Luck Takes a Turn

by bathedinblood

RDR2 spoilers! In the final hours of his life, one more good deed rewards Arthur Morgan with a second chance he never thought he would have. Now, burdened by a promise and thrown into an unknown world, Arthur must show everyone that he isn't down for the count yet. Now if only he could get this tiger off of his back...

17. Chapter 17

A lot of predictions for Volume 4 and onward. Boys and girls, we haven't seen Volume 1 yet. The COVID – 19 pandemic has us working seven day shifts, so I've been to drained to contribute to this. Hopefully we can get a little momentum going here. This one is going to be a little slow, but it will be building up to the heist.

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Chapter 17

"So that's it, huh?" Arthur crossed his arms as he stood next to John, both of them at the Bullhead station on the northern side of Vale. Across a dense forest the likes of which he had never seen, Beacon sat on a plateau. It was larger than he could have imagined. Although, that could also apply to Vale itself. He still couldn't get over how large the city was. And Beacon was in another class altogether.

Spires and towers climbing high into the sky, all white and gray stone and green windows. Even from this distance, Arthur could see how the academy had gotten its name. A few Bullheads were passing between the Huntsman Academy and the city itself, one of which he would be boarding soon.

"Yeah, that's it. Never been myself, but I hear all kinds of good things about it." John leaned across the railing on Arthur's left, his newer clothes a sign that things were moving up in the world for the Marston family. On his right, however, was Sean. He still wasn't sure how to handle the young man's return, but he could see that John was skittish of him. Arthur had been through a lot of grief with Marston, but the man's instincts were solid. Something was not right with Sean McGuire.

"The hell kind o' business you got up there, English? Most of them are too good for our kind of folk." The cyborg snorted. "Unless you're trying to go back to school. Is that why you're dressed that way?" The elder outlaw was dressed in the long coat and tie that he had worn to Sienna's inauguration, thankfully cleaned and starched by Kali. Arthur glanced at the Irishman with a smirk, but shook his head.

"Nah, just running some errands. I had a friend help me out, and she asked me to do something for her in return. No good deed and all that." He left it intentionally vague, though deep down he wasn't fond of deceiving either of the men next to him. Regardless of whatever the current situation was, they had all been through a lot together. Before either man could prod any further, the sign next to the station changed.

Next flight to Beacon: Arriving now.

All three men straightened as they watched the gray aircraft fly in, gently setting down on the landing pad and opening its doors. The larger ferries were more accommodating, but Arthur wasn't about to waste Lien avoiding a bumpy ride.

"Alright English, good luck with whatever you're doing up there. Just be careful. Not all of them goody goods are as straight as they seem." Sean clapped him on the shoulder, then stepped away toward the city. John slowly went to follow, but paused when Arthur caught his elbow.

"The hell is going on between you two, Marston? I know it's strange seeing him upright, but I've never seen you this spooked before." Arthur whispered harshly. John looked back toward the back of the retreating Irishman, then let his gaze meet Arthur's.

"He's been here for a year with no money, no job, and all he knew was what we had back home. Now he's got his brain put back together and a machine for an eye? Arthur, he's changed. Someone has got something over him, and I don't think that someone is good people." Arthur considered his words, then released the man before the person in question became suspicious. The older outlaw had been wondering about Sean's miraculous return, and there wasn't exactly a lot of fools that came to mind willing to perform expensive and extensive surgery for free. Sean had mentioned a debt when they spoke in Vacuo, but Arthur hadn't put a lot of thought to it thanks to the whole Sienna debacle. Now, he was starting to wish that he had.

"Just be careful. This is Sean we're talking about. If he's in a bad way, he'll ask for help. Just mind yourself and your family in the meantime." Arthur released John's arm and turned in the same motion, walking toward the Bullhead. John didn't follow, but just watched as the outlaw made his way to the aircraft. He turned back to follow Sean, but he couldn't fight the unsettling feeling that sat in his gut.

Boarding was a simple affair, albeit drawn out. The Bullhead had to refuel while Arthur and the other two passengers presented their tickets and what luggage they had. Considering all he had was his satchel, it was a quick affair. The attendant went to search the bag that sat on his hip, but a dangerous look from Arthur made him think twice. Since he was heading to a Huntsman Academy, it was assumed that he was a Huntsman or equivalent and no other stink was made about it.

The trip was rocky, but fast; probably ten minutes passed between take off and landing, and three of those were spent hovering to allow another craft to move from their designated landing area. Once he was on solid ground again, Arthur breathed a sigh of relief and looked around once more. Now that he was closer, Arthur could see that there was an immense courtyard that led toward the main campus. In the center of the academy, the CCT stood proud and tall, climbing higher than every other tower. The view from up there must have been something.

Figuring that was as good a place to start as any, Arthur started the slow trek from the landing pads to the school. A few of the other passengers were headed there as well, though they maintained a respectful distance and spoke among themselves. Some were students, judging by the black jackets and either black slacks or red plaid skirts. Arthur knew that compared to Remnant's standards he was old fashioned, but if he had a daughter walking around in skirts that short there would be hell to pay. Still, it wasn't his place to parent for others, despite his nagging habit of doing exactly that.

Another thing he noticed was a healthy amount of Faunus students. Not as many as their human colleagues, but he felt Sienna would approve of how accepting the academy was. A wolf Faunus here, and a rabbit Faunus over there. At the very least, she'd be glad to know that her work was already partly done in some places. Arthur blinked at the thought, then reminded himself of why he was here. He had to deliver a Relic of incredible importance, and spend at least fifteen minutes without thinking about his friend.

Get your head together. He admonished himself. Summer had brought him a second chance and the family he cared about. The least he could do was fulfill her last wish. After all, she wasn't coming back to Remnant.

Now that he was up close, Arthur could finally grasp the sheer size of the Cross Continental Transit Tower. Four small pillars supported the structure, but there was easily several thousand square feet on the bottom floor alone. And it was tall. Arthur gave up trying to estimate its height, but it was well over two hundred feet. Far larger than anything man made back home. Thirty foot windows surrounded the front half of the tower, leading to a wide base before the rest of the tower climbed into the sky. Two large sets of wooden double doors opened and closed with some regularity, and Arthur stepped forward to be the next one in.

Once he was inside, the outlaw had to catch himself. This definitely looked like something that belonged in those book Jack had loved to read so much. A soft green glow filled the room, evident from the lights set in the ground on the perimeter. In the center, a steel blue terminal stood with four green screens projected from it. An attendant dressed in white pants and shirt with a gray vest stood at one of the screens, his fingers dancing across the holographic keyboard. Arthur stepped further into the lobby, his eyes searching for a place to start. Maybe one of the consoles could help him? No, his grasp on technology was still shaky, he'd likely wind up blowing the whole tower to kingdom come.

"Can I help you?" A woman's voice came from the right, and Arthur turned to face it. A blonde woman in a black business skirt and a white blouse stood there expectantly, a clipboard in her hand. She had a strange purple cloak of some kind flowing behind her, and her bright blonde hair was controlled in a tight bun save for a few bang that fell across her stern face. A pair of glasses sat on her nose, and her green eyes gave Arthur the notion that she did not tolerate foolishness. He almost felt like he was in school again. Given the size of her chest, kinda wished he was too.

"Ma'am." Arthur cleared his throat, discarding such notions. "I'm looking for Headmaster Ozpin. I've got something for him." He patted his satchel. The woman's eyes darted to the pack for moment, the back up to his face.

"I'm afraid the headmaster is quite a busy man. Do you have an appointment? He didn't mention anything this morning." Arthur shook his head and held out Summer's scroll, indicating that she take it.

"No appointment. I'm just carrying something from an old friend." He looked around the lobby, making sure they wouldn't be overheard. "Summer Rose sent me." At the mention of her name, the woman's eyes widened considerably, and Arthur thought he heard the clipboard in her grasp creak dangerously. Oh boy.

"That is a name I have not heard for some time." The blonde woman allowed, then opened the scroll with one hand. Arthur had kept his name on the banner of the main screen, but made Summer's family portrait the background. Well, Sienna had done it at his request. He still wasn't savvy with the things.

"Yeah. She said everyone here thought that she was dead. She asked me to deliver a...Relic." His hand settled on his satchel again with far more gravity, and the blonde woman's back straightened instantly. That changed her demeanor.

"Come with me. And please, be quick about it." She spun around and began walking toward the elevators at a brisk pace, her heels clacking on the stone gray tile. Arthur followed behind her, as much to get his scroll back as to do as he was told. The woman pressed a button next to the elevator, then turned to face him once more. "I'll take you to a waiting room further up. Please do not discuss this business further until I'm certain we're in private."

"Yes ma'am." Arthur dutifully nodded, and the two stood in silence as they waited for the elevator to come down. When the doors finally opened, it revealed a sleek metal car with steel handles along the walls. Arthur followed the woman inside the elevator, watching as she pressed one of a multitude of buttons. When the doors closed, a hum surrounded them as Arthur felt the car begin to move upward.

"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Glynda Goodwitch." Arthur took his scroll back and shook her outstretched hand. "I'm the deputy headmistress for Beacon Academy. I see to the day to day operations." Her grip was firm, and had strength that implied she had earned her way to the top of an academy that taught monster hunters.

"Arthur Morgan. Gunslinger, I suppose is the only real title I could have." He let his hand rest on the Peacemaker. "I met Summer a few months back, and she said she couldn't come back here. That there were people trying to kill her and her family." When he said that, Glynda's stern visage softened, and she looked away for a moment.

"To my knowledge, her family is safe. But she spoke the truth. We thought she had been killed on a mission years ago. I don't have to tell you how much of a shock it is to hear that is not true." She looked back at Arthur. "Where did you meet her? Our Huntsmen are nothing if not thorough, and the last place she was reported to be seen was... gruesome."

There was the kicker. Summer wanted her whereabouts kept secret, and she implied that telling people about America wouldn't be a good idea. So, he settled for a partial truth.

"There's some ruins out in the desert near Vacuo, about a week's walk from the city. I ran into her on accident, and she was pretty banged up. I pulled her out of the fire, and she sent me this way. She also said that she didn't want to be followed. If them that wanted her dead thought that she was, then her family would be safe." Was that hurt that crossed Glynda's face? Arthur wasn't sure, but the impassive facade returned all to quickly as the blonde woman pushed her glasses up her nose.

"I see. While I wish that she had trusted us enough to let us know, I can understand her reasons. Both of her daughters are enrolled in Huntsmen Academies, and any interference from the ones that hunted Summer would jeopardize their safety. Still..." Whatever else Glynda was about to say was interrupted by a quiet chime, and the doors opened. This time, he found a room with large, cream colored couches and a small fountain in the center. A few machines stood over in the corner, both with pictures of coffee and other drinks on the front. A few more doors lined the walls, but beyond that there wasn't anything special about it.

"This is a waiting room. Please remain here while I check in with the headmaster. Regardless of his answer, I will return shortly." Glynda instructed. Arthur stepped out of the elevator and looked around some more, then turned and nodded to the deputy.

"Appreciate it ma'am. Sorry I had to be the one to break it to ya." Whatever friendship Summer had with Glynda, hearing that she had faked her death had clearly affected the blonde in some way. She nodded cordially, and then the doors closed and the elevator hummed with life again. Judging from the sound, it was headed up.

Which left Arthur with nothing to do except wait. Taking in a deep breath and breathing out his nose, the outlaw rubbed his cheek and decided to sit down. He crossed the dozen feet from the elevator to the nearest couch and sat down – only to jump back up when he realized how soft it was. The plush leather had nearly swallowed him whole, it was so soft. Chuckling at himself for the silly reaction, Arthur sat down a bit more carefully, sinking into the couch with a sigh. He grabbed his satchel and sat it in his lap, as much to protect it from the man eating couch as it was to keep from falling asleep immediately. He opened the flap on his bag and dug around inside until his hand wrapped around the crown, the Relic of Choice. According to Summer, Ozpin and the rest had thought it safely locked away in some vault.

If the people that had flying machines, buildings that scraped the sky, and abilities that bordered on the absurd treated something with reverence and care, Arthur could only imagine what it was capable of. With that in mind, he carefully stuffed it back into the satchel, hiding behind his maps and drawings that he had collected. With nothing better to do, Arthur settled in to wait.

According to his scroll, fifteen minutes had passed. According to him, it had been an eternity and a day. Whatever business Ozpin was on must have been incredibly important, because Glynda had still not returned. No one else had come to the waiting room, though he had heard the elevator come and go a few times. If he had a table nearby, he'd see how his Semblance would affect a game of Five Finger Fillet. If he could use it to make some cash on the lower end of the city after this, he would. He needed to recoup his losses from the airship tickets.

Before Arthur could set about finding a piece of furniture stout enough to sacrifice, the elevator chimed again. A woman wearing a modest red skirt that hung past her knees and a black long sleeved shirt walked in, her dark hair covered by a black beret. She clearly wasn't there for him, so they both did the socially acceptable thing and ignored each other. The woman crossed over to the other side of the waiting room, plopping down on the couch that was not across from Arthur. Given that Glynda had not been with her, the woman either had an appointment or knew enough about Beacon to know where the Headmaster's waiting room was.

They sat in silence, both of them letting their gaze roam all over the room except for each other. On his passing appraisal, the woman had looked familiar. The only other person he had seen with hair like was in Lemoyne, or heading toward Canada by now. The woman in front of him wore a skirt like Summer had, and had the same build. If she were wearing that white cloak, he would have sworn that Summer sat right in front of him. In fact, if he didn't know any better...

Arthur sat up and stared directly at the woman, who seemed to take notice. She smiled hesitantly, not really comfortable with scrutiny. But as she did so he saw her silver eyes.

"Summer?!" The outlaw felt his jaw drop. "What the hell are you doing here?" When he said her name, Summer Rose sat bolt upright and faced him. Her eyes searched his face, and realization dawned on her seconds after Arthur stood up from that confounded couch.

"Arthur? Why are you in Beacon?" The two crossed the floor to get a closer look at each other. Summer dragged the outlaw into a hug before he could say no, leaving him patting her back awkwardly has he recovered from his confusion.

"I came to see Ozpin. I thought you were heading to Canada? What happened to 'I can never go back'?" Arthur demanded, and Summer had the decency to blush.

"Yeah, I was convinced to come back by an old friend. In the end, my absence was going to do more harm than good, so I decided to come back. The others made it to Canada, or so I assume. When I last saw them, they were close to the Great Lakes." She looked him up and down. "I like the clothes, by the way. You don't look like you're about to fall over dead." Arthur gently pushed her away to a comfortable distance, his jaw working as he realized the whole reason he had come to Remnant, besides the medical attention, had been rendered moot.

"Yeah, had to attend a few parties since I got here. Civil rights and all that. Figured if I was bringing a Relic to Ozpin, I might as well look like somebody." When he mentioned the crown, Summer's chipper demeanor tanked. Her eyes grew wide, and she almost looked insulted.

"You only JUST NOW brought it to Beacon?! What the hell, Arthur? I brought you here months ago!" Arthur bristled at the criticism, putting his hands on his hips.

"When you tied me to my horse and hoped the poor animal would drag me in the right direction, you mean. And I've had a few folks help me out that needed help in return. Seeing as how I didn't even know Faunus existed before you tossed me into a city full of them, I think I've done pretty well for myself." Summer crossed her arms and pouted, sticking her lip out. He almost expected her to stomp in frustration.

"Arthur, that thing is incredibly powerful, and dangerous! What could have happened to stop you from getting it here right away?" She demanded, as if it had been as simple as taking the wrong turn months ago. Arthur stroked his beard in faux contemplation, his tone taking on a sarcastic edge.

"Well let's see here. I was chased out of Vacuo by a bunch of mobsters, fought a sea dragon, that was fun by the way," He ticked off his accomplishments on one hand, "fought a drunk guy pissed at me on your account, got kidnapped by said drunk's bandit leader of a sister, and assisted in a nonviolent take over of the White Fang. It ain't like I've been fishing for the time I've been here." Though he did do that in Menagerie. There had been quite a bit of fishing on the island paradise.

"I..." Whatever else Summer had to say obviously did not measure up to what he had said, and she deflated a little bit. "I'm sorry, Arthur. It took some convincing, but I realized that sending you back here blind did more harm than if I had just come back myself. I didn't mean for you to go through all of that." She apologized. Arthur let his temper run for a few moments more, then he too cooled down. The outlaw looked away from her big watery eyes, then patted her on the shoulder awkwardly.

"Ah, it's alright I suppose. Well," he allowed. "not alright, but I know you didn't mean for all that to happen. I'm just glad you're back with your family, is all. Even if Qrow was mighty sore about it." Which reminded him that the man had promised to keep in touch, but he hadn't said a word to Arthur since. Either he was reporting to his superiors and simply had nothing to say, or he thought that Arthur would just lie to him anyway.

"I can only imagine how hard Qrow took it when I disappeared. He split off from his sister and the rest of their tribe to become a real Huntsman, and we became his family. Raven had abandoned us, and after I left..." Summer's own speculation cut her off as she imagined her teammate, thinking her dead. He'd never been good at coping with serious loss, playing off anything that bothered him with humor.

"Well, he smelled like the cheapest tavern I've ever passed when I met him, and was swinging that sword before I could explain anything. Seemed like he was a few sheets in the wind." Summer blinked at his response, then smirked. Her mood seemed to improve a little bit, though for what reason Arthur couldn't fathom.

"He just used his sword on you? Ah, he wasn't serious then. Sorry about that, regardless. Qrow always was quick to pick a fight. It was just bad luck that you ran into him." The way she said that last part, it was as if she was laughing at some joke Arthur hadn't heard. Come to think of it, Qrow had said something about luck when Arthur had dumped his rounds during their fight. Maybe people from Remnant looked at luck differently?

"In any case, I had quite a few hiccups between here and the last time I saw ya. How about you? I know the Marstons made it, but how did everyone else make out?" Summer winced, recalling what she had been doing when Raven had cornered her. According to Charles, there were no real threats between the point she left the caravan and the Canadian border. From what he and Sadie had explained to her, the Canadian government didn't make too much of a fuss when it came to fugitives from America. There were a few exceptions of course; Micah Bell or Dutch Van der Linde would have never been allowed through. The Wapiti nation and the few remaining from the Van der Linde gang, however? Not worth the paperwork and the unpleasant monster that was the Pinkerton Detective Agency.

"Well, I'm sure John told you how things ended with Dutch?" When Arthur nodded, she sighed. "Things didn't get much better, but we got the others out and escorted the Wapiti to Canada. They were passing Chicago when I came back here." Arthur scratched his chin and looked away from her, his hands falling to his hips more from habit than anything. He didn't answer Summer, and just stared at the wall, his eyes unfocused.

John had gone over how Summer had killed Micah and Agent Milton, and left Dutch to stew in his madness with wounded hands and wounded pride. He felt conflicted over the resolution of his gang, but he couldn't really expect a different outcome. Or a better one, at least. Honestly, were it not for Summer's intervention John would have been hanged, his family left to starve or worse given the free reign that Micah and his cronies had enjoyed. But knowing that Dutch was finally gone, the last shadow of his past snuffed out, it ruled out any urge that he had to return to America. Not that it had really bothered him, staying in Remnant, but knowing the others were gone... it left a hollow feeling in his chest. One he would have to ponder later.

Arthur finally realized that Summer was watching him intently. Clearing his throat, Arthur pointedly ignored her questioning look and turned toward the elevator. He could hear the machines in the shaft moving the next car up, and almost hoped that it was coming to their floor. Anything to avoid the discussion Summer seemed keen on having right now.

"How long have you been back, anyway? I'm assuming you found yer family." If she noticed how he was trying to change the subject, she didn't comment on it.

"I met back up with my husband and our daughters, if that's what you're asking. Beyond that, no one else really knows-" The gentle chime of the elevator interrupted the silver eyed woman, and both she and Arthur turned to face the elevator doors. The humming in the shaft stopped abruptly, this time coming from above if Arthur's ears could be trusted. For a moment, nothing happened, and then the center doors opened to reveal Glynda Goodwitch once more. Behind her stood an elderly man that Arthur presumed to be Ozpin.

The elderly man leaned on a cane, though from his stance Arthur knew full well he didn't need it. He carried a mug with the wreathed axes of Beacon Academy, a dark concoction steaming within as he sipped it. The man was clean shaven, but his hair was gray and tousled atop his head, the messy locks almost hiding his piercing brown eyes. A crooked pair of round spectacles sat on his nose, shaded green and meant for reading by how low they sat on his nose. He wore a black suit buttoned up over a green vest, with a green scarf at his throat. Black slacks and black shoes of impressive make rounded out the outfit, and managed to convey a sense of importance without going overboard. What made Arthur assume that he was old, however, was the look in his eyes.

Ozpin's eyes were relaxed, almost to the point of being unfocused, but there was some weight to his gaze as well. He looked as if he was watching a play for the hundredth time, and knew every twist, line, and punchline. Those eyes regarded the room calmly, though they did widen slightly when they fell upon Summer. But they only widened.

Glynda's reaction was far more pronounced, which he could was rare from his brief encounter with her. The blonde woman's mouth dropped open in shock, and she froze for a moment. Summer winced at their reactions, then offered a shy wave. It was almost as if she was she hadn't told them she was still alive...

Oh come on, Summer!

"Hi, Glynda. Headmaster." The silver eyed warrior greeted hesitantly, undoubtedly ready to face the wrath of the school teachers. Ozpin blinked, but whatever he was about to say died on his tongue as Glynda rushed forward, her heels clicking on the tile as she enveloped Summer in a hug. Arthur stepped back as his friend was wrapped up, as much to avoid Summer's flailing arms as to give them some space out of respect.

Summer, on the other hand, was completely blindsided. Given Glynda's stern and proper demeanor, she had expected a dressing down the likes of which she had never seen when she was a student. Instead, Beacon's taskmaster and deputy headmistress was hugging her tightly, and she could feel moisture on her cheek. Hesitantly, the younger woman reached up and returned the hug, still not quite sure what was happening.

Glynda held her for a moment more, then stepped back gingerly, bringing her hand up and wiping away tears with her wrist. Summer just blinked owlishly.

" I...we..." The deputy took a moment to compose herself. "When Qrow told us about your last mission, we thought you were dead. To see you here is..." Slowly, the blonde woman drew herself back up into the stern disciplinarian she was known to be, but Ozpin's hand on her shoulder kept her silent.

"What Glynda is trying to say is that we are so very glad to see you alive and well, Summer. What remains, however, is how you survived. And why you chose to wait until now to reveal yourself." Ozpin's words were kind, but Arthur felt a little apprehensive all the same. He was taking the surprise remarkably well, and the first thing he did after expressing his joy at seeing her alive and well was to ask her where she had been. It was an expected question, surely, but the transition from surprise to question was too fluid. It made Arthur uneasy.

"Well, I had hoped to soften the blow when I sent Arthur here." Summer explained, gesturing toward the outlaw and damning him to further conversation. "Unfortunately, he wasn't able to make it here before me, so I have to spring this on you all at once. Can we go to the office, please? There are some sensitive things to talk about."

Arthur blanched when she waved him toward the elevator, and he had no choice but to follow Glynda and Ozpin into the elevator. Summer followed right behind him, blocking any chance of escape. He sent her a withering glare, but she didn't meet his eyes. She knew what she was doing, alright.

"I'm sorry. It was such a monumental revelation, I failed to introduce myself." Ozpin turned to face Arthur, his cane falling to his left hand easily as he offered his right. "Professor Ozpin of Beacon Academy." Arthur took it and shook, realizing with fading surprise that the old man fell onto the growing list of people that had more strength than he would have guessed.

"Arthur Morgan." He released Ozpin's hand and scratched his cheek awkwardly. "I helped Summer out of a bind a few months back, and she returned the favor. I ran into some Grimm and a few irritable birds, otherwise I'd have been here already." At the mention of birds, Ozpin's brown eyes crinkled with mirth.

"Ah. A crow and a raven, I assume. I was wondering when I would get to meet the man that had frustrated Qrow so badly." Glynda looked between the two men, and realization dawned on her.

"If it's any consolation, you are already far more polite than he described." She added, and Arthur let out a short bark of a laugh.

"Only because I'm in the presence of ladies, ma'am. Don't let it fool ya." Arthur offered a cheeky grin. "If the bird were here, I can assure you that it would be a lesson in bad manners." Glynda frowned at his words, more likely because he had refused her compliment than what was actually said. The rest of the ride was spent in relative silence, with Glynda and Ozpin processing the monumental news they had just received. Summer seemed cowed by her secret coming to light. Arthur just plain didn't want to be there, but he couldn't abandon Summer and risk slighting some really important people if he had no beef with them.

When the elevator opened, it revealed a wide window that looked out over Vale, with a large desk situated in front of it. A few black chairs sat in front of the desk, with a larger and more comfortable looking one on the window side of it. What made Arthur's jaw drop, however, were the cogs. Above them, under the desk, even in the wall itself; massive clockwork cogs turned and clanked in harmony all around them. The other three marched out of the elevator as if it were nothing special, but Arthur spent a few choice seconds taking in the strange and grand spectacle in front of him.

Ozpin REALLY likes clocks. Arthur thought to himself, content on allowing that simple description to sum up the Headmaster. Shaking his head, he walked into the office and allowed the elevator doors to close. Ozpin took his place behind his desk with an easy stride, his cane tapping on the floor at a steady pace. Glynda took her place beside him, looking every bit the stern assistant despite the rare show of emotion earlier. When Ozpin reached his seat, he gestured toward two of the three in front of his desk. Summer sat down promptly, reminding Arthur once again that she had attended here. He didn't want to offend, but he had been sitting for a while already. He declined the offer with a wave of his hand. Ozpin shrugged indifferently, then took his seat as well, reclining as he swung his legs underneath.

"Now then," The headmaster began, "why don't we have this tale from the beginning? Mr. Morgan, I have questions for you as well, but I'm afraid the answers we seek most must come from Miss Rose." Arthur nodded with a grunt, and suddenly all eyes were on Summer once more. She looked away from Glynda and Ozpin at first, but she knew she owed them answers. The guilt she had felt when Raven confronted her came back, but she forced it down and faced them anyway.

"When I missing the first time, it wasn't by choice." She began, wringing her hands and remembering the fight that had nearly claimed her life. "Salem's men came for me, and it was a bloody battle that I nearly lost. I had to kill one of them, but the others were only wounded. The scorpion Faunus I know has a scar from that day. But I found some ruins there in the desert, and I decided to spend my final hours there." Summer shuddered at the memory, and Arthur had to remind himself that despite her size, she was far stronger than he was when it came to Aura and fighting people like that. If someone had brought her low, then they definitely would have made short work of him. His mouth set in a grim line, Arthur resolved to ask for more pointers once this meeting was done.

"I spent a night and most of the morning drifting in and out of consciousness. Thankfully, our first aid classes kicked in and I was able to stop the bleeding. What I did not know was that the ruins still held some kind of power." Summer continued. Her hand dropped to her abdomen at the mention of her wound. "When I was bleeding all over that stone dais, it activated for some reason. What had been a crumbling stone archway activated, and it revealed some kind of portal." Arthur palmed his face, realizing that she was planning on spilling ALL of the beans. Not that he had any real patriotism for protecting the path to America, but it would complicate things when it came to his origins.

"A portal? Something like that certainly isn't unheard of, but I thought the last of them had been destroyed." Ozpin ruminated, scratching his chin thoughtfully. Given Glynda's look of confusion that matched Arthur's, he decided to interrupt Summer's story and explain.

"Thousands of years ago, when the Brothers abandoned Remnant, there were some powerful attempts by one or two people to reach wherever the Gods had gone. In some cases, powerful relics known as Gates were constructed. To my knowledge, they were able to cross Remnant in an instant, and then they were turned toward the stars. Magnificent structures, capable of warping the very laws of the universe, but..." He sighed heavily, too heavily for it to be a simple history lesson. "to my knowledge, none who passed through the gates ever returned." Summer and Glynda nodded at the exposition, but Arthur's stare remained on Ozpin. He blinked slowly, masking whatever sorrow he had with a sip of his mug. The way he had said it, the way his shoulders had dropped, indicated a far more personal stake in the tale of Gates than simple reiterating what had happened before. But it had happened thousands of years ago...

More questions for later. Arthur groused mentally, and looked back down at Summer.

"Well, regardless of how it got there, it dumped me out into a forest. I was so shocked, I thought I had already died. But there were people there. A simple people, but they were willing to help. I couldn't understand them, but I knew they were trying to help. They were dressed in animal skins and lived in large tents, but they were able to nurse me back to health. I still remember one, he was a teenager at the time." Summer smiled at the memory. "I think he liked me a little too much. But he cared for me almost more than the medicine women did. His name was Rains Fall, I think."

A cold feeling settled into Arthur's gut. From what he knew of the region, the Wapiti nation had been in Lemoyne long before the white man had come. Their reservation in the north of Ambarino had been a recent development, within the past ten years. But Rains Fall had been nearly sixty when Arthur had last seen him! Either Summer was terrible as estimating someone's age, or there were two different men in Lemoyne named Rains Fall. Or something else was very, very wrong.

"I stayed with them for a few days, long enough to get my strength back. I explored the area a little, and I found a few towns. But the people there were not much more advanced. Steam engines and basic gunpowder cartridges were the extent of their technology. But there were no Grimm, either." Ozpin and Glynda's eyes widened, and the two shared a look. Glynda seemed far more surprised than Ozpin, but at this point that was a given.

"A world without Grimm." The very concept seemed to be alien to her, but all Ozpin did was smile. "Is the Gate still functioning? You came back, so surely it still works." At that, Summer winced.

"Yeah, about that. I didn't come back through the Gate. I was sent back. By Raven." Arthur, Glynda, and Ozpin all shared the surprise on that one. The two Beacon professors because they knew Raven's fatalistic philosophy, whereas Arthur just thought she was a heartless bitch that prioritized her own skin over everyone else. At their stunned silence, Summer continued.

"I was escorting some of Arthur's friends north to a safer place, and Raven used her Semblance to find me. I guess once she figured out I wasn't dead, she tried to portal to me. We talked." Summer shrugged vaguely. "I still don't agree with her leaving, but she showed me how we've been treating her this whole time. Because I had done the same thing she did. And then she sent me back. So, here I am. And Arthur has the Relic, so all's well that ends well." She finished with a sheepish grin.

Ozpin blinked slowly, his fingers steepled as he considered Summer's words. After a few moments, he cut his eyes to Glynda, and something passed between the two of them that eluded Arthur. When they were finished, Ozpin stood up and turned to Arthur.

"About the Relic... are you curious as to the story behind it? If you truly are from another place, then perhaps I could enlighten you on a few things." The gravity of his voice did not match his words; the way he'd said them was like he was uttering Arthur's epitaph. Glynda closed her eyes and sighed heavily, and Summer looked between the two of them with alarm.

In that moment, Arthur felt an epiphany coming on. This whole business with Ozpin and Summer and all their little Relics and schemes and hidden enemies loomed over him, like a massive bear that he couldn't kill. Just by coming here, he had been made privy to something clearly only a few in the world knew, and they were prepared to drag him the rest of the way into the shadows. And yet, hadn't he fought enough already? Barring the Grimm, every round Arthur had fired since coming to Remnant had been to bring the Relic to Ozpin. He could say that he was defending the White Fang, but even they had been a means to an end at the time. Now, though?

His friends, hell his family, were all safe now. Sienna was the most at risk, and she was the leader of a civil rights movement. The Marstons had been safely relocated, John had some solid work lined up. Hell, despite the mysteries that lingered over him, Sean McGuire was far more lively than the last time Arthur had seen him. Everything he had worked toward was done, save some progress with the White Fang. And here was another Dutch Van der Linde, ready to drag him headlong into another collection of tragedies and bloodshed in the pursuit of a goal he had no part of.

The golden Relic slipped from his satchel easily, seeing as how he had been gripping it this entire time. Given all the bumps and scrapes he'd been through, it felt almost irreverent to slam it down onto Ozpin's fancy desk. But Arthur did it anyway. The appearance of the Relic of Choice stole the words from Ozpin's mouth, and the Headmaster stared down at it.

"No. I don't." Arthur breathed, though not unkindly. "I fought tooth and nail to get this damned thing here, and left behind the people I cared about to do it." He turned and looked at Summer, placing a hand on her shoulder as she made to stand.

"Summer, you saved my life. I'll never forget that, and I brought the Relic here to settle that debt." He had enjoyed himself, helping another as he had. But it was time to step back. "But now I've done that. These folks you're dealin' with? I don't want no part of. I've spent the last thirty years of my life looking over my shoulder for one reason or another. I won't carry someone else's sins when I finally clawed my way out of Hell." With that, he stepped away.

The response was varied. Glynda scoffed, whether out of surprise or indignation he didn't care. He could hear a tongue lashing building up from the stern woman, but a hand on her elbow stopped her short. Ozpin shook his head slowly at her questioning look, then returned his gaze to Arthur.

"Is there no way that I could convince you? By Qrow's report, you put yourself in danger for the White Fang before." Why not us? The last part went unsaid. Arthur sighed heavily, and held up his hands.

"Yeah, I admit that there will probably be a bit more trouble, but those are my friends. With all due respect, the only person here that I even know is Summer, and I owed her a debt. I can't keep risking my neck for strangers. I'm sorry, but I gotta take care of my own now." He apologized sincerely. The elderly Headmaster considered his words, obviously not wanting to accept the denial right away. After a few moments, though, his mouth twisted in a wry grin.

"I understand your decision. I don't blame you, honestly. We can take care of it from here." Ozpin allowed. Summer jumped up from her chair, stepping back with Arthur and catching his elbow.

"You'll come to Patch before you leave, won't you? After all you've been through, I want you to meet my family. To see what you brought back to me." Her smile was genuine, if a bit sad. Arthur looked down for a moment, the looked back up at her with a grin.

"Sure." With that, he turned and nodded to Glynda and Ozpin. "Headmaster. Miss Goodwitch. It was a pleasure meeting ya." He tossed off a halfhearted wave, and then turned to the elevator. They others watched him enter it silently, though Ozpin couldn't deny the faint disappointment he felt when the doors closed.

Once Arthur was gone, Glynda spun on him. "Why did you let him go, sir? Even if he's not willing to help, he knows about the Relic!" Ozpin sighed and sipped from his mug once again. Hot chocolate certainly had a way of chasing away the smaller concerns. He was struggling to make the outlaw that just rejected his offer a small concern.

"He clearly has done enough already, Glynda. I do not begrudge a man for knowing when to step away. If anything, I envy him for the ability to do so." Ozpin sat down once again. Summer stood, her eyes going from the elevator, to Ozpin, then back again.

"We will allow Mr. Morgan to do as he pleases. Thankfully, his effort to stay out of things guarantees his discretion. He doesn't know anything dangerous other than what the Relic of Choice looks like." He gave Glynda a reassuring smile. "Something that is nothing new to our enemies."

Summer rubbed her arm sheepishly, keenly aware of how awkward the conversation had become. She didn't have anything more to add, however, but she hadn't been dismissed either. Ozpin merely stared ahead, his eyes unfocused as his mind went over the days events. And all around them, the cogs kept turning.

---

"So you're on your way back, right?" Sienna was obviously trying not to sound too attached, but it wasn't working. Arthur smirked at the thought of her, surrounded by White Fang and asking about him. She was just too much sometimes. He leaned against the railing of the ferry, watching Vale drift away as he made his way toward Summer's island home of Patch. Ozpin had been kind enough to cover his fare, though he hoped the man didn't expect a favor in return.

"I gotta stop off at Summer's place, meet her family. She seemed insistent, and I'd like to have a meeting with someone that didn't involve all the cloak and dagger stuff." He shook his head. "Anyway, how's it going with the building?"

"We've finished clearing the foundation, and Marcus has the superstructure marked out and measured. As far as I can tell, we'll have walls and a roof by the end of the week." There was something in her voice, and Arthur picked up on it immediately.

"But because you're a leader and not an architect, all you can do is sit around and watch, huh?" He heard her aggravated sigh and chuckled. "Ya know, it wouldn't have been too much of a stretch for you to come with me. Do some traveling while the White Fang gets on its feet."

"Somehow, I feel like that would cause you more trouble than good. Even though word hasn't spread to the masses yet, traveling with the leader of the White Fang would get you all sorts of wrong attention. The kind of attention we're trying to eradicate. Besides, someone has to keep this bunch working. Even Marcus is starting to fatigue, and it's not from the difficult project."

"And of course, the illustrious Sienna Khan must keep the peace. You know I wouldn't mind any attention I got with you around." Arthur stood and walked back toward his seat, a wooden bench by the ferry's exit when they reached the port. Its red paint was flaking off in places, and the seat groaned far more than it should have as it took his weight. "What kind of problems are they havin'?"

"Problems I saw coming, though there wasn't much of a way to prepare for them." Sienna groused. He could see her blush slightly as she turned and paced the tent, the jungle spinning in the background as she wore a track into the dirt. She ignored his comment completely. "Folding the Outlanders in was bound to have consequences, from both sides of the coin. The ex-bandits are starting to test the limits of my discipline, while the older White Fang members are unhappy to work with a bunch of killers. I'll admit that I'm not thrilled at the prospect either, but these were the best options I had for training more fighters. If we're going to move on the timetable I set when I took this position, I needed fighters and infiltrators immediately, and the Outlanders fit that bill and then some."

Arthur's brow rose. Clearly, Sienna was worrying herself over her decision, even if she had every reason to move forward the way she did. She wasn't exactly second guessing herself, but she was feeling the burden of her decision. Unnecessarily, in his opinion.

"You did the best you could with what ya had. Sure, there will be some growin' pains, but I bet my horse you'll have them whipped into shape by the time I get back." He scratched his chin, pondering on how Dutch had kept their rowdy bunch in line for so long. "How are you handlin' the new boys, anyway?"

"Like any bunch of misfits, they flock to the loudest one to bark." She said, almost derisively. Clearly Sienna had some choice words about how her late brother had conducted himself. "None of them have directly defied my orders, but I find that many of them are ignoring or purposefully misinterpreting instructions from Marcus and my other lieutenants. Hannibal has done well in that regard, but there will be a few more examples made before we get past this." Even though it was frustrating, he could hear how driven she was to take these problems and run with them, the pride in her voice evident.

"You're just eatin' this up, ain't ya?" He teased, and she looked affronted for a moment. "Faced with all the problems in the world, but you finally feel like you're doing something, huh?" Sienna looked away, but her smirk grew into a full grin when she looked back at him.

"I can't help but enjoy it some, Arthur. To finally have tangible progress right in front of me, after years of being told to wait, to slow down; it's like scratching an itch that has been bugging me for days. I respect Ghira, but I feel like he should have let me do this long ago." Arthur laughed at that, humored by the normally reserved Sienna sounding like a girl that just rode a horse for the first time.

"Just remember, you're the big shot now. Every complaint you had about Ghira, people are gonna say about you." When she scowled, he finally relented with a tilt of his head. "But, it sounds like you're doin' a lot of good in a small amount of time. I can't wait to see what all you've done when you get back."

"Hmm. Flattery will get you nowhere, mister Morgan. I... yes?" Sienna looked away from her scroll, and Arthur could hear indistinct mumbling in the background. "Really? Excellent, that's great news. Have Hannibal and Marcus meet me in the morning. We'll decide more then."

"Everything okay?"

"More than okay. Apparently, the temporary steward of the mansion we were watching earlier has set a schedule for the next few weeks and forwarded it to all of their employees. Our contacts among the staff have sent that itinerary to us." Her grin was razor sharp. "I'm sorry Arthur, but I have to make some calls. I need to have Adam and Cain here before we can move forward. Be careful out there." Arthur chuckled and shook his head.

"You too, Supreme Leader. I'll call you later." Sienna's smiling face winked out, and Arthur closed the scroll and tucked it back into his pocket. He leaned back on the bench and sighed heavily, glad to finally be rid of that damned Relic. And it seemed that the Lady Khan was in better spirits too, which was a win in his book. Now, all he had to do was meet this family of Summer's, then it was back to Mistral to handle some affairs for Sienna.

The ferry pulled into the dock thirty minutes later, giving Arthur just enough time to get sleepy but not enough to nap. He groggily stood up and stretched as the ferry's onboard PA system announced their arrival.

"To all passengers. The last ferry to the mainland departs at nine o'clock. Thank you for choosing Hopper!" The woman over the PA said cheerfully. The Puddle Hopper ferry rumbled to a slow as the crew began bustling about, tying it off and preparing for a return trip to Vale. Ten, maybe fifteen other passengers made their way onto the dock, a small but study construction that was thirty feet wide at the most. Arthur walked across the small platform and onto Patch, looking around at the small island with a satisfied smirk. The ferry port wasn't much larger than the Van Horn trading post back home. Where there was a tavern, shady alleys, and a slew a drunkards in Van Horn, Patch was more civilized. Students from local schools, judging by their attire, roamed a few shops that faced the waterfront. A main street was paved with cobblestone, and had a small motel, a post office, and what looked like a bounty board of some kind.

Arthur wandered over to the holographic display in front of the post office, examining it with curiosity. Several faces and jobs were clearly displayed, with brief descriptions by their names like 'search and destroy' and 'escort'. These must be Huntsmen and Huntresses, Arthur reasoned as his eyes roamed the board. There were a few jobs that had no Huntsman ID next to them. Wondering what would happen, Arthur reached forward and waved his hand over one of the available bounties, a search and destroy. When he did, the bounty board flashed white for a moment, then played a beeping sound.

"Unregistered Huntsman detected. Please sign up with the bounty office to take active bounties." The robotic voice advised. Arthur huffed, but he didn't really know what he had expected. The machines around here talked almost more than the people did, even on this island. He'd look into the bounty situation later, just in case he needed a little extra cash. If Ozpin still felt like he owed him, Arthur could cash in on that favor at least. Above the post office, a large clock chimed seven times.

"Alright, time for dinner." Arthur reminded himself, and turned toward the island's interior. Patch was more temperate than Menagerie, with more maple and pine trees than palm. It had more hills, too. Exiting the ferry port, he found himself walking uphill immediately, though it was a small enough grade that he didn't mind it. Houses and homesteads dotted the hillside, and the coordinates for Summer's home indicated that it was nearly on the center of the island. It took him about an hour to find the place, more because he wasn't in any hurry than out of any real confusion.

The cabin was nice, just the kind that Arthur would build if he ever got around to it. Two stories, with halved brown logs covering the walls. He could see a few windows above the front door, and some wooden flower beds full of sunflowers. Not far from the front door, a medium sized shed sat next to a wide clearing. There were large trees all around the house, but they were spaced far enough apart to not crowd the property. The surrounding forest was sparse, and any encroaching woods had been cleared away to provide long sight lines all around. Besides the hill approaching the house from the south, one could see practically the whole island.

Arthur whistled appreciatively as he looked around, then finally decided to make himself known. He walked up to the front door and knocked twice, loud enough to be heard without being too rude. Arthur stepped back, scratching at his growing beard as he did so. It had been a few days since his last trim, and he knew Sienna would give him hell if he showed up looking like an out-of-work lumber jack. A few moments later, the door opened to reveal Summer, her traveling clothes replaced by a white shirt, a cream colored skirt that came down past her knees, and a pair of tan shoes. Her ever present white hood was gone, replaced by a flour dusted apron. Arthur raised a brow at her dusted hands, and she also had a smudge of batter under her right eye. He couldn't tell if she had been baking food or flinging it.

"Arthur!" Summer grinned and gave him a one armed hug, trying not to cover his nicer clothes in the same flour she was covered in. "I thought you weren't coming for another hour?" He chuckled and patted her shoulder, ore to wipe off the confectionery dust than anything.

"I was gonna explore Patch a bit to kill some time, but I figured that'd be better suited for some rougher clothes." He shrugged. "Besides, this ain't the only time I'll be stopping by. How's it going in there, anyway? You look like you picked a fight with the baker's wife."

Summer looked down at her apron and her hands and blushed slightly, dusting herself off as best she could. Arthur held up a hand to his own eye, and she wiped her face at his cue to see the batter from earlier.

"Heh, sorry about that. Ruby always gets excited when I bake cookies, and she's still not over the shock of...well, you know. She's so happy that I'm back." Summer trailed off with a forlorn expression. "I am too. I can't believe I thought that staying away was a good idea."

"I can't either, seeing what it is you left behind. But I always figured you had your reasons, so I didn't pass any judgment on ya." He looked down at his clothes, then shrugged. They had been torn up and muddied before anyway. "Need any help since I'm early?"

"Oh, no! Arthur, I won't ask that of you. Just come in and have a seat. Tai and the girls are eager to meet you." Summer gushed, opening the door and leaving it for him to step in. Arthur did so, looking around with a smile.

The house was just as homey on the inside as it was outside. A medium sized fireplace burned quietly in front of a few chairs and a couch, and a set of stairs curled up around the wall to go up to the next floor. He could see two more rooms at least on the main floor, a dining room and kitchen to his right if the sounds coming from that direction were an indicator. The other door was closed, but likely the master bedroom if Arthur had been planning the house. The wood floors echoed the excited chatter and clinking of pots from the kitchen, but not in an obnoxious way.

"I'd take your coat, but..." Summer held up her hands helplessly. Arthur smirked and shucked the garment himself, waving her off as she retreated to the kitchen. The outlaw hung his coat up on the rack conveniently placed next to the door, and placed his hat on top of it. He unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves, then followed Summer into the room she had come out of.

Arthur had seen pictures of her family multiple times, but actually seeing Summer's two young daughters arguing over who got to lick the bowl was another thing entirely. The younger one – Ruby, if he remembered correctly – had shorter, black hair with red tips just like Summer did. She was wearing some strange black getup that was comprised of a corset and a skirt, with the frills of the skirt colored crimson. She had on black stockings and boots as well, with a silver rose pendant and a cross dangling from her corset. He even saw a few long bullets in a bandolier around her waist, though the thought of such a small girl using weapons was well beyond him.

"No fair, Yang! You got to lick the bowl last time!" The little girl cried out, all thirteen years evident in her voice as she beat her fist fruitlessly against her sister's back. Said sister stood over a head taller than her, and had golden blonde hair that ran almost to the middle of her back. She wore an orange t-shirt with a group of men on the front, some sort of band by what he could see, and a pair of tan cargo shorts than ran to her knees. Unlike Ruby, Yang was barefoot, though it mattered little as they scrapped for the bowl.

The two tussling sisters took their fight towards Arthur, who smirked and stepped aside enough for them to continue out into the living room. Summer glanced toward the door and watched them go, her hands full with a cookie sheet as it was going into the oven. As her daughters fought, she cursed quietly and closed the oven, shooting Arthur an apologetic look as she gave chase.

"Girls, that's enough! Not in front of our guest!" She reprimanded, and the two stopped their scuffle immediately, Ruby's hands wrapped in Yang's hair as the blonde held the bowl aloft. Thoroughly cowed, they both separated and sulked back into the kitchen, and Yang groaned in annoyance as Summer scooped the bowl up out of her hands as the teen passed. Ruby smirked and stuck her tongue out at her sister, content in claiming victory by default. Summer always slipped her cookie dough while Tai and Yang were training. Summer place the bowl back on the counter where it belonged, shaking her head at the antics of her daughters. Now that the fight was over, maybe she could actually introduce Arthur to her family like she had originally planned.

"Yang, Ruby, this is Arthur Morgan. He's the one that saved me a while back." Both girls looked up at him in awe, though Yang wasn't much shorter than he was. The blonde girl was clearly impressed, but Ruby had stars in her eyes that made Arthur a little uncomfortable. She had heard the tale from her mother, and her own imagination had run wild on how heroic the outlaw was.

"Wow! It's great to meet you!" Ruby crowed, starstruck even as she looked up at him. One moment later, and her attention was directed downwards, settling on the Peacemaker. "Oh, cool! A Dust revolver! Is it single or double action? How many chambers does it have? What's the biggest thing you've shot with it?" The little redhead's questions came out rapid fire, giving Arthur no opportunity to answer as he stammered through the praise. It wasn't that he was afraid to answer so much as he was unused to this kind of attention. The profuse thanks of a stranger he'd helped out every now and then, but never something this concentrated.

Before Ruby could badger him further about his pistol, Yang grabbed her by the collar, as much to calm her down as to keep the little weapon nut from tackling the poor man. She lifted Ruby up off of the ground easily, one hand on her hip as she did so. She was clearly far stronger than she looked.

"Thanks for saving our mom." The blonde grinned as she held her scrabbling sister aloft. "She told us about what you did. I can't tell you how glad we were to have Mom back." Once Ruby stopped struggling, she set the girl back down and patted her head, making the thirteen year old reaper fuss. Summer did the same for Yang, having enough time to wash her hands now that the cooking was almost done.

"Yang, why don't you go get your father? The steaks should be about done by now." Summer suggested. Yang nodded, and walked passed Arthur and out the door. The outlaw watched her go, and shook his head when she left.

"She's gonna be trouble in a few years." Summer laughed at his comment, taking out some plates and silverware from the cabinets and drawers.

"She already is. There are already a few boys at Signal with broken hearts, and some broken wrists as well." Summer turned and handed the utensils and plates to her younger daughter. "Ruby, how about you help Arthur set the table? Everything else is almost ready." Summer patted the young girl on the head, then turned and finished preparing food.

Arthur could see four or five bowls, with vegetables and pasta and mashed potatoes, all giving off a heavenly aroma. He could smell the steaks too, but that was coming from outside. Ruby approached him with the plates, and he took them from her with a small grin. Together, they set the table in short order. When they finished, Arthur heard the door open and close, and Yang was back with a plate of freshly grilled steaks, medium rare like they should be. Behind her, a blonde man in a brown vest and shorts followed with another plate of the same, and he noticed Arthur immediately. He had bared arms that bulged with muscles, and a tribal tattoo on his right shoulder. He moved at ease, but Arthur got the feeling that he could bring the house down if he really wanted to.

"Oh, you must be Mr. Morgan." The blonde man grinned, setting the steaks down and offering a hand. "I hear I have you to thank for Summer coming back." Arthur grasped his hand and shook it.

"Call me Arthur. And it was her decision, more than anything. I just saved her from an embarrassing situation." At his words, Summer shot him a look. Her husband laughed loudly at the byplay.

"Taiyang Xiao Long. You can call me Tai. I appreciate what you've done, really. Words can't express how much we missed her." He sent a wink Summer's way, and the woman blushed prettily.

"Dad, come on! The food's getting cold." Yang whined, her lilac eyes settling onto the steaks with a predatory glint. Ruby came over with a couple of bowls from the counter, and Summer had the rest behind her.

"Oh, where are my manners?" Tai rebuked himself. "Arthur, these are my daughters, Yang and Ruby. Girls, this is Arthur Morgan. He saved your mom's life." A little late for introductions, but Arthur nodded to the girls with a grin.

"Now, I don't remember Summer saying anything about daughters." Arthur joked. "Except that these two were all she could talk about. Ah, that reminds me." They all took a seat at the table, except for Summer as the woman began portioning out food for everyone. While she did, Arthur fished out the scroll he had been carrying for some time now. It had his contacts, photos, and maps on it, but it had always been Summer's scroll first. It pained him somewhat to set it down on the table, but he did so anyway.

"Oh my. I'd almost forgotten that you had that, Arthur. Thank you." Summer didn't take it right away, as busy as she was with the food. When she finally set the last bowl down, her hand cradled the device that she had loaned him so many months ago. It had gotten him through a lot of scrapes and helped Arthur navigate the unfamiliar world of Remnant, but it had also caused him some trouble. Images of his fight with Qrow flashed through Arthur's mind.

"I reckon I've got enough cash layin' around to pick one up for myself. I know that one has all your pictures and such." Arthur pushed his food around on his plate, already making plans to get another one in Vale before he headed back to Mistral.

"No, Arthur. You need a scroll for yourself, if nothing else so that we can keep in contact with you." She rolled her eyes. "Besides, apparently that is a really old model now. The newer scrolls are far more durable and have more options." Yang snickered at that, likely the one to have made such a comment when she heard about the device.

"Yeah, they have some now that can keep track of your Aura for you. No more having to gauge it on instinct alone. You should get a new one too, Mom." Either she genuinely wanted to contribute, or Yang was being a normal teenager and trying to create an excuse for a shopping trip. Summer gave her daughter a glance that said she knew what she was up to, but Tai spoke up as well.

"If Arthur's as unfamiliar with them as you said, he probably needs someone to go with him anyway. Unless he's got someone who's savvy with them, he could pay twice as much for an inferior model." Arthur made to disagree, but found himself biting his cheek instead. He'd had some time to fiddle with the one Summer had given him, but he'd be lying if he said he knew the specifics. His original plan was to have Sienna help him, but he needed a scroll just to find the White Fang hideout. He knew the general layout, but without a map of Mistral, he couldn't guarantee that he would find his way back.

"No need to worry about all that. I can manage just fine without one for a while." He lied, noticing Summer's frown. "Although, I do have a favor the next time I run into Ozpin." He explained his encounter with the bounty board down by the docks, and expressed his wish to take bounties from now on. Ruby and Yang ate their food, watching in silence as the adults talked about Huntsman and Huntress stuff.

"Hmm." Tai rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Normally, only certified Huntsmen can claim bounties. It's part of why so many people attend the Academy. But, I have heard of a few exceptions." He looked back toward Summer, and she nodded.

"In some remote areas outside of the Kingdoms, there are adventurers and fighters that take jobs the Huntsmen are too far away to handle in time. From my understanding of it, they just have to pass a practical exam. Obviously, they can't take on every job, but it would give you the ability to make some money." Her brow furrowed. "I'm sure Ozpin can make that happen, if anyone can."

"That would be mighty kind of him." Arthur nodded as he carved into his steak, enjoying the rich and heady flavor. Taiyang was a master of the grill and spice. "I'd like to settle that favor as soon as possible. I'm nearly forty, so I ain't going back to no school. He strikes me as the type to want friends in all places." He didn't want to disparage the Headmaster any more than he had to, since Arthur was unfamiliar with the man and there were students in the room. Judging by her expression, however, Summer agreed with him.

"That would be for the best, in my opinion. I'll bring it up with him tomorrow. I have... something to discuss with him as well." She hedged, looking away to focus on Ruby as the redhead dove into some potatoes with gusto.

Arthur wiped his mouth and sighed. "I appreciate the offer, but I really gotta get back to Mistral. Sienna's needin' me for a job, and I can't let those boys run off into trouble without somebody watching their back. I can grab a scroll on my own time, no need to trouble yerselves." He tried waving off the impromptu shopping trip they were planning, but Taiyang shook his head.

"Look, it's already almost eight. Even if you just ate and left, you'd have to sprint to make it back to the ferry on time. Stay here for the night, and Summer and I can go with you into Vale tomorrow to get you taken care of." The blonde man offered. "It's the least I can do for you after how you helped Summer." Arthur sat back in his chair, his thumb running over his knuckles as he considered the proposition. Tai was right about one thing, at least; he'd have to hop up and leave now if he was going to make it back to Vale. On top of that, red eye airships were rare and expensive since Grimm were harder to spot at night. Even if he made it back, he'd be spending Lien to find a room for the night.

"Well..." Arthur relented. "As long as it ain't no trouble." When he caved, Yang punched a fist into the air in celebration.

"Awesome! I just got some new dart guns, too. Maybe we can see who the real gunslinger is?" The blonde teen challenged, earning a chuckle from her parents. Arthur raised a brow at that, and leaned forward a little in response.

"Now, I'm not one to back down from a call out like that. What do ya say we finish dinner and put yer trigger where yer mouth is?"

The rest of meal passed quickly, and Yang practically jumped the whole staircase to get the toys she mentioned. They were little plastic things, with bright red darts that had suction cup tips. The toy was light and felt silly sitting in his holster, not to mention that it was bright pink. Three darts in Yang's face were well earned, much to the amusement of the rest of the family. She lost gracefully though, laughing as one of them stuck to her forehead.

As the night grew longer, Ruby was the first to show signs of fatigue. The little reaper yawned and stretched, curling into the couch as if she intended to sleep right there. Tai and Summer noticed immediately, though Yang was distracted by the video game on the television and Arthur was watching her. Tai leaned forward and tapped Yang on the shoulder while Summer went to collect the younger sister.

"Come on, Yang. Time for bed. You two have school in the morning anyway." The man chided gently, shrugging off Yang's complaints. Arthur stood up from the chair he'd been rooted in, moving to help in any way he could. Summer picked Ruby up off the couch with ease, gathering the thirteen year old girl up and slinging her over one shoulder. Yang waved goodnight to Arthur and followed them up the stairs.

Tai pulled some blankets out of a nearby closet and pulled out the couch, removing the cushions and revealing a metal frame that collapsed in on itself. With a little bit of pulling and flipping, Arthur had a bed stretched out in the living room just for him. It didn't beat the night sky overhead, but a test of the mattress revealed that it was surprisingly comfortable.

"We'll wake you up for breakfast before the girls go off to school. It's gotta be better than eating McRonald's out of a hotel room." Tai explained, heading for the stairs. "Holler if you need anything Arthur."

"I sure will. Goodnight." Arthur called to his back, then turned around to get settled onto the pullout. He unbuttoned his shirt at the collar and kicked off his boots, figuring that the rest would be fine for now. The outlaw pulled his gun belt off and hung it up with his coat and hat, content that being in a house full of Huntresses would be safe enough to disarm for a nap. He rolled his shoulders and tried to settle in and get comfortable, though his thoughts kept running around from the day's event. Meeting Summer's family had been a definite plus, though returning the Relic had been less so. Despite the fact that he'd done them all a favor, Arthur couldn't shake the feeling that he'd disappointed Ozpin. And if he was as powerful as everyone led Arthur to believe, then their discussion was far from over. Men with that kind of reach didn't keep it to themselves often.

Sleep did not come easily to Arthur, though not for lack of trying. The good food and long day had helped, but his troubles started when he was roused from slumber by a feminine giggle from upstairs. The outlaw groaned in exasperation, hoping it wasn't what he thought, only for his fears to be confirmed by the rhythmic creaking of bed springs.

I saved her life alright, but I also reunited her with a husband she hasn't seen in years. How did I not see that comin'? Arthur berated himself. The couple upstairs showed no signs of stopping, and he wasn't about to play the unwilling tom. Arthur sat up out of bed and grabbed his boots, slipping them on groggily as he rubbed his eyes. He walked over to the door and reached into his satchel, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a box of matches. He stepped outside, seeking solace in nicotine and hoping that by the time he was done with a few cowboy killers, his hosts would be tuckered out.

The shattered moon hung in the sky, bathing the property in soft moonlight as he stepped out. Arthur struck a match on his boot and brought it to his face, puffing on the cigarette to get it going before throwing the match away. The outlaw took a long drag, relishing the smoke, before releasing it in a long breath. It really was peaceful out here, even despite his current predicament. Arthur stared up at the giant moon, wondering for a moment if Sienna was doing the same.

I should have stayed a while longer, he rebuked himself. I've been running all over the place, and I never stopped to make sure that she was alright before I did. Granted, he knew that the Lady Khan could more than handle herself, and she was surrounded by hundreds of dedicated White Fang members. But somehow, he felt guilty about taking off like he had.

"You know, those things are bad for your health." A voice from the path that led to town interrupted his thoughts, and Arthur turned to face it. His eyes searched the dimly lit clearing, but he knew who it was by the voice alone.

"So's drinking like a fish, but I don't see you stopping." Arthur called out in return. A shadow moved near one of the trees at the edge of the property, and Qrow Branwen stepped out. He kept his sword over his shoulder, held in a lazy grip and pointed away from the outlaw. But Arthur had no illusions; Qrow was ready to split his belly, no matter how apathetic he seemed. If he had attacked in anger over Summer's scroll, what was going to be his reaction at finding Arthur standing outside of her house. Hopefully, she told him the truth like a fucking adult. Of course, that was a lot to ask Summer given the nature of her leaving and return.

"The first time I caught you, you were carrying a dead woman's scroll. Now here you are, at a house where that same woman's family lives. Excuse me if I don't find that reassuring." The Huntsman leveled his sword to the side, at the ready even as he pointed at Arthur. "I'm giving you one chance to make tracks before I get real impolite."

"Have you heard from Tai or the girls at all? The whole reason I came here tonight was to give the scroll back." Not that Qrow would believe him, or there was evidence to prove his claim that wasn't in bed or hanging up on the hat rack. Just like his gun and knife.

"Yeah, just doing your civic duty, I'm sure." Qrow sneered sarcastically. He looked around at his surroundings, then his crimson eyes settled onto Arthur with a steely glare. "You got me out of my bitch sister's camp, but that doesn't excuse you running around and using Summer's name like you have. You're gonna tell me where you got it and how, either now or after I beat it out of you." Even without his guns, Arthur bristled at the casual threat. He'd done the man a favor, at no small risk to himself, but Arthur knew good and well that anything he said to Qrow right now would be discarded as a lie. Even when the reason for his distrust was upstairs, too busy working on a third child to set the story straight.

"Is that right?" Arthur challenged, dragging on his cigarette to the butt. He wasn't sure if it was the lack of sleep, Qrow's attitude, or the fact that Summer could have saved him this hassle with a goddamn scroll call. But his willingness to back down and play peacemaker was just about gone. They'd cause all kinds of ruckus, and hopefully someone would come out and clear things up before property damage got started.

"Yeah, that's right. I've been itching to kick your ass since Mistral." Qrow settled into a more traditional stance, both hands on his sword and his weight forward. Arthur grinned and dropped his cigarette on the ground, grinding it out with his boot as he got ready for the fight.

"You're a daisy if you do."

---

Sienna could not help but run her hand through her hair at the sight before her. Two willing and able soldiers, ready to give their support for the White Fang. Both, she knew, were agile and cunning in their own right, if inexperienced and untested. But far be it from her to ignore the true Goliath in the room.

"You know your father will not approve." Blake Belladonna had the decency to blush, her ears lowering slightly as she realized what exactly she had done. Beside her, Illia Amitola turned a slight shade of red across her whole body, her Faunus heritage making it difficult for her to hide her shame at leaving Menagerie like they had. Another thing to work on, at any rate.

"It's like you said. We have to work harder and move against the right people, or the kind of change we deserve will never get here." Blake explained, resolve in her voice even as she gripped her weapon on her back. Gambol Shroud had been a gift from Adam, of all people, and he had been showing her how to use it in his spare time in Kuo Kuana. No doubt most assumed that the two going off into the woods together was a far more romantic nature, but who was Sienna to judge? Half the White Fang thought she was bedding Arthur at this point anyway.

"I can appreciate that, I just want you to be fully aware of what you are doing. Depending on the operation, your face and name could be announced all over Remnant. Did you at least leave a note?" Sienna knew full well that Blake had not told Ghira in person, otherwise she wouldn't be standing in the operations center of a half constructed White Fang base. The chieftain of Menagerie was kind and gentle with his daughter, but there were no illusions about how well he would take her leaving in the middle of the night. And Kali was a whole other matter entirely.

This is going to be one hell of a headache, Sienna thought as she suppressed a grimace. Ghira's support right now was crucial, and his only child had flown the coop in the dark of night to join up with the resistance. A romantic concept, one born of heroes and fairy tales, but it did not make her next meeting with the gargantuan man any easier.

"I did. I explained why I wanted to do this. Hopefully they'll understand, in time." Blake's tone implied that she wasn't comfortable with the action, but felt that it had been necessary. As headstrong as the girl was, Sienna knew better than to start poking holes in her argument now. Better a Blake that was under her command than one that went out on her own. Sienna crossed her arms, one finger tapping an elbow as she considered the two teens before her.

"Amitola, what about you?" The chameleon jumped at Sienna's address. "What of your affairs? I know your mother would hate for this to be how you grew up." It was a low blow, and Sienna could see the hurt cross the girl's face, but she had to see how dedicated they were to this course. If she were willing to handle fighting the racists and the bigots that plagued the Faunus.

"I..." Illia bit her lip. "I'd love to protest and demonstrate like we did in the past, but that's what we always did. And it didn't force the SDC to fix their safety protocols. It didn't save my parents when that mine collapsed. Mom would have hated to see me doing this, but she's gone because of them. I can't let other Faunus die like they did because we're too afraid to step on the toes of those responsible." She ended her admission with conviction, and Sienna nodded in agreement.

Illia's parents had died in a mining accident in Atlas, a story told all too often thanks to the SDC's lax safety measures. It was made worse by the sleazy contracts they had signed, providing loopholes for the company to avoid paying damages to the families of those killed in preventable accidents. Before the chameleon girl had come to Menagerie, she had been forced to blend in with the human children in Atlas, even ridiculing other Faunus just to avoid attention herself. It was not something she was proud of, and the girl stood before Sienna ready to do the right thing.

The child of victims to Atlas' corruption, and the closest thing that the White Fang had to a princess. Both had every right to come to her and volunteer their service, but Sienna didn't make the decision lightly. Her changes to the White Fang all but guaranteed that these two would be placed in danger. If anything happened to Blake...

There wasn't a place on Remnant that she could hide from Ghira Belladonna. Not that she would.

"Alright." Sienna relented, and the two girls smiled at each other. "I'll find something for you to do until Adam gets here. He oversees the new recruits as far as training goes. Until we get you up to speed, see Marcus or Hannibal for tasks." At the mention of Adam Taurus, Blake brightened even more.

"Adam's coming?" Sienna noticed her hopeful expression, and to her bemusement Illia did too. The chameleon girl frowned a little at Blake's excitement, but let it go in favor of their new status as members of the White Fang. Sorry, Amitola. Sienna thought. Adam has that girl wrapped around his finger.

"He is. There's to be a mission soon, one you will not be going on," Both girls deflated at her stern tone. "I can only afford to send those with experience and discretion, something you both lack at this point. Run a few errands, spar with some of the others, and get a feel for what we have going here. Once we're finished here with the base, I can send you two on some reconnaissance missions, something to take advantage of how you blend in." The two nodded dutifully.

"There is one more thing we need to cover." Sienna placed her hands on her hips as she began to pace, falling into lecture mode without even realizing it. "I've known you both for some time now, and I have no problem being familiar when it is just us. But I am the Supreme Leader of the White Fang now. When we are among the others, even Marcus and those you are friends with, I am Leader. You can call me by my name when we're together like this, but I will not give even the appearance of favoritism. To do so would lead to a breakdown in discipline, something we hardly need with our new members. Is that clear?" Her voice took on an edge of authority, and it made both young Faunus stand up straighter.

"Yes ma'am!" They chorused, and Sienna allowed a small smile to cross her face.

"Very well, enough of that. Go find Marcus and offer to help. I'll see you two at breakfast tomorrow." Blake and Illia nodded, then walked out of the room, unable to contain the relieved smiles on their faces. Did they really think that she would turn down their help? Sienna scoffed at the notion. Even if Ghira had come and dumped Kali at her feet, Sienna would have found something for her to contribute to. But now, she had to run damage control to keep the chieftain from tearing her ears off.

The things I do for the White Fang. Sienna thought to herself, typing out a message to Ghira while the debacle was still fresh on her mind. He would call in the morning no doubt, but she could reduce his ire now by letting him know that his daughter had arrived safely.

---

A/N: I know I'm making Summer look like a totally irresponsible person, but a lot of the strife she's caused in this chapter is a result of poor timing as much as her own misguided attempt to protect her family. And now Qrow and Arthur will finally get to settle their fight from Mistral. Or will they? Hope everyone liked the Tombstone reference. I recently watched it again, and I have neglected so many similarities between Doc Holliday and Arthur. Obviously our favorite gunslinger isn't as flippant or wordy as Doc, but a man cursed by TB slinging guns like a devil is one hell of a story element.