Chapter 8: A Rescue

There it is, the source of that roar that interrupted that lovely moment that we were having. She just admitted that she likes me, and now I'm going to die. An Alpha Beowolf crashes through the trees, landing in front of us. Oh shit. I don't have my weapon, and I can't throw a portal right now. This is just great. We basically just confessed to each other, and this fucking Grimm has to just come out of nowhere. My life is just this bad, isn't it? I have such terrible luck that I fall in love with my best friend, take my brother's advice, mistaking a rejection for an acceptance, our kiss being interrupted before it started, and then find out that the thing interrupting us could possibly kill us.

"Well, hell, and I thought that trouble followed me, Ray." Summer says with all the sarcasm she could probably muster at such a moment.

"Summer, it probably did follow you." I reply snarkily.

She pulls her weapons silently and skillfully out of their sheathes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just stay behind me." I huff at this. I don't like the whole damsel in distress thing, but I guess I have to go along with it, at least until I can either make a portal or find a weapon.

The Alpha looks at us curiously, probably assessing our danger level or something. I can't exactly get into a Grimm's mind or anything. Its stance lowers, like it theorizes that it can just ignore us, and we'll either go away or disappear. I guess he was expecting to face a more formidable opponent. I almost want to shout that it should have just attacked, and we would would have given it a fight. I see it tense, then. He turns slowly, sensing something that we can't possibly pick up yet.

I hear a slightly familiar voice come through the trees. "It went that way! Come on!"

An entire team crashes out of the trees in pursuit of the Beowolf. My memory actually comes through, though. Team GRAS! I haven't seen them in forever. They were sent out about two weeks ago for the decimation of a Forever Fall pack of Beowolves. They must be almost done, judging by their pursuit of the Alpha. "Violet, Sapphire, take the east and north positions. Corner it." Garnet is commanding them effortlessly. They all look tired, almost drained of energy and Aura, but they'll keep fighting. That's just what they do, what we do, as Hunters and Huntresses.

Garnet steps up and raises his pistols at the Beowolf. "Pearl, make it rain." Suddenly, Dust start to fall onto the Grimm, coating him in red. "Violet, peg him." Violet takes her weapon and transforms it into a pike-like spear, driving it into the side of the monster, slicing clean through to the other side. The spear sticks into the ground so deep that the Grimm can't escape. Garnet grins widely. "Sapphire, light it up." Flames dance across her hands, illuminating the night in a brilliant blue flame. She throws the flame at the same moment that a shot rings out. Garnet had fired a shot at the Grimm, wounding it terribly as the flames engulf it. Violet lets the fire burn until she's sure the Grimm is down before pulling her weapon from the beast. The Beowolf gives one last roar of pain before it starts to disappear.

Beside me, Summer slips her swords back into her sheathes. "Whoa. That was awesome."

I throw my arm around her. "Hey, at least we didn't die."

The flames die out, leaving us in almost total darkness. There was a few sighs of relief, but they were soon replaced by whispers and a questioning air. Team GRAS comes to stand in front of us. "What the hell are you doing out here, Branwen? I thought you had better sense." Garnet is his usual, blunt self, I see.

I roll my eyes. "I thought today was a good day to take a walk in one of the most dangerous forests surrounding the school."

"It's not day, you idiot. It's fucking dark."

I look around, pretending not to have noticed. "Oh shit, you're right. I could have sworn that it was noon."

He scoffs. "Still sarcastic, I see."

"Still an ass, I see."

He just rolls his eyes. "You're one to talk. Really, though, why are you out here," He looks at my left hip, looking for my weapon, "and with no weapon, at that?"

"I decided to take a stroll and lost track of time. I wasn't lying." I don't have to tell them why.

He motions to Summer. "And her?"

I sigh heavily. "She came to find me."

He rubs his chin. "Ah, well, come on. We gotta head to Beacon anyway. We'll give you an escort."

I roll my eyes. "Fine, but you mention this to anyone, and I'll have your head."

He holds up his hands in defeat. "Like I'd try that. I'm pretty sure Violet's have my head."

"Damn right, I would." A feminine voice calls from behind him.

"Sheesh, can't get a break, can I."

A chime-like laugh comes from beside me. "Not with a team full of girls, you don't."

Garnet pouts. "But, Pearl, I didn't choose my team."

She just rolls her eyes. "You're our leader. Act like it. Don't be a simpering idiot."

Sapphire is the odd woman out. She doesn't exactly talk all that much. She's more of an 'actions speak louder than words' person, so she just walks up and smacks him on the back of the head before flicking her hand, making flames appear in her palm. She starts to walk away, expecting us to follow. We all jog to keep up with her, but it was totally worth it. After about an hour of walking, we make it to Beacon. I wave at the others as Summer and I break from the group. They have to go to Ozpin for debriefing, and we have to head to our dorms.

I stop her when we get to the entrance to the dorm hall. "Summer, what did that almost kiss mean?"

She smiles and moves closer to me. "I knew you were dense, Ray, but I had no idea you were blind. What did it look like?"

I turn away from her. "I just want it to be clear. Are we together, now?"

She puts her arms around my waist and looks into my eyes. "It's all up to you. Apparently, I put you through an unnecessary emotional rollercoaster. The least I can do is let you decide where we go from here."

I smile at her and bring my hand up to her cheeks. Gently, I caress her bottom lip with my thumb. They're so soft, and I just want to kiss her. "Can we be together?" I whisper it so softly.

"I would like to be." He voice is equally as light, like it's a wisp of the wind, barely even there, but I hear her as clear as the night sky tonight.

I feel a tear slide down my cheek. What is it with me and crying today? I've been an emotional wreck. Oh my god, what the hell is wrong with me? What happened to my usual stoic attitude? Why does she make me so weak and so strong at the same time? These, though, are tears of joy. It feels like my heart is ready to burst from the happiness that swells within it. I lean down and capture her lips hesitantly. It was short, but it hopefully got my message across. "I'd love to be together. Would you be my girlfriend, Sum?"

She answers with another kiss. This one's longer and better, fireworks inducing even. I've never imagined that it'd ever be like this. I feel her pulse hammering away. It's like every light dims in her wake but only because she shines brighter than them all. I feel the warmth that she exudes, and it completes me. I pull away for air and stare into her eyes. Her lips lift into a small smile. "That was a long time coming, Ray."

I'm still a bit mesmerized. "Yeah." My voice is light and dazed.

She giggles and takes my arm to guide me to the dorm. "You're so cute."

I roll my eyes. "I am definitely on the other end of the spectrum when it comes to cute."

"Nope, cute." She pokes my cheek as we get to the door. "So, wanna tell them?"

I stare at the door. Qrow probably already knows, and Tai probably suspects, so, "Yeah. I think we should."

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A/N: Mmm, yh, Qrow knows... How will Tai take it, though? I don't even know at this point.

Mmm, I have a account, yh. The link is on my profile. ;) Wouldn't mind being supported.

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