The Rose and the Candle
Chapter 4: Abrupt Change
When Roman was first inducted into his new family, he did not have very high hopes for his time there. Sure, Summer and her daughters may have been a bit enthusiastic about it, but Tai didn't seem to enjoy the idea one bit.
But, as the months started flying by, Roman felt as if he actually belonged in this crazy little family. He would join Yang in whatever kind of rough play she had in mind, would spend time with Ruby while Summer would tell her stories, and would lend an extra hand if Summer or Tai needed it. Tai himself was even warming up to Roman's presence, treating him a lot more as if he were actually his son than he did initially. Needless to say, Roman had grown happy and content with this new life.
The room he had been provided was small, yet rather nice. The bed sat right next to the window facing out over the shed. A small desk was placed next to the bed where Roman could work on anything requiring pen and paper. The dresser with his new sets of clothes was along the wall next to the door. Along the far wall, a shelf with the small collection of toys that he had acquired rested. Some had been given to him by Yang and Ruby, others were handpicked by Roman and acquired by Summer. Some of these toys were little figures of Grimm, others models of Atlesian soldiers, etc. But perhaps his favorites were of a more…cosmetic nature: a little bowler hat and a small cane. Often (frequently, actually) were the times when he would prance around the house, pretending to be a rich aristocrat like Jacques Schnee or another noble with a silver spoon up their butt. He got in trouble because of those antics at times, if Summer and/or Tai felt he took it too far, but it got a laugh out of them now and again.
But the one thing Roman really enjoyed was the absence of the rogue voice that called him back to his old life. He had successfully managed to suppress that voice, and hadn't had a back-and-forth argument going on in his head since after the first couple of months. He felt a peace. And he didn't want things to change, to interrupt or otherwise alter this life he had become accustomed to. But change things would.
It started out like every other morning thus far. Everyone was already up and moving, changed into their clothes for the day, and were currently gathered around the dining table enjoying the breakfast Tai had prepared. Yang and Ruby were messy eaters, with Summer continually having to clean up whatever mess the two were making. Roman was only slightly better. Their peaceful yet messy meal was interrupted by Summer's scroll going off.
Summer reached for her scroll and looked at who could be calling her at this early hour. She nearly growled when she saw the identity of the caller.
"This better be good, Ozpin," she grumbled as she got up from the table. "I'll be right back." With that, she exited into the living room.
The remaining four looked to the doorway into the living room and then to each other. Taiyang wore a face of concern, obviously knowing that a call from Ozpin meant something serious. Yang showed concern as well, but Ruby was more curious than anything else. Still too young to know, huh, Red?
"Red" was Roman's nickname for Ruby ever since he met her. Initially, she hated it (it was one of the few times she said anything around him during the first few months), but nowadays she didn't mind it as much. It still annoyed her to no end, but she had gotten used to it coming out of Roman's mouth. Even Yang would use it on occasion, but mostly if she and Ruby were having an argument.
Summer walked back into the kitchen after a few minutes had passed. "I have to go. Ozpin needs me for a mission."
"This early?" Taiyang asked.
"Yes, this early. He wouldn't say why, but he said it was urgent."
"Well, alright. Just…be safe, okay?"
"I will."
Ruby and Yang got off their chairs and ran to hug their mother, having seen her go off on assignments and waiting for her return numerous times already.
"Don't worry, you two. I'll be back. I promise."
The girls clearly didn't want her to leave again. She held them tight for a minute or two before letting them go and moving to kiss her husband goodbye. She then moved on to Roman. Ruffling his hair, currently devoid of his bowler hat, she said, "You take care of your sisters now, you hear?"
"I hear," Roman responded. "I may be sneaky, but I'm not deaf," he continued as he held up his hand to reveal Summer's keys. Summer took back her keys and ruffled his hair a second time in retaliation. He may not have stolen anything for several months, but he always liked to play pranks by taking something in the house and hiding it to drive its owner mad. He may not have wanted to return to the streets, but he liked to practice to make sure his skills were still sharp. Summer found it amusing most of the time, but it drove Tai and the girls crazy whenever he did it.
After gathering her gear and weapon, Summer headed out the front door. Before she closed it, she turned to face her family to give one last goodbye. She looked at all four of them as they gathered in the living room. Tai, her husband, whose first love had given him Yang before running off with no explanation; Yang, their sunny little dragon who could brighten up any room, yet could cause plenty of problems; Ruby, her little rose, someone whom Summer desperately wanted to turn away from the path of a Huntress; and Roman, a boy that she managed to bring out of a dark hole and had integrated into their family, someone who showed he could be trusted at this point. She smiled at them.
"Don't have too much fun while I'm gone, okay?"
With that, she walked out of her home and shut the door. She stared at the path that led into the woods around her home. With a deep breath, she steadied herself and began her journey. She still had to reach Beacon. There was something about this mission that didn't feel right. The way Ozpin spoke during their conversation…
Summer cast those thoughts aside as she made her way through the woods. She could worry about details when she got to Beacon. And, she thought, no matter what, I will make it home. Just like before.
Roman sat in silence in his room, shocked at the news he had just received.
This can't be real, can it?
Summer had left for her missions weeks ago, and there had been no word from Ozpin on when she would return. You could tell everyone in the Xiao Long-Rose house was getting uneasy about her absence. Sure, Huntsmen and Huntresses could take a long time to complete their missions, but something didn't sit right with Roman.
They waited for weeks before word finally reached them. Qrow Branwen, someone whom Roman knew little of but trusted since he was apparently the uncle in the family (though how that connection was made Roman never knew), came to the house not even an hour earlier. When Tai let him in, his facial expression said it all.
Tai knew what had happened as soon as he saw the look on Qrow's face. Roman, Yang, and Ruby wouldn't find out until they had been called into the living room. At first, they were excited to see Qrow, since he wasn't around much. "I hate to be the one to break it to you, kids, but…" A sigh was let out before he continued. "Summer isn't coming back."
Roman caught onto the meaning quick. He had been on the streets long enough to know that meant Summer was dead. Yang realized what Qrow meant a second later, and tears started to roll down her face. Ruby was still trying to figure out what Qrow was saying.
"Yang, what does that mean?" Roman felt bad for his younger sister. She was still a bit too young to really grasp the meaning.
"Mom's not coming back because she's…she's…dead." That last word escaped Yang as a whisper.
It hit Ruby a few seconds later.
The next hour was spent with much crying and grief. Ruby was torn up with Qrow doing his best to comfort her; Yang was off in her room crying her own set of tears; and Tai had practically shut down. As for Roman, he had just disappeared into his room to figure out what was going to happen now.
This was just too difficult to believe, even if he knew that the meaning of Qrow's words was true. The person that had brought him into their family, had given him a better life, had died on her last mission. The one reason he joined this family was no longer there.
And at the worst time of all, a little voice reared its ugly head.
So. How did family life turn out for you?