Hey guys! I was planning to update before the finale came out (in case Winter or Qrow died or anything but thank God that wasn't the case) but I got stuck with some work. Definitely making one of the chapters for this compliant to what happened in that episode. Also, my apologies for the rush. I really needed to get this out before the weekend cause I'll be in for hell.
Hope you all enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN RWBY.
"A search and destroy in the southeast, huh?" Winter muttered to herself, her soft tone hinting with pride.
After the teams were bestowed their licenses in Amity Colosseum, she and the General left to continue with the launch proceedings. With everything running more smoothly after her father's unwelcomed visit, it wasn't long before she found herself in the huntsman briefing room during her free period. Her fingers were quick to swipe across the terminal screen, browsing over the list of missions recently accepted. It amused her knowing it hadn't been a full hour since their granting and yet, the new huntsmen and huntresses were already bursting with eagerness to take on their first official assignment.
The sight of her sister's name on the board made her heart swell. Weiss was no longer the little girl who used to follow her around and hid behind her back when faced with an adversary. Her strive and courage overflowed in comparison to the naive student she'd seen in Beacon two years before, who had yet to progress with a single summon.
It was reassuring. The worries she had before her arrival dissipated upon seeing that she was more than capable of holding her own, protecting others in the process. Though she knew well that honing one's skill was a never-ending process, Winter believed that at this point, her sister was very much qualified for the title of Huntress.
She couldn't be prouder to witness what she'd become. Despite not having the chance to talk since she left the arena, other than a condensed congratulations, she hoped Weiss was just as thrilled for what the future had to offer her. With contentment lingering in her mind, she doubted that anything could ruin her mood.
"Hello, Ice Queen."
But the Gods loved to prove her wrong.
She stiffened, inhaling as quietly as she could to conceal her sudden unease. Her gaze remained on the board, ears perked as they listened to his footsteps. The finger she had on the screen retreated into her fist, hiding its rigidity. Her heart thrummed in her chest in anticipation. It wasn't until he entered her periphery that she found her voice.
"Qrow," she responded, urging a nonchalant demeanor.
Over the last few days, Winter took various careful measures to avoid him on all personal terms. She knew it was impossible to keep her distance completely, which was why her efforts in keeping a professional persona doubled when in the same room. Her stoic pretense was unwavering regardless of the numerous times they crossed paths in the academy halls, to the extent of preoccupying herself by any means to slight his presence.
Not once did she mind him walking past her without so much as a glance. But she'd be lying to herself that she wasn't the least bit irked.
"Didn't expect to see you here." He approached the terminal two screens away from her, eyes trained on the mission board. "I thought James had you busy with overseeing the embargo."
"I had a bit of time on my hands," she admitted, keeping her focus on the text.
He nodded contemplatingly. "By time, did you mean more work or something of your own leisure?"
She let out a small frown. "A bit of both."
"Expected as much," he scoffed.
Her lip twitched in annoyance. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He shrugged casually. "Nothing. Just looked like you've been drowning yourself in your duties at every opportunity, even with your sister around." His tone was dripping with suspicion and she felt her breath hitch. "Any particular reason why?"
"No," she answered a little too quickly before clearing her throat. "No. There's much to be done and I simply have numerous responsibilities as of late."
She noticed the way his head turned in her direction and prayed he couldn't see past the indifferent expression on her face. Her nerves were coaxing an inconvenient flutter to spur in her core, nails digging into her gloved palm restlessly. It wasn't the first time. She'd felt it on several occasions; particularly when he was close. She blamed it on the embarrassment behind her slip-up from that night.
"I see," he mused, utterly unconvinced but unbothered to ask any further.
Her eyes narrowed in confusion, still refusing to look in his direction. "Why are you here?"
He snorted. "My nieces, of course," he gestured to the screen once he found their names. They were paired for the same 'search and destroy' mission down in the east alleys of Mantle. "And it looks like they took on one hell of a grueling mission for their first."
"You don't sound surprised," she commented airily.
A minute smile crept on his lips. "I'm not. I expected as much."
"And you're not worried?"
He shook his head, tapping on the tab and opening the mission file. "Hardly. I would have been if they were any younger, but they're pretty grown up now. I know they can take care of themselves, especially when they've got each other's backs." He stole a glance at her before continuing. "They're sisters, after all."
She paused at that, posture relaxing briefly before gazing upon her sister's name once more. A soft sigh escaped her lips, features unconsciously softening. "I suppose you're right."
His unusual silence caught her attention, straying her eyes hastily to find him with a thoughtful look. "Never thought you'd have an expression other than your usual cold exterior."
"Excuse me?"
"That was a rare smile just now if I've ever seen one from you."
Her brows furrowed before shaking her head, tempted to laugh to refute the idea. "I think you're mistaken."
"Am I?" He taunted, browsing absentmindedly before closing the screen. "I was sure you had that little spark of happiness just now. Coming from you, it seems like something that only happens once every ten years."
"You must have been seeing things," she denied tenaciously, exiting the missions tab and sending the overall list to her scroll for processing. "Though, you're not wrong. I suppose I was quite pleased earlier."
He smirked curiously. "Was?"
"Was," she confirmed.
His head tilted inquisitively. "Why was it short-lived?"
"Because you made an appearance."
The sound of his chuckle caught her off-guard and she instinctively opened her mouth to rebut his levity, tearing her eyes away from the scroll to finally meet his. Regret hit her in an instant, muscles freezing in place as her cheeks grew flushed. She'd forgotten that he received his new combat gear that morning.
And Gods' forbid she'd admit he actually looked even more attractive in it. Not that she thought he was before.
"We're still not past this, huh?" Qrow quipped, his smirk growing as he sauntered towards her. The slyness on his face slowly faded into a level of sobriety and she could only berate herself when she realized why.
The hard-light dust beside them highlighted the fluster on her skin, mentally cursing as she attempted to play it off with a stern face. "Past what?"
His eyes locked onto hers and she felt her pulse quicken. He had the same look from that particular evening, just before he left; the one that seemed to be searching for something. A steady breath left his chest before taking a step closer. "Or maybe not."
"What are you..." Her voice trailed off, bemusement growing on her features.
His stare was almost piercing that it sent a small shiver down her spine, swallowing hard as she met it resolutely. Her lips pursed into a fine line, the grip on her scroll tightening at her side. The look he had was trifling, perplexing her further as she could not foresee what he wanted to find. It wasn't until seconds later that he ripped his gaze away and brushed past her heedlessly.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it."
Winter gaped at where he stood, feeling adrift. A glower formed on her face before she took a deep breath to calm herself. She had no clue what that had been about and she wasn't sure if lingering around long enough to find out was the best option, not when her temper had the tendency of getting the best of her. "I should take my leave."
She heard him stop in his tracks and spun on her heel to find him looking over his shoulder, the inceptive solemnity having passed as a smirk was etched on his lips. "Why not take a break first?"
"Technically, I am on one," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. "But it's ending fairly soon. I could use what time I have left to start on my other duties."
"Join me for coffee."
Her brow rose suddenly, uncertain if she'd heard him correctly. "Pardon?"
"Coffee," he repeated, walking towards the coffee nook in the corner. "You said you still have a few minutes." He started a brew, running the heated water across the dark grounds as he kept watch of the glass cylinder that caught the stream. The cupboard opened as he reached for two cups, laying them out on the countertop. "Do you want some?"
Her mouth fell before snapping it shut, silently thankful he had his back to her. "No. I'm quite alright, thank you. I should be going," she politely rejected, making a beeline for the door but came to a halt when she caught his lowly chuckle.
"Without your scroll?" She didn't miss the mirth in his tone. Her frown deepened, recalling his appeal of being innocent during the first night. That didn't seem to be the case now.
She glanced at the screen before holding in an exasperated groan. The data was hardly halfway through and a part of her wondered if his semblance was to blame. "I could tend to my remaining tasks while waiting for this completion."
"I don't think it's a good idea to leave your scroll lying around," he remarked knowingly. "You need it for most of your assignments, don't you? More so when the teams start calling in. They're bound to finish their missions soon and I doubt you'd want to miss reminding them of their mission reports."
Her teeth gritted in frustration. He had a point, much to her chagrin. It wouldn't be wise not to keep her scroll around when there was the likelihood of the General sending updates on the embargo, as well as inquiring about her progress with the winter maiden. Only a handful of people knew of that matter and she couldn't risk anyone else discovering it.
But accepting his invitation also meant the possibility of bringing a particular topic to light and she'd been indecisive of whether or not she was ready for that conversation. He made no effort to ask about their little incident, not even in passing. A part of her was relieved he hadn't attempted to bring it up, but another felt unnerved at seeing him act as though it never happened at all.
Her thoughts were self-berating; she wanted him to forget. There shouldn't be a reason for her to feel the frustration she did. But in truth, she wanted clarity, even if it meant the likelihood of making a bigger fool out of herself.
"I suppose there's no harm in one cup," she forfeited with a quelled sigh, deafening the chiding thoughts in her mind and the unease forming in her gut as she trudged towards the nook. She paid no heed to his satisfied chuckle and shadowing gaze, leaning against the counter and waiting for him to finish.
His smug smirk remained as he passed her the mug, resting his hip adjacent to the surface. There was a peculiar glint in his eye that had her shifting in place. He watched with intrigue as her fingers nimbly reached for the condiments, pouring in a bit of cream and drizzling two teaspoons of sugar. "I'm surprised you don't take it black."
"I do, but it's highly dependent on my disposition for the day." She blended the contents inaudibly before disposing of the stirrer.
"And what would that be now?"
Her finger fidgeted behind the cup, turning around to mimic his position. "That's solely for me to know." She wouldn't tell him that the subtle taste of sweetness helped to calm her down.
He shrugged before adjusting the grasp on his cup, leaning his free arm on the nook. "You've piqued my curiosity."
If his comment had been out of context, she was definite her ears would flare. "I'm surprised you take it black."
"It's an acquired taste," he averred lightly.
"You're not wrong," she nodded. "It's a wonder some people don't enjoy it pure."
"Too harsh for their tastebuds," he jested.
"Perhaps.
His expression mellowed as he drank. "But it is helpful for late-night missions."
She hummed agreeably before taking a tepid sip, letting their small talk simmer. Her shoulders relaxed subtly when her senses caught the bitterly sweet aroma of her coffee. Before then, they'd been consumed by the alluring scent of sandalwood and pine; no doubt coming from the man standing beside her. To her pleasant surprise, there wasn't the slightest whiff of alcohol.
Her hands cradled the temperate drink, warmth seeping through her gloves to reach her cold skin. Her gaze was on the ground as silence enveloped them, pondering on whether to break it with the question treading in her mind. There was certain calmness that the coffee gave, deliberating if it had been a coincidence it concurred with her thoughts. She supposed the moment was fitting enough to settle their unspoken matter.
She fiddled with the cup. "Is there a reason you asked me to stay here?"
He was unfazed by her query, merely throwing her a glance. "What do you mean?"
"Offering me coffee? Insisting that I take a break? Hampering me from my tasks?" She listed on one hand before tipping her head. "You're not exactly being subtle."
He laughed behind closed lips before taking a small sip. "Subtle about what?"
"You know exactly about what."
"You're going to have to elaborate on that, Ice Queen." The corner of his mouth tugged into a sly smirk.
Her finger tapped impatiently, the initial tranquility she'd been relishing diminishing quickly. "Is there something you want to discuss?"
His brow rising only added to the guileful look on his face. "Is there something we should be discussing?"
"Nothing at all you want to talk to me about?"
"How about you be specific, then," he offered, setting down his cup and turning to face her fully. "What exactly is it that you want to talk about?"
She felt the weight in her lungs as he looked to her, eyes pensive in contrast to his roguish expression. He was reading her effortlessly, knowing the current workings of her mind. That only vexed her further since her attempts to invade his thoughts were fruitless. Whatever his game did little to amuse. She was having just about enough of it.
"That night, Qrow."
"What about it?" His tone was so windless it struck a nerve.
She rested her drink on the nook, clutching the corner firmly. "You have nothing to say about what happened?"
He leaned down to her height. "You do?"
Her eyes met his fiercely, refusing to yield despite the narrowing space. "As a matter of fact, yes. I-," she paused hesitantly. "I have a number of things I wanted to raise about it."
"Oh?" He intoned curiously. "What would those be?"
Her chest rose cautiously, trying as she could to control her staggered breathing. "I wasn't thinking straight back then," she explained, mentally scolding herself for how pathetic she sounded. "I'd been exhausted and sleepless, having too much to think about all at once. It was a foolish thing of me to do."
"Never thought you'd call yourself that in front of me," he teased, earning him a glare.
"Silence," she hissed, the hand at her side curling into a fist. "Look, what transpired that evening was not at all relevant to us and is likely to be the last of such an occurrence ever ensuing. Rather, it should never have happened at all."
He took a step closer. "Is that so?"
"Yes," she barked, riled by his aloof bearing. "After all, it's improbable for it to mean anything for either of us, to begin with."
His ambiance shifted to divergence, prompting softly. "Is it?"
"It is," she defended, missing his uncharacteristic words and tone completely. "And I think it would be suitable for us both if we just for-"
Winter didn't have the opportunity to finish her statement, being abruptly interrupted by a pair of lips pressing against her own. Qrow, she realized, had straight-up kissed her without a single influence. And in the huntsman briefing room, no less; where literally anyone could walk in on them. Her mind fell into a daze, senses blearing that she nearly missed the taste of coffee on his lips and the feel of his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Something taught and warm was in her grasp and it occurred to her that she'd held on to his arms at the impact.
If she hadn't been so consumed by the moment, she would have reprimanded him for displaying such actions in a public area. It was proving difficult to pull herself away, especially her body seemed to reciprocate without her command. The first time had been her fault, but this? He instigated it and, to her astonishment, felt quite sincere. That did little to appease her racing heart and the baby nevermores in her stomach. As pleasant as it was, what exactly did it mean?
With much struggle, she broke the kiss, letting her gaze cascade to the ground to elude his striking red eyes. If she so much as took a glimpse, she was confident it would entice her to kiss him again. Their foreheads remained resting on each other, his soft pants tickling the skin of her nose and lips. The tips of her fingers brushed against the exposed skin of his arms, mustering what courage she could before lifting her eyes to his. She didn't think it was possible for him to look at her with such softness.
"Why?" Her voice was merely a whisper, like a genuine secret that was meant to be solely for them. Restrainment was an art she never found arduous to execute until now, not understanding why she felt lured to kiss him once more.
His smirk returned. "Apparently," he began, leaning back and untangling his arm from her figure before grabbing his neglected cup. "To shut you up."
Her pale skin burned in embarrassment and rage, stepping back to get some distance as she sent him a nasty glare. Her mouth opened to retort but she'd grown so furious that no words came out. She was about to try again before a notification rang from his scroll, breaking her momentum as he picked up the notice.
"Looks like the kids are back. We better get back to work." He ambled around her, downing the remains of his drink before setting it in the sink. He chuckled at her speechless state, peering over her fuming expression, the unusual smile on his face palliating her bitterness. "I'll see you around, Winter," he called before exiting, the doors automatically shutting behind him.
She continued to glower, letting out a frustrated huff before pivoting to reach for her mug. The dark liquid had already gone cold, finishing it nonetheless before lifting her scroll. She stood dumbfounded when she saw the upload at ninety percent, taking no less than ten seconds to complete. A string of curses that would have sent her mother to a dead faint left her mouth. All of which directed towards a particular man with a misfortunate semblance.
Done!
I had to rewrite this a bunch of times cause it never seemed to work in my mind so if its a little messy to read, I truly apologize. At any rate, I should have the next chapter up in a week or two (hopefully).
Don't forget to favorite, follow, and review!
- Raine