Chapter 28 (Stan Crow)

How did one mother a monster? Hope was uncertain, but when she looked at the ashen faced Patience lying motionless in bed, she trusted her instincts and hoped for the best.

The fighting had ended half an hour after Randolph had…she blanked her mind. Immediately, everyone able had launched into recovery mode. Ozpin returned only hours later and spent the next week organizing the cleanup, beginning an investigation, and arranging a few, unfortunate funerals.

Nobody discussed Hope's and Patience's involvement.

Hope memorized the infirmary within the first forty-eight hours after the attack. When she wasn't cleaning, she was changing her comrade's dressings, cleaning pus from infected wounds, bringing her sustenance, insisting pills were taken, and even just sitting bedside, holding the young woman's hand—the one not in a cast, anyway.

She stole power naps when Patience slept.

The older girl had nearly bled out before they'd gotten her medical attention, and Optima had been so drained from the fighting that she burned two days recovering herself. Everest had hastily pushed aside his characteristic squeamishness with women to stabilise his fallen teammate.

Hope, and the academy medical staff, did the rest.

Patience slept fitfully that first night and most of the next day. She woke, briefly, to eat, after which Hope helped her use the restroom. Then it was back to sleep for another twelve hours. The rest of the week was a fight, Patience refusing any and all aid. Hope stayed anyway, forcing help and enduring the grumbling, thankless insults.

It was a long week. But she was happy.

"Will you take off this stupid blindfold?" Patience asked as Hope stopped at their dorm room.

"We're here," Hope said, squeezing Patience's hand. Patience didn't squeeze back, but for once, she didn't resist.

"You are not using me as a piñata," Patience muttered.

"Hush. You'll be fine." Hope pushed open the door and steered her in.

The door clicked shut. "Surprise!"

Before the she could strip the blindfold, Hope slipped a paper party hat over the girl's dark hair, then blew a noisemaker.

Patience scowled at her teammates, each in turn, receiving only smiles in response.

Hope pulled her teammate into a one-armed hug. "We couldn't not have a welcome back party, could we?"

Optima stepped forward and trust a plastic plate bearing cake and strawberry ice cream at Patience. "Welcome back, girl. Enjoy."

Everest gently placed a ceramic bowl of something steaming over rice on her bed. "Please do not tell my mother I adjusted her recipe. It is my wish that you enjoy this meal."

Hope watched Patience look between dinner and dessert. Patience crossed to her bed and nibbled some of the yellowish sauce from the end of the spoon. Then she took a full bite and stopped cold. Her eyes closed, and she raised her face to the sky.

Hope reached for her. "Patience? Are you okay?"

Patience nodded slowly. When she opened her eyes she stood and took two, quick strides toward Everest. He retreated but was cornered against the wall.

"This," Patience said, "is the best—best—curry I have ever tasted.

"I might just be in love."

Then she kissed him hard, full on the lips.

Everest collapsed. The girls just laughed.

When the sun had gone to bed and the evening symphony of crickets played, Hope sat beside Patience, staring out over the Emerald Forest. "So how did you get back to Beacon that day we found DSPR?"

Patience rolled her eyes. "Rand—he—was noble enough to fly me back. Via Nevermore of all things. He didn't stick around until help arrived, though.

"And what happened between you two in the alley?"

The team scout sighed, but Hope caught a flicker of pain in her eyes. "I'd rather not talk about it. Let's just say his hormones gave me plenty of leverage."

"I never did thank you for that."

"I didn't thank you for anything. Consider us even."

The pair went silent for a long time. Hope had recently learned a few things about Patience's past. Orphan. Homeless. Criminal. Prostitute.

It made her want to cry.

Hope studied the self-styled "Queen of Fevoreaux." Had this girl ever known love? Acceptance? Family? Probably not. Could Hope fill those gaps? Again, probably not.

But she would try.

"I never had a sister," she said quietly. Patience didn't answer. Instead, she scratched absently at her left arm just above the cast.

Hope scooted a closer to her companion. "Tell me about the nunnery."

"Do you always talk this much?"

"Only when I'm nervous and in an awkward situation."

Patience looked her over once. "Are you always that open as well?"

Hope pursed her lips for a moment, frustration welling inside. She shouldn't start a fight. She was trying to make a friend.

She let it out anyway.

"I just spent seven days making sure you were even able to breathe, let alone walk. You're sitting on this cliff as much because of me as anyone else. I watched your screaming-mad suicide charge through the school and then I put you back together. And do you know something? I learned a lot about you in that time.

"And I learned how to love you. Like the sister I never had.

"So if I want to talk to you, maybe I have a good reason for it, alright?"

Emotions flared in Patience's visage and Hope readied herself for a barrage of snide remarks. Patience turned away, gazing into the twilight.

After a long moment, she stood, and Hope copied. Patience peered at her and got close. Hope forced herself not to assume a defensive stance. The other girl's arms came up slowly, and then they were around Hope, hesitantly pulling her close. Hope returned the embrace, careful of the injured arm, and Patience buried her head in Hope's neck.

"Friends?" Hope asked.

"This changes nothing between us," Patience murmured.

It was as good an answer as Hope could expect.

She had won.