Well you saw the authors note last chapter so let's get right into things!

Chapter 1: The Flame of a Family.

Far above the in the skies of Remnant:

"NEIR!" a helmeted man shouted as his ship plummeted towards the ground. "WHAT HAPPENED!"

A small chocolate brown drone appeared over his shoulder as he wrestled with the ships controls. This was Neir, the piolets ghost.

"Vex. They fired a strange beam at us. Damage is critical. We need to land." Neir said.

"HOW ARE YOU SO CALM!?"

"I'm not I have modified my voice modulator to give me a calmer sounding demeanor. I am actually quite terrified right now." The small drone quipped.

"WELL GET ME A PLACE TO LAND THIS THING OR WE'RE AS GOOD AS DEAD!"

"There is a clearing a few kilometers to the north." a small blip appeared on the ships radar.

"Oh this is going to hurt. In-atmosphere thrusters don't fail me now!" the man grunted as he activated the thrusters.

The engines whined in protest but the ship slowly blead of speed before lurching to a halt just above a clearing. Slowly the ship descended into the clearing lowering the landing gear as it went.

As soon as the ship touched down the pilot materialized out of the air and stumbled.

The pilot tossed away his helmet revealing a Caucasian man with salt-n-pepper hair and slight stubble.

"Dear god that was close." The man heaved. "First I get exiled, then that stupid Vex laser beam thing, and now where ever the hell this is."

"To be fair Mason." The little drone appeared over the pilot's shoulder again. "This was hardly the most dangerous thing you've done."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it." The pilot, now named Mason, stood up and examined his ship.

"Dammit. Whatever the Vex hit us with completely fried the warp core and really did a number on the engines. At best, we can make it just past that moon we saw but until we get this fixed, no interplanetary travel for us." Mason sighed. "Neir run a diagnostic check to see if anything else was damaged."

The ghost made a nodding motion. "Right. On it."

"Now." Mason turned to look at the forest. "Where in the name of the Traveler are we…"

...

-Kingdom of Vale 8 months later-

...

She was cold, dressed in rags, hungry, and tired, but she couldn't stop running. She just wanted food so she had stolen a loaf of bread from a bakery but she accidentally set fire to the building… again. And now she was running from the mob that wanted her head.

Why did she have this power? All it ever did was make her life miserable. She didn't want it. Why couldn't she have a normal semblance like a normal person?

The girl kept running down through alleys and side streets until she heard a voice in front of her.

"I'm telling you Neir, it's ridiculous. The man is nuts trying to sell bread for that much. Who does he expect to be able to buy it? The head of the SDC?" A man said as he walked down the street.

He stood easily over six feet tall, with windswept salt-n-pepper hair. He had a scar peeking out through his shirt running down his neck into his chest. His eyes were a brilliant blue and he had a pair of sun glasses hanging from his shirt.

She ducked into an alley and watched as he went to pass. Unfortunately, he must have seen her move into the alley because he called out.

"Hey kid what are you doing out so late? Shouldn't you be home in bed?"

Curse her luck now she'd have to fight him to get away. No doubt the mob would still be coming for her.

"G-Go away. Leave me alone." She said. She couldn't turn around. If she did she would only be running to her doom.

He only raised an eyebrow at her. Was she not scary. She was a monster that just burnt a bakery to the ground!

He took a step closer and she raised her balled fists at him. Another step and her hands covered themselves with flames. That stopped the man in his tracks. Good, now she could-

POOF

Her flames went out in a puff of smoke. Wide-eyed with fear the girl stood frozen. Her flames had failed again. They only ever worked to hurt others. She was doomed now. He was going to kill her. Just like everyone else said they would do.

She closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable. Tears streaming down her face she waited. And waited. And waited. But nothing happened. Slowly she opened her eyes. That man who had called out to her was kneeling in front of her

"EEEP!" She jumped back in surprise.

The man just laughed. "That was pretty cool kid."

Was he mocking her? She was a monster. Her power was not cool. It scared her and hurt others.

She balled her fists again and threw a flaming punch at the strange man but he caught it with his calloused palm. Her eyes went wide. Why wasn't he hurt? All those flames ever did were hurt people, and yet here he was holding her flaming hand with no clear pain or effort.

The man noticed her surprised look and laughed again. "Sorry kid, but those flames of yours are too weak to hurt me." The man smiled. "As a matter of fact, I have my own flames too."

What did he mean by that? And why was he still smiling at her? Had he still not realized that she was a monster?

"See?" The man held out his other hand and in the palm, was a small orange wisp of fire.

Her eyes widened again in shock. This man had flames like her? Was that why he wasn't scared of her?

The man gently pushed the flame towards her. The flame gently sailed through the air and came to rest just in front of her. She could only stare as it gently bobbed and flickered in front of her. This flame was different. Unlike hers, this little wisp was warm and comforting. She was entranced by the small ember. Just floating there, warm and welcoming.

"My names Mason. What's your name kid?" The man asked shaking her from her trance as the flame blew away in a puff of white smoke.

She thought for a moment. This man, Mason, hadn't tried to hurt her and was actually showing some degree of kindness towards her. She liked this man. He didn't fear her like the others.

Before she could reply, however, a group of men ran up behind the two.

"Hey you! Get away from her." One of the men shouted in the group shouted.

Mason stood up from where he was kneeling and turned around to face the crowd.

"Why?" He asked. "She's just a kid?"

"That 'kid' has burnt down seven buildings. She's a monster and a menace to society."

The girl took a step back ready to run, but before she could Mason looked at her. "Monster? All I see is a hungry homeless kid whose doing what she has to to survive." He rubbed his hand on top of her head. He was defending her.

"Just get out of the way man. Give us the kid. We'll all be better off without her." Another man in the group said.

Scared the girl hugged the leg of the man who had showed her kindness.

"And if I don't want to?" Mason put a hand on his hip.

"Have it your way then. Boys get-"

BANG

Smoke fell from the barrel of the pistol Mason held. The weapon had certainly seen better days. Cuts and gashes could bee seen in the frame and the old red paint was nearly all gone revealing the grey gunmetal beneath it. A portion of the grip was missing and hanging from the hammer was a small round medallion with a tree growing out of a dear skull engraved on it.

Where the weapon had come from none of the people in the mob knew. In reality Mason had pulled it from the holster strapped to his leg faster than anyone present could see. In front of the mob there was a small crater where the bullet hit.

"Think very carefully about what your about to do gentlemen. Either buzz off or none of you aren't going home tonight." Mason said with venom in his voice.

Tension filled the air as the mob stared down Mason and the girl. After a minute that seemed like an eternity. The man at the front turned around and started to walk away. "Come on guys. Looks like we'll have to wait for another chance."

Mason watched as the group slowly dispersed before looking down at the child who had her face buried in his pant leg.

Mason knelt again and embraced the girl in a tight hug. "Hey, it's alright their gone now. There's no need to cry."

The two sat in the street. Mason holding the girl tight as she cried. Slowly the girl stopped crying and Mason let go.

"Come on kid. Let's get you cleaned up and get some food in you." Mason stood up and motioned for the girl to follow.

Together the two walked off into the night.

...

-1 Hour Later in a house in the woods surrounding Vale-

...

It took them awhile to make it back Mason's home since it was outside the walls of Vale on the coast.

The house itself wasn't much. Just a small five room home. One bathroom, two bedrooms, a full kitchen and a living room that doubled as a dining room.

Mason showed the girl to the bathroom and told her to wash up while he made some dinner.

"Hey Neir?" Mason said as he turned the stove on.

"Yes Mason?" Neir materialized on the counter top.

"I've been thinking…" Mason opened a cabinet and took out some salt and pepper. "We've been on Remnant for a little under a year now-"

"8 months, 9 days, 14 hours, 10 minutes, and 46 seconds to be exact." Neir interrupted him.

"Yeah yeah." Mason waved him off. "But I was thinking… why should we go back? We were exiled after all. I'd be hunted down and killed if we went back so why not stay here? It's mostly peaceful and the grim aren't much of a threat to us."

Neir was silent for a moment the only noises being heard were the sound of the girl in the shower and the sizzle of a hamburger in a pan.

"I would like that Mason. Not having to worry about you dying and being able to life in moderate peace would certainly do my processors some good. And while I may not approve of what you did to get us exiled I would rather stay by your side then have our link severed." Neir eventually said. "A Life of moderate peace… I would like that."

"You keep saying moderate peace. What do you mean by that?" Masson asked as he flipped the burger.

"Do you really think you're going to stay out of trouble Mason?" If the ghost could raise an eye brow Mason was sure it would be doing that right now.

Mason just laughed. "Fair point."

The two sat in silence again as Mason finished up cooking.

"Mason?" Neir hovered in front of the Hunters face.

"Mmm?"

"What do you plan to do with the girl?" Neir turned his optic toward the bathroom door.

Mason silently put the food on a plate before answering. "I think I'll adopt her assuming she'll accept living with me."

"Any particular reason why?"

"If I learned anything from being a hunter Neir, it's that even with you around, in the wild it gets lonely. Having a kid would be a good change of pace. That and I can't just let her go back to the streets. Those people tried to kill her." Mason sighed. "I am not a good person Neir. All those dirty plays in the crucible and stolen glimmer prove that. But I've told you this before. I always wanted to be a dad. I wanted to have a kid who looked up to me. Hell, I'd even settle for the weird uncle roll so long as the kid liked me."

"Don't sell yourself short Mason. You are a good person and I'll try to support you so long as my processors are still going." Neir said.

Mason smiled. "Thanks Neir." Mason held out his fist and Neir tapped his chassis against it in so odd form of a fist bump.

A moment later, just as Mason sat down, the door to the bathroom opened and a small girl stepped out. Her long wavy black hair hung loose down one side as her hazel eyes scanned the room. She wore an oversized black hoodie over the rags she had been wearing earlier. Slowly she made her way to the table and sat across from Mason.

Mason pushed the burger towards her and smiled. "Here eat this. I'm not the best cook in the world but it should still be pretty good."

The girl eyed him carefully, suspicion was written all over her face. She poked the burger testing it before taking a tentative bite. After a moment, she ravenously ate the burger and soon it was gone.

Mason let out a chuckle. "Guess you were hungry huh."

She nodded.

"You know. You never gave me your name after we were interrupted by that mob." Mason said. "Mind telling me your name?"

The girl looked down and scratched her cheek. "Cinder… My name is Cinder Fall."

"Well my name is Mason." He smiled. "And I think that Cinder is a very pretty name."

"Th-Thank you." Cinder quietly stammered out.

Silence enveloped them again.

"Hey Cinder?"/"Um Mr. Mason?" they said at the same time.

"Go ahead." Mason gestured for her to continue.

"Um. It's just that… Thank you for saving me and could I stay with you please? I won't be a burden. I promise. I'll work. Do chores. I'll do anything. Just please I don't want to-"

Mason held up a hand.

"Stop." He said.

Cinders face paled and she hung her head low trying to hold back tears.

"I have a better idea."

Cinder looked up with tears at the corners of her eyes.

"Cinder… How would you like to be my daughter?"

More silence.

Cinder slowly stood up.

Walked around the table.

Hugged Mason.

And for the third time that night, began to cry.

Mason warped his arms around her and hugged her back not saying a word. Letting her cry into his shoulder.

"Daddy…" Cinder mumbled through her tears.

The two sat like that in each other's arms for a long time. Cinder refusing to let go. Eventually the crying stopped and was replaced by calm breathing. Slowly Mason pulled Cinder's sleeping form off of him and he carried her to the spare bed room. He set her down in the bed and covered her with the sheets.

Mason spent some time sitting by the bed as Cinder slept. Watching his new daughter sleep peacefully for the first time in her life. Eventually he stood up and gently rested his hand on her forehead. Mason grew misty eyed. He had finally done something right.

He finally had a true family to call his own, even if it was only him and Cinder.

AN

Well there's the first chapter. How'd I do? I understand it might have been a bit angsty/emotional but hey I needed a backstory so here's what I came up with.

Next chapter you can expect to be a lot happier and fluffy.

If anyone wants to, feel free to PM me or leave a review of some cute fun scenarios that I can write Mason and Cinder doing.

Have a good one everyone!

-Zeak-