and I walked up to the end of the line waiting to get in the transport up to the arena. I looked around and saw a familiar rabbit Faunus snapping photos of Sun. Ruby and I stepped out of line and approached her from behind as she continues taking pictures with her camera until she notices who's behind her. Velvet turned around and said, "Ruby! Ace! How you doing?" I smiled and said, "Hi, Velvet! What're you up to?" Velvet rolled her eyes happily and said, "Oh, you know. Just working on my photography. Do you wanna see?" She offers her camera to us, looking extremely delighted. Ruby and I immediately noticed that Velvet didn't even get all of Sun in her picture, cutting out his head and feet. Ruby said, "That's... better." We stepped away as we grinned in forced approval. Velvet looked at Ruby and said, "I'm... sorry about your sister. Is she doing okay?" Ruby looked away and replied, "Yeah, she's fine, heh. Thanks." As Velvet put her camera away, she said, "I think it's just awful what people are saying about her. Yang's such a nice person." Ruby laughed a little as she rubbed the back of her head and said, "Well, I'm glad someone thinks so." I looked at Ruby and said, "What? Do I not count?" She smiled at me and said, "You know what I meant, so hush!" Velvet shook her head, crossed her arms, and said, "Most people don't know what it's like on the battlefield. I mean, even experienced fighters can get scared and start seeing things. If it happened to Coco, it can happen to anyone." I cocked my head to the side and said, "Coco?" Velvet replied, "Yeah. She swore she saw Yatsu with her in the forest during the fight with Emerald and Mercury, but he never even made it out of the geyser fields. Stress-induced hallucinations, apparently." Ruby said, "Yeah..." Ruby turned her head to the side, as if she was deep in thought. We looked back at Velvet after a quick flash startled us. Velvet lowered the camera from her face, smiling apologetically as she said, "Oh! Sorry."

Once we were back in the stands of Amity Colosseum, Ruby and I sat down in a pair of empty seats. I put my arm around her and she grabbed onto my arm. I smiled at how cute she was being. Despite everything that's happened, she was smiling widely, looking around at the assembled crowds. I looked around as well and something caught my eye and I said, "Emerald?" Ruby looked at me and said, "She's here?" I point to where Emerald was and Ruby spotted her as well. As if sensing that she was being watched, Emerald leaned forward to glare at both Ruby and I. Ruby suddenly got up with a worried expression and ran towards the exit tunnel, so I got up and followed her. Checking to see if no one's around, we both entered a door labeled with a yellow maintenance sign and found ourselves inside of the Colosseum. We walked forward with determination as the announcers' voices could still be heard, muffled behind the brick walls. I could also hear the sound of the roulette faintly, but what made Ruby and I both stop in our tracks was the sight of another unexpected "friend" stepping out from a nearby tunnel, completely unharmed and definitely not going home. I got angry and said, "Mercury?" Then I heard as Port said, "It looks like our first contender is... Penny Polendina from Atlas..." Ruby spoke up and asked Mercury, "What are you doing?" Then Port said, "And her opponent will be... Pyrrha Nikos from Beacon!" Then Ruby said, "No..." Mercury put a hand to his chin and said, "Ooh, polarity versus metal. That could be bad." Ruby and I glared at our new opponent, she reached back to grab Crescent Rose, only to remember she didn't have it on her. I already knew that both Equinox and Blitz were still in my locker. Mercury simply grinned maliciously and set himself up in a fighting pose. Then Ruby and I did the same and got into our own stance as Ruby said, "Mercury, what are you doing? You were hurt! Why..." She narrowed her eyes in suspicion and added, "What's going on?" Mercury didn't answer, still grinning with malice as I spoke up and said, "Fine. If you're not going to tell us..." Ruby attempted to move around him, but he blocked her path, then did it again when she sidestepped. Oobleck could be heard over the announcement system as he said, "Fighters, are you ready?" Mercury smirked and said, "Showtime.

He went forward, blocking Ruby's path with his arms outstretched, restraining her movements no matter where she moved. Panicked, she grimaced and spun forward, becoming a blur of red and petals rocketing towards Mercury, only for the villain to kick her twice mid-dash and knock her to the ground. He advanced on her just as she got out her Scroll, about to push the button to call for help when a bullet sent the device flying out of her hand. Mercury lowered his leg from its kick and said, "Let's just keep this between us friends." He moved towards my girlfriend, but I ran at him and punched him in the face. He stumbled back and turned towards me as I threw an uppercut towards him. I managed to block a kick from Mercury but still got hit in the jaw by his fist. I quickly activated my Semblance and stopped time around me and Ruby. I turned to her and said, "Quickly, go!" She nodded and ran past Mercury. Then I punched Mercury in the crotch right as I resumed time. He flew back and hit the far wall. I took my chance and ran off in the direction that Ruby had gone.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
Master out.