Chapter Text
Staying sober was fucking hard.
A month into his recovery and Qrow was already struggling to stay on the wagon. They made it sound so easy at the meetings.
Replacement behaviors, trigger warnings, coping skills, it was all nonsense to him. The only part he really gave a shit about was his motivation. Remembering why he needed to stop drinking in the first place.
Ruby and Yang.
There was nothing he wouldn't do for those girls. When Tai and Summer gave him an ultimatum — either sober up or never see them again — he knew he didn't have a choice.
But boredom was starting to get the best of him. Sitting alone in his empty apartment, he flipped between the same ten channels, hoping to find something that caught his attention. Even something calming to fall asleep to would be acceptable at this point, but there was nothing.
Qrow threw his head back and sighed after cycling through the channels for the fifth time. He stared at the front door.
It wouldn't hurt just to go to the bar, get out a little bit. Just because he was there doesn't mean he'd have to drink, right? He could just go to socialize, try to hook up. Drinking didn't have to be a part of it.
A blaring ringtone ripped his eyes from the door. Summer was calling.
Probably just to solidify plans for tomorrow. Hitting his first month of sobriety had earned him visiting privileges again. He answered the scroll casually.
“Hey, Sum, what’s up?”
"Qrow. She’s gone," Summer said frantically.
Qrow sat up. “What? Who’s gone?”
“Yang! We put her to bed an hour ago. I snuck in just to put her homework folder in her backpack, but it was missing. I looked around and tried to wake her up, that’s when I realized she wasn’t there. I have no idea when or how she left, we were downstairs the whole time!”
“You sure she didn’t just sneak down to the basement to watch cartoons or something?”
“Yes, Qrow! We’re not stupid," she snapped. "We checked the whole house, she’s not here!”
“Okay, alright, sheesh. What do you need from me?”
“Tai already took our car to drive around and look for her. I’m going to stay here in case she comes back.”
Her request was unspoken, but clear.
“You want me to drive around and look for her, too?” Qrow guessed.
“Please.”
“Yeah, I can do that. I’ll call if I find her.”
“Thanks, Qrow.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Qrow hung up with a heavy sigh.
At least he had something to do. Summer never would have forgiven him if she called and he was at a bar.
He pocketed his scroll, grabbed his wallet and keys and vacated his apartment. As he got into his car, he started plotting out the best route to search.
There’s no way Yang could have gotten that far on foot. She’s only eight years old. She had no money, no scroll, and no way to get around. Where the fuck was she even trying to go?
Qrow methodically drove up and down the streets of Vale, keeping an eye on the sidewalks and alleyways for his niece's bright blonde hair. Even in the darkness of night, her hair would be unmistakeable. Qrow impatiently tapped his fingers on his steering wheel, the gridded streets all starting to look the fucking same the longer he drove. How in the hell was he supposed to find her?
Wait, that's her!
Qrow slammed on the breaks and parked haphazardly next to the sidewalk. Yang was waiting in line at a bus terminal, looking strangely out of place with no adult to accompany her, her school bag on her back, and — was that a bus pass in her hand?
Did she steal that from her mom and dad?
“Yang!” Qrow barked on his approach.
Her eyes went wide, like a deer in headlights.
Qrow couldn't stop the curses from flying. “What the fuck were you thinking, running away like this? Stealing shit from your mom and dad?”
Tears formed in the pit of her eyes, her voice was choked and strained, “I- I’m sorry, Uncle Qrow, I didn’t mean to-”
“You can apologize later. Come on, we’re going home.”
Yang clutched the bus pass tight. “What? No, I can’t go home yet!”
Qrow grit his teeth. “Enough of this bullshit, Yang. I’m not arguing with you. Get in the car! Don’t make me drag you home.”
“No! Not yet! I have to find her!”
“Find who?" Qrow growled, "What the hell are you talking about?”
“I have to find my mom," Yang cried. "Mommy and Daddy were so sad, I heard them talking about her-" she sniffled, her tears finally breaking free- "If I find her then we can all be together and everything will be okay. They won’t have to be sad anymore. We can all be a family again.”
She did all this to look for Raven?
Anger leaked from Qrow's shattered heart. Yang sobbed and heaved, regret dripping from every tear. Qrow knelt down and wrapped his little niece in a tight hug.
Yang shouldn't be the one crying with regret.
“Firecracker, it’s okay," Qrow soothed. "It’s okay, kiddo, just breath. You’re gonna make yourself sick.”
Yang shuddered, “I just wanted her to come home.”
Yang's tears soaked into Qrow's shoulder as he held her tighter. He cradled her head and rubbed her back, trying to help her calm down.
Reminding her that he was there for her.
“I get that you wanted to help, but it’s not your responsibility, kiddo. You can’t just run off like that.”
Yang clung to him, balling up his shirt in her fists. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“You’re okay," he said. "But, hey. Can you promise me something?”
Yang let go and lifted her head. “What?”
“Promise me you won’t go chasing after your mom again," Qrow brushed her hair out of her tear-stained face, "it’s not worth it. You’re an amazing kid, Firecracker, with two parents who love you more than anything. The people who really matter, you won’t have to chase after them. They’ll stick around, no matter what. You got that?”
Yang sniffled, “Yeah, I got it.”
“Good. Let’s get you home, alright? It’s late.”
Yang nodded. “Okay,” she said weakly.
Qrow scooped Yang up in his arms, carrying her to the car. Her puffy red cheeks and droopy eyes betrayed her exhaustion. As soon as Qrow was done strapping Yang into the back seat, he called Summer to give her the good news.
“Did you find her?” Summer asked in lieu of a greeting.
Qrow glanced back through the rearview mirror. Yang was already asleep.
“Yeah, I found her," he sighed. "She was trying to catch a bus out of town.”
“A bus? Why?”
“Said she overheard you guys talking about Raven. She… uh…" Qrow choked. "She was gonna try to find her for you.”
“Oh, dear gods.”
“Think you guys might need to talk to her about it. She is a smart kid.”
“Too smart for her own good.”
“Yeah. We’ll be home in a few minutes.”
“Okay. Thanks, Qrow.”
“Don’t mention it.”
By the time they pulled into the driveway of the Xiao Long-Rose house, Yang was practically limp. Qrow picked her up under her legs and shoulders and brought her into the house. Summer kissed her on the forehead and Tai said goodnight before Qrow carried her up the stairs. Gently, he laid her down on her bed and pulled the covers over her. He kissed her on the forehead, too, and caressed her cheek.
“Goodnight, Firecracker,” Qrow whispered to no one.
At least he thought.
A tiny, tired voice startled him as he turned to leave.
“Uncle Qrow?”
He paused. “Yeah, kiddo.”
“I love you. Thank you for sticking around.”
Qrow's heart threatened to beat out of his chest.
“I love you, too, Yang,” he managed to say calmly.
Yang smiled and curled into her covers, lulling herself into a peaceful sleep. A peace Qrow would fight to protect with his dying breath.
A peace worth staying sober for.