Ey bois and grilz.
Guess what? 202 followers, that's what!
Just a big, BIG thank you to everyone who has given this silly story a chance. This is my first story to break 100 followers, and I never thought it would get this high!
Y'all are great.
Cracking his neck, a fuming General Ironwood strode into the lounge amidst the many staring faces. Unfortunately for him, none of them belonged to the man he had come here for. However, one of them was all too familiar and not very pleased to see him.
"Ever hear of knockin' Jimmy?" Qrow said dryly, "Lot of people do that these days instead of kicking doors in."
"Mr. Branwen," Ironwood ignored the drunk's jab, striding past the group towards another room, "I'm going to ask you once more. Where. Is. Ozpin?"
"Not here, obviously," Qrow took a few steps towards the General, "So why don't you explain what the hell you're doin' here."
"If you're here Qrow, then you know why I'm here. I'm on to you and Ozpin's scheme to tarnish my reputation, and I won't let it continue any longer."
The confused housemates began chatting among themselves. Blake leaned over to Ruby, pointing at Ironwood. "Isn't that Penny's 'father' or whatever? What's he doing here?"
"I dunno," Ruby replied, stroking her chin, "You think he brought Penny with him?"
"Oh, please," Weiss groaned, folding her arms across her chest, "The last thing we need here is that ditzy robot running around. We already have enough problems and enough people to deal with."
"Aw, but Penny's cool! She could room with us!"
"Ruby, if one more person comes into this building, I will personally see them out that-"
"Sir!" a voice called from outside the door, one that made Weiss' face light up instantly. Winter Schnee dashed inside, dusting off her uniform as her commanding officer looked upon her. "I just finished inspecting the airship and the damage caused during its landing. We seemed to have only knocked over two trees during-
"Winter!" Weiss exclaimed, waving at her sister with glee.
"Weiss?" Winter's attention left Ironwood for a brief moment, and she nodded to her younger sibling with the faintest of smiles. "How have you been?"
"Oh God, there's two of them…" Cinder moaned, pinching her brow.
"Winter?" Qrow turned back to see the elder Schnee standing in the doorway, and his level of annoyance went up another notch. The white-haired woman wasn't too pleased to see him either. "Winter."
"…Branwen."
"NORA!"
"Not now, Nora," Ren sighed, pushing his partner back down into her chair, "Sorry, everyone. She gets excited at times like this."
"Better than being a stuck-up maid, I say," Qrow replied, nodding his head at Winter.
"At least I have class," Winter stuck her nose up at the drunk, "Unlike some people."
"Schnee," Ironwood said sternly, "Do not let his taunting get to you. We have a mission to complete here."
"Oh, so it's a mission now?" Qrow laughed, "What're ya gonna do? Make my life a living hell? Because it's been one for the past week or so since I've been here."
"Run out of alcohol, I presume?"
"That ain't even the half of it, Jimmy. So why don't you just get back on yer big metal ship and fly back to Atlas so we can get on with our lives?"
"Not until I have an explanation from Ozpin."
"This is about the whole branding thing on the website, right? Don't you think you're overreacting a bit?"
"Website?" Emerald perked up, looking at those around her, "Okay, I can't be the only one who heard that. What website?"
"Shut up Em," Mercury said, as Neo pulled out her phone to start filming the altercation, "This is getting good."
"Absolutely not!" Winter intervened, clenching her fists, "You are extorting these children for your personal gain-
"Just want to mention," Torchwick interrupted, "I'm of legal drinking age, and am no child. Also, there definitely isn't a warrant for my arrest. I just happen to look a lot like that one dashing fellow on the wanted posters."
"…Not to mention providing them with alcohol of all things! And this is all under the name of the most prestigious General on the planet!"
"Kiss ass," Qrow muttered, "No wonder he chose you to be his servant girl."
"Hey!" Weiss stomped her foot in anger, "Don't speak to my sister like that!"
"I'd advise you listen to Heiress Weiss," Ironwood told Qrow, "We are here for Ozpin, not you."
"Or what?" Qrow smirked, "You gonna pull out that wood of yours and smack me with it? Oh, wait… You probably can't even have that now, do ya?"
"Oh dear," Pyrrha blushed, covering her mouth, "I do not like where this is going."
"I'm guessing those cybernetics of yours go pretty far, right? Your poor wife. I bet she's got someone on the down-low who isn't always cold as steel, if you know what I'm saying."
Ironwood's eye was twitching violently now.
"Hey," Qrow leaned in closer, cupping his mouth with his hand so only James could hear. "Between you and me, you've got a good thing goin' on with Ice Queen over there. The whole dominatrix get-up with the hooker boots and all? Not bad taste, if I dare say so myself. She probably doesn't mind the taste of lead, I'm guessing?"
And there it was.
Ironwood's gloved hand wrapped its fingers around Qrow's neck and tossed him over the housemates. He landed just shy of the TV, which Sun was guarding with his body. The General nodded once to Winter, who replied by drawing her rapier.
"Schnee: Restrain him."
"With pleasure, sir."
"Dammit, Ozpin," Qrow cursed under his breath, blaming the man in the van for his troubles as he dodged a strike from Schnee. That idiot and his fear of a goddamn rodent!
"WOO-HOO!" Merc clapped loudly, throwing his arm over Neo's shoulder as Winter sliced off half of Qrow's cape, "WORLDSTAR, BABY!"
"Someone should stop them!" Blake suggested.
"Sorry kitty-cat," Roman answered, "But I don't have a death wish."
Rolling past Weiss, Qrow stumbled to his feet and ran upstairs, hoping to find something to defend himself with up there. Winter was close on his tail, and so was someone else.
"Hey, big guy!" Yang called after the Lieutenant, "What the heck are doing?"
"Adam's up in my room! I gotta protect him!"
"He's persistent, I'll give him that," Weiss shrugged as the battle continued out of sight. Ironwood approached the group of housemates from behind, standing tall among them.
"I must apologize for all of this," James said, "I did not come here to bring strife upon any of you. Only to Ozpin."
"Yeah, we kinda figured that part out," Jaune said.
"Would any of you happen to know where he is?"
"Outside," Cinder couldn't answer fast enough, "In a van. Alone. Defenseless."
"Would you mind showing me the way?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
"Can't we talk this out?"
Wielding a small lamp in his hands, Qrow tried his best to look intimidating as Winter stared him down from the opposite end of the hall. The Ice Queen split her rapier in two, twirling both blades in her hands.
"You've already said enough!" Winter shouted, dashing towards him. She lowered herself closer to the floor as Qrow chucked the lamp over her. Though the appliance missed its intended target, it was still going to hit someone today.
"Adam!" the Lieutenant shrieked, reaching the top of the stairs completely unaware of the incoming object, "I'm coming! I'm-
*THUNK!*
Not even acknowledging the downed Lieutenant, Winter continued striking at Qrow. Branwen was beginning to realize he was much better at dodging when buzzed, as one of Schnee's jabs managed to cut him across the cheek. Still, the over-extended attack gave him an opening.
"Little close there!" Qrow smirked as he reached up and grabbed Winter's hand, "Not that I mind!"
"Don't touch me!" Winter said with disgust, pulling her hand back. She had loosened her grip on her smaller blade briefly, and it gave Qrow the chance to pry it out from her fingers. He studied the flimsy rapier, giving it a couple test swings.
"This'll do, I guess," Qrow shrugged, parrying Winter's strike with an upward slash.
None too pleased with the drunk soiling her weapon with his touch, Winter quickened her pace, slashing at him with twice the speed as she had before. She noticed she couldn't move as nimbly as she usually could; it seemed that Goodwitch was right in how the barrier limited one's abilities. Using her glyph techniques would be very useful right now, especially since Qrow seemed to be gaining the upper hand while wielding a blade. He was matching each of her strikes with his own, and she was beginning to grow tired.
"What's wrong, Ice Queen?" Qrow taunted, "Can't beat me on even terms? Jimmy's not gonna like that."
The two of them stepped back and took strong swings at each other. Pushing her blade against his, Winter felt Qrow pushing her back. Thinking quickly, she tried a disarming technique, twisting her blade down the side of Qrow's and hitting his wrist with the bottom of her handle. It worked perfectly, but she was unable to stop Qrow from using his free hand to knock her own blade away. The dual rapiers tumbled down the hall, landing in front of an open room.
Qrow and Winter glared at each other. Whomever reached those weapons first would be able to end this scuffle. And neither one of them was ready to lose.
They dashed down the hall, shoving at each other the whole time. Winter kicked Qrow in the ankle, but he grabbed hold of her leg as he fell to the floor.
"Let go!" Winter snarled, kicking him in the shoulder.
"Ow!" Branwen winced as the stiletto heel hit the nerve between his neck and arm, "Heel's ain't fair!"
"You deserve it!" Back on her feet, Winter turned around to go after her weapons once again.
She froze when she saw someone else had reached them first.
Winter didn't know who this man was, but she recognized the patterns on his half mask instantly. The red-haired man studied the two rapiers in his hands, a small smirk in the corner of his mouth.
"Funny, how the sounds of battle can awaken one's spirit," Adam grinned, pointing the blades at Winter and Qrow, "Which one of you would like to help me wake up even more?"