𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 [ʀᴡʙʏ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴏᴄ]

Chapter 47

We finally made it. The air felt different, charged even, as we stepped through Ravens' portal. The moment my feet hit the ground, my eyes locked onto the figure standing ahead. It didn't take much to recognize Qrow. He was leaning casually against a crate, a flask in hand, but the moment he noticed us, his posture shifted.

"You're late," he said, not bothering with pleasantries.

I felt the weight of the situation—this wasn't just a meeting. It was a new chapter. Something about Mistral made my skin itch, like I was being watched. Maybe it was the storm in the distance, or maybe it was just me. Regardless, it was time to get to business.

We walked into the house, the scent of old wood and faint smoke lingering in the air. The floor creaked underfoot as we moved through the door, and I couldn't help but hear the sizzling noises of the food they are making.

"So, we didn't know how many people were coming, so we just cooked all of it." Ruby came in holding a tray with cups.

She looks up, and gasps as she drops the tea tray and its contents, which shatter on the floor. She stares in disbelief at the sight of not only Qrow, but Yang. Yang approaches her.

"Yang, I... I'm so sorry! I- I should've stayed, and I should've talked to you more! I'd-- I just... (tears start pouring from her eyes) I wasn't sure if you wanted me around and--"

Suddenly, her big sister gives her a strong hug. Ruby's lips quiver, and she looks toward her sister.

"I love you." (tears stream from her eyes)

Ruby sobs as she leans into her sister's hug.

Ruby clung to her sister, her sobs muffled against Yang's shoulder. It was like all the tension she'd been carrying—everything that had weighed on her—finally released in the quiet comfort of her sister's arms.

Weiss' smile tugged at my chest, a soft, vulnerable expression that I didn't often see from her. But as she wiped the tear away, her gaze shifted downward, like she was trying to bury whatever emotion lingered.

Without thinking, I reached out, my hand finding hers. We stood there for a moment, just holding hands, the weight of the situation pressing down on us. But as Ruby's voice broke through, calling us both over, my gaze met hers. She looked so... hopeful, even in the middle of everything falling apart.

"Come here," Ruby said, motioning for us both to join the embrace. Her arms were open wide, ready to pull us into something we all needed—comfort, unity.

I looked down at Weiss, her eyes still soft, though guarded, but when I nodded, she gave a faint smile. It wasn't much, but it was enough. We both stepped forward, arms extending, joining the hug.

Ruby wrapped her arms around us, squeezing tightly. Weiss, a little awkward at first, eventually leaned into it. The warmth from the three of us was like a silent promise, and for a moment, the world outside didn't matter. It was just us, standing together.

As the hug broke apart, my eyes immediately caught something—or rather, someone—standing at the edge of the group. A kid, maybe around Ruby's age, with freckles and an uncomfortable shift in his stance. He looked like he wasn't sure if he should be there or if he was interrupting something, his hands fidgeting nervously by his sides.

The awkwardness was almost palpable, and it made me pause. The kid's eyes flicked around the room, clearly trying to gauge the atmosphere.

I knew exactly who he was the moment I saw him. The weight of that knowledge hit me like a cold wave. This kid, wasn't just some random face in the crowd. He was Ozpin's reincarnation. That odd energy about him, the way he shifted so nervously, was more than just the jitters of a regular kid.