Chapter 4: Gifts ungiven
Qrow awoke to the sight of a tree in the dorm. It was towards the end of the first year of classes and this was not what he was expecting. Summer was busy decorating the bottom of the tree. Taiyang sat in the corner with a mug, a disgusting smell coming from it, eggnog. "What the hell is this?" he asked as he got up and saw that their whole room was decorated in the colors white, red and green. Raven was still asleep in her bed, her covers having fallen off the bed like normal.
Summer turned around. Instead of her normal huntress attire, she was wearing her hood with a red shirt that read 'Merry Invictus' in a white lettering along with a red hat with a white trim and silver tassel. She smiled. "Oh! Good Morning Qrow, I'm just getting our dorm ready for Invictus."
Raven stuttered as she got up. "Invict-tus?" she asked, still half asleep. "What's that?"
Summer gasped out in shock. "You two never heard of Solstice Invictus before?" she asked as Qrow shook his head.
"Remember Summer; these two grew out in the wilderness, we've had to teach them a lot since they-" Taiyang was cut off by Summer kicking him in the leg. "Ouch Summer!"
"Don't be mean Taiyang, they could just celebrate another holiday, like-" Summer started.
"No, me and Raven haven't celebrated anything at this time of year except for the Winter Solstice." Qrow said.
"You're not wrong; Solstice Invictus started out as a holiday celebrating the Winter Solstice but it's so much more! There's getting gifts for friends and family; Invictus Trees-" Summer started to explain to Qrow and Raven.
"And don't forget Saint Nicholas!" Taiyang cheerly added.
"Who the hell is that?" Raven asked.
"Some fictional character made up for the holiday." answered Summer. "Now get up you two. Class is in about an hour."
Qrow and Raven, just nodded, still getting used to all of these new traditions Summer and Taiyang were introducing them to.
Soon enough the days towards the end of the semester started to slowly disappear. Qrow had come to the conclusion that he needed to get Summer at least something nice for the holiday and was now walking through Vale's mall when a hand touched his shoulder. Qrow quickly turned around to see Raven just coldly staring at him.
"You left the dorm saying you were going to buy some pencils for the exams, brother. And I find you out here in the mall of all places. We have pencils at the academy. You know, as I'm pretty sure you don't take an art class, Qrow, you don't need special pencils."
Qrow shrugged at his sister. "I didn't lie, I'm still out here hunting for pencils." He smirked as he turned and continued walking.
"So, what are you really looking for, Qrow?" Raven asked, clearly following and figuring whatever he actually wanted couldn't just be grabbed at the academy.
"I'm looking for an Invictus present for Summer."
Raven sighed. "Qrow, you don't need to get her anything big. Remember, as soon as we're done here, they could very well become our enemies. Summer and Tai-"
Qrow turned around to look directly into Raven's eyes, causing Raven to take a step back. "Summer and Taiyang are our partners, Raven." Qrow shifted his tone due to the crowds around them. "Now are you just going to stand around or are you going to help me pick out something for her?" Raven only rolled her eyes and nodded as she followed Qrow through the mall stores.
It didn't take long until; while searching through a small weapon accessory shop, Qrow spotted a small item of interest. It was an white with red trim combination sharpener and dust clip holder that could clip onto a belt. Qrow looked at it for a few moments as Raven came up. "Well?" Raven asked, now tired from following Qrow the whole way through the mall stores.
"It's perfect," he said as he picked it up and took it to the counter to purchase it for Summer. As soon as it was wrapped up with a small silver bow on it, he put it under the Invictus Tree in their dorm. He smiled as the others came in the room, not noticing the present under the tree.
Qrow looked down at his final grades for the semester. He had pulled out with B's in most of the classes with help from Summer and even a bit of help from Taiyang. He looked over to see Summer and Taiyang stare at him. "What?" he asked.
"Well, it's the end of the semester, and neither you or Raven have mentioned planning to visit your family for the holidays. We were wondering when you were leaving so we could celebrate Invictus here before you two left."
Qrow looked over to Raven before answering. "I doubt me and Raven have the time to make it to where our family lives and back before the next semester, so we were planning to spend the holiday here." Summer and Taiyang both smiled when they heard those words out of Qrow's mouth.
"Looks like we're all going to stay then!" cheered Summer, her silver eyes huge from excitement.
"We all are? Don't you and Taiyang live outside of the city?" asked a now quite puzzled Qrow. "Just because me and Raven are staying doesn't mean you two have to as well."
"Patch is only a boat ride away on the holiday. We can spend the morning here and go visit our families and be back by the end of the night." Taiyang replied.
"Well then." said Qrow, smiling. "Guess we're all staying."
Qrow awoke on Invictus Day to the smell of honey-smoked ham. He got up and saw that Summer had managed to cook some good looking breakfast, Qrow wasn't phased by the oven now in the dorm. He was more interested in the ham he had smelled, the hot chocolate sitting on the desk, and the eggs, bacon, and hash browns Summer had cooked up.
"Merry Invictus Qrow!" Summer smiled as she saw him finally wake up. "Now that we're all up, you want to open presents?"
"Sure," Qrow said as Taiyang pulled out his huge present. "What is that?"
"Open it! I got it for both you and Raven, Qrow!" Taiyang said with a slight smirk on his face. Qrow moved to open it, the wrapping paper fell off to reveal a bird feeder. "It's a bird feeder, as you're birds!" Taiyang added as Raven got up from her bed and with an evil look in her eyes, started to walk towards Taiyang. "Oh shit, I'm not sorry for the puns!" shouted Taiyang as he was chased out of the room by a very mad Raven, causing Summer and Qrow to just laugh.
"So, do you want to exchange gifts now?" asked Summer, pulling out her gift for Qrow. Qrow snuck under the tree to grab Summer his present. "It's not much." He whispered as he handed it to her as Summer quickly removed the bow and wrapping. "Aww! Qrow, you didn't have to! This is something I've been wanting to buy! It's perfect!"
"You're welcome Summer," said Qrow as he felt his present, and he opened it. Inside was a small metal flask with his symbol dyed into the leather skin on the outside. "A flask?"
Summer nodded at Qrow. "Yep, figured you've been buying plastic water bottles almost every day this year while in class, figured that I should get you something a lot more permanent. I knew the shopkeeper so I asked them if they could dye your symbol onto it for you."
"Thanks Summer!" Qrow said, turning to the door, Taiyang's screams could still be heard. "I think we should go stop Raven."
"Agreed." Summer answered as they rushed to stop Raven.
It was just after the start of team STRQ's third year, Qrow was sitting in the cafe with Summer, he was drinking out of his flask. By their third year through, Qrow and Summer had gotten very close, to the point, almost everyone but them had thought they might have been dating. Through the years at Beacon, Qrow had already given Summer a nickname, calling her Short-stack when he was being cocky. While Qrow and Summer were best friends; Taiyang and Raven had hit it off at a dance their second year and were dating.
Qrow turned away from Summer for a moment as he spotted Bartholomew, one of their classmates; no sooner as he could collect his thoughts, did he hear the sound of tape being ripped and then Summer screaming. He turned back around to see two freshmen ripping something out of Summer's hair. "Summer!" he shouted as he turned around, already pulling out his fists. "What did you fucking do!?" he shouted towards the two young men now standing in front of him.
One of the two scoffed. "Showing the girl, her place. Faunus have no right trying to pretend to be humans like us."
Qrow growled. "I want you two out of my sights, now." Qrow's tone was cold and spine chilling. "You've not even had intiation yet, and I'm sure I can make sure you won't if you don't leave right now." Qrow added as he pulled out his weapon.
The teens gulped and ran away. Qrow turned back to notice Summer had disappeared. He sighed as he walked around campus; looking everywhere before turning to see the chicken farm; and there among the chickens was a small white cloak trying to hide.
Qrow walked over and sat down, waiting a few moments before speaking. "Summer?" he asked, towards his partner.
"Go away." said Summer, her voice muffled by her arms and knees.
Qrow only frowned at that reply. "Summer, Are you alright?" Qrow asked, as he pulled her arms away, to get a look at Summer's teary eyes.
"No!" she shouted, ears wiggled under the cloak. "I'm not human. I'm a faunus."
Qrow looked amused by it. "Does that matter Summer? You're still my team partner."
"Well.. it's just I've lied to you and the others for years about who I am." Summer began; tears forming in her eyes as she tried to speak. "I'm not just a little girl from Patch. I am a wolf faunus; born and raised in Atlas, and then eventually moved to Patch. I've lied about being human as my parents wanted me to be a normal person, Qrow… I'm sorry!"
Qrow sighed, smiling at the woman he called his teammate and partner. "It's alright, they make you special, I like them." Qrow replied, smiling at his partner. "So what? You're a faunus, that won't change my view of you."
"Really?" asked Summer, blushing quite a little at Qrow's remark.
"Yep." Added Qrow, then for a few minutes, there was a long pause as Qrow helped Summer clean up. "Hey, we should-" Qrow was stopped by the ground starting to shake. The chickens around them squawking loudly as they ran around looking for shelter themselves.
Qrow turned to his partner, who just smiled at him and still blushing as she spoke. "It's just an earthquake, it'll pass, and we'll be safe here." Summer then grabbed his arm for assurance.
Soon enough, the shaking stopped, and Qrow just turned as he smelled something. Smoke. Turning sharply around he saw a huge cloud of smoke rising from the mountains. He then tugged on Summer's hood to get her to turn around, and then pointed towards the smoke. "What's over there?" Qrow asked.
Summer's already flustered red face just became a pale white. Summer started to tear up again. "No… That's near the location of Mountain Glenn. My uncle lives in that city."
"He'll be fine, Summer." Qrow said brushing away tears now forming from Summer's eyes. "He was a huntsman, wasn't he?"
Summer nodded. "He's one of the people that inspired me to become a huntress. I lived with him for a few years during my summers off of school in Atlas and he was the person who suggested I go to Signal instead of Compass."
Qrow spoke softly with a smirk forming. "Then he'll be able to protect himself, right? Tell me about-."
Qrow was cut off by Ozpin's voice coming on over the PA system, which scared the chickens more so than the earthquake.. "The report is that the earthquake has been caused by an explosion within the city of Mountain Glenn. With reports coming in that parts of the city are in turmoil with buildings collapsing. In wake of what's happening in Mountain Glenn, the council of Vale has requested any available Huntsmen to offer their assistance in excavating the city. If any of you would like to offer you and your team's assistance, please come up to my office immedientary."
As soon as Ozpin turned off the PA, Qrow could only watch as Summer disappeared from view. Qrow only smirked as he transformed and flew towards the dooms. He arrived in their dorm to see Summer already in her hunting gear, with Taiyang and Raven both arriving after him.
"I'm going. My uncle lives in Mountain Glenn. And I'm going to find him. You all heard our headmaster, parts of the city are now rubble, I need to make sure he's ok, and-." Summer paused, clearing her throat in the moment. "And none of you can stop me."
Qrow smirked, as Raven and Taiyang grabbed their hunting clothes. "We can't leave you, you should know that Summer. We're gonna go with you."
Summer smiled as she pulled out her bullets. The group soon was ready and walked up to Ozpin's office, there they saw the man himself had already been talking to another team: Team BRNT. Bartholomew Oobleck's team along with Mr. Port had already arrived.
Bart just turned to them, his voice slowed to a crawl as he spoke. "Ah, team STRQ, you joining us in our mission to Mountain Glenn?"
Qrow and Summer nodded. "How did you guys get here so quickly?" asked Qrow.
"We were in our dorm when the quake happened. We all agreed to go out to help." spoke one of Bart's teammates, wearing a black hat with a red and white scarf around his neck.
Ozpin finally spoke up as he noticed some of the last teams coming in. "Alright… you all should realize, this is a very serious situation. The chances you'll see blood and dead bodies are very high. You will be scarred by what you see there as well. I need you all to agree now, this is important that you believe that you're really ready, the choice is yours."
Summer nodded. "I'm ready, Professor."
Qrow added on, as Taiyang and Raven nodded in agreement. "There's lives to save, Professor, and we need to help if we can."
"Alright." Ozpin spoke as he handed them passes. "These are passes for the trains heading to and from Mountain Glenn, they'll get you into the city… good luck team STRQ."
Team STRQ was accompanied by team BRNT and the Teacher's aid Peter Port, as they made their way down to the train station, the nine of them got on board the next train towards Mountain Glenn.
Qrow looked out into the station as they got out; as injured people were pulled into the train. He could see all the way down the street, almost every building had collapsed, the dead and the alive both just laying out in the middle of the streets as other huntsmen and huntresses fought off Grimm or were digging in the rubble. Summer checked with one of the majors to see if anyone had found her uncle. She returned in tears, to be only grabbed by Qrow and pulled into a hug. "It's alright Summer, we'll find your uncle." Qrow started, staring in his partner's silver eyes, calming down Summer a little.
Summer nodded. "Right." she answered as Peter walked up and told them they best go quick. It took a while as the group made checks of every building, even splitting up towards the end, with Qrow and Summer being able to head to the area where Summer's uncle lived.
Summer arrived at the house and hit on the door a few times, unable to rip it open; she grabed a hold of it with her scythes and dug in. Qrow eventually helped as they tore off the door bolt; opening the door. As Qrow stepped inside he stopped. "Hey, Summer, stop, do you hear that?" he asked in Summer's direction.
Summer turned around. "Do I hear what?" asked Summer as she looked at him, her eyes, showing signs of hope.
"Is someone there?! I can't move my leg, it's trapped under some rubble!" A voice came, causing Summer to perk up, and smile at Qrow.
"Uncle?!" shouted Summer, running into the room where the voice came from.
"Summer?!" shouted her uncle. "I'm in the basement, one of my cabinets fell on me, come quickly!"
Qrow got to the room to find Summer already trying to move the cabinet. "Hey, move Summer." Qrow started, as he pulled out his scythe. "Depending on how your leg is placed, this may hurt." Qrow added, as he put the blade under a section of the now rubble. With a great heave, Qrow lifted the big slab of rubble that was on the uncle's leg, Summer was able to pull her uncle free.
As they got up, Summer's Uncle screamed in pain, looking down, they all noticed he was in no condition to move on his own.. "Ouch, looks like I'm not able to walk right now." he chuckled as he fell on to Summer's shoulder. "Think you can get me outside?" he asked Qrow. "Come on then." Qrow said as he put his scythe back on his back. With Summer's Uncle now also on his back, they soon started to climb the stairs to head out of the house.
As soon as they got out, Qrow stopped to take a breath, and looked around at the burning city, when someone caught his attention. "Qrow!" shouted Summer, causing Qrow to turn around, as he saw the building collapse right in front of him, without hesitation, Qrow grabbed Summer's Uncle and shoved him off, towards Summer, as he decided to take the brunt of the falling bricks, blacking out in the process.
"Qrow!" came a voice, waking up the Branwen twin. Mountain Glenn's train station was all he could see around him. He looked over to see Oobleck sitting with his team over at a fire, with Summer standing right in front of him, holding something. This wasn't right. Qrow couldn't put it down; something about being here felt wrong.
"Huh? Oh hey Short-stack." he said, as he looked towards her. "Where's Tai and Rae?"
Summer spoke up, staring right at him. "Qrow, you need to eat."
"Oh, I see, they're busy making out, aren't they?" he said chuckling, while having thoughts of his own. 'This seems off, Sum just seems a bit tired though.' "So what is it?" he asked, as he tried to get up to look at what Summer was gonna try to give him.
"It's soup, Qrow. Cheese and Broccoli, through there's not much broccoli." Summer said, trying to smile..
"Did you make it?" he asked, now looking at her, he noticed how she didn't have her dual bladed scythe on her. 'Summer normally always has her weapon through.' he thought as he spoke up. "Sum, please tell me you did, the last time Tai made soup I vomited."
Summer looked over to Oobleck and his team, then back to Qrow. "Yes Qrow, I did."
"Thanks Sum." said Qrow as he took the bowl and started to drink. "Ouch!" he said as he moved, agitating the cut a bit. He looked down at it. "I guess I got hit really badly, how are Rae and Tai doing?"
"They're fine Qrow, Taiyang's recovering, and Raven's-" started Summer as Qrow cut her off.
"Raven's being Raven I guess?" Qrow chuckled as he spoke. "That's normal for her, how are you holding up?" he now asked, looking at Summer, his eyes full of worry for his partner's safety, more so than for his own.
"I'm fine, Qrow, you took the worst beating through." Summer said as she smiled back at Qrow, Qrow just nodded as he started to drink his soup.
Soon enough, Qrow had finished his bowl. "Thanks Summer!" he said, smiling. "That was really good!"
"Yeah… Get some rest Qrow, you're gonna need it." said Summer, now forcing a smile on her face, as she grabbed his bowl.
"Alright…. I'll see you when I wake up." he said as he closed his eyes. Returning to the blackness of his dreams.