Qrow was unhappy. Very unhappy. How could he not be? His nieces had gotten hurt badly because he could not save his own ass, and he also failed Ozpin to boot. And the cherry on top was Raven's betrayal. That hurt, it hurt like hell. He loved his family, and despite all the shit his sister had pulled over the years, he still loved her. But if she had truly gone to Salem, then…
He rubbed the ridge of his nose, trying to shake those thoughts away. He needed to focus, but the thought of Summer rolling in her grave constantly came to bother him, along the images of Yang and Tai if they found out. And to make things worse, Cinder knew.
He loved Cinder, as much as he loved Ruby and Yang; but out of the three, she was the true rebel. Not an open troublemaker like Yang, instead Cinder opted for doing things her own way without telling anybody. And if Cinder believed she had to do something, she would do it.
Again, more thoughts he shook away, this time with a gulp from his canteen.
He was in a metal elevator, rising up towards Ozpin's office. He had been called, not even able to spend a few minutes with his family. He was not looking forward to his reprimand, especially if Ironwood and Winter were there as well. He would never hear the end of it.
After a few moments, the doors opened, revealing the circular office, gears moving like clockwork above.
He could see all of them. Ozpin, with Glynda at his side, both staring at a screen on his desk. In front of them were Ironwood and Winter Schnee, standing upright with their hands behind their backs.
"Hey everyone…" he called out dispassionately. "Before you start, I–"
"–news are outrageous, Ozpin!" He stopped dead cold upon hearing an angry female voice from the screen. Only Ironwood and Winter turned towards him.
Ozpin nodded, sipping from his steaming mug.
"This leak has everyone in a panic," said a male voice.
"I understand councillor, but that was–"
"We would understand, had you not sent a team of first years into what was obviously a mission worthy of a full team of huntsmen, or even better, a total intervention of our military! And on top of that, Ironwood's reports of your negligence!" An old voice now spoke, ranting over the screen as Ozpin narrowed his eyes at Ironwood.
"James, what have you–" Qrow began to ask.
"Only what I needed to," was the general's vague answer. That's what Qrow hated about James. He had an iron determination, and unshakeable values, but also believed everything he did was right, and everyone else was wrong. And to Ironwood, by the book was the only right.
"Thus, the council has come to a decision. General Ironwood, who informed us and also dispatched his forces to save your students, will now be head of security for the Vytal Festival. This decision will not be altered. After the festival is over, we will have another meeting to discuss your position as headmaster. That is all, Headmaster Ozpin." Spat the voice before the screen faded away.
Ozpin closed his eyes for a moment as his face strained a little. That was the most emotion Qrow had seen from the man.
"This is for the best, Ozpin." Ironwood said after a few tense moments of silence. "First Isshin, now Raven. It seems your allies have all turned against you."
"Do you really believe that?" Goodwitch asked. The woman looked as livid as her first few years in Beacon, but her tone was even, dangerous.
"We do," said Winter, stepping up. "The General and our forces will do our best to protect Vale and the people from the festival; our forces are loyal and disciplined. The people can trust us."
Qrow glared at Winter, but she did not even look at him. Not that he cared about starting an argument now, he had too much on his mind.
"This isn't over." Muttered Ozpin, looking into his mug. Once the sentence finished, Qrow felt his spine freeze over. Even Winter felt that, as she retreated, but not Ironwood it seemed.
"Oh… I agree," he said, pulling out a black and thin folder.
"If you think that whatever is in that archive will change anything–" Ozpin began, before Ironwood dropped it with force, it's contents spilling over. The general laid over the table, looking straight into Ozpin's eyes.
"You've been harbouring a criminal of the state. My state. If not for Winter here, I would never have known." Ironwood said. Qrow gripped his canteen so much it began to bend. It was the only way to keep himself from doing anything rash.
"She was just a child." Ozpin said, tone harsh.
"She is a murderer," Ironwood said, recovering his composure. "But you're right. She was a child. So I'm giving her a chance, but unless you want this story to leak like the one about Mountain Glenn, you better stop keeping secrets from all of us. Have a good day." With that, Ironwood left with Winter in tow.
Qrow could hear the sound of their steps echo in the room along the clockwork above him. But it all faded into the background, compared to what laid on the table.
Photos of a child no more than fifteen years old, with black hair, amber eyes and a tortured face.
It was Cinder, in a photograph from before she came home.
"What now Oz?" Qrow asked, looking at the headmaster.
"Keep an eye out," Said the Ozpin before turning to Glynda. "You too Glynda. Now that we know Raven has betrayed us, we are a little short on allies. We may need all the help we can get."
"Ow! Stop that! I can do this myself!" Roman Torchwick whined like a baby, which Raven found beyond irritating. It took hours, but the White Fang had been evacuated from Mountain Glenn. Most of them anyway, the weaker ones were left to the Grimm.
Now they were all in a hideout, an inconspicuous and small office building Torchwick had bought under a false name and address. The top floor was a medical wing of sorts, walls painted grey and a lot of beds and tables where thrown about for the injured.
Torchwick wasn't the only one present, Neo and Adam Taurus were also being tended to.
The faunus man had his entire left side broken and burned, but he hanged together by a thread. Raven was impressed by his resilience and perseverance. If not for his hatred of humans, she would consider introducing him to the Branwen tribe as an asset. But as he was now, bandaged and unconscious on a makeshift bed, he was as good as useless, save for the fact saving him had earned them the favour of the White Fang.
A faunus woman with dog ears had her hand swatted away by Roman and yelped. "I said…!"
"I heard. Gods, you are worse than a baby!" Said the medic as she packed her bag and went on to attend to another injured person. Roman simply huffed and leaned down as a bruised Neo began giving him a drink from a straw. The little woman had not been injured much, and even then she refused to lay down, and Raven liked that.
Then, four figures entered the makeshift Medical Wing. Raven recognized them. One was her most trusted ally and surrogate daughter, Vernal. She was also her anchor for portals; and an efficient one at that since she was able to move quickly and without attracting much attention.
The others were what she could barely call allies.
"What a mess…" said the green haired girl named Emerald as she looked around with widened eyes. She was meek, only confident in the presence of her 'mistress'.
"Yeah. Are you sure it worked?" Mercury Black asked, an annoying smirk on his face.
"We did our part. We may have lost the battle, but there is no shame in that as long as we win the war." She said.
As expected, both kids glared at her.
"Oh don't worry. You did very well, even if I asked you to keep casualties to a minimum. Thanks to you, trust in Ozpin has vanished, and Ironwood believes he's in charge," said a third voice. A woman stepped up from the small space between Emerald and Mercury.
Raven smirked. Ironwood always believed himself above others, and the thought of breaking his spirit enticed her.
A red haired girl with green eyes flashed a smile at her. However, after that her expression remained neutral all the way. It wasn't cold or emotionless, just natural, as if born with it.
"Are you sure you can do this?" she asked.
The girl, known by everyone as Pyrrha Nikos, grimaced.
"Salem has deposited her trust on me. I will not fail."
Bars in Vale were different from the ones in Mistral. The later opted for a traditional feel, with all furniture made of wood, lots of chandeliers, fireplaces, a lot of free space for round tables so people could sit around, and a dance floor.
Vale on the other hand opted for a more refined style. Lots of polished, flat surfaces, tables distributed evenly at the sides and middle of the establishment to allow easy moving, electrical lamps of various shapes and sizes, and a tiled floor.
It was not the same. It felt less homey. Cinder missed that, but at least the drinks were good, very good. And she needed a lot.
She sat on the bar, on a stool separate from the other clients, drinking the pink liquid that was monkey booze from a glass mug.
The day had left her reeling.
Her sisters knew. They knew her past, her crimes, how tortured and broken she was. They knew how weak she had been. And even knowing all that, Ruby and Yang simply hugged her, not out of pity, but to let her know she mattered.
Cinder always believed she had to prove herself, her strength, her resolve, to get anywhere. She thought for a long time that was why the Madame tortured her, because she was weak.
She thought Rhodes only trained her cause he saw potential in her to become a protector of humanity.
But… Summer had adopted her for no reason, knowing she was weak, knowing she was a criminal. That had been a curveball.
And now, Ruby and Yang had hugged and consoled her, despite admitting to all her evils, despite admitting to her weakness.
For a second, she hoped that all of that was wrong. She hoped that… maybe the world had kind souls, that it could be made better.
She shook her head and gulped down the drink.
As she threw her head back to take as much as she could, she reminded herself that Yang and Ruby were an exception, along Blake and maybe… just maybe… Weiss. And that boy Jaune as well. And Tai. And Qrow. A lot of exceptions, but exceptions nonetheless.
She needed to protect that. At all costs.
She brought down the drink, panting.
She was still weak. She had failed to protect Yang and Ruby.
She needed to get stronger.
"Why did I figure you'd be here?" Asked a stern voice. Cinder looked left, and spotted Winter Schnee walking towards her, men and women alike ogling at her while stepping away. That woman really was intimidating.
"I don't know," Cinder asked. She had nearly slurred. "Uncle Qrow?"
"That Uncle of yours is a terrible influence." Winter said, glaring not at Cinder, but at the drink she held. Cinder returned the glare.
"Was there something else? Or can I tell you to fuck off?" Cinder asked. Winter's eyes widened.
"What's gotten into you? You're usually more… dignified," Cinder rolled her eyes.
"It's nothing," was Cinder's reply. Luckily, Winter did not pursue the issue.
"If that is so, then I guess I should tell you to go to Iron–"
"–My sisters know." Cinder blurted out, without a care in the world.
"About what?"
"My past, obviously," she brought the drink to her lips once again and drank what was left. It burned, a lot. The mug was left empty on the bar. "Bartender! Another one!" She said, waving her hand.
The bartender, a tall and dark skinned woman with prominent muscles that strained her shirt, served Cinder another mug with the pink coloured and effervescent drink. She never said a word, but Cinder could tell the woman would deny a refill if she kept acting that way.
"So what did they say?" Winter asked, eyeing her with disapproval.
"They were alright with it." Cinder said, before rethinking her answer. "Actually, scratch that. They were horrified. But hear this…" Cinder said, leaning closer to Winter. The specialist leaned back, uncomfortable at the contact and looking away. Cinder grinned, she loved pushing her buttons. "… they actually said they loved me. Can you believe that?" She said as she leaned back, smiling like an idiot.
Cinder then looked back at Winter, and saw her confused expression.
"That's a good thing," was her answer.
"I know! But…" Cinder closed her eyes. She felt dizzy, so she opened them and locked gazes with the specialist. Why was it that whenever she looked into Winter's icy blue eyes, she felt like sharing her thoughts? Maybe because she trusted her, or maybe because she felt Winter could keep them. "… I always thought everyone was an asshole. I thought you were a rich, pompous bitch; I thought Ruby and Yang only loved me because they believed I was some sort of hero; I thought Uncle Qrow was a shameless drunkard. Well, he is but… you get my point."
"Where are you going with this?" Winter asked. Cinder threw her hands up in the air.
"I don't know! It's just… maybe I was wrong. As it turns out, everyone is kind of nice here. Ruby and Yang actually love me, Uncle Qrow cares, Port and the other teachers want me to be better, and you…" she said, pointing her mug at Winter. "… are actually a caring sister and an okay person. So, there."
Winter blushed at the huntress' rant, and Cinder looked away in embarrassment.
"Sorry. Forget it," Cinder said with a wave as she once again took a sip from the monkey booze.
"No. I understand." Winter said with a voice that wasn't her usual levelled one. "When people that are supposed to care for you hurt you deeply, it becomes hard to believe others won't. But… even if you push everyone away… you may learn that someone will always try to help you. You have Ruby and Yang, and I have the General and Weiss. I think that is why… I haven't given up on the world yet." Winter said, playing with her own fingers.
Cinder thought about it for a moment. If Summer had not been there… where would she be? Would someone have reached out to help her?
"Thanks, Ice Queen." Said Cinder after a moment of silence.
"You're welcome," was her reply as she smiled. Cinder was already red from the alcohol, now she must have looked like a tomato. Winter's smile was genuine, and she wanted to see more of it. "So, the general–"
"Think we can start over?" Cinder said suddenly.
"Pardon me?"
"Start over. Like… try to be friends. Hang out. You know… so that we aren't so alone all the time." Both women looked at each other for a long time, neither giving an answer. In the end, Winter brought her fist to her lips and cleared her throat on it.
"Yes. That would be a welcome distraction." For a reason she did not know, Cinder cheered.
"That's the spirit! Bartender! A monkey booze for my friend here!" The woman winced, but brought a drink to Winter nonetheless. The specialist, however, reeled back.
"I'm not drinking!" She protested.
"Oh, come on. Let loose a little. We're friends, remember?" Cinder said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, raising her mug into the air.
"Ugh! Fine," Winter said, picking her mug with some hesitation. "To a new friendship." Winter raised her mug, and Cinder clinked it with her own.
"To a new friendship…" Cinder muttered, downing her own drink. She knew she would regret some of this later, but at the time she didn't care.
"You know…" she began, watching as Winter struggled with the burning taste of Monkey Booze. "… I think I kinda like it here. I like teaching, watching those brats struggle with basic teamwork… it's hilarious. Maybe I should stay…" Cinder said to no one in particular.
Winter said nothing, smiling as she and Cinder spent an evening as friends.
A/N: And that's it, with this short epilogue, Arc 1 of Heart of Glass is concluded. I can barely believe it's a 100k word fic now, or that 9500 people have at least clicked on it. It makes me unbelievably happy.
So what now? Well, we move on to Arc 2 of course! I'll begin immediately, so DON'T expect any hiatus or delays.
I'm so excited to write out what I have planned.
That's all for now. Chiao!