"Alright, Rubes, just as we planned right?" Yang whispered into her sibling's ear.
"Yup, operation double sister power-up is a go!" Ruby replied with innocent vigor.
"Hi guys!" Jaune's loud voice burst through the backyard door and over the green grass as he ran towards the two sisters who stood beside their favorite tire swing.
"Jaune, wait!" Trifa grumbled as she exited the log cabin in a calm fashion.
"Hi Jaune, hi Trifa!" Ruby returned the wave but quickly withdrew her hand when her sister growled at her.
"We're supposed to be strong, Rubes, remember?" The blonde girl huffed.
"S-Sorry." The little reaper whimpered.
"How's it going?" Jaune beamed a wide smile and adjusted his ruffled collar. His question left without an answer, the boy curled a brow at his silent cohorts. Why weren't they talking? And why were they giving him funny looks?
"Um, is everything okay?"
"We're fine," Yang quipped rudely, "so why are you and your dad here again?"
Jaune scratched his cheek. "Because your parents invited us here? It's like that every summer isn't it?"
"N-Not this time!" Ruby squeaked, her voice more on the cute side despite her best efforts to put up an imposing front.
"What do you mean not this time? Trifa, do you know what they're talking about?"
The spider Faunus' nose scrunched and her brows vexed. Being the tallest among the kids by a whole head and a half, Yang stepped back with Ruby scuttling behind her for safety, while Jaune continued to stare at his best friend for an explanation.
"Aren't we here because your dad's teammates are the only people other than Carla and Sam who can get him out of the house willingly?" Trifa said.
"Huh, I never thought of it that way, I thought it was because Grandma and Ms. Rose keep fighting over who has better pastries?" Jaune cupped his chin thoughtfully.
Yang, annoyed that the two continued to talk as if she didn't exist, stomped her foot and smirked when all eyes landed on her. Cracking her knuckles, she shifted into a fighting pose and narrowed her eyes at the other blonde of the group. Jaune stepped back, clearly bewildered by the escalating situation, he was in no shape to fight seeing his movements were hampered by his heavy backpack and nice clothes.
Trifa, sensing the danger immediately, blocked Yang's path with crossed arms and a scowl. Firm cobalt holding its own against a pair of fiery lilac, Yang and Trifa's staring contest lasted a whole minute before the backyard door swung open again.
"Alright, what's going on here?" Qrow yawned as he almost stumbled over Ruby who repeatedly pulled on his pant leg.
"Yang was going to punch Jaune!" Trifa yelled while pointing an accusing finger at the girl across from her.
"But Jaune and I always have a fight when he comes to visit!" Yang protested.
Qrow patted Ruby's head and told her to join Summer and Carla in the kitchen. The little reaper squealed in delight then scampered off, but little did she know that her favorite uncle had an ulterior motive. The kitchen had become a flour-based battlefield. One that Sam, Hawkins, and Tai all fell under before they had a chance to run through the front door. However, no doubt the tension would cease once an innocent child was present. That's what Qrow prayed for anyway.
"I don't fight because I want to!" Jaune's retort broke the raven-haired hunter from his temporary pancake PTSD.
Shifting his gaze to a pouting Yang, Qrow sighed as he separated the three kids and kneeled to meet the young brawler's eye.
"Look, Yang, there's more to being strong than being able to throw a decent punch." Qrow's lips curled to a playful grin. "Though that is a good place to start seeing that Tai's a martial artist."
"Hmpf," was all he got in return.
Taking another deep breath, Qrow opted to approach the situation from another angle. "Alright, this is going to take a while. Jaune, why don't you and Trifa join the others in the kitchen? I think Ruby could use some help in tasting the whipping cream."
Jaune's mouth drooled as his lips twitched into his trademark goofy smile. "Come on, Trifa, I want to see if I can snag some blueberries too!"
"Jaune, wait for me!" The spider Faunus hurried to follow her best friend's running footsteps.
Now alone, Qrow ran a hand through his hair then focused his attention on Yang.
"Okay, Firecracker, why don't we start off nice and slow." He paused to see the young girls' reaction, but all he got was a low growl as Yang broke eye contact to stare at the surrounding fence.
"What is it about Jaune that ticks you off?"
The child's cheeks puffed. "I don't wanna talk about it."
"Is it about the first time Jaune and his dad visited? I'm sure that little blonde goofball didn't say those things because he wanted to hurt you."
Yang's lips pursed. That wasn't a statement the girl was prepared for at all. Turning her head to meet her uncle's inquisitive stare, she let out a long breath and relented her bottled emotions.
"He said mean things about me..."
Qrow rubbed his temples. "He probably did, but as I said, Jaune tends to ramble about a lot of stuff that usually gets him into a bind. Don't think too much of it."
"B-But..."
"The smell of breakfast seems really sweet this time around. I think your mom and Carla made strawberry jam." Qrow lured Yang inside with her favorite fruit flavor and the girl reluctantly agreed.
"C-Can I sit next to you then? Mom and dad always sit close to uncle Hawkins, but I don't wanna be near him."
"Sounds good," the hunter chuckled weakly, "but you can't keep avoiding your honorary uncle forever. Believe me when I say that there's no point in hiding from him. He's the best when it comes to detective work that's for sure."
/-/
"Yang, can you pass me the maple syrup please?" Jaune said hesitantly with an outstretched hand. He would have asked anyone else at the table, but Yang stood as the best choice seeing she was literally holding the bottle.
To the boy's surprise, his fellow blonde complied without any fuss, even popping the cap off the syrup bottle before handing it to him.
"Thanks!" Jaune beamed, receiving a small smile in return.
"Hm..." Trifa eyed the scene with a straight face but raised a single brow when Yang's gaze shifted away from Jaune during the brief trade.
"Um, Trifa?" The voice of a little red reaper drew the spider Faunus' attention to her left, she blinked as her cobalt eyes met with a pair of nervous silver.
"M-My mom bought me this new bead set and a lot of string. Do you want to make a few bracelets with me?"
Trifa's lips spread to a humble smile. "Sure, but I don't think we'll have time for it today."
"Huh? Why's that?" Ruby tilted her head.
"It's because we're all going on a vigorous hike up the mountains!" Tai burst into the scene with a half-eaten pancake in hand. Leaning over the heads of the seated kids, they all looked to the blonde hunter for further elaboration.
"Since we've had such a sugary and hefty breakfast, all of the adults want a chance to spread their legs and enjoy the fresh air before the heat settles in, so why don't you kids get cleaned up and ready to head out while the adults and I clean up the kitchen?"
The children obeyed and hurried off, and Tai was about to follow suit, but a firm grip on his shoulder froze him in place.
"Why the hurry, Tai? There's still some pancake pieces and strawberry syrup left on your plate."
Summer's smile was unlike her usual friendly grin. Instead of radiating an absurd amount of giddy warmth, her dulled silver eyes held a certain chill that could break down any man.
"Oh..." Tai scanned the room for any potential allies but found himself all alone with only Carla standing menacingly in the background.
"Damn traitors..." Tai cursed in his mind as the image of a certain ravenette and stoic magician came to mind.
"Tai? You're starting to doze off, are you alright?" Summer's sugary tone greatly contrasted her iron grip.
"Summer, you're going to break your husband's bones at this rate. Why don't you give him some air and let him answer truthfully? I'm sure his taste buds won't be affected by your childish threats." Carla quipped from the sidelines. Though from the way she patted the rolling pin between her palms she seemed akin to a warden ready to pummel an unruly prisoner.
The red reaper refused to relinquish her hold, though she did soften her grip a tad.
With beads of sweat dripping down his chin and forehead, Tai racked and pressed his tongue against his teeth for a reminder of his recent breakfast. Which pancake batter and syrup combination proved superior? He joined the bake-off too late to see who made the raspberry and strawberry syrup, but he did witness the flipping of pancakes.
His time reduced to mere seconds, Tai swallowed his fears and opened his mouth.
"It's worth the whisk." He muttered to himself, always seeing that a good pun bolstered moral when going under siege.
However, a stroke of luck decided to beam down on him. From the nearby window, Qrow appeared to be mouthing a message to him. Tai shook his head very slightly, unable to read his partner's quick quiet speech. Qrow rubbed his temples and snagged the sleeve of a bystanding Hawkins.
Swiftly shuffling his tarot cards, Hawkins offered specific information to Qrow who patted the flour off his shirt and threw it on the window. He then began to scribe words for Tai to read, but he was only able to get the shapes of an S, P, and number one before Carla and Summer turned around to see what Tai was staring at.
"S and P..." The blonde mind fussed to make sense of what he'd read. In an act of desperate revelation, he declared most confidently.
"My favorite today had to be the strawberry jam and first batch of pancakes, but only by the tiniest margin."
The kitchen silent, Tai hoped he struck home with his answer, but unfortunately for him, his ball landed in the foul zone. A subtle clapping from behind him, Tai craned his neck to see Carla wearing an electric smile that could power a city. While Summer's visage morphed to a stirring of thunder clouds that beckoned the coming of a turbulent storm.
In conclusion, in Tai's case, he made the wrong decision.
"Well, it's good to know that the Long household has someone with a refined tongue for pastries and sweets. Don't worry, Tai, I'll make sure to write down the pancake and syrup recipe before I leave so that Summer can replicate it. Now then, where did all the others get off to? We have a hike to prepare for after all!"
Before the brawler could utter a reply, he was yanked down by his shoulder to meet his wife's stare at eye level.
"Tai..." The red reaper said coldly. "I do hope you and the living room couch are good friends because you'll be spending a lot of time together starting today!~"
Summer snapped her ice-inducing glare toward the window and yelled. "And don't think your situation is any better, Qrow!"
The ravenette flinched from the windowsill and barely managed to keep his balance. It was unwise of him to continue observing his teammate's plight, but he couldn't resist. Although, why was Summer only targeting him and Tai? Hawkins also played a part in this, didn't he?
A few extra scribbles lined in the flour-covered window, Qrow's jaw dropped at the scribed message while the tarot reader was nowhere to be found.
'Qrow, Tai, and Sam are in agreement that Carla's pancake and syrup tasted better by 59%.
Please don't hurt me for I am innocent, Hawkins.'
/-/
"You wanna try this flavor, Ruby?" Jaune grinned as he held out a packet of chocolate-covered wafer sticks.
"Yes please!" The little reaper beamed as she greedily accepted her good friend's gift.
A quarter way up the mountain trail, the mudded gravel paths were occupied by three groups. The first consisted of Hawkins, Jaune, and Ruby. The second was Tai, Summer, and Yang. Last but not least were Sam, Carla, and Trifa. However, this beckoned the question, where was the whiskey-loving member of STQH?
"Jaune," the magician's abrupt and stoic tone sent a shiver down Ruby's spine but his son appeared indifferent to the call of his father.
"Yes, dad?"
"We're nearing the narrow trails, keep your wits about you and your gaze on the twisting paths. If you slip and fall there's a high chance of fatality."
The boy felt a nudge on his side. "Hey, Jaune, what does fatality mean?" Ruby whispered.
"It means there's a high chance of death," Hawkins replied.
The little reaper jumped and scooted behind her friend's back for cover. Meek silver eyes peeking at the giant man who served as her temporary guardian, she let out a yelp when their gazes locked.
"Is something wrong?" Hawkins asked.
"N-No!"
The magician raised a brow, but remained silent and turned his head toward an outstretch of bushy trees. The morning sun gleaming on his pale skin, his stoic demeanor gave off the impression of a veteran warrior who'd seen his fair share of bloody battles. Silence reigning over the troupe, Ruby whispered to Jaune again when she assumed Hawkins wasn't looking.
"Is your dad always creepy like that?"
"Creepy how?" Jaune wondered under hushed breath.
"He never smiles and he looks really sad."
"That's because he's always serious," Jaune replied, "plus most of his hobbies are quiet ones. Like writing and stuff."
"Then why does he carry his sword everywhere he goes?"
"Don't your parents and uncle Qrow do the same thing?" The blonde tyke cupped his chin. "My Granpa and Grandma call it a warrior's instinct. Or something like that."
Ruby, unable to rebuke the statement, veered her sights to the dirt and continued to nibble what was left of her chocolate wafer stick. Though the sugary morsel slipped from her fingers as a sudden tree came crashing down in her direction. Eyes wide, the little reaper flailed her arms but her legs refused to move.
"Ruby!"
Jaune was quick to take action, but with his heavy backpack and frightened friend too stubborn to move, he found himself in equal peril as the mighty trunk and its sharp branches fastened in its descent. With nowhere to go, Jaune covered Ruby to the best of his abilities and shut his eyes.
Jaune didn't see it, but Ruby kept her eyes open in terror. Terror that quickly shifted to bewildered amazement as a stoic shadow loomed over and in front of her.
Hawkins, blade unsheathed and crimson pupils narrowed on the incoming tree, he gripped his longsword's hilt with both hands then took a heavy step forward.
"Chok!"
The reflection of polished steel flashing in her silver eyes, Ruby flinched away as the trunk was promptly cut in half.
Landing with a dull thump on either side of him, Hawkins turned around to inspect the children for injuries. While shivering, they appeared to be in good form, thus the hike would continue until they met up further north with the other groups.
However, a certain little reaper appeared to be glued to her spot.
Mouth agape in awe, Ruby looked at the stoic magician who she and her sister had very low opinions of. Well, to be fair it was mostly Yang bashing the grumpy man, but given Ruby spent a lot of time with her sibling it was safe to assume she held a similar outlook.
"Are you two alright?" Hawkins asked after moments of awkward staring.
"I-I'm okay!" Jaune squeaked.
"M-Me too!" Ruby piped up.
"Good," Hawkins grunted, "there's still plenty of walking to do so I suggest we hurry up."
The kids tried to move, but it was clear they were still under shock. Stiffly craning their necks to meet with the blonde adult's gaze, he curled a brow and frowned as both Jaune and Ruby suggested the same thing.
"U-Um, I don't think my legs wanna move, dad."
"M-My shoes were frozen when the tree started to fall."
Hawkins rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to carry you, so unless you want to be left behind for the Grimm, I suggest you unfreeze your helpless legs."
"You'll really carry us?" Jaune's cerulean eyes grew wide in hope as Ruby also looked at the magician expectantly.
"Listen clearly, Jaune," his father deadpanned while sheathing his sword.
"Can I sit on your shoulders like Granpa lets me?"
"Uncle Hawkins is really tall, even taller than dad... I wonder how much I can see from up there?"
Both tykes eyeing the magician's empty shoulders, they jumped in place with begging expressions. Seeing no reaction from the stoic adult, they amped up their efforts with Jaune promising to take double his usual tarot tests and Ruby whipping out the trademarked puppy dog eyes.
Despite his effort to avoid being reduced to a simple pack mule, time was ticking and the afternoon heat had started to settle in. With a long sigh, Hawkins leaned down and gestured to the empty spots beside his head with a slight shift of his crimson eyes. The result was ecstatic as Jaune and Ruby high-fived.
Scampering to the muscular confines of the former pirate, Jaune pulled out another chocolate wafer as Ruby posed like a sailor looking out to sea.
"This is awesome!" Jaune beamed with his goofy smile on full blast.
"I'm a super tall giant, rawr!" Ruby squealed in giddy laughter, and to the magician's displeasure, kept her balance by gripping a thick bundle of his golden locks.
As Hawkins stood up to serve as the children's strong foundation, Hawkins continued down the twisting paths with a sigh, but despite the extra weight and uncomfortable grip on his hair, his lips had twitched to a very small smile as an unrecognizable feeling seeped into his stony heart.
While Hawkins' group was making good time, the matter of the sudden tree collapse had not been forgotten. The magician knew the chances of such a potential tragedy were rather slim, unless the incident was influenced by a certain someone with an unfortunate semblance. Hawkins glanced to the sky to see a corvid flying high above the tree lines, however, unbeknownst to the former pirate, this bird was not his unlucky teammate.
/-/
Two birds, both of sleek black feathers, circled each other thrice before nosediving toward an isolated clearing along the northern hills of Patch.
The first to land was a man with a torn red cape and spiked raven hair. His favorite flask on deck, he took several swigs as the second attendant to the secret meeting made themselves known.
The heels of black thigh-high boots tapped against a smooth boulder followed by a pair of slender thighs which led up to a shallow cut black and red dress with black combat shorts underneath. Three necklaces, all knitted with blood-colored beads, wrapped around her neck and sat upon her generous but hidden bust.
Brushing the feathered ornament around her waist aside, she gripped the hilt of her stationed blade and shifted the colored ring above its sheath until it landed on a red space.
"Brother." The woman greeted in a dull tone from behind the thick boney Grimm mask she often wore. Though her jet black hair and trademark ahoge were on clear display, it was the contrast of her darkened locks to her moonlight complexion that gave her the title of Beacon's midnight beauty.
Qrow furrowed his brows and set his lips to a neutral line.
"Raven..."