Ruby at Atlas

By: FunahoMisaki

(A/N: I own nothing and read last chapter)

"This will be your room Rose. There is a bathroom attached through the door on the right wall and the door on the left wall leads to a small study that you may use as you wish. You are allowed to decorate and design your room as you wish but do not make any structural changes without consulting one of the teachers or myself first." Ironwood said walking to the room and opening the door for Ruby who was blown away.

"Wow…this bigger than mine and Yang's room on Patch." Ruby said awestruck by the size and Ironwood merely chuckled.

"Well you are technically an employee so you do get one of the employee rooms, the student dorms are not quite as….luxurious I suppose we could say. You also have your choice of eating with the other students and employees in the Mess Hall or cooking your own food here. Honestly I'm sure many would prefer you to be in the Mess Hall so that you can socialize with your fellow students or at least the other teachers and employee's. Communication will be key in many aspects of a Hunters Life after all." Ironwood said while Elm toted the girl inside and dropped the girl and her suitcase on the bed.

"Thank you!" Ruby immediately latched onto Elm in a hug and then dashed at Ironwood and hugged him, throwing the man for a loop. Winter snickered slightly as she whipped out her scroll as quick as a flash and took a picture of the look on his face, as well as several pictures of Ruby hugging the stunned and confused General.

Marrow was snickering as well, Clover and Vine were smiling slightly, Harriet was glaring and looked annoyed, and Elm just laughed at the girls audacity.

Not many hugged the General after all, especially not an energetic little slip of a girl not even 16 yet.

"Um yes well…you're just being given the same rights as all the other employee's…" Ironwood said hesitantly patting Ruby on the head and the girl seemed to like that as she leaned up into his hand and made a happy noise.

"Your scroll will be able to unlock your door and as your bodyguard until your training is complete so will Specialist Schnee's scroll. Of course in case of emergencies then the teachers, myself, and the security force including the Ace-Ops will be able to open your door as well. We will not do so however without a good reason or your express permission to enter the room. We take personal spaces very seriously here at Atlas." Ironwood said coughing slightly to regain his composure once Ruby released him.

"That means we can have a sleepover if we want to!" Ruby said almost immediately jumping onto Winter happily at that idea and the usual reserved former heiress let out a small laugh.

"That's not quite what it's for." Winter said smiling slightly at the girl who was roughly the same age if just a little older than her younger brother Whitely.

"Loopholes Winter! Loopholes! They are a womans best friend!" Ruby said earning a snort from Harriet at that while Elm was laughing uproariously, she seriously was loving this kid and couldn't wait to see how she did in a real fight. Winter herself snorted slightly but coughed into her hand to hide it while Ironwood took one look at the wide almost devious grin on Ruby's face and winced. He had known her mother after all and was well acquainted with her father and uncle both.

"Rose I generally will not care what you do on your own time as long as you continue to get your work done efficiently and in a timely manner but do not destroy my school please." Ironwood said and Ruby blinked wide innocent silver eyes up at him, and being reminded of her eyes he did have to call Ozpin about recruiting the little silver eyed warrior into his school…something he was sure the man already knew and was rather miffed about but wouldn't show it much.

Which meant he had to have Winter on hand to catch the brief displeased look when Ironwood brought it up on their next call. That was fine, he was grooming her to be the new Winter Maiden anyways so her knowing a little earlier about things like the legend of the Silver Eyed warriors wouldn't hurt much. After all many people considered it to be just that, a legend…and that was only the ones who knew of it to begin with which were mostly older folks.

"I knew your mother. She had that exact same look just before something happened that either caused a lot of property damage or a lot of ego damage for someone. Don't aim it at me and don't destroy the school and I will not get in your way." Ironwood said flatly to the girl who blinked at that before grinning even wider.

"Don't worry sir! I already damaged enough egos for today!" Ruby said and almost immediately most of those in the hallway or room glanced at Harriet who's eyebrow twitched dangerously.

"I am not afraid to kick some uppity brats ass." Harriet said glaring at Ruby who just smiled brightly at her while Elm snorted.

"You tried that earlier and ended up flat on your back wheezing for air for almost a full minute. Might want to wait until after the girls combat assessment to try again." Elm said grinning at her fellow Ace-Op who growled at her audibly.

"I'll show you to your new lab and workroom for your projects and weapon smithing now. It's just a quick two minute walk down the hallway. Your scroll will also be able to unlock your lab so I suggest you don't lose your scroll." Ironwood said ignoring the two female Ace-Ops who looked like they were about to duke it out right here and now and instead leaving the room to walk down the hallway, Ruby happily having to almost jog to keep up with him.

Seeing how fast she had to move to keep up with his long strides Ironwood slowed down a little bit.

"Apologies Miss Rose. I forgot that you had short legs." Ironwood said smirking slightly at the girl who pouted up at him.

"Just you wait until I get my growth spurt!" Ruby said making Winter chuckle, having heard something similar from both of her siblings before.

"Keep telling yourself that squirt." Harriet said smirking slightly and making Ruby poke her tongue out at the other woman.

"You have no room to talk! You're just as short as me and unlike you I'm not full grown yet so neh!" Ruby said pulling the bottom of her eyelide down as she kept her tongue poked out at Harriet who had a blood vessel ready to bust in her forehead as Marrow and Elm snickered none too quietly.

"Why you little-"

"Harriet! Act your age and stop falling for her taunts. Flying into a rage will lead to you or your teammates getting injured one day." Ironwood said sharply to the specialist who grumbled and glared at Ruby but backed down.

"And Miss Rose kindly stop taunting her. Yes I know she's an easy target to poke at who needs to learn some anger management but let her learn it on her own time by choice instead of you forcing her to learn it." Ironwood said sternly to Ruby. He'd allow her some lenience because of her age and the fact that she was likely Autistic and had no idea how to actually interact with other people….or at least had a very limited idea of how to interact with other people… but he would not allow her to run rampant throughout the Academy and Military unchecked.

"Sorry sir. Sorry Miss Harriet." Ruby apologized quietly as she looked at the ground.

A sharp look from Clover made Harriet sigh too and grumble a bit more as she crossed her arms.

"Sorry bout my temper squirt." Harriet said grumpily and Ruby beamed at her with two thirds the radiance of the sun, with enough cheer behind her smile to stagger Marrow and Elm much less Harriet.

"That's okay! My big sister has a temper too. Sometimes it's too much fun poking at it until she blows up so I guess I was treating you the same. It's mostly my fault." Ruby said brightly and Harriet…had no clue how to react to that. The girl was pretty much just using the only template for someone who had her temperament and working off of it…and it was someone like the girls older sister so obviously the childish almost sister like teasing and taunts…

"Damnit now I can't even be mad." Harriet muttered under her breath but by Marrows snicker he heard her loud and clear. Stupid dog with sensitive ears.

"Now Miss Rose. This is your workshop." Ironwood said stopping in front of a door and throwing it open.

Ruby was completely blown away and the amount of pure childlike wonder and awe on her face had the others feeling a bit embarrassed or outright chuckling at the girl.

She had never had a workshop like this before.

Ironwood was practically tackled with a hug, much to everyone elses amusement while Winter snapped pictures.

This was going to be such a good year for cute pictures and blackmail.