(I have yet to watch Volume 8 so keep that in mind.)

(Also, I could not find out Emerald's age, only fans' thoughts of what her age might be, so in this story, Emerald is "ONE YEAR OLDER THEN OSCAR. Alright. Enjoy).

Oscar had landed from the long fall from Atlas. He looked at the wasteland around him.
He in the open. There's a forest to his 6:00, and then there's Mantle to his 12:00. He wanted to go to Mantle, but...

Emerald was running from a pack of a pack of different kinds of grimms.
Why is she running you ask?
Well you see, she decided to... Leave. Salem didn't care what would happen to her if she were to run. Now, she's running, gaining a headache from using her semblance to dodge the Grimm. She continued to run until...

*SMACK!*

Emerald ran straight into Oscar, knocking the two into a the creator Oscar made when he fell from Atlas.
"Ow... Huh?" Emerald looked right into his eyes.
"Emerald?"
"Farm boy?!" Emerald then let out a sound of pain as her aura broke from a death stalker smacking her off him. Oscar was confused but judging by what just happened, he guessed that she tried to leave Salem's side, so he jumped and blocked the next attack that would have killed her. Then, without meaning to, created an Ozpin barrier around them both, as they were smacked, rolling deep into the forest.

3 hours later:

Emerald opened her eyes, groaning a bit from pain in her ribs.
"Be still, I'm almost done." She heard.
As her vision came back, she seen Oscar wrapping up her ribs. She tried to jump back but barely raised up before pain shot through her side.
"You cracked a rib. Ozpin helped me with healing as much as I could using a bit of our aura."
Emerald looked at him.
"Why? I've tried to kill you and your friends when..."
"When you "were" working for Salem, I presume you're about to say?"
"Yeah... Guess being attacked by Grimm under her control is rather obvious..." She slightly blushed.
"Still, why did you run?" He asked her.
"I... I was tired... Tired of being scared, tired of being controlled... Tired of her."
Oscar looked at her.
"Kind of sound like an evil step mother."
Emerald looked at him then shook her head.
"Well, you're not wrong, Farm Boy." She chuckled a little. Oscar smiled.

I think we can trust her, Oz.

For now.

I won't let my guard down.

"We need to move. The Grim could decide to come this way or Salem might just send a few after us." He held a hand out to help her up, to which she hesitantly took it. She flinched a bit.
"Are you able to..."
"I'm not a child. A cracked rib or two isn't enough to stop me." She started walking. Oscar sighed and walked beside her, but still leaving a small gap between them.

Half way through the woods, they came across the village like town. Everyone on the streets we're either around garbage fires or in the alleys, rooting through the trash. Oscar frowned upon passing by, he turned, seeing the pickpocket looking away from everyone they passed.
"Emerald." He started, stopping in the middle of street.
"Yes, farm boy?"
"Why do you choose to look down and away from the people on these streets and alley ways?"
She froze up, not expecting him to be so aware.
"I... I don't..."
"You don't want to see the looks on there face, now that you are basically one of them in a way." He lpoked around.
"Most of the houses here probably dont have owners, so these people probably just huddle up together in them to get some sleep. You see, now that you gave up on Salem, like them, you have no where to go."
She was silent, processing every thing.
"You also know that if you go back there, you'll most likely end up being a snack for so a Grimm or just killed."
She looked up.
"Yeah, but when I find Cinder we'll..."
"You'll what? You gave up and ran from Salem, and Cinder works for her so that she can get the four Maidens' powers. Sounds to me like you're not part of that plan. You might be her lackey, but she has no use for you, once she learns you left." Emerald fell to her knees, tears flowing down. She hated that he was right. She might love Cinder, but no matter how much, she knows he's right. Emerald broke down, and this caught the attention of a couple of not so sober guests on the street.
"Aw, look what we've got here, fresh meat." The bulky one said.
"Mmm. Look at this cute... tough guy." Said the only female, who was kind of bulky herself.
"Awe, and look, the little chocolate one's crying." Said the slim one.
"I b-bet I can make those tears... All... Go away. Heh heh."
Emerald said nothing.
"Hey. I'm talking to you." He grabs her shoulders.
"You better answer if you..." He was silenced when Oscar's cane whacked his head.
"Please, walk away." Oscar said, knowing that these other two won't put up a good fight in their conditions. Emerald looked up at the farm boy.
"Why? Why do you help me knowing I've tried to kill you and your friends?! I don't understand..."
Oscar got ready.
"Because, everyone..." Jumps into the air, dodging the male.
"Can change..."
The female leaped at him.
"And deserves..." Put on the barrier, causing the female to face plant into it, as they came down and crushed the male by landing on top.
Oscar dropped the barrier, stepping closer, and holding out a hand towards wide eyed Emerald.
"And deserves the chance to prove that they can."
Emerald looked at him, but instead of seeing him as just the farm boy, she seen him differently. She slowly took his hand and let him pull her up. He gave her a smile, to which she blocked slightly. He then wiped her tears, causing her to freeze. She recalled a point when Cinder wiped a tear from her eye, but this time, it was different, too.
"Are you ok?"
"Uh... Y-yeah... Yeah."
Oscar shook his head, trying to let go of her hand, but she didn't let go.
"Umm..."
"J-just a little longer?"
He looked at her then nodded, before a cold breeze blew. She shivered. Oscar looked and lead her into one of the houses. There were some people in it but they walked by them, upstairs and into a dusty room. Oscar sat in the corner with her, and used his jacket over them both.
Emerald laid her head on his shoulder.
"You tell anyone we cuddled, and I'll make you see things you don't want to."
Oscar nodded at her threat then laid his head on hers. She blushed but smiled.

Maybe being Good,
Won't be so Bad...