AN: In no way am I connected to RWBY

Uncle Qrow was asleep. Apparently, that wasn't unusual for someone who had donated a lot of blood at the end of a long and traumatic day.

At any other time, Ruby would just think he was adorable curled up like that.

Mercury sleeping on the bed in the middle of the room stopped all that.

[Ruby, relax. Just give me a few days and I'll be up and about.]

Ruby winced. [Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you.]

[It's fine. Has Zwei stolen my stuff again?]

[No. He's been sleeping on your bed though. I think he missed you too…We all did.] Right now, the dog and dragon were in the corner of the room, close to the main door.

[…I was careless.]

[Don't go there Merc. Please.] She was sure there was nothing he could have done differently. Ruby didn't want to think on it. He was safe now.

Emerald's free hand gently rubbed her back. She was in the chair next to Ruby's. Dad and Yang were near Zwei and Talaria, talking about something through their aura. It was a Serious conversation, Ruby could tell that much.

"Go back to sleep Merc," Emerald murmured. She hadn't left his side and would almost certainly fall asleep in that chair. Ruby would too.

[Hmm…Nope.]

A smile. It was a tiny smile, but Ruby didn't feel like smiling but she couldn't help herself.

"You're a bad influence Ruby," Emerald noted.

That got a little chuckle out of her. An ex-thief was calling her a bad influence on an ex-assassin.

[Still not letting her put reverse motors and flaps into my legs.]

An old argument from when his legs had been damaged before.

Ages ago.

They didn't need fixing right now though. They had only been switched off. Ruby had removed them when Dr Waterbrook asked her to so he could treat the damage underneath them.

Damage that everyone was deliberately hiding from her and Yang.

Which was fine with Ruby. If Mercury wanted to talk to her about it then she was always willing to listen even if she thought he never would. Right now, all she wanted was to know he would get better, not what was wrong with him.

Emerald glanced at Ruby. "Do I want to know what you wanted to do?"

"Nothing dangerous…" Ruby mumbled. "Just a bit more fun."

[Still not happening.]

He was getting really tired now. Ruby could tell that. So could Emerald. She began to hum that tune again. The one she always hummed whenever Mercury or Ruby couldn't sleep. Again Ruby wondered where she learned it; if it was something she had from her birth parents she couldn't remember.

[Cheater,] Mercury mumbled. But it was working.

"Sleep well," Ruby whispered, her hand massaging his unhurt cheek.

In a few minutes, he was.

Ruby sighed and leaned back in the chair, hands slipping back to her sides. Emerald turned to her properly. Her hand remained on him; kept checking he was okay. She didn't say anything. There wasn't really anything to say.

Ruby knew he was going to get better. But it was hard to see him like this.

The ice pack on his eye had melted. Ruby grabbed a new one from the bucket full of ice and carefully replaced it. His breath hitched a little, but he settled again almost immediately.

How is he so…peaceful?

[Ruby, he's peaceful because he's safe.]

Ruby jumped. She hadn't heard Yang approach or even felt her touch on her shoulder. [He still feels…vulnerable.]

[He has three limbs missing and…very bad months. Probably years for him.] Can a heart be wrenched out? [It'll take him a while to relax again. This isn't somewhere he considers safe either.]

[How soon until he can come home?] Ruby wanted him home now.

[Dr Waterbrook thinks at least a few weeks, depending on how he heals.] Yang petted her head. [Ruby, I know this is a bad time, but…Did you ever talk about…going further?]

This was a really bad time. [Yang…Not now…Please.] Because now she was beginning to notice something.

[You did, didn't you? I won't tell Dad, I promise.]

Ruby swallowed. [We spoke about it once…Barely. He wanted to wait until I was at least of age and Emerald agreed. I thought…I mean I wanted my first time to be special and if we had been together for a few years…He never wanted to go that far, did he? Ever.]

Ruby knew the word. She couldn't say it. She didn't want to think on it, but…

[Most likely not,] Yang sighed. [He either didn't think the relationship would last that long or he would have given an excuse that wasn't the truth if it did.]

[He thought he would be dead before it got to that point.]

"Ruby-"

"That's the truth Yang."

The Vytal Festival…He was so distant then. Was Ironwood really the only threat on his mind? Was there something in his talks with Cinder on Earth that made him suspect something?

Or did he just think his father's past would catch up with him?

"If you want to step back Ruby, now is the best time to do it."

Right from the beginning.

Emerald's eyes returned to the pair, but she didn't say anything. She had missed the whole 'conversation'. But from the look in her eyes…She could guess. Maybe she had known for a while.

"That memory Emerald, his nightmare…What exactly did you see?"

It wasn't that Emerald was hiding something from her. Ruby knew they would never tell her the worst of what happened, but she needed something. Something to give 'context'; something she could hate more than seeing him like this.

…

A long breath.

"A young Mercury. His 10th birthday." Her voice was distant. "He woke up wrapped in chains on his bed and had to weasel out of them. When he deliberately cut his arm so the blood-…That's when I pulled back."

Ruby felt like crying. She didn't let herself. "So what Marcus did…wasn't a surprise to you."

"It was. I never thought it went that far. Never crossed my mind that it did. What would be the point? He's an assassin. Not a…"

"That's enough girls."

Dad didn't make her jump.

…

"Is he going to be okay Dad?" Ruby didn't know why she asked. She knew what he would reply.

"Just give him time."

It had been three days.

Tai and Qrow took Mercury for a proper bath in the room next door. Tai had old memories of washing the girls back when they were babies. Summer had loved every second with them. Qrow didn't have that experience. One too many near misses with his Semblance and he chose to stay away until they were older.

Well, that had been the decision until Yang took Ruby for a ride in the forest.

Tai chose to wait outside the bathroom. He didn't want them disturbed and he did not want Mercury to become an exhibit. He could also see the teen was embarrassed that he was entirely dependent on them. For his recovery, a good sign.

But he was back to tensing whenever he was touched. While not surprising, it was disheartening.

Being properly clean would make him feel much better, but Tai could tell with all those wounds that merely being awake was painful for him. The only part of him that was unmarred was that Aura Wielder tattoo and that wasn't through lack of trying. He did smile when he went in the water though, so maybe it wasn't as bad.

Tai was also worried about Qrow. The man had barely slept in the past three days and the few hours he had managed to snag were plagued by nightmares. Tai had manged to wake him without disturbing any of the kids, but Qrow wouldn't talk to him about it. It was obvious what the problem was, but…Qrow had specifics and Tai didn't. Most likely the sole reason Tai was sleeping a little better than he was.

It would be better if Qrow stayed home during Mercury's recovery as well.

And how am I supposed to convince him of that if he doesn't realise it himself?

It didn't look like Qrow was going to leave him any time soon.

Hopefully.

Physically, Mercury was healing very well. Dr Waterbrook's initial estimate of a few weeks had been dropped down to a fortnight at most. He did agree that his mental and emotional recovery would be much easier at home than in LiaGuard.

Taiyang wanted to get him out of here as quickly as possible.

With how well he's doing, I'll be thinking about bringing him home in about three or four days.

There was a thud on the inside of the door.

Tai rolled his eyes with a fond smile. He opened the door and headed inside, noting the towel Qrow had thrown to get his attention. Qrow himself was still by the tub. Mercury was resting his head on Qrow's shoulder, either sleeping or resting his eye. Most likely the latter.

I'd almost call it 'cute' if both of them wouldn't take offence to it. For now, let's not wind him up.

If it wasn't for the stumps of his legs and arm. The red but closed eyelid. They were sobering.

One thing that hadn't healed yet were his vocal chords. They had badly damaged it somehow, but it wasn't a life threatening injury and he had far worse things to worry about. Ironically, the wounds that distressed the others the most were the ones that were the least physically harmful. They would be the last things to go.

Mercury opened his eye when Taiyang was in view. Tai reached out and carefully patted him once on the head. Aura brushed against his instantly and the teen was satisfied, even if he had moved a little away.

Not your fault. It'll pass.

That simulator could make a copy of Marcus Black.

There was no reason it couldn't make a copy of Taiyang or Qrow or the girls.

And Mercury's constant aura checking if they had been out of his sense range told a very obvious tale. Images and voices could be replicated, but aura couldn't be.

Another obstacle they were going to have to overcome.

But they wouldn't be as accurate. Personal. Ginger didn't get memories of us. Had to go off what Basil knew.

Yang had had a suggestion. One Taiyang really didn't like. To be fair, she wasn't fond of it either.

But he had a few days to a fortnight to think on it.

Qrow had a few towels ready. Tai grabbed a clean blanket and a pair of boxers. For now, there was little medicine or the family could do for him except make him as comfortable as they could.

Qrow's scroll rang.

He ignored it.

The ringing stopped.

Mercury blinked, frowning a little. [That was Ozpin.]

"And he can wait," was Qrow's reply.

Apparently, Mercury knew the significance of that sentence as much as Tai did.

And he had no idea how to respond to it.

Tai's reaction was pride and relief.

But he didn't show it.

It wasn't easy to carry Mercury. Normally, Qrow would lift someone under the back and knees. Removing the prosthetics had made the bath far more enjoyable, but it made things a little more difficult. Instead, after they carefully dried him, they wrapped him in the blanket and twisted the loose end to regain the balance.

Mercury raised his left arm easily, pressing it against Qrow's chest. The two stopped.

[I hear…Yang's gauntlets.]

It could be a hallucination. Mercury was expected to have those, not just because of the simulator but because of a different discussion that Taiyang was still urging to have words with Ironwood for.

But why Yang's gauntlets?

Taiyang listened, but he couldn't hear anything.

The door slammed open and Ruby was next to them. Her voice was hushed but rushed. "She's here. I don't-She's here somehow!"

'She'?

Cinder.

How the hell had she gotten in?

And gotten this far!

Not important right now.

Tai could hear Yang's gauntlets too now. Yang and Emerald must still be next door, trying to keep Cinder's attention on them-

Mercury's eye was focused. His arm moved to try and get up.

"Ruby. Take Mercury and get onto another level. Anywhere else. Go!"

Mercury obviously wanted to protest.

But Ruby immediately gathered him in her arms and vanished into rose petals, with light silver mixed in with the red.

They're safe.

Tai and Qrow immediately ran for the simulator room.

If Cinder was here to kill Mercury or Emerald, Taiyang was going to stop her.

And he did not care if he had to kill her to do it. At least then, those two would finally be free of her life, if not her shadow.

Ruby didn't need to read Mercury's aura to know he was not happy about this. If she hadn't taken him away, he would have tried to fight too, missing limbs be damned.

Because that is what he is. Conditioned to fight no matter what happens to him.

How did someone end up like that?

It wasn't hate or revenge that made Mercury want to fight Cinder. He wasn't even angry at her. It was the fact she was here to kill him and he didn't want to die.

Two floors down, in an abandoned room, Ruby lay him down again, carefully checking that using her Semblance hadn't hurt him more.

[Ruby, take me back.]

"No."

When was the last time she had 'no' to him?

When had I needed to? He tended to offer things for me and Em, not for himself.

[Ruby-]

"No Eris."

Mercury blinked. Something flickered across his expression.

Ruby cupped his cheek under his good eye. He tensed, but then leaned into it. "Do you remember that? When the eleven of us sat down and gave each other nicknames? We're using them in school now."

Mercury might not remember. If Ginger had never seen his memories of them, maybe he had buried them so deep even he couldn't see them.

Then we'll have to give him more happy memories.

[I…That night…] He was trying. [Yeah…I…They named me 'Ares' but sometimes…Emerald thought 'Eris' was more accurate.]

She did and later Uncle Qrow had agreed with her, even if Yang and Ruby didn't. 'Ares' was what their friends called them, but 'Eris' is what the family had named him. Not seriously and they rarely brought it up, but Ruby hadn't been trying to honestly. It had been just before…

Just before they stepped back.

"And you agreed but were annoyed because it was female."

[And someone…Yang…said that Talaria called me 'Mother Fledging'.]

He did remember. Them, at least. "Can you remember the others?"

[Cinder-]

"You're not going down there," Ruby stated very firmly. "They'll worry about you and then won't fight as well. Isn't that why you want me to hang back if you're in a tough fight?" He didn't respond, but some of the fight went out of him.

They'll be okay. Everyone will be okay.

Ruby believed that.

It wasn't the fact it was four on two. It was the fact they wouldn't allow the others to fall.

[But-]

"Right now, you would struggle to take me."

[They'll need to kill her to get her to back off. Yang can't do that. Her hesitation could get her killed.]

Ruby winced. She didn't want anyone to die. "They'll send her out if she'll go." She won't. "What name did we give her?"

…

[This is a bad way of distracting me.]

"Less complaining and more naming."

Mercury let out a breath and closed his eye. Naturally he started with Ruby, Emerald and Yang, then Weiss oddly, then continued…alphabetically.

Ruby smiled.

He was getting them all right.

The memories are still there. He just needs to remember and bury those horrendous memories deep.

Cinder hadn't come alone.

But Qrow didn't recognise the woman with her.

Deep blue eyes, blonde hair with orange streaks, dark blue cat suit…Definitely never met her.

Given that her katana was trying to slice Yang's head off, she wasn't friendly. Tai immediately jumped into that battle, catching her wrist before she could strike. She twisted out of it like a monkey.

"Get out Yang."

"Not happening."

Qrow's target was Cinder.

Emerald was struggling.

She wasn't struggling because she was being overpowered or because Cinder was using Maiden power. She wasn't. But there was a good reason her aura had dropped by half already.

Emerald was struggling because she was fighting Cinder.

Sorry Mint. But you're not alone.

She was trying to stay calm and fight carefully.

But she was missing obvious hits and several hits could have been easily dodged.

Okay.

Qrow needed to focus Cinder's attention on him.

But before he could do anything more daring other than basic sword fighting, Tai was by his side and Emerald was by Yang.

Not happy leaving the kids on their own, but this is probably a better match up.

Cinder's eyes focused on Emerald for a moment-

Then spun her sword when Talaria tried to bite her. That was followed by a stream of fire, but Talaria was already out of range and flew to assist Zwei after his headbutt put him in range of the other woman's attack.

Qrow clashed against her swords.

Tai's fist broke through her block.

And immediately Qrow noticed that the sword in her left hand vanished. That arm was at an odd angle. It was clearly broken.

She has aura, but it's not a shield.

Well. That made things much easier.

Or it would have if Cinder didn't instantly start to use fire.

"Tai?"

"I see it."

It wasn't important exactly what was happening to Cinder's aura, but it did explain why she hadn't come alone. A quick glance showed that Emerald and Yang were doing well; with the two animals running distraction.

But why did Cinder come at all if she has such a huge problem?

Long shots were useless against Cinder. Qrow had sparred a few times with Amber to aid them both and the first thing he had learned was that projectiles could be blocked by a kind of force field that was almost instinctive once they tapped into it.

Blunt force was not stopped however.

Unfortunately for Cinder, that was how Taiyang liked to fight.

Qrow didn't hear anything, but something hard smacked into him from the side. Before he could gain his balance, Cinder sidestepped Tai's punch and brought her sword down on Qrow's neck.

He had never heard that sound before.

Right…No aura, bit too careless. Right-

I can't move.

Qrow couldn't move.

There was a strong, agonising pulse at the base of his neck.

Ignoring it, Qrow tried to move his limbs. But he couldn't.

What's going on?

This had never happened before.

Not a Semblance effect, I know that…But what else is there? Both electrocuted me when they hit me, but that didn't cause this. What-

Severed spinal cord.

He was alive, but couldn't move.

More importantly, recovery would not happen on a battlefield.

Qrow couldn't rejoin the fight.

Dammit!

He couldn't protect his kids.

Emerald saw Qrow's aura shatter. She saw him go down.

What she couldn't understand was why he didn't get back up. He was obviously awake.

"Uncle Qrow?!" Yang called, but there was a clang of clashed metal.

If Qrow replied, they didn't hear it over the noise of battle.

Emerald used her Semblance for the first time today. "I'll check on him. Cover me."

Yang tilted her head slightly to show she heard and cracked her knuckles. "Right then. Talaria, Zwei. Double ping-pong."

What is she teaching those two?

To Emerald's surprise, the two animals charged. Talaria naturally reached the enemy first, but rather than slash or bite, she just landed on her arm and bounced off again. She made a tight turn and did it again. Zwei did the same thing, jumping up and bouncing off, not trying to attack.

The woman was struggling to keep her balance.

Oh. That's why.

Probably a way they woke someone up when they slept in. So normally Yang or Ruby. Seemed more like something Yang would think up.

Emerald knelt by Qrow, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Hey Mint, don't worry. Get back in there."

His problem was…

A severed spine.

He was very lucky to be alive.

Or maybe it wasn't luck…

"I think-"

"Don't. Go on."

Emerald swallowed.

Her attention went to Cinder. She was distracted with Tai. But if she noticed…

Then…

I don't care. It's not like they'll live…

Emerald moved her hand over the right vertebrae. She took a deep breath and focused. That deep unsettlement; she pushed the warm pulse towards Qrow.

"Emerald, don't!" Of course Qrow would notice. His hiss was quiet, but he knew what she was doing.

And with Cinder in the room…

Emerald tried to keep her voice steady. "I know. And it'll keep her here and not after him. She…"

"So…It was you. All this time…"

Emerald flinched, but stayed focused. Healing wasn't a bad ability to have and if Qrow couldn't defend himself, one stray attack…

And Cinder had just realised…

I won't let you hurt any of us again.

In the corner of her eye, Emerald saw the mystery woman slash her katana, scattering the two animals. Ready to strike.

The fireball would kill Qrow.

It had been a good night. The dances were nice and her Quicksilver looked good in formal dress. Who knew that Ruby could be more beautiful? That Mercury could be so perfect in a suit?

Ruby was feeling a little too hot, so she left for some air.

When they caught up with her, Emerald went on a roof and Mercury stayed below.

A wind tornado using Dust rounds carefully fired. It deflected anything Cinder aimed at him. He was break-dancing in the eye of the storm. It was incredible.

Then he made everything go back.

Break-dancing…Was almost an art. When he did it anyway.

There was a crash and a startled cry when the fireball hit the wind tornado Emerald must have unknowingly created around her and Qrow. It had been redirected at Cinder's accomplice.

Cinder herself created an ice sword-

Taiyang's punch didn't just shatter the sword. He continued through it as if it had never existed, continued on and hit Cinder in the head.

She…

She hit the floor like a doll…Her head at an odd angle…

Cinder didn't move.

Talaria snarled and launched herself again at the unknown woman.

Cinder still didn't move.

Burning!

Emerald hissed and drew her hands back.

Everything was burning. Her head, her body, her heart. Everything hurt so much.

Emerald closed her eyes, pulling back into herself. Shaking.

"Sorry little cousin. I didn't mean to worry you; didn't mean to run off. But everything was too much. I was taken in, found a new family but…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you behind."

"Mom…Dad…Help me. Please. It hurts so much."

"He chose you over me. That was a mistake."

So many voices…

Something wet rubbed against her cheek.

With a slight groan, Emerald opened her eyes.

Zwei stared back at her.

"Em? You okay?" Yang was near too.

Tai had his arms wrapped around her, trying to calm her down. Emerald curled into him. Someone else was rubbed her back gently, but he was a little farther away. Qrow had backed off to give them some room-

Qrow…

He was moving. He was fine.

"I-I…" She felt… "I'm…okay. I mean…" Everything wasn't hurting anymore. In fact… "I feel more like myself for years."

She barely noticed that warmth within…It didn't hurt anymore. It was just there and only when she searched for it.

But her hands were glowing. It looked like aura, but she knew it wasn't.

Mercury…

Emerald smiled and squirmed a little for room to stand up. They all stepped back, Yang helping her to her feet. Tai still held her close. She deliberately, but sadly, stepped out of his embrace.

"Emerald."

She hesitated and looked at Qrow. Knew what he was going to say. "Just so you know, if you heal him, especially that eye, Salem's probably going to figure it out. It's your choice and you know the up. Just keep in mind the down."

Qrow was worried. He would have been too late to save Amber if Emerald and Mercury had been able to fight properly back then.

But Emerald's answer was…obvious.

"I don't care."

She wasn't afraid of them anymore.

Emerald was angry at them. Not just what they had done to her, but to Mercury. They'd had to wreck the nice normal life Ruby and Yang had had and had shown them the darkness in the world. They had made Tai and Qrow fear for their kids' lives.

And Emerald had had enough.

Let them figure it out.

Ruby had taken Mercury two floors down and into the nearest room.

Ruby was still crouched, but her hand was on her scythe. She relaxed when she saw Emerald and turned back to Mercury. His eye was on Emerald and he had managed to wiggle his arm free. Ruby's arms went around him; he paid her little attention.

"Emerald? You're glowing."

Emerald knelt down and wrapped her arms around Mercury. He tensed at first, like he had every time, but then relaxed. Ruby lifted him a little so Emerald could pull him into her lap completely.

[Em…Are you sure about this?] He sounded so conflicted. And so worried. Worried didn't sound right on him.

"Very sure."

Petting his hair, Emerald began to softly hum.

That warm pulse responded so much quicker than a few minutes before. So eager; so much. There wasn't that ache this time, like the very few times she had managed before. It was calming.

Mercury let out a sigh and leaned into her completely. He closed his eye. Going to sleep.

Emerald knew how to help him. She just knew. She knew exactly what injuries he had and she knew how to fix them. She could take away his pain.

I'm done with running. After so long, maybe…I should…just live.

Cinder…

…

Goodbye.

And…

Thank you for everything.