"So what treats does Vale have to offer? The last time I was here most of the districts were nothing but small towns, but now they've expanded together to form a vast city!" The newest edition to team STTQ, pronounced 'sanctity' strolled alongside his teammates in the commercial district with an air of giddy swagger.
"They've got a really good bar not too far from here." Qrow shifted toward another section of road, but a strong pull on his sleeve forced him back.
"Oh no you don't, we haven't even covered the main parts of Vale and you already want to start drinking? And here I thought you'd keep your promise of staying sober." Summer scolded with a fierce pout.
"Ah, you don't need to worry about little old me, I'm not a big fan of booze and the like." Tyrian chuckled as he shot Qrow an apologetic look.
His new leader showed an appreciative smile. "I think we're going to get along just fine!"
"Indeed!" Tyrian cackled. While his mannerisms were a tad over the top and could be seen as offputting, the man was willing to adapt to his surroundings and befriend his new partners, so Tyrian's first impression went swimmingly.
"Say, is there a bookstore around here? I've been meaning to catch up on some of my favorite novels, but I couldn't find the time during my travels."
Qrow shrugged and pointed to a busy section of the street. "There's a new bookstore that opened up a few weeks ago, but if you go farther down there's a place called Tukson's book trade. It's a pretty good place when you want the most out of your lien, but there have been rumors that the old place is going out of business."
"Marvelous!" Tyrian exclaimed. "Well, we've already exchanged scroll numbers, so you know how to contact me should you require my services. Farewell, my dear partners until we meet again!"
With that, the man broke into a fit of raucous laughter and somersaulted away with the cries of startled pedestrians following his giddy retreat.
"Well, he's a funny one isn't he?" Summer tapped her chin with a curled brow.
"Did Ozpin really think that we needed a man with a screw loose?" Qrow mumbled and trailed his leader to the docks.
/-/
"Hawkins?" A subtle heat wriggling through the skin beneath his ruffled cloak, the magician found a seclusive corner to ponder as he waited for the ship to Mistral.
Seated upon a wooden crate far from prying ears, Hawkins addressed the sudden voice.
"What do you want?"
"Hawkins, why are you at the docks?" Bastion, that was the only tone the blonde recognized.
"Do I have to explain every single one of my actions to you? I want nothing to do with you, so leave me alone."
Bastion sighed. "I can't do that, but you have a responsibility to uphold back in the agricultural district don't you?"
"I already gave Jaune a better pair of parents. So shut up and get out of my head."
The emblem of the crescent moons glimmering through the cotton clothing, Hawkins had to relocate to a dark alleyway to avoid the speculating stares from those afar. He grunted in ire as the bright light brought up past pains. He didn't want this, none of this felt like it was his choice.
"What about the wish of your vice-captain? Surely you must respect Faust's wishes." Bastion hummed.
However, the voice hitched in a sudden gasp.
"Don't you dare try to use my comrade's death for leverage! Faust would never chain my freedom through guilt, but I guess you're not above such a despicable tactic are you, you dead spirit?!" Hawkins snarled.
"Easy, Hawkins, I was only..."
"What? Going to bribe me with empty promises that you cannot prove? You refuse to tell me what you know about your involvement in this world, yet you claim to desire my trust, but what you really want is my strength at your beck and call correct?" The magician ranted.
"You don't understand..."
"I gave you the chance to explain yourself, but even at my weakest, you couldn't gather the courage to reveal your true intentions. You're pathetic Bastion, even more so than I, and I'm a failed pirate no less!"
The blaring horn of an incoming ship bearing the Mistralian emblem pushed through the waves and docked at the fourth platform. Unlike the vessels of Vale, this one had a more familiar frame that piqued Hawkins' interest. A long wooden bow accompanied by steel plating, other than the advanced heavy artillery attached to the sides, the ship came off like any other you'd see on the grande-line.
"Wait, you don't know what you're doing, Hawkins. Please hear me out!" Bastion's voice faded as the magician's stubborn resolve shoved the annoying decibels from his sub-conscience.
"Hawkins?"
"I told you to leave me alone did I not?!" The magician roared, though his temper lessened at the sight of a white hood and quivering silver eyes. Of all the people in Vale, of course, it'd be the nosy red reaper to join the conversation. Steeling his nerves, Hawkins frowned but addressed his acquaintance in his regular stoic tone.
"U-Um, I'm sorry for bothering you, but what are you doing all the way out here?" Summer laughed awkwardly. "I'm not used to seeing you past the park or the commercial district."
"I could say the same, I assume you haven't come here in search of idle chit-chat."
"Well..." The huntress fiddled with a stray lock of hair, her gaze to the side, she stared longingly at the bobbing ships chained to the port.
"Hawkins, have you ever felt that you've willingly put yourself between a rock and a hard place?"
The magician sighed. "I'm not a counselor. Go ask someone else to ease your petty troubles."
"Is that really your answer? Come on, Hawkins, I thought we were friends." Summer stood on her tippy toes with a pout.
"We are not friends. If anything you are nothing more than an annoyance who refuses to leave me to my own devices despite my requests of solitude."
That sharp remark issued a long pause of silence. His eyes narrowed, Hawkins noticed the gathering of moisture in Summer's eyes.
"Why... Why are you so mean? Can't we have one discussion that doesn't involve me being insulted?" The red reaper's head dipped down, the corners of her lips dipping along, she wiped the salty droplets with her sleeve.
Hawkins' face scrunched. The eyes of wandering pedestrians veering toward the sad display, the magician rolled his eyes and stepped past his wilted cohort. If he didn't hurry he'd miss his boat to Mistral, and that simply wouldn't do.
However, he'd underestimated Summer's resolve. With a grip much to strong for a woman her size, the huntress activated her semblance and dashed away with a reluctant blonde in tow. The journey lasted much longer than the usual travel, and Hawkins grimaced when he realized where he'd ended up.
Back at the park, standing before the bench he'd come to recognize as his loyal steed for rest and laziness, Hawkins tried to pull away, but Summer's grip made sure to keep him in place.
Her mouth clamped shut, the red reaper sat down with a tired huff. Glancing at the frowning man, Summer could only wonder as to what drove her to force this situation. Her dimmed silver peering into a set of lackluster crimson, for a moment Summer didn't see a stoic blonde, instead, she witnessed a woman with locks black as night and skin pale as the moon.
Her sights drifting toward the ground, she almost jumped out of her seat when Hawkins took the spot beside her. Furrowing her brows, the huntress twiddled her thumbs and was surprised a second time when the man next to her spoke first.
"Why do you insist on meddling in my personal affairs? Are you still seeking an apology for our confrontation at Mr. Slate's store?"
Summer bit her lip and slowly shook her head. "No... I don't think that's the case. To be honest, I don't really know why I'm trying to help you, but whenever I look into your eyes I can't help but see someone else. Someone... that I failed to help when they needed me the most."
"I don't need your pity."
The red reaper giggled weakly. "That's definitely something she would say..."
The branches rustling in the gentle breeze, the magician withdrew his tarot cards and began to shuffle. He could see the peeking eyes of his acquaintance, but paid their curiosity no mind and continued to flip the cards between his palms.
"Say..." Summer shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "You never answered my question."
"As I stated before, I am a poor choice if you wish to console your grievances."
"N-No, I meant my first question. Why were you at the docks?"
"To get on a ship obviously. But the tickets I purchased are useless now seeing that my ship has already set sail." Hawkins sighed and continued to shuffle.
"O-Oh, I guess that's kinda my fault isn't it?"
"Not completely, but that's beside the point. However..." The light in his crimson pupils returning just a fraction, the magician lowered his cards and tilted his gaze toward Summer.
"Who is it that I remind you of? Are you hoping to recruit me to fill the last spot on your team?"
"W-Why would you think that?" The huntress stammered.
"Well, as you've stated, I remind you of someone and the chances that it's your former teammate stands at 70%. So if you wish to prod personal information, then it's only fair that I receive a fair amount in return."
Summer took in a deep breath and sighed with her eyes closed. "It's always straight to the point with you huh?"
Hawkins remained silent and gestured for his acquaintance to continue.
"Hah... It's just been a rollercoaster of emotions for me this past. One second I feel like I'm on top of the world, only to be reminded of my shortcomings the next. My... former partner was a stoic sort. A smile on her face was like a blue moon, and she always kept to herself despite my team's attempts to bring her out of her shell."
Another deep breath.
"She depended a lot on Qrow when she wanted something verbally conveyed, but I didn't like the poor habits of communication my team was building. So, I saw to it to break the uncomfortable gap and gain my partner's trust."
"I assume that things didn't go as planned half the time?" Hawkins butted in.
Summer nodded with a giggle. "Yup, my distant partner made sure to stay clear of my friendly advances, but with a lot of determination and support from my other teammates, we managed to get her to crack a smile."
A glimmer of happiness piercing through her downtrodden visage, Summer smiled broadly with a playful hum.
"And that was all it took. The bridge of friendship that seemed impossible to build had finally gained some foundations. Though given the nature of our relationship, I don't know how much she saw me as a friend instead of a worthy adversary."
"Adversary?" Hawkins curled a brow.
"Yup, my partner enjoyed our sparring classes the most. Constantly testing her mettle with a fire of ambition to prove that she was the strongest in our year. Imagine her surprise that the first duel we shared ended in a draw. After that, we continued to meet in the arena and exchange clashes of steel."
"I see." The magician's fingers turned sluggish as his attention wavered from his tarot readings to his cohort.
"Yup! The days of STRQ didn't seem like such a hassle anymore, and my partner started to talk to us during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was a wearisome pace, but I couldn't complain as I'd finally made some progress with her. Kinda like the way I managed to get you to go on a mission with me..."
Brushing a few stray locks behind her ear, Summer turned to meet Hawkins' face head-on. "It's funny really, while you do remind me of my former partner, there are some key differences between the two of you."
"What differences are there other than me being a man?" The blonde rolled his eyes at Summer's dumbfounded expression.
"There's a 60% chance your ally was a woman." He said firmly.
The red reaper laughed. "Well, the main difference between you and her was that you actually helped me on your own accord. Granted you did take 70% of our mission profit for yourself."
"How does offering my services differentiate me from your partner?"
Summer beamed a pearly smile. "That's just it, my partner never would have helped me out like that, not unless she was completely obligated to do so. What I'm trying to say, Hawkins is that you're a genuinely kind person."
A sad smirk, one of self-deprecation, weaved onto the magician's stoic features. His shuffling came to a stop as his posture slumped.
"I'm not a kind person, Ms. Rose, you shouldn't judge someone you barely know from only a few interactions."
The mocking tone sent a chill through Summer's spine, but she'd made it so far with Hawkins that she was not willing to back down.
"No, that's not true. Sure you're rude, cold, and a little greedy, but despite all those traits you still helped me out of your own violition... It's a little late, but thank you, Hawkins."
The blonde grunted and stood himself up. Building a relationship would not do him any good in the long run. However, he'd have to wait until tomorrow for another ship to Mistral, like the one he'd bought tickets for was the last vessel out.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!" With the loud clanging of bells echoing from the streets, four firetrucks followed by a handful of police cars rushed down the roads while flashing their lights.
Hawkins shielded his eyes as a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead, but Summer's eyes followed the path of the loud vehicles.
"What's going on? Hey, Hawkins, do you see those smoke clouds in the south? I think it's coming from the agricultural district."
"Beep!~ Beep!~" Snatching her scroll from a pouch on her belt, the red reaper's eyes widened in horror at the message that was announced.
"Hunters and huntresses who are within the vicinity of the agricultural district, please make your way there and escort the civilians from the raging fires. If possible, offer aid to the fire brigade and cooperate with the police forces if necessary. That is all!"
The magician lowered his hands. He knew he shouldn't... He knew he couldn't... But even with all these things in mind, he found himself running after Summer who'd activated her semblance without bringing the magician along.
/-/
"Damn it, we can't squander the fire! All of you get out of here and gather by the river, the flames won't reach that part of the district!" Max's dog ears flapped the smoke from his face as he tossed an empty bucket behind him.
"This has to be a cruel joke. How the hell does all four of the biggest windmills just go up in flames?! There's no way this is a coincidence!"
"Max!" Coughed an ash-covered Sam. His straw hat singed and toothpick long gone, the old Faunus pushed through the burning debris with a wounded farmer pulled over his shoulder.
"We can't save the mill, but everyone's evacuated. We shouldn't waste any more time here either unless we want to end up as roasted jerky!"
"You read my mind!" Max panted and assisted his friend with his heavy load.
The fires roared through the district, stray pieces of blazing lumber landed on the nearby crops and fences thus igniting the entire district. Farmers cowered at the heated enemy, desperately searching for their young and fleeing the premisses with heavy hearts.
"Sam!" A group of his fellow-men called. "We can't find Carla and the other girls!"
The deer Faunus' heart skipped a beat and quickened its pace. "W-What do you mean, my wife and her friends were in the fields today weren't they?!"
The tallest among the group shook his head. "They finished bundling up the straw early and headed toward the third windmill to lend a hand... Sam?! Wait, hold on!"
His mind clogged with worry, the old farmer tossed the injured farmer on his shoulder to Max and ran back to the farms as fast as his legs would carry him.
/-/
"Hawkins, where are you going, didn't you hear what my scroll said?" Summer blitzed past the northern bridge and skid to a stop. The magician lingering on the other end, the red reaper waved for him to follow.
"I... I can't go there." The magician hung his head in shame. He'd made it this far, but the distance between his end of the bridge and Summer's felt like miles.
"What are you talking about? You didn't stumble on our way here, and you don't look injured." Summer said exasperatedly.
"I lost my right to enter these farmer grounds just this morning, my presence here will never be accepted after what I've done. Please, if you find any of these people, save them for me."
Hawkins hesitantly walked on the bridge and stopped midway. He withdrew a small photo from his cloak pocket and held it out for the red reaper to take.
Summer hurried to meet him and inspected the piece of film. A man in muddy overalls had his arm slung over a woman's shoulder who bore a large set of cow ears. Cradled in the arms of, who Summer assumed to be the wife of the man in the photo, was a blonde baby and a moppy bluish-haired girl trying to hide herself behind her left leg.
"Hm... Nope!" The huntress popped the P with a nonchalant expression.
"...What?"
"Nope?" Summer raised a brow with a corner of her lip curled upward.
"That doesn't make sense," Hawkins grumbled.
"Huh, and here I thought you considered yourself a smart person." The red reaper giggled at the magician's vexed visage.
"Nope, means that I'm not going to do what you tell me. It's as simple as that, Hawkins." Summer stuck out her tongue with puffed cheeks.
The photo crumpled under the magician's tightened fingers.
"This is the only time that I'm asking for a favor, there's a 90% chance that you can save all the people in this picture, so why won't you?!"
"Because, like a certain someone, I feel like being a little selfish today." Summer huffed. She examined the blonde's sudden shift of neutrality to despair, and with a soft voice, she smiled.
"These people are important to you, aren't they?" The huntress tapped the photo with her index finger.
"...Yes." Hawkins submitted.
"Then don't you want the chances of their survival to be one-hundred percent? You've already proven yourself to be a powerful individual, so why not use that strength to protect the people you care about?"
"I told you already that I lost the right to enter the agricultural district." The magician grunted.
Summer stepped forward, stomped her foot, and jumped to flick Hawkins' forehead. The man staggered back, dropping his photo and fixing his crimson pupils on a very annoyed face.
"Then earn it back! As long as we're alive we can always redeem ourselves, that's what my headmaster always told me anyway."
"But I..."
"Nope! I'm not moving until you agree to help me save all the farmers." The red reaper turned, showing her back as she crossed her arms.
"You're being childish..."
"Really? Is this coming from a fully capable man who refuses to use his own amazing talents? With that card ability of yours, I'm sure you'd be able to pin down each person in that photo."
"You don't understand..."
"Then help me understand!" Summer waved her arms over her head in a dramatic fashion. "It's my duty as a huntress to help those in need, but even I can be a little selfish when I want to be! So, are you going to risk letting those people die, or are you going to put those big muscles of yours to use?"
The huntress held up an open palm.
His options limited, Hawkins stepped forward and picked up his photograph. His lips pursed and brows furrowed, he showed extreme discomfort but entwined his fingers with Summer's in a respectful handshake.
"I take it back." The red reaper's stern frown softened to a kind smile.
"Pardon?" The magician asked.
"You and my former partner aren't really alike after all."