A place to stay
Taiyang Xiao Long was worried, the enforced inaction eating away at him, filling his mind with nightmare images of the possible fates of his daughters. He cursed fate, the gods, the idiot who filled Yang's head with stupid, inaccurate information - but most of all, he cursed himself. What kind of a father had to rely on a teammate to find and rescue his children? What kind of father would leave two small girls alone for long enough to get away when there were Grimm around? Summer would definitely strip his hide, if she was alive. Hells, even Raven would probably have quite a few words for him, none fit for polite company. He fumed, willing Qrow to return with the girls safe and sound - if he did not, he'd … no, he would not go there. His teammate was one of the fastest Hunters alive, if someone could reach Yang and Ruby, it was him. Damn, what took him so long?
He paced back and forth on the lawn before the house, unable to stand still, to wait inside. He had to know, as soon as possible. If Qrow did not return within minutes, he'd have to leave, follow him - if only to see, to get certainty, to get rid of the doubts.
Movement from the treeline drew his gaze. Eyes narrowed, he felt a weight vanishing off his shoulder as he saw the two small girls with Qrow - then he involuntarily perked an eyebrow when he realized there was a fourth person, a winged faunus of some kind, and a woman to boot. He snorted, struggling to keep a wide, relieved grin off his face. Trust Qrow Branwen to find a woman while pulling off a rescue operation … and what a woman, at that!
Taiyang was well aware how overblown his reputation as a womaniser actually was (after two marriages, who would not want a little peace and quiet with the wonderful daughters he had?), but even so, Qrow's companion was a sight for sore eyes. Still, that registered mostly as an aside, as his eyes focused on Yang and Ruby, as he jogged to them, hugging his daughters with desperate relief, forcing back his own sobbing.
Qrow looked away, slightly embarrassed as usual when facing such familial affection. The faunus smiled slightly, and Taiyang felt the sincere warmth and happiness in that expression, enveloping him like a comfy blanket, making him shiver in delight. Damn, why did he feel like when he first meet Summer and Raven?
"So, Qrow, you going to introduce me to your lady friend?" The blond Hunter smirked at his teammate, his expression morphing into a grateful, full smile as he turned towards the faunus, and nodded. "I'm Taiyang Xiao Long, and I cannot tell you how grateful I am for you helping Qrow in bringing my daughters back."
The faunus smiled wistfully.
"I am Grace, Hunter Xiao Long - and it was my pleasure." Her smile turned even more radiant, if such a thing was possible, and both men felt rather warm for some reason. "It was an interesting experience, and I am happy to see that you love your daughters even more than Qrow said."
Taiyang's face went a shade or two redder, and Qrow chuckled.
"Seriously, Tai, are you going to kneel there all night?"
Clutching his girls close, the blond hunter motioned for Qrow and Grace to follow him as they stepped towards the house, the woman hesitating for a second at the threshold, before she entered, folding her wings close to avoid jostling anything inside.
Taiyang carried both Yang and Ruby up to their room, the two tired, frightened kids quickly falling asleep. He stood there for a minute or two longer, drinking in their features, shuddering at how close he came to losing them, then went down to rejoin Qrow and Grace. As expected, he found them in the kitchen, with glasses in their hand, the faunus slowly, carefully running her dainty hand along the various kitchen appliances, a look of wonder in her expressive eyes, while Qrow was leaning against the sink, a half-full glass in his hand, his eyes riveted on the woman, carefully tracking her every move. Taiyang's gaze sharpened; this was not Qrow ogling a good-looking woman, this was the Hunter checking on a potential dangerous adversary. He coughed to get their attention.
"Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, Miss Grace, but may I ask what brought you to these parts of Vale?"
Her answering smile was heartbreakingly beautiful and sad, the breathy, melodious voice conveying the hope and yearning in her words.
"I am looking for an old, dear friend of mine." The winged woman's eyes shone with conviction. "And my sources indicated I might find him around these parts."
"Do you have a place to stay while you search?" The faunus shook her head, a small smile on her lips. "Well, you are welcome to stay here, Grace - that is, if you don't mind sharing the house with us."
Qrow snorted into his drink.
"Tai, that's quick work, even for you."
