Chapter 13: Family Matters
I need to slow our pace down. I've clearly become paranoid.
Over the past few months, I've lost count of how often I've shifted camp since the attack. It's time to stop acting blindly. To steer us in the right direction, I need answers. I ready myself and open a portal.
I quietly hope to myself that only one person is on the other side. I'm much better at keeping my heart in check now, but I'd still rather not face unnecessary distractions.
A bar? That's unexpected.
I step out into an empty night street. The architecture tells me I'm in the kingdom of Atlas, and I find myself grateful to be far away from Patch. I step into the bar and eye the back of an all too familiar sword seated at an isolated table by the door.
"So, I hear you're a teacher now. Poisoning the minds of children to become martyrs? That's low, brother." I say as I approach his table, taking the seat across from him.
"Our first reunion in over two years, and that's all you have to say to me? You're as terrible a sister as you are a mother." I can do without his accusations. That almost stung.
"I know you've been fighting for Ozpin. You've surely been putting your curse to good use. Tell me what you know, Qrow."
"If you're asking about our 'enemy,' Summer can tell you more about the activity around you in Anima. Her missions always take her there."
I wasn't expecting that. I guess I was right. Active Huntresses shouldn't have children. Especially her.
"She can't gather information like you can. You make a better rat than a crow. Talk."
"Insulting me isn't exactly the best way to ask for information. Since when did I owe you any favors?" He remarks. He has a point, but I don't care.
"And you know that I'll get my answers one way or another. There's quite a few people in this bar. Don't you think they'd be upset if we started arguing?" I place my hand on my sword to get my point across. He's still the son of the Branwen tribe; his information is rightfully ours. I doubt putting it that way will speed this up, though.
He raises his glass and sips, glaring at me as he does.
"Anything for my dear sister." He says, chastising me with his tone as he lowers the glass.
"She's influential, and unquestionably powerful, but doesn't act on her own. Not directly, anyway. She's got a small gathering and a private little army on call, but the overall network is deeply rooted. She has players in every major kingdom, feeding her information. Though she can't directly attack the kingdoms, she uses her information to cut off travel routes and keep pressure on the borders."
Valuable information, indeed. Keep talking, brother.
"She's not omnipotent, though. It's not like she can mind control every Grimm in the world and take the kingdoms by force. But anything and anywhere outside the kingdom's protection is in constant danger." He says, taking another sip. "Everyone's at risk. Like, say, a roaming tribe of bandits." Now he's just trying to scare me.
He turns to me, glass in hand, releasing the tension in his eyes.
"Come back, Raven. Everyone misses you."
I roll my eyes, recalling what I witnessed on the porch several months ago.
"You know, Raven, Summer cares for Yang like her own. But she isn't trying to take your place. Yang recognized the difference. I was there when she asked why her baby sister looked like Summer, but not her."
I was wondering when he would bring this up. He's probing to see if I already know about their child. I won't bother denying it; he can think what he wants. After reading my silent acknowledgment, he continues.
"She knows everything. Summer told her everything. But only good things. Everyone wants you to come back. That little firecracker especially."
"Right. Like how Taiyang faithfully waited for me." I respond, spitefully. I keep my cool, but I can't hide the bitterness in my voice.
He slams his drink on the table. "You take that back. Do you have any idea what you did to Tai? He fell apart. You can blame yourself for how close they became. Summer had to take care of Yang with how messed up Tai was. You have no right to talk if you don't even intend to come home."
"Home? How can you all even stand that place with what happened? The grave of dozens of Huntsmen. Great place to raise children."
"Speak for yourself. Choosing a bunch of murderers and thieves over your own daughter. Father would be proud."
"You weren't even there. You have no idea what he wanted."
"Neither do you. You never told him about Yang. Am I right?"
I can't answer to that. Still, father guarded the tribe faithfully. He understood all too well that sacrifices had to be made. Qrow should have learned this the day we left mother.
Cold silence. The ice between us freezes the air in the bar until Qrow breaks it.
"Tai's the one that wanted to keep that damn house. All because of you. Ozpin let him keep it when we broke down camp. Everyone else was glad to be gone, but he insisted on staying."
I really don't want to hear this.
"We kept visiting him, and he only kept getting worse. Between comforting him and tending to Yang, of course he'd get close with Summer."
I can deal with talking about Taiyang, but I'd rather not hear Summer's name. I'd sooner stab her than speak to her, let alone talk about her. Or that little brat of hers.
"Go to hell, Qrow. Just shut up. Why are you even defending her? Oh, right. You just sat by and watched it happen. She's the one who stole him. Her and that damn kid."
"That 'damn kid' is my niece—and your step-daughter. You haven't seen how much Yang watches over her. She doesn't care that Summer's not her mom, but she definitely cares that Ruby is her baby sister."
"You're wasting your breath. Are you expecting me to come running back and give this brat a big hug? I came here for answers, Qrow. Not for you to keep pissing me off."
He visibly calms himself before speaking again. "You can't just disappear like this, Raven. Yang wants to see you."
"Maybe you should stop drinking. Alcohol makes you too emotional and sentimental. It's quite unbecoming."
He sighs, swirling his drink in his hands. "You know, I still remember walking in on Summer drunk and crying the night Yang said she wanted to go out and find her 'real mommy.'"
"Then maybe her new mother should do a better job instead of constantly going on missions."
Qrow narrows his eyes. I guess he didn't like how I said that. That single sentence rejected everything he's thrown at me. The invitation. Taiyang's condition. Yang's curiosity.
My motherhood.
He's clearly upset. Deal with it, little brother. You worthless baby.
"The real reason Summer takes long distance missions isn't because she's obsessed with search and rescue. Don't you get it? She could live out her hero complex locally." He pauses, sipping his drink. I guess alcohol makes him dramatic, too. "She flies to missions in Anima because she's looking for you. But you keep moving camp."
His eyes widen. "Wait. That's what this is about, isn't it?" He sharpens his glare before continuing.
"You make me sick. You're just running from Salem, aren't you? Something happened. You're scared. You're selfishly worrying only about yourself."
Now, his words sting. "The Grimm activity in Patch still isn't perfect, Raven. Aren't you the least bit concerned about your daughter?"
"I'm protecting my people. Besides, Ozpin's war is pointless. There is no end to this. It's been how long since this all began? Countless lifetimes, and he's failed in each one. The world is stronger now more than ever, and he still has no chance."
"That wasn't what I asked, Raven." He presses again.
"I'm the one asking questions, Qrow." I remind him.
"Summer's not stupid, you know. She knows exactly how the Huntsmen are just a charade." He says, whispering so no one hears him.
"She actually agrees with you. But she's fighting Ozpin's war not because of some sense of justice. She decided she doesn't want these kids to have to fight when they grow up."
Even now, she brings me shame. Damn you, Summer. I hate your very existence. I've had enough.
"I see that's all I'm going to get out of you." I stand and turn away, preparing to leave.
Still, the little information gave is actually quite useful. I've avoided highly isolated locations believing that they held the greatest risk. Now I know that I just need to entrench ourselves far enough from primary areas of traffic, but remain close enough to raid locally as necessary and to intercept cargo shipments or travelers.
"So that's it?" Qrow says to my back. "You won't even visit them?"
I leave the table and start walking.
"Like I said, Summer isn't trying to take your place. She said herself that if you came back, she'd step aside. She even said she'd leave, if you hated her that much. Tai won her heart, but she's too damn giving. She still just wants you all to be a family again."
His sentimentality must be contagious. Feelings plague my mind again. There's no avoiding nor denying it. In my heart, I know she truly is a better mother than I ever could be. I hate you, Summer. I hope Salem makes you suffer.
But I take the thought back. Tai has suffered enough. Losing another would destroy what's left of him.
As I exit the bar, I barely hear Qrow's last sentence.
"He still has it, Raven. Summer made him keep the ring. For you."
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