Hello, this is Rubles with another new chapter!
First off, it ended up being a little long. Whether I make that the new norm or not is something only Future Me will know, but for now you get to read around 6k words. Yay~
Second, I know there will be some things repeated (or re-worded, but still borrowed) from V5 Chapter 1. While I'm making an effort to really divert the story from canon and not do things verbatim, I'm not going to stray too far at a time when I don't need to. The Butterfly Effect takes time, and despite the different mood in this chapter as compared to how it went in canon, it won't really make too much of an impact on the conversation despite the obvious.
Third, sorry for the long time between uploads. I meant to get it posted within a month at most, but between the pandemic and many different things I'm having to worry about, I never really managed to get to sit down and type this as much as I wanted. So I'm not going to assume I'll get it done within a set time any more (at least until the pandemic is over); instead, I'll just upload when I upload.
That's it this time. I hope you all enjoy the newest chapter of MotSS. See you guys when the next chapter comes out! Until next time~
~Chapter 5~
To Ren and Nora, the steps leading up to Haven Academy had always instilled a sense of duty, of camaraderie. Before their journey to Vale to attend Beacon, this school always gave them a sense of warm protection. Hunters and Huntresses, trainees and graduates alike, used to litter the grounds in a messy spider web of safety. Civilians, like the two were at the time, were allowed to see friends and family during free hours. To Ren and Nora, Haven Academy at that time was what made them decide to become the Hunter and Huntress they were training to be (even if they ended up going to a different Academy in the end).
But as they and Ruby, Jaune, and Qrow stepped through the front gate at the top of the stairs, all they felt was a cold loneliness, and a chill in the base of their spine. Not a soul was in sight — no students, no faculty, not even a guard was anywhere to be seen. Thankfully, Ren noticed, the school didn't look like it had been abandoned, at least not very long ago; the gate swung open fairly quietly, signifying that it hadn't rusted. In addition, nothing on the grounds had begun gathering dust yet, and there were no signs of fighting except for the occasional dents in the ground where spars had taken place; regardless of when the student body left, it was clearly done quietly and voluntarily, and quite recent as well.
Qrow was under the same line of thought, though he didn't remain as calm as the stoic storm. Before he could show his panic, though, Summer flew in from the school. A frown was clearly seen, but it held a tone that spoke of a lack of surprise.
He has the Seer under lock and key, and he's hid all forms of communication with Arthur Watts save for a device on his desk. It looks like the same thing Beacon's faculty used to announce things through the speakers. No matter what though, he's anticipating your arrival. I'm not sure if he has any visual of this area, but I'm pretty certain he isn't listening in; as long as I've been spying on him, Arthur's always been complaining about the lack of audio surveillance in most of the school save that office.
"He'll be listening in on the meeting, though? Just great...what's the status on the lack of students?" Qrow asked. The four children looked at Qrow attentively, knowing he was talking with Summer.
Looks like he sent the trainees on an early 'Summer Break' of sorts, Summer answered, her frown dismissing any up-and-coming puns. Lionheart used the guise that they were being sent to clear the Grimm around Mistral, with the upper years getting experience in leadership and the lower years getting fighting experience, but it's clear that he sent them away with other reasons in mind.
"Think something's going to happen at the school he doesn't want the children here for?" Qrow asked further.
"Oh no, you're not saying," Ruby gasped, "you don't think he's going to blow up the school?"
"I'd say this is Leo we're talking about, but with her ilk in the mix…" Qrow brought a hand up to his eyes, suddenly tired. "Don't excuse the possibility. Sum, can you do some further recon while we get to Leo's office?"
Where to?
"Do a check on the school armory and its inventory, and the school's exit points. And check any hiding places where people can fit in, but also places where surveillance can be placed at."
"Are we bugging the school?" Jaune asked.
"I wish," Qrow said, "but no. We don't have the funds or manpower to get that kind of work done, especially in a way that Leo wouldn't notice. No, I asked because if we're forced in a situation where we have to defend the place from invasion, we need a place to safely get more ammo and weapons."
Ruby grumbled under her breath, which didn't go unnoticed by Qrow. He raised his eyebrow, but relented knowing about her love for — and over-reliance on — Crescent Rose. He knew she was happy about the thought of getting free ammo, but expecting her to use another weapon than Crescent Rose was equal to asking her to go on a cookie-free diet.
"What about the cafeteria?" Nora inserted. "Ugh, you know what I mean," she complained as the rest of the group looked at her, with Jaune deadpanning. "You said it yourself, if we're forced to defend the place then wouldn't we need a place to get more ammo? Well, what about our body's ammo, as in food?"
"Nora's right," said Ren, "in a situation where we might have to defend Haven Academy — and then Mistral itself, if it comes to it — having plenty of food and water in store is a must. If we end up possibly stuck here for months on end, we can't afford to starve. And even if we don't end up defending the school, having our own access to "free" food and clean water is something we may have to think about."
"You're not saying we're going to steal food from Haven, are you?" Ruby asked awkwardly.
"You don't see anyone else here to use it, do you pipsqueak?"
"W-Well no...I'm just not really prepared to steal food from a school, you know?"
"I know Rubes, I know. But sometimes, being a Hunter means you have to do or prepare for things that you don't want to. I hoped you'd have to never know what I mean, but with the path we're going on you're going to have to learn sooner or later."
So is that a yes on the cafeteria as well?
"Yep, Sum. Good advice, Nora."
"Aw, shucks…" Nora blushed from Qrow's praise.
Alright, then I'm going ahead now. I'll need a couple hours to get the inventories and passageways memorized, so if we want this done by tonight I'll have to start soon. Just in case, I'll scout ahead until you get to his office, but after that you're on your own for a little bit. If you end up getting compromised, sound the school alarm and I'll come running...hovering. Y'know.
"Sounds good. You prepared for this, kids?"
The four looked at each other with a shared grimace on their faces, as though they were going to be sick. Jaune was the first to look back at Qrow. "As ready as we'll ever be," he replied, "let's just get this over with."
They all brought their eyes to the school's front doors. Steeling themselves, they took the first real step into enemy territory, hoping everything would be alright.
"Never thought I'd see the day Haven Academy of all places became a ghost town," Qrow muttered, looking through another room, "Really drives this all home."
"Even the Teacher's Lounge is empty," Nora said, motioning the group over to her. Sure enough, the room was devoid of life. In a corner of the room, a coffee machine was on — and warm, as Ren walked over to it. He lifted the jar of coffee to his nose and sniffed it.
"It's...fresh," he said, "it wasn't just put on, it smells like it's been on for a few hours. But it definitely smells like it was brewed today."
"So it's not abandoned," Jaune declared, "or if it is, it was done today."
"Or someone could still be here," Ruby said. She twiddled her fingers nervously, "we're here to see the Headmaster, so he could have put it on for himself."
"...Maybe," Qrow commented, "or maybe not." Maybe someone other than him put it on...someone he's currently "serving". Whether or not the kids thought similarly, or if he was even right, he didn't know; but he knew that they couldn't afford to stick around here. "Come on, we're almost to his office."
"Uncle Qrow…" Ruby muttered nervously, looking downcast. One of her hands was gripped on Crescent Rose, the knuckles of which were white. She shook her head and looked up at his eyes. "Never mind. Let's go, guys."
"Ruby." Qrow put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her from walking out. He smiled reassuringly and gripped her shoulder comfortingly. "You'll do fine. Relax."
Ruby exhaled loudly, perhaps holding in a breath she didn't know she held in. She smiled up at Qrow, slightly more relaxed. Releasing her hold on her weapon, she walked out of the room with the others in tow.
As they made it to the hallway that led to the Headmaster's office, Summer appeared before Qrow. She had a nervous, yet reassuring smile, which Qrow reflected.
Looks like he's been pacing behind the doors ever since you all got up the front steps. I think he's half-expecting you to kick the door down...I'm all for cutting it and him down, but he's technically still the Headmaster, so...
Qrow couldn't help but roll his eyes and crack a small smile at her jab at Lionheart. "Good luck with the rest of the place, Sum. We're counting on you."
Flattery will get you everywhere, love, she teased him huskily, making him blush. Maybe it was because she was a ghost, or perhaps because she knew Ruby couldn't hear her, as she seemed to have no problem with flirting with Qrow in front of her daughter.
Laughing at his embarrassment, she continued. Being serious here, stay alert and keep the children safe. I might have been spying on him for a long time, but there's still a lot we don't know behind the scenes. And we — you and the kids at least — are still liable to make mistakes; it's not that I don't have faith in you guys, but you know as well as I do that the best-laid plans never turn out right. Just...keep her safe, please.
"You know I will. Now go on, let's get this done." She nodded and flew off in the direction they came from fairly quickly. Turning back to the Headmaster's office after he watched her vanish through a wall, he motioned for Team RNJR to follow behind him. He lifted Harbinger from his back, wielding it in its sword form, and made a motion to kick the doors open. The doors opened on their own, however, revealing the Headmaster himself wearing a wide-eyed look of great shock — whether the shock was genuine or not (considering he nearly had his chest caved in by an aura-fortified boot) was something they'd probably never know.
Qrow put his leg back down, dissipating the aura around his heel. "Nice welcome party you have going on here, Leo, I almost missed the giant cake in the middle of the courtyard."
"Cake...?" Lionheart echoed, though he glared at Qrow after noticing the sarcasm bleeding through. "Oh, very funny. I admit, though, that if we had any cause for celebration right now that there would be plenty of it to go around. What I wish to know, though, is why you decided to try kicking down my door!"
"Yeah, lemme just get someone to write the whole explanation down — oh wait, there's no one else here. Care to explain that? Or why you weren't waiting for us in the courtyard?"
"I was. Quite a long time, in fact. I didn't see much reason in continuing to wait after standing there for an entire hour."
"Oh...uh, sorry," Qrow said semi-sheepishly. He chose not to care if Lionheart was telling the truth or not. "But that doesn't answer my first question."
Leonardo seemed to choose that moment to notice Team RNJR standing behind Qrow. "Ah," he said, "you must be the students Qrow mentioned."
"Um...right," Jaune said. "Jaune Arc."
"Nora Valkyrie," Nora followed. Her face, as well as those of the others, were devoid of much positive emotion at the moment.
"Lie Ren."
"R-Ruby Rose...uh, sir?"
"Yes, Ms. Rose?" the Headmaster replied.
"I'm curious about the missing students, too. Shouldn't there be people here to guard the school from Grimm?"
"Ah, well...I'm afraid most of my staff is currently away until classes resume, but–"
"Excuse me?!" Qrow growled. "The staff is gone? Leo, who's guarding the Relic?!"
Leo paused, looking awkwardly at Team RNJR. "Q-Qrow, the children–!"
"Already know, I filled them in," Qrow interrupted, "Leo, you can't be serious. Why aren't they here guarding the Relic?"
"You...filled them in?" The Headmaster glanced to the right, stroking his beard.
"The world's falling head-first into war, Leo. We all need to stick together, even if some of us haven't graduated from the Academy that was destroyed by our enemy. Now, stop avoiding my question...where. Is. The. Staff?"
Lionheart sighed. "Very well. Let us sit around the table, then." At the Headmaster's beckoning, the five walked up to the table at the back of the roomy, circular room. None of them immediately took a seat, though Ruby and Jaune somewhat relaxed their stance after seeing Ren and Nora sit on a couch with each other. "You know," he said after he sat down, "telling them about the Relic was quite reckless, even for you. I was under the impression that Ozpin wanted sensitive information kept secret, not given to random trainees...no offense to you four."
"Don't-! Don't...bring Oz into this," Qrow seethed, "Don't tell me about information being kept secret, when you haven't... hadn't checked in with Oz for ages! And speaking of reckless, you hypocrite, why are you leaving one of the Relics completely unguarded? That takes a certain level of stupidity, even for you."
"You-! You come into my office and insult me, after I graciously gave you a place to recuperate? Ozpin or no Ozpin, you're going a bit-!"
"Hey, hey," Jaune interrupted, holding his arms out at the two as though it would keep them separated, "We're all a bit stressed out right now. Qrow, this isn't helping. Headmaster Lionheart, we're sorry for any negativity we're giving you right now...but we need to know.
"He," he continued, looking down with a depressed look on his face as he lowered his arms, "Ozpin died fighting against Cinder Fall, trying to protect Pyrrha and me. I don't know if you know or not, but Cinder is the Fall Maiden, and she killed the last one right in front of us. And...she killed Pyrrha too. And if we know her type as well as anyone, we know she's going to come here and do the same, destroying the school in the process. In fact she'll do it for the hell of it. So please...we need to know. About where the staff's gone, yes, but also about other things."
Leonardo sighed. "Fine," he said, "I agree, things as they are don't leave much room for niceties, and losing Ozpin was too serious a blow for us. While I have faith in you, Qrow, I'm somewhat surprised I'm not dead yet with what you've likely been going through. For what it's worth, I'm sorry. But please, try not to take your frustrations out on me, I'm stretched thin enough as it is.
"And yes, Qrow," he elaborated, "I realize my staff isn't here to defend the Relic. As loathe as I am to admit it at this... precarious time, they have their own duties and priorities outside the school. As for the Relic, adequate defenses have been set up...adequate enough at least, for the time being."
"For the time being?" Qrow asked. There was still a hint of anger in his voice, but he seemed to calm some.
"Yes. I know you're not stupid, Qrow. With the chaos from the loss of Beacon, Mistral's been in chaos. Vale wasn't the only kingdom to suffer that night. Everyone was watching...every house in every kingdom saw that poor girl ripped to pieces...saw monsters crawling all over the city, the Atlesian Knights attacking citizens! And then nothing. You could feel the dread in the air. With all that negativity, you could imagine what it was like when the Grimm came for us."
"That's...true," Ruby said. "When Penny...when she died, you could almost feel the negativity covering you like honey. And when the Nevermore broke through the stadium's shield, everything...everyone was panicking. The only ones who weren't climbing over everyone else to get to safety were us Hunters and Huntresses, and…"
"Rubes, you don't need-" Qrow interrupted.
"We knew, I think," Jaune resumed for her. It seemed to be too much for Ruby as she walked to Jaune and cried in his chest. He put an arm across her back as he continued, "when people started running for the exits, and the hordes of Nevermores flew over Amity Arena like a plague, I think we all knew that Beacon wasn't going to survive the night. They...gods, Leo, they fucking planned all of it from the start. Right under our noses, and we...we didn't see it coming."
"Maybe we didn't want to see it coming," Ren spoke, silently pulling Nora close. "No one really expects something to happen that they don't want coming true, do they? We learned things and sparred with each other to become capable of fighting against the darkness, not realizing...not wanting to realize that there were people already lost in darkness, plotting against the light trying to save them."
"And for what?" This time it was Nora who spoke up, growling in a darker tone unlike her normal, bubbly tone, "What do they get out of it? Do people like Cinder get off on killing others? Did Emerald put Yang and Pyrrha in those illusions because she's a sadist? Did Mercury fake getting injured because he's a rotten pile of filth? I mean, yes to all three, but the point is why do they try to help the Grimm kill off humankind?"
"'Cause they're sick in the head, Nora," Jaune said, "because they're a bunch of rat bastards who lost something and lost all faith in the world, so they run with their tails between their legs and...what, get revenge against the world? What kind of cliche story writing is that? I've seen the fanfics Ruby tries to write, and she can't come up with worse crap than the bull we've seen."
"Stop," Ruby laughed, her voice muffled by Jaune's armor.
"Please, Headmaster," Jaune got back on track, everyone focusing their gazes to Lionheart, "we don't want another Beacon to happen to Haven. Tell us what we need to do, what needs to be done, to prevent those slimeballs, those piles of filth from taking another Academy from us."
Leonardo looked like he'd been driven speechless, with his eyes shaking like he wanted to say something but couldn't. He slumped slightly in his chair, as though their words weighed down on him.
Did… Qrow thought, gawking at Team RNJR, did they just take control of the conversation?
"I wish I could be the one to give those answers to you, Mr. Arc," Leo spoke. His voice sounded depressed, the happiness sucked out of it by thoughts the children dug up, "but there's not much you can do. The Mistral Council is at odds with the representatives from Atlas; I'm not sure what happened to James in Vale, but it seems to have worsened some of his more...unfortunate tendencies. First the Dust Embargo, then the closing of borders...it's only worsened since that night, and it won't get better. We don't...well, I assume you've told them about the Spring Maiden, yes?" The question was aimed at Qrow, who nodded, "We still have no idea where she is, which is a partial reason the staff is out."
"Why is the Spring Maiden important?" Ren asked.
Lionheart blinked, staring at Qrow again, "I thought you filled them in."
"Mostly. Never knew who was listening out in Mistral's wilderness, and there was a lot to cover. I quit teaching for a reason, as you know."
The Headmaster sighed again, resting his head against his arm as he leaned on the table. "The Four Maidens each have the power to perform feats of magic, and they are the only ones capable of reaching the Relics."
"You're kidding," Jaune spat out.
"The Relics are each locked inside a chamber that can only be opened by a specific Maiden," Qrow continued. "Winter for the gift of Creation, Summer for Destruction, Fall for Choice, and Spring for Knowledge. Spring...is the problem."
"What happened to her?" Ren asked.
"She was...determined at first when she inherited her powers," Leo said, "but the weight of responsibility proved to be too much for the child...she ran. Abandoned her training, abandoned everyone. That was over a decade ago...there's no telling where she could be now."
"I know...or at least, I have a pretty good idea where she is."
Lionheart's eyes shot open like adrenaline pumped through his system. He stood up, practically leaning over his table in Qrow's direction. "Are you serious?"
"It's not exactly good news-"
"What are you talking about, this is incredible news! After all these years? Where?!" The feline faunus leapt from his chair to Qrow, shaking his shoulders like he was desperate for Qrow's answer.
Qrow pushed his hands away, facing away from Lionheart and at the table. He was happy with the kids for what they did, but now it was his turn to lead the conversation. "I did some digging around. Turns out that when Spring ran off, she was picked up by bandits. Specifically, the Branwen Tribe."
Leonardo's eyes grew downcast. "Raven."
"Yang's mom…" Jaune muttered, Qrow nodding in confirmation. Qrow then reached into his pocket, throwing his Scroll on the table after having it display a holographic map of Remnant. The Scroll brought up a map that zoomed in around Mistral, which displayed a collection of dots resembling a forested area.
"That's about where they set up their main camp. It's where they fall back to after raids and scouting missions. She's managed to gain a lot of followers since she returned to the tribe, and I'm sure when the Spring Maiden showed up it only made things easier for them. There's no telling what she can do with the Maiden probably at her beck and call."
"Well, I've got to hand it to you Qrow," Leo said, "with these coordinates we can mount a retrieval force and head out in a few weeks. And yes, Qrow," he said, noticing Qrow's flabbergasted expression, "I meant a few weeks. A couple at best, if everything goes right. As I said, the Kingdom is in shambles and the Council is even worse off. I'm afraid bandit tribes aren't very high on their list of priorities when the threat of war is on the horizon, no matter what either of us wants."
"Would it be possible to do it ourselves?" Ren asked. "Just sneak in and get the Spring Maiden?"
"Out of the question, Mr. Ren," Lionheart said. "While you, Qrow, are evenly matched with your sister, I'm...not the fighter I used to be. While you might be able to fight Raven by yourself, we – these kids and I – can't be expected to fight an entire bandit tribe and a Maiden that no doubt has had years to hone her skills by ourselves. Again, no offense to you four, but even if you were graduates I couldn't trust you to have my back against those odds. Especially when we only get one shot at this, with no mistakes; because if we don't apprehend Spring, Raven and her tribe will scatter and will be lost to us again."
Qrow groaned, but he nodded. "Oz wouldn't be happy with any of this if he were here."
"But he's not," Lionheart replied, "and I'm doing the very best I can with what I have."
"And what about Cinder?" Jaune asked. "She and her lackeys came from Haven, do you have anything on their files we can work with?"
"We pulled their files after the Fall of Beacon. They were nothing but lies and forgeries."
"What about the White Fang," Ruby pressed, trying to ignore the tightening of Jaune's muscles around her, "is there anything that can help us find out how they got into Beacon?"
"You would be asking the wrong person, Ms. Rose, but I assure you that they will not be getting into Haven. You have my word."
The room fell into silence for a moment. It was when Qrow stood up and took his Scroll back from the table that the silence was broken.
"We'll stay in the city for the time being. Local comms are still up, so keep in touch." With that, he walked out of the office, with Team RNJR following. As Ruby went to do the same, she looked back at the Headmaster. She paused like she wanted to say something, but then dipped her head and walked out of the room, not looking back at the man who had no idea what he was in for.
"That was an experience," Ren spoke up as they exited the school and walked outside. They had kept silent walking out of Haven Academy, thinking about the conversation they had with the Headmaster.
"You're telling me," Qrow replied, "what was that back there? Did you guys rehearse that during your little shopping trip? That was the smoothest insulting I've seen since Summer and Raven teamed up on Peter back in our first year."
"Speaking of Summer, it doesn't look like she's done yet," said Jaune in a low voice, "she said she'd be done by tonight, right?"
"Honestly, she's probably done by now," Qrow answered him, "Ruby inherited three things from her mom: her love of sweets, her firecracker spirit, and-"
The speed and efficiency at which she gets things done, Summer said, appearing from the school through a wall.
"Exactly," Qrow said.
"Uh...Uncle Qrow?"
"Yeah, pipsqueak?"
"What was the last thing? You didn't say anything."
"Oh, is there supposed to be a joke here?" Nora inserted, before comedically whispering in Ruby's ear, "I bet you 10 Lien she just came from the school and finished his sentence."
"Oh, right," Qrow said sheepishly, "I forgot you can't hear her. She said 'the speed at which she gets things done'."
Don't forget efficiency, love. Speaking of, it's all done. Efficiently, I might add. I'll relay the info to you tomorrow.
"Why not now?" Qrow asked.
Because there's a 100% chance you're going to go to the nearest bar and get piss drunk, blissfully not remember a single thing I told you, and have me repeat myself. I love you, but I know you.
"Fair enough. 'Kay kids, I'll go do as Ghost Mom says and get 'piss drunk and not remember a single thing'. You kids go back to the house and get everything situated and...we'll talk about what happened tomorrow."
"Gods dammit, Qrow," Ruby and Summer said together. Summer shook her head in exasperation as she mimed kicking Qrow in the head, before she hovered behind the man who proceeded to walk to the gate and down the stairs.
"He's having too much fun with this," Ren spoke with a twinkle in his eye, "if we didn't know better, you would've thought he was throwing an elaborate prank."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking~?" Nora said, the same shine in her eye as Ren's. The two looked at Jaune and Ruby, the two of whom looked at each other before the same mischievous twinkle sparkled in their eyes. Before long, the four walked down the stairs, trading several ideas on how to pull off the greatest prank on Drunkle Qrow.
Some hours later, Qrow was sitting at a bar somewhere in the city. He was sitting alone, at least physically; the bar closed a while ago, but a healthy tip in the form of Lien earned Qrow some quality time with his alcohol and ethereal team leader.
This is...what, your seventh glass already? Do you even have a liver anymore?
"This is nothin'," he slurred before hiccuping.
Nothing's when you're a semi-functioning member of society. You can barely see straight enough to spot the mug shoved in your mouth.
"Says you. I can see it just fine."
Yeah, if you stare at the booze inside...for what it's worth, I'm sorry Qrow.
"Nope, a little insult never hurt any one."
I'm talking about Lionheart, birdbrain.
It seemed to take Qrow a couple seconds to process what she said, before he frowned into his glass. "Oh."
For the longest time I've wanted to be wrong about him. I came back here so much because I wanted to prove myself wrong – that when I went through his office, I'd see nothing out of the ordinary. No hidden Grimm, no Arthur Watts...um, I'll tell you more about that when you're sober, but he's there now...but dammit, Qrow. I never wanted any of this to happen. I can't help but blame myself for all of this...if I'd been alive, then Ruby and Yang would've had healthy lives, Leonardo wouldn't have fell to Salem's machinations...
"You can't blame yourself, Sum," Qrow interrupted her. While he didn't become sober by any means, her choice of conversation seemed to halt his drinking and focus his attention on her, with his glass forgotten.
Why, Fi? What right did I have to return to you, to Ruby, when I abandoned you all?
"Summer, you died. How was that abandoning us?"
Because without me, Team STRQ fell apart. Especially with Tai trying to commit suicide more times than even you were there for...did you know he tried killing himself when you were off doing jobs for Oz, and Yang — little six-year-old Yang — talked him out of it?
"I...what? They never told me...they must've kept it a secret. Are you telling me Yang kept that a secret all this time? Did Ruby know?"
She did, though I'm not sure she understood what it meant. I think that was the starting point of her growing more distant from Tai.
"If I wasn't already drunk off my ass, I'd say I need another drink...Ruby never said anything about hating Tai!"
She doesn't hate him, but I don't think she looks up to him anymore. I might even go so far as to say she doesn't consider him her father.
"Why? I mean, he got way better, and he's put everything into loving Ruby and Yang."
Because I died, Qrow. Because I think Ruby's been repressing too many traumatic memories throughout her childhood, and that's what made her such a social outcast. Did you know...Ruby never wanted to be a Huntress at first? She hated the idea with a passion, she always talked with herself about how she'd never become a Huntress, and that she'd become a ballerina instead.
"She never said anything about it, but I remember she had a pretty intense look on her face whenever she listened to that girl singing on the radio."
It's pretty funny in a way. I don't think you remember her name, but the girl who sang on the radio was the same girl who became her teammate at Beacon. Weiss Schnee had the life others would kill to have, yet she chose to become a Huntress...and Ruby had an unnaturally powerful gift with gymnastics and the drive she needed to become a dancer, yet she chose to become a Huntress in the end. Do you know why?
"She...well, I guess she's never told any of us much of anything now that I think about it. Gods, I can only assume at this point but I'll let you tell me."
Because she felt Weiss' voice. She felt the sadness and anger in Weiss' singing, which was probably due to the poor girl's home life, and it haunted Ruby in her dreams. She ended up having these dreams for a couple weeks before Yang found out, and they ended up having a talk that eventually resulted in Ruby wanting to become a Huntress...not to slay the creatures of Grimm, but to protect that voice and make it happy again.
"...Wow. That's...wow."
That's why I feel like I abandoned you all. Ruby and Tai are not the only ones who've been going through this pain...the lives of everyone I touched when I was alive, all of them had been ruined in some way. Peter, Bart, Willow, Glynda, Oz, and so many more people that you don't know I knew...all of them, all of you have lost so much from me dying...I could've taken more stock in my life, contacted Oz and stalled Salem until he got there. Instead I left my baby girl on the side of a cliff and abandoned her like I did all of you.
"Summer, shut up," Qrow said. To her credit, she wasn't surprised at his outburst. Rather, she seemed to expect it, making no moves to continue as he berated her. "Dammit, Sum, none of this was your fault and you know it. You could've lived, yeah. But no one's perfect, no one knows what the future will bring. Summer, you were trapped between a rock and a hard place, and do you know what you did? You didn't run, and you especially didn't beg Salem for your life or become one of her flunkies like Leo; you greeted death with your head held high, and you protected Ruby. You protected us.
"You wanna know something, Sum? I went into depression after you died. Became an alcoholic like you see here. I killed people Oz wanted me to kill because it helped dull the pain of losing you, losing what we could've had. But you really wanna know something? If I was in the same situation you were in, you know what I'd do — even knowing what I do now? I'd do exactly what you did and protect all of you. This isn't my self-pity or drunkenness talking; this is me as Qrow Branwen, member of Team STRQ, talking. I'd die, even knowing you'd suffer without me, because that's what we do. That's what Hunters and Huntresses do.
"It hurts. Gods dammit, it hurts Sum…" he paused as a tear fell from his eye into his glass, unnoticed by either of them, "it hurts so much not having you here in the living, and it hurts even more knowing we could've been together...but you gave yourself to protect us. You did your damn duty, and...you should be proud of that."
Qrow...
"So...that's that. I dragged on for too long."
No Qrow, you're right. I need to stop my own self-pity and continue to help you protect our girls and their friends...you helped convince me of that, so...thank you. This really helped – hold on, do you hear that?
Qrow's body stiffened as he focused on listening for what Summer interrupted herself for. He heard footsteps slowly nearing the bar, and as he looked back at the opening door he saw a child walking in. Tanned skin and dark hair, the kid looked around the same age as Ruby before she started Beacon. Though he was fidgeting a lot, it looked less like he was doing so less out of a lack of maturity and more because he was nervous. And while he did have that look of discomfort, he also stared Qrow in the eyes, keeping eye contact despite his apparent discomfort. In Qrow's peripheral vision, he saw Summer eyeing the kid with a mixture of suspicion and amusement.
"You know," Qrow said, surprising himself with how clear his voice sounded, "I don't think they allow kids in here, pipsqueak."
The boy didn't look all that surprised at being called young, to Qrow's own amusement. What threw him for a loop, however, was that instead of replying to him he instead seemed to argue with himself.
"Shut up, I'm getting there," the boy said. As Qrow's eyes widened in disbelief at the potential of what was happening in front of him, Summer voiced the thought in his own head.
You're not fucking serious...
"Um," the child continued, his eyes now leaving Qrow's own as he fidgeted more, "I'm supposed to tell you I'd...like my cane back?"
You're fucking serious. Oz reincarnated. Into a small, adorable teenager of all things. Qrow, you're not letting him live this down.
Qrow chuckled, knowing she'd make sure that statement rang true. As he reached behind his back for the cane, Summer sighed.
I'm just...gonna let you two get reacquainted. I'll see you back at the house.
As Summer disappeared through the wall, Qrow threw the cane to the kid. As he thought, the cane extended as the boy gripped it tenderly. Qrow smirked, knowing that with him here, good things would come. "It's good to see you again, Oz."
