Chapter 20: Side Story- Summer and Raptaryn; the journey together [1]
The first spark ignited in Beacon's library, where Raptaryn had been genuinely researching silver-eyed warriors' history. Summer had found him surrounded by towering stacks of books, muttering in ancient elven as he cross-referenced texts. Rather than being intimidated by his scholarly intensity, she'd simply pulled up a chair and asked, "Want to hear what it's actually like? My grandmother told me stories that never made it into any book."
Lailah, shelving books nearby, had watched with growing amusement as the normally composed scholar knocked over an entire stack when Summer leaned closer to point out an illustration. "That was the moment I knew," Lailah now recalled, grinning at the blushing pair. "I'd never seen Raptaryn so flustered by anyone."
"Oh, but that was nothing compared to the training grounds incident," Qrow chimed in, his silver eyes dancing with mischief. "Remember when Summer was demonstrating advanced scythe techniques to the first-years?"
Raptaryn groaned good-naturedly. "Must we revisit that particular moment?"
"Oh, we must," Raven interjected, her red eyes gleaming. "The distinguished scholar of dark elven combat arts, walking straight into a practice dummy because he was so distracted by Summer's form – her fighting form," she quickly clarified, causing Summer to pull her white hood down further.
"In my defense," Raptaryn said with dignity, "the integration of silver-eyed warrior techniques with traditional weapon arts is a fascinating field of study."
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Taiyang teased. "Because I distinctly remember you giving an impromptu thirty-minute lecture on the 'fascinating cultural significance' of Summer's hood clasp design just to have an excuse to stay close to her."
Summer peaked out from under her hood. "Well, what about that time Raptaryn was explaining dark elven constellation myths, and I got so caught up in watching him gesture at the stars that I tripped over my own feet?"
"And landed right in his arms," Lailah added with a knowing smile. "Quite conveniently, I might add. Though not as convenient as all those times we mysteriously had to cancel study sessions, leaving you two alone in the library."
"Or those missions that 'absolutely required' both a scholar's expertise and a silver-eyed warrior's skills," Qrow added, making air quotes. "Ozpin wasn't even subtle about those assignments."
"The professor did seem unusually insistent about pairing us up," Raptaryn admitted, his orange eyes softening as they met Summer's silver ones. "Though I'll never forget that mission in the ancient ruins. When you used your silver eyes to clear the Grimm, the light reflecting off the old dark elven crystals..."
"You recited ancient elven poetry right there in the middle of the battlefield," Summer remembered, her blush now accompanied by a tender smile. "I didn't understand a word, but the way you looked at me..."
"He'd been practicing that poem for weeks," Lailah revealed. "Made me help him perfect the pronunciation. Though he never did tell me why that particular love poem was so important to learn."
"It was the same poem my father recited to my mother," Raptaryn admitted quietly. "When he first realized she was his heart's chosen."
The group fell silent for a moment, touched by the revelation. Then Taiyang broke the moment with a snort. "Better than your attempt at baking cookies to match Summer's recipe. I've never seen anyone burn water before."
"That was a cultural learning experience," Raptaryn defended, though his lips twitched. "Just as Summer's attempt to master formal dark elven bow greetings was... educational."
"I still say that table jumped out of nowhere," Summer muttered, but she was smiling. "Though not as memorable as when you tried to teach me the traditional star-blessing dance and we both ended up in the fountain."
"A diplomatic incident that Professor Ozpin still brings up at faculty meetings," Lailah noted cheerfully. "Though not as often as he mentions the time you two got lost in the Emerald Forest because you were too busy discussing the comparative mythology of human and dark elven warrior traditions to watch where you were going."
"We weren't lost," Summer and Raptaryn protested simultaneously, causing their friends to burst into laughter.
"Just taking the scenic route?" Qrow suggested innocently. "For six hours?"
"The forest at night is particularly conducive to cultural exchange discussions," Raptaryn said with all the dignity he could muster, while Summer nodded vigorously beside him.
"Especially with all those romantic dark elven luminescence spells you 'accidentally' kept casting," Raven drawled. "Very academic."
"I maintain that was necessary for proper visibility," Raptaryn insisted, though his dark skin darkened further with his blush.
"Just like how Summer's cookies always somehow found their way to your office during late-night research sessions?" Lailah asked sweetly.
"Or how Raptaryn's rare tomes of human history mysteriously needed to be personally delivered to Summer's dorm?" Taiyang added.
Summer and Raptaryn exchanged glances, their embarrassment giving way to shared amusement and affection. Their friends' matchmaking efforts, transparent as they had been, had helped guide them toward each other, creating opportunities for their different worlds to meet and mesh in ways that made their connection richer and deeper.
"I suppose," Raptaryn said softly, taking Summer's hand, "some things are worth looking foolish for."
Summer squeezed his hand, her silver eyes bright. "Even if it takes a while to realize what's right in front of you."
"And a lot of very patient friends," Lailah added, sharing a satisfied look with the others. Their careful orchestration had helped nurture a love that bridged cultures and traditions, creating something unique and beautiful in the process.
To be continued in Chapter 21: Side Story- Summer and Raptaryn; the journey together [2]