AN: Sorry this took so long for me to get out. This chapter was originally going to be longer, but the last third or so didn't seem to be working the way I'd written them. So I decided to simply split the chapter.

It was a wonderful day in Vale. The sun was high and bright. The wind blew throughout the great city, easing the heat. Birds darted between trees and rooftops, sounding their calls. People of all kinds had ventured forth from their homes to enjoy the day.

'Perhaps,' Taiyang thought, 'this is the universe's way of balancing out all the other stuff it makes me deal with.'

Currently the main thing Taiyang had to 'deal with' was his partner. Summer had finally run out gun puns earlier that morning and now he had the pleasure of listening to her detailed story of 'that one time with the thing'. Taiyang had briefly considered asking for clarification on certain questions such as 'when', 'how', 'where', and 'who', he'd learned quickly that there was usually no reasonable answer to 'why' when it came to Summer, before mentally slapping himself; details were probably not something he wanted to have in this instance.

Instead the blonde resigned himself to simply having no idea what Summer was talking about, and making impressed noises whenever she paused her storytelling. She seemed far to wrapped up in the tale to really care what he thought anyway.

And so, in a hazy blur of white noise, the duo slowly made their way through the streets of Vale. They had elected to travel the furthest of the groups, to a weapon shop in the outer industrial district. According to Oobleck the shop, known as The Aegis Armoury, was one of the only places in Vale known for producing custom order mechashift weapons.

Mechashift weapons were a rather recent innovation. While many Hunters armed themselves with multi-purpose weapons capable of functioning at many ranges, mechashift weaponry allowed for greater specialization in each mode at the cost of some extra bulkiness and weight to the weapon. There were two conflicting opinions of this new weaponry; one was that they were the next step in modern weaponry, promising all the accuracy and punch of a firearm, with all the finesse and strength of a blade; the other opinion was that they were pointlessly flashy, a mark of vanity and pride that served much as a ceremonial weapon would, it looked impressive and was at least passably functional but was ultimately useless against a standard weapon of good quality.

Given their recent conception, and complexity it was unsurprising that only a few of the most skilled weapon-smiths attempted to create their own mechashift weapons. It was a gruelling task, the many pieces and moving parts rendering the construction more akin to engineering than forging. The fact that every prideful mob boss, upper-class elitist, and privileged family with a child going to a Hunter academy wanted one likely had something to do with making them attempt the undertaking.

This rarity of people who could make the weapons turned out, in this case at least, to be incredibly helpful. The lack of stores they needed to visit meant that Summer, Taiyang, and team GOOP would be able to go to every place the scythe-sniper-rifle, Port had insisted it be referred to as the Scyther-Rifle, could have originated from in a single day.

"-and that's how we pulled it off and got back to where we started in time for dinner," Summer finished with a flourish of her hands and something akin to a bow. "How much further we got to go anyhow?"

Taiyang hummed in approval

"I don't see how that's an answer."

A quiet drawn out muttering of 'wow' emanated from Taiyang.

Summer narrowed her eyes. 'You bastard, here I am trying to regale you - is regale the right word? Eh, probably – with a story to pass the time and you just ignore me. Well, I tried to entertain you, now it's time to entertain myself.'

"So that's the story of the first time I kissed someone," Summer proclaimed loudly.

Taiyang's pace slowed to a stop. He glanced over to her, eyes narrowed. After a moment he spoke.

"That wasn't what the story was about."

Summer shrugged, turning away quickly before Taiyang could see the grin spreading across her face, and kept walking. "Maybe, maybe not. You'd know for sure if you were listening."

"I'm not sure I would, considering how you tell stories," muttered Taiyang, walking after her.

The Aegis Armoury was a small shop. That was to say it was small by the standards of the industrial district, which meant it was about the size of a family house. The front of the shop was brick, coated in chipped, faded, black paint; the words 'The Aegis Armory' painted in large white letters above the door. A single, tinted window served as the only source of natural light the shop received from the street front. The battered, old pickup truck, the paint scratched and peeling, sitting in the alley between The Armoury and the next building was the only indication that the store was open.

Entering the shop, the duo found it mostly bare, there were no racks or shelves full of weapons like Summer had been expecting.

'I guess it does make sense not to leave a bunch of weapons around for a robber to threaten you with' she thought.

The only features of the room were the long counter that took up most of the back wall of the store and a swing door on its right. Behind the counter a large, dark haired man in grey overalls and a blacksmith's apron sat with his sleeves rolled up, tinkering with a mechanism of some kind. His eyes darted up as they entered, before returning their focus to the device he was working on.

Summer and Tai walked up to the counter, waiting for the man to finish. As they stood, Summer assessed the blacksmith. Now that he was right in front of them Summer could see that the man would be a few inches taller than Taiyang when standing. He was considerably muscled, to be expected from a guy whose job description was to whack metal into useful stuff.

After a few more moments waiting, the man spoke up.

"Well?" he asked, his head still down, focusing on the mechanism.

"Um, are you Aegis Coal?" Summer asked.

"The shop's named after me," he said, still facing down. His face curled into a frown. "Do you want something or do you just like to waste other people's time?"

Summer's eyebrows dropped low over her eyes, her mouth twisted into a grimace.

'Wonderful, our best chance at finding one group of assholes is to get help from yet another asshole.'

"We were hoping," she said through clenched teeth, "that you could help us track down a weapon."

The blacksmith paused. Putting down the device, he wiped his hands on his overalls and stood up, rolling his shoulders as he did so.

Summer noted that she had been right; the blacksmith stood a few inches taller than Taiyang, cutting an imposing figure.

"What sort of weapon?" Aegis asked flatly, his face impassive and his arms crossed.

"Mechashift weapon," Summer answered. "Changed between a rifle and a scythe."

Aegis pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling loudly. "Yeah, I know the one you're talking about. I didn't make that one; my... apprentice, made it."

Summer arched an eyebrow, why someone would chose to be an apprentice to someone as grouchy as this guy was a mystery.

"Would they know how to track it down?"

"Dunno," he said with a shrug. "Let's ask him."

Aegis turned towards the swing door and sucked in a breath, "Branwen!" He bellowed. "Get out here."

The distinct clattering sound of something metal falling over came from the other side of the door, followed quickly by a muffled shout.

"I'm comin"

The door swung open and a boy about as old as Summer walked out. "What do ya need Aegis?"

Summer took in the apprentice's appearance. His windswept hair was a wiry, black, mess of strands that all seemed to want to move in different directions to each other. A grease stain that he either hadn't noticed or didn't care about was smeared across his left cheek. He wore an impish grin as he sauntered in, wiping a dirtied hand on his tattered cloak. Looking at his face she could see the same amused enthusiasm her own silver pools so often wore reflected in his glowing crimson eyes.

'I guess we don't need to find that gun after all,' Summer mused.

Qrow took several steps into the room, his attention on Aegis. His head turned to face the visitors and, upon realising who was standing in front of him, his head decided to keep turning, dragging the rest of his body with it. Spinning back the way he'd come and walking away swiftly Qrow managed to make it all the way back to the door before Aegis spoke.

"Hold it."

Qrow paused, his hand on the door, muttering curses under his breath.

"These two are looking for a weapon."

"Then I'll just go out back to find some for them to try out, shall I," he said, shuffling slightly closer to the door.

Aegis's brow lowered, his arms crossed again. "They're looking for your weapon Qrow."

"Yeah," Summer added. "Someone who looks exactly like you used a weapon exactly like yours to attack a group of hunters exactly like us."

"You got in a fight with Hunter trainees?"

Qrow twisted to face Aegis, waving a hand dismissively. "Of course not, there's obviously been some kind of mistake," he said. "They could've been attacked by anyone. I'm sure there are plenty of weapons like mine."

Aegis could've made a killing as a poker player. His face was inscrutable, betraying none of the anger that carried in his voice. "Your weapon is literally one of a kind. I know this because no one but you is stupid enough to use anything like it."

"I prefer to think of it a no one else being skilled enough," Qrow responded, tapping an index finger on his temple.

Aegis sighed, glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, and then took off his apron. "You know what, it doesn't matter. This is your mess Qrow, I'm not getting involved. Sort this out and send them on their way. I'm going to go have lunch."

"But it's only ten-thirty," Taiyang questioned.

"And I had an early breakfast," Aegis responded sharply. He walked out from behind the counter, stopping at the door. His face softened as he looked over his shoulder at the trio. "Are you going to be alright on your own Qrow?" he asked, the anger from a moment ago gone altogether.

Qrow nodded, his gaze focused on the hunter trainees. "I can manage," he said. "But I might have to leave work early today."

Aegis bowed his head. "As long as you're sure." His tone hardened again. "Just don't break anything else Branwen."

And with that, Aegis left, leaving the three teens alone in the store together.

A moment of silence passed between them. Summer and Taiyang kept their gazes fixed firmly on Qrow, waiting for him to make a move. Qrow meanwhile allowed his eyes to wander between the two of them, going back and forth seemingly at random. Qrow took a deep breath in through his nose. Summer and Tai tensed, ready for his next move.

"Sooo…" he said, dragging the word out for as long as it would stretch. "I don't suppose I can just give you a sincere apology and we all go our separate ways?"

Taiyang cracked his knuckles, a smile lighting up his face. "Not a chance."

Qrow exhaled slowly through pursed lips. He looked down at his fee, grimacing. "That's a shame. It would probably be easier for everyone."

Summer grinned. "I dunno," she said, raising her shoulders in a shrug, "I think this'll be pretty easy for us. Fun too."

Qrow's head swivelled to face her. He smirked, pointing a finger at her. "That's right, you're the one who can actually take a joke. Seems you can make em too."

"What makes you think I was joking bird-boy?"

"Ah, and already with the name calling. Speaking of which…"

Qrow gestured to the two of them. It took Summer a moment to realise that the boy had never actually gotten their names.

"Summer Rose," She answered.

"Taiyang Xiao Long," Her partner followed.

"I'll be sure to remember them," Qrow replied, pulling his left arm across his body.

Taiyang's brow arched. "What are you doing?"

"It's important to stretch before a run." He answered, bending one leg up behind himself and pulling.

Summer's grin widened. "You aren't going to run from us," she stated.

"I can try."

"You won't."

"Oh?" Qrow questioned, a single eyebrow raised, still on one leg and wobbling slightly as a result. "And why is that?"

"Because if you try and run from us I'll start a fire," Summer answered calmly, "It won't be huge, but it'll be enough to leave some scorch marks on the walls."

She looked Qrow straight in the eye as she delivered the kicker. "Do you think your boss would count that as breaking something?"

Qrow's eyes narrowed, searching her face for any hint she was bluffing. Finding none he turned his vision to the rest of the room, examining it, as if trying to ingrain the image into his mind before it got covered in burn marks. Qrow's gaze passed over where Aegis had been sitting and his eyes widened for a brief moment.

Turning his gaze back to her he gave his answer. "I surrender."

Summer's smirk dropped from her face, her mouth left slightly ajar. "Wait, seriously? That worked?" She exclaimed.

"Listen, the worst they can do to me at the police station is send me to Juvi for a couple years. Aegis will make me scrub every weapon in this place clean with a piece of dental floss for the rest of my life." Qrow said, chuckling slightly.

Summer looked at Taiyang. Taiyang shrugged, completely confused.

"Oh, well. Uh… you're our prisoner now… I guess."

Qrow wiped at the grease on his face, closing the distance between him and the duo. "If you say so," he answered.

The corner of his mouth twitched up slightly as he reached them, the spark of humour gleaming in his eyes. He stood within arm's reach of the twosome, his gaze idly flicking between them.

"Let's see how long it lasts."

AN: Qrow is a blacksmith's apprentice in this for two reasons, the first is that I have long held the assumption that Ruby got her weapons fixation from Qrow, the other is that I needed a reason as to why an orphan living on the streets had a complex and expensive weapon in his possession.

There is of course a reason as to why Qrow 'surrendered', or at least more of a reason than 'my boss will be pissed'. We'll get to that next chapter though.

As always feedback, criticism, and other advice would be appreciated.

The Wandering Cactus