Chapter 56

Yang was between martial arts classes, doing paperwork, when her scroll rang. It was Winter. The techs from Ironworks had contacted her. After analyzing the telemetry from Yang's arm, they had decided it was ready to be fully unlocked. Now there would be no restrictions on what Yang was allowed to do, and she could used the prosthetic's full, unrestrained power. Yang was most excited by the prospect of being to lift weights again, but there was a more immediate benefit. To that point, when teaching martial arts classes, she had been forced to demonstrate only by punching air, as the restrictions placed on the use of her arm prohibited the sort of stress that would come with full sparring or even hitting pads or bags. Now she could teach properly. As far as Yang was concerned, there was no better method of instruction than one-on-one sparring.

It was not quite so simple, however. If she was going to be engaging students in hand-to-hand combat, even at reduced speed and strength, there were risks involved, and of course the Raven incident was fresh in her mind. Before she could spar with students, she would need Glynda's permission. So Yang headed over to the gym proper to track down Glynda. She headed straight to her office, finding it unlocked but empty. That was unusual. Also unusual was the strong smell of perfume that filled the room. It was the same with which Glynda had lately been slathering herself. Pyrrha theorized that Glynda, now single, was trying the dating scene, but Yang could not imagine anyone would find the overpowering smell attractive. If getting a date was Glynda's goal, she was self-sabotaging.

Yang bumped into Ren and asked if he knew where Glynda was. He had seen her slip out the back door without explanation. It was bizarre behavior for Glynda, but given the stress of recent events, Yang was not overly concerned. She just headed out after Glynda. "Are you fuckin' serious?"

Glynda snap-turned to face Yang, a cigarette smoldering between her fingers. "Yang...I…"

"What's wrong with you?" Yang demanded. "You know that shit will kill you, and you already went through the hell of quitting once."

"I was just...I needed a pick-me-up and-" Glynda struggled.

"Save it." Yang cut her off. "I just need permission to spar with the students."

"Uh...yeah...sure." Glynda nodded.

Yang turned to head back inside but stopped at the door. She was about to say something but decided against it, heading inside without another word. Glynda remained outside. She finished her cigarette, dwelling on how quickly her life had disintegrated. The love of her life was gone, she was getting drunk every night, and now, smoking again. She dropped her cigarette and crushed it under foot. With a sigh she headed back inside, straight to her office. She would have applied more perfume to cover the smell of smoke, but now that Yang knew, there was no point hiding it.

On entering her office, something immediately caught Glynda's eye, a glint in the light from her desk. On closer inspection she found her gold-plated flip lighter. It came with a note from Yang. Much of it was scratched out but some remained:

Take it, I don't want it anymore.

-Yang

Glynda sat at her desk and buried her face in her hands.

By the time Yang and Pyrrha got home from work it was already late. Exhausted, they both decided to go straight to bed. Yang had not told Pyrrha about Glynda's smoking, nor did she tell any of the others. It worried her greatly, and kept her up that night. Luckily she and Pyrrha had the following day off, and Yang was able to make up for the deficit by remaining in bed until almost midday. When she did finally get up, she found Pyrrha, Summer, Winter and Raven watching television. Raven was in her butler outfit, but appeared to be off duty.

"Morning guys." Yang greeted them. "Mind if I borrow Raven for a bit?"

"I'm not busy." Raven replied. "You guys need anything?" No one spoke up. "What do you need?"

"Let's go for a walk." Yang suggested.

"What's this about?" Raven asked.

"I just want some privacy." Yang replied.

Raven could tell from Yang's tone that it was important. If the look on Pyrrha's face was any indication, she could sense it too. Raven changed out of her dress shoes and into a pair more suited to walking in the woods, then she and Yang threw on jackets and headed outside. At first Yang nervously made small talk, and Raven indulged her. There was plenty going on in both their lives, and Raven was genuinely interested in how Yang was doing. Still, the charade could only last so long.

"You didn't drag me out here to chat." Raven finally spoke up. "What's going on?"

"Sorry I...this is tough." Yang sighed. She was unsure how Raven would react to the news of Glynda's recurred addiction. Yang took a deep breath. "Yesterday...yesterday I caught Glynda smoking. Judging by all the perfume she's been using to cover up the smell, she's been at it for a while."

"That's...unfortunate." Raven grimaced.

"That's all you have to say?" Yang pressed. "Not 'this is horrible, this has to stop, I have to do something?'"

"She made it very clear that she doesn't want anything to do with me." Raven noted. "I want to help, I really do, but-"

"But nothing." Yang cut her off. "You're just afraid to face her. It's been a long time and you haven't even tried to get her to take you back. Do something. You still love her, and she obviously still loves you. If she didn't, she wouldn't be doing this."

"Maybe you're right." Raven allowed. "But what if I make it worse?"

"She's slowly killing herself, it would be hard to make it worse." Yang countered.

"Good point." Raven nodded. "I'll...figure something out."

"That's better." Yang smiled. "If you want I can hold her so she can't escape."

"Uh...no." Raven declined. "I have something else in mind...but you might have to bail me out if I get arrested."

"Want to fill me in?" Yang asked.

"Nope." Raven refused. Yang rolled her eyes. "So, is that it or are you in need of some of my terrible advice?"

"I'm good." Yang chuckled. "Oh, just one more thing before we head in."

Pyrrha helped Summer prepare lunch. Raven's cooking was good, she had learned from Summer, but the student had yet to match the master. Pyrrha looked up and spotted Yang and Raven approaching the house. "Here they come."

"Good, just in time." Summer nodded, putting the finishing touches on the meal. She looked up. "What's she doing?"

Yang had her prosthetic fist pressed up against a tree trunk. She pulled it back, then pressed against the bark once more. "I think she's going to punch the tree." Pyrrha theorized.

"What is she, some kind of idiot?" Summer scoffed. Pyrrha gave her a blank stare. "Right."

Yang reared back and punched the tree with all her might. The strike had no effect. Yang recoiled and cried in pain, grabbing at her shoulder. "Goddamn it." Pyrrha sighed. She quickly rinsed off her hands before rushing outside. "Yang, are you alright?!"

"My shoulder!" Yang whined.

"What were you thinking?" Pyrrha demanded.

"Robot arm...super punch...it was supposed to be cool." Yang replied.

"You have a robot arm but a human shoulder." Pyrrha noted. "You of all people should know punching isn't just about the arms."

"But I saw it in a movie." Yang complained.

"No more action movies for you." Pyrrha ordered. "Romantic comedies only."

"Can I watch actioney TV shows?" Yang asked.

"No." Pyrrha folded her arms across her chest.

"Sucks for you kid." Raven smirked.

"Raven, please get Yang some ice." Pyrrha requested.

"Yes ma'am." Raven nodded.

Yang clutched her shoulder and groaned. "I'm a total idiot, aren't I?"

"Yep." Pyrrha confirmed. "But you're my idiot."

Yang rolled her eyes. "That's it, no more romantic comedies for you…"

Glynda got home after work, just a few minutes past 8, as usual. She ate her dinner, Vytalian takeout, and was ready to take a shower at 8:30, as usual. For all that had recently changed in her life, there were still some old habits remaining, comforting habits that acted like tape, desperately holding her together. At 9, her shower would be complete, and she would sit down to watch her favorite crime drama. Then, after watching an unfunny but popular sitcom, she would settle into bed, read a book for a while, then go to sleep.

Glynda emerged from the bathroom, one towel wrapped around her body, another around her hair. She headed for the bedroom and- "Raven!?" Glynda gasped. Raven, dressed in a tuxedo with her hair in a neat ponytail, sat in an armchair, facing the bathroom. "Wha-why are you in my house?" Raven said nothing, just fixing an intense glare on Glynda. Glynda could not help but shy away, but looking down, she saw the reason for Raven's presence. Raven clutched Glynda's cigarettes in her hand, almost crushing the pack in her grasp.

"You know why I'm here." Raven finally said. "If you want me out of your life, that's your choice, but I'm not going to let you kill yourself."

"Raven I...I…" Glynda stammered.

Tears welled in Raven's eyes. "If you want me to leave, if that's what you really want, I won't argue. I've already...come to terms with that possibility. But I just can't stand to hear about you self-destructing like this."

"I...miss you." Glynda slumped against the wall. "I'm a mess without you. I'm sorry for kicking you out. I'm sorry-"

"I'm the one who should be sorry." Raven cut her off. "I took you for granted and treated you like a consolation prize. Well, no more. I promise, I swear, I won't make that mistake again." She glanced at the cigarette pack in her hand. "Now please, quit smoking. I'll eat one like last time if I have to, but I'd rather not. I know it was a powerful symbol of my dedication and all that, but it's really disgusting."

Looking up at Raven, Glynda managed a laugh. "There's no need for that, I quit. Go ahead and throw them in the trash or flush them down the toilet, whichever makes a stronger statement." She paused. "So what's with the outfit?"

"Oh, this?" Raven said. "Winter hired me to be her maid. I've gotta' pay the rent somehow."

"Was that her idea of payback?" Glynda asked.

"More literal than anything." Raven replied. "She's a good person, better than me for sure. I dunno' what I'd have done with myself if she wasn't so fucking good to me."

"You break her arm in a jealous rage, then she gives you a job and a place to live." Glynda shook her head. "She really is something else."

"It's amazing how a fuck-up like me keeps finding such great people to save me when I fall." Raven shook her head.

"You're too hard on yourself." Glynda countered. "We all make mistakes."

Raven smiled. "You know, Winter said the same thing…"

Having Saturday off usually meant Yang would sleep until around midday, but she was up early this morning. Pyrrha wanted to go shopping for Solstice gifts for her parents, and she insisted upon going early. It was still not quite prime Solstice shopping season, but going now would allow her to avoid the crowds and scarcity that naturally resulted from the rush just before the holiday. As usual, Pyrrha was dressed and ready to go long before Yang. To kill a little time, she jogged to the end of the house's long driveway and grabbed the mail, delivering it to Summer in the kitchen.

Summer took a sip of coffee and looked over the stack of envelopes. She read one and immediately ripped it in two and tossed it in the garbage without even opening it. "Junk." She grumbled. The next was from the bank, her monthly account statements. She tore it open and gave it a quick once-over before putting it aside and moving on. The next letter had an interesting sender. Sanus Trucking Inc. It could only be the first settlement payment. Summer opened the envelope and, sure enough, found a check inside. She slid it out and looked it over. Her eyes widened and she nearly choked on her coffee.

"Are you alright Sum?" Winter asked, rubbing Summer's back as she coughed. Summer could not form a response, only managing to splutter a disconnected series of syllables. "What is it?" Still unable to form a coherent reply, she handed Winter the check. "Wow, that's a big one." Summer nodded quickly and squeaked when she again tried to talk.

"What's going on?" Yang asked, emerging from the hallway still brushing her hair.

"Your settlement check came in." Winter replied, holding it up.

"The first one?" Yang said.

"The only one." Winter corrected.

"Huh?" Yang did not understand. Winter smiled and handed her the check. "Fuck me! How even?!"

"I thought it would be installments." Summer finally managed, recovering from her shock. "Not all at once."

"Me too...shit that's a lot of zeroes." Yang shook her head in disbelief.

"How much is it?" Pyrrha asked. Yang handed her the check. "10 million lien?!"

"This is crazy!" Yang exclaimed. "How much did you sue for?"

"Our lawyer told me to just pick a really high number, since we'd probably only get a fraction." Summer replied. "I said 20 million."

"Wow, they must have been quite desperate to settle." Winter noted.

"I remember something about the driver being the company owner's son." Summer added. "I guess they just wanted it to go away."

"Still, your lawyer must be incredible." Winter declared. "Hmm...perhaps I should hire him in the future…"

"This is awesome!" Yang enthused. She took a deep breath and tried to suppress her excitement. "I shouldn't go overboard. If I use this money intelligently, I can make it last...I probably wouldn't have to work another day in my life."

"I could help you invest some of it." Winter offered.

"Good idea." Yang agreed.

"That's quite mature of you Yang, I'm pleasantly surprised." Pyrrha praised. "Saving and investing, not like-"

"I'm totally gonna' buy some cool stuff too." Yang could no longer contain her excitement. "I've always wanted a real racing bike, now I can afford one!"

Pyrrha sighed and covered her face with her hand. "I suppose it was too good to be true."

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna' spend it all at once." Yang assured her. Pyrrha, Summer and Winter looked less than convinced. "Seriously. I can't help but spend some, but I will make it last." She paused. "Oh man, Ruby's gonna' flip. Raven too."

"Don't tell too many people." Winter suggested. "You'll have 'family' coming out of the woodwork. Trust me, I know…"

"Good point." Yang nodded. "Man, this is so cool. Shame it cost me an arm and-"

"...a leg?" Pyrrha finished for her.

Yang smirked. She raised her hand to push her hair aside. "No this sweet scar."

"Wow Yang, too soon." Summer joked.

"You're sick." Pyrrha huffed.

Yang laughed. "You love it."

Summer lifted a pair of free weights in the middle of what had once been the spare room. The bed had been removed, replaced with a growing list of fitness devices. A full set of weights, a machine with myriad weights and pulleys meant to be used for almost any exercise depending upon the configuration, a treadmill, an elliptical and a stationary bike. Winter occupied the bike, pedaling at a sedate pace as she watched Summer pump iron. She would have joined Summer in weight training, but her arm was still in a sling.

"Aren't you supposed to look at yourself in a mirror while you lift?" Winter asked.

"Probably." Summer huffed. "Hate...mirrors."

"Why do you hate mirrors?" Winter asked.

Summer did the last of her reps, sighing as she returned the weights to the rack. "I don't like looking at myself. All I can ever see are the imperfections. And you might like my jiggle, but I don't."

"You'll be happy to know there's pretty much no jiggle left." Winter observed. "Your puppy fat was cute, but your washboard abs are hot."

"Flatterer." Summer scoffed.

"No, I'm serious." Winter insisted. "Don't you ever look at yourself?"

"I try really hard not to." Summer replied.

"Not even getting out of the shower?" Winter pressed. "It's right there."

"It's fogged up by the time I get done." Summer noted. "I throw clothes on as soon as I towel off."

Winter hopped off the bike. "Well, it's about time you took a good, long look."

"Winter, I don't know…" Summer resisted.

"Well I do." Winter grabbed Summer's hand and pulled her along to the bathroom, positioning Summer before the mirror. "Look."

"I suppose I did get rid of the muffin top at least." Summer admitted.

"Of for the love of…" Winter rolled her eyes. She grabbed the hem of Summer's top and pulled up, revealing a defined six-pack, perfectly accentuated by the angle of the room's lighting.

"Holy crap!" Summer exclaimed. "Is that me?" She turned sideways, admiring her new, slimmer figure. "Now, if only I could get my butt as toned as my belly. I should do more squats."

"But I love your butt just the way it is." Winter complained. "It makes a great pillow too."

"I guess a little fat isn't so bad." Summer allowed. She paused. "Hmm...if I could do this at my age, imagine how good Ruby would look if we could convince her to work out."

"Weiss and Blake are distracted enough as it is." Winter chuckled. "They love her curves anyway. Weiss does wish Ruby would eat healthier though."

"Don't we all." Summer shrugged. "But you try getting between Ruby and her sweets. Her puppy dog eyes are deadly."

"So the girls tell me." Winter smiled. "I bet yours would be just as irresistible."

"Like this?" Summer asked, doing her best impression of Ruby's signature begging face. "Can we go for ice cream Winny? Pwease?"

"Stop that." Winter commanded.

"Pwease?" Summer persisted.

Winter hesitated, struggling with herself. "Oh...I'll get the keys."