Heyyy! Sorry I haven't posted as recently as the other ones. (Though I don't think it's been that long). I've become irreversibly obsessed with an AU idea I had that I really really really want to write a fic about, but just haven't found the right way to start. So I've been making a crap ton of moodboards and posting them on tumblr. ahhhgggg. Anyways. I just read over this chapter and the next one (that I already had written up again) and I'm ready to write again! :D
(Plus I've made eight moodboards for a 1940s AU in the past two days, please send help).
Hope you like this chapter as well! I needed some more Oscar! :)
-annawrites
"Where are you?"
Qrow glanced around at his surroundings in bewilderment, and then turned back towards his scroll.
"A bar… I think."
"Qrow, this isn't a joke," James narrowed his eyes and Qrow chuckled under his breath.
"Wow, déjà vu," he frowned, then glanced at the bartender, "Can I get another?"
"No, he does not need another," James said from the small device in Qrow's hand.
"Jimmy, you're ruining the fun."
"This is not a joke, Qrow."
"You already said that."
"Qrow, Winter's awake." Qrow froze, glancing back down at the screen of his scroll. Then he regained his composure and shook his head,
"I've already screwed things up, I really don't think it's a good idea to—"
"Qrow," James growled, "Please, for the sake of everything, put aside your ridiculously selfish ideas about your semblance and come back. I have never seen a woman more tortured, she needs her fiancé." The words hit Qrow like an arrow to the heart. He needed his fiancée too. He yearned to see her smile, to taste her lips, to feel her warmth. Fiancée. The words sounded so right. He wanted nothing more than to marry her, except to keep her safe. We can only chalk this up to bad luck. He shook his head,
"I can't come, James, I really can't." Then he terminated the call. He was left alone in silence for only a few moments. The next thing he knew someone was sliding into the seat next to his.
"Qrow?" He glanced over at where Oscar was sitting, hands resting on the bar counter like he knew everything there was to know.
"Aren't you a little young to be at a bar?" Qrow sighed.
"Have you forgotten how old I really am?" Oscar asked.
"Oz?"
"Not really," Oscar frowned.
"What do you want, kid?"
"I want to help."
"Of course, you do. Look, this is really something that I'm going to have to deal with—"
"But you won't."
"What?" Qrow narrowed his eyes.
"You won't deal with it."
"What—?"
"You are notorious for running away from responsibilities, Qrow. Trust me, I know this from personal experience," Oscar sighed.
"Um… and by personal you mean…?"
"Look, what's important is this isn't just about responsibilities, is it? You're in love with Winter."
Qrow narrowed his eyes at the young man sitting next to him and then sighed, "Not that it's any of your business, but yes. I love her… more than anything. Which is why—"
"And you love your child."
"My… child. Yes. I do, of course. Which is why—"
"You need to realize that you running away from the people you love isn't for their benefit. You're being utterly selfish, Qrow."
"This isn't about me!"
"You're right! It's not," Oscar snapped, "But you're making it completely about you!"
"I'm only going to hurt them!"
"That's a poor excuse!"
"I'm a monster!" Qrow hissed. Oscar paused, looking thoughtfully down at his hands, which were calmly resting on the bar.
"Do you think that your semblance is a curse?" Qrow groaned and waved for the bartender to get him another drink but Oscar waved him away. "Do you think your semblance is a curse?"
"Of course it is!" Qrow gasped, "Look what I've done!" Oscar crossed his arms and shook his head,
"You haven't done anything, Qrow."
"How in the world would you know?! You're just a child!" Then, realizing what he said, he put his head in his hands and groaned.
"Qrow, I know I'm not Ozpin, but I remember when you first arrived at the academy. It will be one of my greatest regrets that we never really focused on learning more about your semblance," Oscar hesitated, "I believe it was Winter who once said that the more one practices with their semblance the better they are able to use it. If I had helped you at all during our time at the academy then perhaps you would be confident and able to understand the difference between what is caused by your semblance and what is really just the world going around. Listen, Qrow, things like this happen all the time. That doesn't mean that you're the cause."
"Let me make sure I'm getting this down right. You're saying that I haven't even completely mastered my semblance-?"
"I'm saying we can't live in fear of who we are," Oscar whispered. "Qrow, your semblance is bad luck. That's a fact. Another fact: You're living in your semblance's shadow. You're terrified of it. As long as you're scared, you'll never be able to rise above it. You'll never be able to accept it as a part of you. You'll never see the good in it, only the bad. You need to stop running from the things you love the most because one day it will be the very thing that destroys you." There was a long silence at the bar.
"Are you sure you're not Ozpin?" Qrow huffed. Oscar grinned,
"My name is Oscar Pine. Ozpin is a part of me." Qrow groaned.
"Maybe you're right."
"I think you know I am," Oscar said, "So what are you waiting for? Shouldn't you be going to see your fiancée?"
"Maybe I should talk to you more about this kind of think, Oz," Qrow stood and tossed some money onto the bar.
"Qrow," Oscar sighed, "You can talk to me anytime you'd like."
"Right. Catch ya later, kid," Qrow patted Oscar's shoulder.
"Where are you going?"
"Don't you know? To speak to my future wife."
Replies to Reviews:
Akira-Hayama: Oh man I am soooo ready for a Qrow vs. Ironwood. When I wrote this chapter, though, I needed some Oscar being wise, like Ozpin, so that's how it went down. Maybe Ironwood will kick Qrow's ass yet, though. ;)
Seigga: Ah! Bless you! I'm so glad you like the story! I hadn't really thought about blaming the crash on someone, but that's an interesting idea. I'll have to think about it. I'm not sure Jacques would have had the resources to sabotage the airship right away, but maybe he'll meddle in Winter's affairs later on. He definitely is that type of asshole.
Celestia's Paladin: 100% agree. My headcanon is literally that James Ironwood adopts Winter and Weiss, because he knows their dad is a complete monster and he's totally actually their dad because he really is a father figure to them. Can you imagine though, if James was Winter's adopted father?! He would be 10000x more pissed at Qrow than he already usually is. "Stay the hell away from my daughter, Qrow."
SemblanceOfInvisibility: I think one of the biggest reasons I chose Oscar was because Qrow respects Ozpin more than anyone. James can come and kick his ass, for sure, but Qrow doesn't respect James hardly at all. I think Oscar was the perfect choice to calmly remind him where he belongs. Plus, this scene hints at my belief that Qrow's semblance is really not as bad as he thinks it is. Yas! Ironwitch! I need, so badly, to write some Ironwitch oneshots. *sigh* I love them.
Nina Vale: They really need each other, I think. But, right now Winter definitely needs him. I mean, Winter's strong as hell but she just went through an incredibly traumatic experience, broke her leg, and she's pregnant! She definitely needs someone to lean on right now, and definitely that person is Qrow.
FeugoFox42: Oscar! Sometimes you just need someone to talk to. Though, he's definitely going to be worried now, especially with the baby! Dad!Qrow activate!
Megan T of Sea Doves Sudeo: It is my personal belief that James can have kids. I once wrote a short oneshot about Glynda not being able to have kids and it was really sad, and after I changed it up so that she found out she's pregnant. It was too sad for James and Glynda both, so honestly, I think they could have kids. I'll have to write some more Glynda x James at some point. :)
Dorngok Sekker: That is 100% what it is. He's just being freaking sorry for himself. Sorry, this one's short too! the next one's longer! :(
BMAN92: I did promise! It's going to be alright! D:
Gunnrdgr8: Yayyy! Reviews are always welcome! :D *gladly joins you, with a glass of jameson*
Dragons and Breakfast Food: I'm sorrryyyyy! :(
evolvedbookdragon: Bless youuuu! I'm glad you liked the chapter! I think Winter just has too many burdens right now for Qrow to be gone, she really does need him, and he really is just being selfish by going off like that on his own.
rm928: Welcome, welcome! I'm soooo happy you like this fic! :D It's super hard to find good fics for Qrowin. I think part of that is because, despite what tumblr seems to think, it really is kind of a rare ship, at least in terms of the content that's produced for them. (Though, I do think that's changing!) Thanks for reading! :)
Thank you all for the amazing reviews! Look at all of that! I love talking to you all and I'm so glad to see people are reading! :)
See you on the next chapter! :D
-annawrites
PS Who is so ready to demand that Winter be in V6? I am. Please, RT, pleeeeaaasseee.
