Relic of the Future: Chapter 32

Jaune's sword crashed into Qrow's weapon, but then was knocked aside. He'd let go of it. The sword skittered away, which caused Qrow to over-extend and topple precariously.

Jaune tackled him, shoulders striking Qrow in the midriff, arms wrapping around his back as he hauled him up and over, down onto the ground where the two grappled. Qrow recovered quickly, kicking and thrashing, trying to get his legs between them so he could push Jaune off him. There was a sudden crack, loud in the arena. It was followed by a second, and then a third – and Qrow's aura dropped hard.

"A concealed weapon!?" Tai gasped.

It must have been. A handgun or something else, small and hidden on Jaune's person. It wasn't against the rules, nor would it ever be in a real fight, but if it caught them unprepared then poor Qrow must have been caught entirely by surprise.

Qrow's aura dipped to about sixty-five per cent before he managed to get hold of the gun, dropping his own weapon to wrestle the barrel away from him, Jaune and Qrow struggling over the small thing like an officer and a criminal fighting over a gun and not two proud huntsmen. As if to make matters even worse, Qrow pushed the palm of his hand into Jaune's face, forcing his head back and giving him the unenviable choice of letting go, giving Qrow the gun, or having his head wrenched back until he couldn't see anything.

Qrow's aura dipped to about sixty-five per cent before he managed to get hold of the gun, dropping his own weapon to wrestle the barrel away from him, Jaune and Qrow struggling over the small thing like an officer and a criminal fighting over a gun and not two proud huntsmen. As if to make matters even worse, Qrow pushed the palm of his hand into Jaune's face, forcing his head back and giving him the unenviable choice of letting go, giving Qrow the gun, or having his head wrenched back until he couldn't see anything.

He went with neither, pushing the scabbard into Qrow's chest. What was that supposed to-

"Oooh!" the crowd gasped, some clapping as the thing, which had looked like a regular old scabbard, expanded suddenly, fanning out into a shield. Unfortunately, it fanned out between Qrow's arms, forcing them wide apart and making him release his hold.

The gun came back, but Qrow had had enough of that.

—Relic of the Future: Chapter 32