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bookmarkedinstars · 5 days ago

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FairGame Week day 3:

Duty/Honour | Coffee

A sleeveless arm rests on top of a water cooler, muscles flexing as it bends. Qrow stares, earning a quiet hum from Clover. Red eyes snap back to his face.

"I've been meaning to ask you," Green eyes dance between Qrow and the floor nervously. "Did you maybe want to grab a drink sometime?" Qrow stiffens. He doesn't want to disappoint. Not Clover, but especially not Ruby and Yang... not again.

"I- uh..." His ringed fingers brush the back of his neck, and he offers an awkward chuckle. "Don't really drink anymore. I'm sorry." Clover tries to keep his mouth from falling into a frown. All of the flirty comments, suggestive conversations... was he misreading them all this time?

"No, it's all good!" He offers a smile, his gaze dropping to the floor. A moment of silence passes over them. "Would... would you like to get- uh, coffee sometime?" He lets out an exhale before continuing with a chuckle. "Or was that a hint that I failed to pick up?"

Qrow's eyes widen.

"No, no- Brothers, I'd love to." He tries to hide a smile that begins tugging at his lips. They would have gone sooner if he hadn't been too afraid to ask himself. He's relieved Clover did it first, though the feeling's accompanied by a twinge of guilt. "I think I'm free tomorrow?" He offers. Clover grins with a response.

"I happen to be as well." Qrow gives a short snicker,

"Well, that's lucky, huh?" Clover bites his lips together before parting them with a sly smile.

"Heh, it should be... I'm sure Ironwood wouldn't mind." Qrow laughs, a rough melody that lands softly on Clover's ears. Brothers, we wishes he could bottle the sound to drink later; record it and replay it on loop. Surely, that must be normal to feel about a friendship, right? Although, he's not one to lie to himself. Their friendship evolved into something more quite a bit ago. Casual conversation in common areas turned to late night talks in one another's room. Sometimes one would even wake to find the other, but they'd both be too flustered to say anything more than a thank you for lending a blanket and a pillow. Clover looks down to his scroll, which chimed in his pocket.

"Well, I guess I'll have to talk to you later." He says, straightening himself up with a sigh. "Duty calls." He gestures to his scroll by giving it a light shake in the air.

"Right. I'll uh, see you around." Qrow watches him walk away, admiring everything about him: his movement, his hair-- and his muscles as he smooths it back, the shape of his clothing around his body--

"Subtle." A familiar voice chirps from a little down the hall. He turns to see his yellow-haired niece standing there, one hand on her hip. Qrow lets out a scoff and she starts walking towards him. "Y'know, nothing bad would happen if you just told him how you felt." Qrow leans his back to the wall. "Most of Atlas can already feel the tension between you two."

"You're one to talk, firecracker." He teases with a smirk. "Should I go get Blake?" Yang rolls her eyes and they both sit down on the floor. They sit in the same position, legs bent with arms resting on their knees.

"Oh, shut up. You know I'm right... And you wouldn't dare." They both laugh. Getting unwarranted relationship advice from his niece isn't exactly where he wants to be in life, but so far where has he ever been that he's wanted to be? Besides, he's grateful to spend the time with her. They both-- her and Ruby-- have grown up so fast... faster than they should have.

"Well, we're apparently going out for coffee tomorrow, if you must know." Qrow tells her. "He asked if I wanted to grab a drink, but I- well... you know-" Yang smiles and gives him a gentle nudge.

"I'm happy for you." She looks to him, his gazed fixed on the floor a moment longer before shifting to meet hers. "And I'm proud of you. I know Ruby is too." Something pulls in his chest and he almost starts crying right there. He swallows the rising ball in his throat. It burns like the whiskey he gave up long ago.

"Thanks, kid." He wraps an arm around her and she hugs him. "I love you." She squeezes.

"I love you too." They both close their eyes a moment before she lets go. "Well, that's enough feelings for me. I should get going." Yang grins, Qrow chuckles. "Plus, I told Blake I'd hang out with her tonight." A black brow raises above a red eye.

"Yeah?" Yang stands, scoffs, and looks back towards him.

"Oh, don't give me that look-"

"Nothing bad would happen if you told her how you felt." He teases, tossing her dropped advice back to her. She responds with a very thoughtful one-finger gesture as she descends down the hall.

"I'll think about it." She gives him one last glance before disappearing around the corner. "Oh, and good luck with your date!" She yells. Qrow winces and curses, looking around to make sure nobody was within earshot. Not that nobody knows or, at the very least, suspects. With the shared glances and whispers between the Ace Ops and the hushed giggles between the kids, he's honestly surprised no one's said anything yet. He sighs and stands, making his way to his room to call it a night. Without Clover, unfortunately.

***

Dull crimson eyes blink open to the sound of gentle knocking, greeted by bright yellow sunlight dispersed through the room. Qrow yawns, laying on his bed a moment before throwing the warm blanket off of his body and making his way towards the door. Another short knock sounds before the door opens to Clover's fist raised, which he quickly shifts to a hand running through his hair that falls to the back of his neck.

"Hey, oh- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Qrow blinks the remaining sleep out of his eyes. Clover tries his damned hardest to keep his gaze on Qrow's eyes, but they both catch it slipping downward to his bare chest every few words. "It's just I uh- It's like half past noon, and I wanted to ask you if you still wanted to grab a coffee? Maybe a bite to eat, too?" Oh, Brothers. One day off, and Qrow's already sleeping in hours past his usual waking time.

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry I didn't-" He gathers himself with a breath. "Yes, I still want to." Clover grins, a noticable few inches dropping from his shoulders.

"Don't worry about it, I'm glad you got some rest." A small smile and a creeping blush takes over Qrow's face. He clears his throat.

"I'll uh- be a few minutes?" Clover nods. "Again, I'm so sorr-" A finger on his lips silence him, though quickly retracted. Qrow blinks and closes the door. Men stand on either side with faces coloured a bright red and thoughts racing a hundred kilometres an hour. After a few moments of replaying the previous one, Qrow hastily grabs his clothes from drawers and begins dressing himself. He then disappears into the bathroom connected to his room, greeted by a tired face with messy hair in the mirror. Cold water runs to be splashed in his face and to wet his toothbrush. Minutes pass of tampering with his appearance before he looks and feels acceptable enough to meet Clover, rinsing the stickiness of hair gel off his hands first. He rushes back through his room, grabbing his scroll on his way to the door. It opens to reveal Clover with his hands in his pockets, looking down and twisting his boot on the floor. He looks up with a smile.

"Hey."

"Hey." Qrow echoes. "Sorry to keep you waiting." He steps into the hall, closing his door behind him. They begin walking.

"You apologize a lot." Clover notes.

"Sorr-" A weak chuckle escapes Qrow.

"Well, you don't have to be sorry for anything." Clover offers a reassuring smile, Qrow rubs the back of his neck. They make their way down hallways into a rectangular area. "Stairs or elevator?" Qrow responds with a point of his index finger, and they walk towards the closed doors of a lift. He looks to his left, to the side profile of the handsome brunet beside him whose gaze is fixed on the closed shaft but whose thoughts are elsewhere. With a ding, the door parts open and interrupt the words of Marrow and Elm, who exchange glances between the two standing in front of them and then each other.

"Excuse us," Marrow says with a smirk. The duos swap places; Elm and Marrow stepping out with a smile, Clover and Qrow stepping in.

Silence fills the small elevator, closing the already tight space around them. Touching hands help fight against the walls, a speechless communication to help break the silence. They reach the ground floor.

"So, uh..." Qrow begins. Damn, this is awkward. Still, it's always pleasant to him when it's with Clover. Though, doubt that he feels the same way tugs at corners of his heart and mind. "Where to?" Clover's gaze is fixed ahead. He shrugs as the doors part open once again.

"I guess I should've thought about that when I asked you, huh?" Qrow smiles. "Well, there's a few cafes around here." Clover lists off different coffee shops, tea houses, and bakeries scattered through Atlas as they step outside into the city. Qrow's already heard of them all, but he wouldn't even dream of stopping that beautiful voice from speaking. Besides, it gives him an excuse to stare at his lips as they form various shapes. "What do you think?" It took a moment for Qrow to process the question, shaking off the thoughts that conquered his mind.

"Oh. I- I'm fine with wherever you wanted to go." Clover tilts his head to either side, weighing the choices in his mind. He looks up to his right and points.

"How about here?" Qrow looks over to see a small but comfortable coffee shop, various plants in the window, highlighted by dimly lit warm overhead lights. He nods, smiling and turning to green eyes, anxiously staring.

"Looks good to me..." He hesitates before continuing, with fear that he might be coming off too strong with what he says next, "as long as I'm with you." A smile pulls at two sets of lips. A red blush rushes over Clover's face, so hot he has to turn away briefly. Qrow takes notice. He doesn't tease but rather takes silent pride in his flirtatiousness. They turn towards the door, and Qrow parts it open for Clover to step inside.

It's not very busy inside; only two baristas working the cash register and drink machines and customers scattered throughout tables, chatting with a diverse range of food and drink in front of them.

They take an empty seat, not too close to the window but not too far from the bar. They both look to the table before each other.

"Any idea what you want?" Qrow asks with an awkward chuckle. Clover shakes his head with a smile. "Yeah, me neither." Of all the first dates he's been on, they've never been this... uncomfortable? This... intimate, before. With a deep breath, he finally musters the courage to say,

"Listen, I uh-" He swallows a lump in his throat. Clover tenses. "I'm sorry I haven't been the most direct, and if it hasn't been obvious..." Green eyes shine as his head tilts to listen. Qrow repeats to himself what his niece told him the night before. Nothing bad would happen if you just told him how you felt. "I'm uh- interested in you." He blurts, becoming flustered with anxiety masked as regret taking over him. Clover can't help but smile.

"Oh thank the brothers." He sighs, his hand hesitantly reaching for Qrow's. Fingers interlock. He closes his eyes briefly, correcting himself. "Sorry, I- I'm interested in you too... Have been for a little while, actually." Grins take over their faces as relief and something... new takes over their minds.

"I am paying for you, though." Qrow says, eyes locked on Clover's who responds with a protest.

He silently thanks both the brothers and the sun shining brightly in his heart from the night before for giving him the courage to say the words he's been meaning to say.

Clover recognizes this is more than just his luck, but love, that has landed him in this moment; regardless of how early it may be between them.

They spend their afternoons sharing laughs and forming memories over the warmth of coffee.

I was drunk while writing half of this, so I'm sorry if there's any typos or smth doesn't make sense. Im definitely happier with this than I am with day two, though.

#rwby #rwby fandom #qrow branwen #fanfiction #clover ebi #fair game #fairgameweek2025 #qrow #qrow x clover #yang xiao long #fgw #fgw 2025

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