Distractions


Raven

"Summer, why are we wasting our time with this?" Raven asked her partner. Summer had somehow managed to drag her into Vacuo, to go dress shopping.

"Don't you want to look nice for the dance?" Summer asked.

"No, because I'm not going," Raven answered.

"Like hell you're not!" Summer commanded. "Team STRQ should make an appearance, we are competing after all."

"Exactly, we're competing," Raven explained. "Why would I waste time at a stupid dance with the competition when we could be coming up with strategies or training?"

"Because it's supposed to be fun," Summer replied. "It's healthy to cut loose every now and then you know."

"Summer Rose, the girl who worked us half to death for a month for this tournament is telling us to cut loose just two weeks beforehand?" Raven snarked. "Are you the same Summer that I partnered with?"

"Okay look," Summer said harshly, pulling Raven to the side of the sidewalk. "We can't risk doing that much training while we're on campus. Remember, there's a bulls-eye on all of our heads because Winchester drew attention to us. Surely you've seen the other students keeping an eye on us."

"Of course I have, I'm not blind," Raven responded.

"Then what are we supposed to do? Stay cooped up in our room during the dance?" Summer asked. "Like I said, it's healthy. Besides, we'll want to have a little fun before our first mission on Monday."

"Fine," Raven huffed. "Let's go get some stupid dresses."

"That's better!" Summer cheered. "I should probably buy some lighter clothes too, actually. I'm sick of sweating bullets every time I walk outside. Which wouldn't be a problem if some people would've warned us beforehand."

"You should've asked," Raven said. She followed Summer down the streets of Vacuo, the pair peeking into the windows of shops, before Summer found a dress she liked in the window of a tiny shop.

"Raven, that one looks gorgeous!" she cheered before heading into the store. The store clerk noticed the two girls, notably Summer.

"Oh you poor thing, isn't that outfit a bit heavy?" she asked, regarding Summer's corset and cloak.

"A little, yeah," Summer answered. "I'm actually in the market for something lighter while we're in the Kingdom."

"Well, judging by your outfits and the tall one's sword, you two are Huntresses, right?" the clerk asked.

"Well, in training," Summer answered.

"Splendid!" the clerk said excitedly. "I've always wanted to design a combat outfit for a Huntress!"

"Oh, well I appreciate the offer," Summer giggled. "But the real reason I came in here was for that dress you have in the window."

"Hmm, tell you what," the clerk said. "Let me design an outfit for you, and you can have it, and the dress, for 75% of the price of the dress."

"So I'd get the outfit for free, and the dress at a discount?" Summer asked, to which the clerk nodded.

"There you go Summer, two birds with an even cheaper stone," Raven said.

"Can't argue with that," Summer agreed. "You've got a deal!"

"Wonderful!" the clerk cheered, before turning her attention to Raven. "And what about you, dear?"

"I guess I'm also looking for a dress," Raven answered, wanting to get it done as soon as possible. "Also, it's Raven, not 'dear.'"

"Raven, be polite," Summer scolded.

"Oh I don't mind!" the clerk said. "Knowing someone's personality and style makes it that much easier to find the perfect clothing for them." The clerk looked Raven up and down, like she was analyzing her. "Do you typically wear a black gi?"

"Um, yes, I do," Raven answered, slightly surprised by the question. The clerk thought a bit more.

"Hold on a second," she said before going through a door at the back of the shop. A few moments later, she emerged with an ornate black dress. "Try this on."

Raven stepped into the changing room and stripped, before trying on the dress. The black fabric went from her shoulders down to her feet, with one sleeve covering her right shoulder and arm, leaving her left side bare. There were ornate designs all along the breast area. The dress was light, despite being long, and was surprisingly easy to move in. Raven turned and looked at herself in the mirror. She almost didn't recognize the woman in the reflection.

Her entire life, she had moved around with Qrow, constantly training and surviving. It's always been combat gear and clothing. She never had the opportunity to wear a dress before. She never cared how she looked, just that she was alive. Looking good doesn't keep you alive. However, as she stared at the mirror, she couldn't help but smile and feel a little warm inside. She never thought to look at the finer details of herself. Even though she didn't do anything special to present herself every day, wearing this dress, the reflection she stared at looked beautiful. Even with slightly unkempt hair and minimal makeup. For the first time, Raven felt some pride in her appearance.

"You okay in there, Raven?" she heard Summer ask through the door. "Hurry up, I want to see!"

"Yeah, I'm coming," Raven said, stepping through the door.

"Oh my god, Raven! You look amazing in that dress!" Summer commented, fueling Raven's newfound pride further. Raven noticed that Summer had changed into the dress she saw in the window as well. The red, strapless dress flared out around Summer's knees, and covered her just over her breasts. A thin black belt ran across Summer's waist, adding some personality to the plain red dress.

"You look good, too," Raven returned the compliment.

"I'm going to assume that you're just being you and actually mean better than good, because I look bomb!" Summer said excitedly, her ego a bit more inflated than usual.

"Summer's right though, this dress does suit you perfectly," the clerk said. "Your typical attire is of Mistralian origin, so I thought that a dress made of Mistralian fabric and design would work. Turns out I was right."

"I agree," Raven said, admiring herself again. "How much?"

"That particular dress comes to about 350 lien," the clerk said.

"350!?" Raven exclaimed. "That's insane! Who would pay that much for a mass of fabric?"

"Most girls," Summer answered. "Dresses are expensive. This one was 300 lien before the discount." Raven stared at Summer's simple dress, awed by the original price tag. "For a dress like yours, 350 is honestly a steal."

"Seriously?" Raven asked again, to which Summer nodded. "I guess I'll take it then."

"Perfect! Go and change back into your gi, bring the dress to the counter, and I'll ring you up!" the clerk said happily. "Summer, was it? You go and change too, but come into the back when I'm done with Raven. I want your input for your new combat outfit."

"What about me?" Raven asked Summer. "What am I supposed to do while you're helping design?"

"Want to scout out some places to eat?" Summer suggested. "I'm starving."


"Well today has been productive!" Summer said happily as she ate her lunch. "We both got dresses for the dance, and I got a new outfit for Vacuo!"

Raven looked over her partner's new attire. Apparently Summer insisted on keeping the cloak, for whatever reason. Underneath though, she wore a black, sleeveless, loose-fitting shirt and a matching light combat skirt. She ditched her usual black stockings and combat boots for bare legs and calf-high leather boots. Raven had to admit, Summer knew how to keep an aesthetic through different outfits.

"Yeah, and I'm 350 lien in the hole," Raven said, a slightly annoyed tone in her voice.

"Raven, your dress is gorgeous," Summer said, trying to lighten her partner up. "Like I said, it was a steal."

"Easy for you to say, you got a dress and a new combat outfit for a grand total of 225," Raven argued.

"I got lucky." Summer shrugged. "How about this? I got your lunch, since you already spent so much today."

"Fine," Raven said, experience telling her to never turn down a free meal.

"You know, I've noticed something," Summer said, Raven giving her a curious look between bites. "You've come a long way since the day we met."

"What do you mean?" Raven asked.

"You're not nearly as cold as you used to be," Summer explained. "Especially toward Taiyang."

"What does that mean? I treat you all the exact same," Raven argued.

"Exactly! You and Taiyang had a less-than-friendly first meeting, and now he's your friend," Summer said.

"Either I became his friend, or sharing a room with him was going to be a rough time for four years," Raven put simply.

"True, but you two also spend a lot of time together," Summer prodded.

"We have similar interests," Raven answered, starting to see where her partner was going with this. Before she could act on it, she noticed two people walk into the restaurant, with bandanas over their faces. Raven looked to her partner, and noticed the red-haired girl also looking at the two men.

"People don't walk into restaurants covering their faces," Summer muttered. Raven looked around, and noticed that the other patrons were oblivious to the two blatant criminals. "We should stop them."

"Summer, we have to keep a low profile," Raven reminded. "If we do something, we're going to draw attention back at Shade. I want to help too, but this is a bad move." Summer looked at the table in defeat. But after a moment, Raven noticed a glint in Summers eye, coupled with a sly smile. Summer had a plan.

"Leave," she commanded. "Quickly. I'll meet you down the block."

"Are you kidding?" Raven said. "I have to see what you have planned."

"Fine, then wait outside," Summer said as she laid a generous amount of lien on the table to cover the bill, since they'd be leaving unannounced. She got up and headed toward the restroom, Raven also standing up to leave the restaurant. Raven stepped outside, and looked in through the window.

The two men drew guns from their jackets, one of them holding up the person behind the counter, the other one keeping the patrons in check. Raven couldn't hear what they were saying, but considering the circumstances, she was able to guess. Suddenly, the man controlling the crowd dropped his gun, no, it was knocked out of his hand, but what did it could not be seen. The man then doubled over, before collapsing onto the floor unconscious. The other gunman was frantically looking around the restaurant, trying to spot his partner's attacker. His arm then twisted around his back, causing him to drop his weapon as well. He dropped to a knee in pain, and then his head was forcefully knocked upward, knocking him on his back, knocked out and bleeding from the nose.

Raven smiled at the scene, the thugs getting what they deserved. A few moments later, Summer emerged from the alleyway next to the building.

"Common thugs, piece of cake," Summer said triumphantly. "We should go, the police will be here soon. Last thing I want is to get interviewed and end up in the news." The two started making their way toward Shade, before Summer spoke up again. "This is what I was talking about before, by the way."

"What is?" Raven asked, confused by the sudden turn in the conversation.

"You said you wanted to help before," Summer explained. "The Raven I met in the forest would've ignored the whole ordeal entirely."

"I think we've had this conversation already," Raven said. "Being a Huntress means protecting people. It's our job."

"I know, just proving my point," Summer said with a large grin.


Raven sighed as she took another cup of fruit punch. She turned around and looked at the Shade ballroom, heavily populated by dancing and socializing students, from Shade and otherwise. Raven wasn't a talker. She didn't like small talk, she didn't like getting to know people. She was a warrior, not a partygoer. And yet here she was, surrounded by dancing students, wearing the dress she got from a little shop downtown, sipping on fruit punch. Bored out her mind. Much to her relief, Taiyang came to the punch table. Thankful for someone she could actually talk to, she greeted him.

"Hey," she said.

"Raven Branwen, hiding by the punchbowl," he joked. "Seems out of character for you."

"The fact that I'm here at all is out of character for me," Raven huffed. "Only reason I came was because Summer convinced me to buy this stupid dress, and I wasn't going to let it be a waste of money."

"I think you look great," Taiyang said before sipping his punch. Taiyang was the first person to comment on her look. In addition to the dress, Summer helped Raven do her hair and makeup. Her lips were redder, her eyes were darker, and her skin was whiter than it had ever been in her whole life. Her black hair waved down her back, softer and fuller than it had been in a long. Raven certainly felt beautiful, but it never really occurred to her how other people would see her.

"Thanks," she told her teammate. She felt strange. Uneasy. She didn't feel like she was in danger, yet when Taiyang spoke she felt a tightness in her chest as if she was. Her face felt hot, and was more than likely tinted red beneath the makeup.

"Looks like those two are having fun," Taiyang said, indicating their teammates on the dance floor. Raven looked, grateful for the subject change. Summer and Qrow danced together, huge smiles plastered on their faces. Raven particularly noted Qrow's. She hadn't seen him smile like that since they were kids. He seems so much happier around Summer. Finally, a question came to Raven's mind, regarding their fourth teammate.

"Why aren't you dancing?" she asked Taiyang.

"I felt like a third wheel with those two," he answered. "No one likes being a third wheel." Raven nodded in agreement. "It'd be better with our fourth wheel though."

Raven looked up at him, curious as to what he meant. Then the song ended, being replaced by a slower one. Everyone started to partner up, Summer and Qrow included. This who could not find partners moved off to the side, talking and laughing and drinking punch.

"Want to dance?" Taiyang asked Raven. She shot him a surprised look.

"No thanks," Raven answered. She nervously sipped her punch. Why was she nervous? "Besides, I don't know how."

"Come on, it's not that hard," Taiyang pleaded. "You gotta cut loose, Raven. You're always so wound up. Just relax and have a little fun before we have to go back to work tomorrow." After a moment of internal arguing, Raven finally nodded, following her teammate out onto the dance floor.

"All you need is a sense of rhythm," Taiyang said. "It's really not that different from fighting, and you're a natural at that. Now, we'll hold hands out here, and you put this hand on my shoulder." Raven complied, not used to being this close to an ally. Taiyang rested his hand on Raven's waist, making her feel a little uneasy at first, until she noticed the other dancers in the same position. "Perfect! Now, just follow my lead."

The pair started moving to the beat of the music. Raven realized that Taiyang was right, it really isn't that different from fighting. He acted, and she reacted. Raven got lost. Lost in the music, the movement, lost in Taiyang's sharp blue eyes that looked down into her own crimson. The tournament didn't matter anymore, the next day's mission mattered even less. All that mattered was that Raven was lost, lost and relaxed in the moment. No future to worry about, no ghosts to chase her down. Just her, in this moment, in Taiyang's arms. She didn't even notice Qrow and Summer shooting them glances.

"You really are beautiful you know," Taiyang said, snapping Raven back to reality.

"Summer went a tad overboard on the makeup," Raven said.

"I don't just mean now, I mean in general," Taiyang clarified. The uneasy tightness and hot face came back, and Raven could feel her heart pounding. What was wrong with her? Why was Taiyang having this effect on her? Luckily, the song ended a moment later. Raven let go of Taiyang.

"I'm sorry, I need some fresh air," Raven said, hurrying toward the door to the veranda. She stepped outside, gasping, trying to regain control of her senses. Was it the punch? No, this wasn't poison of any kind. She leaned on the railing, taking slow, deep breaths to slow her heart rate. She felt weakened, shaken, something she hadn't felt since-

"Raven! Are you okay?" Taiyang said from behind her.

"Why did you follow me?" Raven asked evenly, hiding her strained face.

"The fact that you said 'I'm sorry' and walked away," he explained. "Normally you wouldn't say a word."

"You know me too well," Raven said, trying to stay monotonous.

"That's a lie," Taiyang said, leaning on the railing next to her. "You never tell me anything about you." Raven turned her head away from him. "What's this about? What's with the sudden hatred for me?"

"I don't hate you," Raven said, her tone on the verge of cracking. "Not even close."

"Then what's up?" he asked again, real concern in his voice. Raven let out a deep sigh.

"No one talks to me like that," Raven put simply. "No one talks about my looks, or my feelings, or my interests. It's all about how good I am and what I can do with my skills. That's how it's been my whole life. I never went dress shopping. I never learned to dance. No one ever told me I was beautiful. It was always training, and surviving."

"That's crazy," Taiyang said. "Someone had to have commented. What kind of life is that?"

"The life of a mercenary," Raven answered, deciding to go all in with him. "Tai, we're guns for hire. That's how we lived, since we were old enough to fight. Old enough to kill. Qrow and I killed our first target when we were seven. Since then, it's always been how good I am at what I do. No one cared how I looked. As long as I got the job done. The life of a dirty sellsword."

"You are not a dirty sellsword!" Taiyang said as he grabbed her shoulders, turning her to face him. "You are so much more than that. You are a strong, beautiful, and brilliant Huntress. You're a great friend to Summer and me. And honestly, you're the best damn teammate anyone could ever want."

The feelings inside Raven's chest and head returned, stronger than ever. She finally deduced that it wasn't nervousness, it was a struggle against an urge. Raven was fighting her instincts, as she didn't know what they were telling her to do. Finally, she lost, and instinct took over. Her body moved itself forward, pushing her lips onto Taiyang's, finally doing what her body had wanted to this entire time. Taiyang, though shocked for a moment, reciprocated, returning the kiss. After a few more moments, Raven pulled away, looks of shock and disbelief burning brightly on their faces. Still wearing her shocked expression, and not being able to process what had just happened, Raven turned and left the dance.


So much angst. I'm just glad I was able to get a good Raven chapter out, she's very hard to write for. Thank you guys for reading, remember to send some feedback my way! See you all next time!