Beacon Academy.

An undisclosed amount of time before the current storyline.

"What makes a Hunter?" Professor Flan asked the new class of Hunters that sat in the stands before him. "That is a question that all of you must consider throughout both your training at Beacon, and your subsequent careers as Hunters."

"Isn't that a really simple question?" Taiyang whispered to his partner and teammate, Qrow Branwen. "I mean, hunters are-"

"Mr. Taiyang, do you have an answer that you can share with the class?" Professor Flan turned her attention to the young blonde, who immediately felt his body tense up. "Well come on then, spit it out!"

"Uh-uh." Taiyang stammered, shifting on his feet. "Hunters are meant to be...protectors of the weak and the downtrodden! In other words, real heroes!"

"...A textbook answer." Professor Flan said, causing Taiyang to turn scarlet. "But, a good one nevertheless."

A snort caused Professor Flan to shift her attention to the boy seated next to Taiyang.

"Mr. Branwen, it appears you have a different opinion do you not?"

"Yeah." Qrow stood up slowly. "Hunters aren't heroes. They fight Grimm, but the real monsters aren't the Grimm. They're people. A real hero isn't someone that kills the Grimm. A hero is someone who'd do anything for the world, even if he becomes the enemy of the world."

"...That's a rather interesting idea, Mr Branwen. Cynical, but interesting." Professor Flan motioned for Qrow and Taiyang to sit down. "Mr. Taiyang, your resolution and belief in the goodness of the world will lead you far, but you mustn't forget that not everything is as simple as good and evil. Mr. Branwen, your attitude is horribly dark, but it is not without truth. In your case, you must remember that no matter how dark the world is, there is always light worth protecting."

Qrow and Taiyang looked each other in the eye, silent communication passing between the two.

"I think you two were destined to be partners, since you each have what the other lacks. In your four years here, I hope that you two will learn from each other, and become what you think the world needs. Though-" Professor Flan looked at the two girls seated directly behind the duo. "-I do feel a bit sorry for your other teammates."

"Don't worry, we feel sorry for ourselves as well." Raven Branwen replied, looking at her brother and teammate with an exasperated expression. Next to her, Summer Rose had hidden her blushing face beneath her cloak, embarrassed by the attention she was receiving. "But I'm sure it'll all be fine, since we've got our amazing leader right here." Raven poked Summer with her elbow.

"Eh?" Summer looked around wildly, not expecting to be signalled out. "Uh-uh, I'll give it my best shot!"

As Raven chastised Summer for lacking confidence in herself, and Qrow and Taiyang begun to furiously debate the question asked by the Professor (Well, Taiyang tried to anyway. Qrow was having none of it and was ignoring the blonde.), Professor Flan observed Team STRQ with a knowing glint in her eyes.

She foresaw that one day this team would have a significant effect on the world.

Little did she know just how much that prediction would come true.

Present Day

"No." Qrow smacked his hand on Ozpin's desk. "She can't be the Winter maiden."

"I don't believe your opinion can change concrete results." Ironwood noted dryly. "The results of her most recent physical have confirmed it. Winter Schnee is the most suited to inherit the current Winter Maiden's powers.."

"And I said, she can't be the Winter maiden." Qrow repeated. He wasn't drunk in the slightest, an unusual occurrence to say the least. But the current situation was dire enough that he wasn't going to touch a drop. "She's a novice, with barely any emotional control. Her skills are sub-par at best. She can't handle the power associated with the title."

"According to the feeds from her most recent battle, she seems more than capable of combat." Glynda butt in, pulling up the video on her scroll. "And emotional control can be taught-"

"Glynda, trust me." Qrow cut off the witch. "Winter Schnee is not fit for the role of Winter maiden."

"Qrow…" Ironwood stared at the special operative, as if seeing something new in his behaviour. "Are you saying this because you truly believe she can't handle this? Or-"

"I don't like where this is heading James." Qrow glared at the general, who ignored him and continued to speak frankly.

"-are you saying this because you don't wish for her to be put in danger out of personal feelings?"

The moment James Ironwood finished his sentence, the temperature in the room dropped several degrees. Qrow's expression had turned very dangerous.

"...You're treading in very treacherous territory, Jimmy." Qrow emphasised the name, making his threat very clear.

"And you're avoiding the question." Ironwood responded, unwilling to back down. "Now tell us, are you personally invested in this matter or not?"

Qrow's answer was to storm out of the room without another word. As he stepped into the elevator and turned around to close the doors, Qrow flipped Ironwood the middle finger.

The moment the door's closed, the tension in the room dropped significantly. A silence however, hung over the three remaining inhabitants.

"...Was that truly wise James?" Ozpin asked his old friend. "Qrow is a valuable ally for us."

"He's only useful so long as he can do the right thing." Ironwood replied, staring at the closed elevator doors. "For us, the protection of the world takes priority over any personal feelings."

"And Qrow understands that perfectly. Perhaps more than any of us."

"And yet, he's unwilling to let Winter do this."

"...it may be in our best interest to wait on our decision to make Winter the maiden. After all, it isn't like Frost is in any danger of dying as of now. And perhaps an even finer candidate will show up in due time. It's best not to rush such decisions."

"...fine." After a moment's contemplation, Ironwood voiced his consent to Ozpin's compromise. "But if the time comes and we have no alternative, we will use Winter. With or without Qrow's consent."

"Agreed." Ozpin said, both his voice and heart heavy. "May Oum ensure that day never comes."


"Bloody Jimmy." Qrow grumbled, taking a swing from his flask. "Thinking that she's trained."

The familiar haze of alcohol entered his mind, soothing the painful thoughts just a tad.

"Ugh." Qrow stepped out of the elevator and into the Beacon Halls. It was late afternoon, so classes had ended. "What should I do now…"

Qrow allowed his sentence to trail off as he caught sight of a familiar white haired Huntress. Winter Schnee and her younger sister were walking towards the Beacon gardens, the younger Schnee talking enthusiastically while the older one listened attentively.

"Eh, why not?" Qrow begun to stealthily follow the pair, not quite sure what he was out to achieve.

He'd figure it out eventually.


"And then, she swung her scythe and-" Weiss gestured with her hands, very much into her story. "-the Beowolf's head was sent flying!"

"Weiss, while I am enthralled by your storytelling." Winter gave her younger sister a small smile. "I don't think it's good for a young lady to flail her arms around like that."

"Oh." Weiss felt a blush appear on her cheeks. "Sorry."

"You'll get there, don't worry." Winter smirked, secretly very proud of how her younger sister had turned out. "So, how does the story end?"

"With a bang." A drunken voice suddenly said behind the two sisters. At the same time, an arm shoved Weiss in the side of the head, sending her stumbling to the side. Another arm wrapped itself around Winter's shoulders. "Ice Queen, I need to talk to you."

"Qrow." A look of disdain crossed the elder Schnee's face. "Remove your arm from my body before I remove it for you."

"That's not what you said-"

"That was a one time thing. And a mistake." Winter glared at Qrow, who eventually removed his hand. He stayed uncomfortably close to her however. "Now then, leave my presence before I get rid of you myself."

"I still need to talk to you Ice Queen."

"Then speak."

"In private." Qrow glanced at Weiss, who was staring at the two of them with a conflicted expression.

"What could you possibly say that my sister can't hear-"

"It's classified." Qrow echoed Winter's favorite term, knowing that she'd comply. She had always been a sucker for rules and regulations. He swore she got off on them.

"...fine." Winter turned to her sister. "Weiss, it appears we must reschedule. Some business has come up."

"I...understand." Weiss' expression was sad, which hurt her older sister. "I'll see you later Winter."

The moment Weiss left, Winter turned to Qrow. "You have my full attention. Talk."

An undisclosed amount of time before the series.

Atlas Academy

"So, what do you think this speech is going to be about?" Rainer Perun, Winter Schnee's partner and teammate, asked. The two of them were walking towards the auditorium, where a speech by an unknown party was about to be given to the students in their last year.

"Did you even bother to read the message Rainer?" Winter Schnee looked at the boy, who shrugged and gave her a smile. "Of course you didn't. Why did I even assume you would?"

"That's why we're partners! We compliment each other's weaknesses-"

"You're just incompetent."

"That hurts Ice Queen."

"Stop calling me that!" Winter yelled, drawing attention from every single person on the pathway.

"Fiiine." Rainer patted Winter on the head, which resulted in him getting his arm smacked away. "Wow, you're in a bad mood today aren't you?"

"That's none of your business." Winter wasn't about to admit that the Schnee Patriarch had, upon hearing of her intention to join the Atlas Military instead of the Schnee Dust Company, cut her allowance. "Anyway, today's speech being given by Qrow Branwen, a Hunter from Beacon Academy specialising in special missions. He's an ex-member of Team STRQ, wields a sword-cannon, has done missions in-"

"Woah, woah, woah." Rainer held his hand up. "Did you memorise his entire biography?"

"H-he's-" Winter blushed. "-interesting!"

"Oh. My. Oum." Rainer's face lit up like a young child's on christmas day. "Winter Schnee has a crush on someone she's never met." In an instant, Rainer had his scroll out and was typing 'Qrow Branwen' into image search. "Huh. So you like the rugged, handsome and significantly older look hmm?"

"I don't have a crush on him!" Winter shouted, once again drawing the attention of everyone on the pathway. This only caused her to blush further. "Ugh, the nerve that you have sometimes Rainer!"

With that said, Winter stomped ahead, with Rainer being forced to run after his partner.

Present Day

"...You're joking."

"I'm not."

"You realise that this is bad taste, even for you."

"I'm not joking Ice Queen."

"The Four Season Maidens are a true story? You realise how crazy you sound, right Qrow?"

"And I'm telling you, the story is true."

The two Hunters were currently seated in a small alcove located in the Beacon Gardens. Qrow had an annoyed expression on his face, while Winter seemed typically apathetic.

"OK, let's assume that what you're saying is true and that there are four individuals wielding abnormal powers running around. If you're truly part of a secret cabal designed to protect them, then isn't telling me this knowledge a serious breach of your job?"

"It is, but-"

"I would have thought that the great Qrow Branwen would know to keep confidential information, well confidential-"

"I'm doing this to protect you damn it!" Qrow banged his fist on the table, causing Winter to flinch. "You've been deemed a potential candidate for the Winter maiden position!"

"And how is that a bad thing?"

"How is that a bad thing-" Qrow felt his words get caught in his throat. How was he suppose to explain that becoming the Winter Maiden could potentially led to her becoming another person. "Look, you're not ready for it."

That was probably the worst thing Qrow could say in the given situation.

Winter, upon hearing those words, took on a very angry expression.

"What are you implying, Branwen?"

"OK, that may have come out wrong-"

"There is only one way of interpreting those words, and I'm fairly certain that you're saying that I'm not capable."

"You're not!"

"That isn't for you to judge." Winter said tersely. "Alright, I've heard what you have to say. Now I'm going to report you to General Ironwood for revealing classified information, as well as tell him that I'm willing to become the Winter maiden-"

Whatever Winter was about to say was cut off when Qrow grabbed her collar and pulled her into a kiss.

Winter's eyes shot open as their lips touched. In an instant, she had shoved Qrow off her.

In the next, the sound of a slap echoed through the alcove.

"You-you." Winter stuttered. Pure fury was evident in her words and expression. "You BASTARD!"

"Look, I care about you-" Qrow was cut off when Winter gave him a vicious backhand.

"No, you don't." Winter stood up and brushed herself off. Her fury had turned from burning hot to freezing cold, which was no less scary. "You never cared about me. I still remember what you said all those years ago."

"I can explain-" Winter smacked him again, cutting him off once more.

"Now, I'm going to go to Ironwood. And if you ever approach me in a non-professional context again, I will gut you."

With that said, Winter stalked out of the alcove, leaving Qrow to reflect on his actions.


I really should be studying for my last exam tomorrow, but whatever~

New story about Snowbirds (or Qrowin). Let the angst and romance and other not-so-fun stuff begin!

I got the idea from a comic I saw on the internet under the Qrowin tag.

Ferris