(Wow has it been a while! Sorry for everyone who has been waiting for an update. I finally managed to finish this chapter and should have the outline for the rest of the story down in stone. Now I only have to write it. I have done some proofreading and editing on the previous chapters as well so hopefully they flow better now. Hope y'all enjoy!)

Sun III - Discoveries

Professor Goodwitch's response time was impressive, though her outfit was disheveled and her bun was off-center. She brought a few trucks and some half-asleep volunteers to load the supplies while she took Sun back to the barracks.

Glynda poured herself a cup of coffee before sitting behind her desk and addressing him. "So, did you find her Mr. Wukong?" Her eyes held a bit of humor. Good to know she isn't in the 'Blake is a plant for the Fang' camp.

Sun gave her a small smile. "I don't know what your talking about, Ma'am"

Glynda shook her head with a wry smile. "I suspect the VPD will want a word with you."

Sun shrugged. "Considering the last time I saw them they were trying to strong-arm a maimed huntress, they can sit on a spear." He stopped, eyes moving to the crop sitting on the table. "I probably could have worded that better."

Glynda sighed dramatically, a few more strands slipping out of her bun. "I feel similarly, Mr. Wukong. It is why you are sitting in front of me." She places her elbows on the desk and laces her fingers just below her eyes. "Now please tell me how you found it?"

Sun told her, editing out that he was going there for information on Blake. He said that he was checking the more intact areas for hidden Grimm when he found Neo and the warehouse.

Glynda looked thoughtful for a moment. "I ran into Torchwick once or twice. He was a prideful man, but I don't understand why he was involved in this conspiracy."

"From what I got from Neo, he didn't have much of a choice." He felt bad for the criminal and his now orphaned partner. They were part of causing this catastrophe but they suffered just the same.

Glynda leaned back and drummed her nails on the desk for a moment before sighing. "The first time I confronted Torchwick, he was all smiles until his partner showed up and I threw her through a wall." She closed her eyes a moment before nodding. "If I was a betting woman I would say Cinder was threatening Ms. Politan."

"Is that why he didn't just come clean when he was captured?"

Goodwitch nodded, cleaning her spectacles with a cloth. "Specialist Schnee was unable to get any information out of him."

"I thought the General would have interrogated him himself."

Glynda chuckled lightly. "James put all of his efforts into butting heads with Ozpin about the security for the Vytal Festival." Her voice was soft and her eyes were melancholic. Sun simply sat there, not wanting to interrupt her thoughts. Glynda snapped out of it after a moment and moved a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes. Well, excellent work on this and the night patrols. Finding BRNZ will surely raise morale in the morning."

Sun sighed. "Wish we could have found all of them, but confirmed KIA is better than MIA in some ways."

Glynda nodded with a slight frown. "A very Vacuoan sentiment. I suspect Theodora would be happy to thank you personally when she arrives."

"Shade's headmistress is coming? Reinforcements?"

"Of a sort. Shade and Haven are sending licensed Huntsman to help while they transport their students and civilians out. Your team should be leaving tomorrow afternoon." She looked at the clock. "Or this afternoon actually"

Sun's brain was racing for an excuse to avoid going back. Blake wasn't leaving until the end of the week. "Why am I not surprised the Headmaster isn't coming for us himself?" He smiled ruefully.

There was a hint of a smile on Headmistress Goodwitch's face. "I am assuming you have been requested to return to your family in Vacuo?"

It took longer than Sun wanted to admit before he caught on to her meaning. "Y-yeah I got a message about that before my shift. I was going to inform you in the morning." He lied.

Glynda nodded slowly as he lied, prompting him to keep going when he faltered. "Well thank you for informing me, Mr. Wukong." After he hesitated, she nodded her head once more and he quickly moved to stand up. "Sun-" the monkey faunus turned back from the doorway. "Let her know she can come back once the school is reopened."

Sun nodded and grinned to the new Headmistress before leaving and closing the door behind himself.

After the Fall, Day 3, Afternoon

His team had varying degrees of support for him staying behind. Neptune gave him a big hug and told him to come back soon. Scarlet simply gave him a smile as he focused on stopping Neptune from composing some elaborate story for why Sun wouldn't be joining them. Sage was so distracted by watching Neptune go on his monologue that he jumped when Sun grabbed his shoulder. As Sage hugged him goodbye, Sun couldn't resist suggesting the green haired man to make his move. Sage responded by blushing and slugging Sun in the shoulder.

While the Haven students were being debriefed and transported back to Mistral, Sun took the opportunity to check on Yang and Ruby.

He found Yang dressed in her street clothes and sitting on Ruby's bed, staring down at her sleeping sister. "Yang?"

She turned sluggishly and looked at him with dull, tired eyes. "Oh, hey Sun. Come to say goodbye?"

Sun scratched the back of his head. "Well that wasn't the plan but it looks like you're getting released. What about Ruby?"

Yang looks down at her sister again. "They said she would wake up when she wanted to. There is nothing wrong with her physically." Yang reached toward her with her missing arm and froze.

Sun moved over and opened his arms for her. She looked scared as she reached out slightly toward him. Still playing the tough big sister. Sun wraps his arms around her. She grabbed the back of his shirt tightly with her good arm and shudders with her head against his chest.

Thankfully, she had calmed down by the time the door opened again. Yang's uncle Qrow stepped in and looked between Yang and himself, taking a sip from a flask. "Ready to go, kiddo?"

Yang nods. "As much as I can be."

Qrow nodded and turned to regard Sun. "You're the leader of that pretty boy team. Sun, right? What are you doing here?"

Sun's nose wrinkled at the smell of the older man's breath. "I came to check on Yang and Ruby. I guess they are being discharged."

"It's time to take them home." Said a new man as he walked in pushing a wheelchair. He was a tall, blond, muscular man who Sun guessed was the girls' father. The man offered his hand and said. "Taiyang Xiao Long. Thanks for coming to check on my girls."

Sun gave Taiyang a firm handshake. That's a strong grip. I guess he isn't slacking by being a teacher. "Glad to meet you sir. You have some amazing kids."

The lack of Yang's usual enthusiasm made the silence that followed that much more crushing. Sun stepped back and moved over to Yang as Taiyang and Qrow took Ruby out to the transport.

Sun looked back at Yang, who was staring at the open door. "I have a lead. I should track her down soon."

Yang tensed, her hand gripping around her stump. "D-don't bother. Blake can take care of herself." A bracelet with a single snowflake charm on her wrist sparkled in the light.

Sun remained silent. She needs someone to lean on. If only Weiss hadn't been taken away. He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "She will come back."

Yang looked up at him with a pained expression. Her eyes were frantic, searching for some shred of hope. Sun tried to smile before she looked away. Yang picked up her bag and moved out the door quickly. "Do whatever you want." The sentence started strong but ended in a sob.

Sun didn't follow and waited in the now empty room. He wished he could fly to Atlas and bring Weiss back, but the Ice Queen was gone at this point. Maybe when he helped Blake he would catch a train to Atlas before going home.

Sun moved to the window as some nurses came to collect the remaining medical equipment. He stayed at the window until the Xiao Long family drove passed on their way to the Bullheads. Sun sighed before leaving the room and going to check on the remaining members of BRNZ.

Brawnz was also getting ready to be discharged when Sun arrived. Evidentially, Headmaster Theodora would be arriving that evening and they needed to be ready to leave by morning. Brawnz thanked Sun for rescuing him and his team, but Sun just laughed that off. Sun gave a firm hug to each of the remaining members of BRNZ before he left, knowing that they could use all the support they could get right now.

After the Fall, Day 3, Evening

On the way to the marshaling ground, Sun paused at a bizarre sight. Walking up the street was a faunus carrying a coffin over his shoulder. He looked like a huntsman, hands and forearms covered in bulky, black gauntlets. He wore a vest that showed an obvious scar around his bicep. The Huntsman noticed Sun watching him and moved over. As he approached, Sun realized that he was a wolf-faunus with slate grey hair and ears and silver eyes. He was taller than Sun, tilting his head down to address him "Heading for night patrol?"

Sun nodded, trying not to stare at the coffin. "Yeah, that's the plan but I have time. Do you need help?"

The wolf-faunus shook his head and patted the side of the coffin. Sun noticed he was wearing an interesting ring. The design has three gemstones in a circle on it, one pointed down his arm and two pointed away. It was an odd piece because they were all different colored stones. The blue and green stones seemed to be shining with an strange inner light. The amber colored stone, the one that pointed down the Huntsman's arm, was dull and cracked. The man's voice drew Sun's attention back to him. "No thank you. She...she's my teammate so I need to carry her home."

Sun nodded. He could understand that completely. "Have a safe journey. I hope it won't be a long one"

The man started moving down the street waving his free hand over his shoulder as he went. "Keep up the good work, young man."

Sun watched him walk for a moment before calling after him. "Do you mind if I know her name? She fought and died here. She should be remembered."

The wolf-faunus has stopped moving when Sun spoke but took a few long moments to turn around. He had a warm slime on his face despite the pain in his eyes. "Her name was Amber Circe. Thank you, Mr. Wukong."

With that, the man turned back around and walked away. Once the man was out of sight, Sun moved at a jog to the marshalling point.

Day 3, Late Evening

The patrol hadn't been either good or bad. They had found nothing. No large blood stains, discarded weapons, or survivors. Sun almost wished they had found something bad, as much as the thought disgusted him. Coming back to the marshalling point with nothing had left a bad taste in his mouth. Velvet had wanted to stay out longer but Snow had overruled her.

Now they were walking down a side street in the general direction of the barracks. They had made several wrong turns but neither Sun nor Velvet has mentioned it.

"So, how did your night go, Vel" Sun asked his companion, arms crossed behind his head.

Velvet sighed. "I got buried in questions." Sun laughed which only made her blush and spin in his direction. "It's your fault, you know!" She put her hands on her hips. "Coco asked if I needed a morning after pill!"

Sun turned bright red for a moment before looking up and away from her, scratching the tip of his nose. "I uh take it you set her straight." He looked back at her to find her looking away and playing with her ear again. She is really dangerously cute!

"I thought I did until I was leaving for the night shift. She yelled 'have fun with your Vytal Boy' as I was leaving. People in other rooms opened the door to stare at me as I tried to tell her off." Velvet grumbled as she looked to the ground with a scarlet face. "I almost jumped out the window to escape."

Sun tried not to laugh but he couldn't help himself. It stopped abruptly when she looked back up at him and he forgot how to breathe. After a moment of stunned silence, he coughed and looked away. "Sorry, I shouldn't have laughed." He squirmed slightly under her gaze, blushing at the attention. If this is how she felt I would have gone for the window too.

Velvet giggled and patted his arm so he would look back at her. "It's fine Sun, I know you weren't laughing in a bad way."

Sun smiled at her before thinking of something. "What is a 'Vytal Boy'?"

She turned red again and looked down at his chest. "Oh, Coco says that it's a sort of 'vacation romance'."

Sun chuckled. "Ah a 'Vacuoan Flower'. Uncle Gyn had a lot of those over the years.''

Velvet looked back up at him, confused. "A what?"

"A beautiful, short lived romance that truly makes one feel alive!" Sun smiled. "At least that's what my uncle used to tell me when I was stuck watching my cousins."

Velvet laughed, shaking her head. "So you get your good looks from your uncle?"

Sun laughed as well before stepping closer and flexing his muscles. "So you think I look good?"

Velvet stepped forward to close the distance, examining his face with a wistful look on her face. "I think your head is big enough as it is?" She bopped him on the nose with her fingertip. They both took a step back as they laughed. "So you're not going to be going back to Haven?"

Sun shook his head as they kept walking down the street. "The guys will be fine! I'll catch up with them later"

Velvet looked up toward the sky. "Blake is a lucky girl."

Sun blinked and turned to her. "Lucky? Oh, no we aren't like that."

Velvet scoffed. "I don't believe you at all."

"...That teammate of yours is pretty lucky, Velvet"

"It isn't like that." She said almost immediately. Sun turned to her and raised an eyebrow. She scoffed and punched him in the arm. "Unlike you, Monkey Boy, I am telling the truth."

"Whatever you say, Bunny Girl." The pair kept walking as they stared at each other with skeptical looks. They finally broke the staring contest and started laughing. What they found upon turning down yet another wrong side-street, made them both stop laughing.

In front of the pair was a crumbled building. Sun's brain quickly filled in what had likely happened to the building. He could practically see the Nevermore crash into the roof from a height that caused the roof to buckle under the force. The supports crumbled under the sudden sundering and the second floor buckled and fell into the first, crushing anything and anyone beneath it.

When Sun refocused on the present, Velvet had her ear to the rubble. Sun held his breath as she closed her eyes to concentrate. He just stood there with his blood beating in his ears as he held his breath, not wanting to make a sound. His heart dropped to his toes when Velvet shook her head. Sun felt a tear roll down his face. Then he blinked and was back in Vacuo.

13 Years Ago, Vacuo

Vacuo had a tradition of traveling settlements, never staying too long in one place. Permanent buildings not built on thick rock plates don't last long. Sun's family had to learn this in the worst way.

Sun was sitting at the table with his parents when it happened. His father had just moved around the table to start carving dinner when the Ankheg shot out of the floorboards and bit into his father's shoulders.

Ankheg were burrowing, insectoid Grimm that attacked by digging under tents or houses and then leaping up out of the sand with their barbed front claws and crushing pincers. Everyone and everything in the area is then pulled into the sinkhole.

Which is exactly what happened to Sun's father as he was pulled down, screaming into the sand. As soon as the scream was muffled by the shifting sands, the house began creaking as the floor cracked under the pressure. Sun couldn't look away from the hole where his father disappeared as his mother picked him up and ran toward the door. The creaking grew louder as the sinkhole beneath the house widened and the house began bending in toward the center.

The door was forced shut by the shifting walls, his mother unable to pull or bash it open. The room shifted violently, windows shattering. "You have to run, darling." His mother's voice reached him even as the roof crashed in around them. As he was thrown out the window, he saw his mother's face for the last time. Her panicked, tear-streaked face shifted to a relieved smile as he stood up outside the house. "Go." She mouthed before the house crumpled around her and into the sinkhole with a deafening crash.

Present

When Sun came back to consciousness, he was sobbing in an alley away from the destroyed building. Velvet was sitting next to him, holding him to her chest. Sun tried to get himself back under control. He tried to sound confident over his panting as he unwrapped his shaking arms from Velvet. "Sorry about that, Vel. I-"

Velvet had tears at the edge of her eyes, her voice shaking. "C-can we stay like this for a while?" Sun sat up straighter, wrapped his arms around her, and buried his face in the crook of her neck. Velvet clung to him desperately as she cried. Has she had an outlet since the battle? That was the last coherent thought Sun had before he let himself cry again.

For a few minutes, they weren't hunters-in-training. They were just two people who needed a shoulder to cry on expressing all of their emotions in each other's arms.

Slowly, the tears slowed and the desperate embraces loosened. Sun leaned back to look at Velvet's tear-streaked face and gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you so much, Velvet. I really needed that."

Velvet gave a wet chuckle and let go of him to wipe at her face. "I guess I needed it too." She reached out to hug him again slowly, almost timidly.

Sun pulled her in and hugged her close. "I'll hug you whenever you need it, Vel."

Velvet let out a content sigh as she leaned against him. "Sun?" When Sun looked at her, her face turned a brilliant shade of red and she pushed him away. Before he could fully process what was happening, she blurted out. "WillyoubemyVytalboy?"

Sun blinked. "What?"

Velvet didn't let him finish his thoughts, going on a rant. "I know you're going to say that this is just acceleration, but I really loved spending the last few nights with you and I want to spend as much time with you as possible before you go and-"

Sun hugged her close, her rant slowly dying down against his chest. "Velvet, I would love to spend our free time together."

Velvet looked up at him with an expression equal parts embarrassed and excited. "Really?" Sun smiled and leaned in for a kiss. She pushed up on her toes to meet him half-way.

Day 7, Morning, Docks

Finding the correct boat wasn't hard, but the crowd of faunus prevented him from spotting Blake as he boarded. He was sure to wear his dark brown, hooded duster to hide his appearance. After quickly moving to his cabin and tossing his bag in, he moves up to the second level to look for her from a higher vantage point. Sun tried his best to catch a glance of the cat-faunus, not sure if he wanted to find her yet or not. If I find her, should we try going through the city? Should we wait until we get to the destination and then find a trip to Patch? No, you're getting ahead of yourself. Blake needs time to figure things out too. Sun grabbed his head in frustration before starting to search again.

By the time he found her, the boat was already well out to sea. She was wearing a long white jacket now and wasn't wearing her ribbon anymore. As Sun moved closer, she spoke. "I'm standing on the boat and I still don't think I can trust you."

Sun was confused and was going to ask her what she was talking about when another voice came from near Blake. They must have been leaning against the wall of the cabin, because Sun couldn't see them from his vantage point on the second deck. "I made you a promise, Blake. I'll bring you straight to the front door."

Blake shook her head. "It's your funeral, I guess." The other voice laughed. Sun retreated away from the edge. She needs help getting to wherever she's going? Is she going to try infiltrating the Fang again? If that was the case, he couldn't go see her now. He may scare off her contact. Sun moved along the railing to try and get a look at the contact.

The angle was poor but Sun did notice the bright orange arm. Not very subtle. Maybe he is one of the more obvious White Fang members? Sun decided that he would stay out of sight until he could get Blake alone.

—

Day 9, Afternoon

"Seriously, it was no big deal. Just enjoy the rest of the trip and everything will be cool. We got this." The civilians gave him reassured smiles as they moved back to the cabin. When he turned back to Blake, she was grabbing the handrail with both hands and staring down into the waves. She looked….displeased. "Blake? You okay?"

Blake turned to him. "What are you doing here, Sun?"

Sun scratches the back of his head. "Well I am not about to let you go after the White Fang on your own."

Blake just stares at him, dumbstruck for a minute Oh, I may have gotten this wrong. She runs a hand through her hair and sighs. "What? Where did you get that idea?"

Sun looks away from her, thoroughly embarrassed. "I take it…you're not?"

Blake sighs dramatically. "No Sun. I'm not. I am just going home."

Sun was even more confused. "Wait but what about that dude with the metal arm? Something about trust issues and funerals?"

Blake blinked. "What do you-?" Then her eyes widened. "Oh!...Yeah...that's gonna be hard to explain"

"Not that hard Kitty Cat." Sun spun around to see a tall man with a black sleeveless shirt and black slacks. He almost didn't recognize him with his now short hair, heavy stubble, and mechanical arm.

The eyes gave him away. The same green eyes shined with laughter just like they did when the gangster was pointing his cane at Sun's head. "Torchwick." His voice came out as an awed whisper as he shifted back and placed a hand on his weapon.

Torchwick lifted his hands in surrender. "Calm down, Wukong. I ain't here to hurt anyone."

Sun keeps a hold on his weapon. "How are you alive? What are you doing with Blake? What the hell is going on?"

Blake was the one to answer, slowly at first but once the words started flowing, it didn't seem like Blake was able to stop. Sun could only stare as she relayed all the things that had happened since The Fall. Her cautious reassurance that Torchwick was being genuine in helping her barely registered in his mind after hearing about the cop.

It had happened the night he saw her move down that alley. While he was trying to console Yang and tell her that he would be there for Blake, she was almost shot. He felt like he just fell into the ocean as a cold sweat broke out over his skin. He saw Yang even more defeated than before. Ruby waking up only to hear that Blake was also dead. Blake just laying face down in the sand with blood slowly pooling around her head.

"Sun?" He looked back at Blake who was looking concerned. "Are you okay?"

He took a deep breath before giving her his best smile. "Yeah. I guess I owe Torchwick a 'thank you" Blake looked confused which just made him laugh. "So tell me about Menagerie!"

A few days later, Morning, Kuo Kuana

Sun couldn't help but marvel at the dock as they approached it. Most of the buildings were made of wood. The docks were not designed to moor many large vessels. He imagined that the dock would be full of fishing boats later in the day but the sun was freshly risen so the docks were mostly empty.

Blake looked nervous about returning home but Roman appeared as calm as can be. The more time Sun spent around the gangster, the more mysterious he became. Sun met with Roman alone to thank him for saving Blake. Surprisingly, he didn't give a typical smug answer. He just smiled and told him to not worry about it. The only thing Roman wanted was for Sun to get his name right. "Roman Torchwick is dead. I would appreciate it if you kept it that way. When we reach shore, I will be Roman Calico."

"Calico?" Blake seemed to be thinking hard about something.

Roman nodded as he looked out to the gangplank being lowered to the dock. "Roman and Calico are both common names."

"Calico is a common Faunus name." Blake sighs and shakes her head. "Whatever. You seem to think you know what you're doing." That got a laugh out of Mr. Calico.

The trio made their way down the docks and into the city. Blake answered any questions he had about Menagerie. The walk down through the market was wonderful. Sun had never seen so many Faunus, some showing traits he had never heard of before. As the novelty of the situation faded into the background Sun noticed just how slow Blake was walking. Roman had created a significant distance between them. Sun looked down at Blake's worried face. "What's wrong Blake?"

She stops and looks away from him. "It's nothing. Just...been a while since I've been home."

"You worry too much, Princess" Sun looked up at Roman, who had stopped walking and turned to face them, arms behind his head. "They will be ecstatic to see you.

Sun was confused. "Princess?" I mean Blake is beautiful but 'Princess' definitely fits better with Weiss.

Roman smirked and pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "See where this road ends? That's the Belladonna house."

Sun looked over Roman's shoulder and his jaw dropped at the sheer size of the building compared to the others. He turned to look at Blake who nodded to him. Blake straightened her back as she glared back at Roman. "Don't call me 'Princess', Calico"

"Whatever you say, Kitty Cat." He turned around and started walking again. Blake growled slightly before she started walking again, grumbling but now moving with purpose.

They stopped in front of the house. Sun drifted a bit closer, lifting his arm to comfort her if she needed it. Before he could ask if she was okay, a loud knock diverted both their attentions. Roman was at the front door knocking on it with his metal arm. Blake took a few big steps forward, her voice a panicked whisper. "What the fuck are you doing?!"

Roman turns to smile at them, arm still up in front of the door. "Knocking politely."

Blake looked flabbergasted at the gangster before the door opened and an older black haired Cat-Faunus stepped out. She looked confused for a second before smiling up to her guest. "Roman? Well isn't this a surprise. How have you been?"

Roman smiled. "As lovely as it is to see you again, you have more important guests Kali."

He stepped to the side and Kali's eyes widened. "Blake?"

Blake looked down, wrapping an arm around her waist as her ears drooped. "...hi Mom" Kali quickly moved to her daughter and wrapped her up in a tight hug.

"Kali? Who is it?" Sun looked up to see that Blake's dad was a large, muscular man who seemed to like showing his chest off as much as Sun did. I'm sure we will get along great! Blake's father's expression turned from confusion to joy as he looked down at his daughter.

As Ghira moved out of the house to join the hug, a small child popped her head out from behind the door frame. She had large, puffy fox ears sticking out of the top of her bob of bright red hair. Her green eyes shined with mischief as she looked from Blake and her family to Sun. Sun gave her a big smile and a wave. She looked away and reddened slightly as she gave him a small wave back, obviously embarrassed for getting caught. Then she noticed Roman and her face shined with joy. "PAPA!" The girl ran up and leapt into Roman's arms. Wait...What?