Henry waited for the next morning before actually trying to find and reach his former teammates. His now calm mind was able to determine the safest approach.
Using the 'borrowed' money, he paid the taxi driver and walked into the building.
If there was a particular building that Henry was the most wary about, it was the bank. Luckily for him, this one was an exception.
After finding the nearest free CCT terminal, he started his plan.
Differently from what many thought at first sight about his appearance, Henry was natural with technological devices.
Heck, he had been one of the co-founders of the first Scroll and, when he had been invited to work and create a functional prototype, he had received an impressive income. While Henry preferred a modest life, he had planned for an eventual situation of returning once again from Earth.
The account had been created 15 years ago, just some months before going for his last mission. He remembered that his main account had been divided, following his last will.
He just hoped that Qrow hadn't used his share for something stupid, like alcoholic drinks.
He left the bank half a million Lien rich and grabbed the nearest newspaper, trying to find some temporary housing.
He froze after reading the first page.
An heist had been stopped by a young girl that was not even an Huntress-in-training. 'What are they teaching to kids nowadays?'
First Goldilocks and now this other girl.
Then there was this Torchwick man that oddly reminded him of a young thief that he had caught many times back at the very beginning of his career.
Henry sighed. 'Seems like 15 years had just created more chaos than order...'
Still this generation was proving to be much more... interesting than his own.
Well, he felt a bit hungry and decided to find the nearest restaur- "Mr. Lors?"
He turned around and saw a woman with blond hair and glasses. Familiar blue eyes were glancing him with a neutral tone; looking a bit more, he could have sworn that there was a bit of happiness.
"Ms. Goodwitch" he replied with a sarcastic tone.
He still remembered that young huntress-in-training that had been his protégé for almost two years. Glynda Goodwitch had been a potential genius because of her own drive for justice. Although, it seemed like she had maintained that silly obsession for rules...
The blonde sighed and massaged her temples "Please Henry, I have enough dealing with Qrow, could you just be calm and serious for once?"
Her expasperation made the man frown curiously. "Sorry Glyn. Didn't know that Qrowley was still a douchebag. Anyway, if I may ask, why are you here?" While reuniting with a fellow specialist was interesting, Henry knew that it was not a visit of courtesy.
Glynda nodded. "Ozpin wants to meet you as soon as possible."
Henry shrugged. "Sure, I was planning to do so anyway. Does he still work at Beacon?"
She nodded once again. "Yes, although not as a professor. He had been Headmaster five years after your disappearance."
The man looked unimpressed. "He had, and seems like he still has, a mind made for high-positions. Although I had initially found in Jamie Ironwood the same characteristics as good ol' Oz."
She gave him a surprised look. "Mr. Ironwood is the actual leader of Atlas Military Academy and of Atlas' Army."
Henry nodded, happy for his friend.
"It had been a pleasure to meet you again Glyn. I will wait Oz's message to meet him."
She nodded curtly and, before leaving, she turned to him "I am happy that your back, Henry." Both smiled and before leaving she glanced one last time. "Oh, and it is Professor Goodwitch, I'm a teacher now, 'Professor' Lors".
Once again alone, his attention was attracted by his rumbling stomach.
"You know what? I think it's been awhile ever since I got an Ice cream." He immediately marched to the nearest Ice Cream Parlour, ready to have his belly filled.
Few minutes later
He couldn't believe it. The same Parlour that he had frequently visited was still open and quite busy dealing with a massive amount of customers.
He entered the building and was surprised even more when he saw not the original owner, Marius, but a young brunette in her early twenties. "Good morning Mr-" She froze once she looked at him.
She turned around and yelled "Dad, come here!" He heard someone mumbling about not youth not respecting elders. The door that led to the interior opened and an older Marius came to the aid of the girl. "What's wrong, Mel-" He too froze before Henry, his jaw threatening to fall on the ground.
"Oh my Oum, Henry you are back!" He exclaimed, happy to see once again one of his favourite customers. "Yep Marius. And this time it is to stay." Then Henry glanced once again at the girl. "And this is your daughter, Melissa? Man, how much you have growth, lil' girl" He finished with a smile. Melissa blushed at the quite old nickname. "Stop it, uncle H!"
Marius and Henry chuckled at her behaviour. "By the way," started Marius after calming down. "What can we do for you, Hen?".
He nodded. "I would have a Fior di latte(1) in a cup."
Once he had his cup ready, Henry sat down to the nearest free table.
He was about to eat the quite inviting ice cream, when he heard a big slurp.
He turned to his left and saw a little girl with unique hair. Those were half brown and half pink, same for her eyes. He noticed also that there were several empty cups.
His fatherly part immediately intervened. He picked the cup she was still eating and sat in the chair opposite to her. Her face now contorted to an ugly scowl. "Young girl, you are eating too much ice cream and this will bring you just harm in the long-term." She seemed annoyed and pulled out her scroll, pointing at her age. Henry didn't care if she was an adult "If you are 23, eating too much ice cream is still bad." She seemed a bit enraged and seemed about to whack her umbrella at him.
She stopped after noticing that the man before her was still glaring at her almost as a parent lecturing his/her child. She unconsciously lowered her head, feeling ashamed and yet confused by her own behaviour. "Now," He began "Since I have the economical means, if you stop now I will pay for all the cups you have consumed, 'kay?" She froze, stunned by his proposition.
A part of her wanted to just keep eating, in spite of this guy but...
She nodded and both went to Marius. While work had been enough to afford some relief in form of ice cream, it was certainly much more reduced because of Roman's decision to focus onto Dust only. She mutedly sighed and once she was sure that the man was not lying, she gave him one last glance. She couldn't but feel like this man was familiar...
"And that's paid-" Henry looked at where he had left the young woman and was a bit surprised at not finding her.
He sighed. Today had been a very migraine-inducing day and maybe it was time to hit the bed, no matter how much early in the day...
Omake 1: Henry meets Jamie
Henry felt bored. He had caught a cold and had been left alone in the STRQ dorm.
Summer had left him some cookies and Qrow some books. Is this the amateur book made by the cat faunus girl, friend of Summer and Rae?
But he had to confess that 'Ninjas of Love' was certainly an interesting smutty love story. He should talk with this... Kale?
He heard someone knocking at the door and replied with a muffled but loud 'Come in'.
The door opened and a boy younger than him entered the room. He was scrawny and had glasses.
"Greetings Mr. Lors, I'm James Ironwood of Team JGER." He bowed a little and Henry frowned at him. "Hallo Jamie, how may I help you?" The boy halted what seemed another formal sentence, noticing the nickname the boy had just given him. He shook his head. "I wanted to ask you if you wanted to help me with a project of mine." "Sure." The immediate answer made James frown, "Shouldn't you be asking more details or any harming situation this project might lead into?".
Henry shrugged. "I'm bored and what is life without a bit of danger once in a while?"
James couldn't but keep staring at this older student, that had much in common in a intellectual plane and yet he seemed much... better.
"C'mon Jamie, we have work to do!" He was so much distracted that he didn't notice his newfound 'friend' pulling him out of the door, together with him.
This interesting situation will need a further study in the future.
Glossary
Fior di latte: milk-based ice cream.
AN Warning! This fanfic will not have a regular update schedule.
On another note, some inspiration has been taken from Tikoriko's pictures. (You may find those in by searching his name in Pinterest or Deviantart.)
