BAZOOKA!~ Wassup everyone. A fresh set of chapters for you on this hot, and I mean really hot summer day! There's gonna be one more sub-arc, this one centralized around our favorite spider Faunus and loveable goofball, then it's straight to the time skip and o'l Jauney boy is gonna be a splendid six years old.

In regards to the one-piece characters in my story, I've cut down the list but I plan on using most of the ones I fleshed out in my previous work. Also, to clear things up, sub arcs aren't necessarily filler, rather the parts of my story where Hawkins isn't a central figure. Just to clear that up if you were wondering.

And before anyone asks I did indeed use Lisa Lavender of all people and gave her a personality. I'm kinda surprised that there was so little work done on her or the news world in RWBY, so I plan to integrate and further develop them in this fanfiction.

And yes, I do plan on having this story surpass five-hundred thousand words XD.

With that, have a wonderful day and happy reading everyone!

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*The Mistralian Crocodile Sub Arc. Begins.*

"Beep~ Beep~ Beep~"

The machines strung up to Hawkins' person hummed an ominous tune Summer had grown to despise. After all, not too long ago, the man she loved was in a similar setting for three months straight. The doctor's assured her that the magician would heal without any problems, but what puzzled the huntress the most was that the staff didn't bother to register Hawkins' aura.

"Ding~"

Shaking her head, Summer pulled out her scroll and sighed happily at the text. Both Qrow and Tai were on their way with Yang in tow, as the male members of STTQ had shunned themselves for not being there. Even Tyrian had written a message of apology, but claimed he had good reasons for missing the action. A heavy sigh slipped through her tired lips, the red reaper almost dropped her scroll as several loud knocks echoed from the door.

Summer wrinkled her brows. Who could that be? A nurse would have directed her teammates to the room, and team GPPO had resigned to Beacon to inform Ozpin and the council of what transpired.

"Well, might as well see who it is." The huntress shrugged and skipped off her chair.

Nearing the door, Summer could hear the voices of a small group. They couldn't have been more than a handful of folks, but they were rather loud. Instead of reaching for the large blue button that would allow the crowd access, Summer pressed her ear against the door and cupped her chin.

"Phew, it took us longer than expected, but I'm sure that this is the room!"

The red reaper didn't recognize that voice. It was one of a female, younger than her to be sure, and seemed to be in high spirits despite the great tragedy that occurred mere hours before.

"I'm not so sure about this, Lisa. We're not supposed to be here, and I thought the other news anchors were going to do the interview." The second voice was that of a male.

With a mocking laugh, the young woman scolded her supposed cameraman for his cowardice.

"Zip it, Steve, those big shots are already all over team GPPO, the fire brigade, the police department, and the lesser-known hunters and huntresses. Lucky for us, two of the most important contributors to Vale's biggest fire in history are on the other side of this door! Do you know what that means?!"

Lisa, at least that's who Summer assumed who was talking, began to ramble about a free ticket to stardom.

"Can you imagine it? All of my hard days filing papers in the office and scrambling in the streets for a high-selling story is finally over! If I can snag an interview with the famous red reaper, while introducing a new amazing addition to the world of hunters, I'll be granted my own segment in the Valesian Times on the CCT network for sure!"

"Yeah... but shouldn't we wait a bit? I don't think it's a good idea to barge in unannounced, especially after what those two just experienced." Steve gulped.

"Ugh, this is why you'll never stop being the coffee cart and garbage boy. Steve, how old are you?" Lisa demanded with a huff.

"I'm 21." Steve sighed.

"And you've been working for the Valesian times for half a decade. Tell me, have they given you a significant pay increase? Or are you still living in that shabby apartment near the borders of the commercial district?" The question sounded more like a statement as Lisa listed off her partner's shortcomings.

"Alright, I get it, but can't you at least knock on the door lightly? If you want an easy interview we shouldn't be aggressive about it."

Well, this steve boy sounded like a fine young man, as for Lisa, Summer concluded she wouldn't mind sending her to another room in the hospital. Alas, that was the life of the press she supposed, eager to delve into the privacy of others for their own financial gain. However, all because the two rookie upstarts were keen on an interview, that didn't mean Summer had to give them on.

With a mischievous smirk, the red reaper spun on her heels and returned to her stool at Hawkins' bedside. She couldn't forget the blonde's sensitivity to flashing lights, and no doubt Lisa's cameraman would try to snap a few flashy pictures during their interrogation. Sure, Hawkins was asleep, but why take the risk of him going berserk when she didn't need to?

"Urgh..."

An audible whisper, Summer gasped as her stoic friend stirred. However, to her disappointment, Hawkins remained asleep. Her posture slumped, Summer twiddled her fingers and began to hum a gentle tune.

The light out the window shifting from a bright yellow to a modest amber, the red reaper turned away from the bandaged patient. It wasn't that she didn't want to look at Hawkins, but seeing him in this condition brought forth powerful emotions, ones that she'd dealt with just this morning!

With his arms and upper torso bandaged the magician rested silently, but by his wrinkled brows and a deep frown, it was apparent he was not at peace. His right hand quested over the bedsheets, gripping them so hard he tore a hole in the middle of the cotton as sweat moistened his clothes.

"H-Hawkins?" Summer stood up in alarm and reached out to her blonde companion.

"P-Probability of defeat one-hundred percent..."

"U-Um, what are you talking about? You're not even using your cards..." The reddish-haired huntress bit her lower lip.

"C-Chances of escape, twelve percent..."

"Okay, you're starting to freak me out, please wake up, Hawkins." Summer positioned herself near the headrest and leaned down with pleading eyes.

"Probability of evasion, seventy-six percent..."

His breaths increased to a frantic pace, the magician seemed lost in his own world as his nightmares derailed his train of thought.

Her silver pupils flicking up and down in panic, Summer wracked her brain for a way to ease the blonde's suffering. Her gaze narrowed on Hawkins' clenched fist, she reached out with a trembling palm and rested it atop his sweaty knuckles.

Drawing small circles on his skin, the magician's vexed expression softened, if only slightly. His clamped fingers giving way to the gentle intrusion, a deep and long sigh slipped through his chapped lips as the wrinkles on his forehead disappeared.

"Hm... Ms. Rose?"

"H-Hawkins?" The red reaper grinned nervously.

"Where... Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital." Summer replied. "I brought you here in an ambulance after you saved those farmers from the burning windmill."

"I see..."

"Are you hungry? I'm not sure about the food they serve at the hospital, but it can't be that bad can it?"

"No... I'm fine. However..." His crimson gaze dropping to the soft comfort attached to his hand, Hawkins politely asked to have it removed.

"O-Oh! Sorry about that. I'm not the best when it comes to comforting people, so I might've overstepped your respective boundaries." Summer felt her cheeks grow hot as she traced circles on the floor with the tip of her boot.

"...Thank you."

"H-Huh?" The red reaper flinched as the magician sat upright and stretched.

"For the assistance, you've given me these past few days. I believe my tongue was rather harsh in our recent encounters, and I apologize for that."

Summer's jaw practically hit the floor.

"Is my gratitude that disrespectful?"

"W-What? N-No, it's just that I didn't expect you to be so forward about it. Then again, I think I need to thank you as well."

Hawkins curled a brow. "Really? For what may I ask?"

The red reaper lazily shook her head and let out a deep breath. "Well, you might not have realized it, but you and Port helped me gather my thoughts and clear my mind. To be honest, I don't know why I decided to bombard you with my personal problems, but since you reminded me so much of my former partner I guess I felt comfortable around you."

Summer cupped her chin. "That, and I think talking with a reasonable stranger made it easier for me to let my feelings out since you don't have any bias on my history. So thank you, Hawkins, for being a good person."

Her lips stretching to a pearly smile, she flinched as another round of loud knocks echoed from the door.

"Hm? Has someone come to visit?" Hawkins asked.

Summer rolled her eyes. "No, it's the paparazzi hoping to snag a juicy bit of gossip and heroism. You know, the usual shower of exaggerated praise every hunter and huntress gets after a big mission."

"I can't say I relate."

The red reaper blinked. "Say, you never did tell me which kingdom you hailed from, and don't try to fib your way out of this with the lie you told Glynda."

"Hmph, you wouldn't know my home even if I did tell you. Let's just settle with the fact that I'm a reluctant citizen of Vale." The magician coughed with a short grin.

The huntress puffed her cheeks. "Why so secretive? Can't you at least give me your full name?"

"My surname should suffice."

"Hah... fine, whatever."

/-/

After a consecutive onslaught on the metal frame, Lisa grit her teeth and rubbed her sore knuckles.

"I guess nobody's home." Steve winced as his remark earned him a furious glare.

Lisa adjusted the sleeves of her black coat then the collar of her purple undershirt. Her vibrant amber pupils highlighted by a thin streak of violet eyeliner, she tucked a stray hair off her shoulder-length, light lavender locks, behind her right ear and growled.

"A true reporter doesn't resign after one failed attempt! There's a story waiting to be written Steve, and I'm not going to pass it up!" Fixing the hem of her knee-length skirt which covered her black stockings and ended with a pair of purple high heels, Lisa stretched her arms with a fierce visage of determination.

The cameraman, a relatively simple gentleman with scraggly brown hair and a lithe build, adorned a dark green shirt, navy jeans, and rubber sneakers. He hefted his large camera over his shoulder with a roll of his eyes and assisted his partner in coercing the patients on the other side of the door to allow them access to the passed, and a bead of sweat trickled down Steve's forehead. They'd entered the building on the premise of visiting a loved one who was a victim of the recent fire, but as the quick glances of security and doctors passed him and Lisa, he wasn't sure how long their fib would last.

"Please, this interview will only take a few moments of your day," Lisa whispered in her most polite tone, but given her built-up irritation, it sounded more like a hissing threat in Steve's opinion.

"Lisa, I think we should go. We've been standing here for fifteen minutes, and I think the staff are planning to send someone to kick us out of here." The cameraman tugged his partner's sleeve but she refused to move from her position.

"Quiet! Can't you see I'm trying to-" The ambitious new anchor bit her lip as a sudden jovial appearance whipped around the corner of the hallway.

A slim but muscular man, his braided ponytail swayed back and forth below his hips as he sashayed across the wide hallway with swagger. His round yellow eyes gleaming with delight, he greeted the two strangers in front of his leader's room with a quick bow.

"Um, hello..." Lisa said meekly as the man slapped on a smirk.

"Hello to you as well! While I'd love to endorse in a round of respectable chit-chat, I have urgent business on the other side of that door. Now, if you'd please step aside." The stranger fiddled with his leather coat and adjusted his belt.

Lisa opened her mouth, but bit her lip and furrowed her brows. While a surprise, this man could be a blessing in disguise. If she played her cards right, the upcoming news reporter would find herself a seat in the big leagues in no time!

"Oh, are you affiliated with the members of team STRQ?" Lisa mustered a seemingly genuine smile and extended her hand. "I've heard a great deal about them ever since they participated in the vytal festival, but I'd like a more in-depth to their team dynamics."

The man chuckled. "Is that so? Truth be told, I'd like to familiarize myself with the spontaneous superstars as well. However, I cannot do so while you continue to block my path."

Without warning, the stranger clamped his hands on Lisa's waist and hoisted her into the air. The woman gave a shrill cry as Steve dropped his camera and demanded that his partner be released. The giddy man obliged and with a rapid twirl, he tossed the yelping woman into her colleague's arms. The two fell flat on their butts, and security rushed in to check the commotion.

"Oi, what's all the ruckus about?" A burly man with a bushy mustache demanded.

"Have no fear, as a member of the recently formed team of STTQ, I've come to check on the well-being of my leader. I have my hunter's license right here to prove it. As for the two sneaky news rats, however..." The stranger shot a knowing look at the fallen duo and was passed after a sincere apology. As for Lisa and Steve, the two were promptly booted from the hospital before they could utter a rebuttal.

/-/

"Tyrian?" Summer greeted her teammate with a smile, and he returned it with one of his own.

"I'm glad you conquered the flames in the agricultural district. It's a shame though, all those farmers now without homes and left with limited ways to restore them. After all, most of the crops were burnt to a crisp in the ensuing carnage." Tyrian skipped across the room and leaned against the wall only a few feet from Hawkins and Summer.

"That's true." Summer said solemnly. "But at least there weren't any casualties, so that's a plus."

The brunette nodded. Flicking his braided ponytail off his shoulder, he locked sights with a bandaged blonde and smirked. "Ah, so this is the man you wanted as your teammate hm?"

"I-I didn't mean to offend you when I brought him up, I just didn't know that Ozpin had already found a replacement for my former partner." The red reaper twiddled her thumbs and veered her head towards the floor.

Tyrian cackled. "Please, don't think I'm offended by your opinion on this man. To be fair I should have made my presence known, but... there wasn't a good time for it."

With her head lowered Summer didn't see it, but Hawkins' crimson pupils narrowed. Something felt off about the way Tyrian conveyed that sentence, and though a headache gripped his mind, Hawkins was sure he saw the corners of Tyrian's yellow eyes shift to a venomous purple hue for a second. The color dispersing as quick as it came, the brunette was back to his jovial self and began to elaborate his reasonings for his lack of assistance in the farm fires.

"I was caught in quite a sticky bind. I'm researching a case for the headmaster of Haven Academy, and I was given notice that I'd find some clues regarding my mission. Unfortunately, the results were less than satisfying, which means my efforts were in vain."

"Oh, that's too bad. Maybe I could help you? Tai and Qrow won't be ready for a proper mission for a while, but I'm sure they'll be pretty nifty once they're back on their feet." Summer beamed a welcoming smile but was politely declined.

"I'm afraid the business between me and Haven's headmaster is private information that I cannot relay without his approval. You needn't worry about it anyway, as the mission itself, at least in my opinion, is nothing special."

"Well, if you say so, but don't be afraid to ask me for help!" The red reaper chirped.

"Your kindness is noted. Now, if you'll excuse me, my dear leader, I need to settle a few things with the apartment I'm renting. Till we meet again." Tyrian offered an exaggerated bow and skipped out of the room with a wicked grin.

Alone with each other once more, Summer locked gazes with the stoic blonde.

"Haha, please don't mind Tyrian too much. He might be a little over the top, but he's not so bad once you get to know him."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Hawkins grumbled, earning a confused look on his cohort's visage.

Unable to elaborate from mere speculation, the blonde waved off the topic and tried to stand. Summer warned him to return to bed, but Hawkins refused and stated that he needed to purchase a new ride to Mistral before the ticket booths closed.

"Wait, you're still planning to leave?" The red reaper gawked.

"I've repaid my debt to the farmers who sheltered me. A life for a life is a fair trade in my opinion."

"H-Hold on, did you talk with your friends before you made these plans? Or are you just assuming that they don't want to see you ever again?"

"Their opinions are no longer relevant. Where I end up is anyone's guess, but I don't want to stay here if I can help it."

Summer gripped the hem of her skirt. Why did Hawkins still want to leave despite all he'd done for Vale? If it was a vacation he'd definitely earned it, but what was it about her home kingdom that left a foul taste in the magician's mouth?

"W-Why don't we ask your friends if you should leave?"

"I'm not interested in visiting something I plan to leave behind." Hawkins groaned.

"Please, Hawkins? For me?" Fluttering her eyelashes, the huntress widened her eyes and tilted her head just enough for the optimal cute emphasis. Though her ambitions deflated in the face of Hawkins' deadpanned stare.

The staring contest lasted well over five minutes, but eventually, Summer gave in.