Raven sat hunched over on the couch. Her elbows resting atop her knees kept her torso elevated as she blankly stared at the television.
Although it was on and displaying the news, the television served little purpose outside of being a source of noise for Raven.
Her focus was elsewhere as she waited for her cheery daughter's arrival. With Cinder away at her office for the day, the incessant bouncing of Raven's knee was all that could distract her from her thoughts. Though, Cinder's words had effectively plagued her mind already.
After opening up to Cinder about her regrets of the current situation she was in, she had more time to think about what she would do next. She reckoned she could go on without saying anything to Yang about her past, but until recently, she failed to account for the fact that Yang would likely ask about that anyway.
Raven realized Yang would find out the truth eventually no matter how hard she tried to hide it, but that did not mean she was robbed of a choice in the matter. Her options were to either tell Yang the truth now or wait until she asked.
She decided early on that she would have an easier time regaining Yang's trust if she were to initiate the conversation, so she spent a few days preparing herself. She needed some time for herself without Cinder, Yang, or anyone. It was easier said than done, however, since Yang had called a few times throughout the week wanting to spend some time together.
Yang probably wanted to do something with the whole family one last time before Weiss left Patch.
Soon, Raven would have her chance. She called Yang earlier today and asked her if she would like to go to the bar, to which she agreed. Now she felt uneasy and nervous. She felt like she was back in her days at Beacon whenever someone suspected her true intentions there.
Raven had done little besides sit on the couch and try her best to be still, but the large living room only felt cramped and the air, stagnant.
When a knock at the front door finally broke the silence, Raven's knee stopped bouncing and her head turned towards the sound. She sighed deeply, clicked the television off, and pushed off the couch to her feet.
Here it goes…
Raven pulled the door open and smiled warmly at the head of curly blonde hair in front of her.
"Hey, Raven. Ready to go?" Yang smiled, brightly.
"Actually, I need one more minute. Would you like to come inside?" Raven asked as she stepped aside to let Yang in.
"Sure," said Yang.
Raven led Yang to the living room and gestured to the couch, "Why don't you have a seat?"
Yang sat down and folded her hands on her lap.
"Um… Would you like something to drink?" Raven asked, refusing to meet Yang's eyes.
"Aren't we going to a bar?" Yang chuckled.
"Right," Raven cleared her throat and sat down on the other end of the couch, "Could we talk for a minute before we go?"
Yang briefly looked away, "Uh, yeah. Sure. What's up?"
Raven folded her hands and looked everywhere except for where Yang was sitting. She had spent days figuring out what she would say here, and now that Yang was sitting across from her, waiting expectantly, her mind had run blank.
"So… I just wanted to say…" Raven sighed and shook her head, "How do I even start this?"
Yang's mouth fell ajar for a moment and a solemn look dawned on her face, "I think I know. You can start by answering this question:" she began with a cracking voice, "Why did you leave?"
Raven was taken aback. It seemed Yang was on the same page, and that made her feel a little better about initiating this conversation. She took a moment to compose her mind.
"There were a few reasons," Raven finally spoke, "But the main one was because it was never my intention to stay."
Yang furrowed her brows in confusion.
Raven nodded and looked away, "As you know, I grew up in Mistral with a tribe of bandits. My brother and I were the only Branwens left since our parents both perished in a raid shortly after we were born. We only ever heard stories of how brave and bold they were. Naturally, I wanted to live up to my name and lead like they did when I came of age."
"As I grew older and wiser, I began to accompany our warriors on raids. We were nearly unstoppable and neighboring villages got scared. They began hiring huntsmen to protect them. Suddenly, the number of successful raids we carried out began to drop. The tribe realized the only thing stopping us from achieving our goals were huntsmen. They always ruined our raids and killed many of our warriors."
"The temporary leader at the time knew we had to figure out a way to eliminate the threat if we were to survive with our way of life. It was then that we decided we would send some of our young to a huntsmen academy. It just so happened that my brother and I were the perfect age. We were afraid the headmaster of Haven at the time might recognize us as members of the Branwen tribe, so we went to Beacon instead. Not to learn how to fight the Grimm and protect Remnant, but to kill the huntsmen that always stood in our way."
Raven shook her head, "Your uncle always thinks he's so heroic and noble up on his high horse as a huntsman, but he and I both applied to Beacon with… unfortunate intentions. When our teams were assigned we both thought the next four years would be hell. Summer was always so happy and was a bit of a brat. Tai was an idiot who smiled too much and thought everyone liked him."
"But both of them changed us," Raven almost smiled fondly, "Summer and Tai were great influences on Qrow and me. I hated both of them at first, but as time went by, there was something about Tai that I found so… endearing. Over the years, I forgot about why we came to Beacon and the goals I had set."
"After we graduated as licensed huntsmen and huntresses, we traveled the world and stayed as a team for a while. We did plenty of missions and saved hundreds of lives. We had fame and lien, but nowhere we could call home. We decided to settle down on Patch, and Tai built a house for us to live in. It was surreal…"
Raven blinked and sighed again, "We spent a few months there and, eventually, we had you," she said as she momentarily looked at Yang and shook her head, solemnly, "The moment I held you in my arms and looked down on you… I should've felt something. I should've felt happy or proud, but instead, I felt empty. I suddenly realized how far I had deviated from my goal and that none of that was supposed to happen… That house… Tai and I… You weren't supposed to happen."
Yang's lip trembled as she tried to keep the inevitable tears from streaking down her cheeks.
Raven frowned at Yang and looked down at the couch, "I had to make a choice… Live on Patch in the lie I had constructed or go back to the tribe to do what I was originally meant to… And I chose the tribe. That night, I collected my sword and was gone the next morning… Just like that."
"You didn't even think about it for more than a day?" Yang asked with a sorrowful shake of her head, "It was that easy for you to choose your tribe?"
Raven clenched her eyes shut and turned her head away.
"Then why did you come back? Why now?"
Raven looked down at her hands, "I wish I could say it was because of you, Yang. The truth is I never thought I could ever care about you. I was so invested in the tribe that they were all I ever cared about. After Cinder left Mistral to work for the Schnees, we saw each other less and less. I would use my semblance to see her."
"You see, my semblance is unique because it requires two people to work," Raven began, "I can make a special bond with someone that allows me to create a portal to them wherever they are on Remnant. I have bonds with my brother, Tai, Cinder, a close friend from the tribe… and you. That's how I was able to see Cinder at all while still being with the tribe."
"But it was hardly ever enough. Cinder wanted me to live with her here so we could actually be spouses for once. She couldn't handle being alone anymore and said she would move on if I refused to stay with her. I wasn't prepared to lose Cinder, so I did what she asked. At the time, I only wanted to reconnect with you because Cinder asked me to do that too. To make up for making her live alone all these years."
"I wouldn't have admitted it at the time, but I always wondered how you turned out," said Raven, "The curiosity I had was unbearable, and I had a hard time controlling myself. I was impulsive and impatient… I did a few things I regret… Like spying on you."
Yang wiped the drying tears off her cheeks, "What do you mean by spying?"
"I would fly to your house and sit in the trees… watching and learning."
"Fly?" Yang furrowed her brows.
Raven chuckled joylessly, "That must sound really crazy," she said as she shook her head, "The Branwen bloodline has been around for millennia. We have carried down many traditions and practices from times long forgotten. One of those practices happens to be a form of alchemy. Magic, if you will. As a child, my brother and I were gifted with an ability passed down through generations. The ability to take a new form as a bird."
Yang looked at Raven like she was insane, "So… You're telling me that the raven that I used to see around my house… That was you?"
"Believe it or not," Raven nodded, "That's how I was able to see you during the day and, regrettably, invade your house."
Yang's mouth fell open as her eyes trailed away from Raven and drifted around the room.
"Now, I know that sounds bad, and it was. I just wanted to get a closer look at Wendy and Wilma. I would never hurt them, and I'm sorry."
Raven noticed Yang staring at something behind her with narrowing eyes. She followed her line of sight and found her mask on the mantle and her sword leaning against the wall.
"It was you…" Yang whispered just loud enough for Raven to hear, "That drawing… Wendy didn't see an Apathy that night… She saw you wearing that mask…"
"Yang, I swear to the gods, I didn't mean them any harm," said Raven as she reached out for Yang.
Yang shot up from the couch with rage burning in her eyes, "It was all you! My kids always talk about seeing birds and following them! It was really you!"
"Yang, please," Raven tried.
"You lead my girls through a Grimm-infested forest to Summer's grave!" Yang shouted as her irises blinked to an angry red, "You gave my kid nightmares! You scared her for weeks!"
"I know what I did was wrong, and I'm sorry!" Raven pleaded as she stood up, "I want to fix it all! Everything! I want to be in your life!"
"Don't lie to me!" Yang roared, "I heard what you said, Raven! You are just a sad, selfish coward! You lie and steal and kill and that's it! Don't lie to me again by saying you ever wanted to be in my life! You could have come back whenever you wanted if what you said about your semblance isn't a lie too! But, no! You would have been just fine playing with that damn tribe of killers and thieves if Cinder didn't threaten to leave you, and for once, I don't blame her!"
"Just listen to me!" Raven implored, reaching out to Yang.
"Don't touch me!" Yang screamed and stepped backward, "I can't believe I let myself think you were anything but a monster!"
Yang took a moment to catch her breath. She shook her head with the pain in her heart seeping through her features. She stormed to the door.
"I spent my whole life hating you," said Yang, "After all this time, I thought those feelings weren't justified… But you hurt me. You hurt my family. And now, I know those feelings are justified…"
Yang opened the door and looked over her shoulder, "You can go back to your tribe now, Raven. I never want to see your face again."
As the door shut behind Yang, Raven felt something settle in her stomach. Her talk with Yang went even worse than she thought possible. Now her daughter hated her even more than when she arrived.
It happened so quickly that she could only stand there, blinking at the door with only one question on her mind.
What can I do now?
Weiss quietly hummed to herself as she tapped away at the keys on her laptop. With just over a week left until she would leave Patch for her mission, a lingering nervousness began to settle in her. She wanted it to go without flaw so she could return to her family just as quickly as she left.
She bit her cheek as she turned her attention to the carpet just in front of the couch where her two daughters were playing with a dozen or so dolls.
To be honest with herself, Weiss was almost jealous of them. They barely had a clue about the hectic time Weiss had this summer, and the same could be said about Yang and her mother. They probably would not understand if she explained it to them, but she figured they should know regardless.
"Girls," said Weiss in a caring yet commanding voice that was sure to garner her daughters' attention, "Would you come here for a minute?"
Wendy and Wilma set down their toys without a moment's hesitation and scooted across the carpet to where Weiss was. They looked up at their mother with wide eyes.
"Pretty soon, I'm going to be gone for a while," Weiss began, "But don't worry. I'll be back before you know it."
"Okay, Mother," said Wendy.
"While I'm away, I want you two to be extra good for Mommy. Understand?" Weiss asked, satisfied at the two, crisp nods she received in response, "Very good. Now, go play some more. I'll get dinner started soon."
Weiss could only hope Yang's day with Raven was going well as she returned to her laptop. Her wife said she would sit down with Raven to talk later today, most likely after they have both had a drink or two at the bar.
Not even a full minute after Wendy and Wilma picked up their dolls to play again, the front door swung open and slammed against the wall with a dull thump.
Weiss jumped at the sudden sound and watched as Yang stormed into the house with red-hot irises.
"Yang?" Weiss asked, concerned as she sat up straight.
Yang did not stop and stomped into the kitchen.
"Goddammit!" Yang's voice boomed.
Weiss' mouth fell ajar as she closed her laptop and locked eyes with Wendy and Wilma who both had uneasy looks on their faces. She set her laptop to the side and stood up.
"Go to your room, Girls," Weiss cooed and took Wendy and Wilma's hands; leading them to the stairs.
When the children disappeared on the second floor of the house, Weiss pressed her lips together and walked into the kitchen.
Yang was standing at the counter with her hands supporting her weight and her head hanging low.
Weiss slowly approached the steaming woman and hugged herself, tightly, "Yang… What happened?"
"You wanna know what happened?" Yang chuckled sardonically, "I found out Raven's a cowardly fraud and only cares about her damn self! You know she's been spying on us? This whole time! She even broke into our house in the middle of the night, and Wendy saw her!"
Weiss had to admit that was a little unsettling, but she did not believe that would elicit the amount of rage Yang was currently displaying.
"And I finally got around to asking why she left me," Yang continued as she turned to face Weiss, "Turns out she only went to Beacon so she could get better at killing other huntsmen, and she would rather do that than stay with her family! That damn tribe of degenerates is all she cares about besides herself! She never even wanted to be here in the first place! She only wanted to get to know me because Cinder threatened to leave her sorry ass!"
"Wow…" said Weiss, "Raven really did tell you everything."
Yang snapped her head towards Weiss and narrowed her eyes, "Wait, why did you… Weiss, did… Did you know about this already?"
Weiss looked away and sighed, "I… I only know Cinder was the one who wanted Raven to reconnect with you. Cinder came to me and asked me to work with you to try and give Raven a chance."
Weiss saw no point in lying.
Yang's shoulders fell as her narrowed eyes turned sorrowful, "Weiss… How could you keep this from me?" she murmured.
"Yang, it wasn't like that," Weiss shook her head, "I wasn't trying to hurt you. I was trying to help."
Yang closed her mouth and a fierce scowl returned to her face, "You think hiding the truth is helping me? You let me get led on by Raven thinking she had actually changed and wanted to be better! Now it's all crashing down and old wounds that I healed years ago are now wide open and bleeding again!"
"But what if Raven has changed," Weiss argued, "Maybe she was no different at first, but look at all the great times you've spent with her over this summer. Be honest with yourself, Yang. You wouldn't have let Raven in if you knew the truth."
"For good reason, dammit!" Yang shouted, "Because I could've ended this whole mess before it even started!"
Weiss sighed and looked up at the clock on the wall.
"You were out for less than thirty minutes," said Weiss.
"Yeah, so?"
"Did you listen to everything Raven wanted to say to you, or did you get angry and leave right away?" Weiss asked.
"Are you kidding me, Weiss!?" Yang roared, "Don't tell me you're going to take Raven's side!"
"I'm not taking her side," Weiss replied, calmly, "I just think Raven has changed a lot. Did she do some stupid things? Definitely. She's probably really sorry and wants nothing more than for you to forgive her. I think she could prove herself if you'd only give her the chance. When my father first—"
"Oh, here we go again!" Yang interrupted with a roll of her eyes, "You love to bring up you and your father. Newsflash, Weiss! Raven is not your father! Your father didn't abandon you to run around Mistral with a bunch of animals killing everyone in sight! When are you going to get it through your thick skull that our situations are not the same!?"
Weiss was taken aback. She did not even know what to say to that.
Yang scoffed and shook her head, "I guess you were always too busy with your damn suicide mission to notice."
Weiss' mouth fell open, and she struggled with finding Yang's eyes. She could not believe how uncalled for her accusation was.
"Yang… What has gotten into you?" Weiss asked with a disbelieving shake of her head.
"What's gotten into me?" Yang repeated, "I'm sick and tired of everyone hiding things from me! Lying to my face! My Dad did it! Raven did it! Even you did it! The one person in the whole world I could trust deliberately hid the truth from me!"
Weiss had enough. She closed her mouth as her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Maybe people wouldn't hide things from you if you didn't blow up all the time!" Weiss bit back, "Have you ever considered that just maybe you overreact sometimes!? Your mother shows up on our doorstep and you scream at Cinder! Your father tells you to go easy on Raven and you shout at him! Raven is transparent with you and tells you the truth about something she clearly knew could ruin everything you've done so far and you storm out and start ranting to me! Now when I can see the good Raven's done, you accuse me of being complacent in this whole situation!"
"Well, obviously, you don't understand the situation because Raven's a selfish liar, and she'll always be a selfish liar!" Yang bellowed.
"I don't understand the situation!? Wake up, Yang!" Weiss shouted, "You refuse to see all the good Raven has done for you! You were more patient and understanding! You were even cautious to ask Raven about these things because you didn't want that to change! Now the patience and compassion you instigated are gone and replaced by this anger! You're letting your emotions blind you! You're so angry over all that Raven has done that you're choosing to ignore the fact that you have made an impact on her! I have no idea why you are denying it, but Raven has changed!"
"As if you would know that!" Yang countered, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure it was me who spent full days with Raven, not you! You've been so busy the last two months with your stupid mission!"
"You aren't listening!" Weiss stomped her foot, "I already told you Cinder came to me for help regarding you! She knew you would do everything in your power to shut Raven out! We have both been working together to support you and Raven! We keep in touch and she told me herself that Raven really does care about you! But you just won't understand that!"
"Well, I understand something now!" Yang screeched so loudly Weiss flinched, "You and Cinder have been playing behind the scenes like some psychotic puppet masters while I was the one getting hurt! You were never on my side for any of this! You never would've cared if Cinder didn't ask you to, and that's why you always defend Raven instead of me!"
"That's not true!" Weiss cried, "I have always cared because you are my wife, Yang! It doesn't matter what Cinder wants! You always come first in my life because we are a team! I only want what's best for you!"
"Don't give me that shit!" Yang roared at the top of her lungs as she curled her hands into fists, "I see through your excuses! You're only a part of this disaster because you want to please Cinder! Gods, it's like you treat every lifeline you had growing up in Atlas as if they're some divine entity! You were like that with Winter at Beacon, and you're like that with Cinder here!"
Yang's golden hair flared as she growled and barged past Weiss.
Weiss barely managed to keep her balance and followed Yang as she stormed through the living room.
"Yang!"
Yang reached for the door handle.
"Where are you going!?" Weiss demanded.
Yang tore the front door open and scowled over her shoulder, "Somewhere no one is going to hide things from me," she grumbled brusquely.
The door slammed shut behind her, shaking the house to its very foundation.
Weiss stood there with her eyes narrowed at the door. She could only wait to see if it would open again.
But as the seconds ticked by and the deep silence that held the room became tangible, the scowl on Weiss' face fell and her hand instinctively reached up to balance her spinning head.
Everything went numb and her legs could barely withstand her weight. She managed to shakily sit down on the arm of the couch as her breaths turned shallow.
Weiss could not remember the last time she and Yang had an argument like that. The image of Yang with her blood-red irises and fiery hair was burned into her mind, and it scared her that even a fraction of it was directed at her.
It broke her heart.
Weiss' hand moved to cover her mouth as the sting of tears pinched at her eyes. Her eyes squeezed shut as the aching in her chest turned painful and her tears rolled down her cheeks.
She did not know when Yang would return. She only hoped she would calm down enough to look at all that's happened in a new light. Only time would tell, and Weiss had no intention of seeing Yang like she did today ever again.
Weiss would decide what to do eventually, but for now, she just sat alone in her living room, quietly weeping.
A/N: Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! We finally have our confrontation! I hope it was worth the wait ha ha. I want to remind you all that Monochrome week is next week, so I probably won't have a chapter for this story ready by next week, but we'll see. Check out my Tumblr if you want to see what I do for monos week at Snipersphere900! That's all I have for you for now! Please leave a review!
