Author's Notes: Nyelllo comrades. Little bit of a divergence from cannon on this one, but *shrugs* fuckit. I appreciate all the positive comments; I suck and don't know if or how to respond yet using the app. But thanks. ( Anyways, here we go.
I Will Not Scatter
Chapter 6
On Landing Strategies and Skirts
Whoever had scheduled their Combat Skills 101 at 8:00 in the morning was a dick. Both Raven and Qrow were used to being suddenly awakened at every godless hour imaginable, or having to go without rest or sanctuary for long stretches; but the idea of having to consistently get up to go leap around with a bunch of overactive toddlers left her feeling drained. However, this was going to be her life for the time being; so she sucked it up, and even got up early to beat the breakfast crowds and give herself time to mentally prepare.
She even got to the classroom early, finding a seat up high in the stadium to get a better view of the arena. She was awake. She was focused. She was not prepared to see her brother walk in wearing a skirt.
Qrow was strolling casual as you please up the stairs, binders stuffed under one arm and his scythe cradled in the other; irreverent as ever, he spilled all of the binders out into the aisle by his seat, and kicked his feet up on the rail in front of them. Other early birds had stared blatantly at him the entire time; he ignored them.
Raven felt her lips twitch wryly as he finally met her stare.
"What?"
She finally settled on a shrug and turned away.
"I wear it better."
"Pssh, yea, ok."
"I mean, I guess I can't blame you for wanting to copy me," she said.
"What are you talking about? It's a uniform. We all gotta wear these stupid things."
"Mmm, yes, technically. But take a good look around. Tell me what you see."
Qrow groaned cantankerously and glanced at the other students trickling in. He pushed his hair out of his eyes.
"Ah. Those little shits."
"One of these things is not like the others," she sang under her breath.
"Yea. Well," he kept his feet propped up. "It's too late now."
"Did you not notice all the people staring orrrr…"
"I dunno, I thought they were checking me out. It happens."
She snickered, schooling her face when he glared at her, before chuckling a bit more. He refused to talk again until their partners finally showed up, giggling together mischievously.
"Yeaaa, you guys are really funny," he rolled his eyes.
"Thanks, I know," beamed Taiyang.
Summer kept giggle snorting as she scooted in next to Raven; every time she made eye contact with one of them, she'd start giggling again. Suddenly, she hiccupped. Rose petals shot everywhere, showering the entire row beneath them, much to the other student's bewilderment. They both stared at each other for a moment, before Summer snorted and started laughing joyfully again. Raven had to smile herself, since it was all so ridiculous. Her brother shook his head slowly, silently promising vengeance. Their silliness lasted until Professor Thompson and his T.A. strode into the arena.
All the new students hailing from Atlas popped immediately to attention, fists clenched at their sides. Professor Thompson waved at them dismissively.
"Sit down, sidoowwn. None of that fancy Atlas bullshit, y'all gonna be jumping around enough here in a second anyways," he said.
"Indeed, students! Please take your seats!" called the T.A., a stout looking guy who could have been anywhere between twenty two or forty two. He had a mustache that would have made a walrus proud, and spoke with genteel self-importance.
"Now I've been reviewing y'alls exam videos!" exclaimed Thompson. He pronounced it like 'vidjas'. "And me and Petey here have got a few critiques; but from what I can deduce from the evidence presented before me, them lot over at Signal and whatever else have been neglecting to teach proper landing strategy!"
"Indubitably, Professor! Why back in my day, you wouldn't have even been allowed to graduate Signal or Watchtower without passing a landing course!" boomed 'Petey'.
"Petey, man, you just graduated, stuff it," said Thompson. "The point I'm making is that y'all have been set up for failure. So today, we will be reviewing the Do's and the Do Nots of free landing in a Grimm infested forest! Starting with the Do Nots!"
The overhead lights dimmed as the projector kicked on. Raven groaned, slumping down in her chair in frustration. She already knew all of this. When would they get to the real stuff?
The projector cut to a video of Reinhardt crashing through the foliage, aura flared wildly to a brilliant blue; there was a collective wince as he slammed bodily into several branches before he landed in ankle deep, muddy water and flopped there, gurgling unhappily.
"As y'all can see," drawled Professor Thompson. "That is a prime example of what not to do."
Several seats below them, Reinhardt hung his head sadly; Argent thumped his back in condolences.
"Ho ho! Well today will be a great chance for the opportunity to improve himself!"
Sniggering echoed about the classroom at the boy's misfortune.
"I dunno what y'all laughin about, because I got all of your numbers right here. Let's take a look at you, Mr. Stromwood, Ms. Hollis."
Any laughter at Reinhardt's expense quickly died out, as the next set of observation videos started in parallel to each other; watching their competition get wasted was of course hilarious to the Branwen twins. They continued to have a good chuckle regardless, earning disapproving looks and elbows from their partners.
"Yeet! And that is where the strategy part of landing strategy comes in! Otherwise you can find yourself in Nest up to your groin in pissed off Ursas!"
"Not a fun experience for anyone!"
"Was a fun experience for your mother, you windy sea cow," muttered Qrow. Taiyang rolled his eyes deeply.
"Now then!" clapped Professor Thompson. "Where's Team STRQ!?"
Raven slowly quirked an eyebrow as the other students looked their way.
"Oops, there y'all are! Alright," the professor grinned, a bit madly. "You lot all had your shit respectively together when it came to not crashing face first in the dirt, so kudos to you. Ms. Rose and Mr. Branwen in particular!"
Their videos were suddenly all on screen, and Raven felt her ears grow hot at the sight of her own carefree face pretending to fly on the screen; so instead, she looked at her teammates.
"As y'all can see, Summer's Semblance definitely gave her an advantage most people aren't fortunate enough to get!"
Summer rolled and dashed spectacularly through the air, creating a literal blizzard that slowed her momentum, before utilizing her tiger hooks to catch a tree branch and loop skillfully to the ground. She landed without making a sound.
"And Qrow's ingenuity allowed him to recover from a pretty dire situation; for which, I kinda want to apologize, because you weren't actually supposed to get shot out over the rocks."
Her brother's video showed him shooting towards the ground; there were no trees, only rocky outcrops, gullies and hills. Qrow used his Dust pistol imbedded in his scythe to try to slow his momentum; it didn't do very much. However, a small Nevermore was unlucky enough to decide to pass by as he plummeted; he managed to redirect his body with a few shots, hook the Grimm and use it to coast low enough to a ravine with lots of well place rocks. He then dropped and leapt from each to the ground, using his aura to protect his joints from the impact.
"Pssh strategy? That was just dumb luck," said Taiyang, crossing his arms. At that moment, for whatever mysterious reason, the back of Tai's seat gave out and dumped him backwards onto the floor.
"Hahaha, get wrecked, fanny boy," chuckled Qrow. Raven held her palm out and he slapped it automatically.
"Oh this is bullshit," muttered Taiyang, trying to recover himself and climb back into his seat. Summer kept giving them concerned glances, looking like she was considering intervening; or perhaps separating the two.
"…so that's why I'd like you to come down here and give a live demonstration, Mr. Branwen."
"Wait. What?" asked Qrow.
A shit-eating grin split Tai's face as he glanced knowingly at his partner, mouthing the word 'karma'.
"Indeed!" boomed Petey. "Active participation is vital to actually learning. And is also mandatory!"
"Hmm. Nah. I'm alright."
The other students were all twisting in their seats at this point, staring up at them. Taiyang was chuckling darkly.
"Mr. Branwen?"
"Yea?"
"Do you know what mandatory means?"
"Yea?"
"Then what seems to be the difficulty?"
"No difficulty. I just don't want to do it."
Professor Thompson nodded, wild orange hair tossing.
"Hmm alrighty then. Unfortunately for you, you signed a waver when you enrolled in this school; and a big ole part of that waver is solely dedicated to the rocket propellers and launch pads, several hundred of which are located in this very stadium."
Qrow started to look mildly concerned.
"So get your snarky, toothpick lookin ass down here fore I launch you like a popcorn kernel in your grammy's kettle."
"There's more?!" exclaimed one of the students. They all started looking under their seats in horror. "Oh gods, there ARE more!"
"Dude!" Summer exclaimed, sticking her nose under one of the seats. "This place is literally the best! Oooh man, that's a lot of gum!"
Qrow was still contemplating his options, when it looked like Professor Thompson's hand was getting a bit too trigger happy for his comfort levels. With a blasé look her way, he gestured broadly, and stood up.
The other students said nothing as he swaggered down the stairs, stretched lazily, and propped a toned leg up on the railing in front of the arena. Whatever Professor Thompson or his T.A. had been expecting, it hadn't been that. Petey went as red as his blazer and excused himself. Leaning an elbow on his thigh, Qrow nonchalantly gave a few of the girls and boys in the front row an intentional look at the Branwen assets with a grin and wink.
"Like whatcha see?"
"Dude, what are you wearing?!"
"What? Never seen a man in a kilt before?"
"That's not a kilt, that's a skirt!"
"Nah. It's plaid, ain't it?"
Now they all seemed uncertain, clearing asking themselves, what if that was the only difference? If so, who made these rules to begin with? With that, Qrow carelessly pushed his hair back and leapt into the arena, completely heedless of wind or judgement. A few hoots and wolf whistles pierced the air.
"Yea Daddy!"
"Do a spin kick!"
Qrow raised his arms as if to say "is this what you wanted?" while staring unabashedly at the professor, who had yet to say anything at all. Professor Thompson blinked once, then laughed good naturedly and shrugged, shoving his thumbs in his suspenders.
"Nothin wrong with likin a bit of breeze! Helps keep ya focused!" he pointed at the platforms emerging from the ceiling, walls and floor, staggering themselves. "Now get on up there and show em how it's done!"
"Sure."
Raven peered over at Taiyang, who had said nothing this whole time. The martial artist had a bemused look on his face; apparently, he had hoped that this would in some way humble or embarrass her twin. He had been very wrong, and his bemused expression showed that he knew it.
As Qrow ran through not one, but three scenarios of how to land with nothing but your weapon and lots of breeze, Tai started chuckling ruefully.
"Ok, I gotta give the guy credit. I don't think I, uh, would have had the balls to pull that off."
"Karma," Rave said dryly, shooting him a glance.
Summer laughed and started cheering innocently with the other students as Qrow took a bow and returned to his seat. He dropped into his chair and propped his feet up again, before looking at her with a wry grin.
"See? I wear it better."
Team STRQ paused before laughing together; Summer managed to hiccup again, rose petals showering everywhere, instigating more laughter.
"Alright, alriiiight! Enough goofin! Y'all start lining up, we're running landing drills until class ends! Let's go!"
The rest of the students gathered around the arena, shouting and joking. Despite her many reservations, Raven felt it was the probably the most fun she'd had in a long time.