It's only been 2 days since I uploaded! I definitely am over this writing slump! This is one of the longest chapters I've written and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you to the few who Followed and Favorited my story. I hope all previous readers stick with me too!

Enjoy!


Disclaimer: I own Aero, Gold, and all other of my Ocs in this story. All else belongs to RoosterTeeth.


Gold leaned over Ruby, a smirk on her face. "What's up Ruby?"

Ruby shrank back further from the girl, longing to get away. Something was wrong about this whole situation. "Get away Gold."

"Awww. Is the soon to be Beacon student scared." Gold said as she bent down further. Ruby saw something glint in her hand as the girl drew closer.

"I don't care anymore. I just want you off." Ruby struggled weakly, trying to push the girl off now. But, Ruby never had much upper body strength. Her mind breifly flitted back to the incident when Yang was training her. That had been a nightmare. They had never trained there again unless Tai was there or they both had their weapons. The weapons rule stood no matter where they trained.

"Not gonna happen." Gold took that moment to reveal what was in her hand. A small knife, but big enough to do damage.

Ruby struggled harder desperate to get away. She managed to get an arm out and used to to shove Gold's head to the side and into the ground. The used-to-be friend was startled and was rolled off. Ruby scrambled away, trying to get to the beds to help herself up. All she needed was something to hold herself up. Stupid burning the forest down!

Gold recovvered quickly though, leaping on top of Ruby. They fell between the two beds, sending a few things crashing to the ground. The sound of shattering glass echoed nd Gold looked around panicked. Aero shifted on his bed, weakly calling Ruby's name.

The girl looked at her friend. He was rubbing sleep from his eyes and scanning the room for her. Damnit Gold. She just had to wake the boy up. The bronze eyed girl stared at Ruby. Suddenly, thew knife was coming down toward Ruby's exposed hand. There were sparks of red as her aura stopped the knife. But it doesn't hold forever. Ruby jerked her hand back as the knife crashed through. The blade just nicked the inside of her finger. Then Gold was gone, rushing off out the back door as the nurse came back in.

Ruby weakly held herself up and climbed back on the bed with Aero. He stared at her shaking form, as she clutched herself. The nurse fumbled around on the floor with supplies, cleaning up the two messes. After, she came over and check ruy over for any injuries. The girl did a good job of hiding her finger, but Aero didn't miss the slight drop of red on the bed sheets.

"Honey I told you not to move without help." The nurse bent down, looking up at Ruby now. "You may not have been seriously burned, but you burned a lot of your legs, making them week. Just give it a couple more hours and we'll see how you feel."

Aero shifted, making room for Ruby. The girl flashed him a smile, fake but believable. He bought it. Immediatly, the two fell asleep, cuddle together...again.


Qrow, Tai, and Yang all walked in on Ruby moving from between the beds. The nurse was watching her with a trained eye as the girl shuffled on shaky legs. Aero was standing against the windows, seemingly waiting for her.

"It's like your learning to walk all over again." He let out a cackle.

"Shut up! It wasn't my idea to burn the forest."

"It wasn't my idea to take off your protection." Aero countered again.

Ruby pouted crossing her arms, steadily walking toward him with intent in every stride. It was as though all the pain had drifted from her mind.

"Now you listen here..." Ruby started.

Aero caught her and hugged the girl. "You are so oblivious Ruby!"

"Wha?" There was a pause as she took in her surrounds. "I did it! Ha! Stupid pain."

Aero laughed as they hugged tighter. The two finally noticed the three family members standing in the door. The boy's face flushed and he straightened his clothes, so as to have something to distract himself from the embarrassment. Ruby on the other hand, ran over and hugged her sister.

"Yang that fight was so awesome!" Ruby praised.

Yang gave her a playful scowl. "I was still the first on eliminated. I just left Aqua* alone and we almost lost."

Ruby laughed, punching Yang lightly. "We'll have to work on that at Beacon." Her cheerful voice fell as she said the name of her soon-to-be school. Aero didn't miss the way she unconsciously protected her right hand. His eyes narrowed. The mood passed over Ruby quickly, replaced with her usual bright eyed and bushy tail.

Tai and Qrow exchanged a look, before laughing. Those two girls had no clue what they were getting into.

"Ready to head home."

Ruby nodded. "What about you Aero?"

He laughed. "I've been clear since this morning. But my parents are still out so my aunt is coming to drive me home."

Ruby slung an arm around hi shoulder. "Want us to drive you home?" She looked hopefully at Qrow or Tai.

Her uncle shook his head. There was no way he was taking two kids with him in a car. No telling what could happen. Granted, he hadn't drunk any alcohol all week but still.

"I guess. Yang took her bike to school today so she's got a ride."

Ruby bounced on her the balls of her feet. She immediately regretted it with a wince. The pain, for the most part, had been in her head but that didn't mean it was al gone. "Besides, it is the weekend. You don't have anything to do!"

Tai ruffled her hair. "Qrow if you're joining us for dinner, go out and by some drinks. It's time we properly celebrated Ruby's acceptance."

"If you don't mind my intruding, may I join you?"

"Please?" Ruby begged.

She turned on her puppy dog eyes looking up at Tai. You could see the obvious struggle in his face. but, no one can ever resist Puppy Ruby. He sighed, relenting. One more the two teens hugged, laughing together.

Qrow nudged him. "You have to admit. Aero does make Ruby happy."

"You make it sound like they're dating." Tai growled.

Qrow shrugged, smug smirked on his face. He walked away, keys swinging in his hand. "Could be worse."

Tai's face brightened, anger surging. "Get back here Old Man!"

"If i'm an old man than you are a Grandpa!" Qrow cackled, running out the door.

Yang followed. hoping to catch the fight the would surely ensue. "This is going to be great!"

Ruby followed in a quick burst of petals. "Wait! You're my rides!"

Aero waved at the nurse as she sighed. This was one family she couldn't deal with.

"Tell that girl I said congratulations." the woman told Aero.

He nodded with a meek smile, teleporting down the floors.*2


The small family and Aero sat on the couch playing some sort of video game. Currently, Qrow and Aero were battling it out. The sef proclaimed 'Master' was not fairing too well. Aero was thousands of points ahead and much stronger than Qrow. The other man had a stroke of misfortune and was falling...hard.

"HA! And people say the teacher can't be beat."

Qrow snarled, slightly (totally) drunk. "Watch it kid, I haven't graded your final."

Tai scowled. He was doing that a lot today. "If I find out that you purposefully failed a kid...I will report you."

"Don't matter." Qrow slurred as he leaned back. "I'm not returning next year."

"What?" Aero was stunned leaping to his feet. "Mr. Branwen! You're like the coolest teacher! You can't leave."

"Hey." Tai pouted. He went unheard.

"I've been reassigned. i'm not out of school forever, just for the next year or two." Qrow said.

"By then I'll have graduated." Aero said, feeling dejected.

"Way to kil the mood Uncle Qrow." Ruby crossed her arms.

Everyone laughed, the mood turning better with that comment. Qrow soon went for another drink in the kitchen with Tai in close pursuit. They were chatting quietly about something. Yang stretched before muttering about getting something from her room. That left Ruby and Aero. The girl was currently messing around with Zwei on the ground.

"Ruby?" Aero asked tentatively.

"Hm?" She hummed in response. Looking up, Ruby let a small smile grace her features. "If this is about earlier, just ignore Uncle Qrow. He likes to joke with Tai about Yang and me dating."

"It is about earlier, but not about that." Aero admitted.

He shifted next to her on the floor, reaching out to pet Zwei. At least, that's what Ruby thought. In the blink of an eye, Aero had Ruby's right hand in his adn fingers peeled apart. Along the side of her ring finger was a long thin scab running the whole length.

"How did you get this?" He demanded.

Ruby jerke her hand back. "When I knocked over the supplies."

"No you didn't Someone else was there." He scowled, leaning in close. "I may not have seen them but I did hear someone."

"You were half asleep, it was probably in you're dream.' Ruby tried to counter. He saw right through it.

Aero signed, turning away. "Ruby...what's happening with you? Why won't you tell me?"

The silver-eyed girl reached out. "I don't want to..." A pause.

"To what? Hurt me?" He pleaded. "What is it Ruby?"

"To lose you." Ruby admitted, slight blush on her cheeks. "It was Gold in there. She had a knife and cut my finger. At our match, she said that everyone would leave me."

Aero sat dumbfounded. He wasn't going to let this go. Ruby's fist were clenched as he took her hands. Aero pulled her up and guided her into a differnet room. Then, he pulled her into a hug. She clung desperately to him as tears began to fall. Her sobs were muffled so that the rest of her family wouldn't hear. As her knees gave out, the blue haired boy guided her to the ground, rubbing the smaller's back.

"Ruby," He whispered as her breathe evened, fingers twined in the tips of her hair. "I'm never going to leave you...so don't worry. I've got your back."

Unknown to the two, Qrow was leaning just around the corner listening to them. A smile was on his face. You've got a great friend Ruby.


*Aqua as in Aquamarine
*2: Aero can teleport short distances and this includes up and down.

Quick note to finish it off. Aero and Ruby are not a thing. Can't remember if I had gone over this or not and I am too lazy to look. They are just Best Friends. One of the people I'm closest to is a guy and he's comforted me in similar ways after similar situation.

Love you all. Review, Follow, and Fav
Windrider 340