Chapter Text
The monthly outings with the Rose-Xiao Long-Branwen household were always a highlight for Qrow. They always meant that he got to spoil his favorite nieces, tease his sister about her relationship with Summer and Tai, and take a nice break from teaching art at the nearby Beacon University. He was still a new professor so he didn’t want to cause too much havoc (though he could probably get away with a lot, considering his friendship with the university president). The rains had finally stopped for a week, so the family unit had decided on a trip to the local park. The ground was dry enough that it wouldn’t be too difficult to get grass and mud stains out of the girls’ clothes.
Qrow watched Ruby and Yang clamber all over the jungle gym in the playground, just to make sure they didn’t try anything too crazy. His attention was caught when he heard someone call his name. Turning, he found himself grinning. “Jimmy! What’re you doing here?”
The retired military officer James Ironwood smiled back as he exchanged a hug with the other. “Taking a walk. We needed some sunshine after the rainstorms. Oh, I’m sorry, let me introduce you! This is Cinder, my new charge. She’s been staying with me for a few months now. Cinder, this is Qrow, he’s a good friend of mine.”
The young girl with short black hair—who looked to be at most thirteen—gave Qrow a wary look, but offered her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Qrow shook her hand. “Likewise. Hope you’re not sick of Jimmy’s baking yet, he’s never going to stop feeding you.”
James rolled his eyes with a smile, but Cinder seemed to grow even more awkward. “I don’t mind,” she admitted. “He’s a good cook.” She looked around. “Where did Clover go?”
“Clover?” James looked around as well only for his smile to widen when he caught sight of his friend. “Looks like he found Tai. Want to go say hi, Cinder? Tai’s probably going to be one of your teachers.”
“I’ll introduce you guys.” When Qrow saw the man talking with Tai, his eyes widened just a little bit. ‘Clover’ was a man with broad shoulders, slicked back brown hair, and he had a very nice ass wrapped in perfectly fitted jeans. When Clover turned to them, Qrow saw pretty green eyes and a sharp jawline.
Oh no. He’s my type.
James looked from Qrow down at Cinder, who was looking between Qrow and Clover. “Qrow, are you…ya know…” She held her hand up and let it flop forward.
Qrow and James were both startled by the question. “Now, Cinder, we don’t just ask people their sexuality, or gender,” James gently admonished. “We can ask for pronouns to be sure of how to properly address a person, though, but it’s rude to ask their sexuality or gender.”
Cinder shrank into herself. “Sorry.”
Qrow waved it off with a smile. “It’s alright, most people may not be okay with being asked, but I don’t mind. I’m bi, actually. Why do you ask?”
Cinder awkwardly looked up at him. “Because you looked like you’re going to eat Clover.”
Qrow promptly turned pink while James burst into laughter. This caught the attention of Tai and Clover, who both turned toward them. Tai grinned and waved at them as the trio walked over. “Hey guys! Qrow, where are the girls?”
Qrow’s neck nearly broke with how fast his head turned toward the jungle gym. To his relief, the girls had just changed places and were on the swings with their moms. “I think Rae and Summer are seeing who can push their kid the highest.” He turned back and gave the other man a grin, offering his hand. “Name’s Qrow.”
“Clover.” They shook hands, Clover’s fingers lingering just a little as he pulled back. “Tai was just telling me about your fishing adventures.”
Qrow groaned while Tai had a wide grin on his face. “You mean the time all I caught was a boot?”
“And the time you tried to cast only for the hook to catch in your pants,” Tai added with a snicker. Clover hid his laugh behind his hand while Qrow gave Tai’s shoulder a smack. The blond was unrepentant. “That was the last time you ever went fishing.”
Qrow rolled his eyes. “That’s because it’s boring anyway! You just sit there and do nothing .”
Clover shrugged with a smile. “I like to fish now and then. But I need something to listen to while I’m fishing. Like a podcast or something like that.”
Cinder wrinkled her nose. “Fish stink.” James nodded and offered his fist, which she bumped with her own.
Clover laughed. “Yeah, but at least they taste good. What else do you do, Qrow? Anything interesting?”
Qrow blinked at the focus being put back on him and rubbed the back of his neck. “Eh, just started teaching art at Beacon U a year ago. Oz helped me get hired—he’s university president. But damn, he didn’t make it fucking easy!”
“I should warn you, Qrow swears like a sailor,” James told Cinder. She hid a small giggle behind her hand.
“I’m waiting for the day Ruby learns how to say fuck,” Tai deadpanned.
Clover grinned. “Got any pictures of your art I can see?”
Qrow didn’t expect the sudden interest, but he was only too happy to pull his phone out. “Sure. I mostly do portraits or life scenes. Not a big fan of still lifes, but they are good for practice. I mostly do charcoal or pastels, but I dabble in watercolor.”
Clover’s eyebrows went up as Qrow showed him various posts from his art instagram. “Dabble? I think you’re pretty damn amazing! I can barely draw a stick figure. But you have a good eye for detail! And something about them feels alive , I can’t really explain it. But it’s like you put your soul into your work.”
Qrow could feel himself blush at the praise. “Ah, thanks. What about you? Anything other than fishing?”
“I used to be in the military with James, but I got medically discharged. After the discharge, I’ve been working in his bakery.”
“And writing,” James added. “He’s an excellent poet.”
While Clover looked just a bit nervous, Qrow was intrigued. “A poet, eh? Publish anything?”
“I…dabble,” Clover admitted. He looked sheepish at the look James gave him. “Well, I did publish a book recently, and it’s doing pretty well. My pen name is Oliver Fern.”
“Oh, you bought his book, Qrow!” Tai exclaimed.
Qrow laughed while it was Clover’s turn to turn pink. “Yeah, I did. It’s good! You’ll have to come by and sign my copy now,” he told the poet with a sly grin. “Maybe I can even make you dinner.”
Clover cleared his throat as he recovered his composure. “Well, I would hate to say no to a fan. And lucky me, I don’t have any food allergies.”
“What a coincidence, neither do I. Though I’m a big fan of anything fruity.”
“Oh, I think I know of a dessert I could bring then. But I can’t exactly do that if I don’t know where I’m bringing it.”
“Why don’t I give you my number and we can figure out the logistics?”
“Good idea, and I can spam you with pictures of my parakeet too.”
“I’ll spam you with pictures of my dog in turn then~”
“That sounds perfect~”
Cinder, James, and Tai watched the two flirt like it was a tennis match. It was clear that Clover and Qrow were in their own little world at this point. They exchanged amused glances. “Cinder, want to come meet my girls? Looks like Yang just figured out how to launch herself off the swings.”
She looked like she wanted to, but was clearly hesitating. “I’m not very good with kids,” she admitted. “What if I mess them up?”
Tai felt his heart shatter at that. “Don’t worry, you’re not going to mess them up just by saying hi. You’d have to, I dunno, steal Ruby’s strawberries or something like that!” His joke did make Cinder smile, and she and James followed him to the swings.
Clover and Qrow finished exchanging numbers only for them to realize that they had been left alone. They looked at each other, the silence just a little awkward for a moment. Then Qrow pulled a deck of cards out of his pocket. “Go fish?”
Clover laughed and nodded. “Sounds like fun~”
ClockworkMagic: Someone has a crush~
BadLuckCharm: Shut uuuuuup I do not!
ClockworkMagic: Oh yes you do, I can sense it! Also you’re the one who said he has a nice ass.
BadLuckCharm: …Well he does. And when are you going to make a move on Barty, Mx University President?
ClockworkMagic: This isn’t about me, this is about you and your new crush!
BadLuckCharm: Yeah, yeah, alright he’s cute and we got a dinner date this weekend. But it doesn’t mean anything is going to happen beyond that!
ClockworkMagic: Don’t make me ask Glynda to read you for filth.
BadLuckCharm: Ozpin. You wouldn’t DARE.
ClockworkMagic: :3c
FeelingLucky: I HAVE A DATE WITH A CUTE ARTIST HELP
VineAsHell: Congratulations.
FlashLightning: I thought you were so lucky you didn’t need help.
FeelingLucky: You don’t understand, he is CUTE AS HELL, and I can’t believe James didn’t introduce us sooner!
SteadfastHeart: Oooh, do tell!
FeelingLucky: His name is Qrow, he’s tall and got long legs, but he’s got muscle too, and he’s got a bit of gray in his black hair and the prettiest red eyes and he has a black dog named Harbinger who keeps getting stuck in things and Qrow has the nicest hands and these gorgeous cheekbones, I could cut myself on his jawline too
ShellOfDoom: Damn, I wake up only to find you gushing about a crush.
FlashLightning: Tortuga?!
ShellOfDoom: I LIVED BITCH
ShellOfDoom: How long was I out for?
VineAsHell: You’ve been in a coma for a month.
ShellOfDoom: Damn. Did anyone catch the driver that hit me?
SteadfastHeart: He did get caught and is currently in prison waiting for court! We had no idea when you’d wake up, though!
ShellOfDoom: Yeah, but better question, who changed Vine’s username so I can give them an award?
SteadfastHeart: Me! :D
ShellOfDoom: You’re my hero
VineAsHell: She won’t tell me how to fix it either.
FlashLightning: Do you need anything? I can swing by after my shift and bring you stuff!
ShellOfDoom: Food would be amazing right now actually. The nurses are being all busy and making sure I’m not going to fall into a coma again, but all I want is real food! At least they took the feeding tube out
FeelingLucky: I’m so glad you’re okay though! We’re going to have to come visit, and we also gotta introduce you to Marrow!
ShellOfDoom: Marrow?
SteadfastHeart: Remember the adoption Vine and I had been working on? We got approved! So we’re taking in a really sweet boy named Marrow. You’re going to love him!
ShellOfDoom: Excellent, someone to corrupt!
FlashLightning: Tortuga no
ShellOfDoom: Tortuga YES
ShellOfDoom: Anyway, we’ll figure out when I can get visitors later. I want to hear all about this Qrow guy!
FeelingLucky: Well, I have dinner this weekend with him. We’ve been texting pictures and videos of our pets all night too. But what do I wear?!
SteadfastHeart: Assless chaps.
FeelingLucky: I’m not feeling THAT lucky.
ShellOfDoom: What month is it again?
VineAsHell: April.
ShellOfDoom: Your best jeans, one of your good t-shirts you ripped the sleeves off of, casual shoes. Bam. Comfortable, casual, yet stylish.
FlashLightning: I almost forgot how freakishly good at fashion you are.
ShellOfDoom: Now how do I change my username, I want to make it TheShellHasRisen
FeelingLucky: Oh Tortuga, never change XD