The bullhead hummed beneath my boots, steady and loud enough to keep conversation to a minimum, not that I wanted to talk. Not right now.
I sat near the back, staring out through the reinforced glass window as Vale's skyline gave way to distant forests and oceans. Patch was still a couple of minutes away now, but I already felt like I was being dragged toward a courtroom with no lawyer, no defense, and a jury made up of people I royally screwed over.
Which, yeah, sounds about right. Luckily, I won't have to pay child support.
Do they even have child support here in Remnant?
That's a thought I should care about later.
I leaned back in my seat and pressed a hand to my ribs. The ointment helped dull the pain, but it was still there, sharp and slow, but I no longer feel the burning of the fire or the cold ice dust on my skin.
But that wasn't what hurt the most.
No, what hurt was the clock ticking in the corner of my vision: the damn System reminder, like a cursed deadline looming over my head, which it was.
Main Mission:"I'm Back with the Milk!"
Time Remaining: 29 Days, 2 Hours
Progress: 0%
"Getting punched by Hazel, poisoned by Tyrian, stabbed in the stomach, flatlined, and I still think this reunion's going to hurt more." I muttered to myself.
Qrow, sitting in front of me, turned his head slightly. "You say something?"
"Just talking to my intrusive thoughts," I said with a shrug. "They're a real chatty bunch."
Qrow snorted but didn't press. He just leaned back, arms folded, flask untouched at his side. That was rare. Usually, by this point, he'd have taken at least two swigs and made three sarcastic comments about whatever mess we were in. But not now.
Even he knew this wasn't the time for jokes, which was kind of scary. Knowing a character from a show you watched loves drinking, but when they aren't drinking, it's very intimidating.
I glanced down at my scroll, which was in my pocket. Still out of battery. Figures. Probably better that way. No distractions. No excuses. Even if it had charge, I wouldn't even want to check it until I am settled down and in a safe environment.
Yeah… probably for the best after all, I barely have any idea what's going to happen, and it's best to take it one step at a time.
Then bullhead gave a low rumble as it began to descend. I could see the island, which is Patch, coming into view now, lush forests, calming water, the kind of scenic postcard view people retire to when they're done with all the killing and near-death experiences.
So, this is what Patch looks like. If I remember correctly, Signal Academy should also be here, so there should be people, but all I see is mostly trees due to the forest.
The pilot's voice crackled over the speaker. "Touchdown in five minutes. Winds are light, landing should be smooth.
"Smooth for you," I muttered, tightening the cloak around my shoulders as I sat up a bit. "I'm about to walk into a damn warzone."
Qrow stood up and looked at me. "You sure you're good to walk on your own?"
"Define good," I said, gritting my teeth as I forced myself to stand. My ribs throbbed in protest, but I didn't care. I have to get used to the pain since I will have to walk around.
"Not gonna collapse halfway down the ramp," Qrow muttered, but his voice lacked the bite. More concern than sarcasm.
"Not planning on it," I said, steadying myself. "I don't want to make an embarrassing scene before it goes to hell. But if in which case I die, dibs on being buried somewhere nice."
Qrow didn't laugh.
Okay, that was fair.
The bullhead engines hissed as the landing gear touched the ground with a dull thump, and the hatch began to lower. Warm wind swept through the hatch, carrying with it the scent of pine and salt.
I followed Qrow down the ramp, each step sending a fresh jolt through my side. The moment my boots hit the ground, I took in my first full breath of Patch's air.
It was… clean.
The trees swayed gently as a breeze rolled across the path ahead of us. Birds chirped, and somewhere in the distance, I thought I heard a dog bark. It was peaceful. But I knew that beneath the surface, not everything was safe. This forest had Grimm, and I wasn't sure how many, but I know there are some here.
I remembered that Yang mentioned on the show that when she was younger, she tried to find Raven and took Ruby with her in a cart because she didn't feel safe leaving her sister alone. During their journey, they were cornered by Grimm in the forest until Qrow saved them.
Buzzz
I looked around, wondering if I had really heard something or if it was just in my head. Probably just in my head.
But it felt weird.
Ding!
Wild Card Skill: Dad Sense is active.
Oh, I forgot about that skill I got. It seemed that when I talked about Yang doing that, my skill activated, so I guess this was an example of a bad decision, which triggered my sixth sense I got from this skill.
"Cass, you coming or not?" Qrow asked as he paused ahead, looking over his shoulder.
"Yeah, I am," I said, catching up to him.
I caught up to Qrow, boots crunching against the dirt trail that made its way into the woods. We weren't heading toward any official landing pad or station, just a narrow path through trees that probably led straight to Taiyang's house.
"Bit off the grid, don't you think?" I asked, adjusting the weight of the cloak on my shoulder.
"Yeah, well, Tai likes his space," Qrow replied, walking a straight path. "After everything that happened with Raven, and you leaving, taking care of Yang, and helping Summer with the twins, it's a lot, and this was the best spot Tai can find to build that cabin."
Fair enough.
Wait... Summer had twins, and I am the father of twin daughters. Oh no! I'm the father of the main character of the show, which also means Tai never got too close to Summer. I'm not even sure how old the twins are, but they must be around two years old since Yang is two years older.
Great.
I went from being a sarcastic barista and writer with a love of anime to being the deadbeat dad of one of the literal protagonists of RWBY. And now I get to meet her… and her twin sister that wasn't supposed to exist.
I really changed the timeline of how this will affect the future, didn't I? Since Ruby never had a twin sister, and there's a possibility that Ozpin might try to recruit both Ruby and the other twin early to Beacon.
"Stop panicking," I muttered under my breath. "You're a grown man. You were chosen to be transmigrated, don't fail now. You can survive meeting two toddlers and a probably still angry ex-girlfriend."
Qrow slowed his pace, and through the trees, a wooden cabin came into view. It was a two-story cabin with flowers at the front.
"Looks peaceful," I said, more to myself than him.
If anything, I felt comfortable here, but I also felt excited since I remembered seeing this cabin in the show, which I never thought I would see in person.
We approached the front door as I felt the world spinning. Is this what it feels like to have an anxiety attack? Because I think that is what I am experiencing.
Qrow then turned to me and looked at me seriously. "You sure you're ready?"
"No," I said honestly. "But if I wait until I am, I never will be."
It's not like I had a choice anyway; if I don't do this, I will die because I haven't completed the main quest.
Qrow gave a small nod, then turned back toward the door. He didn't knock, he just opened the door.
Wait... did he bait me into thinking he would knock on the door? You drunk bastard! Wait until I'm healed, and I'll break a beer bottle on your head!
But this was Qrow, after all. Manners weren't exactly his specialty, even being drunk all the time is still his specialty. I will still hit him on the head when I have the chance one day.
The hinges creaked as the door swung open, and warm light spilled out from inside the house. The smell of coffee and fresh cookies hit me like a memory I didn't have. It was the kind of homey scent that said, "You're safe here."
Why does my heart feel happy to be here? Is Cassian's feelings still active while I'm in his body?
"Qrow? That you?" called a familiar male voice from inside.
I tensed immediately. I knew that voice from anywhere in the show.
Taiyang Xiao Long.
"Oh no," I whispered, standing awkwardly next to Qrow like a teenager caught sneaking in after curfew. My hand gripped my coat as I trembled; I was nervous as hell right now.
"Yeah," Qrow called back. "Brought someone with me that you would like to see."
A heavy pause.
Then the sound of a chair scraping against wood, footsteps approaching where Qrow and I were.
Taiyang appeared, wearing shoes and dressed in sweatpants and a faded red shirt. His hair was a bit messy, and his familiar blue eyes lit up as he smiled at Qrow. However, when he turned to look at me, his smile vanished, and he froze in place.
He didn't speak. Just stared.
I stared back.
Have you ever seen a man go through the five stages of grief? Well, instead of grief, it's heartbreak, betrayal, anger, and disbelief all at once. Because Tai's face was cycling through every emotion on the damn stages.
"...Cassian?" he finally said, voice low.
"Hey," I said, while waving at him, "Nice place."
Tai didn't say anything.
Then, in the blink of an eye, he moved.
And punched me in the face.
My vision went black for a second as I staggered back, nearly falling on the floor. My ribs screamed in protest, my balance failed, and only Qrow's grabbing my shoulder kept me upright.
I'm not going to lie, Tai's punch might not look like much, but it hits like a truck. At least it doesn't feel like the train that killed me on Earth.
"Okay, yeah. Fair," I wheezed. "Totally deserved that."
I blame Cassian for this. This guy let me take his punishment. When I pass away, I will find you, and I swear I will make sure you never want to see the light again!
"You bastard!" Tai growled, fists clenched and eyes burning. "You vanish for almost threeyears, leave Summer to raise your kids alone, and then just show up?! You think you can just walk in and say 'hey, nice place' like you didn't—!"
"I know," I cut him off, my face hurting and chest heaving in pain. "I know I messed up. I know I don't deserve forgiveness. Hell, I don't even know if I deserve to be back here. But I am. And I'm here because I want to make it right."
It is also about correcting Cassian's mistake and surviving because the system wants me to meet the twins, but not like I can say that, cause that will make me look insane.
Tai took another step forward, like he was ready to throw another punch, but Qrow slid between us.
"Enough," Qrow said, voice low. "You can be angry, Tai. Hell, I'm angry. But save it for after he recovers and talks to Summer."
"Summer doesn't need to see him!" Tai snapped.
"She deserves to choose that for herself," Qrow replied seriously, not liking what Tai said.
Tai glared at him, then at me again, his jaw tightening, like he was weighing whether breaking my nose would make him feel better.
Finally, he exhaled hard through his nose and stormed off, possibly going to the kitchen, muttering under his breath. Probably about me being a jackass.
Can't argue with him there. The original Cassian was a jerk and possibly one of the worst people in remnant like Raven to leave, but I don't know the full story, so I can't make that judgment based on limited facts.
Qrow looked back at me. "You okay?"
"Nope," I croaked. "But thanks for the catch. I almost cracked more of my ribs."
He gave a tired smirk. "That's one way to start a reunion."
We stepped inside as I closed the door.
The cabin had a warm and cozy atmosphere, creating a homely vibe. Toys and colors were scattered across one corner of the floor. A family photo on the wall featured Tai, Summer, Yang, and two small girls. One of the girls had black hair with red tips and striking silver eyes, while the other had entirely black hair and golden eyes.
Ruby and another girl...So these girls are my daughters.
"Their names are Ruby and Sapphire. Ruby is the older sister, while Sapphire is the younger sister. Ruby is two minutes older." Qrow said as he saw me looking at the photo.
Ding!
[Affection Tracker Status Updated!]
[Daughter 1]: Ruby Rose
Age: 2
Status: Asleep
Aura Type: Red
Recent Emotional Activity: Very tired
Affection Rating: 0 / 100
[Daughter 2]: Sapphire Rose
Age: 2
Status: Asleep
Aura Type: Dark Blue
Recent Emotional Activity: Very tired, Happy to be with her twin sister
Affection Rating: 0/ 100
I stared at the Affection Tracker like it might bite me.
Zero. Of course, it was zero. What else would I expect? Nothing changed even in the hospital when I woke up, when I got here, I have to spend time with them personally to get the affection rating up.
And yet... the sight of their names, Ruby and Sapphire Rose, did something to me. A strange warmth that flickered and flared inside my chest. Maybe it was Cassian's leftover instincts.
Or was it mine?
All I knew was that I wanted that number to go up.
Even if it took every second of the next twenty-nine days, I will get it done.
"Still with me?" Qrow asked, noticing how I froze in front of the family photo.
"Yeah…" I said, voice low. "I just... didn't think seeing their names would hit like that."
He didn't say anything. Just gave me that look of his—one part sympathy, one part 'you deserve this.'
Fair. I do.
The cabin was quiet now, save for the soft ticking of a clock on the wall and the toys and colors in the corner of the room. Apparently, the girls had been awake not too long ago, probably ran the house ragged, and passed out from the effort.
That made Tai and Summer take them upstairs to rest; Yang is probably with the twins, probably sleeping as well.
A stuffed Beowulf plush toy was sitting on the left side of the sofa, and next to it was a piece of white paper covered in colorful drawings. Someone had done a fairly good job, although it was a bit messy. Overall, it was a nice representation of a grimm Beowulf.
"Let me guess," I said, pointing to it. "Ruby's?"
Qrow smirked. "Nah. That one's Sapphire's. She tried to take it into the bath with her once. Cried when Summer took it away."
I chuckled softly, then winced. Laughing hurt.
Of course it does! Remember, you've got cracked ribs, right? I also got punched in the face, which caused my body to move more than it should have, making my ribs hurt like hell.
Qrow tilted his head. "You good to go upstairs?"
"Yeah," I lied. "Let me meet them. Even if it's just… watching them sleep."
Qrow led me to the stairs, the wood creaking under each step. I followed each movement as slowly as possible, not to make too much noise. We stopped at the first door on the left. A simple wooden sign hung from the handle:
"Ruby & Sapphire's Room"
It was decorated with red and blue glitter.
Qrow glanced at me once more, then gave a nod. "Don't wake them. Tai will kill you. Again."
I opened the door quietly as I entered and closed the door softly.
Inside, the room was dark but cozy, featuring two small beds on opposite sides, both adorned with stuffed animals and tiny pillows.
In one bed, a girl with black hair and red tips slept soundly, clutching a small red cape to her chest. Ruby.
In the other bed, there was a girl with pure black hair holding an Ursa Grimm plush toy, which was Sapphire. Her fingers were wrapped around the Ursa plush as if it were her favorite.
My feet stayed frozen just inside the doorway.
There they are.
My daughters.
[Image]
They looked so peaceful. So untouched by the pain of this world, they are so innocent.
They didn't know that I'd left. That I had failed them.
But they would. One day.
And I had to be ready to answer for that, whether I had the answer for that or not.
I took a shaky breath and stepped further in, kneeling down beside Ruby's bed. She resembled Summer quite a bit; if she were to grow her hair a little longer, she would look just like her. From what I could tell, Ruby was full of innocence, potential, and hope.
Even as she slept, there was a cute smile on her face. The kind of smile the was so pure that it shouldn't have been even born to this cruel world.
I reached out, just an inch from brushing her hair out of her face.
But I didn't touch her. I didn't have the right.
Instead, I just whispered.
"…I'm sorry,"
The words barely left my lips. Just a breath. A whisper.
Not enough. Never enough.
But it was all I had.
I stayed there a moment longer, watching Ruby's tiny chest rise and fall with soft, steady breaths. She was safe. At least for now. And I would die again if it meant keeping her that way.
Turning my head, I looked toward the other bed. Sapphire.
She looked more like me.
There was something sharper in her face, less soft than Ruby's, more focused, even in sleep. The grip she had on that Ursa plush was almost possessive, like even in her dreams, she didn't want to let it go.
Maybe she already had a sense that things could disappear.
I moved across the room quietly, favoring my left side as my ribs throbbed with each breath. I knelt by her bedside too, slower this time.
"You've got your big sister with you, which is great. She'll protect you. But I'm here now, too," I whispered, not expecting a response. "I'm not sure what kind of dad I'll be, but I'll do my best for both of you."
Ding!
[Father-Daughter Moment Triggered]
Affection +2 with Ruby Rose
Affection +4 with Sapphire Rose
Current Affection:
Ruby (2/100)
Sapphire (4/100)
Bonus Trait Unlocked: [Emberheart – Lv. 1]
Description: When near your children, you passively generate a calming aura that weakens negative emotions and slightly slows Grimm aggression.
I blinked.
Huh. That actually worked?
Maybe the system was measuring more than just time spent. Maybe it cared about sincerity. Or pain. Or something else entirely. Either way, it was a start.
Ding!
[Main Mission Updated: "I'm Back with The Milk!" - Completed!]
Objective: Meet your daughters, you horrible human being!
Rewards redeemable for completing your main quest: Permanent Skill Unlock, [Unknown Perk], and… a Father's Day card.
Ding!
Side Quest Unlocked: "Welcome to Patch, You Disaster Dad!"
Objective: Land on Patch and Enter the Xaio Long Cabin!
Rewards are now redeemable when you want to claim them!
I didn't say anything else. I will look at the system rewards and quests later, for right now, I didn't want to wake the twins up. I just knelt between their beds for a few more seconds.
Long enough to feel the moment of nervousness go away and feel calm.
I stood slowly, my knees aching a bit as I rose. One last look at Ruby and Sapphire.
"I will do my best to protect you," I whispered again, softer this time, like saying it aloud made it real. I promise that I will keep it no matter what. "Even if the world burns… I'll make sure you both are the ones that don't get hurt."
I stayed a little longer, just enough to memorize their sleeping faces. This wasn't some dream I could shake off. This was real. They were real. And even if I wasn't their original father, even if I wasn't the Cassian who had left them.
That had to count for something.
I turned slowly and looked toward the door, every step screaming in my ribs, but I didn't care anymore. Pain was familiar. Guilt was louder. But this moment? This was mine.
I paused with my hand on the doorknob.
Just one more glance.
Ruby was curled tighter around her cape now. Sapphire, still gripping her Ursa, had turned slightly in her sleep, her brows furrowing just a bit as if she heard me.
They were so small.
So unaware.
So full of everything I never had.
I closed the door behind me as softly as I could closed it quietly behind me.
What I didn't know was that a little girl's eyes opened after the door closed. She stood up and started crying silently as she held tightly to her Ursa plush as her voice cracked.
"...Daddy.."