Cover Art: Aristeo Storm

Chapter 44

Peach and Port weren't slow, even injured, but they felt that way given the harsh pace Qrow was keeping. Neither complained, knowing they were the burdens and that they needed his help, but Peter started to carry Peach more and more, and had to pick her up entirely when she tripped mid-hop and almost faceplanted the dirt.

"Qrow," Peter said. "Please slow down."

"What—? Oh. Sorry."

He sounded it, but only vaguely, like it was politeness winning out over frustration. Peter knew he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed but even a mallet could have seen Qrow had somewhere to be and didn't appreciate being held back. The only reason he hadn't brought it up was in the vaguest hope Nessa hadn't noticed.

But, of course, she had.

"If we're that much of a burden to you, you can ditch us," snapped the injured huntress. Peter winced, feeling a little trapped since he had her in his arms. What might once have been reason for a young man to celebrate was dampened somewhat by the fact she was hurt.

"Now, Nessa—" Peter winced when her furious glare turned on him. "Peach, I mean. There's no reason to get upset at Qrow for helping us."

"And there's no reason for him to be upset with us because we got in trouble!" she snapped back.

Qrow frowned. "I never said I was."

"And yet you're powerwalking ahead to the point we can't keep up. It's obvious you want to meet up with someone else and we're unwelcome burdens. If that's going to be your attitude, you should just leave us."

"It's the pain talking," Peter said. Nessa pinched his arm. "Yowch!"

"It's not the pain talking, thank you very much. It's me talking!"

Qrow ran a hand through his hair and let out an irritated sigh. For a second, Peter thought he might truly leave them – which was fair. He'd stepped in to help them once, but there was no reason to expect a second time. They were slowing him down and, if he had others he wanted to team with, that was his prerogative. It would mean abandoning them, however, and Peter wasn't sure he could singlehandedly get Nessa out while also protecting their book to secure a place in Beacon.

"Look," said Qrow. "It's not you. Okay? I just have some friends I promised to meet and I'm worried someone else will steal my spot on their team. But I'm not going to abandon you two to the Grimm. I'll slow down. Okay?"

Nessa huffed.

Peter answered for her. "That would be a great help. Not that you haven't been already, but Nessa— Ow!" He winced. "Peach, here, can't keep up at your pace, and I'm a strong man but I'm not used to carrying so much weigh—yowww! But I used your surname!"

Nessa crossed her arms over her chest. "If you think that's what I pinched you for, you need to clean your ears out!"

"If we can move on?" Qrow asked, impatiently.

It looked like their brief rest was over. Peter wouldn't have minded teaming up with the man – he'd seemed nice back in the changing room – but he didn't want to end up on a team with someone who didn't want to be a part of it. Teams were meant to be like family, and he'd held such fantasies about Beacon on what that would mean. A group of companions he would grow to love, and who would stand side by side for the rest of their lives. It sounded so magical, to think he could be on a team with people who would be there at his graduation, his wedding, the birth of his first child...

Well, it was a big deal.

Coming to Beacon without any friends made that a little harder, especially since a lot of others were teaming up with those they knew before, like Qrow was. Peter had just held to the hope he'd bump into someone who hadn't, or who had space for a fourth member, and he'd struck gold with Nessa being, like him, someone from a lesser-known school with no other classmates coming to Beacon. It was a shame about Qrow but better he end up on the team he wanted to than be forced onto theirs, and they could always become friends outside of their team.

Assuming they didn't slow him down to the point he lost his team, and therefore hated them until the end of their days.

Peter bit his lip, feeling his nerves flare up as they so often did.

"LET US BE OFF!" he shouted, startling Nessa and Qrow both. Peter forced out his signature laughter, taking comfort in it. "HA! HA! HA! Let us find your team and show Beacon what we are made of! Perhaps our teams shall even become the best of friends!"

Nessa hissed about volume.

But Qrow grinned. "Yeah. That sounds like a plan. Let's be off."

/-/

It sucked being the odd one out of a friendship group.

At least that was Gretchen's experience. It wasn't something she blamed them for, since they'd all been friends long before ever meeting her, so it was more a case of seniority than them considering her less of a friend – though they probably did still feel that way, she glumly knew. Still, better to have some friends coming into Beacon than none, and she'd told herself she could prove how good a friend she was by bowing out of the competition for team spots and being the odd one out. That way, Qrow, Taiyang, Raven and Summer wouldn't have any reason to hate her.

Not that she thought they would but there'd definitely have been some tension had she forced her way in as one of their partners and ruined their preferred setup. That was something she wanted to avoid.

Painfully, she'd landed not that far from Raven, and even spotted her first – but she'd held back and let Taiyang be the one to "officially" find her, even though that made her stomach drop. He was so over-the-top with his attraction to her, and that was nice in a way, since it didn't leave any ambiguity over her chances that might lead her on...

But damn it! He could have at least looked like he might have liked her had Raven not existed.

Fat chance of that with my body, she thought, following after them with a frown.

Gretchen Rainart kicked at the dirt and stuffed her hands in her pockets, scowling at the fact she could look down at her feet without even the slightest bump or swelling to obstruct her vision. Raven and Summer were both so stacked, and Willow was packing as well. Would it have killed one of them to be like her? Just one. That was all she was asking for.

Taiyang had a bigger chest than her.

That wasn't an exaggeration. His pecs made his chest stick out beyond hers, and if one took a tape measure to her, she figured Qrow would match her. Whatever. It wasn't like all guys were into that, but that wasn't the point. She didn't want to have guys crawling all over her; she wanted to be able to look at herself and feel confident.

This really isn't the place for this, she thought. But, ugh, where are all the single people? Team single, I mean. Is literally everyone already in a friendship group, or did I just get unlucky in where I landed?

The sounds of a big fight drew Raven and Taiyang's attention, and hers too. They darted off and Gretchen gave chase. A fight meant people, and those people might need a fourth teammate. It'd be pretty handy if she could slot into an empty space without upsetting anyone and causing drama.

But it looked like not everyone agreed.

It was Summer and Willow fighting together against four people – damn it, no space for her – and they were doing an obnoxiously good job of it. Not winning but holding their ground despite having teamwork so bad it might as well have been called sabotage. Willow's spear kept sweeping back and hitting Summer with the butt, and Summer kept dodging back into Willow and robbing her of the room and movement to use her spear properly.

And, as if that wasn't enough, they were arguing as they fought. Just... casually insulting one another while also holding off two times their number.

Way to make a girl feel inferior in more ways than one...

The arrival of Taiyang and Raven put a stop to the fight. Knowing they'd failed to best two, and that four would be an even more doomed prospect, the aggressors disengaged and backed off. Naturally, Raven wasn't about to have that, but Summer caught her collar as she surged by and stopped her chasing down the routing enemies.

"At least you two managed to get the right teammates," Summer said. "Have you seen Qrow? He told me to wait here so he can partner with me."

"Or me," Willow said.

Gretchen winced. Willow wasn't a bad person as far as she could tell, but she was in the same spot Gretchen was, except worse. Like her, Willow was also an extra member, surplus to requirements, but unlike her, Willow wasn't willing to bow out for the sake of friendship and accept a placement on another team.

Willow wanted in.

And that meant there were five people fighting for four spots.

I guess that makes me luckier than her. At least I can bow out without feeling like I'm less of a friend. Someone is going to lose in this scenario, and whomever it is will feel it for the next four years.

Gretchen didn't envy whoever it was going to be. Willow, most likely. Gretchen was 99% sure of that. Maybe it would have been reason enough for her to reach out and try and team up with the girl, but she didn't want to be partnered with someone who would resent her. Not that Willow acted like a bad person, but Gretchen wasn't who she wanted to partner with, so no matter how well they got on, Gretchen would always be the partner she hadn't wanted.

"There's someone over there!" Summer said, pointing her way.

Gretchen made to step out the trees.

"Oh, that's Gretchen," Raven said, casually. "Been stalking us for a while."

"I haven't been stalking you!" Gretchen argued, blushing as she stomped out towards them. "I just didn't want to make things awkward when you all had your dream team in mind!"

Summer smacked Raven up the back of the head and smiled her way. "Don't listen to her, Gretchen. You're awesome."

For not getting in her way.

The compliment felt a little backhanded.

"Yeah, sure." Gretchen strolled up to stand before them. "And I actually came across Raven before Taiyang did, but I held back so he could team with her."

"Damn it," Raven said, clicking her tongue. "I'd have partnered with you."

Yeah, no. Gretchen wasn't opening that can of worms and, though she wouldn't say it, Raven was definitely the person here that Gretchen liked the least. Not dislike, as they were all friends, but she was more friends with Qrow and Summer than their bitchy classmate.

"I'm cool to partner with whoever is left over," she said. "I don't want to cause any fuss."

Naturally, they all politely asked if she was sure, and acted like they would have let her on their teams – or Summer, Willow and Taiyang did. Raven didn't care. Gretchen rolled her eyes, knowing they were only acting this way because she'd already said she'd bow out. Easy to be nice when you didn't think someone was muscling in on your spot.

"Yeah, I'm sure. It's cool. We've only been friends for a few weeks. You've been together for years. Don't suppose you've found Qrow, though? The sooner you figure out your team, the sooner I can have a teammate."

"Your teammate is Summer," said Willow.

"Your teammate is Willow," said Summer.

Taiyang scratched his cheek and wisely chose not to get involved.

Raven looked to the heavens for help.

/-/

Qrow found them like that, Summer and Willow forehead to forehead while Raven, Taiyang and Gretchen were standing off to the side looking like they thought they should intervene, but really didn't want to put themselves in harm's way.

His arrival served as a distraction for all of them.

"Qrow!" Summer lunged.

And tripped as a glyph around her feet flared and kept her rooted to the floor. Her arms wheeled furiously as she fell like a chopped tree, and Willow skipped over to him with an innocent smile. "Qrow! So good to see you!" She glomped onto his left arm. "And now our team is complete!"

Ah...

This might be a problem.

Team STRQ had to become a thing again – the future demanded it – but that didn't mean he wanted to blow Willow off or ignore her. Quite the opposite, as he'd promised to make her future happier than her previous one. Just... not at the expense of his team, as horrible as that sounded.

How do I untangle this mess?

"Are these your friends?" asked Peter.

"Right, of course!" Qrow leapt on the change of subject, and offered silent praise to the future teacher, "Guy and girls, this is Peter Port and Nessa Peach. I came across them being harassed by some losers who pretended to want to team up before stabbing Nessa. They're in need of two extra teammates, so I figured we could join up with them. That makes eight of us in total. Two teams right there."

Conveniently leaving out how the teams would be split, of course.

Gretchen – bless her soul – had no such doubts over which team she'd be on and bounded up with a friendly smile. "Hi! I'm Gretchen!" She shook Nessa's hand and then awkwardly waved at Peter. "Nice to meet you both. I'd love to team up – and I won't even stab you!"

Nessa laughed. "Sounds great right about now, but call me Peach, please. I hate my name."

Peter helped her down where she could balance on one leg and then stuck his hand out at Gretchen, a wild smile on his face and a wilder look in his eyes. "AND I AM PETER PORT!" he roared. "Future heroic huntsman and devilishly handsome gentleman! It is an honour and a pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

Gretchen blinked away her shock at the enthusiastic introduction and then shook his head. It proved to be a mistake as he gripped on tight and shook so violently that her whole arm was yanked up and down. "Y—Yeah. C—Charmed. Ahah. Um. Our last teammate is going to be... um..."

Damn it, Gretchen.

"Decided by the school, obviously!" Qrow said, foisting responsibility off on Ozpin. Oz knew who they were, how good they were, how close they were, and also was a manipulative old coot. He'd obviously pick the same team as he had in the original timeline so he could continue to influence them, and Qrow was fine with that. "The important thing is we are two sets of teams with two books. We have one. Do you...?"

"I have one!" Willow said happily. "I won it through skill!"

"She did not earn it through skill!" Summer cried from where she was still laid out on the floor. "And turn your stupid Semblance off!"

"W—Well, that's two books and two teams," Qrow continued, valiantly trying to deflect from having to make a decision that would hurt Willow. The girl was younger than them, didn't deserve it, and he couldn't explain it in a way that wouldn't cause her a lot of pain.

Was it cowardly to avoid the issue and let Ozpin handle it?

Yes. Yes, it was.

But Qrow had never pretended he wasn't a coward, as Taiyang had found out when Yang first had her period and Qrow turned bird and flew away before Taiyang could ask him for help. Or when Ruby had tearfully asked if Santa was real and Qrow had told her to ask Taiyang, or the time when Yang got a tummy bug and was sick in the morning, somehow convinced herself she was pregnant (despite never kissing a boy) and asked Qrow to help her take a pregnancy test. Though Qrow had less "run away" at that one, and more fainted on the spot. Sadly, that led to Taiyang having to give her the birds and the bees to explain how she couldn't be pregnant because a boy at school touched her hand.

Yang had worn a haunted expression for a whole week.

So, yes, Qrow accepted he was a coward whenever emotions were involved. Give him Grimm and he'd charge right in, but you could cut Grimm down and butcher them. You couldn't take a sword to a girl's feelings.

Unless they were Ruby, in which case you could offer her a sword and that usually caused her to get over whatever was bothering her – but that was different, and Willow wasn't going to be assuaged with a weapon for him saying he didn't want to be on a team with her.

"I guess that's fair," Taiyang said. "The teachers can sort it out and then there won't be any bad blood between us."

"What if they do it by random?"

"I doubt they'd do that, Summer. Peter and Ness are obviously going to be on a team together."

Everyone waited for Peach to complain about her name.

But she didn't.

Fucking Taiyang. Seriously.

"—and he's not going to break up Raven and I, either. They must have some rule in place, and I think it's best we get back with our books and pass than waste time here when others might come back to take advantage of us."

Taiyang always had been good at breaking up fights.

No one argued with him.

/-/

"That was pretty cowardly, you know," Gretchen said on the way back to Beacon. Summer and Willow had continued to argue and fight all the way back, but neither seemed to mind her coming to talk to him. Probably because they knew where he and Gretchen stood.

"I know."

"You know?"

"I'm not as stupid as I look."

"So, you admit you look stupid. That saves time."

Qrow snorted. He did like Gretchen, partially because she was quick to snap back at him, but also because she was new. He knew everything there was to know about Summer, Raven and Taiyang, so they were more of a nostalgic comfort to him. Gretchen was a novel experience, and that made her a little more fun at times.

"Yeah, I know Willow and Summer both don't want to be left out the team," he admitted. "And you're right that it's cowardly of me not to try and sort it out. But how do I tell Willow I want to be on a team with Summer without hurting her?"

"You know Willow has feelings for you, right?"

Qrow grunted. "I know."

"Okay. Good. For a second I thought you were, like, super stupid – not just mostly stupid. Do you not like her, then?"

"I don't dislike her."

"Romantically?"

"It feels too soon for that." As in, Willow was too young. Obviously, she was close to his age, but that was physical. He'd feel a lot more comfortable with it if she were twenty. "At the very least, I'd want her to be eighteen before I even consider that."

"Huh. Okay. I mean, that's fair. She's only a year younger than you but it's not the worst decision I can think of. You're not against her liking you, then?"

"I'm not against it but I don't encourage it. Or I try not to. But, at the same time, I don't think it's going to hurt her – or at least I don't plan to hurt her." He was aware he was rambling a little, but this was new territory for him. No one had been into him like this before. "I want her to be happy and if, when she's older, she decides she wants to try with me, then I'll give her a chance." Gretchen looked shocked. "What's with that face?"

"I'm just surprised you're sounding so mature."

"Hey, I'm a simple guy."

"Yes. Yes, you are."

"Simple as in uncomplicated – not stupid."

"If you say so..."

"Bitch." Qrow laughed. "Point is, there's no reason for me to turn her down and I'm not one of those people who thinks a relationship can't work out. Personally, I don't think I'm the right person for her, but that's her choice to make. Not mine."

Honestly, Qrow didn't think he was the right person for anyone, and that sounded a lot more pathetic than he meant it to. It was less an angsty woe-is-me mentality and more that he knew how much of a screwup he was, not to mention the drinking and the unhealthy huntsman lifestyle. Plus, a romantic partner would expect him to be a strong and steady presence, and he'd proven himself someone to collapse in on himself and turn to alcohol the moment things went wrong. He was much better as the cool uncle than he was a partner.

"This must be the twilight zone with you sounding so mature. What about Summer?"

"Summer is my friend. That's different. Besides..." he lowered his voice. "Don't tell anyone, but she secretly likes Taiyang."

Gretchen looked back at him and rolled her eyes. "Does she now?"

"Yep. Maybe she hasn't realised it yet, but I see the way she looks at him."

"Uh-huh."

"Like I said, male black hole."

"Hmmm. There's a black hole, alright. It's between your ears." Gretchen sighed and hooked her hands behind her head. "You really are an idiot. I should count myself lucky I'm not on your team. It'd be a disaster."

So cruel. Qrow laughed and straightened up, seeing Beacon approach. It almost felt like a shame he'd never met Gretchen the first time around, but he and Raven had been so self-absorbed at the time. Still, new life, new opportunities. He'd not only protect Team STRQ but make new friendships along the way – and protect those, too.

"You'll do fine," he told her, giving her arm a gentle punch. "Whatever team you're on, we'll still be your friends. Nothing will change that."

"Idiot." Gretchen thumped him back, but she couldn't hide her smile. "Who'd want to be friends with a loser like you anyway? I bet your sister regrets your existence. Right?"

Raven scowled at Gretchen. "Don't talk to me ever again."

Gretchen faltered, then tilted her head. "Is this because I didn't cockblock Taiyang...?"

"You're dead to me, bitch."

Raven powerwalked ahead, with Taiyang on her tail.

"It must be genetic," Gretchen decided. "You and Raven are both idiots."

"Honestly, if you knew how we'd been raised, you'd think us child geniuses."

Or, at the very least, she'd realise they could have come out so much worse.

Ozpin was waiting for them at the arrival point along with a few other teachers. None of them were old enough to be the headmaster, who had been absent from everything so far. He must have been getting on. They were instructed to hand over their books as proof of their passing, which they did, and then one of the teachers asked another if they'd attacked any teams.

Knew it was a trap, Qrow thought, as the teachers checked their footage and said they'd only acted in self-defence of themselves or others. Beacon would never approve of us turning on one another for profit. That's not what being a huntsman is about.

"You all pass," said one of the teachers, "But what are your teams?"

"Ah, there's a little problem there," Taiyang said, speaking up so Qrow wouldn't have to take the heat from Summer or Willow. True bro behaviour. "We were hoping Ozpin could decide the specifics...?"

The teacher shrugged. "We have procedures in place for if this happens, don't worry. We sometimes get people coming back in pairs or smaller groups as well, so we can fill in extra members if needed. Just gather in the lawn area – there are drinks and snacks on the buffet tables if you're hungry. Restrooms are marked, but don't leave the area otherwise."

"Ahem." Peter cleared his throat. "MEDI—"

The teacher slapped a hand over his mouth. "Medical attention will be provided. Please do not shout."

Peach wasn't so injured that she couldn't stay for the ceremony so, after checking her wound and patching her up, she was offered some painkillers and a set of crutches to use until she felt better. The teacher assured her the injury wouldn't damage her role in Beacon. In their own words, "there's always at least someone injured here; this is a combat school." Once they sat down, Gretchen sat with Peter and Peach to get to know them, and they seemed happy to have her.

Qrow was glad they were getting along, and he was sure Willow would integrate well into the team – at least once she got over not being on his. He'd make sure to cheer her up, maybe even offer to go out for a day with her. Sure, she'd see it as a date, but it wouldn't be a problem as long as he didn't lead her on. And if it cheered her up, it was a small price to pay.

"Congratulations to all who are here!" Ozpin said, speaking to the ten remaining teams. A measly forty people out of the hundred-plus who had come before. It was shocking for many of them, though Qrow had expected it. "You have all faced adversity, not only in combating Grimm but in seeing the worst of what humanity has to offer. Each team here not only fulfilled their objective, but also refused to attack their fellow teams. This is an important trait, as we are all in this together against the common enemy."

Salem. Or the Grimm, as Ozpin implied here.

Qrow knew better.

The teams were announced one by one, as they always were, and people clapped politely for each of them. They'd have chances to get to know one another over the coming years, and most would go on to become incredible huntsmen.

"—and we have Team Sword, SWRT, consisting of Summer Rose, Willow Schnee, Raven Branwen and Taiyang Xiao Long. Led by Summer Rose!"

Qrow's brain failed to process it.

He meant Team STRQ, surely.

"And finally, we have Team Pink – PNQG—" More than a few faces stretched at that casual massacre of language, but Ozpin pushed on. "— consisting of Peter Port, Nessa Peach, Qrow Branwen and Gretchen Rainart. Led by Peter Port!"

The expected applause came.

Though two teams did not clap. Team SWRT, which should have been STRQ, stared his way in utter dismay.

And so did each member of Team PNQG.

Gretchen, his new partner, shrank away from him nervously, guiltily hunching up her shoulders as though she expected him to stand up and shout that he'd never accept to being on her team. Peter and Nessa didn't look much better, both refusing to meet his eyes, both knowing he didn't want to be there with them. Not a team for ten seconds and they were already off to a rocky start.

Fuck...

Next Chapter: 24th August

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