A Slave to Better Days: Absolute Zero | Male Reader x Raven Branwen

Part 2

It's important to note that Raven and Tai never got married or had a relationship beyond a friendship

Four years have passed and (Y/N)'s life hasn't changed. Most have given up on looking for him, thinking he's dead. Summer, (Y/N)'s little sister by three years, went into a depressive state and went from a sweet, talkative girl to an introvert. Raven was stoic before, but since (Y/N)'s disappearance, she shut herself off from the world. Even when Qrow walked into team STRQ's dorm drunk, she wouldn't even look at him unlike before when she would take Qrow's flask away from him. Most of everyone who knew him changed somewhat. All except for Qrow. He was one of the two people who didn't believe for a second that (Y/N) would do something so evil. The other was Ozpin. The moment he saw Atlas' accusations against (Y/N), he doubted everything they brought forth, but even his influence couldn't move the leaders of Vale.

The ship gently rocked as it glided across the calm water. Everyone was out on the deck to admire the beautiful weather as they headed to Vacuo. (Y/N) leaned his arms on the guardrails watching other ships go by and the occasional aquatic life that came up for air. This is one of the few times he had both his mask and hood off so he could feel the breeze of the wind brush across his face, cooling the scars that littered it. He felt calm, like he didn't have to worry about someone coming up behind him and putting a knife in his back, or someone from his old life trying to look for him. He felt almost free from reality. Then he felt his scroll vibrate in the right pocket. He answers it.

"Hello." (Y/N) answers.

"(Y/N), is that you?" He knew the voice immediately. The scratchy tone gave it away.

"Want do you want, Qrow?" (Y/N) asks, irritated.

"Qrow? What happened to 'drunk bastard'?" He says sarcastically.

"How did you get this number?"

"I have some people that owe me. But it did take them a while to find it."

"Qrow." (Y/N) breaths. "Do you know what I do?"

"You mean mercenary work?"

"Yeah. If you don't have business, please don't waste my time."

He says before saying. "I do have something." He says. This caught (Y/N) by surprise. Qrow was waiting for (Y/N) to say something, but a silence goes on for a few seconds until he continues. "I'm going to have to give it to you in person. Meet me in Vale at the bar we used to go to."

"Qrow, if your trying to get me back with my family-" (Y/N)'s cut off.

"No. It's not." Qrow assures. "It'll just be me, I promise."

(Y/N) breaths a heavy sigh. "When do you want to meet?"

One week later

The bar was a lot more quiet than (Y/N) remembered. Usually after tests, (Y/N), Qrow, and other members of teams STRQ and (team name)  would stop by to get a drink or two that would turn into a number they don't remember. Somehow (Y/N) always made it back to his dorm with Raven cuddling into his side. Those were memories he couldn't forget no matter how much he tried. There were a few other women that (Y/N) was with, but nothing grew beyond a physical relationship. Eventually, the sex stopped creating dopamine, so he no longer has any interest.

(Y/N) sits down at a table with his mask off, but his hood stays on. A waitress comes over to take his order and he tells her to get him anything. Some time passes and (Y/N) hasn't touched his drink, having lost interest in acuhal too. It just slowed him down in the mornings and gave him a headache afterwords. He hears a familiar voice to his right. He looks to see Qrow talking to the bartender. "Qrow." (Y/N) says loud enough so only Qrow and a few others could hear. He looks over and smiles at (Y/N) and goes to sit down at the same table.

"Hey, (Y/N). Long time no see." Qrow says, happy to see his friend. He notices (Y/N) looking around like he's searching for something. "Are you okay?"

"That's not the word I would use." (Y/N) says. "I'm just looking for anyone I would know."

Qrow groans. "You don't trust me?"

"In my line of work, you can't trust anyone." Qrow's face softens. "If you don't mind, I'd like to get down to business."

Qrow takes a breath. "I need you to find someone."

(Y/N) looks at him with one of his eyebrows raised. "Who would you want to look for?" He asks. Qrow takes out his scroll and hands it to (Y/N) "Are you fucking joking?" (Y/N) says, looking at a picture of Raven.

"I wish I was." Qrow says, sipping from his drink.

(Y/N) places the scroll on the table and pushes it back to Qrow. "No way in hell."

He gets up to leave but Qrow places a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to track her down. I know were she probably is."

"That's not the prob- Wait. If you know were she is, why do you need me?"

"Because her and I don't have the best history. She'd probably try to kill me if I showed up."

"What makes you think she won't try to kill me?"

"(Y/N), your the one person in the whole world she wouldn't kill. After what happened, she went into some kind of depression. She wouldn't talk to anyone."

(Y/N) sits back down. "Why do you want to look for her?"

"I'm paying you, you don't ask anything." (Y/N) gets up to leave again. "Wait!" Qrow yells. (Y/N) sits back down. "I'm just worried about her. Everyone was when she left. I'm afraid that she's going to get herself killed." (Y/N) thinks for a moment about if he should do it or not.

"Where is she?"

Four days later

It took him a while, but (Y/N) finally manages to find the tribe's location. It was the break of dawn with the sunlight penetrating through the leaves. He walks towards the wooden gates with two guards standing in front. If what Qrow told (Y/N) is true, he should have to no problem getting in.

"Hey!" One of the guards shout. "Who are you?" (Y/N) continues to walk up to them. "Don't take other step." He stops.

"Is this the Branwen Tribe?" (Y/N) asks.

"The what?" The guard asks. One of the skills (Y/N) picked up from his work is the ability to read people. And he could see right through this lie.

"There's no need to act stupid." (Y/N) tell them. "I'm here to talk to Raven Branwen." Both of the guard's eyes widen. "So if you don't mind, I'll be going in." He starts walking to the gate. One of the guards puts a spear to his chest.

"This is your only warning to back away." He says. (Y/N) grabs the spread and rips it from his grasp with ease. The other guard goes to attack (Y/N), but he jabs the blunt end of the spear into the guard's head, causing him to fall backwards on the ground. The first guard looks at (Y/N), surprised that he and his partner was defeated so easily.

(Y/N) threw the spear back at the guard. "Keep a better hold on your weapon." he says before heading inside.

Inside the wooden walls were a bunch of tents. The tribe members haven't noticed him yet, so he continues to walk towards the center to see if he could find Raven. It's only when he got to the center that people finally started noticing him. Everyone started forming a circle around him. No one could see it because of his mask, but he was smiling, internally chuckling to himself. He could hear people whispering to each other, not sure of what to do. Before anyone could do anything, (Y/N) hears a feminine voice come from the biggest tent.

"You all better relax." She began. "This man could kill everyone here if he wanted to." (Y/N) turned to the direction of the voice. The crowd of people were parting for someone. "Hello, (Y/N)." she says, reconizing him by the weapon on his back

"Raven." He replies.