A/N Part 2 of previous chapter hope its good. wink wonk... donk?
The ride to the war front was quiet not because they couldn't think of anything to talk about but because they didn't want to talk, Qrow because he knew who they were, and the Liver and Nyau because he killed Daidara so easily. After reaching the siege camp outside the fortress, Qrow was surprised to say the least, it fell just like he was back in the Branwen tribe, and it made him sick. They walked up to a fire surrounded by a large group of men all laughing and shouting. Qrow stayed away from them without looking suspicious.
"Where is the general?" Liver ordered
"I think shes near front." One solder said Liver nodded and gestured for Qrow to follow who cautiously did, they walked until they reached the front looking over the battlefield of tomorrow, and found a women standing alone with long blue hair in a generals uniform with a large rapier on her hip.
"Liver, what do you have to report." She spoke not even looking over to confirm
"The defenses are stronger now, but Daidara was killed." Liver spoke dropping to one knee
"Well, that's unfortunate, but we must prepare for tomorrows assault, go get some rest, we will sort out punishment later." She said just as calmly with a bit of sentiment in her voice
"Of course, but the man who defeated him is here as well I believed you would have wanted him here." Liver quickly said before rising and leaving
"Oh." Was all that left her mouth before she turned around her eyes fixed on Qrow instantly staring into his eyes he stared back neither one willing to give the other the satisfaction of blinking, she grinned and spoke still unblinking "So your the one who killed Daidara, how very interesting, was it you speed, your strength, or your skill, that you out classed him in and gained victory." it was an order not a question, an order, to evaluate him
"All of the above." Qrow said confidently and coldly
"I must commend your strength, not many can stand against one of my beasts and survive." She continued in a strangely happy voice
"I don't need, nor want your praise, he fucked up and picked a fight with the wrong person now hes gone and dead." Qrow continued coldly
"Yes, you proved your stronger and now I need a third beast... that's you." she smiled sickeningly
"Yeah... fuck that, I'd prefer to not be meteorically leashed." Qrow said coldly
"Well that's disappointing, I hope you'll reconsider I'd hate to see such strength go to waste." She replied letting her killing intent radiate, Qrow was unfazed considering he spent his life around killers he was barely affected by it
"If your trying to be intimidating you'll have to try harder and probably lose the mini skirt it doesn't really shout intimidation." Qrow snarked dryly
"I'm giving you an opportunity to survive. Serve me, and everything you've ever wanted will be yours. Deny me, and your death will be painful." She replied killing intent vanishing instantly
"All I want to do is... find my tribe, could you help with that." Qrow lied and nearly vomited
"Oh, and pray tell what is the name of your 'tribe'." She asked clearly not buying it
"the Branwen tribe, typically nomadic, so I've got about the entire empire to search." Qrow calmly explained
"Well you'll be able to find a new place in my army, your tribe will more then likely be destroyed as all weak things are." Esdeath spoke offhandedly
"Hey, I'm sure their still kickin' they got a sayin' about weakness. (Raven was probably happy here.) 'The weak die and the strong live.'" Qrow quoted the want to shoot himself even if its for an act this was one of the most sickening this he'd ever done
Esdeath smile widened at that and it seemed any amount of suspicion she still held vanished.
"It seems your past is a familiar one, well warrior you have earned my respect and even more so a place at my side, welcome to your new home." She spoke and gestured behind her to the battlefield then to her army
"Well that's wonderful, but you never answered if you could help with that little issue." Qrow deadpanned
"At the snap of my fingers the entire imperial military will have their eyes out your tribe will be found, but for now, a hazing of sorts." She spoke happily Qrow just sighed "You'll be tasked with killing Numa Seika, normally I'd save such an opponent for myself but your loyalties must be assured and your will to kill tested." Esdeath continued ignoring his sigh
"Fine but I do have one question, where do you keep the alcohol around here cause my last flask is currently indisposed so I've been riding sober, I'd like to fix that." Qrow asked genuinely
"Any tent the farthest away from the fires." Esdeath answer instantly "And should you have anymore questions direct them to Liver, Nyau, or me." She finished
"Wait, that's it? just like that." Qrow asked in disbelief
"Of course or would you rather a quick session of torture?" She asked smiling sweetly bloodlust radiating off of her
"Nope, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. got it." Qrow quickly said taking a very small step backwards
Esdeath walked away leaving Qrow alone with his thoughts
'Damn now I see why people jump ship to hers, but I still made a promise, haven't broken the one to Summer, wont break the one to Night Raid either.' Qrow thought to himself and scratches his beard 'How the absolute hell am I going to report this... guess I'm going deeper then I would have hoped.' Qrow turned and walked into camp in search of Liver finding him alone at a fire stirring a cooking pot Qrow walks over and looks into it
"You do know that's overcooked and over seasoned, right?" Qrow asked leaning away from the pot
"Its fine. So what is the verdict on your situation?" Liver asked and changed the subject adding more seasoning
"Well, before anything I have to kill this Numa guy, any info you can give me on him?" Qrow asked
"Strange usually General Esdeath likes to break enemy commanders to show her strength, you must seem really valuable to her." Liver responded a hint of surprise in his voice
"Well that's dumb." Qrow replied sitting down in the snow
"Oh good I don't need to find you, part of your hazing was going to be eating Livers cooking, its very strong, even made me pass out once." Esdeath said walking up to them Nyau following closely behind
"You know, if you want to poison me... just give me poison it'll probably taste better then what ever that is." Qrow said holding down his vomit after taking a whiff of the concoction
"It wont be that bad, the second time is easier, tell you what, lets make a bet if you can keep it down longer than I can you can sleep in my bed instead of outside like I was planing on having you do." Esdeath challenged sitting down with Liver and Qrow
"Fine, but I hope you enjoy sleeping in the cold." Qrow said confidently
Liver made both a bowl of whatever crime against food he had created and handed it to each of them
First bite, they both started gagging horribly but both kept it down.
Second bite, both nearly vomited but ultimately they kept it down.
"Impressive, you have quite the strong stomach, I hope you can holdout." Esdeath complimented
"Quit stalling." Qrow shot
Third bite, Esdeath barely kept it down, Qrow nearly vomited but kept it down.
Forth bite, Esdeath vomited, Qrow barely kept it down.
Qrow smirked and spoke "Looks like I win, Ice Queen, better luck next time."
"Dammit, I lost. I hope your skills on the battlefield are just as good as you gut is strong, I give up my bed to you." Esdeath spoke happily
"Nah, ill be fine out here besides I'd rather not sleep in your bed who knows what might happen." Qrow said alluding to his semblance but no one here would know that
"Strange, you did win, so why not take what your owed." Esdeath asked trying to make sense of it
"Mainly cause I don't really care where I sleep as long as I can rest my head, I'm fine." Qrow said nonchalantly
"That doesn't make any sense." Esdeath racked her brain trying to figure it out
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, you get to sleep in your bed, stop complaining." Qrow sassed
"I suppose your right, thank you." Esdeath quickly spoke rising from her spot and leaving to her tent for rest. Liver and Nyau doing the same leaving Qrow alone with his thoughts again
'I may have cheated but hey at least I proved that I can eat hell, and I suppose that counts for somethin'' Qrow thought Feeling his aura shatter and he unloaded his stomach where Esdeath had before him.
(o)
Early the next morning Qrow woke before the sun was up there was a light snowfall shaking the snow off and landing on the ground Qrow shifted back to normal and went to check the front, from last night nothing had changed much just that there are more people on the walls, hearing the snow behind him crunch he turned to find Esdeath walking up next to him.
"What does it look like to you?" She asked
"Apart from stronger defenses on the walls, not much, but I'm rather concerned about that cliff side there." Qrow said pointing out the snow covered bank above the fortress rear
"Whats so concerning about it?" She asked again
"They could collapse it onto our assault force." Qrow explained
"I've already planned for that, besides an assault force of two is rather difficult to pinpoint." Esdeath shot back crossing her arms
"What? What do you mean by two?" Qrow asked confused but suspecting her answer
"Me and you, if your half as strong as I believe you to be then we will have no trouble with a fortress like this one." Esdeath confidently said many thoughts were going through Qrows head right now mainly cursed towards her and everything she holds dear
with a sigh Qrow spoke again "Fine, just keep your distance, I usually work alone and with good reason."
"We leave in thirty minutes be ready." was all she said before walking back to camp
'That bitch I was hoping to just sneak in and do this covertly but now I gotta show off... I hope it doesn't cause her to ask too many questions, that might end poorly, well shit, how the hell am I suppose to report any of this to Night Raid.' Qrow thought to himself trying to make a plan turning on his heel and walking back to camp to find something to eat
(o)
Akame sat on the roof of the base staring out into the distance After Qrow left mission grew more and more sparse so they have more free time, but ever sense he left, shes felt strange as though he was gone forever just like when ever someone doesn't come back from a mission, but even still she cant shake the felling of being watched and it was getting to her so she came up here to be alone and think... or tried to at least.
(o)
Qrow and Esdeath moved silently through the fortress Esdeath following Qrows lead despite wanting to do otherwise moving to the actual structure of the fort and inside finding the command center Qrow put his ear to the door
"With the army outside our gates all we have to do is wait them out we have endless supply here so we just have to hunker down and wait." an old voice said
"That foolish if we leave the empire to its own devices for to long we will be destroyed, we MUST act." a younger voice came
"We must protect the people beyond this fortress, your both thinking small scale we have to look at the big picture, when it come right down to it if we do nothing we lose and with Esdeath at our gates if we don't act we are destroyed we must find a way to protect the civilians, and spread our influence around the empire sew descent in the ranks." a fiery voice spoke
Qrow leaned over to Esdeath and whispered "You know, if you wanna scare them to death, I'd said walk right in, it would be priceless."
Esdeath thought about it for a moment before a sadistic grin spreed across her face then she rose to her full height and pushed the doors open walking into the command center all five of the generals looked absolutely horrified the old one did have a heart attack the younger one tried to run only for a massive spike of ice to pierce his heart before moving an inch the the one who spoke of the 'big picture' started begging for his life Esdeath put her heel through his eye the two who hadn't spoken were Numa and a woman who hid behind him a bit
"General Esdeath, what a pleasure it is to make your acquaintance." Numa said calmly as he could and tightened his grip on his spear
"I would say the same, but I'm not the one going to kill you, he is. So we wont be getting acquainted." Esdeath replied calmly and relaxed gesturing to Qrow who walked in behind her
"Quite the bold claim, I do hope you know I've never lost a battle." Numa bragged
"Well there's always room for a first, who's she?" Qrow replied rolling his eyes
"She is not important to our battle so it would be pointless to tell you." Numa said deadly
"Kid I ain't scared of an over grown child with a warrior complex, because daddy didn't love him enough." Qrow snarked pulling Harbinger off his belt "I was just trying to get to know the kid I'm bout to put in the ground."
"One of Esdeaths loyal dogs I see, I'll defeat you and then her to prove that I am the stro-" Numa tried to say but was cut off when he was forced to block a strike from Qrow
"You dare to att-ugh" Qrow punched him in the face breaking his nose Numa swung his spear Qrow ducked under the strike and kicked Numas knee out forcing him to the ground this happened over and over much like with Leone but Numa was far less skilled
"Stop please, I beg of you don't kill him." The woman quickly begged and moved to Numa's side
"Did you not see what happened to the last guy who did that." Qrow snarked putting Harbinger on his shoulder
"I know but please don't hurt him any more." the woman begged again "I know you don't want to do this I can see it in your eyes you don't want to kill anyone anymore please just let us leave you'll never hear from us or the north ever again." She continued
"Yeah, your right I don't, but I don't got a choice, and neither do you." Qrow said sadness obvious in his voice "Now please, move out of the way."
"I wont let you hurt him I love him and thats stronger then any sword you could strike me with." She declared shielding Numa
"Setara, move out of the way, I'll kill this dog and then the one holding the leash." Numa said confidently quickly getting to his feet and rushing at Qrow who sidestepped and dodged every blow thrown at him until Numa over extended himself and Qrow quickly cut him down.
"Tell me, why are all these people I combat always infatuated with 'love' it seems more like a weakness to me." Esdeath asked Qrow as she stabbed Setara through the heart killing her
"Love can be a powerful driving force, when you don't act like a complete moron about it, and its one of the greatest feelings imaginable, but you only experience true love once so its best to be very direct when you think you found it." Qrow explained wiping a bit of blood from Harbinger's blade, Esdeath stood in thought for a few moments before quickly closed the distance between the two and roughly kissed him after a few seconds broke the kiss
"No nothing special, hmm, oh well I think I might have found a new hobby." Esdeath said calmly smiling
"Well I certainly hope its not kissing everyone you see." Qrow said after processing what happened
"No, I'll find the person I love, and make them the perfect rival, the only one capable of defeating me, I'm getting excited just think of it." Esdeath explained rapidly
"Yeah yeah, don't get you panties in a twist, lets get out of here." Qrow snarked
"We came in your way, we will be leaving mine!" Esdeath practically shouted alerting many guards to their presence Qrow just sighed and readied to fight his way out
(o)
The return to the capital was quite easy for the beasts and Esdeath after Numas death the northern army fell apart and with Qrow and Esdeath inside the fortress the army was wiped out in no time, after returning to camp Esdeath was informed that her presence was requested back at the capital so they spent the next few days traveling back to the capital. The four walked into the imperial palace with no resistance whatsoever no one stopped them they just took one look at Esdeath and ran.
"Jeez, you really got this whole place runnin' scared." Qrow commented stalked a little behind everyone else
"Of course, they all know to oppose me is to die." Esdeath replied calmly "I believe we still have some time before I have to see the emperor, come lets go see the torture rooms id like to see if there's any talent down there."
"Yeah color me crazy but I don't have a strange fixation on torture like you, so I'll... not do that." Qrow said suppressing fury
"Oh well, suit yourself." Nyau said
"I will." Qrow replied as they walked down stairs leaving him alone
'GODS DAMMIT, when I came back here I was suppose to tell Najenda that Esdeath was here but if I leave my face will be plastered all over the city, I just gotta bide my time and wait... I wonder how everyone else are doin' Qrow thought to himself after about twenty minutes Esdeath and the other beasts came back up stairs Esdeath looking irritated and the other beasts similar.
"Lets move the emperor will want to see me soon you two show Qrow his room and they wait for me in the garden." Esdeath said walking away the beasts and Qrow went in the opposite direction
(o)
After reaching the garden Qrow growled and lied down in the grass thinking of a way out
"You three I have new orders for you they will be a bit different than normal though-" Esdeath said
"I don't follow orders. You can give me a suggestion but apart from that your SOL." Qrow cut her off
"Interrupt again and I'll ensure you never speak a word again." Esdeath growled
"Duly noted." Qrow replied closing his eyes again not really interested but listening intently
"I need you three to conduct assassinations on officials that oppose Prime Minister Honest." Esdeath said
"Funny how his name is a complete lie ain't it." Qrow said after Esdeath finished speaking
"Your skills of observation are truly amazing." Esdeath said dryly
"Its a gift." Qrow replied sarcastically
"Liver, here are the details I expect each target to be eliminated and the fake Night Raid posters spread across the capital." Esdeath explained "I want them to come out of hiding after you."
"Of course general we will carry out your orders regardless of what they are." Liver said
"Man, morality thrown right out the window." Qrow snarked seemingly half asleep
"Qrow I want you to memorize this list and their locations by sundown." Liver ordered and tossed the paper at him Qrow caught it pulled out his scroll took a photo of the list and tossed it back
"Done, anything else jackass." Qrow challenged standing up
"You've already killed one of my beasts I don't want you to kill another." Esdeath stated calmly
"Fine, if any of you need me I'll be out and about away from this shitty place." Qrow said walking over to the wall and jumping over it
"Liver I want you to be prepared to kill the first target now, he should be moving towards the capital with his daughter kill both of them before the night is out." Esdeath ordered and walked away
(o)
Qrow flew as fast as he could back to base this list was important far more important than his mobility, landing out front pushing the door open and entering the Meeting room surprising everyone inside
"Qrow your back, what happened?" Najenda said happiness obvious in her voice
"Here I can't stay outta the capital for to long, she'll think somethin's up. Here." Qrow explained quickly and tossed his Scroll to Najenda
"Wait what?" Najenda replied "Who? what happened?"
"Quick version I work for Esdeath now, if I'm outta the city for to long she'll probably figure it out and plaster my face all across it and I kill the hero of the north, gotta go... GODS THIS IS A MESS!" Qrow explained and shouted as he ran out of the base
"What the hell was that?" Mine asked confused
"I don't know." Akame said smiling a little and sliding her hands into the pockets of her coat
"Should we help him?" Tatsumi asked Bulat also looking confused
"I think we could only help if he knew what was going on but I think hes just making it up as he goes." Bulat replied before laughing
"Miss Najenda whats the plan for that." Lubbock asked reading whats on the scroll
"we need to make a plan, these people are going to be extremely important in maintaining the new nation once its been created." Najenda said after reading over the the list
"Are we just going to ignore the fact that he just said hes working for Esdeath." Leone said everyone took a moment to pause before trying to prevent laughter "And the whole thing about him killing the hero of the north." Leone continued a silence fell across the room now as everyone looked to each other for an answer to Qrows actions
"He probably felt that he had no other choice, he wouldn't have done something he finds morality ambiguous unless he felt his survival was at stake." Akame said confidently
"And what made you the expert on all things Qrow." Mine asked Akame replied by pulling Qrows flask from her pocket
"He would have taken this if he wasn't planing on coming back." Akame said calmly and returned it to her coat pocket
"Its just a flask, he can buy a new one." Leone replied
"That's not what Raven said, she said that that was a gift from team STRQ to him, and that he has not given it to anyone for the past nineteen years, she was surprised that I had it." Akame said remembering her conversation with raven on the roof a few nights ago
(o)
Qrow landed near the bar that Ogre died in due to completely unknown circumstances (Very tragic) Qrow transformed back and walked inside its mostly empty, Qrow walked up to the bar and sat down.
"Hey, get me somethin' strong." Qrow called leaning on the bar
"Yes sir, here this is the strongest stuff we have in stock." The new bartender said considering the old one is quite dead (Once again very tragic)
"Thanks." Qrow said putting a few coins on the bar
after about two hours the bar door opens again
"OH, Qrow! What brings you here." Qrow hears Seryu's voice from behind him
"Hey kid, I'm here to celebrate, why are you here?" Qrow replies turning on his stool to face her as she takes a seat next to him
"This is where my master died, I make an effort to visit every day if possible." She says sadly
"I'm sorry kid, I know what its like to lose people dear to you." Qrow spoke sadly
"Who did you lose?" Seryu asked Qrow didn't respond he just downed the drink before hopping over the bar grabbing a bottle, put some coin on the bar and hops back and starts drinking from that, as a heavy silence settles over the room
"Some wounds don't heal." Qrow said breaking the silence
"Did you at least deliver justice on the evildoers that took them from you?" She asked
"No... no but I'm trying, but its taking a while longer than I'd hope." Qrow replied depression exploding from him, if he were still on Remnant every Grimm on the planet would probably be converging on Him but no need to worry about that here
"Well I hope you get your justice just as I am getting mine." Seryu said happily
"Yeah... see you later kid." Qrow said rising from his stool and walking out of the bar and headed back to the palace, to continue his mission... making Esdeaths life a living hell.
A/N So ill address the fact that I made Numa Seika a bit of a bitch, so commonly in the dark ages rulers would practice against opposites that are strictly ordered not to fight back or to only defend, and seeing that he is the prince of the north I'd say that was his training as well, and given the fact that Qrow spent his life training to fight and kill Grimm and huntsmen he is extremely well versed in actual combat, where there is no honor, no fair, and no fighting style. Chivalry was mainly adopted by monarchs that felt that true strength was fairness but Qrow grew up in a tribe of bandits where all of those things are nonexistent. I've also seen that every time I've seen Numa Seika hes been presented as a strong honorable warrior and I felt that this would be a little outta left field. (4/6)
(I should also mention that if these last few chapters are probably of lower quality I'm a bit sick.)