InsaneJournal

Ruby Rose | Team RWBY (eyesofsilver) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2019-04-01 05:49:00

Cisco was glad to have his routine back, even if to some it seemed monotonous. To him, routine was necessary. Work, home, weekends off. Wash, rinse, repeat. It helped him feel better about the wonky state of their dream lives vs. reality. At the Agency he felt like he could make some sort of difference concerning them. He had a purpose. He thought he might not having given up an identity he also loved before all this, but he was starting to see the new lab as his new home base not just “the other home base.” Cisco needed that structure.

Today though, that structure was a little off. He was quiet, he didn’t come in blaring the usual obnoxious pop music he loved. Nope, today he sat at his computer station watching his screens monitor space. Hoping beyond hope that there was no way for Zoom to come through that screen. He’d had a nightmare of a dream, it threw him off. He thought Zoom was gone, but he wasn’t. Far from it. It was yet another person they’d loved and trusted, he’d betrayed them. Cisco wasn’t his usual cheerful self. Far from it.

The Scourge had broken through, what was to stop his nightmares from it too? He’d had a vibe that shook him. One he’d never hoped he’d have again. He’d brought his gym stuff, but he’d forgotten what time it was. He was transfixed on the deep nothingness of space. He’d entirely zoned out and lost track of things

---
Dreams could be like that, distracting. Not that Ruby really had been dealing with that at the moment. She knew that there was more. Partially because the battle at Haven hadn’t felt like the end, but also because she knew Yang had started them again. While she hadn’t read her sister’s post on the matter, that didn’t mean Ruby was unaware of the fact. Besides, there had been a lot going on.

Like how Dr. Simmons had wanted her and Cisco to look into making weapons or things to help someone get out of a building in easily hidden items. Like taser hair clips, or earrings or things of that nature. Which was what Ruby was planning to bring up to Cisco for ideas. Or that at least had been the plan but she wasn’t blind. While there was a lot Ruby didn’t seem to notice or really understand, she wasn’t oblivious to the moods of people. Of changes or things to worry about. And Cisco was definitely not doing okay.

“Um, Cisco…? Are you okay?”

He was staring at the screen for his satellite and had been for awhile now. But no alarms or alerts were going off to say that someone’s Dreams had crossed over again. So right now, it was waving her hand in front of Cisco’s face to try and break through the haze before more drastic measures might need to be taken.

Not that Ruby knew what those measures would be yet. For now it was waving her hand in front of his face.
---

Cisco was pretty easy to read. He was a terrible liar and an open book when it came to some things so he often just didn’t try. Unless it came to the Agency, then he could be secretive. With this kind of work he knew it could mean harm to those he cared for if it was revealed, so that much he could manage-but beyond that? Emotions weren’t exactly a mystery with him. Especially with the return of Zoom. That guy haunted his dreams for ages. Then his visions, and now he was back again? Cisco wasn’t going to let that guy come to this place to destroy what they had there too. Even if it meant he keep extra watch on his satellites then so be it.

Or so he thought when the hand snapped him out of his daze. “Hm? Oh I’m fine.” Gut response. He wasn’t fine. “I was just thinking.” Waiting, hoping nothing bad happened. If it did happen he could be right at the keyboard and maybe do something about it. It was better than being caught off guard, again. It was some manner of control.

“Sorry did you need something?”

Had he missed something? He tried to give her his attention but ended up needing to rub his eyes instead. They were tired of staring at that screen. He hadn’t done much else since he came in.
---
Ruby was very good at bottling things up, so she didn’t exactly believe Cisco when he said as much. Besides, she was a team leader and that helped in her being able to tell that something was definitely troubling Cisco still. She’d been team leader of two teams really and as she had told Jaune back at Beacon’s, being team leader meant putting the team first.

Cisco might not be on her team in that regard, but that didn’t mean she was going to ignore the fact that something was also still clearly bothering him.

“Nope, nothing that can’t wait.”

It really wasn’t all that pressing a matter, she could pass along Dr. Simmons’ request once Cisco was in a better place.

“Something’s bothering you, though. It’s like you’re waiting for something. Or I mean, I guess, I can’t really think of why you’d be watching the satellite feed like that otherwise.”
---
Cisco on the other hand was shit at it. Try as he might, he wasn’t able to hide his feelings. Ever since the return of Zoom the other day he was on edge. That breach before had taught him anything could happen. The fact that his drone was no longer evidence was going to be put to use later too, it could explore the city faster than he could. Hell it’s camera could keep up with the Flash at mach one. In theory. Granted he’d not had a chance to test that theory, but whatever.In his mind it worked.

“”I guess I was waiting. Sort of. More like watching. Worrying, that kind of thing.” He gave her a strained smile as he sat up in his chair a bit straighter than he had been before. “I had one of those dreams again. It threw me off.” He admitted as he glanced back at the screen again.

Space didn’t change much, at least not fast.

---

Ruby gave a small nod as Cisco said why he was watching the screens in the way he was. She could get that. There were times that she worried the Grimm would return but she also knew that there really wasn’t anything they could do about that either. There was no known way to stop things from crossing over.

She also knew - even though she almost never let it show - how the dreams could throw someone. The Fall of Beacon. Uncle Qrow being poisoned…. But otherwise, she was always in ‘leader’ mode, and put her team first to focus on them and try to help them. So that’s what she was going to do with Cisco. Help. Even if she didn’t know quite how yet.

“They can do that… but letting yourself get consumed by the what ifs won’t help in the long run. You’ll just make yourself sick and not be able to help if something happens.” There was no rhyme or reason after all. Beyond the fact that when things crossed over, they usually lasted a few days to a week, but actually knowing when something would cross over or what? That was something else entirely. “All we can do is focus on our lives and living each day at a time and moving forward.”

Be it in coming to terms with something painful that might have happened, or dealing with the Dreams.

----
Cisco rubbed at his eyes, staring at the screen like that probably wasn’t the best thing for them but he couldn’t help it. He chewed at the inside of his cheek a bit as he glanced back at it again for good measure. Still nothing changed. Still just space. The abyss was easy to get lost in. “Logically I know I just..after last time I want some kind of early warning detection system. I’m not sure it’s possible but..I don’t want to lose anymore memories or time.” He wasn’t sure it’d happen the same way again, but the thought of it occurring twice was a bit scary. Tony had found him so he’d been lucky the first time around, but a second time? Who knew what would happen.

“I’ve been thinking about how to create one with the satellites, I have a few ideas but it won’t be easy. If it actually does work.” If it did work then what? It wasn’t like they could stop things from happening, but at least he could brace for potential pain.

He stood after a moment and stretched an arm over his body. He got pretty stiff sitting like that. “Sorry, I know it’s ridiculous.” Getting caught up in what if’s would lead to a rabbit hole he couldn’t do much about. And yet..
---

Well that was vague and concerning. Then again, Ruby had been out in the field the entire time as she usually was. But she did understand the desire to have warning. Wouldn’t it always be better if they knew ahead of time and be able to do more? But that wasn’t how it went unfortunately. They just had to do what they could and be okay with that. Not the easiest of things but what else was there to do?

“It’s not ridiculous, you want to be able to know ahead of time because it could help people. But…. I don’t think it’s possible.”

True, anything was possible. But Ruby had a feeling that given how long all the weirdness had been going on? If there were actually something that could have been done to have a warning system that didn’t rely on people from the Dreams having abilities to see things or the like…. Well, it would have been figured out by now.

“Sorry. I know that’s not what you wanted to hear. But… yeah, I think it would have been figured out by now if there were something that could be done to have some sort of warning. So we make do with what we have.”

---
“I don’t know what I want to hear.”He admitted, maybe something more..possible, but it was what it was. He sat back down in that chair and leaned against the console. “I feel useless.” He wasn’t sure what his place on this team was. He couldn’t do much thus far beyond get weird visions. He hadn’t been able to provide any backup for said visions in the form of fighting, or helping beyond being the warning system himself-but he’d only gotten them maybe less than a day?

He was in a bit of a funk and didn’t know how to push himself out of it. He wasn’t normally so negative, but that was all he was feeling, all his internal monologue was. Negative thoughts and negative voices. It was only serving to sinkhole his mood and it wasn’t exactly making him exciting to be around. “Sorry, not the most fun company right now.” He admitted a bit half heartedly. Usually he was able to pull himself out of moods, look at cute things, or whatever but it was difficult finding motivation to do that either.
---
Not knowing what you wanted but hear was also valid. It was a tricky situation. Ruby definitely understood that. Still, at least there were no Grimm around. Cisco's current state of being would be like a flashing neon sign for them since they were attracted by negative feelings.

“We all have our strengths, sometimes it just takes longer to figure them out.”

Shrugging, Ruby leaned against a counter, tilting her head to the side as she tried to figure out some way to help. Though she was pulled out of that by the apology, which was met with a shrug.

“Its fine. It happens to everyone.” Again, something Ruby was familiar with, even when she didn't have answers or know how to help make things better.

“We could train?”

Yes, she had jumped back in the conversation to Cisco saying he felt useless. True, she was better at weapons and long distance fighting as opposed to hand to hand fighting - that was more Yang's or her dad's area of expertise, but she could still help someone unfamiliar with it.

“It might help with the feeling useless thing.”

It was worth a shot at any rate.
---
A wisp of dark hair flopped into his eyes as he watched that monitor and put his cheek on his propped arm. Glancing over at his shorter colleague he raised an eyebrow. “Train? What like Rocky?” Oh god. Cisco hadn’t worked out since high school, and it was gym class, and they’d made him or he failed. Poor Ruby.

---
Ruby should probably know what that reference meant, but as it was? She didn't. So instead she just blinked in confusion.

“Um, maybe?”

No matter.

“I mean building up stamina is good. But also just some basic self defense type things and hand to hand fighting tips so you can get by.”
---

“If you say so. I mean, I’ll try but the last time I even worked out was High School P.E. and I’m pretty sure I flunked. So don’t laugh when I’m awful?” He had a few confidence issues, especially when it came to body image and coordination. He was as coordinated as a blind bat. But, he’d also never been properly trained.

Cisco was a little anxious when it came to fighting and field work. He didn’t necessarily want to be a field agent-but learning how to defend himself at least wasn’t the worst idea ever.

---
“It’s fine! I’m better at long distance fighting with weapons. But again, it’s better to at least have an idea, yeah?” Just as she couldn’t always rely on Crescent Rose or her eyes, the same could be said for Cisco and….well, not being able to do anything with his fighting or defending himself.

But being anxious made sense. Still, Ruby was Ruby and it wasn’t like she was the type to laugh at someone or make fun of them for things like a lack of coordination.
---
Stiles wasn’t even going to believe this if he told him, that was how not often Cisco “worked out”. His idea of working out was Skyward Sword. Video games. But at least it was an interactive video game? He had enough coordination to swing a pixelated sword. That was about it.

If anything this would give him opportunity to not think on Zoom, or the nightmares, or his brain making up nightmares of Dreams. Whatever it was, all signs were pointing to better than staring at the monitor in wait.

He stood and nodded. “Lead the way” His first attempts would probably not be pretty, but that wasn’t really the point anyway. “Start small is probably a good idea yeah.” His powers weren’t exactly of the fighting verity -at least that he was aware of yet, so some form of defense was a good idea.
--
Ruby was all too familiar with the throwing herself into anything else in order to not think about the Dreams or the guilt from them. Which worked for awhile, but never too long. But it was still a reprieve and it was at least something that would be useful for Cisco to learn as well.

So with a nod, Ruby pushed herself off from the counter she’d been leaning on and started walking to the training room and as they walked, she put her hair up into a top bun so that it wouldn’t get in her face. Yes, she was used to fighting with it down but she figured for training purposes, probably better to have it out of her face.

Luckily she had workout cloths in a locker - again, she was used to fighting in whatever she was wearing, especially a combat skirt and boots like the dreams - but again this was training, so she’d go with those instead. So pointing Cisco to where he could change, Ruby went to change herself and then went to the training room to stretch some before they got into the actual training.

Or what she could teach at least. Starting small worked for both of them in that regard. Cisco since this was new, and Ruby since close combat hand to hand was definitely not her speciality.
---
A reprieve was exactly what he needed. Constantly busy thoughts were doing him no favors, especially when it came to sleeping at night. Lately times awake had outweighed times asleep and it was not cute.

He followed her lead into the training area once he’d gone off to change on the guys side. It was a little weird being back in a gym, especially when it was empty-but maybe if it helped then whatever. It couldn’t hurt right?

Nobody was ever going to believe this happened. He’d have to take photographic evidence. Cisco met her back out in the open once he’d changed into sweats and another novelty shirt-basically his entire wardrobe was them. “What’s next, we go get coffee and act like we did this?” He teased, half teased. He was trying to lighten the mood a little bit on his end of things even if he was still a little flat. Cisco was never one to stay down permanently.
--
Who knew, perhaps the working out would help with the sleep issue by making Cisco more tired on a physical level. It was a theory though not one Ruby was actively thinking about. Mostly she was just wanting to give the other engineer something else to focus on and something that could help him if he was up against something and no one was nearby.

And at least he was trying to lighten the mood. Ruby knew that game all too well. Pretend to be fine but also never letting herself stay down for long. It wasn’t who she was - even if some might say she just ran from her problems.

“No, we actually do this then get coffee.” At least for Cisco, she’d probably get tea. “First we stretch. I mean, in the middle of a fight you won’t have time for that but since it’s just training right now, we stretch.”

Some rambling as it was Ruby. But also it would be good since Cisco would be using muscles he hadn’t used before - or at least in a long time. Which was why she was also going to show him stretches her dad or sister would use when they would get ready to practice.
---
He deflated a little. “Should have guessed.” He didn’t really know how to stretch aside from what he’d learned in high school with that butterfly seating thing on the floor. Carefully he watched her. Copying to the best of his ability what she was doing, and wincing a little when said stretching got all too real. Great, even the beginning part was painful. Well, he wasn’t thinking about Zoom anymore?

“Fine, if I survive we get coffee.” He smirked and would at least try in spite of his jokes that he was completely terrible, to do decently. Cisco could throw a basic punch but the way he did it would likely result in his breaking his own hand as well. Or at least severely hurting it.

---
All Ruby asked for was that Cisco at least tried. After all, that was the point of this. She wasn’t expecting him to know exactly what to do or anything like that. And honestly it was also nice in a way. To be able to help and give basics when this wasn’t necessarily her strong point.

And since it was Cisco’s first time, she’d be nice and not add in her semblance where she would be using her speed and burst into rose petals. That would be for later on if they kept this up.

Today was just for the basics. And it was clear that Cisco at least was trying, so Ruby called it a win once they finished.
---
He was definitely not ready for something more complicated yet but at least he would be able to learn how to punch someone if need be without breaking his own hand. Things like that were probably important in a city of crazy disasters and random magical events-so he did pay attention. Some guys might have thought it was awkward to learn from a girl, but she really knew what she was doing. He was the one who tripped over his own feet at times. It didn’t matter who taught as long as they were skilled in the art of not doing that.

“Give me like ten years to catch my breath and then coffee?” He was a little more alert than when she’d found him already so quietly staring at his desk and monitor. It was a step up at least
---