"Hawkins!" A feminine voice shouted. Pedestrians ducked for cover as a storm of rose petals trailed a mass of speeding red. In the blink of an eye, a familiar head of reddish-black hair and silver eyes stood before a stoic blonde.
"Hm, it seems my assumptions were correct. It's convenient that you found me, I've been searching for you since this morning." The magician grumbled.
"You've been looking for me since this morning?" Summer pursed her lips.
Hawkins rolled his eyes. "My sword. There's a 49% chance that it's still in the weapon shop, but there's a 75% chance that it's with you."
The huntress crossed her arms and furrowed her brows. "That's the first thing you ask after you tried to cut me in half? You're really making it hard not to arrest you."
"Is my blade in your keeping, or will I have to tear apart that weapon shop to claim what is rightfully mine?" Hawkins' shadow loomed over Summer.
His stoic visage twisting to one of anger, his silver-eyed acquaintance fought back a yelp and steeled her nerves.
"Y-Your sword is safe. I left it with Mr. Slate and he decided to do fix it up believe it or not. Apparently, he hasn't had the joy of sharpening an old-fashioned blade for some time."
The fire in his crimson pupils lessened but was not completely gone. "Then I suppose that is all we have to discuss."
Hawkins turned, but a firm set of fingers curled around his sleeve. A harsh yank, he almost keeled over and fell. Summer was surprisingly strong for a woman her size.
"We'll go to the store together. Mr. Slate doesn't know who you are, so claiming that the old sword belongs to you will sound farfetched." Summer paused, tapping a finger against her chin, she contemplated the idea of having Hawkins in an uncomfortable environment.
She didn't know what caused his violent outburst, but something about the weapon shop did trigger some sort of horrible trauma that she'd prefer to avoid.
"On second thought, why don't you wait for me at our usual bench in the park?"
"I don't need to owe you any favors. I'm fully capable of retrieving my blade." The magician retorted.
"I'm not willing to risk getting my head hacked off. So why don't you be nice for a change and do as you're told?"
Hawkins grimaced, Summer didn't seem like a liar, or a bad person in general, so he slowly dragged his feet across the pavement and headed toward the new meeting location.
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"I hope this sword is worth the trouble. I checked the security feeds yesterday and I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. But are you sure it's a good idea to let someone like Hawkins roam freely? Even if he isn't a bad person, having someone with violent tendencies out in the public is trouble no matter how you look at it."
Mr. Slate plopped down the magician's weapon on the countertop. Clear of any blemish, the steel glimmered with a polished pizazz.
"Good morning, Mr. Slate, is my..." The sudden voice paused, a familiar head of pale blonde hair and light green pupils joining the conversation, the stern leader of team GPPO sighed at the sight of her former classmate.
"Ah, Glynda, perfect punctuality as usual." Mr. Slate smiled and excused himself to fetch the huntress' weapon.
A still silence taking over, Summer's eyes narrowed at the taller woman. Dressed in her typical violet dress, Glynda gave off a noble yet approachable look, however, she'd added a new set of black, knee-high combat boots with golden-colored heels to her attire.
"Glynda."
"Summer."
The mere greeting lasted less than a few seconds, but the tension was rising at a breakneck pace.
"Does that sword belong to you?" Glynda curled a brow. "It doesn't suit your robust standards."
The red reaper bit her lower lip. "No, it belongs to... a new friend of mine?"
The blonde showed a confused stare at the questioning tone. "A new friend? Does this happen to be the replacement Ozpin has found for you?"
"U-Um..."
Glynda gave a haughty huff. "This is why I warned you about Raven. She never had the qualities to be a huntress in the first place. Not that her younger sibling fairs any better. Why I heard Qrow was kicked out of a bar a few weeks ago because he threw a table through the window."
A stinging heat boiled in the pit of Summer's stomach. Her fingers clamped around the hem of her skirt, her gaze shifted to Hawkins' sword then back to Glynda.
"Yeah?! Well, you'll be happy to know that Hawkins is a perfectly capable man with great morals and qualities!" Her mind catching up with what she said, Summer blinked as a pink hue colored her cheeks.
"Hawkins? That doesn't sound like a hunter from our graduation batch. Which kingdom does he hail from?" The witch tapped her foot and smirked.
"H-He's from Mistral! A top-class swordsman who can take on an entire team of hunters on his own!" Summer was spitting nothing but false pretenses, but in her defense, Hawkins did wield a longsword.
Before another round of banter could be volleyed, Mr. Slate returned with Glynda's trusted disciplinarian. Simple but effective, the disciplinarian consisted of a silver handle bearing the emblem of a crown with an elongated leather crop at the end of it.
"I implemented a CCT device within the handle as you requested. Now, you can communicate with your friends and teammates without the need to pull out your scroll." The lizard Faunus grinned and accepted his well-earned lien.
"Well, now that I have some time on my hands, perhaps you could introduce me to this Hawkins fellow?" Glynda shot an amused expression at Summer.
The red reaper wilted, her gaze to the side, she made circles in the floor with the tip of her boot.
"Hawkins is a real person isn't he?" The smirk on Glynda's visage widened.
"O-Of course he's real!" Summer blurted. "He's waiting for me at the park as we speak!"
"Then let's get going shall we?" Her light green eyes boring into a hesitant silver, the two women made their way out of the store.
While intrigue nicked Glynda's attention, Summer was sweating bullets. Hopefully, her rude 'friend' could help sell a made-up story?
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"Look mommy, it's the card man again!" Laughed the same little girl who'd seen the magician on a weekly basis.
His typical glare on full display, the worrisome mother ushered her child toward an ice-cream stall.
The birds sang their songs as the sun hit the morning peak. Not a cloud in the sky, Hawkins had to cover his face as Summer approached. However, she was not alone. Walking beside her, a noticeably taller woman with pale blonde hair and light green eyes, adorned a violet robe that reached just below her nylon-covered knees.
"So, this is your new replacement? At least he looks like a serious Huntsman." Her voice resonated with that of a diplomat.
Whoever this person was, she seemed to uphold a high level of authority. So in Hawkins' case, this witch-looking lady was someone he wanted to avoid. Though, for some strange reason, she did seem familiar.
"Y-Yeah, that's right, Hawkins is a capable fighter with an honest heart!" Summer stood on her tippy toes with her hands clasped behind her back while shooting Hawkins a pitiful pair of puppy dog eyes.
"What is this about?" The magician hummed in confusion.
"My name is Glynda Goodwitch, leader of team GPPO and graduate of Beacon academy. I believe we've met before, but we didn't get the chance to properly introduce ourselves." The woman's tone was polite, but an ominous glimmer in the corner of her eye did not go unnoticed.
Hawkins scratched his chin. "Yes, you're the superior of that green-haired fellow?"
Glynda nodded then turned to Summer.
"So, Summer tells me that you're home kingdom is Mistral. Which city or town did you occupy before moving to Vale?"
The stoic man curled a brow. His bewilderment directed toward the fidgeting red reaper, she stepped behind Glynda and mouthed 'please help me.'
For a moment Hawkins considered the pros and cons of the situation. While not planned, this was an opportunity he could take advantage of with little risk. After all, since this world had no connections to the grande line, the magician didn't have any reputation which meant he had a blank slate to work with.
"I'm a mercenary for hire." He said slowly. "I accepted Summer's proposal of temporary partnership as a means to an end. Once I've accepted my payment, I'll be on my way with no further intent to meddle in her affairs."
Both huntresses tilted their heads.
"And what is Summer willing to pay for your services?" The blonde witch crossed her arms.
The corners of the magician's lips twitched upward, if only for a moment, as the color drained from the red reaper's face.
"700 lien." He said flatly.
Glynda's eyes widened, she glanced to Summer who somehow managed to keep a straight face.
"That is... rather generous. May I ask what your shared mission is?"
"Hm? Are you low on funds and are hoping to snatch a piece of the profit?" Hawkins grinned.
"T-That's preposterous! I'd never stoop so low as to impose on a fellow huntress' mission!"
"That information is between me and my temporary partner. If she is willing to indulge you with details, then so be it. But I will not relay anything unless I have my cohort's approval." Hawkins sighed.
Blinded by the bright smile of his supposed partner, Summer shot Glynda a haughty smirk and giggled.
"I believe we have to discuss the details of our mission, Ms. Rose?" The stoic blonde stood from his seat, standing about six inches taller than his new acquaintance, Glynda frowned slightly as she lifted her head to meet her fellow blonde's gaze.
"Well, it's been nice seeing you, but Hawkins and I need to do some planning! Cya later snooty witch!" Summer laughed as her former classmate snarled at the use of her old epithet.
Before he could take a step, the giddy red reaper snagged Hawkins by his ruffled collar and sped away in a flurry of rose petals.
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His senses coming to, Hawkins snuffed the dirt from his face and grunted at an unamused glare directed toward him.
"What was that about?!" Summer cried exasperatedly, her arms flailing over her head as she did so.
"My statements satisfied the curiosities of Ms. Goodwitch. I find no reason for you to be upset."
Summer's jaw slacked. "You don't think that she's going to dig into this matter? What do we do when Glynda finds out that we don't have a mission?!"
The magician rolled his eyes lazily. "The entire situation was dumped on me without notice. If you are unhappy with the outcome, then the only person you can blame is yourself. If anything, I am a victim in this conundrum."
Her cheeks flushed, the red reaper grit her teeth and sighed. "Well, now that we're partners, do you want to check out the MHA?"
"What?"
Silver eyes narrowed. "We're partners now, Hawkins, even if it's temporary we need to show Glynda that we weren't lying."
"Why are you so hell-bent on proving a point with that snobby woman? We can just part ways here and act like we completed a job."
"That's not how it works!" Summer gripped the ends of her reddish locks. "If there's one thing I know about Glynda is that she likes to keep herself informed. She's also pretty competitive, and I don't want to give her another victory if I can help it."
"I still don't see what all of this has to do with me." The stoic blonde deadpanned.
"It has everything to do with you!" Summer spat. "I've already lost a teammate and I'm not going to lose another so soon!"
The magician hesitated. Realizing her mistake, the huntress gasped with a hand over her mouth. She repeatedly blinked in an attempt to rid her eyes of tears, but the floodgates had already opened. She shied away, veering her forlorn visage to the ground, Summer bit her lip and refused to speak.
With the rustle of leaves dancing in the wind, not a word was spoken between the two for what felt like an eternity. Finally, a low voice broke the unnerving silence.
"How much lien does a typical hunter mission bestow?"
His teary acquaintance jolted. Shooting ramrod straight, Summer balked at the questioning look of Hawkins.
She observed him, glancing up and down in search of any mannerisms that would correct what she'd heard. No, instead of his typical dismissive nature, the huntress found herself with what she assumed to be a genuine declaration.
"W-What did you say?" Summer couldn't help it. Maybe her ears were playing tricks on her.
The magician repeated his words nonchalantly, his tone free of malice.
As if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, Summer slapped on a toothy smile and clasped her hands as if in prayer.
"Y-You really want to go on a mission with me?"
"Yes, but I get to keep sixty percent of the profit." The blonde grunted.
Summer's expression soured but seeing that Hawkins was willing to help her in her time of need, put aside her petty thoughts and snagged him by the sleeve.
"You won't be disappointed, Hawkins, that's a promise from the leader of STRQ!"
"Hold on," Hawkins grumbled.
"W-What is it?"
The magician raised a finger to Summer's waist. "You didn't give me my sword back yet."
The huntress laughed nervously and handed over the sharp belonging.
His weapon returned to its sheath, Hawkins let out a satisfied hum and dragged his feet across the dusty pavement.
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"A transportation mission?" Hawkins hummed.
Standing before the MHA, the magician and his silver-eyed partner perused the lengthy boards riddled with posters. Unlike the missions posted outside, the ones within the building were of a much higher caliber.
Grimm exterminations to contracted bodyguards, Hawkins found the hunter system elaborate, but shockingly simple.
"You can deal with a few Boarbatusks and taijutsu's can't you?" Summer grinned and reached for a poster, however, this one was designated for Mistral.
"I'd prefer to remain within Vale's borders." The blonde said firmly. He peeled off a flyer and presented it to Summer. The mission described a bodyguard position at Vale's docks. Apparently, there was an important shipment from Atlas that needed extra muscle.
"Hawkins." The red reaper huffed. "You're not picking this mission because it's the most rewarding are you?"
"So what if I am? I'm not offering my cooperation for a meager reward."
Summer puffed her cheeks. "A hunter's duty is to serve and protect their kingdom and its people. We don't want to build a stingy reputation do we?"
"My presence here is because I need lien. Nothing more. So don't expect me to come to your aid whenever you find yourself in a pinch."
"O-Oh, yeah... Sorry about that. Didn't mean to get ahead of myself there..." Summer sulked.
Hawkins sighed. "Nevertheless, I've agreed to this unfavorable arrangement, and I intend to complete it. Even if I have to put up with your antics."
"Thanks... I think?" Summer mumbled and veered her sights back to the flyer the stoic blonde had selected.
A task that demanded the transport of goods to be protected, the red reaper quizzically sorted through the details.
"This mission is scheduled for tonight. Are you sure you want this one, Hawkins?"
"It's nearby and it is due for today. I see no issue with this job as it completes all the criteria of a swift and efficient mission." The magician surmised.
"Oh, so that's why you want it." The short huntress pursed her lips. Hawkins was starting to sound like Glynda, and that annoyed her greatly.
"Fine, we'll take this mission." Summer withdrew her scroll and tapped on her hunter's license. She scanned the code imprinted on the poster and with a joyful beep, her name was registered but with two other names.
"You still have active teammates?"
Summer squeaked as Hawkins' shadow loomed over her. His crimson eyes locked on two faces, one of a dorky blonde and smirking ravenette, he glanced at Summer dubiously.
"W-Well, I told you that my teammates and I are on pretty rough terms didn't I?"
"So you're using me as an excuse to not confront them?" Hawkins deadpanned.
A mixture of nonsense and defensive gestures, the quivering huntress snapped a picture of the former pirate with her scroll and fled inside the HMA. When she returned, her cheeks were flushed and her hair disheveled. The blonde furrowed his brows but went cross-eyed as Summer pushed her scroll inches from his face.
"T-There, the two of us are officially hired for this mission, there's no backing out now!"
True to her word, the magician's pale visage had been registered under the title of mercenary. He didn't understand the technology of Remnant, so it was futile to object. However, he didn't plan on letting Summer do as she pleased.
"The exchange of lien between us has changed to 70% in my favor."
"W-What?!"
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"Come on little soldier, say ah.~" Sam held up a spoon of mashed potatoes that Jaune quickly devoured.
"He's got quite the appetite doesn't he?" Carla smiled from the counter, doing her best not to cry as she chopped an onion.
"By the way," the cow Faunus glanced around the room. "Where is Hawkins? Shouldn't he have been back by now?"
"U-Um..." The fourth and most quiet member at the kitchen table peered up from her plate.
"Hm, what is it, Trifa?" Sam asked.
"H-Hawkins," the young Faunus stammered. "He said that he got himself a job and that his first shift was tonight."
The sound of a spoon hitting the floor echoed across the humble home. Sam turned to Carla, whose sole reply was a pair of wide eyes and a slacked jaw.
"Well, looks like we won't have to worry about our tight budget anymore Carliana."
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"Ah, Summer, it's a little late for a visit." A slim woman, adorned in the usual hospital getup, greeted the huntress with a soft smile.
"I know, but I wanted to see if Tai's come around yet." The red reaper fiddled with a stray hair and diverted her gaze.
The nurse slowly shook her head but did so with a light chuckle. "He hasn't shown any signs of waking up, but his aura reserves have bolstered since last week. Our casts took care of the major injuries, and his heart rate has been steady all the while. It's okay if you want to see him, but make sure you're out of here before 10:45 okay?"
Summer nodded frantically made her way down the wide halls. Up the stairs and to the right, a door numbered 204 stood between the red reaper and the blonde pun lover of her team. Emotions, too many emotions thundered in her stomach as her beating heart felt like it was going to pop.
Gathering the rest of her courage for today and the next to come, Summer opened the door and waltzed in. The room was quiet but peaceful. There, laying on a medical bed was Tai. His left arm riddled with wires, the rest of his body was covered head to toe in bandages. The cast around his legs had been removed, but the scars left behind were almost too much for his leader to bear.
Summer plopped down on a stool near the headrest and twiddled her thumbs. Her bangs blocking her eyes, she kept her head toward the floor and sighed.
"Well, it looks like you're doing better, Tai." The huntress slid a hand across the white blanket but retracted her fingers when they got too close to Tai's hand.
"The nurse said that you're making a rapid recovery, but it doesn't seem like you'll be waking up anytime soon. Although the sooner you wake up, you could try one of the cherry pies at Port's favorite bakery! And get this, the place even doubles as a restaurant so we could chat and eat at the same time!"
Her lips stretched to a forced smile. The pitters of salty tears spoiling her skirt, Summer slowly shook her head and glanced out the window. The shattered moon rays peeking through the sparse clouds, she patted her chest and continued.
"I know it's selfish, but I really wish you were awake now. With her gone, Ozpin's been searching for a quick replacement but hasn't found anyone he considers worthy to fill the empty spot. Even if our former headmaster does, I'd prefer to have the opinion of my teammates before we settle with someone new."
The red reaper sighed, running a hand through her reddish locks, she wiped away her tears with her sleeve.
"I'm still mad at Qrow, but I know deep down that he cares about us. After all, he decided to stay in Vale, so that's proof enough on where his loyalties lie." She adjusted her collar and tucked a stray hair behind her left ear.
"Oh, I did meet someone interesting though!" The image of a rude stoic figure popping in her mind, she recalled his odd mannerisms and his medieval-styled sword.
"He does this weird thing with his cards and is somehow able to relay information from them. I don't know if he has a semblance, but from the way he slashed through a thick wooden shelf with ease, I'd say he's pretty strong. In a physical manner anyway."
Summer scratched her cheek. "Although, I do question his sanity just a teensy bit. I don't know what got him to act all crazy like that, but he did stand up for a Faunus in need, so he can't be that bad of a person can he?"
She looked to Tai for his opinion, but all he could offer was a scratched and swollen face with weak breaths.
Her silver eyes grew moist, and though she tried to hide it, the floodgates continued to spill. Reduced to a sobbing mess, Summer clenched her fists. Her fingers so tight her nails drew blood.
"I-I'd love for you to meet him, I wonder if he'd drop his stoic face after hearing one of your horrible puns. S-So, please stop scaring me and wake up, Tai..." With that, the huntress stumbled from her chair and buried her head on Tai's chest. She didn't hold back and let loose all of her pain, frustration, and anguish.
"I should never have let her out of my sight! If I didn't none of this would have ever happened!"
Summer lifted her head, her eyes clamped shut and nose scrunched, she pounded the edge of the bed. "You didn't deserve to suffer for my mistakes! All you've ever done is support me, yet I rewarded your efforts with stupidity!"
She gripped her hair, her trembling voice shifting to a loud shout.
"No wonder you chose Raven over me!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH, SUMMER!" A roar much greater than her's stilled the room.
She jumped ramrod straight and snapped her neck to meet a pair of weary pale red pupils. His gray dress shirt torn to shreds, the Q of her team leaned against the doorway with a face covered in fresh scars. His right arm dangled lazily against his hip, marred with purple blotches, it was clear from the abnormal bend near the elbow that the limb was broken.
"Q-Qrow?!" Summer sputtered and rushed to assist her injured teammate.
A bundle of cloth tucked near his chest with his good arm, Qrow coughed and asked his leader to give him space.
"I know I'm not the person you want to see right now, but I needed to get into familiar territory that my sister wouldn't dare to infiltrate."
Summer cocked a brow at her partner's forlorn expression.
"It's not much, but I owed this much to Tai. After all, if Raven wanted to raise her child, she shouldn't have abandoned her husband. But as you can see she and the other bandits did quite a number on me. I don't think I'll be ready for a mission anytime soon."
Fiddling with the cloth, Qrow revealed a baby with fair skin and blonde hair with a trademark ahoge to boot.
"It's a girl, and I think Tai wanted to name his first daughter Yang. She's a fighter that's for sure, she wouldn't stop crying until I limped outta Vacuo."
"Q-Qrow..." Summer couldn't hold it in anymore. She lunged forward and hugged both Qrow and the baby with the gentle firmness of a mother.
However, with their eyes focused on each other and the infant, Summer and Qrow missed the wide smile on their blonde pun lover.