Due to the low number of Fox-centric fics, and how much fun I had writing Insomnia, I have decided to finally put out a Fox/Coco piece. This is a sequel to Insomnia, though it can be read independently. Enjoy!

HOOOOOONNNNNKK!

Fox clapped his hands over his ears, his sightless eyes widening and his teeth gritting together in a vivid expression of agony. The airhorn's painful cry split through his head like an icepick being driven into his skull. His entire brain felt as if it was ringing.

HOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNKKKKK!

They held it down longer this time, holding it to his other ear. He couldn't hear! He knew that, if he could, he would be subjected to the snickers of those heartless bullies. The airhorn was probably better.

Weeks ago, he and Coco had personally handled a group of second-years who had been tormenting Velvet. This had involved a thorough beating along with Coco breaking one of the jerk's legs. For a while, it had seemed as if the bullying was over. Then, about two seconds ago, a cry of "Hey, gimpy!" followed by a loud overload of Fox's senses told him otherwise.

Fox's knees trembled, but he forced himself to remain standing. Keeping his left hand over his ear, he swung out with his right, meeting only with air. "Dammit!" he hissed, right before another HONK caused him to press both hands against his head once more.

He didn't dare take a step. His legs were shaking so badly, he'd certainly fall. Then, he'd be crouching under the loud onslaught, and that would utterly destroy what little pride he had left. All he could do was bite his lip, refuse to whimper, and hope desperately that it would be over soon.

HOOOOOO-fnfffff-CRACK!

The next honk was suddenly cut off with a sound similar to air whooshing through a very limited space, followed by the sound of snapping plastic and metal. Fox's ears were still ringing, but it was impossible to miss Coco's voice shouting a stream of curses that would make any grandmother go into shock. The angry shouts were punctuated with very frequent snaps, thumps, and cries of pain that were definitely not coming from Coco.

Fox kept his hands over his ringing ears, taking deep breaths, trying to regain some form of balance, when a strong arm wrapped around his shoulders. Instinctively, he slumped back against Yatsuhashi's chest with a barely-audible groan. The larger boy held him carefully as Velvet's small hand pushed some of his hair from his brow. He could hear the Faunus's gentle voice, but his head was still pounding too much to understand what she was saying.

A gentle tug caused him to start moving as Yatsuhashi steered him away from the fight. Fox vaguely recognized the path leading to Team CFVY's room and breathed a sigh of relief. Even with his head pounding, he could feel the piercing stares of his fellow students. He didn't know what he hated more; the fact that some of those stares were condescending like those bullies, or the fact that most of them were probably full of pity.

He heard Velvet open the door and moved away from Yatsuhashi. Though he was still discombobulated, he certainly didn't need anyone showing him the way to his own bed.

"Thanks," he murmured, lightly pushing his friend's protesting hand away before stumbling across the room and falling onto his mattress. Groaning, he kicked off his shoes and pulled his legs in, curling up in a ball.

After a moment, he felt a light hand on his arm. "Want me to get an ice pack?" Velvet asked.

The ear that was pressed into his pillow felt slightly better, but his other one was still throbbing. "Sure," he replied. He heard the door open and close.

Yatsuhashi's voice called from the other side of the room. "Wanna talk at all?"

"No."

"Okay."

Fox sighed, closing his eyes. One thing he liked about Yatsuhashi was that he would never pursue a matter when asked not to. Velvet would have kept trying to talk. She meant well, certainly, and Fox was grateful that she cared. Still, sometimes it was better to just sit in silence.

As if on cue, the door slammed open and Coco's voice filled the room. "Ha! Those sons of bitches will be packing their bags by the end of the week! You guys should've stayed. Goodwitch came storming over to yell at me. Once I showed her the airhorn and witnesses backed me up, though…" Coco trailed off with a chuckle. "I thought she was gonna fry those bastards right on the spot! She led them off and was shouting something about expulsion. Hope the door knocks them upside the head on the way out!"

"Coco." Yatsuhashi's voice carried a slight tone of warning.

Coco tilted her head before Yatsu nodded in Fox's direction. Wincing, she saw that her partner had pulled his comforter over his exposed ear. "Sorry, Fox. I'll tone it down."

Fox made a muffled sound of gratitude that didn't come close to summing up how happy he was to hear Coco's voice, painful though it was. "You didn't get in trouble at all?"

"Nope!" Coco grinned triumphantly as she plopped down on Fox's bed. "I don't think that Velvet or you will ever have to worry about those losers again."

"You didn't kill any of them, right?" Fox pulled the comforter back down.

"I considered it, but the paperwork would've made it so not worth it," Coco replied, reaching over to rub Fox's arm. "They won't be forgetting me anytime soon, though."

"I doubt anyone could," Fox said drily. A soft sigh left his chest as his partner moved up to rub his shoulder before massaging the back of his neck. Usually, his pride would tell him to pull away, but that part of his brain always seemed to shut itself off whenever Coco was involved.

Coco grinned at Fox's comment before allowing her expression to soften. Ever since she became his partner, she had been trying to break through the shell he had obviously been building up over the course of his life. He was silent and purposefully intimidating to people he didn't know, and ridiculously grouchy to those he was close to (namely, the members of Team CFVY). He resented anything resembling sympathy and became incredibly flustered when touched.

This quiet acceptance of her hand was all Coco needed to know that her partner was definitely at a low point. Or, maybe he was finally accepting that it wasn't shameful to receive comfort from friends. (She was more willing to go with the former.)

The door opened and Velvet came in bearing an ice pack. "Hey, Coco. Did you destroy them completely or leave a few pieces for burial?"

Fox silently raised an eyebrow at the fierce edge in his teammate's voice. She had never gotten so angry when the bullies had attacked her.

Coco laughed. "Nah, I left them in Professor Goodwitch's care." She reached out to take the ice pack. "I'm putting the ice on, Fox."

"Okay." Fox still winced at the sudden coldness when Coco placed the ice over his ear. Thankfully, it started numbing the pain right away. He could feel his teammates looking at him. "I should be fine in an hour or so," he said, hoping that would be enough to shift their worried gazes away from his pathetic form. Coco was still rubbing his neck and shoulder. He couldn't bring himself to shrug her off.

Velvet eyed Fox for a moment. It looked as if he was in one of his moods when he would shut out most of the people around him, with the occasional exception of Coco. At least he's letting Coco comfort him this time, she thought to herself as she crossed the room to sit next to Yatsuhashi.

Her partner smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she sat down on his bed. She smiled, leaning into his chest.

Yatsuhashi rubbed Velvet's arm and kissed the tip of one of her rabbit ears. "He'll be fine," he muttered.

"I know," Velvet replied softly. "I still worry, though."

Then, she looked at Fox's bed and felt a smile replace her worried frown. Fox had shifted closer to Coco and had closed his eyes. Some of the angry lines on his face were gone and he was beginning to look almost calm.

Fox let out a yawn. His brain was still buzzing with the memory of the airhorn and his pride was still in tatters, but he could feel himself drifting off just the same. Coco's warm, soft hand moved up to his hair and started lightly stroking it. He could smell coconut-scented moisturizer combined with the always-present smell of metal shrapnel and smoke that came from Coco's frequent usage of her minigun.

That gentle hand was soothing his nerves better than the ice was. After a few minutes, he felt Coco removing it before returning to her ministrations on his hair. The slightest smile came to his face. In his drowsy state, he found himself wanting to curl closer to Coco, almost like how Velvet and Yatsu had started doing over the past few weeks.

Don't be stupid, he berated himself as darkness clouded his mind. You're only putting up with this because you're tired. Tomorrow, it's back to your usual self. The last thing you need is to be seen as a weakling who needs a hug every time things get difficult.

With that thought firmly embedded in his brain, Fox allowed himself to fall asleep.

Coco watched as Fox's breathing grew steadier. His brows relaxed and the smile he had been trying to suppress stretched fully across his sleeping face. Her heart warmed at the sight. Only happy when you're asleep, huh Foxy?

Glancing over her shoulder, Coco checked to see if Velvet and Yatsuhashi were watching. Thankfully, they seemed completely intent on their notes at this point. Quickly, she leaned down and touched a soft kiss to Fox's forehead. She allowed herself to linger there for a few seconds, feeling the warmth of his skin on her lips, before pulling back.

"Feel better, Fox," she muttered before standing up and walking over to her own bed. She had some studying to do.

I have moments like this as well: wanting comfort, but being too proud or too embarrassed to ask. I think lots of people have that problem, since society tends to push us to hide our issues and not show weakness to others. Like Insomnia, I see this being a twoshot. I'll try to get the other chapter out soon.

Praise Monty and peace out!