A/N: Hey people reader peoples, soooo losta things! First off is thanking any readers, reviewers, and followers as you guys really support and encourage me to keep writing and make quick updates. Secondly I made a poll so you guys can choose what pairings you want to see, please try not to choose 2 for more than one person I.E. picking YangxBlake and YangxWeiss, choose one (Oh and if you have any yaoi suggestions I am also comfortable writing for that as well but I don't really have any idea on pairings so just suggest something in a review I suppose). The last thing is just addressing the story itself! This chapter includes a significant amount of fluff and background for Ash so just a bit of forewarning not a lot of action going on in this chapter but that's what happens when you put your main character in hospital and a broken arm -_-' so without further ado chaptah 5!

"Thoughts"-Italics

"Speech"-Regular

"Past/Flashback"-Bold

Date...Sorta?

"And that is how Professor Port overcame a Goliath Grimm by leading it off the side of a mountain." Ruby recited from her journal although she heard rather loud snoring towards her right. Ruby glared and sent a sharp jab into Ash's chest, "AH!" Ash yelled awaking from his slumber, "Those ribs are still tender!" Ash said with puffed cheeks.

2 weeks had passed since the "Warehouse incident" had occurred. Ash was forced to recuperate in the hospital and miss lessons at Beacon. Ruby being the friend that she was took it upon herself to tutor him after-school. For the most part Ash's injuries had healed well, the burns all cleared up letting him take off his bandages. His ribs although still raw had healed back together but the hole in his shoulder had only started to close up, forcing him to wear a sling to compensate.

"Well maybe if you stopped falling asleep I wouldn't have to hit them!" Ruby said looking into her notes.

"My discharge is tomorrow! And how about you just don't hit me!" Ash said nudging her with his foot. Ruby rolled her eyes, this seemed to be a very common occurrence for the two of them. Ruby would give Ash the notes, he would complain, and then the two would argue about it for a bit until he inevitably did his work.

"Its just so booooooring." Ash said hanging off the bed upside down.

"This isn't easy on me either you know. I have to listen to it and teach it to you!" She complained.

Ash sighed, it wasn't that he was ungrateful but it was all just so dull, "Okay. How about this if I complete the math homework with no help we stop for the day and hangout?"

"Hangout?" Ruby questioned.

"Yeah Ruby hangout, stuff that people our age do? You know, go out, smell the roses?" He said wiggling his eyebrows.

"Oh my dust, you aren't speaking with Yang anymore." Ruby said crossing her arms in an x formation.

"Oh come on! What do you have to lose? One question wrong and we do it your way." Ash challenged, "What are you, scared?" He taunted knowing she would fall for his bait.

"You're on." Ruby said dropping the paper down in front of him.

"Too easy." He thought before carefully writing down the answers one by one. After several minutes of silence Ash pulled out the paper triumphantly, "Done."

Ruby snatched it from his hands and scanned over each problem before dropping her head down, "Perfect." She said in a defeated tone.

Ash clapped his hands together, "Sweet! So lets go!" he said jumping out of bed.

"I guess one day won't hurt..." Ruby said packing up her stuff, "Can we head back to my dorm first so I can drop this stuff off?"

"Sure but you still owe me that date~" Ash said putting on his new clothes.

"D-date?" Ruby said almost dropping her papers, Ash let out a light chuckle, "Just kidding~" He said beside her sticking his tongue out. Teasing her was becoming something of a habit, he couldn't help himself; the flustered look on her face when he complimented her, the blush that happened when he got too close. Ash smiled a bit as he pulled up his hoodies sleeves, his old mentor probably would have teased him if he saw him now. Before Ash could continue to ponder his thoughts he felt a light smack on his head, his lazily looked down to see Ruby against his chest looking away from his eyes.

"If you wanted a date then just call it a date..." She whispered into his chest with a light blush on her cheeks. Ash's eyes widened as he looked down at Ruby, "C-cute, Wait did I just stutter in my own thoughts?!" He thought as his mouth dropped open a bit, "I-I uh um..." He stumbled over his words. Ruby's eyes suddenly gleamed as she pushed Ash away onto his bed and spun around to the door, grabbing it she imitated Ash, "Just kidding~" She taunted exiting the room.

"D-did she just..." Ash eyes widened before he shot up, "GET BACK HERE!" he shouted shooting out the door. Ruby laughed as Ash took chase after her, "I'll have to thank Yang for her advice later." She thought while laughing at Ash's irate face.

-Two days ago-

Ruby sighed on her bed, kicking her feet up and letting them fall back onto the bed with an audible thud. Weiss was out on her own, leaving just Ruby, Blake, and Yang in their dorm. Ruby repeated her actions several more times before Blake looked up from her book. Yang was busy listening to her music until Blake shook her shoulder.

Removing her headphones Yang grinned, "Whats up partner?"

Blake simply point to Ruby on top of her bunk once again repeating her actions. Yang and Blake watched her roll over, sigh, kick her legs up, and proceed to drop them on the bed before Yang sweat-dropped, "Oh...Well what do you want me to do about it?"

"That's your sister." Blake said placing her book back in front of her face. Yang shrugged before hopping off her bed and propping her elbows up on her sisters.

"What's wrong Rubes? Boy trouble?" Yang joked but Ruby stopped her actions and nodded. Yang raised both eyebrows, "Wait seriously? Ruby you like a boy? What boy? This is actually happening? Hey Blake Ruby likes-"

"Shhhhh would you please shut up!" Ruby said pulling her sister onto the bed.

"Okay okay okay, so who is it?" Yang said beaming, "Is he cute?"

"Yes he's cu-Yang! Could you just help me?" Ruby said collapsing into her pillow, "I don't know what to do..." She mumbled. Yang eyes softened, her little sister was growing up.

"Okay well you're gonna have to tell me what you need help with Rubes" Yang said laying down next to her sister. Ruby sighed and nodded her head, "Well...I-he's always so-Ugh this is hard."

"People are usually really hard to deal with Rubes." Yang chuckled.

"Why can't they be simple? Like weapons! Crescent Rose is simple and I love her!" Ruby pouted.

"I don't know Ruby but you're gonna have to give me more info then, Well...I-he's always so-Ugh this is hard." Yang teased. Ruby puffed her cheeks out, "...It's Ash..." she said quietly.

"Oooooh cute and a bad boy, dad wouldn't approve~" Yang said with a wink.

"Shut. up." Ruby grumbled. Yang wanted to laugh but put on her serious face and got next to Ruby, "Okay, so what's the problem?"

"Well whenever we get together he's always close to me and teasing me and I don't ever know if he's being serious!" Ruby said covering her face with her pillow, "It's like he's messing with me for fun."

Yang let out a low hum, "I see...I think I have a idea. Ash seems like the type of guy that likes being in control of things so the next time he teases you I want you to get closer."

"Closer?" Ruby asked.

"Think of it like a game Ruby, you're gonna play chicken. The closer he gets to you, the closer you'll get tp him. Trust me, if I am right and you tease him right then he won't know what hit him." Yang said with shit eating grin.

-Present-

Ruby had to stop herself from laughing as she and Ash walked into Beacon together. Ash was currently doing his best imitation of a angry child that got put into timeout. Crossed arms, pout, and practically stomping as he walked next to Ruby. As Ruby entered into her room Ash stood outside the door with his arms crossed, practically grumbling in his own thoughts.

Ruby walked into her own room and dropped her stuff onto her bed before walking back outside holding back her grin, "So, what do you want to do?"

Ash stopped the petulant look on his face and grinned again, "Somewhere special."

"How special?" Ruby said imitating her response when they were on the ship.

"Very." Ash said with a grin, "You got crescent rose right?"

"Of course. But why would I need it?" She asked incredulously.

"Oh well that's easy." He said walking down the hallway.

"Why?" Ruby said walking after him.

"Secret~" Ash said with a peace sign.

Ash and Ruby walked through the poorer area of the residential area of the Vale. Ruby looked around and frowned, no matter how prosperous a place was there were always areas like this. These were the slums of Vale, children were homeless on the streets, it seems like there was a bit more pollution in the area, "Probably because were so close to the industrial district" Ruby thought as she looked around at some of the run down houses.

"Stay close..." Ash said with a slightly hardened face. Ruby nodded stepping slightly closer to Ash, as they turned a corner a young girl bumped into Ruby apologizing too her quickly and walking off before Ash gripped their shoulder tightly.

"Cough it up kid." Ash said with a frown, she looked down and gave back a bit lien to Ash. She was about to walk off but Ash took hold of her hand filling it with some of his own lien.

"Get something to eat." He said with a small nod, her eyes lit up before she scurried off.

As Ash came back to Ruby she frowned, "It's pretty bad around here."

"Always has..." Ash mumbled.

"You used to live here?" Ruby asked curiously.

"Im not sure if I should say fortunately or unfortunately." Ash said with shrug, "Anyway hold on were here." Ruby looked at him oddly, they were quite literally in the middle of nowhere. Ash had lead them to a random alley in the middle of the slums of placed his hand on the wall of the alley and his aura started glowing lightly, sliding his hand in a seemingly random formation an outline formed in the wall and it slid downward revealing a staircase to a lower level.

"Yup I have access to secret entrance, Im cool." Ash said looking at a astounded Ruby. Ash grabbed Ruby's hand as he jogged down the stairs. It was dark and he took many turns but in the distance Ruby could see a light not too far away from them.

"Where are we?" Ruby asked in awe.

Ash waited until they walked out the darkness and into the light, a lush green filled their eyes as the new area was filled with plants and flowers. In the far distance there was a large building that resembled that of a mansion or church. Ash smiled and took a few steps forward, "This..." He said looking around nostalgically, "Is where I was raised."

Ruby could only stare in silent awe, "I-its beautiful..."

Ash smiled, this was a secret haven in the slums and only a few people knew about it. Although it seemed peaceful enough both Ruby and Ash suddenly felt on edge as the air felt eerily cold. Ice suddenly coated the floor and Ruby and Ash had both jumped in the opposite direction of one another to avoid it. A spike of ice suddenly rose up from the ground, heading towards Ruby. Twisting on her foot she pulled out crescent rose and sliced it in half in one fell swoop. Ash quickly formed his AT's burning out the wheels to melt the ice around him, a blur appeared in front of him and he spun around with a kick, a streak of flame met one of ice. A concussive shock wave erupted from the collision sending Ash and the unknown assailant backward. Ruby hefted crescent rose under her arm and pulled the trigger shooting herself toward the enemy, she swung wide trying to slice them at their midsection. Their enemy jumped over the slice but Ruby had already carried the momentum of the strike into a spin, coming overhead for another strike. The assailant pushed of Ruby's blade and landed several feet from both Ashe and Ruby who both gathered themselves for another round.

"You butchered that move Ash, the girls pretty good though." The hooded figure called out.

"Shut up Blue you're lucky my arms broken or I would've had enough momentum to kick your ass!" Ash said with snort as their enemy removed their hood. She had blue hair that was tied up into a bun, she was tall standing at least 6 feet. She had a white sleeveless blouse on with short dark blue jeans whose pockets were sticking out from the bottom. She had AT's on that were exact replicas to Ash's expect they were colored blue, black, and dark purple. She walked over to Ash looking down at him with half-squinted eyes, "Shoulda, coulda, woulda, but you didn't." She said clicking he tongue, "Excuses excuses Mr. Mime~" She said clicking her tongue, "Whose red?" Blue said pointing her head towards Ruby who looked between Ash and Blue in confusion.

"She's a friend of mine, I'm attending Beacon now." Ash said scratching the back of his head sheepishly, "Ruby this is Blue one of my old mentors."

"Uh hi nice to meetcha." Ruby said holding out her hand. Blue let out a hearty laugh and grabbed Ruby into a hug with one arm.

"Any friend of this brat is friend of mine!" Blue said with chuckle, "So what are you doing around here kid? you haven't been visiting lately what you too good for us because you go to Beacon?"

"Pfft yeah right, a lots been going on but lets get into the Fort first." Ash said gesturing to the large mansion in the distance.

The trio made their way through the beautiful gardens, they were lush and filled with many different flowers, lilies, roses, sun-flowers, irises, etc.

"This place is incredible...what is this?" Ruby said looking all over the place.

"We call it Sanctuary, it takes power off the industrial power plants. We don't need much so they never notice the extra line go through here. The lights are a special creation from Mentor, he made a replacement for the sun with those lights you see above." Blue said with small smile.

"Wow...This Mentor guy must be really smart." Ruby said looking at a fountain they passed.

"Was a genius..." Ash muttered underneath his breath Ruby thought she heard him say something but Blue had already moved the conversation along as to avoid any...problems.

"Yeah Mentor made this place for kids that were living on the streets of the slums, we take in as many as we can but it's hard getting by you know?" She said as they approached the door, "Are you ready Ash?" She asked with a knowing smile. Ash let out a light snort, "As ready as I can be..." He said bracing himself as if he was going to get hit. Ruby looked at the two oddly when Blue opened up the door, "GUYS GUESS WHOSE BACK!" She yelled and in moments Ruby felt the ground start shaking, she looked at Ash who was currently placing one leg further back, planting it in the ground.

"Wha-"

In a loud chorus of banging and sounds the steps shook as a mob children raced downward charging straight at them, "BIG BROTHER!" A group of children yelled jumping on top of Ash. Several jumped onto his neck, then chest, legs, until he fell backward onto his back surrounded by young exuberant children.

"You're back!" A young boy with spiky black hair said grabbing at Ash.

"Where have you been?" A girl with long blonde hair asked pulling at his cheek.

"Do you have any stories?!" Several asked at the same time.

"What happened to your arm!" A young girl with light blue hair asked, she looked like a smaller version of Blue. Ash chuckled lightly heaving himself up carefully, "Hey Hey Hey one at a time and lots of things happened so yeah losta stories!" Ash said ruffling one childs hair as others came up asking more questions, the chattering all began to tune into one sound and Ruby stared in silently on as she watched Ash interact with all the children. Blue nudged her to get her attention, "He was a kid when he grew up here. Grew up and started taking care of some of these kids when he was a baby. Brings us some money, some dust, whatever he can do when he can do it really."

"Seems like a hard life..." Ruby said with a small smile.

"The circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are." Blue said in sage-like voice.

Ruby seemed to recall the phrase, "He said something like that before actually..."

Blue let out a laugh but it felt bitter, "I don't doubt it. Mentor used to say it all the time..."

Ruby looked at Blue for moment with pursed lips, "You guys talk about him in past tense...He died, didn't he?"

Blue paused and looked at Ruby before sighing, "It's...a bit more complicated than that...Just...just don't bring it up to him okay? Some things are best forgotten yeah?"

Ruby looked at a smiling Ash who was currently recounting his tales about how he heroically fought 3 "super-mega-bad-guys" In his own words to his last breath and as final escape blew himself and all 3 of them up as if it was some grand plan. Ruby could only laugh at the awe she saw instilled in the younger children's face as recounted his battle with awesome detail.

"Yeah...You're right." Ruby said with a small smile.

"Hey Ruby! Come over here!" Ash said waving his arms, Ruby's eyes widened as suddenly she was the center of attention of everyone.

"Whose that bro?" The spiky black haired boy asked.

"She's pretty..." A brown haired boy said pulling at Ash shirt.

Ash smirked and winked at the two, "She's super strong too. In fact she took down a Nevermore! Sliced its head straight off!"

The kids all awed in excitement herding over to Ruby like cattle of sheep, Ash smirked and sat down with the kids. Ruby looked at them with confusion as they all hung over Ash staring at her in anticipation.

"W-wha?" She asked looking at Blue, who was currently sitting down with the group staring at Ruby as well.

"Tell us the story! Same way you told me in the hospital!" Ash said with a cheesy smile. Ruby looked over at them, all smiling, waiting, watching, looking into Ash's eyes a wink reassured her.

"Well it all started with a our headmaster catapulting us through the sky..." Ruby started with an animated voice.

The children were practically bouncing as Ruby finished telling them how she and her team managed to trap the Nevermore and how she was slungshot into a mountain and ran all the way up it to skewer the beast. After she finished Blue got up, "Okay you guys, it's time for lunch so let's get in the kitchen!" She barked as she dragged a few with her. A chorus of "Aw's" followed making Ruby giggle as they all goodbye to her. After they left it left only Ash and Ruby alone at the entrance.

"You did great." Ash Complimented.

"I was really nervous at first." Ruby admitted.

"They're a pretty good crowd...usually." Ash said making a small frown at the end.

"Usually?" She said with a raised brow.

"Try telling them its bedtime after." Ash said rolling his eyes, "Such a rowdy bunch."

Ruby giggled lightly, "Seems like you got a good handle on them."

Ash laughed, "Im beginning to think they're the ones that have a handle on me"

"Obviously." Ruby said with a nod of her head, Ash stuck out his tongue and held out his free arm, "Tour my lady?"

"Gladly." She said taking his arm.

Ash had gone through the bedrooms, where he used to sleep, the play rooms, reading rooms, etc. And they had entered the basement, Ash smiled, "This is actually why I asked you to bring crescent rose." Ash said with a smile, "This is the training room."

Entering a new room Ruby looked around to see a rather large room filled with dummies and what seemed like a death course. Ash threw his hand up for a moment, catching a card before he heard light clapping. A young man walked out, he wore a white dress shirt with a grey vest overtop of it that had a black collar with black dress pants, shoes, and a grey scarf on his neck.

"You finally got yourself a girlfriend, congrats kid~" He said smoothly, almost gliding towards Ruby and grabbing her hand, "She is adorable~" He said kissing Ruby's hand, opening one eye at looking at Ash with a knowing smirk. There was a audible 'Snap.' as Ash lost his patience and tried to replace the young mans head with his foot. Ash pushed his foot forward just narrowly missing.

"Trick." Ash said internally fuming.

Trick raised his hands up in defense, "Calm down, im just kidding~"

Ruby looked at the two, playing with the trim of her skirt, "I can see where he gets it from at least..." Ruby thought seeing the influences that Ash had in his life. Said influence was currently ruffling Ash's hair with small smile on his face, "Welcome back~"

Ash grumbled but nodded, "Thanks and she's not my girlfriend..."

Trick looked at Ruby and then Ash again and laughed, "Whatever you say~" He said shuffling a deck of cards in-between his fingers, "So did you come here to run the course~" Trick said although it felt more like a statement than a question.

"Im not," Ash said nudging Ruby forward, "She is though."

Trick raised a brow, "Looking for someone to knock off Blue's record? You're still rather petty~"

Ash waved him off dismissively, "Petty is such an ugly word~ Besides this here is my ringer!" Ash said pointing to Ruby with a grin. Ruby looked at Trick with innocent smile whilst holding Crescent Rose behind her back, the curved blade sticking out from behind her back.

Trick sweat-dropped, "You can sure pick em kid~" shaking his head as he pointed to the start line, "The game is simple, hit the targets, go fast. Got it~" Trick said showing her the queen of hearts. Ruby nodded and placed crescent rose underneath her arm removing her current cartridge and replacing it with her cross clips.

"On your mark, get set, go~" Trick said dropping his hand down.

Click. Boom. Ruby shot off landing on a narrow platform and swing crescent rose around to slice through 3 targets, Click. Boom. Ruby sent herself backward amd slamming the blade into the next platform. The sudden stop allowed her to pull her momentum up and Crescent rose, stepping on the trigger, shooting two targets and flipping herself further forward. It didn't take her long to shoot several more while she flipping through the air. With the large amount of forward momentum she built up she landed at the final target, slamming both feet into it and setting the buzzer off.

"1:31.5~" Trick said with a round of applause, "Close Red, only .5 off the record~"

Ash groaned handing Trick a handful of Lien, "You're so lucky she didn't know the course."

Trick smirked and grabbed it, "I was counting on it kid~"

"Yeah yeah you always do." Ash mumbled walking past Trick, "Well be here for a little bit, give us a bit of privacy?"

Trick looked at Ash and closed his eyes, "Of course~" He said with nod, stepping next to Ash and stopping, "Try to come around more often, Blue misses you." Trick said without any intonation in his voice for the first time.

Ash nodded with a somber face, "Yeah, sorry."

Trick placed his hand on Ash's shoulder, "Don't be. Just set a day on calender every month. Oh and if you guys are gonna make out can you stop before dinner? I don't wanna have to inter-"

"SHUT UP TRICK!" Ash growled spinning around kicking Trick only for him to disperse into a cards.

"Have fun~" Trick's voice echoed throughout the room.

Ash and Ruby both laid sprawled out on the floor looking at the time staring them in the face, 1:31.05. Both of them were heaving heavily, their chests raising up and down off of the ground. Sweat was dripping off their faces as, "It's impossible." Ruby breathed out.

"No...Such...Thing..." Ash replied trying to calm his breathing.

"You...Sure" She said turning her head towards him.

"Dunno!" He said looking back at her. The two locked eyes for a moment, Ash peered into silver orbs and got a bit flustered, "Um were pretty sweaty, we should shower..." He said turning his head around.

"O-oh yeah, where do we shower?"

"My room, no one will bother us." Ash said heaving himself up, offering a hand to Ruby. She took it gratefully and dusted off her skirt.

"Blue is pretty amazing, .5 seconds seems like so little time!" She complained.

Ash chuckled, "Yeah, Between her, Mentor, and Trick I learned everything a thief could dream to know."

"Sounds like a fun family." Ruby said with a soft smile.

"Yeah...it was." Ash said stepping up the stairs quickly, "You coming?"

"Yeah hold your horses!" She said racing behind him.

Ruby finished her shower rather quickly walking out of the bathroom with her towel in her hair, she could still here running water in the other bathroom, "I wonder if he likes long showers?" She thought as she sat flat on his bed. Ruby felt a bit awkward sitting on a boys bed while he was in the shower but she was simply too tired to care at this point. Ruby looked around Ash's room with a bit of wonder, "Pretty plain..." she thought as she looked at the blank walls save for a few posters of miscellaneous things, "I guess it's because he doesn't come here very often..." She thought as she looked at his night stand, a photo was covered with dust. Ruby took it and blew it off, flakes of small dust particles floated off and around her face. Ruby had to stifle an "Aw" as she looked at the picture. In the center stood Ash, he was small, it looked as if he was seven years old or younger and he had his tongue out cheesing up the entire picture with arms outstretched. Behind him was and old man with a nice grey beard and a lab overcoat on, "That must be Mentor..." She thought looking more, next to mentor was Blue, she had much shorter hair, it looked like she couldn't even tie it up. She had both hands on her knees leaning down next to Ash. On mentors other side was a younger looking Trick, "He doesn't even look different!" She thought looking at trick with the same smirk she had seen him with today only he wasn't wearing a scarf. Ruby raised her brow as she kept looking at the picture. On the side oposite of Blue stood another girl with her hands on Ash's shoulders, she had long black hair and bright amber eyes, "Who is that?" She thought before yawing loudly, stretching out she still heard running water and giggled, "I guess it's long showers then..." she thought as her eyes slowly started closing, her face falling onto the soft bed below her.

Ash finished his shower after about 20 minutes or so, he had pants on but he kept his shirt off as he dried. Ash expected to hear a yell about him putting his shirt on but all he heard was soft snoring on his bed. He smiled a bit as he looked at Ruby, "It has been a long day hasn't it?" he thought sitting down next to Ruby, he noticed his picture was moved from where he originally had it placed, "Im pretty ocd sometimes..." he thought rubbing the picture affectionately. Looking at mentor he tightened his fist, "Im sorry..." He thought before his eyes shifted to a certain amber-eyed girl.

"Cinder where did you go..." He thought letting out a sigh, falling back Ash stared at the top of his ceiling with a huff. Turning his head he stared at Ruby affectionately, placing a chaste kiss on her forehead, "You have the right idea Rubes..." He whispered closing his eyes and lying next to her.

Blue had looked at the clock and noticed the time, "Trick it's already 9 could you please go in that brats room and stop them from doing...whatever the hell they've been doing!"

"Blue does the idea of your surrogate little brother having s-"

"NOW TRICK!" Blue said throwing a slipper at him, her face flushed a crimson red.

"Of course~" Trick said walking up to Ash's room avoiding the slipper with a casual tilt of the head, "No need to get so worked up~"

Trick knocked and got no response, he sighed and creaked the door open slowly. Peering inside he smiled and closed it. He walked back downstairs and sat down at the table, "I'll let them wake up on their own~" Trick said to Blue with a wink.

Ruby eyes fluttered open and she attempted to stretch out but felt pressure on her waist when she attempted to do so. Ruby squirmed around and felt hot breath on her back, she face started heating up, "A-Ash." She whispered. She got no response as the breath continued hit her back, twisting around in his grasp she saw his sleeping face furrow as if disturbed by her movement.

"I really liked this *date*" She whispered snuggling closer to him, "I wonder if well have more..." She mumbled closing her eyes again. Ash was thankful that Ruby closed her eyes again, "I hope we do too..." He thought letting his mind drift off again.