I awoke to warmth and sound — laughter, chatter, boots against tile. A train station. A very pretty train station, if I may add: the ceiling arched like a storybook cathedral, and rays of sunlight danced through tall windows, scattering across polished floors. How long had I been asleep? A day? A year? (Unlikely a year, no one grows that much hair overnight.)
The first thing I saw was Damian’s face leaning over me, green eyes sharp yet—dare I say—worried. Then, behind him, other familiar faces flickering in relief: Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Blake… Jaune, Nora, Ren, Oscar, even Qrow with his eternal scowl. My heart swelled at the sight.
“Guys… Kori is awake!” someone called — Yang? Or maybe Ruby, she was bouncing.
Instantly, a chorus of voices swarmed me. Questions overlapped into white noise: Are you okay? Do you hurt anywhere? Do you remember the fight? Do you need food?
“Please, please — do slow down!” I raised my hands, laughing softly. “I assure you, I am in good health. And… thank you. All of you.” I turned to Jaune, who looked faintly sheepish at the attention. “Especially you. Your healing saved me.”
“A-ah… you’re welcome, Kori,” Jaune said, scratching the back of his neck. The others smirked among themselves, though not unkindly.
Damian’s voice cut through the hum, calm and efficient as always. “Good to see you awake. We’ll need you functional soon.”
“I am glad to be back, Robin,” I replied, grinning — though he only inclined his head, ever serious.
Weiss folded her arms with a huff. “Well, it seems nobody appreciates the effort I put into arranging our departure from Atlas.”
Ruby hugged her with immediate sunshine. “Don’t worry, Weiss! Team RWBY’s got your back, always!”
Before I could add my gratitude, two unfamiliar male voices interrupted — one gruff, one smug:
“Nobody will have to worry with us around!”
Two men sauntered up, dressed in mismatched gear and carrying weapons they clearly didn’t deserve.
“And who,” Damian deadpanned, crossing his arms, “invited you to interrupt a private conversation?”
“Why, Dee and Dudley, of course!” said the taller one — Dee, apparently — puffing out his chest. “Argus’ very own huntsmen. We’ll make sure everyone’s safe traveling through Grimm territory.”
“Buuut,” Dudley added with a wink in my direction (unpleasant; my stomach turned), “for a generous tip, we can make sure your personal cart gets special attention.”
Flat stares. Silence thick enough to cut with a blade.
“I’ve got a tip for you,” Qrow finally muttered, stepping forward and flashing his huntsman license. “Buzz off.”
Dee sputtered. “Hey, you can’t talk to—”
Qrow pocketed the badge lazily. “Pretty sure I can. And pretty sure the staff entrance to the caboose was left wide open. Would be a shame if someone… lost their job over it.”
Damian smirked faintly — I suspected silent teamwork.
“I-I didn’t do it!” Dudley stammered.
“C’mon, dumbass,” Dee groaned, dragging him off.
Qrow shook his head. “Hope those two weren’t Beacon graduates.”
We all exhaled, tension dissolving into the background hum of the station. But not for long — we had a train to catch, and the world wasn’t saving itself.
YOU ARE READING
Heart Attack
Fiksi PenggemarStarfire has been cheated on by Dick. The pain she suffers is evident until she packs her things, stays at a friend's house and she wishes for a better place to be. That's how she ended in the arms of Team RNJR in their quest to find the spring reli...
