A/N: For some reason I feel like I'm doing something wrong writing this... maybe it's because I'm writing Clover as such a thirsty frat boy.

I know that FairGame isn't the most bumpin' ship in RWBY, so if you're reading it, I'd love to hear what you think!

Cameo Lover

Labyrinths

Clover never would've guessed it upon looking at the older Huntsman, but all the evidence was there. Well, I guess you learn something new every day.

That new piece of knowledge being, of course, that Qrow Branwen was oddly cute.

Before the airship took off with the three teams for their mission- Team RWBY with Harriet and Marrow, Team JNPR with Elm and Vine, and himself and Qrow comprising the third group- Qrow busied himself with fussing over his nieces.

"You kids sure you're ready to get back in the fight?" Qrow murmured, grabbing Ruby's shoulders and turning her around to make sure she was alright. "You're feeling up to it?"

Ruby rolled her eyes, brushing off his concern. "Oh my god, Uncle Qrow, you're sounding like Dad."

Yang cackled at that statement, adding, "C'mon, make a pun! You know you want to!"

In light of his nieces' teasing words, Qrow merely pressed his lips into a thin line and flicked Ruby on the forehead. "Don't you dare compare me with Tai," he growled accusingly. "Do I really look like a man who owns that many pairs of cargo pants?" His words only drew out more laughter from the girls.

After they had calmed down, however, Qrow repeated to Ruby, "But you're sure you're okay, kiddo? You did freeze an entire Leviathan a few days ago…"

Ruby merely grinned, flashing him a thumbs-up. "Don't worry. Are… are you okay?" Her tone shifted, worry clouding her gaze.

Qrow's eyes filled with that same regretful despondence that Clover had seen time and time again from the man. He ruffled her freshly-chopped hair, laughing weakly at her protests. "I'll be fine, Ruby. Go on, board."

She smiled kindly at him before jogging after her teammates who were already heading towards their ship.

"She's a good kid," Clover commented, finally alerting the elder of his presence. "They both seem to be. And you seem like a great uncle."

Qrow jumped, startled by his sudden appearance. His surprise quickly turned into embarrassment, however, the man shoving his hands into his pockets (He does that a lot to avoid talking when he's embarrassed, Clover realized faintly, biting back a smile) and storming into the ship after his nieces.

He let the man stew alone until they were at their team's starting point. After clearing everyone's safe landing at their own breach points, he waved the older man to follow him into the icy cavern where the Geist had taken refuge. They fell into line easily, long strides echoing in the narrow corridor. Qrow looked uneasy with every step, his eyes darting around as if enemies would appear at any moment, hand never straying from the hilt of his blade.

Clover felt Qrow's anxiety without even needing to look at him. "You doin' alright there?" he asked, keeping his tone light.

Qrow sighed. "I… Gotta say, I'm still not really used to working with other Huntsmen in the field."

That was curious. He knew that Qrow had trained at Beacon under Ozpin, the former headmaster- the same man who had mentored James. Working in teams was practically mandatory. "But you were on a team before, weren't you?"

Qrow sighed again. That's all you ever do around me, huh? Clover filed that thought away. He needed to figure out a way to change that.

"Long time ago," Qrow growled out at last, eyes downcast and drawn tight. There was bleak resignation in his gaze, his posture losing some of the vim and vigor that talking to his nieces had instilled in him. "I've just found that working alone tends to be for the best."

"Well, I think that's a shame." Clover meant every word. Why was the other man so withdrawn? What had happened in the last twenty years that made him so solitary in a field that required teamwork? He was clearly an extremely capable Huntsman- he had proven that not only during that first fight against the Grimm in Mantle, but also in how he had managed to mentor all of those students into becoming such skilled fighters that even the general trusted them with their cause. Qrow wasn't weak at all. So why did he long for isolation?

Suddenly, Qrow slipped on some loose sand, immediately losing his balance. Clover acted without thinking, grabbing the man's arm and pulling him back up to his feet before he hit the ground. Once Qrow realized that he had saved him, however, the older man's expression grew lively again, transforming into a frustrated, distrusting pout.

His lower lip jutted out slightly. Clover's eyes locked onto it, lips parting- but he managed to tear himself away, instead allowing himself just one tiny smile at how flustered Qrow appeared. "Alpha here," he murmured into his earpiece, walking ahead.

He could feel Qrow's gaze on the back of his head all the way down the tunnel, and as he moved ahead, he only let that smile grow wider.

It didn't take long to find the Geist. The encounter only lasted a few seconds, but soon enough, Qrow was calling for him to watch out. On instinct, he stepped away from the target, confused- but with the floor in front of him collapsing into a lower tunnel just a breath later and a beam above almost crashing onto his head, Clover just thanked his luck and relayed the Geist's location to the other teams.

"Thanks for the callout," he murmured as Qrow joined him, the pair looking down into the tunnel caused by the collapsed floor. "That could've been bad."

Qrow sighed again, a sound that was quickly growing tiresome to Clover's ears. However, any thoughts of annoyance dissipated immediately as he heard the slight hesitation in Qrow's voice as he whispered, "I… wouldn't thank me."

The older man sounded like he was about to cry in shame.

"My Semblance brings misfortune," Qrow explained, looking away from him guiltily. "Sometimes, I can't keep it under control."

And suddenly, it all made sense, the cruel irony of it all nearly breaking Clover down.

He gave the other man a small, reassuring smile. "That so? Well hey- don't beat yourself up about it." After securing a way forward, he explained, "My Semblance is good fortune. Lucky you, huh?" And, in a moment of boldness, he shot the man a wink, sauntering forward.

But his lighthearted air only made Qrow's face fall, crushed, and Clover realized his mistake too late. Yet, even with that confused, shocked look of bitter disbelief on his face, he found himself thinking that Qrow was still cute.