Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ozpin held Oscar's hand and ran a thumb over the knuckles. They were in the office that Ozpin had been using as a room, Oscar in the cot by the fire, his side a thick lump of bandages. Qrow was in the pallet, an exhausted heap. All of Ozpin's family in one room, and only him awake.

It felt like a dream.

His sense of time was distorted.

He'd remembered autumn and falling. He awoke to cold. He was told that this was spring, but he shivered continuously, even with his warmest coat that Qrow had brought over before the night of blood and fire. He was aware that time had passed during his fever, but it was all so disjointed. He couldn't say that autumn was like yesterday, it didn't feel like it when he woke up, but he couldn't say this was spring either.

He should be back at the apartment. He should be in bed, Oscar in his arms safe, Qrow behind him. He remembered something like that happening once.

Instead: Qrow, asleep in a pallet, his clothes stained in Oscar's blood. Oscar unconscious in the cot, pale as his bandages. And Ozpin, sitting between them, awake and worrying.

He didn't have to check the sands. He knew that he was too worried and fearful for the curse to be active.

Ozpin took a deep breath, leaned forward to gently run his other hand through Oscar's hair.

The bullet wound was severe. Pietro had explained that it was only by the Brother's intervention that no major organs had been struck. The immediate concern was the blood loss. Oscar would need a great deal of red meat in his diet to replenish it all, and given how hungry everyone was, that was unlikely. Ozpin suspected that green leafy vegetables, spinach and the like, might help as well. He wondered what Oscar had harvested and planted back home. Given that Ozpin couldn't access the roof, he had no idea what had been growing. The garden out back had mostly been for the herbs that were needed for charging wreaths, or for cooking. Those, he knew. Those wouldn't help.

Another concern that Pietro brought up was infection. Those who were shot often got sick, assuming they survived the sheer trauma of a foreign object going through a body where it wasn't supposed to. Already, Ozpin could feel a fever in Oscar. Nothing like backbreaker, but a fever nonetheless.

Ozpin was scared he was going to lose his son.

He was terrified he was going to lose his son.

Isolation and Misery.

He took a deep, shaky breath. He reminded himself that he would choose to fight back against isolation and misery. Qrow was by his side. His nieces were by his side. He wouldn't be isolated.

But losing Oscar….

Ozpin wiped at his eyes. It wouldn't be right away. It wouldn't even be soon.

But Ozpin was resolved.

If he lost Oscar, he would eventually be happy that Oscar was safe with him when it happened. He would be happy that Oscar didn't die in Ironwood's prison. He would be happy that he could be by Oscar's side.

He would…

… be happy…

Ozpin took a deep sobbing breath, trying to stay silent.

He would not submit to depression again. It could claw and grasp at him, it could strike and pummel him. Depression might even hold him for a time.

But Ozpin wouldn't ever let himself stay depressed again.

That dark period after his first bout of backbreaker… He'd refused to return to that mindset again.

He rubbed his thumb over Oscar's knuckles again.

There was still musket fire up the mountain.

One of Qrow's messengers swooped in through a window to settle on the edge of the cot.

"A moment," he whispered to the bird. "Let them rest. They've earned it."

The crow looked up to him, tilted its head, then hopped onto his good knee, a far better perch than his bad leg was, stretched out. Ozpin ran a hand gently along its back.

What he wouldn't give to be able to get up and walk to the fire to make a proper pot of tea. Ozpin himself was still limited in his mobility. He could barely stand. So much now depended on waiting. Waiting for Oscar to get better, waiting for being able to walk, waiting for food to grow, waiting, waiting, waiting.

He let out a long sigh.

In this moment, he was happy. Oscar was with him. Oscar was safe. Qrow was with him. Qrow was safe. The rest would have to wait.

He heard steps behind him and turned to see Penny at the door. He nodded to her and she came over, laying a hand gently on his shoulder.

"Do you wish to begin your exercises?" she asked softly.

No. He just wanted to be here with his family.

"Of course," he said. "The more work I put in, the faster I can get back to walking." He leaned forward again and ran a hand through Oscar's hair. He did the same to Qrow.

With Penny's help, he stood and hobbled over to the cobbled-together sand table, where he normally spent his day without his mobility. Most of the practice was going from sitting to standing, getting his good leg and arms stronger and lifting up his own weight, adjusting to the balance needed, and standing with the new curve in his bad leg. The crow perched on the reader watched with curiosity as Ozpin struggled up to standing again, a faint sheen of sweat on his face as he put in his effort.

"Very good," Penny said softly. "The more you work when you are exhausted, the more endurance you acquire."

Ozpin knew that. He knew that from the first time he'd had to go through this, and that was when his depression, his isolation and misery, had been at its worst. When exhaustion after merely standing would send him into a negative spiral that he couldn't escape from. This work reminded him of that far too much.

But once he was standing, he looked over Penny's shoulder to Oscar and Qrow.

No. He wouldn't be isolated and miserable.

Exhausted, he sat down and proceeded to work to get up again.

He managed to get up three more times, his arms and good leg shaking, and he just stood, refusing to move, and gulping in one breath at a time.

"Very good!" Penny smiled. "You are proceeding at a rate faster than predicted."

"I don't have the time to wait," Ozpin replied, carefully reaching up to wipe sweat off his brow. "I know I can't rush this, but…" He looked back over to his family. "I won't wallow in self-pity as I have before."

"I find it unlikely that you would wallow in pity," Penny said, still keeping her arms out for support if he lost his balance. "You have been driven and focused for as long as I've known you."

Ozpin only hummed, not wanting to dwell on what this was like the first time. He adjusted his cane slightly, but his arms were shaking too much. Carefully, he settled himself back down on the chair. Penny helped him stretch and cool down.

"How are Miss Blake and Miss Weiss?" he asked, letting Penny gently pull his arm back to stretch out his chest.

"Both are recuperating well," Penny replied. "Weiss's stitches are set and she has full mobility of her arm, as long as she is careful of the muscle."

Ozpin nodded. "I am afraid I was focused on Oscar, how was she injured?"

"The imperial army did not like her being on the streets when she decided to chance bringing us more food and supplies. One of the locals who knew that Weiss was providing supplies for disadvantaged stepped in with a squad of the rebellion."

"Oh dear."

"She also has her sight," Penny continued. "Though her face will scar. The bayonet didn't seem to do any damage to the eye itself."

"And Miss Blake? I owe her a debt for getting Oscar out of the palace."

"She is still asleep," Penny said, gently taking his other arm to stretch. "She does not know how she was injured, but the gash on her leg is quite deep. Like you and Oscar, she will not walk for a time as it heals. The deeper tissue needs to heal before I am confident that she could move."

Ozpin couldn't quite hold back a hollow chuckle. "It seems this is a house for those who can't walk."

"That is inaccurate," Penny replied. "I can walk, as can Yang, Marrow, Weiss, and Robyn."

"Robyn? Robyn Hill? She's here?"

"She arrived approximately two hours after Qrow brought Oscar and Blake here."

Ozpin really was oblivious if he had missed that… He sighed. "I suppose she wishes to talk with someone?"

Penny nodded, setting the arm back and then kneeling on the floor to stretch out Ozpin's toes. "She wishes to see Qrow, but she also knows that he is resting. Robyn is also resting. She looked exhausted when she arrived."

"I think we all are," Qrow said, sitting up from the pallet.

"Qrow…"

"It's fine, Oz," his lover said, rubbing at his eyes. "You were trying to be quiet, no big deal."

"You need your sleep as well."

Qrow gave a lopsided grin. "I will." He stood up with an ease that Ozpin envied, and stooped over Oscar. "Fever?"

"Quite common with gunshots," Ozpin replied. "His magic is completely closed, so we don't have to worry about further drains on his system."

Qrow scowled, then stretched with a yawn. "I think I'll get changed. See about getting some food. Then I'll talk to Robyn." He came over to put a supportive hand on Ozpin's shoulder and left the room. He gave a soft whistle and the crow swooped over to a finger. "Let's see who's bugging me now."

Once Ozpin was done with his stretches, Penny helped him take his seat by Oscar again and gave him the book he had been reading. It took some maneuvering, but Ozpin held Oscar's hand and picked up where he'd left off, reading a history of Vale that a Mistralan had woefully misrepresented. It was something to keep his mind occupied since he couldn't move about the house.

That and he needed a break from Mistralan poetry. He wanted his return poem to be perfect.

It was an hour later when Ozpin felt a twitch in his hand. He closed the book, set it aside on the floor, and looked to Oscar. His son was slowly starting to wake up, and Ozpin carefully used his limited mobility to move his chair closer, and lean over Oscar's face, hoping to be the first thing his son would see. He reached out and ran a hand through Oscar's hair, squeezed his hand. Still feverish.

Hazel eyes slowly opened, and Ozpin smiled.

"...Oz…?"

"Oscar, welcome back."

"Oz!" Oscar attempted to sit up, but Oz put a hand to his son's chest just as Oscar's body rather thoroughly reminded him that moving was a decidedly bad idea. "Owwww, ow, what…?"

"You're free," Ozpin said, his heart soaring high. "You are no longer in the palace, or on trial. We are safe." He was smiling so much that there were tears in his eyes.

Oscar was awake. Awake!

He couldn't help himself, Ozpin leaned over, despite how awkward it all was, to just hug his son closely.

"This is real?" Oscar asked very quietly.

"It is, son," Ozpin replied. "You're free. You're safe."

Oscar started to cry and hold him back just as tightly. Ozpin may have joined in the tears. And there may have been a great deal of overjoyed laughter. For quite a while.

"Oz, you're awake! You look so much better!"

"I've still a long way to go," Ozpin said, pulling back to kiss Oscar's forehead. "And I'm afraid I'm the more mobile of the two of us at the moment."

Oscar frowned, before memory flashed in his eyes. "James shot me."

"You lost a great deal of blood coming down the mountain. Pietro can explain more, for now, just let me look at you!" Ozpin sat back and beamed as Oscar blushed.

"I thought I heard delighted squealing," Qrow said, leaning against the doorway. "Good to see you awake, kid."

"Qrow!" Oscar smiled.

Ozpin took the effort of levering himself up, and Qrow came forward swiftly, offering support as Penny did. Ozpin used that as an excuse to hug him closely as well. His family was safe, and with him.

"Now," Ozpin said, sitting back down. "Let's catch you up."

Ozpin went through everything he'd experienced since waking up, Qrow filling in as needed, and Oscar explained what had been going on with him through the winter.

"The patterns!" Oscar interrupted himself. "Oz, there were patterns I didn't understand. I wanted to ask… oh. I gave them to Pyrrha."

"But you remember them?"

"Yeah but… I'm not good at drawing patterns from memory," Oscar said. "It was so interwoven with other patterns… I couldn't read it."

Ozpin frowned. "Perhaps we can ask the sands for it. We'll have to wait until we have a proper sand table, however."

"Wait? Proper?"

"You should see what Oz has cobbled together," Qrow jutted a finger to the make-shift reader. "I never would have guessed."

Ozpin watched Oscar carefully. "I think we'll continue this later. You need rest, Oscar."

"But-"

"Rest," he repeated gently. "Let your body replenish your blood. We'll still be here."

Oscar sighed and shifted to attempt to get more comfortable.

Ozpin stayed by his side until his son was asleep. Then he worked his way to standing again, and Qrow helped him back to the chair, stealing a quick kiss.

"I noticed you said 'we'."

"Of course, beloved," Ozpin replied, offering a warm smile. "I've the bones of my return poem, I'm just working on perfections."

Qrow chuckled. "You know I probably won't be able to read it, right? I can barely read as it is."

Ozpin's eyes danced. "Oh, I think you'll be able to read it just fine."

Another kiss.

Ozpin sat down and Qrow perched himself on the desk by the reader. "Robyn wants to see you. I told her to wait."

He nodded. "I suppose I should." Ozpin glanced over to Oscar, who was already in a deep sleep after so little time. "I'll admit, all I want to do right now is take you and Oscar away from here, find some impossible place where my sister will never find me, and just spend our lives together in happiness." He shook his head. "You both deserve so much better."

"Yeah, well, we've got you. That's all we want." Qrow offered a smug grin. "All that 'greatest soothsayer' filth is worthless. You're you, Oz. If the white witch bitch can't see that you're worth it, then she's blind."

"We'll have to deal with her eventually," Ozpin said sadly. "All these years…"

"We'll deal with it when you're better. When Oscar's better. In this war, there's enough misery going around that I think you're safe for now."

"I agree," Ozpin ran a hand through his hair. "As happy as I am to have you both here, I'm still worried. Oscar has a fever, we don't know what that means or how bad it will get, there's still musket fire up the mountain…"

"That won't last much longer," a new voice said.

Ozpin turned to the door. "Miss Hill, I presume?"

"Yup," she said, blond hair tied back in a tail, heavy coat open. "So you're the one who finally snagged this birdbrain's heart?"

"Hey."

Ozpin tilted his head. "I was unaware that I was stealing anything. I rather thought I was offering mine."

"Hey."

"Oh that's even sappier. No wonder this idiot fell for you. He's nothing but a romantic with no clue how to show it."

"I'm right here you know."

"Oh? I thought I was the oblivious one. Courtships in Vale are quite different than here in Mistral. Qrow has been rather instructive in that regard."

"Oz."

"Oh-ho! Has he? Qrow, you animal. What did you do? Show up naked and dance to get through someone so oblivious?"

"Robyn."

"Hm. I wonder. What are Mistralan positions on what's considered private between a couple? In Vale, all things between a couple are privy only to the couple. I've noticed Mistralans enjoy bragging about such encounters. Such candor is both off putting and refreshing."

Qrow choked.

Robyn offered a delighted smile. "That rather suggests that the two of you did the horizontal dance."

Ozpin blinked. "Horizontal?"

"We are not discussing this right now!" Qrow hissed.

Robyn laughed.

Ozpin glanced over at Oscar, but his son was still asleep. "So, Miss Hill, you said that the musket fire would stop?"

"Please, beanpole, just call me Robyn." The woman sat in the chair opposite Ozpin, Qrow still perched on the desk between them and scowling. "Yes, musket fire should stop today. The air has been thick with crows. Once the palace stopped burning, some of the advisors reached out. The rebellion's elected me to go in and see about demands. Negotiations are starting. For now, I'm sticking to sending in messenger crows. I will not meet them face to face until we can decide on neutral ground. But as long as crows are flying between us, there will be a ceasefire."

"How much is ours?" Qrow asked. "Where is the neutral zone?"

"We've got the base of the mountain up to about three milles from here. That means we control the mountain passes and trade. Everything south of the mountain range is effectively ours. Crows went out this morning about how much Haven has been starving, so some food should start coming in from the towns south of here who have already been planting."

Ozpin's jaw dropped. "They have enough food to share? After their own starvation?"

Robyn offered a wide smile. "See, without the Emperor pinching everything, most of the farming villages south of here did much better last growing season. Lots more stored. The rebellion has been focusing on taxes and monetary compensation instead of just taking food and resources. They may not pay full worth for items, but that's just because the tax base isn't that large yet because everyone has had nothing for years. But yeah, from the crows I've been getting all winter, it's very different from the filth we've been dealing with for generations."

"It won't be that easy," he replied. "Vale was a mess for decades before Mistral's invasion provided unity against a common enemy. Even now, they need to stay together and hold for years before it can truly be considered settled. There's an entire generation that grew up in chaos."

"Oh, we know it," Robyn nodded emphatically. "The Valean officers, they've been very clear on all this. A lot of the training they've been doing hasn't just been the military. It's been the civilian towns they liberate. Providing a charter, laws, all with input from the locals. It's a mess, but it's holding together for now. If we take Haven, we can start getting some real reforms done. Honestly, we don't even need an Emperor anymore. When was the last time he ever did anything for us?"

Ozpin still worried though. Isolation and Misery. All the Grimm caused by the soothsayers unknowingly by Ironwood. Would the war truly end that way? Or would the war simply follow Ozpin wherever he went?

"Oz?"

"I fear we will have to deal with the soothmaker before things settle properly."

"I've got a knife with that bitch's name on it."

Qrow left Ozpin with Oscar as he walked Robyn out.

"Why am I not surprised that you're already an important person in the rebellion?" he asked ruefully.

"Can't help it, shadow-beard," Robyn replied lightly. "I was the first person in the city to start sending them crows, I've asked a lot of questions, provided a lot of information on the city, organized, all my pamphlets. I wasn't planning to be important, I just wanted information to share with the people. Once I learned what was really going on at Southpoint, what happened during the campaign to get here… The people of Haven had to know."

"Keep this up, you'll end up being Empress."

"Fye and filth, kill me if that happens," Robyn chuckled. "We don't need that again. Vale's got a council, maybe something like that. Or the advisors of the Shah. I think we should avoid a dictatorship that Atlas has with its Generals of the Round or whatever nonsense it is."

"Heh. Don't say that near Penny. She's a good Atlesean. My nieces have been working for almost a year to get her to see outside of her indoctrination."

"Hn. Maybe they need a rebellion next."

Qrow chuckled. "Technically, Vale didn't start as a rebellion, according to Oz."

Robyn shrugged. "Too much to keep track of here in Mistral to watch other countries' politics." She gave a warm smile. "You keep that family of yours safe, shadow-beard."

"And you keep the people informed, birdbrain."

Robyn giggled. "I think I'll head back to the shop and sleep. Fye I'm tired still."

Qrow nodded. "It'll take a while to get our sleep rhythms back."

She gave a hooded smile. "I'm sure you and the Professor have a 'sleep rhythm' to get back to anyway."

"I hate you."

They waved their goodbyes and Qrow headed back in. A good meal sounded ideal right now, and Weiss had brought over some pork. It was what had gotten her caught on the streets and hurt. Her own worries about making sure the bolthole was stocked meant that as soon as she got the delivery, she had wanted to bring the share she'd reserved over, despite the chaos. Since most of the fighting had been further up the mountain, she'd assumed it was safe to duck out in the darkness to drop it off.

Now she had a bandage over her eye and her arm in a sling to prevent moving the muscle too much.

"I promise," Weiss was saying in the kitchen, "I can move the arm just fine. It just hurts."

"You'll just tear the tissues that are hanging by a thread," Pietro was saying, his chair by the hearth and stirring a pot of something that smelled decidedly good. "I've stitched it, but it needs time to do it's own stitching."

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Then at least let me help here in the kitchen."

"With only one arm, there's not much you can do," Pietro replied calmly. "Now listen to your doctor. Or go talk to Yang so she can tell you what you can do with one arm."

Weiss scowled and headed out.

"She okay?" Qrow asked, heading to the cabinets to grab some bowls.

"Stubborn is what she is," Pietro sighed. "She wants to help, but I'm not letting her. Everyone here wants to get back to work, but so few of them can."

"Yeah, waiting isn't a strong point," Qrow observed, letting Pietro dish out the bowls. "One for Oscar too, please. He was awake for a few minutes."

"He was? And neither you nor the professor came to get me?" Pietro tutted. "I'll wheel down and check in. And I'll give Ozpin a piece of my mind."

"Cut him some slack," Qrow said. "It's not like he could call for you."

"That's why there's a bell in there." Pietro backed up his chair. "That man just never uses it." Broth on a tray carefully balanced on his lap, Pietro rolled out. Shrugging, Qrow went to the bowl to dish out more for Yang, Blake, and Weiss upstairs, as well as setting aside one for himself. Marrow would be down soon from his watch and would eat then.

Qrow brought the tray upstairs, where everyone other than Oz and Pietro were sleeping. Penny was already asleep in her room. Yang's claimed room was empty, as was the room they'd put Blake into. Instead, it seemed all the ladies were in the upstairs office. Blake was on the couch, her bad leg out, on Yang's lap, Weiss at a cozy armchair beside it.

"Hope you're all hungry," Qrow said, bringing in the tray.

"Thanks, Uncle Qrow."

He set the tray down on the low table and claimed a chair for himself.

Yang chuckled. "You're here and not downstairs with the Professor?"

"I'm pretty sure Pietro is chewing him out and is then going to look over Oscar. He woke up for a bit."

"Thank the Brothers," Blake said softly, sipping at her soup. "When he was shot… I was sure he was dead."

Yang reached out and squeezed her hand.

"That must have been horrible," Weiss said, staring down at her soup. "I can't believe General Ironwood would do that. Just… Shoot a child because he disagreed."

Qrow gave a rueful grin. "Don't let Oscar hear you call him a child. He is sixteen."

"Pfft," Yang scoffed. "I don't know how he's so quiet and steady. At sixteen I was a bubbly airhead with absolutely no sense that signed up to fight Mistral."

"Don't remind me," Qrow said. "Your dad sent me a message. I could barely read it, but I could hear him yelling everything in that message. He was real worried about you, snapdragon."

"I know that now," Yang replied. "I knew that then, but… When Mistral invaded, after all the fighting, to see everyone united… I didn't want Ruby to face any more chaos. She's only two years younger. I wanted to make sure she didn't have to worry about Mistralans over the horizon. I know Dad worried about it."

Weiss kept staring at her soup. She started to say something, then shook her head. "I'm glad you're here," she said instead. "You and Ruby have meant a lot to me and I'm glad that… I'm glad."

Blake looked to Weiss.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Qrow asked. "According to Robyn, we may be looking at a ceasefire while the rebellion and the Emperor try to hash out terms."

"I'm staying put," Yang said. "I'll take over watch in a few hours so that Marrow can get some sleep."

"I should probably return home," Weiss said in a way that was clear she didn't want to. "I do need to message Winter. Knowing what happened with the soothsayers… I want to know she's okay." She turned to Qrow. "Do you have a crow available?"

"One came in this morning from Leo. I want that one to have some rest. You can send the message this evening."

Weiss nodded. "Then I'll stay here for now, rather than risk leaving and coming back, or making the crow follow me."

Qrow nodded. "We do have a lot of people here. We can hold tight for another couple of days, but we are going to need more food eventually. Maybe tomorrow, two of us can explore the city, see where things are. I want the fires to have more time to-"

Something in him hummed faintly, something along his senses, and Qrow turned to the window, wondering what caught his eye. "What the…" he put down his soup hurriedly and rushed to the window, opening it.

"Hey! It's still chilly out!" Yang shouted.

But a whole murder of crows came swooping in, cawing in irritation and fear. A very familiar murder of crows.

"What the filth!" Qrow gave a sharp whistle. Then again to settle all his birds down. They all perched wherever they could, puffed out and flustered, and Qrow went to the crows in closest reach, gently running his fingers through their feathers to try and help calm them down, even as his worry increased. "Easy, easy, settle down." He went from bird to bird, letting his hands and fingers rub all the sensitive spots, assuring them of his presence. "What happened?"

There was a burst of caws before one flapped over to him, a message in claw.

We're being attacked!

Ruby!

"Fye and filth!" he shouted, leaning out the window. "Marrow!" he shouted. "We need to hurry!"

Yang was already on her feet. "It's Ruby, isn't it?"

"You're guarding, snapdragon," he said. "There should be some seed in the kitchen. You've been up helping me with the crows, you know how to feed them. Keep them calm and settled."

Weiss was also standing. "You need to hurry," she said. "I have a horse at my home." Her face looked pained. "It's only one. You and Lieutenant Armin can both ride. Lieutenant Armin knows where the stable is."

"Got it."

He rushed out the door, Marrow coming down the hall, musket in hand.

"What's the situation?"

"Attack back home. We need to go."

"Fye and filth," Marrow swore.

They both raced downstairs. Qrow ran by the office where Oz stayed and rushed in.

"Qrow?" Oz asked, sitting with Pietro by Oscar, who was still asleep.

"Trouble back home," he said, leaning over to hug his lover. "Marrow and I are heading down."

Ozpin paled and Qrow had to pause. Isolation and Misery. This would be hard for Oz, he realized in less than a breath. "I'll be fine," he assured. "The bitch doesn't know who I am. I'll be back."

Ozpin nodded firmly. "See to Ruby. Make sure she is safe. Bring her back here, if needs be."

Qrow loved this man.

He nodded and headed out.

"Weiss said we can use her horse," he told Marrow.

"Good, let's go!"

They headed out. At Weiss's place, Marrow handled pulling out and saddling the horse and mounted with an ease Qrow didn't understand.

"I don't know how to ride," he said.

"You won't have to," Marrow said, offering a hand. "Just hold on to me."

Qrow mounted awkwardly, held on tight, and Marrow spurred the horse into a trot, or canter or gallop or whatever the filth the word was. Qrow bounced behind the saddle and knew that he never wanted to ride again.

But they made good time going down the mountain. There were hardly any people out, most still hiding from the fires and the musket fire and fighting further up. Marrow clearly had good horsemanship skills, to Qrow's unskilled eyes. At least he could make the damn animal go where it was supposed to.

They turned onto Maria's street, and Marrow swore. In front of her building was some sort of riot or commotion. Dozens of people were pounding at the door, first floor windows were broken, and two of Ren's squad were dead on the street, as were three civilians.

The citizens were trying to climb in any way they could, either pounding the door or attempting to climb through the shattered windows. The windows, however, were too high, and one of Ren's squad was hanging out the window that they could see, beating back the citizens with the but of a musket.

"Filth!" They watched the crowd pull out the soldier and in a moment he was dead in the chaos.

Marrow kicked in his heels, stood in the stirrup, musket out and aimed. The horse barreled down the street and when they were almost upon the crowd, Marrow shouted, "Halt! Stay!"

The people froze, saw a mounted musket rushing them, and screamed, starting to scatter.

"Ruby!" Qrow shouted.

The horse plowed over three people, Marrow using his musket like a club, swinging down at them to keep them down in what looked like a well practiced move, before getting through the mob and wheeling the horse around.

"Stay! All of you!" Marrow commanded again, pausing long enough to aim along his musket.

"It's only one!" someone shouted.

Marrow pulled the trigger.

Qrow pulled out his knife, wondering if he could dismount, but Marrow kicked his heels again and charged through the crowd. It was enough. More scattered as Marrow rode through, using his musket as a club again. Once through the crowd, Marrow hissed, "Dismount and get inside. I'll deal with this."

Dismounting was awkward, but Qrow rushed forward, his knife at the ready. Only two people attempted to tackle him, but where they were hungry and had been attacking a building for Brothers' knew how long, Qrow was (moderately) rested and furious. He was worried about Ruby, and he needed to get through them to check on her.

They didn't stand a chance.

"Maria!" he shouted. He surged up the steps and the door opened, letting him in before slamming shut behind him, a bar dropping in place.

He had to stop inside, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness of the hallway. "Maria! Ruby!"

"Kid's at the back," one of the squad gasped, exhausted against the wall.

"Ruby!" Qrow raced forward, bypassing the stairs and heading to the back. The door was barred as well, and Ren and Ruby were there, panting and pushing against the door.

"Ruby!"

"Uncle Qrow! Was that you?" Ruby looked at him, eyes wide.

"Are you okay?"

"No! They were trying to get in. We haven't heard any pounding since whatever happened in front but…"

"We'll wait for the puppy to finish cleaning up, but I think we're safe." Qrow glanced at the walls of the apartments. "Anyone in either of these units? I can peek out through the window."

"They won't open," Ren said thinly.

"Then we wait."

The next ten minutes were a silent torture. Qrow could hear the clopping of hooves up front when he checked the front door and Pietro's apartment, which was open with two members of the squad at the window, watching carefully.

"Is all the noise finally over," Maria asked, opening her door. "How much damage is there?"

"Maria! You're okay!"

"You dusty old crow," Maria sassed with a huge smile. "Are you the one who swooped in for a rescue?"

"Thank the puppy for that. The army training came in handy. Along with the horse and musket." Qrow offered an arm and Maria took it. "Where to?"

"Wherever that young Sergeant is."

He brought her to the back of the hall.

"Ruby, is that you I hear?"

"Ah! Abuela," Ruby greeted nervously.

"How badly," Maria sighed.

"Oh, uh, it's nothing."

Qrow glared. "Ruby. What's wrong?"

"Errrrr, I may have twisted my ankle?"

"Hmph. Let me see it," Maria sat down, holding out her hands.

"Um, do you need to?"

"Ruby," Qrow hissed. "I didn't come galloping down the mountain because you sent the whole filthy murder of crows just for you to start hiding anything."

"Ehehehehe…"

She offered her foot and even from where he was in the dim light, he could see how swollen it was.

"Twisted," he said flatly.

"Um, maybe a little… broken?"

"And a little dislocated," Maria grumbled. "Hold on…"

"Hold on to what-Aaaaah!" Ruby screamed. "Ow, ow, ow….."

"Qrow, I'll need a split for this."

"I'll check Pietro's. Assuming it wasn't too damaged with those idiots. What the hell did they want anyway?"

"Food," Maria called back. "Someone figured out we stockpiled. Never mind that we're already out and have been for two weeks."

"Idiots," Qrow whispered. He walked into Pietro's apartment. Aside from the glass everywhere, it was clear that Ren's squad had needed to shove things around without much care, trying to get better positions while the mob outside had been violent. "Either of you see splints around here?"

Negatives from both and they all scoured through Pietro's supplies until Qrow found some wooden poles that looked to be a good length to use. He grabbed some bandages that had been loose from wherever they'd been stored and stalked back, handing everything to Maria. Then he sat on the floor next to Ren and stared hard at Ruby.

"Now, what happened?"

"A bunch of hungry fools decided to go from foolish to stupid," Maria grumbled.

Ruby looked to him with tears streaming down her eyes after the relocation. "People were gathering around this morning," she explained. "I didn't like the look. After all the riots this winter, I just… I didn't like the look of it. Before the rebellion came through, a lot of people were asking how the residents here looked better than most."

Qrow scowled. "We're all thin in the face. Everyone was starving over the winter. Even us."

"Well, yeah, we know that, but apparently others didn't. No one here has a rooftop gardener."

"We don't either, half-pint. Oscar just does what he can when he's not working. He's got experience from that farm of his." Qrow's scowl deepened. "People around here know that."

Ruby shook her head, wiping at her tears. "Those weren't our neighbors. I think they were from a few blocks away. Anyway, this morning I saw them gathering and I was nervous. Ren didn't like it either and said he'd keep his squad here to defend the building."

Qrow turned to Ren, who was lying out on the floor, exhausted. "I'm surprised you're still here," he said. "I'm glad you were."

Ren nodded tiredly. "I chose. I think I chose a long time ago. But I chose."

Ruby nodded. "Ren was with me manning the post by the ramp. No one was coming to have mail sent out and that's when I got really worried. Then there were shouts around the front, people started climbing over the fence to get in the back…."

"And you dislocated your ankle coming in here and slamming the door, right," Qrow said, seeing how it all could have gone.

"Ehehehe."

"Ruby."

"I was able to fight a few of them off."

"What."

"Eheheheheh…."

"Maria?"

"It's not broken," she said, knotting the last bandage along the splint. "Just dislocated. Well, I think she may have a broken toe or two. I'm about to split them with her other toes."

"Well, Sergeant Success, thanks for looking out for things here," Qrow turned to the squad leader. "Sergeant?" The young man was completely collapsed on the floor, face pale. "Ren?"

"Ren?" Ruby asked, reaching over to shake his shoulder. "We're safe now. Are you okay?"

But he was unconscious.

"Filth," Qrow hissed. He turned Ren over to see him clutching at some kind of hole in his side.

"No!" Ruby shouted. "He was fine! He said he was fine!"

Qrow rushed back to the front of the building and leaned out Pietro's window. The street looked clear and he let out a calling whistle. Almost immediately one of his crows came gliding down. Qrow rummaged through Pietro's supplies and turned to the squad members that were still there. "Either of you good at writing?" They both shook their heads.

Penny needed.

"Go find Yang," he said, rubbing at the mantle before sending the crow off with the message. He whistled again and another crow came down a few minutes later.

He needs you.

"Go find Valkyrie."

Then he grabbed more bandages from Pietro's room and rushed back. He remembered just the previous night and bringing Oscar back home. Pressure was important. He pressed with all his weight at the wound. "Hang in there, Ren," he said. "Ruby, what happened?"

"I didn't see!" Ruby said, tears in her eyes. "Is he okay?"

Marrow came in a few minutes later, looking tired but accomplished until he saw the end of the hall.

"Fye on the emperor, what happened?"

"Stab wound," Qrow said. "I've sent for Penny."

"I'll use the horse. Meet her half way. The street's clear. Everyone should be safe." Marrow nodded then rushed back out the way he came.

Maria stood, hand reaching out to the wall. "I'll let the squad know," she said. "Tch. What's left of it."

Stuck waiting for Penny, Qrow filled Ruby in quietly about how things had gone. He had sent a crow already the previous night, but he was able to give her details that he just couldn't spell out. She had plenty of questions and filled in more details about fighting off the mob. Ren's squad had done admirably in defense, but according to Ruby, half the squad got trapped outside and were likely dead. Add on the one who'd been pulled from the window, Ren was likely down to only four squad members.

"Two actually," Ruby corrected. "Two of them died of hunger over the winter. He said something once. I think his commanding officer was punishing them for choosing to protect the building and the area instead of joining the company to put down riots."

"No wonder he was still here," Qrow muttered.

It seemed like an eternity for them to hear the clatter of hooves and Penny rushed in, her travel kit heavy by her side. She didn't even glance at her apartment, simply came right to them to start investigating.

Maria came and helped Ruby up and let her use her as a crutch to hope back down the hall, leaving Qrow to be the muscle for Penny as she barked out instructions as she started treatment.

"Ren!" Valkyrie shouted, racing down the hall. "Ren!"

"Back off!" Qrow growled. "Give us a minute here!" Penny was still stitching.

"Who did this?" Valkyrie demanded. "I'll break their legs!"

"You, girl, are going to come with me," Maria said flatly. "We're going to set up Penny's room so that Sergeant Idiot down there has a place to heal."

Maria pulled the redhead away. Qrow kept being the muscle Penny needed until the two of them carefully and gently hefted Ren up and carried him back to Penny and Pietro's apartment. The usual patient cot had been righted and set up and they gently eased Ren down. Penny checked over him again while Qrow pulled Valkyrie away long enough to let her.

"So he's been defending this building all winter?" Valkyrie asked with an unusual subdued quietness, looking over Qrow's shoulder.

"Yeah. I was there for part of it. Maria knows most of it."

"So he did choose…"

Penny finally sat back after fussing with a tired sigh. A quick glance around the apartment had a frown on her face. "I will be staying here," she told Qrow. "Would you please message my father?"

"No problem. I'm heading that way myself."

Valkyrie sat down by Ren, holding his hand. "Don't worry," she said softly. "I'll get Jaune."

Qrow left them to it and stepped out front, where Marrow was holding the horse.

"Everything okay?"

"Okay enough," Qrow said. "How's the horse?"

"Tired. Galloping on these streets isn't good, but I'm sure the exercise was appreciated," Marrow offered a thin smile, a twitch under his eye telling how he was still disturbed by how everything had gone down so fast.

"Ready to head back?" Qrow asked.

"Not without me!" Ruby said from behind Qrow. He turned to see her standing on one foot. "All the crows are there anyway, they'll want me there to show things are better, and I've only had messages. I want to see everyone's okay for myself."

Qrow chuckled. "Sure thing, half-pint."

He helped her to the horse and Marrow helped her mount.

Author's Notes: Welcome to Arc 4 every body!

Ever notice a thing weeks/months after it's written and think, "This was a mistake?" As I was doing one last self-beta before posting this I realized we shouldn't have dragged Marrow down to fight the riot, we should have brought Yang - she's the one who had to learn how to fight with one arm and prove that she's still a badass. We thought the culmination of that arc was letting her defend Oz and Oscar while Qrow went off to handle this, but on reflection we should have done the reverse. Ah, well - the things you realize after the fact.

Meanwhile, Oz and Oscar finally get their tearful reunion. Both of them have a long way to go for recovery, physically as well as emotionally, but Oz is already making some good decisions. I don't know if it's actually POSSIBLE to just decide that one is going to be happy, per se, but Oz is resolving that he will actively work to fight his depression when it rises, because now he has people in his life that he equal parts doesn't want to drag down and because they can lift him up when he starts to fall. That's what we were shooting for anyway.

Next chapter: Oz writes a poem :)