"I think you hit him too hard." Sky said, watching as Crue continuously whacked his head against the wall of the inn room the group were staying in.
"Nah, he does that all the time. I think." Russel dissuaded. The four students weren't quite sure why the Faunus was inflicting such amounts of self-harm. The only thing of note that happened was the meeting of the innkeepers.
Twins. Named Dee Tweedle, and Dum Tweedle. They ran the inn well, but from what the group had seen they were constantly contradicting each other.
Apparently, this was reason enough for Crue to have Russel strike him again. "Just ignore him." Cardin turned to Qrow. "Sunny said there were White Fang here, are we gonna go after them."
The hunter rolled his eyes. "She didn't say there were White Fang 'here', kid. She thought we were White Fang, that's all."
Cardin gave a scoff. "Like we'd associate with terrorists." His eyes wandered over to the Faunus banging his head against the wall.
"I can tell you're looking at me jackass." Crue mumbled.
"Anyway." Qrow cut across. "For now, we just have to find out what we can about the Hunter that went missing."
"You haven't actually told us anything about who we're looking for." Dove spoke up.
"Yeah, how do we know who we're looking for if you don't tell us anything?" Cardin questioned, crossing his arms and staring at the Huntsman.
Qrow sighed and rolled his eyes. He reached into his pocket and took out his scroll. "I was gonna show it when Brighteyes over there asked, no need to be a jerk about it."
"Don't have any pictures of them, but they're a combat medic." He opened his notes section, and began to read. "5'4. Female. Black hair. Black tail-" "Tail?!" Cardin cut across.
"For the love of- Yes a tail!" Qrow repeated angrily. "In case you haven't noticed, Faunus exist, and they can be Huntsman." He gestured to Crue for emphasis.
"Not a good example right now." Crue responded, while continuing to hit his head against the wall.
Qrow sighed, and rubbed his hand against his face. "You kids really don't know a thing about being Huntsmen."
"We're looking for a Faunus, and that shouldn't make you expend less effort." Qrow stared at Cardin. "She's a damn good Huntsman too. And she could probably take you apart and put you together backwards. Field medic."
Cardin grinded his teeth together as he stared at the older man. "Do we have a name?" Sky asked, before Cardin could have said anything else.
"Yeah, we do. Emelia Grey." CRACK! The group turned to see that Crue's head had broken through the wall in response to the name.
"Oh." Came Crue's muffled voice. "Hey. You're staying here too?" The person on the other side of the wall apparently gave some kind of reply. "Cool. Hey, you wouldn't happen to know if anyone went missing around here would you?"
The five males stared at Crue's body as he talked to the other person. "No? Do you know anyone that would know?" Crue tried to make gestures with his hands, not realising the other person couldn't see them.
"Really? Great, thanks." The Faunus attempted to pull his head out if the wall, but found himself stuck. "Uh. Guys, little help." Crue called to the group. Russel stood up and grabbed the Faunus by the shoulders, and heaved.
After a few strong tugs, Crue's head came back through the wall, his hair looking a little tussled. "Ok, found out where we can get some info." He clapped his hands together. Behind him, Russel peeked through the wall, and brought his head back instantly.
"Well, found out where Sunny stays." His cheeks were bright red, and he pointedly turned away from the wall.
"What did you find out?" Qrow asked.
"Apparently everyone in this town has the one therapist. So, if anyone would know if someone stopped showing up, it's her." Crue told them.
"Alright." Qrow rubbed his face with his palm. "Brighteyes and Claus, you two check out this therapist." Dove and Sky looked at each other, before shrugging.
"Me and Russel'll search the perimeter or some shite." Crue waved at Qrow. The hunter raised an eyebrow at the younger male. "What? We agreed on that earlier."
The older hunter nodded, before slowly turning to face Cardin. "Ah shit." Cardin seemed to share the sentiment, as his face morphed into a scowl.
"Well, seeing as it's already running late, I'm going to turn in." Qrow stood up and began to leave the room.
"By 'turn in' you mean going downstairs and drinking the place dry." Crue drawled, smirking as he noticed the hunter flinch. "Like hell you're going without me." Crue began walking to the door, only to have it slam in his face.
"Sorry kid, can't Hunters in training can't go down and drink on a mission." While the Faunus couldn't see it, he knew Qrow was wearing a grin of shit eating proportions on the other side of the door. "So, gonna have to stay here."
Crue stared at the door, his eyes pointed and full of Wrath. He fully considered using his claws to punch his way through the door, but eventually decided otherwise. "You're buying me a drink when we get back."
It wasn't a request, and apparently even Qrow could sense that. "You find what we need and I'll buy you two." The man chuckled. He began walking away, the group inside the room hearing the steps fade away.
"Well," Crue turned back to the four other males, grabbing his pocket watch and checking the time. "We've got two hours before midnight. Wanna drink?" He asked.
"But, he just said we can't go down and drink." Sky raised an eyebrow. Crue nodded in agreement.
"You're right. He said we can't go down." He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out his hip flask. "He said nothing about drinking up here."
…
A few moments later, Crue had a shot glass lined up before each male, Cardin included. He took out his flask, and was about to pour the whiskey in, before he had a thought. He stood up and walked to the hole in the wall, poking his head through.
"Hey, Sunny." The muffled voice of the Faunus came through the thin walls. Sunny gave some form of reply. "We're having a little drink in here, care to join?" There was silence for a moment, before Crue seemed to nod.
"Grand. I'll open the door now." The Faunus tried to pull himself back out of the hole. "Uhh. Do you mind?" A short moment later, Crue's head, along with a feminine hand was pushed through the hole, causing him to stumble backwards.
"Thanks." He spoke, and then opened the door. A short moment later Sunny appeared, wearing a pair of blue sleeping shorts with two stars on it, and an oversized orange sweater. With her she held a shot glass in one hand and a bottle of what appeared to be vodka in the other.
"Hey." She waved to the group. "I brought some of my own stuff." She handed the bottle to Crue, who looked at its label.
"You have given me alcohol." He looked back up to meet Sunny's hazel eyes. "I will now die for you."
"Cool." Sunny smiled in a joking manner. She sat down between Dove and Crue, the latter pouring her some whiskey. They all raised their glasses and clinked them against one another.
"Kanpai!"
…
"Oz, I'm telling you, I don't see anything wrong with this place." Qrow spoke to the Headmaster through his scroll. The bustle of the Inn's bar creating enough background noise for the Huntsman to have his conversation in private.
"So, you are saying that everything is normal?" Ozpin replied coolly.
"Yes, that's what I just said." Qrow grumbled, taking a drink of his beer.
"Not a thing out of place or odd?"
"No, not a thi-" Qrow cut himself off halfway. "That's what you mean… Everything is too normal. Too perfect for a small town like this?"
Ozpin smiled a small smile, as he nodded, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. "Yes Qrow. In a small town like Mentis, there must be some odd characters or strange traditions." The sound of a page flipping could be heard from Ozpin's end of the conversation.
"Yeah, yeah. I understand." Qrow slid a hand down his face, scratching at his stubble. He took another swig of his drink, and looked back to Ozpin, the man's eyes scanning something below him. "What'cha reading there Oz?"
"Hm?" The white haired man looked up. "Simply fairy tales, nothing to worry about."
Qrows eyes narrowed at the answer. "Oz. Last time you were reading 'fairy tales', we ended up with a half-dead woman in the schools basement. What ones are you looking up now?"
"Hibernian." Ozpin spoke shortly. The answer actually gave Qrow a short chuckle.
"Heh, Hibernians. Probably the only people on Remnant who could… outdrink… me…" Red eyes slowly widened as realisation dawned upon the grizzled huntsman. "Oz…" The Headmaster raised an eyebrow.
"I think Cullen is Hibernian."
…
"You spin me right round baby right round." Crue watched as the bottle of liquid spun in a circle, waiting for who it landed on to choose.
"Dove! Truth, dare, or pass." Sunny giggled, a red tinge over her cheeks. The blonde haired boy looked thoughtful for a second, before deciding.
"Truth." He answered.
Crue whispered something into Sunny's ear, who nodded and repeated it aloud. "Are you related to any of your teachers?"
Dove frowned and turned to Crue, who shrugged innocently. "Yes." He sighed. "Port is my… Uncle."
"I FUCKING KNEW IT AHAHAHA!" Crue cried out triumphantly, before falling onto his back. "Ow." He spoke briefly, before beginning to laugh again.
"How'shd you know?" Sky asked, scratching his blue haired head.
"Eyes." Crue pointed a finger to the ceiling, and then lowered it, but began to concentrate on a spot on the wood above him.
"Guess it's my turn then." Dove shrugged, grabbing the bottle and spinning. It span for a short moment, before landing on Crue. Or rather, where Crue used to be.
The Faunus was currently chuckling to himself, facing the ceiling of the room. "How'd you get up there?!" Sunny exclaimed, standing and trying to reach the male. Crue rolled onto his back, and stuck out his hand.
"It's my semblance." Crue answered, as Sunny grabbed hold of his hand. The moment the two made contact, Sunny began to fall towards the ceiling. It truly felt as though she was falling, as her centre of gravity had been reversed.
The redhead landed on Crue, causing him to give out a rough cough. The two began giggling shortly afterward. "Crue it's your turn." Sunny told him, as she was splayed across his body.
"Alright, uh, I wanna pass just for the vodka, but truth!" He cried, pointing at Dove.
The blonde hummed in thought for a moment, before looking up to Sunny and Crue. "What do you think of Sunny?" The two on the ceiling looked at each other momentarily.
"She gave me alcohol. I will die for her." Crue stated with surprising conviction.
"You said that earlier." Russel commented. The Faunus nodded in agreement.
"Yes. I would die for her then and I will die for her now." He gave Sunny a soft pat on the head, which she smiled happily in reaction to.
"Ok, but, why will you die for her? You just met her?" Dove asked.
"She brought me alcohol. What part of this is unclear?" Crue questioned back. Dove gave Crue a blank look. Well, as blank a look as one could give with slanted eyes.
"Crue…" Russel spoke slowly, causing the Faunus to sigh.
"Fiiine. But give me the bottle. Gonna need to be a lot more in me for this explanation." Crue reached a hand down, and the bottle of vodka was handed up to him. He paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to drink it upside down.
He finally managed it, taking a mouthful and swallowing. "She reminds me of my sister."
There was a silence after that, one where everyone was trying to take in his words. "You have a sister?" Cardin spoke. The team leader had been noticeably quiet for the majority of the game. The fact the bottle almost never landed on him seemed to help that.
"Had." Crue's nails bit into the wood of the ceiling that he was lying against. The room instantly understood what he meant. Sunny, the closest to Crue, attempted to hug him while upside down.
"Huh." Cardin muttered. "And here I thought we had nothing in common." Crue turned to stare at the bully.
"You have a sister?" He asked.
"Had."
Crue and Cardin stared at each other for what felt like hours. The first action to be taken was Crue slowly lowering the bottle of vodka to the team leader. Cardin took it in his hand and stared at it distastefully.
"I'm fine." He set the bottle down. "I don't feel like drinking, or explaining. But, yeah." Cardin nodded. "Same boat. Same creek. No paddle." He looked back up to Crue.
"This have anything to do with why you hate the White Fang?" The Faunus asked. The auburn haired teen looked at the ground uncomfortably. "Got it. Dropping it." Unfortunately, Crue's mention of the term 'drop', caused him to drop from the ceiling. Sunny coming down with him.
During the freefall, Crue rotated himself and Sunny so that he would hit the ground before Sunny. "AGH- FCUK!" Crue cried out, as he hit the floor, and then the red head hit him. "Pain."
"Is your reward for being near me." Sunny mumbled into Crue's chest. She looked up for a moment. "I heard that in a song once."
"Cool. Should listen to it sometime." Crue muttered out. "Ugh, what time is it? Saor-" The Faunus caught himself and swallowed. "Sunny, can you see if you can grab my scroll?" The redhead reached down and fumbled around for Crue's scroll.
"Wait I have my own." The sniper realised, instead reaching for her own and checking the time. "It's a little past midnight." The males groaned, as Cardin stood up.
"Alright, let's sleep. We probably need our energy for tomorrow, or something…" The others got up looking at the beds in the room. "Shit." Cardin murmured, once he realised there only four beds.
"Well, ceiling for me." Crue stretched his arms as he yawned. He stared the roof above him, but found himself being pulled away from it rather than to it. "I reversed my Semblance?" He questioned aloud.
"No, I'm dragging you to my room." Sunny answered, opening the door. "We're not gonna do anything weird." She said, although that seemed to be more for the benefit of the others. "You were really comfy when I was lying on you on the ceiling. I wanna see if it translates to a bed."
"That sounded weird but I am too tired to argue." Crue let himself be dragged away by the redhead. Before he was dragged out of the room, he made sure to make eye contact with Russel. Once the steely blue eyes had met those of brown, Crue nodded.
The door closed, leaving the members of team CRDL in silence. "I don't know what that meant." Russel murmured.
…
The following morning silence was broken by a series of groans from CRDL's room. "Ugh, hangovers…" Sky held a hand against his throbbing head. The students tried to orient themselves properly, sitting on the edges of their bed with their heads between their knees.
The four males heard a door creaking open, followed by a voice. "What the Hell happened to you?" Qrow stood in the doorway, staring in slight confusion at the huntsmen in training.
"We listened to Crue." Russel stood to his feet shakily.
"You drank didn't you?" Qrow realised. The nods of confirmation, followed by the groans the action caused, all but made the picture clear.
Qrow sighed. "Ok, who here is the least hungover?" The hunter asked. Cardin raised his hand. "Thank God it's the one with me." He let out a sigh of relief.
"The fucks with all the noise?" Crue appeared behind Qrow, peeking over his shoulder into the room.
"It's the repercussions of your little drinking game last night." The red eyed huntsman answered.
"How'd you know we played a drinking game?" Crue asked, before seeing Qrow turn around and stare at him. "I mean what-no what drinking game?" The Faunus took a step back smiling guiltily at the older huntsman.
"Where'd you get the drink anyway? I didn't see any of you come down." Qrow asked, genuinely curious. All eyes landed on Crue, who looked mildly peeved.
"I'd be mad and blame stereotypes but this is true." He nodded. "We got some vodka off of Sunny too." Crue jabbed a thumb at the hole in the wall. Qrow bent down to peak threw, but was stopped when the Faunus grabbed him by the collar and forced his head back up.
"What the-?" Qrow spoke in confusion, before meeting Crue's eyes. The huntsman had been around the entirety of Remnant, mostly on missions for Ozpin. But never before had he seen such anger, such Wrath in another mans eyes.
"Don't look in there. She's changing." He warned, releasing the hunter. Qrow stood straight, pulling at his collar slightly, meeting Crue's eyes.
Qrow lost the staredown. "Cardin. Come on. We're going to talk to the Mayor." The leader held in a complaint, recalling that the Mayor of Mentis was a rabbit Faunus. The huntsman expected the bully to voice some form of anger, and was somewhat surprised when there was no reaction.
The leader strode across the room, grabbing his mace that was leaned against a wall and swinging it onto his shoulder. He left the room without another word. Crue walked into the room and grabbed Russel by the back of his shirt.
"Alright Sonic, lessgo." The green haired boy groaned as he was dragged from the room, grabbing his daggers and sheathing them before he was lost to the world.
Sky and Dove stared at each other, the others leaving causing a very peaceful quietness. "Five more minutes?" Sky asked. Dove nodded, and the two laid down on their beds, closing their eyes to get some extra rest before going on their part of the mission.
…
"Why did you let me drink?" Russel complained, as he and Crue walked among the trees and bushes just outside of Mentis.
"Because I'm an enabler." The Faunus replied, before shivering and mumbling something along the lines of "Bad ship." Crue raised his arms and rested his head on his hands. "So, you and Sunny."
A soft blush fell across Russels face. "Called it." Crue smirked.
"You're, you're cool with it?" The mohawked teen asked in confusion. "I thought you liked her. Wasn't that what the nod was for?"
"What? No. I knew you liked her." Crue explained. "The nod was me saying 'I won't do anything cause I know you've got a thing for her'."
"And you won't do a thing cause you see her as a sister." Russel nodded. The hairs on his head stood straight as he felt a glare being directed at him. "That wasn't me insulting you or anything!" He defended. "You said it yourself! I was just repeating a fact."
Crue decided to not kill Russel for this, realising he was right. "Yeah, good point." He sighed.
"So, what did you two do last night? Just, hug or something?" Russel asked, taking out one of his daggers and checking the blade on it.
"Yeah, more or less. I tell ya, I'm not used to being the little spoon." Crue chuckled. "She must have thought I was a teddy bear or something cause she would not let go for love nor money."
Russel snorted, spinning his blade in one hand. "You're not gonna like, go Big Brother mode on me for liking her are you?" He asked. Crue waved his hand back and forth. "Great." Russel sighed.
"To be fair, I'd probably go big brother on you for liking any girl I'm close to or care for." He thought back to Beacon. "You don't like anyone back at Beacon, do you?"
Russel looked a little nervous to answer. "I, used to have a thing for… Yang." Steel blue eyes instantly bore into the side of Russels skull. "Used to!" He specified. "I sorta lost it after realising that A. There was no way she'd go for me because she thought I was a bully. And B. She's way out of my league."
Crue blinked in surprise. "Huh, you sound like me before I came here." He mused.
"Before you came to Beacon?" Russel asked.
"Sure." Crue shrugged. "Was never really one to stand out honestly. Just did what I could to survive. Managed to get by well enough, mostly by thinking I wasn't good enough to get anywhere higher. Aim low and you'll hit it."
"Damn." Russel blinked looking forward. "And I thought my backstory was depressing." He noticed Crue's raised eyebrow and sighed. "This haircut isn't a fashion choice you know. It's supposed to show my 'allegiance to my clan' or whatever."
"I was born to be a Huntsman apparently, even if I didn't want to be. Just, forced to be something I'm not." The words echoed in Crue's mind. "Something I'm not. Something like a different species. Like a fighter. A warrior? A godamn killer of monstrous cre-" "Crue?"
The Faunus snapped back to reality, his Semblance almost activating accidentally causing him to think "Whoops there goes gravity." He turned to face Russel, seeing a look of concern on the boys face. "Did I space out or something?"
"Or something." Russel repeated. "You looked about ready to kill something." He took a step away in precaution. "So I was kinda worried it was me."
"Nah. Well." Crue made a face like he was considering how easy it would be to kill Russel.
"Don't think about it!" The green haired male exclaimed. He dropped his head after Crue began to laugh, before perking back up and remembering something. "Hey, you said you'd show me your music right?"
"Oh yeah." Crue nodded, taking out his Scroll. "Here, let me show you some of my favourites."
…
"I am very glad you have joined us at our peaceful village." Kanin Alba nodded to Cardin and Qrow, the two hunters standing in the Mayors office, a somewhat lavish room with several clocks decorated around the room.
"You like your tics and tocs." Qrow nodded. "I think Oz'd get along with you."
"Ah, you noticed my little, collection." Alba rubbed the back of his head nervously. "It's due to an unfortunate fear of mine. Allegrophobia. Our resident therapist diagnosed me, and also gifted me with many of these fine time keeping devices."
Cardin stared at a particularly intricate looking grandfather clock. "This is Atlesian." He muttered aloud. He turned back to see the two older men looking at him in surprise. "What? My dad used to be a clockmaker."
Qrow turned to face the Mayor. "So, we're looking for a colleague that was in this town about, two, three weeks ago." Alba thumbed his great moustache, thinking heavily.
"I don't recall any newcomers no… Then again I do not know everyone who comes in and out of this town." The Mayor stared at his silver pocket watch, listening to the tic, tic, toc. "Although, there is someone who may know."
"Who?" Cardin asked, walking over to the desk, having finished examining the different clocks around the room.
"The therapist I mentioned earlier. She would know any and everyone who comes and goes in this town." Alba's eyes appeared to be focused on a point behind the two hunters. "You should definitely visit her. Huntsmen are her specialty."
Cardin and Qrow both glanced at each other warily. "Does she have a name?" Qrow asked. Alba nodded absently.
"Yes, her name is…"
…
"Alice White. Pleasure to meet you." Dove and Sky took turns shaking hands of the blonde woman who wore a white and blue business dress. She held a clipboard tucked under her arm and a pair of spectacles over her bright blue eyes.
"Thanks. I'm Dove, and this is my teammate Sky." The blonde boy gestured to himself and his friend. "We're students from Beacon." As Dove explained their situation to the therapist, Sky took it upon himself to examine the surroundings.
The outside of the building was a dulled blue, which did not give one the impression of the completely spotless white interior. White. The therapist, or was it psychiatrist? Sky never really was sure of the difference.
White was her second name. While Sky did consider the possibility that it might be a natural occurrence, but 'White' was the name most often given to orphans whose parents surname could not be found.
Although hopefully that fact would have nothing to do with their mission. Sky turned back to his teammate and the therapist, only to see Alice apparently whispering something into Dove's ear. The blonde's expression became completely neutral, seemingly staring past the therapist
Sky had been on the same team as Dove for almost half a year at this point, the initiation to Beacon starting around March. Dove had always had his eyes partially closed, apparently having an averse reaction when too much light entered his eyes.
He couldn't remember the exact problem he had, but he knew that there was a serious one going on now. Dove had his eyes open. And that, was a problem. "Dove?" Sky stepped closer to his teammate, trying to get a response out of him.
Instead, he felt two fingers rest themselves on his temple. "Sky Lark." Sky heard a voice that was not his own enter his mind. "Let's take a look at what makes you tick, shall we?"
And so we return. And luckily, I'm not Crue, so I have no trouble apologising for the length of time this story has gone without an update. I am sorry. I have no excuse. Well, I probably do but I'm not gonna justify it.
Point being, I apologise, here is the new chapter, I hope you enjoyed. Let me know what you liked, what you didn't, and so on so forth.
I could probably go into detail about things here, but I'm sure you just want to read and enjoy. Sorry if this is a bit short, but why I'm on the subject. Would you be Ok with shorter chapters if it meant I updated sooner, or do you prefer long chapters? Anyway I will let you decide,
Until Next Time
-Friday