Another chapter coming up!
Saphron's house...
"Gargh!" - Jaune punch the wall.
"Jaune!" - Ruby exclaimed. Apparently they can't proceed to Atlas because the Mistral-Atlas border are closed, even negotiate with the commander named Caroline Cordovin who's happens to be Maria's rival didn't end well either. And as if that wasn't bad enough, team JNR and LTR are finally knows that Salem is immortal.
"Everything we did was for nothing!" - Jaune angrily exclaimed.
"That's not true." - Blake assured.
"Really? Cuz it sure does sound like it." - Nora jeered.
"If Salem can't be killed, then how are we supposed to win this?" - Ren questioned. No one said anything including team ALTR.
"Wow... Great plan everyone!" - Jaune said sarcastically.
"Look, none of this is great, we know. But we're not the bad guys here." - Oscar assured.
"Are we sure about that?" - Jaune asked as he turn his look to Oscar.
"What?" - Oscar said.
"He's in your head, isn't he? Did you already know about this?" - Jaune ask as he walk over to Oscar.
"He didn't know any of it!" - Weiss defended. But Jaune grabs Oscar by the collar and shoves him against the wall.
"How much longer can we even trust him?!" - Jaune exclaimed angrily.
"Jaune! calm down!" - Lucia said, not noticing that her brother was trembling in rage.
"How do we even know it's really him?! What if we have been talking to that liar this whole time?!" - Jaune exclaimed angrily once more.
"Jaune!" - Ruby shouted. Suddenly Ace stood up and shattered the wooden table with his fist cause everyone to stop, looking at him in shock. Ace stood there with his bloody fist which from smashing the table and a pure rage in his face.
"So that's the plan huh? Sit here and be at each others throat?!" - Ace shouted which earns silence and a sorry look from the others. Ace nod his head.
"Well, then that means we're all fucked." - Ace said, then he decided to go outside to relieve himself.
"Where you going?" - Weiss asked.
"... Buy a new table." - Ace gruntly said before close the door loudly.
"And the boss is now angry, you don't like it when he's angry." - Raul said.
"No one did." - Tanya sighed. Jaune put Oscar down then storm back to his room.
Outside...
Ace was walking with his hands in his pocket and his head low down. Until suddenly something caught his attention.
"Hey ya fuckwit! Ya just bump into me!" - The man shouted, and turns out the one who's bumps into him was Qrow himself who was in a very drunken state. Ace remember that his master is also really frustrated cuz of what happened today so he decided to have a drink, so it's not surprise to see him like this.
"Hey!" - The man grabs Qrow by the collar.
"Huh? What doyou want?" - Qrow ask lazily.
"*growl* You think that's funny?! Well now i'm gonna show you someth.." - The man raise his fist up but before he could throw a hit at Qrow, Ace stop him by grabbing his hand.
"Leave the man be, mate." - Ace said.
"Huh? The fuck are y.. Eep!" - The man squeal in fear, why? 2 things:
1: Ace was still in the bad mood from the arguments so his face was quite intimidating.
2: His hand still bloody from smashing the table and the fact that there is a drop of blood in his cheeks makes it look like he just beat someone into a pulp.
"Are we gonna have a problem?" - Ace ask with a cold glance.
"I.. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" - The man whimper in fear before fleeing. Ace then helping his mentor get up by putting Qrow's arm over his shoulder.
"You all right, master Qrow?" - Ace asked.
"Urgh, Do i look oay(okay)?" - Qrow said.
"I'll take that as a no then. Come on, let's find somewhere else to relieve ourselves." - Ace said as he drag his mentor. Then they've finally able to find a bench chair, Qrow soon sit with Ace after he finish throwing up.
"Feel better, master Qrow?" - Ace asked.
"Yeah, kinda. My head still hurt though." - Qrow said as he hold his head. Ace pull out his own flask.
"Here master, drink this." - Ace offer his flask.
"I mean... i just drink earlier but.. if you insist." - Qrow took the flask then take a swig, but soon realize... it's not alcohol.
"What is this?" - Qrow asked.
"Cold brew lemonade, really effective in curing hangover. I'm apologize if it's not your liking beverage." - Ace said.
"Well, can't say it doesn't taste good. And i feel a bit better now, thanks big guy." - Qrow thanked as he give the flask back to Ace.
"No problem, master." - Ace said.
"*sigh* I just kinda depressed, you know. About the fact that i had this curse i call a Semblance of mine, and the one who has given me hope turns out to be no different than the others, and now what happens today... It just too much to take... Maybe no one really wants me after all, i was meant to be wandered by myself." - Qrow said as he lowered his head.
"Meant to be wandered by yourself, you say?" - Ace ask sternly, then he stood up. "Last time i check, me and my team have become who we are today because of you! To be honest, when i first discover my strengths, that leads me to Signal academy, where you've taught. And that time i was just a kid fighting for no reason, no goals until you step in, you didn't just taught me the skills i need to be a Huntsman, but you also give me a reason to fight. That's how i was inspired and how i inspire my teammates as well, even before our path cross again in Beacon's arrival test. And you know why even now i still respect you? Huh? Because you, a drunkard of all people inspired me to became a man who put his life on the line to protect the others rather than became a hired gun who care for nothing but himself! And now you're here! Just blaming yourself for being a human bad luck amulet?! How was that your fault?! And 'meant to be alone'? That just horse marlakey! You're not a nobody, you ARE somebody! And like many others, there is someone still love you like you're a part of their life. Ruby, Yang, me and my team. Consider yourself a bad luck charms all you want, but that won't stop us from caring about you. Because you are not meant to be alone, not at all." - Upon hearing this word, Qrow look up, his eyes looks like was about to burst into tears.
"I... am i really that important to you guys?" - Qrow asked which earns a nod and smile from Ace.
"Of course you are, and the fact that i address you as 'master' instead of 'professor' was a proof of how badly i respect you." - Ace offer his hand to Qrow, who's now finally had a stream of tears on his face.
"*sniff* Damn kid. That might be the cheesiest thing i've ever heard." - Qrow said as he wiping his tears.
"Is that the way you say 'thank you'?" - Ace smirked.
"S.. Shut up. *sniff* Honestly, you are hopeless." - Qrow said, still trying not to cry alot.
"I might be hopeless, but i'm your student. Since back then, even now and until the end of time." - Ace said, still offer his hand to Qrow, who decide to get up and grab his hand.
"Thanks Ace, this is why you're my favorite beside Ruby and Yang. And now you make me realize that you maybe a better friend than the ol'wizard himself." - Qrow said.
"Just make sure you don't said that right in his face." - Ace teased, then the two share a hearty laugh.
"Shall we get back, master?" - Ace asked.
"Yeah, let's." - Qrow agreed. They both walk along, suddenly Ace froze in realization.
"Argh, bugger! I forgot!" - Ace exclaims in shock, hands on his head.
"What's wrong?" - Qrow questioned.
"I accidentally broke the table back in the house during our arguments. I said that i was going to buy a new one but... *sigh* Let's hope there is still opened furniture store around here!" - Ace said.
"Can you buy one?" - Qrow asked.
"Pfft, me and my team has done many bounty missions before our reunion in Kuo Kana, so money was not an issue at the moment, you coming?" - Ace said. It took them awhile to found a furniture shop that was still opened, and another minutes of price haggling before they were able to leave the shop with the new set of table. As they've finally reach Saphron's house...
"I wonder if things have gone ok now, and what's that smell?" - Ace thought as he twist the doorknob, revealing everyone including Oscar inside.
"Hey guys.." - Ace greeted.
"Ace! Uncle Qrow!" - Ruby exclaim in glee as she dash to Ace and Qrow, give them a tight hug.
"N.. not so tight now, Rube. I just got the new table." - Ace said.
"We were so worry, as if finding Oscar wasn't troublesome enough." - Weiss said.
"Wait what?" - Ace questioned.
"They thought i left for good after what happened earlier, but i only need some... alone time." - Oscar said with a caseroll of lasagna in his hands.
"Well, i'm glad you're safe and sound, Headmaster. Nice jacket you got there, really." - Ace complimented.
"Hey man, i.. i am really sorry for making you mad, i was so stress so i overreact. I just want to say it's not your fault for being angry." - Jaune apologized.
"Nah it's fine, we're all have a hard time every now and then. And i'm also sorry for my attitude back then and the uh... the table." - Ace apologized. Then Terra approach them.
"Well to be honest, that thing is a poor quality good after all. But what you bought there, looks pretty promising." - Terra smiled.
"Mrs Cotta, i apologize for my disgraceful toward you and your family." - Ace apologized as he bow down and hand over the table set.
"It's alright, big guy. You didn't done anything causing harm to me and my family. So don't blame yourself, and thank you." - Terra said as she took the table set. The three Hunter team share a smile, until they notice Qrow walking up the stairs.
"You need to throw up again, master?" - Ace asked.
"I just... don't want to get in the way of your celebration." - Qrow said.
"You've been gone all day! Just sit with us!" - Ruby enthusiastically insisted.
"*sigh* Look Ruby, i'm glad you kids worked out uh.. whatever all that was. But you do realize that we're not a single step closer to Atlas." - Qrow sadly reminded. Ace was thinking with his hand on his chin, until...
"... I think i might have a plan." - Ace said which cause the others to look at him.
"You do?!" - RWBY, Qrow, JNR, LTR and Maria ask at the same time.
"Just... Not the logical one, but it's our last card." - Ace said before a smirk grow on his face.
End chapter 7.
Now i know the earlier chapters was nothing more but talking, but i promise the next one will have some actions. Once again, thank you for reading this chapter and see you in the next one.