Legend 22

-Supremacy: The Beta-

…

"Holy hell, I can't believe we did that…"

Checked into the suite of the Venusian hotel that Weiss had rented for the three of them, Ruby flopped backwards onto the plush gold-sheeted bed, hands over her eyes. "The whole Sol system just saw that interview…"

"Hell yeah they did!" did Yang say. She was currently attempting to sync her scroll with the huge tv on the wall, but couldn't crack the password to do so. "And may I add, we are looking good, girls."

"I always look good," Weiss said, her nose pointed upwards in preening superiority.

Ruby was set to say aloud, 'yeah you do', but perished the phrase upon her tongue.

"Dammit, what is the password to this stupid thing!?" Yang then called to her Ghost. "Celica, a little help here."

"Roger, Boss."

"Do not use your Ghost to hack the hotel's wifi!" did Weiss say with widened eyes. But her budding smile belied her sternness.

"Silence, Schnee." Yang said back. "Just lemme…" she trailed off mid sentence. "Oh, a message from Uncle Qrow!"

"What does it say?" Ruby's hands were now folded upon her belly, though she was still lying on her back. Though her attention was on Yang, just from the corner of her opposite periphery did she catch Weiss's eyes upon her. These eyes were hastily averted as Ruby half turned in her direction.

Yang read the message out loud: White is right. That's a bad idea.

Weiss's eyes scrunched half closed. "How does he know…?"

Another message: Sit up straight, Ruby.

The girl immediately corrected her posture, launching herself into a sitting position. "Okay, even for Uncle Qrow this is scary…" she said. "It's almost like-"

"-He's in the room with you."

All three heads turned to the corner of the room that Qrow Branwen had apparently been occupying for some time. "C'mon, Ruby. I taught you better than that."

There was just a moment's silence.

"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby flew across the room and buried her face in the man's chest. "Didja miss me? Huh-huh-huh? Didja-didja?!"

"Not one bit," the Blade Dancer drawled, patting her head.

Yang had joined the moment then, wrapping her arms around the both of them.

"And how ya been, Firecracker?"

"Just fine til you showed up," she said into his neck.

The girls let him go as Qrow pulled up a chair from the dresser. Sat upon it, did he reach into his breast pocket and withdraw a sleek aluminum flask. Espying the third of his nieces' trio did he say, "White."

"G-Guten abend, mein Herr…"

She hadn't blinked once since looking upon him.

"No need to fret, White. I don't bite…" he took a swig from his flask. "...Very hard."

To this, Ruby asked, "So, are you here for the tournament, Uncle Qrow?"

"Yeah," did he say after another swallow of drink. "But I'm not here to talk about me." He made himself more comfortable, leaning back in his chair. "Tell me about you, girls. Tell me of your journey thus far."

And they did.

They regaled him with every detail of their their adventures up to now. From Ruby's initiation; to Ruby and Weiss killing a rising Archon; to Yang's escapades at The Life Exotic;to them quelling a Fallen attack on The Steppes; and the steps they took to enter this very room they were in now.

After all this, Qrow simply nodded slowly, the motion perpetual. "Hey Jim," did Qrow say to his Ghost.

The crimson-shelled unit appeared beside him.

"File away that tidbit about The House of Truth. Put it in the same folder as 'House of Mercy'."

"House of Mercy?" Weiss said.

"Not for you to mind, White," Qrow said. Plundering on, he continued, "You girls have built yourselves quite the legend up to now." He went for another swig, but his flask had run dry. "There a mini bar in here?"

Yang jerked her head to the corner of the room. "It's like eight-hundred glimmer though…"

Qrow was already halfway across the room. "They know I'm good for it."

As he set about refilling his supply, Qrow said, "Ruby. You've done more good in three months than most can do in a lifetime. But be careful. Remember the line that you and I drew together. The face you're building to present to the eye of the public is a sight different from the one underneath." He turned pointedly. "When you're ready to cross over, lemme know."

Wordlessly, did Ruby rise from the bed. Crossing the room, did she reach into the mini bar, coming away with a bottle of Wild Turkey. Resuming her seat, did she down a quarter of it. "I don't need to be reminded." The statement was as vacantly intense as her stare upon the wall at the moment.

"Oh, Ruby…" did Weiss breathe, her hand upon the girl's shoulder.

"Huh. Actually forgot you were here." Qrow had returned to his chair. "Why don't you make yourself scarce, White. Family time from here on in."

"Um, yes, sir…" She rose from the bed. "Good night, everyone."

"Night!" Yang sung.

Weiss turned to her team leader. "Good night, Ruby…" she said with a measured quiet.

"Uh, gooden knock, Vice…" Ruby fought the corners of her mouth down as she watched Weiss leave the room, catching just a fleeting glimpse of her eyes through the closing door.

She turned then to find Yang's eyes on her now, face alight with glee. "You seriously need to just ask her out already."

"Ugh! You seriously need to just drop it!" Ruby said, going to work on her bottle again.

Yang rounded on Qrow again. "So, you're here for the tournament, right? You gonna win or what?"

"That's pretty much a forgone conclusion," Qrow said back. "I honestly wonder why Shaxx is so intent on having this thing. Light only knows there's next to no challenge in it for us." He uncrossed his legs as he stood from his seat. "But whatever, it's not my show. I'm just a player."

Her bottle of bourbon now in Yang's hands, did Ruby ask, "Do you know anything about what Shaxx is planning for the rookie contingent?"

"Course I do," was the answer. "doesn't mean I'm gonna tell ya…" Qrow gave his head a brief but vigorous shake, and made to tuck away his flask. It took him a few tries to find the pocket. And then, from transmat, did he pull his great and utterly one-of-a-kind sword; its blade jagged like the teeth of a key; the crystal upon its hilt singing with Solar energy.

"Show off," Yang said.

Qrow strapped the mighty weapon upon his back. "It's dangerous out on 'dem streets," did he drawl. He wobbled toward the door. "See you girls in the mornin'. Night, Rubes...and...and...the other one."

"Bye Uncle Qrow, I love you!" Ruby sang in his wake. She turned back to Yang. "What did you do with the…" her eyes fell on the empty bottle in Yang's hands. "Seriously!?"

"Oh cmon, there was like nothing left!"

Ruby then proceeded to clobber Yang with the nearest pillow she could find.

…

Qrow Branwen ambled down the stairs, through the lobby, and out the hotel door.

So far so good.

He hadn't bothered with putting up his camo, didn't feel like wasting the light to be honest. His very existence alone was usually enough to repel even the most curious of onlookers.

Well...most of them anyway.

"Oh my Traveler, it's Qrow Branwen!"

Qrow found himself coming to a halt at the quartet of young girls before him. He gave the each of them a cursory glance up and down. Tiny tops; skin-tight leggings; hair in ponytails. The lot of them reeked of late-teens.

Not that such a thing repulsed him, mind you.

The ring leader, the one who had apparently worked up the nerve to hail him in the first place, was currently fidgeting in place, blushing brighter than the sun itself. Her girlfriends egged her into action between giggles.

Qrow ran a hand through his hair, four pairs of eyes following the movement intently. "So ladies, what do you want from me? Aside from the obvious."

There came from the four of them a cacophony of giggles. The ring leader then stepped up. "Mr. Branwen...can I...um…." She held her scroll out before her. "Can I have your holograph?"

Qrow loosed a laugh, though with his mouth closed. He retrieved his own scroll and with a series of clicks and swipes, sent a signed digital photo to the four of them.

"Oh my Traveler, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" the girl literally bounced away down the street as two more of her clique followed.

The last girl, strikingly tall, Qrow had to admit, approached him coyly. "Call me," she breathed into his ear. Qrow felt something being slipped into his pocket. A quick kiss was stolen from his lips and she made off into the night.

His quota for the night having been met in one fell swoop, Qrow turned off into a pedestrian tunnel, one letting out into the other side of the plaza he was walking.

Perhaps it was the haze of the drink than ran his veins. Maybe it the blur of the satisfaction of his ego at the time. But the sudden call for his attention escaped his notice. Not once, but twice.

It was the Solar grenade that got his attention.

His path barred by the fiery projectile, he turned to behold its castor.

He found himself accosted then by another young woman. This one, however, vying for attention of a different kind.

"Branwen…"

"Fall…"

Cinder stepped forward, revealing herself fully in the flickering light of her Solar grenade. "Where did you get that sword." The words were not a question, but a demand for affirmation.

"I don't think you'd ask me that if you didn't already know the answer."

"Then tell me."

Qrow cocked his head coyly. "Let's just say a certain Warlock gave it to me."

Said Cinder through gritted teeth, "Osiris would not just give The Raze-Lighter to anyone. Not even me…" This admission seemed to sting her so.

"You're right…" Qrow said with trailing mirth. "It's more like I...took it from him."

The Warlock stared Solar daggers into his eyes then. "Give that to me," did she growl. "That is not a request."

For the second time that night did Qrow playfully tousle his own hair. "You want it?" The light of his cunning grin could have put the Traveler to shame. "Come get it."

Cinder had just prepared to charge when-

"Hey Cindy, I got the...whoa…"

She turned to the scene's new entrant. "Mercury, stay back. I don't want you-" She turned back to her quarry…

Only to find him gone.

"Mother FUCKER!"

She had taken her eyes off a Night Witch. The one thing you should never do.

Mercury approached his lover then, with equal parts caution and awe. "Cindy, what the hell happened?"

"Nothing…" did Cinder breathe, the tension still yet to leave her body.

"Nothing my ass!" Mercury huffed. "You were about to mix with The Red Witch. Something that definitely won't end well, even for you."

Cinder did relent then, if only verbally. "He has something that does not rightfully belong to him. And I intend to have it from him."

Mercury digested this, if only partially. "Well, while you were off picking fights you can't win, I got that info you wanted on the other teams in the tournament."

Cinder smiled genuinely for the fist time that night. "You shine like Osiris's sun, you do," she kissed his lips. An arm around his waist, and his around hers did she say, "What was that about fights I cant win?

"Well...uh…"

Cinder giggled. "Yeah. I thought so."

…

It was late morning, roughly 10AM or so. Ruby was nursing a slight hangover as she and Yang indulged fully the offerings of their room's mini bar last night.

This didn't affect her appetite though.

If anything, said condition only spurred the breaking of her fast further. Her plate loaded, did she settle in between her teammates in the hotel's dining hall. Hundred's of their rookie Guardian class filled out the hall, their chatter and general conversational ruckus somewhat painful to Ruby's then sensitive ears.

It was fairly tight quarters at the tables here, the ensemble of residents and visitors alike having been accommodated in a somewhat haphazard order; the turnout of Guardians only slightly larger than was anticipated.

"Guten Morgen, Ruby," Weiss said over her teacup and saucer.

"Hey, Weiss."

Sat on her right hand side, Weiss's cross-legged posture, as she was wont to adopt, saw her suspended foot just rubbing against Ruby's own ankle ever so slightly.

She didn't hate it.

Yang, plate full of sausage links, was watching her scroll, leaning upon a jug of orange juice as it was. Highlights from Team Lilysteel's various matches played on the screen. "These girls are fucking OP…" did she breathe.

Ruby's own trained Hunter's eye was drawn in by, and hence captivated by the graceful movements of the Hunter trio; their seamless coordination; their innovative tactics. "Yeah, there's a reason why their top of Venus's Crucible division."

"This tournament is sure to be quite the spectacle, nicht?" Weiss said, buttering a croissant.

Yang chanced a look up from her scroll then. "And speaking of spectacles…"

There was a small commotion blooming around about the center of the hall. Someone was stood atop one of the tables, looking all sorts of uncomfortable. "Isn't that the kid that threw up on the ship?" Yang asked.

Ruby indeed recognized the blue eyes and blonde hair. "Jeanne?"

"You know him?" Weiss asked.

"Well sorta. We met on the way to the grounds. But…" she trailed off when she spied a certain person with him. "What's Cardin doing with him?"

"And all of team Cardinal for that matter…" Yang hissed.

"Excuse us! Your attention please!" Cardin's voice was electronically amplified by his Ghost. The hall's chatter slowly died away as every eye turned to the scene developing at its center. "Mister Arc here has an announcement he would like to make!"

Cardin's team snickered menacingly around him. Jeanne, with nowhere to hide, fidgeted almost manically.

Cardin sneered unpleasantly. "Get on with it, Jeanne."

The boy groaned audibly. "I would just like to let everyone know...that I suck…"

"And?" goaded Cardin.

"And that I'm a girl…"

"What else?"

"And I like ribbons in my hair….and I...want to kiss all...the boys…"

Russel Thrush said to his teammate, "This may be the best humiliation of all time!"

Ruby was already standing, knife in hand. She was stayed by Weiss, who simply pointed at the bullying Fireteam, completely unaware of the person who had just entered their midst.

"That humiliation is nothing compared to what's in store for you, Mr. Winchester."

Both Cardin and Sky Lark blanched and jumped to haphazard attention. "M-M-Miss Nikos!"

Pyrrha shook her head. "Two of my very on Titans engaged in such behavior. And some asshole Hunter to boot."

Russel shrunk into himself.

"Off with you," Pyrrha said to him. "Cayde has already been informed of this situation." The Hunter took off, his gaze never leaving the floor. This left the two offending Titans square in her sights.

"And as for you two…"

The two troublemakers stood up straighter, their posture utterly petrified. Now they were the butt of the joke, the laughter of the hall's onlookers swelling around them.

Pyrrha expelled a patiently exasperated breath. "A pox upon the Pillars, you are." She stared off into the distance for a short while. "Both of you are demoted by three ranks each. Also, you are hereby excluded from participation in the rookie battle royale tomorrow."

The meddlers posture broke at that, their shoulders sagging almost to the floor.

"I've got better things to do than dealing with this crap. I've been appointed to oversee Team Cinder's entry into the Supremacy tournament in place of Ozpin. Both of you out of my sight, now!"

As they scampered off, she turned to Jeanne, still stood on the table. "Come down from there, young man."

He climbed down hastily, glad to be out of the eye of the many whispering onlookers.

Pyrrha beheld him then, with a scrutinizing patience. "Though you are the victim in this scenario, I can't help but to be slightly miffed with you as well."

"Umm...I, uh…"

"You are a Titan, yes?"

"Um, y-yes ma'am."

"While not under my planetary jurisdiction, you're one of mine none-the-less. And I loathe to see my kind in a state such as that." She leaned closer to the young Titan, the combination of her nearness and the aura of her person eliciting the rising of color in his face. "If you allow yourself to be so easily dominated by those of your own ilk; your peers, then ask yourself: what chance do you have on the field against The Fallen?"

And with these words ringing in Jeanne's ears, did Pyrrha leave the hall.

Yang grinned triumphantly. "That's my captain!"

Weiss perched her chin upon her extended index finger then. "What was that about a battle royale Pyrrha mentioned?"

"Probably the do-dah Shaxx has in store for us…" Ruby said.

Just then, did the various viewing screens about the hall flare to life. Lit upon them was the coat of alabaster swords that was the CCN's logo. The one and only Lord Shaxx then made himself apparent on the screens.

"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please," did the armored man intone. "It is my duty and pleasure to announce that the coaching representatives from each of the respective contingent planets will be arriving within the hour. Should you wish to witness their touchdown, then you are welcomed to the OWT hub. I hope to see you there!"

"That could be pretty cool…" Ruby mused. Just next to her, she noticed that Weiss had gone about as still as stone. "Hey Weiss, are you alright?"

"Sie kommt…"

"What did she say?" Ruby whispered to Yang.

"I don't know. I don't speak...Weiss."

Weiss was up from the table in an instant. "We should go to the hub."

"What's the rush, I'm not done eating!" Yang said.

"Oh, you're never done eating, Yang, Just take it with you."

Ruby then, suddenly and quite unexpectedly, found Weiss taking her hand and leading her as she all but skipped from the hall.

Heart fluttering in her chest, all Ruby could do was follow.

….

End of Legend 22

…

A/N:

A fairly swift update. If I'm going to bring this thing back to life, I have to keep the momentum up. So, boom, here it is. If you liked what you read, consider leaving a like or a follow. If you didn't like what you read, I thank you for reading this long. Thank ypu and take care.

-B.D. Skunkworks.