Only two more chapters until we've hit the high number of ninety everyone! I'm excited to get out of Vacuo, but at the same time, I'm kind of sad. There was plenty of stuff I wanted to add, but there's always a chance to explore the possibilities in another arc.
Not much to say here, so with that...
Have yourselves a good one and till next time!
Four armored cars rumbled over the hardened desert soil and the subtle shifts of balance made Qrow feel queasy. Ever since his debacle yesterday, he couldn't get the image of a hazy-looking Hawkins out of his mind. In a way the scene made sense, but on the other hand, it seemed the world around Qrow had done a flip while having his skull knocked by an Ursa Major's paw.
"Qrow? Are you sure you didn't want to stay behind in Vacuo?" Summer gave a gentle squeeze on her partner's shoulder and he flinched before settling down.
"I'm fine, Summer, just a little rattled after all that's happened. Trust me, I'll be back to my old self once I've kicked a few bandits around and killed a few Grimm. No sweat." Qrow forced his lips to a grin and returned his leader's with a steady nod.
"...Alright," Summer relented and withdrew her hand. "There's plenty of good food that you can eat before we arrive at the destroyed ruins in an hour or so, but if you don't like the fancy food Mrs. Schnee is giving us, I made sure to pack a few of my best pocket-sized pastries if you get hungry."
"Thanks," Qrow's smile didn't feel as forced anymore, "I'll make sure to get my fill. I'm not stupid enough to go into action on an empty stomach."
With a timid farewell, Summer went to join Tai on the far side of the car where the latter was sharing an amiable conversation with Willow and Klein. However, the whereabouts of Winter were unknown, that is until Qrow finally noticed the young girl walk up to him with her hands clasped below her waist.
"Hey there, kiddo," Qrow said with a raspy voice, "I'm not really in the mood for talking so why don't you go over to the other side of the car? You'll probably have more fun on that side with everyone else anyway."
"I don't want to," Winter said firmly and simply. There was a defiant look in her eyes, but all Qrow could see was a child throwing a petty tantrum.
"Huh, should've figured rich people have their fair share of problems too," Qrow thought to himself. "But how do I get this kid to leave me alone without insulting her or making her mood worse?"
"Are you unwell?" Winter asked. She met Qrow's wavering stare with a determined glint in her ice-blue eyes and made sure to show him that she would not be moving from her current position.
"How about you?" Qrow countered. "You seem pretty upset, but if you're hoping for some advice from an adult, I'd recommend my blonde partner over there. He's definitely better when it comes to sensitive topics. Especially ones that revolve around kids."
"I'm not a mere child anymore," Winter protested, "I'm a girl who's already eight years old which means I'm eligible to be placed three grades ahead of regular students."
Qrow scratched his head. "Guess fancy labels and titles are all you elites care about, huh? Well, if you ask me, a mountain of paper doesn't mean squat if you can't apply them in real life. Take this for example, if there was a pen or sword in front of you with a Grimm charging from the same direction, what would you grab to defend yourself?"
Winter paused with an expression of sincerity. She did not doubt the wisdom of a veteran hunter, and seeing this as a good opportunity to test her deduction skills, she saw to it to read between the lines for any deception. After a moment's pause, Winter displayed a confident smile and relayed her answer with absolute certainty.
"I chose to pick both the pen and the sword," Winter said. "As with a pen, you can contact other hunters and businesses to aid you in your plight while the sword can be wielded to dispatch the current Grimm at hand."
Qrow chuckled and felt a few of his worries ebb away. He might not have been the best with kids, considering he never really got to live through what most city folk would say is a childish lifestyle, but he did at least understand what it meant to be curious about things that were older than you were.
"Well, aren't you a clever one?" Qrow showed a short smile that was returned with an appreciative nod.
"Though, you're lacking in something." Qrow's smile stretched at the puzzled look that adorned Winter's fair face. "What you're not considering, is the emotions that are going through a person's head when you're thrust into an unfortunate circumstance. Take it from me, as my own special talent has taught me to watch what I think and do on a daily basis because the consequences of my actions tend to bite me in the ass when I don't. Heck, even when I do try to think of the best possible outcome, fate decides to spit on me anyway."
Winter cupped her chin and lowered her head in pensive thought. Her icy eyes were glued to her shoes, and she began to pace back and forth in a perfect line.
"So what you're trying to tell me," Winter said, "is that there are protocols for every situation and that emotions can cause one to make an improper move? Though my counselors often tell me that emotions are a good thing to have."
"Whoa," Qrow rung his hands, "slow down there. I never said having feelings was a bad thing, in fact, it's because of my emotions that I'm here now. All in all, I'm pretty lucky to have an idea of how my emotions work. Unlike some tight-lipped snobs in Atlas..."
Qrow blinked and did a mental facepalm. He knew it was inevitable for him to make a slip-up eventually, but he didn't want to do it in front of a kid. Especially a kid who happened to be the eldest child of Atlas' richest man.
"I've heard the term snob used by many of the common folk, and I've also been informed that it's supposed to be a slight against those who strive to be successful. However, are there other meanings to this word?" Winter asked skeptically.
"How do I put this..." Qrow scratched his cheek and glanced at his teammates who were still talking with Willow and Klein. None of them bothered to look Qrow's way, and the hunter felt the pressure on his shoulders increase while his brain struggled to formulate an appropriate response for a nine-year-old girl.
"Snob is just an insult for people who look down on the working class or those forced into that circumstance without much of a say. Believe me, when you open your eyes to the world around you the next time your family decides to visit a place like Mantle or what Atlas deems as the poorer settlements, you'll see what I mean."
That response got Winter thinking again, and she went back to pacing back and forth with her eyes toward the floor.
"Your explanation has opened new paths to be observed. Thank you, Mr. Branwen, you're insight has proven invaluable in our time shared together."
"Hey," Qrow chuckled, "no need to use such a formal tone. Just call me Qrow, most people who are my friends do so anyway."
Winter's lips spread to a jolly grin. "Very well, Qrow, till next time we meet as I wish to rest before we reach our destination. If you'll excuse me..."
Qrow watched as the young girl strutted away with perfect posture, though he could have sworn there was a slight jaunt in her step as she did so. The feeling that the former bandit had been able to have an insightful conversation with a kid was a breath of fresh air, and he felt the stress in his veins cool to no more than a gentle simmer.
Qrow's gaze went to the ring on his right hand. He was hesitant to put it back on, but the ring hadn't shown any signs of random behavior since the brief incident a few days ago. The ring was also an heirloom his parents had left him before they passed, so he'd be damned not to have it on him if he could help it.
"Is your ring acting up again?"
Qrow turned to see Tai standing next to him with his eyes crossed. The blonde man showed a smile, but his eyes didn't possess the same amount of enthusiasm in his voice.
"It's all good," Qrow replied, "just stuck between a rock and a hard place as usual. Though given what our team's been through in the past month, I can't say I've got it the worst ya know?"
Tai chuckled. "It's not good to downplay your grief. All because someone out there in the world might be having a worse day than you, that doesn't mean your sadness isn't valid. I've been having to tell myself that for Oum knows how long, and trust me, buddy, you don't want to fall down that pit and have to climb out."
Qrow rolled his eyes but mustered a smirk. "I've been down that hole so many times that I've remembered how to climb out and fall in. The same could be said for Summer and Hawkins too, at least that's what I think."
"To that we agree," Tai said solemnly, "it's a shame that we share such a gloomy outlook on our current situations, eh?"
"It's our cynicism that holds us together..." Qrow and Tai shared a look, and the two men laughed while shaking their heads.
"By the way..." Qrow sighed and veered his sights to Summer who was now talking to Winter while her mother and Klein went to check in with the car driver to ensure the rest of the ride went smoothly. "How's Summer dealing with all of this? Or rather, how do you think she'll handle Hawkins' reaction when he finds out we went against his wishes and followed him to Vacuo?"
Tai felt a lump form in his throat and he cracked his knuckles. "I spoke with Summer about this when we first arrived, but from what I've gathered, she's certain that she's doing the right thing despite whatever consequences are waiting for her."
"A loyal friend to the end, that's our leader." Qrow crossed his arms and slumped against the wall. He didn't want to admit it, but he also had the desire to rescue Hawkins and was thankful that his friends agreed. However, there was a feeling that Qrow couldn't shake no matter how hard he tried...
"But how do you really feel about this?" The former bandit took a sincere tone and stared his blonde partner straight in the eye.
Tai pondered with a serious expression. He scratched the stubble on his chin, and after a while, he gave his honest answer. "I don't like what we're doing. I feel that we're unrightfully testing Hawkins' patience and trust as he told us himself that he would rescue his son and come back to us. Truthfully, I feel like this encounter we're about to have is going to strain the already rocky relationship we have with the magician."
"You think Summer has considered this?" Qrow prodded.
"Of course she has," Tai nodded gloomily, "she's a deep thinker just like you and me. She just has a different way of approaching her stress, as any person would."
"Hmm..."
"Come on, out with it, otherwise you'll be bottling up your problems, and Summer and I will have to deal with them later down the line which is something I'd rather avoid." Tai gave Qrow's arm a nudge with his elbow and got him to open his mouth.
"...Do you think my sister is still alive?"
That was not a question Tai was expecting, which showed on his face. He loathed to admit it, but he did love Raven with all his heart all those years ago and sometimes wondered what his life would be like if she stayed with him. Granted, this line of thinking was dangerous and unhealthy, but after his therapy sessions with Ms. Mallari, he'd taken to heart to cherish the good and to learn from his mistakes. However, the hardest thing was to move on from a mistake; especially one that he was responsible or partially responsible for.
Tai turned away, crossed his arms, and faced the open window. Was getting together with Raven truly a mistake? Tai mulled over this more often than he cared to admit, and sometimes he did not feel guilty for thinking in such a way. Then, the guilt would kick in, and Tai felt as if an anvil laid on his shoulders wherever he walked only to be reminded of the blessing that woke him up every morning so they could go on a morning run.
"Yang..." Tai felt his gut twist at the memory of his daughter's distraught face. A child of six shouldn't have to deal with the horrible emotions of depression and self-blame, but there Yang was, stuck in her own sad musings without the aid of her father or mother. Thank Oum she had people like Sam and Carla to rely on, and Trifa and most importantly Ruby were there to help Yang get through her mental struggles.
Tai spared a glance at his wife, and a nick of frustration ebbed itself in his head and heart. Why was he away from home, when his own flesh and blood needed his guidance and comfort? That, and why did Summer brush off all his reasons for bringing up the subject of the child they needed to raise? None of this made a lick of sense to Tai, and his patience was near the point of saying something he knew he'd regret later.
"Hey, don't go losing your mind on me now." Qrow put a hand on Tai's shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. "It was a stupid question for me to ask, and besides, I should know how Hawkins is at this point. He was never the nicest person when it came to showing restraint, especially when it came down to protecting the people he cares about."
Tai took a deep breath and stopped resisting the memory that wanted to manifest before his eyes. A flowing mane of long midnight hair put on a beautiful face with moon-tinted skin, the rare image of Raven smiling brought mixed emotions from the blonde hunter, but he would not allow his personal problems to interfere with the safety of his honorary nephew and fellow blonde partner.
"I hope Raven is alive, but at the end of the day, she made her own choices and has to answer for them. Just like the rest of us." Tai said sternly and shared a nod with Qrow.
/-/
"We should arrive at the mining site in twenty minutes, Mrs. Rose," Willow said kindly as she returned to the guest section of the armored car. "I must say, I am impressed with how composed you seem. Most hunters that my family hire often loathe coming to Vacuo. Even those who were born on these sandy soils."
Summer forced a smile. "I can't say I'm truly a fan of the dry air and intense heat, but as a huntress, it's important for me to adapt to any scenario and apply my arsenal how the situation demands."
Willow smiled. "It's truly admirable to see such a confident huntress. I must say the soldiers in Atlas and Mantle could learn a thing or two from your example. However, with the new training programs that George and Ironwood have planned for the next five years, I don't think the Atlas military will be lacking in any statistic..."
Summer giggled. "It must be hard having to manage a company as large as the SDC. It's also rather new as well. Most of the stores in Vale also do business with the SDC to some extent, though with the quality of your products, I can proudly say that I've never been disappointed."
Willow sighed. "Yes, my father did leave me with quite a reputation to uphold, and though I do not agree with some of my husband's decisions, I am content with how he's expanded our family's influence across the four kingdoms. Why, our contribution to the strife of the Faunus refugees in the southern parts of Mistral has done a good deal to raise our reputation in a positive light."
"Yeah," Summer said, "I read it in the newspaper last week. Did they ever find out why those water reserves dried up? Even during the hottest summers, I've heard that there's always fresh water around if you look hard enough."
Willow shook her head. "It's truly puzzling, as in all my years of visiting Mistral, I've never heard nor seen such a devastating drought. It truly is a pity."
A short grin appeared on Summer's fair face. "Well, if Hawkins were here, he'd be able to deduce the reason. Or at least come up with a few possibilities as to how those strange droughts happened..."
Summer's grin quickly faded, and the light in her silver eyes became a dull gray. Willow was not the most observant of characters, but she was sensitive to the expressions of her peers and she immediately made note of Summer's sagged posture and long frown.
"I'm quite curious about your partner," Willow said, "as when I asked for a team of skilled hunters from Ozpin, he was quick to recommend you. However, I've never been assigned only three hunters from an original four and would be lying to not say that I was worried about your current capabilities."
Summer's posture drooped, and Willow felt as if she'd approached this situation wrongly.
"Well... what sort of man is this Hawkins character? Ozpin was rather vague with his details, but seeing that he's your partner, he should be a capable man correct?" Willow added in an attempt to save the conversation.
"Yeah..." Summer gently shook her head and met Willow's stare. "Hawkins is one of the meanest, yet nicest people I know. He's quite a handful, and he's near impossible to move when he's put his mind on a decision, but I don't think I'd have him change in the slightest. After all, it's important to accept our faults and appreciate our strong points, isn't that right?"
"Yes, but there's always room for improvement." Willow hummed. "The SDC would not be where it is now if my family thought otherwise. I'm sure the same applies to the field of hunters as well?"
"Hah... I wish that logic applied to Hawkins..." Summer wilted and allowed her cheerful demeanor to slip farther into sadness.
Willow bit her lower lip. She racked her brain for any way to steer the conversation to a more pleasant subject, but the abrupt shift of the car put her off balance and sent her to the floor. Summer put a hand on the wall to stop her fall, then glanced at Tai and Qrow who managed to stay on their feet.
"Mrs. Schnee?!" Klein burst into the room with Winter beside him and two other servants behind him. They helped Willow to stand and pleaded with her to go to her room until the sudden distress outside was dealt with.
"W-What is it, Klein?" Willow stammered. "Is it bandits? Grimm?"
"It's the latter!" Qrow and Tai yelled as the two men joined the group.
"A whole herd of Deathstalkers decided to travel along these roads too, and boy are they ready to pick a fight!" Qrow shouted. He took out his weapon and set it to its scythe form on the pretense of needing some extra heft to cleave through a Deathstalker's thick hide and bones.
"One adult Deathstalker is enough to put a small village at risk, but a group of this size is enough to take out half a city!" Tai huffed, cracked his knuckles, then slipped on his dust-infused brass knuckles.
"H-How did we not see any of them? Is my driver not paying attention?!" Willow wailed as she felt her legs buckle.
Qrow shook his head. "Deathstalkers in Vacuo don't act the same when they're on sandy terrain. Despite being huge stomping lugs, they've got a nasty habit of burrowing just deep enough to cover themselves in the sand, then they burst out for a surprise attack on any poor sod who crosses their path. Also, they're three times as fast in this kind of environment."
"You could have told us about this before we set out, Qrow." Tai frowned.
"Hey, it's not my fault that your grades in Grimm biology were worse than mine, and that's saying something." Qrow snapped.
"Enough!" Summer took a deep breath and exhaled. "We need to assess the situation and ensure the other armored vehicles make it through this encounter. Mrs. Schnee, please hurry to safety, as it makes our tasks difficult if we need to exterminate Grimm and protect a friend at the same time."
"C-Come along, Winter!" Willow wasted no time and rushed her daughter to the secured compartment that was reserved for passengers who weren't combat-ready. While she did this, the sounds of cannon and gunfire rang from the outside and was accompanied by the shouts of Atlesian soldiers.
The armored car made another shift, but this one was caused by the impact of a Deathstalker that decided to get too close for comfort. Using its massive and durable body, it rammed itself against the armored car's hull sending it into a spiral that sent its passengers for a loop.
"Tai! Go with Willow and the others and make sure they reach the armored compartment in one piece while I make contact with the driver and determine a proper formation to ensure the best possible outcome! Qrow, in the meantime, I want you to help the Atlas soldiers in any way you can! Am I clear?" Summer ordered, then unsheathed crescent swan.
"Understood!" Qrow and Tai replied with a firm nod and headed off to their tasks. However, while one followed his tasks to perfection, the other had difficulty staying focused.
"This doesn't make any sense..." Qrow huffed as he headed to the ladder that led to a hatch attached to the car's roof. With a grunt, he heaved the heavy slab of metal open to witness the ensuing chaos that raged over the swirling sands.
Luckily, the four SDC cars were still intact and their drivers possessed the common sense to flee instead of fight while their soldiers bravely fought against the pursuing Deathstalkers with ranged weapons.
"Deathstalkers aren't usually the ones to take initiative like this..." Qrow planted his feet firmly on the roof and squinted his eyes to see the largest of the Grimm emerge out of the dust clouds with its pincers and stinger set on the vehicle he occupied. "I've never seen them travel in groups this large either..."
Qrow dashed to the back of the car and loaded the special ammunition Summer had given him for this trip. Qrow armed his weapon with third-grade red dust shells that were capable of burning through logs as if they were twigs, the only downside was that his weapon wasn't configured to handle such a high-heat shell, and after six shots Qrow would have to put it away to let it cool down.
Meanwhile, the soldiers below Qrow wasted no time in following his example and activated the car's side guns and let loose on the deadly deathstalkers. However, while their barrages were able to slow their targets down, the savage Grimm was not deterred and continued to hunt as if they had nothing left to lose.
"Alright, six shots, let's make them count," Qrow whispered to himself and steadied his limbs. With one eye closed, he took his first shot, and by a stroke of luck his aim did not betray him.
The searing shot burned a bright amber and landed itself in the red eye of the now screeching Deathstalker as it fell off course and dragged its face in the sand as it tried to rub out the pain.
"Holy shit, that was cool," Qrow smirked and loaded another shell. The handle of his weapon was already hot, and he wondered if he'd be able to finish the rest of his ammunition.
"Whoa!" Qrow stumbled as a surprise Deathstalker burst but a few feet from his position. He could see the bright red eyes that held nothing but malice, then veered his sights to the sharp stinger that could pierce through a tree stump as if it were a pincushion.
Qrow jumped out of the way as the Deathstalker brought down its stinger, but after a few seconds, he realized that he wasn't the monster's initial target. Instead, the Deathstalker dug its legs in the sand and clamped its pincers on the side of the car while driving its stinger deeper into the roof. As a result, the car slowed down and found itself secluded from the other vehicles.
"Don't tell me this Grimm actually has a brain..." Qrow shot another high-heated round at the Deathstalker's face and the beast screeched in pain but did not loosen its grip.
An ear perked at the sound of violent hissing, Qrow shifted his attention to a stream of foul-smelling, green ooze that leaked from the Deathstalker's stinger. He'd encountered many of this sort of Grimm before, and none of them possessed a venom trait.
"Argh!" Qrow lost his balance as the car shifted backward and to the left, but was saved by the timely arrival of Summer and Tai who snagged him by the wrists.
"Phew, thanks for that," Qrow panted and wiped his sweaty forehead.
"Don't sweat it!" Tai smirked.
"Look out!" Summer yelled as two more Deathstalkers rammed themselves on both sides of the vehicle. Now stuck in a Grimm sandwich, the looming threat of being separated from the other armored cars was more real than ever. Not only that, but the issue of being torn to shreds by a bunch of savage Deathstalkers did not sound appealing in the slightest.
The soldiers below who handled the guns let loose another round, but this time the Deathstalkers were ready for this and slammed their pincers against the guns in order to jam them and force them to self-implode thus rendering themselves useless.
"These Deathstalkers are way too smart..." Qrow scratched his forehead as he tried to recollect a memory of a Vacuan Grimm showing these levels of intelligence, but nothing came up and he was forced to abandon the thought for the more present threat at hand.
"I don't have enough specialized shells to take care of this many Grimm!" Summer said and looked past the three Deathstalkers to see a rushing hoard of nearly twenty closing in on their slowing vehicle.
"We don't have a choice, Summer," Tai grit his teeth. "You think you can get Willow and the others to safety?"
"Oh no you don't!" Summer growled. "I'm not letting either of you out of my sight! So come on, I've got a plan!"
Qrow and Tai shared a look, then shrugged. They trusted their leader, and whatever her mind concocted, they were willing to listen to her.
/-/
"M-Mother, I'm scared!" Winter cried.
Willow embraced her child as gently and strongly as she could. To think such horror would be waiting out in the wilderness was unthinkable, and to have her own flesh and blood put in danger sent a bolt of fear down the mother's spine as she tried to calm down her sobbing daughter.
"D-Don't worry, sweetie!" Willow shook her head in an attempt to cease her stuttering tongue. "Team STQH and our noble soldiers are the best of the best! They'll deal with this Grimm encounter with no issues whatsoever!"
"Aw yeah! This is the best plan ever!"
Willow and Winter's gazes snapped to the bullet-proof window and felt their jaws drop at the sight of Tai riding a Deathstalker as if it were a rampaging bull. His feet planted on the Deathstalker's skull, Tai smacked his brass knuckles together and they glowed a bright reddish hue. With precise strikes, the blonde hunter walloped the Deathstalker's eyes like a hammer would a nail, then jumped off the blinded Grimm and back onto the armored vehicle as the monster ran itself off course and into the dirt.
"Watch out, Tai!" Yelled Qrow as he swung from a flailing Deathstalker's tail and used the last of his high-heated bullets to take out the Grimm attached to the back of the car. With that beast dealt with, only one remained on the right side, which Summer dispatched with veteran skill.
Using her semblance, Summer disappeared in a blizzard of rose petals, leaving only a rapid blur of swirling red for her peers to follow as she weaved around the pursuing Deathstalkers with deadly and sharp precision. Instead of wasting effort in eliminating each and every Grimm, Summer went about the problem with a more reserved mindset and went about slashing off the Deathstalkers' front legs and putting out their eyes. This way, the Grimm indirectly assaulted each other as they flailed in pain and lost their initial objective of taking out the armored cars.
"H-Hunters and huntresses..." Winter stammered under a bated breath as she blinked the tears out of her eyes. "They truly are incredible!"
"Alright!" Summer declared as she joined her teammates on the car's hull. "We've neutralized most of the Grimm, but our vehicle is by no means in good condition. We're only a half hour away from the SDC mines, and I'm sure they'll have the tools to repair our armored car. Tai, tell the driver to continue onward, and don't stop for anything do you hear me?"
"Roger that!" Tai saluted and hopped down the ceiling hatch then ran to the front of the car.
"That wasn't a bad job," Qrow sighed in relief that his semblance had decided to remain inactive, "but what happens if we encounter another wave of Deathstalkers? You wouldn't happen to have more of those high-heated shells on you by any chance?"
"Er..." Summer scratched her cheek with a sheepish smile. "I actually got those shells from Mr. Slate, and apparently they haven't been released to the public or military yet..."
"So I've been using risky and illegal ammunition? For Oum's sake, Summer, if I'm going to be breaking the law, I at least want to do it safely!" Qrow laughed and his leader couldn't help but share his enthusiasm.
The Grimm in retreat to lick their wounds, team STQH gathered in the guest area of the car where wounded soldiers thanked the brave hunters for their contributions to the fight. None more than Winter, however, as she'd been awestruck by the hunters' performance and asked them to tell her stories of their great Grimm encounters from their shared past.
"I can also offer you the best Atlesian wine while you talk! My mother always seems to have some on hand whenever we go out!" Winter said with stars in her her ice-tinted eyes.
"N-Now Winter," Willow butted in as softly as she could, "the life of a hunter is very dangerous and I'm sure our friends are very tired after that rough encounter. Why don't we rest for a while as well? I'm sure you're still shaking from all the action..."
"Is this Hawkins fellow the same when it comes to dealing with Grimm? Your team at the moment is still incomplete, and I'm sure you'd be able to achieve even greater feats if your number equaled four!" Winter was nearing the point of jumping for joy, but a gentle tug from Klein brought her back to the ground which was followed by the hand of her mother that snagged Winter by the wrist and pulled her away.
"Wow, guess we really made an impression on her, eh?" Tai beamed with pride and patted the dust off his clothes. "It was nice to get the blood pumping for a different reason this time around too, especially since I got to let my muscles have a proper workout."
"I've also learned a few things about my leader today," Qrow smirked as Summer's face paled a tad, "apparently your wife's in the shady part of things when it comes to experimental weapons, Tai."
"T-That's not true!" Summer pouted and wrapped her arm around her husband's. "I only asked Mr. Slate for those high-heated shells because I knew the Grimm in Vacuo are far worse than those in Vale, so I was merely taking into account the required risk of having a proper arsenal and ammunition!"
"Hmm? What will Yang and Ruby think when they find out their beloved mother is bending the law?" Tai hummed with an exaggerated sigh.
The three members of STQH fussed for a short while, then broke into a fit of laughter as they traded light-hearted jabs and banter. However, Summer was the first to quiet down and her silver eyes lost their usual light. Tai was the first to notice and asked her what was wrong, but Qrow already had an idea of what was bothering her.
"It's just..." Summer sighed. "Hawkins would have said something by now if he were here, and what he would say would have had us laughing even harder..."
"Don't worry, Sums, we'll save him and get all this sorted out. You can count on that." Tai said and gave his wife a much-needed hug.
"If there's one thing that Hawkins is good at, it's always choosing the best route for survival, so there's no need to worry if he's still in the world of the living. I'll bet my money on that a hundred to one every time." Qrow added which got him a smile from his teammates.
"Yeah, it's not like Hawkins to go out of his way to cause more trouble, I bet he's already rescued Jaune and is waiting for us to meet him!" Summer said proudly. "Maybe he's even given Raven a taste of her own medicine to boot!"
/-/
In regards to the current and former members of team STQH and STRQ...
"How long are you going to stay asleep?" Raven growled as she finished applying a new makeshift bandage around her forearm.
While she may have been awake and standing, the magician showed no signs of waking and remained on the ground with his face toward the sky. His right hand did twitch on occasion, however, and with a rush of impatience, Raven moved to step on it in hopes of getting a reaction. Unfortunately, whether Hawkins meant to or not, he shifted at the last second sending Raven's heel off course and she ended up falling face-first on his chest.
"Gah! Get the hell off me!" Raven snarled. Though it was she who was on top of Hawkins in their current position.
Her request would also be denied, as the magician subconsciously sought comfort in the sudden weight added to his person, and wrapped his right arm around Raven's back while his left pressed her face deeper against his chest.
"Not this stupid position again..." Raven grit her teeth, but when Hawkins' chest began to rise and fall in a calm, gentle rhythm, she felt inclined to remain where she was. Though she'd kill anyone if they dared to question her motives on the matter.
"Damn it... the moment my aura is able to support my semblance, I'm leaving you here to rot, do you hear me, Hawkins?" Raven muttered as she nuzzled closer and got comfortable.
"Faust..."
"Hmm?" Raven blinked and curled a brow. What the hell was a Faust?