Die

Summer hugged her knees as she shook, darkness surrounding her. It’d been the worst day of her life. She hadn’t expected this. She’d thought she’d calculated for everything, but she hadn’t anticipated this. Everything about this was awful and she wanted it to end.     A hand brushed over her shoulder and she tensed. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She inched her head upward and pulled her hood back. Light red eyes and a gentle smile greeted her. She blinked at Qrow who ruffled her hair a bit and she managed a faint smile. “Feeling any better? Taiyang and Raven said you were still out cold when they checked on you about an hour ago.”     Summer pulled herself into a sitting position, letting her cramped arms unfurl. She winced a little at that and the combined headache, but she gave a small nod. “My aura’s recovered enough that I’m conscious again.” That math teacher really had it out for her even though it was only the first day of classes! What kind of teacher singled out a student like that?!     However, she froze after she spoke. For the first time in over a decade, she felt nothing. Well, she felt plenty, but her emotions remained exclusive to her. Her aura was so low her Semblance hadn’t triggered. She’d wanted this for a long time, but it just felt so wrong . He aura was so low she didn’t even have the reserves to even let the passive effects trigger. This was wrong on so many levels…     She glanced over at Qrow after he shifted onto the bed. He paused for a moment before patting the spot next to him. Summer’s throat stuck as she stared at him. Should she? Even with her aura utterly drained, she was so unused to physical contact, but…     She slid over and found herself adhered to his side a moment later. He rubbed her head and she felt his fingers tremble. “Qrow, if this is hard on you, you don’t—”     “I want to, Summer; it’s no big deal. I know what it’s like to have an awful goddamn Semblance. Did Raven—”     “Yeah.”     “Of course she did. Damn it all, Raven.” He dragged a hand through his hair before letting it drop and rest against her gently. She closed her eyes and let herself relax. His body heat permeated the thick cloak and she burrowed into him more, seeking out the comfort. It’d been twelve years since someone had last held her like this. She really had forgotten how nice physical contact was.     She felt his other hand start to thread through her hair and she leaned into the gesture. He gave a small, sharp exhale which made her crack an eye. “What’s so funny?” With her freakish Semblance outed, she wasn’t exactly in the mood to have a teammate making fun of her.     “No, no, I’m not laughing at you. You’re just kind of…adorable, Summer.” Her cheeks heated and she pulled her hood over her face. He chuckled again but she remained settled against him. Damn it all, she was cursed to look like a child forever. Nobody would ever want her.     He thought ebbed away after a moment, the rhythm strokes on her hood demanding her attention. This…really was nice and something she could get used to…