Die

Qrow shivered and pulled his coat tight around his shoulders, burying himself deeper in the hood. He barely made out the lights of the house out from the snow tempest, but he could’ve gotten there in a coma. He knew patch well enough by now even in these conditions. Sometimes, the Branwen upbringing had its upsides.     His stiff fingers graped the frigid key and he paused.     He really had no right to return. After how he’d treated her the last time they’d spoken, she’d probably still be pissed at him. Summer was sweet and kind, sure, but he knew she wasn’t one to forgive easily. She’d probably forgiven Raven for leaving by now, but him? Yeah, he wouldn’t be. He’d turned her away when she’d needed him most and hadn’t said anything to her for damn near a year.     It was worse than what his sister had done really…     Sighing, he slid the key into the lock and started to open it, only to hear the sound of breaking pins.     Damn his Semblance.     He looked inside and saw Summer staring out the window at him, Battaglia’s short speak in her hand. Her silver eyes shone in a clear threat, warning him not to come any further. He pulled the hood down and flinched at a particularly nasty gale that tore over him. Damn, he could use something warm to drink.     Thankfully, even in the night, Summer recognised him and pulled the door open. He fished his key out of the knob and gave a wry smile. “You’re gonna have to fix that.” His tone fell flat as she lowered her head and raised her shoulders. His heart dropped through the floor. He hadn’t seen her like this since their early Beacon days.     Ignoring it, he closed the door and removed his sodden coat, wrapping an arm around her. He wince as a flurry of emotions assailed him. Despair, fear, isolation, loneliness, confusion… It was a powerful cocktail and he wasn’t sure what to make of it. It was so similar to what she’d felt last time he’d—     Oh .     He pulled her over to the couch and she buried her face in his chest. He hesitated for a long moment before he pulled her hood down, running a hand through her hair. Tears poured down her cheeks as she clung to him. Her entire body shook and he did his best to ignore the waves of despair and desperation.     Ancestors, he should never have left. Tai was a good man, but he didn’t understand Summer like he did. He was kind of thick when it came to women to the point even Qrow could hardly believe it.     “It’ll be all right, Summer; I won’t leave you this time.” He barely breathed the words and she nodded. The child might not be his but… He’d do what he could. He’d still need to spy for Ozpin, but the man did have Team ORHD. They might not have magic, but they were more than skilled enough. Summer needed him far more.     He left the thoughts to the side, though, and pulled her into his lap. She ragdolled against him. He just closed his eyes and bowed his head, still threading his fingers through her hair. What a fucking nightmare. First his sister, then the woman he loved…     He knew to expect the worst, but this was beyond anything he thought possible. He really was just a bad luck charm, wasn’t he?