It was already one in the morning by the time the Grimm situation was completely cleared. Even as tired as team STRQ was, they couldn't sleep.
Qrow couldn't sleep becaue Roman was there.
Raven couldn't sleep because she almost witnessed her friend become a murderer. Then it was worse the witch didn't even die.
Taiyang could feel the the uneasiness in his girlfriend.
Summer was sitting on the roof alone while Roman was sitting on her bed in her team's dorm room.
"Um, can I go upstairs..." Roman asked and Raven snapped out of it.
"Why didn't you go up there already?" she asked mildly confused.
"I wanted to ask you... Something... You scare me. So, I feel like I need your permission to do it."
Raven arched an eyebrow.
"I want to ask Summer to marry me... If that's OK?"
Taiyang grinned, "If you love her, go for it!"
"You're no trying to turn my friend into a baby maker so she can't follow her dream are you?" she asked.
"I'd rather Summer do what she likes first. The baby thing is like... At least eight years down the road," he answered turning pink.
"That's a good answer," Raven said smiling, "Do you already have a ring?"
Roman nodded and pulled out the box from his pocket. He placed it in Raven's hand. She opened it up and her eyes widened in shock. It was beautiful and flawless... It looked expensive.
"I didn't steal it if that's what you're thinking."
"That was the first thought in my head," the young huntress teased.
Roman laughed. Everyone became quiet making things awkward.
"Brunneis left me a good bit of his money. He wanted me to be happy regardless so I thought... Hey, Summer makes me happy and I feel like this is the right thing to do."
"You two haven't even been together that long," Qrow muttered.
Raven shot him a dirty look.
"Regardless, love isn't measured by time," Taiyang said, "I think it's great. I think love is measured by how much trust and faith you have in a person and you can't ever get bored by them."
Qrow shot his friend a murderous look.
"Well... I am sorry about your friend," Raven said.
Roman nodded and looked down at the carpet.
"I wish I never went to work. I should've stayed behind."
"I don't think you would want Summer sad. Besides, Marco may not be smart but he fights to the death. You know how to steal things. He kills people."
"That's true."
"If you wanna fight, ask Summer," Taiyang said, "You need a weapon too. She can help you forge one."
Qrow got off his bed and headed out of the room. He saw Neo turning the corner to the left but didn't think anything of it.
"Don't worry about him. He's going to be a sourpuss regardless."
"Summer is on the rooftop."
"You think I should ask her now?" Roman asked.
"Nah...Take her out first. She needs that," Taiyang said with a bright smile.
"I guess that's true."
"I'll go talk to her," Raven said.
Raven left the room, leaving behind her boyfriend and Roman. Roman stayed quiet.This for him was all really awkward. He wasn't sure how any of her friends felt about him except Raven. Taiyang seemed like one of those super nice guys donut was hard to tell. Then her ex... Of course he knew how he felt, it was quite obvious.
"I'm sorry if I'm intruding."
Taiyang shook his head, "A lot of stuff has been dumped on us lately. Raven had filled me in on what Summer had done so... It's all weird."
Roman nodded.
"I assume you know Qrow doesn't like you."
"Yea, I got that."
"Well... You can't blame him too much... He's been crushing on her for years. I know she took it hard when he broke up with her but he did mean well."
Why is he telling me all this?
"He's always going to be waiting for you to mess up."
I already expected that.
"But all in all... I like you. You seem pretty nice. Summer had no complaints about you. As far as I'm concerned you're great."
Roman grinned, "Thanks."
X
X
"Hey."
Summer heard Raven's voice but didn't turn around. She took her spot beside of her friend and just looked at the night sky with her. After ten minutes, Raven wrapped an arm around her shoulders and Summer laid her head on Raven's shoulders. They sighed together.
"I know you already know this but you need to calm down."
Summer snorted.
"Yea, yea laugh it up. Summer, you need to think before you do something so serious."
Summer pulled away and looked at her friend.
"Didn't you do it all the time?"
Raven nodded, "There's much more to ending someone's life than you think. You're taking away their life- everything that is them ends by your hand. The look in their face, the light fading from their eyes... You are haunted by them forever. This is not a simple thing people think it is."
"That's not what I was thinking about. She didn't have to say it. She led the horde that killed my Mom that led to my aunt being a maiden. She threatened me and a lot of innocent people. Then I thought about her hurting you guys then it hit me."
Raven nodded.
"She was right though. I don't how to do anything. I can fight Grimm but that's it. I never really thought I would have to fight people."
"It's a whole different ball game."
Summer said nothing.
"On a better note... I like your boyfriend. He appeals to my protective nature."
She started laughing, "What?"
"For someone who was considered a 'bad guy', he's pretty nice. I'm surprised you two have been together as long as you have."
"Yea but we rarely talk. I have school and everything."
"That's the best part about him. He understands. He respects us, even the sourpuss that is my brother."
Summer nodded.
"Neo is spending the night with us while Qrow takes a spot in their dorm. I don't think he would do anything but it would make falling asleep a lot easier."
X
Taiyang, Neo and Roman were busy carrying on a conversation as Summer and Raven walked into the room. They all smiled at the girls as they closed the door behind them. Summer plopped down by Roman and Raven headed for the bathroom. Taiyang winked at the couple on the bed.
"Just be quiet if you decide to do anything."
Roman hid his face behind his hands unable to believe he just said that.
Neo hugged Summer and then gave Roman a weird look before she hopped into Qrow's bed. Raven shut the lights off and jumped into bed with Taiyang.
X
Qrow sat on Neo's bed with a disgusted look on his face. The lights were already out and Glynda was still awake reading a book. She gave him a weird look but he never noticed. She closed her book quietly and leaned forward just to watch him. Besides his pissed off look, he was handsome.
After ten minutes she finally spoke, "If you're so bent out of shape that your whole team is cuddling someone, just ask someone to cuddle you."
Qrow snorted.
"Then go to sleep," she said.
"Why don't you go to sleep?"
"Your angry energy is clouding up the room. Your lucky James isn't here- he would yell at us both."
Qrow looked around. He never realized the other two left.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked.
"I don't like people."
"Do you need a hug?" she teased and he shot her a killer look.
"Talk to me."
Glynda placed her book on her stand and patted the end of her bed. Qrow made a weird face but sat there anyways.
"What's wrong?"
After twenty minutes, Qrow finally finished his story.
"That sounds like a movie or a book."
Qrow snorted, "Hardly. After hearing myself, it sounds so stupid."
"Well you were dumb to let her go. I think it is time to move on and stop being an idiot. Summer obviously cares for Roman and he cares for her. Be happy for your teammate and the fact she has someone is great."
"I guess you're right."
"I am right."
He gave her a dirty look but she was smiling brightly.
"I understand. I come from a long line of witches expected to do my part. Being here gave me the ability to break off from that and be myself. I'm sure it's the same for you and your sister."
"I never thought of it that way."
Glynda smiled, "You're welcome."
"Thanks."
They sat in silence for a few minutes. It was really awkward for him since he just poured out his heart to someone he barely knew. He almost jumped out of his skin when Glynda leaned over and gave him a hug. The affection was so weird for him.
She smells nice though. Almost like vanilla cookies.
She went to pull away but he didn't want to let go.
"Are you OK?" she whispered.
"You smell nice."
She smiled against his shoulder, "Thank you."
X
X
The next morning teams STRQ and GNBJ with Roman sat at breakfast. There wasn't much talking but it was nice. Classes were starting later than normal because of yesterday. Roman headed back to team STRQ's room and waited out the next four and half hours.
He had plans for the week but he would at least take it easy for today.