Beep Beep!

Qrow sighed with annoyance, putting his flask down so he could pull his phone out of his pocket.

1 new text message from 24601.

The man was a little surprised to say the least. He read the message and immediately found himself wishing he hadn't.

Next time you want to turn me into a laughingstock at least give me a heads up first.

The Thyrsus was more than a little annoyed. For all he respected her for her skill, determination and commitment to her Order, there were a lot of times when the volatile Acanthus just got under his skin.

Like the time she had punched him in the eye in a crowded bar for using that pet-name he'd given her, or more recently when she had publicly announced to everyone that he wasn't interested in her. Or now, when she seemed to hold him responsible for one of her order-mates acting up.

Still, he kept himself calm, barely. But every message he sent her came back with a more and more biting and savage response.

"Why is she acting like it's all my fault, for fuck's sake?" he muttered under his breath.

He knew there was no trying to reason with her when she was like this. So instead of trying, he straightened his shirt and made his way to a certain rundown flat in Ottoway. He was so annoyed that he didn't even bother to warn her that he was coming. So it came as no surprise that when he opened the door of her Sanctum, she was standing at the other end of the room firmly aiming a gun at the doorway. For a nanosecond he kicked himself for forgetting that she had spells set up to detect trespassers, but when she refused to lower her weapon and her expression formed into a cold glare he couldn't help himself. He stormed towards her, knocking the pistol out of her hand and pinning her against the wall.

"I'm only going to say this one. More. Time," he growled, his face inches from hers. "I thought it was all above board. I wasn't trying to undermine you and I definitely wasn't trying to turn you into a laughingstock. Get it?"

24601 only glared in silence as she tried to push him off of her, but he was older, stronger and a Thyrsus to boot. It didn't take very long before she stopped and just stared at him.

He was angry. That much was obvious but even despite being mad at her he couldn't help but get distracted. In all the time they had known each other, this was the closest they had physically been. He could actually feel the damp spots on her wrists where she had sprayed her perfume only moments before he'd arrived and the smell, combined with the close proximity and the defiant look in her eye, were absolutely intoxicating. Struggling to keep his focus, he moved one hand to hold both wrists while the other hand moved to rest against the wall by her head.

"Get it?" he repeated sternly, staring straight into her eyes.

"Go fuck yourself," 24601 bit back in a low growl. Qrow almost smirked to himself. At least she had calmed down back to her normal levels of savagery.

They were too close. He could still smell that perfume. Her long tresses curled messily around her face. He could have counted the number of strands sitting precariously over her eyelids.

"I have a better idea," Qrow replied mischievously. "You're always so sure I'm not interested and that I could never satisfy anyone with your lofty standards anyway."

He leaned in a little closer. He could feel the hitch in her breath and smirked again as he noticed her biting the corner of her lip. For once, she didn't know what to say or do. Perfect. He moved so that his lips were inches from her ear.

"Why don't you let me prove you wrong on both counts," he whispered.