Qrow let the door of the bar slam shut behind him. Cracking his neck, he headed to the bar and sat down in front of it. He looked around, but the place was deserted. He had arrived too late – or the rascals had figured someone was going to come and had beaten tail.
The red spots on the floor made him think the first was the more likely answer.
He leaned over the bar and searched under it blindly with his hand, until his fingers closed around a bottle. He retrieved it and, after reading the label, deemed it good enough for him. Although, he would accept anything at this point.
He took a glass and poured, then took a sip. It was weak, very weak. Maybe he ought to search for another bottle. But he didn't care enough. He poured again and again, emptying the glass in seconds each time, until there was little left in the bottle.
He leaned back to drink the last drops, and when he lowered his glass, a small black bird was perched on a seat on the other side of the counter, staring at him inquisitively with red eyes.
"Hah. Knew you were the one behind this," Qrow chortled. "You were watching the whole time, weren't you?"
The bird twisted its neck low and jumped around a little, before going still again.
"Sure. Let's play pretend. See if I care," Qrow rolled his eyes. "So, you dealt with Junior and his goons, did you? Was planning on doing that myself, figured he musta been working with the crazies. But you got to them first. Funny… that's not really your shtick."
He waved his hand about, inadvertently knocking over the bottle. It started rolling to the edge, but he caught it before it fell.
"Whatever. See if I care…" he mumbled, but then changed his mind. "I know why you're staying like that! You don't wanna talk to me, 'cause you're ashamed – 'cause you know you screwed up! We all screwed up!"
"Now, don't start thinkin' that's me excusing you, because you were the worst!" he said furiously. "Taiyang just wanted the best for her. That was it. Maybe it wasn't right, but what else was he supposed to do? He coulda betrayed Oz, but… Hell, I haven't done that, and I'm a mess."
"And it woulda been fine had that been it, 'cause he loves that girl and she knows it. But I had to plant those ideas in her head and make her think she's – she's some freak just because that's what I think of myself so I can sleep at night," he grabbed the bottle and shattered it against the counter, then slouched defeatedly. "There's only so much bad luck can do…"
Qrow tossed away the remains of the bottle, then pointed a finger accusingly at the bird.
"But it's all on you! Everything starts with you! If you weren't such a cow, if you didn't think so highly of yourself, if you hadn't abandoned her and EVERYONE ELSE-"
He got up suddenly and grabbed his seat, lifted it above his head, and threw it on the floor, breaking it. He looked around, breathing hard, and pointed at the blood.
"And you think this can make up for it. It can't. Nothing ever will."
He looked at the bird, and, for the first time, it chirped. Qrow frowned, staring at it more intensely, then kicked the counter.
"Whatever. Your time's over," he muttered. "You're gonna be useless soon, mark my words."
The bird chirped again, then flew away, leaving by an open window at the back of the bar. Qrow shook his head feverishly and bent forward, searching for another bottle. When he found one, he didn't even take the time to identify what it was before opening it and raising it high.
"Here's to you, sis."