Summer looked down at the wound, obviously noticing that the amount of blood there was not a healthy one. She frowned.
"I'm, going to die, aren't I?" she asked quietly.
"No, you'll be fine. Fixed up in no time," I answered immediately.
"I'm going to die all because I was...being stupid." She winced again as she took a breath. "I thought I could take her down on my own. I thought my power would be enough."
"Quiet down, you're going to hurt yourself. Just stop talking and focus on breathing," I tried to tell her but was thoroughly ignored.
"She appeared out of nowhere. Just nowhere. She wasn't supposed to be there."
"I know," I replied quietly, hoping she'd quiet down if I agreed. Unfortunately, it had to opposite effect.
"It was supposed to be simple. We fight some Grimm, you and I get things ironed out, everyone goes home happy. That's what we planned, not...not this." She was quiet for a moment before speaking up again, a small sob catching in her throat. "She, she ruined everything. Now I'm going to die-"
"You're not going to die!" I exclaimed, startling her into silence. "So just stop talking, and especially stop talking about her. In fact, just forget about the bitch all together. She's not a threat here."
"You're right, she probably killed me to get my powers. I shouldn't give her the satisfaction."
"That's not what I-you won't die!" I looked her in the eyes so she would listen to me. "I won't let you. You're going to live, and be happy, and go back to those two little girls of yours. They're waiting for you Summer. You can't let them down."
"Yang and Ruby."
"They'll be lost without you."
"Will you come? To Patch to see them?"
"Of course, I think I've missed out on enough of their lives as it is," I said, getting a smile out of her. "As soon as we can travel we'll head right back there. Then we can spoil those girls rotten; we'll play with them all day long, teach them cool tricks, we can even feed them cookies for breakfast."
"Tai won't like that," Summer whispered happily. "They'll be sugar high all day."
"Good, then our games will be even more fun for all of us."
"Ruby thinks Tai's her father," she said after a moment. "Yang thinks I'm her mother."
"I...I figured as much," I answer quietly. "Probably best not to confuse them. I can just be their uncle. Their crazy, fun Uncle Qrow that gets into more trouble than they do. What do you think?"
"They'll love it." She smiled faintly, her eyes drifting shut.
"Hey, you can't sleep now," I said, trying to keep the desperate tones out of my voice. "You have to stay awake. Look, I think the bleeding's slowing down."
I couldn't tell if I was telling the truth or not; my hands were coated with her blood all the way to my wrists while the fabric had soaked up enough of it to turn deep red.
"Ruby wants, to be a huntress," Summer said even quieter, her eyes still shut. "Will you teach her? Keep her from being, as foolish as her mother?"
"Why would I have to train her if she has you?"
"Please?"
"I...I promise," I relented after a moment, making her looked a bit relieved. "I'll train her so well nothing will be able to keep up with her. She'll be years ahead of the other students. And, whatever's out there too strong for her to handle, I'll get rid of myself. I won't let anything harm her. How does that sound, Summer?"
There was no response.
"Summer?" I nudged her but she didn't move. "Summer wake up!"
I removed my hands from her wound, placing them on her shoulders. I gave them a bit of a shake, trying to roust her. It didn't work.
"Wake up!" I yelled louder as I shook her shoulders with even more force. But nothing happened. She felt like she was no more than a life size rag doll in my hands. I placed a tentative hand on her neck but felt no pulse under my fingers.
"Please wake up," I said much quieter. "Please just wake up."
I used my uninjured arm to pick her up so I could hold her close.
"Please. I promise I won't cause trouble," I whispered to her as I squeezed my eyes shut to keep the tears at bay. "I'll stop drinking so much, I'll be there for you and Ruby, I'll even try to get along with Tai again. I'll teach Ruby everything I know, I'll stop throwing myself at missions, I promise I won't go after Ozpin and Glinda for setting this whole thing up. I'll do it all, I promise, but please, please, wake up."
She didn't give me an answer, but I continued anyways.
