Dejavu came rushing back to me as I slipped my building key in and opened the lobby door, Qrow following behind me.
"Are you sure you don't need to get any more groceries? I mean, even I don't remember what I have left in my fridge." I asked as we made our way up to the third floor. Qrow shrugged, easily keeping up.
"I can improvise."
I mentally pictured a lump of brown unidentifiable ingredients sitting on a plate in front of me and shuddered.
"Well, I hope."
"Will you stop picking on my cooling skills?"
"Only when you prove me wrong." With that, I swung the door open, shoved myself against it and gestured for Qrow to enter first.
"The kitchen is all yours. Try not to blow it up, will you?"
Soon, a frying pan was sizzling sausages on the stove, while another slowly turned the egg yolk white. I raised an eyebrow, leaning on the other side of the kitchen counter, watching.
"Breakfast at this time of day?"
"All you have is breakfast food and I'm too lazy to go get some more ingredients. Hey, if it's edible, it's edible." He flipped the eggs and moved the sausages off the pan and onto a plate, taking a quick sip from his flask. My mouth watered at the aroma and I smoothly rounded the counter, casually walking up behind him.
"You know, I could get used to this." I eyed the sausage pieces and quickly thought of the best way to steal a bite.
"To what?" Qrow asked distractedly, keeping an eye on the eggs.
"Having someone cook for me." I breathed into his ear. He immediately stiffened from the sudden closeness and I took the pause, snatching a piece and shoving it into my mouth. I spun away laughing when Qrow held up the spatula at me, clearly still flustered.
"Sly…devious….little…" he muttered as he slid the eggs onto another plate and placed it in front of me. I grinned.
"Don't tell me I scared that infamous Qrow Branwen." I teased, returning to the other side of the kitchen bench. "Weren't you supposed to have nerves of steel?"
"And weren't you supposed to have a conscious? I'm hungry and off my game." He murmured, grabbing a knife and fork for himself, spiking his cup of apple juice taken from the fridge earlier with his flask alcohol.
"Ouch, that hurt."
I waited expectedly but he didn't pass over any cutlery. I rolled my eyes at his small retaliation.
"Bastard." I whispered and made my way to the cutlery drawers but of course, he had situated himself so he blocked my path to them. I crossed my arms and glared.
"Move your ass, Branwen." I warned, my hunger irritating me further. He smirked.
Victory.
"Only if you repeat what you did before."
My mind reeled and blood threatened to rush to my cheeks. I was not whispering in his ear when he was staring at me like that. I scoffed.
"In your dreams. Now move." I was seriously considering kicking his ass off that chair. He grinned and locked eyes with me.
"No."
I narrowed my eyes, a dangerous glint sparking through them. "Move."
Qrow raised an eyebrow at the challenge and leaned towards me. "Make me."
"You little piece of-"
RING!
My scroll shrilled violently in my pocket and I swooped it out, pressing it to my ear, keeping a watchful gaze on a certain Hunter.
"What?" I greeted.
"Uh, is this Sapphire I am speaking to?" a voice stammered in shock. I took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to calm down.
"Yes, it is. Sorry Oz, a certain egotistical asshole is pissing me off more than usual."
There was a chuckle on the other end. "I won't even ask. It seems like one of your junior teams have stumbled across a hideout containing masses of unused crystals. I've to stay and watch over the tournament so I was wondering whether you'll be willing to go out into town and have a look at this hideout. If I'm not mistaken, it could be the work of Roman Torchwick and would need someone to supervise the kids."
"Give me a second to stuff my face with food and I'll be right out."
After hanging up, Ozpin sent me the address of the warehouse and I noted it was on the manufacturing side of town. Hearing this, Qrow snatched up the plate of breakfast and held it away from me.
"Either I come with you or you-"
"Fine, fine. You can come, just give me the food!" I exclaimed, easily giving in and practically engulfed whatever was left. Soon enough, Qrow and I packed up and headed out again.
"This reminds me of the good old days." Qrow reminisced as we walked through the evening streets. I glanced over at him.
"We weren't even on the same team."
"But we still worked together from time to time." He reminded.
"If by work, you mean me saving your ass, then yeah, we totally worked."
"It was that one bloody time. Drop it, will you?"
"Miss Sapphire!"
At the familiar voice and spotted team META waving to me from beside a pile of wooden crates. Qrow and I immediately rushed over and while he checked out the boxes, I ran a critical eye over my students.
"First, are any of you hurt? Second, what have you found out so far?"
Mina shook her head and spoke up. "No, none of us are badly hurt. Also, the crates all seem to hold dust and crystals, with labels putting them from all over Vale. We haven't encountered any Grimm yet."
"Yet." Qrow's husky voice floated towards us from his position. I gestured for the students to follow me and we joined Qrow at the crates.
"It has Torchwick's signature all over it. I don't know why he would keep it in a place like this though." Qrow glanced over at me worriedly.
Did Torchwick have something to do with all the Grimms entering the city too?
"Well despite all the Dust, it looks like no one has been here for a while. Something bigger must be up for him to drop all this potential gold mine and run." Qrow continued. I gritted my teeth.
"That was what I wasn't hoping to hear."
"Looks like something got caught, Ginger." Remarked a voice from the dark. We all whirled around and stood on defence, our weapons clicking out easily.
"Shut up and get to work, Red. We don't have time for this." Replied another unfamiliar voice before a pair stepped out into the faint light, followed by three more men, probably lackys.
The one in front was a woman, with dead-straight bright red hair. She wore she wore a white tank top over some cropped black tights, followed by a pair of impressive black heels. A short red blazer covered her arms and shoulders. Despite her obvious mean tone, she was a looker. Her partner was a tall and slightly burly man, also with a head of red hair. He wore a tight-fitting red t-shirt, some black pants and a pair of black sneakers.
My mind flashed with a memory and I instantly remembered who they were. The Dust crates were evidence and knowing the Twins, I couldn't let them have it. Furthermore, this family would be willing to smash younger kids if it meant getting what they want. I had to get everyone out of there and fast.
"Such a killjoy." Murmured the man, also known as Red. He stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.