Chapter 11: Black and White Part II - Flame and Ice: AU Oc x Weiss [Black Clover/Tales of Series x RWBY]

Chapter 11: Black & White Part II

As the team continued strategizing, Ruby found herself sitting closer to Roy than usual, their shoulders nearly touching as they pored over the tactical maps. She was acutely aware of every small movement he made - the way his fingers traced potential routes, the slight furrow of his brow when concentrating, the warm presence that seemed to ground her increasingly jumbled emotions.

Roy noticed her studying him and raised an eyebrow. "Something on your mind?" he asked quietly, just loud enough for her to hear over the ambient conversation of their teammates.

Ruby felt a slight flush cross her cheeks. "Just... checking your work," she stammered, trying to sound more professional than she felt. Her recent realization about her feelings for Roy had transformed even the most mundane interactions into something charged with unspoken tension.

"Checking my work?" Roy chuckled softly. "I've been planning infiltration strategies since before you were born, Rose."

"Hey!" Ruby nudged him playfully. "I'm an excellent strategist! Remember the Breach?" Her silver eyes sparkled with a mixture of defiance and affection.

Roy's expression softened. "I remember," he said, his voice dropping to a tone that made Ruby's heart race. "You've always been extraordinary at adapting plans in real-time."

Their heads were bent close together over the map, creating a private bubble of concentration amidst the larger group's planning. Sun, working nearby, caught their intimate proximity and winked at Blake, who rolled her eyes but smiled.

"So," Ruby said, forcing herself to focus on the tactical details, "if we approach the docks from these three vectors, we can minimize the White Fang's potential escape routes." Her finger traced a precise path across the map, her tactical training seamlessly blending with her growing feelings.

Roy watched her, admiring not just her strategic mind but the passionate intensity she brought to everything she did. The young woman who had once been a eager girl was now a formidable huntress - brilliant, compassionate, and utterly fearless.

"Perfect," he murmured, and Ruby wasn't entirely sure if he was referring to the strategy or something else entirely.

Weiss leaned into Odyn, her pale hand intertwining with his darker fingers - a visual representation of the bridge between two worlds they were creating. Her engagement to a dark elf was more than a personal choice; it was a statement, a deliberate challenge to the rigid social expectations that had defined her family for generations.

"They're adorable," Weiss murmured, her gaze soft as she watched Ruby and Roy's careful dance of emerging affection. Her own journey with Odyn had been far from simple - years of friendship, carefully navigated cultural differences, and the weight of familial expectations had shaped their relationship.

Odyn's flame-orange eyes flickered with understanding. "Young love," he said quietly, "is never straightforward. Especially not for those who walk between worlds."

He knew intimately the challenges Ruby would face. As a dark elf engaged to a human heiress, Odyn understood the complex negotiations of love that crossed cultural boundaries. The engagement between the Schnee family and the Albanahr clan was more than a personal union - it was a delicate political statement, orchestrated decades ago by Nicholas Schnee the 2nd.

"Your grandfather was remarkably forward-thinking," Odyn reflected. "To arrange an alliance that would challenge the existing power structures."

Weiss smiled, a mix of fondness and determination. Nicholas Schnee had always been different from the rest of her family - more interested in genuine progress than in maintaining archaic social hierarchies. This engagement was his final strategic move, a bridge between two worlds that had long been separated by misunderstanding and prejudice.

"Father will try everything to stop this," Weiss whispered, her grip on Odyn's hand tightening. "But he will fail."

The determination in her voice was absolute. She had watched her father manipulate and control for years, and this time, she was ready. Their upcoming engagement ceremony was more than a personal celebration - it was a declaration of independence, a statement that she would choose her own path.

Odyn pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his flame-touched skin a stark contrast to her porcelain complexion. "Together," he murmured, a promise and a strategy all at once.

The memory of the confrontation was still fresh - Jacques Schnee's carefully maintained composure cracking under the combined pressure of Odyn, Lailah, and Saibyrh. Ozpin had sat quietly, observing, his presence both a shield and a witness to the complex familial drama unfolding before him.

Lailah Branwen-Albanahr, Odyn's aunt, had been particularly formidable. Her dark elven heritage was evident in the way she moved - graceful yet predatory, each gesture calculated. As Qrow Branwen's wife, she brought a unique blend of human unpredictability and elven precision to the conversation. Her connection to the Albanahr royal family gave her a diplomatic weight that Jacques couldn't easily dismiss.

Saibyrh Arkham stood slightly behind them, her presence deceptively calm. To the untrained eye, she appeared to be just another Beacon professor. But those who knew her understood she was a fierce guardian of the Albanahr family, her role at the academy a carefully constructed position that allowed her to protect their interests.

"The engagement was signed by Nicholas Schnee the 2nd," Odyn had stated, his flame-orange eyes burning with an intensity that matched his words. "It is a legally binding contract that predates your authority, Jacques."

Jacques had sputtered, his usual manipulative tactics failing against the united front. The contract was ironclad - a strategic alliance arranged by Weiss's grandfather that promised not just a marriage, but a deep cultural exchange between the Schnee family and the Albanahr dark elves.

Weiss remembered the moment with a mix of pride and defiance. Her father had always believed he could control every aspect of her life, manipulate every relationship. But this time, he was facing more than just his daughter's rebellion. He was confronting an entire royal lineage with deep political connections.

Odyn squeezed her hand, pulling her back to the present. His smile held a hint of challenge - a promise that whatever Jacques might try, they were prepared.

"He won't give up easily," Weiss whispered.

"No," Odyn agreed. "But neither will we."

The team's investigation took on a more strategic approach as they began connecting the dots between the upcoming dust shipment and Jacques Schnee's potential involvement. Ruby and Roy took the lead on mapping out the initial intelligence gathering, their complementary skills creating a comprehensive investigative framework.

"We need to establish multiple surveillance points," Roy explained, spreading out a detailed map of Vale's docks. His cerulean and lavender hair was pulled back, revealing the intense concentration in his eyes. "The White Fang typically uses a three-tier approach for shipment infiltrations."

Ruby nodded, her tactical training from Signal and Beacon allowing her to quickly process the information. "First wave scouts, secondary infiltration team, and a primary extraction unit," she added, tracing potential approach vectors with her finger.

Hailfire, drawing from her extensive guard training, provided critical insights. "The dark elven royal guard intelligence suggests Torchwick has been recruiting additional human mercenaries," she reported. "This isn't a standard White Fang operation anymore. Someone's bankrolling a more sophisticated approach."

Blake's ears twitched beneath her bow, her intimate knowledge of the White Fang's traditional operations proving invaluable. "This sounds like Adam's strategy," she said quietly. "Expanding beyond ideological boundaries, using external resources to maximize impact."

Odyn connected the threads methodically. "Which brings us back to Jacques Schnee," he observed. "The timing of the dust shipment, the potential disruption to the engagement ceremony - it's too calculated to be coincidental."

Weiss leaned forward, her tactical mind working overtime. "Father would never directly engage with the White Fang," she analyzed. "But he might create a situation where their actions serve his strategic interests."

The implications hung heavy in the library. This was no longer just about protecting a dust shipment or securing an engagement ceremony. This was about understanding a complex political chess game where multiple parties were moving pieces in secret.

"We'll need multiple teams," Yang suggested, her lilac eyes scanning the room. "Infiltration, surveillance, interception, and a rapid response unit."

Sun balanced on a nearby bookshelf, his tail swishing thoughtfully. "I can coordinate with my contacts in the underground networks," he offered. "Get some additional reconnaissance."

Flare, still working on communication devices, interjected with a technical solution. "These modified communication units will allow us to maintain contact even if the CCT gets jammed," she explained. "Built-in panic buttons, encrypted channels, tracking capabilities."

Ruby's eyes lit up with excitement and determination. "We're not just stopping a shipment," she declared, looking around at her assembled friends and allies. "We're protecting our family, our future, and our right to choose our own path."

The sentiment resonated through the room. This was more than a mission. This was a statement of unity, of chosen family standing together against manipulation and external control.

Odyn caught Weiss's hand, their fingers intertwining - a silent promise of solidarity. Whatever Jacques Schnee and the White Fang were planning, they would be ready.

"Together," Weiss whispered, a strategy and a declaration in one word.

Chapter Continuation: A Rose Blooming in Battle Plans

The teams dispersed after their planning session, breaking into smaller groups to finalize details for the coming days. Ruby found herself gravitating toward the window, silver eyes watching the sunset paint Beacon's towers in hues of orange and gold. Her fingers traced absently over the communication device Flare had designed, mind racing with both tactical considerations and decidedly less combat-oriented thoughts.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Roy's gentle voice came from behind her, and Ruby turned to find him holding two steaming mugs. "I thought you might want some cocoa. You've been staring at that same cloud for about five minutes."

Ruby accepted the mug gratefully, the warmth spreading through her hands a welcome anchor to the present. "Thanks. I guess I got lost in my head a bit." She took a sip, pleasantly surprised. "Wait, is that—"

"Cinnamon and a dash of chili powder," Roy confirmed with a smile. "Yang mentioned it's your favorite way to have it."

Ruby felt her cheeks warm slightly. It was such a small thing, remembering how she liked her cocoa, but it made her heart flutter in a way that had become increasingly familiar whenever Roy was around.

"We never really talked about your semblance," she said, steering her thoughts to safer territory. "The speed enhancement you mentioned earlier—how does it work exactly? Does it affect your perception too, or just movement?"

Roy leaned against the windowsill beside her, their shoulders nearly touching. "Both, actually. When I activate it, everything slows down from my perspective, which gives me time to think and react. I can extend it to others through physical contact, which is why I suggested using it for the dock teams."

"That's amazing!" Ruby's eyes lit up with genuine enthusiasm. "It's kind of like mine, but with the added bonus of bringing friends along for the ride. Mine just leaves rose petals and confused expressions in my wake."

"I've always thought your semblance suited you perfectly," Roy said, his voice softer. "Beautiful and impossible to ignore, even after you've rushed by."

Ruby nearly choked on her cocoa, earning a concerned look from Roy.

"Sorry," she managed, feeling her face burn brighter than her cape. "Just... went down the wrong way."

Roy didn't seem entirely convinced but kindly changed the subject. "Your plan for coordinating the dock teams was impressive. You have a natural talent for seeing the whole battlefield."

"I've been studying strategy since I was little," Ruby admitted, grateful for the shift in conversation. "My uncle Qrow used to set up these elaborate scenarios with action figures. He'd say, 'Pipsqueak, how would you save the day if the bad guys were here, here, and had a giant robot there?'"

Roy chuckled. "And did you save the day?"

"Every time," Ruby grinned, "though sometimes my solutions involved impossible jumps and unrealistic weapon capabilities. Qrow would always point those out, then help me find more practical approaches."

"That explains a lot about your leadership style," Roy observed. "You dream big, then fine-tune the details."

Ruby felt a pleasant warmth at his understanding. It wasn't just that he noticed things about her—it was how he seemed to genuinely appreciate them.

"What about you?" she asked. "Where did you learn to fight?"

Roy's expression grew contemplative. "My training was... different. Elite guardian prospects in my homeland start young. It was very structured, very disciplined."

"That sounds intense."

"It was," he nodded, "but there were good moments too. Odyn and I used to sneak out at night to practice moves we'd invented—most of which were completely impractical but felt amazing when they actually worked."

Ruby laughed, picturing a younger Roy and Odyn attempting flashy combat maneuvers under moonlight. "I'd pay good lien to see that."

"Maybe someday I'll show you," Roy replied with a playful smile that made Ruby's heart skip.

They fell into comfortable silence, watching as stars began to appear in the darkening sky. Ruby found herself hyperaware of the small distance between them, of how easy it would be to close that gap.

"Ruby," Roy spoke finally, his voice hesitant in a way she rarely heard from him. "After all this is over—the White Fang, the engagement ceremony—I was wondering if maybe you'd like to—"

"Ruby! Roy!" Blake's voice cut through the moment as she approached, maps in hand. "Sorry to interrupt, but I've been thinking about the southern approach to the docks, and I wanted to get your input on something."

Ruby tried not to show her disappointment as she turned toward Blake with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "No problem! What are you thinking?"

As Blake laid out her concerns about potential blind spots in their surveillance plan, Ruby felt Roy's hand briefly touch her shoulder—just a fleeting moment of contact that could have been casual reassurance between teammates. But the subtle squeeze and the warm look in his eyes when she glanced up told a different story.

Later, that look seemed to promise. We'll finish this conversation later.

Ruby nodded almost imperceptibly, returning her attention to the maps while a small smile played at her lips. Whatever battles lay ahead, there would be a moment after—a moment for words still unspoken and feelings just beginning to bloom.

For now, though, they had a mission to prepare for, friends to protect, and bad guys to stop. And somehow, having Roy beside her made Ruby even more determined to ensure they all came through it safely.

Because for the first time, she was fighting not just for her present team and friends, but for a future that suddenly held new possibilities—possibilities that made her heart race faster than even her semblance could carry her.

Chapter Continuation: Hearts Aligned in Battle

The pre-dawn air hung heavy with fog as the teams assembled at Beacon's landing pad. Ruby adjusted her weapon harness, watching as the others made their final preparations. Her gaze lingered on Roy, who was conferring quietly with Odyn near the airship. The dark elf's distinctive blue and lavender hair seemed to shift between colors in the faint moonlight, and Ruby felt that now-familiar flutter in her chest.

"Someone's staring," Yang whispered, nudging her sister with a knowing smirk. "Should I be preparing the big sister shovel talk for a certain elf?"

"Yang!" Ruby hissed, face instantly matching her cape. "It's not—I mean, we're just—"

"Just making heart eyes at each other whenever you think no one's looking?" Yang completed, her lilac eyes twinkling with mischief. "You're not exactly subtle, sis."

Ruby groaned, adjusting her hood to partially hide her face. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to everyone with functioning eyeballs," Yang replied cheerfully. "But if it helps, he's just as bad. Every time you start talking about weapons or strategies, he gets this look like you've personally hung the moon."

Before Ruby could formulate a response that wasn't pure embarrassment, Weiss approached, clipboard in hand and expression focused. Despite the early hour and impending mission, she looked immaculate as ever—though Ruby noticed the small silver pendant at her throat, shaped like a flame. Odyn's gift from their formal courtship announcement last month.

"Final check," Weiss announced. "Communications?"

"All units calibrated and tested," Flare replied, distributing the last few devices. "They're linked to our scrolls and have a range of approximately two miles."

"Transportation?"

"Primary and secondary vehicles secured," Hailfire confirmed. "Backup extraction points marked and shared."

"Medical supplies?"

"Fully stocked," Roy answered, moving to join the group. His crimson eyes briefly met Ruby's, a soft smile playing at his lips before he returned to business. "Basic field kits for each team, plus Sarai has agreed to be on standby with more advanced equipment if needed."

Weiss nodded, making a notation on her list. "Excellent. Team assignments are as follows: Blake, Sun, and Hailfire on perimeter surveillance. Yang, Flare, and myself on counter-response if engagement becomes necessary. Ruby, Roy, and Odyn on evidence gathering and primary reconnaissance." She looked up, meeting each person's eyes. "Questions?"

"Yeah," Sun interjected, balancing on his tail while adjusting his staff. "I still don't get how you and tall, dark, and royal over there kept your engagement secret for so long. That's gotta be the biggest bombshell since Blake's ear reveal."

Weiss's professional demeanor cracked slightly as a light blush dusted her cheeks. "It wasn't exactly a secret. It just... wasn't relevant to share until recently."

"Not relevant?" Yang repeated incredulously. "Ice Queen, you've been engaged to marry the crown prince of an ancient elven kingdom since you were what, ten? That's not something you casually forget to mention over breakfast."

Odyn stepped forward, his flame-orange eyes warming as they rested on Weiss. "The arrangement was meant to be political," he explained, his deep voice carrying in the pre-dawn quiet. "A union between the Schnee Dust Company and the Albanahr kingdom to secure trade routes and magical resources. Neither of us expected it to become..."

"Something real," Weiss finished softly, her normally guarded expression gentle as she looked at him.

Ruby couldn't help but sigh at the romance of it all. Political arrangement turned to genuine love—it was like something from one of Blake's hidden novels.

"When did you know?" she asked impulsively. "That it wasn't just political anymore?"

Weiss and Odyn exchanged a glance loaded with meaning, and Ruby noticed Hailfire and Roy sharing a knowing look.

"There was a summer when we were fifteen," Odyn began, his usual stoicism softening with the memory. "Weiss came to stay at the summer palace for diplomatic training. One night, there was a terrible storm—"

"We don't have time for this," Weiss interrupted, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness. "We have a mission to complete."

"Oh come on, Weiss!" Ruby pleaded. "You can't just start a romantic story and then cut it off!"

"I believe the phrase is 'I'm saving it for the memoir,'" Weiss replied primly, though a small smile betrayed her. "Now, if we could focus on the potentially dangerous infiltration mission ahead of us?"

"Fine," Ruby conceded, "but I'm getting that story later."

"As your team leader, I insist," she added when Weiss raised an eyebrow.

"I'll tell you," Odyn offered, earning a scandalized gasp from his fiancée. "What? It's a good story."

"Et tu, Odyn?" Weiss shook her head, fighting a smile. "We should move out. Dawn is approaching, and we need to be in position before the docks become active."

As the teams began boarding their respective vehicles, Ruby found herself walking alongside Roy toward the smaller, faster airship they would be taking with Odyn.

"So," she began hesitantly, "you knew about their engagement all along?"

Roy nodded, his crimson eyes soft in the dim light. "Since childhood. Odyn and I grew up together—where he went, I went. It's part of being his guardian."

"And what did you think? About the arrangement, I mean."

Roy considered the question carefully. "Initially, I worried. Political marriages can be... cold. Empty. I wanted better for my friend." He glanced ahead where Odyn was helping Weiss into the airship, their hands lingering together a moment longer than necessary. "But watching them grow together over the years... they found something rare. Something true."

"It's kind of beautiful," Ruby admitted. "Finding love where you least expect it."

Something shifted in Roy's expression—a vulnerable openness that made Ruby's heart race. "Yes," he agreed quietly. "It is."

The moment stretched between them, weighted with unspoken possibilities. Ruby found herself noticing how the early morning light caught the blue and lavender strands of his hair, creating an almost ethereal effect that reminded her how different—how wonderfully, intriguingly different—he was from anyone she'd ever known.

Then Odyn called from the airship, and reality reasserted itself.

"We should go," Roy said, though he made no immediate move to leave.

"Yeah," Ruby agreed, equally still. "White Fang. Mission. Important stuff."

Roy's hand moved slightly, fingers brushing against hers in what could have been dismissed as accidental if not for the intentness in his gaze. "Ruby, when this is over—"

"If you two are quite finished," Weiss's voice cut through the moment, "we do have a criminal organization to infiltrate."

Ruby jumped back, face flaming. "Coming! Just, um, discussing strategy!"

"I'm sure," Weiss replied dryly, disappearing back into the airship.

Roy offered Ruby a small, conspiratorial smile. "To be continued?"

"Definitely," she nodded, her embarrassment fading into determination. "After we kick some White Fang butt."

As they boarded the airship, Ruby found herself filled with a strange mix of anticipation—for the mission ahead, certainly, but also for whatever might come after. For the first time, facing danger wasn't just about protecting others or proving herself. It was about creating a future where certain conversations could be finished, where possibilities could bloom into certainties.

The airship lifted off, cutting through the morning fog as they headed toward the docks. In the pilot's seat, Odyn navigated with practiced precision while Weiss reviewed the mission parameters on her scroll. Behind them, Ruby and Roy sat side by side, reviewing maps of the dock facility.

"If we approach from the eastern side," Ruby suggested, pointing to the layout, "we'll have better cover from the shipping containers."

Roy nodded, his shoulder pressed lightly against hers in the confined space. "And it puts us in perfect position to document any White Fang activities without being seen."

"Exactly what I was thinking," Ruby grinned, marveling at how easily they worked together, how their thoughts seemed to align.

From the front, Weiss glanced back at them, her expression softening momentarily before returning to its professional mask. "Prepare for landing," she announced as Odyn guided the airship toward a secluded area behind the warehouse district. "Remember, this is reconnaissance only. We document everything, but engage only if absolutely necessary."

"Got it," Ruby replied, checking Crescent Rose one final time. "In and out, quiet as mice."

"Quieter than mice," Roy corrected with a small smile. "Mice are actually quite noisy."

"Quieter than ninja mice with tiny mouse silencers," Ruby amended, earning a soft laugh that made her heart soar despite the tension of the approaching mission.

As the airship touched down, Ruby caught Odyn taking Weiss's hand briefly, their fingers intertwining in a gesture that was both supportive and intimate. "Be careful," he murmured, just loud enough for Ruby to hear.

"Always," Weiss replied, her usual confidence tempered with genuine affection.

It struck Ruby then, watching them—this small, private moment amid preparations for danger—that this was what true partnership looked like. Not grand declarations or dramatic gestures, but quiet strength shared between equals.

She glanced at Roy, finding him already looking at her with an expression that suggested he might be thinking something similar.

"Ready?" he asked softly.

Ruby nodded, feeling strangely settled despite the butterflies in her stomach. "Ready."

Together, they stepped into the gray morning light, weapons at the ready and hearts aligned in purpose. Whatever awaited them at the docks—White Fang, Torchwick, or something worse—they would face it as they now faced everything.

As a team. As friends. And perhaps, for some of them, as something more.

Chapter Continuation: Hearts Aligned in Battle

"Someone's staring," Yang whispered, nudging her sister with a knowing smirk. "Should I be preparing the big sister shovel talk for a certain elf?"

"Yang!" Ruby hissed, face instantly matching her cape. "It's not—I mean, we're just—"

"Just making heart eyes at each other whenever you think no one's looking?" Yang completed, her lilac eyes twinkling with mischief. "You're not exactly subtle, sis."

Ruby groaned, adjusting her hood to partially hide her face. "Is it that obvious?"

"Final check," Weiss announced. "Communications?"

"All units calibrated and tested," Flare replied, distributing the last few devices. "They're linked to our scrolls and have a range of approximately two miles."

"Transportation?"

"Primary and secondary vehicles secured," Hailfire confirmed. "Backup extraction points marked and shared."

"Medical supplies?"

Weiss's professional demeanor cracked slightly as a light blush dusted her cheeks. "It wasn't exactly a secret. It just... wasn't relevant to share until recently."

"Something real," Weiss finished softly, her normally guarded expression gentle as she looked at him.

Ruby couldn't help but sigh at the romance of it all. Political arrangement turned to genuine love—it was like something from one of Blake's hidden novels.

"When did you know?" she asked impulsively. "That it wasn't just political anymore?"

Weiss and Odyn exchanged a glance loaded with meaning, and Ruby noticed Hailfire and Roy sharing a knowing look.

"We don't have time for this," Weiss interrupted, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness. "We have a mission to complete."

"Oh come on, Weiss!" Ruby pleaded. "You can't just start a romantic story and then cut it off!"

"Fine," Ruby conceded, "but I'm getting that story later."

"As your team leader, I insist," she added when Weiss raised an eyebrow.

"I'll tell you," Odyn offered, earning a scandalized gasp from his fiancée. "What? It's a good story."

"Et tu, Odyn?" Weiss shook her head, fighting a smile. "We should move out. Dawn is approaching, and we need to be in position before the docks become active."

As the teams began boarding their respective vehicles, Ruby found herself walking alongside Roy toward the smaller, faster airship they would be taking with Odyn.

"So," she began hesitantly, "you knew about their engagement all along?"

Roy nodded, his crimson eyes soft in the dim light. "Since childhood. Where Odyn goes, I go. It's not just about being his guardian—it's about being his brother."

"That must be a lot of pressure," Ruby observed. "Being responsible for the crown prince."

Roy considered this, the moonlight casting interesting patterns across his blue and lavender hair. "It's who we are. Odyn leads, I protect. It's been that way since we were children."

"And what did you think? About the arrangement, I mean."

Roy's expression grew thoughtful. "Initially, I worried. Political marriages can be... cold. Empty. I wanted better for my brother." He glanced ahead where Odyn was helping Weiss into the airship, their hands lingering together a moment longer than necessary. "But watching them grow together over the years... they found something rare. Something true."

"It's kind of beautiful," Ruby admitted. "Finding love where you least expect it."

Something shifted in Roy's expression—a vulnerable openness that made Ruby's heart race. "Yes," he agreed quietly. "It is."

Then Odyn called from the airship, his voice carrying the natural authority of an older brother as much as a prince. "Roy! Ruby! We need to move."