A/N: RWBY belongs to Monty Oum. I only take credit for my own added character's and storylines.

I post on both A03 and FanFiction, take your pick in whichever you prefer to read.~.
I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 5 ~ Of Family and Drama


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"It's already past ten."

The glare Yang sends to the clock is one of personal betrayal; disbelief laced with incredulous irritation as it never-ending continuous ticking.

"She did say she'd visit at eleven." Tai chimes in, voice more amused than frustrated as he watched his daughter pace.

Then again, anything that got her out of her funk was something that'd make him happy. Especially when it wasn't anger.

"In the morning." His daughter hissed. "And the sun has set ages ago."

Well yeah, but this was Raven they were talking about.

...Granted, he'd automatically assumed she'd meant during the night rather than whenever the sun would grace Patch. Again, this was Raven they were talking about; one might as well called her Owl rather than Raven.

Wich made her sound like some sort of party animal rather than... Raven.

He could almost picture her glance of disgust at the mere idea.

"She never did specify whether it'd be morning or night." He offers instead; because he hadn't lived this long without realising when the truth wouldn't help.

It'd be good character building for Raven.

...He'd keep an eye on the conversation just in case. Knowing her, the conversation would easily become... explosive.

"Oh," He states absentmindedly, surprised by how used he still is by the portal appearing out of thin air, "she's here early."

He found himself missing his younger days. When they'd laze on the sofa as she lazily opened portals to reach for the food and drinks in the fridge; when she grabbed the control; when she cooked from the couch.

The last was always the most amusing, almost making up for the complete lack of privacy it'd sometimes give.

"Tai." She greets him warmly - expression still blank, only the slight twitch of her lip betraying a smile-, offering an open arm as he stands.

He pulls her into a hug.

"It is good to see you, Eva."He says softly. "Thought your timings only got worse."

"My timing is nothing but excellent, thank you." She sniffs, holding him a moment longer before she pulls back. "Who even sleeps at three? Productive people like to get stuff done."

"Ah. Of course, how silly of me to think you'd do something as outrageous as visiting when light shines. We wouldn't want you getting burnt, or worse, starting a tan."

He is a little worried on that point. While still looking in her late teens, her skin is a near translucent pale, not quite sickly, but worse than what it had been just some months ago.

Which was still a strange thought. Whenever he thought of team STRQ, Raven always had tanned skin, not the type of pale that wouldn't be amiss in a porcelain doll; and dark, short hair and rather than the ridiculously long length that he still wasn't sure how she managed to fight with without it getting in her way.

He still found it unfair. That maidenhood - at least magic, god related level - froze her physical ageing; why couldn't there be some bro-hood for men? Tai believed in gender equality! He really, really didn't want those grey hairs.

The less said about baldness, the better.

"No need to be petty, Tai." Raven's lip twitches into a knowing smirk. "You know I'd be burnt to ash."

"Ah, of course. And you still shiver from garlic."

They both share a nostalgic smile.

It's only then that Tai remembers that his daughter is still in the room. Said daughter that's now staring with a barely contained fascination.

"Anyway," He continues, "Raven, this is Yang; Yang, this is Raven."

He doesn't laugh when their incredulous expressions mirror the other.

"You don't say." Raven drawls before she lets out an exasperated sigh. "We met last night, remember?"

"More like this morning." His daughter adds, eyes still darting between the two as if it were a particularly complex puzzle.

"It was before I slept, ergo it was last night."

The stare Yang gives her mother is much the same as the one Tai had given her on their first day of class. "That... isn't how it works. At all."

Raven shrugs, picking one of the chairs at the dining table as Tai offers her a cup of tea.

"So..." He offers, taking a seat of his own as Yang followed suit a moment later. "What was so important that you'd visit little old me."

Raven blinks, it's the one he and Summer would often tease her on her similarities to a lost kitten.

It never helped that, without fail, she'd always tilt her head at a slight angle.

Tai was barely in his forties, but he felt so incredibly old.

And then she stills, eyes sharpening as her face blanks.

That was never a good sign.

"Tai," She stars softly, studying carefully thought not quite in a hostile manner, "Where's Ruby?"

Ah. It was one of those conversations.

"She's with Qrow." He offers hesitantly, debating whether buying time will increase or decrease his chances of survival.

Maybe he could throw Qrow to the wolves? That, at least, would buy him a minute.

"...And where is Qrow at this moment?"

"Ah... funny thing, that... I... don't know?"

"..."

"Look. I didn't exactly give my permission for this! If anything, this is Qrow and Ozpin written all over it!"

"Point." She concedes, leaning into her chair as her expression grew thoughtful. "Then again, I wouldn't have anywhere much as trouble if she knew what she was doing. Or, you know, who she was fighting."

Oh, so that was the point she was trying to make.

"We both agreed to not tell them anything until they graduated." Idly, he wonders whether buying time would increase his chances of survival. It might be better to get it done with. One, quick swop rather than this painful circling.

"We did." She nods, eyes taking a pinkish shade as she stares into his own. "But then, when Beacon fall, we also didn't."

Ah. She was mad.

Good to know.

"That's on Qrow." He blames shamelessly, grimacing at the way her eyes darken. "I wasn't particularly happy when he asked me to leave the room, but what was I supposed to say? I was gone for two minutes."

Saying no to two minutes with his niece would have implied that he didn't trust him. Which he did, he'd trust Qrow with his own life; he'd trust Qrow with his daughter's life.

But he'd said something. Had his fifteen-year-old daughter run away from home. He'd missed something; in those two minutes. He just wishes he knew what.

"Right." She sighs, taking a sip of her tea with a faraway stare. "I don't suppose you know where they'd be going?"

Tai frowned at the simplicity of the question. "...You know where she is, don't you?" His eye twitched, eyes narrowing in a glare of his own at her casual shrug. "Really, Eva? Mind games?"

"I was making a point."

Tai let out a tired sigh. "Which is...?"

"Retirement doesn't suit you, Tai." She says instead.

And for a moment, he wonders whether derailing the conversation for pettiness sake would work.

"I thought being a huntsman didn't suit me?"

Probably not. The fantasy was still pleasant, though.

"But being retired suit's you less."

"I really haven't got the energy for this, Eva. You might as well just tell me."

"I'm assuming Yang told you that I offered her an apprenticeship?" She tries tentatively, eyes flickering towards their daughter before returning towards him.

She had. It'd been more of a rant than an actual discussion, but he had got the gits of what she'd offered.

Which was more or less the same as what she'd offered him; just some few days after starting their first year, expression in a scowl as she muttered on the lack of education not getting her team killed. A lot more experienced than then, perhaps, but more or less the same.

"She did," He nods.

"And...?"

"Isn't this something you should be asking... I don't know, me?"

Eva blinks, turning towards Yang looking almost blindsided at the interruption.

"I did?"

"I don't remember saying yes."

"I mean... what are you going to say; no?"

That had been a mistake. The defiant glare Yang had taken at the dare was only going to make it harder for the older woman.

"I could just stay here."

"Er... no you can't?"

Yang frowned, turning towards him with a questioning glance.

Tai grimaces, realising that Raven has just dragged him into the argument even when she hadn't intended to.

"What she means is that, with the land of Vale falling apart, it's only a matter of time before the Grim reach Patch."

"...Oh."

"I mean, it's not like I'll force you to come with me? I can set up another house in Menagerie or Vacuo. Thought I'd rather Menagerie; Vacou is still in the Sanus continent which..." Her hands wave in a lacklustre manner towards the window; as if the action carries some deeper understanding. "Vale."

"I still haven't finished paying the mortgage." He sighs, grateful that she doesn't point out that she's technically the one he's paying it to.

"Okay. Stop. Time out!" Yang's hand went through her hair, not much caring how messier she'd make it as she stared at them disorientedly. "How the hell are you both so calm when entire continents going to fall!?"

"I mean... we don't know whether the entirety of Sanus will fall. I don't particularly trust Theodore, but that's because we have different loyalties, not from any actual animosity. He'll do anything to protect his student's. And when I say anything, I mean anything."

"And we've known Salem's existence for years." He slips in, realising how Raven's absentmindedness might be taken in offence. "It's why I retired to start with." Which wasn't entirely true. When Ozpin had first told team STRQ he'd been happy to be part of the brotherhood. One's youth gave an intoxicating belief of immortality; Aura gave one a flawed level of arrogance. A newly graduated hunter?

He still remembered Team's STRQ first battle against Salem.

It was a miracle they'd all come out alive.

"It's why we decided to have you and Ruby so young," Raven adds, gently swirling her tea as she gazes at the liquid musingly. "It isn't a matter of war; nor is it a matter of keeping a balance between 'good' and 'evil'. Salem is going to win, it's only a matter of when.

Tai sighed, wishing he hadn't sworn off alcohol so he could drown himself in ale. The bad, disgusting stuff that gave you too much of a headache to actually deal with your own problems.

"What do you... when she'll win? You're not even going to try?"

"I am trying." And this time, Raven's expression does darken; if only for a moment. "I'm just not going to pretend I have much of a chance. I don't."

"And you okay with that?"

"Not really, no." Raven huffs, reaching for the kettle as she pours herself another cup. "But since you seem to have such a strong opinion about this, why not tell us what you'd do in our steed?"

Tai grimaces, already knowing where the conversation is heading. It's an argument he'd heard so many times during his time in the brotherhood. It's the core reason Raven left and practically went awol.

"I'd fight!"

"Really?" Raven hums, taking a sip as her eyes lazily dart towards the window. "And how would you fight? There's a powerful woman, commanding a continent worth of Grim. She trusts sparingly and none know much of her plans; she has agents in every continent, traitours waiting to stab you in the back. How do you fight?"

"I just have to arrest-"

"Again, it's an entire army worth of Grim. Even if you managed to defeat her - which you would not - you'd have no legal justification to have her in bars. And no, unfortunately, mentally controlling Grim is not illegal because most don't believe it possible. So, within forty-eight hours she'd be out of prison for your blood; that's, of course, assuming her control over Grim doesn't invade whichever facility you keeping her in before the timer goes off.

"...If she's really that evil, then I'd taker her-"

"-life?" Raven's lips twitch into a smile. "We're talking about someone that has regeneration and immortality."

"..." Yang swallowed thickly, a flash of apprehension crossing her expression as her glare weakens into a more hesitant one.

"I didn't just suddenly think 'oh, I might die' decades after starting fighting and made a run for it, Yang. I've fought that woman..." Raven frowns, lifting her fingers as she rapidly counts through them. "...fifteen, sixteen..." Blinking, she turns towards Tai in a thoughtful expression. "Seventeen times. Or somewhere around that number. But the point is; out of all those fights? I've lost every single one of them. I've slit her throat, burnt her alive, buried her alive, sliced her brain, blown her up, thrown some of the highest Ph acids I could get my hands on..." She waves her hand tiredly, spinning her hand in every example she gives as she evenly meets Yangs gaze. "The best is acid and fire, it buys you half a minute, aiming for the brain only lasts some few seconds. But that's the most I've ever achieved. Half a minute of relaxation before she's going full force at me."

As a father, Tai isn't particularly happy that Raven's practically destroy any illusion of safety Patch had given to Yang. As a hunter, however, he feels relief at Yang's pale, shaky expression as the gravity of the situation finally sinks in. Still, he really should intervene. "Eva," He warns half-heartedly. "You've gone off point."

"Right, right." Eva stands, pouring herself another cup before she walks towards the window. "I said I was offering you an apprenticeship." She turns around, leaning on the windowsill as her eyes gaze towards the two of them. "I'm not entirely certain what you'd want, but it consists of fighting, espionage, intelligence reconciliation, surviving... essentially you'd be trained as one of our best, without any loyalty oaths towards us.

"And if I say no?"

"Then, as I said, you can live in a remote, peaceful place." Her lips twitch, "Not that you will." She adds, tone faintly amused.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Adam Taurus."

"Eva, that's enough!" Tai's fist slams on the table, eyes narrowing in warning as he meets her gaze.

She hesitates for a moment, gaze darting between Yang and him before her features knit in a frown. "I..." She bites her lip, slowly shaking her head as her expression hardens. "I will not deny it's rubbing salt in the wound, but you won't ever get strong enough if you-"

"Eva. Enough."

"...And going with you would?"

"Strong enough? Debatable. That man's dangerous. Stronger, however? Most definitely." She sends Tai an apologetic look, though he's not naive enough it's for any action she's taken but rather the need for the action in the first place.

He sits down anyway, realising when a battle's lost.

"...What's going to happen to Ruby?" Yang asks with a frown.

"She has bodyguards." Raven shrugs. "Qrow's also tailing her; while I'm rather displeased with what he's recently pulled - and I have no doubt he's responsible for this-, I can not deny he is competent when it comes to keeping her safe. So, for now, I'm content to leave her to her own devices."

Yang's frown deepens, but her body easies somewhat, leaning into her chair with the first expression of calmness he's seen on her since Beacon fall.

"Can you portal to her?" Yang asks, tone more curious than demanding. "I mean, you appeared outside my room, but if it was with dad-"

"Yes, to both questions." Raven interrupts, the faintest hints of a smile as her tone took a somewhat more amusing nature. "For that matter, I can open a portal to all members of this family; with exception of Summer." The last is added with a more tired expression, though Tai doesn't comment on the subject.

It's a point they've touched before.

"Right," Yang grimaces, the tales of a Raven-induced headache appearing as she rubs her templates. "Your Ruby's... mother." She cringes, hand going through her blond locks as if she'd like nothing more than to pull them out. "And where does dad fit in all of this?"

"Ah." Tai very much did not like the abruptness of the subject. He hadn't even known that Yang knew. "It's..." He trails off, sending a pleading glance towards Raven.

"When we decided to have children." She starts tentatively. "The three of us decided to... co-parent, so to speak." She hesitates, placing her cup into the sink before she meets Yang's gaze. "Qrow was... estranged, in the moment of the decision, though he was still named Godfather. At the time, we assumed he would eventually..." This time, Raven chose to send a pleading glance towards Tai.

Which is fine. Raven might make excuses for the man, but Tai had far less patience after the stunt he'd just pulled with his daughter. "What Eva is trying to say," He offers instead, "is that our team fall apart for ideological differences." It's probably a little condescending, to say this days after saying it kind of been Raven's fault.

In his defence, he'd expected Raven to keep low for years; meanwhile, Qrow would be the most experienced hunter Yang could trust; might have been the only one she could trust. He'd hoped this was something that'd be resolved in a year or two, not having to explain that Qrow's issue with his sister was that he'd been disappointed she wasn't a saint that'd been raised alongside bandits. In anima.

"Yes. That." Raven nods, expression far too relieved to not be noticeable.

"I am sorry we didn't tell you before." He smiles sadly at Yang. "I understand how it might seem, but the number of enemies we made meant that we had to keep many secrets."

"How many secrets are we talking about?" Yang scowls, a slight flickering in her aura as she leans forward.

"Surname changes," Raven offers after a moment of hesitation, "fake papers, erasing or altering previous identities, intelligence monitoring..." She frowns, turning towards Tai expectantly.

"That's it, I think." He tilts his head, mentally listing them before he turns towards Yang. "I suppose there's also the fact Raven and Summer didn't legalise their marriage. But that's in the 'erasing or altering previous identities' category."

"...Marriage?"

Tai blinks. Had Raven not told Yang they were married? But then, that would have been more confusing than productive. There weren't any papers, and there'd barely been a dozen people in the small marriage. "Not legalised. At that point, we realised Salem would use it against us. It was a small one in Mistral. Lovely church. Wouldn't be surprised if Raven travelled half of the continent to find it." He adds the last jokingly, remembering how obsessed Raven had gotten with the entire event.

"She..." Yang trails off, eyes widened as she stares at him in shock." But... you, Summer...?"

Tai blinks, realising both women staring at him wide-eyed.

"Oh, Tai." Raven sigh escapes her more of a grown, burying her face in her hands as the man can only stare at the two in bewilderment.

"But you and mum were... and's she's..." Yang shakily pointed at him, as if he'd just shattered everything she'd... believed...

Oh.

"Raven." His tone comes pleadingly. "Please tell me you mentioned you were dating Summer."

She doesn't lift her head, choosing to remain buried in her hands as she lets out a nervous giggle. Near her, their daughter spluttered at her existential crises.

Because only Eva could tell someone she was the mother and not mention she'd been involved with the other mother.


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Me banging my head's for months on how to wright this chapter. Decision; throw my hands in the air, delete it all and completely change the entire scene. I think it came out rather okay. Double the length of what I promised would be the limit, but...

I blame Raven. She's far to enjoyable when creating to not continue.

On a final note, if you thought I should have written something differently, be it personality and/or displays of different states of mentality, a different conversation, or a different story idea, please leave a comment! I always love hearing what people have to say, especially when I get to brainstorm for ways to improve this fic! Any advice is welcome and appreciated! Always.

Anyways, Ill See you next time! Chao!

~ Sapphire and Emeralds