The New Rose

Chapter 10 - Father and Daughter

Qrow Branwen was at this diner with the intention on scolding Ruby and getting her to quit this unit and go back to Beacon. But of course, as his bad luck semblance would have it, he was about to receive the scolding of his life once he started talking. Apparently, Ruby had found out the secret that Qrow had been trying to keep until she graduated from Beacon. Indeed, he was her father and not just her cool uncle, but he really thought that it would be for the best if Tai was the one that raised her.

It wasn't the fact that Qrow didn't love Ruby, because that would be virtually impossible. Ruby was his little girl, and he loved her more than anything on Remnant. The problem was that Qrow is worried, and albeit a bit insecure about his bad luck semblance. He didn't want anything bad to happen to Ruby, and he blamed his semblance when Summer did not return from her mission. Qrow really just wanted Ruby to be happy and to not risk her health with his semblance.

Going back to his daughter though, he found it kind of disturbing how she looked so different from Summer, given the hair and the figure, but she kept one thing from her. That one thing was the ominous glare that Summer used when she was angry and wanted answers. When Summer gave you that glare, you would respond quickly and efficiently if you valued your life. It was the same glare that Ruby had on her face as she was looking at him while eating her food, expecting Qrow to start talking. Qrow sighed and just felt like he should begin speaking and get this over with.

"How did you find out?" Qrow asked dejectedly.

"I was practicing using the lookup software we have in the unit and looked you up and found out you have a daughter with the same birthday as mine. I put two and two together and figured out that you weren't just my teacher, you are my dad too." Ruby said matter-of-factly, still keeping that glare on her face and Qrow sighed.

"So…do you want the short version or the long version?" Qrow asked sheepishly as Ruby just looked at her scroll.

"It depends on how quick you can speak; I have to be back at work in twenty minutes." Ruby said nonchalantly as she continued to eat and Qrow just sighed.

"Look Ruby, you mean everything to me as my daughter, I love you more than life itself. It's true, I am your dad and I left raising you to Tai because I felt like it was just the best option. Not only because of my life as a huntsman, but because of my semblance, it's bad luck. I can literally cause others around me to have bad luck and for bad things to happen to people. I didn't want that for you, so I decided to leave you with Tai and just visit you from time to time. I know you are angry with me, and I don't expect you to forgive me that easily but know I did it all for you." Qrow said sincerely and hoped Ruby would understand but he didn't think that was going to happen as Ruby's glare deepend.

"So let me get this straight, after all the times that you visited us throughout the years and nothing happened, you still wanted to play the semblance card? You didn't ever realize that bad things happen every day with or without a bad luck semblance? The time that I sprained my wrist when I was eight, were you around? No, you were out on a mission, but it happened anyway. When I overslept and missed a big event, was that because of you? No that was because of me, yes it was bad luck that it happened, but it was not because of you because you weren't there! So please Dad, for the love of GOD tell me that is not the only reason." Ruby said in anger and Qrow widened his eyes.

Qrow was ashamed to admit it, but his daughter had a point. Qrow had always been so wary and uncomfortable with his semblance that he used it as the blame for everything. In his mind, he was born with a curse that followed him throughout his whole life. Ozpin was the one who gave him hope and a purpose with the fight against Salem, but Qrow didn't want Ruby to know about that yet. Here he was making excuses again, blaming his semblance for not allowing him to be with his daughter but that wasn't true. In a way, Qrow chose the huntsman life and the fight with Salem over being Ruby's dad and he felt terrible. However, there was another reason for why he did it…