Swallowing hard, Summer's wide eyes and red face were locked in a stare off with Qrow and his crimson beauties. She could get lost in his eyes, and found that as the thought occurred to her, that she already was losing herself to him.

His voice rumbled low and deep, humming his sentence to her softly, "Now…what could you have meant by that, exactly? Hmm?" A devilish smirk tugged on his lips as his face slowly inched closer to hers. Qrow had been feeling very confident after receiving the news about his fellow team's extended absence. Even Cinder was gone, leaving with Hazel and Tyrian to go on a long mission. Chugging a large amount of whiskey from his flask that sat in his room before returning to release Summer, Qrow found that he could face her with the confidence that being drunk provided.

Summer couldn't turn herself from him. His gaze had pinned her down, freezing her in place. Her breath came in small, rough spurts, breathing suddenly becoming one of most difficult things in the world.

Leaning in just a hair closer, Qrow whispered to her, "Well…? Should I expect a response? Or…" His eyes gazed longingly into her own as he began to close the space between them. "Are we done talking, Bright Eye's?" Bringing his hand up to her face, Qrow cupped Summer's chin with his finger and thumb to steady her face.

Summer tried her best to move through the haze that was her mind. 'Talking? We were…? What about…? Maybe…my journal…my journal!' Snapping out of the daze she had been in, Summer pulled away from him, hurriedly running back into her cell to grab it. She sighed with relief, almost forgetting it here.

She froze, realizing what her impulsive whim just ruined. Slowly, she turned around to see Qrow staring at her. 'He was going to…he was trying to…' Her brain wouldn't let her finish the sentence. Instead, she merely dropped her head from his gaze to hide her red face. Peeking through her hair, she noticed him continuing to stare. His look was not upset nor hurt. He seemed as if he was waiting for her. Summer hugged the book close to her chest, slowly ambling back to him.

Qrow's stare drifted between her and the journal he gave her. He smiled, "You like that old thing?" Feeling the moment had passed and an unsure Summer merely standing before him, Qrow decided to collect the dishes and move on from their almost and just about. "Glad someone's getting a use out of that. I think I've been carrying that with me since I was a kid." Turning, he began to walk toward the stairs, and Summer followed suit.

Her head dropped as she walked down the steps behind him, feeling that she ruined a very good chance to kiss him. Her lips curved down, pouting at the missed opportunity.

'Well,' She thought to herself, 'It's not like you're going anywhere anytime soon.' Summer tried to keep herself calm as Qrow walked off to an opening that lead into a hallway. Walking out into the opening, Summer looked around in amazement to the sheer size of the hall. The ceiling was far above where it was necessary, though that did explain the long time spent descending on the staircase. A whistle caught her attention and broke her out of her gawking. Gesturing for her to come with a tilt of his head, Summer continued following him.

They did walk for more than a minute before reaching a door. It was black with a dark, iron handle and a keyhole just above it. The two had passed similar doors on their way to this specific one.

Swinging open, Qrow placed his keys on his dresser and waited for Summer to come inside. She stood outside, weary of walking inside. In truth, she trusted Qrow very much, but the situation was not a smart one.

Sensing her apprehension, Qrow huffed, "I'm not going to hurt you. This is my bedroom, and if you want a shower, you're going to have to come inside."

Summer looked over her shoulder to the other door in sight. Throwing her thumb over her shoulder, she cocked her head to the side inquisitively.

"No, trust me, that room belongs to a clingy whore. You don't want to go in there…" Grabbing his flask, Qrow took a few gulps before continuing, "and in any case, I don't have the keys to anyone else's bedroom." Turning around to persuade her once more, he saw a true unease in how she carried herself; hunched over, shoulders perked up around her ears, head down.

His own shoulders dropped, finding this to be exhausting. 'Never took Cinder this fucking long to walk through a damn door. Though…' Qrow made his way back to her, holding out his hand for her, much like when they first met one another. Summer looked up to him, trying to find help to move past where she stood. His eyes were not lustful or desperate, eyes she has seen before on many men, but instead they held a genuine honesty and sureness that they frequently seemed to carry. Losing herself once more, her last push was his voice.

"Come on, Bright Eye's. You're going to be fine, I promise."

'Yeah…I know I will be…' She released a hand from the journal and slid it into his, feeling the roughness and warmth that they had rub against her own skin. Gently curling his fingers around hers, he walked backward and led her inside his room. 'I think…that's what bothers me the most'.

Qrow shut the door behind her, though the sound didn't reach her. Her eyes danced over his confines, catching glimpses of books, decorative blankets, a canopy, it was all too much for her to take in.

Qrow walked over to the bathroom, opening the door for her and starting the run of the water. "Hey, I'm going to lay a fresh towel out right here, just throw your clothes into the hamper, okay?" He paused for a moment. 'Why am I asking as if she's going to yell an answer back?'

Smacking his forehead at his own stupidity, he walked out into the bedroom to find her looking at his liquor cabinet. 'Don't tell me…'

"You want a drink?" Qrow politely asked, trying to not feel a bit excited at Summer getting drunk in his room. She looked up to meet his eyes, her subtle smile gracing her face. She nodded, lifting up a bottle of Atlas's Diamond Dust Scotch.

'Either she has expensive taste, or she has no clue what she just picked up.' Qrow laughed to himself, grabbing a glass and filled it half way for his tiny guest. "Be careful, okay? That's the good shi—"

He stopped, watching her pound the drink back as if she had been drinking all of her life. He never thought to ask, but it is very possible that she could have been.

'I mean, if I was stuck with those three fuckwits for ten years…well, I'm not sure I would have lasted ten years.' Qrow surmised in his head, watching as she eyed him up with the bottle in one hand and glass in another.

"Uh…yeah, no, help yourself! Knock yourself out if you like it that much."

Summer chugged back the alcohol again, relishing in the burn that sat in her belly. While she did admit to loving the taste and effects of alcohol, she was more drinking to calm down. She was in his room, about to use his shower, and it took all of her will power not to freak out over those two thoughts.

Setting her glass down, she made her way to the bathroom and closed the door. A quick strip and hop allowed her to be under the hot water in no time. Sighs of pleasure escaped her lips as she soaked in the running heat. Lathering hair and body with soap and shampoo, she shifted a little as her balance began to be off. The scotch was taking its effect, thankfully, and Summer decided that a quick wash of conditioner would be the last item she used before ending her relaxing bath.

Turning the water off and throwing on her towel, she realized her conundrum.

'Am I…do I have to go out…in a towel?'

Embarrassed but also inebriated, Summer decided that it wouldn't be a big deal. 'Well…it's not like he hasn't seen a naked woman before.' Collecting her dress, she walked out of the steam filled room and threw her dress in his laundry basket. Her eyes drifted up to meet his, which were wide eyed and staring.

Quickly turning his head, Qrow rummaged through his own clothing and found an old t-shirt and pants. Throwing them in her direction, he could've sworn he heard giggling. The sound of the towel dropping gave him the notion that she was changing into his clothes. What he wasn't expecting was the shifting sound of his mattress and comforter.

His head whipped around to not only find Summer on his bed, but also on his bed with nothing but his t-shirt on. His blush deepened with her presence and the thoughts of his perverse fantasy coming to mind. Diverting his gaze to the pair of pants on the floor, he mumbled, "You, umm…I gave you pants, too."

Summer smiled and nodded, face red from her alcohol, and began to comb her wet hair with her fingers.

"You don't…want them?" He choked out, finding it hard to talk with her still slightly wet and almost naked, casually sitting on his bed. Her thin, supple legs were surrounded by folds of his black comforter, contrasting against her pale skin. His eyes scanned over the new scars that were presented to his eyes, catching the bullet wound she had previously mentioned on her foot.

She shook her head 'no' in response, grabbing her journal and flipping through the pages.

He gulped, wondering just what this tiny rose had in mind. Luckily for her, Qrow's shirt might as well have been a dress as it completely covered her in a sloppy, bagged fashion. Still, he found himself betraying himself with intrusive thoughts.

'Beautiful…'

"Hey, do me a favor and write your questions down, okay?" His request was quickly spoken as he ran into the bathroom, not waiting for her to even so much as nod.

Closing the door behind him, his heart beat raced behind his rib cage. Biting his lip, Qrow threw his clothes off and jumped into the shower, grasping his throbbing member. He began to stroke himself to the image of the woman outside of his door, sitting comfortably on his bed, drunk on his scotch.

He buried his head into the nook of his arm, jerking his cock long and hard. The image of her naked legs was brought forth to his mind. Warmth enveloped him as he filled his head with thoughts of her mouth enclosed around him. Qrow imagined how she would work her tongue, slipping him in and out of her effortlessly. It didn't take long for the pleasant sensation to build up within him. He was already closing in on his climax, and began to pump himself with urgency.

His body needed the high, the thought of her in the throes of sexual intimacy with him. He fantasized holding her up in this very shower, slipping his needy cock deep inside of her wet pussy.

'S-Summer' He moaned in his head, swallowing hard as he neared his limit.

Muscles tense and toes curled, Qrow's thoughts were halted by his climax. Throwing his head into his arm once more, he muffled his moaning as he rode the pleasant waves of ecstasy that ripped through him. Breathing hard, the water washed away his lust as he came down from his high.

Once regaining his composure, he quickly cleaned himself and hopped out of the now cold shower. Drying himself off, Qrow stared at himself in the mirror. The sickening feeling rose in him again. Anxiety struck him hard, sending shivers down his spine and a nauseated, acidic sensation through his stomach. Breathing turned into the feeling of suffocation, of being trapped. Seeing his eyes begin to glow with panic, Qrow shut them tightly and began to deep breathe in a slow rhythm.

'You're fine…you're fine…it's okay…you're alright…' He assured himself as he wrapped his arms tightly around his body. 'You're not going to do anything…you're not an animal…you're fine…you're in control.' He repeated, feeling a select few of his scars aching from memory.

Rubbing his face, he grabbed a hold of his night clothes and quickly dressed. A shirt and lounge pants over boxers suited him just fine and covered up a few bad reminders that have been carved into his body. A smirk laced his lips with thoughts of Summer, who was waiting for him to come out and talk to her.

Shaking his hair dry, he opened the door, finding her exactly where he left her. She welcomed him back with a smile. He returned it with one of his own, feeling a sense of comfort filling him and making him instantly forget his panic attack. Without thinking about it, he walked toward her mindlessly as if she was a magnet, pulling him in her direction.

He joined her on the bed, sitting opposite of her. Grabbing his flask, he settled in against his pillow that leaned up against the headboard, and sipped at his stored whiskey. His mind continued to echo the same word, one that he didn't fight against, as he watched her move closer to him. His face flushed hot and swift as he became very aware of the situation they both were in. Her hair, which seemed black when wet, was pulled up into a bun as to keep it out of her face. Summer's face and neck wounds were both in plain view, along with scars that traced up and down her arm that he had yet to notice until now.

Qrow sat in awe of her, admiring her as she flipped through her journal. Her silver eyes stared into his, putting him under her spell.

'So beautiful…'

Journal placed in front of him, Qrow reluctantly tore his eyes from her and read her two questions.

'What is Salem's plan for me?'

His smile turned into a smirk as he thought of how to properly address that inquiry.

"Well…to be honest, I'm not sure what she has planned beyond this, but from what I've been told, she wants you to join us." He stared at Summer, gaging her response, which consisted of simple staring.

"That's it." He finished, unsure of what else to say to her.

She simply nodded, comprehending what Qrow was telling her. Scribbling onto the journal under her question, he read her writing as, 'Not surprised or disappointed'. He nodded, understanding that her future might be beginning to look like past.

"I'm tasked with bringing you over to 'our side', but I'm not here to force you into it or anything. Don't get me wrong, I can be very persuasive, but the decision is yours, okay Bright Ey—"

A soft, chilled hand rested on his arm, cutting him off. Qrow's focus shifted to Summer, who brought her other hand over to the side of his face. She nodded, smiling up at him in appreciative acceptance. Her thumb ran delicately across the scar that halved his right eyebrow, sending a pleasantly cold sensation through his head and down his spine.

The hair on the back of his neck raised as Summer moved in closer to him. She halted at an unbearably close distance, leaving all but a sliver of space between them. Her eyes searched through his, conveying a sense of intense longing and need. There was something else pleading behind her eyes, and expression that he couldn't quite identify. It was foreign to him. Paying it no further heed, he found the same desire building within him. Qrow slid his arm to her waist, palm pressed up against the small of her back. Without verbal usage, he questioned her advances toward him.

Red eyes searched silver, needing one more confirmation before continuing. Without hesitation, her silver pools answered his call, pleading eyes darting from his lips back to his.

Unable to resist any longer, and with Summer desiring a taste, Qrow closed the space between them. His lips cradled hers graciously as he took in a deep, satisfying breath. The contact rekindled his desire and sparked a new feeling inside of him. The sensation was intoxicating and comforting all at the same time. He pushed further into her, wanting to feel this new emotion, this new tinge deep inside him for just a bit longer.

Summer was, however, rigid against him. Her whole body seemed stiff at the contact, nerves bundled into one muddled mass. In an effort to relax her, Qrow dragged his hand up and down her back, rubbing away any tension she might be carrying. It only took an extra moment, but as she responded to his touch, her entire being melted into him as the anxiety left her. Her arms slipped around his neck, making his heart beat all the more passionately.

Though he tried to control himself, Summer didn't make it any easier on him. Her tongue flicked against his lips, requesting entry. Hungry for more, he happily obliged, deepening the kiss. As their tongues danced, the energy in the room began to feel charged at their actions. The heat between them only increased as their embrace grew more in thirst and ache. Summer's hand ran itself through his hair, nails gliding across his neck to bury her fingers in his dark mop. Qrow moaned through their contact at the pleasurable sensation, sending the pleased vibrations directly to Summer.

For the first time in his life, however, Qrow did his best to calm the situation. He didn't want to continue to overstep his boundaries, and luck was never on his side in matters such as these. Thoughts of Salem's rage also helped to motivate him. He was positive that, should she ever find out, it would be his head for committing such an act on her new 'prize'.

His heart beat ached for the race, but settled on slowing itself as his hand left Summer's back and cupped the scarred side of her face, running his own thumb against the sliver that rested just below her eye. Her face twitched against it. Closing his mouth, Qrow pressed one more kiss against her, taking her lips against his and savoring the flavor of scotch and Summer. Though the electricity between them was beginning to die, the presence of such a heat remained in their ending kiss.

Summer, sensing the moment coming to an end, burned the taste and feel of Qrow into her mind. She imprinted his touch into her brain, determined to never forget it. His mouth tasted of liquor, their previous meal, and a flavor she could only surmise was just him. Hands dropping from his neck rested themselves on his shoulders.

The two war-torn fighters stayed in that position, lips still pressed against one another, for what felt like hours. Taking it upon herself, since she brought on the situation, Summer reluctantly broke the kiss. She watched as crimson eyes opened slowly to meet her. Her heart continued to slam within her and her head felt a little dizzy from the whirlwind of passionate events that just took place.

"Well…" Qrow's deep, quiet voice snapped her out of her daze, allowing her eyes to focus on him, "I'm relieved that wasn't one sided, Bright Eye's." He teased Summer as his signature smirk tugged at his lips. Her face grew a deep shade of red, suddenly embarrassed of her actions. Her fingers gripped his shoulders, feeling afraid to move from her position, and only took in a deep breath in response. The sensation of his thumb rubbing her face again made her jump. She had forgotten it was even there.

Calming herself, as much as she could, Qrow's hand made her heart pound. The heat that came off of it was pleasant against her cheek, and though it was calloused in some places, the skin was still surprisingly soft in others. Her hands dropped from his shoulders, allowing one to be free to hold his hand in place against her.

Qrow's breath hitched, suddenly feeling unsure of the contact. Embarrassment struck him, turning him rigid, and he dropped his eyes from her in response to his rapidly beating heart. The feeling of her soft skin made his stomach twist, a new stir that he wasn't sure if he enjoyed or despised.

Feeling his awkward discomfiture, Summer released his hand, which slowly dropped from her face.

Silence hung in the room as if it had a physical presence and loomed its hefty body uncomfortably over the two. Eyeing up the journal, Qrow recalled exactly why they were there in the first place.

Closing his eyes tightly, her final question came to the forefront of his thoughts. His scars ached as a scowl cut into his lips, revealing a few teeth, as he brought his hand up to rub the parallel marks.

Summer watched his face morph to discomfort, an unpleasant look that she knew all too well. Observing him as he massaged his markings and her drunken haze beginning to break, she realized how exposed her neck was. Her hand clasped over her throat, feeling very uneasy as the skin was exposed to a draft in the air.

Qrow turned to her, seeing her fidget uncomfortably. His eyes caught her covering her neck, and he voiced up, "Yours bothering you, too?"

Her brows were peaked in an upset fashion as she nodded and scribbled onto the journal.

'I don't like it not being covered. Makes me feel vulnerable. Scared.'

'Scared?' Qrow pondered. He raised an eyebrow to her, responding, "You know I'm not going to hurt you, right?"

More scratches to paper answered him. 'Yes. Of course. It's not about you. It's me.'

Recalling his own panic in the bathroom, he exhaled, empathizing with the irrational but very horrifying things that might be going through her mind. Moving from the mattress to the floor, he rummaged through one of his smaller drawers to find a scarf that he often used on his strips to the freezing continent of Solitas.

"Here," He offered her the article of clothing, sitting himself back onto the bed, "this should make you feel better."

Summer's eyes widened as she looked between him and the scarf. An appreciative smile parted her lips as she accepted the garment and quickly wrapped it around her neck. Nodding her head in gratitude, she breathed deeply to begin calming herself down. Though she couldn't do it while he was watching, she wanted to bury more of her face in the fabric.

'Smells like him…' She thought, her blush settling in on her cheeks at the aroma. Had she been allowed the luxury, she could truly lose herself for a few minutes in the scent.

Qrow examined her as she relaxed into the bed, no longer looking frantic nor tense. She wrote another response to him, begging, 'Please…don't tell anyone. I know that I have no right, nor am I in a position to ask such a thing, but I have never shared that bit of information before. It's private and I want to keep it that way.'

He snorted in response, "I'm not going to say anything. What good does that information do to anyone? Do you become that much of a wreck? Is the mighty Summer Rose's 'Achilles Heel' when she can't have something to cover her neck? You become distracted, or, just a shitty fighter?"

Summer didn't look at him and kept herself silent.

Qrow sat up in response, recoiling from his sarcastic comments, "Wait, really? It distracts you that much?"

Her face continued to be dropped from his line of sight.

Eyes widened and, with a sigh, Qrow realized exactly what happens to her when she's fighting and her neck is exposed. Quietly, he uttered, "You have a panic attack." Summer finally looked him in the eye, her silver shining in the wetness of tears.

He retracted upon seeing her watery eyes, feeling a pang of guilt for joking about it and teasing her for a problem that he struggles with as well. Rubbing his neck, he swallowed his pride and uttered words that he isn't sure he has spoken more than a handful of times, "I'm sorry, Bright Eye's. I apologize for what I said."

Summer rubbed her eyes, wiping tears from them.

"People often forget that the trauma of receiving these little," he paused, rubbing his own scars and exhaling heavily as he snapped at his next word, "gifts…isn't pretty. It fucks you up. You endure in the fight and after it's done, you're not really the same. It changes you."

Summer nodded in agreement, laughing through her nose. She wrote to him, 'So…you struggle, too?'

Qrow read the sentence a few times. He didn't answer her, but instead began a new steam of conversation as he glanced at her last question.

"Why don't I finally answer you, and tell you…" Brushing his hair back, his bangs weaved into his hair and stuck in place, giving Summer the better view of his mutilations that marred his face, "…the story of how I received my signature markings?"