Chapter 18

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Atlas Base on Grey Island.

A bullhead dropped out of the sky onto a landing pad. Several stood around awaiting it to arrive. Most noticeable a recently promoted Lieutenant Colonel Remerazi. The rear doors opened up and Qrow stepped out quickly followed by Team Skybox who shield their eyes against the wind. Kyle using his shield to protect himself and Yang as they stepped out.

"Well come back Team Shamrock and it's good to see you Qrow." The colonel shouted out.

"I thought they would have kicked out by now." Qrow shouted back.

"I have been flying under the radar for years." The colonel responded as the two men shook hands. "And Team Shamrock, its good to see you too." He pulled all three into a group hug. "We named the bar here after you and a couple drinks."

"It's good to see you to Captain." Oliver responded after the hug finished.

Remerazi smiled. "It's Lieutenant Colonel now. I got promoted for this whole business and babysitting the base for a year."

"I am just glad we didn't get shot down on the way here." Kyle commented to Yang.

They followed everybody deeper into the base.

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That evening.

Team Skybox sat with Qrow as Remerazi and several others told them about their up coming mission.

"…the east cannon is clear as fair as we can tell, but you will still need to check it out." A new lieutenant droned on. Qrow coughed into his fist.

"So, to sum it up. There are a few packs of beowolves but otherwise not much less."

The lieutenant looked miffed at the interruption. Qrow didn't care. Do something about it punk.

"That is correct." Qrow got up and left; the mission being a milk run for huntsman of his caliber.

"Let it go lieutenant. Qrow's the best. You could tie one hand behind his back and he will be fine. Questions Team Skybox?"

"Yeah if its such a small amount why are we here?" Yang asked. "Could you handle it yourselves?" Kyle had relayed to her stories about the excellence of the infantry men.

"We could, but I don't want to put my men in danger. Grimm being dangerous for us but fairly normal for you." Yang nodded. "Second. Experience for you guys mainly. Getting used to the swing of things. And lastly I am leaving."

"Why would your leaving require us to kill all the Grimm in an area?" Blake asked.

"I leave with my men. In comes a new commander with his men. Those men will be stressed and tired which will draw the Grimm towards them."

"You don't want the Grimm to interfere in the transfer." Oliver deduced.

"Exactly. You guys clear them out. That is one less thing for them to actively deal with…." Colonel Remerazi looked the team over looking for more questions. "Alright then. I will see you off in the morning."

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Morning

"Good luck and happy hunting ladies and gentlemen." The colonel waved them off as a hungover Qrow lead them out into Grey Island's forest and valleys. They proceeded in silence and single file.

Kyle wore a heavy tan jacket with vest full of mission essentials strapped to his chest. Oliver wore his normal clothes letting his semblance hold off the cold weather. Blake was bundled up in a light jacket. Yang wore long cargo pants with a long flowing jacket behind. Qrow was Qrow.

Time pasted. Grimm died. The cold continued to seep through everyone's clothes. Eventually Qrow called it for a day.

Kyle quickly scrapped together a fire and Oliver pulled out some nice MREs and passed them out.

Qrow kneeled down over the fire. "That feels nice." There was several hums of agreement. "I will take watch tonight. Y'all get some sleep."

"Shouldn't we spit it up into three?" Kyle asked.

"Are going to stay awake?" Qrow asked.

"It won't be an issue for us." Oliver responded. "We would be in pairs to keep ourselves up."

Qrow mulled in thought. I guess I could watch and see what happens.

"Fair enough then. I will take the morning watch since it's the hardest."

"We will take second." Oliver and Blake promptly leaned on each other as they went to sleep.

Kyle shifted to sit up straighter for his watch with Yang. Qrow pointed with two fingers at himself and then to Yang who winked back and gave a cheeky smile.

Kyles already married he just doesn't know it yet if Yang has her way.

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Sometime Later

Yang shivered with the fire out the cold began to seep back.

"Cold?" Kyle whispered. She looked at the beany which Kyle had pulled out of his bag after dinner. A hand reached out for it and snagged it off and placed into her head. Kyle rolled his eyes. They continued to watch.

I wonder if he will be at Patch for Christmas. Qrow thought he was sure Kyle was not going to go to sleep.

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Morning.

A boot roughly rubbed into Oliver's side. He woke up and shifted to move the offending shoe out of his ribs. This woke up Blake was nestled into his side taking advantage of his body heat. Qrow looked down on both of them.

"Cute. Do me a favor and wake up Yang." Qrow requested.

A boot roughly rubbed into Kyle's side. He woke up and shifted to move the offending shoe out of his ribs. This woke up Yang who promptly grumbled in disagreement. Oliver looked down at both of them.

"Qrow wants you to wake up Yang." Oliver pushed Qrow's request farther down the chain. Kyle looked at Yang whose face was pushed up under his arm.

Kyle lightly shoved his elbow into Yang's stomach. His arm promptly became a pillow. Qrow smirked at his niece's antics.

Blake and Oliver continued to eat as Qrow drank his coffee. Yang continued to fake sleep and keep Kyle trapped in place in fear of violent out burst.

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Several Days Later.

The five watched a pack of beowolves charge at them. Everybody was bored. Killing the beowolves was easy and repetitive after you killed forty of them each in a couple days.

"Challenge. Kill all of them as quietly as possible."

Kyle put Helen away and pulled out a dagger. Oliver shifted Duster into its sword form. Yang put her gauntlets on safe. Blake didn't change anything.

Skybox crashed into the beowolves. Kyle took the lead with Yang assisting him on the right and Oliver on the left with Blake protecting their rear.

Their advance slowed eventually leaving them grinding throw the pack of Grimm. Three beowolves jumped Kyle at once.

One got lucky…or Kyle got unlucky. A grenade got pulled off his vest and the pin fell out.

"GRENADE!" Kyle kicked it away and deployed his shield as Yang dove into his arms and Oliver and Blake fell in behind them.

KABOOM

A wave of fire passed over them with the shockwave. Bits of fragments blasted into the shield as the Grimm dissipated into powder.

Qrow ran up. A little concerned. He continued to scan for threats as he rushed up. "Are you guys alright?" A quick look at the four them showed no damage.

The ringing eventual stopped. Oliver and Blake pulled out their hearing protection from their faunus ears.

"Thank Monty for hearing protection." Blake commented. Oliver grunted in agreement.

Qrow looked at Kyle. "What happened?"

"Grenade got lose and I kicked away and got everyone in cover. How it got lose?" Kyle shrugged.

"Murphy's law." Oliver input. The old military saying of 'Anything that can go wrong will go wrong' answering that.

"Bad luck?" Yang questioningly stated. Qrow's wince went unnoticed by the team.

"Whatever it was. It doesn't matter now. Nobody got hurt and we can still finish the mission." Qrow led the way from the new miniature crater. Team Skybox quickly followed along.

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Last Day.

The wind whistled a little louder. The threating snow storm's patience ran out and started to coat the ground in fine powder. The five sat around the fire as the sun disappeared under the horizon.

"So, why do you guys want to be huntsmen?" Qrow asked. He received silence in response. "Yang?"

Yang rolled her eyes. Her uncle using her to start the conservation. "I enjoy the adrenaline rush and I get to help people out."

Oliver went next. "It was so that would never be helpless again. But now, it's to keep Blake and Kyle safe." He squeezed her hand.

"What happened?" Qrow sensed a story.

"Heard of Loincrest?" Qrow nodded. Damn. Kid probably lost everyone.

Blake went next. "I want to show that faunus can be good people."

Kyle was last. "Do you want a real answer or a BS one?"

"Both."

"Originally. It was to uphold and honor my parent's memory. They were both specialist…But now…" Kyle paused as everyone looked at him. "I don't…I am good and spent my entire life training for this so it would be a waste for me to throw it away. Everybody I care for does this so why stop now." Kyle finished.

"I get that. I really do." Qrow responded. "Find something or someone outside of this to care for…" Qrow paused. "For me it was my team and then later Yang and Ruby. Trust me Kyle. She will be worth it." There was a long minute of silence and Qrow rolled over to go to sleep and was quickly followed by Oliver and Blake.

Minutes passed and the wind continued to pick up. Moments later a thicker snowflakes landed around them. Yang shivered.

"Kyle?"

"Hmmm."

"I can I snuggle with you…for warmth?"

"We are already sitting next to each other."

"Can I sleep in your jacket?" Kyle started to take his jacket off. Yang stopped him. She smirked. "Not like that." She moved and straddled Kyle's waist. "Like this. Now zip up the jacket." Yang demanded.

Kyle zipped up the jacket. "This is nice."

We are in for a teasing tomorrow.

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Last day. Morning.

Yang's conciseness kicked in. Some voices were talking and there was coffee or the smell of it. Thank Monty for coffee.

"Firecracker, enjoy your night sleep on your partner?" Yang attempted to lean back. Kyle's zipped jacket stopped her and woke up Kyle.

"Hey guys." A groggy voice came from under Yang. Oliver unzipped them. "Damn its cold." Kyle quickly zipped his jacket back up.

Kyle was really warm. I miss that.

Yang messed up sleep schedule but it was warm. Kyle eyed up his partner discreetly.

Blake elbowed Oliver in the ribs when she saw it. Qrow made a note of that.

Future son-in-law. Nice kid. Definitely a fixer upper.

With coffee finished and breakfast finished, the five set out for hot showers, warm beds, and civilization.

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Late Afternoon.

A singular airship descended from the sky. Its X-shaped configuration marking it as a high-speed transport. Not meant for combat, but rather speed. It was very much the plane of those with places to be and things to do.

Winter watched her jet get wheeled into the hanger. The lieutenant colonel stand next to her. "Remerazi, how is it going?" She asked.

"Fine ma'am. Anything I can do to help you?"

"Have time for a quick inspection?"

"I've got nothing else better to do."

fizz

Colonel Remerazi. Team Skybox and Mr. Branwen just arrived.

fizz

"Excuse me ma'am but this requires my attention as well."

"Mine too. I have to fly them back to Beacon."

The two headed off.

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Qrow sat with Team Skybox in the Shamrock Bar around the fire place that was roaring in the middle of the room. The two officers stepped in.

Winter cough to get their attention. Kyle looked up and started to salute before becoming confused.

Do I salute? Do I offer to shake Winter's hand? Also Winter's here!

"You don't call. You don't write. Do you not love me?" Winter asked.

"I…I…was busy." Winter held out her arms.

Kyle filled them and hugged the specialist. "Sorry. I guess I forgot. I did miss you though."

"I missed you too." They broke off with the rest exchanging hugs. "I am glad to see you two haven't broken up yet. Have they been good?" Winter asked Kyle.

"I fear sleeping in our room. STDs run rampant there." Qrow laughed with several of the soldiers.

"We haven't done that." Blake stated indignantly while glaring at Kyle.

"How are you, ma'am?" Oliver asked.

"It's Aunt Winter now. But its be easy. I have been stuck in Atlas doing mostly paper work. I haven't down a lot of field work recently." She responded in a vague but informational way. "So, Yang was it. Tell me about yourself."

Yang started. Remerazi walked off with Qrow to get officially get a report. That during the report they both got smashed was a side effect.

Eventually Team Skybox was dismissed to catch up on sleep. Winter walked over to the bar and sat next to Qrow.

"~hey" Qrow leaned in.

"You know the rules."

"I'm not that drunk." Qrow replied.

"C'mon." Winter helped Qrow as they made it back to their quarters.

Eventually they reached Qrow's room. The door opened and they walked in. Winter made to leave. "Can we talk?" Qrow asked.

"Sure. What's wrong?"

"Are we going to ever move our relationship along?" Qrow asked. "Are we ever going to be more than friends with benefits?"

Winter sat down next to him. "I thought we were. Why are you asking?"

"I am old and I don't want to end up alone. I spoke with Kyle. What happened to him?"

Winter looked away and took Qrow's hand. "How much did he tell you?"

"Not much. Parents were killed when he was young. Ended up in an orphanage. Started training then. Meet Oliver a few years later."

Winter sighed. "That's not the complete story…" She leaned against Qrow. "Kyle's parents were killed in the line of duty when he was six. With no other family members, he was given an opportunity to honor his parents and become a specialist and he did…But it cost him his childhood." Winter quietly stated. Qrow lightly scratched her back.

"Kyle doesn't understand Christmas. What person doesn't understand Christmas?"

Qrow was visibly disturbed.

"I am the closest thing to a mother Kyle has had since his mom died. Over ten years and he didn't have a parental figure in his life just the rules and regulation of the military. What kind of people allow that? What kid survives that?"

"A tough kid trying to live up to his parent's name." Qrow soberly responded. "Why didn't you keep him as your apprentice?"

"He…They needed…a new start." Qrow understood as Winter genuine concern overflowed into silent tears.

Sure, Winter could be that mentor figure that Kyle need, but really Kyle needed to start over with a new family like Beacon. Like he and Raven did. Qrow stewed in his thoughts about his niece and Kyle as he lay with Winter.

Damn.

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Next Morning.

Team Skybox along with Qrow and Winter loaded into her ship. The engines were fired up and way they went.

Qrow sat with Winter in the cockpit chatting about their new relationship also about Team SilverSword's mission which had been a success.

The rest sat in back. The long benches and larger chairs making passible beds. Kyle lay slouched down in one chair with his legs on another with Yang next to him. Both passed out from the exhausting work and crappy sleep. Oliver and Blake both laid out passed out farther down.

Yang woke up. Not from the uncomfortable sits, but the turbulence. Kyle sat next to her passed out. He looked content. She felt bad about waking him up.

"Kyle." Nothing. Another whispered call with a gentle shove. A single eye peaked out.

"hrrmmm" What?

"What is your relationship with Winter?"

"aunt just don't tell her that"

"Why?"

"she took care of me when I needed it. Can we go back to sleep?" Kyle closed his eyes. Yang didn't wake him again.

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House Keeping:

This will be the last chapter until next August.

Thank you readers and much love.