"And this is why we always make sure that our scrolls are charged, right girls?" Robyn paced around the living room with furrowed brows and crossed arms. To think the only means of indirect communication would be conveniently lost by a low battery, this was not a high moment for the happy huntresses.
Her teammates huddled on the couch, May scratched her cheek on the right as Joanna rubbed her neck on the left, leaving Fiona to twiddle her thumbs in the middle.
"I-I'm sorry, I got caught up in the fight and forgot to call you guys..." The sheep Faunus said with a lowered head.
The leader of the happy huntresses sighed. "Communication is key girls, we can't operate if we break away from each other without a follow-up."
Fiona tucked in her legs and wrapped her arms around her knees. It was rare for Robyn to scold her fellow huntresses, so when she did her partners knew they deserved the criticism.
"I'm just glad that you had a capable hunter on your side, Fiona, if Hawkins weren't there who knows what could have happened," Robyn said while rubbing her temples.
"But..." The corners of Robyn's lips curled upward. "You saved Trifa and exterminated an entire pack of Beowolves and a baby Deathstalker to boot. So in spite of all that transpired, you took out a big chunk of the Grimm mission we accepted leaving more time for our detective work."
"I-I did?" Fiona mumbled.
Wrapping their arms around the Faunus' shoulders, May and Joanna flashed her a pair of toothy smiles.
"Well, it's been a long and eventful day girls, but I'm pretty beat. Why don't we head back to the hotel and get some rest? We've got an even bigger day waiting for us tomorrow." Robyn yawned.
"Oh, you're not going to stick around for dinner?" Sam, dressed in his pajamas, peeked into the living room, his eyes weighed down by several bags.
"Sorry, Mr. Acres, but a huntress' duty is an around-the-clock kinda job but we'll be sure to pay another visit before we head back to Mantle." Robyn gave the farmer a polite salute and made her way to the front door.
May and Joanna followed suit, but Fiona remained seated.
"Fi, what's wrong-" May moved to comfort her partner, but her leader shook her head.
"I think Fi just wants some time with her family. Make sure you get to the hotel in one piece alright?" Adding a wink to her departure, Robyn lead the way out with the other members of the happy huntresses trailing behind.
Now the only huntresses in the abode, Fiona felt the cushions next to her sag. His straw hat removed, Sam played with his toothpick before plopping it between his lips.
"You're worried about Hawkins, aren't you?" The old farmer grinned softly.
"W-Well, he did protect me from that Deathstalker..."
Sam laughed. "Really? To be honest I was surprised that you met him out there. He's the type who'd avoid socializing if he can help it. Though with his combat skill, I bet he gave that nasty scorpion a run for its money."
Fiona pursed her lips. "We worked together to take down that Grimm, but..."
Her white bangs drifted over her eyes. The image of Hawkins hyperventilating before an enormous Deathstalker rammed him against a tree with its pincers replaying in her mind like a broken record.
"He was acting odd wasn't he?" Sam finished the thought for her. He hugged his niece then pointed to the hallway.
"Tim finished treating his wounds half-an-hour ago, but you might be able to have a quick chat with Hawkins before he calls it a night."
Fiona put on a nervous smile and hopped off the couch. She made it to the living room entrance, before another set of arms wrapped around her.
"A-Auntie Carla?"
"Hawkins' room is the second door on the left side of the hallway." The old woman chuckled.
"T-Thanks!" Fiona squeaked and skipped to her destination, but made a quick detour to the kitchen before she stood in front of the magician's door.
"Ah, there's my wife." Sam chuckled, but it sounded forced.
Carla crossed her arms and frowned. "Those medical bills didn't come cheap, Sam, not to mention we're supporting five mouths now instead of two. If something doesn't change then we're going to be living on the streets by the end of the month."
Her husband sighed. "I know, and I intend to elaborate the subject with Hawkins after he comes around. Maybe I can convince him to help us with the farms."
/-/
"Huff... Huff..."
Cheeks flushed in sweat, Hawkins rolled out of bed with a groan. His body, empty of heat, offered no comfort as he staggered toward the door. A hot drink would soothe his rattled nerves, and provide him with a temporary escape from the cruel nightmares.
His fingers wrapped around the door handle, an abrupt knock deterred his hand from turning it.
"H-Hawkins, are you awake?" That voice... it belonged to that giddy sheep Faunus correct?
Hawkins rolled his eyes and grunted. "What do you want, Ms. Thyme?"
"I-I have some green tea, would you like some?"
The magician didn't like the idea of having a conversation, but the temptation of a hot beverage was too good to pass up. With a shaky hand, Hawkins opened the door and Fiona meekly walked in with two steaming cups and a rag.
The blonde trudged back to his bed, rubbing his temples as he did so. He accepted the tea extended toward him, but his unsteady arm fell limp causing the warm liquid to spill on the floor.
"H-Hawkins, be careful!" His timid acquaintance squeaked and hurried to clean the mess.
"Stop, I'll clean it up later, just leave me be." The magician coughed.
Fiona complied, but instead of leaving she plopped down beside Hawkins and extended her cup toward him.
"I've lost my appetite for tea."
"O-Oh..." The sheep Faunus whimpered.
"Did you come here for a reason? Or was tea the only topic you had in mind?"
Without approval, a small palm cupped the magician's forehead.
"Hawkins, are you alright? You're having cold sweats." Fiona leaned in, much too close for the blonde's liking.
"My status has already been diagnosed by Dr. Tim. So I don't need your opinion on the matter."
"What's with the rude tone?" The huntress sighed and retracted her hand. "We fought well against that Deathstalker, so doesn't that count for something?"
The body of the menacing Grimm flashing to the forefront of his mind, Hawkins' breaths deepened as the image of the monster's blinking stinger swayed to-and-fro.
"H-Hey, H-Hawkins?"
In mere seconds the intimidating blonde was reduced to a panting mess. His golden locks draped over his closed eyes, he clutched his stomach where an old wound from a burning laser had since been patched.
Without warning, Hawkins lunged off his bed and attacked the first thing in sight. His punch rattled the wall, sending cracks throughout the splintered frame. "Huff... Huff..."
Blood dripped from his knuckles, pittering against the floor as his posture slumped.
"It should have been me..." Hawkins sighed under his breath but didn't take into account Fiona's enhanced hearing.
Too stunned to speak, Fiona warily approached the unstable man. She could subdue Hawkins if need be, but violence wasn't the card she liked to play as a first resort.
The taps of her boots echoed across the room, making it as if the small space was a vast warehouse. Swallowing a thick lump, Fiona reached out and wrapped her arms around Hawkins' back and clasped her hands over his chest. A dusting of pink on her cheeks, she nestled her head against the wide back of the pale man.
A hug did wonders, that's what her uncle always told her, a simple sign of affection that stated you were there to help.
The thundering beats of the magician's heart slowly petered to a humble pace. His clothes dampened with sweat, he tilted his head to glance at the soft presence on his back.
"Ms. Thyme..."
"Y-Yes?" The huntress stammered.
"This position is rather awkward..."
"...O-Okay." Allowing the magician his space, Hawkins removed his fist from the wall and turned to address the quivering Faunus.
Unable to summarize his thoughts, the magician stood still, taking in the features of his white-haired acquaintance. He'd only known her for no more than half a day, yet she had offered him a comfort which should be reserved for close friends.
Friends... Hawkins scoffed at the thought. All of his friends were six feet under, along with his ship and his ambitions. He had no reason to establish a kinship with this timid woman, after all, knowing his luck she'd end up dead with him around.
The long frown, accompanied by bulged veins and dirty bandages, left a foul taste in Fiona's mouth. She'd extended a gracious hand toward her cohort, but he'd slapped it away with no acknowledgment whatsoever.
At least that's what she initially thought. His breaths ragged, and face hung low, the magician staggered toward his bed but slipped on the tea puddle he'd made. With a loud thump, Hawkins' knee scraped against the floor along with his palms.
Fiona stepped forward to help, but a stern glare from the pirate held her back. However, seeing the worry on the Faunus' visage caused a twitch in Hawkins' hardened heart. Perhaps... his bitter defeats had made his tongue a bit too harsh. She did aid him in retrieving Trifa, and owing a debt was not something he wanted to keep.
Locking gazes with the bewildered huntress, the magician ignored the cracks of his injured bones and straightened his back. Fiona opened her mouth to speak, but her throat remained dry of words.
Hawkins rolled his eyes. Long overdue for a well-deserved rest, he retrieved his tarot cards and shuffled. The chances of the night drawing on were still on the high end, unless...
Despite his secluded nature, the former pirate pushed his thoughts of isolation aside and placed himself no more than a foot away from Fiona.
The young woman bit her lower lip, but bravely maintained eye contact. In one swift motion, Hawkins picked up Fiona in a perfect bridal fashion.
"H-Hawkins?!" Fiona squirmed, but her voice fell silent as the blonde's grip tightened around her legs and shoulders.
He strolled down the hallway, missing the slacked jaws of Sam and Carla who'd witnessed the scene from the living room. Hawkins arrived at the front door and carefully allowed his blushing cohort's feet to touch the floor.
"Thank you, Ms. Thyme, and good night." No sign of annoyance in his stoic tone, the magician offered a subtle nod and made his way back to his room.
"Thank god there was an 82% chance of that working..."
/-/
"Hoh... what a night." Fiona's earrings clinked as she walked beneath the bright lamp posts of the commercial district. Though her pace slowed as a particular sentence racked her memory.
"It should have been me..."
What did Hawkins mean when he muttered those words?
"Now's not the time to be thinking about him." Fiona shook her head and clasped her hands behind her back. She arrived at the hotel her team had rented for the night, though a tad later than she would've preferred.
She checked in at the front desk and hurried up the stairs. Standing in front of room 205, Fiona raised a fist to knock, but the door opened before she could.
"Ah, there you are. We were worried for a second. How was the talk with your uncle and aunt?" Robyn leaned against the doorframe, dressed in a set of gray pajamas, with a half-eaten baloney sandwich in hand.
"It was okay." Fiona shrugged. "They don't seem suspicious as to why we've come to Vale, so that's a plus."
Her leader nodded. However, a mischievous glint sparkled in the corners of her violet eyes.
"So, how was your time with Hawkins?"
The Faunus tried to keep face, but could not hide the faint tint of pink on her cheeks.
Robyn's lips curling to a predatory smile, she leaned over and slowly took another bite of her sandwich.
May and Joanna, the two currently occupying the couch, pocketed their scrolls at the chance for some light-hearted teasing.
"H-He's alright, his injuries weren't too severe." Fiona squeaked.
"Ah, I'm sure you made sure to check. He does have impressive muscles doesn't he girls?" Robyn glanced to May and Joanna who playfully nodded.
"H-His abs aren't as hard as you think!" The shortest of the happy huntresses protested.
Jaws slacked, Robyn and the other girls burst into laughter and snagged their arms on Fiona's shoulders before she could retreat.
"Oh, this is going to be a long night, isn't it girls?" Robyn hummed along with the whistles of May and Joanna.
"W-Wait, we have a long day tomorrow, shouldn't we recuperate our strength?!" The sheep Faunus yelped.
"We definitely will, but a few bedtime stories would help quicken the process don't you think, Fi?" May giggled and pushed her into the room as Joanna closed the door.
Let it be known that none of the happy huntresses would get any sleep until the next morning.
/-/
"Good morning, Hawkins!" Sam beamed his usual smile and plopped a stack of pancakes on the magician's plate.
The blonde offered a humble nod, picked up his fork, and began to devour his meal.
"Hello everyone," Carla waltzed in with a smiling Jaune in tow.
"G-Good morning." The most recent addition to the household, a spider Faunus with gray hands, slowly peeked into the kitchen but hesitated to enter.
"Ah, hello Trifa, why don't you take your seat and settle that hungry stomach of yours?" Sam pointed to a vacant spot next to Hawkins, but this only made Trifa more nervous.
"Oh, no need to fuss about that rude man, he won't hurt you." Carla quipped and readied Jaune's serving of mashed peas and carrots.
Her eyes glued to the stoic magician, he curled a brow at the trembling girl as she made her way over. The scent of hot butter and flour wafting up her nostrils drool trickled down the corners of Trifa's lips as she grabbed her fork.
Minutes passed in silence, and feeling a set of cobalt eyes upon him, Hawkins turned to Trifa who yelped and forced her sights on the floor. This action repeated itself a couple of times until the blonde was fed up and pulled out his tarot cards.
"21% chance she wants to talk to me."
Hawkins' eyes drifted to the bottle of syrup next to his plate.
"Is this what you want?" He grunted.
Trifa's head snapped upward and hastily nodded.
"Then say so, I'm not a mind reader." Hawkins sighed and passed the syrup bottle.
"T-Thank you." Trifa stammered.
Unbeknownst to the blonde, the farmers in the room glanced confusedly at each other. Sure, they were used to Hawkins' dismissive tone, but the fact that he didn't outright ignore Trifa's request stumped the old couple.
"Hawkins, are you feeling alright?" Carla asked in genuine concern.
"Do I look like I'm in pain?" The magician quipped.
A quiet, but pleasant breakfast later, Hawkins stood up and informed Sam that he'd be heading into town today. The old farmer inquired his reasons for leaving, but by the time he'd stacked the dirty plates and utensils, Hawkins was already past the front door. The sun, full in volume without a cloud in the sky, its heated rays basked the magician's pale skin. Lots of dust too, unlike the earlier weeks, the paths leading up to the commercial district were caked in dried dirt clumps that turned into stale earth clouds in the fast breeze.
"Well, look who it is, I didn't think you'd have the guts to leave Carla's protection." A moose Faunus sneered. His usual pack behind him, Larry tapped his shovel against the ground with a malicious glint in his eye.
"You have work to do, don't you? Why pester me when you could be providing lien for your families?" A calm response from the stoic man, Larry and his boys furrowed their brows.
"Since when did you become our boss? Looks like I'll have to show you what it means to invade our land." Larry lunged forward and swung his shovel.
His eyes narrowed, Hawkins whipped out his bandaged sheath. He parried Larry's blow with ease and pressed on at the Faunus' retreat. This time, the magician took the initiative and grasped the bottom of his sheath with both hands. He slashed continuously, slowly breaking down his opponent until they staggered to a knee.
With one harsh blow from above, the handle of Larry's shovel snapped in two. The end of the magician's sheath collided against his jaw, knocking out two teeth while leaving behind a nasty bruise. However, Hawkins' assault did not end there.
With a swift boot to the gut, the farmers surrounding him heard a rib crack.
"Argh!" Larry wailed and clutched his aching chest.
"I don't care about your racist views, but attack me again and your life will not be spared." His crimson eyes sending chills through Larry and his cohorts, the blonde vacated the scene, eager to rid himself of these petty thoughts and focus on his initial task.
"Oh, is that you, Port?" Summer waved to the stout man with a bright smile and made her way over.
"Ah, Summer, what brings you here?" Running a hand through his gray locks, Port greeted his friend with a firm handshake.
"Oh, you know, just searching for a mission. The usual huntress responsibility and all that." The red reaper said with a shrug.
"I see." Port fastened his fingers around his short collar and curled a brow.
"Summer, are you alright?"
The woman in question stepped back with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Do I look sick?"
The gentleman chuckled. "I'm not asking about your physical status, rather your emotional one. I used to see you and your team perusing the mission boards on a daily basis, did something happen?"
The light in Summer's silver eyes dimmed. "Well, stuff happens all the time, doesn't it? Even if I'm a leader, I can't control every little detail."
"Yes, that is true, but that's part of life isn't it? We can prepare to the best of our abilities for an incoming storm, but the winds can change when least expect it." Ports words did little to uplift Summer's spirits.
Tracing small circles on the floor with her boot, the huntress sighed and slowly shook her head.
Port gulped then coughed. Clearly, his former schoolmate was troubled, and he'd be damned if he didn't do anything to help when he could.
"How is Tai doing? Last I remember his injuries had healed quite nicely."
The red reaper flinched. "H-How did you know?"
"Oobleck has been taking a few side jobs here and there. One of them is reading stories to sick kids in the hospital, and he happened to pass by our pun lover's room."
"H-He's okay. He won't be leaving the hospital anytime soon, but he's okay." Summer sulked.
Port nodded. Content with his assumptions, he took a step further in consoling his downtrodden cohort.
"Have you eaten yet, Summer? There's a bakery not too far from here that I often visit that serves the best cherry pies imaginable."
"Pies for breakfast?" Summer tapped her chin in fake thought, the sparkle in her eyes shining for but a moment. "Well, a little sugar never hurt anyone."
"Excellent!" Port patted his friend on the back and led her out of the HMA. Eager to fill his belly while digging Summer out of the rut she found herself in.
"Hm? There are a lot more people in here than usual."
The duo found themselves a table by the window and ordered two small cheery pies with Summer adding on a strawberry milkshake.
The red reaper pulled out her wallet, but Port beat her to the punch and foot the bill.
"This is a treat from a friend. And I won't take no for an answer." The stout man said sternly.
"Fine but the next time we visit I'll be the one who pays." Summer pouted.
Despite the long rush of orders, the pies and strawberry shake arrived in record time. Summer set to work on mixing the frothing cream with the thick sugary liquid, while Port picked at his crust with the tip of his fork.
"So, have you or Ozpin found someone to fill the vacant spot on your team?"
Summer choked at the question, spitting a few drops of milkshake on her cohort's shirt.
"Is that why you dragged me over here?" She said solemnly.
"Yes, but it's mostly because I'm concerned about my friend." The gentleman corrected.
"I met Qrow a few days ago at a bar, and by the black rings under his eyes and his malnourished skin, it's obvious he hasn't been taking care of himself."
The red reaper shied away, opting to gaze out the window at the bustling civilians and honking cars.
"Not to mention your condition." Port cleared his throat and wiped off the bits of strawberry on his suite.
"I'm fine, I'm still doing my duty as a huntress aren't I?" Summer grumbled.
"Yes, but like many of us, myself included, often do our best to distract ourselves at every available turn to avoid the true problem." Port put down his fork.
"I don't want to sound like a know it all, but I've had my fair share of heartbreak. Team Glyptography wasn't my first unit remember?"
A silence befell the duo. The tiny sips on Summer's straw serving as the only distraction.
"So... what should I do then? Tai is still in the medical ward, and I've pushed Qrow a good distance from me." She sniffed.
"I didn't think things would end up this way..."
A tap on her shoulder, she tilted her head to meet a handkerchief and soft smile.
"It's good to depend on each other when times are rough, but one mustn't forget the power to topple an obstacle has to come from within. It's a person's personal resolve that depicts the actions that they take, and while we may persuade them to go one way, there's always another option if you take a moment to look."
"That... Doesn't make any sense to me..." Summer slumped and buried her head in her arms.
"Haha, I do tend to ramble don't I?" Port tugged his mustache.
"What I'm saying is that it isn't your fault that Raven deserted. Nor is it on your shoulders for Tai's current condition. While you may be the leader of STRQ, the actions of your teammates are their own and it's up to them to consider if they've made a mistake or not."
Her emotions rattled, the red reaper gripped her forearms and let the tears flow. A server came by with the check, but a stern glare from Port forced the lad to stay put. With gentle pats on the back, Summer roused from her depressive stupor and sighed.
"You know, a lot of the other students always gave you a hard time but I'm really glad that we're friends, Port."
"Ah, there's my cookie-loving classmate. How about we go back to the HMA together, after all, this is a rare occasion where Glynda is allowing me to pick a mission and I will not let this opportunity go to waste." The gray-haired man put his hands on his hips and laughed.
Summer hopped from her seat and patted her face dry. "The snooty witch actually gave you a choice? Now that's a miracle if I've ever seen one."
Rambunctious laughter echoed across the restaurant as the two strolled to the exit. With a skip and a twirl, Summer passed through the doors with a smile on her face but narrowed her eyes at a familiar figure.
"Hm, is something wrong?" Port curled a brow while tilting his head in the same direction of his friend's stare.
"Hawkins..." The cookie-loving woman muttered darkly.
"A hawk? I don't see a bird." Port knew he sounded dumb, but there was no sign of the avian creature anywhere!
"I'll see you later, thanks for the talk, I really needed that."
Before he could utter another decibel, a blizzard of rose petals surrounded Port as a blur of scarlet sped across the pavement.