Save the world? Fuck that, I want to make money! (RWBY SI) ch 71

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Classes came by and went. Professor Oobleck's did not go any better than Professor Port's class. No, Doctor Oobleck, as he insisted to be called. If Port's class was slow and cumbersome, Oobleck's class was just something aking to Ruby on a sugar rush. 

Weiss collapsed face first on her bed, groaning into her pillow with particular pain. Her head hurt and her body yearned for a nap. The others similarly had fallen into similar predicaments, Ruby collapsing on the floor and hugging her cloak as if it were a toy. Blake occupied her lower bunk, falling onto her back, and Yang lounged on her desk chair. 

"Education's hard," Ruby mumbled. "Can we just become huntresses now?" 

"Ruby, mood, but it doesn't work that way," Yang replied, shaking her head. "So, classes are done. What do you guys wanna do? How about going to town?" she suggested excitedly, leaning forward. 

"Xiao Long, my brain is mush right now. Give me a second," Weiss muttered as she turned on her back. She then sat up, looking at the blonde. "How do you recover so quickly?" 

"Stamina," Yang clicked, winking and airing finger guns at Weiss. The Schnee heiress rolled her eyes as she turned her attention to Ruby. 

"Ruby, get off the floor. You have a perfectly good bed," Weiss chided her. Ruby groaned. 

"Ugh, can you stop trying to tell me what to do every few seconds, Weiss?" Ruby complained as she put on her hood to cover her face. "Brain mushy. Does not compute." 

​The power of Beacon's teaching staff to drain them of energy was absolute if they could tire out someone as energetic as Ruby. 

"I don't mind going out to town," Blake added in, finally. "But...I would like to do a little detour if we can."

"Detour? To where?" Yang asked, looking towards her partner. 

"I gotta re-check the local chapter of White Fang here," Blake explained, herself sitting up on her bed. "If Cardin was willing to start trouble here in Beacon, Gods only know what the Fleur are doing in the city. I need to see if my people need anything." 

"Can't it just be an e-mail?" Yang asked, tilting her head. 

"It's better to see the conditions for yourself rather than getting a bland emotionless report, Yang," Blake replied. "At least with this, it doesn't have to go through a chain and I can help out directly." 

​The expression on Yang's face, the slightly open lips and quick flashing of her eyes, it was something quick but Weiss had been trained to feel for people's emotions. It was a handy thing to know when you've got a deal or if someone was about to ream you in negotiations. "Is something the matter, Xiao Long?" 

Yang clicked her lips. "Okay, seriously. Call me Yang. Xiao Long is my dad and I am not old enough to get called that yet," she added casually but a inch of annoyance was there. Then, she continued. "Look, I understand we're trying to help out Blake but I am a bit concerned about going to the White Fang place. It's politics, you see, and my dad asked me not to involve Ruby and I in that." 

"Yang, Ruby quite literally pushed and pulled Cardin Winchester. I think that already involves you and her in politics already," Weiss pointed out. It was frankly a miracle that Cardin didn't figure out that it was Ruby who stole their stupid flag. The benefit of being a speedster, she supposed. She could scarcely think what would happen to her if Cardin realized. 

"I'm...I'm not in trouble, am I?" Ruby squeaked suddenly. 

​"If I don't tell dad, sure, you aren't in trouble," Yang scoffed. 

"Yang, don't tell dad!" Ruby ordered, eyes wide and desperate. She stood up from the floor and levelled an accusing finger towards her sister. "That is an order!" 

Yang for her part held out her hands in surrender. "Woah woah, no way in hell am I going to tell him. He won't just get angry at you but he'll get angry at me too!" 

"Why'd you do it, Ruby?" Blake suddenly asked. Ruby blinked, turning to the faunus princess. 

"Huh?" Ruby said, blinking.

"Why did you help me?" Blake asked again, her voice louder. "You didn't have to help me. You aren't faunus." 

Ruby swallowed the nervousness in her throat. Clutching at the hems of her skirt, the young girl replied honestly and clearly. "Because...Because I'm your Team Leader. I didn't want you to get in trouble so I thought about what to do and that felt like the right thing to do."

​She continued. "I...I know I am younger than you guys. I'm not like...I am not a fancy hairess," 

"Heiress," Weiss corrected. 

"What you said," Ruby agreed. "I'm not some heiress where I know what to do and when to do. But I know at least that I should do my best to take care of you guys, no matter what. That's...That's what a hero should do, I think. I am not a hero now but I wanna try my best at it."

​A pang of anxiety built up in Ruby as quiet settled in their dorm and she felt all eyes on her. Weiss looked away, at the floor. Blake just stared at her. And Yang just kept on smiling with that big stupid smile that tells her she's about to be hugged and there was nothing she could do to stop the big blonde monster. 

"I-Is that enough?" Ruby squeaked mousily. 

Blake laughed slightly, shaking her head. Then, she nodded with a smile, her eyes flickering with gratitude. "Yes, Ruby. That's enough." 

"Aw, you're just so cute!" Yang gushed as she stood up from her chair and rushed up to embrace Ruby. Ruby tried in vain to get away but she was too slow as she found herself trapped between two massive mounds of warmth and her sister nuzzling her face. 

"Yang! Let me go!" Ruby protested. 

"Nope!" Yang replied in a sing-song voice. 

As the two sisters hugged it out, Weiss looked back. This, Blake saw. 

"She's earnest," Weiss said simply. 

"Mhm mhm," Blake replied nonchalantly. Inside however, a flicker of warmth flowed through her. Ruby was one of those rare few that had a good sincere heart and it only made her hopeful that humanity and faunus could truly not just co-exist but be brothers and sisters in this terrible terrible world of bloody evolution. Despite their complicated history, the Republic Sienna had led in Southern Mistral was living proof humans and faunus could live together. Perhaps there was a reason why Menagerie was slowly starting to warm up to it, despite the history. 

"I can see why Professor Ozpin chose her," Weiss continued. In Weiss's part, she had to admit that she was jealous of Ruby. It was not everyday that one would in cruder terms pick a Valean nobody to lead over an heiress and princess. It was a humbling reminder to Weiss that not anyone could become leaders but leaders could come from anyone. Sure, Ruby was younger still and absolutely a drain on her mental health. 

But Ruby was earnest. Sincere in her beliefs. Push comes to shove, she would do her best for her team as shown with the unpleasant Fleur from earlier. With a little guidance from her and Blake, perhaps Ruby could become someone worth to follow after all. And so, Weiss made a quiet vow. She was going to do as Blake suggested, properly guide her. She was going to stop coveting being Team Leader and put a little more faith in Ruby. 

Finally, Ruby freed herself from Yang's grasp and after taking a moment to breathe, she glanced up at her team. 

"So...um...you guys wanna help out Blake?" she asked. 

"If you won't tell, I won't tell," Yang offered. 

"Um, I am not telling dad. Nuh uh!" Ruby insisted, face white as snow. 

"Sure, why not?" Weiss shrugged as she stood up. 

"You guys..." Blake whispered. She closed her eyes then took a breath. Then, she sat up. 

"I promise, we will be quick," she vowed. 

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The smell of oils was thick. Oil, paint, and gunpowder. Mechanical hissing and whirring as well. Robotic arms moved around multiple pieces of metal. Multiple tendrils moved as well, slick and free flowing. Seated far ahead and watching in silence, a man with white hair and volcano red eyes. 

​A door then slid open, revealing another man in archaic styled armour. He walked in, clearing his throat.

Alexander Wayland glanced up, his eyes never leaving his work. "What is it?"

"The Mistrali Army's finally reported in their loss, boss. It's heading our way." Land Sknecht reported as he held out a scroll in his hand. Alex turned backwards, accepting the scroll and read through it. Then, he frowned. 

"Fuck's sake, really? How the hell do they lose an eight meter tall-" He caught his lips. "Okay. Tell you what. We're freezing selling Titans to Chen until she regains control over her own supply lines. I am not going to be held responsible if our enemies use them to go run amok." 

"There remains the fact that there's three Titans missing," Land reminded him. "How do you want this done?" 

​Alexander turned away from Land and stood up. "I am destroying the Titan. Better to have it blown up than let people poke into it. One less mech for our enemies to learn from." 

"You want me deploying the Doll teams?" Land asked. 

"No, hold them back. Mount Glenn is far more important," Alex shook his head. 

"You know their Captain is asking when they'll get to fight." Land revealed. 

"If I don't get the golden goose by the end of it, we're deploying."

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A/N: That's sweet. 

And quick, eh? 

Ya'll won't be.

That I promise hueheuheuehe. 

Next updoot tomorrow. It shall feature blood.