Hello!

So last time we saw Yang and Robyn's POV (feels weird not to call her Rook anymore ...) and now we're gonna see what happen with our favorite alcoholic uncle! ... I shouldn't have phrased it like that ...

Anyway, this chap is about what happened to Qrow while the girls were in Mantle. Good reading!

.

In the silence of the night, the sound of the keyboard keys seemed to echo throughout the city. In reality, the police station was wide awake, incidents could happen at any time after all, but in his bird form, Qrow had managed to get in undetected, and was now searching into a computer to see what they had about the train incident. After spending so many years as Ozpin's main spy, he had pretty good hacking skills.

The images from the security cameras at the station didn't seem to be a problem, the girls had dodged them on departure and arrival, as for the train, the picture quality was poor and it was dark, he couldn't even find the tapes of Rook and Summer's fight because he couldn't see them anywhere. As for the part of Yang and Oceane …

It was the first time he saw Yang fight, and it was impressive to say the least. He could only see her flaming hair and the bursts of light from her sword against Oceane's weapon, but the movements were so fast the video couldn't even capture them properly. Due to the darkness and the angle of the camera, not once was Yang's face clearly visible, and the flames in her eyes were fuzzy red dots. Unfortunately, that was enough to identify her as Falcon, and Ozpin already knew that the person with that name was a Maiden. Then there was the moment when she sent Oceane through the wagons, the moment when she had summoned lightning to blow up half of the wagon, and the moment when she threw Summer off the train with a strong wind gust.

-Delete. Delete. Delete …

In a few minutes, there was no longer a single recording of the whole trip, everything had been deleted, there wasn't a single image of Yang and Oceane's fight left.

Qrow came out of the post as he entered, and headed for the nearest bar. He might need an alibi, and he certainly needed a drink.

It was at least the twentieth time in a few days that Qrow visited the hospital. Or at least that was the impression he got when he walked down the halls to visit Summer.

He didn't want to go see her, he didn't want to have to face her confident gaze as he deliberately told her lie after lie. He didn't want to have to do this, but he knew he had no choice, he already went too far, and Yang needed him, she needed someone to protect her. Or at the very least, she needed to know that someone was on her side if things went wrong.

Of course, there was Rook, who had been by her side almost every day for the past few years, but she still didn't know what was going on behind the scenes yet. Yet. He had to tell her at this point, if the situation ever got out of hand here, she better know about it so that she could make an emergency decision. But he couldn't tell her the story of the world through Scroll, not only would it be a mess, but communications wouldn't be secure. How was he going to get out of this?

With a sigh, Qrow entered Summer's room, to find her forcing herself to eat food that looked even worse than what he had tried to cook for Yang. Yum, hospital food …

-I have no idea how you can swallow that stuff …

Summer turned to him with her fork still in her mouth, and her eyes lit up when she found a reason to forget her meal.

-Qrow! Hi! How have you been?

-You mean since yesterday? My world has been completely turned upside down.

Summer rolled her eyes, completely ignorant of the lack of irony in Qrow's words. He had no specific reason to come see her, he was mostly there to keep her company during her long days without entertainment, as he would have happily done if it hadn't been for this whole thing with Yang, although if it hadn't been for Yang, Summer wouldn't even be in the hospital right now, she would be home with her family like after every mission. But he couldn't really blame the kid, she was just a victim in this whole mess too.

-By the way, the doctor said I can leave tomorrow.

-Already? That was fast.

-Yes. The advantage of having an Aura! I'll have to keep the plaster for a while, though.

-You better watch out for Ruby jumping on you then.

The conversation then turned to the excited little girl waiting for them on Patch. She was almost twelve, she would be entering Signal next school year, and obviously she couldn't wait to start building her giant scythe, and Qrow would be lying if he said he wasn't a little proud that his niece wanted to use the same weapon as him.

It almost felt weird now to say that Ruby was his niece. Of course he still loved the little energy ball with all his heart, but for the last few years he had been so focused on his "real" niece that he felt like he abandoned Ruby, he even stopped going to her birthday to instead spend it with Yang at Raven's grave, he would visit Ruby once every blue moon when he would fly through Remnant in half a day with no questions asked if Yang asked him to. He knew she would understand if he told her, in fact he was pretty sure Ruby would love to know that she had an older sister and would also want to help her get better, and maybe it would happen one day, but for the moment it was simply impossible, Yang was way too unstable to handle someone like Ruby, it would be too dangerous for both of them to meet now.

-… and once Ruby is at Signal, I can start teaching at Beacon.

Ah right, there was that too. He still didn't know where the idea came from, but he could easily imagine Summer standing in front of the auditorium board.

-Which class do you plan to teach?

-For the first year I'll only be an assistant to other teachers so I'll do a bit of everything, I'll give my own classes from the following year.

-It's pretty fast for someone who hasn't even done any real training. I guess Oz pulled some strings?

-Yes… But what can I say? I know people in high places.

-You mean the person in the HIGHEST place of Remnant.

The comment made them both laugh, but deep inside Qrow felt a bit sick. It wasn't sarcasm, Ozpin was actually Remnant's most important person, he was the unofficial boss of all four Academies, and since every Headmaster sat on their Kingdom's Council, Oz was simply in power everywhere. The only exception was Menagerie, which was not attached to any Kingdom and had no Academy … Hmm …

-Hey Qrow?

-Yes?

-I wanted to ask you … about what I saw … are you sure I hallucinated? She looked so much like Raven …

The temperature in the room seemed to drop suddenly, and Qrow felt like he had taken a cannonball in the stomach. He had hoped it was over, that he didn't have to throw more lies in her face. Yet he knew his Semblance well enough to know that hoping was like asking problems to come. He hated it, but he had no other choice, he had to keep lying to Summer, lying to his best and almost only friend, because Yang came first, even though he was in pain. And it broke his heart.

A weight came down on his shoulders and a cold breath tickled his ear.

-Welcome to my world little brother.

Qrow tried his best to ignore her and fixed his gaze on Summer's.

-I told you, it couldn't be Raven, maybe it was her weapon, but it wasn't her.

-I know, I know, but … Why did she have her sword? You know as well as I do that Raven would never leave it, let alone right after a fight, and-…

-Summer. Stop.

The Huntress recoiled on her bed because of his cold tone. She must have thought that he was mad at the person who took the sword, at himself for losing something so important, maybe even at her for bringing up the subject of Raven while she knew it hurt him and he felt guilty. In reality it was quite the opposite, he wasn't angry that she mentioned Raven, he was afraid, afraid of not being able to maintain the facade he put up, he was afraid that she might learn the truth and hate him for it. But when he thought back to the moment he put the sword in Yang's arm, when he saw how she hugged it, the tears in her eyes…

-Are you really gonna pretend it never happened?

Qrow just lowered his head to hide his face, from Summer, from Raven or from himself, he wasn't sure, he just wanted to disappear. That was why he didn't want to come see Summer, discussing Ruby's silliness was easy, but keeping his cool by chaining lie after lie about his own sister to his most loyal friend was just too much for him …

-Pff … Weak.

Okay, that was it. Qrow stood up, pushing the plastic chair he was sitting on and stormed out of the room, without even hearing Summer calling to him. He didn't know where he was going, he just knew he was trying to lose the familiar noise of heeled boots that seemed to be walking slowly and yet just a few steps behind him as he was almost running.

-Do you really think you can escape me?

-Leave me alone!

-Are you sure that's what you want? That I disappear forever? Again?

Qrow stopped dead in his tracks, a shiver running through his spine. He turned around quickly, and obviously there was no one behind him, just a few nurses and medics looking at him strangely. He must have looked crazy. Or maybe he was crazy? It didn't matter anyway …

-I really need a drink …

-Here we go again …

Qrow had never been fond of hospitals, but now he hated it. It had taken a lot of alcohol to drown out his discussion with Summer the night before, and even then he had barely slept. And today he had to start over with Oceane.

It would be easier to lie to her than to Summer, Oceane was just a colleague, but the big problem was that she knew. He saw her on the tapes at the police station, even in the low light, Yang's hair was a sufficient source of light at close range, and even though Oceane wasn't particularly close to Raven, she must have been able to recognized her weapon, just like Summer. And that was not to mention the Maiden's powers, Oceane used to have the last Spring Maiden as her team leader, she could recognize the flames in her eyes instantly, and he was pretty sure it was what happened and made Yang panic.

How was he going to convince her to keep it a secret? He couldn't make her doubt like he did for Summer, not only were they not close enough for her to believe him, but she was the type to analyze the big picture and then explain in details all the theories she had, so even if she wasn't one hundred percent sure she had faced Raven's daughter, she would tell Ozpin anyway, and he would connect the dots himself.

What could he do to stop her?

-Just kill her.

Qrow immediately took out his gourd and took several sips.

Kill Oceane? It was out of the question. He couldn't just silence her, not only would it make too much noise for a case he was trying to hush up, but most of all, even if he had to protect Yang at all costs, kill someone on his own side was a line he refused to cross. Lying already left a bitter aftertaste, but lies, even if he didn't have too big hopes, could be forgiven or at the very least accepted. Once a life was taken, it was over. And even though he knew that one day he would have to take responsibility for Yang's actions, for all the murders she had committed, he just couldn't bring himself to stab someone who trusted him in the back.

-Now that's a good definition for "hypocrisy".

Qrow sighed as he walked through the halls of the hospital. It hurt, but she was right. Even if for Oceane the stabbing would be literal, it wasn't so different to hide the existence of his own daughter from Tai, or to make Summer believe that she was seeing things when she was absolutely right, whereas if someone had all the rights to know, it was them … He was the worst friend in the world, if you could even still call it being a friend, even killing Oceane wouldn't make him feel so much like shit …

-So why not do it? What do you have left to lose?

He wanted to ignore her, he really did, but she was right, he already fell so low he could afford it right …? Besides, it wasn't like he had a lot of other options to protect Yang …

After an eternity of pacing the corridors, he arrived in front of Oceane's room. He hesitated a bit, then just entered without knocking. He barely controlled what he was doing, to the point of keeping his hands hidden deep in his pockets so as not to risk doing something he would regret. He closed the door with a light kick, and with a superhuman effort, lifted his head to meet the gaze of his colleague when he might have to do the irreparable-…

-Ozpin?!

All thoughts of Qrow, dark or not, instantly vanished to be replaced by surprise, then immediately by a cold terror that paralyzed him in the middle of the room. Sitting near Oceane's bed was his boss and until then friend Ozpin. It wasn't in the plan, he didn't even think about what to tell him, he didn't prepare anything, he wasn't ready! And what was he doing here anyway?!

-Ask him yourself asshole.

Not wrong.

-Oz, hi, what are you doing here?

Okay, he was dead. His voice was shaking so much it sounded like there was an earthquake in his throat … What should he do? What could he do? If lying to Summer was emotionally difficult, lying to Ozpin was almost impossible. Of course he had already "forgotten" to mention Yang when he told him about Raven's death, but at that point he was the only one who knew the truth, everything he said was taken as true, and even if he said something weird, people would put it on shock and grief. After all why would he hide anything? But now, without any preparation, without a clear mind, without knowing what Oz was doing here, if he had learned something new on his own, if he had any suspicions … Could it be that he understood by itself? Had he been able to see the recordings before Qrow deleted them?

Qrow felt himself tip over, but caught up with an awkward step to the side. Ozpin sighed, shaking his head.

-You should really slow down on the alcohol Qrow, that doesn't do you any good.

What? Alcohol? Oh right, he still had his gourd in his hand. Obviously. Why else would he have bad balance and a trembling voice?

-Yeah yeah … I had a bad night ok?

Before Ozpin could respond, Qrow grabbed a chair and plopped down on it. It was going to be a long discussion …

-So? Any particular reason why the headmaster of Beacon himself came to visit a Huntress who wasn't even one of his students?

-Actually, I had to talk about something with Miss Vasilias here, I thought it would be a good opportunity, especially since summer break just started, so I have some free time.

-Okay … you want me to come back later then?

-No no, we had already finished talking.

An awkward silence fell over the room. Ozpin was an expert at reading body language, it was the kind of thing you ended up learning after a few millennia of being around, and Qrow didn't dare move a muscle. What was he going to do now? He couldn't just lie to Ozpin about something this big, he was bound to let out something contradictory, illogical, or even just suspicious at one point or another. Besides, it was unimaginable that Ozpin wouldn't visit Summer while he was there, so he had to take into account that she would talk to him about the sword! And it was without counting that now he couldn't even prevent Oceane from speaking! Jumping out the window and fly away right now seemed like his best option at this point.

-So Qrow? What brings you here?

-Oh uh… I was just gonna finish taking Oceane's testimony in more detail, since she was still a little numb the first time.

-I see.

Ozpin then turned to Oceane, who hadn't said a word since Qrow arrived. She just shrugged and sat up a bit in her bed. Her wounds had healed pretty well, no wonder since she had more Aura than average, her Semblance should also help a lot with the burns.

He was fucked. She was going to say everything right in front of Ozpin, no way to cover up the bothering details, no time to come up with a miraculous idea, no time to warn Rook! How was he going to get out of there?!

-You wanted details on the girl's fighting style, right?

-Y-Yes.

A few sips of alcohol to cover his stuttering. Ozpin looked at him intently. He knew. He had to, he knew that Qrow was hiding something from him. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

-So … First she had a sword in Lightning Dust, she counted a lot on it at the start of the fight and sent lightning bolts everywhere every time I countered her attacks. I wouldn't be surprised if the security cameras had been shut down by it at some point.

Qrow blinked. Shut down by lightning? It was …

-Yeah, that's what happened, I checked the video files, they don't have a single image of your fight.

Oceane nodded as if to say "I expected it" and continued her explanations.

-As for her fighting style, it was rather violent, she was looking more to hit hard than to really aim. Considering the way she moved, I would say she's more hand-to-hand than sword-fighting.

Qrow nodded mechanically, not too sure what was going on.

-She also had a lot of stamina and a very good physical condition for her age. I would easily place her to Huntress level, which is often the case with Mistral orphans. But the most important thing in my opinion is her Semblance.

Qrow momentarily stopped breathing. Falcon's Semblance was fire, it was known publicly thanks to the media, and Ozpin knew Falcon was the Spring Mainden. He also seemed to have made the connection, because he leaned slightly towards Oceane, listening carefully to what she was going to say.

That's it, it was over. He would be busted the second Oceane spoke and it was too late to do anything about it.

-I told you you should have killed her.

Qrow closed his eyes, feeling cold hands resting on his shoulders, as if to support him while waiting for the fateful moment …

-This is only my theory, but I think she increases her strength with each hit she takes, her punches were much more powerful after I hit her several times, and she didn't even try to parry them.

-She must have been building up power for the rest of the fight.

-That's the conclusion I came to after thinking about it. Her hair and eyes were shining brighter and brighter with each hit she took. I feel really stupid that I didn't realize it at the time.

-No one blames you for that, I heard it was a tough fight. What do you think Qrow?

Ozpin and Oceane both turned to Qrow for an answer, but he was unable to give one. What the hell just happened? Oceane had clearly seen Yang's Maiden's powers, right? So why … why didn't she say it? Why … Wasn't he the only one hiding things from Ozpin?

-I told you he was a liar, and apparently I'm not the only one to realize it.

She wasn't wrong, if Raven had told the truth back then, and let's be honest, he was now sure that she told the truth, so maybe someone as insightful as Oceane would have noticed it too, she just didn't have a reaction as extreme as Raven's … Anyway, the universe seemed to have given him a small break today and he would gladly take it.

-I don't think that's getting us much further, we don't have enough evidence to understand why you and Sum were attacked, or why the people in charge didn't even try to finish the job. From what I understand, you haven't fallen very far from the train.

Oceane nodded calmly.

-What about Salem's involvement? That's what Summer contacted me for, isn't it?

But of course the old man couldn't put his brain aside for five minutes.

-Salem? I haven't heard anything about it.

Qrow had told her that Summer suspected Salem was involved, that was the most logical explanation for their attack. For some reason she was covering Yang too, and she was much better than him at making it natural. He didn't know why she was doing it, but he wasn't gonna stop her.

-In fact, Summer contacted me shortly after waking up in the hospital, and explained to me that your two attackers had come specifically for you and not for the train, which made her think she could be behind the attack.

Oceane seemed to think it over, then shook her head.

-I don't know, I didn't notice anything during the attack that suggested that she organized all this. I mean, I don't know about Summer's opponent, but the kid who attacked me looked more like she was there for a good challenge than on someone's order. I understand that we have to be careful, but not all crimes are signed by Salem.

Ozpin's gaze narrowed as he stared at her, while Qrow had to refrain from laughing like he was mad. He had been so scared that she would expose him to Ozpin, he had considered all the possibilities, he was almost resolved to kill her to silence her, and in the end she was the one to send the old man on a wild goose chase, without Qrow even explaining or asking her anything!

-Yes, you're not wrong. I guess I've gotten a little too paranoid over time. If you think there is nothing to worry about then …

-Nothing to worry about? A fourteen-year-old girl threw me off a train.

-Yes, of course, I just meant that we can leave this matter to the police. I guess none of us are needed here anymore today, we'll let you rest.

Ozpin stood up and Qrow did the same, lowering half of his gourd as he did.

-I'll throw myself out the window if you don't mind. Bye.

Before anyone told could say a word, Qrow jumped off the window sill and flew into the city. A lot of strange things had happened and he needed to think about it calmly. Well as calm as a bar can be in the early afternoon.

-Another one!

The bartender sighed and served another drink to Qrow, who almost drank it in one gulp, he didn't even know how much he got or how long he had been there, he just knew he didn't have enough.

What the fuck happened earlier? He went to the hospital to question Oceane, knowing that she was going to give him information that she shouldn't have, and that he should relay to Ozpin after that. He had to make sure that the information didn't get to him, but since he was the only go-between between them, if anyone noticed that any information was missing or didn't fit, they would immediately know it was coming from him.

-That's why I told you to kill her.

It was a bad idea, obviously, he already felt like he was losing his mind, and crossing that line was all he needed to officially go crazy, but if it was his only option to keep Yang safe from Ozpin … He had promised to do everything to protect her. But kill one of his own allies? He couldn't go that far …

-Not even for Yang?

That was where it blocked. He would do anything for Yang. Even things that would turn all of his friends against him. But after all the time he spent dreaming of having friends who would accept him despite his Semblance, now that he had found them, was he ready to throw everything out the window for his niece who was running after problems?

-She wouldn't be like that if you had listened to me. But instead, I was the one who had to make all these sacrifices.

It was true. Raven had always wanted a family too, and she got it, but she had sacrificed everything she had to keep her daughter away from Ozpin. She had felt that being hated by everyone, even her own team, her own husband, her own brother, was a price she was willing to pay to protect her baby. And she paid a high price, because he hadn't even given her a chance, on the contrary.

-Anyway, do you know Tai and Summer got a kid a year ago?

-Pff, why should I be concerned by that?

-Oh I don't know, maybe because you and Tai were married before you left without a word.

Thinking back to that conversation made him want to throw up. He had pulled this out to Raven, trying to make her feel guilty, or if at least piss her off, just to calm his own nerves. Because it was clear to him that she was in the wrong.

-Are you aware that the tribe is going to have a hard time getting through the winter because of this?

-Your tribe doesn't concern me.

Qrow knew full well that Raven's life wasn't at risk, he thought it was his purposely annoying insolence that pissed her off, more than the fact that he had put her tribe in danger, after all, it wouldn't be the first time they were having a rough winter, and it wasn't like she really cared about anyone other than herself right? Yang was two years older than Ruby so she must have been about three at the time, if she got sick or ran out of food, or worse, it would have been his fault, and he wouldn't have even known. Raven was already in pain and he played adding salt to the wound, all the while endangering the person she cared about more than anything, the person she had abandoned everything for, the only person she had left.

-Oz wants to talk to you.

-And I have nothing to say to him, I don't want anything to do with him or any of you, and it's time he printed this in his brain. Now leave my home before I make you!

-If you change your mind you know how to find me.

-Leave!

Qrow drank another drink, not sure when he ordered it. Back then he really didn't care, but now the rage and fear in his sister's voice as she shouted for him to go echoed endlessly in his head. What did Ozpin do to her …?

-You would know if you had listened to me. Maybe if you had shown yourself to be trustworthy I could have asked for your help and I wouldn't have had to carry it all on my own. But hey, what reason could you possibly have to trust your own twin sister, eh?

Tears began to flow. He wanted to blame his Semblance, but he knew it wouldn't help, it wasn't his Semblance that refused to give Raven a chance, or that said all these horrible things to her over the years. And it wasn't his Semblance that decided to follow the same path as her, to take the same risks.

-Another one!

And it certainly wasn't his Semblance that convinced Oceane to take his side!

He still had no idea what happened there, he just knew he had been saved by some kind of divine grace, because he really had no other explanation. He expected her to throw everything at Oz, but instead she had helped him cover the little girl's tracks! Why did she do this? Yang had tried to kill her! She didn't even know he knew! Or did she? He hadn't exactly been the most subtle person lately … But that didn't explain why she covered him up, the only explanation he had was that, like Raven, she was suspicious of Ozpin. Did she know what had happened to Raven? Why her? Why didn't she say anything? Why disn't any of them say anything?!

-Hypocrisy, the return.

Yeah, he didn't really have the right to complain … But now Oceane clearly knew he knew, so why hadn't she told him yet?

-Because Oz was there, you moron.

She had lied to Ozpin, like him, but she had no connection with Raven so she must have had a different reason, but what could that reason be? … Maybe he should have drank a bit less before thinking about that, even if he could usually handle alcohol pretty well, his mind was too numb to think clearly right now … Really he couldn't do anything correctly these days …

It was a beautiful summer morning, the birds were singing and the sun was shining … Perfect weather to spend hours in an airship.

-It's nice to have come to see me Ozpin, you didn't have to.

-Don't worry, I don't mind giving an old friend a hand.

Ozpin and Summer were currently in the private airship of the headmaster of Beacon, flying towards Vale. Ozpin had come to see her yesterday afternoon to check on her in person and take her home faster. It felt good to talk to someone other than Qrow, she had nothing against him, but she still felt like she had to walk on eggshells with him, especially the last few days, he seemed even more tense than usual.

It was probably because of this stolen sword thing. Maybe she shouldn't have told him, maybe she should have told Ozpin directly or thought about it more deeply. But she couldn't get that image out of her head, that face she knew very well, and those red eyes that stared at her with an expression of rage and terror she couldn't describe. The resemblance might have been just an incredible coincidence, but not with Raven's sword on her hip. She might have been dreaming, but …

-Summer, is everything okay?

-I … Yes, don't worry. I'm just worried about Qrow, he seems to be getting worse and worse lately.

-Yes, I noticed it too. I guess Raven's death touched him more deeply than I expected.

-Not only him, Tai is also struggling.

Ozpin turned to her with an eyebrow raised, looking curious. She forgot that Tai had more or less retired from the group by becoming a teacher at Signal a few months after Raven left, so he and Ozpin didn't speak very often, if at all since Raven's death.

Summer sighed.

-He and Qrow hardly speak to each other anymore, and Tai has withdrawn into himself a lot. He's pretty much back to normal at home, but he's spending a lot more time working, he says it helps him change his mind. I would have advised him to go see a therapist to help him, but since it concerns Raven and by extension the group and all that …

-I understand. I'm so sorry I let you handle this all on your own until then.

-It's okay, don't worry. After all, I'm the team leader, and it's my family, it's up to me to fix that problem.

-A problem you wouldn't have if I didn't intervene. You've done a lot Summer, let me take over.

Summer smiled and thanked him with a nod. Ozpin had been like a father to her ever since she came to Beacon, he encouraged her when she lacked self-confidence, he stood up for her when she had problems with other teachers, he taught her to be a real team leader, he trusted her with a thousands-year-old secret, he comforted her when she was heartbroken, he told her to keep hope, he encouraged her to go to Tai when he was depressed after Raven.

He believed in her before anyone else and had always pushed her to go forward, to go beyond her own limits. She didn't know what she would have done if she hadn't met him, just that she sure wouldn't be where she was right now …

This time it was official, Qrow hated hospitals more than anything.

To avoid spending too much time trying to stand in the hallways, he flew directly to Oceane's window, which was open for once. She must have expected him to come.

-Hey …

-Hi. You should sit down, it might take a while.

As much as he hated it, he couldn't help but agree. So he plopped down on the chair by the bed, and took a deep breath.

-Okay … What the hell happened yesterday?

Oceane stared at him for a moment, probably trying to figure out if he was talking about her lying to Ozpin, or if he was so drunk he couldn't remember the whole conversation. Even he wasn't sure to be honest.

In fact she didn't look in much better condition than him, she looked tired from the medication and she had dark circles under her eyes, as if she didn't slept much in the last few days. However, her wounds seemed to heal surprisingly quickly, she probably focused her Aura on them, she was good at shit like that, and at this rate she should be out of the hospital in a few days, even if she would have to wait a while before returning to battle. Hopefully he could keep her away from Yang by then.

-What happened yesterday is that you're a lot more in trouble than you think.

-I'm warning you, the bar is really high …

She stared at him again, frowning.

-Maybe we should wait until you sober up a bit before speaking.

-No need, the more I wait the more I drink. Shoot.

She clearly wasn't reassured, but took a deep breath, and started telling him.

It was just half an hour before Qrow arrived, she was reflecting on everything she had learned these days and the complexity of the situation mixed with the medecine she was taking made her nauseous …

That's when she heard a knock on her door, and if for a second she had thought it was her colleague, she quickly remembered that he wasn't that polite. Then she thought that maybe it was her sister and nephew, who somehow had learned that she was there, but instead she found herself facing Ozpin.

-Hello Miss Vasilias, it's been a while since we last saw each other.

-Yeah. And you couldn't choose a moment when I can stand on my own?

-Are your injuries that bad?

-No, just very annoying.

Ozpin chuckled as he sat down in the plastic chair across from the bed, his hands crossed on his cane.

-So, what brought you here?

Ozpin's smile faded as he suddenly grew much more serious.

-To be honest, I came to talk to you about Qrow. I think he knows where the Spring Maiden is and keep her hidden.

The tension in the room suddenly rose, and a heavy silence fell, cut only by the noise of the machines.

-I thought Qrow was the most loyal of the group?

-I thought so too, but you see, several years ago now the new Spring Maiden was identified.

-I know. Burning Falcon, right?

Ozpin frowned slightly.

-You knew?

-I investigated her case a bit early in her career, she's rampant a lot in Mistral and I wanted to make sure my sister and her son weren't on her list. But it seems to only work on contract so there isn't much I can do about it. And I can recognize a Maiden.

-I know, and that's also why I came to ask for your help. I read the police report, and the damage to the train looks a lot like what a Maiden might do. You fought her, didn't you? Could you give me the details? Like I said, I'm not sure I can trust Qrow's report, especially if it turns out Spring is really involved.

-So he knows …?

-He has strong suspicions, and we both know he's right.

-Oh shit …

Qrow let his head fall into his hands, feeling the tears rise. At this point it wasn't even worth trying to save the situation … He had failed everything from start to finish …

-Are you crying …?

He didn't even answer her. If Ozpin didn't trust him anymore then he lost his only way to protect Yang, someone else would be sent to look for her and would inevitably find her, their group had contacts all over Remnant, and if Yang found out … She tried to kill Summer just for a single look!

What if Ozpin decides he's a threat? He might never be able to see his friends again, let alone Ruby! He'd been a shitty uncle for the past few years, he'd barely visited her, he'd never been there for his birthday, and now he couldn't even keep his promise to teach her how to use a scythe, he would never have a chance to make up for it because if the truth came out Tai would never let him near his home again, and he would be right! He should have left the kid on their doorstep when he still could! Why did he have to try to manage everything himself when he knew full well that nothing ever went well with him?!

-Wow, must have been hard for you …

A tissue entered his field of vision. He took it with a sniffle and quickly wiped away his tears, even though he knew it was no use. In a desperate attempt to calm himself down, he pulled out his gourd and took a few sips, before finally drinking it all in one go.

-Oh … So that's where it comes from …

Slightly surprised, he looked up at Oceane, who looked at him with an air of pity that almost made him throw up.

-Got a problem with that?

-No I …

There was a moment of awkward silence, Qrow staring at Oceane with eyes full of despair and tears, as she looked like she didn't want to be here, she who was usually so confident, almost arrogant.

Honestly, he didn't care how she felt or what she thought of him right now, even though he looked like a zombie. He knew he was the one to blame for what was going on …

-Listen … You might be in trouble, but she's not necessarily.

-What?

-You already forgot? You are not the only one to keep things from Ozpin.

Oceane nodded and closed her eyes to think.

-Hmm … No. I didn't see anything that suggested this girl was a Maiden.

-And the Burning Falcon?

-I doubt it. When I studied the file, I saw that she relied heavily on a Fire Semblance, though it's probably her powers, the girl I fought didn't make the slightest flame, even after getting angry. Also, Falcon uses blades of several types of Dust, the kid only had Lightning.

-Are you sure?

-We're talking about Spring, Ozpin. Believe me, I wouldn't pass up an opportunity like this if I had any doubts.

Ozpin sighed, visibly disappointed.

-I understand. You're still looking for her aren't you.

-Now I'm pretty sure Cherry is dead, but at least I want to know how, just to have peace of mind.

-I see …

-And that's when you arrived.

-You did … what …? Why …?

Oceane let out a long exasperated sigh, the pity she had displayed before having completely disappeared.

-You know, you all keep talking about Raven, how she ran away, abandoned her team, all that … But hey! I too have a teammate who left without saying a word! And she was a fucking Maiden! Why doesn't anyone talk of that?!

Qrow stared at her with wide eyes and open mouth like a fish. He had completely forgotten that Cherry was gone too, only a few weeks after Raven, and no one had heard from her since … Or at least he didn't hear of her … But that still didn't explain why Oceane was on his side …

-And Summer is surprised when I tell her Ozpin plays favorites …

-I … I don't know what to say …

-Start with a thank you, I saved your niece's ass when there is a chance she killed one of my friends.

Once again, Qrow took a slap in the face at the dots he had been unable to connect on his own. He didn't think of that, if Cherry was the last Spring Maiden, how did her powers get to Yang? Did she really kill her? When …

-… No, she became a Maiden when Salem attacked the tribe … because they had a Maiden … And she cried when she realized it …

-So either Cherry died that night and gave her the powers, or there was another Maiden in between them who was close to the kid. Damn I learned more from listening to you whining for twenty minutes than from years of investigating Remnant!

To his own surprise, Qrow managed to let out a tired little laugh.

-And to come back to the original question … When Raven left, she said that Ozpin was a liar and manipulative bastard, with a more flowery vocabulary obviously, that's what you told us after talking to her right?

-Yeah …

-The thing is, a few weeks later, just before Cherry disappeared, you know what she told me?

-That she couldn't take the pressure of being a Maiden anymore, right?

-That she couldn't take the pressure Ozpin was putting on her anymore, that she no longer wanted to obey his orders, and that she wanted to be free. At the time I thought she said that because of the stifling responsibilities, but when your niece went wild …

-I won't let him … I WON'T LET HIM CONTROL ME!

-She said that?

-Yep. That, plus Cherry, plus Raven, and now even you turn your back on Oz? Coincidences exist, but not like that, and not about something so big.

Qrow couldn't believe his ears, it was exactly the reasoning he had when he first met Yang, just with more information and less doubts … Almost as if … he was right …

-And he cries again …

Qrow didn't answer and wiped his eyes again on the tissue already full of salt water. He felt like a huge weight had just been taken off his shoulders, and at the same time, he didn't deserve the luck he was having right now. It was his burden, his problems, it was up to him to suffer the consequences, he couldn't let Oceane suffer as well when she had nothing to do with it. But he needed her help, he knew it … because he was unable to achieve anything on his own … he always had been …

Oceane said nothing and let Qrow cry. When he first came to see her a few days ago, she had planned not to say anything to him. She didn't think he knew about the girl, because after all, why would he have hidden her? It was his niece, and his best friend's daughter. And it wasn't for her to break such news to him, she would've told Summer first, who would then tell the boys. She didn't have to interfere in their family matters.

But when, tired, injured, and stunned from the painkillers, she let out that she had faced a Maiden, one of the six people on Remnant gifted by magic, the key to reaching the Relic of Knowledge, the missing Maiden that they had all been searching for years … Qrow didn't even blink. No remark, no astonishment. As if he already knew.

She had thought at first that he learned it from Summer or the cameras, or that he had deduced it himself by seeing the state of the train. But even then, he would have reacted, he would have brought it up, even just with a "Oh, you noticed too". But nothing. He just ignored it.

And come to think of it, if Raven had died in his arms after joining him through a portal, she wouldn't have done it leaving her daughter behind, especially when the little one ended up with her sword. All that time, Qrow had done everything to keep his niece, a Maiden, out of sight, just like Raven did before him. Alone.

Oceane took another tissue out of the box on her bedside table and handed it to him.

-Feel better now?

Qrow grabbed the tissue and wiped his eyes with it, sniffling.

-A little … Thanks …

He blew his nose loudly and finished wiping his eyes on his sleeve. Damn, Summer wasn't exaggerating when she said he was bad, and she only knew the surface of the problem. Everyone attributed his drinking problem to Raven's death, but it was all that followed that made his condition worsen. They might not have been close, but now that she knew and apparently was the only one in a position to do something, she just couldn't leave him like that, at that rate they would find him with a rope around his neck by the end of the year.

She would not let that happen, not under her watch.

Hello again!

So? What do you think? Gost Raven is present more and more with wonderfull advices, Oz has his suspicions, Summer is completely oblivious, Qrow is spiraling down, and Oceane arrives when the situation is at the worst to collect the pieces ... Yeah, things are bad. Will they get worse? Better? How will Mantle's hometown hero react when she finds out how big the picture is? Who is Cherry? How did her powers get to Yang? What will Ozpin do with Qrow? How will all of that affect Yang? Will Tai finally have a role in this story? Oceane is Neptune's aunt?

You'll know if you read the next chapter! Or the next one. Or the next one ... Hey I can't put everything in one chap okay!