Chapter 5

Ruby and Blake were reading through the Scarlet Rose books with stunning speed. The pair headed to the library to get the next one in the series. It was not exactly easy to reach. Reference books and those that would be relevant to classes were in the most easily accessible parts of the university library. Popular books were in the back. They searched around, looking for the relevant section. Once they found that locating the book was simple. Then another issue. It was on the top shelf, too high for even Blake to reach.

"What do we do now?" Ruby asked. "Should we get the librarian? Maybe they have ladders or something."

Blake stood on her tiptoes and tried to reach the book, coming up just short. "I have a better idea." Blake said. "Stand in front of me."

"Okay…" Ruby said, standing between Blake and the shelf, facing her.

"Turn around." Blake instructed. When Ruby did Blake grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up. The lift gave Ruby the height she needed to reach the book. She quickly grabbed it and Blake lowered her to the ground. They looked at one another for a moment before bursting into laughter.

A high-pitched cry cut through the library, coming from its even deeper reaches. "Was that a scream?" Ruby gasped.

"It sounded like Velvet." Blake said. "Come on!" With Ruby following she charged deeper into the library, looking down the aisles as she approached the source of the sound. Blake spotted Velvet and skidded to a stop. "Shit…"

Velvet was backed up against a shelf, a buff man pinning her in place, one of his hands gripping one of her Faunus ears. He tugged it down and laughed as Velvet cried out again. "What's wrong bunny rabbit?" He sneered. "Are they sensitive?"

"Please stop." Velvet cried. "Just...just leave me alone."

"I don't think so." The man chuckled. "Not until I've had my fun."

Before Blake and Ruby could rush in to help, a tall girl wearing a beret and sunglasses turned the corner and walked right up to Velvet's tormentor. "Hey jackass." She said.

"The fuck…" The man said as he turned. The girl unleashed one hell of a right cross and the man dropped instantly. He sat up, blood gushing from a broken nose. "Gah...what the fuck! I'll get you expelled you bitch!"

"Yeah, I'm sure the dean would love to hear about you assaulting a helpless girl." The girl threatened. "Bigotry and assault won't get you anywhere. My dick's bigger than yours daddy's boy, fuck off if you know what's good for you."

The man scrambled to his feet and ran away, racing past Blake and Ruby without a word. "Should we do something?" Ruby asked.

"Let him go." Blake said. "For now."

After cracking her knuckles the girl turned to Velvet. "Hey honey, you okay?" She asked.

"Y-yeah." Velvet stammered. "It just hurts."

"Is there anything I can do?" The girl asked.

"N-not really." Velvet replied. "I guess...I guess you could stay with me a while. I...I don't want to be alone."

"Sure, I was just here to pick up a book but I've forgotten which anyway." The girl said. "Why don't you come back to my room? My roomie Neon's got a tail, she'll probably have something for the pain."

"Sure." Velvet agreed. "I'm Velvet."

"Coco." The girl said. "Pleasure to meet you." She put an arm around Velvet's shoulders. Velvet shuddered but relaxed into Coco's arm. "Come on, let's go get you fixed up." The pair walked off, heading away from Ruby and Blake.

"That was...something." Ruby said, shaking her head. "I thought we were going to have to fight that jerk."

"If I see him again I'll cut his balls off." Blake growled.

"Blake?" Ruby asked with a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Sorry, sore subject." Blake said. "Forget it. Let's go read."

"Oh...okay." Ruby said. "Sounds good."

Ruby and Blake parted to go study for their respective classes. Shortly after reaching her room Ruby got a call on her scroll. It was from...Yang? Ruby answered the call. "Hello?"

"Hey Rubes." Yang said. "Finally got a new scroll."

"That's cool." Ruby said. "How's physical therapy going?"

"It's alright." Yang said. "It kind of sucks sometimes but it's not too bad."

"That's good I guess." Ruby said.

"Enough about me." Yang said. "How are you?"

"I'm doing okay." Ruby replied. "Now that the classes are finally getting going it's getting a little harder, but nothing I can't handle. Me and Blake finished another Scarlet Rose book too."

"You're really tearing through those." Yang laughed. "You'll have the whole series done before I'm out of the hospital."

"I hope not." Ruby said. "Hey, why don't we video chat?"

"I uh...I don't think so Rubes." Yang sighed. "I don't look too great. My hair's a mess since I can't do my normal hair-care routine, and I've got this lovely scar. Wouldn't want to scare you with my terrifying appearance."

"Come on Yang, I don't care how you look." Ruby implored. "I just want to see your smiling face."

"Nah, not today." Yang said. "Maybe some other time. You may not care how I look, but I do. I'll ask mom to bring some of my hair stuff by. Once that's sorted I'll be presentable enough."

"Well, alright." Ruby sighed. "Maybe another day. Is Pyrrha there?"

"No, she's still at work." Yang replied. "If you want, I'll ask her to give you a call when she comes by."

"That's okay." Ruby said. "Is she still coming in every day?"

"She sure is." Yang confirmed. "I don't know how she manages it between work, school and sleep. Even taking classes online is time consuming. I told her she doesn't have to but she says I need the motivation. I guess she's right."

"She's always been great at that sort of thing." Ruby said. "She cares about her friends so much."

"A little too much for her own good if you ask me." Yang said. "Well, I'm kind of tired, so I'm taking a nap. I'll talk to you later."

"Yeah, talk to you tomorrow." Ruby said. "I love you."

"Love you too sis." Yang said. She hung up, then rolled over and placed her scroll on a table beside the hospital bed.

"She's going to find out how down you're feeling soon enough." Summer said. "Why do you even bother hiding it?"

"She deserves to have a good time while she's away at school." Yang replied. "You know how she is. If she knows how I'm feeling...it'll just bring her down. The longer before she knows the better."

"You've got a point but...maybe she can help if she knows." Summer suggested.

Yang sighed. "Unless she discovers a way to grow me a new arm, there isn't much she can do."

Blake sat on her bed reading a text book. It was almost time for dinner but Blake wanted to finish up before eating. The lock clicked and the door swung open to reveal Velvet. Her hair was a mess and her face was flushed, but even without looking Blake knew. Her highly sensitive Faunus nose could smell it, Coco and sex. Blake looked up from her book and smirked.

Velvet averted her eyes in embarrassment, her bunny ears drooping down to cover her blushing face. "Sh-she has a t-tongue like a s-snake Faunus." Velvet stammered.

"You alright?" Pyrrha asked.

"Just tired." Yang replied. She was being wheeled back to her room in a wheelchair after an intense physical therapy session. "I hate this therapy. It makes me feel so weak."

"You did well." Raven encouraged.

"Eh, maybe." Yang sighed.

"I'm going to run to the ladies room." Pyrrha said. She peeled away from the group as they arrived at Yang's room.

The nurse pulled the wheelchair to a stop beside Yang's bed, locking the wheels so it would not roll as she got up. Yang stood and wobbled. She tried to hop onto her bed but lost her balance and started to fall off the other side. The nurse grabbed her by the shoulder but not before Yang instinctively tried to brace herself with her missing right arm. The nerves hit a dead end and returned nothing to her brain. Yang's brain assumed the lack of sensation, combined with the fall, must have been caused by massive damage.

"Fuck!" Yang screamed as she felt intense pain in a limb that was not there. She cried and writhed on the bed. "It burns! It burns!" Yang sobbed, choking on tears and pain as the nurses scrambled. Raven was stunned, standing there in shock, just watching the unfolding scene.

"Oh my God." Pyrrha gasped as she returned to a scene of chaos.

"Help me!" Yang cried. "God, help me!"

Pyrrha turned to Raven, still standing like a statue as nurses scrambled around her. "Raven!" Pyrrha shouted, grabbing her shoulder. "You're in the way."

"Fuck it burns!" Yang sobbed. "Do something!" A pair of nurses grabbed her arm to hold it still as Yang thrashed. One stuck a needle in her IV and injected something. "Gah!" Yang yelled as the medication burned into her veins. She struggled for a few more seconds before falling silent and still, hyperventilating as the painkillers did their job and sent her on a powerful high. Her eyes became unfocused and her gaze wandered.

"Y-Yang?" Raven said.

"It...it hurt so much I…" Yang trailed off. "Now...weird…"

"I'll call Summer." Pyrrha offered.

"No, I'll do it." Raven said.

"I want my mommy." Yang wept.

Raven rushed to her side. "I'm here." Raven said, grabbing Yang's remaining hand.

"Where's Summer?" Yang asked. "I want mom."

Raven pulled away, choking back tears. "I'll...I'll call Summer." She said.

"Pyrrha…" Yang called, reaching out weakly. "Where's mom?"

"She'll be here soon." Pyrrha said. "Don't worry."

"Oh...okay…" Yang said. "I miss Ruby. It's not the same...I wanna' be warm...I wanna' hug." Yang reached out towards Pyrrha as best she could. Pyrrha hesitated but bent down and embraced Yang as Yang's arm flopped weakly onto her back. "Don't leave me too."

"I...I won't." Pyrrha said. "I promise."

The painkillers had Yang out of touch with reality for the rest of the day. When she was not sleeping she was barely coherent, sometimes seemingly unaware of her surroundings. Still, after what Yang had said Pyrrha was reluctant to leave. Summer had to convince her to go home and get some sleep. She went home but there was little rest and she returned to the hospital early the next morning. Pyrrha was there when Yang woke up. She was sober again and the pain returned, prompting a quick but much milder injection of morphine. Yang's doctor decided to give her a morphine drip she could control. Of course the dose was limited for safety, but if the pain got to be too much Yang could just push a button and she would have the relief she needed.

"Maybe physical therapy isn't a great idea today." Yang sighed. Even with the morphine she could feel a subtle burning in her missing limb.

"Yeah, a day off probably wouldn't be a bad idea considering." Raven said. "I...need some air." Raven left, leaving Yang and Pyrrha alone.

"She seems distant." Yang observed once Raven was gone.

"Isn't she kind of always?" Pyrrha asked.

"I guess, but it's different." Yang replied. "Did what happened yesterday hit her that hard?"

"Maybe it's because of what you said." Pyrrha suggested.

"What I said?" Yang asked with a confused look.

"You don't remember do you?" Pyrrha asked. Yang shook her head. "When they injected you with the painkillers you asked for your mom. When Raven came to your side you said you wanted Summer, not her."

"Oh shit I...damnit." Yang groaned. "No wonder she's like this. I feel awful."

"You weren't in your right mind." Pyrrha encouraged. "Just apologize and I'm sure she'll understand."

"I guess." Yang sighed. "Did I say anything else I'm going to regret?"

Pyrrha thought for a moment, wondering what she should tell Yang. "Well, you did ask me for a hug." Pyrrha shrugged. "You said you missed Ruby and didn't want me to leave too."

"Oh, that's not too bad." Yang said. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"No, it's alright." Pyrrha said. "It's not a problem. It's just the only other vaguely coherent thing you said yesterday. You were high as a kite."

"I must have been if I don't remember." Yang laughed. "Thanks uh...thanks for being here with me. It means a lot to know you care. I...I know I don't thank you enough, and I must be tough to put up with."

"You don't have to thank me." Pyrrha said. "It's what friends do."

"You've gone above and beyond." Yang insisted. "I don't think any less of Ren and Nora as friends because they're not here everyday."

"Well I…" Pyrrha started.

"I spoke to the physical therapist." Raven said as she walked into the room. "He agreed you should take a day off."

"Oh, thanks mom." Yang said. "I...uh...wanted to talk to you about something."

"I'll leave you two alone." Pyrrha said. She ducked out of the room to give Yang and Raven privacy while Yang apologized.

The next day Yang got back to physical therapy. It was no less exhausting and the morphine did little to help with her aching muscles. Pyrrha headed out to go to work and Yang decided to go to sleep. She managed to get a few hours worth and when she awoke it was dark outside. Yang yawned and looked away from the windows, expecting to see Summer.

"You're finally awake." Jaune laughed. "I was starting to think you'd sleep through my whole visit." There was a brief but awkward silence, a common occurrence when Jaune was around. "Summer's getting dinner by the way. I think she's picking up something for you."

"Jaune, what are you doing here?" Yang asked.

"Does a friend need a reason to stop in for a visit?" Jaune asked.

"No, I guess not." Yang replied. "But we hardly even talk anymore."

"Fine, I do have a reason." Jaune admitted. "Ren and Nora told me how down you are. I guess they heard from Pyrrha."

"Can you really blame me?" Yang asked. "I mean…" She lifted her stump and gestured toward it with her arm.

"No, I get it." Jaune said. "But you've cheered me up in the past, I just figured I'd return the favor."

"I don't think this is the time or the place for that." Yang laughed. "Someone might catch us in the act."

"You have a strange concept of how to cheer someone up." Jaune shook his head.

"It worked for you." Yang smirked.

"Yeah, yeah it did." Jaune said with a wistful smile.

"You know, you weren't half bad for a first timer." Yang said.

"Coming from you, that's high praise." Jaune said.

"How are things with Ren and Nora?" Yang asked.

"Pretty good." Jaune replied. "Things can get a bit chaotic. Nora can be...destructive, and now that she's pregnant and hormonal, she's even less predictable."

"And she can't give you your usual reward for fixing the place up." Yang joked.

"She keeps giving me IOU's though." Jaune said. "Seriously. Once she recovers from the whole having a baby thing...well...I hope I survive."

"She's gonna' rock your world Jauney boy." Yang said.

"No one could possibly match you." Jaune said. "But enough about that. I see the smile on your lips, but your eyes just don't match up. Talk to me."

"What is there to say?" Yang sighed. "My life is fucked, I look terrible, I can't even take care of myself anymore. That's not exactly a recipe for happiness."

"Don't tell me you're giving up." Jaune said. "Not you of all people."

"I'm sure I'll find a way to cope." Yang shrugged.

"You'll find a way to thrive." Jaune encouraged. "If anyone can it's you." He laughed. "And you don't look terrible. Your hair could use a good wash but you're still as sexy as you always were."

"Even with the scar?" Yang asked.

"I dig scars." Jaune answered.

"Even down an arm?" Yang pressed.

"I never spent much time looking at your arms anyway." Jaune smirked.

"I hope other people can look at me like you do." Yang shook her head.

"The people who matter do." Jaune said. "Anyone who doesn't, well, they're not worth your time."

"I guess you're right." Yang said. "You know, when I get out of here, I'll probably need some cheering up. I could help Nora pay off some of those IOU's if you guys want."

"Jaune, I got you…" Summer started as she entered the room carrying a bag of food. "Oh, Yang, you're up."

"I've only been up for a few minutes." Yang said. "Jaune was just doing his best to cheer me up. Well...he would probably do his best work in a different setting…"

"Yang, I really don't want to know." Summer sighed. "Thanks for coming Jaune. Why don't you stay for dinner?"

"I wouldn't want to impose." Jaune said.

"Come on, it's only fair." Summer insisted. "You came to help us out, we'll help you out."

"I was kind of returning a favor." Jaune said.

"No one's keeping score." Summer said. "Sit down and eat." She started unpacking the food bag, Mistrali takeout. She handed a box to Yang. "The staff won't be thrilled about you eating something so unhealthy, but I figured you could use the boost."

"I am getting pretty sick of hospital food." Yang agreed. She stuck the box between her legs to hold it in place, and picked up the plastic utensils with her arm.

Summer handed a box of food to Jaune and he pulled some utensils out of the bag. "Thanks Summer." He said.

"You're still living with Ren and Nora, right?" Summer asked. "How's that going?"

"Yeah, I'm still sharing their apartment." Jaune confirmed. "Things are a bit crazy with Nora being pregnant and all, but it's alright. Could be better, could be worse."

"Of course it could be better." Yang laughed. "No three-ways because Nora's pregnant."

"Yang!" Summer gasped.