"Oh, Hawkins, there you are!" Summer skipped across the damp stone of the docks with a bright smile that contrasted the night sky.
Split into four sections, large storehouses lined the property with the emblem of different kingdoms painted above their doors. Hawkins only recognized the Valesian symbol, but he assumed the other three belonged to the neighboring kingdoms.
"You're late." The magician grunted. His glare diverting to a peculiar metal box strapped to the huntress' back, it had the emblem of a rose with pointed petals.
"O-Oh, yeah sorry about that. Old habits die hard I guess." Noticing his stare, Summer followed his crimson eyes to her weapon, currently in its stationary form.
"You want to see it?" Summer grinned and unsheathed her modified dual swords. Sharp and pristine, the white blades emanated a bright red glow around their edges which seemed to stem from a rotary chamber above the hilt.
"It's called crescent swan, I preferred to use the name for both of my blades as it was kinda hard to come up with two names."
"It seems, robust," Hawkins said flatly, his hand rested upon his own sword.
"Hehe, well you're talking to the girl who scored the highest on all her weapon maintenance exams. Not to mention Mr. Slate comes to me whenever he needs a hand in the shop."
The magician nodded but curled a brow.
"Hm? Is something the matter?"
"You seem a lot happier than you were this morning," Hawkins commented.
"I-I do?"
"Not only that, you actually smell nice for a change. Did you finally decide to shower?" The blonde grumbled.
"W-What?!" Summer puffed her cheeks and stomped over to meet the gaze of her temporary partner. Though her glower lessened at the sight of his smirk.
"You're a lot like Qrow... Dangit."
"Anyways, on to more important matters. Where is the cargo that we're supposed to protect? Didn't that flyer provide any details?" Hawkins sighed.
"It's the storehouse with the Atlesian symbol." Summer said proudly and pointed to the nearest storehouse.
Little did the red reaper and stoic pirate know, the building was already occupied by a very capable team.
/-/
"See, what did I tell you, girls? The supplies in this warehouse were supposed to be headed for Mantle, but the shipment labels have been scratched out and replaced with anonymous numbers." Robyn whispered.
Searching along the docks, Robyn found the ship that was supposed to be hauling dust to Mantle. Only to trace its cargo back to a shoddy two-floored storage facility in the outskirts of the commercial district. The large facility hadn't been used for a long time. Dust piles apparent, cobwebs covered every corner of the establishment. All except for a pile of clean wooden crates that had been dumped in the center of the warehouse. Prying open the wooden straps on one of the crates, the Happy huntresses were shocked to discover an abundant load of dust crystals. A mix of disorganized colors, whoever stashed themS did so in a hurry.
"Do you think the council of Vale has anything to do with this?" Joanna asked as she picked up a yellow crystal.
"I don't think Ozpin or the ones in charge of the dust exports would allow such illegal trade. Besides, the council of Vale is pretty passive. I don't think they'd risk getting mixed up then caught in under-the-table dealings like these." Robyn shrugged.
"Shouldn't we inform Ozpin and the council of this illegal activity? I'm sure the old headmaster would put in a proper effort to stop these shady trades." May sighed.
"We will before we leave, but first we need to get this dust back to Mantle where it belongs. Girls, give me a hand will you?" Robyn quipped.
Fionna and Joanna got to work on sorting out the boxes, while Robyn and Fionna stood watch. The night growing old, the task of stacking a new orderly pile was complete. Flipping the lid of the last crate closed, Fionna hopped on top of the neat stack as Joanna passed her the last box.
"Everyone get down!" May hissed in silence. Fiona's startled fingers fumbled with the last crate. Slipping through the Faunus' fingers, the box landed square against Joanna's forehead. Earning a groan of annoyance from the dark green-haired woman.
"What the hell May, what's wrong?" Joanna grumbled.
"Shhh!" May jumped down from the upper floor and hid behind the stack her fellow Huntresses made. Fionna and Joanna scrambled from their spots and joined her. With Robyn trailing quickly behind them.
"What is it?" Robyn asked. Trepidation was apparent in her whisper.
"I saw that blonde man who ate with us at Sam and Carla's place. He's strolling along with the port with his hand on his sword. He looks like he's searching for something." May replied.
"You don't think..." Fionna felt a pang of guilt swell in her chest, but she had to at least consider the idea.
"That Hawkins has something to do with these shady shipments?"
The group fell silent. Creeping out from their hiding spot, they retraced May's steps to her position on the upper floor. Through a window, they eyed the magician warily, mulling over the possibilities that the blonde man was indeed the culprit.
/-/
"Hawkins!" Summer called. In a blur of rose petals, she appeared before the magician.
"You're right, we're the only ones occupying this entire area!"
"I see." After treading the entire length of the docks and failing to find a single worker, Hawkins and Summer decided to indulge in some detective work regarding their shared mission.
Or rather Summer pestered the rude blonde until he conceded his services. But it's the thought that counts right?
"There's a 63% chance that the workers were taken out. However, whether the culprits have any ties to Vale elude me. Have you inspected the western warehouses? There was a high probability of someone occupying those buildings." The magician surmised.
"Why am I the only one running around?" The red reaper pouted. She couldn't deny that a bit of her pride had chipped seeing that she wasn't the leader in this scenario.
"Because your powers allow you to cover an absurd amount of ground. Not to mention that there's a high chance that you'd be distracted from our initial task."
"It's not a bad thing to be thorough!" Summer protested.
A harsh glare from Hawkins, Summer met his stare, but the intensity of his crimson pupils was one she could not match. With a reluctant groan, the huntress hurried away to the opposite section of the docks. A good distance away from her stoic acquaintance.
Minutes passed. With no sign of action, Hawkins considered abandoning the mission altogether. That is until a bright light peeked through the darkness over the sea.
A bead of sweat rolled down the pale cheek of the blonde man. A small cargo ship was closing the distance between itself and the port. As the bright golden lights of the ship blinked, flashes of horrible and helpless memories took hold of the magician's heart. His legs growing feeble, his hands instinctively clasped the handle of his blade. The image of an all-powerful admiral laying waste to his crew and dashing his dreams breaking his stoic demeanor.
The ship docked, and Hawkins did nothing as he was approached by a rather large man dressed in a black suit with matching gloves and shoes.
"Oi, I thought Vergo would've had more hands for the midnight shipment. Hey, I'm talking to you man." Growled the stranger as he waved for a few of his men wearing similar attire to move onto the port.
Running a hand through his short black hair, he scratched his mustache and beard. Standing at 6'8" he was shorter than Hawkins, but not by much. Tilting his head at the sweaty blonde man, he outstretched a hand for a professional greeting.
"The name's Hei Wong, but most people call me Junior. What's yours?"
The images of his bloody failure vanishing, Hawkins steeled his heart. Narrowing his gaze on the young man and his lackeys, it was obvious something illegal was going on. Though being a former pirate, Hawkins didn't object to the matter. Instead, he decided to ask a question of his own.
"Are you the one responsible for posting the bodyguard mission?" Hawkins said bluntly. Keeping his hands by his waist, Junior retracted his extended limb.
"What are you talking about? There shouldn't be anyone other than us here. Unless..." Junior's words were cut by a thundering explosion from one of the nearby warehouses.
Bodies of Junior's subordinates flew one after the other. Thudding against the rough concrete, pained groans echoed across the port.
"What the hell is going on?!" Junior shouted. Using his hands to waft away the smoke around him.
"I can't believe this Hawkins!" Screamed a familiar voice. Rushing through the dusty smog, Robyn appeared with her weapon drawn and was aiming it at the magician's skull.
"Ms. Hill?" Hawkins asked in bewilderment.
Chaos ensued across the entire port. Junior and his men had taken arms against the Happy Huntresses but were no match for the group of veteran combatants. Once again the thugs fell. This time for the rest of the night leaving only a confused Hawkins and Junior. Having little choice in the matter, Hawkins drew his blade and intercepted the incoming violet-eyed Huntress. Cold steel scraping against each other, the blonde magician steadied his footing and looked straight at Robyn's soured expression.
"What are the happy huntresses doing here, Robyn?" Hawkins asked while parrying the raging jabs and thrusts of his opponent.
"What are we doing here?! I should be the one asking you that! Why are you helping these assholes steal dust shipments from the people of Mantle?!" Robyn cried.
"Wait, let me explain..." Each plausible explanation Hawkins came up with was dismissed immediately. Finding an opening, the blonde man reluctantly jumped forward and forced his blade in a downward swing. The impact of his sword landing against Robyn's weapon forced her down to a knee.
"Robyn!" Cried the other Happy Huntresses.
"Don't worry, Hawkins, I'll cover you!" Shouted Junior. The large man being sent straight through a wall of a warehouse after his pathetic attempt to cover the magician's back.
Rolling his eyes, Hawkins turned his head but kept the pressure on his sword.
"Will you let me speak!" Hawkins snarled. His stoic visage peeling away from all the unreasonable stress he was going through for such a simple endeavor.
"Once you're behind bars we will!" The huntresses snapped back.
Gritting his teeth, Hawkins kicked Robyn in the gut sending her hurdling back in a roll. Then diverted his blade to skillfully block each attack the huntresses had to offer. Fionna and May dipped to the sides leaving the tallest, Joanna, to assault Hawkins head-on while the other two worked on opportunities from the flanks.
"I can't believe I trusted you, Hawkins! I even comforted you when you were at your worst, was that pitiful display simply an act?!" Fiona spat.
"Eyes on the prize, Fi, once we take care of him they'll be one less criminal in the world!" May snarled.
Their combined attack was a tactful strategy, but Hawkins was used to having the numbers against him after so many encounters with the navy and other pirates. Using his size and strength to his advantage, Hawkins bolted forward startling Joanna to take on a defensive posture. Her staff raised, it collided against Hawkins' sword, but that action was what the magician was hoping for.
"Straw Sword!" Hawkins yelled. The sharp steel of his blade morphing into rustling straw, it weaved past Joanna's staff and nailed her through the shoulder. Blood spewing from her injury, the green-haired huntress dropped her weapon and stumbled back. Seeking cover behind May and Fionna who rushed to their ally's aid.
"So that's your semblance!" Robyn shouted from behind.
Spinning on his heels, Hawkins jumped just in the nick of time to avoid the arrows being shot at him. Now separated from close quarter combat, Fionna and May shifted their bladed staffs into crossbow form. His heels teetering over the edge of the port, the blue waves crashed against the concrete. Reminding the blonde magician of his weakness to the salty sea.
"I didn't expect a quiet man like you to be involved in a shady business like this Hawkins. And here I was having such high hopes for you." Robyn scolded. Making threats of how she'd lock him behind bars by force, or simply toss his dead body in the ocean behind him.
"Will you listen to what I have to say? Or are the Happy Huntresses unable to comprehend reason?!" Hawkins snarled. Stabbing his blade into the concrete, the eyes of his opponents widened in curiosity.
"You just stabbed Joanna! Do you honestly expect us to forgive and forget a criminal?!" May hollered. Her index finger pressing against the trigger, an arrow was shot straight through Hawkins' chest.
"May!" Fionna and Joanna shouted in shock and disbelief. They knew how their partner felt, but to take a life without their teammates' consent was out of line.
"Hawkins!" The arrow never landed. Instead, it was intercepted by a red blur that left trails of rose petals behind it.
"Are you okay, what's going on here?!" Summer tossed the arrow into the sea and drew her dual swords.
"Ugh, I don't believe this, even an upstanding team like STRQ are partly responsible for Mantle's suffering," Robyn growled. She wanted to take out two birds with one stone, but she didn't want to risk Joanna losing an arm in the process.
"Wait, before any of us die, will you please hear me out? I don't want to kill anyone over a petty misunderstanding." Hawkins announced. His tone that of an authoritative figure who refused to stand down.
Summer shot a scornful face at Robyn, daring her to protest.
"...Fine, you have two minutes to explain yourselves, but on one condition." The leader of the happy huntresses stepped forward despite her friends' warnings.
Robyn linked her right hand with Hawkins'. Confused at the approach, the blonde attempted to free his fingers, but Robyn only tightened her grip at the action.
"Are you really here on the premise of a mission?" The light blonde snapped.
Seeing no reason to lie, the magician nodded and replied. "Yes."
"I can prove it," Summer added. Revealing the information of the job with her scroll.
A pale lilac aura glimmered over the hold between Hawkins and Robyn. With May, Joanna, and Fionna paying close attention to the outcome. Once the aura turned green, audible sighs left the lungs of each huntress. Though the realization of their murdering intent against the stoic man earned a redundant amount of blushes, bows, and apologies for the blonde.
"Well, this is awkward... How about you let us clean up here, Hawkins, and then we'll meet up tomorrow for a proper apology?" Robyn scratched her cheek and turned to her fellow huntresses.
"You know what to do, Fionna, get those crates stored and secured. Then we'll head back to Mantle the next morning after handing a report to Ozpin. I'll be leaving out a few details, as usual, especially ones regarding a certain straw hunter." Robyn chuckled. Receiving a rolling of eyes and groans from her teammates.
"If that is all then there is no need for me to be here anymore. I'll see you tomorrow about my payment, Ms. Rose." Hawkins took his first step towards home, but once again a flashing of lights along the horizon rattled his mind.
"I'll walk you home, you don't seem stable enough to make it there on your own." Summer sighed and did her best to steady Hawkins' wavering form.
"Damn it. Robyn, it's the police!" May yelled.
"Don't sweat it girl. It's time for your specialty don't you think?" Robyn smirked.
The blue-haired girl nodded, she stretched her glowing hands to her sides and cast a transparent forcefield around the group.
"What is this?" Questioned the magician.
"No need to worry yourself, Hawkins. It's May's semblance, invisibility field. It allows her to 'mask' everything within its circle making it invisible to the eyes on the outside. Now best keep your voice down. We're gonna slip outta here before the cops have time to snoop around." Robyn grinned.
"All done you guys!" Fionna cheered and rejoined the group. Though she hesitated when she caught Hawkins talking with the leader of STRQ.
"Uh oh, looks like you've got some competition, Fi." May snickered and gestured to the white hooded huntress who strolled beside the stoic magician.
"I-I don't like Hawkins like that! Besides, he's not my type." The sheep Faunus pouted.
"Hm? A type for what?" The blonde sighed.
Fiona squealed and jumped behind May. When did Hawkins get so close?!
"W-We'd better get going before we get caught!" Fiona yelped and sped away, much to her teammates' amusement as they ran to keep their blushing partner in May's forcefield.
As police personnel took charge of the docks, Junior and his men were arrested and detained for interrogation. However, no authoritative representative took notice of the fleeing group of giddy huntresses or their blonde companion as they made their escape under the smiling moon and stars.
*Hunter mission Arc. End.*