Chapter 7: Coldsteel Heart
A week passed since Summer had talked to her mother; Qrow got up to see Summer was already packing up, with Taiyang and Raven already gone. "Where's Tai and Rae?"
"They've already gone down for Breakfast, and I've made sure our professors know about us leaving so you don't have to leave just yet."
Qrow nodded. "Alright."
After saying goodbye to their friends and professors; the team made their way to the bus to head down to the airport. Qrow and Raven just stared out the window for a good part of the trip, even as third years, they hadn't really seen much of Vale itself, other than Patch, where Taiyang lived, and places too and from Patch via the bus lines. It had been a while since they arrived by ship, and even then, they arrived during the night.
At last the bus stopped at the airport; and the team made their way to the airship as the sunset. They all had got a room together on the airship. As it took off into the evening sky; everyone settled in. All but Qrow.
Everything felt surreal, years ago he would have never imagined he would be traveling to Atlas for something as easy as a festival. At least not with a team that has his back. Qrow just stood at the window watching the waves as they traveled along.
Summer noticed when she awoke mid flight. "You alright Qrow?" she asked, getting up out of her bunk to stand next to Qrow. "Having issues sleeping?"
Qrow turned around to see Summer, as her ears popped up as their eyes met. "I'm fine, just… worried a little about being ready, ya know?"
Summer smiled as she looked over to see Taiyang and Raven were both in states of sleeping that looked troublesome. "Yeah, we still have to practice, and Ozpin's already got us enrolled, our classes are on our scrolls already."
"Really?" Qrow's sleepy eyes relaxed a little bit from that news.
"Yeah. But he did say to relax a bit and get used to living up in Solitas before going...you'll do fine Qrow." Summer said as she grabbed his hand. "You need some sleep, from that look in your eyes… have you even slept tonight?"
Qrow just shook his head. "Not really… been basically staring up at the ceiling all night."
Summer just sighed. "Qrow…" she said softly.
Qrow just sat back on the edge of Summer's bed. "Yeah…-"
Summer cut him off as she kissed him. "You know we could sleep in the same bed if it makes you feel more comfortable."
Qrow froze. "Sure?" he asked, clearly unsure.
Qrow slowly crawled into the bed with Summer taking the inner side; allowing him to get comfy in the bed, making sure he fell asleep before she fell back asleep herself.
The morning rays filled the airship as they landed in Atlas. No sooner than then they got onto the runway; a gust of wind shook through the airport, it felt like ice to the twins and Taiyang.
"This is Atlas?" asked Raven. "It's.. cold as hell."
Summer just giggled, clearly ready for the cold air. "You'll all get used to it. I promise."
No sooner did they enter the building; Summer was on her scroll contacting her mother. "Hey; we made it. Want us to meet you in Mantle?" Summer paused as her mother spoke. "Hmm yeah alright see you there."
"Mantle?" Qrow asked confused. "Isn't that the name of the former kingdom?"
Summer smiled and nodded. "It was the kingdom's name, yes. I see you have finally started paying attention to Mrs. Abendroth's class." Summer started giggling as Qrow just turned red with embarrassment. "Well yes; it was the kingdom's name until the neighborhood of Atlas grew into its own city and eventually rose above the clouds. At which point the kingdom renamed itself to Atlas to grow outward to take over Solitas."
As Summer kept talking; they picked up their luggage and walked over to the Bullhead. Raven was the first to question it. "Didn't we just get off the airplane; do we have to take another?"
"Yep! Unless you want to either stay up here or nearly die flying down Raven." Summer was quite cheerful as she spoke about the height of Atlas. "We're so high up that birds like yourself can not really fly to Mantle and back without riding the Bullhead."
Raven just stopped talking as they got on one of the Bullheads down to Mantle. Summer could tell that everyone in the team except her were not used to the sudden shifts in altitude as the Bullhead descended into Mantle.
Summer walked around the Mantle Airport, clearly looking at what had changed as everyone followed her around.
"Summer; please tell me we're not going on any more ships." Taiyang asked.
"Nope!" Summer said as she turned around to face her teammates, smiling. "We're basically there, come on." Summer started walking to the doors leading out. "I kinda forgot we'll be doing the Atlas to Mantle trip daily."
"Daily?" Raven asked, clearly annoyed.
"Daily, we gotta go up to Atlas for classes." Summer said as they left the building. The Mantlean air wrapped around the group. While it wasn't as strong as the winds in Atlas; it sure bit at their legs and arms.
"How can you survive up here?" Raven asked, clearly not understanding how people like Summer could handle the climate.
"We just grew to love it?" Summer said as they walked. Summer was in her own world taking in the sights, only stopping as her phone rang. "Yes Mum? What's that? You want me to pick something up at the Polendina's? Alright; see you when you get home." Summer stopped and turned. "Mum wants me to pick up something for her. Come on."
They all stopped outside of a building with a green cross on it; it's glass all colored a soft green as Taiyang opened the door for everyone. "Mr. Polendina?" Summer asked as they entered. Sitting over at a table with a patient with mechanical eyes, was a darker skinned man with brown eyes and eyes.
"Yes? Oh hello!" He said as he turned away from his patient. "Mrs. Calavera, is it alright if I help out a family friend of mine for a second?"
"I don't mind. I can't even see them anyways." Mrs. Calavera said as she turned her head, revealing that she had a scar crossing her right eye and over to her left eye; which had a prosthetic eye over it. "Oh there they are!"
Pietro just smiled as he rolled over to Summer. "So how may I help you-Oh I apologize." He stopped himself once he saw the rest of team STRQ behind Summer. "I am Pietro Polendina, I'm the doctor of Summer's mother, and a family friend. How can I help you today Summer?"
"Well-" Summer stopped as she saw Mrs. Calavera getting off the table and starting to walk over, the lady was about her height, but was using a cane with a skull to walk around. "Well- Mum said she had a part ordered?"
"Oh yes she does. I just got it in yesterday. Did she ask you to take it to her?" Pietro asked towards Summer, who just grinned.
"Yep-"
"Look at this batch of youngin's." Mrs. Calavera spoke out, alerting them all to her presence.
"Mrs. Calavera! How many times have I told you to stay up on the table? This is the third time you've done this since you got here, can you please go back to the table Maria?"
"Yes yes, well…" Mrs. Calavera, Maria, just looked at the team before her. "In a minute. You all are huntsmen and huntresses aren't you?"
Summer nodded. "Team STRQ, mam."
"I'll tell you this. Be careful out there. Someone's bad luck could cause this to happen to you." Qrow felt nervous for a moment as Maria pointed up to her scar, allowing the team to take a better look. "A nevermore did this to me, young warriors."
The group looked at her as she kept speaking. "However, the most important thing for you youngin's to know is that: Life... is beautiful. It is precious. And it must... be protected. No matter the costs along the way. Like those kids down in Vale just had to learn with what is that city-"
Pietro stepped in. "That's enough Maria. Now let me go get that part for you Summer."
"We… just came from there." Summer spoke up. "We're team STRQ of Beacon Academy."
Maria turned and looked at Summer. "Well child." Maria froze in place for a second as she looked at Summer's silver eyes through her left eye. "Your eyes, what color are they missy?"
"They're Silver?" Summer asked.
Maria just gasped with excitement in her voice. "That's wonderful dearie. I haven't seen many Silver eyed people out there. You yourself should be careful the most out there."
"Uh.. thank you?" Summer said as Pietro came back with the part. "Here you go Summer. Now Maria; let's get you back on the table."
"Alright alright. So long dearies!" Maria looked quite happy as she spoke as she walked to the table with Pietro.
As the group headed out, Pietro turned back to them and shouted. "Oh Summer; don't forget to tell your parents I said hello!"
"I won't, Mr. Polendina!" Summer said as she closed the door.
"Well. She was crazy." The others turned to Raven who only spoke more. "What; you all know it."
Summer rolled her eyes. "Come on; my home's just further down this street."
Qrow and Taiyang lagged behind. "You ok Qrow?"
"Yeah Tai, just a little scarred by that woman's scar, I can't imagine losing my eyes to a nevermore attack."
Taiyang just patted his back. "It's alright dude. There's nothing to worry about unless you let it happen."
"Thanks Tai." Qrow said, turning to look at their team partners. "Maybe I'm just worried for you guys more than myself."
"We're all fine; mister shield." Taiyang said laughing.
"Mister Shield?" Qrow asked, a little confused by the nickname.
"Summer told us you used yourself as a shield when that building fell on you guys at Mountain Glenn. That's quite heroic of you."
"Well, you heard that old lady. Life must be protected, no matter the costs." Qrow said trying to smile, still unsure if he should even be saying those words? The tribe would consider those words traitorous.
"You guys we're here!" Summer shouted from ahead as Taiyang and Qrow looked at each other and started to run towards Summer and Raven.
"So. Summer?" Raven asked as Summer was opening the door.
"Yeah?" Summer said as the key opened the lock. "What's up?"
"Why do your parents live in different places?" Raven just stared at Summer as she spoke. "I asked Taiyang last night and he said he thinks they might be this word divor-ived?"
"Divorced. And no they're not divorced. Mum's job means she's unable to leave Atlas, but she wanted me to go to Signal down in Vale instead of Compass up here, so she paid for me and dad to move down to Patch. She loves us dearly and Dad always comes up here to visit her."
"Oh my bad." Taiyang said as Summer opened the door.
Summer just shook her head. "Just come on in. Mum should be getting home from her work soon." Summer sat down on the couch as the rest of her team dropped their bags and weapons at the door.
Sure enough; not even fifteen minutes later, the door opened. Standing in the doorframe was a middle aged wolf tailed faunus with ash colored hair and a mechanical left leg cut off at the kneecap. She looked around as she dropped off her bag. "Summer dear?"
Summer came walking down the stairs; having changed into a pair of clothes she had brought with her on the trip. "Hi mum!" Summer said as she made contact with her mother's bright blue eyes. She just beamed as she jumped into a hug with her mother.
"I heard from your uncle you've been adventuring already?" Summer's mum asked as she ruffled Summer's hair. "Wonderful. So where's the team of yours?"
Summer just beamed as she dragged her mother to the living room. There on the couch was the rest of the team already; all watching the television.
"Well; you know Taiyang." Summer spoke up getting her teammates' attention. "He was a friend from Signal."
"Hi Mrs. Rose." Taiyang said, smiling.
"That's Raven over there." Summer pointed to Raven who just turned and rolled her eyes before turning back to the television. Summer then focused in on something and within a second; petals were dashing across the room as she teleported into Qrow's lap. "And this; this is Qrow, my partner and boyfriend."
Summer's Mum took a look towards the gentleman her daughter was sitting on. "So, this is that boy your father said you've been crushing on for two years already."
Summer blushed a bright red at that comment. "How did dad-"
Summer's Mum just started to laugh. "It's something you got from him. He was crushing on me from the moment he met me at Atlas Academy until he had the nerve to finally ask me out at our final dance."
"Could you guys see it?" Summer asked, looking around at her teammates.
"Yep." Raven said before a pillow was thrown at her face by Summer.
"Well… I didn't, but I'm happy I didn't now; you were so precious-"
"Stuff it Qrow." Summer said as her mother sighed.
"So naive." Summer's Mum said. "Well, I am going to go get dinner started." Summer's Mum turned to walk away towards the kitchen but stopped and turned back. "By the way; my name is Ashley, everyone. Don't be afraid to call me that."
Summer rolled her eyes. "Alright Mum." The team rested for a while until Ashley called them for dinner.
The team got comfy in the house; one more than the others. Not even a half hour after dinner, Qrow had fallen asleep on the couch he and Summer were on; nearly falling asleep on Summer's shoulder. Summer smiled as she nudged him awake.
"Qrow, come on."
"Huh?" Asked a tired Qrow; unaware he had just woken up.
"You need to go to bed, come on." Summer got off the couch and pulled Qrow up herself. She then hoisted his arm over her to help him walk as they left the living room and went upstairs. Summer opened a door and the room inside was small and cozy. Warm lighting turned on to reveal cabinets full of equipment, minus the pink bed in the middle and a window on the outermost wall. There next to the window was a door leading out to a balcony. Summer just motioned to the bed as she dragged Qrow to it. As soon as Qrow was in the bed; she covered him up in the comforter, messing with his hair as she did. Qrow was too tired to fight back.
"I'll get out of your hair Qrow." Summer whispered as she gave him a peck on the cheek. "Night Qrow."
Qrow just yawned in agreement. "Night." he said as he turned over in bed.
Summer turned off the light and closed his door, only to come face to face with Raven staring right at her. "What's up?" Summer said; nearly jumping.
Raven just frowned as she shook her head, clearly disappointed somehow in Summer's actions. "You're letting him be lazy?"
"Lighten up,you of all people should know that he's had a rough few months Raven; not to mention he didn't get much sleep last night, so him relaxing is very nice to see. You should relax too, we've got a few weeks until the tournament, and we need to make them last." Summer said as she turned down the hall to go back downstairs for the bags. Leaving Raven to her own devices.