Chapter Text
Time is the most undefinable yet paradoxical of things; the past is gone, the future does not come, and the present becomes the past even while we attempt to define it, and, like a flash of lightning, at once exists and expires.
Past. Present. Future.
Time can be seen as something so trivial yet so vital to life. Many who lived it was always in a hurry and some take their time to enjoy it. Time to work, time to play, to plan, to love, to die... time was everything in life. James once knew what it was like. He remembered a time when every minute and second was so precious it had to be used wisely. Even when he was in the Atlas military everything was focused on time and how it could not be wasted on foolishness.
His youth though his time was used in studies and what little time he had he would use it to sneak off and play with his friends. Time to enjoy life. Time for war. Time for love. He wished he could remember when time was just a simple concept.
Before his incident before his abilities before… Well, everything. Now, here he was almost 80 years into the future and with the ability to control time. He could travel forward even freeze it when he wanted to, but to travel back in time was another story. His curiosity got the better of him and he had traveled to different times. That traveling also caught the attention of some unwanted people now that he was here in Mistral. He walked into the city, taking in his surroundings. It had definitely changed since the last time he was here. It had been nearly thirty years he remembered as he walked down the street. He saw a collector’s shop and entered, he was automatically greeted by a short and unimpressed looking man.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” He asked, giving James a look, obviously not happy that James was in his shop.
“Yes, I wanted to know what kind of items you collect and buy?” James asked, unfazed by the other man’s judgmental gaze.
“Nothing but rare and priceless relics, gems, and paintings, of course. No trash trinkets that people like yourself bring,” he crossed his arms. James didn’t say a word and looked around the shop. The man reminded him of the high class merchants he once dealt with when he was younger. The ones that looked down on those who didn’t pay for or look the part. He hated them as a kid growing up.
“Now if you don’t mind, if you are not going to buy or sell I am going to ask you to-” The old man started before James cut him off by throwing him a pouch.
“That should be to your liking, they’re rubies and sapphires." The man gaped at him before looking into the pouch, pulling out the gems with wide eyes. He hurried to get his instruments to check if they were genuine.
“H-how on earth did you get these?! Their quality is the rarest in the market!" He asked checking each one before looking up at James. "H-how much do you want? I’ll give you anything!”
James hummed. “I thought you didn't take trash trinkets,” he walked over to him and took the pouch from his hands.
“Please, sir! I will give you anything, I can direct you to the highest bidder if we split it fifty percent?” James frowned and turned to him. Ten percent, take it or leave it, whatever the highest bidder gives.” The old man was about to protest when James lifted a finger.
“Five percent or nothing.”
The man frowned, “FINE! It’s a deal!” He took James' hand and shook it. “There’s going to be an auction tonight!”
James smiled. “Good, now let us go to this auction and I will be keeping the gems till all transactions are completed and the auction is done.”
The man opened his mouth to protest but stopped. “Have it your way.” He said huffing while James followed behind him.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Qrow groaned. His head was throbbing and his eyes felt glued shut. He fumbled with his scroll, trying to stop his alarm. He pulled the blankets over his head and sighed. He did not want to go into work today. Yesterday was the first time one of his kids had been seriously hurt on the machinery in his classroom and he knew it was his fault. He should've been keeping an eye on him, watching him more carefully. He had just stepped out for a smoke, he wasn't gone for more than five minutes. He thought his bad luck would come up eventually, he just didn't think it would be like this. Qrow sighed and ran his hand under the pillow, grabbing his flask and fumbling with the cap before taking a swig. Just a sip to get him through his hangover, he thought.
"Hey Mr. Branwen." A skinny kid with bright red hair and a timid smile waved at him as he walked down the hall.
"Oh, hey Ash." He replied, giving him a small wave in return. "Are those your new designs?" He asked, pointing to the rolled up paper under his arm." Ash nodded. "Wanna see?"
"Well I'd love to kiddo, but I'm already late." Qrow said, glancing up at the clock on the wall. "Show me later during class." He said, facing towards Ash as he walked backwards down the hall. He turned around and stared at the door in front of him. Headmaster Goodwitch, the plaque read. The Goodwitch lettering on the plaque looked much newer than Headmaster. Qrow took a deep breath and opened the door.
A serious looking blonde woman stood by the window, shuffling through a file folder.
"Qrow." She said, removing a folder and gesturing for him to take a seat in front of the desk. Qrow sat, his left knee bouncing a little.
"Glynda." Qrow said, trying to seem calmer than he was. He knew he wasn't a student, and hadn't been for a long time, but his days spent in this office as a kid when he was in trouble came flooding back to him.
Glynda had a look of concern on her face and gave him a small smile as she sat across from him.
"I know what happened the other day was an accident."
Qrow's face fell. So much for niceties.
"But you can't keep taking risks like that." She leaned forward, setting her elbows on the desk, her hands steepled.
"It's one thing to ignore your own well-being," she said, glancing at the hip where he kept his flask, "but I cannot have you putting our kids in danger." She sighed and sat up in her chair.
"I know Ozpin might've seen things differently." Qrow visibly flinches at the mention of his name, silently kicking himself. When did he become so obvious? "But please, see this from my perspective." Glynda paused.
"I miss him too, you know," she added.
Qrow looked at the floor, he wasn't sure if he could look at Glynda right now. He knew he messed up. He knew it.
"You know how much I care about those kids," he said. "This was a one-time lapse of judgement. Give me another chance. Glynda, please. They're all I have."
Glynda looked sympathetic but unimpressed.
"I've given you a second chance. And a third, and a fourth. I'm sorry Qrow," she said.
"I hope you find whatever you're looking for," there was a softness in her eyes, "wherever your road takes you," she said, taking the keys from Qrow and watching him leave.