A straight pristine blade of steel. A black handle on the boxier side in terms of shape that took some getting used to but rested well in my grip. The sheath in my other hand was of a similar shape, the entire weapon appearing to be a slim rectangular box when brought together.
A weapon Raven herself took the time to make according to Summer. That wasn't hard to believe. In terms of design, effectiveness had been the only real consideration, no detailing or personal touch to be found anywhere on it. I'd expect a gift from her to prioritize function and purpose above all else.
With a shift, I pulled my cloak from around my body, letting it settle around my shoulders, sheath in my left hand and sword in the right.
I liked it. The plain design went well with the cloak.
"Talon!"
Sheathing my sword and undoing my cloak, I placed both on my dresser and left my room, heading downstairs.
Tai was over the stove humming a small tune to himself, the smell of hot breakfast filling the house. Like Summer he was always the type to be in a generally good mood. After being told there'd be another addition to the family, generally turned to always, Tai completely over the moon about the news.
I walked up beside him, raising slightly on my toes to grab the wooden tray with a full plate and glass mug of steaming tea.
"Be careful." He said. I hummed, already heading back up the steps, passing my room and pushing open the ajar door of theirs with my back.
Their room and everything about it was better than mine, which was kind of a given. A pair of sliding doors in one corner that led into an actual closet, another door that led into their own bathroom, and their own TV set up on the wall across the bed centered at the back of the room.
Katana in hand, Raven sat on the right side of the bed, in the middle of examining the red dust blade. Over the last few months, the bump of her stomach had grown clearly visible, especially with the tank top she wore now. With that progression, half the time she spent the mornings stuck up here, lying around to avoid worsening the nausea she dealt with.
She sheathed the blade as I came over, placing it against the side of the bed's headboard while I held up the tray for her. She took it, patting the spot on the other side of her.
Guess I wasn't going anywhere.
Climbing up over her legs, I took the gestured spot and the TV remote she handed me, flipping through the channels on the screen ahead. It didn't take long for Tai to join us, food brought up for me and him.
Seated between my parents, eating and watching TV. As much time as I've spent with Raven since starting my training, this was still a bit new. It wasn't all that unusual to pass time like this with Tai while some form of training was the norm with Raven.
The three of us just sitting around should've been normal for a family but it was only a recent development. It would be frightening easily to forget things like Grimm existed in a situation like this.
It was reminiscent of my previous life.
XOXO
Slash, stab, sweep.
"Got to be quicker than that, kid." Qrow said as he leaped back, wooden katana held loosely against one of his shoulders. I jumped after him, swiping and swinging. All were avoided with subtle tilts and steps, my assault completely useless. No matter what I tried or did he didn't have to move his training blade, only retaliating with taunting remarks here and there.
All with an annoying smirk on his face.
With Raven not in shape for anything too strenuous, Qrow took over the spars I usually had with her. Despite favoring the defensive, always letting me make the moves, hitting him was no easier than scoring one on Raven. He might've been quicker than her though I couldn't say for sure since neither took me seriously.
Either way, fighting him was so much more annoying. Raven was brutal but at least she didn't run her mouth and look so smug.
"Focus." Raven said from behind me. Though she couldn't fight, that didn't stop her from overseeing things, a chair brought out onto the back porch so she could watch. "We'd all like to punch your uncle in the face but don't let him rile you up."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Qrow said with a shake of his head.
Ignoring Qrow, I took a breath and readied myself for another charge.
The most important part of any battle was staying calm and in control no matter what kind of opponent I was up against.
XOXO
A weighty pressure pressed onto me from all sides.
Was it thoughts of the future? The uncertainty of it all? The conflict and hardship that no doubt awaited beyond this period of peace? The idea of facing an immortal being like Salem? The knowledge that the gods of this world, should they ever return, were prepared to wipe out anyone and everyone on a whim?
I opened my eyes. Black locks, both mine and not, blocked most of my vision.
Nope, it was only Raven.
I tried to move but that only caused her hold on me to tighten, her arms pulling me closer to her.
As her pregnancy progressed, I wouldn't exactly say she got touchier, Raven still the same as ever but most shows of affection were no longer veiled behind or accompanied by some form of violence or reprimanding. Her popping up in my room and hogging all the space on my bed was just one of those signs of affection.
I relaxed, the combined scents of our shared shampoo tickling my nose as my heartbeat slowed.
Whether it'd been because of the morning sickness, hormones, or just the recent argument I couldn't forget the day she shared she was pregnant. Getting vomited on, something I'd been lucky enough never to experience before that day, ensured that.
But it was also the first time I'd heard a genuine laugh from her. And the first time she hugged me.
I would've called the fact that they were so prominent to me a failure in parenting, but I'd already stopped holding her to such standards. Maybe I still should. Grimm or not, I still found some of the things she was willing to do questionable or outright harsh, no normal child able to put up with such shit. Not without building up resentment for her.
My aura was thanks to her. The quick development of my semblance probably had just as much to do with her harsh training. My Sharingan had done plenty of heavy lifting, but the fact that I'd been able to think clearly when faced with a Grimm traced back to her in some form.
I couldn't resent her.
As she shifted, her breaths brushing across the top of my head, her growing belly touched my arm.
It was nice to know that Yang would soon be born. With her around I'd have a more definitive timeline to work with. One good enough to make some guesses about events soon to come if things were still on course. With that in mind, even young I was, I could start preparing a more solid plan, or at least the outline of one.
Logically, Yang's birth was only something to look forward to.
What if something went wrong? What if Raven ended up dying during childbirth?
A stupid thing to worry about. In this world, pregnancy related deaths were low with modern medicine at play and practically unheard for women with aura unless another factor was at play. I knew that because I'd found myself looking up plenty of information about it more than once.
Knowing that didn't really ease my concerns though.
Stupid concerns that I really shouldn't be so obsessed over.
It wasn't that I just didn't resent her-
"I love you, mom." I whispered, the weight on my chest vanishing despite her hold.
It was as odd as it was ironic.
Thoughts of getting home. Lost friends and family. Those years I spent as a helpless baby had seen all those ideas being shut down and buried in exchange for realistic acceptance. I was stuck here with no idea how I even ended up in the situation in the first place. There were threats that needed dealing with no matter how much I'd rather kick back and live the easy life.
Tai and Raven were my parents.
If I was going to truly accept that last fact, I'd always expected it to be for Tai. From day one he did everything a father should. Watching after me, teaching me plenty, just always being around. He was a great father through and through.
Raven, on the other hand, had been a lacking mother in so many different ways. Months didn't compare to years of borderline neglect. And these past few months, despite how much time we've spent together, wouldn't have earned her any mother of the year title.
But those differences were everything.
All Tai did for me, whether it be playing around or teaching, another had already done for me in similar fashion. It felt like he was trying to replace the father I already had. It was stupid. The man was just doing what he was supposed to, but telling myself that didn't change how I felt.
Maybe one day I could accept him but there were just too many reminders there.
Raven had been distant and enigmatic. Then harsh and borderline cruel. And bit by bit, though it was something she struggled with, once absent motherly gestures were done in her own unique way.
She was nothing like the mother lost to me. Too mean spirited. Too abrasive. Too busy stealing my food whenever she got the chance.
But I was lucky to have her.
XOXO
(A/N: You guys didn't think we wouldn't get Talon changed view on her did you? Irony always shows its head somehow in things I write. Seriously thought Tai would have a way easier time taking a parent roll in Talon's head but back when I was writing this portion of the story it just didn't shake out that way. Its interesting how I can plan out an entire arc or portion of a story and by the time the character gets there, if they get there, their mentality about the whole thing might be way different than I expected and I've got to adjust either by changing things up entirely or changing one little choice that could change nothing or change plenty.
Character consistency has got to be one of the hardest things to keep up with, especially if you have a very specific plot in mind. At least I'm finding out that it is for me. All it takes in one conversation or action I thought might be mildly amusing or make for a very interesting read and bam, unintended character progression/regression/change has taken place that I now need to account for.
Anyways we we got a smaller time skip and some of the real surprising stuff left before the childhood arc is over.
Didn't want to link or mention it before I was sure this story had legs to stand on, but I do have a patreon that I usually post to first. This story has already been there and is in the next arc.
patreon .com/ thirdratewriter
There's the link for those who want to read ahead.
I shall see you all in the next one or in the comments. Need to go get some food before I start on the next one now that I finished up editing.)