Chapter Ten: Hello, Haven

Breathless with wonder, Oscar stood gaping at the huge mountains and beautiful buildings of Haven. From the train station's wide windows, he could see almost the entire city. Steel grey mountains rose into the sky, emerald trees and multicoloured buildings peppering their sides. Market stalls lined the streets, selling everything from gold handled knives to little bread rolls in the shape of mice. The noise was overwhelming, a beat of life that rose and fell with the rhythm of the city. Flocks of small birds raced each other through the satin sky, blurring into clouds that twisted in the still air.

"I take it that you like Haven?"

"I've never seen anywhere so big..." Oscar gazed wide-eyed at the bustling streets around him.

"Wait until you see the Academy."

"Are we going there now?" Oscar's excitement built.

"Almost. There's someone we need to talk to first."

"Who?"

"His name is Qrow Branwen. He should be here, I gave him very clear instructions."

"Where exactly do you think he'll be?"

"My guess is the nearest place that sells alcohol."

Oscar shot a sceptical glance at the floor. "That just fills me with confidence."

"Don't worry."

Oscar looked around the station building, attempting to hide his awe at the building's immense size. Glancing at his surroundings, he realised that people were shooting him suspicious looks and speed walking past as quickly as they could.

"Oz, I feel like everyone's staring at me."

"Well you are talking loudly to mid-air, so..."

"I look like I've gone insane."

"Unfortunately so."

Oscar groaned quietly. "Why me?" He shifted his backpack to a slightly more comfortable position and looked around for the exit.

There were three bars within a ten-minute walk of Haven Academy, but it was outside the second one that Ozpin told Oscar to stop.

"Here."

"How can you tell?" Oscar whispered.

Ozpin didn't answer.

"Fine, have it your way." Cautiously, Oscar pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside.

A dark-haired man sat alone at the bar, leaning on the wood with drooping shoulders. A massive sword was sheathed behind him, poking out from either side of his tattered red cloak.

"That's him."

Oscar stopped just out of sight. He watched the man carefully, with narrowed eyes.

"He won't hurt you."

Oscar glared silently at the door.

"Ask him for your cane back."

"What?" Oscar whispered.

"Say, "I would like my cane back." Go on, do it."

Rolling his eyes and cursing the gods, Oscar took a few tentative steps towards the bar.

"Excuse me?" He stumbled over the words a little. The man looked up from the drink he was curled over and turned to face him.

"You know, I don't think they allow kids in here, pipsqueak." His voice was low and rough, but not aggressive. Just tired.

"Say it." Ozpin urged.

"Shut up, I'm getting there." Oscar said quietly, looking at the floor. The man gave him a quizzical look.

"I'm supposed to tell you..." He trailed off, looking at the floor. The man sat up a little straighter. "I'd like my cane back?"

Shock flickered across the man's face and his eyes widened. Then, smiling slightly, he nodded. He stood up and Oscar took a cautious step back. The man brought a hand to his waist and unclipped a cylindrical silver object. He weighed it in his hand, a small smile curling his lip.

"It's good to see you again Oz." He tossed the cylinder to Oscar, who caught it carefully. Wide eyed, he watched it lengthen out into a cane with a mechanical click. The engraved silver handle sat, perfectly balanced, in his right hand.

"I'm not going crazy?"

"No kid, you're not." The man smiled more widely, warmth in his eyes. "But your life did just get very, very complicated."

"Yeah..."

"He'll probably have a celebratory drink or twenty now, so I'd keep an eye on him."

"Wait, what? Oz!" Oscar looked to the man in desperation.

"I don't think we've been formally introduced." The man extended a hand. "The name's Qrow Branwen."

After a second's pause, Oscar shook his hand. "I'm Oscar Pine. Oz told me who you were but he didn't tell me much else."

"He told you I'd be in a bar?" Qrow guessed.

"Umm..." Oscar looked down, rubbing the back of his hand.

"Don't worry kid, I'll only have one." Smiling, Qrow reached over the bar to grab another bottle. Oscar carefully sat at a nearby table, watching him out of the corner of his eye. One bottle turned to two, and by the time Qrow had run out of reachable alcohol Oscar had already begun to scope out the nearest exit.

"Stay." Ozpin ordered.

"The only thing that's keeping me here," whispered Oscar angrily, "is the fact that that alcoholic seems to know a hell of a lot more about this than you'll tell me."

"You will need to walk him home soon, you know that, right?"

Oscar cast a wary glance at the giggling mess that was once a formidable huntsman. "If he kills me, I'm coming back and killing you." Oscar muttered.

"It doesn't work like that."

"Please shut up."

Knocking on the huge wooden door of Qrow's current address, Oscar contemplated running. Gods, this looks intimidating, he thought. He heard slow footsteps from inside. The door swung open. Behind it stood a young man with scruffy blond hair. He was clad in white and gold armour, over a black hoodie and jeans. Definitely a huntsman. Oscar began to feel a lot more nervous. Behind him, a young woman and man of around the same age sat upright on a red sofa. The auburn-haired woman's hands were curled in her vivid pink skirt. Shifting in his seat, the man glanced up, the wary look in his eyes almost obscured by his long black hair. The blond man looked back at them. Shrugging her shoulders, the woman shot him a confused look.

"Can I help you?" The blond man asked.

"Say you're looking for Ruby Rose. She is Qrow's niece."

"Umm..." Oscar twisted his hands together nervously. "Is there a Ruby Rose here?"

The man and woman on the sofa stood up slowly. "Why?" The woman asked, her voice low and tense. The man's gloved hands curled into fists.

"Well..." Oscar tried to hide his shaking hands.

At that moment, Qrow stumbled into the doorframe, holding Oscar's shoulder for support and laughing.

"I found him!" Qrow ruffled Oscar's hair and giggled.

"I think her uncle could use some help..." Oscar took a step back, pointing in Qrow's direction.

And I'm not just talking about short term, he thought to himself, watching as Qrow stumbled into the house and collapsed on the sofa. The three young adults looked on with bemused expressions.

"I found him." Qrow threw an arm over his eyes dramatically, breathing heavily from the exertion.

"What is going on out there?" A teenage girl stomped into the room, hands balled into fists. Her dramatic red and black clothes marked her as a huntress, despite her age. A silver rose insignia pinned her tattered scarlet cape to her short black dress.

I'm guessing that's Ruby Rose. Oscar thought.

"Can't a girl read her comics in peace?" She asked, her irritation evident in her strained voice.

Qrow burped. Suddenly noticing him, Ruby brought a hand to her face and sighed.

"Qrow, did you get drunk again?" Her voice was heavy with exasperation.

"Maybe..." Qrow said, with the tone of a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. He lay sprawled on the sofa, legs up on the armrest.

This sounds like a normal event, thought Oscar. This isn't going to go well for me, is it?

Everyone turned to look at Oscar, who was still standing in the doorway. Ruby faced him, a sceptical look on her face, and he suddenly noticed the vibrant, metallic silver of her eyes. He'd never seen anything quite like them.

"Go on, say what you're thinking." Ozpin advised.

"You have silver eyes..." Oscar marvelled, his voice quiet. He took a step forwards into the room, towards Ruby.

"Who are you?" She asked, her voice soft and hesitant.

Qrow laughed quietly.

"Ah, well... My name is Oscar Pine..." Oscar shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced at the floor.

"Go on, say it." Ozpin urged.

"Wait for it..." Muttered Qrow.

"But you probably know me as... Professor Ozpin?" Oscar looked up, cautious optimism in his eyes.

Ruby stared, wide eyed, and the blond man took a step back.

"I did it!" Qrow yelled, grinning broadly. He flung his arms up in the air in celebration and promptly fell off the sofa. The orange-haired woman winced.

The young hunters rushed over to help him, and Oscar retreated into a corner, watching.

"Who are these people? You never actually told me their names." Oscar spoke quietly to Ozpin, hoping the others didn't notice.

"The silver eyed girl is Ruby Rose, although you probably already guessed from her emblem. Despite her age she's a formidable huntress, and was the leader of her team at Beacon Academy. "

Oscar nodded slightly, listening.

"The young blond man is Jaune Arc. Wasn't the best fighter to begin with, but became quite a skilled strategist over time."

"He's armed to the teeth in his own living room." Oscar whispered, raising an eyebrow.

"He takes great pride in being a huntsman, and it does pay to be prepared in this line of work."

"Okay..."

"The red-haired woman is Nora Valkyrie. She's an impressive fighter, and the team's heavy hitter. You would do well to stay on her good side."

"Not feeling very reassured Oz."

"Don't worry, she'll only break your legs if you hurt her friends."

"I really hate that I can't tell when you're joking." Oscar glared at the ground.

"The dark-haired young man is Lie Ren, Ren to his friends. Another skilled fighter, perhaps the most in control of his abilities. He's known Nora since they were children."

"Anything else I need to know?"

"Follow my lead. Be careful who you trust, and reveal only necessary information."

"That doesn't sound ominous at all."