Lonely Lullaby
Summary: After a night out with Tai where he shares some important information, Qrow walks Summer home.
Loosely inspired by 'Lonely Lullaby' by Owl City
Pairing: Qrow X Summer
Word Count: 1,254
Warning: none
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“There's no other way to say this than beside the obvious but, Summers pregnant.”
Qrow nearly spits out his beer.
Beside him, Tai nods, lets out a low whistle before he takes another sip from his pint. “That's about the reaction I figured you’d have.”
“But…” Qrow stutters, questions whirling on his tongue. “How?”
Tai looks at him incredulously, raises a brow. “The way all babies are made?”
Qrow makes a face, waves a dismissive hand. “That's not what I meant. I mean…when did you and Summer…?”
He lets the unspoken question hang in the air, looks at the brown liquid swirling in his cup because he can't look at Tai, can’t let his perceptive teammate read his expression.
You already had my sister. Why couldn't you leave Summer for me?
“I guess it just… did,” Tai sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “She’s been helping out ever since Raven… y’know. And the more she’s been around, the more I realized I liked having her around. She made dinner one night after putting Yang to bed, we had a few drinks. It just happened.”
Qrow takes a full gulp, his throat burning as he swallows.
“She’s… fuck, she’s amazing.” Tai sighs, leans against his palm.
You're just now realizing that?
Qrow loved his teammate like a brother but in that moment he wanted to punch the love-dizzy expression clear off Tai’s face.
“Well congratulations.” Qrow says softly. “I’m… happy for you.”
Tai snorts. “Yeah, you seem like it. Come on man, I know it wasn't planned but just think, you’ll be an uncle again.”
Qrow tilts his face, both brows raised. “Really?”
“Who else?” Tai says with a smile. Qrow grins slowly, raises his glass and the two men clink. He orders another round of drinks, slaps Tai on the shoulder. They settle into easy conversation about the baby, naming options if it was a boy or a girl, how Yang would react to being a big sister.
When they settle their tab, Tai loops his arm around Qrows shoulder as they walk, patting his chest. “Thank you for being cool about this man.” Tai says, his voice slippery. “I wasn't sure if… I mean, I never knew if you had a thing for Summer or anything, I didn’t wanna, make shit awkward.”
Qrow feels his face heat and is thankful for the overcast night. “You guys will make great parents.”
Tai beams, his rosy face the picture of happiness.
Qrow has always been better at holding his liquor, and when he walks Tai through the front door of the little cottage, he tries to be as quiet as possible.
“Shhh, you’ll wake Yang up.”
From the couch, a sleepy Summer sits up, rubs her eyes. Her black hair is matted to her neck, sleep lines running up her arm and cheek, and Qrow quirks a brow. If they were having a baby, why wasn't she sleeping in his room?
“Sorry,” Qrow whispers, trying to steady Tai. “I didn't know you’d be out here.”
Summer smiles and stands, slips under Tai’s other arm and supports his weight. Together, they walk him to his bedroom, and he flops hard onto the mattress. Summer bends, unties his shoes before pushing him under the covers. Tai lets out a snore, flips to his side and Summer giggles. From the doorway, Qrow watches her care for Tai, and his chest feels heavy.
Ushering him out, Summer closes the door behind her with a finger to her lips. “I was just here to watch Yang while you two had a boys night.” she says in a whisper. Walking to the front door, she slips on her shoes.
“Are you… going home?” Qrow asks, tilts his head. Summer gives him a bemused look.
“Well, yes.”
Qrow rubs his jaw, grips Harbingers hilt. “Let me walk you home.”
Summer presses her lips together for a moment before she nods and opens the door, waiting for Qrow to follow.
They walk quietly for a few paces, Qrow keeping his eyes trained on the dirt pathway, once again thankful for the overcast night.
“So Tai told me the news.” He says, trying to break the silence. Summer pauses her steps, and Qrow stops, looking back at her. Her hands are clasped and she looks at the floor, and it's then that he notices her fingers shaking.
“He did?” She asks softly, looking up. Qrow nods, leans on his weapon. Summer begins walking again, this time out pacing him, and he has to stride faster to keep up with her.
“That's… great. I just wanted to say that's great.” Qrow says, his feet kicking up dirt.
“Yeah. It's great.” Summer replies, her tone flat. The roof of her house appears in view, the dark red shingles damp from the mist, and she pulls her cloak tighter around her.
As she puts her hand on the doorknob, Qrow clears his throat. “Well, um, goodni-”
“I’m going to say this once,” Summer interjects. With her back to him, Qrow can’t see her face, can’t read her expression. “I’ll say this once, and we’ll never speak of it again. Do you hear me? Never.”
Turning around, he sees her eyes are wet, her lower lip trembling.
“It should've been you,” Summer says, and her voice breaks. “I am over the moon about this, about the baby. And I love Yang, and Tai. I always have. He’s a good man, a good father. We’ll be a family, a family I've always wanted. But it should’ve been you.”
She swipes angrily at stray tears, balls her hands into fists. Qrows throat has gone dry, and he takes a step forward.
“I always thought it’d be you,” she says, her voice quieter than before. “We always… we had something, didn't we? When we were kids?”
He doesn't know if it's her raw honesty or the beer in his gut that makes him react but he nods, his necklace bumping against his chest at the movement.
Summer swallows, nods. “I thought so.” she whispers, looking up at him. “Then why did we never-”
“Because I'm a coward.” Qrow interjects. Summers' brows knit together, and she sniffles before shaking her head.
“No, you’re not.” she tries, and Qrow grinds his teeth.
“I am,” he insists. “If I wasn't, then I wouldn't have lost my chance.”
They're quiet, Summer looking at the ground and Qrow shuts his eyes in wounded frustration, letting out a breath through his nose.
“I lost it, haven't I. My chance, I mean.” Qrow whispers, his eyes still closed. Summer makes a crying sound, and when he opens his eyes her hand is pressed to her mouth, stifling the sound.
And then she nods, and he tastes dejection on his tongue.
“Too little too late I guess.” Qrow says, digs his hands into his pockets.
“I’m sorry.” Summer whispers, and Qrow waves a hand weakly.
“Don’t be, Summer,” He replies, and he tries to smile, tries to offer her comfort without touching her because touching her would hurt more than anything. “Tai says I'm to be an uncle again. And that's… good enough for me.”
Summer wrings her hands. “Will it be?”
He shrugs. “No. But I guess it’ll have to be. Goodnight Summer.”
Qrow turns, begins walking the way he had come. She calls after him, her voice sweet and wavy, but he doesn't respond, doesn't look back. If he did, he might have gathered her in his arms, and done something he could never take back.
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MK intro Withered Rose! Ruby vs the rest of V1 RWBY and JNPR, and her parents maybe CFVY as well
I'm back! And wow, I got a lot of Asks! Lets get them them going!
XXX
V1. Ruby: *Sheathes Crescent Rose* ...Mom?
Ruby (WR): *Twirls crescent Rose and holds it next to her* No, I'm you, Ruby
V1. Ruby: But how? How are you here?
XXX
V1. Weiss: *Uses Glyphs to skate onto the stage* So what am I like in the future?
Ruby (WR): *Sheathes Crescent Rose* You're a lot less of a brat and much kinder
V1. Weiss: That stings but I can understand why you would say that
XXX
V1. Blake: *Swings and lands on stage* You looked like you've been through a lot...
Ruby (WR): *Twirls crescent Rose and holds it next to her* Being in an alternate dimension for forty years will do that to a person
V1. Blake: I can't imagine what you've been through...
XXX
V1. Yang: *Lands on stage with her semblance active* Ok, your my sister from the future, but why are you staring at my right arm?
Ruby (WR): *Sheathes Crescent Rose* Sorry it just... it's odd not seeing the mechanical
V1. Yang: What do you mean the mechanical one!?
XXX
V1. Pyrrha: *summons her spear and shield* Ruby? By the brothers what happened to you
Ruby (WR): *Twirls crescent Rose and holds it next to her* Pyrrha, I'm sorry...
V1. Pyrrha: What do you have to be sorry for Ruby?
XXX
V1. Jaune: *Unsheathes Crocea Mors* So... What are we in the future?
Ruby (WR): *Sheathes Crescent Rose* If you're asking if we're together, we are... we're married
V1. Jaune: O-Oh! Future me is so lucky!
XXX
V1. Ren: *twirls guns as he walks on stage* So, what is the future like?
Ruby (WR): *Twirls crescent Rose and holds it next to her* It's pretty 50/50, but don't worry, you and Nora finally get together.
V1. Ren: *Blushes* I see
XXX
V1. Nora: *Falls onto the stage covered in electricity* I got a few questions about the future
Ruby (WR): *Sheathes Crescent Rose* I can't answer all of them, but ask away
V1. Nora: Do you and Jaune have kids and am I the favorite Aunt?
XXX
Taiyang: *Punches the air a few times as he walks on stage* Summer...? How?
Ruby (WR): *Sheathes Crescent Rose* Dad, it's me, Ruby
Taiyang: Ruby? Gods... you look so much like her...
XXX
Summer: *Unsheathes Axe and takes stance* Who are you? And why do you look like me?
Ruby (WR): *Sheathes Crescent Rose* Mom... is that really you?
Summer: *Shocked* Ruby...? by the brothers, how is this possible!?
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