RWBY: Tale of Two Roses

Chapter 7: For the Love of a Rose

Aries and Ruby walk, hand-in-hand back to the house. The memory of what occurred in the field fresh in their minds. "Ruby."

"Hmm?"

"How did you know that I lied about my scars?"

"Every time you mention your brother, you flinch a little, like you were wounded. I knew something had to have happened." Aries smirks. "They say you can't lie to a psychic yet you had me pegged from the beginning." Ruby laughs at his comment as they walk up to the door. As soon as they step in Aries gets a massive punch to the forehead that sends him flying out into the walkway. "Ugh." Ruby rushes to his side and helps him to his feet. "That, was for nearly taking my head off earlier with that scythe. Now I'm gonna kick your ass for putting your hands all over Ruby." Qrow cracks his knuckles and Ruby steps in the way. "Qrow, please. I kissed him. He's worn out it wouldn't even be a fair fight."

"Step aside, Ruby. He's gonna take his licks like a man." Aries places a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "It's alright." He hugs her then pushes her to the side. Aries drops his coat to the side and faces Qrow then he stretches his hands out to the side. "Anything you want me to endure, I will." Qrow nods and hits him square across the jaw, sending him reeling. Qrow continues to waylay him, hitting him everywhere from his jaw to his ribs. Qrow grabs him and throws him through a fence into a neighbor's' rose bush. Aries' shirt is shredded in the bush and he slowly stands up on the other side. His fresh cuts and bruises accompanied by a network of old scars on his torso. The three of them are stunned. Summer and Ruby gasp and Ruby covers her mouth. "I've endured plenty already, haven't I? Hit me with everything you got if you must." Qrow drops his hands to his side. "No, c'mon let's head in and get you cleaned up. Aries walks up to his room and Ruby sneaks in behind him. "L-leo did all..."

"Yeah." Ruby cups her mouth again. "About him, that part of all this stays between us. Okay? If they ask I'll say that it was grimm." Ruby walks up as Aries finishes putting his shirt on and starts to trace the scars on his face. Running her finger down each ridge. When she got to the bottom scar she caressed his chin. Aries put his hand up to hers and smiles. He places his other one on her cheek and they lean into a kiss. She backs away and smiles. "Ahem." They look over and see Qrow standing in the door. "Mind if I talk to your boyfriend a second?" Ruby nods and leaves. Qrow sits at the chair at the desk and Aries sits on the bed. "Look, If you're going to be dating my niece, there's some things you'll need to know. She's one of the only good things I have left in this world, and I've seen a lot of bad. I swear to the gods if you hurt her I'll track you down and kill you myself."

"Sir, she means everything to me. I promise I'll protect her with my dying breath." Qrow nods and goes to stand up. "Sir, if you don't mind my asking. Before we had a chance to leave we overheard a comment Summer made. I can tell it still bothers Ruby. She said that you're still lying and running away from her."

"Kid, it's a long story. We'll tell Ruby when we feel she's ready." Downstairs Ruby and Summer are at the table talking amongst themselves. "So, how was it?"

"How was what?"

"Your first kiss." Ruby blushes and Summer chuckles. "How do you know that was my first? You were gone a long time, alot coulda happened..." Summer gives Ruby a look tat says "We both know you're bullshitting." Ruby smiles sheepishly and looks down at her drink. "It was nice." Summer smiles as Ruby continues. "It felt like everything fell away, and all that was left was me and him. And this feeling, I can't describe it other than wow."

"Well I'm glad he makes you happy. He really is a good kid." a red bead lights up on Summer's chest and Ruby triggers her semblance to knock her out of the way. as a shot rings out. Aries and Qrow rush downstairs. Qrow checks on summer and Ruby while Aries runs out the door.

He unfolds Wolfsbane and takes to the air. He sees someone running along rooftops and he cuts her off. and aims his scythe's turret at her. "Freeze!" The person charges him and he opens fire. She uses a clone to dodge above him. She goes to fling her weapon around the scythe when Aries climbs to avoid her. She lands and reels in her weapon. Aries leaps off his scythe and lands next to her. She folds the weapon into a sword and swings, using the sheath as a second sword. Aries manages dodges her swings and lands a blow to her head. Her mask cracks. She groans from frustration and continues to swing on Aries. He goes for a counter and she uses a clone to slip around and attempt to evade. "Slippery little kitty." He chases her across rooftops until she dives into an alley. "Really getting tired of the hide and seek." He draws his scythe to his hand and dives into the alley.

She throws her weapon onto a fire escape and uses it to swing down and roll into the alley as Aries barrels down on top of her. She spins around, taking a couple pot shots at him.Aries uses his scythe to deflect and continues his charge. Blake jumps up the walls and Aries pursues. She continues to evade. "I just want to ask some questions!" Aries insists. She spins around and fires again. Aries dodges and she tosses her weapon. It wraps around the scythe and she swings him around. She pulls him over her head and he comes crashing into the side of the house and falls down into some shrubs. She takes his scythe and throws it down,

a few hours later he wakes up to the sound of his scroll buzzing. "ugh, that hurt." He answers it and hears a hysterical Ruby on the other end. "Aries! oh thank goodness! We'd all thought...well it doesn't matter. What happened?! Where did you go?!"

"I went after the assassin but she got the better of me. She knocked me out and I landed in some hedges." He looks to his left and the scythe landed blade first right next to his head. "I'll be back in a bit." Aries gets up and takes his scythe. He ends up dragging the scythe as his right arm got messed up during the fall and the pain prevents him from focusing. He gets back and Qrow takes the scythe as Summer and Ruby help him to his room. Summer looks over his arm and shakes her head. "Break it to me doc."

"Well the bad news is it's broke. Good news is it should recover nicely."

"Well that's..." before he can finish Summer gives it a mighty pull and a loud snapping sound rings through the room. as his arm returns to a normal-ish shape. "Oouch!" Aries screams.

"I had to set the bone. Ruby, grab the splint kit from the medical supply bag." Ruby nods and leaves the room. Summer applies pressure to keep the bone in place and Aries winces. "Qrow told me you asked about our argument." Aries looks over as she continues. "Like he told you, it's complicated. When we think she's ready we'll tell her."

"With all due respect, I think she is. She was nearly killed in an explosion, she lost her father only to find out her mother was still alive, and now she's on a mission to fight an organization that threatens the entire world. What more does she have to prove?"

"Look, what we have to tell her will change her whole world. We need to give her time to adjust to me being alive before we tell her, okay?"

"I understand." She thinks a moment and looks at me. "I never took you for the gun-ho, go after them type. I thought Qrow would be more likely to act than you."

"Well you mean the world to Ruby. Thusly, you mean the world to me. I'll defend my family and those I care about until my last breath." Summer smiles and gets a far off gaze. "Qrow said something similar when we were young, he said it was all for "The Love of a Sweet Summer Rose."" She slips out of her nostalgia and blushes. Ruby returns with the kit and Summer quickly patches him up. "Now use your aura to help it heal. It won't do anything drastic right away but every bit helps. For now we're gonna have to find a new base of operations."

"Seems like they'll just find us again." Ruby groans. Summer can't help but share in her pessimism. "We can't stay here. We lucked out that we were able to stop her."

"But how do we know the next place will be any safer?" Ruby asks.

"That and I don't know where we would go." Summer concedes.

"S-Summer." They look on the doorway and Qrow is sheepishly scratching the back of his head. "I know of a place."