RWBY: Meta-Static

Chapter 14.5 So That's Why

3rd Person POV:

Alias' shadow form slithered through the desolate streets of the city, carrying Ruby to an abandoned alley. He looked over his shoulder to see that Ruby's friends and the others were following them. Reverting to his standard form, he gently placed Ruby down. She backed away, trembling, as he scanned the empty streets. Flashbacks of the earlier fight surged through Ruby's mind. She remembered the brutal attack, his harsh words, and how he almost killed Roman and Neo. Fear constricted her chest, blurring her vision and making her knees weak.

"Hello, Ruby," Alias said calmly.

"W-what do you want?" Ruby asked.

"Ruby, there's something I want to say to you. I've wanted to tell you since I left the police station."

Ruby shook as she found herself pressed against the wall. Alias stood in front of her, and she braced for an attack.

"I'm sorry!" Alias whined.

Ruby's POV:

Uh, what did he just say?

"Wha-huh?!" I exclaimed.

"I'm so sorry, Ruby! I shouldn't have attacked you like that back at the station."

"Wait, what?"

"I didn't mean to be so rough! I didn't mean to be that aggressive; well, I mean, I did because it was a test, but I didn't mean to be so violent with you, Ruby. I'm sorry," the mutant fell to his knees and cried. "Please forgive me, I'm so sorry. I know I didn't show it when I left earlier, but I really am. You and Yang are the last people I'd ever want to hurt Ruby. Please, believe me, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

What is with this guy? First, he torments me with a ghost of my mom, then he wails on me and my sister, nearly kills Neo and Roman, and now is on his knees crying his eyes out and saying he's sorry?

"Uh, it's okay?" I replied, not sounding sure of the situation.

"Are you sure? I won't be mad if you hit me back. Come in, hit me. I deserve it!"

"I'm not gonna hit you."

"Please do it, Ruby. I need to make it up to you somehow."

"N-no, we don't need to do that."

"Please, Ruby, I need your forgiveness! How else can I make it up to you, S-Summer?" His head began to shake and jerk like it had before.

"Look, let's just move on from that. I've had...a rough time with things lately."

"Because it's near the anniversary of Summer's death?"

I flinched.

"Yeah, I figured as much. You're not alone in this, Ruby. I miss her too." He stood up and wiped the tears from his face. "Ruby, these past few weeks, we... haven't gotten along well, and I apologize. Do you want to start over?"

I looked at the mutant, His eyes had turned bright blue, and his expression was sorrowful and vulnerable. I must be out of my mind.

"Uh, sure?" I said nervously, not sure how to approach this situation.

Alias wiped the tears from his eyes and smiled. "Okay, Ruby. My name is Alias. I don't know if you've been calling me that."

"Uh, well, my friends and I have been calling you...something else. It's been a bit hard calling you by...that name instead of your real one."

"Oh, well, please call me Alias. That's how your mother knew me."

I flinched when he said that. My mother's connection to him still hadn't been answered all this time, but that's about to change.