Y/n woke up to the sound of knocking on his door. It couldn't be Neo again, could it?

He went to the door and opened it to see Ruby Rose standing there.

"What do you want?"

"I just wanted to say congratulations for being the first solo team and thanks for killing the Grimm back in the forest."

"No problem, Congrats on making team leader."

"Thanks!"

Y/n stared into Ruby's innocent eyes. He was reminded off all the times she had helped him when he was trapped with Tai, Yang and Raven. They had all treated him like shit, Ruby, however, had shown kindness and basic human decency. She had brought him food and bandages after he was beaten by Tai, kicked by Raven or used as a sparring partner by Yang.

"My team and JNPR are having dinner together tonight if you'd like to join us?"

Y/n thought for a second, it would be impolite for him to refuse but Yang would be there. Y/n decided he could control himself for one night.

"Sounds great."

Ruby told him of the time and location then walked back to her dorm.

Y/n waited until he heard Ruby walk far enough down the hall. He looked at either side of the hallway to see if anyone was coming. The space was empty.

Y/n reminded himself that he had to do this. He'd had enough and didn't need him anymore.

Y/n teleported to a discreet alleyway in the rough part of Vale. He walked inside a barely visible door into a rundown bar. He drew looks from the bar's occupants, mainly wanted men or people with nowhere else to go. He walked into the backroom and descended down a spiral staircase. Another door led him into a small but very expensively furnished study. There was a desk in the middle of the room. Seated at the desk was Roman Torchwick.

"Good to see you, my friend."

"Don't play games with me, Roman. Why did you send her?"

Roman seemed momentarily shocked that Y/n had come for this reason alone. But he quickly recovered.

"I simply wanted to see how you were doing. Make sure you were safe and whatnot."

"I don't need to be babysat."

"Of course not. You're a powerful huntsman after all. I was simply concerned for your wellbeing."

"You mean you were concerned for your investment."

"That's not... I didn't-"

"I'm done, Roman. I quit"

Roman's pleasant demeanour quickly turned to one of anger and frustration.

"You can't just leave. I trained you. I fucking fed you when no one else would take you. I made you who you are."

Y/n walked out of the study and looked back at his almost father figure.

"Goodbye, Roman"

Y/n teleported back to his dorm, completely spent. Two large teleports had taken a lot out of him.

Roman just sat in his study. Infuriated that the boy he had put so much time and resources into had run away.

Neo walked in and unsheathed her umbrella sword, a clear indication of what she wanted to do.

"No Neo, Y/n is more powerful than you. I need someone more experienced and without a personal connection."

Roman picked up his scroll and typed a number into the directory. He hesitated briefly before calling the number.

"Cinder, how are you?"

Y/n was checking himself in the mirror and styling his hair as he was preparing for the dinner and wanted to look good. He heard another knock on the door.

"Who could it be this time?" Y/n muttered to himself before opening the door for the third time in 24 hours to see none other than the headmaster of Beacon Academy, Professor Ozpin, standing in the doorway.

"May I come in?"

"Of course, Sir."

Y/n moved out of the way and Ozpin walked into the room, inspecting his surroundings.

"So, I heard you quit."

"Pardon Sir?"

"My informants have told me that you have disassociated yourself from Roman Torchwick."

"How did you-"

"I have my ways," Ozpin said cryptically.

"How much do you know?"

"I know about your childhood at the Xiao long household. I know how Roman groomed you to be the perfect criminal. I know about your relationship with Tai, Raven, Yang and Ruby."

Y/n just stood there looking directly into Ozpin's unblinking eyes.

"If you knew about Yang, Why did you accept her admittance to Beacon academy?"

"Because she's changed. She felt terrible when you ran away. All of them did. Especially Ruby. Tai and Raven realised how horribly they had treated you and spent days blaming each other for the way you were treated. They got a divorced and Tai married Ruby's mother, Summer. Raven went back to her tribe."

"What about Yang and Ruby?"

"Yang developed a drinking problem for a number of years. She sobered up to get into Beacon. Ruby was heartbroken when you left. She spent days in her room, crying. Ruby was told that you had died so she didn't have to face the reality that you ran away. She still brings a plate to your old room on your birthday."

Y/n went to his bunk bed and sat down, a single tear escaping his eye.

"I... If you knew about Roman then why did you except me into Beacon?"

"Because I knew you could change. I saw potential in you, potential for greatness."

Y/n could barely process all of this information. He felt so guilty about what he did to Ruby and almost felt guilty that he had torn his adoptive family apart. He didn't feel entirely bad for Yang, Tai and Raven. They had it coming

Ozpin walked to the door.

"I can tell Ruby you can't come to dinner because of a sickness or something along those lines."

"No...I'll go."

"Alright then, be careful."

Y/n sat on his bed for another twenty minutes still trying to comprehend what Ozpin had told him.

He finally steeled himself and headed to the dinner.

It was held in Beacons cafeteria for the first years.

Y/n had overdressed.

He was greeted by Ruby at the entrance.

"Wow, Y/n you look so handsome."

"Thanks, you too."

"Girls can't look handsome Y/n."

They both chuckled and headed to the main table. Ren had decided to cook the meal. It was delicious. The conversation was flowing and one by one people were saying who their family was and where they were trained. Eventually, it was Y/n's turn to speak.

"I'm an orphan. I was adopted by a nice old man called Oromis who was a retired huntsman. He trained me."

Y/n was lying through his teeth as the entire table gave him sympathetic looks. He didn't care.

Ruby asked several follow up questions. Y/n was finding it difficult to lie to her and eventually slipped up.

Ruby asked him where the old man's house was and he instinctually said...

"Patch."

It was Ruby's home island.

"Oh, I never saw or heard anything about you on the island. What part of patch was the old man and you living in."

"Uhh..."

Y/n didn't know the segments of the island. Geography wasn't deemed important by Roman.

"I don't know the name of it. It was on a large grassy plain facing the sea."

Ruby thought for a second

"That doesn't sound like anywhere on Patch."

The table had moved on after Y/n had initially told them his backstory. He and Ruby were now just talking to each other.

"Are you lying, Y/n?"

"No, I just..."

Y/n was starting to sweat profusely as Ruby almost interrogated him.

"Y/n, it's okay we're all friends here. Now, where do you come from?"

Y/n couldn't look Ruby in the face as he sat there, worried.

Ruby recognised that look. It was a look she had gotten from a particular boy every time she had brought him food in their younger years. It was that look of concern for her, knowing there would be serious consequences if she was caught.

"Y... Y/n?"

Ruby dropped the glass of water she was holding and it spilled all over her.

"I... I'm sorry Ruby."

Y/n teleported away and left Ruby sitting there, drenched in water with the entire table looking at her.

"What happened Rubes, and where did Y/n go?"

Ruby just sat there in silence

Stunned.