So, the lazy bug bit me this past week. I've started searching for software that can read the chapters for me instead of me reading it out loud. In my defense, homework this semester is KILLING me...
Raven stared at the ceiling above her bed. It wasn't even morning, and she wasn't there for a nap. The news she just found out was the best she'd heard in years. When she found out, she was ecstatic. Tai swept her off her feet when he heard. Qrow clapped both of them on the back, right before giving Tai the scolding of his life. The day should have been the best day ever.
But Summer wasn't there. There was no squeal of excitement, no 'full family' group hug, no puns that Raven didn't even know she missed. After a little over a month, Summer was still missing. No one heard from her, and no one had seen her. Her scroll activating for a few minutes each day was the only sign she was still in Vale. But by the time the rest of her team found out about each location, Summer was long gone.
Raven sighed and pushed herself off her bed. She looked to the clock. It was about time for her to make her daily call. She reached over to her dresser and picked up her Scroll. Summer's number was in the center of the home screen, now larger than everything else. Raven pressed it and brought the scroll to her ear.
As usual, she heard five rings before the voicemail took over. "Summer…s Scroll! I'm probably fighting Grimm right now, so I can't pick up my Scroll. Leave a message, your name, and number and I'll try and get back to you as soon as possible. Later! BEEP!"
"You know Sum, I'm still waiting for you to get back to me like your message says." Raven sighed. "If you're listening to this, I'm assuming you've at least seen all the others. If you haven't listened to them, I'll start from the beginning.
"Summer, I'm so sorry about what happened. There had to be a way around that somehow. I could have gotten in there and tackled him. I should have seen the signs." Raven bit her lip. She had no idea if what she was about to say was smart, but she said it on each one of these since the day Summer disappeared. "Summer, if you hadn't taken that shot, someone in the VPD would have. No one had any idea that gun only had blanks. Again, it's my fault this happened. I should have taken him down before you took the shot.
"We all miss you here, Sum. I didn't know how much your cheerful attitude brought to the team. Tai's tried to take over for your jokes and all that, but he falls flat most of the time. This place feels dark and dreary without you here. And…Amber called again this morning. She wants to talk to Auntie Summer. Tai keeps telling her that you're on mission and can't talk. She needs you too.
"Oh, and speaking of Tai, you were right. All I needed to do was tell him. We got over our other stuff pretty quickly too. Qrow says were back to the way we were back at Beacon, maybe 'worse,' so you'd probably think we're even cuter."
Raven paused. It was time to drop the bomb. "Summer, I'm pregnant. I just found out this morning. You should have seen Tai. I haven't seen him smile like that since you won the Vytal Festival Tournament. Qrow was…Qrow. Being a big brother, defending my honor and all that. I wish you were here for the reveal, Sum. I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have as its Godmother.
"So, uh, yeah. That's all I got for today. Seriously, Summer, we miss you. Please, call me back, or call Tai, Qrow, Ozpin, anyone. We need to know you're okay." Raven sighed again. "I'll call again tomorrow. Talk to you later." She took her Scroll away from her ear and ended the call. Another day, another bust. She stood up and left the room, putting her Scroll in a pocket as she walked.
Her legs stopped as they always did outside Summer's room. Raven stared at the door. She turned away and continued walking. Staring at it wouldn't bring Summer back.
Raven walked down the stairs and toward the kitchen. Tai and Qrow were already in there looking things over on their Scrolls. Tai looked up and his bright smile returned. "Hey Rae, you hungry?"
"I am, actually. Didn't have breakfast."
"Do you ever have breakfast?" Qrow asked.
Raven stopped dead in her tracks. "It's starting already." She let her shoulders hang. "I'm going to be kneeling over the toilet in the morning, aren't I?"
Tai winced. "Probably." His smile took prominence again. "Still, what are you hungry for?"
"Let me see what we've got." Raven opened the fridge and looked around. "I think I'll take a smoothie, with pickles…chocolate sauce…grapes…and shredded cheese. And ice…or ice cream if we have any." She took out each item as she announced it and set it on the counter.
Qrow gagged behind her. "Are you being serious?"
"Very." Raven looked over the ingredients and nodded. "Looks good to me." Something in the back of her head screamed to listen to Qrow, but her eyes and stomach said otherwise.
"Okay then." Tai walked up to Raven. "One…crave fueled smoothie coming right up."
"Thanks babe." Raven kissed Tai on the cheek then sat at the table across from Qrow. "Anything new?"
Qrow grimaced. "Good ole Saint Nick just passed away in Atlas. His son in law Jacques is taking over."
"You don't sound too happy about that."
"He's a jackass." Qrow slammed his scroll down. "Cares about profits above all else. He's already planning to lay off a good chunk of people, and from the sound of it, most of them are Faunus."
"One of those people?"
"Seems like it." Qrow sighed. "I can't imagine the cost of Dust is going to drop any either. It's all going to go to Jacques's pocket."
Raven paused. "So he's a Jacqueass?"
Qrow stared at Raven, then he smirked. "I like the sound of that."
"Not like Summer would ever say it." Raven shrugged. "Someone's got to." Any further conversation was cut off by the blender starting up. Raven watched her lunch spin and turn more and more brown. That should have looked nasty, but Raven heard and felt her stomach growl just looking at it. It looked delicious…These cravings were creeping her out and it was only the first day she knew she was pregnant.
The blender stopped and Tai pulled the container off the blender. "Order up." He took a tall glass out of one of the cabinets and poured the smoothie in. "One…sludge smoothie for the pretty lady."
"Thanks, Tai." Raven grabbed the glass from Tai and took a sip. It actually tasted pretty good. Everything just worked together. "Not bad."
Tai looked into the blender's container. "There's a little left in here." He tipped it up and dumped a little into his mouth. His eyes widened and he spit the sludge into the sink. "Holy crap, Raven! How can you drink that?"
Raven pointed at her belly. "Blame this."
"Okay, I'm interested." Qrow walked over to Tai and grabbed the sludge container. He dropped a few globs onto his tongue as well. His reaction was much the same as Tai's. "Sis, what the heck is wrong with you?"
"I'm pregnant. What do you expect?" Raven took a long draught on her own smoothie, not gagging in the slightest.
Her Scroll vibrated in her pocket. Windpathian Rhapsody played along with the vibration. Raven's eyes widened and she set her glass back on the table. She fumbled around for her Scroll. It was Summer's favorite song. Everyone on the team set their ringtone to that for Summer after she went missing.
Raven finally got her Scroll out and answered it. "Summer?" No one in the kitchen breathed. No answer came from the other side. Everything was silent. "Summer, are you there?"
"Rrrraaaaeeee?" a voice sounding like Summer came over the Scroll.
"Summer!" Raven pulled her Scroll away from her ear and put it on speaker. She set the Scroll on the table. Tai and Qrow took other chairs. "Are you okay? Where are you?"
Again, silence. Then sobbing came through the Scroll's speakers. It started slow and weak, but grew in speed and volume as time went on. "I… dot know. Too hazy."
"Tai," Qrow said, "tracker, now."
"On it." Tai took out his own Scroll and pressed a few buttons. "Keep her on."
"T…Tai?" Summer started. "Y…you got Raen prgnent?"
Tai blinked and looked around those at the table. This wasn't something Summer would usually ask. "Y…yes."
Muffled chuckling came over the Scroll. "Goo job." More silence. "Raen?"
"I'm here." Raven leaned forward. "What do you need?"
"Di you mean you said abou Gomotter?"
"Every word. No one is better suited for the job."
Summer chuckled some more, but that turned into sobs. "I sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry about Sum," Qrow assured. "Are you safe? Are there any Grimm nearby?"
"A feww nice bees are hrrr."
"Bees?" Raven asked.
"Be…bo…boys."
Raven stiffened and stared at Tai. "Please tell me you have her."
"She's two blocks west of the Hy-Dee."
"Summer, stay where you are." Qrow stood up. "Raven and I are coming after you."
Raven didn't wait for a response. She burst from her chair and ran out into the living room. She grabbed her sword and sheath and body slammed the front door. Qrow ran right on her heels. Raven swung her sword in front of her and a portal opened.
"Raven!" Qrow yelled. "I'm in the air, you're on the ground." He turned into a bird right then and there. The siblings entered the portal at the same time. Raven dropped a dozen feet to the roof of the Hy-Dee and kept running to the edge of the roof. She jumped over the half wall and fell to the ground. She rolled on contact and sprang up. It occurred to her that this should probably be the last mission she should go on for a while. She didn't want to hurt her baby.
She shook her head and kept running west. "Summer?" she called as she searched every alley and storefront she passed. "Summer, where are you?"
Raven stopped when she realized she ran four blocks away from the Hy-Dee. She passed her somewhere, or maybe she wasn't directly west.
Raven ran back the way she came. She turned north when she reached two blocks away and kept yelling Summer's name over and over. She passed an alleyway and stopped. There was something down there that looked familiar. She took a few steps back and focused on what she saw before. A couple of legs stuck out from behind a dumpster. A dirty white cape sat off just to the side. Raven thought she saw the hem of a black and red combat skirt as well.
Two guys stood a few feet away. One of them was on their Scroll. Both of them were staring down at Summer.
"Hey!" Raven yelled. She strode into the alley and drew her sword again. Both guys stared at her. "Who the hell are you, and what are you doing with my partner?"
One of the guys put his hands up. "Whoa! Whoa! We weren't doing anything!"
The guy on the Scroll looked between Raven and his device. "Yeah, it looks like one of her friends is here, and she's got a sword."
"Who are you talking to?" Raven pointed her sword at Scroll guy.
"One one nine." He held his free hand up. "We're just trying to help here."
Summer's legs moved and pulled back behind the dumpster. She poked her head out soon after. "Raen, nice bees."
Raven locked eyes with her partner and her sword arm dipped. She expected it while talking over the Scroll, but it was another thing entirely seeing it. Summer's eyes were glazed over in a thousand-yard stare. She couldn't sit still for more than a second without wobbling to one side or the other. Never-have-a-drop Summer Rose was plastered out of her mind. What bars were even open right now?
Raven sheathed her sword and ran to Summer's side. Just as she got there, Summer fell into her arms. Her leader smiled up at her, or was it past her? The thousand-yard stare made it hard to tell. "Summer, what happened to you?"
Summer's smile disappeared. She leaned her head into Raven's chest. Her breathing was ragged but generally steady. "Bad tings." She sniffled and leaned harder.
"Hey, it's okay." Raven rubbed the back of Summer's head. "We found you. You're safe now." She looked up to the two guys that apparently helped Summer instead of trying to hurt her. "Thanks for your help, but we'll take it from here." As if on cue, Qrow swooped down from the sky and landed on Summer's shoulder. He pressed his feathered head into Summer's cheek.
The two guys exchanged a glance. "But an ambulance is on the way. What should we tell them?"
"If they complain, tell them call Headmaster Ozpin. He'll explain." Raven returned her attention to her partner. "Come on, Sum. Let's get you home." She took one of Summer's arms over her shoulders and hooked one of her own under Summer's. They slowly stood up together. Summer stumbled a few times, but Raven didn't let her fall.
"Come on, Sum. One step after the other." Raven drew her sword and swung it in front of her. A portal opened and Raven and Summer walked toward it, though it was more like Raven carried Summer.
Summer groaned and tried to pull away. "Notthrough there…"
"Sum, right now this is the only legal way to get you home. I'm with you the whole way." Raven pulled Summer along and Qrow chittered on her shoulder. The two stepped through the portal and into the front yard of the house. Summer's legs buckled and she barely caught herself from falling on her face. She heave and hacked and threw up what looked like everything she'd eaten in the past two days.
Raven knelt by her partner and rubbed her back. "Let it out, Sum. I'm here." As if taking that as a challenge, Summer put out even more of her former food and drink. It didn't look like it was going to end any time soon. Raven looked to where Qrow now stood as a human. "Get the bathtub filled and be ready for laundry."
"Got it." Qrow turned away and ran for the house.
"Thissucks…" Summer moaned. She spit out another glob of vomit. Her arms shook violently.
Raven hooked her hands under Summer's shoulders and picked her up. She turned her partner so she wouldn't fall face first into the mess she made. "If it makes you feel any better, this is going to be me most mornings for the next few months."
"Maybeee…" Summer's cheeks puffed up again and more smelly green gunk burst out.
Note to self, Raven thought, no portals when drunk. She kept rubbing circles on Summer's back. "Get it out of your system. We'll get you cleaned up inside, put on one of your movies, Tai can give you a real back massage, the whole works. Anytime you want to hit the hay, just say so, and one of us will get you up there.
Summer spit once more, then turned her head to Raven. A weak smile formed on her face. "Ank you."
"Anytime." Raven returned the smile. Summer faced the ground again. Raven resumed rubbing her partner's back.
After a few minutes of nothing else coming up, Summer nodded. "Done."
"Okay. Let's get you inside." Raven helped Summer to her feet. They walked the remaining dozen feet or so to the house.
The front door opened right before they got there. Tai was standing on the other side. "Good to have you back, Sum." He patted Summer on the shoulder as she passed.
"Could you clean up the mess outside?"
Tai nodded. "Will do." He let the door close and walked toward the cleaning closet.
Raven guided Summer to the steps. Qrow came down the steps right as the ladies reached the bottom. He threw Summer's free arm over his shoulders. "I got the tub filled. Nice and sudsy too. Good temp, not that you can't change it one way or the other."
"Thanks Qrow." Raven and Qrow helped Summer up the stairs. Summer had to take a break on the landing. The twins gave her a few seconds before leading her upstairs again. Summer actually did most of her walking herself, but Raven and Qrow needed to help her keep balance. At the top of the stairs, Qrow left, leaving Raven with Summer.
Raven pushed open the door to the bathroom and walked Summer inside. "Okay, we're here." Raven helped Summer sit down on the closed toilet. "Let's get these off you and get you into the tub."
Summer knocked Raven's hands away and hugged herself…like she was covering herself. "I…can do dis."
"Okay!" Raven took a step back with her arms raised. "But someone's going to need to be in here to make sure nothing happens in there. If you want, I can go get you one of my bikinis. You can take care of everything else when you're sober."
Summer stared up at Raven, her eyes big and her lips pursed. Her head dipped, and she nodded. "Please."
"I'm on it." Raven left the bathroom and walked to the master bedroom. She searched her belongings for anything that would even slightly fit Summer. Raven wasn't exactly big like Tai, but Summer was an absolute twig. She picked out one of her older ones that should hopefully cover Summer.
Raven returned to the bathroom and knocked on the door. "Is it safe?" The door opened a crack and only a hand stuck out. Raven handed both halves of the bikini over and Summer pulled them into the room. Summer never did like changing in front of others, and didn't even like wearing bikinis to the beach. As far as Raven could tell, Summer didn't have anything to be ashamed of. She was so honest, so pure…If anyone ever stole that from Summer, Raven would end them.
After a few minutes, Raven heard a splash. "Safe," Summer called.
"I'm coming in." Raven pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside. Summer was sitting at the edge of the tub, lowering herself in. Her normal, dirty clothes sat in a pile on the floor. Raven took another step in. Summer slipped and fell into the tub sideways. Water and suds splashed over the side.
"Summer!" Raven dashed to the tub's side and pulled Summer out. Summer gasped and flailed around for the sides of the tub. "Summer, you okay?" Summer nodded frantically as she breathed. "Okay, just stay here. I'll run your clothes to the laundry room. I'll be back. Try not to lay down."
Raven picked up Summer's pile and left the bathroom again. She sighed and walked it downstairs. Both Tai and Qrow stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked up. "What happened?" Tai asked.
"She fell in." Raven sighed. "Didn't hurt herself, but there's another mess on the floor."
"I'll take care of that when you're done," Qrow said. "I guess I'll take all that now." He motioned for the pile of clothing.
"Set out some of Summer's favorite not-too-violent movies too." Raven handed it over then walked back upstairs. She entered Summer's room and searched the dresser inside for Summer's pajamas. The red and black zubaz weren't hard to find, neither was the white rose tank top Summer loved. Raven grabbed some of Summer's underwear as well. She returned to the bathroom and sat down on the toilet cover.
As soon as she did, Summer eased herself into the water and sighed. "Thississ nice."
"Would you like some music for now?" Raven took out her Scroll, already knowing the answer.
"Please," Summer sighed. Raven opened the music app on her Scroll. There was one song she knew Summer would like. She hit play, and Summer's thousand-yard stare took on a little more light. "I love thissong." She started 'singing' along with it and making all sorts of 'dance' moves, splashing more water and soap onto the floor. At the moment, Raven didn't care, and neither would Qrow when he came to clean all this up. Some part of Summer was starting to shine through. The alcohol couldn't completely drown out the goofiness in Summer. Raven kept an eye on her partner trying to not stare.
Windpathian Rhapsody played on repeat several times, Summer going along with each time like it was only the first. She was going to have one heck of a hangover in the morning. After like the seventh time or so, Summer put a hand on the side of the tub. "I'm done."
"I'll let you get dressed." Raven stood up and left the bathroom. "If you need help with anything, I'll be right out here." She closed the door and waited on the other side of the door. There was a little stumbling and grunting coming from the bathroom, but it didn't sound like Summer fell, so there was that.
A few minutes later, the door opened. Summer stood in her pajamas and leaned in the doorframe. She smiled and reached out a hand with Raven's soaked bikini. "Anks."
"Whatever you need." Raven threw her bikini back toward her room. That would be washed with everything else in a few days.
"Movie?" Summer took a step forward and lost her balance. Raven jumped forward to catch her, but Summer caught herself. Her smile never disappeared. "Getting better?"
"Sure you are." Raven wrapped an arm around Summer's shoulders. "Come on. Let's get you downstairs and you can pick out a movie." They walked back down the stairs. Tai and Qrow stood around the couch talking in hushed voices. "You have the movies out?" Raven called.
Qrow looked up and nodded. "All in a nice little row."
"Oooh." Summer's glazed eyes looked over the small collection even before she reached them. She knelt down and Raven kept her hands inches from her partner's shoulders in case anything went wrong. "I want…tiss one!" Summer pulled one moive out and held it above her head. She wobbled with the motion but Raven caught her before anything could happen.
"Okay, Sum," Tai sat on the couch directly behind Summer. "Lean back here and let me help out." Summer did as asked and Tai began one of his infamous back massages. Raven swore Tai could keep the team running on any injury after just a few minutes in his care, without using any actual medical supplies. That, and it just felt great when under stress.
While Qrow got the movie ready, Raven went to the kitchen to get Summer some water. Everything Summer lost outside alone had to dehydrate her. Raven searched the rest of the kitchen for anything Summer would like…but how much of that stuff would be safe for Summer to have? Usually Raven was the one getting plastered herself…Did Tai and Qrow even help her when that happened? Don't go there right now, Raven scolded herself. Summer needs help right now, not you. Raven left the kitchen, grabbing an empty ice cream bucket on the way out. No point in Summer making a mess on the floor if she got sick again.
Familiar music played over the speakers and the projector swirled to life. Summer jumped off the floor and landed on the couch. "Start it! Start it! Start it!" she cheered.
Raven couldn't help but stare at her partner. This was not the same woman she talked with over the Scroll or saw in the alley. Being home must have helped her more than anything else could have. This is exactly how Raven thought drunk Summer would act. Hopefully she'd keep her current enthusiasm once she sobered up.
Otherwise, depressed Summer wasn't fun to deal with. The real work would begin then.
Yay! Summer's back! But...yeah. She's not herself.
