Glynda stood over the unconscious boy, his body covered in bandages and bruises all over. "The school will be locking up soon, I think it would be best you wake him and leave as soon as possible." She had a purse over her shoulder and what looked like a modicum of makeup applied to her face.

With a knowing smile striking her lips, Yang smirked. "Night on the town, huh, Miss?~" She teased. Glynda turned to face the other direction, hiding her faint, embarrassed blush. Bringing her purse further up on her shoulder, she turned her head to look back at Yang.

"My personal life is no concern of yours, Miss. Xiao Long-" She cleared her throat, "I shall see you tomorrow. Turn off the lights when you leave, security will lock up." Upon giving her instruction she left the both of them in the infirmary behind the main office of the school. Yang looked over at the clock on the wall, then outside through the window. It would be dark soon and she would miss her shift completely if they didn't leave in the next few minutes.

Ren strained to open his eyes-a look of pure exhaustion taking over on his face.

"Xiao... Long...?" his accent broke through his weak voice.

Yang jumped a little in her seat, "Huh?" She didn't realize he was awake until now.

"Yeah, that's my last name?" The young blonde leaned into her hands with her elbows in her lap, looking down a him ink the bed. She tilted her head curiously, "What is it?"

"I-It's nothing…" He grunted as he tried to sit himself up, pushing up with his arms behind him. He winced and inhaled sharply as a searing pain shot through his chest, his hand quickly clutching at the pain which caused his other hand to slip and make him fall back onto the bed.

"Hey, take it slow!" Yang quickly leaned forward with her arms out to catch him on reflex. It wasn't necessary as he only fell back on the bed, so she stopped herself half way through the motion and slowly sat back down on the chair.

"It's only been like an hour, don't expect to be moving around so much…" She chided, moving to her feet. She leaned over him and helped him sit up with her hand supporting him on his back and the other holding his hand as she pulled him up. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and held his arm over the pain in his stomach as she let go of him, wincing in pain.

Yang crossed her arms, "Think you'll be able to walk?" She looked doubtful. Ren looked up at her and nodded slowly. He slowly slid off the bed and pushed himself up with his hands. His hand went to his stomach again as he felt a pain in it and hunched over slightly.

"You sure you'll be alright?" She bent over and looked up at his face. He turned his head away from her.

"My legs are not what hurt, I should be fine…" But his body betrayed his words as he suddenly felt light-headed and almost collapsed on the spot. If it weren't for Yang he would have, being caught in her arms.

"Okay…" Ren wasn't stubborn and knew when to admit defeat, "I guess I could use your help…" He sighed.

Yang smirked, admittedly liking it when she was right. She helped him back to his feet and brought his arm around her shoulders. She brushed her hair out of the way with her hand so his arm wouldn't pull on it and held onto his wrist, which hung from left shoulder to right, with her right hand and looked over at him. He would usually have about an inch over her, but he was a bit slouched as he used her for support, leaving her a couple centimeters taller over him.

"You okay like this?" She asked, adjusting his position over her shoulders a little bit.

"One second…" He looked over his shoulder and reached for his bag, slinging it over his free side.

"Okay," He nods, "ready."

The girl smiled and started walking, Ren's feet following the same pattern and synchronizing with hers. She reached for the light switch as they left the room, flicking it off behind them. Ren was focused on his breathing-in through the nose and out through the mouth. He was murmuring something to himself under his breath.

He walked with a slight limp out of the building with Yang supporting him. More of his weight was leaning on his right leg and his free arm was clutched over his abdomen, occasionally wincing as the pain shot through his body.

"You have a bus pass or something right…?" Yang questioned, looking over at the boy knowing there was no way they could possibly walk the entire way.

"A… bus pass?" he asked, answering her question with his own.

"I'll take that as a no…" the blonde sighed, "How did you get to school today, then?"

"Uhhh…" he didn't know what they were called, so he looked around for anything he could use to explain. Luckily a cable car happened to pass by at that moment, which he pointed at.

"That…"

"The Cable Car? Alright, do you still have your ticket?" She adjusted him slightly over her shoulder to regain her grip on him and to stop him from slipping.

"N-No…" he looked down again.

"Did they take it from you?" She asked, referring to the person who left the boy in his current state.

"No, I…" his voice slowly got quieter as he spoke, "sat on the back…"

Yang stared at him with a blank look for a moment before she realized what he meant and laughed.

"Wow, you've got guts, kid." she said, grinning at him, "Lucky you weren't seen by any cops; you probably wouldn't have made it to school today."

His cheeks were a tinge pink as his focus remained downcast toward the ground.

"I was late, and I don't have any money to buy a ticket, or a 'bus pass'..." he said, embarrassed.

"Oh." Yang's smile faded, "Well, I can give you a hand this time. You're in no shape to be walking very far, and I don't feel like watching you fall off the back of a car, so I'll pay for your ticket." She gave him a reassuring smile.

He looked up and returned with a light smile of his own and thanked her.

"But now you owe me and I expect you to pay me back later~" she spoke playfully, but he nodded sternly nonetheless and intended to honour that debt as soon as he could afford.

"Now, come on, before we miss it and have to wait for the next one. I don't want to waste any time." She said, almost dragging him over her shoulder as she waved down the cable car across the road-making sure to look out for any oncoming traffic beforehand-and helped Ren up step by step.

She sat him down first, then turned to the expectant conductor and handed over a few coins. He counted them then placed them into his pouch before rolling out two small pieces of paper and punching a small hole in each.

Yang then rejoined the bruised boy, taking a seat beside him and placing one of the tickets into his open hand. He nodded a soft thank you and slid it into his pocket, tapping it a few times to secure it in place. Ren sighed and let his body relax a bit against the seat.

Yang looked over his address once more to confirm it before she decided to try and make conversation.

"You don't exactly live close to the school, do you?..." she commented, looking up from the paper Glynda had given her and setting her eyes on Ren.

He shrugged, "It was the only place my mother could get me into… It was such short notice, and she met someone who helped me get in. If anything I am quite lucky to be where I am…"

Yang frowned and crossed her arms, "That doesn't mean you should be beaten half to death on your first day. I wouldn't call that luck; and if it is then Lady Luck is certainly being a major jerk to you."

A weak smile spread across his lips at her remark. "I…" he paused to try and think of the right word, "appreciate… you helping me, even though it was probably just because you were asked to."

"It's not a problem, I'll just have to ask my boss to forgive me for not being able to make it on time…" the blonde sighed.

"Sorry…" he muttered guiltily.

"No, please, don't be. This isn't your fault at all, it's the ass who did this to you. In fact, you wouldn't happen to know who it was, would you?"

He shook his head. He tried to think back but when he tried to think too hard his head would hurt more.

"Black…" was all he could say right now, something in his memory placing that word in the forefront of his mind.

"Black? You mean, like, skin colour? Clothing?" Yang inquired, but Ren's head was throbbing. She wouldn't be getting much else from him right now.

Ren closed his eyes and slowly dozed off in his seat.

Yang looked out the window, watching as the sun was slowly setting on the horizon. "Black, huh?..." she muttered quietly, talking to herself and getting lost in thought.

She quickly looked up, having lost track of time, and examined the outside surroundings, checking passing street signs and notable landmarks. She quickly shot up to pull on the cord to signal to the driver to stop. If she had been distracted for much longer they probably would have missed the right stop. Ren jolted awake as his shoulder was gently shook, eyes widening before relaxing in their regular position when he remembered where he was and looked up toward his companion.

"This is where we get off." She smiles softly and reaches down to help him up. She slowly helps him off and step into the street and cross the road into the sidewalk.

"You don't need to take me the rest of the way, I can... make it from here…" Ren coughed, wincing and holding his abdomen as a sharp pain shot through it at the tensing of it.

Yang frowned and flicked his nose, it wasn't a hard flick and could easily be construed as just playful.

"I've already come all this way, I might as well take you the rest. Besides, I was told to take you home, not a couple blocks from it. I have to miss work for this after all."

"Sorry... about that…" His head turned toward the ground, his arm holding his shoulder. The blonde nudged his arm, sighing.

"Hey, I said it was okay. It's not your fault." She said softly. He just nodded softly in response. Neither of them were entirely familiar with the area, so it took them a bit of time to figure out exactly where they were trying go, but Ren recognized the building he and his mother were residing in as they turned a corner. He pointed and Yang took him into the building and up the elevator.

Yang leaned against the wall with her arms crossed as they traveled up a floor or two, then as the door dinged open she helped Ren through and to his doorstep. She knocked on the door and waited for an answer. She wasn't going to leave until she knew he was safe inside first.

She waited for a few minutes while Ren sat down on the ground. Still no answer. She knocked again and still nothing. She sighed, frustrated.

She looked down at Ren on the floor, "Do you have a key or something?" He shook his head, Yang groaned.

"Alright, up you get, you can come with me to work because I don't want to leave you alone in this condition-God knows what will happen if I do and I don't want that sticking on my conscience…" she murmured. She picked him back up and they were back on the street in no time.

Luckily for her, she didn't work too far from here so it was a quick ride, using the same tickets from before for the both of them. Reaching downtown, they approached upon a neon-lit diner. Yang tied her hair back into a bushy ponytail and they entered. She left Ren in a seat located in the corner of the diner where she would be able to keep an eye on him and spoke to her boss, explaining the situation to him. He allowed him to stay, if he ordered something. Yang rolled her eyes, knowing he wasn't able to afford anything on the menu so she ordered for him.

She changed into her uniform first however, heading out the back and returning in a yellow and light brown mini dress and equally matching apron. She placed some of her own money into the register and served Ren a caramel milkshake with a bendy straw neatly placed inside the glass.

She leaned over the table and looked at him, placing her hand on his shoulder gingerly so it wouldn't cause any pain, "Here you go, it's the only way I was allowed to let you stay. Go on, drink it, and don't worry about having to pay me back for this, I dragged you here after all." She sighed. She returned to work, occasionally checking in on him. Her co-workers would come over in her place during particularly busy periods, ever her boss would check to make sure he was okay. One of the waitresses in particular took a keener interest in him than the rest, however.

A bubbly, ginger waitress leaned over his table, overlooking the boy who had decided to take a nap in his seat, quietly snoring. He looked peaceful, as if all his pain had subsided and it didn't hurt to breathe. She giggled and was about to try and wake him before the boss called her to get back to work and she rolled back onto the floor and took people's orders and delivered others to their tables.

When Yang went on break it was already late at night, almost 10PM, and she sat down beside Ren to eat from a small basket of fries. She nudged him gently awake and offered him some, which he accepted gratefully. She smiled and they sat together in comfortable silence for the duration of her break.

She turned her head toward him, munching on some fries. "I'm almost done with work, are you okay over here by yourself?" She spoke with her mouth still full. After swallowing the rest of her fries she realized he had fallen back to sleep against her shoulder and smiled, sighing. She placed a leather jacket over him and went back to work, laying him the other way.

Ren opened his eyes and everything he saw was in black and white; everything toned in hues of grey as his world was completely devoid of colour. He didn't feel any pain on his body, in fact he didn't feel anything at all. He tried to touch his arm, his stomach-nothing. He felt absolutely nothing except a tightness growing in his chest as he found it hard to breathe. He was still in the diner. At least, he thought he was. Everything looked… distorted somehow upon closer inspection.

Suddenly, a near-blinding flash of colour filled his vision as a figure entered his view. He couldn't make out who it was though. At first he thought it was his mother, but the silhouette wasn't right. He could tell they were feminine, but that was all. They came closer and a flash of orange, like fire, filled his vision but they only grew more hazy as they got closer to him and his eyes slowly closed on him.

Ren jolted awake, eyes wide as he quickly looked up. Yang and one of her co-workers jumped back, the latter letting out a small yelp. Ren calmed down upon realizing where he was and relaxed in his seat.

Yang composed herself, "It's time to take you home, so come on- get up." She took her jacket and helped him out of his seat. After a little rest he was in a much better condition to move on his own, but he still hurt all over. He yawned and slid out of the small booth. Yang stood to the side until he could stand and nodded, motioning to the door. She took his hand hand lead him outside. She was still in her work uniform, but had slipped her leather jacket on over the top. Yang's orange haired co-worker followed them out, her shift ending at the same time, she was wearing a pair of pink roller-skates. Something about them seemed familiar, but he couldn't place it.

Yang covered her mouth and yawned, then waved her off as they went separate ways, "See you tomorrow, Nora!…" she called out to the redhead before she lead Ren along. Yang tugged a bit on his arm, "We should hurry, transport won't be running much longer." But before they could get much farther from the diner Yang's name was called out-It was her boss. She groaned, "Ugh, what now…" and turned around, still hand-in-hand with Ren.

The man, who was a little on the heavier side and stood taller than the both of them in his kitchen garb, approached them. "You don't plan on dragging this kid around all night in this condition, do you?"

Yang rubbed her arm, "Well… It's not like I have any other means of transport…" She seemed a little uncomfortable, which Ren picked up on as she squeezed his hand a little tighter.

"I'll drive you both home, I'd rather not knowingly let two kids-especially one that is injured-wander the streets at night."

Yang thought it over for a second, then sighed, "Fine." and lead Ren back with herself into the closing diner.

Yang was seated in the front passenger seat, wiggling around a bit to get comfortable, with Ren in the seat directly behind her. He had never been inside a car, only ever seen them from the outside-and almost run over by them a couple times. He felt around, his hands touching the 'luxury' leather seating as he looked out the window. He rolled down the window and the wind blew his hair back and caused him to squint. He pulled back and sat in his seat as he felt the cool night breeze brush past his face. Yang looked back and giggled a little at his antics before she looked straight forward. She had given her boss the address, so she just sat back and watched as the lights passed them by. They sat in silence for a few minutes before the man got a little fidgety and spoke up.

"So, what's the story with him? He your boyfriend or somethin'?" He asked, looking over toward Yang for a second to get her attention before looking back to the road, his hands in a relaxed position on the steering wheel.

"Not... exactly..." She looked into the backseat again, then forward as Ren looked up at her, she didn't want to say to much. "He's a new kid in my class, he got beat up on the first day and the responsibility to look after him kinda just fell into my lap. I tried to take him home earlier, but no-one was there which is why I had to drag him all the way to work… Uh, sorry… about that…" she looked out the window.

"Ha! First day and he already got beat up?" He glanced back at Ren through the rear-view mirror, "Kid must be a wimp!" He laughed, "I feel sorry for ya, having to lug him around all over the place."

Ren just awkwardly rubbed his arm, staying silent and looking down. Yang frowned but didn't speak up to her boss, crossing her arms and looking out the window again as he kept driving and trying to make more conversation.

"We're here." Came the taut voice of their driver as he pulled up to the curb. Yang almost immediately stepped out of the car to help Ren, closing her door and stepping sideways to open Ren's. She leaned down and took his hand as he stepped out slowly.

"Come on, get up…" Yang muttered to him, pulling him out of the car. He leaned against the car as Yang turned to their driver. "I'll be fine from here, I can get home on my own from here." She told him.

He poked his body through the window, looking over the roof of the car at her. "You sure? It's no trouble at all. I don't need to be anywhere, and it's pretty late for someone like yourself." He was quite insistent on it, but Yang just refused politely. After about a minute of trying to convince her, with Yang trying her best to stay polite to his advances, he gave up with a shrug, "Your loss, Missy." He then sat back down in his car and took off, almost taking Ren with him if Yang hadn't pulled him off from the car in the last second.

"Ass." Yang scowled at his car as it drove off in the distance, then turned back to Ren who looked both timid and exhausted.

She placed her hand on his shoulder, "Hey, what's wrong?, and leaned down to look into his downcast eyes.

He turns his head away from her, "It's… nothing-" he muttered. "I'm worried about how my mother will… react." He looks up at the building, the light was on in the window where his apartment was supposed to be.

Yang sighed, "I'm sure she's really worried about you, so come on… Let's head up." She holds his hand as they walk up and through the door, pulling on the handle and walking over to the elevator, mirroring exactly what they did earlier that day.

Ren leaned against the back of the elevator, still looking down as Yang pressed the button to take them to the correct floor. She looked at him, "Something else is bothering you, I can tell." Yang said, crossing her arms. She had one of her feet up against the wall of the elevator behind her.

Ren was quiet as he looked up at her, then sighed as her gaze pierced through him. "I'm not… a wimp…" he said, softly. Her gaze softened and she stepped forward and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Don't let it get to you…" The elevator doors opened then, a floor below the one they were aiming for as two older men stepped in. They were the same ones that Ren had run into in the morning. Yang removed her hand from his shoulder and stepped back, beside Ren against the elevator wall.

"Going down." One of them said, pressing the button for the ground floor without even waiting for one of them to say something. The elevator went down for them first.

"Hey, it's that kid." One of the men said, specifically looking at Ren, then his partner as he did so.

"Oh yeah, the one who's mother wouldn't stop crying on about him." They laughed, "I guess she'll be in for a shock when he walks through the door." Ren's heart started to beat out of his chest. Yang just scowled at them, staring daggers into their backs. They laughed as they left the elevator and Yang pressed the button again for their floor. Pressing it a few times to make sure it worked this time, cursing under her breath.

As they reached the correct floor, Ren left first and was followed by Yang. She was going to follow through to the end after all. Ren raised his arm to knock on the door, hesitating as he pulled his arm to his chest.

"You'll have to go in at some point." Yang said, to which Ren nodded and sighed, knocking on the door which opened before his hand could hit the wood a second time. The door burst open and his mother was on the other side, her eyes red and tears gushing down her cheeks. Without even realizing his bandages and injuries she wrapped him in a tight hug.

"Māmā, you're- hurting me…" Ren groaned, but she just kept hugging him, sobbing.

Yang thought to intervene else his injuries somehow worsen from his mother's intense hug. "E-Excuse me…" Yang stammered, trying to get her attention, though to no avail as Ren was practically smothered in his mother's arms.

"Hey, be careful, he's injured…" She had her arms out as if she would pull him away from her.

Realization of what Yang had just said struck her as she pulled away from her son, gasping as she finally realized all the injuries he had sustained. She started speaking too fast for anyone to understand as she lead the boy inside. Yang just stood there for a second, wondering if she should follow-she had gotten him safely home after all, she didn't need to stay any longer-before she was pulled in by An as she closed the door.

In the light it was a much clearer to see that An had been crying a lot; her dress was scrunched up, her knuckles pale white and her eyes were bloodshot. "W-What happen?" An asked, her voice shaky. Yang tried to explain, but she couldn't understand her very well so it was left to Ren. He slowly explained what had happened earlier that day and An became visibly angry when he mentioned how he had gotten his injuries. She went on a swearing tirade in Chinese. Both Ren and Yang stared at her, wide-eyed, before Ren tried to calm her down.

Yang looked out the window, it was late-too late to walk home from here-and she doubted Ren's mother would be able to take her either-not that should ask something of her after she just brought her son home covered in bandages.

"Do you… have a phone I could use? I need to call my dad…" Yang rubbed her arm shyly as An doted on her son. Ren managed to escape his mother's grasp again, nodding and pointing toward a phone on a small table in the living room.

Yang thanked him and walked over to it, asking the operator to connect her to her home. It dialed for a second before someone picked up the receiver.

"Yang?!" Came a somewhat high pitched voice.

"Yeah, it's me, Ruby…" She sat down beside the phone, fixing her skirt.

"Where are you?! Dad was so worried when you didn't come home on time!" Ruby's voice was filled with worry and concern. She was usually home a couple hours earlier than this.

"I'm fine, I just… had to do some stuff. You remember that boy I was with in the infirmary?"

"Yeah?..."

"Well, simply put, I had to take him with me to work and I only just got him home…"

"Okay…"

"Do you think Dad could pick me up? It's late and there isn't a way for me to get home now…"

"I think he's asleep now, he was waiting for you to get home when you didn't show up after a while. I'll go check." Ruby placed the receiver down and her footsteps were briefly heard as she ran off. Yang sat there for a moment in silence, watching as An cleaned and fixed Ren's bandages.

Ruby returned, picking up the phone, "He's asleep, and I can't get him to wake up. I'd ask Qrow, but he's not here right now…"

"No, it's okay, I'll work something out… I'll just see you later."

"O-Okay… Be safe!"

Yang hung up the phone and sighed. "I guess I could ask to stay here for the night…" she murmured to herself, standing up. She walked into the kitchen, where An and Ren were as she scrubbed his chest and arms with a damp sponge. He winced and grit his teeth as she applied pressure to his bruises and cuts.

"Hey, uh…" Yang looked away, blushing a little in embarrassment at the now-shirtless boy in front of her, "Would it be okay if I… stayed here for the night? It's really late and I can't get home…" Ren looked up at her and she kept looking away, then turned his head toward his mother. He repeated her question to her in Chinese.

An looked up at the blonde girl, then back at Ren. She nodded and said something to Ren. He smiles softly and nods, before turning back to look up at Yang.

"She says it's okay, and she is thankful for you helping me."

An walked around Ren and hugged Yang tightly, softly sobbing. She was speaking Chinese in her ear. Yang gasps softly and the sudden hug and rubs her back, hugging her with one arm. "Uh, i-it was nothing…" She stuttered. Ren slipped on a shirt as An went to prepare a place for Yang to sleep.

After a few minutes An returned, "We don't have anything to sleep on, so you take bed with Ren."

Both teens turned their heads to her in an instant, Yang blushed brightly and Ren let out a painful sound from turning his head too quickly, clutching his neck.

"I-I can take the floor, it's fine." Yang said quickly, raising her arms up.

"No, you take bed, I am used to floor." An insisted. Ren was about to counter as well, but An raised her finger to silence him.

"It is okay." An was standing her ground on this. Ren sighed and looked at Yang, who turned away from him as she blushed harder.

"I will give you my clothe for sleep." An told Yang, in her usual broken English. Ren went to change while An collected some clothes for Yang, returning with a long nightgown. It might not be in her exact size, considering both women had very distinct differences in body size and shape. Yang quietly thanked her, taking it and changing in the bathroom. She dropped her uniform on the floor and changed. It was a little tight on her generous figure, but it fit fine otherwise. She walked out, still a bit of a blushing mess as her chest and hips were more than obvious in the gown.

An just smiled at her and pushed her toward the bedroom. "Look good, sleep well." Yang was stuttering trying to think of a reply before she was lead into the bedroom where Ren had just finished changing. He turned around and blushed at the sight of her. He turned his head away from her and sat down on the bed. Yang sat down awkwardly beside him and An left the two of them alone, flicking off the light-a lamp beside the bed became the only source of light.

Ren couldn't bring himself to look at her, and the same for her to Ren.

"I… guess we should get under the covers." Yang said, quietly.

Y-Yeah…" Ren muttered, turning around to climb on the bed and take the side closer to the wall. He faced away from Yang, pulling up the blanket as Yang joined beside him, the two of them back to back.

"... Good night…"

"... Goodnight…'

They both said it at the same time, causing them both to go silent and embarrassed. Yang turned off the light beside the bed and moonlight shined through a thin crack between the curtain and window as they both closed their eyes.

SO. Hey, it's been a while. A little over a year to be precise, I think. Uhhh sorry about that. Fun fact, I had the entire basis of the chapter planned since I posted the last one all those years ago. Back then I had just finished and graduated my first year of tafe, now I'm about to be going to uni (hopefully, just waiting on some stuff). This had been about a third written back then too, then I finally found the drive to open it back up and finish what I started, which is kind of a new thing for me if I'm honest. I spent about three days going from the original 1800 or so words that I had written to this massive (by my own standards, anyway) 5300+ words. I didn't really go back and refresh myself on previous chapters so there's a slight possibility of plot holes but I think I managed pretty well. I don't plan on making y'all wait another two years for the next chapter, but we'll see how things go .