Team RWBY's first year at Beacon Academy had come to a close, and with summer vacation officially underway, the four girls decided to spend their break in Vale. Thanks to Taiyang's connections—and perhaps a few guilt trips from his youngest daughter—they managed to secure a rental house in a quiet neighborhood just outside the city.

When Ruby unlocked the door and pushed it open, the team stepped inside and froze.

"Whoa..." Ruby's voice trailed off as she stepped into the spacious living room. Her wide, silver eyes darted around, taking in every detail—the polished hardwood floors, the enormous windows that let sunlight flood the space, and the fancy light fixtures hanging from the ceiling like tiny stars. "This place is amazing!"

"It's... acceptable," Weiss said as she followed Ruby inside, her heels clicking against the floor. She gave a small nod of approval before running a gloved hand along the marble countertop in the adjoining kitchen. "Minimalist design. Open layout. Good use of natural lighting. I wouldn't call it amazing, but it's certainly... refined."

Ruby blinked. "Did you just compliment something?"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "I have standards, Ruby. This house just happens to meet some of them."

"Uh-huh." Ruby smirked and glanced back at Blake, who stepped inside last. The Faunus girl held a book in one hand and a small suitcase in the other.

Blake gave the room a quick once-over and shrugged. "Looks nice."

"Nice?" Ruby whirled on her. "That's it? 'Nice'? This is, like, the coolest place ever!"

Blake was already drifting toward the nearest couch. "Cool, nice—whatever word you want to use." She plopped down, cracked her book open, and propped her feet up on the coffee table.

"Blake!" Ruby pointed accusingly. "We haven't even unpacked yet, and you're already reading?"

"Ruby," Blake said without looking up, "this is the first chance we've had to relax in months. I'm going to take advantage of it."

Ruby threw her arms up in exasperation. "Unbelievable!"

A clatter came from the kitchen. Ruby's eyes narrowed, and she spun around just in time to see Yang's golden hair poking out from behind the pantry door.

"Yang!" Ruby stormed over. "Are you raiding the snacks already?"

Yang stepped back with a guilty grin, a half-eaten cookie in her mouth and an open bag of chips in her hand. She finished chewing before answering.

"Uh... maybe?"

Ruby snatched the chips. "We just got here! What if we run out?"

Yang leaned back against the counter and crossed her arms. "Then we buy more? Relax, sis. It's summer vacation. This is what normal people do—eat junk food and chill." She smirked and waved the cookie. "You should try it sometime."

"I do relax!" Ruby protested.

Weiss reappeared, descending the stairs with an almost regal air. "You're kidding, right?"

Ruby turned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Ruby, you spent the entire train ride here reorganizing our weapons and cleaning Crescent Rose. Twice."

"Maintenance is important!" Ruby shot back.

Weiss smirked and folded her arms. "Sure it is."

Before Ruby could counter, Yang walked by and patted her head. "Don't worry, Rubes. One day, you'll learn how to unwind."

Ruby swatted her hand away. "I can unwind!"

"Prove it," Blake said, still reading.

Ruby froze, then crossed her arms stubbornly. "Fine. I'll relax. I'll relax so hard you won't even recognize me."

Yang snorted. "Can't wait to see that."

Ruby opened her mouth to retort, but Weiss cut her off. "Can we please focus on something more important—like unpacking and organizing the house?"

"Wow," Yang said. "Weiss Schnee, advocate for fun and spontaneity."

Weiss shot her a look. "I like order. Is that a crime?"

"No," Yang said, "but it's also why you're the most likely to stress-clean the entire house while the rest of us are trying to enjoy ourselves."

"I do not—" Weiss paused. "...Okay, maybe a little."

Ruby turned to Blake for support but found her already buried in her book. She groaned and flopped onto the couch next to her.

"Worst. Team. Ever."

Blake didn't look up. "You love us."

Ruby mumbled something unintelligible into the throw pillow she'd grabbed.

Yang strolled back into the room with a can of soda and plopped down in a chair, kicking her feet up on the coffee table. Weiss immediately swatted them off.

"Feet down!"

"Relax, princess." Yang smirked.

The bickering continued as Ruby slowly sank deeper into the couch, already wondering how she was going to survive the summer with this group.

EVENING

The warm glow of the dining room lights filled the house, giving it a cozy, lived-in feel. Team RWBY—minus Yang—sat around the table, their chatter and laughter filling the space. Even Blake, though half-hidden behind the cover of her book, occasionally looked up to contribute to the conversation before retreating into her reading.

From the kitchen came the sound of bubbling broth and the rhythmic clatter of utensils. Yang, wearing an apron that proudly read "Hot Stuff in the Kitchen" (a gift from Ruby), stood over a steaming pot, stirring its contents with a wooden spoon.

"Yang, just tell us already!" Ruby whined, leaning back in her chair. "What is that? It smells amazing!"

"Nope!" Yang's voice rang out, smug and playful. "You'll find out when it's done—and not a second sooner."

Weiss smirked. "I'll bet it's something over-seasoned."

"Or burnt," Blake added without looking up from her book.

Yang poked her head around the corner, waving her spoon like a weapon. "I'll have you know this is culinary perfection. You're all going to beg for seconds."

Before anyone could respond, a knock echoed at the door.

"I'll get it!" Ruby shot to her feet but quickly grabbed a dish towel and draped it over her head like a makeshift blindfold. "Not peeking!"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "You're so dramatic."

Ruby flung the door open—and her face lit up.

"Dad!"

Taiyang stood there, dressed casually in jeans and a light jacket, with a duffle bag slung over one shoulder. At his feet, a small, energetic corgi wagged its tail furiously.

"Zwei!"

Ruby practically tackled her dad in a hug before Zwei bolted through her legs and straight into the dining room.

"Whoa—hey!" Weiss flinched as Zwei jumped onto her lap, his tiny tail wagging like mad.

"Zwei!" Ruby called, closing the door and following her dad inside.

To everyone's surprise, Weiss didn't push the dog off. Instead, she smiled and started scratching his ears. "Well, aren't you the friendliest little thing?"

Zwei barked happily and licked her cheek, earning a surprised laugh. Meanwhile, Blake subtly pushed her chair back, keeping the table—and her book—between herself and the dog.

Ruby noticed and raised an eyebrow. "You're still doing this, Blake?"

Blake didn't even look up. "I like animals—from a distance."

"They don't bite," Ruby said.

Blake muttered, "They lick."

Taiyang laughed as he pulled out a chair. "Relax, Blake. Zwei and I are just here for dinner. After that, we'll be out of your fur."

Ruby grinned. "Thanks again for helping us find this place, Dad. It's perfect!"

Taiyang waved her off. "No big deal. Just promise me you'll drop by to visit every now and then."

"Deal!" Ruby said quickly.

Weiss, meanwhile, had given up on shooing Zwei off her lap and was now scratching his ears while he sprawled across her. "Zwei, you're going to make me lose all my dignity." She paused. "Not that I care."

Ruby smirked. "Careful, Weiss. He's going to follow you everywhere now."

Weiss let out a mock sigh but continued petting him.

Taiyang leaned back in his chair. "So, how's the summer house treating you all?"

"It's been great," Ruby said. "Yang's been cooking, Blake's been reading—shockingly—and Weiss has apparently become a dog person."

Taiyang chuckled, but his attention shifted as he sniffed the air. "Wow. That smells incredible. What's cooking?"

"Don't tell him, Dad!" Yang's voice rang out from the kitchen.

Taiyang raised his hands in surrender. "No spoilers. Got it."

Ruby tilted her head. "You said you're heading out later, right? Where to?"

"Meeting up with some old friends—Glen, Marcus, and Meg."

Blake finally looked up from her book. "Meg? Meg Scarlatina?"

Taiyang grinned. "That's the one."

Yang poked her head out of the kitchen. "Wait—you know Velvet's mom?!"

Taiyang chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "Oh yeah. Her team and mine—STRQ—we clashed all the time. Friendly rivalry, mostly, but things could get heated during training missions and tournaments. We were always trying to one-up each other."

Blake tilted her head. "So you were rivals?"

"At first," Taiyang said. "But somewhere along the way, Meg and I started getting along. We teamed up for assignments, started sharing ideas, and eventually just... clicked. We ended up dating for about half the school year."

Ruby's eyes widened. "Wait—what?!"

"Relax!" Taiyang laughed. "It was mutual. We realized we were better off as friends, and that was that."

Yang emerged from the kitchen carrying the pot, wearing oven mitts. "So... is she single now?"

Taiyang blinked. "Why?"

Yang grinned. "Because Velvet showed me a picture of her mom—and wow. Super hot."

Ruby's jaw dropped. "Yang!"

"What? I'm just saying Dad could do worse." Yang set the pot down in the center of the table. "Maybe it's time to get back out there, Dad. And who knows? Maybe Meg's still interested."

Taiyang chuckled nervously but didn't outright dismiss the idea. "I'll... think about it."

Ruby groaned and buried her face in her hands. "This is so weird."

Yang smirked and lifted the lid off the pot, revealing a rich, bubbling stew packed with vegetables and roasted meat.

Weiss stood abruptly, her eyes going wide. "Oh my... that looks delicious!"

Ruby smirked. "Uh, Weiss? You're... kind of drooling."

Weiss immediately snapped out of it and wiped her mouth, cheeks turning pink. "I—I was not!"

Yang burst out laughing. "I finally got the Ice Queen's seal of approval!"

Weiss groaned, covering her face. "I hate that nickname."

Yang grinned. "You love the stew."

About thirty minutes—or maybe closer to an hour—after they had all started devouring the stew, the dining room looked like the aftermath of a feast. Empty bowls were scattered across the table, spoons lazily resting against the rims, and the rich aroma of broth and spices still lingered in the air.

Everyone sat back in their chairs, stuffed to the brim, except for Yang and Taiyang, who looked suspiciously fine despite having gone back for seconds. Or thirds.

Weiss groaned and leaned back, holding her stomach. "That... was so worth it," she muttered. "Absolutely delicious."

Yang leaned back and smirked. "Glad to hear it. That's pretty much the only home-cooked meal I know how to make." She shrugged. "The rest of my skills involve microwaveable dinners and instant noodles."

Ruby let out a dramatic groan before tipping back in her chair—too far. She yelped as she toppled backward and hit the floor with a thud.

Yang burst out laughing. "And down goes Ruby!"

Taiyang chuckled and stood up, reaching down to help a dazed Ruby to her feet. "You alright there, champ?"

Ruby rubbed the back of her head. "I think the stew broke me..."

Taiyang shook his head with a grin and looked at the group. "Well, much as I'd love to stick around and watch you all roll around in food comas, I've got to head out."

Weiss perked up slightly. "Already?"

"Yeah," Taiyang said, moving toward the door. "But before I go, there's something I want to show you."

Curiosity piqued, the team followed him to the front door. When Taiyang opened it and led them outside, they were greeted by the sight of two trucks parked in the driveway.

Ruby blinked in confusion. "Wait... two trucks? Where'd the second one come from?"

Taiyang grinned and pulled a set of keys from his pocket. "Well, this one—" He pointed to the slightly older, but well-kept truck parked closest to the curb. "—is mine."

Then, with a quick toss, he sent the second set of keys sailing through the air. Yang caught them effortlessly.

"And this one," Taiyang said, nodding toward the newer, sleeker truck beside it, "is yours. For the summer."

Ruby's eyes went wide as Weiss and Blake exchanged confused glances.

"Wait, what?!" Ruby shrieked, practically bouncing on her toes.

Yang stared at the keys in her hand, blinking in disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"

"Nope." Taiyang leaned back against the truck. "I picked these up as payment for a mission a while back—long story—and figured you guys might need something to get around in. Whether you're running errands, visiting me, or taking on any small missions, you'll have wheels."

Ruby let out a squeal before tackling Taiyang in a hug. "You're the BEST, Dad!"

Taiyang laughed and ruffled her hair. "I try."

As Ruby stepped back, Taiyang's expression turned a bit more serious. "But... Yang, you don't have your license yet."

Yang immediately stiffened, looking at him cautiously. "And?"

"And," Taiyang said slowly, "if you get caught driving that thing..."

Both Ruby and Yang spoke in perfect unison:

"Hide the vehicle and ditch before we get caught."

Weiss froze, looking between the two sisters. "Wait. Why did you say that like you've—" Her eyes narrowed. "...You have done this before, haven't you?"

Ruby pressed her lips together and mimed zipping them shut.

Taiyang just laughed, shaking his head. "Let's just say I'm trusting you to be smart about it this time."

Weiss groaned and rubbed her temples. "This is such a bad idea."

Taiyang ignored her and pulled both of his daughters into a quick hug. "Alright. I'll be around Vale tomorrow morning—probably looking for good spots to take Zwei for a walk."

"Take pictures!" Ruby said, waving as Zwei hopped into the passenger seat of Taiyang's truck.

"Will do." Taiyang gave them all one last wave as he backed out of the driveway and drove off down the street.

Once the taillights disappeared, Blake—who had been unusually quiet—finally spoke up. "So..." She crossed her arms and turned to Yang. "Exactly how many times have you pulled off the 'park and ditch' act?"

Yang leaned against her new truck and smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Blake arched an eyebrow. "I would like to know."

Yang leaned in slightly, her grin turning playful. "Why? Worried I'll drag you into it next time?"

Blake didn't miss the teasing edge in Yang's voice and rolled her eyes, but there was the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Not a chance."

Yang laughed and twirled the keys around her finger. "We'll see about that."

Ruby groaned. "Great. Now they're flirting."

Weiss, still standing by the door, muttered under her breath, "At least this time it's not me blushing."

Ruby turned and smirked. "You mean like when you were drooling over the stew earlier?"

Weiss's cheeks immediately turned pink. "I—I was not drooling!"

"Uh-huh."

Blake smirked. "She definitely was."

Weiss groaned again. "I hate all of you."

And as the team laughed, the night felt almost perfect—peaceful, even. But none of them realized just how quickly that peace was about to shatter.

Back inside the house, the kitchen was alive with the clinking of plates and the splashing of water. Team RWBY stood around the sink and counters, washing and drying the last of the dishes from dinner. The earlier excitement had settled into a comfortable rhythm of conversation and laughter.

Ruby scrubbed a plate with exaggerated effort, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Alright, so first things first—missions. We're going to need more food if we want to keep eating like that." She gestured toward the now-empty pot that had fueled their near-comas earlier.

Weiss dried off a plate and set it neatly in the cabinet. "Agreed. But we shouldn't focus entirely on missions. If we want to be stronger and sharper for our second year at Beacon, we need to train. At least twice a day."

Ruby groaned. "Twice a day? Come on, Weiss, it's summer!"

Blake, silently drying dishes, handed another one to Weiss without looking up from her book. She turned the page and said nothing, her focus divided between work and words.

Yang, leaning against the counter while drying a mug, smirked. "Ruby's right. We deserve a little downtime. We just survived finals—terrible experience, by the way. One star. Would not recommend."

Ruby laughed and pointed her sponge at Weiss. "Exactly! What if JNPR's still around? We should hang out with them! Relax for a week, then get back to missions and training."

Weiss opened her mouth to protest, but Yang and Ruby hit her with synchronized puppy eyes.

Weiss faltered. "You two are insufferable..." She let out a long sigh. "Fine. One week. But after that, we're sticking to my plan."

"Yes!" Ruby pumped her fist, while Yang grinned triumphantly.

"Great. Now that we've established my victory," Weiss said, setting down the last plate, "I'll leave the rest of the cleanup to you three. I'm going to see what movies are on."

Blake smirked as Weiss walked away. "You mean you're going to find a documentary."

Weiss didn't bother denying it as she disappeared into the living room.

The living room was dimly lit by the soft glow of the TV as Weiss flipped through the channels, remote in hand. The sounds of clattering dishes and muffled conversation drifted from the kitchen, but her focus remained on the screen.

Action movies. Comedy reruns. Cooking shows. She barely paused until one headline made her stop cold.

"REMNANT PEACE TALKS IN DANGER?"

The words flashed across the screen in bold red letters, accompanied by images of tense officials shaking hands in formal meetings. The news anchor's voice was calm, but the undertone of concern was unmistakable.

"...growing tensions between Atlas and the other Kingdoms, fueled by disputes over Dust embargoes and international trade agreements, have led to speculation about the stability of global peace. Critics warn that the rising mistrust could jeopardize decades of cooperation established after the Great War..."

Weiss sank onto the couch, her posture stiff. Her eyes locked onto the screen as the report continued, showing footage of Atlas military forces patrolling the snowy streets of Mantle.

"Atlas' increased militarization has raised concerns among the other Kingdoms. Vale and Vacuo representatives have expressed their unease, while Mistral has openly questioned Atlas' recent Dust export restrictions..."

The screen cut to footage of the Atlesian council chamber—cold, sterile, and guarded—before shifting to aerial shots of warships docked in Atlas' floating city.

Weiss felt her stomach tighten.

"...analysts warn that if negotiations break down, the risk of conflict could escalate, especially if Atlas interprets defensive preparations by the other Kingdoms as acts of aggression..."

"Weiss?"

Ruby's voice startled her. She turned to see her leader standing by the couch, her silver eyes flicking from Weiss to the TV. Ruby frowned and snatched the remote, switching it off.

"Weiss..." Ruby knelt down beside her. "What's wrong?"

Weiss lowered her head, gripping the remote tightly. "This has been happening for months, Ruby. Negotiations breaking down, accusations flying back and forth... And now it's starting to feel like—" She hesitated. "—like Atlas might actually consider breaking the peace we've had since the Great War."

Ruby sat down beside her, placing a hand on Weiss' shoulder. "Atlas wouldn't do that. They're not that desperate. The armies of the other three Kingdoms combined outnumber Atlas by a lot."

Weiss exhaled shakily, shaking her head. "That's what scares me. If Atlas even thinks the other Kingdoms are capable of attacking them... who's to say they won't strike first?"

Ruby's grip tightened. "Don't think like that. It's not going to happen."

Weiss wanted to argue, but instead, she simply closed her eyes and nodded. "Okay," she whispered. "You're right."

Ruby smiled softly, relieved—until her eyes focused on something in Weiss' hand.

"What is that?" Weiss asked.

Ruby tilted her head. "What's what?"

Weiss reached out and plucked something from Ruby's hair—a small, greasy chunk of beef.

"Ugh!" Weiss recoiled. "Ruby Rose, were you rolling around in the stew?! This is disgusting!"

Ruby blushed. "Wha—no! It probably just... fell there while we were eating!"

Weiss gave her an unimpressed look. "Upstairs. Shower. Now."

Ruby crossed her arms. "I don't—"

"Now." Weiss' voice left no room for argument.

Ruby grumbled but stood up and trudged toward the stairs. "Fine. But I was not rolling around in the stew."

Weiss watched her go, hiding a small smile behind her hand. As soon as Ruby was out of sight, she shook her head and chuckled. "This is going to be a long summer."

As the laughter faded and the house grew quiet, Weiss leaned back against the couch. Her eyes flicked to the dark TV screen.

And despite Ruby's words, the uneasy feeling in her chest refused to go away.