XXXIII: You Ought to Know by Now
As Kahlua walked, she felt as if she was in a haze. She swayed from side to side as she once again passed through Relay's downtown district. Those watching the side streets as she passed across their windows might have thought she was drunk. She was not but would not blame them for the mistake.
Kahlua was in a fugue. Delia had left her head swimming. They had spoken at length about what to do about their mutual huntsman problem. Or rather, she had listened to the assassin lay out what she needed from the thief to accomplish their mutual goal. Despite the threatening nature of their first encounter, she was intrigued enough to give it a try.
At the intimidating woman's suggestion, Kahlua called Tiny and offered him a job. There was some leg work to be done. Another helping hand would make the effort go faster. She could also use one of the revolvers that the big man had taken back after Mead had left for Vale. Extra insurance was never a bad strategy.
When asked to take part, he had eagerly accepted the proposal. Being told they were going after Branwen again fired him up. Apparently, there had been a bad taste left in his mouth after what had happened outside the music store. He wanted to get even. The lump did not even ask how much it paid.
He was more interested in knowing specifically what they would be doing. The question was dodged by saying that they would meet up to discuss it all in more detail. She had left out Delia's presence in the plan. It would be better to break it to him slowly and in-person.
The meeting also made it easier to dispose of him if he tried to back out. That was an unlikely scenario. He seemed more than up for it, not that his immediate death was stressing her out. She would not shed a tear if that had to happen. Using him as cannon fodder had been her strategy from the beginning.
With time to blow until they were to reunite with Tiny, she had separated from Delia. Kahlua needed a change of clothes. What she wore now smelled faintly of the dumpster she had been forced into. The killer had pouted but agreed to let her go on the condition that she not try to run.
Otherwise, Delia would have to come after her.
The thought of fleeing had never crossed her mind. She knew that she would not be able to get far. If Branwen was a monster, then Delia was a demon. With any luck, they would take each other out. And if not, Kahlua would have a good gun to finish the job.
Using the alleys to stay off the main roads where she could, Kahlua made her way back to the Inn and Out. She had left her things in the hotel room. Now that she thought about it, Mead had forgotten his travel bag as well. He wanted to high tail it out of town before that deputy sheriff changed her mind and tried to arrest them.
Kahlua had almost run into the cowgirl on the way back. The wannabe Lady Lux mascot had been distracted with a wailing child at the time and so had missed the robber skirting around the side buildings. The near miss had been frightening, but she persisted.
The further she trekked, the less buildings there were for cover. Figuring she was safe with the deputy far behind her, she stepped back out onto the sidewalk. Soon after, she saw the sign of the hotel poking out in the distance.
The weariness melted away as she picked up the pace. Nothing would get between Kahlua and a warm shower. She could practically feel it on her skin already.
Passing the front office on her way to the stairwell, she looked through the door window on instinct. It was a good thing she did. What she saw almost made her jump out of her skin. There in the lobby stood Qrow Branwen.
He started to turn in her direction. Ducking below quickly, her head began to spin again. The urge to vomit was only outweighed by the fear that such a sound would draw more attention to herself. She had only one thought as she pressed herself against the frame.
Why is he here!?
Kahlua started to hyperventilate. Possibilities rattled around her headspace. All of them were terrifying. Had he followed her back here? That did not make any sense. She had not been back to the hotel since their altercation.
Then she calmed down. There was no way he could know. It must have been some odd coincidence. Since she had not been noticed yet, it would be simple enough to slip away. No one would ever know she had been here. Leaving behind clean clothes would suck but getting busted again would be suckier.
Before she got going, she stopped herself. Maybe this was not such a bad thing. Maybe it was a blessing. An opportunity. And if there was anything that the Golden Child was good at, it was taking advantage of opportunities.
Very slowly, she raised herself to the window again. She was relieved to see that the caped man was not looking in her direction anymore. His focus was directed at the bow tie wearing hotel manager.
They were not the only ones inside. To Branwen's left was a thin man with shaggy blond hair. He shuffled back and forth listlessly. A real wimp on the face of it. Most curious of all, was a little dark-haired girl clutching the huntsman's back. Her small face was pressed into his shoulder to hide from the bright lights.
Needing to know more, Kahlua tried to figure out a way of hearing what they were talking about. Using her hands, she gingerly cracked the door open. It was a torturously slow process, but she eventually created a small enough opening for her to lean in and listen while watching.
"Here you are. Room 239. Right next to your own." The hotel owner vibrated in his spot while handing over the keys.
The eavesdropper paled. That was on the same floor as her and Mead's own room. Had their target been a short distance away from them the entire time?
"Perfect. Thank you for getting this ready for us on such short notice." The blond said.
"We are always happy to help out our best customer's family." The owner nodded towards the sleepy child. "And here is an extra key for Room 237. In case you want to have access for other activities."
"Like...?"
"You know." He bashfully played with one of his paperweights. "Alone time as a couple? I realize how small our rooms are, so having separate accommodations for your children is necessary."
"Wait, we're not-"
"We're not worthy of your hospitality." Branwen cut in while placing an arm around his significant other's waist and pulling him close. The hanging girl shifted slightly to accommodate the action. "It's so hard for us to make time for romance."
So Branwen had a spouse. Not only that, but judging by the shorty he was carrying, he was a father as well. That was something that Delia would find very interesting. Already the decision to stick around was paying dividends. There was potential in knowing his pressure points once they had their trap laid out.
The three chatted for a bit longer about amenities and payment methods before they turned to exit the office. Kahlua was able to get out of the way and hide behind a corner. They stepped out and away towards the stairs. After counting to ten, she followed them.
At the stairwell, she strained her hearing to judge how many steps ahead they were. She only moved when she heard them turning to the next set of stairs. Having been caught tailing the man before, she was not taking any chances.
She silently took to the steps. Lifting her feet slowly before setting them down heel to toe, she climbed after them. The only noise she created was a slight creak in the wood as she rose. The talking between the two men covered her tracks.
On the second floor, she ducked into another archway. From that hiding spot she could watch the trio down the hallway. They stopped in front of a door. The blond man unlocked their room for them while Branwen tended to his passenger. As they entered the darkened area, she strode out into the hall.
By happenstance, the munchkin's head lifted and looked in Kahlua's direction. The tired eyes regarded the woman following them curiously. Luckily, the door closed before the child could alert her parents to the stranger's presence.
Sighing in relief, Kahlua hurried to her own room. Sure enough, it was only a few doors down from the huntsman and his lover. Cursing her ill fortune, she let herself in and closed the door. That had been too close. She stomped over to the shower while taking her clothes off in frustration.
She was going to need a long one after what had happened.
〇-〇-〇
Someone was talking. That was registering but not much else. She had a hard time making out what was said. Ignoring it came naturally.
Her contemplations of the object before her blocked all outside distractions. White noise and tunnel vision kept her eye on the prize. Muffled noises tried to besiege her as she focused further.
The dagger on the desk lay unsheathed. Reflections in the dull metal were hypnotizing. An image of a face so much like her own looked back at her. The top half of the head and nose stretched gruesomely over the sharp point.
The warped visage unsettled her. Was it a sign? A premonition?
"You in there Lily?"
"Huh?" The faunus had spaced out.
"I asked how the reports were coming along."
She frowned as she glanced down at the packets she had been working on. More than half of them had been properly sorted and recorded into the system. That would have been good progress if that were not the state they had already been in. As it was, she had barely touched the paperwork since coming in a few hours ago.
An unopened bundle was to the right. It begged to have its contents released but she had stopped short of doing so several times. Whenever she was about to reach for the knife to cut the seals, she would freeze. A phantom pressure would form on her spine as she got lost in her ruminations.
"Not too well." She admitted.
"Are you doing okay?" Sheri asked with concern.
"I need to get out of here." This comment caused her office mate to worry further. "My ability to focus is gone. Could you cover for me?"
"Sure thing." The lady bent over to gather up the packets. "I'm surprised you came in at all today. I would have thought you would be at home sleeping."
She would have thought so too. Her plans had not included coming in for another shift after what had happened. Now she was back at the Huntsman Lodge a few hours after it had opened and settled back into her chair. She honestly thought she would never come back.
Lily had come in hoping for a distraction. She had been unable to sleep. Every time she sat down, unpleasant thoughts and fears tore at her. She had hobbled around her place all night. Realizing that she was wired, she thought she might as well put her energy to a productive endeavor. That had been a miscalculation.
Vertigo had almost overtaken her as she had passed through the front door. Memories of what had happened bludgeoned her. Although shaken up, she had been able to fight through the trauma and take her seat. She then entered a loop of starting and stopping until her peer had stopped by for a chat.
"I owe you one."
"No worries." The logistical support worker dismissed the notion as she walked back to her own cubicle. "Focus on feeling better."
"If only I could." Lily whispered once Sheri was too far away to hear.
With a groan, she stood up. Wobbling a bit as she reached for her cane, she prepared to leave her office behind. Her hand once again froze as she reached for the lights to turn them off. A recollection of warm breath on her neck peppered her brain.
She shook her head. There was no way it would happen again. Not while they were in broad daylight. Still, as irrational as it was, she left everything as it was. Someone else could lock the door for her.
Leaving the Lodge was much easier than entering. The walls were no longer threatening to collapse around her. Limping through the lobby, a few people waved at her. She returned it with a fragile smile as she escaped.
Once outside, she realized she had been holding the air in her lungs. Letting it out helped, but there was still a tightness in her chest. The open space did not lessen her dread. Now she could not shake the feeling she was being watched.
Waiting for the bus was excruciating. Her leg would not allow her to stand for long periods of time. She was forced to take a seat at the bench near the loading sign. The position of the seating left a blind spot for those passing by on the sidewalk.
Lily tried to close her eyes and not think, but it did little to help. Anytime someone crossed behind her, she had to resist the urge to swing Soar Sabre at them. One unfortunate individual had brushed past her hair on accident, causing her to let out a reflexive hiss. They scampered away soon after with a new story about a feral faunus to tell their friends and family.
That was not going to help human and faunus relations.
She tried to find another topic to occupy her time. There was one thing that demanded her attention. A matter that concerned her greatly, no matter how much she avoided it. As if in response to her internal struggle, a conscious reminder had been following her every step.
Her pocket was heavy. Abnormally so. It should not have been so burdensome. Inside was only her Scroll. The overall weight had not increased. All that had changed was what it represented. She still had a chance to be the hero.
Lily pulled out the device. Her reflection this time was not distorted. That allowed her to notice the fear in her eyes. Unlocking the screen, she flipped through her contacts until she cycled to the new number. Qrow's number.
Her finger hovered over the call button.
The sound of a vehicle backfiring caught her attention. The bus had arrived and was letting passengers out. Putting off the decision again, she placed her Scroll back in her pocket. It now seemed to weigh even more. A brisk stumble over to the bus emphasized the heftiness.
Taking the steps to board the municipal transportation, she was greeted by the driver. She tried to return it with a 'hello' of her own but zeroed in on his eyes. They were hazel. The shock caused her to let out a gasp.
Excusing herself for the outburst, she moved past him while he looked after her in confusion. She grabbed the first available seat so as to hide her shame. In the rearview mirror, she could still see him checking her out. She sank down in the seat in mortification.
That was a dumb thing to do on her part. A knee jerk reaction like that was not going to do her any favors. Of course he was not the one. The burglar had been female. In addition, they would not be a random city employee. She could not be that paranoid, or she would never be able to trust anyone again.
Maybe I shouldn't.
It was a terrible mindset. People could not survive in this world without a minimum amount of trust. How could anyone function in civilization if they could not engage in simple activities without watching their back.
The vulpine eared lady could not help it though. The ill thoughts invaded her actions. Once she was so self-assured and now she was filled with so much self-doubt. All because of one person's actions.
That woman in the ski mask had shaken her to the core. Faith in her abilities and sense of self were now at an all-time low. The last time she had considered herself so helpless was shortly before her Aura had been unlocked. She grew to be stronger to overcome it. Now there was nowhere for her to go. She was on the plateau of her days, not the ascension.
That brought her back to the call she needed to make. Whereas she could not do anything about the previous night's visitor, she knew a person who could. She just had to reach out with the information she knew and let him take care of the problem.
It was not too late. She still had time on her side before they could locate him in Relay. Returning the device to her palm, she located Qrow's information again. Her finger was once again poised to act.
The terms are now for you and your daughter's life.
The intruder's voice stabbed at her resolve. But Qrow could stop her from making good on the threat. He was one of the best in the world. Where others crumbled, he stood tall. Unshaken. Powerful. Everything she no longer was.
Break our agreement, and I will come back.
There was no way she could trace it back to Lily. Thanks to the Scroll she had given Qrow, she would be able to make contact directly. No one else had to be involved. Nobody could leak what she had done. It would be a quick message to let her former classmate know that someone was gunning for him. He would be able to take care of the rest.
I'll make you watch as I dissect your little girl.
That would never happen. She needed to be brave and make the tough choice. To be the huntress she thought she was, even if her body was no longer up to the task. She could not live with herself if she abandoned an ally to his fate.
That is my promise to you, Lily Fields.
Her finger wavered. She scrunched her eyes and cursed. The burglar knew her full name. Only a little bit of research was required in the Vale directories and they would know where she lived. And what if they were not alone? What if Qrow stopped one potential killer and others made good on the promise?
She sat conflicted as the bus rolled along. A fingernails gap separated her from making the selection and calling Qrow. The smallest of nudges would have gotten her to make the connection and end her indecision.
However long she was stuck like that was too protracted. Eventually the bus reached her destination. A street that led to her apartment building beckoned her to put off the call. With the reprieve, she put away her Scroll. She hopped out of the vehicle before the driver could ask her about her odd behavior.
The road home was fraught with danger. At mid-afternoon, the streets were overly crowded. She was surrounded on all sides. In the throng, she could not make out individual features. Everyone was a stranger. Everyone was a threat. With no other recourse, she worked her way through while trying to keep her head on tight.
Now at her building, she worked her way up the steps to the entrance. They were the last hurdle. She had relocated to the first floor after her accident, which was good. She was not so sure she could take being in an elevator in her current mental state.
Opening the door to her flat, she heard the expected gasp from the living room. What followed were excited footsteps. Lily had her spirits lifted for the first time that day by the sight of her daughter sliding into the hallway on her socks. The calmed mother sunk to her knees in anticipation.
"Mommy!" Strawberry ran up and glommed onto her only parent. "I missed you!"
"I missed you too." Her stomach sank as she returned a loose embrace.
They had not had much time to be together over the last week. Their schedules had not aligned properly. When Lily came home after her shift, she had to wake the girl up to go to school. When Strawberry got home, it was to a passed-out mother who would wake up long enough to cook a meal before going back to bed.
Now that she had her mom back, the adolescent eagerly began explaining what she had been doing at school that week while taking her hand and leading her further into the residence. All the while, the sinking sensation the single mother held inside increased. Lily checked her habitat and counted all the unguarded entrances into their domicile.
There were no bars on the windows. No deadbolt on the door. No protectors inside besides a crippled woman and a child. If someone wanted to break in and hurt the two, nothing could stop them. All the self-defense training in the world meant nothing when put against a well-armed opponent.
Knowing there was nothing she could do to stop the intruder from making good on their threat, her eyes began to burn. She could not take it anymore. There was no coping with how helpless she was.
"Are you okay?" Her daughter asked in confusion, having noticed her anguish.
To hide her face, Lily hugged Strawberry again. This time, it was as tight as she could. She never wanted to let her go. The child giggled, thinking it was a game they were playing. It was hard, but the mother had made her decision. She had no choice but to stay silent, even if it was to a close friend's detriment.
I'm sorry Qrow.
〇-〇-〇
Qrow stared at a pink ceiling. The intricate cracks in the plaster came together to form intricate patterns before his very eyes. All alone now, time passed slowly. His mind raced ahead to process the visual information.
Tai was supposedly putting Ruby down for a mid-afternoon nap in their room next door. The girl had been getting a bit loopy after being outside for most of the day. A quick recharge was in order. She had resisted until her father had agreed to tell her a story. Qrow had a hunch that he had fallen asleep right next to her.
With the extra time provided, the huntsman should have been resting as well. He was wide awake though. Restless. He resisted the urge to stand and pace the room to burn energy. This time off did not feel earned. It was a pause on his forward momentum. A waste.
The huntsman instead thought about his next move. He knew that Roscoe would eventually track him down thanks to the tracker. Moving around to mess with her was counterproductive. Potentially hilarious, but not worth it. She also had his other niece in her care, so that was another limit on his activities.
Tilting his head to the side, he saw the Scroll that Lily had loaned him. There was that promise he had made to her to call Oz and let him know he was okay. He had been meaning to call the headmaster anyway to get an update on how things were going in Vale.
Yet he hesitated.
There was going to be a conversation between the two of them that he wished they could skip. Something about him being reckless. About how he should have reached out for support and not run away. Yada yada.
He looked up to the man like a father. At least, Qrow assumed their relationship was like that since he had never known his own daddy dearest. Regardless, he did not like to disappoint. Putting off the discussion did not solve the issue, but it did delay it. That was enough for now.
There was another call for Qrow to make. One that was not as fraught with emotional baggage. A small detail had been plaguing him since earlier that morning. He needed to satisfy his curiosity. There was someone he could talk to that could answer his pressing questions.
Sitting up, he rummaged around in his shirt. From the front pocket, he drew the business card that had been given to him by the scarred man. Using his other hand to grab the Scroll, he entered the unfamiliar number. Judging by the digit configuration, the connection was a private extension to a company in downtown Vale.
It took awhile for the link to go through. This far out from the city, the CCT signal was not as strong or as stable. Dropped calls were common. Just as he was about to hang up and try again, the video came on.
The screen displayed a brunette in an apricot corset. A black feather boa clinging to her shoulders contrasted her complexion. She seemed out of place with the traditional office desk she was sitting at. A thick stack of invoices within view of the camera demonstrated complex bookkeeping measures.
For a split second, Qrow thought that he might have misdialed. Based on the name on the card, he had been expecting a man. If this was the right number, he wondered what kind of establishment this mysterious employer ran.
"Hello there handsome." She purred. "You've reached the managerial office of the Club. The hottest spot in all of Vale. What can I do to… er… for you?"
He held back a snort. It was a well-practiced routine meant to screen new callers. The dead look in her eyes gave the act away. They probably used it as a way to probe for weaknesses in those who wanted to conduct dealings. Beautiful women were a weakness for many people.
That did not mean he would not perform his part. Playing into such a game could bring its own advantages. Being underestimated was never a bad idea. A lecherous grin plastered his face as he spoke.
"Plenty of things, I'm sure. Miss?"
"No need to be so formal." She fluttered her lashes a little too well. The gold mascara exaggerated the gesture. "Marjorie will do while I take care of you."
"Tempting." He laughed. She joined in as well before he got serious. "But I will settle for you putting your boss on. He will want to talk with me."
"Will he, now?" Her green eyes lit up with some curiosity. "What's the name, sugar?"
"Qrow Branwen."
Marjorie gulped. A clear indication that he was indeed talking to the right people. She knew his name. It had probably been tossed around her office quite a bit this week. The faked interest morphed to action.
"My apologies, Mr. Branwen." She caused one of the sheets to fly off as she rose abruptly. "I will get him immediately."
"Thanks doll face." He called after her as she left the picture.
The microphone picked up the sound of a door opening and closing. As he waited, Qrow resituated himself on the edge of the bed to get comfortable. It did not take too long, as a new person came into view.
He was a big one. Short dark hair with a matching beard hid a brutish face. It created an illusion of being a unified terrain that wrapped around his chin. The black vest and red tie he wore gave the hint of someone trying to come across as cultured. In actuality, his costume screamed 'mob boss' to anyone not visually impaired.
"Hei Xiong?"
"That's my father. You can call me Junior." The man grunted as he scanned the huntsman. "You're the one who has been giving my nephew so much trouble. For all the damage you caused, I'd have thought you'd be tougher looking."
"If it's that hard to believe, I can come down to your place and give an encore."
There was silence on the other end as Junior glared at him. Qrow returned it while mentally kicking himself. He was trying to get information out of the guy, yet he could not clamp down on the back talk for a few minutes. Luckily, the red tie man cracked a grin instead of hanging up.
"Ice cold, huntsman. I like it." He guffawed while pounding the desk with his fist. "No disrespect was intended. Although he was no longer a formal part of my organization, you made me look weak."
"He started it." Qrow shrugged.
"We can agree on that." He sounded exasperated. "That kid has been a canker sore since he learned how to walk. I thank you for not cutting him down. It would have broken his mother to have to bury her only child."
There was something surreal about Junior describing the other crook as an unruly brat. The nightclub owner did not look that much older. At most, he had to be in his early to mid-twenties. Being the leader of a syndicate must have aged him mentally.
"I save my worst for the Grimm."
"Regardless, it is appreciated. Mead messaged me that he is returning to Vale with my father's ring. And without any strings attached. I am again thankful."
Appreciation for returning an item stolen and returned by the one who took it. What a strange sentiment. It was too late to complain now. He had learned to go with the flow a while ago. Especially when there was a way to turn the events to his advantage.
"If you are feeling generous, there is something you can do for me."
"I figured as much. Nothing is ever free." The twitch in the corner of his mouth indicated a desire to turn down the request. "Go ahead. I'm listening."
"Tell me what you know about the robbery your nephew was involved in. The one at the Atlas depot that caused me to bust him."
"You want me to be a stoolie?" The incredulous tone told Qrow what he thought of the prospect.
"I thought I knew what happened that night, but there are a few things I still don't grok. I won't share whatever you tell me with the police and if it's something you can't answer then say so. Does that work with you?"
The man on the other end stroked his chin while weighing his options. The threat of having a huntsman all up in his business should have been concerning enough. However, if people found out Junior was cooperating with an authority figure, then he would put himself in danger from his rivals. Eventually, he agreed to the questioning.
"Who planned the heist? Whose bright idea was it to frame me?"
"Going straight for the jugular, huh?" Junior loosened his tie. "I wouldn't know because I was not involved. We keep out of such things."
"Your nephew doesn't count as a part of your gang?"
"I lead a loose association of like minded and civically engaged individuals. Not a gang. Now some of them might engage in conduct unbecoming, but what my independent contractors do in their spare time does not concern me."
The huntsman would have to admit, the other guy had the corporate lingo part of his disguise down pat. That had to be the longest string of nonsense he had ever heard outside of a Council meeting. It would be enough to confuse any entry level police officer or civilian.
"You have no inklings then."
"Does it matter who planned it? I believe you have already captured your perpetrators Branwen. Huang was the one who liked to take down big scores. It was one of the reasons I pushed him out. I prefer more legal ways of making a living."
Right. Legal. Like running a protection racket or providing 'party favors' to his guests. In a way, Qrow supposed they were in the morally gray area by comparison. Junior could operate out in the open. Others, like Huang, got nailed to the wall when they overreached.
"What I can tell you is that we received a rather large donation from my wayward family member soon after the heist. It was a tribute to get back into my good graces."
"Lien from an advanced payment for the guns?"
"Maybe. Or it could be he won the lottery. Can't say for sure, but the timing is convenient."
It sure was. There was another party involved. One that could afford Specialist weaponry. But who had that kind of dough ready for a purchase that large? If Junior knew, he was not going to say much else. He could plausibly deny telling Qrow anything he could not have found out another way.
A creak from the room door caused his attention to be diverted momentarily. Standing in the entrance was Yang. She had not expected him to be talking to someone. Tilting the device so that Junior would not see her, Qrow waved for her to come inside.
"Was that all you needed?"
"One more thing. A guy you sent my way tried to take a few liberties with me. And not in a fun way. I want to know more about them."
"Really?" He seemed genuinely shocked by the claim. "Well, I do apologize on Mead's behalf. He is usually better at handling things than that."
"Not him. Another. Went by the name Kahlua. Is she one of your like-minded associates?"
"No. Mead must have hired her for some outside help." He sat back in his chair, looking incredibly tired now. "I do know her though. She used to work for my father, may he rest in peace. A good earner, but a bit unstable. I had to cut her loose after she got caught trying to organize an unapproved side-hustle behind my back."
"That's all you did?" Going against the boss was usually a one-way drive to a potter's field.
"I cut her some slack for her services to the family."
"Do you know what she does to earn a living?"
"She's a freelancer now. If she was between jobs, that's probably how Mead picked her up."
That was intriguing. Was she unemployed because her last employer was now in lock-up? It would fit the sequence of events nicely.
"Did she ever work for your nephew?"
"Actually, now that I think about it, she did hang around Huang quite a bit." He understood where this was going. "Amazing that she did not get arrested as well, don't you think?"
That was one word for it. Qrow was now sold on his theory. Baldy had been the one to dress up as him and rob the depot. When he had arrested that lady in the military uniform, he had not looked any further. He assumed that the one woman he found was the woman. That showed him for making assumptions.
"Thanks. You've given me a lot to think about."
"Sure. Can I ask what your intentions are for her?" He hastily tacked on a clarification. "I won't stand in the way. We just don't want to be in the splash zone, like that lawyer was."
Lawyer? Qrow thought, but disregarded.
"Well, I'm going to have a nice chat with her. Then she is going to jail for a long time. I trust that you can keep that to yourself. I wouldn't want her getting tipped off."
Junior agreed. Qrow did not trust him per se, but he did believe that the bearded man would not want news of this talk getting out. Once this call was over, he was probably going to swear his secretary to secrecy and pretend the whole thing had never happened.
"See you around Junior."
"I'd prefer if you didn't."
Qrow laughed as the call ended. That was the best that both of them could wish for. The Branwen had no desire to go hunting through the Vale underground again after this was resolved. It was a futile effort. Remove one criminal and five more will take their place. At least with someone like Xiong in charge, they knew to keep their noses out of the major, kingdom destabilizing, crimes.
With that settled, he turned to his niece. She had been standing there patiently for him. Now he needed to see what she wanted.
"What's up?"
"I didn't mean to disturb you, but Ms. Cyan is waiting for you downstairs."
"Heh. When isn't she? Thanks for the message kiddo." His expression changed when he realized she was alone. "Where's your dad?"
"Asleep on the bed with Ruby. I found this other room key in there." She pointed to the Scroll still in his hand. "Who was that?"
"A contact of mine." He saw no reason in lying. This was a chance to pass down a bit of knowledge to the next generation. Roscoe was not going anywhere. "Sometimes as a huntress, you will have to meet with unsavory types."
"Criminals?"
"Worse. Businessmen." Although they were kind of the same thing in this case. "See, he is the kind of guy who knows about things that go down in Vale. I called in a favor he owed me so he would share what he knew."
"What if he was not willing to talk to you?"
"Depending on how badly I wanted the information, I'd either leave it be or make him."
Yang took on a pensive appearance. The uncle sighed, realizing he had probably given her too much information. She was a kid. She should not have to think too hard about things such as extracting gems from sleaze.
"So, how's it going?" He asked to change topics. "Still in the dumps?"
"No. Well, kinda." Her fists clenched and unclenched. "I feel better, but not great. It's hard to explain."
She was talking, which was a great sign. According to Tai, he was having a hard time getting her to form complete sentences. It looked like Roscoe had come through after all. That was one he owed her. He had never been great at the whole heart-to-heart thing.
"I get it."
Qrow wanted to know more but was not sure how to approach it. There was a cruel comedy in the fact that he was able to talk off the cuff with a stranger like Junior, yet not able to do the same thing with his nieces. He also did not want to make things worse, as what tended to happen when he tried to be comforting.
After a while, he noticed they had been staring at each other awkwardly. Yang had started to twirl her hair and examine the floor intently, waiting on him. He decided to let her off the hook for now.
"I better go check on Roscoe and see what she wants. Feel free to hang out here while you wait on our sleeping beauties."
Making sure he had everything he needed, he made for the door. In the parking lot, there would be an annoyingly useful deputy to consult with. Just before he could make it out however, he stopped when the girl behind him spoke up.
"Could you teach me more about being a huntress?" She blurted out.
"Have I not already been doing that?"
"I mean, really teach me." She said with as much conviction as she could muster. "I've seen how you exercise. It's much more intense than what I do."
No duh. Qrow wanted to say. He was an adult with years of experience. Putting her through the exact same regimen would be cruel. It might not have been out of place in the Tribe, but he had better standards than a bunch of good for nothing bandits.
"What's brought this on?"
"It's something Ms. Cyan said. I need to push myself to be better. I know I can take on more if I really try. I want to be stronger."
The blonde girl glowed now. There was a determination there that he had not seen before. It reminded him of another girl who wanted to be more powerful. He needed to make sure that the past would not repeat itself.
"And what will you do with this strength?"
"Save those that others can't." There was no hesitation in her voice.
Well, that was different. A bit cheesy, but not the worst motivation he had ever heard. If that was why she wanted to grow faster—to be a protector—then he could get on board. There was a way to tailor what he did to her current level. He would need to adjust the drills to not injure her and they would be set.
"If that's what you want, then you better get ready to work harder than you ever have before." He smiled darkly, showing a bit of teeth. "You and your father are going to be in for a training session straight from the Grimmlands."
"Dad will be with us too?" She let out a cheer when he shook his head.
The huntsman had let his former teammate sit on the side lines too long. Now he was going to force him out onto the training yard again. Qrow was going to put the father and daughter duo through the ringer when they got back to Patch.
"We'll talk more about it later. Depending on what Roscoe wants, I'll probably be out for a while. Let your old man know so he doesn't worry."
He patted her head. It was a testament to how much perkier she was now. Yang usually complained about that kind of treatment. She smiled away with a humming undercurrent of hyperactivity. Her and her sister were similar in that way when they got excited.
"Good luck!"
Qrow soured quickly at the phrasing. Why did she have to say that and tempt fate? Still, he gave her a thumbs up and left her behind.
Author Notes: No update for Christmas or New Years. See you in two weeks!
Chapter Next: I Can See Clearly Now (1/8/21)
