Chapter 06

Author's Note: Sorry for the late upload! But IB sucks! So much schoolwork, so much homework, so many assignments, tests, etc! But you're not here to hear out my suffering, you're here for stories! So here's the new chapter! Enjoy!

"And, and, and then, in comes Qrow, wearing a skirt! I was just a ta-! I-I didn't know what to do, so I just... I just left the room to laugh!" Tai laughed as he told Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck a story. "We told him it was a kilt! He'd never worn a uniform before, so he didn't know!"

"That is terrible!" Oobleck laughed. "What is wrong with you?!"

"Hey! The girls all said he had nice legs! I did that jerk a favor! Besides, that's not even the best part! See, then we-"

Port suddenly placed his leg on the table. "Like what you see?" He joked, before he lost his balance and hit the floor while the others were overcome with fits of laughter.

Yang giggled as she watched, and all the teachers looked up when they heard her.

"Oh, uh, Miss Xiao Long! Uh, please, join us." Oobleck coughed, embarrassed.

She did so, and she looked back as Penny peeked from around the door. She nodded and Penny then walked in, sitting down on a seat while Yang sat on the counter next to her father. "So, what are you doing here?"

"Despite popular belief, teachers do have a life outside the classroom." Oobleck told her.

"Professor Goodwitch is working 'round the clock to restore Beacon to its former glory! But, Mistral wasn't built in a day. And we all need rest from time to time." Port explained. "And we also now got our hands full because of the tensions between the kingdoms."

"Is everything alright?" Yang tilted her head. "I… heard stuff, but I'm not really sure what to believe and what not to."

"We understand, it's been hard. On all of us." Port nodded. "Well, simply put, they're worried of people trying to take advantage."

"Now look, let's not worry about that right now." Tai waved his hand, before leaning in. "So, there we were, standing in the auditorium, looking at Qrow, wearing a skirt. Then Oz tells everyone, 'It's time to work on our landing strategy!'"

"The Branwen twins have always been... interesting, to say the least." Oobleck noted.

"That sure didn't seem to stop young Tai." Port chuckled.

"Hey, come on, man, she's right here." Tai frowned.

"Oh, please! She's a mature young woman! If she can handle combat, she can handle a few jabs at her old man!" Port dismissed him.

"She is also in the room, and can be directly spoken to." Yang spoke up. "And I think I've been through enough to be considered an adult at this point."

"Technically, you will be a legal adult at age 18." Penny spoke up from behind her, making her jump.

Tai sighed. "Adult or not, you've still got a long way to go before you're ready for the real world."

"Oh my gosh! Does every father figure have the same three condescending phrases?" Yang groaned.

"Yeah! But we only use them when we mean it!" Tai replied hotly.

Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck looked at each other awkwardly, Penny merely watching the dispute with interest.

"Is that so?" Yang sniffed.

"As a matter of fact, it is so!" Tai snapped. "If you honestly think that you're ready to go out there on your own, ha! Well, I guess you lost some brain cells along with that arm!"

There was a deafening silence. Yang stepped back in shock. Port leaned forward in his chair. Oobleck's mouth dropped open and both his mug and glasses slipped forward.

Penny broke the silence. "I detect no signs of hostilities."

"You… jerk!" Yang laughed as she punched her father's arm, both of them laughing.

"Are we finally talking about the goliath in the room?" Oobleck whispered.

The two Xiao Long's exchanged looks and laughed, earning some relieved chuckles from the two staff of Beacon.

"Oh, Miss Xiao L-" Port caught himself. "Yang, if you don't mind me asking, why haven't you tried on the arm yet?"

'Oh, yes, yes! A piece of Atlas technology given out like that is rare indeed!" Oobleck spoke up. "Not to mention the effort it took to deliver it here. Penny here really worked hard for you."

"I worked on some of the more complex engineering myself!" She said proudly. She then stepped forward. "Well? Have you tried it? I can always tune it if you need help."

"Um…" Yang looked down at her, feeling a little bit guilty, but she then sighed. "I'm… scared."

They fell silent, Tai stepping closer to his daughter.

"Everyone keeps talking about me getting back to normal. And I appreciate it, but…" She gestured to her arm. "This is normal now. It's just taking me a while to get used to it."

"Well, normal is what you make of it." Tai spoke up.

"What is that supposed to mean? Do you want me to just pretend like nothing happened?" She looked down at her missing limb. "I lost a part of me. A piece of me is gone. And it's never coming back."

"You're right. It's not coming back. But that doesn't have to stop you from becoming who you wanna be." He placed an arm around her shoulder. "You're Yang Xiao Long, my sunny little dragon. You can do whatever you put your mind to. So whenever you're ready to stop moping, and get back out there, I'll be there for you."

"I…" Yang suddenly lurched as Penny grabbed her, squeezing her tightly.

"I have learned that hugs help comfort people." She looked up at her with a smile, squeezing her. "Everything will be alright, Miss Xiao Long. We'll be here for you, always!"

She remained silent, before wiping her eyes as tears built up. "Thanks, guys…" She whispered with a smile, looking up as her father joined in on the hug. "I… Thanks for having my back."

"Fear is like any other emotion." Port spoke up. "It comes and goes. It's all in how you handle it. Why, even I find myself wrestling with that emotion from time to time."

Yang stared at him. "Really? You?" she asked incredulously.

Oobleck leaned in with a smile. "He's afraid of mice."

"THEY BRING ONLY DISEASE AND FAMINE!" Port pounded his fist on the table angrily.

Yang started laughing, with Penny listening politely to the older professor's rambling on the creepiness of mice, and Tai just shook his head with a smile.

"And don't even get me started on their tails! So hairless, and simply unnatural!" He continued, shuddering.

"Port, I assure you, you are safe. There's no mice here right now." Oobleck patted his shoulder.

"Actually, I saw a field mouse climb up the drainage pipe this morning." Penny spoke up.

"Right!" Port pulled out his blunderbuss axe from seemingly out of nowhere and marched to the door. "We've got vermin to eradicate!"

"What have you done?!" Tai ran after him. "Peter, if you shoot up my house, I swear…!"

Yang wiped tears from her eyes as she doubled over, not from sadness, but from laughter. And as Penny watched, she felt a smile come across her face and a warm feeling build up near her central energy circulation unit. A feeling that made her want to let out spontaneous movement and let out... what was the word.. laughter.

And she had no idea why.

She'd have to do some research.

"Goodnight!" Yang called as she waved with her good arm, climbing up the stairs. She then entered her room, looking back. "Are you staying here?"

"My instructions were to look after you." Penny replied cheerfully as she walked into the room, stationing herself on a chair by the window. "Don't worry, Miss Xiao Long. I'll make myself scarce."

"It's alright." She smiled. "And please call me Yang."

"Okay! Changing Miss 'Xiao Long' to Miss 'Yang' in records!"

Yang shook her head with a smile, turning to see the robotic arm sitting on her bedside table. She frowned as she looked at it, before looking up as voices came from outside.

"It's Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck." Penny leaned out to look through the window. Yang joined her, watching her father standing at the open door with the two professors.

"Thanks for having us over, Tai." Port shook his hand. "Don't worry, your house is most certainly mice-free!"

"Yeah, thanks for almost shooting my house." Tai grumbled with a smile. "But come back anytime, you're always welcome."

"It may be awhile before we return." Oobleck sighed. "There is still much work to be done at the school, not to mention abroad."

"I hesitate to ask, but is there any word from young Miss Rose?" Port asked.

Tai sighed. "Well, those guys from the school are with her, so at least she's got chaperones… But no, not yet. I haven't heard anything from them, except the guys up in Atlas, and that was a while ago."

"Have you thought about going after her?" Oobleck asked. "Trying to bring her home?"

Tai sighed. "I've got to… look after some things."

He then looked back up at the window, Yang quickly grabbing Penny and pulling her out of sight.

Yang sat in silence, listening to his words, before rubbing the stump on her arm dejectedly.

"Are you alright, Miss Yang?" Penny asked quietly.

She looked up and gave a small smile. "I… just need to sleep on it."

"Okay." She nodded. She then sat down next to the bed, smiling as her eyes powered down. "Goodnight, Miss Yang. I hope you feel better soon." She then closed her eyes, the light fading from her body as she… well, fell into whatever was the robot equivalent of sleep.

Yang remained next to her for several minutes. She then stood up, slowly looking at the robotic arm, silent.

Tai wiped his brow the next morning, placing down the watering can as he crouched next to his bed of flowers. He then looked up as Penny skipped out happily. "Good morning, Penny. You seem cheerful."

"I am fully powered up, and Miss Yang appears to be feeling better!" She replied happily.

Tai raised an eyebrow, before smiling himself when Yang stepped out. She stretched, before using her new robotic arm to shield the sunlight from her eyes. She then looked at the arm interestingly, the fingers moving to her command.

Tai stood up proudly. "Hey, my Sunny Little Dragon. You ready?"

Yang grinned. "Never call me that outside, dad."

Tai chuckled.

Yang Xiao Long was making a comeback.