With Team RWBY's match concluded and the day still young, Ashborn found himself heading toward the Vale docks. He didn't have much to do while staying in Remnant, but since he was here, he decided to witness a few iconic events firsthand. One of them was about to unfold now, the legendary brawl between Qrow Branwen and Winter Schnee.
He arrived just as a new Atlesian airship descended gracefully, its engines whirring softly as it came to a stop. Ashborn stood to the side of the platform, pulling out a bag of popcorn and lazily munching away as the ramp lowered.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted two figures sprinting toward the ship, Ruby and Weiss.
From the descending ramp walked out a tall, composed woman with silver hair and icy presence: Winter Schnee, Weiss's elder sister.
Weiss gave her a polite, composed greeting, while Ruby awkwardly lingered behind her friend, unsure how to act. A moment later, Ruby spun on her heel and bolted, leaving Weiss alone with her sister.
Ashborn chuckled to himself. Well, this is already getting good.
It didn't take long before Qrow arrived.
The moment Qrow laid eyes on Winter, the air grew tense, and not the kind that leads to tea and polite conversation. Before anyone could intervene, the two elite warriors were exchanging harsh words and then fists, bullets, and ice.
Ashborn remained on the sidelines, munching popcorn with a content expression. "Better than any Colosseum match," he muttered as the fight escalated all over the platform, explosions and blasts lighting the scene.
Ruby returned moments later, alarmed by the noise. She gasped as she saw her uncle in the middle of a fight with Weiss's sister. "Go Uncle Qrow!" she yelled, pumping her fist.
Weiss, caught off guard, countered. "Don't let him win, Winter!"
Ashborn strolled toward them casually, still chewing, and held out the bag. "Popcorn?" he offered.
Ruby blinked at him, surprised. "Uh… thanks?" She took a handful and resumed cheering.
Weiss looked at him like he'd just grown a second head.
The fight raged on with intensity, but as it reached its peak, Qrow suddenly noticed three figures approaching from the other direction: Ozpin, Professor Goodwitch, and General Ironwood.
With a mischievous grin, Qrow lowered his weapon and gave Winter a smug look. "C'mon, Ice Queen. One more for the road."
Winter, already charging, didn't have time to adjust.
"Schnee, stop!" Ironwood's sharp voice rang out across the platform.
Winter's eyes widened. She attempted to halt mid-attack, but a faint shadow on the slick platform betrayed her footing. Her boots slipped, and she tumbled forward, crashing into Qrow and knocking him flat.
Their lips met in a completely unintended but unmistakable kiss, with Winter landing squarely atop him.
A moment of stunned silence swept over the docks.
Even Ozpin, Ironwood, and Goodwitch paused mid-step.
Winter pulled back in horror, her cheeks erupting in red. Qrow blinked up at the sky, confused as to whether he just won, lost, or both.
Then came Ashborn's voice, loud and clear, cutting through the silence:
"We want a refund. We came to watch a fight, not lovers kissing like it's a romance drama. Get a room, will ya?"
All eyes turned to him. Even Winter, still red-faced and frozen in place, could only gape.
Then the murmurs began.
"…He's right."
"…Do we get a refund?"
"…I paid for violence, not romance!"
A chorus of agreement rippled across the growing crowd.
Winter scrambled to her feet, flustered and mortified. Qrow remained on the ground, eyebrows furrowed in deep confusion.
Weiss looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. "I can't unsee this," she whispered in horror.
Ruby just blinked. "Wait… did they just…?"
Ozpin cleared his throat and stepped forward, breaking the moment. "There is a tournament match going on in the Colosseum behind us. This… situation is not part of the official schedule. Let alone ticket refunds."
Ashborn shrugged with a grin. "Well everyone, at least I tried."
Soon, the unintended kiss faded into murmurs and chuckles, as Professor Goodwitch began restoring the damaged dock with elegant waves of her riding crop, her semblance fixing the shattered ground and broken broken stone pillars. The crowd, no longer entertained, began dispersing, some laughing, others still demanding refunds under their breath.
General Ironwood approached Ashborn, his stern gaze sharp with irritation. "What do you think you're doing?"
Ashborn turned to him, his face serious and voice calm. "That depends. Which would you prefer, General? Panic and doubt over why a huntsman and a soldier from Atlas are trying to kill each other in public? Or a love drama involving an Atlas soldier with a touch of comedic tragedy?"
Ironwood opened his mouth, but no words came. Ashborn continued without missing a beat. "Personally, I was in it for the chuckles. Anyway, I'll leave you to deal with the two reckless kissers."
With a smirk, Ashborn handed the half-full bag of popcorn to the still-silent General and walked off.
Ironwood looked down at the bag in his hand, then up at Qrow and Winter. Both of them looked incredibly out of place, Winter with her expression full of embarrassment and apology, and Qrow rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin.
The general narrowed his eyes, clearly not amused.
___________
Ashborn strolled through the city, eventually arriving at an old, nondescript building, Roman Torchwick's current hideout. The door wasn't locked, and he let himself in.
Inside, the scene was almost bizarrely domestic. Roman sat on a beat-up couch with a controller in hand, Neo next to him, deeply focused on the screen as the two played video games.
Ashborn blinked. "Don't you have some terrorism to prepare for?"
Roman glanced over with a shrug, not pausing the game. "Fire Witch said to lay low till the finals. Can't mess up her 'grand plan' or whatever."
Ashborn raised an eyebrow, then casually dropped into a chair beside them. "Mind if I join?"
Roman passed him a third controller. "Why not."
As they played, Roman glanced sideways. "Don't you have anything to do?"
Ashborn leaned back and answered without a trace of irony, "Not really. I'm waiting for my adopted android son's relationship with an Atlas's android to bloom. It takes time."
Both Roman and Neo froze for a second.
Roman squinted at him. "You're serious."
Ashborn nodded solemnly. "Children grow fast. Especially androids."
Roman gave a low whistle. "Good to know if I ever decide to adopt one."
Ashborn laughed, genuinely amused. "You know, Roman, you're growing on me."
Neo rolled her eyes at the two then smiled amused. The trio continued playing without a care in the world.
___________
The night was quiet in Beacon Academy, the gentle hum of the wind below serving as a background to the stillness inside the dormitory room. Amazo sat alone, eyes glowing faintly as lines of data flickered across them. He was connected to Remnant's communication network, scrolling through archives, history files, and event logs to pass the time. The room's silence was interrupted by a knock on the door.
He blinked once, the connection shutting off as he stood up and walked toward the door.
Opening it, he found Ruby and Yang standing in the hallway.
Amazo tilted his head slightly, then stepped aside in a silent gesture of invitation. The two girls entered, but Yang paused in the doorway.
"Is your father inside?" she asked, her voice hesitant but firm.
Amazo shook his head. "No. He said he's spending the night at Roman's place. The two of them are playing video games."
There was a long pause.
Ruby and Yang stared at him in disbelief. "Wait…" Yang started. "You're telling me your father, Ashborn, is having a sleep over… with Roman Torchwick, the crime lord… and they are playing video games?"
Amazo nodded once, completely unbothered. "Yes. That's what I said"
Yang's mouth opened to say something, then closed again. She tried once more. "Isn't he afraid the police will catch him for, I don't know, associating with a known criminal?"
Amazo shrugged. "The police and huntsmen should avoid angering my father if they knew what is good for them."
The room fell into silence again.
Ruby and Yang exchanged looks. Neither wanted to admit it, but they both remembered Amazo's devastating combat abilities during training. And Ashborn… his shadow manipulation, ability to freeze people, and his unpredictable teleportation, it was all too unnatural. The two of them together? They are probably the most dangerous duo in Remnant.
"Well… good night," Yang said, turning around.
Ruby waved with a quiet "See you later," before following her sister down the hall.
Amazo watched them leave and gently closed the door.
He stared at it for a moment "Strange... what is she looking for him? I thought she hated him," he murmured to himself, still puzzled by Yang's visit.
Then, he returned to his seat, reconnecting with the network.