I looked at Amber sleeping on my bed. I read her the book. “Anything Goes!” My mom looked at me in the doorway.

I saw a drunken man stumble in. He was my stepdad, Ankh Silver. He has pale skin, green eyes. He was Human, one of those types as well: Racist. Why would my mom marry someone like that?

I clenched my jaw, my cat ears twitching in irritation as Ankh stumbled into the room, reeking of alcohol. His presence filled the air with tension. I could feel Amber stir slightly beside me, but she didn’t wake up. Good. She didn’t need to see this.

“Corey,” he slurred, his eyes narrowing. “Didn’t think you’d have the guts to show your face around here.”

I stayed seated on the bed, keeping my voice low to avoid waking Amber. “I’m here for my family, not for you.”

He snorted, swaying slightly. “Family? You think you’re part of this family? You left, just like your father did. Ran off to play soldier with the White Fang.” His gaze flicked to Amber, and he smirked. “Bet you’re filling her head with your Faunus nonsense too.”

I felt my claws twitch, my robotic hand flexing involuntarily. My temper was rising, but I forced myself to stay calm. Amber didn’t need to wake up to a fight. “I’m not here to argue. Go sleep it off.”

Ankh staggered closer, his breath hot and sour. “You think you can just walk back in here and act like you belong? You’re nothing, Corey. A stray cat who abandoned his pride.”

I stood slowly, towering over him. My eyes locked onto his, my voice dangerously quiet. “You’re in my home. Don’t forget that.”

For a moment, we stood there, locked in a silent standoff. Then, my mother stepped between us, her hands raised. “That’s enough. Ankh, go to bed. You’ve had too much to drink.”

He scoffed but stumbled back toward the hallway. “This isn’t over,” he muttered before disappearing into the shadows.

My mother sighed, rubbing her temples. “I’m sorry, Corey. He’s… difficult.”

“Difficult?” I echoed bitterly. “He’s a racist drunk. Why are you still with him?”

She hesitated, her eyes flickering with pain. “It’s complicated. After your father… after everything… I needed someone. He wasn’t always like this.”

I shook my head, struggling to understand. “You deserve better.”

Her expression softened. “I know you’re trying to protect me, but I can handle it. Just… don’t make things worse for Amber. She needs peace.”

I looked down at Amber, still sleeping soundly, her small face peaceful. My anger cooled, replaced by a fierce protectiveness. “I won’t let him hurt her. Or you.”

My mother placed a hand on my shoulder. “Thank you, Corey. But promise me you won’t let your anger consume you. You’ve come too far for that.”

I nodded reluctantly. “I’ll try.”

“Good.” She gave me a tired smile. “Now, get some rest. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

As she left, I sat back down on the bed, my claws retracting. Tomorrow was a new day. But for now, I had to focus on what mattered: protecting my family and finding my place in this home again.

I open a book on the shelf sitting next to my old bed. “The man whom I call father killed the orc who sired me, offering his world and his blade in return”

_________________________________________________________

~The next Day~

I saw Ankh in the garden pulling weeds out. He was barely sober. Amber woke up, and I was by her side still. “I didn't dream it?” She asked me.

Even though she's my half sister, I didn't leave last night. “No, I'm going to be here for a while. I'm not going to be passing through.”

“Is Fuwa coming back as well?” She looked at me with her green eyes full of wonder. I rubbed her hair.

“Fuwa is still in Vale. He's not going to be coming home.” I didn't want to tell her everything about my time at Beacon.

“Corey?” Amber asked me.

“Yeah?” I still sounded down.

“Who are Azu and Sumire?” Amber asked me.

“They were my teammates along with Donald 'Dan' Crimson.” I told her. “They didn't survive the fall of Beacon. Dan left during the evacuation.” I closed my right hand, it felt cold and lifeless. I was on the verge of tears but I didn't want to look weak in front of her.

Amber looked at me with concern, her small hand gently resting on mine. "Corey... I'm sorry. I know you must feel lost without them."

I forced a smile, trying to shake off the feeling of loss that still lingered like a shadow over my heart. "It's not your fault, Amber. It just... it is what it is."

She didn't press further, but her eyes held a quiet understanding, a sympathy I couldn't entirely accept yet. "So, what happens now?"

I sighed, looking out the window at Ankh, who was still pulling weeds in the garden, his movements slow and erratic. "We move forward. We have to. There's still work to be done."

Amber nodded, though I could tell she had more questions. Her curiosity was always one of the things I admired about her. It was her drive to understand, to grow, that had always kept her looking forward. I hoped she'd never lose that.

After a moment, she spoke up again. "Are you... going to keep fighting? Even after everything?"

I felt the weight of her question. "Yeah. I don’t really have a choice. People need protection, Amber. I’ve seen too much of the world to just walk away now."

She seemed to think on that for a moment before replying softly, "I want to help. I may not be a fighter, but I can do something. I want to make sure no one else loses what they love."

I looked down at her, appreciating her resolve. "You already help just by being here, Amber. You’re more than enough."

Her eyes sparkled a little, but I could tell there was still a lot of uncertainty behind them.

"Just... stay close, alright?" I added, my voice low. "We’re family now. And I don’t plan on letting anything happen to you."

She nodded, her small hand gripping mine tightly, a silent promise between us. I didn't know what the future held, but as long as she was with me, I wasn't going to let the past hold me down.

The world outside still felt like it was in ruins, but in this moment, Amber gave me a sense of peace that I hadn’t had in a long time. I threw my hood on.

“Why do you hide who you are?” Amber asked me. I actually don't know why I still put my hood on.

I didn't respond to her question. Mom opened the door and looked at the two of us. “Corey Blake's here to speak with you.”
_________________________________________________________

~??? P.O.V.~

I walked down a long hallway to meet with Mistress Salem. I ditched my false Identity to regroup with everyone that's in Salem's inner circle.

The torches lining the stone walls flickered with an eerie, cold light as I made my way down the seemingly endless hallway. Each step echoed, the sound swallowed by the oppressive silence of the chamber ahead. The air was thick with tension, a familiar weight pressing down on my chest. This place—this fortress—was both suffocating and exhilarating. It was where true power resided.

I approached the massive doors at the end of the hall. They loomed over me, carved with ancient symbols that pulsed faintly with dark energy. Without hesitation, I pushed them open, stepping into the dimly lit chamber beyond.

Mistress Salem stood at the center, her presence commanding, her piercing crimson eyes glowing in the shadows. Around her, the other members of the inner circle gathered, their expressions as unreadable as ever. Hazel stood with his arms crossed, his usual stoic demeanor intact. Tyrian twitched with barely contained excitement, his grin unsettling. Watts adjusted his coat, his eyes narrowing at my arrival.

Salem turned her gaze toward me, her voice smooth yet laced with menace. “You’ve returned.”

I bowed deeply. “Yes, Mistress. My mission is complete.”

“Your absence was… noted,” Watts sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. “I hope your return is more valuable than your disappearance.”

I didn’t rise to his bait. Instead, I kept my focus on Salem. “I’ve gathered the information you need. The fractures within the kingdoms run deeper than anticipated. The fall of Beacon was only the beginning.”

Salem’s eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Good. And what of your cover?”

“I abandoned it,” I replied, my voice steady. “It served its purpose. There’s no longer any need for pretense.”

Tyrian let out a delighted chuckle. “Ooooh, this is getting interesting! Did you leave a little chaos in your wake? A trail of fear?”

I met his gaze, my expression cold. “Enough to ensure they’re looking in the wrong direction.”

Salem stepped closer, her towering presence casting a shadow over me. “You’ve proven your worth once again,” she said softly. “But your work is far from over. There’s more to be done, more pieces to move into place.”

I nodded. “I’m ready.”

She studied me for a moment longer, then gestured toward the others. “Go. Rest. Prepare. The next phase is coming soon.”

I bowed again and stepped back, the weight of her command settling on my shoulders. As I turned to leave, I felt the eyes of the others on me—some filled with suspicion, others with curiosity. But it didn’t matter. They didn’t need to trust me. They only needed to know that I was useful.

And I intended to remain indispensable. Emerald and Mercury walked past me. “Didn’t we see him in Vale before?” Mercury asked.

“Let's say you saw my persona. That dreaded attire didn't work for me.” I crossed my arms. “It's hard work pretending to be someone.”

“That voice, you return: Girio Uyiko.” Emerald finally put the pieces together. “You were….” I cut her off.

_________________________________________________________

~Corey’s P.O.V.~

I headed out to meet Blake. I haven't talked to her since I left Beacon.

The cool evening air greeted me as I stepped outside, my boots crunching softly against the gravel path. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over Kou Khana. My mind raced with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Blake and I hadn’t spoken since the fall of Beacon. So much had happened since then, and I wasn’t sure how to bridge the gap between us.

I made my way down the familiar streets, memories of our childhood flooding back. We used to run through these alleys, laughing, training, and dreaming of a better future for Faunus. Back then, things were simpler. Now, everything was tangled in layers of betrayal, loss, and regret.

As I approached the docks, I saw her standing there, leaning against a post, gazing out at the ocean. Her long black hair flowed in the breeze, and her bow twitched slightly—probably her ears picking up my approach.

“Blake,” I called out softly.

She turned, her amber eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, there was nothing but silence between us. Then, she spoke, her voice calm but guarded. “Corey. I wasn’t sure if you’d come.”

I stepped closer, shoving my hands into my pockets. “I wasn’t sure either. But... I figured we needed to talk.”

Blake nodded, her gaze shifting back to the water. “A lot’s changed since Beacon.”

“Yeah,” I said, standing beside her. “Too much.”

We stood there in silence for a while, the gentle sound of waves filling the space between us. Finally, I broke it. “I heard about what you’ve been doing—fighting back against the White Fang. You’ve changed.”

“So have you,” she replied, her tone neutral. “But you’re here now. That counts for something.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, the words catching in my throat. “For leaving. For everything.”

Blake turned to face me fully, her eyes searching mine. “Why did you leave, Corey? Why did you join the White Fang in the first place?”

I took a deep breath. “I thought I could make a difference. I thought it was the only way to fight back, to protect us. But I was wrong. I saw what they really stood for, and I couldn’t be part of it anymore.”

Her expression softened, but there was still a hint of wariness. “I understand. I’ve been there too. But we can’t change the past. We can only decide what we do now.”

“I’m done running,” I said firmly. “I want to help. However I can.”

Blake gave a small, hesitant smile. “Then maybe we can start over. Work together.”

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “I’d like that.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, it seemed like there was a chance to rebuild what we had lost. Together. She leaned in and slapped me.

“What happened to you?” Blake saw my Robotic arm and I wasn't being sarcastic at all.

“I lost it when Fated Hour blew up. I… feel like I lost myself. I don't know where to go!” I sulked a bit.

“Corey.” Blake's cat ears dropped. “We've been through a lot together.”

Blake’s amber eyes softened as she took a step closer, her hand lingering near my robotic arm. Her touch was gentle, but it sent a jolt through me, grounding me in the moment.

“Corey,” she said quietly, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her eyes. “We’ve been through a lot together. You’ve lost pieces of yourself, but you’re still here. You’re still you.”

I swallowed hard, struggling to hold her gaze. “I don’t even know who that is anymore.”

Blake’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “You’re Corey Gold Tokiwa-Silver, the sarcastic asshole who never knew when to shut up.” Her smile faded slightly, replaced by something more serious. “And you’re the guy who stood by me when no one else did. Don’t forget that.”

I let out a weak chuckle, the weight in my chest lifting just a little. “Still calling me an asshole, huh?”

She crossed her arms, a playful glint in her eyes. “Don’t make me regret it.”

I smirked, but it quickly faded as her expression shifted again—more intense, more personal. She reached out, placing a hand on my chest. “I know you’ve been lost, Corey. But you’re here now. And I’m not letting you disappear again.”

Her words struck deep, but what hit harder was the warmth in her eyes—the same warmth I thought I’d lost forever. She leaned in, her voice low but firm. “I don’t care how far you’ve wandered. You’re just a passing-through Faunus… and you better remember that.”

The words hung in the air, her challenge as clear as day. Before I could respond, she closed the distance between us, her lips pressing against mine. The world around us fell away—the pain, the doubt, the past. For a moment, there was only Blake and me.

I froze at first, but then instinct took over. I kissed her back, my hands finding their way to her waist. The tension between us melted, replaced by something stronger, something real. Yang's going to kill me if she ever found out.

When we finally broke apart, she looked up at me, her cheeks flushed but her eyes steady. “You’re not alone, Corey. You never were.”

I nodded, still catching my breath. “I know. And I’m done running. From you, from this… from everything.”

Blake smiled, the kind of smile that reminded me of the girl I grew up with—the one who never gave up, no matter how hard things got. “Good. Because we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“Together,” I said, squeezing her hand.

“Together,” she echoed.

And for the first time in a long time, I believed it.