Summer's Promise

Chapter Four: No Flower of Her Kindred

Three Years Later...

Team STRQ walks out of their last class of the day and are looking forward to the weekend ahead of them. Summer leads them out, with Qrow close by her side and Tai and Raven not far behind. They are talking and joking around, completely unconcerned with the world and the future and just happy to have a moment of unrestricted joy. Their plans for the weekend only served as a means to procrastinate the ever approaching graduation day from Beacon, where they would face the real world and all of its horrors and wonders. In only a few months they would walk out of Beacon as students for one final time, and like any teenager, procrastinated planning for what happens next. Behind the bright eyes and beaming smiles each of them held onto their wildest dreams for what comes next. However this illusion can't last forever, and was interrupted by an all too familiar voice. 

"Not wasting any time getting to the joys of the weekend, are you Team STRQ?" Ozpin says as he walks up to them.

"Professor Ozpin! Good to see you!" Summer replies that the rest of the group mimics with varying degrees of sincerity.

"Likewise. Summer, may I speak with you for a moment?" Ozpin says. 

"Of course Professor," Summer turns to her team, "I'll catch up with you later!" She looks at Qrow and nods. Their years of training, studying, friendship, and living together have made talking superfluous in most circumstances. Qrow parted ways with Tai and Raven, and walked to the meeting place. He glanced back, and saw Ozpin guiding Summer back into the tower.  

A Few Hours Later...

Qrow stands on the launch pad that started his adventure at Beacon. He quickly jumps off of it, unsure as to whether the launch pad will activate, even if Ozpin isn't around. Pacing around the launch site casually, Qrow begins to reminisce over the past few years at Beacon. He looks back at the launch pad, and could almost see the younger version of himself standing there. 

"Look at him. He thinks he's the best to ever live. You already know it all don't you? You've got your scythe, your wits, your good looks. The other people are just there to bear witness. Summer should have let that Beowolf knock some sense into that dense head of yours. You have no idea. You had all that you needed and almost died in this forest not ten minutes after getting launched," Qrow laughs at himself.

The younger Qrow starts to take a translucent form, and looks back at his future self, ready to respond to his chastising remarks. 

"I wouldn't have died. I'd have brushed it off and been just fine," the phantasm responds cockily.

"You idiot. That's not the point," Qrow reprimands.

"Enlighten me."

"You don't have to do it alone! You don't have to be alone!" Qrow shouts, trying to get it through his younger self's thick skull.

"It's easier that way."

"Yes."

"It's safer that way."

"Yes."

"It's better that way," the phantasm said like he just claimed checkmate.

"No," Qrow responds defiantly.

"Is this what it's like when Raven talks to us?"

"No, because she'll give up."

"I hate you," he snarled at Qrow.

"You don't have to. There are people out there that can-" Qrow pleaded