Semblance of Brutality

Of Cookies and High Calibers

Ruby's perspective

I take one last cookie from the jar before stepping back from it. Weiss, Blake, and I were collecting our reward for coaxing an elderly woman's cat out of a tree. Unfortunately, it was a lot easier said than done; right as I'd almost managed to retrieve her feline friend, a couple small Grimm showed up and scared it back into the safety of the leaves. When I'd finally managed to grab the cat, I spent the rest of the time comforting and cuddling it while Blake and Weiss took care of the Grimm. In the end, we reunited the woman with her cat, and she insisted on paying us; since I made the executive decision to decline Lien, she payed us with cookies instead!

"Does anyone know where Yang's been?" Weiss asks.

"I shink Yang'sh shraining," I inform her, my mouth still filled with the goodness of chocolate chip cookies.

"She is training," Blake confirms, "but she isn't training herself. She's sparring with Doomguy."

Weiss sighs at the mention of his name. I could be wrong, but I don't think she likes him very much. I don't see why; he hasn't done anything except help us so far. Plus, he's exactly Yang's type! It's not very often that Yang's gung-ho, 'I-could-beat-you-up' attitude doesn't scare people away, but he's stuck around.

"When is she gonna spend time with us - her actual teammates?"

"I dunno," I begin to answer, "but look at it this way Weiss: you've got more time to spend with us!"

I manage to get through to her and make her chuckle. Even if I'm no replacement for Yang, I can still try. That's what a good teammate like Qrow would do, isn't it? I decide it is, and do my best Yang impression by lightly punching Weiss' arm.

"Alright, I get it," she concedes. "At least yours don't hurt nearly as much as Yang's do."

I flash a large grin and use the opportunity to attempt to grab a couple more cookies. Weiss sees this, and promptly slaps my hand just before it reaches the jar. I jump back and pretend I wasn't trying to steal more food. Blake chuckles in the background, causing all of us to end up laughing.

"Hey Weiss?" I ask, donning a serious composure. "Why don't you like Doomguy? He seems okay; I mean, he hasn't tried to kill us yet."

She remains silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I don't know, honestly. I've just got a feeling about him. Plus, I don't take kindly to him showing up outta nowhere and stealing a quarter of our team."

"Oh, okay," I return simply. "What about you, Blake?"

"Wha- M-me?" she seems rather startled. "I... don't dislike him, if that's what you're asking. I don't really know him well enough to say he's a friend, either."

"What's your take on him, Ruby?" Weiss asks suddenly.

"Well, if Yang is okay with him, then I am, too. After all, she's the one that's been spending the most time with him, so she's bound to know him better than what we do."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, Ruby," Weiss admits.

I notice one of Blake's ears twitch.

"Do you guys hear tha-"

The front door slams open to reveal an exhausted Qrow. He is breathing quite heavily and has an index finger raised, signaling us to let him catch his breath. Once his breathing steadies, he begins to speak.

"Finally! I've been running all over town looking for you girls! You need to follow me, and do it quickly! I- Ruby, what are you eating?"

"Nuffing!" I quickly say with my mouth full. I may or may not have used Qrow as a distraction to grab another cookie.

"Anyways," he dismisses his question, "I need you girls' help! Yang and Doomguy were sparring when, all of a sudden, he started glowing red and attacking her. I don't know what's going on, but we should get back there as soon as we can!"

"Hmph. Told you guys," Weiss gloats.

"Not the time, Weiss. You can say that after we save Yang!" I tell her.

All of us barrel out of the elderly woman's house, weapons drawn. I really hope we won't have to use them, but I know I will if I need to. Why would he attack Yang? When we finally arrive at the scene, Yang and Doomguy are locked in struggle, but Yang appears to be losing.

"Hang on, sis!" I shout to her before aiming Crescent Rose at Doomguy. I fire and manage to hit him, but the large bullet only bounces off of his armor.

I desperately look to Qrow, Weiss, and Blake for suggestions. My two teammates appear just as confused as I am, but Qrow extends his sword into a scythe and gives me a nod. He wants us to attack with melee, not bullets. I pull the blade of my scythe out of the ground and change to my wielding stance as Weiss and Blake ready their own weapons. Qrow leaps eagerly into the fray, while I order my team to perform the Checkmate maneuver.

Blake and Weiss cross to opposite sides while I run down the middle. Qrow manages to sweep Yang out from Doomguy's clutches while the other two distract him. When Yang is a safe distance away, all three of us tackle Doomguy and hold him down until he stops glowing red. When the glow around him dissipates, he seems completely unaware of what had just happened.

"Wh- why are all of you piled on me?" he asks.

The three of us look at each other, then back to him, bewildered. Yang chuckles to the side.

"Well, we did it! Great job, Doomguy," Yang says triumphantly.