Dad held a family meeting…

"Hey sweetie, come sit with your old man. I made tea, your favorite." Tai smiled at his daughter, patting the place at the kitchen table beside him that he had reserved for her.

It wasn't really a family meeting though, it was just me and him.

Yang wearily looked around the room, her attention turning to the window, looking outside at the picturesque spring morning, she confirmed what she had suspected.

Turns out, Qrow had taken Garnet out for ice cream before I had even come downstairs. I knew what it was about.

"Thanks…" Yang sighed and walked over to her designated seat, the chair out facing her dad. Even with the calming smell of hot cinnamon tea, she still felt anxiety trickling up from her chest.

"We need to talk." His thumb gently rubbed the warm ceramic of his coffee mug. He usually tried to put up a good front for her and Garnet, but he looked completely exhausted.

He wanted to talk about the Garnet problem…

"Okay…" Yang made herself comfortable, cautiously sipping at her tea. Meanwhile, the room's tension grew denser and denser, her mind scrambling to figure out what she could possibly offer to help.

"Garnet... how's he doing? Any troubles at school? I checked his grades, they're usually near the top of his class but over the last couple of months he's been missing assignments and his teachers say he's having trouble focusing in class." Tai did his best to keep a warm smile, but his depression easily bled through.

"We aren't in the same school anymore, I don't know." Her response was cold and hurried, her chest welled up with bitter heat as anger burned from out of nowhere.

I really wouldn't know what's happening in his life anymore.

"Heh… right, I guess I forgot about that." The heaviest sigh Yang had ever heard left his mouth, she almost could see him deflating with hopelessness. "It's hard to remember sometimes… you both are growing up so fast."

"I-" Her mouth opened but only a syllable escaped before anything else she could think of died on her lips. Slumping in her chair, all she could do was sip dejectedly at her drink.

"Nevermind about that, I'm alright. I'm just worried about him, he hasn't seemed like himself recently. I'm worried." He tried so hard to brush off his emotional fatigue, giving a half hearted laugh while his tired eyes fixated on his mug, watching the steam softly rise from the hot pool.

"It's been this way for a while. You just haven't noticed." The bitter words slipped out before she even knew what she had said. Her anger and frustration boiled over, and a bit of that scalding pain slipped out at her dad.

…

The room fell silent as Yang's words faded into the still air. Her gaze darted away from her dad and the look of deep guilt melded with her anger at him, two unbelievably heavy feelings that dragged her head down until all she could look at was her cup in her lap.

"Maybe… I haven't been as attentive as I should be." His fake smile died with that admission, in its place, was a broken man.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" Once again, she couldn't bring herself to finish what she wanted to say. An upwelling of fire from her belly seared into her chest, all that hot anger aimed at the man in front of her.

Maybe if he wasn't still so broken over losing you, he would have been able to help. Ahg! I don't know what to do! I can't do this alone but no one is helping!

"It's okay." With a solemn shake of his head, he placed his mug back on the table and fixed his attention back on his daughter. "I know you're worried about him, we all are."

All Yang could do was nod silently, still trying to forced her anger back down, swallowing any harsh words that came up her throat before they could be spoken.

I'm stupid, I know they care.

"Has Garnet said anything to you? Has he given any indication what might be going on? I know you two are closer to each other than anyone else, please, help us help him." Tai's desperation and pure, unmitigated exhaustion came through with no filter or hesitation. All he could do was look pleadingly at his young daughter for help.

"Dad…" Hearing his pain filled earnestness and loss, all of Yang's anger was snuffed out in an instant, leaving nothing but the guilt. She couldn't even bring herself to look at him.

Her hands fumbled with her mug, turning it and adjusting her grip on the handle while she tried to get her out of control thoughts to calm down.

Through the storm of thoughts that pelted her like furious hail, she could only think of one thing to do.

…

"He hasn't said anything. I don't know what's going on either."

"What was I supposed to say!?" Yang cried desperately, the midday sun shining off her tear stained cheeks. Before the golden haired child, a lonely grave atop a grassy hill stood silent, listening to the girl's retelling of her morning.

"I don't know what's going on! Garnet isn't saying anything, all I have to go on is a drawing he made in the dirt when he was bored. It probably means nothing. How could I tell dad about that, what if I'm wrong and it pushes Garnet even further away?" She felt like she was going to throw up from all the stress and confusion.

"I- I wish you were still here. Garnet loved you so much, I mean, we all did, but he idolized you ya know? When you died, everything fell apart, Dad shut down, he's still barely himself anymore. I had to pick everything up, I had to be my little brother's mom, I had to take care of the house, I had to make sure Dad didn't forget to pay bills or eat." She was trembling as grief and rage eroded her long cultivated self control.

"I'm just a kid! How can I help Garnet? I have no idea what he's going through. He's supposed to trust me! I'm supposed to protect him but he's not letting me!" Breaking down in front of her stepmother's grave, the golden hair child wept on her hands and knees, trembling out of control.

Garnet… why won't you talk to me? Why won't you let me help? I'll always love you, no matter what. I want to protect you, I want to see you happy. For so long now, I feel like I've lost you. I try to reach out, but you just keep getting further away. Just let me in, you're not alone, whatever you're going through, we can face it together.

Gasping breathlessly in the cool grass, Yang's emotionally drained body gave out. It took so much just to roll into her back and stare up at the clear blue sky.

Even if he did open up to me… could I help? I don't know what he's going through, even through all that stress of practically raising him and keeping Dad's head above water, I don't think I ever got depressed. I felt lonely, I felt isolated, but I never felt like he's feeling now. I never slept all day, I never hated being awake, I never stopped caring about my appearance and I never stopped taking care of myself. I had to be strong for him, for Dad, for myself.

Tearing up a fistfull of grass, Yang held her balled up hand over her head. With her vision still hazy from her tears, she watched little green blurs float away on the gentle breeze.

I can barely get him to eat anymore. Yesterday after training was the first time I've seen him eat well in… too long. He's losing weight, we can all tell. He wears that same hoodie all the time, keeping his hood up as much as he can get away with. It's like he just wants to disappear.

"I won't let that happen. I won't lose him." As her tears dried, a new fire welled up in her chest, a golden inferno of determination. Her body was flooded with energy and every muscle felt reinvigorated with purpose. Though she didn't know it, her lilac eyes were scorched a deep crimson.

Shakily getting to her feet, Yang took a deep breath, and headed back down the path to home. Thank you… mom.

"Come on pipsqueak, let's fix up that mop of yours." A familiar, teasing voice came from the living room as Yang entered her home.

"I… I…" She heard Garnet stammering, timid and anxious.

"Garnet, you haven't had your hair cut in months, your bangs are getting in your eyes, don't you want to be able to see?" Dad said half jokingly but his exhaustion from his earlier conversation that morning with Yang was still bleeding through.

"What's going on in here?" Yang stepped through the threshold, into the room to join the rest of her family.

"Just in time firecracker." A man with a playful grin in a cape who smelled strongly of whiskey stood with an electric hair cutting thing that Yang could never remember the name of. "Hold him down!"

"Qrow, I think you're getting a bit carried away." Their sighed, his face in his palm, shaking his head in frustration.

"Ah, he knows I'm just kidding, right kiddo?" Qrow put his hand on Garnet's head, ruffling up his hair with his fingers.

"Y-yeah…" The little boy's response was barely audible.

Now that Yang had thoroughly taken in the hectic scene in her living room, she had a chance to process what was happening, particularly focusing on her little brother. Garnet sat on a stool with an apron on and his big silver eyes dull and resigned. He looked like he had surrendered to something very unpleasant.

He's miserable. Why are they doing this? She wanted to immediately stop them but… If I try, they might pressure him or me for answers, I don't think that would make things better. What can I do? Come on Yang, think!

"Alright, so how do you want it?" Qrow tossed the hair clipper up, letting it spin before trying to catch it… only for the cord to snag, making the device fall onto the hard floor. "Oops."

"Please don't go breaking our house, Qrow." All Tai could do was sigh at the spectacle a simple haircut was becoming.

"Seems like you're having some bad luck, maybe the haircut can wait until tomorrow?" With a hopeful half smile, Yang just pleaded in her head for them to call it quits, but she knew it was unlikely.

"I'm fine." Qrow's voice had a subtle hint of annoyance as he dusted off the clipper. "Come on kiddo, let's get you a new look, all the girls at school won't be able to resist you and all the guys will be jealous once I'm through with you."

"That… would be… nice." Garnet gave the smallest, weakest smile. Yang had never heard a single syllable ever before sound so forced and tortured out as when he said 'nice'. It was clear to her that Garnet was extremely uncomfortable but didn't want to hurt their feelings or worry them by expressing that.

I have to do something. Once again, determination soared within her, but her mind frantically struggled to come up with a plan.

"You're gonna be one handsome guy after clean you up. Nothing like a new look to help you get some confidence." The clipper buzzed to life in Qrow's hand and Garnet just let out a soft exhale and shut his eyes tight.

Come on! Think! There has to be something!

Bvvvvvvvvvvvv!

"Wait!" Yang blurted out so loudly it even startle her and Garnet.

The room went silent and all eyes were on her, and Yang suddenly felt a rush of embarrassment… until she met Garnet's gaze. His hopeful eyes shined at her with gratitude and relief. That one look gave her the will to follow through.

"I- I um… I want to get my hair cut too." She could practically hear their jaws hitting the floor.

"Say that again firecracker?" Qrow lowered the clipper in awe and confusion, reaching for his flask and giving it a shake, making sure he wasn't 'that' drunk.

"It's… too… long." Every word felt like torture and she was sure she could feel her hair cringing. "It takes half a bottle of condition per wash to maintain it, it gets in way when I'm training and- and I just want a change okay!" Her cheeks were red and her heart was pounding, all the while, Garnet looked at her with awe.

"Well... if that's how you feel, I don't see anything wrong with it." Tai was just as perplexed as Qrow.

"Sorry, kid, I don't know how any girl haircuts. We can take you to the local salon tomorrow." Qrow seemed entirely confused, looking around like the sky was gonna fall.

"C-could I go with?" Garnet's soft voice squeaked up, grabbing everyone's attention. "To get my hair cut there?"

"What, you don't think I could do it?" Qrow all but pouted, looking equal parts disappointed and offended.

"Uncle Qrow, last time you cut his hair, you almost took his ear off, besides, you only ever do his hair like yours." Yang laughed, trying to keep attention on her.

"She's got you there, Qrow." Tai joined in the fun, seeming genuinely happy to tease his former teammate. "I don't think it would be a bad idea, if that's what you want, Garnet."

"Yeah, I think I'd like. I'm sorry, Uncle Qrow." The boy smiled so warmly and genuinely that Qrow just surrendered immediately.

"Eh, it's alright, Pipsqueak." He smirked. "When you don't like how they do your hair, I'll fix it for an apology."

"Will do!" Garnet's playful, shining self was back, though brief, Yang made sure to take in the moment.

I have your back, you're not alone, little bro. You don't need to open up right away, I'm here for you whenever you need me. Yang's heart felt warm and she knew she made a breakthrough with her brother, however small it was.

"Hey, bro, wanna come to my room and help me pick out a new hairstyle?" With a grin, she motioned with her head for him to follow.

"Yes! I- I mean, yeah, I'll help." Happily, he followed his big sister up the stairs to her bedroom.

It's going to be okay, I won't lose him, no matter what.