My Guardians - Abused RWBY Fanfic 9 Literal Tree House

Third Person POV

Aurum: 'Another unfamiliar ceiling…'

With those thoughts, Aurum rose from where he was lying and shook head to hasten his recovery from sleep.

???: "He's awake!"

???2: "My hero!"

Aurum: "Oof!"

Suddenly, a wild Ariene appeared!

Ariene used tackle!

It is effective!

Aurum used charming whimper!

Aurum: "Uuuuuuuu…"

It was effective!

Ariene has been afflicted with Poison (Nosebleed)!

Ariene fainted!

....

...

While Ariene collapsed by the bed in a shameful way, the brothers can be seen snickering beside her with 4 other people. 2 of which were Lapis and Violet. The other duo is also a pair of man and woman.

The male is a tiger faunus with his ears valiantly raised, looking like a hunk with his spiky neck-length silver hair with two-sided bangs; giving a clear way for his forehead to s.h.i.+ne alongside his milky skin, with jade eyes that accompany his sharp yet handsome features; wearing the Beacon Academy uniform with an unb.u.t.toned suit and red fingerless gloves designed for hand-to-hand combat. He let out a ferocious and wild aura, that compliments his 'bad boy' get-up. Even with the gangster-like impression, he seems to be honest to a fault. Basically, a muscle-headed idiot.

He looked at Aurum with a peculiar look.

The woman, on the other hand, has a huge contrasting aura to the man, with an icy and princess-like demeanor. With an in-depth look at her personality, you can see that she has a kuudere's temperament. She has flowing dark green hair with blue eyes that somehow complemented her cold look. She wore her school uniform along with a gray scarf tied around her neck that complemented her city-toppling beauty.

She stared at Aurum with an indifferent yet amused look.

Samson: "Aurum, meet the self-proclaimed most handsome and beautiful group in the third-year cla.s.s of Beacon *cough* according to Violet *cough*, Team LJVN(Legion)."

Cyrus: "Wrong starting statement, you numbskull. You should be asking if he's fine. And here I thought you had a high EQ."

'Just wanted to lighten up the mood...' Samson mumbled.

Scratching his head while showing Cyrus his tongue with a cheeky look, Samson asked what should have been the pressing issue.

Samson: "Is your arm okay? How does it feel to hit a piece of metal with a glowing fist?"

At that, Aurum then realized that his right hand was sore. Quickly, he removed the glove to find his fist getting red around the knuckles. He touched it with curiosity but took a sharp breath out of pain, reeling back the other arm as a result.

Aurum: "How did this happen?"

The trio of kids had faces that said 'are you serious?'. Meanwhile, team LJVN were shocked at the sight of his hand. It had some bruises, while the fingernails were a mixture of blood red and black; a sign that there is a presence of dead blood within.

The green-haired woman finally showed emotion in her face, as she frowned, disgust evidently surfacing with a hint of fear.

No, scratch that, her whole body was shaking, possibly from a traumatic event from the past, but it can only be discerned if observed carefully. Her hands were clenched into fists, red from the pressure it is taking.

The tiger man put a hand on her shoulder as he gave her a concerned manner. She sighed, before giving a small smile at him accompanied with a nod.

Ariene: "You don't remember what happened at the cafeteria?"

Aurum shook his head.

Aurum: "The last thing I remember was that I made it to the cafeteria with Lapis, Violet, and Samson. Cyrus and d-dad... greeted us. There's nothing else after that. I didn't have any memory of entering inside, much less how I got hurt."

Aurum is still awkward about the whole adoptive father situation, as manifested through the slight choking.

Samson: "That's odd...did anyone here look at his eyes? From the telly shows I'd seen and the comic books I've read, a change in behavior like that can usually be discerned through a change in the body."

The others shook their head, except for the dark green-haired woman. She answered Samson in a neutral tone.

???: "Now that you have mentioned it... his eyes were different from earlier. It was gold. Does that count?"

Throwing her a grateful look, Samson pondered over the new information for a few seconds, before a surge of enlightenment pa.s.sed through his p̶i̶t̶i̶f̶u̶l̶ ̶e̶x̶c̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶ head.

Samson: "Ah!"

Cyrus: "What is it?"

Samson then stared at Aurum, more specifically, his eyes. He then spoke in an overbearing way that sounded like an idiot trying to act tough, pointing and waving his arms "threateningly" like a wacky waving inflatable tube guy(The more wacky kind).

Samson: "Hey you, yes you. I'm talking to you, the dead guy inside Aurum. Make some sign that you're inside him. A ghost should be honored to chance upon the body of an angel!"

Various thoughts filled the people currently watching this spectacle.

Ariene, slightly recovering from the shock(?), mumbled.

Ariene: "Is this one of those shabby occult soul summonings?"

Cyrus sighed in exasperation.

Cyrus: "Dear Oum. Mother...why did you marry into a family of idiots..."

Meanwhile, LJVN kept their comments to themselves.

Lapis: 'In a way, this is actually cool...'

Lapis thought normally.

Violet: 'Why does this feel like the prelude to a cheap gay p.o.r.no...'

Violet thought weirdly.

J??: 'This is so exciting! I wonder if I can beat up ghosts? Will they cough up green blood? Ooh~ I want to see that!'

J?? thought idiotically.

N??: 'Ooh~ the kid is a cute idiot~ I wonder if I can pinch his cheeks~'

Finally, N?? thought cutely.

Looking at them funnily, Aurum tilted his head before wearing the glove again. He naturally didn't notice that his eyes glimmered for a fraction of a second and that he let out killing intent. A detail that the huntsmen trainees noticed with their trained senses.

J??: "Interesting!"

The faunus exclaimed as he looked ready to jump in and punch the kid. Aurum thought that his voice was vaguely familiar though.

*THWACK*

With a yelp of pain, he looked beside him, to see the scarf lady glaring and threatening him which made him reel back whimpering like a dog.

N??: "Jade..."

???: "My my, it certainly is lively in here. But I would very much appreciate it if you do not harm children as Mr. Robin had done so earlier, Mr. Jade. Unless you want to be in the neighboring hospital bed, of course."

Closing the door, Ozpin made his way to the bed along with Qrow and Glynda.

Beacon Academy's "infirmary", is actually a separate building with 2 floors but at the size of a hospital. The person he referred to, the one known as Robin Winchester, is in a public room on the first floor(Aurum's private room is on the second floor). He is currently unconscious from having his ribs broken, which would take almost a month to heal, even with aura. Apparently, a mysterious energy is disrupting his aura from a.s.sisting in the healing process to the point of being almost negligible.

Qrow: "Hey there kiddo, how you doin'?"

Aurum: "I'm fine...what happened?"

Aurum, -who decisively ignored the violence on the side after noticing the arriving group of adults-, asked. Ozpin grunted with intrigue. Ozpin then informed Aurum of his actions.

Aurum: ".....!"

Hearing just what he did horrified him, which everybody took note of from his now pale skin and vomit that unfortunately landed on Ariene's head.

Clearly, Aurum's PTSD even entails. .h.i.tting others, instead of just being hurt.

Dumbfounded, everyone else stared at her silently, while she continued to get Aurum's breakfast on her head. Now, what's peculiar here is that the victim currently has an ecstatic expression.

Cyrus: "...I say, woman, are you ill? Why are you enjoying having chunder poured on top of ye like a cold shower after being p.i.s.sed the other night?!"

Cyrus couldn't help but brit.

Ozpin: "...Thank you for accompanying the children team LJVN, but I'm afraid that our discussion must be limited to those who have a close relations.h.i.+p with Aurum here."

Lapis: "...I understand. Goodbye guys, see you tomorrow! Come on, gang. Let's give them some privacy."

Lapis awkwardly waved goodbye as he helped Violet keep a laughing Jade away from an angry N??.

....

....

....

Glynda escorted Ariene to the shared room to shower and change, while Qrow left to get something light to the cafeteria for some sandwiches and drinks since the kids are starving from missing lunch. It was a mystery how Ariene could have been that energetic after just a night's rest. Incidentally,

the time is now around 10-11 AM the next day. Except for team LJVN who legally skipped to visit, the other students are currently in their cla.s.ses.

Ozpin and the children were still from the silence. Cyrus sternly glared with caution at Ozpin, his gaze that seems to have 'don't you dare' as a hidden message were ineffective against the mysterious headmaster. The momentary peace was broken, as Ozpin ignored Cyrus' intent.

Ozpin: "...Out of the 4 people who abused you, who are you willing to forgive, Aurum?"

The 3 were stunned into silence by the bomb Ozpin just casually threw out. The brothers immediately directed an intensified icy glare at the old man, as Aurum had his head down, seemingly from reliving the nightmarish memories.

Ozpin didn't bow down from the obviously angry brothers, as he calmly stared down at Aurum, waiting for an answer. The situation felt like it lasted for hours, but the actual time it took was no less than 5 minutes.

Aurum: "...Ruby. I would forgive. Ruby."

Aurum answered in a hoa.r.s.e voice. Ozpin raised his brows, signifying his amus.e.m.e.nt.

Ozpin: "And what would be your reason, Mr. Aurelius?"

Aurum didn't raise his head, as he remembered the times were Ruby helped him, before the disappearance of Summer, of course.

================================================================

*Flashback to 4 years ago*

It was just after a period of being a punching bag of Yang. The father-daughter pair always went outside in the backyard so that Yang can train her techniques. The practice dummy, being Aurum.

After the "training", the pair went inside the house through the kitchen door to rest for the day, leaving behind a weeping Aurum, not knowing that Ruby was secretly watching them from a corner.

Once Ruby confirmed that they were inside, she sneaked up to Aurum bringing a cup of water and a cookie.

She helped the stupefied boy up, who was surprised at the new help. Ruby may not be able to help them stop the abuse, but her heart is in the right place. The few bits of luxury that Aurum rarely receives helped in staving off his suicidal thoughts, giving him a slight hope for the future.

Ruby gave him a pitying look, as she helped him drink the water and eat the pastry.

Aurum once again cried, as his body took in "luxurious goods", while Ruby patted him in the back.

Taking a look around, she cautiously whispered to him in a low voice.

Ruby: "Don't worry, big brother. Once I become a huntress, I'll take you away from here!"

The proper love she gave to Aurum was always heartwarming to him, an experience he long forgot. He was about to burst into another loud sobbing fit, when Ruby urgently shut him up by using a hand to shut his mouth up, and bringing a finger to hers, the universal symbol of shut up. She smiled apologetically, as she clumsily got up.

Ruby: "I gotta go, they might see me here. They'll punish the both of us if I stay. Bye, Aurum."

She skedaddled cutely back to the side of the house, where Zwei the pup was waiting for his beloved owner to come and play. Aurum sat dazedly, as he ignored his painful body, and silently limped back to his room.

================================================================

Ozpin: "Is that all?"

Aurum: "No. She... she was forced and tricked into it. Sometimes, either Yang or that person would speak to her. She always found ways to secretly sneak in and visit me to apologize after they hurt me."

================================================================

*Flashback 2 years ago*

Aurum was just finished with sweeping the first floor when he heard the girls were arguing above the stairs.

Ruby: "But—"

Yang: "No means no, Ruby. Don't feel bad for that tras.h.!.+ He's the reason both of our moms are gone! Why can't you hate him?!"

Yang shouted.

Ruby: "He's done nothing wrong!"

Yang: "If you don't hate him...that's right. If you won't hate him, me and dad will hate you!"

Aurum can hear that Ruby is now desperately holding back her tears, evident from her sobbing.

Ruby: "T-that's..."

Yang: "Now choose, Ruby. Your family, or that trash?"

Ruby: "..."

Yang sighed, before continuing to persuade her with a calmer tone.

Yang: "Ruby...look. Even if both our moms didn't leave, that guy has been our punching bag since forever, and dad hates him. That should be enough reason to hate him."

Ruby: "...*hic*..."

Yang, annoyed with Ruby's stubbornness, growled as she furiously stomped her way down, and once her red eyes set its sight on Aurum who was shaking from the fear of what is to come, she rushed towards the weary boy who life seems to laugh at like a bull and gave him an aura powered punch.

Then, everything faded into black.

================================================================

Ozpin: "...I see."

Unlike with Ozpin, the brothers were not so understanding.

Samson: "Why would you forgive her? she hurt you, Aurum! You should be thinking of revenge!"

Cyrus: "Samson is right. Why DO you want to forgive her?"

Instead of immediately answering them, Aurum finally looked up. He eyed the brothers with a bitter yet resolute expression. Seeing his look, the brothers faltered while Ozpin let out a small smile.

Aurum: "If I think of getting revenge, then that would only make me the same kind of person as them."

S/C: "....!"

'That's right.' Aurum thought. If he decided to pursue revenge, then wouldn't that make him a monster like them? The 'logical' move here would be to try and find a way to imprison them, a light punishment. The 'morally correct' move would be to forgive them and start over again, which is the most unlikely to happen considering how deep the wounds Aurum literally and figuratively received from them.

But, what Aurum believes to be the correct answer to this situation would be,

Aurum: "To ignore them and focus on trying to find my happiness with my new family, that is what I should be doing right now. I won't forgive them for what they have done, but in a way, I should thank them. I wouldn't have met you guys if it weren't for them you know?"

The feeling of being moved. That is what they are experiencing.

Samson: "Aurum...b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l mate, you're making me cry.*hic*. Don't worry *hic* I will make you a happy man!"

Cyrus: "That sentence is misleading! Don't act gay!"

Even Ozpin is amused by how Samson worded out his desire for his soon to be master.

Cyrus: "*cough* *cough*, errr...Aurum, I promise you, as one of your informally contracted spirit, I would do my best to fulfill all of your desires, even if it is out of selfishness, I shall move according to what you will."

Aurum tilted his head.

Aurum: "I don't know what half of that means... but thank you?"

Samson: "Aww~ come here you cute little booger!"

Aurum: "Boogers aren't cute!"

Cyrus laughed at their antics. Ozpin only looked at them with satisfaction.

Ozpin: "I have fulfilled the purpose of my visit. Now, children, I should take my leave."

Ozpin then bowed lightly, before going out of the room. But before he left completely, he gave Aurum a reminder.

Ozpin: "Aurum, you finally have people who can openly give you love. I suggest you take it to mind that you are not alone now. If there are any problems, refer to the people who care about you and ask for advice."

*THUD*

Closing the door, Ozpin then left the building and walked around the school.

Ozpin couldn't help but be troubled by his words.

Ozpin: "You are not alone...practice what you preach, Ozma..."

Shaking his head, he let out a bitter sigh before rerouting his path to his office. A cup of cocoa should help clear his mind.

....

....

....

*Timeskip to nighttime brought to you by a creeped out Cyrus watching a Samson wearing makeup and lipstick, trying out different seductive poses in the mirror for the laughs*

(I based the Blasts out of the Weasley twins, the anime version, of course.

https://data.whicdn.com/images/77347470/original.jpg

and while I'm at it, here is my inspiration for Ariene.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/monstergirlencyclopedia/images/b/bd/Anime-girl-white-hair-dress-worried-expression-blue-eyes.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170630014623

just imagine her with a more perverted grin with eyes closed and her signature ears)

...

...

...

Aurum: "Can I sleep somewhere else?"

Thinking that he probably wants to cuddle together with Ariene or the twins, Qrow removed his face away from his scroll and faced Aurum with a smile.

Qrow: "Sure thing, kiddo."

With a beaming smile, Aurum took the bed's pillow and blanket.

And proceeds to walk out of the room.

With bulging eyes, Qrow asked Aurum with surprise in his tone.

Qrow: "hey hey hey! Where are you going?"

Aurum looked back curiously at him.

Aurum: "Sleeping elsewhere."

Qrow: "I get that part, but why are you going out?"

Aurum: "To that big tree. I can sleep better there."

Even with the hard wooden surface, Aurum felt relaxed sleeping there. It was like he was back to being a toddler, the feeling was like whenever Raven hummed a lullaby and rocked him to sleep.

Being slightly impatient, Aurum bid goodbye to the surprised Qrow and spirits. They stood still and stared at the closed door for a few seconds before Qrow snapped out of it first.

Qrow: "Quick, follow him!"

The four scrambled out of the room carrying pillows and blankets, as they followed after a jogging Aurum, with Cyrus locking the door of course. A person going in and rummaging through their belongings, no matter how little in quant.i.ty, is not a welcome experience.

Looking back without stopping, Aurum saw them chasing after him. Misunderstanding their intentions, he ran faster, not knowing that his speed easily exceeded a regular adult's, and almost rivaling a civilian athlete.

Fortunately for Qrow, Samson, and Ariene, they are fast themselves. The bird is an elite hunstman, the death seeker glowing red as he used an unknown aura technique to increase his body strength, and the m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t being a beastman, of the fox clan no less.

Cyrus was a meter behind trying his d.a.m.n hardest to catch up to them.

Cyrus: "Oum d.a.m.n it, father! Why did you give all of your physical genes to that idiot! I'm glad that I'm smart, sensible, and good in magic. But can't I get some muscle?!"

Cyrus lamented his misfortune, even if he was faster in swimming during the hidden race in their mother's womb. He might have attained his mother's magical and intellectual prowess, but his physical attributes are below average! It's supposed to be a mixing of genes, and yet he only received from one side in the abilities department!

...

...

...

Arriving in front of the tree dead tired, Aurum took a few deep breaths before looking back.

The 3 stopped running with Samson breathing heavily out of exhaustion because of the technique's overuse, while Ariene is clutching her side in pain. Soon, Cyrus caught up to them, but he flopped down to the ground like a fish, his pillow and blanket cus.h.i.+oning the fall.

Qrow: "Mind telling us why you want to sleep here?"

He asked as he habitually took a sip from his flask. Aurum surprisingly didn't seem to be bothered about it anymore, much to Qrow's surprise and delight. He's a drunkard alright.

Aurum only shook his head as he pointed at the tree that received a makeover worthy of a tv show. Like a child rebel, the tree suddenly had tattoos strawn both inside and out, arranged beautifully that it's pleasing to the eye. Magically, the s.p.a.ce inside also grew, expanding to the size of a good house. The entrance had a 2-meter tall door that was open, there was even a stairway leading to below the ground while strange markings lit up the interior. On the outside though, it was still at the same size as before.

Everyone gaped in shock at the sight, especially Cyrus.

Cyrus: "How *pant* the b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l *pant* did that b.l.o.o.d.y tree *pant* have spatial expansion rune formations *pant* littered all over it?!"

Ariene's mouth hung low even more at that.

It can't be helped. A spatial expansion rune formation is a complex rune array that the decently sized ones are mostly used by the richest of chaebols. Talents that can use spatial magic itself are as rare as searching for an albino animal, and finding one that is not famous is like looking for a transparent needle in deep waters.

Spatial backpacks? sure, a decently sized bag can be possibly made by a 2nd rate rune craftsman. But a whole stable s.p.a.ce capable of storing life? nope.

What's more unbelievable, is that the array is inscribed in a living tree! in the Remnant Plane of all places!

Samson: "I don't know if that's amazing or not, but it IS cozy. It kind of feels like the special mattress we had back home. Plus, it kinda feels like we're at Pooh's house or the Lost Boys hideout!"

Samson melted in comfort, but Cyrus got shocked even further from the revelation. He went down in all fours, Orz style. Crying lightly in admiration, he shouted out the latter part of his line to the sky.

Cyrus: "The genius even engraved an array for beds in hardwood...WHOEVER YOU ARE, PLEASE MAKE ME YOUR DISCIPLE!!!"

Qrow: "Shut it, kid! People are trying to sleep!"

Cyrus finished his act worthy of a drama queen. He then turned his head to where Qrow spoke from, only to see the others lying comfortably in the wooden surface. Qrow was sitting and playing a game near Aurum, who set-up shop in the middle of the 'room'. Ariene closed in on the sleepy gerbil-looking cute boy, trespa.s.sing his private s.p.a.ce with a perverted look and directly hugging him from behind while petting his head slowly, her tail let out and waving furiously along with her twitching fox ears. Samson laid down near Qrow's feet, not minding his twitching expression and snored right after a few seconds.

Aurum seems to be enjoying the petting, not knowing of Ariene's scheme, a step by step process to 'conquer' his heart. In the future though, Ariene would lament executing her plan for backfiring miserably because it worked well. Too well.

The boy couldn't help but let out another sigh of admiration and facepalm, before trudging inside and closing the door. He plopped down near Qrow and covered his whole body with the blanket as his head hurt from the shock.

Qrow: "A literal treehouse... I do technically own this right? It's a shame if it weren't, the place should be huge considering how Cyrus ranted about the whole s.p.a.ce expansion thingymabob."

Muttering to himself, he shrugged his shoulders in amus.e.m.e.nt and decided to explore the place in the next morning.

Closing his game and pocketing his scroll, Qrow looked at the miraculously asleep Aurum and the Ariene who's uncomfortably breathing hard in a not-so-lady-like manner.

Qrow imagined her more grown up and even more dangerous, ready to pounce and ravage Aurum's already tattered chast.i.ty.

Qrow: "Oh what has the world come to... eh. We'll cross the bridge when we get there."

And with that, he covered himself in a blanket and laid down flat into the ground, praising the surprisingly comfortable wood before letting the fatigue take over.