The Faunus Girl

I'll Keep You Safe

I make it back to Beacon grounds with Iberis still unconscious in my arms, "Come on man, open your eyes. You're really starting to freak me out dude, don't do this to me."

I look down at him seeing his nose with a stream of blood flowing down to his lips, "Iberis come on, wake up please!" I plead.

I try to readjust his body as I run so my arms don't give out and drop him, but as I rearrange him my foot catches a step forcing me to fall forward. I hit the ground face first while my friend flies from my arms, "Iberis!"

I scramble to his body checking him again, I feel his arms and legs for broken bones, check his pulse, and aim my scroll's flashlight at his eye to see if his pupil reacts. When I assess I haven't hurt him further I pick him up again, forgetting my earlier concern for myself.

I quicken my pace and manage to get to our team's room, I shift Iberis over my shoulder and kick the door open. The splintered wood clears itself out of the way, revealing my confused teammates. "What the—" Titian starts.

"Help me!" I shriek, shuffling into the room with Iberis still on my shoulder.

Liam takes him from my arms immediately, moving the younger boy to his bed. "What happened?" My leader questions me.

"I—I...w—we..." I stammer, unable to get my thoughts straight.

"Answer him mutt!" Titian orders.

I dig my nails into my palms as I shake my head to focus, "W—We were fighting a giant mech!"

Liam's eyes narrow, "Why?"

"Team RWBY had a mission, and we decided to help them out with it."

Titian storms up to me, "Stop lying, missions don't come until later in the semester."

I meet his gaze burning with anger, "I'm not lying! It wasn't assigned by the school, it was a mission of personal interest, for them and me. They were looking into something that I was also worried about. So I offered to help them investigate, and Iberis..." I look to my injured friend lying still, "We weren't supposed to be fighting anything..."

"Then why bring your weapons?" Liam points to my back, where Silent Stinger and Himitsu Senshi are.

I feel my chest constrict, "We just wanted to be prepared—"

"So then you did expect a fight." Liam states.

"I didn't know what to expect! It was their plan, I just wanted to help!"

Titian pins me to the wall, "If you want to throw yourself into danger fine, but why bring him with you?"

I break his grip on me, "He wanted to come!" Rage boils the blood roaring in my ears, "I'm the only one who spends any time with him! He's been following me around like a lost puppy since the first day of school!"

"You think this is just my fault?!" I shove Titian away from me as tears sting my eyes, "I'm not the only one that needs to take responsibility for him! You want to keep him out of danger, then keep him away from me!" Hot tears roll down my face as I glare at my able teammates.

"I am not his relative, neither are you or Titian, he needs to grow and learn on his own." I look to Liam, who has moved to Iberis' bedside. "However, if you feel responsible for him then be a better role model. If you feel so guilty then why did you let him go when you could have told him to stay behind? You should have fought harder to keep him safe, you put him in danger, and you are the reason that he got hurt."

He meets my eyes, "You are the one to blame for his injuries, if he dies it will be because of you."

My blood goes cold, "B—But he's not gonna die right? I checked him, nothing was broken and his pulse was—"

"Just by looking at him I can tell he has a head injury, we need to get him to the nurse's office now." He continues, his voice cold.

"No...nurse...office..." a weak voice mutters.

We all turn to the source, "I'll be...okay..."

Fresh tears flood my vision, "Iberis!"

I fling myself to his bedside sobbing my eyes out, "Y—You're okay! You're ok—ay."

His hand grabs mine, "Not...your fault..." he looks to Liam and Titian, "Don't...tell...the teachers...I'll be...fine..."

Liam shrugs, "As you wish."

"What?!" Titian yells, "You're just gonna let her get away with this?"

Liam remains stoic, "She knows what she did, I have said my peace, and Iberis says he is fine. I have done my part as leader, now it is up to them to remember this night, and to not repeat past mistakes."

He makes his way to the door, "I will be training by myself, you three are off the hook for the night, see you in the morning."

Titian gives me a glare, "Just because farm boy thinks this is punishment enough doesn't mean I agree. You messed up, and I'll make sure you get what's coming to you."

With that he leaves, "Don't...listen to them...you did nothing...wrong..." I hear Iberis try to reasure me.

"Let's get you something for your head."

————

I manage to find bandags for his head and various cuts and scrapes, after applying them I was able to convince him to try and sleep, I move to take the ice pack off his head.

"It wasn't your fault you know." Iberis mumbles.

I turn away from him, "I thought I told you to get some rest."

"Only after you admit it wasn't your fault."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because it was my fault!" I turn back to him crying, "Liam was right, I did this to you because I couldn't tell you no. You being there was my fault, so you getting hurt was my fault."

I fall to my knees next to his bed, "Why did you have to follow me?"

"You couldn't keep me away if you tried, Hiki." He whispers.

I force myself to meet his dark eyes, "Why?"

He smiles softly, "Because you have treated me better than my own family has, you're kind and gentle, and you've always managed to protect me. Plus it's just like you said, 'you're stuck with me'."

I start to sob again, "Don't...Don't say that."

His smile falls, "Don't say that when I'm the one who dropped my gaurd, the one who put you here." I cry, "Don't tell me I protect you when I let you take that fall for me."

He reaches for my hand and I take it imediatly, "Why do you insist on sticking by me, you were shot at with missiles. Shouldn't that make you want to be as far away from me as possible?" I ask bewildered.

His eyes look tired, "Because you're my sister, my real sister, and I will always be here to help you. So just let me protect you...Cerulean..."

His arm goes limp as he falls asleep, panicked I check his pulse, his airways, and his forehead for fever. After checking all the boxes I allow myself to relax a bit, "Don't worry Ib, I'll keep you safe tonight, I promise."