Entry 21

It's been a blessing to have the girls back home. Every morning I wake up to laughter, and the smell of a freshly made breakfast. The two of them have become such good friends at Beacon. That's not to say that they weren't before, but there's another element there. Some sort of bond that only teammates who fight together can share.

Yang still messes with Ruby constantly. I think her older sister mentality has only continued to grow from the time they left home. The only difference is that Ruby seems to occasionally fight back now. It took me a little while to notice it, but Ruby has been talking. I mean, talking like a confident individual. She used to stumble upon herself all the time. The only 'person' that she had an easy time talking with was her scythe. Now she holds a conversation over just about anything. You can still see the shyness, but I think her time as a leader is helping her grow out of it.

At first, they wouldn't tell me about any of their 'missions'. I tried probing Ruby for information. I wanted to see how far I could take her new talkative attitude. I could tell she wanted to tell me all about them, but Yang's glare clearly forbid any mention of them around me. I think that was her way of trying not to worry me. I believe part of her thought I'd try to punish them for some of the things they did. Part of me feels like I should've. It would've been selfish though.

How can I tell a huntress in training that going out and risking her life to save others is reckless and stupid? That's their job. That's what they've chosen to do. I can't keep trying to fight them on that. They've made up their mind.

I just wanted to let them know that I'm scared.

It's so damn selfish, but I'm scared. I don't want to lose them. In the few days that they've been home, I've been so happy. Seeing them both smile and laugh. Seeing Ruby confident. Seeing Yang boast about her friends. I don't want that to ever end. I love them both so much.

I just wish it wasn't this hard. I can see the changes both of them have gone through in just a few months. My little girls are becoming huntresses right in front of me. It's the one thing both of them dreamed of, but it's also the one thing that I'm afraid of them becoming.

I can't keep feeling that way. I've missed too much of their lives to give them up now. I need to let them grow, and support them. I want to hear about all the adventures they go on. Whether they end in success, or total failure. I can't have them thinking that I'm too frail to hear about the dangers they face every day.

I guess that's why I lied to them. I couldn't let them know that I've been trying to protect them all this time. I just wanted to be included in their lives. So, I told them that Ozpin had contacted me regarding their 'activities' outside of the school. I told them that I knew they had gone after Torchwick, and that they had been the team that was sent to Mountain Glenn. I even mentioned my knowledge of Ruby's fight at the CCT.

They were both stunned. It took a minute for either one of them to say a thing. They had clearly decided that they weren't going to tell me anything before coming home. So, in an attempt to get them to talk, I tried something different. I faked a smile and congratulated them on stopping Torchwick. It had been all over the news after the cleanup from the breach. The news had looked for anything that they could spin as positive from the event in order to try to calm the public. When word got out that a team of first years had defended the city long enough for reinforcements, the local news jumped at them for an interview.

When she finally spoke, Yang asked if I was angry with them. She saw right past the fake smile and congratulations. Ruby looked like she was about to cry. She was so full of excitement over the past two semesters just a few minutes before. At that moment, she was horror stuck.

The lie didn't work. It was stupid to think it would. All truths come out eventually. So, I told them that I wasn't angry. Not really. I was just scared that one of them might get hurt. Yang argued back saying that she technically needs to get hurt to be at her strongest. That wasn't the point though. The point was that I was on the sidelines hearing all about the things they do at school. How, as students, they continuously put themselves in a position where they could easily be seriously injured, or worse…

Ruby did start crying after that. Yang eyes went red, and she went to comfort her sister. She glared at me as if I had no reason to bring something like that up. Ruby stopped her though. She ran around the table and gave me a hug. She wrapped her arms around my waist and started crying into my shirt.

She apologized. She sobbed while telling me how sorry she was for making me feel that way. She knew that she hadn't listened to me, and was so worried that I'd be angry. It was just what she thought was the right thing to do as a huntress.

And I couldn't fault her for it. I knew it was true. Ruby has such a kind heart. I knew she would never do something to upset me on purpose. She only ever tries to do good. So, I did what I thought was best to show her that. I ran my fingers through her hair. Gently scratching the top of her head while she sobbed into my chest. It was what Summer always did to calm Ruby as a child.

We just stayed like that for a little while. I just let her cry until all the tears were gone. Yang was silent. She just watched the whole thing as if she was in a trance.

I took my time to find the right words to say. I decided in that moment that I couldn't keep up being how I was. I just needed a minute to make sure they knew that.

When I finally spoke, I told them that I was proud of both of them. Not just as a father looking at how much his kids have grown, but as a man that sees the selfless choices they continue to make. I told them that I knew they would find themselves in danger throughout their lives. They were going to be huntresses. There is never going to be a time where their lives aren't on the line. I told them that it terrifies me. That so long as the two of them are out in the world fighting, I will be thinking of them. I also mentioned how strong the two of them have become, and how much confidence that gives me that they will continue to grow and be the best huntresses Remnant has ever seen.

My one request was that they be safe.

I wanted so much more, but I knew that it was all they could truly promise me.

Yang joining our hug was my answer.

Author's Notes

Hey everyone,

I did end up posting an update yesterday, but due to my wonky posting schedule I'm not sure if an update went out. Just wanted to give a fair warning to those that have been reading daily!

As always, thank you for reading!

~Sh1f7er