Chapter 15
…
A layer of dust on a glass window. A beam of light. It shone through and into the room. They both noticed it, a second later their gazes coming together.
"A sunny day in winter," He said.
"Yea," She replied, and then noted his eyes coming down to the floor. His blue unfocused, she knew him to sink back to whirlpool of memories.
She did the same. Almost. She stopped herself short, her lilac fully focused and present, and looked again at that single beam of light which had entered her room. A sunny day in winter. She rose to her feet, moved herself next to him, and then pinched his cheek.
He gave her a mildly confused look, but was also quick to realize why she just did that.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome…Wanna have some coffee?"
"Sure."
"Then let's go to the kitchen and make some."
He thought just briefly, and then nodded. "Okay," He said, and they both headed downstairs. And made some coffee. And spent some more time in the kitchen, instead of her room.
…
Another day for them.
A day not too cold with countless icy crystal-clear snowflakes partially obscuring their vision. Some softly, gently landing atop of their faces and soon after melting away.
This doesn't feel bad. The pair thought to themselves as they stood just outside the house and close to the entrance. Both letting out a quiet exhale. And then another one. Exchanging some words and continued to observe the scenery before them. Their gazes every so often shifting to a different place than before, and at times, they glanced at each other.
He quietly exhaled again, and a white, frosty mist appeared right before his slightly parted lips. He did it again, curious if something this simple could amuse him, if at least slightly. Breathing out, watching his breath held captive by the cold in the air, and repeating the simple act a fair number of times. Before he realized just how silly and stupid his harmless experiment was, and his lips curved into an awkward, but somewhat honest smile. And then he did it just one more time, realized his experiment was actually successful, albeit in a different way than he expected, but he wouldn't complain. Instead, he gave her a peek.
She didn't look back.
She just stood there beside him. Her left hand clutching her right stump, and she was also shivering just slightly.
He figured she didn't because of the cold. He was sure of it, and traces of grim emotions flickering within her lilac were proof to him he was right.
After all, her losing an arm wasn't something she could just leave behind and forget. That was a permanent change, and the best she could do was accept it. Live with it every waking moment of hers, and learn to adapt.
She has to.
He thought to himself, and peered at her ever so slightly trembling form just a bit longer. And then partially parted his lips, but then closed them shut, hesitant. Reopened them, but instead of uttering at least a single word, he just breathed a quiet breath, and his hand gently cupped her shoulder.
She rushed a quick breath, but then relaxed and let out an even exhale. Her eyes meeting his, and she could see he didn't pity her. In fact, his blue looked utterly…indifferent, she first thought, but that wasn't correct, perhaps. There seemed to be some bits and pieces of emotions lingering around the corners of his blue, but what kind of? She genuinely couldn't tell from how small they were. And wavering. And fleeting, and eventually, she just didn't care to know what they were, those bits and pieces she saw in his blue.
His hand gently cupping her shoulder didn't feel bad at all. She knew that perfectly well, and that was plenty good for her. Hence, she softly, quietly exhaled a white frosty mist. He did the same, and their exhales united in one. Moments later, it disappearing and revealing a, no, not a smile. Her eyes slightly narrowing, but not because of something grim.
Instead, quite the opposite.
…
The snow under their feet crunched just as it should.
Snowflakes dancing around them, falling down from the sky which was a mix of grey and blue. The wind gently whipping at their clothing, mostly harmless, but just slightly cold.
They didn't walk far away from the house, but just being outside and moving felt rather nice. They really did spend too much time inside still, so just having a simple walk like this felt almost extraordinary to them. It most certainly was different to be a part, however small, of that scenery which you always observed through a window.
This world which existed outside any walls or windows, together slowly returning to it was a step forward. A small one, but still a very, very important step to take.
And so they did. Holding each-others hand which offered them warmth which mostly came from within.
…
A night. A quiet, peaceful or perhaps even tranquil one. No howling of wind, swaying, naked branches or nocturnal animals bringing some splendor, bits of magic to this odd hour.
Just a perfectly soundless, tranquil night which helped his weary mind to gain some peace. Him sitting alone in the dark, in the unlit kitchen offering moments where he could just focus on embracing the lack of activity around him.
Of course, even a perfect setting like this couldn't help him against that one thought, that one name endlessly repeating itself inside his mind.
Ruby.
His daughter he still endlessly worried about. However, he also had Yang to look after and he couldn't just up and leave her for extended periods of time. In other words, his already scarce range of options was even less than that, and in the end, he was pretty much just helpless and powerless. All he could do was hope she was doing okay. Or at least try to think so, but at times it was so unfairly difficult, he was unsure how long he could last like that.
Letting out a long lasting sigh, his cheek sunk deeper into his hand. Some seconds later him hearing closing in footsteps, making him alter his sitting posture to look less miserable and tired. One hand wrapping around the half empty mug of now cold coffee.
"Is sitting alone in the dark a new hobby of yours?" She asked, and just before he answered, she turned on the lights.
"Maybe it is." He answered with a fake, empty smile. "Did you need something?"
"Just wanted some coffee." She answered flatly, and some moments later, water started to pour into a kettle.
She patiently waited as it did.
He sipped on his cold drink, and then put down the mug. As he did, he noted she didn't reek of sweat, her hair was clean and pretty, wild, of course, and her clothes were tidy.
Above all else though, her very aura seemed to be just slightly different unlike before.
"Lately, your mood seems to be getting better," He said, and she froze for a palpable moment. Before she blinked, and she gently clenched her hand into a harmless, relaxed fist.
"I guess…Being with Jaune helps, I think," She said, and even though the kettle was full, she didn't start to heat it.
He showed a genuine good smile, but his eyes were somber. "You know, it kinda stings that he's a lot better at helping you than I am," He said, and then felt himself disgusted that such thought even crossed his mind. That he'd be jealous and bitter towards someone who could do good for her. "Your happiness and well-being is infinitely more important however, so I'll remain hopeful you'll get even better."
"I pushed you away, dad. Aplenty of times. I never gave you a chance to make any difference."
He nodded sideways. "Even so, I should have tried harder, better. With you, with Ruby, Raven, and even Summer. I'm just…I'm powerless to do anything," He said, and voicelessly berated himself for being so pathetic. A moment later, his lips curving into a scathing smile. "It's ironic in a way. When it comes to combat and my duties as a huntsman, I have always prevailed at both. An unstoppable force in a way, but when it comes to relationships, I only seem to fail. And everyone leaves me, and I'm sure you'll leave me too when the right time comes," He said, and then went completely silent. A gesture which told more than any words ever could.
Dad, it's not…Her lips moved voicelessly, and she then shut them close. And then tried again to muster her voice, but just couldn't.
She could not because in actuality, there was some truth to his words, and even though he most certainly wasn't to be blamed for all of it, her saying so would not help. Therefor the heavy silence persisted, and it only grew heavier by the seconds.
His expression too grew heavier, more sorrowful and pained, and she then forgot all about thinking and reasoning.
She just let the depths of her heart to take over. A moment later, her arm wrapping around his shoulders, her lips softly kissing his head. And then…then finally, she found her voice.
"I love you, dad. Don't ever forget that," She said, and then went silent.
He…he relaxed into her embrace, and allowed himself to be fully indulged into her wonderful warmth.
"I love you too, Yang," He said, and then wrapped his arms around her.
Waited till his face would become a teary mess, but it didn't happen. She was the one who started to cry, and he realized he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen it happen.
That's when he started to cry as well.
…
A day was clear. Almost cloudless. The sky a gentle hue of blue, and the wind completely harmless, perhaps even welcome, but most certainly just a tad bit warm. A little, but also just enough to be an oddity.
"I called you outside to apologize," Tai said, his back pressed against the door.
Jaune remained quiet, his blue fixed into Tai's face, and that was his cue to continue.
"I've been nothing but hostile towards you, even though you didn't deserve that. And for that, I'm really, really sorry, Jaune."
"No, it's…it's alright, really. I'm not mad or even upset. Besides, all you did was doubt why I'm being with Yang, and that's totally okay."
"I did a lot more than just doubt you, kid," He said, his eyes firmly fixed into Jaune's and he then continued. "But this isn't about that. All I'm trying to say is that there's absolutely no excuse for my shitty behavior. Especially considering that it's your doing that she's getting better." He spoke with sincerity impossible to fake, and then offered a handshake. "And that's why, I really, from the bottom of my heart, am sorry for treating you the way I did. And hopefully not only Yang, but you too, will get better as the time goes on." He finished, his offered handshake still in the air, and Jaune soon accepted it.
"Thank you, sir."
"You can just call me Tai. In fact, I'd prefer if you would," He said, and after a brief pause, Jaune gave a nod.
…
It was snowing, and the temperature was fairly low. Not terribly low, but cold enough still so that the tips of their noses would tint themselves a shade of pink.
"Yang, does this look like a dog?" Jaune asked, and with her hand raised to shield her eyes from the falling snowflakes, she looked at his creation.
"Holy crap, it actually does." She was mildly impressed by the finesse of his work, and then turned to her own.
Her snowman was so uninspiring and bland, she punched its head off and decided to start anew.
"Just…a little bit…more." Tai puffed his cheeks in effort, and pushed the massive ball of snow a couple more inches before he stopped. Wiping his sweaty brow clean, he nodded to himself and was fairly pleased in completing the very first step in creating his snowman.
"Dad…" She started, her lilac shifting to and fro from him to the massive ball of snow which quite literally towered over him. "How exactly do you plan to put the second snowball atop of that one?" She asked him doubtfully, earning the attention of Jaune's as well.
"I'll manage it somehow," He said, and then looked up his snowball. "I mean, it'll require a bit of planning at first," He said, and his daughter grinned in response.
"We'll think of something," She suggested, and her eyes then met with Jaune's who nodded in approval.
"You think I can't handle this myself?"
She turned her look back to him.
"No, I'm just saying together it'll be more fun." She explained, and after a brief moment, his lips curved into a ghost of a smile.
"Well, be my guests then," He said, and together now, they worked on a plan of action.
It turned out to be quite fun.
…
Jaune and Yang were in her room. She was laying down on her bed while he seated himself on the edge of it. There was a now half empty plate with sandwiches between them, and they also each had a mug of coffee.
She finished eating another sandwich, and so did he. They both emptied their mugs, and moments later went downstairs to make some more. Later, they were back to her room, and she again was laying down on her back while he simply sat close to her. They exchanged some words here and there, but not many, and eventually ate last of the sandwiches they made.
She sipped on her coffee, placed the mug down on the night-table, and then let out a yawn.
Finally, she was tired. And not tired from the grim emotions within her, the invisible burden she carried, but just tired.
He gave her an attentive look.
"You should get some sleep," He said, and her eyes locked with his. She soon realized that the warmth of his hand around hers could be enough that she'd actually get a decent shut-eye. Also, she didn't miss she wasn't the only one looking exhausted.
"You should get some too," She said, and he soon nodded in response.
"Yea. Yea, you're right," He said, and as he tried to part his hand from hers, she didn't let go. With-out a word said, she made enough space on her bed for him to lay down with her.
"…"
A brief moment of nothingness, and then he blinked and just couldn't wrap his mind around this seemingly surreal, bizarre gesture of hers.
"You can just sleep right here."
"…With you?"
"Yes." She yanked on his arm, making him fall forward with his face landing just above her shoulder. Thereafter, her shoving him some distance away. "Not so close you cheeky dork." She scolded him, and he in return pinched her cheek.
"Well, excuse me, for not landing correctly."
"I forgive you." She mocked him, and he again pinched her cheek. Just a little bit harder this time.
She softly quietly laughed, and her laughter erased all of the minuscule ire he held towards her. It being replaced with lovely warmth in his chest, making him smile. And he was absolutely sure that he did, and she then smiled back. Moments later, both of them peacefully falling asleep.
That night, they didn't experience any nightmares. In fact, they may have even seen some pleasant dreams.