Another prompt from the Free-For-All. This one was "Summer tells Tai some big news."
Summer entered the clearing at a run and didn't slow down until she reached the entrance to the small cottage in the middle of the woods on Patch. She dug her key out of a pocket in her cloak and let herself in.
The house was completely dark, but there was enough light from the shattered moon shining through the windows for Summer to see. A quick glance into the living room told her that Tai was lying on the couch with one arm covering his eyes. He glanced up at the sound of the door opening but didn't say anything.
Summer walked past him and into Yang's bedroom to find the infant sleeping peacefully in her crib. As far as Summer could tell, she'd been fed and had her diaper changed recently. At least Tai wasn't that far gone.
In spite of her somber mood, Summer couldn't help but smile at the sight of the sleeping baby. The joy that she felt every time she looked at Yang helped strengthen her resolve.
I'm going to tell him. I have to tell him tonight.
Summer walked back out to the living room and stood in front of the coach. Tai didn't react to her presence.
"Tai," she said aloud.
He sighed before answering. "Hey, Summer."
Summer's shoulders slumped at his despondent tone. A part of her wanted to leave and come back when he was feeling a bit better. But she'd seen Tai depressed before, and he wouldn't just start feeling better with a bit of time. He needed someone to help pull him out of his depression.
"I talked to Qrow," she began. "He's not mad at you for punching him."
"OK," replied Tai disinterestedly.
Summer sighed. "Tai, can I sit down?"
Tai grumbled under his breath before sitting up and moving to make room for Summer on the coach. Though there was more than enough space for two people, she sat close enough to Tai that their knees nearly touched. He glanced at her for just a moment before looking away.
Summer's heart was pounding, just like it did every time she thought about doing this. She had faced down Grimm the size of houses without flinching, but this scared her speechless. It had scared her into inaction even before she knew Raven was interested in Tai, let alone before they started dating.
But now Raven was gone, and Tai needed this. She wasn't doing this just for herself, but for both of them. That alone gave her the courage to speak.
"Tai, I'm in love with you."
He turned to look at her with his eyes wide and his mouth open. Summer searched for any sign of happiness beneath his surprise, and wanted to run from the room when she couldn't find any. But the words were out there now, and she couldn't take them back. She could only press on.
"I've loved you practically from the day we met. You were so nice to me, and you believed in me right away like nobody else did. You were the person I needed when I got to Beacon, and I never stopped loving you for it."
Summer looked at the floor as she continued.
"And I love Yang too. I didn't think that I would. The whole time Raven was pregnant, I had to keep telling myself 'Summer, if you ever mistreat that little girl because of who her mother is, you'll never forgive yourself.'" The room blurred as Summer's eyes welled up with tears. "And then she was born… and she was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. And you let me hold her, and she smiled at me, and I was so happy I thought my heart would burst. I couldn't explain it, but I knew that she was special, and that I would give anything to be a part of her life. I don't know how Raven could possibly leave something so precious."
Summer wiped the tears from her eyes and looked back up at Tai, catching a glimpse of a smile vanishing at the mention of Raven. She reached out and took his hands in hers. She moved a bit closer to him and looked deep into his eyes.
"I want to be there for you. For both of you. I love you too much to just watch you hurting. So please let me in."
Tai just sat there for a few seconds, a stunned look on his face. Summer was left holding her breath waiting for his answer.
It finally came when Tai leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.
For a moment, Summer was too stunned to react. When she finally processed what was happening, her heart soared, and she kissed him back hungrily. The feel of his lips against hers was everything she had imagined it would be, and she didn't want it to end.
Later, Summer would wonder if Tai was just using her to fill the hole in his hear that Raven left. Eventually, he would prove that he loved her every bit as much as she loved him. Soon after that, they would be married and agree to tell Yang that Summer was her mother.
But that would all come later. For that moment, they were the only thing that existed in the other's world.
Author's Note: This is a scene I had been thinking about for a long time, and I had been waiting for a chance to right it. Honestly, I'm not entirely happy with how it turned out, but I'm still glad to have gotten it out there. Let me know what you think.