So, I just wanted to quickly let everyone know that after today, the next few chapters will be posted once a week. I got behind on my schedule and the next few are a bit longer than usual. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.


Qrow had been silent for an uncharacteristically long time, surprisingly holding his tongue and not teasing Winter any further as they were rescued, during the bullhead ride back to Vale, or even now, standing in the quiet elevator up to Ozpin's tower. What a blessing… Winter thought, crossing her arms behind her back, but part of her wanted him to say something. The second he opened his mouth, the second Winter could go back to reaffirming her hatred for the Huntsman, which she preferred to him thinking that she… Well, Winter didn't want Qrow to get any ideas. Anymore than he had previously, at least.

The Huntress furrowed her brow, waited on baited breath for the elevator doors to open with that familiar ding. Beside her, Qrow was rummaging around in his coat, pulling out a silver, round flask. "Here." He muttered, handing it back to Winter. I don't want it. She thought on instinct, the memories of the mission and of the liquid inside would just upset her more.

"You keep it. I don't need it." Winter murmured, not looking over at the man who had her first kiss. He shrugged, pocketing the flask as the elevator opened, revealing Ozpin's familiar office. The headmaster of Beacon was sitting at his desk, the same stoic expression on his face. In front of him stood General Ironwood, displeasure written all over his face. "General Ironwood, Sir." Winter approached, saluting the man. His solidarity in expression used to be calming to Winter, but here it was eerie and discomforting.

"Specialist Schnee." He spoke as he always did, with confidence and total assurance in his command. "We have found a few of the rats within our efforts to better our two kingdoms. Unfortunately, one of the traitors was the agent charged with gathering the intel for your mission. We have reason to believe the traitors intended to ambush the agents we sent for surveillance…" James frowned, crossing his hands behind his back.

"Our own misgivings aside, I'm disappointed to have found your mission such a failure." He spoke directly to Winter, causing her to flinch and look at her feet. "Never before did I think that you could make such a mess of a simple scouting mission." He should have been angry, but all Winter could hear was disappointment. She couldn't open her mouth to reply, words failing her.

"However… we've received word from a much more credible source… The satellites have been taken to the city ruins, yes… but only a few hours ago did they arrive on the island. Apparently they were waiting for the Grimm to be cleared out and to tire the both of you with fighting so that they could ambush you. They roused that Nevermore you encountered from a nearby cliff… luckily, it seems they haven't noticed that you escaped safely." He frowned down at his underling, taking a pause before continuing. "So, you'll need to set off again. There will be a medic on the airship to insure that you are well enough to return to duty. Once you arri-"

"Hey!" Qrow interrupted the General, his gruff voice harsh and loud in the quiet room. "What the hell are you rambling on about? There's no way I'm going back there. That city is a death trap." He pointed accusingly at Ironwood, a scowl on his face. "You got intelligence from the enemy and almost got us killed! Who's to say this info is any better?"

Ironwood waited a beat, watching the Huntsman's outburst unfold. "Are you done?" Qrow's mouth twitched in anger, but he didn't continue. "If you're so against the idea, Qrow… You don't have to go. Isn't that right, Ozpin?" Ironwood looked over at his shoulder to the professor, whose stoic gaze gave away nothing of his intentions. He sighed, leaning on his arms.

"You're not a soldier, Qrow… If you refuse to go, I have no way to force you." He admitted, his dark eyes connecting with the Huntsman's.

Qrow grumbled, tucking his hands into his pockets. "Good. Hope whatever schmuck you send out there doesn't get mauled by Grimm." He turned to leave, making strides towards the elevator.

"Specialist Schnee, you have no objections?" Ironwood asked his subordinate officer, and Winter, the dryness growing in her throat, could only shake her head. "Good. Maybe this mission will be more successful with a single agent to corroborate."

Qrow stopped in his tracks, turning on his heels in an instant to face the General again. "You have to be fucking kidding me, Jimmy." His voice was low, rumbling in his throat. "I knew you were low and had little regard for your soldiers, but you intend to send her on a two-person job alone? A two person job that nearly got two of the kingdom's best agents killed? You said it yourself, they're WAITING for us!"

Ironwood's expression didn't change. "There is no one else who can be sent at such a short notice. We have no choice. Your feelings haven't changed, Specialist Schnee?" Ironwood's eyes fell on the woman, and she kept her eyes on the floor, focusing on the light shine of her boots.

"No, sir." She finally managed, unable to disobey her General's wishes. If he wants me to go on this mission alone, then that's what I'll do.

She felt Qrow's fiery glare on her, but she didn't buckle. What does he care? Winter thought, finally gaining the courage to look up, making eye contact with General Ironwood. He was looking them both over, his eyes combing the situation, trying to figure things out.

"If you're sending her, then I'm going too. It's MY mission." Qrow growled. Winter raised her head up, not moving her eyes from James, but her interest piqued. What the hell has gotten into him? Since when is he so eager to work? She wondered for a split second before a wave of discomfort washed over her.

He thinks he'll get away with something else… The Huntress frowned, understanding Qrow's motives now. It's his chance to do something else. I'm vulnerable now, and it's the perfect time to make moves on me… or so he thinks… Winter set her jaw, neck stiffening at the realization.

General Ironwood kept his eyes locked on Winter, his eyes scouring her for answers. "Do you have any thoughts on the matter, Schnee?" He asked, waiting for her reply so he could put two and two together. The way his eyes were boring into her, as if diving in and tearing her apart in his search to understand just why the Huntsman was so adamant to not leave Winter alone.

The former heiress took a breath, about to rattle off something about Qrow's pride getting in the way. He did not want to admit defeat at a mission that he couldn't accomplish, albeit, a mission that no one could have accomplished. Qrow spoke first, a surprising amount of anger in his voice.

"She's the reason everything got so fucked." The Huntsman claimed, scowling at the General. "I know you like to believe your little bitch is perfect, Jimmy, but she was distracted the whole mission." The General didn't even react, the words not affecting him. "If it was just me, I could have handled the situation much better, but I had to save her ass, multiple times."

Winter flinched, whipping her head around to face Qrow. What the HELL? He's unbelievable! She clenched her fists, spitting back at him with the twice the venom as he had spoken with.

"If it wasn't for you and that stupid scythe, we never would have gotten trapped! Not only that, but MAYBE, just maybe, had you been SOBER, there wouldn't have been such an issue!" Winter cried back, surprisingly hurt by his claims.

"Enough." Ironwood broke the fight, adjusting his coat with a gloved hand. The two Huntsmen took steps back, getting out of their combative stances. "While I can't testify as to what happened while the both of you were on assignment…" He started, irises shifting from Qrow to Winter. "I don't find it hard to believe that something went wrong due to negligence." His steely eyes focused in on Winter, and the Huntress wanted nothing more than to leap out of her own skin and into someone else's. Oh no… he's not thinking about what I said the other night, is he?

"I expected you to behave professionally…" The general started, taking to steps to close the space between him and his subordinate. "To set aside your personal feelings from work." Ironwood spoke in a low tone, the double meaning in his voice making Winter sick. "I had hoped that a mission would help to refocus you… to remind you of the importance of our kingdom, and your loyalty to her… it seems I was wrong."

"Yes. You were." Winter spoke up, surprised that the words tumbled out. Ironwood was also surprised, his brow furrowing.

"I have little loyalty to Atlas." She continued, her face a placid pond. "As a kingdom, it only serves to praise and empower one of the only things I hate in his world: my father. Not only that, but it's tactics and strategies only echo the ideals of my father. Atlas is woven of contests of pride and shows of force."

"Specialist Schnee… you'd do well to cease your traitorous ramblings…" the general spoke in a low tone, his hushed threat only serving to remind Winter of her father.

"I will not." Winter insisted, glowering up at her commander. "For years I regretted my decision to join the Atlas Military. All I did was leave one destructive patriarchy for another." She scowled, before her expression softened a bit, and her tone became more reserved. "That is, until I was reassigned to serve you."

Ironwood's fist clenched, and his cheek twitched once before he raised his voice. "That's enough."

"From day one, I knew how much you cared. I knew that you wanted to protect and save everyone." She murmured, the dreamy tone in her voice betraying her years of training. "I'm not loyal to Atlas. I'm loyal to you… sir." Winter looked up at Ironwood, hoping for some kind of recognition. She tightened her fist, knowing that she had to say it now, or she might never get the courage again. "James, I-"

"Specialist Schnee." His blunt use of her title snapped her out of her delusion. "You claim loyalty to me, but you do an abysmal job of showing it." He murmured, looking like at any minute he could burst out into fierce shouting. "I thought I had already explained this to you when you arrived in Vale for this mission, specialist Schnee…"

Winter remembered the conversation despite trying to drink the memory away. She had arrived a night earlier than intended, so she purchased a bottle of liquor, which, just so happened to be the general's favorite, and invited him to dinner. He politely declined, having already made plans with a certain professor Goodwitch. Winter, at the time, was overconfident, brushing off his plans, thinking it was a date and wanting nothing more than to get in between the two. The General was displeased with Winter's behavior, claiming that it was a business dinner, and as such was more important. It was then that he first emphasized that the Huntress needed to do a better job of separating her work and personal life. I have no personal life. Winter thought, bitterly. Maybe that's why I fell for the general. She had thought at the time, but now she just felt like an idiot. The General's displeased face making her feel like a young child being chided by their father.

"We all must put distance between our personal and work lives…" Ironwood finished, turning and walking back towards Ozpin's desk.

"I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to consider this before we speak upon your return to Atlas." General Ironwood's tone returned to its normal commanding level, indicating that their conversation was over. "You will be punished for speaking out of line… maybe then you'll be reminded of your loyalty to Atlas." Winter cringed, looking back down at her feet. "Leave, before I discharge you permanently." The General threatened, and Winter did as he wished, keeping her head down as she turned towards the elevator.

The gears ahead ticked quietly, the sound of their turning was the only thing interrupting the stale silence of the office. Qrow followed after Winter, his silence only angering the former heiress more. He reached over, opening the doors to the elevator and the two stepped in. When Winter turned, watching the doors close in front of her, she looked at Ironwood one last time, hoping to see remorse on his face, any sign that he regretted being so harsh. There was none, only more anger and disappointment.

The slow ride down only let Winter's feelings ferment. She wanted to scream and lash out. She wanted to tell Ironwood harsh and cruel things. She wanted to make him hurt. She wanted to cry.

But as much anger as she had for her General, it could never compare to her hatred for Qrow. This was all his fault. Winter glared at him from the corner of her eye. He was just leaning against the wall, as relaxed as could be.

Winter held back a snarl. It wasn't fair. He got to prance around and talk as he pleased. He didn't have rules to follow, or expectations to fill. He had no obligations or standards. He had not a drop of honor in his body. He's free. Winter thought, forcing her eyes off of the Huntsman. He gets to run around and drink and flirt and do however he likes. It wasn't fair. He had freedom. Freedom was really what Winter so desperately wanted. But I can't just run off and abandon my post. And I certainly can't mouth off more like I just did.

By the time they had reached the bottom, Winter had calmed down a bit, but she still wasn't thinking rationally. The doors opened and Qrow strolled out, as carefree as usual. "Hey, Qrow." Winter followed, speaking up. He lifted his head, turning to the Huntress. She hesitated, the look on his face not what she was expecting. "Do you want to get a drink?"

The sly smirk that worked it's way across Branwen's lips was immeasurably gratifying.