Work Text:
“You’re not Qrow” James stared at the group of people standing in front of him confusion knit across the three adults faces.
“I’m not” James replied carefully uncertain on why they were looking for his husband. The woman with red hair frowned, lifting her scroll to her face, silver eyes darting across the screen before looking back up.
“This is the right address” The scrolls yanked out of her hand a moment later from the other woman, her dark hair falling into her face before she pushed it back harshly, red eyes glaring at the scroll now held in her hand. The man hummed in acknowledgement, blue eyes darting between the two women as he hiked one of the young girls higher up onto his hip. The youngest of the two girls clearly the daughter of the first woman based on her features rubbed her eyes tiredly.
“Uncle Qrow?” She asked hopefully even as the adults began to whisper to each other in confusion. James glanced down at his watch. They were supposed to be leaving in ten minutes to go out for dinner. There first one where the three of them would be together for the holidays.
“Jimmy who’s at the door” Clover peeked around his shoulder, hair styled so it wasn’t its usual mess of curls. He didn’t need to turn to see that Clover was already in a pair of dress pants, but the usual white button up was replaced with a green vest patterned with reindeer and snowflakes, taking advantage of the fact that they weren’t going to a higher end restaurant to wear the garment. He didn’t understand why his other husband detestred fabric on his arms but it was a battle that James wasn’t willing to wage tonight of all nights. He was dressed up in a suit, only wearing a tie with lights on it by the behest of his husbands, giving into their pouting easily.
“Sorry I think we're just lost.” Silver eyes stared back at them apologetically, running a hand through the blonde girl's thick curls as she began to pout.
“Or he lied to us. Wouldn’t be the first time” James frowns at the black haired women, she looked familiar too familiar. That aside the address wasn’t wrong and he was just about to say that when the man in question yelled from the living room.
“Cloves! Have you seen… Oh” Qrow stopped in his tracks as he stared at the people in the doorway before glancing at the two of them.
“Clover. James. This is my sister and her spouses and my nieces” it made sense why the ravenette was familiar then the black hair and red eyes were identical with Qrow. The other two then had to be Tai and Summer respectively. Qrow had talked about them quite a bit but they’d never met. Although with the way that the three of them were staring at the both of them, James was starting to wonder if that was intentional.
“Uncle Qrow up.up.up”The smallest one, Ruby if James was remembering right, wiggled out of her fathers arms, running through the threshold of their house and straight into Qrow who lifted her into the air easily.
“Hey kiddo” James watched as Qrow’s eyes softened as the girl giggled, silver eyes filled with joy before her hat covered them. The other girl wasn’t too far behind, her mitts getting thrown onto the wooden flooring of the entryway with a wet plop before she tackled her Uncle. He watched as Qrow braced himself as the toddler charged at him. He staggers at the force but doesn’t fall lifting her into his arms a moment later.
“Nice try Yang” Yang’s pout only elicits a chuckle out of Qrow before someone's throat clearing draws back his attention.
“Qrow I didn’t know you had roommates” there’s a smile on Summer’s face, sugary sweet and vicious as her eyes glance between the two of them. James can’t help but feel like he’s being evaluated and judged on every minor imperfection. There’s a giggled from yang, small hands covering her mouth as her parents turn to look at her.
“Mama you're funny. They’re Uncle Qrow’s husbands' ' it's odd hearing the word from the child, the title feeling too large to fit into someone who was so small. There’s silence in the room.
“You never told us you had partners” Qrow shifted uncomfortably at Tai’s words, eyes pleading but not at the three standing just past the threshold no his eyes darted to the two of them. terrified, James realized that they would be mad at him for not telling them. While James was curious why he hadn’t, he wasn’t angry. He knew better than anyone that Qrow had his reasons, more so than others for wanting to keep secrets.
“You never told us you got married!” Summer said cheerfully, but there’s a falsenes to it that even James could hear, edged on anger. James won’t have Qrow stand there and take it alone so he lets go of the door uncaring if it shuts on them and strided over to his husband pulling him into his side.
“We’re right here. Together, remember.” James feels Clover's arm wrap around the both of them, head resting against Qrow’s as he murmurs something into Qrow’s ear before placing a delicate kiss on his temple.
“I know,” Qrow said quietly before looking at the both of them.
“I know” and while still quiet it isn’t tentative like the first, it's confident now that he knows they’re both with him. He watches as Qrow moves closer to the doorway, the three on the other side staring, both womens arms crossed as James and Clover stand behind him.
“We’re going out to dinner” Qrow says as he passes Ruby and Yang to their father.
“You could join us” James hand moves to rest on Qrow’s shoulder at the words, squeezing it in approval. James didn’t mind paying for a few extra people and it was unlikely that the restaurant would be upset that they had more people attending.
“Fine. But I want answers Qrow.”
“I know Sum” they move out of the way to allow the three in. They leave their luggage by the door as they grab a change of clothes and Qrow directs them towards one of the spare bedrooms.
“Pretty Bird are you only wearing your red dress shirt” Clover said as Qrow returned from down the hall. Qrow simply rolls his eyes, sticking his finger at Clover pointedly.
“It wouldn’t just be the shirt if someone hadn’t stolen my vest lucky charm” Clover gasped tone turning mock scandalized.
“Whoever could you mean” James watches Qrow roll his eyes, before hooking his fingers in Clovers belt loops and pulling him close.
“It’s almost like someone did it on purpose”
“Hmm and suppose I had, why do you think that is birdie” Qrow pretended to ponder for a moment but they both knew it was just a pretext. The garment that the both of them had wanted him to wear was still laying on their bed untouched. Which was what James had planned for. Qrow liked to have a little fun before their nights out whether it be light teasing or… other things.
“I don’t know cloves, why don’t you tell me?”
“Hmm maybe, just maybe it cause I wanted to see you all dressed up in that pretty little dress birdie”
“Qrow doesn’t wear dresses anymore” James glances up to see Qrow’s sister leaning against the hallway’s wall a frown on her face as she watches the three of them.
“I don’t wear them in front of you guys anymore” Qrow mumbled, leaning into Clover for a moment. It wasn’t that long ago that Qrow had mentioned the teasing. The taunting that his sister and her friends had done that had put it off of it. That had made him feel embarrassed about it.
“Are you all ready to go?” James asked as the two other adults came out, Qrow's nieces rushing towards them.
“Good to go.” Raven asks, glaring at him before striding towards the door. The two follow behind her, casting them quick glances before heading out the door.
“I’m sorry” James can see the discomfort in the way his shoulders slump.
“Another time Qrow” James says, placing a kiss on his forehead before heading out the door as well.
They find out on the ride there that the family had chosen to come to Atlas, to surprise Qrow for Christmas since he wasn’t able to come to Patch that year. They didn't know that Qrow had chosen not to go to Patch that year. Qrow had looked sheepish at the admittance and James could understand why. The conversation gets shelved as they roll up to the restaurant. It’s decked out in multicoloured lights, the snow making them glitter and shine. The windows were displayed with intricate designs of snowflakes and snowmen, ones that make James smile. It’s quiet as they settle into their seats and place their orders, awkward until the food gets there and distracts the two little ones long enough for them to talk.
“So.” Summer begins pointing her fork at the two of them.
“Is there a reason you didn’t tell us about” She pointed at Clover nose wrinkling
“Mr.Sunshine over here and tall dark and boring over there” James blinked at the description but didn’t say anything he’d been called worse things. Besides… he wasn’t boring, he did puzzles occasionally.
“Yeah there is Summer” the women stared at him waiting for an answer, when the silence dragged on Qrow’s sister intervened.
“Can’t like them that much if he didn’t tell us. A divorce must be right around the corner” Qrow’s shoulders tense, and almost instinctively James puts a hand on his thigh in reassurance. Clover does the same.
“And that is exactly why I left,” Qrow says seriously.
“What?”
“Did you really think I left Patch because I got a brilliant job opportunity like I said? Did you actually believe me?” There’s shock written across their features but Qrow isn’t done yet and for once James isn’t inclined to stop his husband.
“I hate the cold Summer. You know this. I left to get away from you three” Qrow’s eyes stared down at the table glaring down at it as his hands curled into fists.
“After… Tyrian. The three of you were overbearing and stifling. You said shit like that” He looked pointedly at his sister who only glared back at him.
“We didn’t want you to get hurt again” Tai says, hand reaching across the table, reaching to rest his hand over Qrow’s who pulled it back arms crossing.
“I know that. I knew that but…” Qrow took a deep breath looking across the restaurant at the other tables.
“Oobleck. Ozpin. Glynda. I barely dated them before you grilled them and you didn’t even give them a chance.” at that Tai and Summer did look regretful and to some extent they had to have been aware of what they were doing and if they thought they were doing more good then bad well, the ends justify the means.
“I get wanting to protect me. I get it. It took a long time to be okay seeing anyone after him but… you weren’t giving me a chance to figure things out myself.” the words are barely audible but they hear it nonetheless.
“I left to figure things out and I did. And you know what? I’m happy. I’m happy and I didn’t tell you because…”
“Because you were scared we would ruin it” Summer finishes gently and the edge that had been in her voice, in her eyes finally softens and she looked at him and Clover as if for the first time.
“Right okay. We totally fucked this up didn’t we?”
“I wouldn’t go that far” Clover says, eyes twinkling in mischief.
“Not even in my top ten worst holiday incidents.”
“Not even in the top ten? Summer we aren’t trying hard enough it seems” Raven smirks at Clover and James can’t help but sigh, head leaning back for a moment.
“Now ladies. We can’t try and get on that list until we get their names” James watches as Tai leans into Summer, a grin spread out across his face.
“I’m James, and our other husband is Clover”
“Like the weed?”
“Yeah that sums up Cloves” The three laugh across the table as Clover teases Qrow right back, dipping down and stealing a kiss to distract him. James watches, relaxes as they banter, and make quips at each other. It was a nice dinner, one he hoped that they’d repeat next year.