Remnant's Calling

4x8: Hourglass

"So, how is he?" Hope asked, partially, standing in the room. Her foot tapped opposite one of her fingers, and her eyes locked on Fritz.

"How do you think?" Qrow spat back, a glare aimed her way. Then, he scoffed and sighed, the corners of his mouth turning upward. "Doc said he'll be fine in a week or two."

Her body relaxed, and she let out a breath she didn't remember holding. "Good. That's good."

"You seem a lot more concerned about him than your queen," he said, his eyes narrow and his hip flask in hand. 

"He risked his life for mine, the Belladonna family, and my mistress." She drew her gaze to the floor, her face tensing up. "It only gets worse, knowing our assailants were of my own people, rallied behind a dictator."

Qrow agreed wordlessly, then leaned back in his chair, propping his head with an arm. "Dunno how you're still sober, kid. Were I you, I'd be head-first in a barrel of liquor."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not you."

He hummed in agreement. "ID, you don't know the half of it."

"What're you-"

"Hey, um, may I come in?"

Hope turned, and a boy no taller than her chest and with skin like nutmeg, stood. His whole body was rigid yet unstable, as though he was always trying to find his footing. His amber eyes darting to and from her own. She glanced back to Qrow who nodded and waved him in. She withdrew, letting him inside while eyeing him down, as much as he avoided eye contact. 

"Oscar!" He hailed evenly, rising and approaching him with crossed arms. "Glad you could finally make it, kid. How're you doing?"

"I'm doing fine," he said, still jumpy, then leaned in. "Uhm, who is she?" He jabbed his thumb back. 

"No one you should worry about," he told him, patting him on the shoulder. "Are the others home? Do they know where you are?"

"Yes, they're all at home, and no, they don't know I'm here."

"What were they doing before you left?"

"Arguing about... something? I couldn't really hear," he said, adding, "They were all very loud."

Qrow pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, sounds right." He sighed and began pacing. "Well, at least they aren't in our way, not now anyway," he denoted. 

"You have more huntsmen?"

He looked at her dismissively and said, "Wait outside, kid. This is more than you're prepared for."

"No. Whatever is behind this, has my full attention, and I'm more than prepared to fight."

Qrow turns himself to her. "And it's a fight you can't handle. Now, go. I'll find you when we've come up with a plan."

Hope tried to argue, but the old huntsman shut her down with a tempered scowl, and she backed down then glared back, leaving soon after—stomping through the halls and to the cafeteria. 

⋯

"Dunno, Oz. This is... a lot. Are you sure about this? About them?"

"I am, Qrow, but I believe this is our best course of action. Atlas is the best suited for what this recourse is, and should be sufficient for our plan. The kids will be fine. They are capable of more than we give them credit, and I'm sure they'll be ready for what lies ahead. Trust me."

Qrow was pacing, hands on his hips, and his eyes lit by a writhing flame. "Alright then. I guess all we have to do is wait." He stopped, his gaze fixated on Fritz's bandaged body. 

"Perhaps not. All he needs is to be coaxed back here. A little nudge, if you will."

Qrow turned away. "Do what you have to, Oz. I won't stop you."

Ozpin approached Fritz and took off his gloves. With each stride, a light began to emanate from his palms, glowing brighter and brighter by the moment, until a vibrant undulating wave of luminescent. Then, with a thoughtless quirk of the wrists, the light bathed over Fritz's body.

"How long will this take?"

"Already done. Should be enough. For his immediate injuries, at least. We just require him mobile for the time being. His other wounds can be tended to another time."

"If you say so," Qrow replied, shrugging. "But, just for the record, I think this plan is half-baked."

"Perhaps, but what other choice do we have? Our time to make such decisions is rapidly running out." A quick staggered breath choked the moment between the two, their gaze snapping to the hospital bed. "We will discuss this another time."

Qrow nodded, and then stepped to Fritz's bedside, laying his sundry thoughts to rest. "Hey, kid, you hear me okay?" His head turned to him, eye partly glazed, confusion contorting his face. "I'll keep this brief: you're in a hospital at Mistral, Oz helped you, and now we're gonna get you outta here. Just hold tight, alright?"