The hidden Secrets (Rwby fanfic)

Previously on "The Hidden Secrets" Ruby reveals her bullied past and Lewis spends his first night at the Ironsmyths house where he pretends to be Lewis Ironnsmyth while wondering how Edward deals with all this.

The heat of the forge wrapped around Lewis like a heavy blanket, the scent of metal and burning coal filling his lungs. It was familiar, yet distant—another thing that belonged to the life of Lewis Ironsmyth, not to him. His mother, Lydia, watched him with quiet scrutiny as he stepped inside, her sharp eyes flicking over his posture, his attire, the tension in his shoulders.

"You're later than usual," she noted, setting down a half-polished dagger. "Did something happen at Signal?"

Lewis shook his head, forcing an easy grin onto his face. "Nothing out of the ordinary. Just a long day." That much was true, though it hardly covered the full extent of his exhaustion.

She studied him for a moment longer, then nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Your father's in the back finishing up a commission. You should go say hello before he gets too deep into his work."

Lewis swallowed the lump in his throat but nodded. He turned down the familiar hallway, past racks of half-forged weapons and projects in progress, until he reached his father's workspace.

The rhythmic clang of hammer on metal reverberated through the air. Thomas Ironsmyth stood at the forge, sweat glistening on his brow as he worked a piece of hot steel into shape. His strikes were precise, each motion refined by decades of practice. He barely looked up as Lewis entered.

"You're back," Thomas said, voice steady. It wasn't an affectionate greeting, but it wasn't unkind either. His father had always been a man of actions more than words.

"Yeah," Lewis replied, stepping further inside. He watched the hammer rise and fall, shaping something that would soon become a masterpiece. "You're working late."

Thomas huffed, setting the hammer aside. "Deadlines don't care about the time. You'd do well to remember that."

Lewis nodded, knowing full well it was an unspoken reminder of his own responsibilities. He had grown up with these expectations—to inherit the craft, to carry on the family name, to be a smith worthy of the Ironsmyth legacy.

If only they knew the truth. Thomas finally turned to him, eyes assessing. "How's your training?"

"It's... going well." A carefully measured response.

His father nodded. "Good. You're expected to start working on your own projects soon. The skills of a smith and a fighter go hand in hand, and I won't have you falling behind in either."

Lewis forced himself to hold his gaze. "I understand."

Thomas studied him for a long moment before sighing, picking up a cloth to wipe the sweat from his hands. "You seem distracted."

Lewis stiffened slightly. "I'm just tired."

Another long silence stretched between them before Thomas finally nodded. "Get some rest, then. You'll be no use to anyone if you're worn out."

Lewis nodded and turned to leave, but as he did, he caught his reflection in a polished metal blade hanging on the wall. The face staring back at him was still unfamiliar. Still not his.

Later that night, in the quiet of his room, Lewis sat by the window, staring out at the stars.

His mind drifted back to Edward—his only anchor in this world, the one person who knew his truth. Edward had been here longer, had lived in this world as if it were his own. Did he struggle like this too? Did he wake up feeling like a stranger in his own body?

And then there was Ruby. Not the Ruby of this world, but the one he had lost. His little gem. The pain of that memory settled in his chest like a weight he couldn't shake. He had failed to protect her once. He wouldn't make that mistake again.

No matter what, he will be strong enough this time. Strong enough to keep Ruby Rose safe. Strong enough to fight against whatever this world had in store for them.

Even if it meant continuing to wear the mask of Lewis Ironsmyth. Even if it meant pretending he belonged.

Morning came too soon. The soft glow of dawn barely crept through the curtains before Lewis forced himself out of bed. His body ached—not from combat training, but from the sheer exhaustion of pretending. Every day at Signal was a balancing act between being Lewis Ironsmyth and the person he had been before waking up in this body.

Still, there was no time to dwell on that. He had classes to attend, and more importantly, he had to check in with Edward and Ruby.

After a quiet breakfast with his family—filled with the usual expectations and occasional scrutinizing glances from his father—Lewis made his way toward the airship dock, where students bound for Signal Academy were gathering. The cool morning air carried the distant sounds of Patch waking up: the ringing of a blacksmith's hammer, the chatter of vendors setting up shop, the cries of birds soaring overhead.

Standing near the edge of the platform was Edward, arms crossed, looking just as composed as ever. His dark brown eyes met Lewis's as he approached, and there was an unspoken understanding between them.

"Rough night?" Edward asked as they boarded the airship.

Lewis exhaled, running a hand through his white hair. "Same as always."

Edward didn't press further. He never did. That was something Lewis appreciated about him—Edward knew when to talk and when silence was enough.

Once they landed at Signal, it didn't take long to find Ruby. She was sitting outside the classroom, knees tucked up to her chest, staring at the floor with a far-off look.

Lewis felt his chest tighten. She looked so small. So much like her.

He pushed the thought aside and forced a smirk on his face as he walked up to her. "Oi, Ruby. Didn't think you'd be the type to mope before class."

Ruby looked up, her silver eyes flickering with surprise before softening. "Oh… morning, Lewis, Edward."

Edward sat down beside her, and Lewis crouched to meet her gaze. "What's wrong?"

Ruby hesitated, chewing on her lower lip. "I was just thinking about yesterday. About Eliza."

Lewis's jaw clenched. "She's still bothering you?"

"No… Not really." Ruby sighed. "I just… It felt good standing up to her. But I keep wondering if it'll be enough. If people will really stop seeing me as some fragile kid."

Lewis exchanged a glance with Edward before sighing and ruffling Ruby's hair. "You are a fragile kid."

"Hey!"

"But," he continued, smirking, "that doesn't mean you're weak. You proved that yesterday. And if anyone still doubts you, well…" His smirk darkened slightly. "They'll have to deal with us."

Ruby's lips twitched into a small smile. "Thanks, guys."

Edward nodded. "We're a team. No matter what."

A bell rang, signaling the start of their first class. Ruby stood up, stretching her arms. "Alright, alright. Let's go before we're late." As they walked inside, Lewis's thoughts lingered on Ruby's words.

Would it ever be enough? For her, maybe. But for him? For the man who had already lost his Ruby once before? Lewis didn't know. But he wasn't about to take that risk again.

No matter what it took—no matter how much he had to pretend—this time, he would make sure Ruby was safe. Even if it killed him.

Edward P.O.V

Edward had never been one for sentimentality. He'd grown up with the understanding that strength was something earned, not given, and that the only way to protect those who mattered was to make yourself into a shield they could rely on.

It was why, when Ruby had looked up at him just now, her silver eyes still clouded with doubt, he hadn't let himself falter. He knew that hesitation only gave people like Eliza room to strike.

So he had done what he always did. He had stood beside her, beside Lewis, and reminded her that she wasn't alone.

And yet… As they stepped into their classroom, something nagged at the back of his mind.

Was it enough?

Edward took his seat near the middle of the room, dropping his bag onto the desk with a dull thud. Across from him, Lewis leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as if he were trying to ward off exhaustion. Ruby settled into her spot a few rows ahead, still fiddling with her scroll like it held the answers to the universe.

The lesson started, but Edward barely paid attention. Combat strategies, tactics—he already knew all of this. His mind was elsewhere. He wasn't blind.

He'd seen the way Lewis had stiffened when Ruby had spoken about Eliza. Seen the way his expression had darkened for just a fraction of a second before he covered it with that cocky smirk of his.

Lewis was keeping something from him. That wasn't unusual—Lewis was always hiding something—but this was different. This wasn't just the weight of his family's expectations or his frustration with his Semblance. This was something deeper, something personal.

And Edward didn't like it. His grip tightened on his pen. Because whatever it was, it had to do with Ruby. By the time class ended, Edward had already made up his mind.

"Lewis," he called as they packed up their things. "Walk with me."

Lewis blinked, then smirked. "What, finally decided you can't get through the day without my charm?"

Edward rolled his eyes. "Just shut up and walk."

Lewis chuckled but followed without protest. They left the classroom, blending into the stream of students heading toward the next lesson. Ruby had run off to grab something from her locker, which gave them a few moments of privacy.

Edward didn't waste time. "You hesitated earlier," he said.

Lewis didn't respond immediately. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his usual laid-back expression slipping just slightly. "Did I?"

Edward wasn't in the mood for games. "Don't play dumb. When Ruby talked about Eliza, you flinched."

Lewis was silent for a moment, then sighed. "It's nothing."

"Bullshit."

That got a reaction. Lewis's head snapped toward him, his smirk faltering just enough for Edward to see what lay underneath.

Pain.

Real, raw pain. Edward exhaled sharply. "…It's about her, isn't it?" Lewis's shoulders tensed at that question.

Edward wasn't even sure where the words had come from. He had nothing concrete to base it on—only instinct. Only the way Lewis looked at Ruby sometimes, as if she were something fragile, something precious. Something he had already lost once before.

For a long moment, Lewis said nothing. Then, in a voice so quiet Edward almost didn't hear it, he murmured, "…I won't lose her again."

Edward stopped walking. Lewis did too, his expression unreadable. The hallway around them was still bustling with students, but at that moment, it felt like the world had gone quiet.

Edward didn't know what to say. He had always known Lewis carried secrets. But this—this was something else entirely. It wasn't just about protecting Ruby. It was about saving her.

Edward exhaled slowly, then placed a firm hand on Lewis's shoulder. "…You're not alone in this, I'm here this time and I… WE can do something this time."

Lewis blinked, startled. Edward met his gaze, his own resolve hardening. "You hear me?" Edward repeated. "Whatever this is, whatever happened before… you're not alone this time."

Lewis stared at him for a long moment. Then, finally, he let out a small breath. A breath that sounded almost like relief. "…Yeah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, I hear you."

Edward nodded once, then let go. The moment passed, but the weight of it lingered. Without another word, they continued walking toward their next class.

Edward didn't know everything yet. But that was fine. Because if Lewis was determined to protect Ruby… Then Edward would be there to protect both of them.

No matter what… it won't be the same as last time.

(To be honest I'm surprised people still read this story considering the absolute horrible amount of bad grammar and the lack of any actual plot but if your wondering where I've been well I'm a streamer now on twitch and my name is Babbabear_Ed and I'll be streaming on the Saturday 22 Feb 2025 it'll be with a few other people who are mainly my Dads friends their also streamers at the end of each of my streams which are usually 2-3 hours long but at the end of each stream I'll do some story writing be it this one or my other ones so I'd really appreciate it if you guys and girls come and watch also I would appreciate it if you helped me with my other story as I'm having a writers block on that story)