Qrow

Qrow was nervous.

He didn't usually get nervous. At least, not anymore. The booze did a good job of keeping his nerves at bay. Ozpin had requested him back for a meeting, however, and had said it was urgent. The last time Ozpin had called him in for an urgent meeting was to inform him that Summer died.

So naturally, Qrow was fucking nervous.

Even the booze didn't help as he took that damn elevator up to the top floor. Had something happened to his nieces? Maybe to Tai? All kinds of different worst-case scenarios popped up in his head as he waited for that stupid elevator to hurry up.

He should have just flown up to the top floor instead.

When the elevator doors finally opened, he rushed out and made a beeline for the headmaster's desk. Ozpin was looking at something on his scroll before raising his head.

"Ah, Qrow." Ozpin greeted with a nod. "Sorry for dragging you back here so suddenly, I know you were already halfway to Vacuo when I messaged you."

"Don't worry about it." Qrow waved off as he took a seat at Ozpin's desk. "Did something happen?"

"I'll be frank. The Relic of Knowledge has been stolen."

Qrow blinked.

Then let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding in. His nieces were fine. Tai was fine. No one was dead. Thank the gods. The relic being stolen was definitely bad, but at the very least, nothing had happened to his family.

"… How did it happen? Qrow eventually asked after regathering himself. "Did Leo take it out of the vault or something?"

Ozpin shook his head. "I would have preferred it that way, to be honest. They knew about the key."

Qrow had a sinking feeling.

"Salem then…?" He asked. "She found the spring maiden?"

"That's what I initially thought as well. And then I saw the security footage Leo sent me." Ozpin slowly slid his scroll across the desk. "It seems that your sister's found a new friend."

Qrow stared at the image on the scroll.

There was no doubt about it. He could recognize his sister's face anywhere. That was Raven alright, and an armored kid next to her. Real 'knightley' looking fellow. Qrow didn't recognize the kid, but from how he was dressed, he'd guess that the kid was from Atlas.

Qrow always had a feeling that Raven knew where the spring maiden was the whole time. It never occurred to him she would be the spring maiden though. He shouldn't have been surprised, honestly, his sister was a real piece of work. He wouldn't have put it past her to take the maiden's power for herself.

Why would she steal the relic though?

Raven had made it quite known that she had no interest in fighting Salem. She should have known that stealing the relic would grab Salem's attention. Now that it was out of the vault, Salem would focus all of her resources into taking it.

"I'm sure you can guess why I canceled your mission and called you here, Qrow."

"… You want me to find my sister?" He dryly asked.

"I want to speak with her, Qrow." Ozpin replied. "I was willing to overlook her past decisions, but this… she should know better than this. If Salem gets her hands on the relic, it would be disastrous."

"Yeah." Qrow agreed. What the hell was Raven thinking? "I'll be right on it, Oz. And the kid?"

"… I would like to speak with him as well. Be careful with him though."

Qrow raised an eyebrow. "Of a kid?"

"Watch the footage."

Qrow wasn't sure what to make of that response, so he hit the play button. He had been expecting to see Raven along with the entire tribe, but it was just her and that kid. Raven hadn't even drawn her sword throughout the entire clip. It was pretty much just the kid taking down every single huntsman that had stood in his way. The quality of the footage wasn't great, but from what he could see, the kid was good. Almost frighteningly so.

He couldn't help but let out a low whistle.

"It was just my sister and that kid?"

"Indeed." Ozpin replied. "Fortunately, he doesn't seem too unreasonable. No casualties. Some of Leo's huntsmen are going to have some bruises and broken bones for sure, but they'll live."

"He's not a member of the tribe then. They don't usually leave survivors."

Ozpin folded his hands. "I have a theory, Qrow."

"What is it?"

"Rather than the boy working with Raven, I believe it's the other way around."

He could see that. Raven had zero interest in the war, so it only made sense that it was the kid's idea to snatch the relic.

"I believe he enlisted your sister's help. As we both know, her Semblance makes for quite a handy escape method."

"So they go in guns blazing, take down anyone in their way and snatch the relic. Then Raven opens up a portal for them to get out. Not a bad plan if you have the skills to back it up."

Kid had balls, had to give him that. He wasn't sure how he had managed to talk his sister into acting as his getaway driver though. Raven was anything but charitable.

"It opens up the question of how he knew about the vault and the key." Ozpin said as he took a sip from his mug. "Do you believe that Raven could have told him?"

"… My sister's a greedy, self-serving, piece of shit." Qrow eventually replied. "She's not stupid though. She wouldn't have released that information without good reason."

"I suppose we won't know that reason until you find her then."

Qrow reached into his coat pocket and took out his flask for a drink. He hated going back to the damn tribe. Always brought him back to memories he'd rather forget.

Still, a mission was a mission.

"It's essential that you find them before Salem does, Qrow."

"Yeah. I know, Oz."

"I've already ordered Leo to keep the entire situation under wraps. Salem will eventually find out the relic is no longer sealed, but that should buy us some time at the least." Ozpin stated. "Also, since it is the relic we're dealing with here, James insisted he send some reinforcements to assist you."

"Tell the tin-man I work better alone."

"Qrow, this is the relic we're dealing with here. If Raven and her companion aren't willing to speak, you will need to bring them here by force, if necessary."

Ozpin had a point, but still. He was going to have to work with the tin-man's lackeys.

Great.

"Who'd he send?"

"Special Operative Schnee along with an elite squad of Atlas soldiers."

Qrow groaned.

Of course Ironwood would send the single most annoying person in the entire army.

Him and his gods damn Semblance.

Author's Notes- There won't be any other crossover elements added to this story, just the SI as Charlie in Remnant. Also there's no gamer system in this story, not sure where someone got that idea from.