Author's Notes
(quick note: two chapters were posted last week,so be sure you didn't miss one)
le BEEP le BEEP le BEEP le BEEP le BEEP le BEEP le BEEP le BEEP
That's the new story alert! For some reason, it's French this time - I guess a little bit of France must have accidentally seeped in when I was cleaning it, and now the whole thing's going to be like that until it cools off! Anyways, on to the new story.
We've got action! We've got romance! We've got Freezerburn! We've even got Zwei! That's right, the epic ballad of DUST BITCH has finally arrived!
Yang didn't mean to run over that girl with her motorcycle, but can you really blame her when the young woman was lying face-down on a backroad in the middle of nowhere in Patch in the dead of night? Fortunately, Yang's unintended victim is a huntress and survived the hit, but now Yang owes her one. And in this case, one happens to mean helping Weiss Schnee avoid a trail of assassins and mercenaries dead set on stopping Weiss from traveling across half the world to get home.
Dust Bitch, the newest RatCrimes fanfiction story, will start posting tomorrow. Be sure to give it the old gander!
Happy rats, and don't do crime!
November IV
"You'll do fine," Summer vowed to Raven. "It's not going to be a problem."
Gulping, Raven tried to form a coherent response to Summer's reassurance. "I…I…"
Raven didn't know what to say. To describe her as nervous would be the understatement for the century.
Her first job interview ever was coming up this morning, and the stress of it was terrifying her. In Beacon, she'd been able to let her skills speak for her, the swordplay, combat prowess, and semblance mastery that set her apart from the average loser trying to take the spot away from her. Since then, every test, examination, or mission had been decided by strength alone. As much as she eschewed the Branwen mindset that the strong deserved inherent dominion over the weak, she couldn't deny that being the strongest was a wonderful feeling.
And now, it was all for naught. A childhood of warfare against nature and mankind, four years in the most grueling combat school on the face of the planet, and eleven months of missions against the darkest, vile, abominated beast Salem herself could throw at Raven – all down the drain. Wasted.
I chose this.
Raven could do to remind herself of that fact one more time.
I chose this. I chose Yang and Patch and Summer and the cabin and now I'm choosing to work as a lifeguard at Cressida's Swimming and Recreation Center.
Summer had quizzed Raven on some important facts about the complex that she'd memorized prior, and Raven could recite them with perfect accuracy (cramming was a specialty of hers after how many times she'd done it during her higher education). She's also assured Raven that there would be on the job training that would cover most of the specifics.
"You don't necessarily need to know anything about swimming pools or how to be a lifeguard. Most applicants wouldn't. As long as you can swim and do CPR, you should be set."
Well, Raven could swim better than a fish, and she knew CPR from Beacon's emergency medical treatment classes. She vaguely recalled that whoever decided the rules had said you don't need to do the breaths anymore, but Raven figured she would do them anyways if asked to demonstrate, if only to show whoever interviewed her that she had all the skills, not just some of them.
In theory, it should have been fine. Raven was in no different a spot than when she'd left the Branwen tribe, back when she'd still bore an intention of returning. She was entirely new to everything around her back then, but at least now she knew what paddleboats and barbecue grills were, so she certainly had a leg up from before.
"You're gonna ace it, Ray." Summer was primping and fluffing every inch of Raven's 'interview clothes,' a neat little blue dress with flowers patterned on it that screamed 'Taiyang's mother was married and also probably buried in this but someone presumably exhumed it.' Raven had asked if she was expected to wear a suit and tie, but Summer had claimed that a quasi-formal outfit was sufficient for a job opening like this within a cozy little landscape like Patch.
"You'll be taking Yang to the doctor's, right?" Raven asked, getting a confirmatory nod. Summer had quite generously promised to knock their monthly check-up out while Raven was busy with her thing.
I really owe her for this. I wish I could have been the rich one so I could, like, buy her a house or something.
Instead, all Raven had to offer was her burdensome friendship. Still, Summer seemed to find Patch palatable, and Raven had no intention of convincing her friend otherwise until her daughter's safety was guaranteed.
I mean, it's not like I'm taking advantage of Summer. She offered help and knows fully what doing so entails, and Yang's literal life could be on the line, or maybe my custody of her. Either way, I need Summer.
Hmmm. When was the last time I thanked her?
"Thank you, Summer," Raven said, realizing it had been far too long.
"You're welcome," the huntress replied. Summer thought nothing of it, probably dismissing the appreciation as a general platitude rather than Raven pouring her heart out. Raven decided to do something about that.
"Summer." She placed a hand on Summer's shoulder. Summer had been the one to teach her that physical contact in Vale didn't carry the same connotations of challenging one's boundaries as it had in the Branwen tribe back in Mistral. "I mean it. You've been the greatest help I could have ever asked for, and it means that world to me that you're willing to drop everything and take care of my family for me."
Summer was a hugger; that much had always been true. So Raven gave Summer a hug.
"You don't have to do this, but you do it anyways," Raven stated. "So thank you."
When Raven let go, Summer's face was anything but happy.
As red as her namesake, Rose was frowning and looking extremely uncomfortable. Raven wouldn't have thought that physical contact would disturb her so.
"Y-Yeah," Summer said, as noncommittally as possible. "Of course. I'm here for you, whatever you need. Friend."
Belatedly, Raven began to realize that her praise had been rather conditional. Thank you for continuing to do what you've been doing, that sort of thing.
If she was planning to tell me she wanted to go home today, that she was done with Patch and was ready to return to Vale and Ozpin like Taiyang had – as is her right – I'd basically have shut that convo down before it ever had a chance to take place.
"So, uh, thanks again," Raven said, now awkward herself. "Dinner when we get back, same time as always? Er, I-I mean, I-I can make dinner tonight!"
Don't make it sound like you're volunteering for Summer to make dinner, bird-head! She's already doing a lot by taking Yang to her hospital appointment.
"I'll do it," Summer rushed to say. "You'll be tired from you job interview, so the least I can do is –"
"Summer, you deserve a break, too. Let me, it's the least I can –"
"Raven, just…just let me." Summer now couldn't even stand to look at her ungrateful host, the one she'd done everything for and now was doing even more for. "I…I'll cook dinner."
She wanted to protest, but arguing even more right now would be folly. Socially inept or not, that much was obvious to Raven.
"Okay. I'm…I'm gonna go to my job interview."
Summer nodded and started to walk upstairs. "I'll fetch Yang for the doctor's office."
The two good friends turned away from one another and left.
"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Branwen," said the interviewer, mispronouncing Raven's last name as she sat down.
She had no idea if it would be polite or impolite to correct her. Experience told her that city folk tended to respond poorly to being told they were wrong, but was Raven just going to pretend she was named for a cereal grain for the rest of her life?
That's assuming I even work here for the rest of my life. Is lifeguarding what I want to do with my own life? It's not all that different from hunting, just…much more boring.
But boring was safe. Boring was low responsibility. Boring meant not escaped mega-rogues who were still out there on the loose, wreaking havoc without limit in Salem's name because of Raven's weakness.
The two shook hands, and Raven scooched deeper into her seat. "I'm glad I can meet you too, Ms. Cressida."
"Oh, I'm not actually…it's named after the bedtime story, not…please, call me Chris."
"Okay," Raven said. "You're Chris."
"Ha, ah." The woman smiled and shook her head for some reason. "Well, I think it's best if we begin the interview with a few questions on your experience with recreation centers and their operation."
"I have none," Raven said.
The woman's smile dipped a little bit. Summer had said not to lie but to embellish, but there was nothing to embellish. According to Summer, if she lied, she might get the job but would never hold it, so Raven had gone into this interview promising herself to tell the full truth when applicable.
"No work experience?"
"No pool experience. I have real work experience as a huntress."
Chris' face screwed up for a second, but then she seemed to relax much more. "You're a huntress?"
"Ex-huntress," Raven clarified. "I served for a year. That was how long I served as a huntress."
That was another one of the tips Summer had given her. Apparently, 'time served' was a buzzword phrase that people liked to hear. It made them more appreciative, if Rose's word was to be trusted.
"Thank you for your service," said the interviewer with a smile. "Now, I take it this means you might know some…first aid?"
Raven nodded and decided to start with her most impressive achievements. "I can apply a wide range of field dressings to myself and others. I've kept amputees alive until we could get them to the hospital in the past."
Chris' eyes went a bit wider. "My, that's far more…extreme than anything we've ever seen here. But I suppose overqualification is –"
"Though they all did perish in the hospital," Raven added, remembering to tell the truth. This interviewer, if they were as thorough as one would hope, would probably be looking up Raven's records on missions, so she would see the after-mission reports and know how it went.
"I…uh…"
"It's normal," Raven said. "Huntresses can't save everyone, and I didn't when I served."
That one was a well-known fact, something their teachers at Beacon had drilled into them during many a lesson. Professor Asturcón, Beacon's field combat instructor during Raven's third year, had mentioned something to that effect nearly every lecture.
I think it was because they knew the Valean wusses would break down at the sight of blood, if they saw someone getting hurt. It never bothered me as much because I knew that my presence was purely beneficial. Had I not been on the scene of any Grimm attacks, it would have just been more and more death, so the people there were as good as dead anyways. Some being saved is better than none being saved.
That mindset had lasted for a while, and Raven never once faltered. It was only when…when Ozpin started asking them to fight more and more people, to kill more and more people, that Raven's nerves of steel had melted into nerves of silt.
"…Miss Branwen?"
"Bran-wen," Raven corrected on instinct. "Huh?"
"I…I was asking you if you can perform CPR," said the interviewer.
"Oh, sorry." Raven rubbed the back of her head. "I sorted zoned out there for a sec. Got lost in my own noggin, you know."
The smile on Chris' face seemed a little less wide this time. In fact, it was barely even still classified as a smile.
Darn it. I'm losing her, aren't I? I'm going to have to impress her if I wanna score this post.
"As for CPR, I definitely know how. It was one of the numerous medical procedures I learned and implemented during my term of service as a serving huntress. I passed the course with…colors."
"With colors?"
Raven nodded. Summer had passed with 'flying colors,' whatever that meant, but Raven had gotten about one letter grade lower during her certification course. It was still enough to give her the approval she needed to proceed, but her colors couldn't be described as flying.
It's on record. I'm being honest, here, and when she looks it up and sees, she'll know she can trust anything I said today. Lying would only ruin my credibility. This is the best I can do.
"How well can you, ah, swim?" asked Chris.
"I'm a great swimmer. Here, lead me to your pool, Chris, and I can show you." Raven stood up. "Let's go right now. I promise I won't disappoint you."
The eyes of the interviewer told Raven that she probably already had, though.
"It's not necessary. We usually have basic remedial lessons after the hiring process is –"
"No, you won't need to," Raven quickly cut in, sitting back down and leaning forward onto the woman's desk. "Trust me, you won't need to teach me a thing. I swam a shit ton in Mistral, like a literal shit ton, every day."
"It's…company policy," said the woman, who now rose up from her seat. "Well, Mrs. Branwen, I think that concludes our interview. It's been wonderful having you come in today. We'll be letting you know how it goes via mail."
"I…that's it?" Raven asked. "We're done?"
"Yes, Mrs. Bran… Miss Bran-wen."
She'd been under the impression there would be a lot more, given how much everyone hyped up job interviews like they were the end of the world or something. Beacon's graduation had about five written tests, eight practical exams over every way, and three more boxes that needed ticking on the qualifications page before they'd gotten their hunting licenses.
I thought I'd demonstrate CPR on the next victim the pool gets. It would be a good chance to show her how great I am. Also, how is she going to hire me for lifeguarding if she doesn't even see firsthand that I can swim – ?
Ah.
Ah, it's like that. I have to wonder, will I even be notified of my failure via mail, or will they just forget about me?
Either way, Raven couldn't blow it any further, so she rolled her eyes. "We're done, then. Welp."
Chris offered her hand to give one final handshake, but Raven didn't bother returning it. If they wanted to judge based on first impressions alone and not talent or skill, she had zero intention of working for a shithole like this place anyways.
D̶̶̶a̶̶̶m̶̶̶n̶̶̶ ̶̶̶i̶̶̶t̶̶̶.̶̶̶ ̶ ̶D̶a̶m̶̶̶n̶̶̶ ̶̶̶i̶̶̶t̶̶̶,̶̶̶ ̶̶̶I̶̶̶ ̶̶̶n̶̶̶e̶̶̶e̶̶̶d̶̶̶e̶̶̶d̶̶̶ ̶̶̶t̶̶̶h̶̶̶i̶̶̶s̶̶̶.
The interview took less than half of the time she'd set aside for it. Thus, Raven decided to walk home rather than fly.
The later I get back, the better it'll look for Summer. She had such high hopes for me, and I blew it.
On the plus side, if she got ahead on stewing about in her own depressive thoughts on the road, she would have more family time when she got home.
This really sucks. I busted my ass for months to get one opportunity, and it's for the fucking easiest thing on the entire planet, and they still turn me down! I'm a damn huntress, I can pull a child out of the jaws of a Deathstalker while fending its tail off with my other hand; how hard could it be to pull a child out of the shallow end of a pool while pointing to a wet floor sign with my other hand?!
The more she thought about it, the more her spirits fell. Without a job, Raven would not only be emotionally letting down Summer but financially letting her down. No income meant more dependence on Summer's bullshit 'rent,' and the prospect of actually paying off what she owed her fellow Stark was growing fainter and fainter.
I guess I'll just have to compromise my values in order to remain cash solvent. Summer never asked for the money back, so I'm letting myself down more than I am her.
And Raven had left herself down. She'd left everyone down, but no one would be more disappointed in the inevitable results of the interview but herself.
Summer has infinite money. She was born rich, and one good hunt would set her for a year given our expenses. We probably did about sixty paid jobs split four ways during our time as a team, meaning she could probably last forever without having to work. Will I genuinely have to ask her to do that? To give me everything, like a leech stuck to her backside, sucking and sucking away without offering anything in return? To deprive her of her own dreams of being a huntress because she's obligated to stay on Patch, where there's no real work for us and our ilk?
Raven's own funds from her brief career had been squandered on a litany of useless costs. About a good half of them went to real expenses – living in Vale was expensive, and it cost a lot more when one paid for room service because one didn't know how to clean up after oneself. But the other half, she'd wasted that on fun and games, drink and gambling, fancy toys, upgrades to Omen that were now obsolete given the weapon's own uselessness to Raven as an ex-huntress. Raven hadn't even particularly wanted any of those things; she'd just thought herself financially secure as a proper huntress and desired to flaunt her earnings.
I wish I'd saved up more. I can't go back now…can I?
Just one mission…
Even though she'd started to despise the violence that came with Ozpin's work, there was no denying that it was what she was best at. Guarding the lives of swimmers in a pool was the true waste, when Raven thought about it. She could be out there, applying her talents and making a difference and making money, making real money.
But it wouldn't work. I know myself, and I know the second I pick up that sword, I'll just see all of the blood I dirtied it with. And I can't risk my life doing dangerous work, not when Yang needs me.
What a joke – Yang needing Raven. Yang didn't care if Raven died. She probably wouldn't even notice the difference, given how infrequently Raven was at home. What Yang needed was Summer. Truthfully, all Yang needed was…
Truthfully, all Yang needed was…
Truthfully, all Yang needed was…
Careful.
Truthfully, all Yang needed was…
R̶a̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶i̶t̶.̶ ̶ ̶B̶e̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶s̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶'̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶.̶ ̶ ̶Y̶o̶u̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶a̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶.̶
All Yang needed was Summer.
Raven could be free, she could live off the land and risk her life on poisonous mushrooms and diseased roadkill, she wouldn't have to fear dropping her baby or filling her lungs with hazardous cleaners or giving her garden tools to play with that maimed her, she wouldn't have to wait for the inevitable failure that would ruin Yang's entire life.
Not if she left.
Not if she left Yang for Summer to care for, to love, to raise.
Not if she chose to be free.
Not if she chose to be Taiyang.
Suddenly, the notion was infinitely less appealing. In fact, with the moment broken and rational thought now returning to Raven's depression-addled brain, it was quite sickening that she'd ever even considered it for longer than a split second in passing. Abandoning her daughter, becoming the vilest kind of creature on the planet, should have been something Raven mulled over and instantly decided against just so she could say she'd considered all her options. It wasn't supposed to be something she just barely managed to talk herself out of.
Gods, what is wrong with me? How could I ever think something like that would be okay? I love my Yangling, she's the only reason I can even try in life. I have no tribe, no team, no husband – Yang is my only hope for a better future, and I nearly gave up on her because I didn't get to be a frickin' lifeguard!
Summer had had a word for the types of thoughts Raven was having, though she couldn't for the life of her recall it. Something bad, something that sounded like an invasion or obtrusion, something like that.
They just kept plaguing Raven, ideas that logically made sense to her but didn't represent what she actually believed or wanted from her meaningless little life. Stuff like 'there's no reason why you have to raise Yang just because you bore her' or 'it's literally the best-case scenario for all three of you' or 'you know you see Summer and her occasional reticence about getting too close to Yang, and you know why that is.'
Raven didn't want these invasion thoughts, but they came to her just the same. Like blisteringly cold winds from a snowstorm, they assailed her head without relenting or pausing for even a second, and the more desperately she tried to ignore them, the worse they came back.
Why can't I just be a normal mother? A good mother? Parents aren't supposed to have to try to love their kids, it's just supposed to come instinctively! Even my own parents, careless as they were, would rather have seen me a success than a failure.
But Yang was a baby. She did nothing, she said nothing, she offered nothing, and Raven's stupid, stupid brain was trying to use that as proof that Raven's love for her daughter was ingenuine. After all, a self-serving Branwen like her could only ever truly love something that came with a tangible benefit, right?
No.
No. It wouldn't be true, because Raven would choose to not make it true. Sure, Yang didn't do all that much now, and maybe Raven was eager for the day when she could converse with her daughter or train her or hold her without being vomited on, but that didn't mean she couldn't simply enjoy her tiny child's company.
I'll love her. I'll keep loving her and I'll choose to stay, and that'll be what makes me different from Taiyang. It's how I act that defines me, not how I feel.
E̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶s̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶ ̶f̶e̶e̶l̶.̶
To Raven's great surprise, she wasn't alone when she returned home. Summer and Yang were also present, the latter in the caring arms of the former.
"Yang's in great health, and they didn't need to run as many tests as I worried," Summer explained. Her head tilted slightly. "Um…and what brings you back so early, Ray?"
The truth was just too humiliating for Raven to say, so she just frowned.
"It…It didn't go well?" Summer asked.
"The…The interviewer didn't take kindly to me being from Mistral," Raven said.
It's better for everyone. Summer would be crushed if she know how much of a letdown I am as a lifeguard in addition to as a person, and I can't…I just can't lose her. Not now.
It wasn't technically a lie. She had mentioned that she was from Mistral, and the discussion had gone south at that point…rather, it had continued to go south. Maybe it had something to do with it? One could only hope, as at least that would be a reason other than 'Raven bad.'
"They WHAT?"
Yang whined a bit at Summer's sudden increase in volume, and Summer rushed to reassure her that she was sorry. Meanwhile, Raven slipped past the two of them and made her way towards the backyard.
"…worry, sweetie, Auntie Summer just got a little too…Ray, where are you…oh, no, no, don't cry, baby, I promise I won't yell again...don't go, Raven, we need to –"
Exiting out the rear door of the house, Raven let the chilly embrace of autumn wrap around her and pull her away.
I have to get outside, Summer. If I go away from you, I don't risk permanently going away.
Being here in this minimal capacity, it had previously seemed like a disgraceful action. But Raven now saw that there were far less pretty options, so if she needed to run away from her responsibilities for a little while just to make sure she could handle herself, that itself was a personal victory.
"Ray, where are – oh." Summer's eyes landed on the dark bird perched on their clothesline. "You, uh…you want some space, then?"
Raven raised her beak up and down a few times. She did want some space.
"If the interviewer discriminated against you, there're plenty of things we can do to…to…well, uh…"
Summer could probably do a lot of things to wreak a fraudulent vengeance upon Cressida's Swimming and Recreation Center in Raven's name. But doing so would win them a prize of lien, something Summer had in spades. What Raven needed was a job – a legitimate career to stabilize her nascent family and help her escape her financial dependence on the Rose fortune. More money handed to her from Summer wouldn't help.
"You probably wouldn't want to work for someone like that," Summer summarized on own, reaching the same conclusion the bird in the backyard had intended for her to. "I'm sorry it didn't go well, Ray."
So am I, Sum.
Yang fussed again in the human's arms, breaking the two of them from their quiet moment of reflection on how poor Raven's prospects were.
"It's too early for dinner, so I'll just…I'll take her inside." Summer nodded Yang's way. "Winter is almost upon us, and I don't want her to catch a cold."
That was fine. It had been Raven's goal in all of this, anyways.
I just need a moment to sulk. No annoying friends or daughters in my way. I'm choosing to be alone now so I don't make a bad choice and decide to be alone forever.
Summer disappeared from sight with Raven's daughter, leaving her to her lonesome. Raven desperately hoped that this division of the three them wasn't indicative of what lay in store for them in the future.
She was right about one thing, Raven thought as she shivered. Winter is finally here.
Author's Notes
That's the end of Part 1: The Fall. Things are at their...oh, fuck no, they can get so much worse, but they are bad right now. Raven's only job offer goes south and her intrusive thoughts stop being so easily ignored. Summer's repressing her feelings for her partner out of a sense of duty as team leader. Neither of them really know what to do with the other, and we're getting into winter, the coldest time of the year...not a recipe for success.
Happy rats, and don't do crime!