Though Willow Schnee had grown up in a mansion bustling with servants, family members, business partners, and other visitors, she had always felt uncomfortably alone while at home. Very few bothered to speak more than a few words to her at a time, and even fewer people seemed to actually care about her welfare and feelings beyond their paid duties. If nothing else, the constant pandering and pampering coupled with absolute avoidance when outside of obligation had taught Willow how to spot fake smiles and looks of concern effortlessly. She knew when people cared, and when they most certainly didn't. One of those two looks was far more familiar to the girl than the other.
When Qrow, Bartholomew, Taiyang, Adam, and Team BASS had arrived at the beach house all within minutes of each other, Willow was taken aback by just how invested each and every member of her friend circle seemed invested in her predicament. Hugs had been exchanged beneath the rising moon and its accompanying stars, and Willow made sure that the one she gave to Qrow lasted just a moment or two longer. She hoped that he had noticed. She suspected he had not.
Regardless of the success of her efforts and the nerve-wracking situation, Willow couldn't help but feel oddly light and carefree as she looked over the small crowd assembled before her in the pavement lot in front of the house. The beach house was beginning to feel more like a home than her actual home, no matter what difficulties occupying the space had brought about and would bring over the coming weeks. Everyone was there specifically because of her, and for her, as well. It was a feeling Willow thought she could certainly get used to.
"So, any progress or updates?" Qrow asked. "And… why are you wet?"
"I got out of the shower a little while ago," Willow explained with an embarrassed grin. "As far as updates go… Professor Calavera is up in the tower doing some inspections of our security systems and trying to restore power. Without that, we may not be able to recover any footage, if any exists at all. She's now planning to stay up in the control room and sleep there to watch over the property. Bartholomew and Velvet, I was wondering if you might be able to help her…?"
Bartholomew raised a brow as he watched Willow's mannerisms. The girl had leaned forward and batted her eyes as the question was asked, and there was both a confidence and alluring quality to the motion that seemed oddly familiar to him. Despite that nagging sensation in the back of his mind, he couldn't figure out just who Willow reminded him of.
"…I likely can," the boy confirmed with a shallow nod. "So long as we can get power back up, I'll see what I can learn from the file systems."
"I can try," Velvet chimed in. "I'm more a gearhead than a computer-y tech person, but I do use computers to track and analyze vehicle performance and whatnot. Come on Barty, let's head on up."
Bartholomew nodded and followed the faunus toward the looming structure while Taiyang kept his eyes locked upon Willow. He felt something odd about her emotional state- something he had quite literally never noticed coming from Willow before. The sensation was strange and unexpected enough that he found it almost unsettling, and so, he excused himself rather quickly and headed toward the front door of the beach house with the excuse of trying to find Raven.
"…is he alright?" Willow asked as her gaze lingered upon Taiyang's retreating form. "Tai's been getting sick somewhat often lately…"
"He seemed alright to me at the museum," Adam offered. "Well… until we got separated, anyway."
"The Vacuan heat can get to outsiders rather quickly," Ghira added as he folded his massive arms across his chest. "Coupled with the fact that we're approaching the hottest months of the year, he may simply be dehydrated."
"That wasn't a dehydrated look," Sage denied. "Something's up."
"His aura was flickering just now," Fox said. "I can… feel the outlines of auras of those around me, and his just became completely unstable. It was almost like he was taking damage of some sort. Are you sure there wasn't a Pomeranian grimm gnawing his ankle or something while we were talking?"
"…why would Pomeranians be native to Vacuo?" Adam deadpanned. "All that fur…"
"Ignore Fox. He's an idiot," Sage advised with a wave of his hand. "That being said, the desert heat, even at night, is somewhat unpleasant even for us. Can we move this inside?"
"Oh, of course," Willow agreed with a sheepish smile as she waved the party toward the front door. "Kali is inside with Summer. They're mixing drinks and getting some food out. I believe Raven's up in the shower now."
"Hey, speaking of," Qrow said as he sped up to walk at Willow's side. "Did Raven mention anything about who this mystery home invader might be? Any theories?"
"She actually said she didn't want to talk about it," Willow said with a shrug. After a moment of hesitation, she reached down and seized Qrow's fingers in her own, firmly locking their hands together and earning a stunned look from her friend. "She said she has 'ideas', but she didn't want to speculate on them without evidence."
"…anyone else more worried now?" Fox asked. "I'm way more worried, now."
"Yeah," Qrow agreed as they filed in through the front door. "Yeah, so am I…"
"…Raves?" Taiyang called softly as he knocked on the closed bedroom door. "It's me. You in there?"
"Come in," a feminine voice called from behind the door.
Taiyang twisted the doorknob and stepped inside to find Raven sitting upon the bed with a brush tangled within her damp hair. She was wrapped in a towel that barely managed to contain her cleavage and rode up along her thighs, and the sight was nearly enough to cause Taiyang's heart to stop. He faltered upon taking the first step into the room only to immediately close and lock the door behind himself before he dared to turn and face Raven again. Upon doing so, he found the girl rolling her eyes at him.
"…like you haven't seen just as much skin before…"
"Doesn't make it any less stunning," Taiyang pointed out in a moment of bravery as he approached the bed. "Are you doing okay…?"
Raven grimaced as she raked the brush through a tangle.
"About as okay as I can be given the fact that someone stole my mask and rummaged through our stuff," she muttered. "I just want…"
Taiyang lowered himself to sit upon the mattress next to Raven as he watched his friend fight internally to find the words. Finally, she opened her mouth again, though he could tell she wasn't entirely happy with what she came up with.
"…peace."
"Like… world peace?" Taiyang asked, feeling incredibly dumb the second the words left his mouth.
"…I mean… I wouldn't complain," Raven considered as she yanked her brush down through the ends of her hair. "But I mean more inner peace. Peace within our personal lives. Maybe not even so much 'peace' as just lack of conflict?"
"Yeah, that makes sense," Taiyang agreed. "We've all been through a lot… though I think you've probably had it the worst this past year. Want me to get that for you?"
"Hm?" Raven asked as she looked over her shoulder.
"Your hair," Taiyang clarified. "I can brush it for you."
Raven handed the brush over her shoulder without hesitation as she let out a sigh.
"Sometimes I hate having so much hair…"
"I think it looks good on you," Taiyang said happily as he began to carefully work through the tangles in the soggy mass. "It gives you a certain vibe."
"And what vibe is that, exactly?" Raven questioned as she squinted through the pulling at her roots.
"A badass one," Taiyang teased. "Warrior woman who doesn't have time for a cutesy pixie haircut. I guess I could see you with something short and messy like Kali, though."
"Sometimes I wonder what I'd look like with a traditional bob like Willow's," Raven mused. "Probably… ridiculous."
"Asking the wrong guy," Taiyang warned. "I think you could pull off just about anything. You're gorgeous, Raves."
"…gorgeous," Raven repeated with a smirk despite herself. "That's a first. Someone's feeling confident tonight."
"Or I'm just not filtering what comes out of my mouth," Taiyang admitted as he continued his brushing efforts. "Hey, speaking of Wil- did something… uh, happen today with you and the girls? Other than the break-in."
"Why do you ask?" Raven said icily.
"Wil seems… different," Taiyang said cautiously. "Outside just now, I was getting weird readings with my Semblance. Stuff I haven't felt from her before."
"Stuff like what?" Raven asked as she stiffened. "Just be straight with me, Tai. I'm too tired for guessing games."
Taiyang stopped brushing for a moment and swallowed a nervous lump in his throat.
"…this stays between us."
"Tai."
"Alright, alright!" Taiyang replied in exasperation. "I just… I don't want things to get weird or messy is all. I'm pretty sure Willow's… uh… horny. Like really horny."
Raven looked into the vanity mirror across from the bed to see Taiyang's nervous expression behind her.
"…that tracks."
"It does?" Taiyang asked. "And do I even want to know?"
"You started this ball rolling," Raven accused before letting out a sigh. "We went down to the beach earlier and did some topless sunbathing. Kali's idea, of course. She even managed to get me to let the girls out for some air, but when things progressed to full-on nude frolicking on the beach… that's when I came back here and found Professor Calavera waiting."
"Wait, hold up," Taiyang said as he set the brush down onto the mattress. "You're telling me that Wil- our Willow- went fully naked in public and was just… playing around?"
"It's a private beach, but essentially, yes," Raven confirmed. "Willow was actually the first one to go bottomless and suggest we head into the ocean. Kali gave a rousing speech about letting go, giving in to desire, letting all our inhibitions die and probably having a massive orgy or something."
"Wait…" Taiyang said, only for Raven to shrug.
"Probably not literally that, but I wasn't really listening. Either way, Willow seemed… I guess you could say inspired by Kal's words? I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Willow took it to heart and she's looking to start 'exploring'. She's probably never even thought about sex before she met us, given her upbringing… and if she has, it was probably just in the context of producing a future heir. It's kinda sad, honestly."
"Yeah, it is," Taiyang agreed. "But you know what? Good for Wil. If she's comfortable enough with Qrow now to start moving in that direction… I think it could only bring good things for both of them."
Raven slowly lowered herself backward to lay atop the mattress, her eyes on the ceiling and her damp hair pressed against her shoulders and the towel.
"Qrow… could really use a partner. Someone who understands and cares about him. There's only so much I can do as his sister. Willow would be good for him."
"And he deserves it, too," Taiyang agreed as he copied Raven's motions to lie beside her. "How are you feeling after today?"
Raven turned her head sideways to give Taiyang an annoyed look.
"…you don't have to ask, so why would you?"
"Because I know you hate when I read you, even if I can't help it," Taiyang answered.
"Yeah, well, it's part of the package," Raven considered. "And I'm feeling more and more into your package, Tai."
"…Raves."
"I said what I said," Raven declared confidently. "Maybe Kali's not totally insane… but I'd also like to keep us between us as much as possible. Our relationship doesn't need to be a public display and dumpster fire when things get awkward. There's enough of that going around already."
"Can't argue with that…" Taiyang said cautiously.
"Did you see any hotels out there in the main city today?" Raven asked as she returned her gaze to the ceiling.
"One or two, yeah. Why do you ask?"
"Because you know what I'm feeling about you right now," Raven answered. "And if we're going to act on it sometime soon… I'd rather be truly alone. You, me, and a cheap mattress without Kali listening through the walls."
Taiyang couldn't help but squirm a bit at the scenario playing out in his mind.
"You're sure you want that…?"
Raven's answer was to roll atop Taiyang, straddling him at the waist as she gave the boy a view down the front of her towel.
"Why do you keep asking questions you already know the answer to?"
Taiyang braced himself as Raven lowered her lips to his own. It was all he could do to keep control of himself as they spent the next half an hour getting ever closer.
Author's Note:
Next time- Roman and Cerise embark on their own little adventure.
-RD
