Author's Note: Took a while, but it's finally here! :D
Announcements at the end of the chapter!
Cracking open her eyes after a surprisingly-good night's sleep on the living room couch, Raven looked down at the shifting pressure under her right arm, and allowed a smile to twitch at her lips.
Happy birthday to me.
Yet another morning that Cinder was adorably asleep against her - much like every other one since she moved into her apartment - but on this particular day, Raven had gotten a little selfish, wrapping her arm around the younger woman's shoulders after she fell asleep. Was it a bit inappropriate? Probably... if not definitely, but given how late it was when they turned in, she was too tired to give a shit. Plus, it was much more comfortable this way, and... hopefully her friend did not mind.
Then Raven felt the younger woman begin to stir under her arm. Letting out a quiet groan, Cinder raised her arms and straightened her legs in a long stretch, cracking her back in the process and softly moaning, all without opening her eye. Eventually, her movements caused her to slide down Raven's side until her head landed on the older woman's thighs, looking up at her with a tired smile.
"Good morning to you too." Raven smirked, actually a bit surprised that her friend had moved so easily into that position.
Cinder just raised her arms, briefly observing her hands before dropping them back onto herself. "I feel old."
Raven only scoffed, grabbing the remote that was currently sitting next to her, using it to switch off the television that had been playing all night long, again. Says the thirty-four year-old. "You're tellin' me."
A moment passed, and Cinder smirked up at her friend. "Morning, old lady."
"One year older." Raven clarified.
"Morning, one-year older lady." Cinder corrected herself, her smirk only growing.
Raven just rolled her eyes, though a smile still remained on her face. "Where's my water, you little shit?"
"In the kitchen, but unfortunately there's a price." Cinder slyly informed. "You have to say please."
Raven let out a heavy sigh. Man is she ever sassy today. "Please get me my water, you little shit."
After a moment, Cinder smiled. "Very well, only because you asked so nicely." She agreed, pulling herself up off of the older woman's lap and into a sitting position, before getting up from the couch and heading into the kitchen. Though not before briefly turning back to smirk at her friend. "Old lady."
Raven only managed to roll her eyes... again. "Back in my day I'd kick your ass for being such a smartass."
After retrieving two glasses of water, Cinder made her way from the kitchen back into the living room, but upon hearing what the older woman said - technically threatened - she stopped, turning until her back was toward her friend, and partially bending over. Or more accurately, sticking out that fine rear of hers. "Then why not do it? I promise I won't report you to HR."
Raven just snickered, gazing down to briefly stare at her sweatpants-clad backside. Gods that thing is nice. Of course it was not the largest she had ever seen, Summer's was bigger, but that did not matter. Plus, due to her friend's position, she was able to see the feint lines from her underwear beneath, and for some reason that made the sight hotter. "How'd you know sweats are my fetish?"
Cinder shrugged. "You do learn certain things when you begin living with someone."
Raven let out a small chuckle. "Now you're getting all mushy."
Straightening back up, Cinder smirked one more time as she approached the older woman and handed her the first glass of water. "At least I'm not showing my nearly-bare ass off to my new roommate."
Raven merely shrugged back, a small grin spreading across her face after taking a rather large sip of her water. Good to hear it was noticed. "Hey, I didn't hear any complaints from HR." Nor did I from you.
Sitting down next to her friend, Cinder's smirk remained strong. "Who says I'm complaining?"
Raven could not help but laugh at the rhetorical question. "Pfft, calm down youngster."
Cinder only rolled her eye. "You must be blind if you're calling me a youngster."
Raven's small grin quickly grew into a sly smirk, as she resisted the urge to look down at the younger woman's slim yet still curvy body. "Oh I see you just fine." Before her friend could even open her mouth to respond, Raven's scroll buzzed from its place on the coffee table in front of them. Though it only buzzed a couple times, meaning it was not someone calling her. So, leaning forward, she picked the device up off the table and turned it on.
"That sounds like something I might to speak with HR about." Cinder slyly commented, taking a drink from her own glass.
Raven let out a chuckle. "You're on shift with Qrow today, so you talk all about it." She informed, navigating to her text messages to find... Oh... great. Raven felt a pang in her heart as she saw... Summer's contact attached to the text... Happy Birthday, Rae... She only managed to sigh. "Ugh."
Cinder furrowed her brow. "Is everything okay?" To which Raven could only manage to stare at the text she just opened.
Happy Birthday, Rae.
Take some time for yourself, okay? Don't bury yourself in work again, you deserve to relax, and have a wonderful day.
Love you
After a few moments, Raven actually smiled at the message in front of her, shaking her head a bit. That woman... Knows I hate birthday wishes, yet does it anyway, every year... Even after all the shit I've put her through... Years of neglect... and Summer still gave enough of a shit to care about her. The thought... caused tears to begin to pool in Raven's eyes, which unfortunately, were noticed by the younger woman.
"Raven... are you alright?" Cinder inquired, clear concern in her voice.
Raven nodded a bit, still staring at the message. "Yeah... here." She attempted to assure - not very well - holding her scroll out to her friend, who almost hesitantly took it. "Everyone's gonna bust my balls over it anyway."
Cinder took a moment to silently read the message. "Oh, this is... sweet, I suppose." She awkwardly commented, before seemingly realizing what the text said actually said, causing her to look at the older woman with a shocked expression. "Wait, it's your birthday today?"
Raven nodded again, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Yep. Happy forty-second birthday to me." She faux-cheered, though it was much more of a deadpan. "I'm officially older than my hot history teacher." Who is probably in his late sixties now... and maybe still hot. After all, there were celebrities around that age that she knew of that were still quite attractive.
"Oh, happy birthday, Raven." Cinder smiled. Then she paused, a slight smirk spreading across her face. Oh boy. "Does that make you a cougar now?"
Wow, acting brave now, are we? Well, might as well play along. "Rawr." Raven deadpanned, half-heartedly clawing the air as she took another drink.
Cinder let out a laugh, raising her hands in mock-fear. "I'm so scared. The cougar is going to eat me."
"Talk to me after breakfast and we'll see." Raven proposed, pulling herself up in order to get up off the couch.
As the older woman went to stand up, Cinder looked back down at her scroll. "Hey, can I... ask you something?"
Raven just shrugged. "I dunno, does it involve covering a murder?" She wondered, looking back at her friend as she stood up. "Because I don't know if our friendship has progressed that far yet."
Cinder let out a chuckle. "No, no, I have Nora for that." She clarified. "It's... about Summer."
Oh, great. This is gonna end well. "Sure?"
"How exactly did you... fall for her?" Cinder inquired. "Because you two are, well, admittedly extremely different people, and even I can't quite see it. Surely you remember how quickly I said I would get sick of that perfect cheeriness of hers."
Raven actually laughed, returning to her seat on the couch and laying back. "Yeah, and it went about as well as you think too."
Cinder was quiet for a moment. "How... did it happen?"
Raven let out a sigh. Guess it's story time. "Well it was back in high school when I gave much less of a shit than I do now." Then she noticed her friend's furrowed brow. "Hard to believe I know, but it happened. Anyway, so I was sitting alone in the corner of the cafeteria, just waiting for my next bullshit class, and this adorable short girl walked up and asked if the seat across from me was taken. Now I didn't know who the fuck she was at the time so I just shrugged and she sat down." Then Raven paused, taking a drink of water. "Days passed, and days just kept sitting quietly with me at lunch, trying her best to initiate conversation, carrying it with my one-word answers."
Then she laughed. "Soon enough that girl got a hold of my schedule, and she started showin' up after every class she could, never leaving my dumb ass alone unless I told her to fuck off." Raven continued. "Summer just... pushed into my life, gluing herself to me. Started with just sitting down with me at lunch, and she just kept... making conversation, a few weeks later it hit me that I actually enjoyed havin' her around."
Cinder did not respond immediately, seemingly processing the information. "And how did Taiyang come into the picture?"
"He was her best friend, making them a package deal, and... kinda like Summer, he grows on you." Raven informed with a slight smile, thinking back to when Summer first introduced them. "Too damn nice for his own good." And hot as shit, too.
"And... when they began dating?" Cinder hesitantly wondered.
Raven just shrugged. "They were good together, and I was happy for 'em... It didn't feel like anything really changed..." Then her gaze fell. "They were dating, and that was fine, I understood... Knew I wasn't good enough for them anyway..."
"I suppose it was quite a shock when they invited you into their relationship, huh?" Cinder asked, clearly wanting to know more of the story.
"It was more confusing than anything." Raven clarified. "I was... dense, and didn't know how to handle it, so I kinda... didn't for a while... They gave me some space, and when I pulled my head outta my ass it was like nothin' changed again. We were still friends... we just held hands sometimes... and made out."
A small smirk made its way onto Cinder's face. "And fucked, I would imagine."
Raven actually managed a laugh at the comment. "So many times. You'd be surprised how shy Tai was, and how shy Summer wasn't..." Even though Sum's un-shyness wasn't really used on me... "But eventually I messed up my birth control, and... well, I fucked it up." Then she let out a heavy sigh. "I was a fuckin' idiot for so many reasons, and yet..." She trailed off, before sadly chuckling. "Sum still cares enough to send me birthday messages and give me presents and shit..."
Raven then felt a hand on her own. Looking down, she found Cinder's hand gently holding onto hers, and a small smile gracing her features. "Speaking of, how about I buy us breakfast? It will give you some time to wake up and relax before work. Call it a birthday gift."
Wiping the stray tears from her eyes, Raven raised a brow. "Thought you were supposed to offer to cook me breakfast."
Cinder let out a small chuckle. "If my cooking was not still shit, I would, but since it is, I suppose you will have to settle for me buying it until next year." She informed, releasing her friend's hand as she stood from the couch. "Plus, society says that we're supposed to buy birthday gifts for our friends."
Raven just rolled her eyes, yet she could not hold back a slight smile. "Society also says smoking is legal but pot isn't."
Cinder appeared to be considering the comment. "That's true, but I also want to buy your breakfast, so you're going to sit here and relax while I go out to get us both some food. Then we can hide away for a while, pretending that we're not getting older for a bit longer." She instructed, turning on a heel to retreat back to the spare room.
Raven only laughed, leaning back onto the futon. All she really wanted to do today was have a quiet day, not having to worry about anything, so it was actually really nice for the younger woman to offer to pick up breakfast for them. And just like Summer, she's takin' charge when I didn't know I need it. Summer herself however, that woman had a strength to her that would steamroll Raven at times. She would say something would be so, and everyone would just obey because she was Summer and she was reasonable in her expectations.
Though as Raven almost got lost in thought, her eyes wandered lower.
Man, she looks much cuter in sweats than jeans, 'specially that ass.
Well, her ass looks great in everything, but it's cuter in sweats.
Bet it'd look even better without 'em...
Woah, reel it in, Branwen, you're drooling.
I should probably stop staring...
Nah, fuck it, she's seen way more.
The flushing toilet faded as Raven closed the bar bathroom door behind her, letting loose a relieved sigh. It seemed that coffee went straight through her these days.
Walking around the corner, back into the main room of the bar, she found both Cinder and Qrow chatting behind the counter, which made sense, given that there was currently no one around, and all the tables were clean. Well, that was fine. They might as well hang out until some customers come in. It appeared as though they were talking about... Oh, aw shit...
"So it was this big Black Forest cake, like half the size of the damn table. Summer used the school's kitchen to make it and that oven was huge. Had all these cherries on it and everything." Qrow waved his hands in the rough shape of a cake. Son of a bitch. "So Rae walks in and we jump out, Tai does some damn jazz hands and I almost swallowed my party horn laughin' at him. All while sis is just standing there with her hand on the door handle, staring at us all wide-eyed, didn't move a fuckin' muscle."
Cinder was quiet for a moment, likely processing the information. "That sounds... exciting, and rather over-the-top."
"That's Summer for ya." Qrow agreed with a slight chuckle. "Young Summer even more so."
"Was her present just as over-the-top?" Cinder wondered.
Qrow shook his head. "Back then, nah, we were broke teenagers. I think Tai got her some shades and Summer got her some new boots, I got her a bottle of whiskey."
As she approached the bar counter, Raven scoffed at her brother. "Even though we were too young to drink at the time." Then she pointed a thumb at him. "This dumbass still hasn't told me how he got his hands on it."
"Trade secret." Qrow smirked. "Anyway, Rae just stands there, and Tai finally looks at Summer, who's looking at Rae, and she's still not movin', mouth bobbin' like a fish-"
"I didn't know how to handle it, okay?" Raven interrupted. "Never had a real birthday before and I was gettin' all mushy inside."
"Summer had to take her out of the room so she could compose herself, leavin' Tai and me to just wait around until they got back." Qrow continued. "We were chuckin' candy into each others' mouths by the time they got back."
Raven only managed to roll her eyes. "Charming."
After a bit of silence, the sound of the front door swinging open was heard, and a rather familiar voice burst through the main room of the bar. Oh goodie, there goes my calm, relaxing day.
"Happy birthday, Aunt Raven!" Ruby beamed as she no-doubt marched into the bar.
"Hey, squirt, thanks-" Raven began, turning to face her step-daughter, only to find her carrying a massive, wrapped box into the area, along with Yang - on her day off - who was carrying a set of much smaller, colourful boxes, and a white bag, which also seemed to contain a box. "Holy shit!"
Ruby just grinned. "I know, right!" She excitedly agreed.
As her sister entered the main room, Yang held the door open for her, and waved to her mother, while supporting the boxes with her free hand. "Hey, mom. Happy birthday."
Raven could only stare at the gigantic box that Ruby was carrying. "The fuck is that thing?" Must've come in the squirt's little car, 'cause there's no way in hell that fits on Yang's bike.
Yang just shrugged. "Dead body."
"Aw, how'd you know I wanted one of those?" Raven joked with a faux, yet still tired smile. Then she observed the rest of the colourfully-wrapped boxes. "But really, are those... all for me?"
"Mom and dad sent presents too!" Ruby burst.
"That's... really sweet, tell them 'em thanks for me." Raven requested, watching as her two daughters placed all the boxes onto the bar counter in front of her, with the younger sibling having a bit of trouble getting the one she was carrying onto it. Shit, that thing is massive. The fuck is in there?
Once the huge box was on the counter, Ruby looked to her aunt with an eager look upon her face. "Well, are ya gonna open them?"
Raven looked over at all the gifts that the two girls had brought for her, then rolled her eyes. "Yes, let's all just stop and be weirdly quiet waiting for my reactions, 'cause it never feels awkward at all."
Ruby immediately grabbed a small, wrapped box from the counter. "Come on, Aunt Raven, you'll love 'em!" Ruby assured, holding out the present. "Here, open Pyr's first!"
Raven just let out a sigh. "Fine." She reluctantly agreed, accepting the green-wrapped box and tearing off the paper, revealing a silver tin inside. Upon opening that, she found at least two dozen rum balls within. "Shit, that's a lotta rum balls." Then she smiled at Ruby. "I see she remembered how much I love these things." The last time Raven attended a Solstice party, Pyrrha made a batch, and the older woman might have ended up eating most of them...
Yang immediately laughed. "Hard to forget, I looked away, then looked back and half the bowl was gone."
"That was over two hours!" Raven attempted to defend, her cheeks actually heating up at the admittedly embarrassing memory, but thankfully just a tad.
Yang just smirked. "Still counts."
"Do dad's next!" Ruby excitedly requested, pointing at the tiny box on top of the pile.
Reaching over to grab the smallest box, Raven ripped off the orange wrapping paper, revealing what almost looked like a case for glasses... Which was certainly odd, given she had thankfully never had to wear glasses. Then she opened the case. "Oh, shit... No fucking way." Bringing out the aviator sunglasses that sat within the case, Raven held them close, eyeing one of the lenses. "These are real... these are fucking real Bay-Rans, holy shit... How much did he pay for these?"
Yang merely shrugged, but a smile was still spread across her face. "Wouldn't say."
Raven could only manage to stare at the absolutely gorgeous sunglasses. "Fuck... These... are amazing..." Then she looked to her daughter. "Yang, you tell your father they're perfect, and then kick his ass for spending so much on me."
Yang immediately grinned. "I'll get my bike boots out for him."
"Mom's next!" Ruby burst, holding out a much larger box, though of course not the giant one.
Letting out an amused huff, Raven accepted the pink box, tearing off the wrapping paper and removing the admittedly huge stick-on bow. Then, upon opening the box, she froze at the garment within. It was... a black bomber jacket, red-velvet lined... "Oh you've gotta..." She began, trailing off as she leaned in, smelling the leather, before letting out a breathless laugh, pulling free the jacket and holding it out in front of her. "Real, genuine fucking leather. For the love of... Shit, is this..." Raven opened one side to find a actual patch of authentication. "Fucking hell, do you have any idea how expensive this thing is? You don't buy these off a rack!"
"Custom made!" Ruby grinned.
"Same place Rubes got mine." Yang added.
Raven just stared at the jacket, before letting out a breathy laugh. "Why do you let those two spend so much on me?" While it was true that she had been wearing the same leather jacket for... well, over ten years now, and it was already cheap when she bought it, the thing was pretty well-loved... even if it was fairly beat up.
"Because we all love seeing you squirm." Yang smirked, like the little shit she was.
Raven only sighed at the sly response. "Alright, what's in the giant one?"
"Open it! Open it!" Ruby excitedly burst, tapping the sides, and practically hopping in place.
Rolling her eyes, Raven approached the giant, red-wrapped box that currently sat on the counter, removing the huge ribbon, and began to unwrap it, as her daughters and employees watched with intrigued gazes. Once it was unwrapped, she opened the box and looked inside. "What the..." She barely managed. "Holy shit, squirt, that thing's bigger than you!"
"Heavier too!" Ruby immediately agreed.
"Uh, it's a computer?" Raven wondered, looking down at what appeared to be an exceptionally fancy PC. It certainly looked a hell of a lot better than the big brick that currently sat in her office. Years old, ran like absolute shit, and really pissed off to have to use sometimes.
Ruby let out an awkward chuckle, reaching up to rub the back of her head. "Yeah, I know it's not something you really understand but once it's all set up, and when your stuff is transferred everything will go a lot faster than it does now!"
Raven was taken aback. "Wait, you bought me a new computer? The fuck, squirt? This must've costed hundreds of lien!"
"I built it, actually!" Ruby clarified. "It was less than you think, 'cause I've got a lot of sources and stuff. I knew you didn't need something big and fancy so I was able to keep the cost down by getting green boards and... Well, it costs less than anything you'll get in store, and it's faster too!"
Raven stared at the computer for a moment, before shifting her gaze to her step-daughter. "Wow, that's... Ruby this is amazing..." She managed, stepping forward to actually wrap her in a hug, which was quickly reciprocated. "Thanks a lot, squirt." Upon releasing the girl, she attempted a smile. "You'll uh, help me set it up, right?"
"It'll be a learning experience!" Ruby beamed, tapping the side of the huge box.
Raven immediately quirked a brow. "Me? Learning?" Then she let out an amused laugh. "Good luck with that."
"It's easier than you think!" Ruby promised. "Come on, if you can mix a drink you can plug in some cables."
Raven just shook her head, knowing for a fact that she would just screw it up, and the last thing she wanted to do was ruin a birthday present given to her by her step-daughter. "I'll just leave it to more capable hands. I'll give you a Strawberry Sunrise on the house for it."
Ruby only groaned. "Fine, but you gotta keep me company, we barely get to talk!"
Raven rolled her eyes at the request. "Ugh, fine."
Ruby then threw her hands up in triumph. "Yay!"
After a brief silence, Cinder, who had surprisingly remained quiet that entire time while cleaning and drying glasses, turned to Yang with a rather sly smirk on her face. "Well, it seems that all the presents are gone, yet Yang has not given you one yet, Raven."
Yang faux gasped in response, bringing a hand up to her chest for emphasis. "Cinder, are you implying that I forgot to get my own mother a birthday present?"
Cinder only shrugged, her smirk remaining strong. "You're the blonde."
Yang just gasped again. "Rude!"
Raven could not help but smile at the rather amusing exchange, quite glad that the two had become so close of friends over the past couple months of working together. "So, what's in the bag?" She wondered, gesturing to the white, shoebox-sized bag still on the counter.
"Donuts!" Ruby excitedly answered.
"And you're just telling me that now?" Raven questioned. "Break that shit out, I'm hungry."
Letting out a chuckle, Yang opened up the bag and pulled out the pink, donut-filled box from within, lifting the lid and revealing the variety of desserts inside. Thankfully it included glazed donuts, as those were Raven's favourite. After plucking one from box, the others began taking some for themselves, and she actually found herself quirking a brow as she watched Cinder pick a plain, jelly-filled donut, as she never expected her to enjoy this type of thing. Though open taking her first bite, the younger woman was immediately met by a glob of jelly squirting out onto her cheek - but surprisingly, it went unnoticed... somehow.
Stifling a laugh, Raven observed her friend for a few moments - wondering if she would ever feel the jelly on her face - before deciding to reach over to simply wipe the glob off with her finger. She was met with a confused expression in response, so she showed off the jelly on her finger with a smirk as she deposited into her own mouth, mostly due to not having a napkin, and not feeling like asking for one. "Klutz."
Cinder immediately raised her brow at the older woman. "Slob."
Raven just kept smirking, taking a large bite out of her own donut. "Bitch."
The two kept staring at each other for a moment, before Cinder chuckled. "If we get personal we're going to be here all day."
Yang only rolled her eyes at the exchange, letting out a groan through a mouth full of chocolate donut. "Get a room."
Raven shrugged. "Already did, it's got a couch and a TV and it's comfy as shit."
Cinder quirked her brow at her friend's answer, taking a careful bite out of her own donut. "You call that couch comfy?"
"Maybe not to a bony ass like yours." Raven slyly shot.
Cinder appeared to be actually taking offense to that. "I do not have a bony ass."
Raven let out a chuckle after swallowing another large piece of her donut. "Compared to mine, it's a bag of sticks, all the rattling wakes me up."
Cinder pursed her lips at the comment. "Oh, my apologies." She deadpanned, rolling her eye. "I'll be sure to keep my bag of sticks quiet from now on."
Raven just raised a hand to her ear. "Sorry what was that?" She wondered, a smirk quickly spreading across her face. "All I heard was rattle rattle."
A moment of silence passed, and Cinder only shook her head, clearly becoming done with Raven's shit, or so the kids these days would say. "How is it possible for you to be more sarcastic than normal?"
Raven's smirk quickly shifted into a proud, yet still tired grin. "I'm the birthday girl, I can do what I want."
Cinder let out a heavy sigh. "And it's only one-thirty." She added, continuing to much on her donut.
"Nine and a half hours left." Raven reminded.
"Is it too late to ask for the day off?" Cinder inquired, attempting to offer an innocent smile, though not doing a very good job.
Raven just shrugged, finishing her pastry. "Two days too late, you know the rules."
Cinder let out another sigh. "Shit. And I can't have Yang take over?"
Through stifled laughter, Yang shook her head. "Nah, this is too entertaining."
Cinder then turned to the youngest woman in the room after finishing her dessert. "Hey Rose, want a real job?"
Ruby only scoffed at the offer, nearly through a mouth full of her last bite of rainbow-sprinkle donut. "Excuse me, I have a real job. You have any idea how hard it is to deal with an office's IT needs? You can't even swap a hard drive!"
Cinder was quiet for a moment. "I could figure it out."
Ruby immediately quirked a brow at the older woman's answer. "What's a SATA port, Cinder?"
"How do you make your favourite drink, Rose?" Cinder countered with a smirk.
"What's the difference between a hard-disk drive, solid-state drive and hybrid hard-disk drive?" Ruby shot right back, leaning closer to the bar counter with an intense expression.
"What are the ingredients of a Mistrali Margarita?" Cinder inquired, matching both the younger woman's lean and gaze.
"What happens when your IT department goes on holiday and your PC keeps shutting down?" Ruby questioned, before throwing her hands up. "Oh right, we didn't go on holiday because we're the entire reason the office didn't burn down before it burned down."
Leaning back to stand up straight, Cinder merely shrugged. "At least you got paid well for it."
Ruby then did the same, letting out a sigh. "Yeah, thank gods for that. The horror stories I've heard from my online friends at the SDC make me gag."
"That's because our CEO wasn't a complete fuckwit." Cinder scoffed.
"I'll drink to that." Ruby agreed with a slight smile.
"Strawberry Sunrise?" Cinder wondered, before glancing at Raven with a slight smirk. "On the house?"
"You know it!" Ruby beamed.
As she began to prepare the younger woman's drink, Cinder turned to the blonde across the counter, her smirk remaining on her face. "So, are donuts the only present you bought for your mother, Yang?"
"Hey!" Yang burst, faux-offended by the question. "We're going out for lunch, my treat!"
Cinder merely gestured to the counter in front of her. "Some of us have to work, Yang."
The blonde just shrugged. "If you wanna work that's on you, just know you're choosing a bar over big juicy burgers with the fam."
"And I'd kinda need someone to look after the bar anyway." Raven added.
"Hey, what about me?" Qrow wondered, as she reappeared from... the break room? Wait, when did he even leave?
Raven turned to her sibling, who she honestly almost forgot was there due to how surprisingly quiet he was being. "You get all tomorrow off, little brother."
Qrow was silent for a moment, before nodding his head a bit. "Fair enough."
As she began gathering the presents from the bar counter, Raven turned to Ruby, gesturing to the new computer tower with her head. "Come on, squirt, move the brick into the office and let's go."
"Okay!" Ruby beamed, quickly moving over to carefully pick up the computer before beginning to follow her step-mother to the back room.
"I suppose that means I'm really not invited." Cinder commented as the two made their way behind the counter.
"Hey, you got me for the morning, my girls get me during the afternoon." Raven explained with a shrug. In truth, she really wanted to invite her friend to join them for lunch, as it would make her feel a little better about being alone with her daughters, but unfortunately that would leave Qrow alone in the bar. "I'm trusting you with my nest, so you're boss for the day."
Qrow immediately let out a chuckle. "Ouch."
As she headed through the back door and into her office, followed closely by her daughters, Raven deposited the various gifts onto her desk, noting to bring them back to her apartment later. Though before the three went to leave, she grabbed her brand-new leather jacket and aviators, donning both of them as she turned to face the other two, the older of which quirked a brow at the sight.
"Uh, you know it's over twenty degrees out, right, mom?" Yang wondered, to which her mother just shrugged.
"Never stopped me before. Now let's go, I'm starvin'."
As Raven felt the car pull to a stop, she finally opened her eyes, smirking up at the blonde that currently sat in the driver's seat.
"You parked crooked."
Yang immediately glanced out the window. "I parked fin-" She began, before almost whipping back to look at her mother. "You're not even looking!"
From her position lying across the back seat, Raven shrugged, even though it was a bit awkward. "I can feel it, in my old bones."
While the older woman was unable to see it, Yang just rolled her eyes, but she also let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, sure you did." She commented, opening up the car door and stepping out onto the pavement. Though before she closed the door behind her, she popped her head back into the vehicle to address her mother and sister. "The usual, yeah?"
"Yep." Raven answered.
"You know it!" Ruby excitedly added.
Yang merely gave a single finger gun to the both of them before backing up, shutting the door, and walking toward the fast food restaurant she had chosen. Bonanza Brunch. Certainly a strange name for a place such as that, but they all enjoyed the food, so things worked out just fine. Originally it was a family-run brunch restaurant, but over the years it diversified, and now had over twenty locations across the country. Yet their food remained the same quality as it always had.
As Raven and Ruby sat in somewhat awkward silence, it really gave the latter a chance to think about the situation she was currently in. She was going out for burgers... with her daughters. Yeah, that was something that her teenage self would never even believe, and hell, nor would she ever get used to. It was weirdly... domestic. In situations such as this one, it really sank in that she was an elder to Yang and Ruby, that she was... a mother to them, and that they... loved her... If Raven was being honest with herself, it was something that she never thought she would have...
"Hey, remember when I was thirteen, and you took me to Tekkon?" Suddenly came Ruby's voice, pulling the older woman from her thoughts.
Raven had to think about that for a moment. Tekkon? The fuck was... oh, yeah. Now she was starting to remember. "The big thing with all the comics and games?"
Turning to face her step-mother, Ruby smiled and nodded. "Yeah, mom and dad were busy, and Yang..." Then her gaze briefly fell a bit. "Well, she didn't wanna go, but she didn't admit it, and everyone said Uncle Qrow was busy with something too."
Raven let out a small sigh. "He was hungover."
"I'd been saving for it for months, and mom wasn't sure if she'd have time off for it, so she called you." Ruby continued, her smile brightening a tad.
"I was less hungover." Raven admitted.
Ruby then reached up to rub the back of her head. "I was kinda worried honestly, I didn't know you very well and wasn't sure if you actually wanted to spend two days running around a big noisy convention centre with me."
Raven just shrugged, adjusting her position to better sit up. "Qrow said you were really excited for it, and uh... I was never able to say no to your mom."
"I was really nervous, we hadn't spent much time together, alone that is, but you were nice, and you asked me about things, and you listened..." Ruby explained, partially gushing the last part. "People didn't really listen to me much back then, said my voice was annoying, and my anxiety got really bad sometimes... but you kept talking to me. I didn't feel like I was annoying you or anything... I really liked spending time with you, Aunt Raven."
Raven actually managed a smile at that. "I didn't understand everything you said, but your mom wasn't much different to be honest. She'd go on and on about cooking and stuff, most of it came and went, but I tried anyway. It made her happy... And look at her now, big chef in a big restaurant, and you've got a fancy office job. I can barely turn on a computer, and you built me a computer." The older woman stressed. "I know it's probably not a big to you anymore but it's like rocket science to me. I figured if you liked all that stuff when you were young it was gonna be good for you when you were older, and... you looked so damn cute running around all happy and stuff. Honestly, I was probably gonna get drunk again that weekend, but spendin' it with you was better."
Ruby's smile only grew at her step-mother's answer. "It meant a lot to me, that you cared... Sometimes I... sometimes I was kinda worried, that you weren't gonna like me, because... you know, I know things were hard for you back then."
Raven only shrugged "I always cared, and Summer trusting me with you was a pretty big thing for me. I could barely hold a conversation with Yang, but you talked my ear off for hours, and for a while I felt like I was doing good. Maybe things would get better. It took a while, but I think they are now. I wish I'd tried harder back then, with both of you."
Ruby offered a bright smile. "You tried the best you could, Aunt Raven. Mom always said that some things don't come easily for some people, so when they do we need to appreciate them. I figured she was talking about you."
Raven let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, that sounds like me alright... I love you Rubes, you know?"
"I love you too, Aunt Raven." Ruby grinned, to which the older woman was sure that she was going to climb into the back seat to hug her, but surprisingly, she did not, instead choosing to remain in the front seat and merely keep smiling at her. That girl really was the spitting image of Summer.
Soon enough, Yang returned from her excursion to the restaurant with a rather large bag of food, and a tray of drinks. Perfect, Raven was starving, and the moment her daughter opened the car door and handed the bag to Ruby, the scent came with it, filling the air with a mouth-watering aroma. Fuck, that smells good. Raven thought to herself as the blonde turned on the engine. Then, once they were out of the parking spot and onto the road, they were off to their next destination: somewhere nice to eat.
After a few minutes on the road, Yang pulled the small car into another, much less populated parking lot, belonging to one of Vale's largest parks. Certainly an interesting place to take Raven of all people, who honestly would have much rather just headed back to one of their places, but in all honesty, she was just happy to be able to spend the time with her daughters. Something that... sadly did not happen very often. Once Yang had secured them a parking spot, she switched the car off and the three exited the vehicle and stepped onto the hot pavement. Though before Raven could even manage to close her door, she felt Ruby nearly tackle her with a hug, causing her to laugh and reach up to ruffle the girl's hair. Just another thing that made her like her mother.
As the trio walked down one of the paths that ran along the edge of the forest that surrounded the area, Raven glanced over at the open field. Fairly patchy in places, well worn by years of children and animals running amok. Though for some reason it caused her to reminisce about the family barbeques that she used to attend, back when she was just... Aunt Raven. Most of them occurred in Summer and Tai's backyard, but they were all when both Yang and Ruby were still living at home. She missed those times. They were good times... back when she was not afraid of losing Yang... and she could afford to be the fuck up on the fringe of the family... Things were simpler back then.
Eventually, they arrived at an empty picnic table that was positioned under a fairly large tree, which provided it and the surrounding area with shade. A perfect spot. As the trio took their seats, Ruby decided to plop down next to Raven, while Yang sat across from them and began to pull their food out of the bag, as well a distribute the drinks. For the younger sibling: two single hamburgers - because apparently one is not enough, but a larger one is too much - bacon fries and a cola, and for the other two: a double-decker bacon cheese burger, a large order of fries and a cola for each of them. The food had barely left the bag before all three of them were digging in, and boy was it delicious.
"So uh, how's Coco been?" Yang hesitantly wondered upon finishing a bite of her burger. "We haven't... really talked much since we saw you two last."
Taking a large sip from her cola, Ruby offered a smile to her sister. "She's alright, just a little quieter recently. We've been hangin' out a lot when I'm not working, but she's definitely not as talkative as usual. So I've just done my best to keep her spirits up."
After a moment, Yang nodded a bit, her lips curling into a small smile. "That's good to hear. Thanks, Rubes."
"So how's the sex now that you've got a roommate?" Raven blurted out, almost unintentionally. Whoops.
Surprisingly, Ruby just shrugged, as if it was a completely normal thing to be asked by her step-mother. "A little less lively since Coco's around, and we don't wanna subject her to that, especially barely a week after a breakup, but Pyr makes the most of our time together anyway."
"Plus, said time is with Pyrrha, Rubes." Yang added through a mouthful of fries.
Raven let out a chuckle after swallowing a bite of her own cheeseburger. I guess this is the topic now. "At least you've got a sex life, squirt. I haven't had one of those in like, twenty fuckin' years."
Yang immediately looked to her mother with a raised brow. "No way, you haven't been dry for twenty years, you're insane!"
"Never said I haven't gotten laid in twenty years." Raven clarified before taking a drink of her cola. "I still go on dates every once in a while, and if I can't get one of those, a good ol' hookup works just as fine." Though now that she thought about it, dates came far less often than they used to, which was... a bit sad, but every couple to few weeks she would still go out to get laid, usually with someone younger, as people her age... kind of depressed her. Raven enjoyed how appreciative they were when she took charge. It made her feel like she had her shit together. Though in terms of an actual sex life, she had not had one of those since... Summer and Tai.
Ruby then quirked her own brow at the older woman as she ate her bacon fries. "You use a hookup app?"
Raven shrugged, popping some of her own fries into her mouth. "Not very well, but enough to get the job done."
"I stopped using those when I got kinda catfished by a single mom." Yang informed. "We met up and things got real weird."
Raven almost cringed at the thought of her own daughter being cat-fished by someone. "Yikes."
Ruby nearly jumped out of her seat upon realizing what was said, almost slamming her hands onto the picnic table. "You never told me about that!"
"I wasn't exactly proud of it!" Yang immediately defended, mouth full of burger... again. Thankfully she swallowed before speaking again. "She brought her kid and I got really freaked out and made a lame excuse, she looked so hurt..."
Ruby quirked a brow, almost... suspiciously looking at her sister. "So you're tellin' me you didn't do her?"
Raven just rolled her eyes. "Rubes, stop bein' weird."
Yang let out a sigh, taking a large sip of her cola. "Look I've had some weird hookups, but I kinda draw the line at desperate single mom cougars."
Raven was quiet for a moment, merely looking between her two daughters, before a realization hit her. "Not to be on the squirt's side here, but if a single mom is weird for you, you haven't really experienced a weird hookup."
"There's different types of weird!" Yang burst after finishing a bite of her burger. "There's hits too close to home weird. and there's I can't stop staring weird, and then there's I want off this train before it leaves the station weird!"
Ruby just raised a brow again, taking a slow bite of her own burger. "You talking metaphorical train or literal train?"
Yang did not answer immediately, seemingly thinking about her answer as she ate one of the last bites of her burger. "Well, I did have sex on a train once, wasn't that great but hey, crossed off the list."
Ruby actually gasped in response. "Hey, same here! High-five!" She burst, excitedly raising her hand.
"That is absolutely not something I wanna high-five my sister for." Yang cringed, even making a weird face at the gesture.
After a moment of leaving her step-daughter hanging, eating her burger, Raven managed a smile. "I've got ya." She agreed, somewhat awkwardly holding up her hand.
Ruby immediately grinned. "Yay!" She beamed, excitedly accepting the older woman's awkward high-five.
Yang on the other hand just rolled her eyes with a smile. "Dork."
Taking the final bite of her first burger, Ruby turned to her step-mother. "So what about you, Aunt Raven? Single moms too weird?"
Raven quirked a brow at the girl, wondering if she was actually serious. "Considering I am a single mom, nah." She answered, finishing off her own burger. "In fact I had a hookup with one a few months ago. She was pent up as shit, came at me like a fuckin' wild animal."
Yang actually cringed at the information. "Ew."
Raven just rolled her eyes. "Oh don't give me that shit, what's the longest you went without sex, huh?"
Yang paused for a few moments, then shrugged. "I dunno, few months probably."
"Oh my gods, how can you even survive like that?!" Ruby questioned, appearing legitimately surprised.
"Two years." Raven stressed, sipping on her cola. "The poor woman I hooked up with spent two years before that celibate after a shit relationship. She wasn't much older than you Yang."
Ruby furrowed her brow as she began eating her second burger. "Okay, that I'm not sure is actually possible. I can't even go a week without some alone time with Pyr."
Upon finishing her own burger, Yang just rolled her eyes again. "That's 'cause you've actually got a sex life, Rubes."
"I mean, I know it's kinda more of a lifestyle than most, Spring worship and all..." Ruby shrugged. "I won't ever say I'm really devout but... well Pyr is so... well..." Ruby trailed off, her cheeks flushing red as she started chewing her lip.
Yang immediately cringed at her sister. "Oh gods, Ruby, don't get all horny at mom's birthday lunch!"
"I am not!" Ruby attempted to defend, though her blushing cheeks told a different story. So she merely tried to return to her second burger with a pout.
"Need us to drop you off back at your place?" Raven wondered, a smirk spreading across her face. "Tell Pyr you'll be waitin' in the bedroom?"
"We'll just dress Coco up as you, and it'll be like you never left." Yang added with a cheeky grin, munching on her fries.
"Then you and Pyr can have your alone time." Raven continued, a smirk spreading across her own face. "Get a little more sex back in that sex life."
"I'm fine with whatever sex we have in our life!" Ruby assured, more confidently this time. "Pyr always satisfies me, it's her I'm worried about."
Raising her brow, Yang smirked as she sipped on her cola. "Ooh, sounds like Pyr's bein' left a little dry over there."
Ruby immediately pouted like child. "It's not my fault! Pyrrha just ambushes me and when she's done I'm all jello and tired!"
Raven let out a chuckle at the defense. "Sounds like you gotta get better at givin' rather than receivin'." She recommended. Fuck, that was good. "Tell her you wanna take care of her first and shit."
Ruby only continued to pout. "You try arguing with Pyrrha when she's touching you right where you can't talk anymore..."
"Then try tellin' her before you're actually jumpin' into bed, squirt." Raven clarified. "Y'know, take some time when you two are doing somethin' else to talk to her about how you wanna satisfy her before she tears into you." She explained, eating her fries as she spoke. "I've had a lotta unsatisfying hookups where I get someone who just wants to blow their load and get out, but you've got a wife who you can actually talk to about this shit. So don't waste your time worrying and do somethin' about it."
"But talking is hard!" Ruby complained, shoving the last of her second burger into her mouth to avoid continuing.
Raven merely rolled her eyes at the answer. "No shit, but you're a hell of a lot better at it than me, and you know Pyr will listen to you when you've got somethin' to say."
Ruby's gaze fell a bit. "I'll try, just, sometimes I don't really know what's going on up there..." She admitted. "Pyr's never lied to me, but I always feel like I'm out of the loop a little."
Raven had to agree there. "Yeah, Pyr's a bit of a mystery sometimes, even though she's pretty open" Then she chuckled. "Little too open sometimes, but still, it's a little weird if I'm being honest. But the sooner you talk to her about this sorta stuff, the better. Not the sort of thing you wanna just leave."
Ruby then let out a sigh. "There's just a lot going on. Sometimes I worry I'm overthinking the wrong things, and trying to see problems where there are none. Like, if things can go wrong, how do I know other things haven't gone wrong?"
Raven actually managed a chuckle. "If I had a single lien from every time I've overthought something, I'd be fuckin' rich. Trust me, if anything was goin' wrong with Pyr, she'd tell you. So quit worryin', squirt. 'Cause I promise you got nothin' to worry about."
After a couple moments, Ruby nodded. "I know, I know, it's just my stupid brain going crazy." Then she giggled. "Maybe Pyr knocked a few screws loose on our honeymoon and they're rattling around the wrong corners."
Raven laughed at the addition. "Yeah, that sounds about right." She commented. "So jealous by the way."
"Seconded!" Yang immediately added.
Ruby only giggled again. "Yeah I've heard that before."
"And you're gonna keep hearin' it until you don't have a better sex life than me." Yang informed, sipping on her cola.
Ruby immediately raised a brow. "That's a really high bar to set, Yang. Sex is religion to Pyr. It's like, blasphemy if my legs still work when she's done with me!"
As much as she hated to admit it, that gave Raven an idea. A very... very inappropriate idea. "Quick question, squirt, are her parents still married?"
Upon hearing that, Ruby froze, gaze snapping to her step-mother, brow furrowed, expression... not exactly impressed. Whoops. "I'm gonna pretend you didn't just ask me that."
After a moment, Raven nodded, finishing off the last of her fries. "Good call."
A brief silence followed, before Yang awkwardly cleared her throat. "Hey, Rubes, can I uh, rent out your wife?"
Ruby just rolled her eyes at the question, finishing her own bacon fries. "You can't afford her."
"Well that depends if you're gonna overcharge me or not." Yang added.
Ruby only quirked a brow at her sister's comment. "You really think she could ever overcharge for herself?"
Yang just shrugged, innocently sipping on her cola. "Pyr wouldn't charge at all, 'cause unlike you, she's nice."
Ruby let out a groan at the answer. "Ugh, you're totally right and it's the worst. I married a selfless sex goddess."
"That you should totally lend to your sis, 'cause she's lonely and shit." Yang added with a completely faux-innocent smile.
Ruby pouted at her sister for a moment, before turning to her step-mother with her signature puppy-dog eyes. As if those could ever actually work on her. "Aunt Raven! Yang's emotionally blackmailing me!"
Looking at the girl for a second, Raven rolled her eyes before looking to her maternal daughter. "Yang, don't blackmail your sister."
Surprisingly, Yang pouted too. And yet somehow, they're both over twenty. "But Rubes won't let me borrow Pyr!"
"How about we go down to the brothel and we can hire some hookers." Raven half-handedly suggested, taking a drink from her cola, which was almost empty.
"But I need love too!" Yang whined, quite like a child.
Raven only managed to roll her eyes... again. "She'll never love you as much as her wife."
Yang just shrugged. "Works for me! One night of Pyrrha love can satisfy anyone for a lifetime."
Satisfy for a lifetime, huh? Once again, an exceptionally inappropriate one. Stupid lonely, dumbass brain. "Hmm... Hey Squirt..."
"You got rum balls." Ruby quickly stated.
"I'll buy you brand new parts for that gaming computer you've got." Raven added.
Ruby just furrowed her brow at her step-mother, appearing... rather unimpressed by the offer. "Aunt Raven, my upgrade path for the next two years totals around two grand."
Raven considered her options. A couple grand for a night with Pyrrha? "Sounds worth it to me."
Ruby let out a heavy sigh in response. "Well, at least it's good to know everyone loves my wife."
"In so many ways." Yang almost mumbled.
Looking over at her sister, Ruby actually smirked, meaning she had something up that tiny sleeve of hers. "Wanna talk about Weiss?"
Yang quirked a brow. "What about her?"
Ruby shrugged, her smirk only growing. "Her cute butt, her new single status, when she gets five drinks in and wants to sit on all the tables?"
Yang was quiet for a moment, looking like she was legitimately having a hard time coming up with a response. Though, then she smirked right back. "Her butt is so cute, she'll be super glad you noticed."
This is a weird conversation... Though, this entire lunch has been weird.
Ruby immediately nodded. "If I wasn't with Pyrrha, and she wasn't kinda sorta on a break... I'd so awkwardly ask her out."
Yang managed a chuckle. "You know, she's actually said the same thing about both you and Pyr."
Ruby brought a hand up to her chin, then nodded again. "Yeah, I kinda already guessed with Pyr. I mean, when she gets drunk she always finds her way into her lap."
"As we all would." Yang wholeheartedly agreed.
"Maybe Pyrrha could help cheer her up more..." Ruby thought aloud, before a realization seemingly hit her. "We should have another day out!"
Yang offered a warm smile at the idea. "Sounds like a plan, Rubes, so long as I'm invited of course."
Ruby raised a brow upon hearing that. "Only if you keep it in your pants."
It took a moment for Yang to realize what was just said. "Hey!" She burst, clearly offended by the comment, only causing her sister to laugh. Though Raven could only manage to let out a heavy sigh.
"I need a drink."
Cinder looked so... peaceful when she slept.
Even with her mask still on, she appeared... younger. So much so that Raven only then realized that there was a rather significant age gap between them... Even though the number was not actually that large, though still big enough to make her feel insecure about how old she was. Honestly, the gap was something that she often found herself forgetting. In fact, now that was getting a closer look, Cinder even looked... healthier than she was when the two had first met. Her skin was less pale, cheeks beginning to fill out, among other things... Most of all, she did not look nearly as tired as she used to.
Finally backing up from the guest bed, which now held the younger woman's sleeping form, Raven quietly made her way toward the exit, taking one last look at her friend before silently exiting the room, softly closing the door behind her. It made her smile to see her friend in such a state. Gods knew that woman needed a good night's rest. 'Specially after being stuck in charge of the bar for a couple hours.
After Raven, Yang and Ruby returned from their relatively long lunch - due to them spending a considerable amount of time just chatting - it was back to work as usual. At least once her step-daughter was finished helping her set up that beast of a computer, but once that was done, Raven finally got some time to breath. Given that she was quite an antisocial individual who just spent the afternoon with her extroverted daughters, she kind of needed to lose herself in the boring monotony of work. Though of course, going out for lunch was not the only thing that Yang wanted to do for her mother's birthday. While her daughter thankfully knew that she had absolutely no desire to have any kind of party, she still wanted to spend more time with her. So they arranged for Yang to come over a little while after work with a case of craft beer to spend a nice, quiet evening at the apartment. It... actually sounded rather pleasant.
And it really was... Even if Cinder had fallen asleep partway through the night, which resulted in Raven having to bridal-carry her back to the guest bedroom - so that the other two did not have to risk waking her - all while her smug daughter just watched with a smirk on her face, as if she was carrying her friend to the bedroom for some other, far less appropriate reason. It made the older woman roll her eyes just thinking about it. What a little shit.
Once Raven had quietly emerged from the guest bedroom - which, after over a week, was essentially Cinder's room - she turned to find Yang holding out a fresh beer for her. Offering a smile, she accepted the beverage and took a sip. Though, the moment she did, a... rather odd realization hit her as the pair made their way back into the living room. So, after Raven plopped back down onto the couch, and Yang onto the arm chair next to it, she turned to her daughter. "Y'know, now that I think about it, this whole day would be pretty fuckin' weird to teenage me. Probably downright unbelievable." She began, causing Yang to raise her brow. "Like, spendin' the afternoon with not only my step-daughter, but my real daughter? There's so much that wouldn't make sense to me." Then she chuckled. "My past self would think I'm fuckin' insane if I told her how my life turned out."
Yang let out a chuckle as well. "Knowing what you've told me about yourself back then, yeah, probably." She agreed, picking her own beer up off the table and taking a drink.
"Can't really argue there. I mean there's stuff my past self would be surprised by, like us... Well, I didn't really go anywhere after school, I'm working in a bar, I live alone... I mean I'm happy and all 'cause I'm spending my time with friends and family, but..." Then her gaze fell. "It'd just hurt to find out I... lost Blake." Yang heavily sighed. "Biggest fuck-up ever there."
Raven furrowed her brow. Of course she was partially aware of some of the history that her daughter shared with that Faunus girl she went to school with - how they both liked each other, as well as how that situation was when Yang discovered her sexuality - but... "You really think that?"
Yang just shrugged. "Yeah, I mean, she was like, my Summer, y'know?"
Raven immediately clenched her free hand upon hearing that, her eyes even widening with anger at the ridiculous comparison. The fuck did she just say? Did her she really just... Raven could not believe her ears. While she opened her mouth to snap at her daughter, to immediately shut that shit down, she stopped herself, thankfully... Even though the very idea of comparing those two made her angry. Summer would never do that to her. Hell, probably not even someone she disliked... Don't kill your daughter, idiot, Summer would be upset.
Finally, Raven let out a sigh. "Yang, I love you, you're the light of my life, but don't ever compare your mom to that fucking bitch again, you understand me?" She near-threatened, feeling her blood begin to boil at the thought of her daughter thinking the two were even anywhere close to similar, because the fact was, she abandoned Yang without saying a word, as if their past friendship never even mattered to her. Her daughter deserved better. So she took a deep breath, just as she was met with a slightly nodding head.
"Look, I don't give a shit if there's a thousand excuses, you don't just ditch your friends like that." Raven continued, starting to feel the rage well up inside again, but luckily able to keep herself calm. "Summer... taught me that friends forgive, y'know? They stick together, even if they're apart or whatever. If that bitch ever gave a damn about you, she would've patched shit up a long fuckin' time ago, not just got up and left without so much as a see ya." Then she paused, sighing again before taking a rather large drink of her beer. "A Summer is someone you can count on, when you can't stand to count on anyone... Someone who loves you when you hate yourself... Someone... you feel you don't deserve, but they always prove you wrong..."
There was a brief silence that followed, with the two women merely sitting there, neither saying a word as they stared almost straight ahead of them. At least, until Yang looked over to her mother, and actually... smiling, though not fully, even chuckling a bit. "Y'know, you really sound just like Pyr when you talk like that."
Raven paused for a moment, actually reflecting on what she just said. Huh, guess I did sound kinda smart just then... Certainly a nice change of pace.
"But uh..." Yang went to continue, before sighing. "I get I could've done better in life and... with Blake... and I know that I'm not exactly in the best place right now, 'specially after two breakups within two months... but I'm happy workin' at the bar." She managed a smile. "I like being around you and Uncle Qrow. Cinder's a great friend, even if she does get pretty fed up with my puns, and Vernal's... okay most of the time..."
The moment her other employee's name was mentioned, Raven's eyes widened out of shock, as a realization hit her like a damn truck. Oh... son of a fucking bitch. It had been days since Vernal had asked for some time off, and only now was it occurring to her that she probably needed to at least check in on her. Normally they spent their birthdays together, much like how Raven currently was with her daughter, but due to the fact that Vernal had not even spoken to her since her request for a break, she... sort of forgot about her. Which... she was honestly pretty ashamed by.
Raven should have already checked on her. For fuck sake, that woman was almost like a surrogate daughter to her, and a few days without contact, and her dumbass just forgot about her. Even as hard as she tried to think like Summer when it came to Vernal...And unlike her, Summer would have definitely checked on her if there was a stretch of silence that lasted this long...
"Hey uh, you okay over there, mom?" Yang suddenly inquired, pulling the older woman from her less-than-pleasant thoughts. "You're kinda spacin' out on me."
Shaking herself back to reality, Raven turned to her daughter, and nodded a bit. "Yeah, yeah, just... forgot I haven't heard from Vernal since she asked for time off... you know, 'cause of the breakup and all." Man, that was awkward even to say. "And I... was thinking I should probably check in on her at some point."
Yang furrowed her brow, expression one of concerned. "Was she... okay?"
Raven only managed to shrug, taking a drink from her beer, feeling the bottle lightening. "Honestly, I dunno. In all the years that she's worked at the bar, she only asked for time off a couple times, and both of them were just you mind if I take a little vacation? This time... she just told me she needed some time off... only mumblin' thanks when I agreed..."
Yang was quiet for a moment. "I've honestly never seen her really emotional at all."
"Yeah, she's... not really the type." Raven informed.
"Maybe we could just have Summer adopt her for a while, maybe that'll help." Yang suggested, her lips curling into a slight smile. Which was fair, as that idea did sound rather amusing.
Raven just snorted. "No, no, Summer's a great mom but that's not what Vernal needs. They'd mix like oil and water." As hilarious as that would probably be.
"Well, you've known her a hell of a lot longer than me, what do you think?" Yang inquired, taking a sip from her own beer.
Raven took a few moments to think about the question. "I think... she just needs someone to give a shit about her when it matters, and let her take care of herself the rest of the time. Sum's too hands-on for that."
Yang paused for a second, then nodded "Good point." She agreed. "What about you? You've always been kind of a mom to her."
Raven shrugged again, though this time not as much. "I mean, kinda. I never really... I wasn't gonna pretend to me her mom, I know I'm not very good at it."
"Just 'cause you're not Summer Rose doesn't mean you're not a good mom." Yang attempted to assure. "You just... have some trouble from time to time."
Raven let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah, but... Yang, if I fucked up really hard with you, you still have Summer. You still have Tai and Ruby. You had a support network to fall back on. If I fuck up with Vernal... that's it, she's gone. She has no one else, only me, only us... Even I had Qrow when I was her age."
Yang immediately frowned. "Mom, you've gone twenty-three years without fucking up with me, and the worst you've done is not tell me you were my mom 'cause you weren't ready to be one. I really doubt you could do anything to drive Vernal away." She promised, before pausing for a second. "Well, except maybe firing her."
"I just... think about what things would have been like back then, if I didn't have Qrow or Summer and Tai... and I think I would have ended up like Vernal." Raven almost mumbled, thinking back to when she had first met the younger woman. Vernal had nothing, not even a chance... So she gave her that chance, and hoped it would help, because if Summer and Tai can give her so many chances that allowed her to make it, maybe this poor girl could take one from her and excel.
"Well, she's got you now, doesn't she?" Yang inquired.
"Of course, but it's keepin' it that way that scares me." Raven stressed, taking a rather large drink from her beer, finishing it off. "Like, I could make one wrong move and she'd fuckin' vanish." Then she let out a sigh. "I'm trying to find this... balance, this sweet spot of giving her the space she needs but making it clear I've got her back, because I know if I had someone like me come into my life when I was her age... If someone gave enough of a shit to take that spot, this is what I'd want. Not someone tryin' to be someone they're not, just someone who I could trust. Maybe they'd have taken care of me. Maybe they'd have helped me grow better... Maybe I could've been ready when you came along... I could've been better. I'm trying to be better, for both of you... It's just scary as shit to be responsible for someone's life when you can barely keep your own head on straight..." Hell, that's even after Sum and Tai saved my sorry ass.
Yang was quiet for several moments. "Maybe you could try paying her a visit, just to say you've got her back if she needs you to?" She suggested with a slight smile. "I've never had any idea what that woman's thinking, but I'm sure dropping by couldn't hurt."
After a moment, Raven nodded. "I know, and I will... Usually she's here right now."
Yang only managed to shrug, taking a sip of her beer. "I dunno, mom. Breakups are tough on everyone. I mean, they were together for over a year. Can't blame her for needing some time alone."
And then there's me. "When I broke up with your parents, I just got drunk a lot." Raven informed, finally putting her empty bottle onto the coffee table in front of her. The worst part was, she still in love with them... and she hated that fact... because she could not let herself be happy with them, but was also unable to go back and change it. Even though she so desperately wanted to...
Yang quirked a brow. "Alone?"
Raven just shrugged. "Sometimes your uncle was there... Most of it's fuzzy."
"And you saw how well that turned out, mom." Yang continued. "Twenty years and you're still in love with them. Do we really want Vernal to turn out the same way with Weiss?"
Of course I don't, but... "Honestly, Yang, I don't think they had that at all."
"Me neither, but Vernal would probably be here if it wasn't at least kinda like that." Yang defended.
Raven let out a sigh. "Guess I was just hopin' she'd reach out to me this time."
"She's also more stubborn than both of us put together." Yang commented.
Raven actually a managed a slight chuckle. That's for damn sure. "Wish I could say she got it from me, but her taste in women is a completely different alley." Though apparently our taste in men is pretty similar...
"I mean, Summer and Weiss have their similarities, at least when Weiss isn't trying to act punk." Yang mentioned, taking the last sip of her beer, before placing in onto the coffee table next to her mother's.
"That's the thing though, Weiss is going through her own shit, this dumb rebel phase, and that's what Vernal was into her for." Raven pressed, almost hating the fact that she had to say it. "It was never gonna last, not with blood as blue as hers."
"Yeah, I guess..." Yang hesitantly accepted. "But honestly, I don't get what's not to like about her actual personality there. She's just... really great overall."
Raven immediately smirked over at her daughter - actually rather glad to be hearing a change of topic - leaning back in her seat on the couch. "Oh yeah, don't think I never saw you checkin' her out."
Yang only sighed at the comment. "Yeah yeah yeah, I know. She's cute, okay?"
Yeah, no shit. "She's also got no tits to speak of."
Yang let out a chuckle. "A woman doesn't need a big set of tits to be cute, mom."
Raven just shrugged. "Doesn't hurt." Not in the fuckin' slightest.
Yang only rolled her eyes in response, but a smile still adorned her face. "No shit, but I'm more of an ass gal myself."
Raven immediately quirked a brow, actually rather surprised at the reveal of information. "Oh, so that's what you got from me?"
Yang chuckled a bit. "Hey, I can't help it. Weiss' butt is as cute as the rest of her."
Raven huffed at the comment. "Call me when she wipes that shit off her face and ditches the stupid lenses."
"Well... without Vernal, it might happen sooner than we think." Yang somewhat awkwardly mentioned.
"Oh don't worry, it'll get worse before it gets better." Raven assured with a smirk. "I'm throwing a dart on gogo dancing as the next trend."
While she attempted to supress it, Yang could not help but laugh at the idea. "Gods, it'd be pretty fuckin' weird if Weiss got as far into that as she did with the punk style."
Raven paused for a moment, attempting to imagine the concept, which only caused her smirk to grow. "She'd sure rock those tights though." But of course not as well as Sum... or Cin...
Yang just rolled her eyes again. "Take a drink, your thirst is showing."
Given that both of their beers were empty, that was a tad difficult. Especially since they were both fairly comfortable where they were. So they both merely laughed. Quietly of course, but still enough for it to be considered a laugh, rather than a chuckle. "Oh shut up, you know it'd be fuckin' hilarious." Raven defended, before pausing, as a much more... serious thought came to mind. One that she felt her daughter had been avoiding for a while. "But uh... you like her, right?"
Yang opened her mouth to response, but stopped herself, lowering her head a bit, and nodding slightly. "I... yeah, I do."
Boy, did Raven know how that felt. "Probably kinda screwy to deal with."
"No shit." Yang sighed, slumping in her seat, raising a hand to run through her blonde locks. "I just... I dunno, it's complicated. She still thinks they're only on a break, so I don't wanna try anything, but I also don't want her to lie to herself..."
"Give her time." Raven immediately recommended. "Smart girls are dumbest in love, and she's a cut above us all."
After a few moments, Yang slowly nodded. "Right... Thanks, mom." She managed a smile, before looking to her mother with a... curious gaze, which she hoped was not a bad sign. "So what's your excuse?"
Ah... shit. Well, guess she was gonna ask sooner or later. Raven opened her mouth to answer, but... nothing came out. Of course she painfully aware of exactly what her excuse was, yet she was unable to properly admit it. Though... perhaps it was time to do so. After all, it might be nice to actually talk to someone about it. "I'm... fucking scared, Yang."
Then, rather than offering any kind of advice, or comfort, as her mother expected, Yang... furrowed her brow. "Why? It's pretty obvious she likes you, and honestly, you two are a good fit."
Raven let out a heavy sigh. "I know, I know... but that doesn't stop me being scared of fucking it up... I... I fucked up so hard with your mom and dad, and... I've been trying to get over it ever since... What if I fuck it up again?"
"Then I'll be there to help, you know that." Yang almost-immediately assured, offering a bright smile. "Listen, a couple weeks ago... I planned a girls night a little last minute, and only Cin ended up comin'. We had some drinks, and things got a bit... heated, and I ended up drunkenly kissing her, even... fondling her chest..." She explained, hanging her head. "I expected to her to slap me and leave, but... she didn't. Instead she... showed me a different side of herself, that I think you'd be a lot better at handling than me..."
Raven stared blankly for a moment at her daughter, unable to believe what she just heard. "You fondled her?"
After a couple seconds, Yang shamefully nodded, not meeting her mother's shocked gaze. "Yeah... I did. Regretted it the moment I realized what I was doing, and..." She trailed off, before managing a small smile. "I'm just thankful she doesn't hate me for it, and still pretty surprised Coco didn't dump me on the spot when I told her."
Raven actually let out a chuckle at that. "Seems like we're cursed to he loved by forgiving people."
Yang chucked as well. "You got that right."
Then Raven sighed again. "Guess that's the problem. It happened with Summer and Tai, I kept hurting them, they kept forgivin' me... and eventually I couldn't handle it... They deserved better... so does Cin."
"And what do you deserve, mom?" Yang questioned, straightening up in her chair and leaning forward. "Don't you think you deserve to be happy too?"
Raven just shrugged, her gaze falling to the coffee table between them. "Not really... That's the other problem... I always feel like I don't deserve anything, not even you."
"Well, you're wrong." Yang strongly declared. "You do deserve me, and you do deserve to be happy. So does Cin."
Raven's gaze remained idly locked on the table. "What if I make her miserable? What if... I hurt her more than she already is?"
"Then you apologize and make it better." Yang confidently answered. "But you're not gonna hurt her, mom. I know you won't."
Raven clenched her fists in her lap. "I'm still scared... I really don't wanna screw this up."
"Then make sure you don't." Yang smiled. "Though in case anything happens, just know I'll be around to be your wingwoman."
Managing to look at her daughter, Raven actually laughed, her head lolling back as she sniffled. "You've got so much Summer in you, y'know?"
With a smile still on her face, Yang shrugged. "Only 'cause she played mom for me while you were sortin' yourself out."
Raven's own smile faded a bit, as her gaze fell once again. "I'll always regret takin' so long for you...You deserved better from me."
Yang only shook her head. "It's okay, mom, I get it." She assured. "I always figured that it was better to learn when you were ready to be a mom, rather than being forced on you when you weren't."
Raven managed a smile, though it did not last long. "I just... I don't regret it, any of it. When it comes to you, I'd go through it all again if it meant us sitting here together... I just wish I'd done better earlier... I know... the truth really fucked with you when it came out."
Yang nodded a bit. "Yeah, it did, but I already forgave you for taking so long, mom. And besides, at least I got to know you eventually. I've known people who never knew either of their parents."
Unfortunately, her daughter's answer caused a set of extremely unpleasant memories to make their way into her mind. "I wish I never knew mine."
A brief pause followed, as the two women merely sat in silence at the reveal of information. "You've... never told me about yours." Yang somewhat hesitantly mentioned.
Raven just shrugged. "'Cause there's nothing to tell. I dunno why they had us, I don't know what was going through their head, but my earliest memories were being scared shitless of them and not knowing what the fuck to do about it."
Yang's widened upon hearing it, seemingly unable to believe what she just heard. "You were... scared of your parents?"
After a couple seconds, Raven nodded. "They... they hurt us, Yang... Not always on purpose, but it made no difference. We were just a... burden to them." She clenched her fists at the thought. "I... I think we were an accident. We're twins, so they didn't have to try again. I think we were their fuck-up and they kept us out of stupidity, or fear, I don't know... but they didn't care for us."
Yang was quiet for several moments. "That's... That's awful, mom. I'm sorry you had to go through that..."
Raven only shook her head. "Don't, don't be sorry. Don't let them have any more effect on us than they already have. We're here, we're alive. You had a good, loving childhood and I've never made you feel afraid of going home... We're winning, they're losers. They lost so much on us and we get to be happy while they're... dead or whatever the hell happened to them."
Yang was briefly silent, before standing up from her seat, moving around the coffee table and sitting down onto the couch, next to her mother. Where she leaned over and wrapped her arms around the older woman, pulling her close. "I love you, mom."
Raven choked a laugh, turning to return the embrace, burying her face in Yang's hair, and bringing up a hand to gently hold the back of her head. "I love you too, Yang... I'm so glad I had you..."
Though it went unseen by her mother, Yang managed a sly smirk. "Just like you're glad you hired Cin?"
Even though she let out a sigh, Raven smiled as the two separated. "Gods, you have your father's smartass attitude."
Yang's smirk remained strong at the answer. "I'll take that as a yes."
Raven just sighed again. "And there's Summer."
Yang merely chuckled. "Well, need any help in that department?" She wondered with a smile. "I for one find having a wingwoman eases the nerves."
Raven was only able to shrug. "Just... I'm trying... a little. I can see she's at least attracted to me, so I've been testing the waters. We sleep together for crying out loud..."
Yang immediately did a double take, causing her mother to trail off. "Wait what?"
"Not like that!" Raven quietly burst, feeling the slightest bit of heat in her cheeks. "We just... first night we both ended up in the kitchen 'cause we couldn't sleep, and we decided to watch TV until we did. Now we do it every night."
Yang quirked a brow at the explanation. "Alright, well, how exactly are you testing the waters?"
Raven had to actually think for a moment, trying to remember exactly what she had been doing. "Y'know, little things like, flashin' some skin, showin' my ass, flirting, buyin' her breakfast and stuff."
Yang opened her mouth to respond, but froze, seemingly realizing what her mother just said. "Wait wait, you've been doing what now?"
"Look I'm rusty, okay?" Raven defended. "I wasn't exactly one to show off my body when I was younger, and sometimes Cin compliments me and it makes me do stupid shit."
Yang paused for a moment. "I mean, is it working?"
"I think so?" Raven hesitantly answered. "She hasn't stopped sleepin' with me... or cuddling."
Yang brought a hand up to her chin, appearing to be in thought for some reason. "How about steppin' it up a notch then?"
Raven immediately quirked a brow. "Like what? Serving myself up naked? Whipped cream on my tits and a candle between my cheeks?"
Yang let out an amused chuckle at the suggestion. "I said a notch, mom, not ten."
Raven only sighed. It had been such a long time since she had even felt this way about anyone, not counting Summer and Tai of course... She wished she knew what to do. "There's just this little voice in the back of my head that keeps whispering you're her boss, you dumb shit, this is a huge power dynamic issue!"
Yang actually shrugged. "Maybe, but I doubt Cin cares about that, too busy staring at your ass, or your tits, or just you in general."
Raven chuckled. "My two best aspects, and my worst." Pain in the ass finding bras sometimes, but all those hungry stares are worth it. 'Specially Cin's.
"You and me both." Yang chuckled right back. "Well, you could always try flashin' one of 'em, or I dunno, asking her out."
"Hey Cin, wanna eat out, then go get lunch?" Raven asked in a ridiculous impression of... something. All she knew was that it was a dumb voice.
Yang raised a hand, likely to recommend against that, but stopped herself, as her lips curled into a smirk. "You know what, you go right ahead and do that. I bet it'll turn out great."
Raven only shook her head. "Gods, I fuckin' wish I had that kind of confidence. Back when I was your age, I didn't give a shit. Tai was chasin' after me, and I was chasin' after Summer... Everything just fell into place and I took it for granted... Now I'm too chicken shit to tell a woman I like her." Or even imply that I do...
"Well, sometimes you gotta just take that leap of faith, hope everything works out." Yang suggested, offering a small smile.
"Yeah..." Raven nodded a bit. If only it was that easy. "You know, if this goes tits up, I'm gonna be a fuckin' wreck." As if I'm not already.
Yang shook her head. "It won't, mom, but if does somehow go wrong, I'll be there to pick up the pieces."
Raven actually smiled at the assurance. "Thanks. hon, Summer and Tai raised you well."
"So did you." Yang added with a bright smile of her own. "And you and Cin will be great together."
Raven wanted to hug her daughter again, but stopped herself, as a sudden realization hit her. One that caused a smirk to spread across her face. "Hah, y'know, if she and I work out, you fondled your step-mom."
Yang stared blankly at her mother for a few moments, seemingly processing what was just said. Then she let out a huff. "And there goes the nice moment."
Raven shrugged. "We can't have too many of those, we'll go soft."
Yang glared at her mother, clearly unamused. "Yeah, but that's not an image I want in my head, mom."
Raven chuckled a bit at the comment. "Look, I know you got weaned early, but poor Cin can't produce like I did, so you gotta take it easy on your step-mom."
Yang merely continued to glare at her mother. "You can stop anytime now."
At that moment, another realization hit Raven. "That being said, she does have a nice pair. Not as big as Summer's, but perkier." And gods damn do they look good in a tank top without a bra. "Though Summer probably got bigger after Ruby..."
Yang just snickered. "You should definitely tell her that."
Raven could not help but snort at the idea. "Pshh, hey, Cin, nice perkies."
"Which will either weird her out, or turn her on, so good luck." Yang added with a smirk.
After a moment, both women just burst into quiet laughter. Though once Raven calmed down, she looked down at her body, noticing her stomach especially was a tad... flabbier than it used to be. Reaching under her shirt, she pinched an area of her stomach that used to be a toned set of abs. "I should probably work out again, shift some of this lazy weight, I used to be so damn fit."
Yang offered a warm smile to her mother. "That's the spirit."
"You uh... Can you maybe help, somehow? I'm really outta practice and just..." Raven sighed. "We don't have to work out, I just wanna spend more time with you, and the less we focus on that the less weird I'll feel about it all."
After a moment, Yang smiled again. "Of course, mom." She agreed. "Just let me know and I can bring you to the gym I use. You can even bring Cin if she wants to tag along. She could use a little muscle."
At the mention of the possibility of Cinder working out with them, Raven was unable to stop her mind from filling with thoughts of the younger woman. Or more accurately... her body. Soft, pale skin... intense, golden eye... gorgeous smile... a fine ass... perfectly-sized breasts... It all caused her lips to curl into a smile. "I wouldn't change a thing about her body."
Yang let out a chuckle at the response. "I figured you'd say that."
A brief silence followed. "Is it... weird, that she's younger than me?" Raven hesitantly inquired. "It feels weird... 'cause she's not that much older than you."
Yang shook her head. "Not at all, but she's actually over ten years older than me, mom. Which... I'm not gonna lie, I found pretty hot when I thought she was hitting on me a few weeks ago."
Upon hearing that, Raven almost cringed at the idea that her own daughter getting hot under the collar at the idea of a woman that much older hitting on her. "Oh gods, I've given birth to cougar bait."
Yang only shrugged. "I mean, I only thought she was. Turns out she didn't mean to call me."
Raven immediately quirked a brow. "She called you?"
Yang seemingly pondered the answer for a moment. "Not exactly. Nora took her scroll and dialed my number, but now that I think about it, I think she meant to call you."
Raven then furrowed her brow. "And... what'd she say?"
Yang paused, gazing elsewhere as she thought. "If I'm remembering right, Nora told me that Cindy loves me, and that she wants to hug me, kiss me, and bury her face in my tits." She explained, causing her mother's eyes to widen a bit. "Then Cin stole back her phone, yelled an apology, and hung up, leavin' me confused and wonderin' what the hell just happened."
Raven's gaze wandered down a bit, briefly looking at her own quite ample chest. "Well... you did get 'em from your mom."
Yang chuckled a bit at the observation. "I mean, not like I got 'em from dad." Then she smirked. "But it's not mine that Cin wants to bury her face in."
Raven let out a chuckle of her own. "I do miss having a face in my tits." Even if my nipples aren't as sensitive as they used to be.
"I guess it's your lucky day then, you've got a volunteer sleepin' in the guest bedroom right now." Yang informed, a cheeky grin spreading across her face.
Turning to glance over at the hallway that led to the guest bedroom, Raven could not help but smile. Though unfortunately, that smile did not last long, as her gaze fell. "Gods... I'm so fucked, Yang..." She near-mumbled, unable to meet her daughter's gaze. "I'm too old for this shit."
"Now that's a load of shit, mom. You're never too old for love." Yang stressed, reaching over to place a hand upon her mother's shoulder, attempting to offer a small smile. "I'll bet you anything that you could just walk into that guest bedroom, wake Cin up, tell her how you feel, and it'll go well."
Raven just sighed again. "Probably, maybe... That's what I'm afraid of most, that it'll all work out, we'll be together, we'll be happy... and I'll be scared shitless of fucking it all up again." Or worse, she realized that she was nothing but... used goods, and she would be better off with someone better... someone younger... Like Nora. Those two would sure make an... interesting couple. Though I guess they do say that opposites attract...
"You know, I'll also bet that Cin's feelin' the same thing, scared of fucking up." Yang commented. "Probably why she hasn't made a move yet, and I know she's capable of it, seen it first hand. Like I said, you gotta take that leap."
While Raven was rather curious on what exactly her daughter meant by seen it first hand, she let it go for now, choosing instead to focus on what was important. Cinder. So, after a few moments, she slowly nodded. "Okay... I'll try... I'll try my best for her... because she deserves it."
"And so do you, mom." Yang added with a warm smile, to which her mother wrapped her arms around the blonde once more, pulling her into a tight embrace, and holding her close as tears began to well in her eyes. The two did not get to share such intimacies very often, as... even now, years after she went from aunt to mom, they were not exactly a typical mother-daughter pair. So... it was really nice when they did happen. After all, Raven got to actually enjoy the contact that she had missed out on all her life...
"I love you, Yang... So much..."
"Good evening, Rae, and happy birthday."
"Hey... Sum..."
"How was your day? Did you like your presents? Tai was really excited about finding his."
"It was... It was good, yeah... Cin bought us breakfast, had a nice time going out for lunch with Yang and Ruby... Yang came over later for a drink... It was nice... And the presents were great, thanks a lot for the jacket... and thank Tai for me. The shades are perfect..."
"I still remember when you first saw them all those years ago."
"Yeah, then I saw the price tag."
"Ah, to be young and poor again."
"Yeah... Well, it was a good day... Kinda wish you could've been there too..."
"You and I both know I would have just taken over everything. It's a bad habit of mine."
"You're too polite for that, and you know it. I dunno, I enjoyed spendin' time with the girls, but it would've been nice if you were there too, 'cause I know we don't see each other too often..."
"I'm there in spirit, Rae. Ruby gives you my love."
"Yeah, your mini-me was real lovable today, as usual."
"She has always loved her Aunt Raven."
"Somehow."
"Come on, Rae, you're the cool goth aunt who owns a successful bar. You know she used to want hair like yours, right?"
"Which of course gave Yang the idea to dress up like me for Halloween that one year."
"I remember all of the temporary hair dye we had to use to turn that blonde mane of hers black."
"Took her over a week to get her hair back to normal."
"I believe it was well worth it. She was so cute, as if I were looking at you as a child."
"She was like my mini-me for a night."
"Speaking of, did you two have a nice time when she came over?"
"Y'know, we actually really did. We talked about a lotta things... things I wish we'd talked about ages ago... Would've been much easier with you around..."
"That's wonderful to hear! I'm so proud of you, Rae."
"Thanks, Sum... I just... It felt really good... actually tryin' to be a better mom..."
"You have always done your best."
"I'm just, I'm scared. Everything's goin' so well, it's just like before... I'm gonna fuck it up again. I can feel it..."
"You're better than that, Rae. I know you are. You have gotten so much stronger over the years, and you don't even realize it."
"I can barely even talk to you, like a coward."
"Yet here we are, like nothing ever changed."
"Sure feels like it has."
"Perhaps a little. We're older, we're smarter."
"Speak for yourself."
"You're talking to me. You're scared and you're talking to me, so you can work through how you feel instead of avoiding it. You're getting better, Rae. I promise."
"No, I'm... I'm doing it again, Sum... I'm... I'm falling... in love..."
Fuck.
Author's Note: Announcement time!
First off, the shorter of the two. Due to having another place where I use this account name, I've decided to change it, so that I can keep these two things separate. Just wanted to give a heads up so that it won't confuse anyone.
Second! The more exciting!
After finishing our "one shot", Out of the Bag, Terminal and I discussed the possibility of doing a sequel chapter. So, over the past while we've been talking about ideas, and now we're happy to announce that we'll be writing a sequel in December! :D
We're planning for 2 parts, and hoping to release both by the end of the year (ideally Christmas, but whoever read OOTB knows how well the "one shot" went). So get excited! :D
Anyways, thanks for reading! Let me know what you think!
Because as always, your feedback fuels us!
