Chapter 48

(A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates! Been really busy! Also: I have an idea in mind for how the story ends and the overall plotline with some prequels in mind. Note:Please give your support whether it be thoughts and prayers or otherwise to Australia and the Phillipines as both are suffering from their respective disasters: a raging wildfire and a volcano recently erupted in the Phillipines. On the matter of the recently-expanding Coronavirus: wash your hands constantly and wear a surgical mask if you are sick. Get your medical check-ups as soon as you can. That is my recommendation.

Also: the reason why I haven't been posting as much is that my old computer got busted, got a new one and I have started a new job as a housekeeper. Been working hard to make that money to pay the bills so I can give you all your favorite stories! Stay safe out there and have a good one!)

Emerald Sustrai waited at the warehouse as usual. Torchwick was working on a plan to deal with that alien-knight-freak from outer space, as was Mercury whom was looking up combat videos against folks with swords. She hadn't heard back from Cinder in awhile now, which was very odd. She shuddered at the thought of Salem killing her. By all accounts, Cinder had worked for Salem for a long time now, though she was about seventeen or eighteen. Perhaps a little older. In fact, she had been the one that got her off the streets. As for Mercury, well-the first time they had met, Mercury had just killed his own piece-of-shit father.

As for Elim Rawne/Tyler Doyle/ whatever he called himself... he was a mystery... but also... she paused as she thought about it. She couldn't figure out the connection, but she swore that she met Elim before that incident with Cinder and herself. It was like... she knew him from someplace else. That, and the way he always made sure that she cared for... it was like he treated her like his own daughter or granddaughter. He never spoke about any family save the one that he lost before his homeland fell, not a place that she ever heard of before.

She loved hearing his stories like the next guy or gal, but sometimes they just seemed too crazy to be true or just... off somehow, like he wasn't telling everything. Like, that one time where he talked about how he killed an entire colony of giant spider grimm by himself... by crashing a large boulder into its hive, destroying it. It seemed ridiculous... but also off, like he wasn't telling the whole thing.

The former street urchin put a finger on her chin. His eyes were bluish-green... like that Artyr Sym guy if she had to go by Torchwick's description. That, and Tyler was old... really old. He was young compared to Salem, but... she couldn't help but feel that he was older than he looked or acted.

She sighed as she waited for him. She texted him again.

E: Where the hell are you, old man?! She paused, looking up after sending the text and grinned. Well... he was pretending to be a student at Beacon. She giggled as she sent another text and tried to stifle a laugh. Neo suddenly appeared from the shadows. After a brief wave, Neo walked up with a questioning look. The thief showed her the text which made her actually burst out laughing... silently. As if she had no volume other than mute.

XXX

Tyler Doyle/Elim Rawne/Adam Sym blocked a strike from Qrow Branwen with his tree branch. "Nice swing, old man." Adam said, grinning as he held the branch not too tight like a saber's hilt. Qrow grinned back. "Not bad yourself, kid." Qrow said before turning around and trying to hit Tyler in the opposite direction. The ex-Jedi was about to duck and strike the old drunkard when his scroll rang. He grunted and was about to block when he felt the branch hit his face at full force. The branch's top half splintered on impact with Qrow grunting as he clutched his arm, still holding the now-broken branch.

"Son of a-!" Tyler roared in anger as he fell to the side, clutching his face.

"Oh my Gods!" Taiyang shouted, standing up straight from where he was leaning.

Ruby put a hand over her mouth as did Pyrrha. Blake frowned, sniffing the air as Weiss's jaw went agape. Rebecca looked at Tyler with a thought. Yi's eyes widened as he stood up, his ears pulling back in fear. Li Ren sighed. "That would be why you should have your scroll off during a fight," He commented.

"That'll leave a mark," Yang commented, grimacing. "Yeah," Nora nodded, also grimacing as Tyler rubbed his face. Lira looked at Tyler in interest, noting something about his face along with the tree branch. She bit a finger as she thought about it. "Rule of thumb: don't ever fight me." Qrow sighed, tossing his branch into the forest. Tyler rubbed his face. "Point taken," The one-time Jedi commented. Qrow extended a hand. He took it, bringing himself up.

"Those were some nice moves, by the way." Tyler said. "Did Artyr's Da teach you how to fight like that?" The young man from Armagh asked, rubbing his cheek. Taiyang ran over.

"You okay?" He asked, worried. He tried to look at it only for Tyler to avoid him while covering said cheek.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Tyler said, waving dismissively while covering his cheek.

"It didn't look like your aura activated," Taiyang said, worried as well as suspicious. "I don't need an aura, old man." Tyler snapped with anger in his eyes. He walked away, cursing. "Jeanie-fecking-Mac!" His classmates moved out of his way. Ruby looked at her uncle and father in confusion. Lira looked at the house and whispered to Rebecca. "Did you notice the branch?" She asked.

"Yeah," Li said for them both. "It broke in two," He whispered. After Tyler had gone inside, Qrow rubbed his arm, trying to hide the pain he had.

"You okay, Uncle Qrow?" Ruby asked, looking at it. "I'm fine, Petal." Qrow said, smiling to hide his pain while he clutched his arm.

"C'mon, let's get you inside so we can look at it." Taiyang said, ushering Qrow inside while he clutched his arm. "Need a drink for it too?" He jokingly asked. "Unless that bastard drank all of the Thunderskull, I'll take one." Qrow jokingly asked.

"After what happened: he's not allowed in my house ever again." Taiyang muttered so softly almost no one could hear

XXX

Tyler Doyle/Adam Sym/ Elim Rawne sighed as he slumped onto the toilet in the guest bathroom. He produced his scroll and looked down with anger.

'Dammit, Emerald! I'm too old for this surprise bullshite!' He looked at the text.

E: Where are you?

You dating that dark doctor? :)

He had to try not to laugh out loud at this, his anger dissipating before he texted back.

No, I was sparring with an old friend of ours. He's good, but that text of yours earlier costed me the match! That, and my cover may or may not be blown. Can't be sure. May have to use certain means to make sure it stays covered.

He waited for a response and then got one.

E: Who?

'Dusty old crow', he texted back. There was silence.

E : What are you going to do?

He smiled as he texted back.

'What I've always done: Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome. By the way: mind if you and Sirius Black tag along for an outing? Going out to eat tonight when we get back. I'll buy.' He told her.

E: Sirius Black? Really?

He smirked before typing back. 'Someone my sister ranted and raved about a long time ago. Besides, they both have the same last name. Could be distant cousins for all I know.'

E: This is Merc: Not funny, old man! He chuckled at this.

XXX

Outside in the dining room, Blake sipped her tea while her bow suddenly twitched against the wind, as did Rebecca's rabbit ears and Yi's fox ears. The two publicly-known faunus looked at eachother while their human friends spoke in concerned whispers about what was going on. Blake was with Yi and Rebecca as a sort of conspiracy. They eyed eachother with understanding. Something was off with Tyler. They had been listening in, discerning sounds. An old man's chuckle had come from somewhere and it definitely wasn't Taiyang or Qrow.

"Lying sack of shit," Yi muttered, sipping a soda.

"Remind me to get my Grandma's lightsaber when we get back. I'm going to use it burn his ass." Rebecca told him in a whisper.