RWBY: Upholding the Mission

*Filler: Right Fit

Even though I promised Cinder I would give her my first dance, I still had a small set of doubt in me. One that stemmed from the fact I was in, what I've come to know as, my suit and tie. My flight-suit and gear...

"Oh...Ruby...really takes a liking to you. She always says how cool you are and how you show your care in subtle ways. From how you joke to how you walk next to her as if guarding her...she's come to know you almost like her big brother..."

That's...true. I've come to see her as a little sister too. Hell, even our banter hangs on the border of fulling on sibling war. This made me chuckle softly enough that Yang perked up yet, I soon remembered something. Something that...was my driving force for Ruby...I couldn't help but frown a bit...

"Back...Back when I was in the IMC as a Cadet Pilot...I met this girl who was just a year younger than me..."

I now began to fiddle with my helmet as I scratched at the IMC logo hidden under the paint-job I used. Revealing a bit more of the glossy red coloring of the M in IMC...

"I bowed to defend her...To keep her safe yet..."

~Two Years Ago...~

Fuck! Where is she!? She said she'd meet me here! I was currently ducked behind a large crater as Athena stood not to far away. She was keeping watch of a road that led down to that crate and a maintenance tunnel. One that was flooded with burgundy toxic sludge from the power converter of the base. In my hand, I shakily held my RE-45 as I was on a mission...Leave the Base. Leave the IMC...However, I soon saw a grate fall flat nearby as I whipped my aim towards it. That's when she hopped down from a large vent that was a source of the grate. She had a raven set of short hair and her skin complexion was pretty pale. Her eyes were a nice pleasant shade of hazel green and she wore her regular maroon red IMC Pilot attire minus the gear.

Spotting me as I spotted her, we met half-way as I smiled and almost tackled her in a hug yet, I kept my cool. Instead, just grabbing her hand but, I soon noticed something. She didn't have her Titan's Data-Core...She didn't have a smile on her face like I did...

"I...Where's-?"

"I can't go..."

"Li-Little Red?"

"I-I can't! I'm sorry but, I can't! I'm scared of what the IMC would do if they found out I was run away with you!"

Hearing this...I felt my heart split in half as my smile turned into a heavy frown. My head felt heavy as my vision sort of blurred...

"R-Red, we've been planning this for a year, we can leave! Join somebody else or just leave this life! I made that promise-!"

"I know! But...I-I'm not strong enough...Aniki...Please just, go..."

I then saw tears streaming down her face as I swear I heard a snap somewhere...Blinking away the blurry effect in my eyes, I let go of Red's hand as she stepped back.

"I...can't force you.."

"Aniki...Please, be careful out there..."

Offering me a smile, I couldn't smile in return as I turned and ran off to meet Athena half-way as she extended out her hand. Hopping onto it, I then climbed into her cockpit as I faced Red one last time before Athena began to run down the tunnel...I was leaving Red behind...

~Present~

"I...I had to leave her...is what I told myself...I had no option...Yet, I was lying to myself...I felt as though I let her down by not fighting to get her to come with me...Whenever I look at Ruby, I see her little smile and glee when she spots me and I think...I think real hard...'Is this Red in another life? Maybe even happy...?"

Yang had made her way to my side and sat next to me as she wrapped an arm around me. My hand now just outlining my helmet's curves...

"It was her choice...Like you said, you couldn't force her. Her situation might have been different so, I can assume she stayed to protect her family...You're a great guy and an even better Big Brother figure...That's why I stopped trying to get with you! Because I saw you almost like myself. Protecting Ruby. Like a sibling."

Now hugging me, I couldn't help but smile as I placed my hand over Yang's arm before the Bullhead landed at Beacon. She was the first to stand up and leave the Bullhead as I slipped my helmet on. Grabbing the clothes we had "bought." Yet, she stopped and turned with a large smile.

"I think Ruby would be super happy to see you there! I know I would!"

Watching her walk off, I smiled before looking at the bundle of clothing in my hands. Shirt, pants, boots and even socks...I trust you, Yang...
...
...
Is this a tie?