Things We Said

…after it was over

The massacre at Robyn Hill's party; the increased tension around Mantle and Atlas; the quietude of the city with the placement of martial law; the distrust echoing in everyone's eyes-

Clover didn't know what to do. None of this should have happened, and they had taken all precautions to avoid things ever escalating to even remotely similar heights. Yet, there they were- allies arguing about how best to protect an already divided people, with even more wrenches getting thrown into the mix at every turn.

So, as always, he fell back on his orders. James' goal was clear. He was going to protect his people no matter what the cost. If the methods had to be harsher than what was ideal, so be it. Their mission was not to be disrupted.

Qrow wasn't having it. A few nights into the announcement of martial law upon the city of Mantle to ensure that no more citizens were murdered in the dead of night, Clover found Qrow at his doorstep. The sight of Qrow should've brought nothing but joy.

Instead, with Qrow pushing past him angrily, all Clover could do was sigh and close the door behind him. "Before you say anything, Qrow," he said, "I will follow James to the end. Anything otherwise is insubordination." He had been practicing the words all day; yet, they still felt hollow in his mouth, and he hated how fragile his voice sounded.

"What, so if James told you to jump off a fucking cliff, you'd do it?"

"Qrow-"

"You would."

"Stop it."

Clover winced as he heard the words muttered underneath Qrow's breath- a dog of Atlas- but he couldn't refute it. If loyalty made him a dog, then let it be so.

Qrow sat down on the edge of his bed, running his fingers through hair that had clearly been mussed over and over again that day due to worry. "You say that, but nothing about this is right," he spat. "Look- Tyrian Callows is here. He tried to kidnap Ruby in Anima- hell, he almost killed me in Anima, and I have no doubts that he's managed to get here if Salem's targeting this place." He looked up at Clover, eyes pleading. "If James won't listen to me, he'll listen to you and Winter. He doesn't know who to trust but he trusts you. If he doesn't announce that Tyrian's the one who did it-"

"What would that accomplish, Qrow?" Clover dragged one of the chairs by the coffee table over to sit in front of Qrow, looking up into the man's face. "What? Telling people there's a serial killer on the loose? Are the peoples' faith going to be restored in Penny so easily? Are you saying it for Ruby's sake, so she won't suffer seeing her friend-"

"I'm saying it 'cause I'm fucking right," Qrow snarled.

Clover didn't respond. "I don't think there's a proper answer," he finally admitted. "This… none of this should be happening."

After a moment, Qrow's anger seemed to dissipate. He looked absolutely exhausted- even more so than when he had been first fighting through his withdrawal. "I know."

"We're allies, right?"

Mutely, Qrow looked out of the window, face twisted, teeth biting down on an already-bitten lip.

Clover gathered up Qrow's hands in his, massaging the tense muscles in his palms, his wrists, his forearms. The tender touch made Qrow's cheeks turn pink in the pale light, but the man didn't pull away, allowing Clover to continue the gentle ministrations- the least he could do to calm the man down, to prevent his anxiety from rising too much. Humming, Clover asked, "Did you see the briefing for the party tomorrow?"

"Fuckin' Schnees."

Clover snorted. He'd never admit it, but he couldn't agree more- Winter, and thankfully Weiss as well, were good apples in a rotten bunch. He respected Winter. He had also heard the way Jacques Schnee talked about her. "We'll have to be ready for anything."

"Yeah."

"But we won't have any work to do in the morning before that- only a few things to set up. Normal patrols are going to be handled by those not attending the function. So, you should stay the night."

Qrow shook his head, although his face softened at the invitation. "We have work we should be doing. Hell, I should be with Ruby right now."

"Your niece has an entire team with her right now," Clover replied. "She's got people taking care of her."

"So?"

You don't have a team to look out for you. Team STRQ may have been here once, but it's been twenty years, and no reminiscing is going to take care of you now- not after everything that's happened to all of you. Not with everything you've gone through.

But he couldn't say that. "So I'm going to take care of you."

Qrow rolled his eyes, but Clover's bed was warm that night, and Qrow was safe by his side till dawn.