Here we go.

Chapter 17

"Summer wants to know why you act so weird about her!"

A simple question if one could call it a question. It was more of a statement of an unspoken question from Summer, and it was around that point Qrow knew he was stalling even in his own mind. Stalling because he didn't have a good answer.

Why was he so weird around Summer?

It wasn't like he could say she was his dead best friend. Even assuming he did tell the truth and he did somehow convince them all to believe it, that would still just make their relationship even more strained. Summer would feel like he was treating her as if she was someone else (which he would be) and she'd constantly be reminded of a death that might come for her at any time.

Maybe they could still become friends, but it wouldn't be Team STRQ. It'd be Team STR and time travelling Qrow. Things would be different. And sure, things were probably going to be different now as well, but they wouldn't be that different.

As long as he had a good excuse.

Which he didn't.

Was he meant to say that he was shy and wanted to be her friend? Raven would see right through that. Was he meant to say he had a feeling about Summer? That would be even weirder. He couldn't mention feeling she was familiar because Raven had been with him all his life and they'd never known anyone like Summer. Saying he pitied her for being bullied might have done a good job explaining why he stepped in and helped her in the first place, but that wasn't the question. They wanted to know about the longing looks he sent.

And those were harder to explain.

Or, well, there was an easy escape route, but he really didn't want to take the "I have a crush on you" angle, not only because it would make Summer even more awkward, but because he had no idea what he'd do if she said yes.

This was his best friend's wife.

Who was underage.

"It's not as crazy as you all think," he said, not really meaning that but using it to buy time. Maybe he should take a cue from Yang's book and just talk, hoping something you said might make sense or trigger someone into making their own assumption. Yang always babbled when she was in trouble. "I guess I felt something when I saw Summer being picked on by those people. It made me think of us being weak to the others."

He met Raven's eyes when he said that, hoping she'd get the clue. It was BS of course, but he and Raven had been through hell and a child his age probably should be a lot more traumatised by that than he actually was.

"I guess it reminded me of that and I refused to stand by and do nothing like they did." He shrugged. "And after, you know how bad a job I did at stopping the bullying."

"That's old news," said Raven. "We're talking about the looks you give her."

I know that sister dearest. I'm stalling for time.

"Those… well… I guess I as just trying to understand."

No one looked impressed. "What…?"

"I tried to help Summer, and she didn't want anything to do with me. I guess I felt left out and wanted to be a part of what you have." His face was blood red, which probably helped sell the act. In truth he was just embarrassed at the nonsense he was saying. "You know I don't have many actual friends around here, and I guess I thought she could be one, then when she avoided me… I guess I kept watching, wondering what I'd done wrong and wishing I could have done better. Like you did," he said to his sister.

Summer looked shocked.

The rest of Raven's gang looked uncomfortable.

Raven looked unimpressed.

Like she didn't believe a single word coming out his lying mouth.

"That's it…?" Summer whispered. There was a relief to her, a crushing and hysterical relief. "That's it? All those weird looks because you felt lost?"

"I'm… well… I'm not exactly a normal kid. Neither is Raven." He flushed even harder. "Making friends doesn't come easy to us. Raven's idea on how to make friends was to form some weird prison gang and get tackled through a window by you. Why would you assume I'm any better at it than her?"

"That makes a disturbing amount of sense," said Rosebud. "You were super awkward around my parents."

"Yeah. Would you believe me if I said that's the first time ever I've been to a friend's house?

Because there had never been opportunities with Taiyang and Summer.

"I'd believe it. My parents almost wanted to adopt you right there."

The rest of Raven's gang laughed, even Summer, and Qrow offered her a weak smile. "I'm sorry if I creeped you out. I just didn't know what to say or how to approach and you obviously didn't want anything to do with me so longing looks is all I could—"

"We can be friends." Summer giggled helplessly. "Just… talk to me. And stop looking from a distance like that."

All was well that ended well.

Until after lunch when Raven dragged him aside and said, "That was the biggest crock of bullshit I've ever heard from you. Am I meant to believe even a fraction of that?"

Qrow winced. "You don't have to. It only matters that Summer does."

"Tch. I'm not sure she believes it either but she's obviously going to pretend she does because that makes life easier than the alternative. You're such a weirdo. Don't you have an actual answer to give me? I won't tell her."

"I actually don't have a good answer…"

"More like you don't trust me with it." Raven scowled and pushed past him. "Whatever. It's not like I care if my own blood lies to me."

"Ray…" He smiled weakly. "Want to spar?"

"I'm not in the mood."

Raven stormed away, rejecting an offer to spar for the first time in her life. Sighing, Qrow ran a hand through his hair. How was it that a forty-year-old man could fuck up social interaction so badly? Teenagers were much too complicated.

"I need a drink…"

/-/

Things got more and less complicated.

Summer chatted with him every day. It seemed like she was determined to pigeonhole him into the friendzone to make herself feel less awkward – something he was a-okay with – and she talked about literally everything and anything. Classes, TV shows, her grandfather, tournaments, weapons.

It was like a mix of Ruby and Yang, which made sense since both had picked things up from her. Summer could be a weapons dork like Ruby, but she also loved music and TV dramas like Yang. Qrow found it easier to keep track of the former since the big shows of today were campy and outdated compared to what he was used to. On the other hand, his knowledge of weapons felt advanced by the standards of today, and Summer quickly realised that. Soon, they were spending lunch hours discussing firing mechanisms and dust ammo types and coming up with prototypes for the weapons they'd be allowed to craft later in the year.

Things with Summer were going great.

Less so with Raven.

It had been a few weeks and she'd cooled down enough for them to spar and talk and generally live together in a room that wasn't drowning in negativity. But he was her brother, and he could tell she was still pissed with him. Spars were more vicious, insults were more common, and she'd taken to refusing to clean her side of the dorm. Also, she talked more with her gang and Summer than him, casually blocking him out of conversations.

It wasn't like he hadn't caught her hint that he needed to apologise to her, and it wasn't like he hadn't gone and apologised.

But Raven was the type of person who considered an apology worthless. Saying sorry meant nothing if he wouldn't tell her why, and he couldn't – so his apologies were as good as pissing into the wind.

Luckily, Raven was also a tough bitch even as a child, so she was more than able to get through her day while holding a grudge against him. It wasn't ideal and he'd rather she stopped, but he could understand why she was upset.

And though he'd never admit it to her for fear of what she'd say back, he still preferred things this way.

That sounded awful.

It was awful.

But he'd lost Summer. In a way he'd lost Raven too, but he could still check up on her and had done so many times. They'd argued a lot as adults but there had been some rare tender moments. Like the date of Summer's death where he would show up with booze, she'd let him into her tent, and they'd drink the night away talking about Beacon before waking up the next day with hangovers and pretending it never happened.

He hadn't had that opportunity with Summer so, in a very real way, he was showing favouritism toward her over his own sister. It was unfair, and Raven didn't deserve it, but the weeks after felt like he had his dead friend back, and he couldn't just ignore that. He and Summer spent hours of every day together.

Until even Summer noticed.

"You need to spend more time with Raven," she told him. "I think she's getting upset."

"I know she's upset," he replied. "I feel it every night when she glares at me in our dorm. We do share a room, you know."

Summer shot him a dour look.

"I'd be happy to bury the hatchet if I knew how I could do that! Raven is determined I have some big secret—" Which he did, "—and she refuses to take any other answer."

"Then you need to earn her forgiveness another way."

"How!?"

"Ugh. Qrow!" Summer slammed her hands down on the table. "You're her brother. Do you really not have any ideas?"

That made him feel bad. He really ought to know Ray better than anyone, but he was constantly reconciling two versions of her in his head. The Raven of today was different to the one of the future, but it was hard to pick them apart.

"Idiot man," Summer groaned, in the same way she had – and would – when dealing with him and Taiyang in the future. "Buy her a gift," she said. "As an apology."

"A gift…? You think that'll be enough? Raven isn't a normal girl."

"That's why the gift shouldn't be chocolates and flowers, yeah. Obviously." Summer giggled. "But I'm sure you can think of something better to get her if you put your head to it."

"You know what. Maybe I can…"

/-/

Ozpin welcomed him into a seat in a tiny diner in Signal, offering him the menu to order from.

"I must admit I was surprised when you asked me to come speak with you," the immortal said. "And outside of Signal as well. If it were any other child I might think it a waste of time, but your message was so unusual that I took the time out. What can I do for you, Qrow?"

"I'm stuck in a huge fight with Raven."

Ozpin was surprised. "You want my advice?"

"Appreciate it, old man, but no. I've asked Summer for help, and she came up with a good idea but… well… I need money." Qrow winced. "Money to buy and make her a gift to say I'm sorry."

"You called me to ask for money?"

"Yeah, I know. Look, I'm willing to work for it and do some jobs—"

"Don't talk foolishness. How much do you need?"

Qrow's jaw dropped. "That's it!?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Ozpin asked, laughing heartily. "My boy, you are a child, and I am your legal guardian. You and your sister have asked me for very little – and I've already bought her a sword. The only reason I never offered you the same is because it always seems you would rather I didn't."

"Ugh…"

"You have suspicions about me. Don't lie, Mr Branwen, they are obvious. Understandable too. You have been through a lot, and you have looked after your sister. Now, a strange man appears and offers you things when you have been alone and independent for so long. Of course you would be wary of him." Ozpin smiled faintly, adding, "I respected your desire for distance, and I still do. You're a very capable young man. So, tell me how much you need and what you need it for and I shall see what I can do. No strings attached."

Damn it.

The old man was going to make him cry.

Fucker.

Maybe he'd misjudged him. Not be a lot – Ozpin was and always would be a manipulative old man, but he was a manipulative old man on the side of good, and Qrow had to remind himself that things were good at this time.

When he and Raven had been recruited, Salem had only just begun to show herself again. This era, the time before Ruby and Yang had been born, had honestly been quite peaceful. It was a post-war moment after the faunus rebellion and Salem had tried and failed to usurp that. She needed time to regroup and regather her forces, and Ozpin was in no rush.

"I might need a bit," said Qrow, "or maybe you could get me what I need – and a forge to use."

Ozpin looked even more interested. "Oh?"

"That weapon you got Raven is a good one, but it won't last her forever."

"It won't. But I didn't realise you had begun your engineering courses yet."

"I read ahead. You know I get bored in class – and that's no excuse to offer me another year skip, old man. I'm happy where I am with Ray and Summer." If anything, Ozpin's smile only grew. "But I need to apologise to Raven, and I know the best way to her heart is with an incredibly sharp object."

Ozpin hummed. "I will see what I can do but, for safety's sake, I think it best if I assist you."

Spy on him, more like. There was no point refusing, though. Even aside from giving Qrow all the materials, Ozpin would know about the weapon the moment Raven used it in Signal, and it'd be no less suspicious then.

"Sure. That's fine with me."

/-/

Recreating Omen from memory was challenging, but Ozpin was a much bigger help than Qrow expected him to be. The man knew a lot of things, so whenever Qrow ran into trouble he could offer advice.

Even then, Ozpin was very surprised at the weapon.

"The hilt is separate?"

"That's the idea. Summer was showing me guns that used different dust cartridges and it got me thinking about he same with blades." Qrow pointed to the open scabbard, which they had in pieces and using a machine to make long grooves in. "The basic idea is the dust can be poured in and then it's hardened and crystallised into a blade. Six chambers, six blades, like a revolver."

"Remarkable." Ozpin ran a finger over one that had already finished. "And the hilt connects into the scabbard. The trigger rotates the blades, and then it connects to one and allows for the draw. This will be a very expensive weapon to run, Mr Branwen."

It sure was. Every blade was a good amount of dust – though Raven could, and had better, preserve them by not using them too recklessly.

"The blades will last as long as she doesn't break them, and it's better to have a good weapon even if it costs more."

"You're not wrong there. Still, this is much more advanced than I'd expect from someone your age. This will allow for elemental attacks and great versatility, but it will be difficult to wield."

"Eh. Raven has more than enough potential."

"I don't doubt that. Even so, this is a very unique weapon. Possibly one of a kind. Wherever did the idea for it come from?"

"I already told you – it's a sword-revolver hybrid."

"I'm well aware of mechashift, Mr Branwen, but most of those involve the sword adding the gun to it, not the sword becoming a fun that fires off blades."

Qrow shrugged. "I guess I just see things different. A lot of this is inspiration from Summer, too. And Raven really isn't the kind of person to use a gun. She hates them. She'll be a swordswoman for life so unless I want to dump her in close range forever, she'll need a ranged option. This'll give her that."

He could tell Ozpin wasn't convinced but there really was no other explanation. It wasn't like the old man hadn't kept an eye on them either, so he knew they weren't getting secret instructions from Salem. After a moment, Ozpin just smiled.

"You've a very talented young man. It does my heart good to see you using that talent to aid your sister as well. So many in your shoes would pull away from her, especially with an offer to attend Beacon early."

"I like where I am and I like the people I'm with. Me, Raven, and Summer are going to be on a team in Beacon?"

"Oh? Those are not pre-selected, you realise."

"Doesn't matter. We'll be a team."

"Hmhmhm. I look forward to seeing it. Now, let's put this back together and see if it works as it's supposed to. You never know with weapon construction."

Child prodigy or not, Ozpin was still a teacher and refused to let him be the one to test a prototype weapon and get hurt. Qrow was forced back behind a reinforced screen as Ozpin drew several blades and tested them, swinging in the air, then at a dummy before finally running through some stress tests. The blades were just a little bendy, as they should be, and not too rigid. That was much easier to achieve with metal than it was dust, so the fact they'd managed it was impressive.

It wasn't like dust blades didn't exist, but it was certainly a thing when a teenager his age managed to make one, even if it was under the supervision of a teacher. Metal was relatively forgiving compared to dust with its natural volatility.

"It's a remarkable weapon," said Ozpin, sheathing it and handing it back. Qrow took it, but only to lay it down in a long weapon case among fresh padding. "Your sister will be amazed. I think a professional huntress would be touched to receive something like this. You could have a career as a weaponsmith if you wanted it."

"And leave Raven alone out there with the Grimm? I'll pass."

"Hmm." Ozpin smiled. "I think it's best family protect family as well. I hope you are all on the same team, Mr Branwen. I expect great things from you all."

"You better expect great troublemaking too."

"I think, with you and your sister, that goes without saying."

"Yeah. Uh…" Qrow looked away, embarrassed. "Thanks, by the way. For doing this… and for helping me out. I know I've been a bit of a dick to you—"

"Have you? At most you have been brusque. I've certainly not found myself insulted or threatened." Ozpin looked deeply amused. "I've met many children like you in my time, Mr Branwen. You may be one of the most talented, but you are certainly not the most caustic of them. You needn't apologise."

"Maybe not, but I do need to say thank you. So, yeah. Thanks, old man."

"You are more than welcome."

/-/

Qrow was nervously excited when he snuck back into Signal. He'd already called ahead to Summer and Rosebud to ask them to leave Raven alone so he could give her his gift. Neither knew what it was yet, but both were no doubt dying with curiosity.

Raven was alone in their dorm.

Perfect.

"Ray! How's it going?"

His sister grunted. "And where have you been all day?" he growled.

"Curious?"

"No one would tell me." Her eyes sharpened. "I thought there'd be no secrets between us. Looks like there's even more than I—"

"I was out getting you a gift!"

Qrow dragged the large case in front of him and dumped it on her bed, smiling ferally.

Raven froze.

"W—What…?"

"I was out," he repeated, slowly saying each word, "getting you a gift. And that's why I asked everyone to keep it secret." There was a certain pleasure in seeing her shocked red eyes look up at him. "I wanted to surprise my beloved little sister."

"Little?" she hissed. "Fuck off, you—"

"Open it."

Raven glared at him a little more and looked like she didn't want to, mostly because she knew it'd drain her deserved anger. Still, he knew her well enough to know she wouldn't be able to resist for long, and soon her eyes flicked downward. The case was big. Heavy. Intimidating. Exciting.

Eventually, her temper lost out and she reached for it, unclipping the edges, and pushing the heavy lid up. There was protective foam inside to cover it, but once she'd got that off, she gasped at the sight of a heavy black scabbard and an artistic handle wrapped in leather. It was like a sword's hilt but there was a trigger, closer in reality to a motorcycle's brake trigger than a gun's. When she wasn't using it to select a blade, it'd be on the outside of her fingers like a basket hilt.

"What is this? It's not just a scabbard!" she gasped, touching the hilt. "It's a weapon!"

"I made it myself. I was out with Ozpin all day. He provided materials and made sure I didn't kill myself in the forge."

Her eyes snapped to his. "Since when can you make weapons!?"

"I've been talking weapon with Summer a lot lately. You noticed, didn't you?"

Her eyes widened. "But I thought you—"

"You thought I was too busy trying to get into her pants to remember my own sister?" He sighed. "First of all, Summer's pants are the last place I want to be. Secondly, you're my sister." He reached out and poked her forehead. "You're not getting rid of me that easily. Now, stand up and put it on. I'll show you how it works."

Raven flew to her feet and let him help put it on.

"Grasp the hilt but don't draw. See the trigger by the guard, press it once." The scabbard whirred as she did, revealing a red light on top. "Good. Now pull the big trigger once and let go of it, slide your fingers back under after. That's it."

There was a loud click.

"Now draw."

Raven slid the blade free, gasping as the blood red blade glinted in the air. "Is this dust!?" she gasped.

"Yep. A fire dust sword blade. Sheathe it again." She looked reluctant to do so, but he managed to force her slide the sword back in. "Now pull the big trigger again to release, then the small button to rotate the chamber and the bigger one again to secure it." Raven did so. "And draw again."

This time the blade was a fierce and angry yellow.

"Lightning dust blade," Qrow said proudly. Raven's knees were shaking. "You have five different elemental blades in there, each one capable of raw elemental attacks. The sixth blade is just metal, in case you run out of dust and the others break. You can refill it by pouring in dust and igniting the charge to forge a blade. Later, you can customise them as you want. Do more fire blades if you like those or cut out an element you're less thrilled with."

Raven was barely even listening. She was holding the lightning blade across her hands, tapping her fingernails against the yellow dust, and listening to the crackling sound it made. It wasn't charged and wouldn't shock her, but even he could hear the energy within the dust. It was a blade made of raw power in a sense.

"So…" Qrow already knew the answer. "Do you like it?"

"This… This is incredible…" Raven was in awe, sheathing, rotating, and drawing each blade one by one. "This is crazy. This has to be the best weapon in all of Signal! No one has anything like this!"

"It sure is." Qrow grinned proudly. "Only the best for my sister."

Raven hit him in the chest, arms wrapping around him and tackling him to the floor. Omen – or what she'd no doubt come to later name it – pushed its hilt into his diaphragm, driving the air out of him.

Not that she noticed.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Summer's advice had been on the money once more.

It was no wonder she'd be their future team leader.

Next Chapter: 3rd February

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