192: Things I'm Fighting to Protect

["Learning to Breathe"--Switchfoot]

https://youtu.be/WDpAfAPAJv0

Winter slowly opened her eyes to the sound of singing and fire crackling.

She thought for a moment she was still in the Grimm and sat up, gasping.

But the singing was just Shine and Pyrrha passing the time, and the fire was real.

About 6 feet away, Sun was lying on a blanket, and Blake was holding his hand.

She looked up at Winter and smiled faintly but didn't seem to have words.

Winter didn't know what had happened to him, but he looked ill.

"Weiss..." she murmured. "Qrow... and the other one..." (Meridian)

"Winter?" Weiss came over to her and knelt down. "Finally, you're awake. It's been hours..."

"You're okay." Winter grabbed her arm. "Didn't get eaten?"

"No, I'm fine," Weiss said. "You almost got eaten... Meridian got me out."

"Hello." Meridian waved from around the fire. "You Schnees get in trouble a lot."

Winter glanced at him, then she sighed. "Thank you..." She hugged Weiss with one arm.

Meridian raised an eyebrow. "Don't mention it." He turned away casually.

"What happened to...?" Winter glanced at Sun.

"Poison," Weiss said. "But he's getting better... You missed the gross part, lucky for you."

The word lucky made Winter sit up more.

"And Qrow...?"

"Right over here," Qrow startled her by saying.

He was perched on a rock, farther up and outside the firelight.

"Yeah, we're all okay," Weiss said.

"More or less..." Qrow muttered.

"No losses?" Winter said.

"No... somehow," Weiss said. "Mostly thanks to Ruby and Mercury... but you won't believe what Torchwick told us about Neo and Cinder..."

"That was classic," Meridian remarked. "But maybe not hit her with that story till she's had more time to recover?"

"Are you thirsty?" Weiss asked. "That water... it's really good."

She pointed.

Then Winter could see the stream of water.

"Where did that come from?" she asked.

"Oscar hit a rock," Weiss said. "It was... as weird as it sounds, but it's fresh. Actually we used it to wash off too. Our clothing is filthy after those attacks. But look the goo came right off." She held up her jacket.

"Leave it to you to be concerned about that," Blake said.

"What? I don't like feeling dirty," Weiss said. "And a week or so without a bath has been torture. I was just glad to feel human again."

"That would be nice, but I was hoping Sun would wake up..." Blake said.

"Mercury said he'd push Neptune in if he wouldn't go in himself," Weiss said. "And while I think that wouldn't end well for him... I hope it was a joke. But he went off alone, with Emerald probably."

"Then they aren't alone." Winter rubbed her head. "At least we're all safe..."

"Battered, bruised, but not dead," Meridian said amiably. "And only a day or so out from Salem. I'm sure some of us didn't think we'd make it this far. But I thought we would. Want to go for a stroll, Snow Tiger?"

"Where?" Weiss said.

"Just along the water," Meridian said.

Weiss shrugged. "I suppose it's better than all these rocks."

"Weiss..." Winter was about to say that was a bad idea.

"It's fine, Winter. Plenty of people will see," Weiss dismissed it. "It's just a walk."

She walked away without another word.

"Ah, she's growing up," Raven said in a fake tone. "Hello, Schnee."

"Raven," Winter nodded. "I see you survived. It's not surprising."

"Yes, somehow. The demon horses were a surprise," Raven said. [Road to El Dorado joke.]

"What?"

"Long story. We'll fill you in later," Raven shrugged. Then she shot Qrow a meaningful look.

Qrow glared at her. "Raven, take a walk."

"Oh, whatever." Raven walked away.

"I'll just go wash off now." Blake walked away also.

"Why are they all leaving?" Winter said.

"They figured out something happened." Qrow climbed into view. "So they're messing with us."

Winter stared at the fire. "I see..."

"Well, we made it out. Likstar says there's only one more major Grimm to worry about if we're going by the list," Qrow said. "I can't wait for that. But for now we're going to rest for a while. That was quite a hit you took earlier. You're lucky it didn't kill you."

"Not luck, I don't think," Winter said. "If I recall, someone intervened."

"I can't believe how close that thing was to just..." Qrow trailed off. "Well, it's not something I'd be bragging about."

Winter shrugged like she agreed.

"So..." Qrow said awkwardly.

Winter glanced up questioningly.

"About before..." Qrow said.

Winter glanced at him.

"I'm not going to retract it." Qrow held up his hands. "But things are complicated enough... If you don't want to talk about it anymore, till this is over, I... would understand that. Might be better that way. I still can't believe you're even considering it, but..."

"Hmm... I have been quite vocal in my negative opinion of you." Winter smiled to herself wryly. "But... I'm vocal in my negative opinions of everything... less so in positive ones. I wonder why you're still worrying about it. If it was the truth, then it was the truth."

"I guess..." Qrow had never had anyone talk about it like that before. "But..."

"He's trying to see if you're just being nice or if you actually feel the same way," Shine interjected.

"Likstar!" Qrow said. "Why are you eavesdropping?"

"You know, you shouldn't talk about this when we're 12 feet way," Shine shot back. "This is torture, Qrow. Go away if you want to sort through this in private, I'm begging you."

"Shine!" Winter said warmly.

"I don't know if I should say that I heard it too," Pyrrha said. "But I won't say anything."

"Then you should have said nothing," Winter replied.

"Oh, Winter, we all already know what's going on," Shine said. "Take a walk or something."

"You know--" Winter stood up in a huff. "--despite your valuable insight, you can be quite a pain sometimes, Shine."

She walked away.

"She used my first name and an expression like 'quite a pain'," Shine said. "I think she's unsettled."

"You are not helping," Qrow said.

"I assure you that will help you," Shine said. "And, FYI, you idiot, she likes you. What do you think she's been trying to say? Will you give her a chance? Not everyone is able to talk about this kind of thing freely. Stop trying to discredit it. Clearly you patched things up, so just let them be patched up."

"I know it's none of my business, but I think she's right." Pyrrha held her hands nearer to the fire and shivered a little. "I've made the mistake you have, Qrow... It did not feel good later. Trust is being willing to ask if someone is willing to give you a shot. She's braver than many people. I think you try too hard to find a problem."

"Oh, thank you, I really needed the chorus of you," Qrow said. "Where's Raven to make a third?"

"You sent her away," Shine said dryly. 

"I really think it's almost like he doesn't think he's good enough for her," Pyrrha said to Shine in a voice that she thought was lower than it was.

"Oh, duh," Shine said. "Winter has her own problems though... Sure makes you want to smack him, doesn't it?"

"Not at all. It just feels sad," Pyrrha said. "I mean, we're all here, on the same mission. Feeling inferior to each other... it's such a waste of energy when we should be helping each other instead."

"I can hear you," Qrow said.

"Were you still part of this conversation?" Shine looked up "We're just talking about life. Go away."

Qrow wanted to kick sand at her, but he didn't. He walked away huffily.

"Perhaps you shouldn't be provoking him..." Pyrrha said.

"He'll be fine," Shien said. "He'll forgive me, don't worry. I'm just having fun anyway. They don't really need our help that much. Winter can help herself. But she's exhausted, so I thought I'd give her a little boost."

"You are such a strange person..." Pyrrha said wryly but fondly.

* * *

Winter examined the water spout, then she froze an ice wall around the whole thing so she could wash off completely.

She only took a few minutes to do this, longer to wash her clothes out, and then put on her under layer.

Weiss was right--she felt much more normal and alert now.

She took her coat to spread out by the fire.

"That was a good idea," Pyrrha said. "Can we get an ice wall for all of us? I have dirt everywhere."

"Thanks for that," Shine said.

"Done with your gossiping?" Winter said coolly.

"Sorry..." Shine apologized. "Perhaps it was out of line... I meant well."

"I...know..." Winter sighed. "Just...I thought I knew what I was going to do."

She took out her hair comb and began to do her best to straighten her hair. She was sore all over from those fights..

"Perhaps it's better to try than nothing," Pyrrha said. "But I admit, this is not my field of expertise. Shine?"

"Give us a moment," Shine said.

Pyrrha nodded and walked farther off.

"Something did happen, didn't it?" Shine said.

"It... might have." Winter didn't make eye contact. "I still don't quite understand it. There's all this second guessing."

"Hmm," Shine said. "You know, Winter, things are crazy right now. I don't always give this advice because I think it's misused, but perhaps the key this time is to just know what's in your heart."

"And what does that mean?" Winter frowned at her.

"I mean that you try to be so safe," Shine said, "so careful, so anxious not to take risks unless they are calculated or unless you can tell yourself they are for someone else. Once in a long while you're going to need to risk something else other than your own life--like trust. Perhaps if you put yourself out there, you'd find things would change."

Winter stared at her. "I don't know how to do that."

"You won't know how at first," Shine shrugged. "I didn't either... None of us did. But you have to try. Please... better now than never. Better not to get the chance to talk yourself out of it--you do that too easily. Reason is very well, Winter--but there is a time when reason is finite. You have to know things with something other than logic. Logic has been satisfied here. What is the next thing to do?"

"Suppose it's... too soon?" Winter said in a low voice. "Suppose I don't understand myself?"

"There you go." Shine stood up and walked to her and pointed at her. "You don't understand yourself. So... stop trying to. I believe firmly that we should apply wisdom to everything--and you already did that. This is not a lack of logic that's stopping you. It's fear. Don't let fear stop you. Don't wait, like I said. It's best to stop allowing fear as quickly as you can. Don't plan. Just go."

"And do what?" Winter asked as Shine took her arm and gave her a bit of a shove.

"Do I have to do everything? You figure it out," Shine said, with another push.  "Go, Winter. And if you don't, I'm going to find Qrow myself and kick him in the shins."

"That's quite enough." Winter pushed her away and brushed herself off. "I don't think your interference here is necessary anymore."

Rather than this sounding like a dismissal, Shine thought it sounded more determined.

"Well, fine then." She put her hands up. "You take care of it."

She walked away and sat back down with an air of washing her hands of it.

https://youtu.be/BEUnBEon9f4

[My mom suggested using this song. It does kind of fit. A little 80s cheesy, but good 80s cheesy, right? And I do like 13 Going On 30, which is the movie I first heard it in. "Love is a Battlefield".]

Winter had no idea what she was even going to do, but Shine's speech fired her up a little bit. This whole thing was ridiculous if it required this much intervention.

She found Qrow standing along the beach. He was still making up his mind whether to go talk to her or not.

"Oh..." He looked up. "I was thinking..." He paused.

Winter still had her hair down, though she didn't think about this.

"Enough of this," she said, not really knowing what she was saying, but it seemed to say itself. "We've been talking in half sayings and dancing around what we really mean. You've admitted what you feel, sort of, but what do you want?"

Qrow rubbed his head. "Like I said, I want there to be something here, but..."

"But what? What is still causing an issue?"

"Ugh... I really hate saying this." Qrow glanced towards Shine, though she wasn't looking. "But I think she about got it. I guess all this not being ready really amounts to not feeling..." Then he stopped.

Winter raised an eyebrow.

"Good enough?" she finished.

Qrow sighed.

"Good enough for what?" Winter said.

"I don't even really know. I guess just whatever... I mean... why me, right?"

Winter shook her head. "You know... I've been thinking the same thing."

"Huh?" Qrow gave her a look.

"If I may have one moment of honesty..." Winter lowered her voice. "I... don't really see myself as that suited to relationships beyond the professional level. I think I said this before, but with that comes the question... why? Why me? I know the reasons we discussed before, but... reasons perhaps are not as satisfactory as I thought..."

Qrow glanced at her and then looked away at the surf.

"You know... I've heard something from Tai a couple times," he said. "He wasn't talking about this, but maybe it's kind of true anyway. If you can explain why, it's not love."

"Love?" Winter repeated.

This was the first time the word had been used except as a concept.

"I just thought of it, since... all this asking and questioning, it's all just because of fear," Qrow noted. "And I can't just assume that's going to go away, not overnight. But it had me thinking just how many decisions I make because of fear. And Likstar told this thing to me the other day... before we talked, actually. Something about how love doesn't have fear, because fear has torment."

"Like the Deimos?"

"I guess like that. Maybe it was some kind of hint. She can't just say things outright..."

"I think that was outright, just we don't know what she means," Winter mused. "Perhaps it's all of a piece. Perhaps reasons are sometimes just an excuse for fear... not always, but... this second guessing, is it just fear? Is there anything left to consider?"

"You're the one who said you wanted to think about it."

"I have been thinking about it," Winter said. "And it's yielded no results. I just keep thinking of my experiences... which is not helpful. I think perhaps I was just afraid also... so it's not just you."

Silence.

"Well, now that we admitted that, what do we do?" Qrow said.

"Is the reason you keep trying to doubt because you think I'm not sure, or because you aren't?" Winter said point blank.

Qrow looked embarrassed. "Do I really have to answer that?"

He got a glare.

"Right... I still can't believe it." Qrow looked down. "I mean, everything else put aside, I've been kind of a jackass to you also... and then there's the...Ozpin thing."

"What thing?"

"The problem with being in on all this--" Qrow was still looking at the ground. "--is that you get people involved who didn't really deserve it. And it's fine as long as you don't know them and it's all part of the plan. But once the plan ends up being a lie, and you get to know the people whose lives you might have helped ruin, it's different. I mean...d--- it,  even that magic sickness is flaring up. Maybe I didn't know that would happen, but I didn't do much to stop all the other things that happened around it. It's... after all that, all that pain and loss, why should I even think about getting any more?"

"Is that a serious--?" Winter broke off, thinking that might be too harsh. "I mean, is that actually bothering you?"

"Maybe that sounds sorta dumb," Qrow said. "We've been over it before, and it was a choice... sort of... Still... feeling like part of the cause, it's... something I'm used to, but this time it was deliberate in the past. You might not resent it, but I think I would."

"Do you?" Winter said. "Aren't you also affected by this?"

"That just seems like what I deserve," Qrow said.

Winter slapped him.

He gave her a strange look.

"How long do you intend to punish yourself for these things?" she asked.

"Coming from you? The person who constantly puts themselves in risky situations just because you think you have to after Atlas?" Qrow shot back.

That was... kind of true...

Winter went silent for a long time, thinking about it.

"Perhaps I have... overdone it," she admitted finally.

"Perhaps?" Qrow scoffed.

"I suppose I overcompensate," Winter allowed. "I always have... but... If I need to learn, then I'm not the only one. Stop treating your life as worthless."

"Stop treating yourself as worthless," Qrow said. "If anyone should make it out of this, it should be you... and the kids."

"You also," Winter said.

Qrow laughed dryly. "Yeah, sure."

Winter took his face and made him look at her. "I mean it," she said firmly. "All of them have relied on you many times for help... even I have... to my chagrin, usually, but it's nice to be needed. It's effective."

She paused. "I can't take years of suffering away, Qrow... or even the last several weeks of it... but... one thing I do know... some of the only bright spots in this entire mess were ones with the people in this team in it, just... helping each other... and... for me many of those moments were with you."

Qrow was staring like she was speaking nonsense--or, knowing him, like she was making sense.

Winter let go. "I didn't know that for me that became perhaps more than just camaraderie... but... at this point, I can't imagine going forward from here without..." She paused again. "Well, you know. I have never said that in my entire life, but, in this one case, it is true."

That line was, for her, a passionate thing to say, and rather cliche at that, and Winter couldn't make eye contact.

She was afraid she'd way overshot. 

The silence was almost unbearable.

But then Qrow laughed, a dry, ironic laugh that she thought was mocking, but then he said, "I think for me... I would have thought that, but I wouldn't have said it."

Winter let out a low sigh. "I think you just did."

"Huh...I guess..." Qrow had to smile slightly at the irony.

Another pause.

"So that was what we were afraid of?" Winter wondered aloud. "Something that simple?"

Qrow shrugged. "Who says simple things aren't... intimidating at times? Or that they're easy. Falling in love with you was simple, but it has not been easy to come to terms with."

"Did you just say...?" Winter's mind went blank.

"Too soon?" Qrow wondered if he'd overshot now.

Winter stared at him for a moment, and then, perhaps deciding to throw her caution and planning aside for the time being, she quickly, and fiercely, kissed him.

The idea of instigating something like this was not in her head 24 hours ago, but a lot of strange things were happening lately.

Then for a moment she forgot about that...

Qrow was greatly surprised, but not unpleasantly so.

Carefully, he pulled her a little closer.

Winter stopped suddenly. Face red.

"I suppose we're even now..." she said, unsteadily. "Though--"

Qrow kissed her again.

Winter held up a hand. "I still think you're being ridiculous about the magic and nonsense, by the way, if I didn't make that clear before--"

It happened again.

"Sorry, but you're kinda talking too much," Qrow said.

Winter gave him an annoyed look and then shrugged. "As are you."

"Touche."

They kissed again.

And that could have gone on if Winter had not remembered that there were plenty of teens on this beach who could catch them at any moment, and she'd never retain any kind of authoritative image if that happened.

Luckily, Qrow remembered this also and didn't care for the idea of his nieces catching him either.

"Maybe better continue this some time when there's not such an audience."

"That would be more prudent." Winter straightened, still feeling a little off balance.

Then she looked up. "Raven better not be watching."

Qrow looked up like he wasn't sure if that was impossible or not.

[Yeah... Raven, the ship blocker who wants the ship to happen, go figure.]

[I hope this was the right mix of spicy and sweet for you all. I feel like Snowbird kind of rides the line between those two things, personally.]

* * *

Raven brought up a more practical point to Shine after Winter had left.

"I hate to say it, but we have a problem other than Grimm." She held up her pack. "Our food rations."

Shine rubbed her face. "Okay... what happened?"

"Well, you heard what Wallace said," Raven said. "They ate more than they should have... but they weren't the only ones. The others did it on the sly, but a few more ate extra rations... No one has any memory of why they did it or even when, but I went around and asked... We don't have enough for all of us for more than another day or so. So by the time you want to leave this spot..."

"So... we need at least enough for another 3 days or more and more water... We can fill up our waters at the stream, but the food... unless some starts falling from the sky."

"Yes, because that would happen," Raven said flatly.

Shine raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, don't tell me that's a thing also." Raven frowned.

Shine shrugged.

Raven face-palmed, then she looked up. "Well, can you make that?"

"Perhaps it could happen, but we might have our own means," Shine said. "It depends... You could portal back to Tai."

"Tai's probably gone back to Vale by now..." Raven said.

"So?"

"So it's not like he'd just have enough ready for us. I could take hours looking for it," Raven argued. "Why do you think I didn't do it before?--that, and I didn't think of it while that light was out, but even before that, I could have, but the attacks have happened so often, I thought even leaving a few hours might be too long. What if I came back and there was an attack underway? I wouldn't be ready for it. What if I was too late? What if you moved and we were separated again? It might not solve anything."

"AWW, you actually are worried about us?" Shine said.

"Stop it." Raven glared at her. "Don't give me that cutesy tone. It's practical."

"Oh, would it kill you to say it?" Shine leaned on her hand cheekily. "But anyway... Still we'll be free for a bit, unless we're attacked again, which we could be, but if we were going to risk it, now would be the time. If you could... we're all in bad shape now. I don't know if anyone wants to turn back."

"You said no turning back," Raven said.

"Well, that was without your Semblance," Shine said. "And if you had turned back, it wouldn't have mattered. But you're going to stick this out."

"Did you really think I wouldn't?" Raven said.

"Raven, do not take this the wrong way," Shine said with a somber look, "but wise leadership is built upon two things: One of them is an understanding of human character. The other is the knowing that no matter what you understand, people are unpredictable at some level. Whatever I think of you or wish to think, I must allow for unknown factors. So, no, I can't 100% count on anyone not changing their mind, but I didn't think it was likely. If that offends you, I'm surprised. Surely as Bandit Leader you must have found the same thing to be true many times over."

"Actually, I wouldn't trust most bandits even that much," Raven admitted sullenly. "Fine... you know, you're annoyingly divided between being so optimistic it's like you're high, and so shrewd that you're almost condescendingly realistic."

"If the Bible teaches one thing, it's that you should love mankind but not trust them implicitly," Shine said. "'Lend and do not borrow ' is sage advice. Anyway, Raven, do you want to try?"

"Something feels a little off about leaving," Raven said.  "What If I couldn't get back somehow? You can't, after all."

"But it won't affect you will it?"

"Yeah, but..."

"Raven, is this the time for superstitious feelings? Pragmatism has its place, you know. I think it's worth a shot."

"If I must," Raven agreed sullenly. "Don't move, then... Should I take anyone to help?"

"Hazel could probably carry a lot," Shine said.

Raven gave her a sharp look.

"What?" Shine said.

"Nothing. I agree," Raven said with another sharp look. "Better hurry then."

"Better," Shine agreed, returning the look.

* * *

Sun finally came to about an hour or so later.

Blake was waiting again. She had a book in one hand and was still holding his with the other.

Sun scared her by croaking, "Did I eat something bad?"

Blake startled and dropped the book--nearly into the fire, but she just missed.

"Sun!" she said. "You're okay!"

"I don't feel okay," Sun said. "I feel awful... What happened to me?"

"You... ate some bad fruit," Blake said.

"I did...?" Sun said. "Wait...did I hurl?"

"Yeah."

"Ew!" Sun made a face. "Ah, man... I lost all my coolness points."

Blake pretended to smack his arm.

"Hey!" he said.

"You're worried about coolness points, Sun? You almost died!" Blake was on the edge of hysterics and relief from the sound of her voice. "Do you understand that? You could have died!"

"Whoa, whoa." Sun sat up, still sore. "It's okay..."

He put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's not okay!" Blake started crying. "And I didn't do anything... If not for Emerald..."

Emerald glanced over at her and looked baffled.

"I don't know what she's so upset about..." she said. "I didn't do that much."

"Oh, sure, just saved all our lives." Mercury had his head on his pack and was staring up at the uncanny moon distastefully.

"Blake, nothing's wrong," Sun said, hugging her.

Blake leaned her head on his shoulder.

["Sunflower" AMV by Apotheosis.]

https://youtu.be/8tKZ0BNQ3Vw

[I saw someone call their relationship forced... Sure... 5 Volumes of development through, I don't know, working together in Vol. 1, dating and working together in Vol. 2, same in Vol. 3, going on a trip in Vol. 4, taking on the White Fang in Vol. 5...yeah...forced. Not well paced, with actual communication between them and non-toxic interaction at all... I mean, you know, like they just liked each other without any indication they were interested for 5 Volumes and then somehow, with no conversation about it or moment of mutual understanding period, they're a thing... Yeah... Blacksun is so forced.

Sorry for the rant, but while I have my admitted crackships, it boggles my mind when people take ones that were canon and pretend they didn't really accomplish anything just out of wishful thinking.]

* * *

"Can I ask you something?" Weiss said to Meridian.

"Sure." He was sharpening his arrows.

"When the... Avarice, was...well, you said you were treated like an outsider," Weiss said. "Do you really think that?"

"We all said things we didn't mean."

"Sometimes there's some truth to it though," Weiss countered.

Meridian thought about it.

"I suppose it's natural--you've all known each other much longer, mostly, even for your criminal friends. I'd feel out of it no matter what."

"I'm sorry," Weiss said.

"Don't worry about it. Not your fault."

"I felt like the outsider sometimes," Weiss said, "just... just because before Beacon I didn't have real friends. It was lonely. I guess I don't always notice when other people feel that way... I've been thinking about it, and I realized I know nothing about you."

"Well, there's not much to tell," Meridian said.

"Do you have family?" Weiss asked.

"Think I'd have mentioned it by now if I did." Meridian had a hint of tightness like this might be an unpleasant subject.

"Oh," Weiss said, not sure if she'd stepped on a nerve.

After a pause, Meridian sighed. "It's not a nice story, not a long one either, so I mostly don't bother to tell it, but if you want to know... It's no different from a lot of huntsmen in Vacuo. Grimm are always right outside the kingdom. I don't remember what happened very clearly. My parents and I were walking somewhere out of town, some fight drew some Grimm... or so I was told. All I remember was being shoved into a barrel and told to keep quiet. Someone else found me later... Only one left."

"Oh... that's horrible." Weiss covered her mouth.

"They said it was my Semblance." Meridian was staring at his arrow thoughtfully. "The Grimm went by me and for the more terrified people. Said I was d--- lucky. I figured that was true, in one way...but not in another way. I spent some years on the streets like most Vacuo kids. Most of them had stories like that, or worse ones. Seems to me the one thing to do to make it right was to make use of this gift and become a huntsman, keep what happened to me from happening to other kids. So I got old enough, entered Shade, and got in. The rest is history."

"I'm sorry that happened..." Weiss looked down.

"I don't feel sorry for meself." Meridian shrugged. "It's not like it's an unusual story. I blame the Grimm--they're monsters--and the fools who don't give any thought to other people's safety when they make selfish decisions. My family dying was a rum go for me, but all I remember of them, they were good people. That's more than some people have to remember. I could be a lot worse off. I was lucky to have the skills to be a huntsman. There's some who don't--do a lot worse. You can't feel sorry for yourself, Weiss. Life is tough for everyone, in different ways. Just be part of the problem or part of the answer."

Weiss nodded. "I agree... But why didn't you like your Semblance then?"

"It was useful against Grimm," Meridian mused. "And I liked it fine, just wished I had a more combat based one in training, but I got good enough to compensate for that. Just gets annoying sometimes, hyping people up all the time. Plenty of asses in Vacuo won't avoid a fight if they're feeling brave enough to, and I don't talk people out of things very easily. After a long day fighting Grimm, not everyone wants to start a fight."

"Huh..." Weiss tilted her head. "I didn't think of it that way."

"And my friends tend to blame their jackass s--- on my influence," Meridian said. "I might be a cocky b-----d at times, but I've gotten used to curbing my Semblance. But not everyone is sensible. Things got out of hand in my training days a lot... Usually I got the blame for that."

"Like Qrow?" Weiss had picked up enough of Qrow's backstory by now to know this.

"Maybe a bit," Meridian said. "Only more like 'you remove my common sense and impulse control' instead of 'you make bad things happen.'"

"I guess I should have known that you have your own stuff," Weiss said. "Everyone does. No one here doesn't have some sadness or difficulties."

"We're all human. So?" Meridian shrugged.

"I promise not to blame you for anything reckless I do." Weiss held up her hand. "Winter would never let me anyway."

"That's what I like about your sister. It's such a pity she can't stand me," Meridian said.

"I think she's warming up to you. She thanked you earlier," Weiss said. "Just give her a few more weeks. I don't think she likes most people at first."

"Weeks, eh?" Meridian said wryly.

[LOL.]

https://youtu.be/qB-3ZPCBtz0

[Who We Are--Switchfoot]

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top