AN: I don't normally do one of these because I'd rather get you straight to the story, but I just wanted to put a little heads-up here. Now, someone asked me if I was going to incorporate Neo into this story. Let's just say I answered one way, but ended up doing something else here, but it's very minor. This is also the second-to-last chapter of this story, so expect the finale to come next week. I'll go into more detail about this story at the end of the next one. But enough out of me, you're here for The Rose and the Candle, so here you go…
The Rose and the Candle
Chapter 5: Crisis
Roman sat on the bed in his room, arms holding his legs close to his body. It had been several weeks since the news of Summer's death, but it was still fresh in everyone's minds. Qrow wasn't around that often anymore, but he still showed up every now and again to check on the family. He would always check on Tai first, and then the kids. Tai had almost shut down completely, and Qrow would always spend a good amount of time checking on him.
Yang and Ruby were both torn up about it. Ruby still didn't fully understand, but Yang had pretty good knowledge of what possibly happened. She may not have fully understood the nature of being a Huntress, but she knew one possible way that career could end.
The days after Summer's passing turned into weeks as everyone slowly began to ease back into their daily routines. Everyone, except maybe for Roman.
He may have contributed around the house, but the debates inside Roman's head had started again and were only getting worse. Such a debate raged as he sat on his bed.
The one reason you came into this family is gone! Why stick around?
Because these people still care for me. And I, them.
Stop lying to yourself!
I'm not lying!
These people are broken now. They can't do anything for you, let alone themselves.
No matter what you say, I will never return to the streets.
If you wanted a home this badly, you should have accepted her offer when you had the chance.
Roman cringed when that memory came up. That woman was a professional criminal, more than Roman ever hoped to become. He would always hear about one of her escapades and how sadistic she could get when he was out on the streets. There's a reason Roman was alone out there in his past life.
Roman successfully managed to suppress the rogue voice in his head. He had gotten a lot of practice at it in the recent weeks.
Just then, Roman heard a crash from downstairs. He got off his bed and came down to the living room, where he found Yang staring at the floor. Roman followed her gaze. There was a picture frame whose glass had broken laying on the floor. Roman looked back to Yang about to ask what happened, but it didn't look like Yang was paying any attention to him at all. She just kept staring at that picture. She bent down and picked it up. Finally, Roman spoke.
"Yang. Are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just…," she trailed off and continued to stare at the picture in her hands, as if she was studying it intently.
"This is it, it has to be…"
The expression on her face changed to one of determination. Roman knew that particular look all too well. It was the same expression he bore whenever he was about to steal something.
"You're about to do something stupid and dangerous, aren't you?"
Yang finally looked up from the picture and stared at Roman. After a few seconds, she sighed. She walked over to the couch and sat down. Roman climbed down the last few stairs and walked over, sitting down next to her.
Roman finally got a good look at the picture Yang was holding. All he could make out for sure was a barn of some kind, but the rest of the picture was too dirty and covered in dust to make out what the rest of it showed.
"I've got something to tell you. Something I only found out myself rather recently."
Roman was getting curious as to where this conversation was going.
"You know Dad practically shut down when Summer died."
Roman's eyes grew wide. Yang had never called Summer by her first name. He could've sworn she didn't even know what it was.
"Yes," he responded, waiting for her to continue.
"Well, I found out why he did. Summer wasn't the first person he's lost. The first was my mother. My real mother."
It took Roman some time to process what Yang just said. REAL mother? What is she talking about?
Yang must have known what Roman was thinking. "I asked Uncle Qrow why Dad has shut down as much as he did. He wouldn't tell me at first, but then he said that it was because of what happened with my mother. He wouldn't tell me everything, just that she left right after I was born. I've been trying to ask more about her, but no one who does know is saying anything. I don't think anyone's heard from her since she vanished."
Yang's face bore a saddened expression as she finished. Her attention then went back to the picture in her hands, that look of determination returning.
"And I think this could lead me to her."
Roman just sat there in shock. It was quite a revelation to take in. Ruby and Yang were half-sisters. Yang's real mom abandoned her and Tai when Yang was only a baby. Summer stepped in and Ruby was the result of that union. Just what kind of family did I get involved with?
Finally, Roman found a response. "So you're planning to potentially risk yourself by going to a place you don't know to try and reconnect with someone who left you and your father and who might not even be at the place in question? Brilliant logic."
"Well, when you put it like that…" Yang responded.
"Look, Yang, it's good that you want to find your mother, but I don't think you're going to get anywhere. It's been years, and if she wanted to keep in touch, you would have heard from her by now. Take it from someone who's done reckless things in the past: You're going to put yourself at too much risk if you go out there on your own."
Yang stared back at the picture and set it on the table. Roman turned and made his way back upstairs. Before he reached the top, he turned to face Yang and said, "We've already lost one person. Don't make us lose another this soon."
He then turned back to continue his climb up the stairs. I really hope she doesn't try it.
Gods, she actually did it!
It was in the early morning hours of the day. Roman was running around the house looking for a sign of Yang's presence in the house, unsuccessfully.
She went and did it! She's going to that stupid barn to find someone who's probably not even there. Idiot.
He peeked into Ruby's room to see if she was still in the house. The room was empty, and Ruby was nowhere else in the house. And she even took Ruby with her?!
Roman left Ruby's room and continued searching the house. Tai had left the house an hour before, meaning Yang must have left not too long afterward.
She has no idea what she's doing! I need to stop her!
Roman began looking for a way to get ahold of Tai or even Qrow. He tore apart the whole house looking for a scroll or some other form of communication, but found nothing. He left a mess household items scattered across the floor in practically every room. After a lengthy search, Roman gave up and sat on the couch in the living room, staring over the cluttered mess he had made in his frantic search. He lowered his head into his hands, paranoia overtaking him and playing scenario after scenario in his head of how Yang and Ruby could not make it back.
Just give up. You were always better off on your own.
Shut. Up! You are not helping! You've never helped! You just want to go back to a life that would have been the end of us!
We never had to worry about anyone else! It was just us! We could have become something great on that path, like Neo!
Roman scowled when that name was uttered.
Never. Bring. Her. Up. Again.
We could have become a successful thief like her. But you had to go and give up all because of a one-time mistake. You're pathetic. This is not the Roman that I knew out on the streets.
He's gone. He decided that jail was a bet he just couldn't take. Lying, stealing, and cheating would have gotten us nowhere. This way, we could survive! And that's all that matters: survival! Now…get. Out. Of. My. HEAD!
Roman immediately reeled from the pounding pain now in his head. After what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided. His head now felt the clearest that it had ever been. Even so, he could feel another presence sneaking in. This felt more open, inviting, with a genuine desire to help. All other analysis was interrupted with the opening of the front door behind him.
There in the doorway stood Uncle Qrow, slowly taking in the mess Roman had made. The only reaction he gave was a heavy sigh.
"This better be good."
"Yang took Ruby to look for Yang's mom at some old barn and I've been trying to find a way to get ahold of you or Dad to try and stop them."
Qrow just gave Roman a weird look. "Tai really has you trained well, doesn't he? Now, what's this about Yang looking for her mom?"
"She found an old picture that showed a barn that she thought was a clue to finding her."
"Damn it! I knew telling her was a bad idea, yet I did it anyway! And she took Ruby with her, too!"
"What is that place, anyway?"
"That's not important right now! We need to get them back! That area is not safe! Stay here and wait for Tai!"
"Why? What's out there?"
Qrow paused for a second before answering. "Grimm."
With that, Qrow turned around and began to run back out of the house. Roman ran out of the house behind him. There was no sign of Qrow, only a small black bird flying off over the surrounding forest. With no other options open, Roman went back into the house and closed the door behind him.
Roman began to clean up the disaster zone he had created in his desperate and frantic panic. He had just finished when Tai came back home in the late morning. Roman explained what was going on to Tai and the two decided to wait in the living. Roman had taken a seat on the couch, while Tai sat in one of the chairs next to it. The two had sat in silence for a while before it was broken.
"I…have a question for you," Roman said.
Tai looked at the boy, signaling for him to continue.
"What does it take? To be a Huntsman?"
Tai looked a little taken aback by that question. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, because of Summer. From what I knew of Huntsmen and Huntresses before, she seemed to be someone who emulated those qualities well. I've been thinking about what I'm going to do, and I don't know what all I can do. I figure it's a good way to honor her memory now. And, depending on what happens today, potentially Yang and Ruby. I just don't want to see this kind of thing happen again. To us or anyone."
Tai was surprised to be hearing this, but understood what Roman meant. "Well…I'm sure myself and Qrow could at least get you started. I will tell you the basics of what it means to be a Huntsman, though."
Roman looked to Tai, patiently listening to every word he said.
"Huntsmen and Huntresses are meant to be the best and brightest warriors of Remnant. Their sole purpose is to combat the creatures of Grimm. Those who show enough promise and tenacity get accepted into one of the four combat schools: Beacon in Vale; Haven in Mistral; Atlas in…well, Atlas; and Shade in Vacuo. Each academy has their own methods of teaching, but the end result is always the same: Huntsmen and Huntresses that can fight the Grimm and help their fellow man. All are expected to serve humanity and never succumb to the darkness. It's not an easy life, and it's not something to take part in lightly. If this is really what you want, then I'll do my best to help."
Roman nodded. His mind was very much made up about this. Whatever it took, he would try his best.
At least you won't be back on the streets.
This voice was much different than the last. It was the one that had entered his head before, but Roman didn't get a chance to really feel its presence too well.
You're right. And I can actually change things around for good this way.
It's whatever you decide. I can help as best I can, but this will be new ground for us.
We'll make this work.
Roman and Tai sat in silence for the rest of the time until Qrow finally returned home with both Yang and Ruby alive and intact. Ruby had been asleep in a wagon the whole journey. Qrow had gotten to them just as they were about to be attacked by a group of Beowolves. Fortunately, he managed to dispatch them quickly with his scythe.
Roman took Ruby upstairs while Yang was given a stern talking to by both Tai and Qrow for her antics. After they were done with her, Tai brought Roman down to have their own talk with Qrow. They sat around the table in the kitchen for this discussion.
"So, Tai tells me you want to become a Huntsman. You really think you can handle it?"
Roman looked to Qrow, feeling just a little insulted. "Yes. I do. I was out on the streets for a long time, so I have some knowledge of combat and survival. I just need to improve them."
Qrow stared at Roman for a good while before finally speaking. "I think we can get you started. The academies can pick up where we left off, but at least you'll have a starting point before you get there."
"But," Qrow added as he stood up from the table, "it's not going to be an easy path. I'm sure you've figured out already, but the risk is high. And not everyone is going to appreciate your presence. But you'll still have a chance to do some good."
Roman nodded to show his understanding. "I just have one question."
Qrow and Tai raised their eyebrows. "When do we start?"