I've written 71 chapters for this story... Enjoy the entry while I go lay down and contemplate that.
Heroes were supposed to die with aplomb, weren't they? Stories often described a brave warrior making a final stand against a horde of enemies, or a dragon, or some other seemingly insurmountable foe. Many times, they died, occasionally they lived, but their demise was always heroic. Always impressive and inspiring.
Another tear rolled down the bridge of Gretchen's nose and she let it drop, mixing with the rainfall that turned the courtyard grey and chilled what few mourners there were to the bone.
Nothing about Hazel's death felt heroic. Poisoned, according to the coroner, and having clearly put up a fight against whoever or whatever had been responsible.
Had Hazel won in the end? Gretchen had long since decided it didn't matter. If Hazel had won it wasn't preventing his body from being lowered into a grave, one reserved for those who were held in high esteem from the family. If her brother had emerged victorious from his bout then it meant nothing now that he was stiff and cold. She watched, present yet not, as a priest from one of the city's many churches read through the final rites while Hazel, lauded for his prowess, kind heart and acuity, was buried beneath six feet of loam like a piece of waste to be forgotten.
Gretchen made no effort to memorize the rites. When mourners approached her to express their condolences, she vaguely recalled giving them an appreciative nod. She may or may not have smiled.
The rain continued. Hazel's gravestone, a lovely piece of marble with his name etched on its surface, only reminded her of how pale her brother had seemed. Her final living relative now gone, relegated to the annals of history like their parents.
She should feel worse. When their parents had died years ago she recalled wailing until she fell hoarse; now she could only stare at the grave in silence. Freshly poured dirt turned to mud under the assault, the heavens uncaring for Hazel's passing. Or perhaps weeping because of it.
Again, it didn't matter. Whether Hazel won or not was irrelevant. Whether the gods themselves wept at his passing meant nothing.
Her brother was gone. Gretchen was alone.
Except she wasn't. Long after the mourners had said their part and left she remained by herself at the gravesite. Even the priest who she had to admit tried to remain a staunch ally in her darkest hour rushed away, tightening his jacket and disappearing into the grey, misty storm. Gretchen hardly noticed anyone approaching save for the faint rattle of chainmail, and something heavy and warm being placed upon her shoulders. She caught the smiling face of Mordred, one of Hazel's subordinates, and missed whatever had been uttered as she cast her eyes back on Hazel's resting place.
"You shouldn't stand out in the cold, you know. You'll get sick."
So what? If she fell ill then she'd get over it soon enough. Possibly die. If the latter came to pass then at least she could be with her family again. A shiver rattled her and Gretchen gripped the sealskin coat around herself tighter for what little good it did; her clothing had long since become drenched and the warm layer over it only pressed it against her frozen skin closer.
"Come back inside. We can come out again later if you'd like, once the storm passes."
Why? It wasn't as if she would return later and Hazel would be back. Was there something so wrong with letting her wallow in grief? Though she wanted to scorn Mordred for trying to pull her from the dour scene Gretchen knew she needed to leave eventually. Some self-preservation would kick in long before she allowed herself to starve, and a compulsion to carry on prevented her from taking her own life to be with her family.
When their grandparents had died, she had her whole family for support. When their parents had been killed Hazel was there for her. Now? Now she had no one.
The knights were more like family to her brother than her. The people of the castle were friendly enough, sure, but little more than acquaintances.
"Gretchen?"
She heard Mordred fall to one knee in salute. Gretchen kept still, staring listlessly at the grave before her. A hand set on her back gentle as could be and she shivered, lowering her head and stifling a sob that threatened to burst forth. Her hair, soaked like the rest of her, generously fell like a curtain to obscure her twisted face.
"Gretchen," Uldor Caines repeated. The king of Vale himself came to express his condolences. Gretchen supposed she ought to be grateful for that considering Hazel had given his life in service of the kingdom.
"Go away," she rasped. "I'm fine."
"I can have some tea prepared for us, if you'd like?"
"I'm fine," Gretchen repeated.
Anyone with eyes could see she wasn't. Hells, a blind and deaf pauper would pick up on how dour her mood was. Instead of welcoming the help however she rebelled against it, shrugging off Uldor's hand and shuffling closer to the grave. Her knees sank into wet mud and she reached out from the warmth of the coat, brushing the gravestone with numb fingertips.
Hazel Reinhart. Son of Vale, High Commander. 734 - 787.
How could someone's entire life be so carelessly summarized in so few words? Because a gravestone couldn't contain an entire story like that, Gretchen knew. It wasn't the fault of the people who made the marker, nor had it been done maliciously by anyone paying their respects.
Even still it felt like a terrible affront.
What about the times that Hazel had taken her exploring as children? Or the times the two of them, newly introduced to a younger Uldor Caines then, spent hours roaming the palatial grounds? She fondly recalled their late night ventures into the city, neglecting royal duty in favor of enjoying a meal in peace as family. How the king eventually caught on and, rather than demand they stop, let it go on without so much as a complaint. As frozen as she felt Gretchen smiled just a little as she remembered the night Uldor himself joined them, dressed in a dirty set of linens and free from his guards.
"Don't tell anyone. If they figure out I've left without my detail it'll be hell."
The same king now knelt beside her in the mud, paying no mind to how he soiled his trousers by doing so. He placed a hand atop the gravestone and Gretchen swallowed another sob, lips quivering. She tried to voice her appreciation, scream her reluctance to accept the reality she found herself in. Trusting only that she might break down again she kept silent.
"Someone will be made to answer for this," Uldor promised. Though his voice carried barely above the downpour Gretchen heard it loud and clear. "This goes beyond losing a commander. He was a friend to me. Family."
Gretchen took a moment to appreciate the man knelt beside her. Auburn hair that had begun to give way to gray stripes. Firm skin falling to age as wrinkles and bags hung below his eyes. Laugh lines bespoke years of mirth they shared together while a wrinkled brow showed how often the man had been forced to think over matters of great import. The king chuckled, a low, trembling sound, and Gretchen, for the king's sake, told herself the droplets running down his cheeks were rain and nothing more.
"I'll have someone sent to the fort tomorrow. We will have answers, I promise you." Uldor rubbed his face and chuckled. "I'll ride out there myself if that's what it takes."
"Not without a hundred and a half soldiers, you won't," Gretchen joked mirthlessly.
Uldor smiled, nodded briefly and let out a shuddering sigh. "I can't pretend to know his final moments, Gretchen, nor will I assume I understand your pain. But trust that I share in it, and I promise you here and now that I'll find who did this."
Who? Gretchen wanted to ask how Uldor was so confident someone was responsible. Instead she chuckled, coked on it, and shook her head as her shoulders shuddered. "I know," she whispered. "You keep promising."
"Sir," Mordred interrupted. Her sword hissed free from its scabbard and Uldor raised a hand, standing and offering it to Gretchen. She took it and shivered again, narrowing her eyes as Ozpin and Salem cut across the courtyard.
Ozpin looked honestly upset by the news. The Archbishop paused at the other side of the grave and bowed his head in respect, then knelt as Uldor had and placed a hand on the gravestone.
"Don't touch him," Gretchen found herself growling. It might have been more threatening if she wasn't shivering like mad.
Ozpin acquiesced, standing again and smiling sympathetically. "Despite being on different sides on many matters I did not consider Hazel an enemy. His passing is a loss for all of Vale." He looked skyward, blinking as raindrops ricocheted off his glasses. "The kingdom weeps, for one of its truest sons has left us today."
"I'm certain the rain has nothing to do with his death," Salem quipped.
"It's symbolic, Salem." Ozpin sighed. Gretchen considered trying to use Mordred's sword to tell Salem what she thought about her comment. "I've come to express my condolences," the Archbishop continued before she had a chance. "And my assurances that we will help you in any way we can in investigating this unfortunate situation."
"My brother is dead," Gretchen hissed. "It's more than unfortunate."
"Forgive me if I sound callous, Miss Rainhart." Ozpin shook his head, white hair flecking droplets. "It is a tragedy, truly. And for whatever it is worth you'll have our complete cooperation and assistance in solving this."
"Your offer is appreciated," Uldor said. "Thank you. I believe that can wait, however; people need time to properly grieve, and acting on such emotions as we feel now won't help anyone."
Gretchen frowned but kept silent, lowering her head. Whether Uldor spoke for her or himself she let the matter lie where it was. Allowing herself to be eased back by Mordred she sent Hazel's grave another fitful glance, and this time she didn't have to strangle any sobs. Only an empty, gnawing void in her breast remained, the sense of being utterly lost repressing her grief and anger.
A thunderclap shook the courtyard itself, or maybe that was the cold finally getting to her. Gretchen sniffled and wiped her face with a numb hand, then wiped her face when she realized she'd gotten mud on it.
"Feel free to remain as long as you wish. Someone will be by presently to show you out when you're satisfied," Uldor instructed.
"I know the way, Your Majesty, but you have our thanks all the same."
Salem smiled beside Ozpin, itching at one arm as she looked down upon the grave. "Humanity's strongest always leave their mark, don't they?" Emerald eyes gazed upon Gretchen and she swore she saw something flicker in them, an unexplainable emotion. "I wonder what Hazel's legacy will be?"
Seeing as she was not a seer Gretchen had no way of knowing the answer to that; only time would tell. As she was led away by Mordred, accompanied by the king and pelted by cold rain, she knew she would ensure her brother's legacy lived on. She didn't know how, what she could do for it, but Gretchen would spend her life making sure her brother's was not forgotten.
Beside her she caught a scowl on Uldor's face, but when she questioned him about it he shook his head, replacing it with a smile. "I do so loathe the rain, don't you?" Before Gretchen could even try to question the obvious diversion, the king turned to Mordred. "I want you to gather your squad tomorrow and go to the fort. Look for whatever you can."
"And take Gretchen with you," he added, smiling tightly as they ducked inside the castle. "I'm certain you would go either way."
Would she? All Gretchen felt like doing now was lying in bed for eternity. Except she couldn't honor Hazel's legacy by becoming comatose. Nor would she find answers by hiding away from the world, no matter how badly she wanted to. She nodded, all she could offer, and broke off with Morded to return to her chambers. Not before pausing at a window to look out at her brother's grave once more, surprised to find Ozpin knelt by it, head bowed in respect and Salem looking like she'd prefer to be anywhere but there.
/+/+/+/+/+/
Stories often appeared neat and tidy. A sudden revelation concerning a past event would help the main characters solve a pressing issue. The return of a once-thought-dead ally would herald the changing of tides, the protagonists emerging victorious.
Life was not a story but Weiss sure wished it was.
Staring at the few pages of Merlot's notes she had - Ozpin had confiscated most of them - she could not get any closer to figuring out Yang's situation. The papers laid before her held information on the "why" which she could surmise without them. Yang was a stronger fighter, more durable, so the practical application seemed obvious. Although Weiss supposed the actual purpose beyond enhancing Yang eluded her still.
To what ends did Merlot twist Yang into something monstrous? If the answers existed in note form then she didn't possess them. Huffing, she pushed the papers off her desk and rubbed her temples.
"Oops, you dropped these!"
Ruby smiled and set the pages back in front of her, sliding into the chair next to her own. Her partner leaned in and narrowed her eyes, pursing her lips as she trailed a finger along the notes. Rather than study the notes again Weiss found herself studying Ruby; the way her silver eyes stared unblinking at Merlot's entries, her lips worked soundlessly as she read to herself. Although dark rings remained beneath Ruby's eyes she seemed as energetic as ever, as the non-stop bouncing leg beneath their desk could attest. Maybe Ruby would reach the breakthrough that had eluded Weiss.
"I don't understand any of those!" Ruby groaned, slamming her head on the tabletop.
Or not. Smiling, Weiss rubbed up and down Ruby's back, rolling her eyes as the brunette whined dramatically. Maybe not dramatic considering what was at stake. Helping remove a monster from Yang's body remained a pressing issue, even more so than Ruby's condition. Magic might be out of her reach, something that still mystified them all, but Ruby wasn't at risk of going berserk.
Rereading the same pages for the twentieth time was not going to drag some hidden secrets out of them. Weiss had checked several times for secret messages; runes hiding unseen diagrams, lines between the lines, anything that might shed light on their predicament.
Deciding then she had a better chance of swimming from Vale to Mistral, Weiss tucked the pages together, stuck them in her bag, and stood from the desk. "We should get some fresh air," she muttered, arms raised as she stretched.
"Do you think I can try exercising again?"
Weiss chewed her lip. Ruby had continued to cough up blackened phlegm albeit with reduced regularity. Although some strength had returned her partner remained feebler than before. She ate fine, slept soundly, and had a chipper attitude.
When she didn't catch Ruby staring wistfully across the ocean or sulking in bed. When Ruby thought no one was looking and she would slump in place, face twisted in consternation as she fought to will her magic to the fore. Ruby might put on a brave face but Weiss caught glimpses of when she faltered, when no one thought she was looking and allowed her pain and uncertainty to show; she would do whatever it took so Ruby never had to look like that again. Yang too.
"Weiss?"
"As long as you promise not to overdo it." Weiss helped Ruby to her feet and put a finger in her face. "And you tell me the moment you start to feel faint, or sick."
"I will! I will!"
"And you make sure you're plenty hydrated. The sun is miserable, and you need to conserve your energy. Just because you seem to be doing better doesn't mean we should push it."
Ruby kissed Weiss' fingertip which turned her cheeks a soft pink. "I know my limits, Weiss! I just want to try!"
How could she say no to that face? Well, by saying "no" for starters. Seeing Ruby's wide smile and the excited sparkle in her eyes Weiss knew that wasn't happening. Instead she let out an exaggerated sigh, nodded, then took Ruby's hand in her own. "Very well, but you'd better take this seriously."
"I always do!"
Tugging Ruby along with her they left their room, passing by Blake and Yang's which remained empty, the door wide open. Weiss cringed at the disarray of one bed, blankets thrown to one side, the other neatly made. She could guess whose bed was who's at a glance.
A simple act like taking the steps proved challenging even with the gentle rock of the ship. Using the wall as support they managed and opening the door to the deck with a squeak they were greeted by pleasantly warm, fresh air.
And the sight of two Varuna tumbling across the deck.
Before Weiss could ask why they were fighting she heard Qrow cheering, then Yang's voice joined in. Mystified, she looked at Ruby cluelessly before hurrying outside. The crew had gathered in a loose circle around one of the ship's masts and cheered, clapping webbed hands together wetly and, Weiss assumed, shouted words of encouragement in some peculiar language that sounded like clicks and hisses.
Qrow, with his face rosy and a flask in hand, leaned forward and shook his drink, using an unfortunate Varuna as a way to balance himself. Yang shadow-boxed, grinning almost manically as she cheered for the pair.
Blake noticed them first, smiled, then rolled her eyes and gestured to the display as if to say "See this?" Weiss and Ruby joined her along the side of the gathering, clasping a hand over one ear when the scuffle came to an end and cheers erupted. Blake's smile grew and she winked, ears folded flat.
"I hate you," Weiss mumbled.
"Hate you too, Weiss," Blake chuckled, making room for her and Ruby. "They're just passing time; apparently this kind of thing is normal," she explained, nodding as the Varuna stumbled out arm in arm, replaced by another pair. "Although if I'm honest it seems kind of counterintuitive. If you need to run a ship why risk injury with something like this?"
"Boredom?" Ruby suggested. Her eyes widened and she gasped, grabbing Weiss' arm with both hands. Having a suspicion what was about to be asked Weiss shook her head vehemently.
"Absolutely not."
"But Weiss! It's safe!"
One of the new combatants fell on their back and swung clawed digits frantically, their opponent pushing their head against the deck to keep them down.
"No."
"Please?"
"Ask me again later."
Ruby pouted and folded her arms. She drummed a finger on her bicep, licked her lips, then looked at Weiss. "How about now?"
"I don't think they'd let her try anyways. Yang already went a round with someone." Blake snorted. "It went about as well as you'd think?"
That made Weiss do a double take before looking around at the crew. "Who would be dumb enough… To…"
Naranča sat nearby on a crate, a small piece of ice held to a swollen jaw while another crewmate wrapped an ankle with bandages. Weiss let out an exasperated sigh, leaving a pouting Ruby to pout and slipping past Blake. Yang continued to cheer, and Weiss caught the slight stink of ale on her breath when the blonde turned to greet her.
"Yang, did you fight the captain of our ship?"
The grin on Yang's face wilted and she looked more the part of a scolded child than a triumphant warrior. Lilac eyes looked past Weiss for help and Blake shook her head, busying herself with talking to Ruby instead.
"It wasn't much of a fight," Qrow answered for his niece, laughing. "Naranča insisted on it, before you go flayin' Yang for it. She did try to turn him down."
"Twice," Yang said, rubbing her neck with a sheepish grin. "But he was really persistent."
Weiss checked the blonde over quickly and sighed. "And they took your beating their captain well?"
It seemed absurd but Yang gestured all around them. The crew cheered as another bout came to an end, this time with a dazed Varuna being dragged away by his, or her, crewmates. Weiss still didn't know how to tell. Nearby another barrel of ale was broken open, the lid cast overboard, and a few Varuna rushed over to refill mugs or attempt to drink straight from the barrel itself. "If anything it got 'em excited," Yang laughed. "They've been at it for a while."
"And we're not at all concerned that the people piloting our ship are knocking themselves silly?"
Yang shrugged. Qrow came back from refilling his flask, smiled, and took a long drink.
They were going to die out here. The crew would end up concussed and they would sail right into an island, or another ship. Weiss half expected someone to start swinging from a mast or light a barrel on fire, setting the entire vessel up in a brilliant, deadly blaze. Neither was happening but Weiss still groaned into her hands.
How am I the lone sane person on this ship? She watched Qrow pass his flask to Yang, narrowing her eyes while the blonde downed its contents, sending Qrow slinking back for another refill. This was the only vessel available? Really?
Beggars couldn't be choosers but right now Weiss felt like she'd been cheated.
Qrow came back and had been about to drink when Weiss snatched the container out of his hand. "Hey!"
"Before you become completely inebriated, perhaps you'd like to tell us exactly where we're heading?" Weiss gestured to the endless open ocean around them. "Seeing as you still haven't?"
She leaned away and held the flask over the railing threateningly, almost snorting in amusement when Qrow whined. If he had a tail she expected it would be between his legs right now.
"Mistral. I told ya that already!"
"Where in Mistral, exactly?" Blake asked. Ruby stood behind her on her toes, peering just over Blake's shoulder expectantly.
"Corfu." Weiss and the rest of them gave blank stares in reply. "See? That's why I didn't tell ya, none of you would know it if we crashed on its beach." Qrow leaned out to snatch the flask and pouted when Weiss held it back. "What now?"
"Why Corfu?"
"Why're you interrogating me?"
Weiss cringed when one of the Varuna bodily crashed through crates. She watched as someone from the crew came out to avenge their fellow sailor only for yet another to tackle them from behind. Qrow snatched his flask back as a brawl broke out between six of them.
"I just wanted to know where exactly we're heading, that's all. And whether or not we should prepare for anything." Weiss crossed her arms. "Is there anything we can expect from Corfu?"
"Sand." Qrow took a swig from his flask and offered it to Yang who glanced at Ruby before declining.
"Wow, sounds exotic," Blake drawled. "Will there be water too? And plants?"
"Har har. It's something of an island resort if you wanna know. The kinda place that rich folks from the coastal cities go away to." Weiss grimaced and Qrow tutted, waving his flask in place of a finger. "That's at the nicer parts of it. Like any city it's got its fair share of slums."
"And that's where we're headin'?" Yang asked. "Why can't we ever go somewhere that's just nice?"
"The last two manors we were in we were prisoners," Blake pointed out. "You've been captured twice, actually. Our track record with "nice" places isn't great."
"Okay, sure, but Ruby was captured too!"
"Wait, is this supposed to help or hurt your argument?" Ruby asked.
"Look, all I know is we're meeting this friend of Raven's in Corfu. I don't know exactly where still, or who it is -"
"You don't know who we're meeting?!" Weiss balked at that. How could he not know? Were they supposed to just happen upon the right person?
She was getting really tired of relying on chance.
"No, we've got a way to find them: Rae gave me one of her birds to use."
Yang's jaw dropped before she turned on her uncle. "One of mom's birds?"
Qrow nodded. "Yep."
"As in, the bird you let out back in Malachite's place?"
Qrow motioned to respond, clamped his mouth shut, and stared at Yang for a moment. A nervous smile worked to his face and he contented himself with sipping at his flask.
"We're doomed," Blake mumbled.
At least I'm not alone in that thought.
Ruby tittered and bumped against Blake with a smile. "We're not doomed! They'll probably know us, right?" She leaned her shoulder against Weiss'. "Or they'll at least know Uncle Qrow. As long as they recognize at least one of us we'll be okay!"
"Hunters will recognize us too. And Wardens." Blake frowned as she rolled her scarf between two fingers. "If we're assuming Ozpin has sent word to the other Archbishops already there's no reason to believe we're safe just by leaving Vale."
"Did she at least give you a name?" Yang asked. "What they look like? Anything?"
"Well, it's a woman, I know that much. Rae wasn't exactly generous with details," Qrow admitted with a shrug. "She said once we get to Corfu to look for people like her, which could mean any number of less-than-flattering things. Point is I'm not exactly sure who we're looking for, only that they're in Corfu."
Supposedly. Although Weiss couldn't fathom a reason Raven would lie to them it still didn't account for this person potentially leaving ahead of them. If they were an enemy of the Church then staying in one place too long would be risky, and considering Corfu was an island that made it doubly so.
Mistral itself was massive, and the continent of Anima larger still. How in the world were they supposed to find a single woman who they knew nothing about?
One of the rowdier crew members stumbled into Yang, turned and slammed his closed fist into her gut. By the time the little man realized what he'd done he was already lifted over Yang's head, flailing haplessly as he was carried back into the brawl.
"Make room for one more!" Yang cheered, laughing as she barreled into the growing swarm of slimy bodies.
"She's impossible," Blake groaned, running a hand down her face.
"Qrow, control your niece!" Weiss gawked as Qrow sat against the railings instead, laughing as he watched the scuffle. "Ruby, control your -"
A shock of brown-red hair appeared over the swarm of Varuna, then Ruby's head popped up. One of the crewmembers tackled her from behind and Yang wrenched him off before both sisters fell under a pig-pile that probably smelled awful.
"Oh for the love of…" Weiss shouted, charging in and flailing her fists as she tried to reach Yang and Ruby.
At some point Naranča had rejoined the fray only to go sailing as Yang accidentally backhanded him. Weiss found herself swarmed, and Ruby giggled while wrestling with a particularly elusive green-scaled Varuna.
Blake looked between the lazing Qrow, the growing fervor, then sighed and shrugged. "Why not?" She dove into the fray, yowling as someone promptly stepped on her back.
Qrow glanced up from his flask and narrowed his eyes for focus, then rubbed his face. "Hey… Who's steering the ship?"
/+/+/+/+/+/
Weiss couldn't remember a time she felt freer.
Sure, being out on the ocean, its calm, silent currents and gentle winds carrying them along, was plenty relaxing. So too was the starry night sky that turned the ocean into a sparkling array of twinkling silver. Even the moon, shattered as it was, somehow conveyed a sense of freedom. To see it stretched out across the fathomless dark of the heavens as if welcoming Remnant to night filled Weiss with a sense of calm.
Yet as tranquil as the heavens made her feel it paled, in all its grandeur, to an earthlier delight. Said delight, wrapped in a tattered red cloak and currently leaning against her side, smiled at her as their hands met, fingers becoming intertwined.
"It's really pretty out tonight," Ruby whispered.
Weiss agreed, albeit for different reasons. The wind tossed their hair and she watched Ruby giggle, fighting to keep her shorter locks in place, then squealing as the wind caught her hood and caused it to billow.
Maybe it was the way Ruby smiled at nearly everything. Perhaps it was how she could be an endless fount of optimism, even when she herself had been dealt a devastating hand. She hurt, Weiss knew it, but she still managed to be happy. She laughed. She bounded everywhere with a childish enthusiasm. She had known some puppies to lack the unbridled energy Ruby possessed.
Ruby's head leaned against her shoulder and Weiss' met it, wriggling her nose as hair tickled her. Sails flexed beneath changing winds and they both watched one of the crew work furiously to maintain their course, a pair of Varuna at the helm steering their vessel. A skeleton crew continued to run the ship, whose name "Ship" still irrationally irked Weiss, while everyone else slept. Were it not for a common desire to enjoy fresh air on a cloudless night - and each other's company - Weiss and Ruby would be in their room like everyone else.
"Hey, Weiss?"
"Hm?"
Her cheeks warmed as lips pressed against them. A chill coursed through her and Weiss smiled, returning the gesture, and squeezing Ruby's hand. For a time, they contented themselves with looking at one another, entranced hopelessly by their partner. Ruby smiled and Weiss mirrored it. Ruby giggled and Weiss, unable to ignore the delightful sound, joined in whatever unspoken joke was said.
This freedom was what she cherished the most. More than leaving behind Vale or escaping, however temporarily, Ozpin's attention. More than the endless possibilities laid out before them. Weiss couldn't remember the last time she had just enjoyed herself.
If indulging in time spent with Ruby like this was selfish then Ruby seemed happy to oblige her. Shifting on the crates they had commandeered for seats she let Ruby lay in her lap, her smile bright enough to make the moon seem dim. Her fingers tousled red-tinged hairs before combing through them, savoring the softness, smiling wider as Ruby made a sound of contentment.
To be so unabashedly open with their feelings wasn't just liberating, it was intoxicating, bordering on hedonism even.
And gods if this hadn't been a long enough time coming.
When had Weiss fallen for Ruby? During training, Weiss felt embarrassed even now to think about it. How aloof she had been at first, befriending no one and giving herself wholly to her practice. Honing swordsmanship. Practicing her magical arts. Studying. Studying. Studying.
Then came along an awkward, excitable girl. She had written off Ruby as being nothing but an airhead. Someone who seemed to think everyone and anyone on Remnant would be their friend with a smile.
Ruby smiled up at her and laughed when the wind blew her hood over her face. Weiss giggled and peeled it back, booping Ruby's nose and wriggling her own when retaliated upon.
While their friendship hadn't been initiated with a simple smile it didn't take much more than that. Despite Weiss' efforts to keep Ruby at bay her partner had insisted on befriending her. At times it had been suffocating. Then, perhaps when her sanity broke, Weiss began to feel something akin to affection for Ruby.
Or at the very least she lost the urge to launch the one-time nuisance into the atmosphere.
Begrudgingly, they had become friends. Ruby had introduced her to Pyrrha and Jaune, and through them she had met Ren and Nora. The girl with nothing but acquaintances in training soon had a group of friends all her own. No matter how large that group became however she always seemed to find her way back to one person: Ruby.
They had met at Monty's Corner for dinner with their friends when it finally dawned on Weiss just how close they had become. Sat side by side with Ruby she found herself watching her partner more than listening to anyone. When food came she accepted being fed, something she'd never had done before, and even returned the favor.
"Hey Weiss?" Ruby giggled from her lap. "What are you thinking about?" she asked, kicking her feet and reaching up to play with Weiss' bangs. "You look happy."
"Oh, just recalling some fond memories."
"Oh yeah? Tell me about them!"
Feeling her cheeks warm Weiss caught Ruby's hand and held it there. The moonlight danced over them and caught Ruby's eyes just right. For a moment she swore they shined like mirrors and reflected the glow of the heavens back at her. To Weiss, Ruby was more glorious than anything the sky could offer.
"Remember our first kiss?"
Ruby's eyes widened, then she began to tremble with laughter. "Of course! I don't think I could ever forget it! Never thought my first would be waist deep in a river."
"No, you dolt." Weiss rasped her knuckles on Ruby's head. "Back in Monty's Corner, one of our first dinners as a group. Nora knocked me into you while we were talking and…" She cleared her throats, suddenly bashful at the memory. Having come out of that ordeal sputtering and cursing Nora to the ends of Remnant probably hadn't made a good impression.
"Oh, that! I remember!" Ruby giggled. "I thought you were going to pass out!"
Weiss snorted, untangling her hand from Ruby's hair. "I was shocked, obviously," she said with a roll of her eyes. "One second you're chatting my ear off and the next we're kissing. Not that either of us meant to do it."
"Yeah, but our second kiss was way better anyways. So, I'm counting the river kiss as our second-first kiss!"
If her eyes rolled any harder, they'd have left her skull. "That's not how these things work, Ruby."
"Says who? I don't remember seeing a rule book on first kisses."
"Because you rarely visited the library."
Ruby's eyes widened and she blinked in surprise. "Wait, is there really -"
Weiss silenced Ruby with another kiss. Hunched over, she drew Ruby up, helped by her partner rising, and she felt arms wrap around her neck. Her own linked behind Ruby's back and she breathed through her nose, gasped, and kissed again. However cold the wind might be raking against her back Weiss only felt warmth, both from her lips and somewhere from within. They held until both their chests ached and even then Weiss almost went for another, stopped only by Ruby wheezing.
"I'm okay," the brunette hastily said when noticing Weiss' worry. "Just hard to hold my breath, that's all."
"That's quite alright. I'm happy to settle for holding you instead."
Laughter wasn't quite the reaction Weiss had hoped for but she smiled, nonetheless. "Weiss, that… I'm sorry," Ruby giggled. "You sure you don't want one more kiss, though?"
Their lips meeting again would have to suffice as an answer, and if not Ruby would just have to settle.
No more waiting or trying to ignore her feelings. The heavens had laid themselves bare and Weiss figured that was as good a cue as any for them to do the same. Because gods only knew it was a matter of time before someone was kidnapped again. Or injured. Or worse.
Weiss clung to Ruby tighter as though she might disappear.
Neither the Church nor the gods themselves would separate them again, she'd make damn sure of that.
And woe be to anyone daft enough to interrupt them that evening.
/+/+/+/+/+/
What a day. Sermons were usually taxing enough without complications thrown in. A crying baby here, a belligerent, hung-over parishioner there. Today they even managed to have a raven of all things fly into the church and cause quite the scene. After catching it and releasing it he had spent a good fifteen minutes settling everyone down before they could conclude services.
Tai didn't drink. Beyond his vague sense of duty as a priest to remain sober he had never cared for the taste of alcohol. Qrow had tried numerous times to take him to taverns and he'd always abstained. He felt like a mug of ale would help him relax right about now.
"Almost home." So too would changing into more casual clothing and relaxing by a warm fire. Tai smiled up at his modest home, trekking up the beaten dirt and bluestone path leading to it.
Patch was small, much smaller than even the city of Vale itself, and yet he still managed to land himself a solitary plot of land. Nestled between thick pines, billowing spruces and obstinate oaks growing through needles, his two-story home felt immensely welcoming today. With the sun descending behind the trees at its back long shadows and golden rays spilled across the yard, tinting green grass gold and beckoning him with waning warmth. Passing through the flowerbeds he meticulously maintained he dug into his open cassock and withdrew an iron key dangling from a length of twine. A nice hot meal, a warm fire, and a good night's rest would have him rejuvenated and ready for tomorrow.
The doorknob jostled under his hand and to his surprise came free when he pulled. Staring at the broken fixture he looked at the door and blinked; the door was cracked, clearly forced open. Beyond the now cracked door he could make out the faint sound of a fire crackling and see the orange flow of flames dancing across his living room.
Tai didn't fight, either. In a pinch he could manage, sure. He'd held off a Grimm years ago when one had managed to slink past the town guards and reach his house. But that had been a messy affair and likely would have ended in disaster had Summer not been close by to kill it.
So, the thought of him needing to fend off a home invader didn't exactly instill confidence. It was his house though and he would be damned if he let someone use it without a fight. A quick look around and he couldn't come up with anything to use as a weapon, so with a doorknob in hand he threw the door open and stepped inside.
Probably a terrible way to handle an intruder and an excellent way to be stabbed in hindsight.
From a brief glimpse nothing appeared ransacked. Books were still on the shelves, furniture remained undisturbed. Even the fire which raged did so behind the screen. Well, they might be a thief but they're not an arsonist, he thought glumly, inching into his own home as though he were the intruder. Silver linings.
From the kitchen he heard the scrape of a spoon against a bowl, then the sloshing of liquid in a jug. His eyes widened and he inched towards it, doorknob ready to… Do something. Silently berating himself for not thinking to grab a shovel from the shed he stepped to the doorway and pressed himself against it, psyching himself up. If they had anything longer than a butter knife he was in trouble. If they were half-decent at fighting, more than they were at picking locks apparently, he'd be a goner. All he needed was one lucky swing, a blow to the head, then he could hopefully restrain them and alert the guards.
"If you're coming in then come in," a voice drawled. "Oh and get me some more juice while you're at it."
The doorknob dropped from his hand. Tai's jaw nearly met it on the floor. Against the wall he felt his heart do its best to leap out of his throat and his eyes widened. He hadn't heard things, right? He wasn't going crazy from stress. Although he swore he had seen a purple bird flying backwards yesterday…
"Hello? Don't make me get up, I just sat down!"
Tai drew a breath and stepped into the kitchen, taking a half-step back and stumbling. He hadn't been mistaken and for a long moment he could only stare, mouth agape, working futilely for a response.
Most people would scream at an intruder or threaten them. Hells, he was pretty sure most people would arm themselves with more than a busted doorknob before confronting one. All Tai could manage was to gawk, shake his head, then gesture to the woman sat at his table, mouth coated with broth and a half-finished bowl of stew resting in her lap.
"Yo," Raven drawled again, smirking as she waved her stolen wooden spoon. Used to eat her stolen stew, from his bowl.
"'Yo'? Yo?!" Rage, confusion, years of pain, and bittersweet salvation all wrested for supremacy. Tai threw his hands up and groaned, having no other idea how to give voice to the typhoon within. "Raven, what are you doing here?!"
The bandit looked down at the bowl in her lap, then at Tai, and shifted in her chair. Her feet atop the table adjusted themselves and she frowned. "Eating? Figured that was obvious."
"It's been years!"
"Has it? Feels like I was here just yesterday…"
Tai opened his mouth to shout before he clamped it shut. He had lost a few carrots and cabbages from the garden which he'd written off as deer or rabbits getting bold. Taking a step further into the kitchen he spotted the same vegetables swirling around a thick brown broth, watching as Raven scooped some up and shoveled them into her mouth.
"You… You broke into my house, stole my food, and you're not even the least bit sorry?!" Tai held his head then gestured to Raven angrily. "And why are your feet on the table? You know I don't like that!"
Raven rolled her eyes and dropped her feet. "Fine, fine," she mumbled, stowing another helping of stew in her mouth. "'Sh no' 'ike I 'acked mud in'ide."
"Don't speak with your mouth full either!" Tai complained. He had spent years drilling the basic manners into Ruby and Yang; he was not about to have a grown woman make a mockery of those efforts.
Although he suspected Raven had no qualms about doing just that. Just like the woman had no issue with breaking his heart, abandoning their daughter, or, apparently, using his house after years of not writing a single letter.
Beside himself Tai could only watch as Raven continued to eat unapologetically, as if the owner of the home she had broken into wasn't currently glaring at her. The woman's casual familiarity as she dined, reclining in a stiff wooden chair, made it look like she made a habit of this. While he tried to quell the rising anger Tai thought back to all the times things seemed to disappear or be left out of place. He'd assumed the girls had visited, or Qrow, or even one of the other clergy members from Patch's lone church. Now he wasn't so sure.
The fire hissed as broth spilled over the brim, sizzling against charred logs. Raven made no motion to help so Tai huffed and marched to the fireplace, using a poker to adjust the logs. Stew continued to cook and he found himself two heavy mitts, lifting the pot from the flames and setting it atop cool stones to rest.
"You should have some," Raven said, licking the spoon, then the bowl. "Turned out pretty good if I say so myself."
He knew he wasn't much of a fighter, nor did he consider himself a violent man by nature. That didn't keep Tai from attempting to smack the bowl from Raven's hands though.
Raven caught his wrist and smirked. Tai ground his teeth, yanked his arm free, and put his hands on his hips. To an abashed child or a guilty church-goer seeking his counsel it might have seemed stern. Raven looked him over head to toe and grinned.
"I do something wrong?"
"Finish your food and leave."
"Wow, harsh. And here I was thinking you were the kind, considerate one."
Tai's jaw set harder to the point it began to ache. "You left," he hissed. "You should be fortunate I'm not calling for the guards right now."
"You would have already if you wanted to." Raven set her empty bowl and spoon on the table and flicked her wrist. "But you haven't. You're talking to me which means you want me here," she added, smirking proudly. "Even after all these years -"
"I want you out of my house! You left us, Raven! Left Yang, abandoned our daughter. And for what? For your tribe?"
"My family," Raven answered easily.
The admission ran through his heart like a spearhead. Sorrow and anger boiled up and Tai might have given it a voice if he wasn't positive bile would accompany it. Instead he lifted his hand and slapped Raven across the jaw.
He didn't know what surprised him more. The meaty crack of his palm against flesh or the fact Raven just took it. The woman kept her head turned, a smile slowly fading from her face. Tai clenched his now throbbing hand and glared down, frustrated tears stinging his eyes as his shoulders shook. Hitting her again wouldn't solve years of pain and uncertainty but he considered it.
"Wow," Raven rolled her jaw, rubbed it, then snorted. "You never did that when we were sleeping together."
"Don't you dare bring that up," Tai growled.
"Or what? You'll hit me again?" No, probably not. He already felt guilty for doing it once. "Spare me the bravado, Xiao Long. You're saying one thing but you're not dragging me out of the house or calling for reinforcements. You want me here." Raven sneered. "Look at you being weak, same as always. You want me back even now."
He didn't. After a year he had accepted the fact that Raven had left. After two, after settling with Summer, he'd moved on. Anger remained, hurt lingered, but Raven's abandonment no longer hung over him like a dark cloud.
The smug woman staring up at him now brought all those unsavory thoughts roaring back to the surface.
"If you're here for a meal you've had it. Leave now." He wished he sounded more threatening than tired.
"Is that any way to treat a guest?"
"You broke into my house!" Tai shouted.
"It was our house, Tai. I like to think I still claim partial ownership." Raven set her feet back on the table and scowled when Tai pushed them off. "Besides, I sent a bird earlier to tell you. Didn't you get it?"
A bird? Oh. The church! It hadn't spoken so Tai assumed it had been a wild raven and nothing more. Not that it made things any better in the moment. Was breaking and entering received any better if someone told you they were doing it beforehand? Snatching the empty bowl off the table he stormed to the sink and dropped them in the cast-iron wash basin. The handles creaked and he watched well water slowly trickle out, leaving the dishes to soak.
"What'd you do with the booze rack, by the way? I couldn't find it anywhere."
"No alcohol in the house. Qrow knows that." Tai scowled as he turned, leaning against the counter and folding his arms. "You would too if you were ever around."
"I'm here now, aren't I?"
"And as welcome as a tumor."
"Ouch." Raven laughed. "Daddy's gotten himself some fangs, has he? Look at you, growing a spine."
"What. Do. You. Want?"
"I. Wanted. Some. Food," Raven replied, mocking his stiff cadence. "And what? A girl can't catch up with family?"
"She can, but you're not. We haven't been family since you ran out on our baby girl."
"I'm still her mother," Raven pointed out.
"Summer was Yang's mother, not you. You might have given birth to her but that's it. Summer was more of a parent than you ever were."
The fact Raven actually looked offended by that almost made Tai laugh. What was she so upset for? She had chosen to leave him and Yang. Hells, she'd all but abandoned her own brother too, her flesh and blood, in favor of killers and thieves. Raven never checked in, never wrote, and now she had the gall to come to his home and pretend she cared?
"You're not welcome here, Raven," Tai continued, watching the woman's eyes narrow. "This isn't your home, it hasn't been for more than fifteen years now. If you're hoping to come back and rekindle something then forget it. I've long since moved on from you." He frowned. "And if you're trying to find the girls then you'll be disappointed: they aren't here. Wherever they are though I'm glad they're not dealing with you."
He figured the grin Raven wore was bad news. She looked exceptionally pleased with herself. "Oh Tai, they were with me though. We spent a few weeks together, in fact," she admitted, turning her nose up at him. "But I guess Yang and Ruby didn't tell you, huh? Too busy spending time with me to tell daddy, hm?"
"Where are they?"
"Would you believe me even if I told you?"
"Unless you want me telling Ozpin you were here, I'd suggest you give me a straight answer," Tai threatened.
Raven snorted. "Ozpin. After all these years you're still his loyal dog, aren't you?"
"He's a good man, Raven. You don't -"
"No, Tai, you don't know what you're talking about," she interrupted. "Don't stand there and lecture me about things you know nothing about!" Raven rose from her chair and stormed over, jabbing a finger into his chest. He batted it away and she sneered again. "I hit a nerve? Doing to run to your master now?"
"Where are the girls, Raven? What did you do to them?"
"Do? I helped them, Tai. Saved them a few times, sent them on their way. You're welcome, by the way." Raven grinned while Tai, stunned, tried to process what he heard. "You didn't know, did you? Haven't you heard? Galloway? Ambrose?"
Tai only shook his head.
"They've kept you blind as ever, I see. You must have heard that Arhur Watts had kidnapped your girls then?"
"What?!"
"They're free now, before you get your panties in a bunch. Qrow and I handled that while you were here playing…" Raven looked him over again. "Priest or whatever it is you do. You're welcome for that too."
When had any of this happened? The last thing he'd been told was Ruby and Yang had gone on another mission for Ozpin. He hadn't been given a location, it had been too risky to impart that knowledge, but he'd been promised that Qrow would be accompanying them.
Qrow he trusted. Ozpin he trusted too. The person he didn't trust was currently smiling up at him with an incredibly self-satisfied look plastered on her face.
"If this is about your hatred for Ozpin then I don't want any part of it, Raven. Take your pettiness out of here and -"
"I sent them after Summer."
"... You what?"
"She's alive, Tai. I'm certain she is. So I sent your girls and their little friends off to find her."
Grateful for the counter at his back, since otherwise he might have fallen, Tai blinked slowly, furrowed his brow and scoffed. "She's gone, Raven. Ozpin said as much. We held a service for her, we buried her. You would have known if you were there."
"Summer is alive," Raven repeated, with such certainty that Tai wondered if it was desperate hope or delusion. "She's out there, but she's hiding. She can't come here probably because of Ozpin, because of what she knows and what they'll do to her."
"You're saying Ozpin lied to me? That they held an entire funeral service for someone who's still alive?"
"Yang's alive, isn't she? That's once they've already lied to you, Tai." Raven frowned, grabbed him by the collar and pulled him down to her level. "Wake up, will you? How many times can they blatantly lie to your face before you realize what's going on?"
"There's nothing going on," Tai snapped back, prying Raven's hand free and stepping away. Taking a deep breath he marched over to the closest window and pried it open. It creaked, hinges rusted and neglected, and he greedily drank in the fresh air that flooded in. "If you're here just to screw with me then I've had enough of that. Please leave."
"Not until you wise up and get your head out of your ass! Listen to what I'm telling you, you dumb bastard! Summer is alive. The girls are going after her. Hells, they're probably in Mistral by now looking for her, and you're still buying into whatever bullshit Oz sells you!"
Summer couldn't still be alive. Raven abandoning them he understood, accepted even. The woman had always been a headache and her upbringing meant there would inevitably be issues. Summer though? She had always been there, always faithful, always reliable. Nothing short of death would keep the mother of his children from seeing them, and even then he felt Summer would find a way to reach out.
"If you don't believe me then you can ask Ozpin yourself."
"Ozpin wouldn't lie about this. Not to me."
"And who are you, exactly?" Raven taunted. " A lowly priest they've relegated to a fucking island, preaching nonsense to a bunch of desperate souls. He thinks so highly of you, clearly."
Hearing her eyes roll, Tai hung his head, closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm too tired for these games, Raven. Please just leave."
"Not until you listen to me, you stubborn fool." Raven stormed over to him and shoved him in the back hard enough to nearly send him out the window.
"Hey!"
"I'm not Yang's mother? Fine, but I've still done my part to protect her. I've saved them, Tai. I've been causing headaches for Ozpin and the Church to keep them off the girls' backs while they search for answers. Maybe I'm a shit mother, hell, maybe I'm shitty at everything," Raven acknowledged. "But at least I'm fucking trying to do something here."
Sure, if making wildly false claims about the people he trusted counted as something. "What's next, Raven? Are you going to tell me that Ozpin killed my parents, not some disease? That the sun is a lie?"
"Take this seriously!"
"Then start sounding serious!" Tai shot back, whirling around and shoving Raven's shoulders, sending her stumbling back. "Summer is dead, my girls are… Fine," he argued with far less certainty. "And you're still the same awful woman who abandoned us all."
"I can prove it." Raven smiled almost desperately. "I can prove Summer is still alive. I can prove that Ozpin's been feeding you bullshit and that your girls, our daughter, is still in danger."
"And how's that?"
His ex-wife loved to portray herself as confident and strong. Usually she was, but like everyone she had a tell when the boldness she proclaimed wasn't there, that a false bravado had been put on. Raven's lips twitched and she laughed, the sound pitched and clipped. She spread her arms and grinned almost wildly.
"We go and find Summer, of course! Throw ourselves in the fire along with the girls. Unless you're content to languish on this island spouting nonsense?"
"It's not nonsense, Raven. People's faith isn't -"
"Faith is for the weak. It's an excuse for those without the power to change things for themselves to sit idly by." A hand extended, trembling. Raven's grin wavered. "We can be weak and hide here in Vale and pretend everything is fine, or we can do something with our sorry lives for a change."
"I am doing something," Tai argued.
"Yeah, letting the girls risk their lives while we grow old and fat. Come on, Tai," Raven smiled, gentler and more earnest. "The girls need our help. They need their father, and you're going to need someone to make sure your ass reaches them alive."
Summer couldn't be alive, they'd had services. They'd buried a body.
Except they had buried Yang too. A case of mistaken identity according to Ozpin, something he had profusely apologized for.
Was Raven selling him another lie?
'I love you, Tai.' 'Our daughter is beautiful.' 'I'm so happy…'
Grasping the brooch inside his cassock, a silver rose Summer had always worn, he ran his thumb along the smooth grooves. What would even happen if they found her? What could they even do after that?
"They're going to miss their sermons," Tai mumbled. Raven snorted loudly at that.
"And? They can read a fuckin' book if they want to read nonsense."
Sighing, he stepped back from the window, closed it and rubbed at his face. He had never left Vale or Patch let alone traveled to another continent. He had savings, sure, maybe enough for their trip, but he knew nothing of what lay beyond his home kingdom's borders.
"You know Mistral?"
"Nope." How could Raven look so pleased at that admission? Shameless. The red-eyed bandit grinned and held out a hand. "Fuck it though, who needs to know the lay of the land? It'll be just like old times, back when you and Summer traveled. Except now the Church will want your head on a platter for turnin' on them."
"And you're certain Yang and Ruby are going there?"
"I sent 'em to meet a friend of mine."
Tai groaned and pulled at his hair. "You didn't…"
"Well? We can catch a boat from Patch and head there now. You comin', or am I saving them by myself again?"
This was ridiculous. Everything about this, from trusting his ex to racing halfway across the world. His daughters might need him though and as absurd as everything sounded, and it did sound absolutely insane, Tai couldn't fathom any other reason for Raven to come visit him.
"Let me get some things together. I can probably charter a boat."
Raven chuckled. "That a boy. Looks like you've got some balls on you yet!"
"One rule though!" Tai held up a finger in Raven's face. When the woman nodded for him to go on he frowned. "No more swearing. Especially not in front of my daughters; they can do without that bad influence, thank you very much!"
He figured it was a futile ask. Raven pursed her lips, tilted her head, and seemed to mull it over for a whole second before smirking. "No fucking promises, now let's go."
So, I had a few thoughts about this chapter, some of which you may have yourself. Allow me to shed some light on my thoughts!
Tonally, this chapter does feel a bit jarring, I'll admit. Regardless of if I put the Gretchen section first or last that was the case. For the purpose of story progression however I wanted to put it in this chapter, so you'll have to bear with the drastic shift. Apologies if it was too much, but it is what it is.
As for the final section concerning Raven and Tai: I honestly wanted to have Tai be the proactive one and talk Raven into helping the girls. I wanted to, but in trying to stay faithful to the characters of canon that didn't make sense; despite everything that has happened, even after being led to believe Taiyang is a good father, he remains largely on the sidelines. Not that having Raven of all characters be the one to be proactive makes much more sense but at least she has been shown to do something, albeit when forced into a corner. Both ultimately feel a bit off but I wanted to progress their subplot too, which like Gretchen's will be popping up occasionally.
That's all :P Thanks for reading and, as always, stay safe, stay healthy, and put the toilet paper rolls on the holder the right way!