Author's Note: Enjoy.
Their return to Beacon wasn't heralded with triumphant applause or a waiting crowd, partially due to the covert nature of their mission, but mostly due to the late hour. It was near daybreak, though Pyrrha couldn't find the strength to look at her scroll for the specifics. The battle hadn't taken long, the fighting lasting no more than thirty minutes, but the waiting had been infinitely longer. Not to mention the time it took for the police to gather statements and officially allow them to leave the scene.
The local law enforcement had been… displeased, with their late night activities, but Pyrrha couldn't find it in herself to care. The White Fang had been operating in full uniform, something that was impossible to miss unless someone was intentionally ignoring it. If the police refused to act, she would do what she had to. She was just grateful Qrow and Winter seemed to share in that mentality.
"I struggle to see the use of division between the military and law enforcement when they are so unwaveringly incompetent." Winter muttered. She and her soldiers had been required to give statements as well, though if the questions they asked them were anything like the ones they asked her, she could understand her disappointment.
"Not every Kingdom has a guy like Jimmy to oversee their military, separation of powers is a good thing." Qrow defended Vale, but even to her it sounded weak.
"On that we shall have to disagree." Winter replied, and though Pyrrha expected some kind of argument to break out, neither of them seemed willing.
From what Ruby and Weiss had told her in her last life, Qrow and Winter had been at each other's throats over Atlas' presence at Beacon. It was interesting to see how different that was now, though she figured it was difficult to say how much had truly changed without having the context. It was possible something had happened between them before that hadn't happened in this life. Whatever the difference was, they seemed far more accepting of the others' view point.
"I suppose we should report to the Headmaster." Winter sighed, the mask of discipline she wore falling away for a brief moment at the mere thought.
"We could do that." Qrow smirked. "Or we could go get drunk, then save the boring stuff for tomorrow."
Winter rolled her eyes. "Barely back from the mission and you already want to start drinking."
"I think it's a good idea." Pyrrha joined in, blushing slightly when both of them looked at her. Qrow seemed a bit surprised but his smile remained, Winter simply raised one finely kept eyebrow. "We've got a tradition to uphold."
Qrow's smile fell a little bit. "Yeah. Everyone made it back this time, that's cause for celebration."
Winter looked at him for a moment. "Yes, that is indeed a good reason to celebrate." She turned away, looking back at the Bullhead that had dropped them off. "Though I don't know if traveling back into the city is ideal."
"Don't worry, I know where the teachers keep their stash." Qrow's smile grew beyond smug. "Port might not approve, but he needs to stop drinking before lessons anyways."
"We can use my room," Winter said. "They are designed for four people after all, with one there is quite a bit of space."
"Party at Winter's house." Qrow nodded. "I'll fetch the liquor."
"I'll help." Pyrrha followed Qrow.
"I'll send my room number to your scrolls." Winter stepped off in a different direction with a wave. "Don't take too long, or I might just lock the door."
"Don't worry, I can climb through the window!" Qrow yelled back, earning a muffled threat as the three separated out. "Now then, off to Port's class."
Pyrrha stumbled. "Wait, you were being serious about him drinking before class?"
Qrow looked at her like she was the one saying something crazy. "You thought he was sober?"
To her absolute shame, when put like that, it really did make more sense. Softly, she mumbled, "That does explain the stories."
"Oh no, those are totally real." Qrow's face took on a distant look. "I went on a mission with him once… just once though." Pyrrha pulled up her borrowed flask, taking a drink before offering it to the older Huntsmen. He drank far more than her before handing it back with a sigh. "Anyways, it's this way."
Pyrrha groaned as she felt her stomach roll once more. She hadn't gotten much sleep, even though Ozpin had pushed their extremely important meeting back several hours to afford the three of them the time they needed to recover. Both she and Winter had made the mistake of trying to keep up with Qrow.
Beating him outright had proven impossible, in the end they had changed their tactic to simply trying to get him as drunk as them. To both of the women's satisfaction, it had worked. By the end of the night, and the last of the expensive scotch Winter had brought with her from Atlas, Qrow had been brought low just like them.
It wasn't anything like when they had gone out, mostly due to the limited supply. They had finished off everything Winter had in the span of an hour or two. Qrow, taking the larger share by far, had left Pyrrha and Winter drunk but still functional. That had proved useful when she had been forced to find her way back to Team CFVY's room alone.
As the sun had started to threaten to come up Pyrrha had called it a night, leaving Qrow and Winter to continue their never ending alcohol fueled conversation about politics. When one made a point, the other refuted it, only for that same point to be made again; round and round it went in an endless loop. She'd been unable to end the discussion and so had decided sleep would be the better bet.
Despite her wise decision to call it a night, it hadn't been enough. She'd steamed the headache with a few drinks from her flask, but the nausea and general sickness hadn't fully gone away. Even with all of that, she was still the first one out of the three to make it to Ozpin's office.
Glynda and the Headmaster were already there of course, and Pyrrha apologized for what had happened. Despite how important this should have been, Ozpin didn't seem to mind. In fact, there was an unusual look in his eyes whenever he looked back at the screen on his desk. Sadly, she couldn't see what was displayed there.
Fifteen minutes later, a full five minutes late to the agreed upon meeting time, Qrow and Winter stepped out of the elevator. Both had clearly been in a rush to get there. Winter's hair was far messier than its normal state, this even extended to her clothes with the occasional wrinkle in her uniform. Qrow looked mostly the same, messy and unkempt as usual, but there was a redness around his eyes that beliled his forcefully relaxed posture.
Oddly enough, they refused to look at each other, going so far as to put Pyrrha in between them as they stepped in front of the desk.
Winter bowed her head respectfully. "I would like to apologize for our t-"
"There's no need." Ozpin cut her off with a smile, a genuine one if what Pyrrha saw was real. "I understand how… difficult these things can be."
Pyrrha tilted her head in confusion, looking between the various adults in the room. Ozpin's amusement should have been some kind of sign, the rare emotion being so genuine that it had to mean something. Sadly, she couldn't tell what that all meant. Qrow offered nothing, staring forward with an unusually determined expression. Winter looked away from her, coughing into her fist.
Looking towards Glynda, Pyrrha raised one eyebrow. The Professor was her last bastion of sanity it seemed, the only one of them to seem just as confused as- Glynda's cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink, as even she looked away.
That was what did it, funnily enough. The awkwardness she had failed to understand, but seeing the usually stern and disciplined Glynda Goodwitch turn away in embarrassment was the greatest hint of all. The only thing she ever saw her lose such control was with personal matters.
Pyrrha's eyes widened slowly, before her head snapped towards Qrow then back around to Winter.
"It seems we are all in the know." Ozpin laughed, an uncharacteristically light sound that echoed off the walls of the room. Made all the more powerful by the complete silence aside from himself. The Headmaster's laughter eventually fell, though his smile did not. "I trust there won't be any issues for the duration of this meeting?"
"There will be no issues." Winter stated, looking towards Qrow for the first time since entering the tower and, Pyrrha was willing to bet, since waking up together that morning. Her resolve crumbled however, the moment Qrow looked over at her. Despite that, he nodded firmly.
"Good." Ozpin chuckled once more, though it died a swift death as he seemed to shift entirely. His smile fell away and any sign of the normal person she had seen before was gone. "I take it you haven't seen the news." Each of them shook their heads, not having had the time for anything aside from this meeting so far. "I shall spare you the details, but the media has had a field day with the event. The White Fang swiftly defeated by Beacon Academy seems to be the main headline however."
"You stole the credit?" Qrow's voice took on an edge, though Pyrrha couldn't quite place the sentiment behind it. His shoulders were stiff however, and his hand rested where his weapon was usually attached, she thanked whoever would listen for the fact he had forgotten it.
"We did no such thing." Glynda didn't move, but it was clear she hadn't missed the change in Qrow's mood. "The council was asking questions, questions we couldn't give honest answers to."
"Such as why Atlas was operating within the city without their approval." Ozpin explained. "I tried to spin it as a joint venture between Atlas and my own Huntsmen, they simply chose to credit it towards Beacon."
Qrow didn't look very pleased by that fact, even if Pyrrha thought it was probably for the best. To both their surprise however, Winter was the first to agree with the Headmaster.
"You have just saved Atlas from another diplomatic incident. You have our thanks." She hesitated for a moment before pressing on. "I'm sure General Ironwood would thank you himself were he able to."
Ozpin hummed, but didn't say how that was unlikely. The two hadn't even spoken since Haven.
Qrow however, seemed willing. "Sorry, Oz. I… jumped to conclusions." It was clear how difficult those words were for him to say, but the fact he said them was a good sign.
"There is no harm done." Ozpin refused to meet their eyes. "Winter Schnee is a very recognizable figure, I had to tell them something that didn't seem like international intervention without their authorization. So I told them it was an initiative of my own making and that I placed a Huntress I had complete trust in to head it."
Everyone in the room looked towards her. "You pinned it on me?"
Ozpin looked her straight in the eyes. "They want to give you a medal."
Pyrrha waited for him to laugh, to reveal that it was some kind of joke meant to get them back for being late. He didn't laugh however, and Glynda looked at her with a sympathetic expression. "What!?"
"The council wishes to thank you for 'ridding the city of the White Fang Menace'." Ozpin took a drink from his coffee mug, allowing Pyrrha to truly digest the words.
"Why?!" It was a vague question, thankfully Ozpin knew exactly what he meant.
"Because I couldn't pin it on Winter, and they are far too familiar with Qrow for me to lie and say he was placed in charge." Qrow sounded offended, but didn't rebuttal. "There's to be a ceremony." Pyrrha groaned. "It's also black tie." Pyrrha groaned harder.
She always hated formal events, sponsorship deals and victory meals were common in her last life, despite either supposed purpose they were almost always a way for people to try and earn her favor. Despite that, she had practice in dealing with such things, the real issue was that she had to go shopping for something to wear. She was certain the mere thought of which had already alerted Coco.
"You're all invited of course, and it won't just be Miss Nikos being recognized." Ozpin turned towards Qrow. "You will be expected to wear a suit."
Qrow clearly made to argue, only to be cut off as Winter glared at him. "I will see to it personally."
Pyrrha smiled at that, taking comfort in the fact that she wouldn't have to suffer alone.
"Now then, let's discuss what you found at the warehouse." Ozpin was quick to change the subject, though his smile had returned briefly at the accusatory look on Qrow's face. "I'm led to believe that you captured someone of importance?"
Winter turned towards the Headmaster, once again becoming the embodiment of professionalism. "Yes Sir, we managed to capture several high ranking individuals within the Vale branch of the White Fang."
The meeting was fairly straightforward from there, mostly passing along information that had been learned during or after the fighting. The local criminal elements that had agreed to work with the White Fang were still out there but the police were already making moves against them. Supported by the small contingent of Atlesians stationed at Beacon, they were making short work of them. Before long, everything of value had been shared, and the brief was over.
Winter and Qrow had left together, much as they had arrived in a similar fashion. Ozpin's bright smile had returned as they left, especially when Pyrrha didn't go with them but instead decided to wait for the elevator to come back up.
"I hope my putting your name forward wasn't an issue." Ozpin hid his face behind his hands.
Pyrrha sighed, but shook her head. "It just… caught me by surprise is all."
"I know you hate being the center of attention like this," Ozpin continued, and she couldn't help but wonder when he had figured that out. She had told Qrow and Team CFVY, but she couldn't recall having ever told the Headmaster. "But you do deserve some recognition for what you've done."
Pyrrha shuffled awkwardly. "I know."
"Besides, while events like these are often exhausting, it is a good chance to meet prospective allies." Ozpin looked over her shoulder as the elevator returned, nodding for her to leave. "Try to keep an open mind."
"I will." It was a simple high to promise, one that was far harder to practice.
Classes for Second Year Students were over by the time she left the Headmaster's office. Coco had sent her a message that they would be in the cafeteria, so she made her way there. As she walked through the school however, she noticed something odd. The students whispered in hushed voices as she passed, looking at her whenever they thought she wasn't looking.
Despite how strange it seemed, it was something she was intimately familiar with, they were in awe and it was something she hated. When she finally made it to the cafeteria the hall went quiet as the doors opened to reveal her.
"Amber!" Velvet yelled out her name, drawing far more attention than she was used to. "Over here!"
The noise seemed to bring some life back to the cafeteria, though it did little for the groups of people staring at her. As she finally sat down beside Yatsu she slumped, her forehead resetting on the table.
"That bad?" Coco asked in between bites of chicken.
"They keep staring at me." Pyrrha mumbled. "It's just like before…"
"Are you surprised?" Fox asked, causing her to look up. "I mean, everyone's heard about what you did with us against the White Fang before, but this is on another level."
"You're the badass that took down the White Fang." Coco said. "You're probably gonna be the most talked about person in Vale right now."
Pyrrha groaned as her head fell back down on the table, though she did spare a sideways glare when her friends giggled quietly.
"It will pass." Velvet assured her. "It's just how schools are. They'll find something else to obsess over before long."
"In the meantime, that'll be you though." Fox shrugged. "Not much you can do about it."
"You should have heard the rumpus going around when I started wearing Velvet's beret." Coco chuckled, causing Pyrrha to look up at her. Her friend smirked at the memory. "Especially once I started dating that upper year."
"It wasn't fair!" Velvet whined, attempting to glare at her leader but only managing an angry pout. "I had dozens of people coming up to me saying how you were cheating on me."
Pyrrha laughed at the idea, Velvet's face growing darker as she did. It wasn't hard to imagine, Velvet desperately trying to convince others that they weren't in a relationship. Even while those same people would likely assume she was just too ashamed to admit it.
"It took about a month for that to sort itself out." Coco winced. "So, fighting terrorists in Vale? I give it until the break." Pyrrha groaned once more. Freezing when she felt Coco grab ahold of her hand, her steely grip just a bit stronger than usual. "On the bright side~" Her voice was filled with enough sugar to rot teeth, and Pyrrha desperately tried to pull her hand free so that she could run. "Shopping!"
"W-Why would I need to go-"
"Qrow sent me a message." Coco dipped her sunglasses, looking over the brim. "There's no escaping this, so don't try."
Damn it Qrow! Was this payback for not helping distract Ozpin earlier? Pyrrha looked to her left and right, desperately trying to meet her friends' eyes for help. None of them looked anywhere near her.
She tried one last ditch effort to escape her impending doom. "Come on guys, we can at least go to-"
"Fox isn't home right now, please leave a message after the beep."
"Betrayal!"
The screen in front of her displayed the news and, though it wasn't the first time she had seen the report, Sienna watched it closely. The humans were trying to make it seem like some great victory, as if the White Fang had been cast down entirely and would never again rise to challenge them. It was a laughable idea, even if she could understand the reasoning.
If they knew the White Fang was still a problem the people would panic, and panic drew the Grimm. It made sense to downplay the threat that they posed, but it would also be their undoing. Now people wouldn't be watching for them so closely, their guard would be down, so to speak. All the while the hate against the Faunus would grow, swelling their ranks even further.
As painful as it was to admit, the Vale branch was done; what few elements had managed to escape capture were staying low for the time being. They were waiting for order and direction on what to do next. Up to this point she had left much of that decision making up to the local leadership, better than trying to oversee every little detail, but that wouldn't work any longer. Incompetence aside, the majority of those in positions of power had been captured.
A great victory indeed… Sienna wondered if they had any idea of what they had truly done, of what the consequences might be. General Ironwood might have, but he was occupied purging his army in Atlas. Something had spooked the General and in the process the White Fang had lost a number of good informants. Their actions in Atlas were being limited now, hindered by the fact that they were often blind to how the military would respond. It was far too similar to the old days for her liking, but it didn't come without its perks. The General's reputation had certainly seen better days.
"You summoned me." Adam did not kneel before her, but she had never required such an obvious display of loyalty.
"It seems things in Vale aren't going to plan." Sienna didn't elaborate, trusting that Adam was more than familiar with the situation there.
"Atlas stepped in, they weren't prepared for that kind of armed response." It was a shockingly diplomatic answer, though less so to her. While many in Atlas, and even some within the White Fang, saw Adam as nothing more than a violent psychopath, she knew better. He absolutely was those things of course, but there was a cunning intelligence there that made him truly dangerous.
"They weren't, but your men are." Sienna said, Adam already nodding in agreement. "Our dear benefactor has graciously supplied us with enough Dust and weapons to replace some of what we lost, but it will need to be used wisely."
"Something my men know how to do." Adam bowed his head slightly, though even that might have been too generous a description. "I shall leave immediately."
As he turned to leave, Sienna wasn't ashamed to acknowledge her own reluctance in sending him. Adam was powerful, not just as a soldier but as a symbol, but he was also not his usual self these days. Blake leaving left a mark on him, and she wasn't the only one who noticed.
She'd hoped that calling him back to Menagerie would help him heal, help remind him why they fought for what they did. It wasn't all about revenge, it was about sending a message. She just hoped the message Adam would send would be in their best interest. With so many humans piled in one area, it was easy to imagine him losing control and lashing out. It was for that reason she offered one last bit of heartfelt advice for one of her oldest supporters.
"Adam," He paused at the door, turning to look over his shoulder. "Remember why I've sent you. Don't become distracted." Left unsaid was who she was referring to, but he didn't fail to get her meaning; it remained to be seen how he would handle the battle to come.
Author's Note: Extremely important stuff happened this chapter… Qrow and Winter fucked. Surely that will be the biggest take away here.
In other news, I may be getting commissioned to do some writing before too long so there might be more than one story going up at a time. Depends on how well I can write it all. So if you like my writing you might get to see more, I'll hold off on details until I'm a bit more certain though.
I hope you all enjoyed it and I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the review. Good or bad, they help me to improve.
Sincerely, SE