Chapter 20: Exasperation and Surprises

"The excitement exuding off of you is rather overwhelming today, brother." I smirk at his as he basically falls over onto the couch.

He groans aloud. "Yeah, well, you try putting up with Tai for more than an hour at a time and see how you feel afterwards."

I laugh at his obviously faked pain. "Why are you even living with him in the first place. I thought you were going to be a solo Hunter." It really is a good question. This is all he could talk about growing up, and he's basically throwing it all away for a blond idiot. I don't even see how he has the patience to deal with him at all.

"Rae, how would you get dough off the ceiling!?" How do I have the patience for this?

I sigh heavily. "Just leave it there, Sum. I'll get it in a bit."

A chipper, "okay!" sounds, and I hear a bit of slamming, then an, "I'm okay!"

I sink into my seat. So much for quiet, so much for patience. Maybe it's hereditary. Maybe we both are just doomed to live with these two. I sigh again, this time with less exasperation and a little more love. Even if she is one of the clumsiest, weirdest, most unorthodox woman I know, I would do just about anything for her. I look over at Qrow and see him smiling at me. "You had that thought, didn't you?"

I look at him in confusion, my eyebrow going up just a hair. "I don't understand."

His smile gets that much wider with my comment. "The one where you think," he clears his throat and tries to do an impression of me, which makes me frown, "I would do just about anything for her." He laughs softly. "Am I right?" Yes, it's a pretty good impression, despite the deeper voice, but that still doesn't mean I'm not annoyed.

I throw the closest thing at hand at him. It just so happens to be a soft, fluffy pillow. I'd rather it have been a knife or something. "Shut up." It's strange how much I sigh now. It was hardly a problem four years ago, but now, it's just an everyday occurrence. The teasing, the general annoyance, the common acceptance, it's all just this huge cycle in my life since meeting the others. I know that I had to live with Qrow for the first seventeen years of my life, alone for the most part, but those two bring a new meaning to exasperation into my life, but. ultimately, I'm eternally grateful to fate for its part in my existence.

It really brings everything into perspective, though. If Qrow could get away from Tai's annoyance, he probably would, so why live with the idiot? I put up with Summer's more… clumsy… moments because I love her, but why would Qrow do that with Tai if he was only a friend. They may even be best friends and combat partners, but that doesn't dictate this level of commitment or indulgence. It gets me thinking as to the true reason why the brother that usually seeks to sabotage me at most every turn that would not end in my or his death actually helped me get the love of my life. Could it be that my twin, the man that I know better than just about anyone else, is in love with his partner? THis could be how the he fucking knew what I was thinking a few minutes ago. As that realization seeps in, I try to keep my expression neutral. This is very big, very big indeed.

I'm snapped out of my epiphany by his voice. "What's with that look."

I blink a couple of times and try to feign innocence. "Whatever do you mean, brother."

He clicks his tongue. "What were you just thinking about?"

I smile at him. He could never guess, could he? "I thought you had ESP, brother dearest. I thought you could read my mind."

He frowns before panic sets on his face. "Tell me."

I chuckle maniacally. "Oh, I don't think so. I think you'll just have to sit and stew in your curiosity for a little while." I stand up swiftly and make my way into the kitchen. My smile quickly becomes a frown as I open the door and see the humongous mess that Summer had left. "This is the last fucking time you try to bake cookies, Summer."

She just laughs merrily at my response. "That's what you said last time, Rae." Her laughter covers my sigh, but, soon enough, I'm joining in on the laugh, completely over the mess that she made. This isn't even her biggest mess, and I highly doubt it will be her last.

"Summer! We have another mission!" I shout through the house as I fling open the door. Quiet envelopes me as I walk in, and that's the strangest thing to happen in this house since the cookie dough incident. This house is never quiet. There's always talking or music or annoying brothers hanging around to make it oh so lively. I narrow my eyes and start to slowly move through the house, balancing on the balls of my feet, ready to strike out at whoever forced the silence on my home.

I make it to the other side of the room without incident, and the next thing i know, there's a loud pop and I'm on the floor witrh the breath knocked out of me. "What the hell is this!?" I yell as my vision comes back to me to see Summer sitting on my stomach with some kind of party hat on.

She boops my nose and smiles mischievously. "This is your birthday party, silly!" I resist the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh in frustration. I truly thought that something was wrong!

I sigh and sit up, leaving Summer in my lap. "You really need to warn me next time. I thought that something was actually wrong."

She just laughs a little. "You worry way too much. Plus, it wouldn't be a surprise party if I told you it would happy." She gives me a quick peck on the cheek before standing and practically skipping to the other side of the room. What would I ever do without that woman? Life definitely isn't boring with her around.

A/N: Well hello again, reader. Long time no see, right? Well, I got this bit of speculation out for you, and I want a vote! Qrow x Tai or no? Maybe unrequited love from Qrow? Idk. I have this niggling little voice in the back of my head, and I can't exactly decide for myself on this. I'm too torn between story and intrigue! So, tell me what you think.

I do have a account. The link is on my profile. Any contribution would be much appreciated. :)

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