A/N: this takes place three months later. Hope you enjoy it! Bwahaha XD poor yang; I love it when fictional characters suffer. Sorry for any errors.
Are they making another bad boys movie? Yang mused looking over the club. It might have been her imagination but there seemed to be a flux of cute, dark bad boys in town. Nice!
"Not that I don't enjoy your cheery presence and cunning jokes but when the hell are you gonna leave," the old bartender said an old employee of juniors.
"I'm hurt. A little consideration for a veteran please," Yang smiled sweetly.
"Seriously kid how long are you planning on staying? Its been two days!"
"Tough luck me and my buddies feel like another round; guess I'm planning to stay for a while yeah."
"Another mango cherry drinks please." The bar tender nodded and went to quickly fix it right up. He didn't want to become acquainted with Yang's fist. "Where's Junior? It's been days but I haven't seen him. Shouldn't he be here flirting or chasing me with a metal bat."
"He's devising new ways to get rid of you since the metal bat didn't work before," he answered dryly giving her the drink.
Yang laughed "ha, he had it coming. His girls were fun," Yang sighed thinking of that time fondly and cradled the cold drink with her left hand.
"Please find the restraint not to destroy the club again. Replacing all the glass wasn't cheap and Juniors spent many nights losing sleep cursing your name."
"Awe he thinks about me at night how sweet. Juniors done well for himself after all these years; this doesn't look like the same run down club it was ten years ago."
The bar tender grunted in exasperation, "What kind of uncle takes his niece to a club."
Yang shrugged "he's one of a kind my uncle." Yang nodded thanks to the bartender and went back to her military friends. "Hey Yang!" The bartender called out to her before she was too out of earshot and she turned her head back to him.
"Your folks don't know you're here do they," it wasn't a question.
"Im not ready to go back home yet," Yang muttered. She hadn't called her parents or her sister or talked to her neighbors but left to a familiar lively surrounding.
The bartender looked at her critically and Yang tried not to squirm in her place.
"You take care of your sister ya here and say hi to your dad for me and you stay you of trouble? Things have changed since you've been gone," he was careful not to glance at her mostly missing arm. He didn't pry on how it happened but taking a quick survey of her company he saw she wasn't the only damaged one.
Yang smiled, "Right!"
"Do you have to go?" Ruby whined not wanting to release Cinder and held her captive between her and the couch beneath them. Cinder chuckled rubbing Ruby's back and kissing the top of her head affectionately. Cinder had moved again this time into an apartment in the city but closer to Ruby's home. She was renting her previous place where they first met to a friend.
"Unfortunately yes puppy. It's a family tradition that we get horribly snarky on anyone that's late and jump them," Cinder explained. Ruby sighed dejectedly so Cinder heaved herself up easily, carrying Ruby along for the ride and Ruby squeaked at the unexpected actions.
Ruby yelped "Cinder!"
"Cheer up pup," Cinder smiled putting the small woman down. "How about when I come back we arrange a date to go paint-balling and you can show me those proud marksmanship skills you keep boasting about," Ruby's whole body quivered in excitement.
"That sound like the greatest idea ever. Don't expect me to show you any mercy Cinder," Ruby warned. "When did you say you'll be coming back?"
"If all goes well by this weekend most likely Sunday night," Cinder promised glad there was no grey cloud over Ruby anymore.
"You say that as if you expect something bad to happen," Ruby chuckled.
"You don't have family like mine. My mother might quite possibly burn the kitchen down, my nana poison my grandfather, my cousins will be pulling off pranks, my aunts will be bickering about whose husband is richer, and my uncles will cause fights over bets and my grandfather will be laughing his ass off," Cinder inhaled deeply recalling last christmas, and Ruby looked on amused.
"Sounds like you've got a big family. What will you be doing?"
"Safely at a distance where I won't get caught in the cross fire and silently be plotting there murders," Cinder whispered conspicuously looking at Ruby dead in the eye with a straight face but it quickly broke at Ruby's laughter.
"Angels shouldn't commit murder Cinder," Ruby said hugging her. "I can't visit you in prison."
"It'll be a fate worse than life in prison if I can't see your cute little wolf face so I'll try to not commit manslaughter," Cinder laughed kissing Ruby quickly and going for her keys. Goosebumps immediately formed on Ruby's arms.
"Come back and hug me. It's colder than the north pole here!" Ruby eyed the thermostat and wondered if she could reach it if she jumped. How Cinder was comfortable, always warm and hadn't turned into a Popsicle Ruby did not know.
"Don't even think about touching that sweetheart," Cinder smirked at Ruby's pout, "Come on, I'll drop you off at your house."
"Thanks!" Ruby said weaving their fingers together.
"I'll be busy so I hope you understand if I don't respond back to your texts very quickly."
Ruby shook her head as they went through the door.
"No, it's okay," Ruby assured her.
"You're sure? I don't want you to feel lonely or like I'm not-" Ruby stopped her.
"Hey I said its okay. It's important to keep in touch with your family," Cinder studied Ruby's eyes.
"No word from your sister?" she asked quietly and Ruby looked down trying to play it off as no big deal.
"I haven't gotten a call in months," Cinder hugged her.
"I'm sure she's okay. Probably living her dream and experiencing the neatest adventure. Saving others and defeating the big bad monsters," Cinder said trying to be nice and bite back the smirk that wanted to creep onto her face. Ruby hugged her back trying to absorb Cinder's warmth. It made her sad to go back to her large empty home.
"Yeah you're right, she's probably just forgot having too much fun or doesn't get any reception where she's at," Ruby shut her eyes. Sometimes she dreams of a barren place, with nothing but snow and Yang's body on the ground not yet buried by the endless snowflakes, and a strong red like syrup staining the snow. She felt cold as Yang's body in the dream. Cold, the absence of warmth and life. Then she would wake up at night, miserable and trembling. She had told Cinder about that after Cinder was with her when she had her nightmare and after then every time she had it, Cinder would turn and spoon Ruby. Sharing her heat, Ruby would listen to her breathing and the way her chest pressed into Ruby's back, her beating heart. Cinder just being there, not saying there calmed Ruby significantly.
"Are you going to be volunteering this weekend?"
"Yeah," Ruby said smiling again.
"Good. Say hi to everybody for me and tell me if any of the guys hit on you."
"Cinder!" Ruby said embarrassed and blushing but Cinder just peered at her like Ruby had done something funny.
"You haven't noticed how they look at you?"
"Cinder stop please," Ruby begged face becoming redder.
"Fine but just so we're clear you can only misbehave with me."
"Oh my gosh!"
Mercury could imagine the look of distaste on Cinder's face even with her back to them. Fiery amber eye's scrutinizing the small family barbecue restaurant. She hated family summoning's only because they kept choosing ridiculous locations. Mercury kept his smirk himself as Cinder's stomach growled approvingly at the arrangements. Cinder didn't glance back but threw something at them which Mercury easily caught. On his fingers dangled her car keys.
"Emerald make sure he doesn't get a scratch on it," Cinder said in a firm tone.
"Yes Cinder."
"It needs gas. I'll call if I need you guys," she was stalling.
"Money?" Mercury pointed out. Everything was so expensive in this city and the taxes were ridiculous. Cinder turned her head slightly, enough that they could see her amused smile.
"This could be fine practice, if you don't your skills will cripple. However, I expect you to be discreet. I better not here of any hijacks and outrageous commotions," the warning was clear. She gave them one more pointed look and strutted inside. Any longer and the higher ups would definitely reprimand her.
Yang glumly stared at her empty foggy glasses. There weren't any clocks here but she knew by the lack of people now that she should leave. She had an appointment to get to.