A soft groan escaped Sun as he blinked awake. He briefly stretched his limbs as he groggily took in his surroundings, and found them unfamiliar. He was beneath two blankets and a heavy comforter in a rather large bed, with a warm body pressed into his back. Sun let out a sigh of relief as he closed his eyes and rolled over to embrace Blake, only for something about the proportions of her torso to strike him as very wrong.

"…I mean, I'm not gonna complain, but this is a first."

"…Neptune. I'm going to kill you."

Sun immediately released his hold upon his friend and scooted back, while Neptune let out a mirthful laugh.

"What? You don't check, before you get all handsy?"

"I thought that if someone was in bed with me, it'd be my girlfriend. Is that so much of a stretch?" Sun asked as he sat up and immediately grabbed the sides of his head. Shooting pain coursed through his skull, and he groaned loudly.

"Hey. You alright, dude?" Neptune asked as he followed suit and sat up. He placed a soft hand on Sun's bare shoulder, and his friend allowed it.

"…feels like I took a train to the forehead," Sun mumbled as he rubbed at his temples. Neptune leaned off to the side and pulled the chain on the bedside lamp to allow a soft glow into the otherwise dark room.

"You went for almost three days straight, and I kinda doubt you've been eating right, drinking, or… well, doing anything but moving forward on sheer rage. Blake asked me to keep you company while she sorts some things with her mom and the Black Claw. I don't really know details, but…"

"…thanks, man. Sorry for being so…" Sun trailed off, only for Neptune to shake his head.

"It's whatever. It's also four in the morning, so… we're probably the only ones awake, right about now," Neptune informed as he glanced at the wall clock.

"Cool… and I'm wide awake and hating it," Sun complained. He threw back the covers and moved to stand, only to find himself completely naked. Sun stared for only a moment, and then threw the covers back over himself as Neptune exited the bed, wearing only a pair of red boxers.

"There's also that. Your stuff was kinda gross, so Blake did laundry. Our clothes are down the ha-"

"Our clothes?" Sun asked incredulously as he looked at Neptune in disbelief.

"Well, yeah. She was gonna run a load anyway, so she threw my stuff in, too," Neptune stated as if it couldn't be more obvious. Sun merely continued to stare, somewhere between annoyance and embarrassment. "Dude, who cares, honestly? Like it's the first time this has happened."

"It's the first time I've been nude around you, yeah!" Sun informed. "Just because you like to walk out of the shower without a towel like it's no big deal doesn't mean it's normal!"

"Uh-huh," Neptune replied as he stretched, and moved to flick on the light switch near the door. Sun blinked several times as his eyes adjusted to the light once again. "Want me to grab you a towel?"

"Yes," Sun hissed as he laid back in bed and stared up at the ceiling. The paint job was a rich gold, matching a single accent wall. The rest were all painted a deep red, with subtle patterns that almost resembled plant life spiraling along the perimeter.

Neptune moved for the attached bathroom, and flicked the light on as he entered. "So, I'm thinkin' we go and get our clothes back, and then head for the kitchen. The laundry room's down on this floor, and it's on the way. You should see this place, man. That Qrow guy's got it made."

"I'm about to, apparently," Sun replied as he caught the towel that flew from the open doorway. Slowly, he pulled back the covers and wrapped himself in the fluffy pink fabric as the sound of Neptune relieving himself in the other room echoed off the walls. "Dude, really? Between you and Sage, I swear it's like living with barbarians."

"Everybody pees, Sun!" Neptune yelled from the bathroom. "We almost lived together for a year, it's like we're practically married anyway!"

Sun shook his head as he stood, and heaved a sigh. "You're so gross. Close the door next time, or I'm telling Weiss."

There was a pause of silence, before the toilet flushed and Neptune poked his head out from around the doorframe. "You wouldn't."

"I totally would, if it gets you to stop," Sun teased with a smirk. Neptune disappeared back into the bathroom and ran the sink, whining as he washed his hands.

"Come on, guy-dorm stuff stays there! Or do you want me to tell Blake about your dirty mags?"

Sun made his way to the bathroom door and began stretches of his own as he watched Neptune checking his face in the mirror.

"…have you seen the kind of books she reads? I'd bet her collection is bigger than mine."

"…fair point. Still, though, no using Weiss to threaten me. I didn't even think I'd see her again, but now that we're traveling together? Charm's back on, my guy," Neptune stated with a confident smile.

"Charm was never on. I seriously don't get what girls see in you. Out," Sun commanded as he strode into the bathroom. Neptune exited as Sun closed the door behind him and began his own morning rituals.

"You're cruel, you know that? I'm gonna go get our clothes," Neptune informed as he made his way toward the door of the bedroom.

Sun paused briefly, and looked over his shoulder at the closed bathroom door. "…you're not seriously about to wander another guy's house in your boxers. Neptune?" He received no response, and let out a frustrated noise as he used his foot to flush the toilet. He twisted the doorknob and leaned out into the main bedroom. "Neptune!"

The room was bare, and Sun cursed silently to himself. "Unbelievable!"

With a weary sigh, Sun returned to the bathroom. He locked the door behind himself and let the towel drop to the ground, before approaching the mirror. As he washed his hands, he looked himself over, and found that new bandages were in place over his nose, his side, and his hairline. Sun frowned at the thought of what might await him beneath each bandage, and took a deep breath as he turned the water off.

Sun started with his hairline, and found only a faint scar resting just beneath his bangs. As he let the locks drop, they covered it completely, and he allowed himself a wry smile. "I'll take it, I guess."

Next, he peeled the large, thick bandage from atop his nose. The entire ridge had titled slightly to one side, and the break was incredibly obvious against his otherwise flawless features. Sun looked away, feeling awful about himself as he focused instead upon the large, multi-layered bandage upon his side. Something told him that it would be best to leave it in place, and so, he left the thick covering where it was.

"Hey, I got clothes!" Neptune called from the other side of the door. The handle jiggled as the other boy tried to open it, only for the door to remain firmly in place. "What gives?"

"…what gives is that my towel is down, and I know you," Sun said as he rolled his eyes. He pulled his towel from the ground and back around his waist, before opening the door. "Seriously, man- if you do somehow trick Weiss into dating you, you're gonna need to learn boundaries."

Neptune put a hand to his chest, seemingly offended. "Excuse me? Dude-boundaries and lady-boundaries are totally different," he explained as he offered Sun's shorts, boxers, and socks with his other hand.

"…is that why, despite having your clothes under your arm, you're still parading around in boxers?" Sun asked as he accepted the clothing.

"If you've got it, flaunt it," Neptune sang as he turned and headed back into the room proper. Sun merely shook his head, and closed the bathroom door. He quickly dressed himself and then followed Neptune into the main room. He grabbed his scroll off the nightstand and shoved it into his pocket, before folding his arms across his chest. "Alright, turn off the smarmy asshole for a second. I need to ask you something."

Neptune sat upon the bed, buttoning his jacket as he shifted his expression to one more serious than the usual. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

Sun shifted uncomfortably as he folded his arms across his chest and looked off to the side. "How bad is it?"

Neptune blinked in confusion as he finished pulling on his gloves. "…how bad is what?"

"My nose," Sun stated with a haughty sigh. "Because in the mirror, it looks hideous."

Neptune said nothing for a while, before he pushed himself up off the bed and approached Sun to rest his hands on his friend's shoulders.

"Sun, I'm gonna be honest with you- it's not bad at all. Sure, it's not exactly 'beautiful', but it doesn't totally wreck your face, either. Blake's not gonna dump you over it, and nobody you care about will give you shit for it. It's subtle enough to not be immediately noticeable, and once you do notice, it gives you a little roguish charm. These things happen, and I'd be more worried about your side, honestly. Does it still hurt?"

"Everything hurts right now," Sun whined. "I feel awful in every way."

"…she told me more about Ghira, you know. The details, how close you were… pretty much everything," Neptune admitted. Sun looked him over, and let his expression droop into a heavy frown.

"Neptune, no offense, but I don't really want to talk about my feelings with you, especially right now."

"None taken," Neptune replied as he wrapped Sun into a tight hug.

"Neptune!" Sun cried, only for the other boy not to move. After a few seconds, Sun returned the embrace, his voice growing softer. "Everything sucks right now."

"Yeah, I know, but having you back doesn't suck. Breakfast doesn't suck," Neptune taunted as he gave Sun one last squeeze, before breaking away. "Come on, guy. Let me work my magic in the kitchen, and you'll start to feel better. Maybe."

"Food and a shower sounds good, right about now," Sun admitted as the pair headed for the door. "Let's just hope we are the only two awake, if Blake's not around."

"Something wrong with the rest of the team?" Neptune asked as they made their way down the hall.

"I mean, I haven't seen any of them, yet, but Blake said that Yang's pissed at her, and I'd rather not deal with her, right now. Or at all, honestly," Sun said as they turned a corner.

"Well… Yang's got a right to be angry, and you totally just jinxed us, so she's probably sitting alone in the kitchen, waiting for you with boxing gloves on. Either way, it's something they're gonna have to work out in time," Neptune replied.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Yang's a pretty cool girl, honestly. Or at least, I thought she was cool," Sun said as they made their way into the kitchen. The ceiling fan light was on, and an unfamiliar, olive-skinned boy stood waiting expectantly before the coffee machine. In his right hand was a cane braced against the floor, and he wore a simple farmhand's outfit. He turned to face Sun and Neptune as they entered, and blinked in surprise.

"Oh! I wasn't expecting anyone else to be awake. Coffee?" the boy offered. Sun pulled a face on instinct, though Neptune stepped forward and nodded.

"Sure! Oscar, this is Sun. I know you two haven't had a chance to meet yet, b-"

"…Professor Ozpin," Sun said flatly. Silence fell over the room as Oscar and Neptune both blinked in surprise.

"Sun, what are you talking about?"

Oscar's expression turned into a frown, and rested both hands atop his cane. "It's complicated, and he's not happy right now. How did you find out?"

"Does it really matter?" Sun asked as he strode over to the kitchen island and pulled out a stool. He sat down and braced his elbows on the countertop as Oscar's eyes flashed emerald. The boy briefly became unbalanced, before standing a bit straighter than before. His gaze turned cold as he looked Sun over and spoke in a firmer, less friendly voice.

"It very much does."

"It'll all come out, sooner or later. For now, let's just focus on how we're on the same side, and we're going to be working together. I honestly don't have the energy to keep up half-truths or start arguments," Sun said with a wave of his hand.

"…still very much in the dark here," Neptune added as he leaned against the counter, his eyes locked on Oscar. The smaller boy looked over to him, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"…right now, you are speaking to Professor Ozpin. I am capable of reincarnation, and my soul is bound to this young man, Oscar Pine. Sun Wukong was not supposed to be privy to such knowledge, but then again, many things that are not supposed to be have happened, lately. I'm almost not even surprised."

Neptune shivered in discomfort. "…oh. Right. That's, uh, simple enough? At least we have you with us?"

Oscar's eyes flashed once again, and he quite nearly fell over as he gripped the cane to remain standing. His knees wobbled slightly before he found his balance, and shook his head. Finally, he cleared his throat and took several deep breaths, before looking back up at Neptune.

"…at my expense. Despite all that, it's nice to see you again… and nice to meet you, Sun," he said as he looked back over to the faunus. Sun drummed his fingers upon the countertop, and froze as he felt an odd, rough mess of hair brush against the side of his arm.

"I'll echo that. Nice to see both of you boys again."

Sun slowly let his eyes wander to the side, only to find Yang Xiao Long sitting upon the stool next to him. She wore a white tank top and short black shorts, along with a glittering golden mechanical arm. Yang offered Sun a sly smirk, and elbowed him in the arm.

"Hey. It's been a while."

Oscar turned and feverishly began making coffee, as Neptune slowly approached the island. He gave Sun a nervous look, and jumped into the conversation.

"Morning, Yang. You're up early."

Yang stretched her arms up above her head and closed her eyes as she took a large inhale. "Yeah, I've been getting up around now and going for a run, these days. Weird, I know, but I've got too much on my mind to sleep, lately."

"…I know that feeling. Good to see you too, Yang," Sun cut in as he shifted slightly to look at her. Tension took hold of his chest as he eyed her up, and he felt his muscles growing tight. Something inside of him wanted to reach out and wring her neck, while his more logical side settled for keeping things pleasant.

"You feeling any better, Sun? You looked like shit when Neptune brought you in last night," Yang asked with genuine concern. The feelings in Sun's chest only became more conflicted as she spoke, and he looked away to watch Oscar as the young boy went about making coffee.

"…a little."

Neptune leaned against the island, and folded his arms atop the surface as he leaned in toward Yang. "He's been through a lot."

"We've all been through a lot," Yang countered. "Still, here for you guys, if you need anything. Like you just said- we're all on the same side."

"Yeah," Sun agreed as he went back to drumming his fingers. Yang looked between the two boys as neither made eye contact with her.

"…Miss Xiao Long, the usual?" Oscar asked from next to the refrigerator.

"Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks, Oscar," Yang said with a smile as he brought her an opened egg carton. The farmhand looked up at Sun nervously, and clasped his hands in front of himself.

"…you should really eat something. What can I make you?"

"Headache medicine. Also, eggs would be cool. Raw's fine," he added as he watched Yang crack and down one of her eggs. Neptune shivered and gagged at the sight, before walking to the fridge himself.

"I'll take care of myself. Leave the health food to those two."

Oscar let out a small chuckle as he offered Sun the egg carton, and the faunus took two for himself. Afterward, he busied himself with filling a glass of water and rummaging through a cabinet to find a small bottle, before sliding both down the island to Sun.

"Thanks. Can you… talk to the professor, just by thinking?"

Oscar's good humor disappeared as he nodded. "I can."

"Well, what's the plan, from here? I want to know what he thinks about all of this," Sun asked.

Yang shifted in her seat as she downed her second egg, and gave Sun a look. "Little less brash, if you would? Oz is basically a parasite, inside of him. It's not exactly pleasant."

Oscar shook his head and held up a hand as he closed his eyes. "No, it's fine… and he has every right to ask. The professor says that there will be a meeting tonight, about what to do from here."

"Tonight?" Yang asked, as Sun opened his mouth to speak. "Hell no, old man. We're all barely hanging on, here, and look at this guy- he's practically dead on his feet. Tomorrow."

Neptune looked at Oscar, and nodded. "For admittedly what very little it's worth, I'm with Yang on this one. I haven't even been involved that long, and I'm exhausted. Can we push it back a day, for all of our sakes?"

Oscar furrowed his brows as Sun found himself silently thanking them both for intervening. Suddenly, Oscar nodded, and cleared his throat. "Tomorrow, then, but he isn't happy."

Yang shrugged as she dismounted from her stool. "Funny, that. I'm not happy that he's still keeping shit from us and acting shady. Guess we're even."

Sun swallowed his final egg and shivered slightly as he looked up at Yang. "Are you still going for that run?"

Yang lifted her natural elbow up and around her head, before popping her shoulder with a grunt. "Yeah, why?"

"…I'll come with you," Sun replied as he moved to stand.

"Sun," Neptune started from his place at the counter. The glare he received in return was enough to get him to look back down at the ingredients before him, and fall silent. Yang looked between them both, before doing two small hops in place and shaking her head.

"…well, as long as you're sure you can keep up."

"I can. I will," Sun affirmed. "Let's get going."

"You got it," Yang replied as she led him into a hall and toward the main entrance. The hallway grew brighter as light began to filter in through a nearby window. "Sun's almost up."

Sun smirked to himself and followed Yang out onto the doorstep. "Yeah. Imagine that."

Author's Note:

Just when you thought Sun was out of awkward situations involving towels, he's right back in.

I want to address something in a certain review from last chapter about a particular character very, very badly, but I'm going to hold off from specifics. All I'll say is that I'll be direct about it in the final chapter, and I'm extremely impressed that someone connected the dots so perfectly. If it was you, then you'll probably know exactly what I'm talking about. Very, very well done.

Next update on Wednesday.

-RD