Disclaimer: Own nothing. Don't seek to gain any profits from this. Just borrowing my favourite characters for some fun.

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7: Red

Anger is red, so is blood. Roses are red, and red is the colour of love.

She was kneeling on the ground, her head was hanging limp. She grabbed the sides of her head with her hands, fisting her hair. She gritted her teeth, and an inhuman cry escaped her. "Stop," it was a pained whisper. "Please stop." Another drawn out plea. A splitting headache, and a cold numbness where her heart was supposed to be. The tears wouldn't flow, and the anger wouldn't relent.

She sucked in a lungful of air.

She wanted to scream.

Scream loud enough to drown out the voice in her head, which kept on repeating the same sentences coldly, even as they became a muddled mess of words.

She's dead. He's responsible for –.

Sacrifice.

He sent her knowing –. Pawns.

He's using us –. Because of him.

Using.

Mom left.

Knowing she would die.

Just like you.

Die. Pawn. Sacrifice.

"Stoooop!" The cry ripped from her very soul, spilling into the forest around her which remained deathly still in its indifferent silence. Her vision blurred, and then became white. And finally, there was reprieve from her agony as everything gave way to darkness.

Qrow took a swig from his ever-present flask.

"Sir, I would request you to refrain from drinking in–"

"Let him be." The one to interrupt the nurse had been none other than General Ironwood himself. Her eyes widened in response and she quickly uttered a respectful greeting before scurrying away, too afraid to say anything else, lest it invoke the General's wrath. Ironwood came to stand in front of Qrow who remained seated on the mute white benches that were lined up against the walls of the infirmary, which were just as white.

In all honesty, Qrow hated how these places tried to embody an unassailable purity while black bled into the world outside, swallowed every colour as it snaked in ugly patterns across the landscape, and forced one's eyes to acknowledge a reality that was only sombre grey at best. White's reflection was blinding and dangerous for his vision and he hated it.

But the reason he hated white the most was because unlike black which absorbed the identity of every colour it came in contact with, a white background highlighted the nuances of every colour with unbiased clarity, presenting them as stark reflections against itself. Blood red was bright splattered against white sanitary walls and more garish still as it soaked into the fabric of a white cloak and trickled onto the white snow below, tracing veins through ice crystals – and it made him wonder briefly if he preferred black patterns instead.

James placed a gloved hand on his shoulder. "You should get some rest, Qrow."

Ironwood was, for once, correct. He'd been sitting with his back hunched and his elbows on his knees for far too long. Hunter or not, his spine hurt. And aura or not, if he kept this up, he'd end up on the other side of the wall whose support he had refused to take for the entire duration he had remained seated. Perhaps he'd be happier like that, he thought sardonically, wanting nothing more than to be beside Ruby at this time, even if it was in a hospital bed adjacent hers.

When Qrow didn't respond, Ironwood sighed and let his hand fall away from his shoulder before choosing to settle down beside him. It was no secret in their little cabal that he was generally at loggerheads with the Atlesian. In fact, he'd always had his reservations about Ozpin making James Ironwood a part of their troupe to begin with, and he never hesitated to make it evident. Nevertheless, even if begrudgingly, he worked with the other man because he always naturally acquiesced to Beacon's Headmaster, who was also his former mentor.

However when crisis struck and said Headmaster went missing, he was surprised to find a strange camaraderie developing with the General. The military man seemed to shrug off past tension as if it never even existed and extended a helping hand despite Qrow's diametrically opposite views and foul temperament. That is why, in one of his most vulnerable moments – a moment he loathed – he found himself comforted by the older man's presence. Neither of them could manage to utter a single word of reassurance, and in all fairness, they didn't even try. They knew all too well that it was only Ozpin who could weave magic with words, and they'd just have to settle with awkward gestures and supportive silences.

"Any word on Yang?" Qrow rasped.

"Nothing," Ironwood shook his head and let the weariness he felt seep into his voice.

"She's with Rav–"

Crisp clicks of heels on the hallway floor interrupted Qrow. Both men turned their heads to see Weiss Schnee approaching from the other end. She came to stand in front of them, hand on her hip. "We have company," she declared. "Is Ruby awake yet?"

Qrow didn't need telling who it was that had finally decided to pay them a visit. Apparently Ironwood shared his knowledge. "About time he showed up," the General muttered quietly. This time neither him nor Qrow needed to look towards the other end of the hallway when they heard a cane tapping on the floor to confirm the identity of the one approaching.

Once within earshot, Ozpin spoke in an even tone. "When you didn't show at the rendezvous point, I knew something must have gone wrong." He stood beside Weiss, facing the members of his inner council.

"I still think he shouldn't be here. It might be a trap," the younger of the Schnee siblings crossed her arms and gave Ozpin a pointed look.

"I'm sure we're safer here in Atlas than in some forest teeming with Grimm," James stated.

Qrow scoffed and took a gulp from his flask. He let the alcohol burn down his throat before speaking. "You really think your robots can protect us, Jimmy?"

"I'd like to remind you that without the aid of the Atlesian Knights we wouldn't even be here."

"Yeah, had those goddamn hunks of metal not been hacked to begin with–"

"That's enough." Ozpin stopped the pointless argument with one cool command.

It surprised Qrow to a degree that in less than a minute from Ozpin's return they'd all managed to reprise their roles and wasted no time in reclaiming their long lost liberty to squabble amongst themselves.

Never in his adult life had it felt so good to be reprimanded like a little child.

"Now," Ozpin made sure he had everybody's attention. "Who is going to tell me what exactly happened?" He paused. "Is Ruby alright?" His stoic facial expression belied his concern.

"She's still unconscious," James informed him. "It's been two days."

"How did this come to pass?" James knew Ozpin wasn't blaming him with his question, but he felt nervous. This was their first time speaking since his disappearance, and many matters still remained unresolved, including the secret of Penny which he'd kept from him that had ultimately come out in the open.

"That's my fault, partially," Weiss confessed, sparing Ironwood the unpleasantness. "I informed Blake and Yang to begin with."

Ozpin was confused. For the first time in a long time he wasn't able to put the pieces together. How did the rest of Team RWBY knowing about their meeting make a difference? Regardless of their presence at the meeting, he was well aware that they were central to his long term plan and didn't care if they knew.

Unless...

Qrow's bloodshot looked up at him, his red irises more pronounced than ever. "Raven told Yang everything, Oz. And Yang told Ruby 'bout the whole fiasco ten years ago, a fucked up version. Now everything's a mess, like always." Qrow couldn't keep the frustration from his voice.

Ozpin couldn't bring himself to respond. He'd never wanted to broach the issue with Ruby until she was much older, and he didn't even want to imagine how she had taken the news. He felt anger coil inside of him when he realized this unfortunate development worked entirely in Salem's favour. If she succeeded in dividing them, there was no hope for victory.

Qrow staggered to his feet and Ozpin instinctively reached out to steady him. "I should've let you kill her that day," he swallowed and kept his head bowed. "I just couldn't imagine she'd use Yang."

"No," Ozpin told him sharply. "You prevented me from making a terrible mistake."

"Who is she, anyway?" Weiss questioned.

James got up from his seated position and addressed the restive heiress. "I'm afraid that's classified."

"Classified my foot! That infernal woman fed lies to my teammates! Yang's defected and Ruby could be next!" Her voice rose by several octaves. "If you think I'm just going to stand around watching my team fall apart then you've–"

"They weren't lies."

Stunned silence followed Ozpin's words. James' eyes widened in response and Qrow gave him an incredulous look. In his opinion it was batshit crazy to admit the truth. Their delicately engineered peace couldn't handle the weight of the truth. He didn't even get a chance to register his protest because Ironwood pre-empted him.

"Oz, you can't–"

"It's alright," he silenced James with a raised palm. "We can't keep them in the dark forever. They're the future, they must know."

Weiss had barely recovered from the shock. "Are you...are you telling me that what Yang told Ruby was true? That you're the one responsible for the death of their mother?"

"More or less," Ozpin admitted sadly.

Weiss's eyes were fiery blue embers, like oceans set alight. "You're deplorable, the lot of you," she hissed. "This is sick." Her voice was full of emotions.

"It is, and there was no other option. I'm so sorry."

Weiss couldn't keep the tears from slipping forth. Her shimmering eyes were beautiful even as they were filled to the brim with sadness and anger. "Is that what you're going to tell her? That you're sorry?"

"It's not that simple," Qrow stepped in, imploring her to understand. "Summer was my partner. I lo– I... I would've given anything to keep her safe. I would've given my life in exchange for hers a hundred times over. But she was the one with silver eyes." He swallowed the lump in his throat to continue speaking. "Trust me kid, I know how you feel. Believe me when I tell ya that we hate this as much as you do. But it's either this or humanity's end, and I'm not exaggerating."

"I will not let those silver eyes seal Ruby's fate," Weiss would not budge an inch.

"Neither will we." Ozpin's gaze was calm but determined.

"We were sure Summer would end it once and for all," Ironwood finally rejoined the conversation.

"She was special, even amongst those with silver eyes." Qrow's voice held pride and wistfulness. "But unfortunately, Summer was only able to seal her away for some time," continued Qrow. "Salem's defeat was only delay."

"Not for the first time," Ozpin said.

"There have been others with silver eyes in the past?"

"Yes," the older man nodded.

"And they've all..." Weiss had a hard time saying it. "Sacrificed themselves?" She didn't need Ozpin to respond to her verbally: his grim expression was answer enough. Weiss was reeling with the revelation. To think that every single member of the Rose family born with the gift of silver eyes was resigned to a fate of sacrifice was something she could not eschew. Not when Ruby was the next one in line.

"If every single person in the past has failed, what makes you think Ruby won't?" She was distraught. The whole ordeal sounded like a death sentence. There was no hope.

"Because I believe in her," Ozpin paused to let his words sink in. "Don't you?"

Weiss's mouth pressed into a thin line. The internal debate within her raged on. She recalled the conversation she had previously with Ozpin, and the full meaning of it became clear to her. How easily she had told him that she would make a sacrifice in order to postpone the inevitable, so that they could have a fighting chance. And yet now, making that very choice seemed impossible.

However, in that very moment, she realized how it felt to be in Ozpin's shoes, and her anger and hate dissipated. She found that she did not envy his position. It was clear enough that both Ironwood and Qrow mostly looked to him for guidance, owing to his experience. In some sense they were like pawns he manoeuvred, but in another, he was the only one saddled with the burden of choice in a situation that remained unsalvageable in the long run. He was forced to make choices and deal with whatever consequences that came with it.

And when fighting a disease with no cure, those choices became increasingly difficult, and the consequences just as grave.

She could not condone his actions, but she also could not fault him.

"Can I speak with you in private?" She requested.

Ozpin nodded his assent. Qrow and Ironwood were too tired to argue otherwise and quietly took their leave. "We'll be here now, so you can get some rest," Weiss told their departing backs, feeling sad and conflicted. Once they left, Ozpin and Weiss chose to settle down in the places which the two men had previously occupied.

"It's not that I couldn't have said it in front of them," Weiss started. "But I feel it's something only you should know."

"Please," the word was Ozpin's way of telling her to continue.

"When I was finally able to catch up with Yang and Ruby, I waited for a while before I interrupted," she spoke in a quiet tone, recalling the incident that had occurred two days ago. "Ruby was defending you. She kept trying to tell Yang that she was wrong about you," she gave him a sideways glance before continuing. "Yang, of course, wouldn't listen." She gave an empty smile, recalling the familiar stubbornness of her hot-headed teammate.

"Finally Yang told Ruby that her mother, Raven, had told her the truth. That you were the reason her mother left and never came back. The reason for Qrow staying away..." she trailed off. "That you were just using her. And that she was nothing more to you than another pawn in your game, another sacrifice."

"Honestly, I also felt at that moment that Yang had lost her mind. Maybe it was due to the depression," she shrugged, giving her opinion before resuming her narrative. "Ruby broke down after that. Yang was about to take her away, I think. But I intervened. She escaped. I tried to track her down, but..." she sighed. "By the time I returned Ruby was unconscious."

"I'm sorry to hear this, Weiss," Ozpin offered.

"Don't be," Weiss said firmly. "I'm not." She locked her eyes with his. "After all, when were you planning to tell me this? Were you ever going to tell Ruby?"

"I would have, but–"

"Uh ah ah," she interrupted him. "Stop, just stop. I don't want your justification."

"It's an explanation," he insisted. "It's unwise to not know both sides of the tale."

"I said I don't want to hear it," she bit back. "Because I don't care."

"You don't care?"

"Yes, professor," she repeated, "I don't care." Since Ozpin had given pause, she ceased the opportunity to break off into a monologue, telling him exactly what was on her mind. "Look, I really don't care what you did in the past. Whether you were a good man or a bad man. The only thing I care about is the future. I will not have you compromise Ruby's trust in you. Not now, not ever."

She interlaced her fingers and rested her elbows on her knees. "Let me tell you this. I'd rather die knowing that I am nothing but my achievements to my father than falsely believing – hoping – foolishly...that I mean something to him. That I...matter."

"She matters more to me than my life," his declaration held a certain intimidating ferocity. The kind of aggression he kept tamed so far inside him that just the barest hints of it slipped through his ever present veneer of placidity.

"Then prove it," Weiss challenged. "If she really means so much to you, tell her the truth when she wakes up and face the consequences."

He exhaled and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Very well," the two words were all of his response. Weiss had not expected him to give in so easily. The man was a complete puzzle. Though, the more she got to know him, and as the greater truth was revealed alongside, she couldn't help but feel that he was just a man who knew too much. A man shackled by circumstances and the burdens of his own knowledge.

"I'm not foolish, Ozpin," she turned her head from the floor to finally look at him. "It's clear to me that we need you to win this war. We need Ruby. But I refuse to let her choices be shrouded in lies and deception. She deserves to know the truth more than anyone. Because ultimately the one making the biggest sacrifice will be her."

"I won't let her die, Weiss," Ozpin got up, leaning his weight on his cane. "But you must understand. It's not for me that I hadn't told her the truth until now," he paused. "I have long since resigned to that reality," he let the sadness he felt coat his words; he needed Weiss to believe that he was being genuine. "But have you thought about what it would do to Ruby? She is already destined to carry far more than her share of burdens. Does she truly deserve to know that the world she believes in is a lie?"

"Of course she doesn't," Weiss whispered, somewhat affronted. "But that's exactly why you need to tell her. I know she's strong enough to believe despite it. I believe in her."

So she had answered his question from before, and it was something entirely unexpected. Beneath the ice cold exterior and between the bouts of volatility, Weiss Schnee was wise far beyond her years. Ozpin had done many a reckless things in pursuit of ideals, and it would appear that despite her general pragmatism, Weiss nurtured that type of sanguine faith inside of herself for none other than Ruby.

He could deeply appreciate that.

"Thank you, Weiss," he told her and they exchanged a silent look of understanding.

"Don't mention it," she replied. "I did owe you one for telling me the truth about SDC and the Faunus, after all." Her eyes hardened after that. "I'm going to stop my family, Ozpin."

"You'd best be careful," he warned her. "We cannot yet afford to disrupt Dust supplies across the Kingdoms."

"I know," she agreed. "For now I'm just collecting intel. I'm going to try and join up with Blake." She bit her lip. "Do you think we can get Yang back?"

Ozpin mulled over his next words, recalling past experiences. "We'll have to see. Yang has a good heart, Weiss. If we reach out to her in the right manner, she should come around." He breathed deeply. "Let us hope we're not too late."

Now that he was standing, she had to strain her neck to talk to him; he really was rather tall. "Where are you going?" Her words stopped his departure.

"To wake her up, of course."

"What? You can do that?" She waved him off, changing her mind. "Forget I asked. Just..." she tried to find the right words. "Good luck."

They both knew he would need it.

The first thing Ruby felt when she came to was an uncontrollable need to quench her thirst. She tried to utter the demand through her chapped lips but no words came out. As her vision stabilized, she began to recognize her surroundings. Realizing she was in a hospital, she tried to lift herself but found she hadn't yet the strength. However, she soon felt a strong arm slip beneath her which supported her weight.

A glass of water was put against her lips and she spontaneously grabbed it with both hands, trying to gulp down greedily. The cool liquid felt like a soothing elixir against her parched throat.

"Slowly now," an all too familiar voice instructed her as she tried to tip the entirety of the contents in her mouth with one move, but found that she couldn't. Ozpin was holding it in place. Once finished, he set the glass aside and helped her sit up properly, propping up a pillow behind her for good measure.

"How're you feeling?" He asked her kindly.

She rubbed an eye. "My head's spinning I think," she said, feeling groggy.

He put the tips of his index and middle finger against her head. "There, you should feel better soon."

"What did you just do?" She felt coolness where his fingers had been moments ago. It was taking her some time to process everything that was happening around her. Everything seemed to have become slower.

"Just a little something," he replied vaguely before changing the subject. "Do you remember what happened?"

She looked down at her lap and fisted her little hands in the hospital sheet. Her red highlights covered her face. "I met Yang," she started in a small voice. "And she–"

"Weiss told me, Ruby, it's okay," he shushed her, not wanting her to recall the event just yet and compound her stress. She was feeling rather poorly already though, he could tell, and her palpable emotional discomfort troubled him greatly. And it was not just because he cared about her and his empathy was in overdrive; no, it perturbed him because Ruby's emotions subconsciously activated her powers, and it was very dangerous for both her and those around her.

Hopeful silver eyes looked up at him. "Is it true, what Yang said?" Her voice was still slightly hoarse due to disuse.

It was a simple question, with a simple yes or no answer. He hadn't expected her to ask the question quite so soon after waking up, however. He knew he would have to address it sooner or later. But now that the moment presented itself, he was able to once again understand full well how honesty was easy only in theory. Right now, the temptation to interpret her words to suit himself took considerable effort to resist. After all, Yang had said a lot of things, and not all of them were true. Ruby was not just his pawn, for instance. Far from it, in actuality.

But he knew that wasn't what she was asking. He could convince himself – lie to himself and rationalise it as he had done countless times – so as to give her a convenient answer, but it would not change the truth. Even without the threat of Weiss's words, he'd made up his mind to face the consequences of his actions. Yet, even as he steeled himself mentally, he removed himself from Ruby's bedside and strode to the only window in her room, his back to her.

"Is everything okay?"

Always concerned for everyone but herself; she really was Summer's daughter.

"Just opening the window to let in some fresh air," the excuse slipped through his lips unchecked. "It'll do you good." He gave her a sideway look. "What exactly did she say that has you so troubled?"

He was just trying to buy some time. He stared outside the window, and the fresh air he'd just mentioned did him no good, at least. He couldn't care less, anyway. He just could not tell her what he was about to say while he was close to her, and completely able to discern every emotion that flitted across her silver irises. She was an open book, free from treacherous masks and unafraid to feel. He dared not to look at the face that he felt was the culmination of all his sins and at the same time the pinnacle of the idealism that he strove for. She reminded him far too much of a part of himself that he had long lost, and he couldn't stomach the idea of being the cause of the loss of hers.

"Well, she said..." he could sense her struggle for words, her inability to find the courage to doubt him so directly. Knowing her, she probably felt guilty for it. "She said that...that you sent Mom on that mission. D-did you?"

"I did," he said solemnly. He heard her gasp, and couldn't bring himself to face her. He really was pathetic, a complete coward, rendered defenceless by a sixteen year old. And it was probably because she was so young that it was so.

"What? But why?" She responded immediately, and he could practically feel her initial surprise turn to confusion. She still couldn't reconcile the image she had of him with a man who ordered her mother to march to what they both knew would be her likely demise. She was a smart girl, and even with her idyllic views she was well aware of how difficult a hunter's job could be – so she wanted to hear his reasons. Surely he had a convincing one, or perhaps there was some unfortunate accident whose truth he knew?

But today he would not take any of her proffered chances. He didn't deserve them, and she deserved the truth.

"Because it was a mission only your mother could have completed successfully," he said impassively.

"But why her? Why not someone else?" The disquiet and agitation she felt lined her words.

"Because like you, she had silver eyes. She was the only one who could stop the enemy."

"S-so," Ruby gulped. "She...failed?"

"No," said Ozpin. "She completed her mission."

She stayed silent for a while after that, and he knew she was having a hard time voicing the single conclusion of this conversation. When she spoke next her voice quivered, and it went straight to his heart. He breathed deeply in order to stay collected. "Are you– are you saying that her mission was to, was to..." and even after so many years the pain of that one word was raw and new and she still couldn't bring herself to say it.

She was crying now. "So Yang was right? You sent her knowing she would never come back?"

The questions were rhetorical. He felt incredibly worn, and forced his leaden legs to turn around. He saw her tear streaked face and his heart skipped a beat. She was on the verge of bawling. What he was about to say next was cruel to her, but moreso it was a punishment for himself. "I sent her on that mission Ruby, knowing that she would die."

She clenched the covers until her knuckles became white and gritted her teeth. Her head was bowed and her long fringe covered the side of her face. Her tears fell on fabric like rain drops, darkening the white cloth as it became wet. She helplessly wiped her face before looking up at him. "Is that why you let me in two years early? So you can use my silver eyes and send me to die too?"

"No–", he said desperately, all the while knowing it was futile. "Ruby, I would never–"

"You're lying!" She almost screamed, cold anger taking over, acting as her only balm to soothe the unbearable ache. The sheer look of askance directed at him was one that stopped him in his tracks. She was hurting, and he wanted to do nothing more than to comfort her as he always had. But how could he provide her solace, when there was no one but him to blame for all her pain?

"I hate you." He always knew the conversation would end at these three words, but the lack of emotion with which she uttered them was far worse than her destructive anger. Her icy words stabbed through him in a way no weapon ever could.

And it was only fitting justice for all his sins.

So, longest chapter yet. This was probably the most challenging to write so far, and I can't help but feel it came out terrible. Tell me what you think?

Thank you for taking the time to read. Constructive critique, ideas, comments, everything is welcome. I can also do requests.