Chapter Seven; Messages, Musing and Sleep


Ren stared at the bed, expression blank. His mind swirled with a wrenching sense of guilt as he stared at his partner laying injured in the Beacon Med Bay. It was his fault he knew.

"Mr. Lie. . ."

If hadn't agreed with Nora to search for Dust in the more dangerous sections of the Outskirts.

"Mr. Lie."

He should have just said no. But dang it, he could never say no to Nora. She just-

"Mr. Lie!"

"What?" The bewildered student was shocked out of his state, still to concerned over his partner to really be concerned over what the nurse was telling him.

"Mr. Lie," The nurse sighed, checking her scroll. "You've been in here since Miss. Valkyrie was brought in yesterday afternoon. You haven't had any sleep that I could tell and it's been almost eighteen hours. You need some rest."

"Not until she wakes up," Ren shook his head, fatigue from the lack of rest making the action sluggish. In all honesty, he felt like he was about to crash at any second but was determined to pull through it.

"You get some rest." The nurse stated sternly, crossing her arms. "I promise that you'll be the first to be told if Miss Valkyrie's condition changes."

"With all due respect, I'd prefer to be here when my partner wakes up." Ren remained seated beside the bedside. "She wouldn't leave me and I have no intention of leaving her."

"Fine but I do not want another patient being checked in for sleep deprivation of all things." Ren received a stern glare from the nurse. But with one final sigh of frustration, the nurse left, leaving Ren the room silent.

Well, close enough to silent as it ever was.

The air was only disturbed by Nora's steady, unconscious breathing, Ren's calming breaths and the palpable concern. After a brief pause, when it became apparent that Nora was still out cold, the green clad warrior flicked his scroll on. He had to keep up with class work after all.

However, he had several unread messages that delayed school. Several messages from Yang, Blake, Ruby and even a short one from Weiss with well wishes. (Ruby's came with a promise of cookies for his hyperactive partner upon recovery.) Juane and Pyrrha had left slightly longer ones, in addition to their frequent visits. One from Velvet as well.

But the one that stood out the most was easily Sky's.

"-ne second. I'm leaving a message," The blue haired Cardinal shimmered into the scrolls screen, yelling at someone offscreen. "Crap, already recording."

"So, hey there Lie. It's Lark. . .obviously. Well, I just wanted to leave you a message since I can't be there in person." He sighed, shaking his head. "First things first. I know that you said that it wasn't my fault but I'm sorry for what happened. I know, I know, not anybody's fault but I still feel partially responsible for what happened. I hope she gets better soon."

"Next, I've gotta say thanks. Velvet finally agreed to go to the Dance with me." Sky admitted with a grin. "After your advice, I kept at it. Turns out you were right about, well, pretty much the whole spiel. Thanks, mate."

"Which brings me to my last thing. Lie, mate, I feel I owe ya. So because of that, we need to have this chat. You, Lie Ren, are a completely dense, thick skulled, brainless, oblivious and outright stupidest person I have ever known."

That earned a snort from Ren.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. 'Perfect student' and all. But mate, you're an idiot. 'Why, why?' You ask. Here's why. With all the time you spend with Nora, you've managed to ignore her at the same time. Well, mostly."

"Ren, it take's a special kind of clueless to miss all those hints. Mate, when Nora's around, she's...well, I'm not actually sure. More at ease with you. Happier, I guess than when I see otherwise. Mate, she's glued to you when you're together. And you're oblivious to it! I freakin' noticed and I'm terrible with social stuff."

Sky Lark was in full blown rant mode now. "And then you! I know you better than I do Nora. And when she's not around, you're listless. You seem tired. Inattentive. All that. And then your partner shows up and it's like someone flipped a switch. You're suddenly more jovial, alive and just generally happier. You say you're just friends but your actions seem to suggest otherwise."

Ren's face was set into a deep frown at that. As if sensing that, Sky made calming gestures with his hand and continued.

"Alright, alright, that might've been overstepping things. Sorry. But definitely to think about-" Sky was suddenly cut short as sword passed over his head. Somewhere out of sight of the scroll someone yelled something to the effect 'surprise training session!' Sky quickly muttered an apology as the screen shook and went black.

Ren starred blankly at the empty screen, brain frozen. After time resumed from the sluggish pace it'd adopted during the shock, the black haired hunter's head spun. The message had actually sent him reeling.

Ren glanced at Nora, calmly unconscious on the bed.

Did he. . .

No. He didn't. Of course not. They were partners, best friends. Nothing more.

But did he want something. . . more?

Ren shook his head, trying to get a hold over all the emotions rising up inside of him. Affection, confusion, fear rose up in him. Not to say that he normally was emotionless but simply the idea of dating. . .

No!

Dang it, when did his train of thought start to head in that direction?

Though. . .

Ren clasped his head in his hands. When, or rather why, had things changed? When did Nora become more than just his best friend and partner?

And there it was. Ren had said it. Er, thought it. And the thought sounded. . . pleasant.

Ren gave a violent shake of his head, as if trying to forcefully and violently dislodge the thought. They were friends. Good friends. Best friends. As Nora was fond of saying together but not 'together' together. But the thought was locked in there.

It crept though his mind, slowly permeating his thoughts. If Ren had been honest with himself, he would admit that this sudden revelation wasn't anything new. But he'd just never taken a moment to take stock of his emotions. Which resulted in the sudden torrent of feelings.

"Ren?"

The sound of Nora's voice caused his to snap to look at her. The orange haired girl seemed calm for once, a Grimm throwing you into a tree can do that, and she rubbed her head as she looked around the room that she currently inhabited.

"Where. . . am I?"

"Beacon's recovery wing," Ren answered simply. He sighed, relieved that Nora was alright. But...it bothered him at how calm she was. She wasn't bouncing off the wall, in perpetual movement or running her mouth. She seemed to be missing her Nora-ness.

"Ren? What happened? I don't remember anything after the Grimm..."

"It knocked you out," Ren tightened his fists subconsciously. "The rest of if us dispatched it and we brought you back here. You've been out since that. "

"Oh."

A nod.

"Hey, Ren?"

"What?"

Nora seemed a little bit out of it. Possibly some of the healing procedures she'd undergone. They did sometimes cause different reactions in patients. In Nora's case, he guessed it'd made her more. . . calm. And sleepy, apparently. The girl looked about ready to fall asleep again as she scotched to the edge of the bed and leaned her head on Ren's shoulder. "I didn't miss the dance, did I? You still have to. . . take me to the dance. . ."

"No, Nora. You didn't miss it," Ren smiled at her as she dozed off. She looked peaceful this time, in contrast to the pained expression from earlier.

That's how the nurse found them a half hour later. Nora out cold, head propped gently on her partner's shoulder and Ren gazing out a window. After consulting her notes, then Ren, and her notes once more she woke Nora. After a brief checkup, physical, scolding and instructions, the nurse wearily cleared Nora to leave. Under a strict zero-activity policy of course.

"I'll go fetch some supports-"

"No need," Ren said simply, carefully scooping Nora up princess style out of the bed. "I can carry her back to the dorms."

The nurse looked displeased at this but didn't stop him.

Nora grinned happily but was to tired for further action.

Ren, par usual, looked impassive.

Except for, if you squinted, a small smile quirking at his lips.

Nora snuggled deeper into his arms as they trekked back to the dorms. "Ren?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."


Author's Note; Alright, I'm back with another update. Finally. I hope you enjoyed it, despite the delay. I really enjoyed writing a bit of internal struggle for Ren of him questioning his and Nora's relationship and a passive, non-hyperactive Nora. And I just have to say thank you as this story gets closer to the end. (Only a few more chapters at most.) This is easily my most popular story and I really appreciate all the support from you all. It means the world to me to get another review or follower and it makes my week when I get a review or PM. So, thank you. Until next update, Baldore, out.

Ps. Yeah, I'm taking some bragging rights that I called the prom before they had it in Season Two. (And also on that note, I know, Sky has the Halberd, not the sword. I'll edit that soon.)