Qrow ran away to his shed, for lack of a better phrase. Ruby was reading on his couch curled up with the blanket, all the effort it took to talk and it didn't feel like he was any closer to figuring her out. She was quiet and nice, his Semblance had quieted down and he hadn't broken a thing since that night. Still he had gone to great lengths to avoid people and now he had one in his house that he couldn't really get away from.
So he hid in his shed, which was really more of a mini cabin though it neared in size to his whole house. A mix of wood and metal working tools, old ways of making things mixed with the new. Tables lined the walls, a forge in one corner cold and dead, his tools hung neatly on the all to the right of the small forge. Beside it another table with the finer tools he needed to maintain this scythe and a wooden chair. He spent a lot of time there, the floor was clay and you could see the groves from the chair sliding back and forth hundreds of times. He had a sewing machine and thread, the former as simple as they came so he could fix it when it eventually broke. Against one wall was a large cedar chest near a meter and a half long and a meter in width and height. Lastly amidst the tools was a Pot bellied stove, that he used to heat the shed, he had already gotten it going to a steady glaze heating the freezing air.
He walked over and opened the heavy iron latch and pulled the lid open. Within it were large sheets of wool, he picked up one of the better weaves. He'd layer a harsher cheaper wool on the outside with a soft finger layer for the inside. I can at least make her a house coat. He pulled out the fabrics and set to work, he'd make it a bit too big since he couldn't guess at her measurements and there was no way he was going back in to ask. He measured twice and cut once, keeping his hands busy as he pondered just how he was going to share his house with the woman till the storm passed. It was only ten steps from his shed to the cabin and that had thoroughly chilled him in that very swift walk. I guess I could message Tai again but sometime tells me he'll be less than helpful. Qrow hummed thoughtfully as the scissors went Snip, Snip through the dense fabric. He guessed she seemed lonely, but Tai was better company then Qrow ever would be, so that couldn't have been the reason why Tai sent her.
"Ruby Rose." He said the name slowly testing the symbols on his tongue, he remembered her mother but the memories had fogged with age to the point he barely recalled her. He knew she was a Silver eyed warrior so she needed no help with the Grimm. So that wasn't it, Tai didn't think she would be needed up in the field, though maybe he could teach her something of sword play. Though his cabin was too small to really spar in, he had his patterns cut he moved to his sewing machine and started to put them together.
She was lonely, she spoke just like him which was both a little unsettling and calming at the same time. Unsettling because they held themselves in much the same manner, calming because she wasn't loud. Qrow didn't think he'd be able to handle a loud house guest. He thought back on how he ended up where he was, he loved his team which became his family but he could only take so many years of watching them be hurt. Raven left as she was always doomed to do and he did as well, maybe a coward's move on his part but Tai had Yang and Summer, he was fine without him. He ended up travelling in Vale alone for a long while, taking bounties and slaying Grimm with no real goal beyond seeing the next day. He probably would have continued on that path if Ozpin hadn't stepped in, Qrow smiled fondly at the memory of the man.
For years Qrow spied for him on and off, collected information, it was Oz that set up the land for his cabin. Oz that called Qrow home to make his house, the two of them put it together, Oz couldn't be there all the time of course but he was the help Qrow had mentioned to Ruby. Then after Qrow had a house, Ozpin made it home, he came twice a month since Qrow was a strapping young lonely lad, till he died and each time he came he brought books. Then Cinder came and wretched it all, Qrow had taken to guarding the mountains and those who travelled them from Grimm when Oz hadn't needed him, after Oz was gone he stayed that course. He'd lost track of the lives he had saved protecting the passes long ago, he had used his solitude well.
Which brought him back to Ruby, he knew she had been on the front lines of the war but that didn't explain why she was alone now. She was a beautiful woman there had to have been someone at some point to have caught her eye. So why wasn't she with him or her? In a way she was doing exactly what he had done when he left team STRQ. He paused in his work, was that it? Tai saw Qrow in Ruby, saw that she would walk the same path he had? Only she had no Ozpin to rescue her from it, she'd hunt till it killed her if someone didn't step in. Was this Tai's intervention? The red eyed man resumed in his work, maybe that was it. Maybe he didn't want his daughter to drift through her life and he thought Qrow would give her something to focus on. Like Ozpin had done for him, gave him a place to come back too and a reason to come back at all.
Qrow pursed his lips and resumed his work, this wouldn't take him long then he needed to go back to her. He needed to learn more about how she got where she was, maybe then it would become clearer.
Ruby was reading a book on Grimm habits, sure there were dozens of other things she could be reading. Qrow had a rather amazing collection of books, but she figured she might as well learn something that would be useful when she left. Hearing the door open she glanced up as Qrow shoved the thing closed behind and dropped the crossbar. He had left a few hours ago and she had start to worry, she couldn't help but smile as he shed the layers. His hair squished flat against his head, he put a grey robe down on the chair and started working at the various ties and buckles of his gear.
Closing her book she got up and walked over, the rugs shielding her feet from the cold. Qrow stalled as her nimble fingers started helping him with the knots. Together they made quick work of the outer layers, Qrow blushed as her fingertips brushed over the back of a hand. She had just been helping get a frozen glove off, it had been accidental or just not cared about but it was still a nice touch. "Thank you, uhh…" He wasn't sure what to say so he grabbed the grey wool housecoat and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Uh, for you." Blush crept up into his cheeks again, it was too big for her. That right kind of too big that would be perfect for snuggling down into with a hot chocolate and book.
Ruby blushed even brighter, sure she got gifts from Tai and her friends when they remembered but this wasn't a special occasion. It was just one random stormy day. Slowly she put her arms through the right places, the whole thing moving over her small frame as she did. Qrow couldn't himself from helping her, straightened it to lay properly on her shoulders. Drew it closed and pulled the belt out of his pocket and tied it just so around her waist. His hands lingered for a moment there when hers rested on his forearms. "Thank you." She said softly, she didn't know what compelled her to touch him but it seemed like the right thing to do.
Red and silver met and blush equally dusting their cheeks, their hands dropping in the same moment. Qrow rubbed the back of his head glancing away. "Err, you're welcome."
Ruby bit her lip unsure of what to say. "Umm, I made tea a little while ago, peach and meyer lemon it should be steeped by now. Do you have honey?"
"Oh yeah of course." Qrow tried to refrain from rushing to the kitchen, the rare warmth in her eyes had imprinted into his mind.
The silver eyed woman giggled watching him go, running her hands over the cuff of her new house coat. Neat practiced perfect stitches, she loved how it was just a little too large, perfect for snuggling into. It was really sweet of him to make something for her, she didn't really have the clothes for an extended stay. At least not comfy ones for moving around the house and she really appreciated the gesture. While she picked her way over to couch again, doing a little hop from one rug to the other Qrow returned tea cups in hand. He couldn't help but watch her graceful innocent little game.
Ruby blushed when she saw him and stopped, walking over to collect her cup and returned to the couch. Qrow sat down beside her, still one cushion of the three cushion sofa between them but neither pushed into the corners anymore. Ruby sipped her tea and purred at the light fruity blend, she had been amazed when his tea had ACTUAL tea leaves and hadn't been able to resist making a pot.
Qrow watched her features transform into a look of pure bliss. How her eyes slid shut, how she relaxed into the sofa, the little dart of tongue licking her lips. She purred snuggling into the couch taking another sip, he could see how she let the tea roll on her tongue. Beautiful. He mused having a sip himself, he couldn't help the small groan himself. Gods the woman knows how to make her tea. It was perfectly brewed, the leaves hadn't been burned by the water, the time was perfect. It was pure pleasure in a cup. "Wow," He licked his lips and glanced over, Ruby looked to be really enjoying her cup, taking it slow the pleasure she took was almost erotic in nature. "you really know you're tea."
"Ummhmm." Ruby purred resting her head against the back of the couch looking out at him through lidded eyes.
That sound went straight to Qrow's poor neglected hindbrain and he blushed. "So lots of practice I take it?"
"Yeah, a guilty pleasure I let myself indulge in while hunting. Tea is light to carry around and can be really nice when done right." Ruby purred drawing her legs up and covering her feet with the blanket.
Qrow couldn't help but think she had the right idea there and did the same thing. "Well lucky me, I know who shall be brewing the tea from now one."
Ruby giggled at that, the tea was very relaxing it, when she was hunting she saved it for a bad day so she could unwinded and rest. "Well you'll have to make the hot chocolate. Oz never taught me his recipe."
"You knew Oz well?" Qrow asked jumping on the topic, it saved him from trying to find one.
Ruby looked down into the dark red liquid, her smiled fading away and the blank look reappearing over her eyes. "Yeah, he taught me how to fight when I was just a little squirt. Dad didn't really have a babysitter so Oz volunteered when he was able." She smiled sadly at the memories. "He was my honorary uncle I guess. Taught me about Aura, fighting, Grimm, the magic in my eyes, fixed my scratches when I hurt myself, everything."
"Sounds nice, he was my teacher too. I kinda fell apart from my team shortly after school ended and he was my grounding point." Qrow volunteered the information, hoping that honestly would call upon more honestly.
The silver eyed woman sipped her tea. "He was like that for a lot of people, he brought me into Beacon early but even by then I could have graduated early too. It took me a while to figure out just how much he had taught me and how far ahead of everyone else that I was. It was kinda jarring at first but his door was always open to me so whenever I had trouble adjusting to all the other people I had a place to go."
"Me too, my sister could be a real jerk at times." Qrow said tracing over the top of his mug and having a sip.
"Yeah well, then Cinder came and well you know the rest." Ruby said bitterly, silently thanking the gods she wasn't a part of that mess anymore. "I still miss him, he came back you know. The stupid reincarnation thing."
"Yeah, you okay?" He could practically taste the bitterness in her voice.
"Fine, it just when he came back he came back in this tiny farm boy. Which kinda turned out to be a blessing in disguise but, I still missed my Ozpin." Ruby drank some tea to calm herself, for some strange reason it was easy to talk to Qrow.
"How so?" The red eyed man asked, he could think of a few ways having a nice young new body would be nice.
Ruby blushed scarlet. "I waited till the reincarnation process was complete but we, dated I guess? As best as we were able."
"Kinky." Qrow couldn't help himself he had to chuckle at that, he raised a hand in a placating gesture when she glared at him. "I'm not judging, there is a lot to learn from one's elders, be it young body and age old soul or just normal older."
Ruby blushed all the brighter, "Well didn't get much time to learn much of anything on that front, I mean he was good but we only had the one chance." she sighed resting her head back on the sofa. "He died shortly after."
"Ouch." Qrow sipped his drink to avoid looking at her, but he was glad they were having this talk. "Met anyone since?" He fished for more information, even though he had a feeling he already knew the answer. Pieces of the puzzle starting to fit together… into a distressily familiar shape.
"No, no one." Ruby confirmed his suspicions then took another sip of tea, she was almost out she'd have to go for a refill soon.
"No one? At all?" Qrow asked with an almost disbelief in his voice, she was what? Twenty five and only had sex once in her life?
"No what?" Ruby looked over to him confused.
"Let me get this straight, you are twenty what five?" She nodded confirming. "And you've only had sex ONCE in your life? With a guy that's now dead? Gods girl that's not healthy."
Ruby glared at him and put her cup down as it was now empty. "I don't recall asking for your opinion."
"Don't shoot the messenger Ruby." Qrow finished his cup and put it down.
The young woman sighed and hugged herself, "Well I can't fault you there." she shrugged. "Not like I've had a long line of suitors. Most guys don't really care about someone who can kick their butts into next week. Add one war damaged huntress with an over-protective sister into the mix and there's not even much point in looking. Plus I don't stay in any one place long enough to really meet people and one night stands don't appeal. I had love, I won't settle for anything less." Ruby rubbed her dry eyes, this was reminding her of painfully of Oz.
Qrow moved over to sit on the middle cushion beside her but not touching her. "And you shouldn't, I did that and after a point it just feels meaningless. Yeah there is the whole getting off aspect of it, but it stops having any real life to it."
"Exactly, I didn't see the point in going through that process." Ruby looked over to him with a sad smile, at least he understood, even if it was a 'been there, done that' kind of understanding.
Qrow was struck with the sudden urge to kiss her, maybe it was the self imposed celibacy or the fact when she smiled like that her bottom lip was just a little fuller than the top. Or because he was right in his guess, they had walked the same path she had just very wisely skipped a step. Though she had gotten lucky where he hadn't and found love. They were very alike, except he did the stupid thing instead of her wise avoidance. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear.
Ruby's eyes widened and dilated, he barely touched her but it lit across her skin. She found herself leaning forward towards him, later she'd blame it on being touch starved. She had only been in his company for two days and yet the more she talked to him the more she got why Tai had sent her to him. The more they talked, the more she liked him and that hadn't happened since Oscar.
Qrow took that as permission and pressed his lips to hers, he didn't think about the years between them. They were both more than old enough it wasn't relevant anymore and no one they met would care. Both their eyes closed as they kissed, Ruby's hands coming up to grab his shirt a little whimper escaping her throat as she followed him when he withdrew. Qrow deepened the kiss at that, she somehow climbed into his lap. His hand traveled her her waist digging in as he moaned into the kiss, it had been such a long time.
Lips parted, tongues tangled, Ruby's hands found their way into Qrow's hair. She remembered her last kiss, brief and fleeting as she held a dying Oscar. Tears slid from her eyes but she didn't want to stop, she was drunk on him. Drunk on what he represented, drunk on how they mirrored, holding onto something too ground her. He leaned forward wrapping his arms her, pulling her against him, tilting his head up as she rose up. He liked how she petted his head as she kissed him, he drew her tongue into his mouth letting her have control. He felt the tears drip onto his cheeks but she didn't let him pull away.
Ruby shook as she cried, shame welled up in her she pulled away and shoved his hands away feeling to his room with a shout of. "Sorry!"
Qrow got up and stepped after her but she had already shut his door, though it had no lock he wasn't going to invade. What the hell just happened? He wondered, cleaning her tears from his cheeks, he hadn't meant to kiss her like that. Though at that point, one could say she kissed him, but why the tears? Well he had no doubt she loved Ozpin, probably in many different ways. Plus not knowing the touch of another since and then their talk. Maybe she was just getting overwhelmed, he sat back down on the sofa. He thought about texting Tai again but the more she talked to him the more he wanted to hear the story from her.
The red eyed man ran a hand through his hair, he'd leave her alone for now. She come out when she was ready, or hungry. He smiled at that, well he remembered how Tai made rabbit stew and he had all the supplies for that. Maybe comfort food could sweep in and save the day.
