Today was a special day, apparently. Special enough for Yang and Tai to buy something special for her. A bunch of chocolates shaped like birds. What a sick joke. While she didn't have a sweet tooth, she still ate them nonetheless to humour her family.
And so she sat on the porch, box of chocolates half open while she watched Tai train Yang. Raven was happy about Yang's eagerness. She was strong, persistent, resilient. A true warrior. The same qualities that made her fall in love with Taiyang, but with added ferocity. That part was Raven's.
She saw the puppy named Zwei approached, staring at the box of chocolates, intent on taking his chance at swiping them. She glared at it, and the pup got the message, going towards Yang and Tai. The chocolate's may not be to her liking, but they were hers, given by Yang.
She heard the front door open, the sound of boots stepping on suspended wood loud and clear. She knew who they belonged to.
"H-Hey," said a squeaky voice. Raven turned and met a pair of familiar Silver eyes. Ruby Rose, Summer Rose's daughter now stood at her side, legs stuck together, back straight, holding a bouquet of flowers with a small pink card full of hearts, with a message written on it.
She raised an eyebrow at the girl, expression neutral.
"What is it?" Raven asked. Ruby took a deep breath, and then extended her arms, along with the flowers.
"Happy mother's day." She said, a bright smile on her lips. Raven's eye twitched. This girl… she needed a lesson.
She grabbed the hilt of her sword, and in a swift move the air shifted and the top of the bouquet was sent flying.
Ruby stared at her destroyed gift as the missing part fell to the ground along with the message.
"W-Why…?" She asked, clearly hurt. Raven sighed. She saw Taiyang stare at her with a frown. So intent was his stare that Yang actually landed a hit, which forced him to return to the fight.
"Girl, we have this conversation every year," Raven said, locking eyes with Ruby. "I'm not your mother. Your mother is Summer Rose. You should be visiting her grave, honouring her, crying for her; not spending time with me." She said. Her feelings for Ruby were complicated, to say the least.
Ruby looked down with tears rising in her eyes, such a display made Raven sigh.
"Listen, girl- Ruby. Sit down please," That seemed to catch the girl's attention. "I'm just your caretaker. And I don't want you to… forget your mother. Not if you want to be like her." Raven knew how much Ruby admired Summer. She was jealous, that a dead woman only spoken of in family stories could have such an effect on her daughter.
Ruby sat down at her side, a little too close to her liking.
"I know. I really want to be like her." Ruby said. "But… even if I admire her… I love you. You take care of me, tell me stories, cook even if you're no good, teach me how to fight, help me with school –"
"–Your father insists I do those things." Raven said.
"But you still do them." Ruby looked at her, those silver eyes shining with an admiration that was only seen when talking about Summer.
Raven had loved Summer. She had let her die, and now… she was stealing her daughter as well.
"Dad told me that blood is not everything when it comes to family. If Yang is my sister, even if we're not related at all, then… I guess you are my mom, even if we're not related. Even if you're mean at times." She said, a bright smile back on her lips.
Raven said nothing and turned away. Her eyes stung for some reason.
"I'm going to have a talk with your father, once he's done." She had to do everything in her power to keep her voice even.
"Oh, don't be angry at him! I was just saying!" Ruby said, her childish innocence returning. Such a thing forced a smile out of Raven.
"Alright." With that, they remained side by side, watching Yang and Tai spar in silence.
After a few minutes, Raven took a peek at Ruby. She noted how her every feature was like Summer's, a perfect reflection of her. She realized then, that she didn't want to lose her. Not again. She looked back at the slashed bouquet, the message spelling Happy mother's day, and thus a void appeared in her chest. A terrible feeling that would not go away.
"Sorry," she said, and Ruby turned to her. "About the flowers. They were… pretty." She didn't look at the girl as she said that. Then, a pair of arms were wrapped around her waist, and a head rested on her shoulder. Normally, she would throw the origin of such contact to the ground. But in that moment, she could not.
"It's okay. I know you never mean it." She knew her too well, just like Summer once did. "I love you, mom."
Raven took a breath, suppressing a sob that was about to escape her.
"I love you too, Ruby." She said, wrapping one arm around the girl's shoulders, pulling her even closer.
She would not let her go. Her smiles, her hyperactivity, her excitement about things related to huntsmen, they irritated her to no end.
And she couldn't imagine living without them.
So she hugged Ruby tightly. She would protect her. Wherever she went, she would be there with her Semblance.
Such was the power of their bond.
A/N: A quick one for mother's day.