Chapter 10

Robin refused to look at anyone. She sat, arms folded and scowl firmly in place, glaring at the couch arm. She could feel her Dad staring at her, his own arms folded and one brow raised as he waited for any response from her. But she wasn't going to explain herself again, she didn't have to. "Robin," Qrow started. She huffed and tried to cross her arms even more. He sighed and the couch dipped next to her, "We're not going anywhere until you talk, you know that right?"

She stuck her tongue out and curled up on herself, bringing her knees to her chest. It was her first week at nursery and already she hated it. There was a girl, Violet, who had immediately pointed and whispered at Robin since she first entered the classroom. By the time first break came around all the kids had whispered behind her back and one of the boys had even laughed in her face before shoving her to one side as he pushed past her. By day three she heard the whispers, about the mark on her face and rumours of where she was from. By day five she'd had enough and reacted to the chant from Violet of, "Mama dropped you! Mama dropped you! Mama dropped you!" by punching the girl in the face and causing a nose bleed. Violet had started crying, the jibes turned to shocked whispered and the teachers immediately sent her to the Headteachers office as both of their parents were called. As much as Robin had tried to explain herself, when the teachers had asked her for an apology she'd refused and that had been the final straw to sending her home.

Which was where they were now, Robin refusing to acknowledge anyone or anything and Qrow with his hands in his lap as he tried to get her to talk. "The longer you go without saying anything the worse it gets." She lifted one shoulder and let it drop dramatically before turning her back on him. Qrow really hoped that this wasn't a sign of what was to come in the future years. He sighed and turned to rest his elbow on the back of the couch, his head in his hand and poked her back with his other hand. "I know why you did it."

"S'why am I being pun'shed?" she grumbled out, still refusing to look at him.

He sighed and tugged gently on her arm, "Cause for teachers, doing something is a lot worse than saying something." She turned to face the room and Qrow took that as a victory. "You going to talk to me now?" She gave another shrug and he mentally shrugged his own shoulders. At least she'd spoken to him since they'd been dismissed from the nursery. Whilst Robin had been sat waiting as he'd been given a run down of what had happened, he'd bit back with the fact that Robin had come home in tears twice. When he heard the full story he'd immediately asked if this Violet girl was going to get some sort of telling off, to which the short answer had been no.

"Do I have to go back?" she whispered.

He sighed and titled his head to try to see where she was looking. Her red eyes were fixed on her folded arms and he ruffled her hair, "You shouldn't be punching people."

"But she-"

Qrow held a hand up and Robin deflated at the motion. "Robin, we don't punch people. I know what she was doing and saying and I've spoken to your teachers and her parents about that, but punching her for saying something isn't the right thing."

She stared at him for a few seconds before she slouched in her seat and drew her knees up to her chest. "M'not sorry."

He ruffled her hair with a small chuckle, "You wouldn't be mine if you were. Wanna hear a secret?" She brightened up at that, peering over her knees at him. "Just cause you say it doesn't mean you mean it. All they want to hear is you say 'Sorry'. They don't know that you don't mean it."

"Qrow!"

Both Robin and Qrow jumped as Summer came stomping around the corner, a look of fury on her face. It was Qrow's turn to shrink into the couch as he tried to get away from that glare of his leaders. "Hey, Sum' what's-"

"Don't," Summer started, one finger pointed dangerously in Qrow's direction, "even try to sweet talk your way outta this." He audibly swallowed and Robin bit her lip, glad it was her Dad and not her dealing with Summer's wrath. "What have I said about teaching her morals, good morals. Not cheap stuff."

"I'm not wro-"

"Don't you dare."

Qrow shrank in his seat and side lined Robin. He cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter, trying his best to ignore Summer in his peripheral vision. "Robin, you need to apologise for punching Violet in the face. Whenever we have a problem we need to talk it out, sometimes," he glanced at Summer, watching her nod of approval before continuing on, "we need to go to authority figures. They may be teachers, officers, parents. But we don't just start with violence. It's never good to start with violence."

Robin glanced from Qrow to Summer and eyed the woman's wide smile and innocent expression. For a moment, she was convinced that the Summer that had just stormed in here and all but tore Qrow apart with her eyes had been a figment of her imagination. She ducked her head and slowly nodded. There was no getting out of this. "'Kay," she muttered, "I won't do it again and I'll say sowwy."

Qrow ruffled her hair again and this time a small smile crept onto his face. "Are we friends again?"

Robin glanced at him, peeked up at Summer to seek her nod before she turned and threw herself at Qrow and clung to his neck. She nodded her head and squeezed her arms, "Sowwy."

"If I ever hear you saying something like that again," Summer started and Robin could feel the finger pointed over her shoulder, "I'll do things that can never be repeated again."

Robin finally turned her head to see Summer storm out and the moment the older woman was out of sight she stepped back and brushed her hair out of her eyes. Qrow turned to look at her and raised one brow. "Are you really sorry?"

She tilted her head to one side and gave it some thought before she shook her head with a small smirk, "Nope."

He narrowed his eyes for a moment before he grinned and nodded his head, "You're a quick learner. Come on, let's get some ice cream. Just promise me you'll tell somebody before you think about punching them."

Robin jumped onto the floor and nodded her head, "Pwomise. Talk then punch."

He sighed and shook his head as he followed her to the kitchen, "Close enough."

A/N: Short but hopefully sweet chapter.

The Masked Mummer: Tai's a big teddy bear and we all know it.

Conna McCanna: There'll be a few more family moments, more cuteness and stuff before we get onto the real stuff.

jaffa3: I have no idea what you're talking about...

Guest: That was an interesting thing to say about the last chapter.

Dzzzy228: My aim for Robin's character: kinda cynical, kinda not ready to take any shit... I guess we'll see.

supboyyyyy93: Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it. I already know how her semblance is going to play out ;)

Travian ross: God dammit Raven.