Chapter Text
James Ironwood loved sunny, summer mornings. He always started them by making dinosaur shaped pancakes for his daughter, Penny. He hummed to himself, listening to the local news report on the radio that sat perched on his kitchen counter. Next weekend there was supposed to be clear skies. Which was excellent, because Oz was hosting a backyard party at that ridiculous house of his.
“Penny,” called James, flipping the last of the pancakes onto a plate. He’d made a half decent Triceratops this time, but his Apatosaurus was still his best, followed by his Brachiosaurus. But then, he’d been making them for over a decade now. The Triceratops was a relatively new addition to the dinosaur pancake family.
James set the plate on the table next to the maple syrup and strawberry jam – a favourite of Penny’s – and frowned. Where was she?
He headed toward the living room, calling, “Penny?”
“In here, Father,” said Penny. James paused in the door of the living room to find Penny on her knees in the window sill, her palms flat against the glass and her nose only inches away from it.
“What is it?” he asked, a touch of a smile on his face and in his voice.
Penny pointed out the window. “We have new neighbours. Someone is moving into Mr. Burcawich’s old house.”
James stepped into the living room and looked over Penny’s shoulder. Sure enough, a relatively modern silver sedan and a moving truck were parked out front of the two storey home. James frowned slightly, eyes narrowed.
“No one has lived in Mr. Burcawich’s house for four years,” said Penny, looking up at James. “Can we go greet them, Father?”
James nodded, his smile returning. “Of course,” he said. “Why don’t you put together a welcome basket for them?”
Penny perked and hopped up, darting for the kitchen. “I’ll give them our special chocolate cookies. Those always make people happy.”
James followed after her. “Do you think they need the cookies?”
“Everyone needs our cookies,” said Penny in a matter-of-fact voice. “If you’re already happy, they will make you happier. No one can be too happy.” She pulled a chair out from the table and climbed onto it to reach the cookies on the top shelf. James hadn’t remembered putting them there, but Penny had a better memory for those things than he did.
She took the cookie tin, a bottle of homemade lemonade, a pack of road chalk, and four of the small teddy bears she kept for new neighbours, and placed them all into a big basket. Then, she tied a bow onto the basket and lifted it up for James to carry.
“Four bears?” he asked, taking the basket. He’d grabbed some Allen keys and a couple of screwdrivers he kept for sharing as well. Those things always got lost when moving. “I only saw three people.”
“There was a dog,” said Penny.
“Ah,” said James, smiling. “Of course.”
Together, the two headed out of the house – after Penny double checked she was wearing her lucky pink laces – and headed down the street to the blue house on the corner. There, a girl in a red hoodie, probably the same age as Penny, was running around the front yard with a barking corgi.
When she saw them, the girl zipped over to them faster than James thought possible, and grinned.
“Hello!” said the girl, she was bouncing as she spoke.
“Salutations,” said Penny, giving the girl a little salute. “My name is Penny Ironwood, and this is my father, James Ironwood. We are your neighbours. It’s an honour to meet you!”
The girl grinned and pulled down her hood. “My name’s Ruby! Which house is yours?”
Penny turned and pointed to their white house down the street. James was still smiling, though, here, it was a bit more reserved.
“We have brought you presents! Including one for your dog,” said Penny.
“You brought something for Zwei?” asked Ruby, bouncing again. “Ahh, that’s so cool!”
Penny pulled one of the small teddy bears from the basket and handed it to Ruby, who, with a giggle, threw it to the small corgi. The dog leaped into the air, caught the teddy, and took off running in circles again.
“Look, he likes it,” said Ruby, grinning.
Penny smiled, then, turning her gaze up to James – though it was more over his shoulder than anything else – she asked, “May I show Ruby the park, Father?”
“If it’s okay with her dad,” said James.
Ruby cocked her head to one side and frowned. “Dad…? Oh, you mean Uncle Qrow.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” said James, his smile faltering. “I didn’t realize.”
Ruby shrugged. “It’s cool. Me and Yang look like him – which is weird because Yang’s related to him not me – so we get it all the time,” said Ruby. Then, over her shoulder, she shouted, “Uncle Qrow!”
“What?” came the reply across the yard. A man with a light dusting of stubble and smelling faintly of alcohol came stumbling around the moving truck holding a box. He set down the box and walked over to the trio, eying James and Penny with a small amount of confusion.
“Neighbours?” guessed Qrow.
“Yeah,” said Ruby, before James could reply. “This is Penny and her dad. Penny wants to show me the park, is that okay?”
Qrow sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Sure thing, kiddo, just take Zwei with you. He’s getting fat.” He reached out and ruffled Ruby’s hair, grinning lopsidedly.
“He’s not fat,” said Ruby, sticking her tongue out at him. “He’s muscular.” She whistled. “Come on Zwei, we’re going to the park!” Zwei trotted up, tongue lolling and teddy forgotten, and followed Penny and Ruby as they walked down the street.
“Have fun,” called James. “Be home for lunch.”
“Yes, Father,” replied Penny. Faintly, James heard Penny asking Ruby if she liked dinosaurs before they were out of earshot.
Then, James and Qrow were alone.
“James,” said James. “I’d offer you my hand, but I have a basket.”
Qrow chuckled. “Qrow,” he replied. “But I think Ruby told you that. Lemme…” He trailed off, taking the basket and walking over to his step to set it down. James followed, somewhat awkwardly, and stuffed his hands in his pockets. He’d forgotten his gloves back at the house.
“Don’t suppose you wanna lend a hand? I’m one kid short now and Yang’s not really up to lifting much yet,” said Qrow.
James nodded. “I’d be happy to help.”
“Hey!” came a voice from the door. James turned to find a blonde girl leaning against the door. “I’m fine to help.”
“Docs said small stuff only until you’re fully healed,” Qrow shot back. “Go unpack yours and Ruby’s room.”
The girl threw her arms into the air – revealing an electric yellow prosthetic on her right arm. James recognized the model as a TG-800. Highly advanced SchneeCorp arm – and went back into the house.
“New arm?” guessed James.
Qrow nodded. “Yeah, she’s had it about three weeks now. Still doesn’t have fine motor control, but the doc said it’ll come with practice.”
“Top of the line,” said James.
“You know the model?” Qrow raised an eyebrow in mild confusion.
James pulled his right hand out of his pocket, revealing its metallic fingers. “TG-600. Not as new, but it’s one of the sensory models.”
Qrow grinned. “Hers is just passed her elbow, yours?”
“Arm and shoulder,” said James. “Among other things.”
“All sensory enabled?” asked Qrow.
James nodded. “Yes,” he said. He was glad that Qrow didn’t stare. He got that often around people who didn’t know him. “I used to freelance for SchneeCorp, so they gave me a hefty discount on this model when it came out.”
Qrow looked over his shoulder, back toward the house. “Yeah, the insurance covered Yang’s arm. She’s pretty pleased to have one that can feel things, but we can’t get the calibrations right.”
“I could help her,” offered James. “If it wouldn’t be overstepping.”
“You’d have to ask her,” said Qrow. “But hey, you’re probably better at it than me.”
Qrow and James hauled furniture together for over an hour. James had to stop at a few points, hissing at the pain that spider-webbed from the space where his fake hip met his real one, but he kept going. Sure, he’d hurt tomorrow, but Qrow needed the help.
When they were finally done, James and Qrow sat down on the couch with a beer each, surrounded by boxes labelled in looping, red marker hand writing.
“Ruby’s,” said Qrow, by way of explanation. He was already on his third beer while James was still nursing his first. The smell of alcohol around the man made sense now, at least.
“Cute,” said James, amused.
“Thanks for the help,” said Qrow. “Never could have gotten all this furniture in without you.”
James took a sip from the bottle and found the beer had gone warm. He grimaced a bit. “It’s no trouble. Moving is difficult without help.”
“No kidding,” said Qrow, laughing. “You been here long?”
James nodded. “Ten years or so. Penny and I moved in while she was still young. We’ve been here ever since.”
“Good neighbourhood?” guessed Qrow.
“Excellent,” said James, nodding. “The neighbours are wonderful, the school systems are excellent, and you have access to every amenity you need with less than a ten minute drive.”
Qrow laughed and held up his hands in surrender. “Hey, hey, I already live here. You don’t have to sell me on the place.”
James cleared his throat. “It’s lovely here,” he said.
“Sounds it,” said Qrow. “Only seen you out of the neighbours though.”
“You’ll see the others. I believe most of them are working today,” said James.
Qrow raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Who all are they?”
“Well,” said James. “There’s Glynda, who is a wonderful woman, and her two teenagers, Ren and Nora – both adopted when they were six. There’s Bart, who lives in a bungalow on his own, he’s a local teacher, and Peter, who lives next door to him, he’s also a teacher. There’s the Vasilias family and Sun, a friend of their son, Neptune’s, who lives with them, as well as the Nikos’.” James leaned back on the couch, beer in his good hand forgotten. “And then there’s Ozpin.”
“Ozpin?” echoed Qrow. “First or last name?”
James shook his head. “No idea. I’ve known the man as long as I’ve lived here and I don’t think anyone knows.”
“Maybe it’s both,” quipped Qrow, chuckling. James found himself laughing along, his voice soft against Qrow’s own harsh laughter.
The door behind them opened then, and Ruby, Penny, and Zwei came streaming in.
“Uncle Qrow!” cheered Ruby, throwing herself at her uncle. With practiced ease Qrow lifted his beer, let Ruby hit him square in the chest, and threw his spare arm around her in a loose hug.
“Hey, kiddo. Have a good time?” asked Qrow.
Ruby nodded. “The best. Penny told me all about the Apatosaurus. It seems like such a cool dinosaur. She even has earrings of one.”
“Yes. They are my favourite earrings,” said Penny, clasping her hands behind her back. “Father, it is time for lunch and afternoon studies.”
Qrow grinned. “You sure you don’t wanna stick around?” he asked.
Penny pressed her lips tightly together, a nervous edge to her eyes, which were focused on the wall. “It is time for lunch and afternoon studies,” she said again.
“Of course,” said James, standing up. He set down his beer on the coffee table he and Qrow had set up and nodded to both Qrow and Ruby. “It was nice meeting you both, I’m sure we’ll see you again soon.”
“Yeah!” said Ruby. “Can we hang out tomorrow, Penny?”
“We may hang out between lunch and three p.m. if Father is okay with that,” said Penny.
“Sounds wonderful,” said James.
Ruby grinned. “Sure! Your place?”
Penny nodded.
“All right, time to go,” said James.
He and Penny headed out of the house and down the street. As they walked, Penny began to chat excitedly, her steps growing into skips.
“Ruby is wonderful and she wants to learn about dinosaurs,” said Penny. “I enjoy her company very much. Zwei is very funny, too.”
James nodded, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I’m glad you liked them, Penny. It’s nice to see you with a friend.”
Penny tipped her head to one side, still watching her steps. “She’s my friend?”
“If you both want her to be,” said James.
“How do I know if she wants to be?” asked Penny.
“You ask,” replied James. “I’m sure she’d be agreeable, she seems like a very nice girl.”
Penny grinned. “I will do that,” she said, nodding. “Tomorrow.”
“Sounds good,” he said. Then, “May I?” His left hand hovered near Penny’s shoulder. She nodded. He rested his arm across her shoulders as the two walked home, Penny still chattering away about how wonderful and funny Zwei was.