Qrow was just supposed to make his way to the nearest city over. His final destination was supposed to be Atlas where he was to relay some information to 'Ol Jimmy. So what in the world was he doing observing a familiar looking woman in white making her way stealthily through the trees? No less in the form of a crow?
He shouldn't be here observing. Hell, this wasn't even his business. But here he was, perched atop a branch, blinking his red eyes as he watched Winter practically melt into the shadows. If he were were in his human form, he was at least 90 percent sure he wouldn't have been able to see her in it weren't for the glint of her sword from the moon. He tilted his head to the side when he realized he couldn't sense the Schnee anymore and cursed to himself, noting how fast she moved.
Taking flight, he observed from overhead where Winter was heading and noticed a slightly lit compound up ahead. Moving ahead of her to scope, Qrow let out a warbled squawk when he saw the crates upon crates of dust. There were workers milling about wearing the uniform of the White Fang along with the masks. With a look to the trees where Winter possibly was, Qrow finally had an idea of why the Schnee was here.
Why was he even here? If he wanted to intervene he knew he would have to explain how he got here. And having to explain that magic was actually real to Winter was a hurdle that Qrow wasn't sure he wanted to take at the moment. He understood that Winter was strong and capable of doing something like this herself. He should just leave and let her do her thing.
Qrow turned and was about to take off for the nearby city when the nagging feeling in his brain made him stop. His thoughts suddenly wandered to the handshake he and Winter Schnee shared, making him mentally face palm. What had he done, proposing some alliance like that? That they would eventually get along? Was he insane?
With Qrow amidst his mental breakdown, he missed out on catching Winter sneaking in to the compound and successfully knocking out a few guards - heading to the power source for the lights.
Only when Qrow was plunged into darkness, did his thoughts finally stop and focus on one thing.
Winter Schnee.
She needed to move swiftly and quickly. In the moments before she killed the lights, Winter caught the Schnee name marked on the containers of dust - mentally checking off one item from her list. Winter engaged her gear for night vision and slipped them on, using the side of the containers for support. She tightened the gloves on her hands and moved forward, catching several heat signatures in her area. Wanting to complete this mission without the use of dust to blow her cover, Winter lunged forward and sunk her fist into two of the workers. Upon hearing their breathing even, she placed them on the ground and continued on.
Peeking around a wall, there was a double set of stairs that led to a platform and an office. As she glanced up, she heard the yells of workers and perhaps the person in charge, ordering them to get the lights back on and to continue working. In the darkness, Winter caught the flick of a flashlight and cursed to herself. Things might not end so cleanly after all.
About to move to dispose of the other guards on watch, Winter stiffened when her gut said to move.
Whirling around, her eye gear caught an arm outstretched. Immediately, Winter grabbed their wrist, spun them around and shifted to slam them to the floor when she recognized the form of the person in front of her. Upon Winter's grip going slack, the person's green form straightened, their fringe shifting. Without another second, Winter slammed her right arm into the person's throat and the left fist pressed against their torso, pinning them to the wall.
"Wait, wait!" Came a familiar rough voice that was hushed.
"Shut it! State your purpose." Winter hissed as her eyes refused to believe who stood before her.
"It's me, Ice Queen!"
Her memories from Beacon months before came flooding back as Winter released her hold on Qrow, taking a step back. Shocked, she saw through her lenses Qrow massaging his throat and putting up no signs of a fight.
"What are you doing here, Qrow? You're not supposed to be here." Winter whispered as her nerves suddenly sprung back to life, her heart racing with the thought of a new factor to her mission. This man was not in her debriefing. Ironwood made no mention of Qrow accompanying her on this mission.
"I figured you could use some help."
"I do not need any assistance, Qrow. Now leave." Winter definitively said as she turned away from the man, ready to resume what she was here to do.
"I can't just leave, Ice Queen. I'm here on other business as well. Besides, we're friends aren't we?" Qrow replied, his words making Winter tilt her head in confusion.
"Friends?" Winter echoed, the term suddenly so foreign to her. She wanted to add more, but this conversation was getting out of hand. "I'm supposed to apprehend the person in charge here and take back prints stolen. I cannot mess this up, so take very special care of using the word 'friends', Qrow."
At that, Winter stalked silently ahead, leaving Qrow to himself.
Well that did not go how he had planned it. Qrow pushed his fringe back as he let out a silent sigh, following after the Schnee. He had just lied to her saying he had other business here. What business, Qrow?!
Sensing a few dozen presences, Qrow rushed forward and knocked them out as he caught Winter make her way to the top of the stairs. Once the workers were dealt with, Qrow climbed up the stairs and froze when the lights of the facility suddenly came back on. The sounds of fighting drew his attention when he saw a huge body crash through the glass of the office and slam into the railing of the platform. Acting like nothing happened, the man picked himself up and dived back into the office, sounds of Winter dodging coming from the gaping hole.
Damn it...the lights...was it his semblance interfering again?!
Rushing up the steps, Qrow appeared around the corner to see Winter getting tossed against one of the windows - glass cracking upon impact.
"Hey!" He yelled as he ran up to the man wearing a White Fang mask. Side stepping his punch, Qrow ducked under a swipe and jabbed his fist into the man's side. Upon contact, Qrow pulled himself back and in front of the man, sending a kick straight to his chest.
As the White Fang lackey stumbled back, Winter pulled out a taser and lunged forward to make contact. Almost seeing the taser touch his jacket, the Schnee's eyes widened when the man suddenly twisted to the side, the body now in front of her belonging to Qrow.
In that moment, everything seemed to slow down: Qrow taking a step back in shock, the White Fang lackey trying to run away, and Winter extending a hand to the side to summon a white glyph.
Then everything went back into real time. Winter's body slammed into the lackey as she pressed the taser into his back, gritting her teeth as they both went down.
Winter groaned in pain as she picked herself back up, the pieces of glass that had stuck to her bouncing off the floor. Hearing Qrow's approaching footsteps, she turned to see his wide eyed expression, blinking speechlessly.
"Are you okay?" Qrow asked as Winter walked over to the exposed blue prints that definitely belonged to Atlas. She rolled them up and was going to check for any more when Qrow stepped in front of her, a hand on her wrist.
"Winter." He said as he met her hardened gaze.
"What, Qrow?"
Qrow gestured towards the footsteps of blood that she had just created to obtain the prints. Winter followed his gaze quietly and where they led to - finally noticing the blossoming wounds across her side and back. Lifting her gaze back to Qrow's confused expression, Winter moved past him and opened the other cabinets - pulling blueprint after blueprint.
"These are nothing, Qrow." Winter replied with a dark smirk. With a glow of sky blue, she tapped into her aura and healed the open wounds for now, knowing that the glass would need to be removed later. "For now, we need to leave."
"You're pretty crazy, you know that, Ice Queen?" Qrow said after he and Winter exited Ironwood's office - Winter having given him her report and blue prints once she received first aid. Qrow had relayed the information he needed to from Ozpin.
"Am I now, Qrow? How about you care to explain exactly how you came to be in that place?! You said you had business there too. Explain." Winter countered as she rounded on the Branwen, the man caught off guard.
"Uh...I lied." Qrow admitted with a sheepish smile, one that Winter returned with a scowl.
"You lied?! Well, what about how you ended up being there then?" Winter placed her hands on her hips as she stared Qrow down. The man visibly looked uncomfortable, his gaze to the side as he stood in silence. With exhaustion suddenly hitting her like a bus, Winter raised her hand and shook her head as she let out a sigh.
"...Nevermind that. Somehow you were there and..." Winter paused to grasp at her words, Qrow taking note of it with a hint of amusement. "...I am grateful."
"Grateful? A Schnee?" Qrow said with a wide grin, his hand digging into his phone to pull out his scroll. He opened it to reveal to Winter of an audio recording that was going live.
"How dare you!" Winter exclaimed as she swiped for it, Qrow dodging with a simple turn. Winter glowered at the man as she held her sore side.
"I guess this means we're actually friends now, huh?"
"We are not friends!"
Hi again! I'm still currently in the progress of incorporating everything from the suggestion I've received but do not worry! It will be done!
Hoping that you enjoyed the chapter! Let me know what you think! I really appreciate it!