The Smuggler of Vale

I'm Still In

I got off the gondola in a huff. The not a complete dumbass side of my brain completely understood why Jack did it. The rest of me, however, was still pissed. I looked around to try and find Ozpin's contact, but I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. I know of Qrow, sort of, I know he is very capable and a bit of a drunk. So I smelled for booze, by Beacon's shuttle in the early morning, this is my life. Almost immediately I picked up a whiff and walked towards it, after about ten minutes of walking I approached a small cafe with a bar. It was pretty busy, but only one person had a drink, as well as a large sword. I approached him as he just had his head on the counter, and passed out. He had black messy hair and a dirty white jacket with rolled-up sleeves.

I waved down a bored bartender, who was a pudgy man with a mustache in a cook's outfit.

"Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but how long has this man been here?" I asked politely

"About an hour and a half I'd say, wouldn't leave us alone until we opened the bar," He droned "He put away over a bottle and a half of cheap booze too, don't know where he put all that,"

I leaned over to him and flicked his forehead, he scrunched his face but didn't wake up. I sighed "Is his tab paid?"

"Nope," He remarked walking over to the register and printing a receipt "This a friend of yours?"

I grabbed the receipt and looked it over, "Temporary partner I guess,"

I paid him with a generous tip, "Do you have a hose somewhere?"

He glanced at his passed-out patron and snorted, "Yeah, out back,"

I grabbed the man and hoisted him over my shoulder, "Damn your heavy," I grunted grabbing his weapon on my way towards the back. I struggled towards the back and tossed him on the back lawn. I tossed his sword next to him and grabbed the hose.

"Please let this be the worst part of working with you," I panted turning on the hose and spraying him in the face.

He coughed and spluttered as I continued to soak him, I was getting a little joy outta this. I killed the hose and tossed it away, wiping my hands on my coat.

"Qrow Branwen right?" I asked squatting down to put my elbows on my knees.

He coughed and wheezed before looking at me, his heart rate skyrocketed and his eyes widened for a moment as he saw me. He quickly regained his composure, making me almost miss it.

He finished spluttering "Dammit kid, that's just bad manners,"

"Yeah well, so is making me pay your tab," I said with a smile "Now, shake it off, we need to move,"

"What's the rush?" He said getting up slowly to a wobble

"I'm on a time limit," I said turning around and walking towards the door "Keep up or I'll leave you behind,"

I heard him grab his weapon and follow me "I'm soaked through,"

"You'll dry,"

"I gotta say, when Ozpin called in a favor I didn't think I'd be working with The Smuggler of Vale," He remarked laughing gently.

"Is that why you looked so surprised to see me back there?" I asked casually making my way towards Junior's club.

"You caught that huh?" He remarked rubbing the back of his neck

"I don't miss much," I said turning a corner, ignoring the heartbeats around me.

"Actually you just reminded me of someone," He commented

"Probably, my dad," I muttered

There was a noticeable pause "Yeah, probably,"

I noticed his heartbeat speed up and turned towards him to see him avoiding eye contact, he looked a little sad. I brushed it off as we approached the front door of Junior's Club. I walked right passed the bouncer into the club. It was spotless for being tossed this morning. I inhaled deeply taking in the scents, immediately picking out Junior's. I walked up to his office and opened the door to see him sleeping on his oversized couch. I smelled booze in the air.