Chapter 21

The next day was Monday and Pyrrha had to go to work. The others slept in a little, as it had been a late night. A simple game of Uno turned into a nearly three hour odyssey thanks to a bizarre set of house rules that made victory nearly impossible. Eventually, Summer came from behind to take an improbable win. With that done they went to sleep, and it was lunchtime before everyone was awake the next day. After eating lunch Yang called up Nora, getting the okay to come visit for an early dinner. Until then, Yang and Ruby took Blake and Weiss on a guided walk through the forest, much as Summer had done for Winter the day before.

Winter and Summer had no plans, but Summer had an idea. "Why don't we go to the gym?" Summer suggested.

"I could go for a workout." Winter shrugged.

"No, not to work out." Summer shook her head. "There are some people I want you to meet. Raven, Yang's biological mother, teaches martial arts classes. She's like a sister to me. And Glynda. She's Raven's partner and she runs the gym. I think you two will get along."

"Glynda...I believe Ruby said she had a sort of headmistress vibe about her." Winter smirked.

"Ruby's not wrong." Summer laughed. "She seems pretty stern but she's been very good to all of us."

"It sounds like she may as well be a member of the family." Winter noted. "I'd love to meet her." Summer smiled excitedly. "But if I'm going to a gym, I'm going to work out." Summer's smile evaporated. "Why don't you join me?"

"I tried working out at the gym." Summer sighed. "I just...everyone looks so slim and muscular, and I'm so dumpy."

"You're not dumpy." Winter encouraged. "Come on. Do it for me."

"Well…" Summer stalled. Winter smiled at her, improbably giving her puppy dog eyes. "Oh alright."

Summer drove Winter to the gym. The pair exited the car and headed inside, finding Pyrrha at the reception desk. "Oh, hello you two!" Pyrrha cheered. "What brings you here?"

"I wanted Winter to meet Raven and Glynda." Summer replied.

"And I thought we could get in a workout while we're here." Winter added.

"Yeah...I guess." Summer sighed. "Are Glynda and Raven in?"

"Raven's teaching a class next door at the moment." Pyrrha answered. "Glynda should be in her office though."

"Thanks." Summer said. With Winter in tow she walked past the various workout areas, rooms full of treadmills, free weights, and machines. At the very back they came to a pair of doors. One labeled "Break Room" and the other "Office."

Summer knocked twice on the door. "Come in!" Glynda called from inside. Summer and Winter entered, and Glynda looked up from her paperwork. She raised an eyebrow at adhesive bandages that covered Summer's face, but decided it was a topic for later. "Hello Summer...and…"

"Winter Schnee." She said, holding out her hand for Glynda to shake.

Glynda pushed up her glasses and stood to shake Winter's hand. "Nice to meet you Miss Schnee." Glynda said. "What brings you to the gym today?"

"She's Ruby's girlfriend's...uh...how to put it…" Summer struggled.

"I'm Blake's guardian." Winter explained. "And please, call me Winter." She smirked and looked Glynda in the eye. "Ruby's right, you would make a fantastic dominatrix."

"Just ask my girlfriend." Glynda grinned back. "So, Schnee, famous name…"

"Yes, those Schnees." Winter confirmed. "Though I no longer have anything to do with the company."

"Oh?" Glynda said. "I thought you might be here to invest...or buy me out." She laughed.

"No, just a social call." Winter chuckled. "Though if you're looking for investors…"

"Let's not mix business with pleasure." Glynda cut her off. "Why don't we go next door so you can meet Raven? Her class should be just about over."

"That sounds wonderful." Winter agreed. "I'm something of a martial artist myself."

"Hmm...maybe you two should spar." Summer joked.

"That could be fun…" Winter thought aloud.

Summer gasped. "Oh God, she's actually considering it!"

Yang led the group to the Valkyrie apartment, so named because Nora was unquestionably queen of her castle. She had also probably banged on every available surface. Stopping in front of the door, Yang turned to address Blake and Weiss. "Now, fair warning, be prepared for the unpreparable." Yang advised. "Nora is crazy."

"And pregnant." Ruby added. "So she'll either be asleep...or more crazy than usual."

"Uh...is she alright?" Weiss asked.

"Oh yeah, there's nothing wrong with her." Yang replied. "She's just an overly free spirit without a filter! Just...give her a chance. She's a bit much, but she's really lovely when you warm up to her."

"I'll try not to bite her head off." Weiss declared.

"She might like that." Yang warned. She knocked twice then opened the door. "Put your pants on, we're here!"

"Yang, I missed you!" Nora cheered.

Yang saw Nora and laughed, making her way over. "Why is she tied up?!" Weiss gasped. Nora was indeed hogtied on the couch.

"I had the urge to throw more stuff off the balcony, so I got Ren to restrain me." Nora explained. "He would have just held me down but he's cooking dinner. Also, hi, I'm Nora...oh my God you have kitty ears!"

Blake's ears flattened, both in distaste and from the high pitch of Nora's voice. Yang knelt beside Nora and started undoing the ropes. "Inside voice Nora." Yang admonished. "Now, I need you to calm down for a while, Weiss and Blake don't know you yet. Can you do that for me?"

"Sure thing Yang." Nora agreed. "Anything for you." Yang pecked Nora on the forehead before finishing with the ropes.

First Nora hugged Yang, then leapt up, stretched, and rushed to Ruby, who stood before Weiss and Blake. Nora scooped Ruby into a hug. "Ruby, you've gotten taller!" Nora exclaimed. "And bigger! And you've got yourself a girlfriend! I'm so proud of you!"

"I missed you too Nora." Ruby struggled as Nora squeezed the air out of her. "Please put me down...I'm squishing your baby!"

"Oh, they'll be fine." Nora declared as she set Ruby down. "A little squeeze never hurt anyone."

"Hah, sure it hasn't." Ruby laughed. "Anyway, Nora, meet Weiss and Blake, my roommate and my girlfriend."

"OhmyGodthey'resocute!" Nora squealed.

"Can we tie her back up?" Blake groaned.

The last few students from Raven's class were just leaving as Summer, Winter and Glynda arrived. Raven's dojo was located next door to the gym, but was also owned by Glynda. It was smallish, with blue padded mats on the floors and walls, a pair of small rooms in the back used for changing. Raven wore a red gi and black belt. When she spotted the group she walked over. "Glynda, Sum, what brings you guys here?" She asked. "God Sum, looks like you've been through a meat grinder! Get in a fight or something? You're not thinking of taking some classes are you Sum?"

"Nothing like that." Summer laughed. "Just had a little run in with a tree. I wanted you to meet Winter."

"Nice to meet you Miss Branwen." Winter held out her hand to shake. "I'm Winter Schnee. Ruby's dating my adopted daughter."

"Ah, Winter…" Raven smirked, grabbing her hand firmly. "Ruby was right, you would make a great dominatrix."

"Perhaps." Winter smiled, shaking Raven's hand. "Ruby spoke very highly of you. She tells me you're quite the martial artist."

"I am." Raven confirmed. "Black belts in jiu-jitsu and muay-thai."

"I'm something of a martial artist myself." Winter declared. "I trained in Krav Maga with a retired Atlesian general." She glanced at Glynda and Summer before looking back to Raven. "Perhaps we could spar?"

"I like the sound of that." Raven agreed. "There's no better way to get to know someone. I hope you don't plan on fighting in such formal clothes though."

"No, I brought clothing appropriate for a workout." Winter explained.

"Alright then." Raven nodded. She gestured toward one of the back rooms. "Get dressed, then we'll have some fun."

"Please stop staring." Blake sighed, her ears flattening out.

"Oh, sorry!" Nora gasped. She turned to Yang instead, unashamedly staring at her chest.

"Oh God…" Weiss sighed.

"Come on now, I've caught you sneakin' peeks Weiss." Yang smirked. Weiss' face reddened.

"At least I'm honest about it." Nora laughed.

Jaune walked into the room blearily, pulling on his hoodie. He stepped behind the couch Nora and Yang were seated on. "Morning Nora, Yang, Ruby...uh…" He groaned.

"Blake." She said.

"Weiss." She said.

"Jaune, it's like 4 PM." Ruby noted.

"Oh...well shit." Jaune mumbled. "Well guys, I'm Jaune. Sorry if I'm grumpy. Nora drank me under the table last night."

"What?!" Weiss gasped.

"He's a real lightweight." Nora teased.

"Am not!" Jaune protested.

"But she's pregnant!" Weiss shouted.

"Are too!" Nora continued.

"Am not!" Jaune yelled.

"Who lets a pregnant woman drink heavily?!" Weiss demanded.

"And I didn't even get tipsy, so neugh!" Nora stuck her tongue out at Jaune.

"Oh that's it!" Jaune exclaimed. He started poking Nora in the ribs, drawing gasps and giggles.

"No, you'll make me pop!" Nora complained.

"You only have yourself to blame!" Jaune admonished.

"Yang, help, please!" Nora pleaded.

"Nope." Yang shook her head and crossed her arms.

"Traitor!" Nora accused.

"Blake, we have made a terrible mistake coming here." Weiss sighed. "They're all crazy."

"Sanity is overrated." Yang shrugged.

"One of us!" Ruby chanted. "One of us!"

"Ruby no." Blake admonished.

Ruby grinned. "Ruby yes!"

Clad in a tight white tank top, tight white shorts and black MMA gloves, Winter stood on the mat across from Raven who still wore her gi and similar gloves. "Alright, ground rules." Raven said. "No strikes to the neck or groin. No eye poking. No neck or leg submissions." Winter nodded.

"Shouldn't you wear those padded helmets or something?" Summer asked, looking terribly nervous.

"Studies show they do more harm than good." Raven noted.

"Do you want me to time this?" Glynda asked.

"You won't have to." Raven smirked. "Ready Winter?" Winter nodded. "Summer, call it."

Summer hesitated but Raven and Winter looked at her expectantly. "Fight…" She sighed.

Raven stood and waited as Winter rushed her, throwing a blinding-fast flurry of punches. The first struck Raven flush in the face, but she just smiled and lifted her hands, brushing Winter to the side and off balance. Before Winter could recover Raven threw an elbow that struck Winter's forehead. Winter staggered back, her eyes wide. She had never been hit so hard before. Fighting Raven was a terrible mistake, and it only took that one strike for Winter to realize it. She was trained to fight off untrained thugs, the sort of person likely to attack her on the street, not a master like Raven.

Before Winter could recover from her shock, Raven lunged forward, ducked down, slammed her shoulder into Winter's gut and grabbed behind her legs. Raven stood, lifting Winter over her head, before slamming her down to the mat. Winter remained flat on her back in a daze as Raven scrambled atop her, grabbed her arm, and fell onto her back. Winter's arm was pulled out straight to her side, Raven's hips just below the elbow. Slowly Raven lifted her hips and pulled back on Winter's wrist, increasing pressure on the joint.

"Winter, tap." Raven warned. "If you don't I'm going to break your arm."

Winter was still too stunned to react. "Raven, enough." Glynda admonished. "You win."

"Fine." Raven let go and stood over Winter. She offered her hand to help Winter up but Winter did not take it, just staring up at Raven.

"Oh my God Winter!" Summer gasped. "Are you alright?"

Winter shook her head then grabbed Raven's hand, allowing herself to be pulled to her feet. "It's good to be humbled once in a while." Winter declared.

God damnit, even in defeat she's perfect. Raven thought.

"This is rather alarming though." Winter admitted. "I trained so I could defend myself and my family, but you've shown me just how inadequate my skills are."

"You're not going to run into someone like me in a back alley." Raven noted.

"Still, better to be safe than sorry." Winter countered. "Perhaps you could give me lessons sometime."

"If you don't mind starting as a white belt." Raven shrugged.

"That's fine." Winter agreed. "I don't want special treatment." She laughed. "Well Summer, yesterday a tree beat you up. Today a bird beat me up."

Pyrrha was up early again on Tuesday, heading to the gym for her morning appointments. Winter was up early as well, on her laptop checking her investments and catching up on the latest financial news. She had a bit of a headache, the last lingering vestige of the beatdown she had suffered at Raven's hands, but it was nothing she could not handle. When Summer woke she was looking better. The scrapes and cuts remained but the bruising had faded. After waking, Ruby and Blake read together for a time. Yang and Weiss did not get up until nearly midday, with Weiss only getting out of bed when Winter insisted.

"What do you kids have planned for today?" Summer asked as the group gathered in the living room.

"Nothing really." Ruby shrugged. "Ooh! Maybe we could go shopping!"

"Sounds good." Blake agreed.

"I'm game." Yang added.

"What about you Winter?" Summer asked.

"I don't know." Winter replied. "Though I would like to sample the local cuisine. Perhaps we could go to lunch."

"That's a great idea, it'll save me the trouble of cooking." Summer laughed.

Ruby stood and headed for the door, slipping on her shoes. "Where are you going?" Yang asked.

"I thought we were going shopping." Ruby answered.

"We should probably wait for Pyrrha." Yang suggested. "Wouldn't want her to feel left out."

"But...but…" Ruby complained.

"She'll only be another hour or two." Yang said.

"But the shop closes at 3 on weekdays." Ruby whined.

"Go." Weiss said. The others looked to her in confusion. "I don't feel like going shopping. I'll stay home and keep Pyrrha company when she gets back."

"Oh, well, maybe we should all stay home then." Blake offered.

"No, go and have fun." Weiss shook her head. "Don't let me get in your way."

"Are you sure?" Ruby asked.

"I am." Weiss confirmed.

Blake and Yang got up, joining Ruby at the door, donning their shoes and coats. Weiss stood to head back to her room. Yang, headed back into the house and caught up with Weiss in her room. Weiss stopped, allowing Yang to wrap her in a tight embrace. "Take care, okay?"

"Yeah." Weiss nodded, returning the hug.

Summer took Winter to a small restaurant located on the outskirts of town. Though it was the middle of the lunch rush, the place was half-empty. They seated themselves and a minute or so later a waitress came to take their order. Winter scanned the menu but let Summer order the food for her, only ordering a water for herself. They made small talk as they waited.

"There aren't nearly enough small places like this in Atlas." Winter complained. "Everything is corporate and franchised. Family-owned places are a rarity."

"I feel like we don't have enough big franchise places around here." Summer shrugged. "You have to go to the city for that. It really limits the options."

"Big chains certainly have their place." Winter allowed. "But places like this have a charm the big guys can't hope to match."

"Very true." Summer agreed.

"Maybe I should open up a restaurant back home." Winter mused.

"You cook?" Summer asked.

"Oh, God no." Winter laughed. "The most complicated thing I can make is pasta, but I'm sure I could hire people who know what they're doing. Ruby raves about your cookies, maybe I should hire you."

"I don't think I'm that good at cooking." Summer blushed. "I'm pretty good at making sweets, and my burgers are alright...and I suppose my chicken fingers and chips are good too...you know what, maybe I am good at cooking."

"I'll have to sample some then." Winter smiled.

The waitress arrived and placed a huge plate of chips on the table. They were smothered in gravy and...cheese curds? Summer grabbed a chip and took a bite. "Enjoy!" She cheered.

Winter hesitated but took one of the chips and ate it. "It looks terrifying but it's actually pretty good." Winter noted. "What is it?"

"Poutine." Summer replied. She laughed. "Patch has a few other unique dishes, but this is about the only edible one."

Winter grabbed a handful of chips and shoveled them into her mouth. "Thishush delishush." She commented with her mouth full. Summer ate chips one at a time as Winter continued to scarf down large chunks. It reminded Summer of how Nora ate, and she watched with an amused smirk as the prim and proper Winter ate messily. Eventually Summer was unable to hold back and started giggling. "What?"

"You don't eat at all the way I would expect." Summer chuckled. "I was expecting you to use a knife and fork, and take painfully tiny bites."

"Ah, eating voraciously is a habit of mine." Winter laughed. "I was raised to eat with pathetic little forks and spoons at banquets, and not sate my appetite for fear of appearing slovenly. Now that I'm free of all that, well, eating like this just feels liberating. Hell, a lot of the things I do could be me rebelling against my strict upbringing."

"Such as?" Summer asked.

"I wear sports bras and boyshorts instead of lacey bullshit, and sometimes I swear like a sailor in public, because fuck manners."

"I love boyshorts!" Summer exclaimed.

"They're so comfortable!" Winter cheered.

"You know Winter, when I first met you, I thought you were going to be uptight and judgmental." Summer admitted. "I'm really glad I was wrong."

"Some of the old mannerisms are hard to shake." Winter shrugged. "Most people get that strict and proper vibe when they first meet me." Winter giggled. "I know Ruby did. It's nice to be able to cut loose and let people see the real me."

"The real you is pretty fantastic." Summer praised. "Are you going to finish?" She gestured toward the plate, now half-cleared.

"Oh no, I've had my fill." Winter replied. "The rest is yours."

"I'm really shouldn't." Summer sighed. "I'm trying to lose some of my cushion."

"There's nothing wrong with a little cushion." Winter countered. She sighed. "My ass is painfully average."

"I think your ass is great." Summer encouraged.

"Oh?" Winter smirked. "So you have been sneaking peeks." Summer hid her face with her hands. "God you're adorable." Winter laughed as Summer groaned.