A/N: I've gotten into a weird routine of writing my FG fics whenever I'm taking a break. They're easy to mindlessly work on since everything's just my ramblings.

Things We Said

…that i wish we hadn't rambled about

That night, Clover followed Qrow out onto the rooftop above one of the lower administration buildings. There was a small patio up there, seldom used thanks to the fact that the entire wing was generally inaccessible to students. Clover personally never cared for it much- it was only useful for stargazing, and before that one night spent looking up at the stars out on the tundra with Qrow, he had never really cared about the stars above Atlas.

Qrow leaned his elbows onto the railing surrounding the balcony, glancing up at the sky with dejected shoulders. Clover leaned back against the railing by his side; the view that night was indeed beautiful, but Clover had better things to focus on.

The silence was always amicable between Qrow and Clover, and for that, Clover would always be thankful; his teammates were constant chatterers, so to have some peaceful quiet, listening only to the wind blowing between the spires of the academy and the distant sounds of conversation and laughter filtering out through opened windows, was soothing for Clover.

He also didn't mind the silence with Qrow because inevitably, he knew Qrow would begin to start speaking. His luck was never wrong.

"James doesn't realize how many people he's hurting in all this," Qrow said at last, hanging his head low. "Ruby and Yang, and all the kiddos- they're tearing themselves apart trying to figure out what to do."

Clover chuckled despite himself, earning an immediate glare from Qrow. Gently, Clover explained, "I'm just surprised, that's all. You've got no qualms with your nieces and the rookies taking part in all of this with the Maidens, but you're still trying to protect them from situations like this." The decision of Mantle's wall was sealed, but Qrow didn't need to know that. It did surprise him to hear that the rookies were worried about that decision, though.

Shame and regret filled Qrow's face, and he hung his head once more. "I didn't want to have to tell them anything," he said. "But the Fall of Beacon happened and we didn't have a choice. Besides, Ruby and her friends managed to worm their way into it long before any of us were actually aware of it." His sigh was haggard, shaken. "I wish I had known. I wouldn't have let it continue. They shouldn't be doing this."

That was something new. Clover hummed, encouraging Qrow onwards. So, Qrow began to speak- began to explain all of the mischief the rookies had gotten themselves into in relation to Salem's followers long before the Fall. He began to explain how Ozpin had let it go every single time. "It's scary how similar their situation was to my team," he said dryly. "We always got into trouble with people who later ended up being in Salem's faction. Honestly, if you copy and paste the kiddos into our misadventures, the plot would've been the same." His face clouded, and he let out another heart-wrenchingly weary sigh. "Just, we got four years together. They barely got one."

"It's quite incredible that they've managed to do what they have despite such little training and experience."

"They've done it on their own." Qrow snorted. "Summer would've been so mad."

Clover frowned, letting his head hang back. The moon was just a sliver in the sky, leaving the sea of stars sparkling over the ice fields in plain view. His eyes absentmindedly traced a line darting across the sky- a shooting star. His gaze lingered there while it disappeared, fading away into darkness.

He didn't make a wish. His luck was enough.

Finally, he asked, "Why's that?"

"Just… I don't think she'd approve of them getting caught up in all this. We were graduated when we really got into the thick of things. It's not fair to them."

"Is that why you're so upset about James'-"

"Don't," Qrow barked, startling Clover. "I don't want to think about that right now. I can fight him about it again later. Not now."

Clover sagged against the railing, calm demeanor slipping away into compassion. Gods, he wanted to hold Qrow. Instead, he simply said, "You see yourself in the kids. You miss your team."

"…I miss being at Beacon with them, yeah." Qrow straightened up, his head lolling back as he stretched. "Probably kind of pathetic to say. I'm well over the age to be missing school, but… you know."

"You loved them."

"Yeah." Clover didn't miss the bitter twist of his mouth as he said that. Qrow added, "Honestly, I don't know how I'm the one who's here. I'm not the one who could best help the kids- not at all."

"Do you still try to call Taiyang?"

His ears turned pink. "He'd be better for his girls than me."

"…Is that how you felt with Summer and Raven, too?"

Qrow rolled his eyes, elbowing Clover. It wasn't hard enough to hurt, but it was clearly harder than if it had been a joke. "They both loved him. Ruby and Yang love him. He's the most lovable idiot on the planet, so it's fair." The man reached into his pocket and pulled out his Scroll, eyes narrowing sadly at the lack of a signal next to Taiyang's contact. "He made even Rae happy back then. Takes skill, let me tell you."

Clover reached over and placed his hand over Qrow's gently. "You say that as if you don't make people happy."

"I know what I am."

Pain was beginning to show itself in every line in Qrow's brow. It always did when he began to talk himself in circles like this, spiraling around the delusion that he wasn't worth anything. How could Clover make him see that it wasn't true? "Look, I'm happier with you here."

The elder snorted. "Are you really? 'Cause from where I'm standing, you've looked pretty fucking miserable pretty damn often with me around."

The hand underneath Clover's trembled. It was icy, tense- gripping onto the railing as if life depended on it. He didn't seem to be willing to open up. Not right then, at least.

Okay. Clover pushed away from the railing, touched Qrow's arm, and murmured, "I'll be back."

In around fifteen minutes, Clover returned to the rooftop. Qrow hadn't moved, thankfully- but seeing Clover's return certainly put a sour grimace on his face. Clover smiled, offering the cup in his hands to the man. "It's for you."

Qrow immediately backed away a few feet. "Clover, what the hell-"

"It's just hot cocoa. Not liquor." He pressed the cup into Qrow's hands, smiling gently. "You're freezing, Qrow. Drink."

Qrow stared down at the chocolatey contents, disbelief etched on every feature. "What, do I look like Ruby?"

Clover chuckled. "I'd be concerned if I cared about you this much and you looked like Ruby. Much prefer you like this, thanks."

His laugh only grew as the shock and concern on Qrow's face mixed with his sheer discomfort and embarrassment. After a few moments of indignant spluttering, Qrow muttered, "I don't get what you see in me, kid."

"Remember what I said about taking compliments? You really need to work on it."

Qrow rolled his eyes. He sipped his cocoa anyways, quickly downing the rest of the mug before it cooled too much in the icy air.

Clover smiled, leaning back onto the railing. "I'm not lying, you know. Never needed to. Telling the truth's always been luckier."

Qrow's face clouded, and he sighed, looking back at the small mug in his hands. Clover could see how tightly he gripped onto the ceramic, his veins bulging through pale skin. "I've had to lie to everyone to keep them safe from my Semblance. You don't know just how lucky you are, kid."

He knew. "…It must've been lonely."

When Clover pulled the mug out of Qrow's hands and set it on the floor, he found that Qrow's hands were trembling- but they were, in fact, warmer than before. The elder's expression was hard, still focused on the sky, but Clover could tell the man was simply overwhelmed. He wasn't pushing Clover away, wasn't chastising him. Had no one ever acknowledged what Qrow had gone through before?

Smiling at that, he simply cupped Qrow's cheek in his hand and kissed him, relishing in the fact that Qrow leaned into his touch, that Qrow felt at least remotely the same way- this was okay- this was safe- Qrow wanted him, too-

He tasted like chocolate, and he was warm, and for now, Clover was content with that.