Worthy Leader

Summer was the first to wake up, her soreness from the day before fading. It took a minute for her vision to adjust and at first she felt frightened over where she was.

"We were just here!" she thought panicking.

Just like at the beginning of the Beacon test her and the other students were sleeping in a cafeteria that was hastily thrown together as a makeshift dormitory.

Then she noticed the differences, they were all on cots instead of the floor, and there was a significantly less amount of students around her. She began to relax memories of everything flooding back to her. It was no wonder everyone was so tired but at last this was the true Beacon. Her feet were eager to explore the grounds but feared getting lost as she heard how easy that was.

She looked down the line of cots and saw her new sleeping team mates. She smiled genuinely at them noticing how different Raven looked while she slept. Her eyes landed on Taiyang who was in the cot beside her, he on the other hand looked a little restless. Then she looked at Qrow who was the furthest away, she saw him moved and saw signs of him waking up. She sat up ready to greet him, then heard a strange sound coming from his cot...as if the leg was giving out.

"Woah-" Qrow's cot began to wobble and gave out from under him before he could catch his footing he fell on the ground. He gave an unimpressed sigh and got up as quickly as he could hoping no one would see him.

He turned over and his eyes locked with Summer's only visible one.

"Lets's pretend that didn't happen" he told her as coolly as he could brushing back his hair with his whole hand.

Summer smiled mischievously and nodded.

All the noise seemed to wake up Raven, she sprang up saw the destroyed cot, and rolled her eyes already knowing what had happened.

"That cot never had a chance..." she mumbled sitting up properly.

"Good morning Raven" Summer said a little too brightly.

"Ugh...of course you're a morning person..." Raven said rubbing her eyes.

"Looks like we are all awake except for Taiyang, but no teachers have shown up so it looks like there is no rush" Summer said happily.

Raven glared with envy at the sleeping Taiyang "He should join his team" getting up from her cot she approached Taiyang laying her hand sweetly on his forehead. Her touch slightly waking him, he smiled "What beauty..." he mumbled falling back to a relaxing sleep, probably the most peaceful he had looked all night.

Summer was momentarily touched with this side of Raven until she kicked the leg of his cot so hard it broke. "Wake up fool" she said as he hit the ground harder than Qrow had.

He looked around aggressively and seemed overwhelmed with the same feeling Summer had when she first awoke.

"It's real this time" Summer said getting up from her cot and offering up her hand.

Taiyang abruptly swatted her hand away and got up on her own.

"Tai!? What's gotten into you!?" Raven snapped at him.

He looked at her coldly, repressing whatever feelings he had for her to protect his pride. Before he could answer her the doors to the cafeteria opened.

Glynda Goodwicth was the only recognizable professor, it also seemed she had some older student's accompanying her. Without so much as a greeting she started barking orders.

"We allowed you to sleep longer but we will need this cafeteria soon." she cleared her throat "Seeing as there are so little of you I've selected a handful of upperclassmen to assist you in finding your dorms. Now move out quickly while I put everything away"

Everyone quickly obeyed and started folding their cots.

"I'm pleased to see such manners" said Glynda a bit flattered "but that wont be necessary" she raised her whip and began making the cots float with little effort. Weight not affecting her at all.

The students stared at her in awe.

"You'll see more of that don't worry" announced the upperclassmen. "You've already been teamed up" said one student "If they remember" commented another. "Enough, come on line up and read off the team you've been assigned."

The leader of the upperclassmen, or at least the one that kept everyone together. Was a tall young women with muscle that even Taiyang admired. She had half her head shaved and parted to cover one eye, barely hiding bits of a scar that no doubt went across her eye.

As intimidating as she looked, she seemed warm and welcoming to the new students. "Team STRQ is with me" she announced "Follow" she walked out the doors not looking back to check if they were behind her.

Once they were outside "My name is Vermilion Navi by the way. Welcome to Beacon" again she didn't turn but Summer was sure she was smiling.

"I'll take you to the first year dormitories and yes you will all share one word. The whole building is coed"

Qrow made a happy sound and Raven elbowed him.

"This is a warrior school, standards are expected. Please don't get any ideas, unless you want a broken leg and expulsion"

"Ideas..." wondered Summer "It just sounds practical to me"

Vermilion laughed "Yes, it is. I'm happy you think so young huntress"

They got to the lobby of a building, this is a common area, there is a kitchen all the first years share but we do have a good cafeteria. On the second floor we have the showers-"

"Are those coed too?" Qrow commented amused.

Vermilion stopped on her tracks and turned to look Qrow in the eye, although she was smiling it was intimidating still.

"You'd be wise to not interrupt me again underling" she continued onward. Not checking on his reaction knowing full well he was stunned.

"To answer your question, no they are not coed. The girls and boys showers are separated by floors as well as sections. Fourth floor you will find your dorm."

She stopped in front of a room that had their team name on it.

"May the leader Summer step forward please?"

Summer stood before Vermilion, their height difference so drastic it was laughable.

Vermilion made eye contact with Taiyang for a split second then went back to Summer.

"This is your scroll. Inside is the code to let you inside. Simply touch it to the lock" She pushed Summers scroll against the door and a clicking sound could be heard "and it'll open"

She gave it to Summer who was excited to receive it.

"The rest are your team mates scrolls" she handed the rest of the team their own. "As the leader it is your right to distribute the key to them"

Summer nodded excited to start "Just touch the scrolls like this, and it'll send the signal to them" she used Raven's scroll as an example.

"This technology is fairly new but easy to understand. Here try it on your own" she pulled Qrow in front of Summer.

"There you go you got it" Vermilion said proudly. Summer was about to do the same to Taiyang's scroll but Vermilion's hand stopped it.

"One moment" said Vermilion "Summer I couldn't help but witnessing what happened earlier in the cafeteria between you too"

Taiyang was taken aback but bravely said "That's none of your business"

Vermilion gave a light laugh "As someone who is a team leader of their own and your veteran it is well within my right to guide the next generation."

She turned back to Summer "Everyone leads differently but it is my advice to you young leader to not allow this kind of behavior within your team"

Suddenly Summer felt the weight on her shoulders, the weight of leadership. None of that was being processed until this moment, quickly she took her scroll away.

Taiyang scoffed "So what? I'm not allowed in my own dorm. Raven give me yours"

"Only the team leader can hand out the room key" Vermilion interrupted.

"Summer, I suggest you sort out your differences. I can tell you're willing to cooperate but he isn't. It's simple really, with holding something he needs is the best way I can think of. Of course the choice is ultimately yours."

She smirked "I must be getting to my room, but if you have any questions please come find me" and was on her way.

"It's not very good leadership if you let others manipulate your choices. Now give me the room key" Taiyang tried to intimidate her

Qrow was ready to step in and ward off his attempt to bully her but Raven shook her head. "This is between them" she whispered.

Summer placed her scroll on the door unlocking it once more. "Let's go inside and get settled" said Summer. "Taiyang, please come to me with your grievances when you are ready"

He slammed his fist against the wall, which was sturdy enough to withstand tantruming students. He yelled at his team "You wonder why I'm so angry!?" he turned to the Branwen siblings "You two are my childhood friends, yet you prioritize her" he pointed accusingly at Summer "and you! YOU!" he was so frustrated he couldn't understand.

"Do none of you understand what it feels like to be left in the dark like this! I don't want to be part of a team that cannot trust me"

"You're stuck with us for the next few years" Summer spoke "You can beg all you want but the only way to get rid of us is to drop out and reapply. However you would've already made a bad impression."

She took off her hood and turned to him "If you really want to be a Huntsman, then you'd let this go and stop acting like a child"

Taiyang held her gaze, not giving her any ground "How do you expect me to rely on this team to watch my back if they can't even trust me?"

Raven chimed in "Why do you have to know so badly Tai?"

"Wouldn't you?" Taiyang shot back at her.

Qrow gave her a look that told her he was right.

Summer sighed "It's my secret they're keeping and my secret is a great burden Taiyang"

Those words made Taiyang reconsider for a moment, his aggressive nature melting away he took a deep breath.

"As you said, if we are stuck with each other for the next few years then a burden of that size should be shared. That's what makes a team strong"

Summer smiled and took his hand which held his scroll.

She sent him the key, "There are levels of trust Taiyang, I trust you to watch my back during missions and fights as I trust you will be a strong team mate. I feel we all have secrets"

She turned to the Branwen siblings as she said that, they gave a slight shake.

"I can assure you they found out without my consent but you're right it is nice to share the burden"

"Just so you know, my burden can also endanger your life" she put her hood back on "so understand why I can't tell you"

Scoffing Taiyang said "You think I'm not strong enough to protect it then? That I can be tortured and I'll speak"

"Taiyang I-"

"Fight me" he told her "I'm willing to prove my strength to you. I feel we cannot function smoothly as a team until I know too!"

Summer shook her head "You can't beat me Taiyang."

"Then you have nothing to lose!" he insisted.

Summer rested her face on her hands

"Having three out of the four members of the team know something I don't is rather insulting"

Raven stepped "Enough!" she said "The truth is Summer is..."

"Raven don't!" Qrow intervened

Raven turned to him "We can trust him. I know we can"

Raven knew of Taiyangs hero complex and knew exactly what to tell him. He just needed someone to pity that wasn't him. He was impulsive and arrogant but he had the heart of a protector.

"Summer is...or rather was...kidnapped at a young age and was experimented on. She ran away and is in hiding. This is why she wasn't at the airship with us she had to be escorted by a huntsman. Why do you think she is so weird? She's never been properly socialized"

Taiyang looked at Summer with pity grabbed her shoulders and looked at her, immediately believing Raven's half truth.

The unwanted memories gave Summer a tormented expression, which further convinced Taiyang to believe her.

"Why..." he began to ask but then Qrow interrupted

"It hurts her to think about it can't you see. Stop asking you insensitive oaf"

"Summer" Taiyang said "From this day forward your burden is mine too. I will help Raven and Qrow protect you if these people are still after you I will fight alongside you"

Summer nodded surprised at his change of mood "Thank...you..." she felt a little guilty but was glad to feel the tension between them vanish.

"Now can we decorate our room?" Raven said separating Taiyang and Summer.