3rd person POV:
Ruby: "Eren!!"
A red blur comes from outside their dorm room and lands in front of Eren on the couch. Blake quickly stops kissing Eren but keeps her arm around him.
Eren: "Hey Ruby. What's up?"
Ruby moves in and hugs Eren too fast for Eren to process it. She tightens her grip on him and rests her head on his chest.
Ruby: "It's our birthday...the first birthday we get to share together."
Eren slowly puts a hand on Ruby's head and pets her hair nice and slow.
Eren: She looked so scared and...different in that memory. She's been through a lot in there and seeing MY Ruby be so cheery is...I'm glad mine is okay.
Eren: "I know. You seem excited about it sis."
Ruby: "Well...it's just exciting to be able to share a birthday with a twin. Especially with us being on good terms now."
Eren: "That's true. Though...I've been thinking about this for a bit now."
Ruby: "What?"
Eren: "Why didn't Mom and Dad name me with a name that starts with R? Weiss is W for White, Blake is B for Black, Yang is Y for yellow and you are R for Red."
Ruby sits there and thinks before finally processing what he asked.
Ruby: "Hey you're right! I mean, I know people sometimes don't follow that naming rule but it's odd that I got my name from that rule and you didn't. What would your R name be anyways?"
Blake: "R boy name? Ralph?"
Eren: "NO." He says bluntly.
Blake: "Hm...Ryan, Roman, Ray, Rey, Ross....Richard?"
Eren: "I will NOT be named Dick Rose. Heh..Dick Rose."
Eren hears Weiss groan from that. Ruby and Yang snicker while Pyrrha chuckles.
Blake: "Yeah, that's bad. What about...Rhodes? Is that a name?"
Eren: "Rhodes? Never met someone with that name."
Ruby: "Rhodes Rose. Rhodes and Ruby. I think we're just too used to Eren Rose."
Eren: "I agree."
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Eren POV:
That dream. How did the world even get to that point? Cinder still became the Fall Maiden, I guess that was destined to happen no matter what. Only RWBY was in that weird realm from our side...what a mess that world is. And if that's Blaces timeline, I can only imagine the mess the current original timeline is in. Without a powerhouse like me or Blace in there...how would they win? I'm sure some bullshit would be pulled for it.
Blake: "Eren? You alright?"
Eren: "Yeah. I just had an odd dream that I'm still thinking about."
Blake: "Do you want to talk about it?"
Eren: "I don't know if I can. I myself am still trying to fully process it."
Blake reaches over and pats my head gently.
Blake: "Alright. But if you ever do I'm sure me or Ruby or Yang will be glad to listen."
Eren: "Thanks Blake."
I feel...dead. Something doesn't feel right. I should be enjoying being around these people. I even forgave Ruby and Yang for Oums sake but I can't shake this feeling of nothingness. Maybe I need a break from Wail. Maybe the other Blake would help.
I get up and approach Blake who's at the TV rearranging the wires for us to play some games.
Eren: "Got a second?"
Bella: "Hm? Oh yeah just give me a second."
I nod and step over to the door and wait. Now that I've been back for about a week I've begun to notice the big differences between both Blakes. This worlds Blake is still slightly reserved and can be shy but isn't shy around me for...obvious reasons. Yet Other Blake is a bit more blunt. She can still be shy and awkward but it's like she doesn't care as much about interactions with people. I guess if you had to live in another universe and see yours die you'd start to not care.
I still wonder if I'll be able to travel the timelines with Blace one day when I die. Will I be able to bring others? Could I bring both Blakes? Ruby and Yang? No...that's probably asking for too much. It would be different if I was simply entering an afterlife and seeing them again, but I'm pretty sure me and Blace are going completely different paths when I die and both our souls go up. If that's the case, I'd like to at least be able to visit the others.
Bella: "Alright, wanna step outside?"
I nod and we both leave the dorm room and close the door.
Bella: "What's got you so bothered? Or maybe you're trying to brag about your fun time with the other me?"
She says with a smug smile. She notices me not really reacting to that.
Bella: "S-Sorry. What's up little bro? I don't like it when you're all quiet like this."
Eren: "I...I feel dead inside. Like even with me starting a relationship with Blake and forgiving Ruby and Yang...I don't feel like I've accomplished anything. Like all these efforts are for nothing. It could just be my excessive use of Wails negative emotion multiplier that's making me feel this but I hate it right now. I don't normally care but now that I'm in a place like this in terms of friendships and relationships, I fucking hate it."
Blake takes a deep breath and holds my hand in hers. She squeezes and caresses my hand with her thumb.
Bella: "Wail is most likely the cause. I guess so much exposure to your memories and trauma has numbed you to a degree. Which is a good and bad thing. Good for fights and bad situations because you'll be unwavering. Bad because of what's happening right now. I'm sure Blake can help you. If she can't, well, I'm always here if you just want to train or something. Training with you has been such a benefit and I've gotten a lot smarter and faster and stronger in fights. I've been getting stronger at such a faster rate then the others at Beacon."
I'm glad that she thinks that but I hate how she's right about the beginning bit. Wail is the main thing making me and Vorpal so absurdly strong but the downsides of Wail are really taking effect now. At the beginning I thought I would just be invincible with this power and that the downsides was nothing that a bit of therapy can't fix. No.
Eren: "Yeah...we can train sometime if you'd like. I'm also not the best with crowds. I know it's only Team RWBY, JNPR and you but that's way more then the amount of people I'm used to. I want to stay there because of Ruby, Yang, Blake and Pyrrha. But I don't emotionally think I can. I feel easily overwhelmed."
I feel Blake remove her hold on my hand and pull me into a hug.
Bella: "Do you have any ideas or plans to maybe ease that up?"
Eren: "I just thought of it. If people really wanted to celebrate my birthday, celebrate it November 1st. With me sharing my birthday with Ruby, Ruby would want to throw us in the same room for a huge party or something. I simply can't do that due to how I am. But at the same time I don't like to feel lonely due to it reminding me of home. It's stupid..."
I hug Blake back and exhale heavily from exhaustion.
Bella: "Here. We'll bring you back inside and see how it goes. If you get really uncomfortable and overwhelmed, signal me and we'll both leave. I know you prioritize being okay over your own birthday since you never cared for your birthdays. Let's do this for Rubys sake, alright bro?"
She smiles and pats my back, helping me calm down. How is she a better older sister then my actual sisters? Oh wait...I know why.
Eren: "Sure. For her sake."
We both let go and step into the dorm room with Blake. I sit back on the couch next to my new girlfriend and Pyrrha.
Blake: "You feeling alright?"
Eren: "Hm? Yeah I feel a little better now."
Blake: "You should be able to tell me these things now you know."
Let's mess with her a little bit.
Eren: "But...I just did." I wink at her when I finish the sentence. Blake groans and rolls her eyes before laughing.
Blake: "Shut it you ass." She laughs and pulls me into her arms. It's really comfy using her chest as a pillow.
Eren: "I know I know. It was easier to tell Bella due to her already having a slight history and potential knowledge with the issue instead with you I'd have to explain some stuff. Obviously I'll tell you what's happening at some point but you get what I mean." Blake simply kisses my forehead and pets my back.
Blake: "I get it sweetie, it's alright."
I notice her tail is still here, kinda just doing it's own thing. I reach over and gently caress it.
Eren: "Heh. Your tail is so soft and fluffy. If only it was permanent."
I hear Blake let out a very quiet meow and reach for my hand.
Blake: "W-Wait till later for that please." She says stuttering.
Does...does that turn her on or something?
Eren: "Huh? What, is that a switch in that way?"
Blake: "N-No, not in the way you experienced earlier. A much more personal way that only my parents have seen."
Oh? I'm intrigued now. But I guess I'll figure that out later.
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30 minutes later...
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They finally got the stupid game console to work. Yang offered me a round of this fighting game they're playing but I refused. I simply just want to relax. She fell for it.
Yang: "Jaune! Your turn! Time to get your ass kicked!"
Jaune: "Oh no."
Jaune slowly sits down next to her and grabs the controller. Yang has a giant smile on her face...seems she's enjoying my birthday more then I am.
I look away to the side while the others watch the two play and I notice Bella look at me. She knows...she 100% knows I don't feel okay. She takes out her scroll and messages me.
Bella: "Need to leave?"
Eren: "No. As much as this hurts I'm going to do this for Rubys sake. But I can't shake this feeling of loneliness off of me."
Bella: "I know I said do this for Ruby but seriously if it gets too much we can easily leave."
I look at her and shake my head before turning off my scroll. Thankfully Blake wasn't looking over at my scroll during that.
Eren: "Blake? Can you let go of me? I need to go to the bathroom."
Blake: "Hm? Oh sure sweetie."
She lets go of me and I quickly head into the bathroom. I quietly lock the door and sit on the floor breathing heavily.
This...this is such a stupid idea. I've been trying so hard to not accidentally activate Wail...too many flashbacks come from this day...I can't be here but I can't upset Ruby...
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I must have been in here for too long because I hear banging on the door.
Weiss: "Eren! Some of us need to use the bathroom you know!"
Ugh...you stupid bitch. Fine. I slowly get off the floor and make my way to the door. I unlock it and see Weiss looking annoyed.
Weiss: "Finally! Jeez did you stink up the...Eren?"
I didn't look in the mirror but I guess I look like shit. What a surprise.
Weiss: "Eren? What's going on?"
I walk past her slowly and walk towards the door to leave the dorm.
Ruby: "Bro? Where are you going?"
I don't bother responding and open the door and slamming it shut.
My current objective: Make it to the arena, summon one of the Gods. I know what I want...
Bella POV:
Ruby: "Weiss? What's up?"
Weiss: "He looked far from okay...I think he was crying in the bathroom the whole time."
I knew it...damnit Eren why didn't you just let me take us back to the dorm.
Pyrrha: "Huh?"
Blake: "Why??"
Ren: "Didn't he say he hated his birthdays the most during his outburst at Ruby the other day when he came back? There's surely a lot of trauma from birthdays if that's the case."
Blake looks at me with an angered look.
Blake: "What is going on. Tell us!"
Bella: "He only stayed because he wanted Ruby to feel better by having her brother there. But I guess emotionally he couldn't handle it. He got overwhelmed with emotions and memories flooding and had to leave."
Ruby looks over at me with a saddened and somehow shocked look.
Ruby: "He...He didn't need to do that..."
Yang: "Where do you think he's going?"
Bella: "The arena most likely. With how he is right now he most likely needs to let off some steam."
Yang gets up from her seat and quickly gets changed into her normal ass kicking clothes with Ember Celica equipped on her.
Yang: "I'm going after him. I won't be long."
Bella: "Yang. You don't want to do this...him being at this level of brokenness in Wail is heartbreaking to say the least."
I notice Ruby get up and change as well. Blake joins her as well and all look at Weiss.
Weiss: "Hm?"
Ruby: "RWBY's mission is to secure Eren. Come join us please. We need all of us to do this."
Weiss sighs and nods before going to her bed and taking out a suitcase and going into the bathroom. She finally comes out in her combat skirt.
Weiss: "Ready. Hopefully."
Blake: "Bella? Are you coming?"
Bella: "No. Not this time. I want to finally settle in. Besides, it gives me enough time to tell the truth to Team JNPR."
Nora: "Truth? You've been lying to us?!"
Ren: "Not in that way Nora."
Ruby: "Alright then. Team RWBY! To the arena!"
All 4 of them leave and now it's just me and JNPR.
Pyrrha: "So Bella...what're you trying to tell us?"
Hmm...how do I do this.
Bella: "Do you know of the multiverse theory...?"
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Eren POV:
This arena...the fact it's still intact is impressive to me after all the beatings I gave it. But I know what I want...what I need.
I pull out the button and tap it. A purple light appears and it's Dark.
Dark: "Hm? Oh. Eren. Light told me it was your birthday today. How has it been?"
Eren: "Besides Light's gifts, awful. Basically the same they've always been."
Dark: "I'm sorry to hear that. But why did you summon me? And why here? Privacy?"
Eren: "I have a birthday wish for you that actually would benefit us both."
Dark: "Oh? Do tell Mr. Rose..."
Ruby POV:
We quickly made it to the arena door and sneakily step in to not make any noise to give away our cover. We step in and make our way to the stands and crouch down so we can barely peak over the wall and eavesdrop on Eren.
There's...that Purple God from the videos the other Blake showed!
The Purple God glances over at us.
Damnit! He saw us!...
But he's not doing anything.
Dark: "I would love to hear this offer Mr. Rose."
Eren: "Just like when we got Blake and Ozma from that world...I want to be brought to a timeline you were already going to destroy. Let me unleash everything I have and then you can destroy it. We both get what we want."
What...? He wants to kill another timeline?
Dark: "Hmmm...deal. Let me see what we have this time, my little partner in crime."
He takes out a dark orb and stares into it before shooting it forward and opening a portal.
Eren: "Hm? Not just going to teleport us?"
Dark: "I do it this way. My brother teleports via a light teleport and I travel with a dark portal...besides."
He looks over at the stands again.
Dark: "It's more fun this way, wouldn't you say Rose?"
Is...Is he talking to me?
Eren: "Hm? I guess so. It does look cooler but is less efficient."
Dark: "Whatever. Get ready."
The Dark God and Eren slowly walk towards and into the portal. Once they step in, the portal slowly starts to close.
Yang: "Shit! We gotta follow them, now!"
Ruby: "Right! We need to bring him back here!"
Weiss: "How?! The portal is shrinking! We can't fit!"
I have a really stupid idea...I activate my semblance and go towards all of my teammates and get them caught in my semblance. I fly towards the portal with the others and fly in before it closes.
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Next chapter: Erens Birthday. A World Far From Okay.