-xxx-
The pillow hit Qrow in the side of the head. "Mffffff," he said.
"Come on, you have to get up or you'll be late," Clover's voice. Clover's scent. Ah, that's right. Clover's bed.
"Urgh," Qrow groaned from deep within his black soul, "I ha.."
"Hate mornings, I know. Here," Clover laughed lightly.
Qrow blinked blearily and tried to focus. Finally he made out an incredibly muscled arm holding a mug of coffee. He sat up, pushed his hair back and took the offering.
After a few sips, his brain fog started to lift. It was good coffee. "Wait you're dressed? You got coffee? How long have you been up?"
"I don't know; hour and a half?" Clover shrugged, looking perfectly groomed and ready to take on the world.
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"You were snoring."
"That is not a reason. Also, I do not snore," Qrow pitched the pillow back at Clover's head.
He dodged effortlessly (stupid agile morning people) and stood up waving his scroll, "Well you won't mind that I made you my ringtone then, will you?"
Qrow scowled, "If I wasn't naked…"
"Ah, but you are! And I am not going to be late again, so drink up and I'll see you later," Clover leaned over and Qrow kind of froze. He didn't even know why, they'd had sex quite a few times and Clover's hands were often on his shoulder, around his waist… but this little gesture just caught him utterly unawares. Clover leaned down and just kissed his lips. Not a passionate kiss, just a little 'I'm going to work, see you later love', kind of kiss.
Then he straightened up, flashed that seven thousand watt smile and flexed his ass out of the room.
Qrow stared at the door for a long time, mind blank and heart doing something he couldn't even recognise.
-xxx-
"Hey, Uncle Qrow! We thought you weren't going to make it!" Ruby enthused, running up to greet him as he slunk into the briefing room.
"I overslept," he reached out and tousled her hair.
"You sleep?" Ren asked.
"Har har, so what are we up to today?" Qrow asked, noting Clover was nowhere to be seen.
"Team work!" Nora shouted.
"O… kay?"
"Clover's given us all a day in the training room," said Yang, "said we could polish up our hand to hand," she grinned dangerously.
"That so?" Qrow mused. It was true that they could learn to be more adaptable in combat. A brutal weapon was wonderful when you had it but he knew better than anyone that life didn't always work out that way.
Qrow teamed up with Yang (he didn't want her to beat the crap out of anyone) and then put the others on rotation. Fifteen minutes with one sparring partner then change it up. Flexibility was an important part of being a combat specialist and as he watched Blake and Juane out of the corner of his eye, Qrow decided Clover had a good head for teaching. It was just the right time to do this kind of thing, they were confident enough to be challenged, mature enough to learn from their mistakes.
A metal hand ploughed into Qrow's face, sending him cartwheeling across the floor. "Yes!" Yang pumped a fist into the air, "Take that!"
Qrow sat rubbing his jaw, that prosthetic really packed a punch. Yang wandered over and offered him a hand which he swatted away, "I'm not dead yet," he grumbled, standing.
Yang leaned a little closer so that no one else could hear, "You need to stop daydreaming about a certain Ace Operative and pay attention."
Qrow didn't even deny it, "I guess so. That was a good hit though, the way you moved inside my range… very smart kiddo," he raised a hand to tousle her hair then thought better of it. He'd done that once when she was eight. Once.
"So… how are things going?" Yang whispered conspiratorially, "Are you dating?"
"I… things are good," he smiled. "How about you?"
"What about me!?" Yang said loudly.
Qrow kept his voice level, "You ever going to tell the others about you and Blake?"
Yang took a step back, "How did you…?"
"I guess it takes one to know one," Qrow laughed.
"I… we're waiting for the right time," Yang looked away.
Qrow nodded, it wasn't like he was in a position to lecture on this one. "You do what works for you. It's just nice to see you happy."
Yang smiled sheepishly, "You too."
"I am not happy! I've got a reputation to maintain here."
Yang laughed, "Well it's good to see you enjoying the misery for once."
"Yeah, feels good too," Qrow admitted, thinking of the way Clover's arm wrapped around him when they slept.
"Is that fifteen minutes?" Marrow called out, "My arm is going to drop off."
Qrow turned at the sound of Weiss's lilting laughter. Seems like someone is finding Ice Queen Jnr. a bit of a challenge.
"Alright, time's up!" he called, "Hit the showers then lunch. I'll meet you back here at two. Got it?"
"Got it," the students chorused.
Qrow took his time wandering up to the mess hall. He let his fingers trail on the wall and thought about Clover's touch, light but sure. So much of his time seemed to be dedicated to thinking about how Clover smelled these days. How his hands felt when the tripped down his body, lingering where he'd learned Qrow wanted them most.
"Here you are," Clover rounded the corner, "I've got a meeting at two so I thought maybe we could have lunch?"
"I…" Qrow started. He was thinking about Yang and her 'right time'. Was it the right time to be seen in a relationship? He didn't want the kids to think that he wasn't there for them. That he would ever leave them to go it alone after all they'd been through together… maybe he was over thinking. Yang just seemed happy to see him happy. Maybe it would be a relief for them to not have to worry about him being a moping sad sack any more. He felt bad for relying on them emotionally like he had. It wasn't right to make kids carry adult sized burdens and despite everything they'd done… all they had achieved, they were still kids.
Clover's beautiful green eyes narrowed, "Or we could not."
"Uh…" What do I say? I want to be with him so much but… so much has happened and I just don't know if I'm ready for this.
"It's fine," Clover smiled easily, waving his concerns away, "I should sit with the Ops for once anyway, what did Weiss do to Marrow? He can barely hold a fork."
"He just needs to focus on his leg work."
"Ok, noted. Well… Just let me know when you're ready." And with that, Clover turned on his heel and sauntered that muscled ass away.
-xxx-
When I'm ready.
Qrow lay face down on the couch and groaned.
When I'm ready.
He means when I'm quite finished dicking him around and I know what I want. I'm sure that's what he means…
Qrow looked at the clock. Five past eight. He groaned a little louder.
This is the longest night in the history of human kind. There's some sort of time dilation happening. I refuse to believe that I've only been here twenty five minutes.
He lifted up a couch cushion with one hand and pulled it firmly over his head.
I could be there right now. I could be lying on his perfectly made bed completely naked with his hot tongue trailing up my thigh.
Yay, he thought pressing his now very hard cock into the cushions, now I've made it worse.
HOW FOR THE LOVE OF ASS CAN I STILL BE SEXUALLY FRUSTRATED?!
Qrow let himself roll off the couch and onto the floor.
He's probably waiting for me right now…
But what is he really waiting for… he said…
Qrow swallowed. He had to confront this eventually. Seemed like today was the day.
He said that he was in love with me.
He might have meant it, he might not, but he said it. And it's time I figured out how I feel about this because if he loves me and I just hurt him… the thought of Clover upset did a funny thing to his chest. Tight. Tingly?
Like something was crushing his heart.
Come on. Admit it to yourself. You could be in love with him. How would you even know? It's not like you have a string of positive relationship role models and a sparkling personal life to draw on. To him love had always been retrospective. The revelation of what you had lost in the very second that it was snatched from you.
Do you want it to happen that way again? Do you want to wake up knowing that you've squandered yet another chance at happiness?
He'd always pushed people away to protect them but… Clover didn't need protecting. He was the first person in… near forever who made Qrow feel safe. Safe with others. Safe with himself. Like he wasn't a curse or a burden or a jinx…
But how do you even say these things? Oh Gods I know just how it would play out.
Qrow: *knocks on door*
Clover: *opens the door, is shirtless for some stupid sexual frustration reason*
Qrow: *stands gaping for an inordinate amount of time*
Clover: Are you having a stroke?
Qrow: *squeaks*
Clover: So I'm just going to leave the door open, in case at some point you feel you can move your legs.
Qrow: ILOVEYOU!IHAVETOGO! *runs*
Clover: Ok. What an excellent choice I have made picking Qrow out of all the gorgeous fuck boys who clamour after my sleeveless GodBod. Really turning out great for me.
Qrow turned over on the floor and pushed his face into the cushion again. This is so fucking stupid.
Clover would know what to do. He was great at all this touchy feely stuff…
But I've pushed him away.
NO. Qrow sat up suddenly and hit the back of his head on the coffee table.
"AH, FUCK," he exclaimed rubbing the significant bump that was growing beneath his fingers.
That's it. I'm not going to waste my life lying on the floor with a boner.
I am going to go and see Clover and I'm going to tell him how I feel.
If I can figure out how I feel on the way.
He put on his shoes and glanced at the clock as he walked out the door. Thirteen minutes past eight.
REALLY!?
-xxx-