"What are you doing?" Elm shifted her weight, crossing her arms.

There was a cool breeze in the corridor from Marrow's tail. It had been wagging nonstop ever since he started-

"-spying. You're spying on Clover."

"Spying's such an ugly word. I prefer keeping a lookout for someone I care about."

"Through his bedroom's keyhole?"

Marrow's look of surprise immediately turned into a pout. His eyes grew large and sad.

"Aren't you the least bit curious about who he's going out with? He hasn't said a thing to me!"

"That's because it's private, Marrow." Clover and Elm both chided. The door had swung open and Clover gazed down at his teammate. He leaned against the door, frowning a teeny bit and crooking an eyebrow.

Marrow gasped loudly, springing up from his hunched position. He grabbed onto his tail for dear life. "You scared me!"

"We really need to work on your stealth," Clover sounded deadpan. Seeing Marrow's excited tail wag, he interrupted saying, "But not tonight. Elm, could you?"

Giving her usual smile, she swiftly picked up a protesting Marrow, who continued to glance back and forth, confused. Why not tonight?

With the door shut, Clover sighed. Removing his pin from his lapel, he hooked it to the door, over the keyhole; and locked the door.

"You'd think being in a private wing of the academy, I'd be allowed some privacy."

"That was a close one." a voice called out.

He turned, "You're telling me.

"Uh…" as he surveyed his now empty room, he spotted an adorable creature and smirked.

A tiny birb looked up from the bed, blinking slowly. It had nestled quite comfortably in its bed of clovers. It yawned softly but the twinkle in its eyes betrayed its innocence.

Clover crossed the room and gently picked the birb up. Its wings covered his hands, feathers softly patting them. Stroking over its torso with his thumb, he smiled knowingly. He leaned in and placed a small kiss on its forehead.

There was a flutter and Qirb covered its face with its wings. Suddenly, a poof of smoke revealed Qrow, who would have landed on the bed if not for Clover holding him.

Clover chuckled, hugging tighter and watching his baby's face get redder behind his hands. With one arm around the waist, he places a hand over Qrow's.

"Please don't ever hide your face from me."

A bright red eye blinks open. Clover brings Qrow's left hand to his lips and kisses the palm and each of the fingers. His eyes focus briefly on the rings.

"You're so cute."

Qrow's face went from embarrassment to shock to his signature pout. It was what made Clover fall in love with him.

How does he do this? He was amazed how someone could be so open and expressive despite all his bad luck.

"You should let them in, you know." Met with a surprised look, Qrow continued. "I didn't mean now. They are your teammates. Your friends? You shouldn't be so guarded with them, like you were with me."

"I know." he said, placing Qrow down and turned his back to him. "But hey, I'll only get better if you're with me, right?"

The implication was obvious. Qrow had never openly said "yes" like Clover hoped, he simply dodged the question. Actually, scratch that, Qrow had been avoiding him for days.

"Anyway, we're not staying here. Come." He held out his hand, trying to hide his uneasiness behind a smile. Qrow took it happily, intertwining his fingers.

"What about your pin?"

"It's fine. You're my lucky charm, remember?" He winked and smirked.

They were on the ledge of the window. Pulling him close, Clover moved to round his arm over Qrow's head and around the waist. Their fingers still interlocked but Clover made sure he had a firmer grip on the huntsman before he whispered, "Hold on tight."

Kingfisher extended till there was enough rope. Casting the line down, Clover turned and swung the hook above him. He reeled them both up to the roof.

"See?"

Clover had borrowed one of the airships and was flying them to an exclusive spot he had found while on a mission.

"You're really not telling me where we're going?" Qrow chuckled.

He pulled Qrow in for a long kiss and rested his forehead against the other's. "It's a surprise."

It was dark by now. The airship climbed till it reached the clouds, the stars shining even brighter now that they weren't near the city's bright lights. Qrow gazed out the window, but his body was angled so that he could watch Clover, who always had his ultra-focused look when flying.

They touched down in a beautiful clearing. Flowers bloomed; the river was clear and flowed peacefully; with the largest oak tree in the centre. It was more magical with a full moon; and it just so happened that there was one this Valentine's.

Reaching up, he grabbed a picnic basket from the overhead compartment. Qrow's eyes grew wide before he smiled, shyly.

"Ready?" Holding out his hand again.

"Candlelight by moon. Romantic, huh?"

They made their way down to the tree. As Clover set up the blanket and food, Qrow noticed something near the river. When he came back he held it up to Clover, "Lucky you, huh?" mimicking his usual cocky wink.

That's a good sign, the brunette thought. And readily accepted the clover. Please, today of all days. He had his eyes shut briefly, praying.

He didn't notice that Qrow laid back, snuggling comfortably against the other's lap. Qrow had the best view now.

Clover's face was framed in the moonlight so he glowed like the stars. His heartbeat picked up and he closed his eyes for a moment too.

This feels so perfect.

He suddenly felt a hand cup the side of his face. Where did the glove go?

"Qrow…" Clover's voice was hesitant and soft, making his partner glance up in surprise.

Sitting him up, Clover pulled Qrow in till he was on his lap. Kissing once, their eyes were locked onto each other. A deep breath. Then...

"No one means more to me than you." Clover started saying.

"You may have had a tragic past, but all you've done is strive to make the world better. Ruby is a testament to all you've done right. You were in so much pain for years because you hate your semblance, but you worked so hard to make sure everyone is safe and happy around you.

"Despite you not having the same treatment. Please don't close yourself from me and let me be here for you whenever you feel like you're falling. There's so much more I want to share with you, to discover about you. For the rest of my life. I will never hide or be guarded with you around.

"We were meant to be partners. We complement each other perfectly. I love you more than anyone or anything in Remnant. I'm luckier with you in my life."

He reached into his inner vest pocket and pulled out a ring.

But before Clover could say another word, Qrow shook, tears fell freely. His hand covered his mouth but it was obvious, he was laughing.

Qrow?

"I always had one answer in mind for all the times you tried asking before, by the way. It's just that I've had to talk with Ruby, and Yang, making sure they were prepared to head to Vacuo without me."

Putting his hand up, he dug into his own pocket. When he unfurled his fingers, he revealed a ring.

"I was so surprised someone could make me feel so much peace. I've been shunned, discriminated against and I honestly thought I was broken. That there was no one I could love that would want to love me back.

"When you told me the first time how we made a good pair, I was amazed by how big your heart is. You accepted all my faults. The more I learned about you, the more I realised that I couldn't live without you either.

"So, Clover Ebi-"

Qrow shifted till he was on one knee and lifted the other's hand.

"-will you marry me?"

Clover's smile widened as he launched himself at Qrow, giving him the biggest, warmest hug. Both men laughed and cried as they gently the rings on.

In the moonlight, the silver bands were illuminated and the etching on both was clear: To my Lucky Charm