Alright! A new chapter! Woo. Ok, yh, this isn't all that exciting, but I'm excited about another chapter. Hope you enjoy it!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 9: Reactions and Interactions

"You rejected me for her?" Tai is obviously furious. He's pacing the floor frantically, kicking juice boxes around.

Why is Tai so fucking mad? Ugh, men and their fragile egos. Qrow stands up and puts his finger on Tai's chest. "You better calm the fuck down before you say something you'll regret."

Tai holds his hands up before running his hands through his hair again. "But shit, man. I thought you were on my side."

Qrow sits back down and rolls his eyes. "Yeah, you're my bro and all, but she's my sister. How the hell am I not supposed to help her?"

I just sit on my bed, facing away from them. I knew it was going to be like this. I knew there would be fighting and yelling as soon as Summer asked me if I wanted them to know. I didn't want this. I let myself lean forward, folding my arms in my lap and resting my head on them. My life just got infinitely more complicated with just one thought, one feeling, one kiss, or was it two?

I get distracted by my own thoughts and don't notice that Tai had come to stand in front of me. He pokes my head. "Are you dead or something. You know I didn't mean it, right?"

I roll my eyes, but realize that he can't see me. I sit up slowly and glare at him. "Oh, right, cause I cared what you thought to begin with."

He holds up his hands. "Whoa, what's with the sting there, miss dark and gloomy?" He puts down his hands to scratch his temple with his forefinger in thought. "But you know, this is kinda hot, right? I mean, two girls? Yeah, totally hot."

I stand up and push him by his face. "You're gross."

He laughs as he falls backwards onto Summer's bed. "I'm just telling the truth." He looks behind me. "Qrow, don't you think it's hot?"

I turn around to see him pause mid sip of his juice and spit it out. "Ew, gross." He gestures to me. "She's my sister, dude!"

Tai just shrugs. "I don't think even that would turn me off."

I roll my eyes again. "Just shut the fuck up, please." Tai just rolls off Summer's bed and walks over to his. I look over at Summer, who has been overly quiet, to see her asleep in my bed, cloak, weapons, and all still on. I sigh and reach to at least take her shoes and weapons off. After sliding them off of her, which she strangely slept through, I go into the bathroom and change into my night clothes and lay in Summer's bed. It smells like her, like roses and that unique, only her, smell. I sigh and breath it in like a crazy stalker before pulling the cover over me and going to sleep.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I wake up in the middle of the night. Everyone else is asleep, and I can't exactly find a reason for waking. Everything is pitch black, with only the tiny bit of light our charging coms are making illuminating the room. I look around, seeing as much as I could in the dim light. Why did I wake up? The bathroom door opens, and out comes a small, white blur in the darkness. Then, I find myself face to face with Summer as she climbs into the bed beside me.

She lifts the covers carefully and just slides in. "Shh. It's just me."

I roll my eyes, even though I she probably can't see it. "I know, but why are you in my bed?"

She laughs a little, but it's muffled as she buries her face into my shoulder. "This is my bed, Ray."

"Even so, why?" I'm not reprimanding her or anything. Really, I'm nervous and kind of happy that she decided to slide in with me.

She just snuggles deeper into my side. "Warm."

I can't help but wrap my arm around her to pull her closer and bury my face into the hair on top of her head. I chuckle a bit as her breathing slows and she falls asleep. My heart constricts, but this is in a very nice way, like I'd just seen or heard the cutest thing in the world, and maybe in a way, I have. I smile into her hair and close my eyes, slowly falling into a warm darkness.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I'm brought out of a really good dream, one of warmth and Summer sleeping with me, by a flash of light. "Ugh, turn it off." I try to roll over only to find a weight on my chest and something wrapped around my stomach. I slowly crack my eyes open to see a grinning Qrow standing over me with a camera. "What the hell, Qrow?"

He chuckles softly. "Shh. You're going to wake the sleeping runt." He points beside me.

I look down and all I see is black and red hair. Shit, so it wasn't a dream after all. I nod to him and sigh. Do I wake her up, or do I just leave her alone? I just lay my head back down on my pillow in resignation. There's no way that I'm going to be capable of waking her up when she looks so cute and comfortable. I blush as she suddenly rubs her face right into the side of my boob.

Qrow laughs. "That face!" He snaps another picture.

I growl low in my throat. "God damnit, Qrow, give me that fucking camera right now!"

He waves it in front of me. "Or what?" Gesturing toward Summer, he says, "You don't want to even wake her up. What can you do that won't cause her to be jostled?"

A low hum comes from beside me, and I look down to see a very sleepy Summer just waking up. "You guys are too loud." She rubs her eyes with the hand that she had wrapped around my waist, effectively freeing me.

I suppress the awe that wanted to come out when I see how cute she is. "Sorry, Sum."

She pats my head and sits up. "It's fine." As she stands, she swipes the camera from Qrow and hands it to me.

"Hey! That's mine!" He protests and tries to get it back, but I perfected the game of keep away years ago for just such occasions.

"Nah nah, nope. Not anymore." I throw the camera over his head to Summer, who catches it deftly while still looking through her clothes.

She turns to me after stashing the camera in her cloak. " Where are my only pair of shorts?"

At the word shorts, a flashback makes me realize that I had given them to the kid. I look down at the floor while poking my forefingers together. "I kinda gave them to Glynda."

I hear her let out a deep breath, and I look up. There isn't an expression of anger or disappointment on her face, and for that, I am glad. "Well, there's nothing we can do about it now."

I look at her pleadingly. "Sorry, though."

She smiles and walks up to me to give me a kiss. "Don't worry about it."

Something soft hits the back of my head at a speed that shouldn't be possible. "No, guys. Just, not with us around!" I turn around to see Qrow with another pillow, ready to hit me again.

I hear a laugh from across the room and turn to see Tai. "You know, I really don't mind, but could you wait til I get my popcorn and a good observation point?"

My face twists into an expression of disgust. "Damnit, Tai. Why do you have to be so fucking pervy?"

He smiles and shrugs. "I guess it's just in my nature."

I hold up my fist. "And I guess it's just in my nature to beat the shit out of you." I start to walk toward him when a knock sounds on the door. I go and open to see the kid standing there with her hands behind her back and a huge smile on her face.

She rocks back and forth expectantly. "Hey."

I look at her curiously. "What's up, kid?"

Her smile falls a millimeter. "Don't you remember?"

I wrack my brain for anything, something to do with the kid and probably today. Oh, shit, shopping. I have to take her shopping. "Ah, shopping."

Her smiles gets infinitely brighter at my remembrance. "Yes!"

Oh god, this is going to be a long day. "Just let me get ready, okay?" She nods enthusiastically as I let her in and start to get ready.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So, where are we going?" Glynda asks enthusiastically.

I'd asked Summer to come along with us to get everything for her. I don't think I could have handled her on my own. SHe's more reserved than most kids, but she still has that tendency to just ambush you with excitement or a crazy idea. I've only known her for a day, and I know that already. I pinch the bridge of my nose. "You've asked that at least thirty times now. Could you just give it a rest?"

I hear a gasp and look at Summer just in time for her to hit me lightly on the shoulder. "Don't get a tone, Ray. She's just a kid."

I turn to her and stop. "But she's been asking that question almost every single step we've taken from the airship fields!"

"She's a kid. It's what they do. Just calm down and talk to her nicely."

I sigh and concede. I spin around to tell Glynda where we're going only to see an empty spot. "Glynda? Kid? Where are you?" I look around frantically, trying to figure out where the hell she could have gone. I cup my hands around my mouth and yell. "Glynda!" People turn to stare at me, but I don't care. The kid is gone.

I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Ray, calm down. We'll find her." She takes my hand, and I nod, calming just a tad. With that, we started our search for the girl, leaving no stone unturned.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: Oooooo. Development! Conflict! Cliffhanger! Lol. Sorry about that. Maybe, but it is another chapter. So, um, yh. I liked how Tai went straight from angry to pervy. He'll be laid back from here on out. I don't see him capable of holding a grudge, you know? Like Yang. Glynda being more of a kid was refreshing, too. Things are going to happen, some bad and some good, but things nonetheless.

Mmm, I do have a account. The link is on my profile. :)

Follow, Favorite, Review!