It was so much harder then Winter could have dreamed. Everything moved way too fast, the music distracted her, and she couldn't figure out how to hold to controller right! It seemed to fit seamlessly in everyone else's hands, but it didn't work with her! She ended up putting it on her knees and pushing the buttons one at a time with her index fingers. Needless to say, she wasn't getting that many kills.
It didn't matter anyway, Ruby was dominating the game without even trying. She played as a short boy with a sword and zipped around the field attacking everyone she could get her hands on. In the middle of fights, she would talk to people while everyone sat in silence and tried to concentrate. Winter had no idea if she wanted to talk, or if it was apart of some master strategy.
At the end of the third round Ruby almost all of the kills, and everyone else was getting their butts kicked. In round four, Winters dinosaur thing got in Yang's way, messing up her attack on Ruby, "Winter, have you ever even played a video game?" Yang fumed as her sister swooped in and threw her off the stage.
"Not really, why?" Winter answered without really thinking, too busy trying to keep up with the action on the screen.
"That makes a lot of sense" Qrow laughed as he and Ruby traded blows, "Look at the way she's holding the controller" Yang and Ruby both looked at her and busted out in a fit of giggling.
"Winter, what are you doing? You're holding it all wrong!" Yang got out between laughs, holding up her controller for Winter to see.
"It feels weird holding it that way" mumbled Winter, looking down at the controller in her lap.
"Then let me show you how" Qrow laughed as he moved next to her on the couch, so close that their legs were touching. Before Winter realized what was going on, Qrow moved his hands and covered her own. The second their hands touched, Winter's face started to get hot as a furnace. Her mind felt clogged up, with the only thought she could process being that his hands were as rough as she remembered.
"See, you put your hands on the side like this, your thumbs go on the sticks, and your fingers on the triggers," Qrow talked slowly, close to her ear, moving her hands to the right places as he went. "Relax your grip Snowflake, if you break it you buy it"
Winter snapped out of her trance and realized her hands were in a death grip, "Sorry about that" she stuttered out, turning to see Qrows face way too close to hers.
"No harm done" Qrow smiled, his hands warming hers, "Alright, now how to jump"
That's how it went for the next few rounds. Qrows controller sat off to the side while his hands stayed on hers, teaching her how to do everything from attack to dodge. It was a slow process, but he never got mad or frustrated with her. Eventually, his hands were gone, and she was playing on her own. It reminded her of learning to ride a bike, with a parent pushing you while you rode until you were good enough to go out on your own… Not that Winter knew how to ride a bike, but she knew that's what you were supposed to do.
Winter was still bad at the game, but she was better. She even managed to kill Maria a few times! "Not bad Winter, soon you'll be able to take me on" Yang chuckled, moving around the map.
"I think I'm a bit better than you think" Winter shot back, a cocky tone in her voice. Winter knew she had no chance against Yang, but she was getting caught up in the madness!
"Your funeral" Yang smiled at her.
"Ooh! They're gonna go one on one!" Ruby gushed, moving to the side of the stage with Qrow and Maria following.
"Give 'em hell, kid" Qrow jeered, putting his controller down.
"Way to take sides, Qrow" Winter joked as she and Yang got ready.
"Oh, I was talking to you. I always root for the underdog" Winter looked at him with her mouth wide open and chuckling slightly.
"Wooow! Qrow, you just signed you're own death certificate" Winter smirked, shaking her head at him. His grin grew wider than ever at her. She and Yang were on opposite sides of the map when Yang suddenly charged!
But before anything fun could happen, there was a hard knock from the front door, breaking the mood in the room. "Pizza!" Ruby yelled, jumping up and rushing to the front door, her hand swooped down and picked up the money off the table on the way.
"Don't forget to tip!" Yang yelled as she stood up off the floor, stretching her back as she rose. Maria and Qrow were on their feet next, walking into the kitchen. Winter wanted to stay where she was planted, knowing that there wasn't space for her at the table. She looked at the floor and was glad to see Zwei had at least stayed with her.
"Yang, move over," Ruby said, followed by a hard grunt as she probably shoved her sister out of the way. Sounds of cabinets and drawers being opened and slammed shut over and over again came from the kitchen, making Winter question what exactly was going on in there.
The smell of the pepperoni pizza hit Winter's nose and her stomach growled like she hadn't eaten all day. Which, now that she thought about it, she hadn't. Hunger overtook anything else in her mind, and she started to get off the sofa. But right as she got up, everyone else shuffled back in the room.
Everyone had a paper plate in their hands piled high with food, Qrow even had two. Winter noticed that everyone had at least one of the cookies Winter had brought over, Ruby had a mountain of them on her plate, making Winter smile. But then she watched Ruby crumble the cookies up and coat her pizza in a thick layer of cookie, which made her a little sick.
Qrow plopped down next to Winter and handed her his second plate without even looking at her. Winter took it slowly, "Thank you… Uh, don't you guys usually sit at the table?" Winter questioned, looking over at the abandoned bit of furniture. Qrow raised an eyebrow at her.
"Course not, can't see the t.v. from there. Ruby, what're we watching?" Qrow was busy looking down at his pizza, but Winter looked down at the girls and caught something odd. She could have sworn she seen Ruby pass Yang a few dollar bills, which Yang quickly stuffed in her pocket. Winter's eyes shot down to look at her food before the girls seen her.
"I have the perfect movie! Winter, do you like action movies?" Ruby looked at her innocently when she asked. Winter felt herself gulp, Ruby was giving her the sweetest puppy dog eyes as she asked… How could Winter tell her that she hated action movies?
"Yeah, love them," Winter answered quickly, taking a small bite of pizza. The pizza was by far the best thing she'd eaten since leaving home. It melted in her mouth, the cheese was gooey and smelled amazing, and it also had the perfect ratio of crust to the sauce. She ate the rest of her slice like she was a ravenous dog.
Winter watched as one by one everyone took a bite out of one of her cookies and then the same odd look Earl had given would flash against their faces. Winter felt her heart sink as they all put the cookies back on their plates. Everyone except for Ruby that is. She ate her entire stack of cookies with a fire in her eyes, "These cookies are super good, Winter!"
"What are you missing, kid?" Qrow added, but Ruby looked lost for a bit.
Thank you!" Ruby called, cute as can be, as Yang slide her cookies onto Rubys plate. Ruby didn't complain though.
"You're welcome, Ruby," Winter said before taking another bite of pizza. Qrow looked over at her and gave her an odd look.
"You got something on your face" Qrow commented as the opening credits of the movie started.
"What?" Winter asked loudly, not hearing him over the music. Qrow pointed to the side of his face and handed her a napkin. Winter's eyes widened, taking the cloth and wiping down her face. She looked up at Qrow hopefully, but he shook his head and smiled at her and pointed to the other side of his mouth. Winter cleaned the other side of her mouth and looked up again, but he shook his head at her. This time Winter cleaned all over her face, not missing a spot. When she looked down at the cloth and seen a distinct lack of sauce on it, then seen his grinning face, she got the joke. She threw the napkin back at his face with a smile, but he caught it and threw it right back. He has such a nice smile, Winter thought to herself before they both started to watch the movie. Winter moved a bit closer to Qrow, and for a second she thought he'd done the same. She felt something flutter in the stomach as she pictured his smile, his eyes. It felt weird, unfamiliar to her, but… She liked how it felt.