wanderer's lullaby

Summer rand her hand over Yang’s head, listening to the sound of the symphony of the night. Usually, the sounds offered her comfort at the worst of times. But not tonight. She realised now she’d made some dire mistakes in what she’d said to Taiyang. She didn’t hate him as much as she implied. She would never forgive him for what he’d done, that much was true. She knew he regretted not taking care of the girls for so long. He blamed himself and lived with the consequences of his actions each day. He cried about it at least once away. But, at this point, there was almost nothing that he could do. Yang hated and resented him deeply. She’d sent him through the sliding glass door the moment he’d tried to come back. He’d still had a chance, but telling Yang about being Ruby’s half sister in that moment had broken his remaining chances right here. If only he hadn’t dropped that stupid comment right then… They wouldn’t be here right now. He had a chance to mend the relationship but he’d fucked it up beyond in the same moment Yang had opened the door back up. Her free hand went to Ruby’s head, brushing aside some of her hair. And things were even worse for Ruby… She didn’t understand her emotions well or even really show them. But the hatred for Taiyang burned even deeper than Yang’s somehow. He’d hurt Yang and that was all she needed. Even if Yang could somehow reconcile with Taiyang, there was no hope with Ruby. She was verymuch her mother’s daughter in many ways. Hurt her personally and most things would be forgiven. But hurt those she loved and grudges would be held to the end of eternity. She really couldn’t see Ruby ever forgiving him. …In some regards, she could almost forgive him how he’d treated the girls. It tormented him day in and day out. He still loved them. That could almostmake her forgive him for his behavior. But blaming Qrow and pushing him away without remorse? That was so beyond reprehensible. They could’ve offered each other support through those darkest days. They shouldhave offered each other support. Only he’d chosen to listen to his grief. Qrow had told them about Summer’s death. That so clearly meant he was the cause of it and he had to be turned away. He was a danger to the girls since he’d endangered Summer. Her blood started to boil, but she forced it down. She had to stay calm for Yang’s sake. Any deviation would stop the nightmare blocking and plunge her into a world of crushing isolation. Qrow would have to take over tomorrow night… She didn’t have more than one night in her after keeping Winter down for so long… Idiot.She really should have been more careful with her words. She wasn’t sure if she’d get the exact results she’d wanted now. Qrow’s relationship with Winter was more complicated now. Hopefully she hadn’t completely fucked that over… She’d simply have to wait and see what played out over the next few days…

**

His throat felt raw. Why…Why hadn’t they left him to die? It was what he deserved after letting things get to the point they were. He knew they were bad; anyone with half a brain could see the girls didn’t love him. But to the point of irreparable? It really was that bad… If Summer had told him, it must be true. She wouldn’t lie about her girls like that. She had loved them too much in life to do that. Part of him wanted to believe it was some cruel Raven was playing. But he knew better. The inflections in the words were too perfect to have not been her. Raven had been able to imitate Summer well. But not thatwell. There was no doubt in his mind it had been her spirit. The inflections, the body language… The everything… It had been Summer. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. What was he supposed to do now? He didn’t want to lose his girls, but what did he possibly have to keep them? Raven was a material witness to the neglect and there were so many documents that could point back to Yang taking care of the house for the past six years. She kept basically all of her bill notes. The payments came from his account, sure. But she could prove beyond the shadow of a doubt whomade the payments and when. And they’d no doubt testify how little he paid attention to them too… What was he supposed to do about the twins too? He could hard blame Raven for her mental state after being literally tortured.She shouldn’t have been making any sorts of decisions period. They never should have had sex in the first place. But people did stupid things when emotionally vulnerable and bad places in their lives all the time… And Qrow… Summer was right, loathe as he was to admit it. He’d pushed him away because he blame himself. If they woldn’t have had sex, she probably wouldn’t have died. It was hisfault her body had been so destroyed. Having Ruby had left Summer closer to death more than once. He really shouldn’t have had either of the girls. He knew better intellectually, but emotionally… He’d wanted Raven for so long that he’d said yes when she came onto him.And Summer had always been a doormat so it really hadn’t been full consent… Both times, both emotionally compromised women. He really shouldn’t have said yes either time… What the hell was he supposed to do with with his life now? He couldn’t put a lid back on it and pretend like nothing had happened. Things had shifted drastically and he was in the middle of it. It all lied on his shoulders to figure out…

≈

Raven sat outside under a tree, legs folded and eyes shut. As usual, it seemed as if being the functional member of Team STRQ came down to her. She’d have to help Qrow and Taiyang sort their feelings out. Normally she could trust Qrow to do it himself, but with Summer in the mix, she’d no doubt have to help him. But that would have to wait until Yang was back on her feet in a couple of days. She honestly felt awful for Winter. The girl relied on him for guidance and she wouldn’t be able to look at him while in this funk. THen again, there was a good remedy for that with Qrow… She looked up to the tree where the falcons nestled together for the night. The birds were usually a big mood booster for him. Maybe she could get him out here Tuesday to do that. Tomorrow would likely be quiet while everyone recovered from the explosive day. Yang would be all over Qrow and there was no telling if Taiyang would take a mental health day or not. He so rarely took time off that Signal would probably let him if he asked. “Summer, what are you planning?” The question was quiet, answered only by the sounds of crickets and tree frogs. What were her best friend’s plans? She meant to achieve something . What it was, though, only Summer knew. Summer was the only one to everknow what she was planning and what the outcomes would be…

Ω

Qrow stayed at the ceiling, though his vision was blurry. Nothing felt real anymore. The woman he’d loved all his life had lied to him yet again. She always seemed to know how to pull the wool over his eyes. Even in death, she remained near enough to touch, yet she’d eluded him. One more time… Just one more time… That was all he wanted: to hold her one more time. He might be able to get that in his dreams if he asked her. She could control dreams with her Semblance. But would that be fair? He was married to Winter now. She said she had no problems with his emotions. That would have held true if this hadn’t happened. His emotions, though present, would have remained dead and buried. But Summer was close. So very close. Would Winter even believe him when he told her about Summer’s ghost? She was so logical. Her worldview was as strict as Atlas and based on science. Getting her to accept any sort of mystical nonsense was hard. They’d have to talk, the three of them. He wasn’t going to abandon Winter. That much he knew. But this complicated it so much… He loved Summer so dearly and wanted her back so badly. Would Winter count that as infidelity? He never wanted to betray her. If he got involved with Summer on an emotional level (since the physical dimension was gone), it would definitelycross into cheating. He wouldn’t leave Winter no matter what. Honestly, it would probably be best to act like none of this had happened. Winter relied on him. He didn’t want to do anything that would come between them. Acting like Summer had never left would do just that… That might be the best decision, but they’d have to talk it over…