they don't know who i am
Raven Branwen was a lot of things, a twin sister, a scary leather wearing motorcycle rider, girl ready to beat anyone’s ass and most recently a lovesick teenager. She leans against her bike, smoking as she watches her brother, Qrow, and Taiyang Xiao Long scuffle in the parking lot they’d found themselves in. Summer Rose was sitting, yelling at them, pitting the boys against each other. Although Raven would rather die than admit she appreciated the way Tai’s ass looked in his jeans or the way the sun was bringing out the red in Summer’s hair.
It was the beginning of October, and the chill hadn’t yet set in for the Texas town. The four of them had made plans to go hang out at Menargire tonight, to celebrate the newest addition to the White Fang, or soon to be newest addition. Kali and Ghira were having a baby, their first. Eventually, the group splits apart, Qrow off to go suck face with the star quaterback, Clover, and the other three to Tai’s house, Sienna had warned them off of coming to the bar to early under the threat of death.
She’s in Tai’s bedroom when she hears the word that began their friendship so many years ago, “Let’s make a deal.” Raven’s eyes snap up at him from where she was dozing lazily on his bed, having made herself a nest out of the blankets. Her eyebrow lifts, beckoning him to continue. “You go to prom with us.”
Sitting up abruptly, Raven lets out a short laugh, rolling her eyes, “Taiyang Xaio Long, that is not a deal, that is a statement. An absurd one, how can you say that in front of your girlfriend, nonetheless?”
“It was my idea.” Raven spins her head to where Summer sits on the ground, strumming a guitar softly.
Raven’s mind sputters at the thought, “But he said with him.”
“No, with us, both of us.” Oh, they must know then. Raven mentally curses her brother for thinking this is funny. He must’ve told them one night she had been helping Sienna at Menagrie, trying to make a little cash.
“Terms and conditions, Xiao Long. Spit 'em up.”
“Raven, I love you, you know that, but it’s not the same way it was when we were younger. I won’t speak for Rosey over there, but I think this has been a long time coming.”
Tai grins before speaking, “Terms and conditions, you give us two weeks leading up to prom to woo you. If you aren’t wooed by the morning of, we call the whole thing off. If you decide it’s too much, we'll back off and it never happened. We do manage to woo you, you go to prom with us, and we see what comes of it, one day at a time.”
“I accept.” Raven doesn’t hesitate, at least it would make for a good story one day.
Looking back, Raven should’ve known Summer would’ve had something particularly sinister up her sleeve, combined with Tai’s knowledge of her weak spots, it wouldn’t have even been a fight. Especially not when she had already been trapped on the ledge of her creation.
It had started innocently enough, Summer hiding little candies in her pockets so when she grabbed Raven's hands, putting them in her pocket so it was out of sight. Walking out of the house to see Tai waiting to ride into school together. They had gone bowling that Saturday, dragging Qrow along to keep up appearances. Summer had managed to get behind Raven under the guise of showing her proper form, unlike the sweet things she’d whispered into the dark-haired girl's ear while they were closer than appropriate. Tai held her hand under the table as they ate pizza next door, before going home.
The final nail in the coffin had been when they had dinner with Tai’s parents. Now, Raven had been around them since 3rd grade when Tai had forced her into their friendship, not taking no for an answer, but she was unsure of what capacity she was there. Tai’s best friend? His something more? She had no idea.
Tai’s mother, Linda, opens the door as she rings the bell, “Hi, sweetie. Tai’s upstairs, he wanted to make sure he looked all pretty for your date.”
“Uh, date? It’s not a date-” Raven stutters when Tai’s father, Taiyang Senior, speaks from the kitchen, stirring something in a pot.
“Raven, we know about the deal.”
“You don’t hate me? I mean, I could be ruining the best thing your son ever had.” This is exactly what she had been scared of; sure, she had Kali and Ghira, but Tai’s parents had been the only actual paternal figures in her life for a while. The only adults who weren’t under the age of 30, she was around frequently. People didn’t tend to live very long lives in the world she lived in.
“Sweetheart, you were the first great thing to happen to him. We all knew Tai’s heart was far too big to fit in his chest. It only makes sense that he’d be in love with you, both of you. Now, another question: how do you feel about Summer?”
Raven feels her cheeks warm at the thought of explaining her feelings toward the redhead, “I like her a lot too. Are you sure you don’t hate me? It would be perfectly reasonable; I’d completely understand. I mean, how realistic is this idea, that we might make it?” After all, it was Texas, fresh out of 90’s not the best place to go against the grain.
“Little Red, we could never hate you. You loving, yes loving, don’t give me that look, Raven Branwen, we’ve known you since you were 9, both of them also makes sense. Your heart has more than enough room for both of them.”
“I’ve been terrified this whole time that this has just been a dream.” Raven suddenly gushes, unable to stop herself. While she might be scary and badass, she was also simply a lovestuck teenage girl.
“My boy is nothing if not a charmer. How he’d managed to trick not one of you but both of you will always be beyond me, you’ve smelled his converse, right?” His dad jokes,
“Unfortunately.” Tai comes rushing down the stairs at the sound of the doorbell ringing, quickly kissing Raven like it was a reflex before opening the door for Summer. The short girl watches the blonde in shock, almost like he didn’t realize it was the first time he kissed her. Reaching for the door knob and then pausing the boy in question turns back to her, “Was that okay?”
“It was great.” The two shared a grin as the door opened for Summer.
“I know I didn’t miss the first kiss.” Summer pouts.
“I mean, I wouldn’t object if you wanted to even the score with blondie.” Summer grins before marching up to Raven, sweeping the black haired girl into a deep kiss. Pulling back, the taller girl looks smug at the way her kiss affected Raven.
Dinner had been uneventful. To anyone looking it, it was just a normal dinner with a friend’s parent’s but it meant something far more than that. It was Tai’s way of presenting her, claiming her even if he didn’t realize it. It also was somewhat of the same thing for Summer, as a foster kid, she’d come into their lives freshman year and had simply never left. Raven wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to let go of the redhead if they were separated.
After dinner, they’d retreated to the porch to watch the stars. Raven is leaning against Summer when she clears her throat. “So?”
Tai grins up at her from where he sits leaning against her leg. “What will it be, little Red?” He questions. After all, tonight was the night of their deal.
‘I’ll go to prom with you, both of you.” Summer squeals as Tai gives a whoop of triumph as he scoops both girls up, swinging them around, before sitting them down a running out the door. Raven rolls her eyes as Summer wraps her arms around the shorter girl, swaying them gently.
“MOM, DAD, SHE’S GOING TO PROM WITH US!” Raven swears the whole state of Texas heard the boy as he ran around the block yelling that Raven Branwen had agreed to go to prom with him and Summer.