Chapter 76

Glynda awoke to her traditional post-Solstice headache. The holiday allowed Glynda to let herself go among family, ever since joining the family at least. Before then it was quite lonely, empty house, empty bed, empty heart. It was times like those when she regretted leaving her own family the way she had. But then she had met Raven, and the rest was history. She felt for her lover's familiar presence, but found herself wanting. Opening her eyes she found the other side of the bed empty. It was not entirely unusual. Raven had a newfound habit of making an early breakfast for Glynda. Her time under Winter had done wonders for her internal clock. But this was no ordinary morning, and Raven would have slept in.

Slipping out of bed, Glynda paused to rub her temples. Though not her worst hangover, an ache was an ache, and Glynda could not sleep this one away. Looking to her bedside table she found a glass of water and two painkillers arrayed for her. Good, that meant Raven had at least been present at some point. Glynda's memory ended sometime around Qrow gifting her a frighteningly expensive vintage wine, and the rest was mostly a hazy blur. Downing the two pills and the entire glass of water, Glynda's first priority was the bathroom. Evidently she had not gone when she arrived home. Afterward she donned her thickest dressing gown and headed to the kitchen, finding it disappointingly and concerningly empty. Raven was not there, she was not on the couch either, but her car was in the driveway...did something happen?

If so, there was only one place Raven would be. The garage was a separate structure from the house, and was rarely used by Glynda, really only to store the odd thing she could not find a place for or did not want in the house at all. When Raven moved in, her possessions has been quite limited, and she had lived out of a large duffel bag, but with time and a steady job, she slowly approached a normal level of both useful items and useless junk. The most prized ended up in the garage, half of which had been converted into a miniature dojo. This was Raven's safe haven. When she desired isolation, to workout in peace or just vent, she would go there. Glynda had only visited a few times, and on each occasion it seemed more elaborate, gaining more drapery, its own television, and a sound system, in addition to all the weights and punching bags.

This was the first time Glynda would enter without knowing why Raven was within, and the closer she got to the door, the more that concerned her. First she knocked, softly, waiting for a time with no response. Then she knocked again, firmly this time. Still no response. With a sigh, she cursed herself, grasping the handle and opening the door. It was dark inside, the lightswitch off to the left, a quick fumble illuminating the area. Glynda froze.

Mirror shards lay strewn about the ground, remnants of an impulse purchase for which Glynda had never found a place. Its frame lay empty on the ground. Several weights were strewn about, one of which was imbedded in the drywall. Several other items had been demolished, an old desk, a vase she did not remember either of them purchasing, and...a painting that Summer had gifted her. That did not bode well.

Raven herself was curled up in the corner, long black hair obscuring her face. Glynda could not tell if she was asleep. "Raven?" Glynda called, shutting the door and approaching. Raven flinched, hissing in pain. When Glynda came close she saw why. "Raven, what happened?" Kneeling down, Glynda took a closer look at Raven's arm, which was roughly bandaged and stained with blood.

"Picked a fight with my reflection." Raven whispered.

Glynda sighed, brushing some of the hair from Raven's face, getting her first glimpse of the tired look in her unfocused eyes. "Raven, please."

"Qrow told the truth." Raven revealed.

"Oh." Glynda said.

"It wasn't Qrow's idea." Raven added.

"What, to lie?" Glynda asked.

"All of it, it was Summer." Raven replied. "Qrow was just along for the ride, just like me. I assumed it was Qrow's idea, to lie to Tai, to lie to Ruby. I thought he'd taken advantage of Summer, but it was her, always her, playing us like a fucking fiddle!" Raven choked, sniffling. Glynda could only hold her and listen. "Now Ruby knows and she ran away, and fuck knows what's going on now. I'm just so sick of everything Glynda, always being wrong, always getting hurt for it. Why fucking bother anymore? I shoulda' just bled out."

Glynda scowled, cursing Summer internally. She knew this day would come. She was surprised it took as long as it did. Hell, she was shocked it did not all come out the day Taiyang snapped. She never approved of all the lies, but she understood them. Summer was not malicious, she was a scared girl making stupid decisions, like any other. But lying to Raven? After all the faith, love and trust she had poured into the relationship? This was crossing a line even Glynda could not ignore. But she swallowed her first instinct to snap. Raven was in a precarious place. This needed to be handled with care.

"Raven, please look at me." Glynda plead. Raven's bloodshot crimson gaze flickered toward her. "You, are my world, Raven." Glynda pried Raven's unharmed hand from her leg, holding it in both her own. "From the moment I awake, to the second I fall asleep, you are on my mind, in my heart, and part of my soul." Raven's lip quivered, her eyes watering, and Glynda pressed on. "It hurts more than anything to see you in pain, because it's my pain too. And when you talk about your life like that I…" Glynda's throat closed up, but it was enough.

"I'm sorry Glyn." Raven apologized.

"Don't be sorry, be safe, stay with me." Glynda beseeched. "Talk to me instead of whatever this was." She shook her hand toward the carnage. "How bad is your arm?"

"It's...not great?" Raven grimaced, holding it up only to put it back with a gasp of pain.

"Okay then, let's get you to the emergency room." Glynda sighed, sniffling and pushing herself up, helping Raven up afterward.

"I guess it's a good thing I'm ambidextrous, eh?" Raven chuckled wearily.

"Oh shut up." Glynda scoffed. Raven took a step before stumbling, falling to her knees. "God, are you okay Raven?"

"I uh...think I lost a bit of blood." Raven looked back to where she had curled up. A puddle of crimson stained the floor.

The sight made Glynda's blood run cold. "Raven, sweetie, how long ago did you punch that mirror?"

"Uh...I don't know." Raven replied.

"Oh my God." Glynda groaned.

Raven shrunk. "I'm sorry."

The night had been uneventful after Nora's call. Winter had assured Pyrrha that Summer would be fine, that given time everything would be fine, that she need only have faith. Faith seemed laughable at this time. Pyrrha had long put faith in Summer as an ideal mother figure, an angel who could do no wrong, who raised two of the most wonderful women she had the pleasure of befriending, one of whom she had fallen in love with. Pyrrha had so very nearly fallen for Summer too, that moment in the forest played over in her head time and again. This woman she adored, she idolized, she loved, whom she had nearly given her heart and soul to, had built her life on a bed of lies.

For a woman who preached honesty, instilled it so deeply in her daughters that it at times manifested as a fault, every lie seemed deeper and more cruel than the last. The only lie Pyrrha had ever known Summer to tell was for Raven's sake, and the fallout had been tame in comparison. She understood, everyone understood, and Raven herself came clean and suffered the consequences. Summer and Tai had also suffered, but less so. The lie was Raven's in Yang's eyes, merely propagated by Summer and Tai. Once her anger died down, and reason came to rule, Yang understood. Her trust, however, remained wounded, her bond with Raven strained near to breaking.

Then came Taiyang's descent, and eventually his breaking point. And now it was revealed why. Summer's greatest lie, and the second in a chain of consequences hit home. Qrow and Tai were ostracised, Summer was bereaved, Ruby was scared and confused. And Yang? She had swallowed her grief to focus on healing her family. Pyrrha never did see her falter. At times she wondered if she had ever allowed herself to grieve. And not, it turned out to have been all Summer's doing. And Summer had no response. She had nearly twenty years to prepare for this moment, and in all that time she had never formed a defense. She allowed herself to break entirely, admitted every fault, and endured the slings and arrows Yang hurled her way.

"Pyrrha?" Yang's voice asked.

Pyrrha jolted from her position in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, staring into her coffee. She looked to Yang, standing in the kitchen doorway, and plastered on a smile. "Hello Yang, would you like some coffee?" She offered to break the tension.

Yang slouched, her own smile faltering. She strode over, and Pyrrha barely had time to put her coffee aside before Yang was hugging her. "I'm sorry for being a bitch yesterday." Yang whispered.

Pyrrha allowed herself a genuine smile, holding Yang back. "You're forgiven, I understand."

"You were just being careful and thoughtful like you always are, and I took it badly." Yang continued. "You deserve better from me."

"Yang, it's okay." Pyrrha planted a reassuring kiss on Yang's neck, and Yang pulled back to return it in full, a long, languid kiss that left Pyrrha no less breathless than the first time. In that moment, nothing else mattered, nothing was going wrong. It was just Pyrrha, kissing the woman she loved most in the world. And then the sound of footsteps broke the peace, and Yang turned to see Winter approaching the doorway, still in her pajamas, much like Pyrrha but looking wide awake.

"Good morning." Winter greeted, turning to open a cupboard, taking two coffee mugs from within.

"Good morning Winter, the kettle is fresh boiled." Pyrrha indicated the kettle beside the sink.

Winter nodded, pulling forth the jars of sugar and coffee to spoon into the mugs. "Thank you Pyrrha. Yang, how are you feeling?" Winter did not look as she asked her question.

"I'm...fine." Yang replied. "Winter, I'm sorry about yesterday. I was pissed."

"Apology accepted." Winter poured hot water into both mugs before turning. "Weiss tells me Ruby and Qrow have reconciled."

"Yeah, they got along about as well as ever." Yang nodded. "It's just...well, Qrow's her dad now, but he's still the same old Uncle Qrow, but happier. He was still asleep when I left, dead to the world. It was fucking weird, he's always slept on a hair trigger."

"And your opinion on this?" Winter turned, taking a sip of her coffee and fixing Yang with a neutral stare.

Yang paused, gathering her thoughts. "No matter how much Summer tried to drive him away, he never gave up. Now I know why. I know why he lied, I know how bad he handled it, I know he's been doing everything he can to make Ruby happy regardless, and yeah, the lying sucks. But out of all the liars, I think Qrow's the one who deserves a break. And Ruby vouches for him, so I vouch for him."

Winter nodded, taking another sip. "I suppose that's fair. I look forward to meeting him properly. But more important is the now."

"Now?" Yang arched her brow, squaring her jaw and leaning against the counter. "Right now I don't wanna' be here." She crossed her arms. "Pyrrha, Ruby can't be around Summer, she's hanging by a thread right now and the only thing keeping her together is being surrounded by people she trusts. And frankly, I don't want to be around Summer either. I came here to pack us some clothes. We're gonna stay at Nora's until Ruby needs to go, and I'll check with the landlord to see if they have anything up for rent." Winter blinked in surprise, and Yang carried on, looking to Pyrrha. "Pyr, I know it's a big step and all, and it's a pretty awful situation to ask in but...will you come with me? When I find somewhere?"

Pyrrha blanked, staring at Yang in shock, but Winter interrupted before she could recover. "Hold a moment." Winter requested, scooping up Summer's mug and striding out of the kitchen.

Yang and Pyrrha stared after her as she hurried down the hall, a door opening and closing, before Yang turned back to Pyrrha. "I know you're worried about Summer, but she's got Winter, at least. Love trumps all it looks like."

"I'm scared for her Yang." Pyrrha noted. "I know she did a great wrong, but what about when Winter leaves?"

"They've got scrolls." Yang shrugged. "They can call each other whenever they want."

"Yang, you of all people should understand how people put on a brave face for that." Pyrrha reminded firmly. Yang looked ready to retort, but Pyrrha leveled her a stern gaze. "I will protect my family Yang, even from themselves." Pyrrha's voice wavered, and Yang's features softened, and she sighed, dropping her arms to take Pyrrha's hands.

"I'm sorry, you're right...we'll...figure something out." Yang sighed. Pyrrha leaned forward, burying her face in Yang's neck, her frazzled blonde locks tickling her brow. A door opened, and hurried, bare footsteps grew louder.

"Yang." Summer called.

Yang stiffened, her hands clenching Pyrrha's, the prosthetic painfully so. "Yang, hand." Pyrrha hissed.

Yang quickly let go, turning with a set jaw to stare down Summer. The woman in question stood in her pajamas, looking far worse for wear than Pyrrha had hoped or expected. "Summer." Yang borderline growled.

It seemed this morning Summer was not cowed, instead edging on panic, the shadows beneath her eyes contrasting against her terrified silver iris. "Don't leave, you don't have to." Summer pleaded. "I'll go, this is your home, your house, it's always belonged to you. I a-always meant to, like, as a wedding gift or-or when you started talking about moving out, and here you are and here it is-"

"Summer!" Yang yelled, Summer falling silent with a choked squeak. "I don't want your house. I just want to be away from you."

"Then I'll go away." Summer insisted. "It's not your fault and I won't let my mistakes drive you from your home. It's my responsibility and my burden to bear." She managed to suppress the weakness in her voice, even as her eyes watered.

Yang merely frowned, crossing her arms again. "And where will you go?"

"I-" Summer started.

"With me." Winter suddenly cut in, from her position in the kitchen doorway, still holding both mugs as she stepped up beside Summer.

"What?" Yang asked.

"Wha…" Summer gaped at Winter, who calmly held out Summer's barely touched mug for her to take, sipping at her own.

"Summer, if you allow it, I will bring you to Atlas to live with me." Winter explained. "There is far more than enough room."

"A-Atlas...I...o-okay, Atlas." Summer struggled. "Yang, is that okay?"

Yang glanced at Winter, who arched her brow, tilting her head in insistance. Turning, she next looked to Pyrrha, who swallowed and gave a small nod. "Fine. We'll stay at Nora's until you're ready to leave." Summer sighed, cupping her coffee and bringing it up for a quick sip, her hands shaking. "Pyrrha, do you wanna' stay here or come with?"

"I'll come." Pyrrha nodded, eyes glancing between the other three.

Yang felt a twinge in her heart, seeing Pyrrha so unnerved was concerning. But there was not much to be done, at least, not in present company. She took her hand, gently holding it with her prosthetic, the dull sensation of simulated warmth and pressure reassuring, grounding, to both of them. Pyrrha reached for her mug with her free hand, and allowed Yang to pull her from the room, not giving Summer a second glance. As they disappeared down the hall, Summer sucked in a breath, letting out a sob, the tension in her form breaking, as she turned to Winter, immediately being pulled into a firm embrace.

Winter rubbed Summer's back. "It's going to be okay, I promise."

A gentle shaking of his shoulder interrupted Qrow's slumber. He opened his eyes to see Yang, already a few steps away in a defensive stance. "Expecting an attack?" Qrow asked, smirking. He tried scanning the room, but the morning light blinded him, encouraging him to cover his eyes with his hand.

"You usually freak out when someone wakes you up." Yang noted.

"Well, I haven't slept like that for years." Qrow smiled. "I could threaten you with the TV remote, you know, for old time's sake."

"I'll pass." Yang rolled her eyes.

"So what's up?" Qrow yawned. "Best sleep I've had in a decade."

"Ren made pancakes...and heart shaped waffles." Yang replied. "Get 'em while they're hot."

"Pancakes sound good, pass on the waffles though." Qrow chuckled. "I'm in a committed relationship, wouldn't wanna' give Ren the wrong idea."

"Oh yeah?" Yang asked. "What's her name?"

"Uh...I'll tell ya' later." Qrow deflected. "How's Ruby?"

"Better...I guess." Yang answered. "I mean, it would be hard for her to not be."

"That's good...I hope." Qrow sighed. His eyes were finally adjusted enough to take a good look around, even if things were still a little blurry. The red ponytail swishing around across the room drew his attention. "I guess you went and got Pyrrha. Everything alright back at the house?"

"Summer didn't slit her wrists if that's what you're asking." Yang grumbled.

"I thought I told you not to joke about stuff like that." Qrow admonished.

"Yeah, well...anyway, she's going to Atlas to live with Winter." Yang explained. "That should help."

"Why do I get the feeling we're all going to be booked on the same flight?" Qrow asked. "That'll be a fun one."

"Yep...come on, enough stalling, the food's getting cold." Yang prodded.

Qrow groaned, sitting up. "Yeah, yeah."