Work Text:
Taiyang Xiao Long didn’t like making decisions without some advice; sure, he could rush into things in the heat of the moment, but Miao had taught him the value of a little patience when it came to matters of the heart. Which is why he was here in a small restaurant in Vale with his father; nothing really more complex than a sports bar, casual but it helped put him at ease with it. Tai was just picking at his potato fries before he cleared his throat and just said what was on his mind.
“Dad, I-I think I’m going to ask Raven out.”
Zhao grinned. “That's my boy!”
Tai sighed in relief, leaning back in his chair. “Just… don’t let Aunt Miao find out? She’s uh… not her type of girl.”
“Well, she has high standards… too high. Impossibly high now that I think about it.” Zhao paused. “Though she’ll understand. She might want what’s best for you, but you need to be able to decide that for yourself.” He raised his glass and took a sip.
“W-Well I mean it’s just a date. Not sure how it’s going to work out.” Tai said nervously. “I mean… She’s just…”
“Son, you have to make your move. She’s been on the Team for... What a month?”
“It’s been a whole school year.”
“See, time flies! You know her well enough.” Zhao smiled. “Just use some of the family charm! It worked out great for me.”
Taiyang sat back and thought about it for a moment. “It’s just… I don’t want to mess up the team too much. It’d… be awkward if it ended badly.”
“Have some confidence Tai, that’s the key to everything in life!” Zhao said with a smile. “You have your limits, but if you don’t test them, you’re never going to surpass them.”
Tai thought about it for a moment, before nodding and smiling. “Alright, let’s try it.”
“You mean ‘I’ll try it.’ Zhao shook his head though he was smiling softly. “You’re a good man Tai, that should be enough.”
—-
“Summer, the way I see it-” Raven began with a familiar speech Summer was getting weary of. “-there’s no real point to fighting fair. You fight to WIN so if you think about it throwing dirt in Asha’s eyes was a legitimate strategy.”
“It was against the rules, Raven.” Summer chided. “You’re better than that.”
It was always that; You’re better than that Raven. Not mad, just disappointed. Raven was rather annoyed at Summer herself at it but that’s what made Summer fun. “Look you don’t even like sparring so what does it matter?”
She knew Summer’s answer, or at least a form of it. “Because there’s a difference between a Grimm and a Huntsman and you should be nice to people.”
“Look, I'll be nice when they earn my respect.” Raven waved her hand. “Even Qrow has that, more than I can say for the others.”
“Is that why you keep losing to me when we spar?” Summer replied innocently.
Raven shook her head to dismiss it. “No, once I figure out all your tricks, I'll kick your ass. Besides, you have a very weird definition of fighting fairly.”
“‘The way I see it there’s no real point to fighting fair!’” Summer laughed. “Besides, I think there’s a difference between fighting smart and kicking dirt into someone’s eyes.”
Raven sighed. “Using the environment to my advantage should be praised if anything.”
Summer paused as they actually entered the building. “Raven, I try not to ask people why they became Huntsmen but sometimes I do get a bit curious.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Raven replied with something that she hoped didn’t sound too well-practiced. “It’s fun.”
It wasn’t a lie, but the way Summer looked at her it… wasn’t an answer she liked. “Look, I don't have some deep, angsty reason for this Summer. I’m good at it, it’s fun, and it pays well.” In so many ways.
Raven’s smirk dropped as Summer still had a sort of understanding, if disappointed look. “What?”
“Nothing Nothing.” Summer had a sort of half-smile; it didn’t reach her eyes. The sort of smile when she was upset and didn’t want to show Raven and it always annoyed her. Summer was… weird. She treated being a huntsmen as a duty or becoming some hero from some of Tai’s stupid comic books. Raven had met enough oddly, annoying, idealistic people to last a lifetime but something about Summer and Tai…
She shrugged it off. They'd either wise up or reality would try to change their views.
—-
Alright, time to be a dragon. “Hey, Raven.”
She looked at him and Tai could feel his resolve weakening. Raven always looked more self-assured and smug in this oddly cute way. Still, he cleared his throat and tried; “I was wondering if we could uh, go out this friday?”
Raven tilted her head, her smile turning into a smirk. “Where to?”
“Uh, well I didn’t think I would get this far to be honest…” Tai replied before revealing his mistakes. “Anywhere you want! I heard there’s this place downtown that-”
“Sounds good.”
Tai blinked. “W-wait really?”
“Yes, really.” Raven laughed, nudging him. “C’mon Tai. I was wondering when you’d try.”
“I’m not that obvious, am I?”
Raven nodded. “You are Tai; I can read you like a book.” She leaned in with those cold eyes of hers, but there was a glimmer of interest. “... So far, it’s the only interesting one I've read. Maybe that new place downtown?”
“Y-Yeah that works out!” Tai grinned, almost laughing. Eh, the dragon charm must be real!
—-
Raven ‘borrowed’ some clothing from a store; nothing too over the top and with no way to trace back to her.
Her brother, as always, wasn't sure how to react to this. That was his problem to be frank.
“Seriously? Didn’t you have something saved up from last year?”
“He’s already seen that Qrow.” She said as if it was obvious.
“... Right.” Qrow sighed. “I thought you said you weren’t going to get attached?”
Raven let out a ‘tch’. “It’s just a date.”
“Interested in his father’s Dust?”
Raven rolled her eyes. "Why can’t I just go out on a date with him?”
Qrow just looked at her from the couch. “Because I know you, and he’s a good friend… I-I feel like I should be saying this to him but if you try to hurt him-”
Raven sighed. He was getting soft. The Tribe never liked him, and he usually kept quiet… a living bad luck charm like him was lucky he wasn’t kicked out sooner. She kept him out of the brunt of it, the ‘better investment that she was, he was still her brother’. And now he was acting like he was the responsible one. “It’s just a date. You don’t see me trying to stop you from fucking up someone else’s life.”
Qrow took a breath. “I mean it this time Raven. Even if it goes badly, don't break his heart or something.”
“Do you think I'm an asshole all the time? Don’t answer that.” Raven stared daggers at him as she let her hair down. “It’s just going to be me and Tai, and once this is over… whatever happens, happens.”
Raven paused for a moment and just thought about it; It would just be here. Tai would probably talk about comics or something goofy. Best outcome she looked like she was a part of the team like Summer always annoyed her with. The absolute worst case would be Qrow spying on her, and bad luck causing… she didn’t really know about some sort of accident that ended up unraveling everything?
But then she looked at Qrow, about to comment something else before she bit her bottom lip. He looked like a man now; not the scrawny kid who struggled in the tribe. It honestly unnerved her a bit as she always thought of her as the bigger, smarter sister… Was he standing up to her for once? She didn’t think he’d have the spine…
Ah, forget it.
She shook her head and began to make her way to the door. “I’ll be back by Eleven.” she said as she passed Summer. Summer just nodded before she entered the dorm. It gave her a chance to calm down and maybe have a decent time with Taiyang.
—-
Tai had… never been anywhere like this place, but Raven seemed to enjoy it. Maybe she just liked to make him feel uncomfortable? No that… well Raven was that sort of girl but maybe she was just trying to broaden his horizons. Pulsing lights and music that Miao would probably tut and disapprove of him hearing barred out from the roof and the stage. He was getting (and paying for) the drinks and the bartender gave him a sympathetic (or pitying, he couldn't tell which) before meeting Raven by the table.
“You’re having fun.”
“Aren’t you?”
Tai just smiled. “I prefer the company.” Raven let out something between a snort and a laugh as she took her own drink. Dragonic constitution meant he could indulge more than she could… of course, Raven just thought he was a normal, dorky sort of man and not a dorky, dragon-man…
He wasn’t sure how to break it to the twins. Raven was a self-described ‘realist’ and agnostic. She was… not the type who’d believe he was anything then he was. And she’d have a point, wouldn’t she?
He wasn’t much…
“C’mon, live a little.” Raven replied. “You don’t get this stuff where I'm from.”
“Anima you mean?”
“Heh, yeah.” Raven's eyes grew a bit wistful as she looked at her drink. “Hell, I thought you’d have liked it.”
“I’m more of a… guess traditional guy?” Tai replied. “You know, not something like this… it is neat though.”
“Figured… to be honest, I only chose this place because I heard it from someone in Beacon.” She sighed. “Drinks are as advertised though.”
Tai took a sip and… well, it was nice compared to the stuff his dad had him try since he hit the drinking age. “You never talk much about home.”
“What’s there to tell?” Raven shrugged. “Anima’s a beautiful place, but there’s a reason we came all the way to Vale.”
“You must get homesick sometimes.” Tai replied. “Like, I've barely moved from my family home…”
“I do, but it’s just a part of life ya know?” Raven looked nostalgic. “I’ll be back there one day, and if i ever want to visit i’ll come right back with my semblance. Life isn’t complicated ya know.”
“Well, being a huntsman means traveling but I'd miss you and the others.” Tai replied.
“Yeah, I guess I am pretty likable.” Raven replied… “So why ask me out?”
Tai frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I always thought Summer was more your type so… what about me? Just my pretty face?”
Tai thought for a moment. “Well… You’re fun.”
Raven raised her eyebrow and he continued. “You’re the only girl I know who managed to kill a Nevermore with a katana and grit.”
“I got lucky. Qrow just happened to be in the right place… but go on.”
“You’re tough, you’ve managed to beat me in a spar-”
“Not like that’s much of an accomplishment.” She replied with a grin.
“I was taking it easy on you.” He grinned back. “But I like that. Keeps you on your toes… You’re a lot different than what I’m used to… kinda jealous if I’m honest.”
“Well,” Raven said in a lower voice. “I’ll be sure to keep you on your toes too, but it’s a two-way street. You gotta start surprising me too.”
“That’s a bet then.”
—-
*years later*
Yang Xiao Long, ‘sunny little dragon’ and as she noted, just taking out three letters from his name out Tai gave Yang her own. He insisted it was after ‘Magic’... yeah right. He probably took the easy way out.
Still, ‘little dragon’ was right; the baby already had a temper and seemed to be lording over her attention for every little thing. Was she ever like that? Qrow joked she was still like that…
Still, He wasn’t going back. He made that clear… she still had the choice. The old chief was on his last legs; apparently caught an infection from the last raid. She was in line but…
Well, Taiyang has his perks but also his downsides, his family. Zhao was fun, and his drinks put everything to shame. Miao Ying… tolerated her.
They made how they felt about one another very clear when Raven almost got electrocuted. (And no Summer, that was not a demonstration of her magic that was a clear threat to her) Miao was just as annoying as an in-law… luckily without any more threats of violence.
She looked at Yang wondering about her future. A part of her was tempted to take her but… even for her that seemed wrong; it wasn’t fair to Tai… (and the possible threat of disintegration from Miao and Zhao, she couldn't forget that.)
Life wasn’t fair; Summer would say that was what they were there for… Yang, being an infant, just kinda looked up at Raven’s grumpy face and didn’t seem to care for it.
“I’m sorry Yang.” She said simply.
Yang made a confused little sound and Raven’s heart dropped. She brought her into this world with things worse than the grimm, and she was going to leave her and Tai and…
Summer.
Summer would never forgive her if she left or ran. Summer knew her too well… Summer was a lunatic too; she seemed perfectly fine with getting eaten by a grimm one day or worse. They’d made it this far, Ozpin paid well… She seemed to just keep trying, no matter the odds. She can see why she was the leader and despite all her hero talk she actually lived it… not like a lot of people in the academy. Not like her…
“Summer’s gonna take good care of you one day.” She said to her child. “Just… I'll watch over ya, probably.”
She picked her up. “Now I think it’s time for a nap, okay?”
She needed to get ready for Miao and Zhao to take a look at her, then, when she was ready, she’d go back home…
Taiyang, Yang, and Summer… That seemed to be the better family. Once she was out of the way, out of their life they’d be fine. When Yang was older, she’d live her life without her… Still maybe it wouldn’t hurt just to stay for a bit longer. Just until Yang was walking…