She found herself wandering back to the bar, which was largely deserted with the exception of a few couples and groups talking quietly around low-lit tables. She kept walking through to the back of the pub, where broad, shallow stairs led out to a wide yard of more tables and chairs, some raised on platforms, all giving a good view of a central clearing that Huntsmen were ringed around, largely out of the rain.
In the middle of the clearing Qrow and another fighter were engaging in the stupid, dangerous, yet perennially popular sport of drunken sparring. Fighters who were wasted on booze or drugs had been known to lose focus and drop their Auras momentarily, which meant strikes that would usually be merely draining could maim or kill.
And Qrow seemed to be drunk one day out of three, these days. Still, he fought, and was good at it; as she pushed forward she could see he'd already beaten two other Huntsmen and was at work on his third. The crowd noise rose and fell as he executed particularly good dodges, feints, and strikes.
She saw Summer towards the front of the ring, watching avidly and exchanging remarks with friends on the match, but as soon as Summer caught her eye she broke off and moved towards Raven, who had taken up a perch on a distant platform.
"Hey."
"Hey. How did this start?" Raven asked, nodding toward the fighting.
Summer laughed. "He was talking about some move that he and Tai used to take down the Nevermore, somebody didn't think it was possible and he went out here to show them it was. And things just developed from there." Seeing the look on Raven's face, she added, "He's not actually that drunk, for what it's worth. Just still excited from this afternoon."
"And aaaanyway," she said, jumping up to sit next to Raven and wrapping her arms around the taller woman's waist, "I'm guessing you talked to Tai? And he told you some interesting things?"
Raven sighed, reached back to put an arm around Summer, but stayed silent for a moment before speaking. "It's... it's an attractive idea, but you know Qrow and I are supposed to go back to the tribe. The only reason they let us come here in the first place was to go back and share what we learned..."
"I know, I know. But... they could send other kids, couldn't they? You guys have turned out so great, they'd want to send more, right?"
Raven scoffed. "Not sure they'd see it that way. My Grandmother in particular..."
"Then she's an idiot!" Summer said sharply, then looked up at Raven and looked back down again. "Sorry, that was out of line. I've never met the woman or anything. But..." she sighed and buried her face in Raven's side before continuing.
"That's part of why I'd really want you guys to do this, you know. I mean, you HAVE grandparents. Tai and I... we don't. Or parents, or brothers and sisters. Part of that's because of the war, and part of that's because our families have had a lot of Huntsmen in them. And it's a great life, but... it can be a really short one, too. You remember what Professor Port said, way back in first year? Average lifespan of a Huntsman, once they get their license, is seven years. A Huntsman has the same chance of making it to their forties as a civilian has of making it to their eighties."
"And as for kids... Gods, most Huntsmen are lucky to have just one before something happens to them, you know? And what happens to that kid when one or both parents get killed? It's just such a scary fucking world out there. I mean... you know I love you, and I love Qrow, and in a lot of ways living together would be like a nonstop party, and that'd be great. But what I really want is to take care of you, because I figure that we're stronger together than apart, and maybe we can keep each other from becoming one of Port's statistics. And if something does... does happen to us..." she paused again, and squeezed Raven, "Then at least there'll be more than just one or two people to keep things going. STRQ can continue, even if one of us goes down."
They sat together for a minute, not saying anything. In the distance a roar from the clearing indicated Qrow was successful once more, but neither of them looked up. Finally, Raven reached over to stroke Summer's hair and kiss her on the top of the head.
"That's kind of what the tribe is all about, you know? It's a lot tougher out there, outside of the Kingdoms, and we take care of each other and we get by. Believe it or not, it's harder out there than it is being a Huntsman, but that's why they wanted us here, and they want us to come back now."
She felt, rather than saw, Summer nod her head against her side. "Yeah... you've already got a family to take care of, maybe it's too much to ask to start a new one..."
Raven nodded, then shook her head. "Yes... but no... I mean, yes the tribe is my family, and yes I want to support them, pay them back for what they let us do here. But you guys are the family I want to choose, the family I want to make, not the one I got stuck with..."
Summer pulled back, and looked Raven in the eyes. "You know... you and Qrow... you know I'd follow you anywhere. If... if there was a way for me to be part of the tribe, you know I'd take it, and Taiyang too, you've been in our world long enough, maybe it's time..."
Raven barked laughter, then crushed Summer tight against her, partially hiding the tears that had come to her eyes. "Oh Gods no, Summer. You in the tribe, it... you'd hate it, and they'd REALLY hate you. The amount of independence you have relative to what they're used to, it... no. No way."
She released Summer and dried her eyes. "But you'd really do it, wouldn't you? You'd come with me and live in that shitty situation just to support me and that's why it's so damn hard to say no to you and Tai, because you're the first people, outside of Qrow, that have ever supported me for ME and not just for what I can do for the tribe."
"Always, Raven. You know that."
"I know it, I do." She sniffed, and gave Summer another crushing hug. "Let me talk to Qrow. In the meantime, just know... if it were only up to me, I'd do it in a heartbeat."
