Things We Said

by Faulty Paragon

Qrow never wanted to be a Huntsman- but when Raven started insisting that they enroll in Beacon to learn to HUNT Huntsmen, Qrow decided to play along. He certainly wasn't expecting to gain a true family... then again, he wasn't looking for love, either. He still managed to find Clover after all those years of fighting alone. -A look at Team STRQ's journey through Beacon. V7.

26. in your arms

Things We Said

…in your arms

It was cold. Qrow was crying. The sun was rising, and a new day was about to begin.

I guess my Semblance was right, after all.

Clover found that he didn't mind, however- perhaps that was due to some peaceful understanding he had managed to reach in the last few moments with his ribcage shattered, his heart punctured and lungs collapsing. Perhaps it was due to the ice numbing the pain on his back, the frozen tundra keeping him safe and protected, his homeland dulling his senses for one last time.

The only thing that did bother him was Qrow's expression. He couldn't hear what Qrow was saying very well, but those lips that had been on his less than an hour before were split and bleeding, bitten and broken. He was gasping and choking, his hands scrabbling for Clover's, tears falling onto Clover's cheek. Gods, how Clover wanted to wipe those tears away, pushing that wrinkle that filled the space between those brows until it smoothed out.

Clover was dying. He understood that. His Aura had long-since flickered out, leaving him devoid of any fighting chance.

A bloodied Harbinger lay at the wayside, its red-soaked blade the only evidence of the weapon used to tear Clover's heart into pieces. Clover could have laughed, had he the strength- if he had been destined to die by Qrow's blade, then why couldn't fate even allow Qrow to have been the one wielding it?

Qrow never would have been able to kill me, he realized distantly. It had to have been Tyrian, the callous murder escaping into the dawn. No man who grieved over Clover's blurring vision and stilling bones this much could have ever killed him- not truly.

That realization almost lit something back up in Clover's heart. Almost. Qrow hadn't been lying when he had given himself up to Clover in body and heart. Qrow hadn't been lying when he had called Clover his good luck charm, either. After all, Qrow could have easily been the one to die tonight.

But it would hurt Qrow more to lose someone else, just like everyone in Team STRQ- just like everyone else Qrow had ever loved. Perhaps it really had been Qrow's misfortune all along.

He loved me. Qrow Branwen loved me.

That thought seared itself into his mind as his vision turned grey. It was an easy thought to focus on, images springing to mind- Clover sitting in front of the CCTS screen, watching his favourite team compete. Clover lying next to his favourite person, tucked in his bed, wrapped up in his arms.

It made him smile. He wanted Qrow to see him smile, even if it must've been hard for Qrow to see through all of those tears. Clover wasn't crying, though, those words easing him down gently into slumber. He loved me. He loved me. He loves me-

And the new day began.

-fin-