Third POV

Back at Evernight Castle, Cinder was sitting in her room crying. It had only been a few hours since Jenni left but the fall maiden was missing her best friend immensely.

Suddenly, she heard a knocking on her door frame and looked up to see Rei standing there.

"Hey...can I come in?" He asked cautiously.

Cinder nodded and Rei walked into the room. He didn't make a sound as he walked up to her and Cinder motioned for him to sit next to her on the floor. The snake faunus sat cross legged next to her and Cinder looked over at him. Her bangs were still pinned back from when Jenni had taken her mask off. Rei grimaced seeing the massive amount of scarring on her face but said nothing about it.

"So you doing ok?" Rei asked

Cinder nodded but her friend wasn't convinced.

"Really?"

Cinder sighed in defeat. "No... I'm scared..." she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Hey you talked..."

Cinder's voice was raspy and it cracked when she spoke. "It hurts." Cinder mouthed

"Then don't strain it ok?" He looked genuinely concerned

Cinder laid her head on his shoulder and gave his hand a tight squeeze

"So what are you scared of?" Rei asked after a moment.

Cinder turned her head to look at him, "Tyrian...Red..." she muttered.

The fall maiden then began coughing as her throat was still healing from her injuries.

Rei grimaced as he watched her choke on her words, "Hey hey it's alright. Don't strain yourself..."

Cinder sighed in defeat and laid her head back on her friend's shoulder. Rei smiled and began petting her hair.

"I promise I'll protect you..Mercury and Emerald too. We won't let Tyrian or Red or anyone hurt you. You're our friend."

"Thank you..." Cinder mouthed. Cinder then gently kissed Rei on the cheek before laying her head back on his shoulder.

Rei's face turned bright red but he shook it off as he pulled a blanket off Cinder's bed and draped it over his friend. He could tell she was falling asleep likely due to this being the first calm moment she'd had in quite a while.

He also couldn't help but smile as he heard Cinder let out a tiny snore

"Aww..." he chuckled.

Cinder truly looked so innocent and peaceful as she slept like this, you couldn't see any sign of how mentally, emotionally and physically  shattered she was.

The snake faunus felt her gently squeeze his hand in her sleep.

He then decided that stealing a few moments of sleep couldn't hurt so he leaned his head back against Cinder's bed and closed his eyes.

Rei wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep but when he woke up again he noticed that Cinder was no longer by his side. A quick look around the room revealed that she was sitting by her window looking out at the wasteland.

The snake faunus got up and walked behind her. He gently put his hand on her shoulder and she jumped.

Cinder whipped around and her eyes were filled with fear but when she saw Rei her expression softened.

"Didn't hear me get up?"

Cinder shook her head.

"Sorry didn't mean to scare you. What are you thinking about?"

"Getting back out there," Cinder mouthed, "I want to leave this place but I know as soon as Salem sends me somewhere it'll be just like Beacon. She'll force me to hurt people. What if she makes me hurt one of my friends? Or what if she sends Red with me? He'll be free to do with me as he pleases." Cinder wrapped her arms around her middle and shivered.

Rei sighed and gave her a hug, "I know it's scary to think about but I appreciate you telling me this. Really I do. It's not healthy for you to keep it bottled inside especially with all you've been through."

His hand slid down her left sleeve and he paused. "Hey...could I see it? The Grimm arm?"

Cinder looked unsure, "I don't think you want to see."

Her friend gave her a look and Cinder reluctantly rolled her sleeve up revealing the shadow hand.

"Oh man..." Rei said as his eyes widened.

Cinder's eye welled with tears.

"Oh no no Cinder I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I'm just embarrassed," the fall maiden mouthed.

"Well it does make me angry," Rei admitted. "But angry at Salem not at you. Even with a Grimm arm you're still my friend. That hasn't changed."

Cinder looked relieved to hear him say that and Rei ran his fingers through her short hair. Despite some of it being burnt off her raven hair was still smooth and silky.

Rei could tell Cinder still was feeling like an outcast, now even more so with her Grimm appendage. But hey he didn't feel like he fit in among Salem's crew either. Maybe now that they were together, things would be ok.