Atlas Airships had become an all to common site over the skies of vale leading up to the festival. Hawx couldn't help but recognise one airship in particular that flew in ominously slowly.
"hmm, this ought to be good."
The airship landed at the edge of beacons grounds. Two young girls rushed forward as the boarding ramp lowered. Hawx Recognised them both. Wisse Schnee was the current Aires to the Schnee dust company in the event of her fathers passing or stepping down. Hawx didn't know Wisse but had faith she was going to be more like her grandfather then her father, the Schnee daughters were difficult people but good people at their core. The other girl Hawx barely recognised as Ruby Rose. The daughter and niece of two of his favourite teachers from Signal academy. Hawx knew her and her sister when they were younger. But that was a long time ago. Hawx was too far away to hear the conversation but had a pretty good idea as to how it was going. Winter Schnee stepped down the ramp to greet her excited sister and a confused ruby.
"guess you haven't changed that much then rose."
Hawx withdrew his semblance slightly. He was sitting on one of the decorative pillars at the far edge of the platform. His semblance allowed him to zoom in his site like a pair of binoculars. Upon pulling back his vision Hawx noticed something odd. There were two black birds sitting on opposing pillars either side of the airship. one with small red eyes.
Hawx grinned as one of the birds dropped down from the pillar, Winter and Wisse Schnee began making there way towards the school, being escorted by the new Atlesian Paladins. Qrow branwen appeared behind the girls. To anyone else it would have seemed like he'd appeared from nowhere, but Hawx knew better then that. Qrow effortlessly took down the two trailing paladins. Again Hawx was still too far to hear the conversation, but knew roughly how this was going to go. He zoomed in his semblance slightly. Qrow wobbled as he spoke uncertainly.
"Hey I'm talking to you ice queen." From this angle Hawx could just about read his lips as they moved.
This was looking to be an entertaining show until Hawx made out the words
"oh, I heard old Ironwood finally turned his back on Ozpin."
Hawx pulled back his semblance entirely, that's odd. Hawx dropped down from the pillar as a crowd began to gather around the two huntsmen, this wasn't a show Hawx wanted to miss either. He moved at a light jog and deactivated his aura to help him blend in with the crowd a little easier, he wasn't quite ready to reveal his presence to everyone just yet. By the time he'd reached the crowd Winter and Qrow were locked in a fierce battle, ducking and weaving and striking with such perfect precision, the crowd watching intently.
Even drunk you can still hold your own against Atlas's best. Not bad old man
Hawx took a step to the side as someone short pushed past him. Ruby Rose emerged at the front of her crowd next to Wisse Schnee.
"what's going on?" Ruby franticly asked.
"Some crazy guy just started attacking my sister."
Hawx bit his tongue to stop himself from laughing.
"oh no who would do such ahh that is my uncle!"
Hawx turned away to contain his laughter as he did he caught something in the corner of his eye, a tall student with grey hair and black trousers looked through the crowd with a shocked expression for a moment before turning away and hastily running from the crowd. Hawx's eyes followed him for a moment. That was odd. Hawx's attention was drawn back to the fight as Winter and Qrow's fight moved into the courtyard. Winter ran straight up the side of one of the pillars while Qrow followed switching his great sword to shotgun mode. After a few shots Qrow seemed to have scored a direct hit, a cloud of white smoke appeared around Winter. Qrow switched his weapon back to sword mode, as winter shot out of the smoke cloud at blistering speed, her blade opening to release a second smaller sword.
Hawx never missed an opportunity to see a fellow dual wielder in combat, Winter Schnee was one of the best. She slammed into Qrow knocking them both through the concrete beam they had been standing on and slamming into the ground leaving a sizeable crater. The fighting continued as Qrow and Winter dashed back and forth across the courtyard before finally finishing in a similar position to where they had started. Winter slammed one sword into the ground activating the summoning side of her semblance. A flock of tiny white nevermore surrounded her. the birds suddenly flew towards Qrow, he blocked the birds with his sword, Winter grinned thinking she finally had the upper hand until Qrow launched a slash towards her. a curved line of energy whizzed along the ground towards her with all the power of Qrow's sword, Winter dodged the blast but it was enough to ruin her attack. The frustrated soldier took a more serious form, a huge glith materialising behind her. Qrow stood looking mostly unfazed. He pulled the lever on his sword. The blade bent round slowly taking its syth form. Hawx felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned around suddenly to defend himself only to find Professor Ozpin standing beside him. Hawx half froze as his gaze connected with Ozpins.
"my office, 3pm. Its about time you were filed in Mr kestrel."
"Schnee!" Boomed the voice of James Ironwood.
Winter Schnee stopped her strike just an inch away from Qrow's neck.
Anticipating the next few events, Hawx dispersed with the crowd, he was fairly confident Qrow hadn't seen him and for the moment he wanted things to stay that way. After all he was still on his break from all of this, though he couldn't help but turn around to witness the reunion of Qrow and his beloved niece Ruby.
Hawx pulled out his scroll, it was still relatively early morning, he had a few things to do but right now priority one was breakfast. A short walk to vale later Hawx found himself among the stands of various foods and carnival events. Hawx brought himself an impressively large bowl of noodles and tucked in. once he had finished his bowl, Hawx leant back on his stool comfortably. He pulled out his scroll and cycled through a few internet pages before finally finding a good link to the tournaments screen. There were just a few more team rounds left to go and none of the fighters really interested him. The first few rounds of the doubles contest however did spike his interest. Emerald and Mercury of haven Vs CoCo and Yatsuhaschy of beacon. Hawx set an alarm for the match and then looked again at the contestants. The young man Mercury stood out to Hawx. He was the one who had run from the fight between Qrow and Winter.
As the day wore on Hawx made his way further into the city. He stood outside Vale General hospital. For a hospital the building was quiet not many people coming in or out, times had been quiet since Roman Torchwick had been detained. Hawx closed his eyes feeling the air around him. His aura picked up the presence of a few medical staff and the patients but nothing of whom he was actually looking for.
Hawx stepped through the hospitals entrance, the building was quiet. The receptionist was an older woman with frail features and a small pair of glasses hanging part way down her nose. Hawx cautiously made his way to the counter taking a quick glance around him. None of the patients stood out to him as a threat, the few that were there were mostly elderly men and women nearing the end of their years.
"Excuse me Miss?" Hawx asked cautiously.
The receptionist lifted her head meeting his gaze.
"I'm looking for Nexus Yaucha, I'm a friend from school."
The receptionist ran her eyes up and down Hawx slowly, taking in the details of his appearance.
"a little more than just friends I think, she's on the second floor, room 237."
Hawx smiled and headed down the hall following the signs to the second floor. He wasn't a huge fan of hospitals, Hawx was a very superstitious person. Though that being in said in remnant a lot of people were. Hawx stopped just before the door of room 237. It had been a long time since he had seen Nexus Last and wasn't sure what he would say. Hawx closed his eyes again, feeling the air, he could sense her now on the other side of the door, but her aura was very weak, it couldn't have been active around her body. Hawx took a deep breath and knocked on the door three times.
"Come in." a perky female voice answered.
'at least your voice hasn't changed.'
Hawx pushed open the door. Laying in her bed by the open window was Nexus Yaucha. Nexus was a beautiful girl a little older then Hawx, her pink hair hung long draped down behind her. her eyes held the same colour and facial features were warming to behold. Her skin was very pale and her body thin. Hawx took a step in closing the door behind him. Nexus was looking out of her window, in the distance she could see the Vital stadium and its airship escort. Hawx grinned.
"Quite the view isn't it?" He said nonchalantly.
He felt the change in Nexus as she turned slightly trying to remember the voice. She looked up to him with watery eyes. Nexus threw her hands over her mouth as she started to cry.
"H.. Hawx?" she mumbled.
"Hey Nex."
If nexus could have gotten out of her bed she would, she reached out her arms towards Him. Hawx bit his tongue to keep his composure as he stepped forward toward her bed. He leant down and was pulled onto the bed By Nexus as she wrapped her arms around him embracing him tightly.
"You came!" She cried. "I knew you'd be ok! I knew you'd come back!"
Hawx held her a little more loosely. Nexus released her grip on him. Hawx put a hand on her chest gently, just above her more feminine areas. He closed his eyes.
"doctors already tried that." Nexus croaked.
Hawx squinted a little. The colour started to flood back into nexus, her body lit up with a pink glow. She looked to her hands as they glowed in the sunlight, then the lines shimmered in a wave over her body.
"My aura!" She said, barely able to control herself.
Hawx released his hand and fell forward clutching his head.
"you shouldn't have done that!" She moaned as another tear ran down her face.
"couple of days and I'll be fine." Hawx groaned as he pulled his head up right.
"Hawx, you know unlocking aura like that is dangerous, you used to much!"
Hawx wiped his eyes.
"Yeah well, call it punishment for not coming to see you sooner."
Nexus smiled. "Thank you Kes."
Hawx grinned, he was always fond of that nick name.
"What happened to you Hawx? The last time I saw you, you told me you'd taken a job from James Ironwood, that it was going to be an easy job!"
Hawx shrugged.
"Yeah it was meant to be, I'll tell you more when I have time but I was sent to infiltrate the vale branch of White fang."
"jeez those guys have been all over the news lately, I take it something happened." Nexus commented.
"you still have access to your network?" Hawx asked with a curious gaze.
"of course, why something you need?"
"Yeah, but first I need you to fill me in on what's been going on in the city since I last saw you."
