Chapter One: Ruby the Kindergartener

The little girl frowns at the lesson her teacher is giving. It almost sounds like the woman pacing back and forth is angry at the topic. But why should she be? Teacher has never been angry to teach something before. Not even numbers; and Yang once told her that the teacher never liked sitting down and doing numbers with the class.

Ruby's frown turns into more of a pout as the teacher lists things off. It all sounds wrong. These can't be signs someone is a demon. Sometimes Ruby's aunt's friends have black eyes. Sometimes her uncle turns into an animal. Sometimes Yang makes things burn when she's angry.

And besides, why should she stay away from demons?

Ruby doesn't interrupt, because teacher doesn't like it when people interrupt. There is an obvious conclusion to the rant that Ruby sticks up her hand and waves, like a few other kids.

"-don't ever break a summoning shape. Yes, Mr. Oran?"

"What happens when if you break a summoning circle?"

"Summoning shape, Mr. Oran, because not all demons use the common circle. If you break it," the teacher gets a dark look on her face, "very bad things will happen. Ask the librarian for some resources on the aftermath of circle breaks, if you are interested. Ms. Rose?"

The teacher will get in trouble by the librarian for directing curious kids to them, but not as much trouble as she'll get in later for her answer to Ruby's question. "What if they are a good demon? Can we talk to them?"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Rose, but there are no good demons."

If there was such a thing as luck, then it would be pure luck that Qrow is the one picking the girls up from school that day.

"Why the sad face, kiddo?" he asks, ruffling his youngest niece's hair.

"My teacher today said all demons are bad," Ruby mutters, kicking a rock. She doesn't see her uncle stiffen or her sister's face flash with fear. "Is that true, uncle Qrow?"

"'Course not," Qrow drawls, fake smile plastered on his face. The girls relax. "And if they were, you've got us hunters to protect you."

"Nuh uh," Yang taunts, punching the air. "We're the ones who will protect you!"

"Maybe against the small fry," Qrow ruffles her hair, making the blonde's eyes turn red as she attempts to punch him. "Too slow!"

Something in Ruby's head won't let it go. Her uncle must have known; whether by the look in the girl's eyes or something else entirely, she doesn't know. He stays for dinner that night; a rare occurrence since she does know he doesn't like staying in one place for too long.

"Mum? Are demons bad?"

Taiyang chokes on his meal while Qrow pauses, food above plate. Yang drops her fork and stares at her sister, fear hinting at her gaze. Summer has gone very silent, hand clenched around her knife.

"…Most are," Summer says quietly, ignoring the pissed-off glare Qrow sends her way. "It's important not to think of demons in terms of good and bad, though. They aren't people, so good and bad doesn't apply to them."

"There are good demons," Qrow says hotly. He ignore Taiyang's attempt to stop the argument about to happen. "Danny saved your life, Summer. Are you saying she isn't a person?"

Yang jumps to her feet, eyes wide. "Wait a second. Aunt Danny is a demon?"

"Qrow," Taiyang groans.

"What?" their uncle protests. "They have a right to know." He turns to the girls, ignoring the parents protesting and demanding her leave. "Your aunt's runaway house really is for everyone."

"That's not funny," Yang protests, shaking.

Ruby just tilts her head. "But… that means she was summoned, right?"

"Don't, Qrow," Taiyang warns, jerking the man back into his seat.

"She's one of my best friends," Qrow hisses, red eyes locking on Summer's white ones. "She was your friend too, once."

Summer looks down in shame.

"Get off, Tai," Qrow sighs, shaking the man off. "I'm taking the kids to their aunt's house this weekend to get this sorted. You're welcome to come, like you always are."

The parents try to talk the kids out of going. Ruby, though excited, picks up on just how scared she older sister is at the thought of facing their fun aunt. The young girl can't understand how her sister went from loving time with their aunt to being afraid. When she asks, Yang replies with a quick, "I don't know any nice demons. Are you sure you want to go?"

Ruby does, and understands Yang doesn't hide the day their uncle comes to pick them up because the older sister is doing this to protect the younger girl. Still, the redhead is practically bouncing in excitement. It dims slightly when she realizes they are talking a transport plane to their aunt's house. "She isn't picking us up?"

"Your aunt didn't think you'd appreciate her showing off her semblance," Qrow answers.

Yang sighs in relief, but Ruby frowns. They already know their aunt can teleport. This seems like a waste of time, not getting to the house as soon as possible. Two hours by plane, and then another two hours by bike, to a young girl feels like forever.

But forever ends and they reach the house in the middle-of-nowhere-forest, Vale. Their aunt doesn't come to greet them, but that doesn't damper Ruby's spirits. The small girl ignores her sister's call for her to wait and uses her semblance to run to the door. She knocks a lot, and then waits impatiently for their aunt to open the door.

"Are you really a demon?" Ruby asks in a hurry, cutting off her aunt's hello.

The short, frail looking woman freezes in place. Blue eyes shift from the small girl, to the scared blonde, and finally to the resigned man. "I am now." Then she shifts, smiling like nothing is wrong, like she isn't scared, and opens the door wider. "It's good to see you girls. Qrow. There are cookies just coming out of the oven, if you want some."

Ruby squeals and runs to the kitchen. Yang follows, glaring at her aunt as she stalks after her sister.

"How are you holding up?" Qrow asks, keeping an eye on his former partner.

"As well as I can," Danny replies, eyes trailing after the girls. "Do we really have to do this?"

"Scared of the tots?"

"Scared of what comes after."

"How are you a demon now, but not before?" Ruby asks through a mouthful of crumbs. Yang holds her cookie like a weapon until her uncle sits down and eats on. "Did someone summon you? Can you do really cool magic stuff?"

"Remember to breath, Ruby," her aunt laughs, taking out another sheet of cookies. Stress baked goods line the counters. "I didn't mean to become a demon, yes, and sort of."

"How can you not mean to become a demon?" Yang asks moodily. "You either are or you aren't."

"Doesn't quite work that way," Qrow pipes up, waving his cookie through the air. "Most demons are born, sure. But halves like me can become full-fledged if we have enough people worshipping us."

"You're a half-demon?" Yang says, going pale. Her eyes get impossibly wide. "What about your sister?"

Ruby is the only one not to pause at the question. "You have a sister, uncle Qrow?"

"Yah," Qrow says slowly, putting the cookie on the counter and glaring holes at it. "I do."

"Wow," Danny says with a small laugh. "It's all really going to come out today.

"Alright, so, before anyone interrupts, most demons aren't bad people. I'm sure if there were nicer summoners in the world, then the horror stories wouldn't have been so bad. Now, having said that, don't expect a demon to be excited to see you unless you know them. I love you girls, and I would never do anything to hurt either of you. Yang, you aren't bad if you are a demon, or are related to a demon. What makes you will always be you."

"But I still have demon blood, don't I?" Yang says, burying her head in her hands.

Ruby blinks in interest.

"Laws don't consider you a demon offspring," Qrow drawls, clenching and unclenching his fists. "Raven wasn't a full demon before you were born, and your father is completely human, like Danny was."

"Wait," Ruby blinks, completely ignoring the fact that Yang isn't her full-blood sister; she already knew. "Humans can become demons?"

Danny makes a face. "Order of inheritance. Sometimes a demon's power is controlled by balancing magic. The magic split and I got half and then I, erm… accidently killed the demon that had the other half of the magic. And voila, your aunt's now a demon."

Yang looks more relaxed now, knowing her aunt was once human. She slips out of her chair and hugs the woman.

"Does that mean aunty can't be summoned?" Ruby asks her uncle, confused and letting the other two have their moment.

"She currently is summoned," Qrow answers, a small smile aimed her way. "Until we found out her demon status, her brother used to summon her."

"Uncle Toby can summon?" Ruby crinkles her nose in disbelief. "But he's not a hunter."

"You don't need to be a hunter or huntress to summon demons," Danny says, amused. She shoos Yang back to her seat before she starts handing out drinks. "You don't even need an active aura. It's all about symbols and intent."

"The stronger the will, the stronger the demon," Qrow says, mocking saluting with his drink. "Took me one try to summon your aunt."

"You were stupid," the woman deadpans.

"One try," he taunts.

"Your uncle used a basic circle to try and summon me," Danny explains to the lost girls. She throws him a glare. "He's just lucky I was listening, because he should have gotten a random demon."

"So, anyone can summon you?" Ruby asks, worried.

"No," Danny smiles softly and taps the table. "When I'm here, in this side of Remnant, only those with my sigil and name can summon me. When I'm in the demon side of Remnant, anyone can summon me if they have my sigil or if I answer a simple summon request."

"What about if they force you through?" Yang asks, thinking back to her friends talking about their parents summoning techniques. "Do you, like, break out of the summon shape?"

"I probably wouldn't be too happy, but I wouldn't be able to break out," Danny explains, playing with a cookie. "Only the summoner can break the circuit, but," she waves a finger at them, "never go inside a summoning circuit. And don't break the circuit if you don't trust the demon inside."

"Isn't that mean though?" Ruby pouts.

"How do you break a… circuit?" Yang asks.

"Sometimes you don't have time for a shape, so just make a circuit," Danny explains. "Just smudging the line should work to break it, or blowing out a candle if you're into that type of summoning. And Ruby, it may seem mean, but not every demon will want to be your friend. You should really only let a demon out if you trust them with your life."

Yang opens and closes her mouth a few times before she decides on a question. "Uncle Qrow, aunt Danny… who's got control over you now?"

"Not a full demon, kiddo," Qrow says with a smirk, messing her hair. She growls at him and tries to attack his hand. "Got to be faster if you're going to catch me."

"Qrow's my summoner at the moment," their aunt says, bemused.

"Does that mean he can make you do anything?" Yang asks, shock breaking her away from attacking her uncle.

"I trust that he won't make me do something I don't want to do," Danny replies with a shrug. "But yes, he could if he really wanted to. If I didn't want him as my summoner, I'd just pop back to the demon side until someone else called."

Yang frowns. "Doesn't staying here take a lot of en-"

"Could we summon a demon?" Ruby asks, jumping up in her chair. Qrow is quick to grab her before she falls. "I want to prove to my teacher that demons aren't all bad!"

"Oh?" Danny raises her eyebrows, gaze flickering to the man. "So that's how this all started, huh?" He nods sharply back. "Why don't I just come to your class on Monday?"

"You're uncle Qrow's summon!" Ruby says, horrified at the thought. "I don't want to take you from him."

The adults laugh, much to the kids' confusion. Yang jumps to her feet, frustrated. "Why are you laughing? Ruby's just being polite about it!"

"We know," Danny chuckles, coming down from her amusement. "And, if it's alright with your uncle, I'll teach you the basics of summoning under two conditions."

"Hey, I'm all for this," Qrow waves off their expectant stares. "It's why I brought you here. Better to experiment supervised then to screw around later."

Danny's cough sounds suspiciously like 'hypocrite' but she smiles at the kids and tells them to finish eating and meet her out back. When they eventually rush out, she's drawing symbols on the concrete of a make-shift basketball court. "The first condition I have to teaching you is that you mustn't do any of this yourself until I tell you. Agreed?"

They chorus their 'yes'.

"I mean it, girls," Danny warns, brushing chalk off her hands. "You can't do this at home, on the school yard, or anywhere you think you can. Only in this backyard and only if I supervise."

"Understood," Yang says with a mock salute. Ruby jumps to attention and copies her sister.

"The second condition," Danny kneels down in front of them, pale and serious. "Never make a deal with a demon. Even if you think your life depends on it."

"Isn't that the saying, though," Yang jokes. "Don't make a deal with a demon."

"It is, and for good reason." Danny stands and flicks her wrist. A new piece of chalk appears and she goes back over to drawing symbols. "You shouldn't ever have to make a deal, but make sure the ratio of humans to demons in the room is three to one if you ever start considering one."

"Why?"

"They'll talk you out of it," Qrow says humorously.

"I am going to get in so much trouble for this," Danny says, smile bright on her face. "One of you needs to come over here, the other go stand with your uncle." She barely blinks and Ruby is standing before her. The woman holds up a piece of chalk. "I'm going to draw a circle, and then you're going to sit down at that symbol. Got it?"

Ruby confirms and watches with wide eyes as her aunt's lines seem to mold into a perfect circle. The young girl buzzes with energy and practically dives to the ground when the circle connects.

"I'm going to sit behind you, alright?" Danny asks. Ruby nods quickly and shifts until she's tucked up against her aunt's chest. "This is a simple request circle. We're only looking to say hi to a demon, nothing more. I'm going to pour some energy through you to start the circle, so you know what it feels like, alright?"

"Yep!" Ruby chirps, hands clenching in her lap in excitement.

"Remember Ruby, we're only going to say hi." Danny places her hands firmly on the girl's shoulders. "Focus on the circle, and think about how you would only like to meet a demon for a quick chat."

Ruby's mind goes a mile a minute as she focuses on the center sigil with a single-focus glare. She repeats to herself over and over that she just wants to say hello and meet a friendly demon. She feels a slow trickle over her body, and it feels like the build-up before her semblance activates. Ruby squirms, growing more and more anxious the longer it grows. Then the energy switches and flows out of her body, towards the circle. She couldn't replicate minute energy release, and has no idea how her aunt has enough control to let it out without making it touch the edge of the circle. It should be impossible for non-hunters.

"Are you ready?" Danny whispers next to her ear.

"Yes," Ruby squeaks, eyes wide.

"Remember, just to say hello."

There isn't much of a difference when the energy touches the circle's edge. Ruby waits and waits and… nothing. She reminds herself that it's just a hello. She just wants to say hello to someone. Just a nice, friendly, hello.

There's a few more second of peace.

The air sucks from her lungs. Ruby would have collapsed in on herself if not for her aunt holding her shoulders. Ruby heaves a few breathes, and then the leftover energy fills her muscles and eases her into normal breathing. In her shock, she almost misses the black, men's shoes in the middle of the circle.

"We-huh-elll," drawls a man's voice above the ladies. "Isn't this interesting."

Ruby can feel her aunt sigh behind her. Exasperated, the woman greets him. "Hello Torchwick."

"Hello to you too, Spring Time," the man drawls. Ruby looks up when a cane in planted in the ground. The demon's one visible dark green eye stares at her with unabashed curiosity. "And who might this young snot be?"

Ruby pouts automatically and goes to tell him, but her aunt covers her mouth and answers instead. "This is my niece. Rubes, this is the current leader of Beacon's underground dust trade. Which begs the question; what are you doing answering to non-summons, Torchwick?"

"Can you blame a guy for being curious, Spring?" he replies, eye flickering to the woman and then back to Ruby. "It's not every day a person is so nice as to ask for a simple hello."

Ruby doesn't think of shrinking under the eye that appears to look through her. One of her hand sticks out as she stares in awe. The demon raises an eyebrow, smiling growing even as Danny carefully pulls the girl's hand back.

"First summon, eh?" the man goes to bend down, but thinks twice at the low growl coming from the male half-demon a dozen feet away. "Word of advice, you don't want to go shaking a demon's hand, Red. Trust me; it's not worth tempting us."

"My name isn't red," Ruby pouts again.

"Uh, does it look like I care?" Torchwick scoffs and turns his attention back to Danny. "You got a real nuisance for a niece, Spring. Better be sure to keep an eye on this one."

Ruby tries to turn when she hears her uncle growling.

"Better keep an eye on him, too," Torchwick grumbles, going a bit paler. "Was there anything else you needed, or can I go back to work?"

Her aunt chokes on a laugh. "Right, because you're so busy now."

"What about you?" he throws back. "I can just see you working oh so hard."

"It's autumn," Danny says easily. "I'm on break."

"Oh, sure you-"

"Are you really a demon?" Ruby breaks in.

Both Roman and Danny stare at the girl. A few seconds pass before her aunt starts cackling. Ruby blinks innocently, looking between her hysterical aunt and the disgruntled man. When Danny starts to calm down, she takes one look at Torchwick's face and starts laughing all over again.

"Does this answer your question?" Torchwick hisses, snapping his fingers and lighting his hand on fire.

Ruby stares, unimpressed. "Not really. I know a lot of people who can do that."

Danny starts laughing all over again.

"Look here you little snot," Torchwick starts to bend down again, only to straighten at Qrow's warning growl. "I mean, little brat. I am a demon. I am one of the nicest demons you'll ever meet in Vale, Spring Time over there not included. You do not want to test me."

"Send Neo next time," Danny manages to gasp out. She coughs a few times to clear her chest. "Unless we can get your help to scare some tots in Rubes' class this Monday."

"Wait, that's why I was summoned?" Torchwick scoffs and looks down at the girl. "What did they do, call you names, Red?"

"My teacher said there aren't any good demons."

He blinks for a few seconds, and then turns to Danny with a scowl. "That's it?"

"That's it," Danny agrees, leaning forward with a wide grin. "And Rubes wants to be able to summon someone to show that there are good demons in the world."

Torchwick rolls his eyes. "And she can't summon you. Why not just summon one of the kiddies you're so fond of?"

"Everyone is in another territory right now," Danny admits with a shrug. "She's not calling over multiple borders for her first summon. And I was curious who'd answer her call."

"I'll come," Torchwick sighs. "And if I can't, Neo will be there to surprise the class."

"That's all I ask," Danny says, smiling slipping into a dangerous expression.

Torchwick gulps and then smiles rather softly at Ruby. The girl's taken aback by the mood change towards her. "Your aunt will show you my sigil. And when you want me to come, just say my name."

"-." Ruby wouldn't have thought her aunt said anything if her chest didn't move like she was speaking. "You don't have to do this."

"Aw, but the kid has spunk," Torchwick says, bending slightly over his cane so he can get a better look. "And I'm safe from her as long as I'm in the circle. Wha'do ya say, Red. Want to learn my name?"

Ruby wants to nod. She wants to say yes. Her aunt traps her head and covers her mouth. "- Torchwick."

"You're no fun, Danny," the man sighs and traps Ruby's gaze with his green eyes. "Do you want to learn my name for free, Rubes was it?"

"Yes," Ruby squeaks when her aunt removes her hand.

"My name," the demon says softly, almost fondly, "is Roman Torchwick. I look forward to working with you, little Red."

And then the circle is empty.

"Congratulations, Ruby," Danny says with a groan, stretching her legs and getting up. "You now have the name of one of the best arsonists in Vale."

"Arsonist?"

"He likes to set things on fire." Her aunt helps her up. "Go tell your uncle and sister everything. I'll set up the next circle for Yang."

Ruby then notices that there is nothing on the ground. It's almost as if all the chalk was blown away. That's when it really sets in that she just summoned a demon.

Her mother's going to kill her.

Her mother's going to kill her aunt.

"Are you alright, Ruby?" Qrow asks as soon as she runs over to him. He gets down on a knee and checks her over.

Buzzing with energy and Ijustsummonedademon feelings, Ruby recounts everything with wide eyes and a wider smile. Little by little, her sister and uncle relax. Yang throws her arms around the smaller girl and cries that she's so happy it all worked out.

When Danny calls the elder girl over, Ruby latches onto her uncle and finishes telling the story. When she says the demon's name, Roman Torchwick, her uncle picks her up and hugs her close.

"If he hasn't given his full name to someone, then they can't hear it," Qrow explains. "So just call him Torchwick, alright?"

Ruby agrees and turns in his arms to watch Yang's summoning. It feels strange, watching and knowing that any second a person could just appear in the newly made summoning circuit.

It's another male demon. Ruby stubbornly thinks Torchwick was better looking than Yang's guy.

"That's Junior," Qrow whispers almost inaudibly. "He's Vale's number one information collector, and great with explosions."

"Do you know everyone in Vale?" Ruby asks quietly. She waits, feeling the strange rumbling in her uncle's chest as he growls when Junior goes to kneel.

"Not quite," Qrow whispers before baring his teeth when Junior glances over. The half-demon chuckles, amused at how fast the demons have submitted at the sight of him. "Your aunt knows everyone, sigils and all."

"Was aunt Danny going to be a summoner before she got demon-fied?"

"No," Qrow sighs softly. "She was going to be a huntress. She was almost certified, even though she's a demon. There was a family emergency here and she had to drop out after her second year."

Ruby doesn't get the chance to ask what happened because Yang's summoning finishes without much fanfare. The blonde shoots out of her aunt's lap and runs to the younger girl and her uncle, chatting excitedly about how she got the man's summoning sigil and how he's offered to appear in her class to demonstrate demon summoning.

I got my demon's name, Ruby thinks with glee. Even on Sunday night, when the girls return home with a few books on types of demons and mythology that their aunt lends them, and their parents are stopped from confiscating them by Qrow, does her glee not end. She falls asleep reading about fire demons, and dreams about having a list of names entrusted to her. Roman Torchwick is at the top.

She wonders what her aunt's real name is.

Her aunt substitutes Monday classes, much to Ruby's surprise. The woman homeschools kids from time to time, but Ruby never thought she'd see her here. Eventually, lunch rolls around and her aunt offers to show demon summoning to anyone that wants to see it. After firmly dissuading that demon summoning isn't bad, just not something people should do often as it annoys a lot of demons, her aunt sets up an oval with a fanged face-like sigil in the middle. She calls Ruby over and tells her to whisper the name while thinking about the demon the name belongs to.

Ruby thinks of the dark green eye and bright orange hair. She thinks about how nice the man looked when he wasn't sneering or trying to be tough. She thinks about the cane and black dress shoes.

"Roman Torchwick."

"You called?" smirks the man, leaning forward on his cane.

There are a lot of squeals and screams through the class, but his gaze doesn't stray away from the bright gaze of the small girl who summoned him. He almost scoffs at how soft he's getting. What happened to the man that was beat down by the Spring demon for his name. Judging by Danny's look, she's wondering the same thing.

Ruby bounces on her toes, excited that it worked. Danny goes through the list of things to do and not to do around demons. Torchwick adds his sarcasm every now and then, and then shows off by lighting his hand on fire. The audience of five year olds eat it up.

"See, Red?" Torchwick cackles and starts playing with fire. "That's how you're supposed to act."

Ruby puffs her cheeks and pouts at him. "I still say that's not impressive."

Torchwick's eye alights at the challenge. Danny turns and glares. "Hey Candlestick, don't you dare."

He smirks at her.

Then his whole body is on fire.

"Alright," Ruby huffs at his expectant look, ignoring the screams of her classmates. "That's sort of cool."

"Just sort of?" the demon huffs. "You little snot, I'm just warming up."

It takes barely thirty seconds before a passing teacher notices the man on fire and pulls the emergency alarm bell. Torchwick leaves with a wink just before said teacher runs back in with a fire extinguisher. Danny tries to calm down both the teacher and the kids, while Ruby pouts at the spotless floor left after the demon's departure.

Even though he got her in trouble with her parents later – her aunt was in so much more trouble with them – Ruby still likes the demon guy. Roman Torchwick. She only hopes Yang has more luck with her class and Junior tomorrow.

Disclaimer: I have no rights to RWBY. All rights belong to their respective owners.

A/N: Hope people enjoyed this