The New World
Ross Branwen
"For the longest of time, the historians of Remnant have been marked by the year BGH (Before the Grimm Horde) and AGH (After the Grimm Horde) as their touchstone to dating history. However many historians know this is far from an accurate date, for many believe the horde arrived in the year 0 BGH. During this time our world just finished a long war named the 'Thirty Years War' and suffering its aftermath, eight years later the First Hordes arrived in Sanus in the year 3 BGH-2 AGH. Thus marked a new era for mankind, for many great and powerful Empires and Kingdoms fell to ruin against the Grimm Hordes." - Excerpt from the 'First Grimm Hordes'
A young boy stood before a grave, a grave of his parents who he never loved. While this may seem cold, to him they were nothing more than strangers that took care of him. The cool ocean breeze blew by, swaying his red cloak wrapped around his neck. He began to clean the grave as was asked of his estranged uncle Tai.
'Ross! I want you to clean your parents' grave this time! I will not be cleaning it this time! So clean it!' And so Ross did, he held a small brush in hand, wiping the dust off the grave. As he cleaned the plate he read it:
Here lies Summer Branwen
Mother, wife, and friend
'And thus kindly I scatter
1723-1757
"If you've lived longer, then Qrow will still be around Summer." He looked next to her name to see Qrows' name.
Here lies Qrow Branwen
Father, husband, and friend
1724-1760
After he was done cleaning, he sat down before the grave and wrapped himself with his red cloak. 'Twas the only good gift you left me Summer. It works well as a blanket.' He awkwardly sat before them, not sure how to start his conversation. He then decided on the simple retelling of what has happened in his life. He started on how he got top of his class in combat at Signal Academy, even rivaling some of the sixth years in combat, Ross then droned on how he improved more on using the scythe and sword, along with shooting. He however spoke with a false joy, a false smile. Ross hated doing this, meeting his parents whom he never loved. There came times he often wished he granted them their wish, by calling them, mama and papa. Yet Ross could never muster up the courage or strength to say it, for the memory of his parents of his last life always showed itself, and he can never betray them.
Ross sighed as he read the names, he continued cleaning the grave carefully and dutifully, he did show some respect to the grave. As he finished he turned his gaze to the ocean cliff, seeing the waves move, the sun reflecting off it casting a strong glare on his eyes. Ross took a deep breath of that ocean air mixing with the wet air of the forest behind him, it gave him a sense of relief, no matter how temporary.
"Ross Branwen." The words muttered from his mouth, words he never was comfortable with for it was not his real name, the words screamed foreign to him. Not once did it ever click to him that Ross is his real name, it took the insistence of his mother to realize it was his name. He wrapped his cloak around him as the breeze gave him a chill. "Jeez Summer, you had to go and do that mission didn't ya? Couldn't have stayed home, just had to do it. Now, look at what that did to your husband, got him killed by guilt, made Raven leave, and had Tai shut down for a good while. Some hero you turned out to be." he muttered.
He stayed there, overlooking the cliff to see the ocean getting a good feel of that moisture in the air. Ross stood there till he decided to go back home to uncle Tai. 'Wonder if Yang isn't masturbating for once at this time, I swear the girl needs to get shagged.' He continued through the forest thinking about what he will do next if Yang isn't doing her thing then he will start up a conversation with her, if so, he will continue writing on the fantasy novel he once dreamed of doing in another life.
The trail he walked to reach home and his parents' grave is a simple dirt path through the forest on the eastern part of the island. Nothing much could be said about it besides the occasional Grimm wandering by. Despite how boring it could be walking through a forest, Ross always loved it for his home never had forests, just the Great Plains that dotted Kansas, his one true home. His mother always did tell him the birds tell story's through song in their chirping, the old trees speak when the wind blows, swaying their branches making the leaves rustle.
She also told him the wind carries whispers of faraway places, for it carries words for miles and miles around the world. He softly smiled at such memories, Ross will never see his family or friends ever again. He wouldn't have it any other way.
He continued marching with a steady pace, walking around bends and creeks, going up hills, seeing deer and birds of all kinds. He walked for another half hour till he reached the peak of a hill and before him rested the house of his uncle. A simple two-story building with a nice porch in the front with two garden beds next to it. Off to its left is something called a sliding glass door leading to a small patio with a grill that uses gas to cook.
'Gas to grill food! Who would've thunk!' he mused to himself. He walked forward to see his uncle tending to one of the garden beds pulling the weeds from it. As he approached Tai asked him "Did you clean your parents' grave?" Ross slowly walked up the steps and gave his response.
"Yes I did, I even told Summer and Qrow of what has been happening recently." He saw Tai wince when the words came out of his mouth, poor choice of words in Ross's opinion. Tai stood up as Ross slowly turned to face him. If Ross were to describe Tai, it would be simple. He stood over six feet, with broad shoulders and a well-built from. A handsome face with a chiseled jawline. With golden blond hair and blue eyes. Aryan he would be, with his skin being kissed by the sun.
Tai cleaned out his hands from the dirt, slowly making his approach to Ross, stopping at the foot of the small step of the porch. Tai began to carefully talk to Ross. "Well that's good and all, but you should call them mom and dad for they were your par-"
"The keyword being were, they are no longer alive. So they ceased at being my parents." Ross did not want to have a repeat of this, the last time they argued about this it made Yang cry for how loud they yelled at each other. Fortunately for him, Tai relented, for now.
"Whelp, Yang is cooped up in her room, hasn't been out all day. Hoping you will bring her out Ross. She listens to you more than me." Ross nodded. "I'll bring her out, we'll get something to eat at the port, from there I don't know. Guess I'll bring her to the Seaside bench over yonder for the evening. Get her to do something." Tai nodded with a smile.
"Call me if you get into any trouble, or if an-" Ross cut him off. "Or if any boy tries to hit on her I get it, Uncle." Tai laughed and walked back to his garden.
"Atta boy! Get her out, then maybe we will talk about your school tonight." School. A word Ross mused to himself, he hasn't been to one since he was drafted into the army. He chuckled to himself and went inside.
The inside of the house is something he considers modern, really modern to him. From the couches, lazy boys, and the tele. Or in this world, it is called the HS, holo screen. The technology in this world is far beyond his imagination, he approached the couch to grab the remote. 'A remote, this would've been helpful way back when so we didn't have to always turn the nob, especially on those metal teles.' Ross winced at the memories of his younger years whenever they visited his uncle in New Orleans, he turned his gaze to examine the remote, a small thin rectangular piece of glass. At least he thinks it is, smooth to the touch, being soft whenever he dragged his finger across it. Ross pressed the top right corner of the remote turning it on, he aimed it at the wall directly in front of him and pressed it again.
The whole wall lit up with the holo screen taking most of it. "Holographic Television. Only scientists dreamed of TV becoming this one day." The start-up menu appeared to display a variety of streaming services, many of the services provide movies, TV shows, and other stuff. Ross looked for the speaker icon on the remote, Yang told him he can press it and speak to it and whatever you say will appear. So he said "Planet Remnant-Mountains" The screen faded to black and the intro to Planet Remnant began, he pressed the two arrow keys to fast forward the show to show the mountains of Vale. Mt. Glen was shown at high angles with flying Nevermores surrounding the mountain.
Another amazement to him was how clear it looked, Ross remembers the old screen in how it looked, being small and scratchy. Yet the holo screen here makes it look like you are there, something called 12k resolution or whatnot. "Off." At once the screen disappeared, he placed the remote on the coffee table and went up the stairs to the rooms on the second floor. As he approached one of the rooms, he heard what he had suspected, Yang was doing her little deed for the day.
He sighed and pulled his hair back. Time to make a little entrance, he pressed the button to open the door and loudly exclaimed, "Time to get up Yang! So stop having fun with your fin-" Yang screamed in surprise however quickly calmed down seeing who it is. "ger- HEY! Don't go back to masturbating dammit! Have some goddamn decency woman!" He threw a pair of clothes at her face and turned away from her.
"Jeez couz, I was just about to cum too." Ross heard her stand up and walk over to him. "Want to help me finish?" She whispered seductively in his ear. He gave her a hard elbow to the stomach bending her forward in pain. "Agh! Fuck!" She stepped back and sat down, seeing the bruise on her stomach disappear thanks to her aura. She looked at him as he slowly turned to face her. "What the hell made you all moody huh? Someone start their man period?" A smirk appeared on her face.
Ross didn't change his expression as he faced her. "No, visited my parents' grave is all." Yang dropped her smile, finding it harder to look at him in the eyes. She awkwardly laughed, Yang knew how sensitive the subject of his parents is to him. He must have gotten in an argument with her dad. To change the atmosphere of the room she asked a question. "So why you barge in my room like that? You want something from me."
Ross turned to face her and smiled. He smiled. Yang gulped, it was never a good sign when he smiled. He walked around her room examining it, he closed the door, taking a look at the boy bands taped on it. The Achieve Men is what it said, nothing special to Ross really, he moved on to her dresser with hair products and care, it held all the combs a growing girl needs to take care of their hair. "Your father wanted you out of the house for today, you've been cooped up in here for the past week hardly leaving unless it's training or eating. But nothing much else." He picked up one of the combs he bought, it was broken, unusable.
He turned to Yang who was growing paler by the second, her eyes flickered to the comb and him. He examined the hair sprays, some of them are too old to use, most are empty. He picked one up. Elizabethan Care it read, a popular and trusted product in the beauty world. Ross gave it a few shakes; empty it was. "So I told your father that I will take you out to the port, grab something to eat then maybe shopping, and finally a hike through the woods to the Seaside bench. How does that sound?" Yang regained some color, it was not a bad plan, it wasn't. What she didn't like is the constant teasing she will get from some of the people there, always teasing them about looking like a couple. It aggravated her at times, he is family. She told herself that her love for Ross is familial love and nothing more. However, as time passed, he grew and grew, now she is not so sure if it is just familial love she is feeling. But she will not act on them, that was what she told herself at least.
She was taken out of her thoughts when the weight of the bed shifted.
"So what you say, Yang? Wanna do it?" Yang stared at Ross, his eyes were always so empty as if they had no life or soul in them. Yet no matter how he looked at her she could never say no to him. She never could.
"Sure sounds good. We're gonna have a Yanging good time." Ross chuckled at her pun despite how bad it is. He stood up making his way to the door.
"Well then puts some pants on, don't wanna go walking around half-naked do you?" Yang laughed as she stood up picking up her clothes off the floor.
"I'll get nice and dressed don't worry, so you go get ready Ross, and tell dad that I'll be leaving." Ross nodded with a small smile and left her room, closing the door behind him. He rubbed his face out of habit, if his mother ever saw him alone with a girl half naked she would have him beat. Literally. He walked down the hall to his room, he faced the door. A room which is not his, yet it is. He cautiously had his finger near the touchscreen button to open his door, he pressed and entered, it automatically closed behind him. He took a closer look around his room, it contained his bed, desk, a weapons locker, and a closet for his clothes. On the desk lay a computer, a kind of computer that can extend from its stem making it very versatile. Ross can pull it out, reaching the middle of his room, or have it rotate by turning the screen. He mainly uses it for research for the little fantasy novel he wants to write, on the desk lay various books, bottles of ink, and a fountain pen. Along with stacks of paper that contain his notes for his fantasy novel he plans to make. Near his bed is a holoprojector, a device that can display a screen at all angles from where he is at, it works just like an HS, only made for smaller rooms and such.
Next to his closet is a mirror, he cannot stress enough how to advance this world is in terms of technology. The mirror replicates the color of the wall when not in use, easily blending in with the wall, when in use, it shifts over to mirror mode to give him a good high-quality reflection of whatever stands in front of it. It gives the time of year, day, and month along with a weather forecast for the day and coming week. Also, it gives the user access to something called the internet, in case someone wants to change their style of hair but wants to see what they are doing alongside the video. If allowing to, it can connect to your devices and give you a voice-generated audio recap of what was sent to you last night or of the weather forecast.
Such advanced technology this world has, but as advance, as everyday items are, the weapons are too. Ross shook his head from the thought, humanity will continue to find progress in every way shape, or form, no matter the cost.
Ross opened his closet with lights illuminating it. "Good afternoon Mr. Branwen, what can I be of service?" Ross nearly forgot of the AI he has in his phone, she was connected to the devices in his room, she is one of the newer models too, after a certain time with her Ross decided to give a name, he decided on Byline. A name fitting for her, he looked through his clothes to find a decent jacket to go with his red cloak.
"Hmmm. Well Byline, what do you suggest for me to wear this fine afternoon?" he asked.
"What shall this afternoon entail may I ask sir?" Ross thought for a moment thinking of a way to put it into words. He then started carefully.
"I'm going out this afternoon with my cousin Yang, it will take all day ending in the evening. A casual hang out so to speak." He heard a low hum from the computer nearby, Byline is thinking about what he may wear for this day. Then came a ping.
"May I suggest sir an outfit fit for casual wear, black jeans, with your red Unius shirt, finished with your black coat?" Ross did not see how it is casual wear with the black coat. It will however match with his red cloak.
"Good suggestion Byline, I'll go with that." He reached into his closet and grabbed said clothes, he changed quickly as he can knowing Yang can be impatient when waited on, yet much can be said about her time to get dressed. As he finished he looked in the mirror to see his face.
He can not lie. He doesn't enjoy seeing the face looking back at him in the mirror, the face of a young boy of 15, being very girlish with long strands of hair reaching past his shoulders, he can not count the times guys have hit on him mistaking him for a girl. What did not help with his case is his voice being very hard to identify as male or female. Ross's only hope is it will grow more masculine as he grows older. Yet if he tries Ross can perfectly imitate a girl's voice with little strain.
'There's gotta be some sickos out there into that kind of shit.' Ross thought back to the time Yang told him of that word she used some years ago when she forced him into a dress. "Crossdressing. Yeah, that kind of deal." He shook his head and went to his desk picking up his wallet containing his IDs and other essentials.
'Don't wanna get caught with my pants down now.' As he made his way out of the room Byline spoke, "May you have a good evening sir." Ross chuckled as he closed the door and locked it.
"What do you mean Byline, you'll be with me all the time."
"Always sir," she responded.
Ross made his way to Yang's room to hear her blasting music. 'Still getting ready eh?' He made his way downstairs and sat on the couch thinking about what school he will be going out to. Or he will even go to one.
'Kinda curious about what Uncle Tai will say about that. My grades have been good, top in the combat class of my year too. Did something happen? Maybe he contacted one of his friends from the time he was an active Huntsman.' Ross popped his neck and checked the time on his phone.
3:23
'Yang better hurry up, we're burning sunshine here.' He sat there waiting for Yang to finish dressing till she finally came downstairs.
"The life of the party is here and ready to gooo!" The cheerful cry of Yang drew Ross's attention to the stairs. For once Yang attempted to tame her hair albeit it turned out to be not so great. "So you ready to go?" He looked at Yang's color pattern, matching his in a way. He stood up and went to the door with Yang following him, as they left the house, Tai called out. "Stay safe out there you two! Call if anything happens!"
"We will dad don't worry!" Yang called back. They continued walking through the small forest making their way to the port town of Lommel. On their way, they passed by a couple more houses than to a gravel road.
"Hey, Ross."
"Hmmm."
"Do you got any idea on what you want to do after I leave for Beacon?" Ross walked a bit more slowly to match the pace of his cousin.
"Continue going to Signal to be a Huntsman, then for Beacon. Why?" Ross kinda wondered what Yang is going with the conversation since that is all he is going to do.
"Well, it's just that. . . I won't be around to look out for you. Ya'know how my dad gets whenever he tells you to go visit your parent's grave or when you call them by their first name." Her voice conveyed worry for him and her father. "I'm just worried your relationship with him will get even more strained whenever I leave, don't wanna leave you both like that." Ross sighed, he understood where she is getting at. Yet he will never see Summer or Qrow as his parents, not as mom and dad.
"Yang I understand your concern, but you have to focus on your future. You want to be a Huntress to find your mother Raven right? So that should be your goal while you're at Beacon. Don't worry about me or Tai, focus on what you want to do." Yang did not feel any better when he spoke of her dream. Yes, she wants to find her mother, wants to know why she left her and Tai. But she has more concern and love for her current family, the one she still has within arms reach.
"Ross. I just. . . . I just don't want to hear you both fight." She slowed her pace down till she stopped. Ross stopped too, seeing the tears forming in her eyes.
"It always scared me whenever you two fight like that, it sacred me whenever I hear something get hit. Or the anticipation of a physical fight between you two. It always . . . it always. . ." Ross saw the tears flow down her cheeks, she did her best to wipe them away. He stood there till he decided to do something he never really felt comfortable with. He approached her and hugged her. Yang was surprised at first for he never hugs anyone on his own unless he is forced to, she gave a smile and hugged him back. She will cherish this moment for this is the 4th time he hugged her in his life.
"Yang I promise you that we won't get into a fight, at least not a physical one. So when you leave for Beacon at the end of this month you will leave with a good mind, so be a goddamn Huntress, so when you meet your mother give her one hell of a punch for leaving you and Tai and never showing up for her brother's wedding. Alright?" Yang could only laugh at Ross's words, she most diffidently will.
"So let us continue on our little outing, alright?" Yang cleaned her face somewhat and bounced back to her cheerful self.
"Well then let's go! Let's have some fun and even more fun!" She gave her arms a little pump as if she is ready to fight. Ross gave a thin smile to her enthusiasm.
'She would've fit right in with our unit back in China, sadly, she would've been the first to die.' Ross continued to the port town with Yang following him.
Their little outing continued all day in the town, they grabbed something to eat at a local restaurant, along with dessert. Followed by shopping mostly for Yang in buying new brushes since she still had broken ones along with products, much to her ire. Who ended up carrying such bags were Yang, she made a bet and lost, Ross told her; "Never make a bet against a Branwen." and laughed hysterically. As their day went on they finished it at the Seaside bench near the cliff with a nice view of the setting sun. They talked a bit more, meaning Ross listened to whatever came out of Yang's mouth while he just nodded along.
Once their day was over they made it back home with Ross now relaxing on his bed. He looked on his phone to see the time.
9:31
He placed it in the drawer next to him and began to decide on what to do for the morning the next day. 'I could always study, not on school but something else, or maybe I could practice in refining my scythe skills. God knows I need to refine it if I'm ever gonna be as good as Qrow.' If Ross were to brag about his skills with a weapon, it will not be much (in his opinion) compared to Summer or Qrows skills when it came to it. He looked at the safe containing said weapons, his gaze stared at the stainless steel, the gold embroidery along its cold walls. He stood up and placed his hand on the small rectangular screen. It hummed to life and gave his hand a scan, turning green when it did so, a few clicks later the steel door opened within it was the gear of his parents. It held Summers old cloak and weapon, along with Qrows weapon and necklace.
These were some of the keepsakes he was able to keep, Ross often wondered in which why they were not buried with them. This often leads him to wonder what to do with them, selling it is out of the question, have it collecting dust is an option, but he does not believe that will do good on their memory just leaving it there. So he decided on an alternative.
He took off his red cloak and coat and placed them on his chair, he then looked at his mother's cloak. White on the outside, red on the inside. Ross grabbed it carefully, being afraid it may crack or fall apart if he grabbed it roughly. He slowly brought it out of its hanger and held it in his hands, he then stretched it out before him. He could only marvel at how beautiful it is. As far as he knows it is hunter-grade material, made of the finest metals and cloths, as Qrow once said. 'Your grandmother once made it for her long ago, and one day she will give you one. Just don't tell her I told you.' He somehow doubted it.
He carefully placed it on himself, wrapping it snugly around his neck. Then he looked at Qrow's necklace, a simple chain with a cross on it being connected sideways to it. He then put it on himself.
Ross looked at the final piece of this mismatched puzzle. Qrows' weapon: Harbinger. There it hanged in all its glory, a large greatsword being as tall as he is. Above the hilt is a clockwork mechanism that makes the whole thing work, covering the hilt are two parallel handguards. On the side of the sword are two gun barrels on each side, shotgun barrels when he closely examined it. Just under the hilt, being protected by the handguards is a trigger that transforms the weapon into various forms.
He reached out with a shaky hand and grabbed the grip of the weapon. He stepped back with it his hand, he took the basic guard stance for a sword. Qrow always wanted to teach Ross how to use a sword and scythe, while Summer wanted to teach him how to use her weapon or something similar to it. It did all come down to his choice, so Ross chooses Summers weapon style. He only thought at the time is, 'How the hell do those things even work? A weapon that can transform into another. How queer.' Summer, for her part, exploded in joy. Bouncing up and down all around the room, they immediately began training in how to use her weapon. She forgot he was only 5 years old at the time. He looked back at his Summers weapon.
He gazed at the length of the sword, the blade measured at around 85 inches from tip to bottom, with the grip being an extra 12 inches. It was a very crude and dirty-looking weapon, not the kind of weapon a woman like Summer would carry around. The blade itself is curvy giving somewhat of a dangerous edge to anyone caught in its swing. The transformation into its second form he still did not understand no matter how closely he looked at it.
Despite his lack of understanding of how Summer switched it to its second form, he saw what it was. A bow with the blades as limbs for it. The day Summer demonstrated her weapon to him, she stood as the proudest mom he had ever seen, yet he was scared in how she used it. Quick, efficient, with no wasted movement whatsoever. Each strike meant to kill, and he saw it done when he was being chased by creatures of black called Grimm. They chased him in the forest till he can run no more, just before they pounced, Summer came in and slaughtered them. Her weapon is cruel, whenever he touched it, he felt hate, despair, pain, and a deep thirst for blood.
What he felt that day many years ago when she killed those Grimm, Ross saw the hatred in those silver eyes. They weren't the eyes of hatred of a mother facing her enemy to protect her child, it ran deeper than that. On what? He could not say. He remembered how ruthless Summer was when she butchered the Grimm. How nasty her aura felt, even after she defeated them. He felt threatened, scared really. He ran from Summers embrace, refusing to get near her. "Get away from me!" He would scream, "Don't touch me!" He was cruel to her. Far too cruel. Summers's face was filled with despair when he said those words, filled with a pang of guilt in her eyes. She approached him with desperation.
"Come my sweet boy. Don't be afraid." She would say. But her face grew more twisted, more hideous at each step. "Please my little Ro, come to mommy!" She would call out, he slowly took a step back at every step she would make.
"Summer you are scaring me." He would meekly respond. She did not like that at all.
"I AM YOUR MOTHER! DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME THAT!" She screamed at him. Her face grew more wicked when she spoke those words. Ross ran tried to run away, yet he didn't make three steps before tripping on a root of a tree. He remembers how Summer beat him with the pommel of her weapon, the broken bones he got from the iron grip she held them in.
"DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME SUMMER BOY DO YOU HERE ME!" Her voice pierced his ears. "I AM YOUR MOTHER, I AM YOUR MOTHER, I AM YOUR MOTHER!" As Ross recalls the memory, he always wondered if she said that to him, or herself. Summer continued to beat him till he saw the light fade from his eyes. Ross had to do something, or death will take him away again. As he began to fight back, Summer ever grew fiercer in holding him down. He kicked and scratched and bit till he found a large rock. With a desperate swing, he struck her. Summer remained unchanged for her aura protected her. It only made her angrier.
"DON'T YOU EVER RAISE YOUR HAND AGAINST YOUR MOTHER!" The beating only got more brutal, with each strike of the pommel it grew heavier and faster. Her eyes resembled the look of a deranged madwoman, her breathing more erratic, her face flushed red with a fury like no other.
Ross remembered that day, it was a week after he unlocked his aura. So he used it. He focused his aura to a singular point in his hands and blasted her off him. Ross took that time as an opportunity to leave Summer. Yet he remembers the face of pure horror and realization Summer held on her face as he looked back, Summer must've seen his tears, his head, and broken arms and how scared he was of her as he ran into the forest. It wasn't till sundown when Raven, his Aunt before she left, found him hiding in the roots of the trees.
When he was brought back home, in the arms of Raven, Summer immediately tried to hug him, begging for an apology. But she was held back by Qrow and Tai, with Raven drawing her sword in front of him, protecting him.
"PLEASE! I'M SORRY MY PRECIOUS LITTLE BOY! FORGIVE MEEEE!" To Ross, all the other voices grew quiet with only Summers growing more distant. She lashed and wailed like a child whose toy was taken from, Qrow and Tai struggled to hold her down. Raven carefully carried Ross as she yelled back at Summer. She in turn tried to swing at Raven but was unsuccessful as Qrow grappled her arms. He tried to cover his ears, trying to block out the world around him. But his broken arms refused to listen, which made him cry out in pain, which made Summer more hysterical. He saw how Tai slammed Summer on the ground pinning her legs with Qrow pinning her upper body. Raven, being ever so careful, carried him up the stairs with her free arm while keeping a dangerous eye on Summer with her blade in the other.
For the first time he cried, he cried into Raven's neck, flinging himself to her. He heard Summer curse and scream at Raven, yet Raven held him more tightly, more lovingly. They both went into the room Yang when she was little. The door closed and locked as she sat with him still in her arms and poor little Yang, too young to know any better, getting scared and started to tear up.
"Why is aunt Summer screaming." She would ask, tears welling. "Why is Ross bleeding? What happened?" She asked and never received the truth from Raven.
"Your cousin Ross has been attacked by Grimm, and your aunt. ." She spat the word bitterly. ". . is crying because of it. Because she wasn't fast or strong enough to protect him." Little it did alleviate Yang's worry. She jumped on the bed and hugged Ross. He will never forget the kindness Yang showed him that night, he never had a good or bad thought of her. However, on that night, Ross saw her as family. Raven was careful in touching his wounds, his arms, and head. She was so very gentle with him, so ever worried for him. After a time she sang a lullaby to him, seeing as he was stifling his cries. He will never forget it.
You are the oceans gray waves, destined to seek
Life beyond the shore just out of reach
Yet the waters ever change, flowing like time
The path is yours to climb
In the white light, the hand reaches through
A double-edged blade cuts your heart in two
Waking dreams fade away,
Embrace the brand-new day
Sing with me a song of Birthright and Love
The light scatters to the sky above
Dawn breaks through the gloom, white as a bone
Lost in thoughts all alone
The path you walk belongs to destiny, just let it flow
All of your joy and pain will fall like the tide, let it flow
Life is not just filled with happiness, nor sorrow
Even the thorn in your heart, in time it may become a rose
He asked her if she could teach him that song. Raven gave a thin smile. "I will my dear nephew. I'll teach you the entire song." She did. Raven used her aura to slowly and steadily heal his wounds. That very same night they visited the doctor to get Ross casts, the doctor spoke of nothing when he saw his arms. The old doctor was skinny, with bony fingers, his head only held a few strands of white hair. His face is gaunt with dark circles under his eyes. The doctor did not ask questions about how he got his arms broken, merely nodded to whatever aunt Raven said. Yet the doctor knew what caused it, Ross held respect for him since then.
Since that day he has stayed with Tai and Raven till Summer was deemed mentally well to be near Ross. Qrow oftentimes came to visit him whenever Summer was busy or on meds as he heard. He stayed in that house for the next eight years.
For the life of him, Ross will never love them as his parents, however, that did not mean he could care about them as people. He remembers the way they treated him, the way they loved him, it was only a shame he could never return the same love and affection as a son. That did not mean he will spit on their memory, so he will carry it on with him, as a way of apologizing to them by carrying their spirits with him, so they can see how far he has come. To see their hopes and dreams live on with him.
Ross gave a thin smile. "I'm truly am sorry you two, for I robbed you of a son. I should've never been reborn." He placed the weapon back along with the necklace, Ross however kept the cloak with him.
'It works as a blanket.' He moved the red cloak on the chair to his closet and sat back down. He checked the time again.
9:47
'Guess it's time to take a shower. Hope Yang hasn't jumped in yet.' He grabbed a towel and a fresh pair of clothes for the night. As he approached the bathroom he heard nothing. 'Well, that's a good start as any.' He gently pressed the button to open the door.
Emptiness and darkness are all he saw.
"Well that's good at least, hope she didn't steal all the damn hot water," Ross muttered under his breath. Once he was in the shower he set the temperature to lukewarm, to ease some of the tension off his shoulder and back muscles. Once he was done he stepped out and changed into his nightclothes. He stepped out of the shower to see Yang waiting out in the hall with her clothes.
"Didn't steal all the hot water did you?" Yang's signature grin was present on her face. Ross gave a thin smile as he dried his hair with a towel.
"Unlike you Yang, I don't spend over an hour taking a shower. I'm done within ten minutes." Yang scoffed looking at him dubiously.
"Riiiight. Like you don't spend a long time doing your hair." Ross shot her a sharp look as he began to walk away. "At least I have the mind to take care of mine, unlike you. You just let it fly where ever." Ross responded. Yang laughed and brought Ross close and kissed him, sticking her tongue in for a moment.
"And I love you for that Ross, that's why I let you touch and take care of my hair. Bye." Ross stood there frozen for a moment as he saw her walk into the bathroom, this isn't the first time she has done that. If she was from his world, it would be shunned and looked down upon. Especially when they are first cousins, not second or third.
Yet Ross could not long dwell on it, his only hope is that this relationship does not develop past familial love. Yang needs to learn not to rely on him for emotional support all the time, it will only hinder her growth with other people. He placed his hand on his lips, tracing them. He walked back to his room and locked the door. He jumped on his bed and set his alarm for 6:00 am, he covered himself with Summers's cloak since it can work as a blanket. As he laid he remembered he needed to talk with Tai about his school, he walked out the door to hear Yang playing her music loudly, shaking the door. He walked down the steps, listening to know if Tai is still awake.
He heard a frustrated sigh coming from the kitchen dining area, Ross knew he is in for a treat. Ross presented himself before his Uncle to see him with his head down looking at the papers spread before him. Ross walked closely and cautiously, Tai raised his head and Ross saw the tiredness in his eyes.
"Hey kiddo, wanna discuss your school this coming school year." Ross nodded and sat down on a wooden chair close to Tai as he sorted out the papers in front of him. Tai rummaged through them, trying to find the right papers. Ross smirked thinking of a small joke.
"Now you know what your teachers feel, eh? They put up with you for either six or four years and yet you still don't get paid enough." Tai let out a long sigh, Ross saw from the bottom of his view some papers of kids with referrals. 'Are those from last year? Or from summer school program Signal has?' He focused back on his uncle to see him give a grim and resigned smile.
"I sure do. Now I know what they felt like long ago, I think I need to apologize to a few of them. Some are still alive, so I have some hope. Can sort of understand the feeling of wanting to choke out some students?" Tai gave a little laugh, soon joined by Ross.
"Jeez uncle, I could tell you were quite the heart breaker, even the delinquent from the way you act around Yang and some of the students. You must have some amazing stories, especially with the ladies." Ross nudged Tai, he in turn gave a short laugh, understanding of what he is implying.
"Well, we must get down to business. Your coming school year, I have a proposal for you." Ross stood a bit straighter, looking towards his uncle more seriously.
"Continue." Tai nodded as he looked at his papers.
"To be frank with you Ross. Your grades are somewhat above average, nothing to write home about trusting me. However, many teachers such as your history and English teachers have taken a keen liking towards you and have recommended you to skip a school year." Tai switched over to some other papers being three pages. "Yet when we look at your combat scores and track record. As one combat instructor said 'Brutal' that is to say you have scared a vast majority of the student body into not fighting you to the point even the 6th years second guess themselves."
'Close quarters combat does that to people, especially when have nothing left to use as a gun. You turn to anything you get your hands on.' Ross thought grimly.
"So after much consideration from the school staff as well as the district, we have decided to move you up a grade to start your final year at Signal this coming school year. So . . . congratulations." Ross blinked once, then twice.
' That's it?' For a moment Ross thought it was a joke, yet seeing the look his uncle gives him. He is certain he is not lying. Ross decided to speak than be a fish out of water.
"That's it?"
"That's it. Congratulations, you'll be attending Beacon sooner than you expect." Both of them heard the thump of the carpet stairs, the sound of someone running up. Both of them knew who it was. But neither decided to speak about it. Ross took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yeah. Yeah. I can get behind that, nothing too bad about it. I'll be in the final year and out of there faster, so all is good. All is good." Ross could not complain too much about it. He expected much worse or something out of this world. His thoughts turn to him being at Beacon at the age of 15.
'Like that'll ever fucking happen.' Ross got out of the chair making his way out of the kitchen dining area.
"Don't stay up too late uncle, I don't want to find you passed out on the table now." Tai stood up gathering the papers and putting them in one big pile.
"Oh don't worry about that kiddo. I'm off to bed right now." Ross nodded and decided to head off to his bed. Once he reached and lay in bed for the final time, his thoughts turned to years past, to his years in the army during the late '60s and '70s against the Japanese Empire. He does not like remembering it, it gave him nightmares so terrible he refused to sleep for a time. That refusal to sleep was stopped by Summer when she made him his red cloak. It soon ceased his nightmares whenever he slept with his cloak, and it worked with his mother's cloak as well. He took a deep breath and sighed.
'I could only wonder what the future may hold.'