A/N: This is a canon-divergent Staff of Creation AU taking place in V7/8. It'll diverge more in V8. Let me know what you think :)
Opus
He cannot decide whether to focus upon the stage, or to stare at the icons upon his Scroll; both are too tempting, too tantalizing, grabbing his attention amidst the stark darkness shrouding the rest of Amity Colosseum's central stage. So, he settles for the next best thing, holding up the screen so that he can see the status icon shift from blank to 'Active' with every step Penny takes, all while watching the look of wonderment fill his nieces' faces.
Finally, the rank is promoted. The job is done. Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long, and all of their friends, are proper, newly-ordained Huntsmen and Huntresses.
They exchange quiet words of thanks with James and Winter, but Qrow ignores those formalities. Half of him wants to scream, to jump up and cheer the way he used to at Yang's softball games when she had been a child playing for the Patch Pacers. He wants to clap and holler, shooing the other kids off the stage to leave more room for Ruby, the clumsy young girl as awkward on stage as ever. He wants to run down, to gather them up in his arms, to ruffle their hair and take them out on an adventure and hold them tight and set the little demons loose onto the world and-
I shouldn't be the only one to see this.
Just like that, any joy that had filled his heart whilst watching his nieces finally achieve the goal which had been stripped away from them so callously at the Fall of Beacon empties out of his soul. His throat swells, closing up, his palms clammy as they rise, moving to pat his breast pocket.
Nothing is there.
The smile which emerges onto his lips is bittersweet. The flask is gone- he has made a promise, and he shall see it through for Ruby and Yang's sake- but even if he is sober, Qrow will never be an adequate replacement for the ones who truly should be at this event. He knows that his girls love him more than anything- whether that is a good or bad thing, he doesn't know, considering how his weakness has cost them so much time and time again- but he will never equate to those who matter.
Their father should be here. If Taiyang were here, he would be sobbing. He would cheer, and cry, and run off the bleachers to hold his girls as a sobbing wreck. He would take photographs with them and force them to smile- he would whisper words of love and pride into their hair as he held them close. He would prove, yet again, that he is every bit the father they had always deserved, more than anyone could have ever asked for.
Silently, Qrow takes out his Scroll and snaps a few photographs of the children- now Huntsmen- lined up proudly in a single rank, their chests held high and their eyes shining with determined hope. For now, he shall save these moments, so that one day, he could show his best friend just how well the man's two daughters had fared on their own.
With that thought however, his heart clenches, seizing so painfully that he almost doubles over, his world spinning for a long, surreal moment. Taiyang is not the only one who should be here watching them receive these qualifications.
…you would be so damn proud, Summer. Your kids are just like you now.
The thought makes him want to weep. His best friend would have been the proudest mother on the planet. He watches from this safe, almost cowardly distance as the rank finally pulls apart, the children walking off-stage and filling the air with excited chatter; Yang immediately walks over to Ruby and slings an arm around her shoulders, ruffling her hair and pinching her cheek, the smile on her face brimming with such pride that it eases the pain plaguing his chest. In turn, Ruby swats her big sister's hands away from her face, but Qrow does not miss that moment when they intertwine their fingers and Ruby takes a moment to simply close her eyes and lean her tiny head upon her older sister's shoulder, the two girls basking in the achievement of their lifelong goal together before breaking away to greet their other friends and teammates.
Yang is so proud of Ruby, and Ruby, of Yang. But they would be happier to have their mother with them, too.
His thoughts sour slightly as they drift over to his own sister. In contrast to Taiyang and Summer, the gratitude which curls up into his throat, curdling, spoilt, is undeniable as he thinks of Raven's absence. She does not deserve this moment. Yang has always deserved more than what Qrow's sister could ever provide for her.
"You should go down and celebrate with them," an amused, low tenor calls.
Nearly leaping a foot into the air, Qrow twists in his seat, groaning as he clutches his aching, pounding chest much to Clover Ebi's apparent amusement. Clearing his throat, he mumbles, "I- I wouldn't want to intrude on their moment."
"What're you talking about?" the brunet chuckles, hopping over the seats with ease to perch a few feet away from Qrow. "I mean, you're Ruby and Yang's uncle, aren't you? I'm sure they're happy to have you here."
Qrow pauses, assessing his words. The man seems to mean every word, a sense of earnestness hanging about him that makes him open- almost as if Qrow is… a comrade.
His breath hitches in his throat. It has been far too long since he has fought beside someone who had considered him truly an ally, and not merely a liability, thanks to his Semblance. He cannot deny that fighting alongside Clover that day in the mines had been an oddly-refreshing change of pace.
The other man gestures again to the girls, now approaching the large cake which had been brought for them with a sense of glee which Qrow feels like he has not seen since their time in Mistral. "Go on, unless- let me guess, you're not a fan of cake?"
He cannot deny the smile which quirks his lips. Yet, his body refuses to move, to take the first step needed to meet his nieces down upon the stadium floor. "I just…" Qrow sighs, leaning back in his seat. His arm flops over his eyes, the weight and familiar leather texture of his armband reassuring, yet painfully taunting in its familiarity. It is fraying, he notes suddenly in the back of his mind. Perhaps it is time to change it, trade out the old for the new. Perhaps it is time to let go of the past.
He won't, though. He never will.
Letting out a long, weary breath, the elder finally locates what he wishes to say. "I… shouldn't be the one here," he murmurs at last. "I wish their parents were here. My teammates- they deserve to see their kids shine like this." A small smile quirks his lips as his mind's eye conjures images without any hesitation: Taiyang leaning over Ruby's crib with Yang nestled into the crook of his arm; Summer wiping flour off of the girls' faces after a batch of making cookies; Raven leaning back against the window, one hand laid flat against her bulging stomach, a sense of serenity around her which Qrow had rarely ever seen in his sister-
The hand which lands upon his shoulder is warm, calluses and lack of subtlety clear even through fabric. Still, he cannot deny that the weight is oddly comforting, almost as if it tethers him here.
He blinks. Glances at the girls. Ruby and Yang smile, and when they catch him watching them, those smiles widen, and for a moment, they are infants again. They are his little girls.
He will love them forever, unconditionally. He merely wants what is best for them.
"Well, it may not perfect," Clover voices at last, his touch firm and reassuring upon Qrow's bony shoulder, "but I'm sure they're glad you're here, at least. What would they do without their hero?"
Qrow snorts at that last statement. "Trust me, boy scout," he growls wryly, shaking his head as he stands at last, "I am not their hero."
"Boy scout?" A thick brow raises, but Clover does not comment further. Instead, he adds, "They fight like you, though. It seems like Ruby specifically ordered that cape, too- looks like she's playing dress-up. I don't blame her though." Winking, the younger turns to walk away, hand pulling away from Qrow in favour of tucking into his pockets, all leisurely confidence and easy-going pride. "It's a good look. Lucky girl."
Qrow's smile widens, flustered pride and embarrassment and joy seeping into his soul despite his woes. He agrees with Clover; it suits Ruby far more than it suits him.
…Perhaps he will get along with Clover Ebi, after all.