{Taiyang} Pt 1. Papa Bear
Taiyang wasn't good with farewells. He had barely been able to say goodbye to his little girls as they boarded the airship to Beacon. Goodbyes always had the possibility to be permeant. Sometimes you did not even get to say goodbye to those you loved before they were gone. Taiyang never got the chance to say goodbye before Raven left. He only got a note. He hadn't known that he was saying goodbye to Summer forever, the day she left. Taiyang watched the airship turn into a small dot in the distance. Yang and Ruby were all he had left of the women he loved. They both agreed that he was in turn a bit overprotective of them. Though that never prevented the pair from getting into danger. Taiyang had been able to look after them at Signal, yet he felt less nervous then he thought as they went to a new school. Beacon Academy, the finest school for hunters and huntresses in Vale. He remembered the days he sent there with his team. The days when he never feared saying goodbye to those he loved.
I
(Before)
"Come on," Taiyang taunted nervously as the particularly large Ursa lumbered towards him. He had hoped to meet his partner quickly as he was launched into the forest with his fellow newcomers. An old Ursa with a nasty scar on it's face was not his idea. He rolled under the reach of it's claws as it swiped at him. Taiyang yanked out his tomahawks. He jumped to his feet swinging them at it. He nicked it in the arm and rolled away from it again. The Grimm jumped at him it seemed more anger than before. Taiyang dodged under it's claws and rammed himself into them. It was like hitting a brick wall that had fur. Taiyang stumbled back.
"New plan." He muttered, and came up empty as he decided to charge. He buried one of his tomahawks into the Grimm's chest. It roared but didn't fall, Taiyang gritted his teeth and dug his heels into the grass. He was ready to charge when saw a blur of red and black. The Grimm's head tumbled to the floor as the figure slashed their weapons at it. Taiyang let out a breath resting onto his knee.
"Thanks," He said looking up into a pair of scarlet eyes. The girl nodded sheathing her katana.
"Hi, I'm Taiyang," He greeted, "Or Tai for short."
The girl smiled hesitantly, "Hi, I'm Raven."
II
"Would it kill you to follow a plan," Raven ranted at Taiyang as they stood in their dorm room. Taiyang crossed his arms.
"I did for the most part," His partner narrowed her eyes at him.
"For the most part?" She exclaimed "Does that involve you running out there at the end and nearly getting yourself knocked out!"
"It was improvising," Taiyang defended.
"Improvising?" She asked walking up to him, anger coiling off her, "You blew all our covers and disregarded the plan completely, not half-way, all of it." Taiyang stood firm his sky blue eyes glaring down at her blazing scarlet ones.
"It all worked out in the end," He argued, "Why are you so bent out of shape about this?"
"Because you are being so reckless all the damn time!" Raven snapped.
"I had it under control," He shouted, "Why can't you just trust me." They stood toe to toe seething at each other.
"Enough!" Summer said evenly but firmly. She got up from her desk, "You both have your points," she said, "There is no need to get heated about it." Summer looked at both of them. Raven was the first to break away from staring contest with Taiyang.
"Perhaps, but that does not change the fact that Tai is a reckless moron."
"Raven, come on," Qrow sighed from his bed where he sat crossed legged atop, "cut him some slack." Raven glared at him.
"Who side are you on?" She demanded. Qrow sighed looking tired.
"Yours, sister."
"Come on, lets just talk this out." Summer said gently. Raven frowned and stormed off. Taiyang followed but went another way.
Summer sighed sitting down on her bed.
"I just made that worse, didn't I?" Summer groaned pulling up her hood. Qrow got up from his bed and patted her shoulder.
"No, you were trying to defuse it but they just wanted to explode at each other," He said. Summer smiled at her partner.
"Thanks," She said, "But we'd better go make sure they're alright." Qrow nodded,
"Divide and conquer?" He said with a small grin. Summer stood up, her hood hiding part of her face.
"Yeah."
III
Raven walked around campus. It had only been a few months since she and Qrow had come to Beacon. She recalled the day she had met Tai in the forest. The broad grin, glimmering blue eyes, and his golden hair was dazzling. Raven sat down on a stone bench. She was happy with her team and brother but old thoughts still whispered in her ears. Someone or thing had killed her parents and she still hadn't figure out why.
"Raven?" Summer asked. She looked up at her team leader.
"Hey," Raven replied softy.
"Mind if I join you?" She asked crossing her arms behind her back. Raven smiled.
"Not at all,"
Summer took a seat next to Raven.
"Do you want to talk about what happened?" She inquired gently. Raven tipped her head back, a part of her truly didn't.
"I may have been a bit harsh on him," She said instead of a refusal. Summer smiled the littlest bit.
"Because he's reckless,"
Raven nodded, strands of her ebony hair falling to her cheek.
"You know he's not the only one whose does reckless things on the team," Summer said. Raven smiled a little.
"The difference is that Tai is a reckless idiot and you're just selflessly reckless," she reasoned. Summer laughed softly.
"True enough," She said, "But he means well." Raven sighed.
"I know that, Summer," she said brushing her hair back behind her ear, "It just feels like Tai and I don't mesh as partners,"
"Raven we've only been here at Beacon for a few months," Summer said, "There are still going to be kinks to works with our partnerships."
"Yeah, but you and Qrow seem to be so together all the time," Raven said.
"That's only because we accept that we annoy one another constantly," Summer said with a smile. Raven grinned at the idea of the two getting on one another's nerves. Qrow always had a balance of being lazy and cocky. She loved him for it, but she imagined how it must be for Summer. Cool, kind and level headed Summer.
"We all have things that we need to work out as a team, and partners," Summer told her friend, "But you and Tai aren't alone in this in all this craziness."
"Yeah, I know," Raven said softly. Summer got to her feet.
"Come on let's go find the boys." She said holding out her hand. Raven felt the knot of anger and anxiety unclench as she took her leader's hand.
IV
Taiyang slammed his fist into the nearest tree he could find. Raven made his blood go warm for so many reasons ever since he met her.
"Hitting trees, you really are living up that nickname, Lumberjack," Qrow teased as he walked up to him. Taiyang sighed.
"Not in the mood Qrow,"
"Yeah, yeah I'm aware," The scarlet eyed boy said. Taiyang turned around.
"Say, Qrow do you think Raven hates me?" He asked glumly. Qrow sighed.
"Believe me when I say that she doesn't," He replied, "She just has a short fuse sometimes."
"Speaking from personal experience?" Taiyang asked with a smile. Qrow smiled.
"Oh, yes," He said.
"Any tips on how to not piss her off," Taiyang asked. Qrow shrugged uncrossing his arms.
"I wish I knew but it's not entirely your fault," He said alluding to the earlier fight, "She just is over-protective of the people sees as friend." Taiyang sat down on the grass.
"Why though," He asked. Qrow sat down beside him.
"It has to do with our parents," He said softly, "They were hunters, and one day they left on a hunt then, they never cam back." Taiyang looked at his friend. A kind of cloak of sadness wrapped around him.
"Raven and me went to live with foster parents," He said, "They were fine, but it wasn't the same," Qrow lifted up his hand the evening light catching off his silver rings, "So me and Raven looked out for each other, now that she has you as a partner she wants to look out for you too," Taiyang nodded clasping his fingers together.
"I need to talk to Raven," He said softly. Qrow nodded.
V
"Hey, you," Taiyang said as he walked up to Raven.
"Hey, Tai," She said her back was rested against the wall, the sky had darkened to night and the moon was overhead. Taiyang sat down besides her.
"I'm sorry for being such a pain to deal with," He said. Raven nodded.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you," She said looking over at him. Taiyang smiled that dazzling kind smile of his.
"We have a lot of work to do as partners, don't we?" Raven asked her fingers brushed his own. Tai nodded resting his head against the wall.
"We'll manage, somehow," He said. Raven smiled as he covered her hand with his own.
"We have all the time in the world," She said. Taiyang nodded his blue eyes bright in the moonlight. They sat together like that not saying anything really for a while. Taiyang wanted to ask her so much but like she said, they had plenty of times.
VI
"Raven?" Taiyang asked softly as he lay besides her in bed. She stirred slightly but her eyes remained closed and her breathing even. He smiled a warmth had spread within his chest. It had been years since that fatefully encounter in the forest when they became partners. Years since he believed she hated the sight of him. It had only been a few weeks since they moved into their new home. Only a half a day since they learned Raven was pregnant. Taiyang absently ran a finger across the skin of her shoulder. He slowly traced a long faded scar. They both had so many scars, only some of them visible. Taiyang had vowed to love her, all of her, even though he knew he couldn't rid her completely of some of those scars. Yet, he wanted to help lessen the pain those scar brought to her. He wanted to prevent their child from getting those same scars. He smiled wider, he was going to be a dad, and he already was a husband, a hunter.
"Tai," Raven muttered softly opening her eyes.
"I love you," He said without really thinking. Raven smiled sleepily at him.
"I love you too," She said sitting up. Tai pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
"I'm so happy," He muttered smiling against her mouth. Raven kissed him.
"So, am I." Raven said as Taiyang wrapped his arms around her. The warmth spread over his whole body, as joy pulse steadily through his veins.
"We're going be parents," He said with a small laugh. Raven kissed his forehead.
"I can't wait," She said.
V
"Tai?" Taiyang groaned, his eyes heavy with exhaustion.
"Taiyang?" Someone said shaking him. He forced his eyes opened.
"Raven?" He asked as his mind kicked back awake, she had left, she left only a note. It was still crumpled up in his pocket. Taiyang looked at the person, he looked into silver eyes, not scarlet ones.
"I'm sorry, Tai," Summer said as his face fall, "There is still no word from her."
"I see," He said dejectedly, "Yang?" He sprang up from his armchair, how long had he been asleep? Where was his daughter.
"Tai, she fine," Summer reassured quickly, and Taiyang saw Yang asleep cradle in Summer arms.
"She's not crying," Taiyang breathed, "She hasn't stopped crying since Raven left," Summer smiled sadly, "She must've just tired herself out," Taiyang nodded walking towards the kitchen. Dishes were stacked up in the sink. He looked around aimlessly.
"Tai,-" She began.
"I'm fine," Taiyang cut in, rubbing his eyes, "I'm just tired." Summer set Yang down gently into her crib.
"Taiyang get some rest," She insisted, "I'll look after Yang." Taiyang leaned against the counter.
"I'm fine," He insisted again. Summer crossed her arms.
"Taiyang," She said sternly, "You're no help to your family like this, get some sleep,"
Taiyang almost smiled at the old leader voice Summer used. He sighed.
"Okay, but only for a little," He said, "Wake me up in an hour." Summer nodded and Taiyang wandered to his bedroom.
VI
Taiyang opened his eyes he sat up yawning loudly. He ran a hand through his blond locks.
"What time,?" He half muttered looking out the window, the sky was a deep golden color. Taiyang jumped out of the bed and walked out of the room.
"Damn it, Summer," He said as he entered the living room. Immediately he smelled the food. His stomach growled.
"Summer?" He asked, seeing her standing in the newly cleaned up kitchen.
"Did you sleep well?" She asked. Taiyang nodded looking around the living room he spotted Yang. She was smiling up at her uncle Qrow.
"Look Yang it's papa bear," He said. Yang put her arms up for Taiyang. He took her gently from Qrow.
"Hey, sweetheart," He said to her, "When did you get here?"
"Couple of hours ago," Qrow answered.
"Did you make dinner?" Taiyang asked turning to Summer. She nodded placing the last of the plates on the table.
"I thought you might be hungry," Summer said with a smile.
"You did so much, Summer thank you," He said walking over to crib and putting Yang in it. "Both of you."
"What are friends for," Summer said, "Plus we're still a team" Taiyang sat down in a chair. Qrow walking over.
"Go on eat up," He said to his brother in law. Taiyang nodded feeling dazed he took a bit of the food. It tasted delicious, he felt tears overflowing from his eyes.
"Thank you so much," He said. Summer and Qrow can over and hugged him.
"She'll come back Tai," Qrow said,
"Or we'll find her," Summer promised. Taiyand nodded letting himself escape into his friends warmth.
VII
Taiyang smiled as he scooped up a giggling Ruby.
"I've got you," He cheered, as Yang jumped onto his back.
"Sneak attack," She said, Taiyang feigned defeat.
"Oh, no you huntresses our too great for me" He exclaimed dramatically. The sisters bursted with laughter as they headed over to the castle, aka the couch. Taiyang grinned at his little girls. Yang helping her little four year old sister up. Taiyang had been looking after the girls while Summer was out on a hunt. She was late coming back and haven't called him. Apart of Taiyang was beginning to worry, to think back to the morning he found a single note waiting to crush him. He banished those thoughts away as he looked at the girls. When a knock came at the door. Zwei barked as he was roused from his sleep.
"Someone here," Yang called.
"I'll get it," He said walking to the front door, "Summer, did you lose your key again?" Taiyang opened the door not to Summer but to Qrow.
"Qrow, what are you doing here?" His voice growing quieter as he noticed spots of blood on Qrow skin, the redness in his tear stained eyes, the weariness in his stance.
"Tai, I'm so sorry," He choked out in barely a whisper.
"No, please no," Taiyang muttered,
"Summer's dead,"