"Lord, grant me the strength to accept the foolishness of Ruby, the courage to keep up with Yang, and the wisdom to never underestimate the two of them together."

Ruby snorted beside him. "I don't think that's how the saying goes, Uncle Qrow. Also you're not religious."

"No? Well it damn well should be. Ah shit. Don't repeat that word, Rubes. Or that one."

She nodded seriously and mimed zipping her lips. "I'd never."

Uh huh. Sure.

Qrow pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to juggle his bag, uniform, and Ruby's hand in his, all while keeping an eye on Yang a few paces ahead. Ever since turning fifteen she'd insisted on walking alone, claiming that hand-holding while crossing the street was for babies. He'd honestly expected a blow up from Ruby about how she wasn't a baby, but bless the girl, she had no intention of growing up any time soon. Ruby just explained that now she had Uncle Qrow all to herself during their walks and—bless Yang too—she'd looked crestfallen before trying to cover it up. Qrow was mentally preparing himself to accept whatever feeble excuse she eventually came up with to start holding his hand again.

On cue Yang snuck a look back at them, as if reassuring herself that they were both still there. Qrow cocked an eyebrow and Ruby waved.

"She's silly," Ruby declared.

"Like you're not, kid."

"Hmm."

It was a quiet morning all around, 5:00am and most people were still gearing up for the day. They crossed the final stretch in silence, their pace brisk and shoulders hunched from the cold. It wasn't like they lived terribly far from their cafe (Qrow had paid more than his fair share in both money and favors to secure his apartment), but even five blocks was too much in the heart of December. By the time they made it Qrow was stamping his feet and Ruby was pressed hard against him.

"Quit leeching my body heat, you leech," he muttered, fishing in his pocket for the keys.

"Uncle Qrow, that's redundant."

"Now where'd you hear that word, huh?"

"Battlefield 4 message board," Ruby said promptly, skipping in place. You'd never know it to look at her, but his pint-sized, adorable niece could kick anyone's ass in a first-person shooter—one handed while eating a cookie with her left. Just two weeks ago he'd overheard her telling a terrified customer that she was going to study hoplology in college... and the situation only got worse when Yang crashed into the conversation, loudly declaring that she'd be the first boxer in the region to compete in the Olympics' lightweight class, and win gold, of course. After that the poor guy had taken his coffee and run.

Speaking of his firecracker...

"Where's your sister?" Qrow asked, still rooting past crumpled receipts and old Alco-stat patches.

He felt more than heard Ruby laughing against him. "Um... trying to land you a date?"

What?

Qrow's head shot up and—fuck—there was Yang, leaning casually against the cafe door and—FUCK—chatting with Ozpin. The man looked stunning in a slick peacoat, covering a green turtleneck and brown scarf. His hair was an artful mess from the wind and as Yang spoke he titled those ridiculous glasses down, giving the impression that whatever she had to say deserved the upmost attention and respect. Qrow would have loved the guy just for that, looks and intelligence aside.

He might have spent more time just savoring that image—Ozpin lit by the early morning light, cheeks red from the cold, the faintest dusting of snowflakes on his shoulders—if the idea of the two of them conspiring wasn't absolutely horrifying.

Qrow kept himself steady on Ruby's shoulders and lost all sense of propriety.

"Yang, no!" he hollered.

She just grinned cheekily as Ozpin startled.

"Yang, YES!"

Qrow was still seething to hide his blush as he ushered the three of them inside. Damn his pale complexion. When he felt like his circulatory system wasn't going to betray him any more, Qrow turned and pointed sternly to the jar on the counter, voice pitched low so Ozpin wouldn't hear.

"I don't know what you said to him, Yang," he growled, "but whatever it was deserves a donation."

"Uh, talking about the weather is a crime now?" Yang's expression said it all though and the dollar she slipped out of her jean pocket was a full-blown admission of guilt. Qrow closed his eyes as it fluttered in with the rest of the change.

"I don't want to know what you said, do I?"

"Probably not, no."

"Jesus."

"That's three," Ruby chirped, poking him hard in the ribs. She already had her apron on and was jogging back to the kitchen as Qrow rolled his eyes, snatching a couple of quarters to add to the collection. It was less of a "Swear Jar" and more of a "Be a Better Person Already" jar. He didn't know what they'd be spending the money on yet... probably a meager donation to the kids' college funds. Not that a handful of change was going to pay for that little expense.

Qrow winced. It was too early for that shit.

"Get to work," he said, shoving Yang playfully. She shot off a sarcastic salute and ran after Ruby.

"It is good to have them back."

"Fuc—!" Qrow cut himself off just in time, whirling to find Ozpin a step behind him. The man raised his hand placatingly, the smallest smile tugging at his lips.

"My apologies. I didn't mean to startle you."

"And yet you always do, Oz..."

It was true and at this point Qrow suspected it was just a fun game for Ozpin—with him as the victim. The man had an inhuman talent for sneaking around silently, to say nothing of his ability to seemingly appear and disappear at will. Too many times Qrow had turned to find not just some guy suddenly standing too close, but the fucking hottest guy in the city of Remnant. Honestly, that's what was giving him the daily heart attacks. No one should look that fucking polished at 5:20am.

Qrow caught a whiff of Ozpin's cologne and nearly groaned.

"How do you even do that," he said instead, moving behind the counter. Best to get some distance between them. "I swear you're half cat or something."

"Only as much as you are half bird." Ozpin waved him off before Qrow could contest that. "Merely practice, I assure you. It does come in handy when one is corralling the young and exuberant."

Qrow started up his machines, pausing only long enough to ensure Ozpin wanted his usual. A quick nod and glance told him to make it a large this time. Long day ahead then. "You're telling me. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled the girls are out for the holidays, but they can be a real handful most of the time."

As if on cue a clang and a shriek sounded from the kitchen, causing Qrow to pause in his work. There was silence, tense and nervous, before some conspiratorial muttering was heard, the distinct sound of Yang cursing (Qrow made a mental note to make her pay up), and then another clang, this one even louder than the first. Ozpin and Qrow exchanged a look as the proverbial dust settled.

"Everyone alive in there?" he yelled.

"Yes, Uncle Qrow!" came two voices in tandem and he scoffed, continuing with the drink. Across from him Qzpin pressed a hand delicately to his mouth.

"Are you sure you should be giving them access to fire and complex machinery?" he said, clearly hiding a laugh.

"Honestly? No. Though I'm not the one who chucked them off a cliff..."

"You know very well I had no knowledge of how steep that hill was. I've assured you time and time again that I will no longer supervise sledding."

"Pity. Pretty sure that broke Ruby's heart along with her wrist."

Ozpin winced, though it didn't hold the guilt that it had two years before and Qrow was glad of it. It had honestly been an accident, and despite the pain Ruby had been positively delighted in the ER, bouncing and bragging about the air they'd achieved; how Yang had managed to catch the whole thing on video. Hell, Ozpin had paid the medical bills, apologizing profusely for letting such a thing happen on his watch, and despite Qrow's assurance that this was Ruby's fourth broken bone overall, his expression hadn't lost that haunted look until Ruby herself had come up and asked him to sign her cast.

It was little moments like that one that Qrow treasured the most. Sure, he'd panicked embarrassingly at the time... but looking back, it was those times that made Ozpin feel like family. He was glad they could joke about it now.

"Your hot chocolate, sir," he said, eyes alight with mischief. Let hell freeze over the day Qrow Branwen didn't tease Ozpin about his drink of choice.

"Thank you," he said with dignity and slipped a ten across the counter. When Qrow handed him his change he was surprised to see Ozpin dropping it into their jar.

He shrugged. "For arriving so early. You really shouldn't indulge me as you do, Qrow."

"Don't be stupid. I'd do anything for you."

The second the words were out Qrow wanted to snatch them back, but all Ozpin did was smile, ducking his head in an almost shy gesture.

"I see," he murmured cryptically and strolled to his usual table.

Shit. Just god fucking damn.

Qrow ran a hand up through his hair, sucking in a deep breath and blowing it out through his nose. He wanted his neck and cheeks to stop burning already. Hell, he wanted a drink. There was actually a little bottle tucked down behind the napkins and syrup... but no, not with Ozpin here. Certainly not with the girls in the back.

Qrow settled for another deep breath.

"You guys almost finished back there?" he called. "Crowd's gonna start coming in real soon."

"Uncle Qrow! We don't even have the batter done!"

"What? Haven't you broken the space-time continuum yet? What am I even paying you girls for?"

"You don't pay us!" Yang howled and Qrow chuckled, enjoying the old back and forth. He caught Ozpin shaking his head with amusement.

His words might as well have been a spell though because the next moment the little bell above their door rang and people started filing in, everything picking up the pace the longer the morning went on. Qrow always hated the initial rush, if only because people got damn nasty if they deemed him too slow. It wasn't his fault he had to man the drinks and the register, that the girls had their hands full making treats and hiring anyone else was just something they couldn't afford. Ozpin lifted his head at one point, silently offering to help out, but Qrow just waved him off. Pride was a powerful thing nowadays. Besides, the man had more than his share of work with grading and lesson plans. Kids might be out of school, but the teachers never slept.

It was the familiar faces that kept Qrow going over the next few hours, the ones who called him by name, waited patiently for their drinks, and gazed on Ozpin with a certain level of fondness, as much a fixture of the coffee shop as the chairs and the tabletops. Qrow had just finished a six drink order for someone heading into work when he looked up and found a familiar head of blonde hair bent over the counter, rummaging in his register.

Qrow pursed his lips. "Glynda. That's called stealing."

"Don't insult me," she muttered, still pulling bills out one-by-one. "You've got your tens mixed up with your twenties. Honestly, Qrow, how do you manage to get anything done around here?"

James was behind her, lifting one forearm crutch to rub wearily at his eyes. A mop of curly red hair snuck out from behind his one leg.

"She's doing it again," the voice whispered cheerfully.

James sighed. "So I noticed. Glynda, really. Must you micro-manage everything?"

"When all of you are so useless? Absolutely."

"I take offense to that!" Ozpin called and everyone in-the-know side-eyed him.

James, like Ozpin, was a headmaster in his own right, running the Atlas Military Academy just a few blocks down from Beacon. Funny, because despite the close proximity the two schools couldn't have been more different. James drew on what he'd lost during the war, both physically and spiritually, attempting to harden his kids for whatever life might throw at them. Heavily influenced by a peaceful background, Ozpin rejected violence whenever possible and was a firm believer in letting children maintain their innocence for as long as they could—yes, even the college students. There was a lot of 'kids will be kids' justification over there, as well as blind eyes turned when things got out of hand. All sorts of crazy rumors came out of Beacon Academy and everyone from the average Remnant citizen to the educational board questioned how Ozpin was still in business.

The answer was simple, of course. Glynda had the... dubious honor of being his deputy headmistress.

"Done," she announced, closing the register and snatching the eggnog latte Qrow had already made. Glynda raised it in a toast. "My fee," she said and sauntered over to join Ozpin in whatever the hell it was teachers did at 7:00am.

Qrow looked back at James. James looked at Qrow. There were simply no words to sum up Glynda Goodwitch.

"Black?" he asked instead, gesturing to the pot.

"And a peppermint hot chocolate," James added. "Small."

"Right. Ruby! Penny's here!"

There was a single beat before an explosion sounded behind him and—quite practiced in this art—Qrow dodged the cyclone that was Ruby Rose as she came barreling out of the kitchen. Half covered in batter and what looked like coco powder, Qrow wondered idly what the hell they were baking today, but then Ruby was vaulting right over the counter, coaxing the shyer girl out from behind James' leg.

"Penny!" Ruby squealed it like they hadn't seen each other in months. Rather than, you know, less than a day. "You're finally free!"

"I am, and salutations. I have brought you this." Penny deposited a solitary earring in Ruby's hand before leading her firmly back into the kitchen, explaining succinctly that she needed to finish her work before they could play and Penny would assist her in this process. Ruby nodded, tucking the earring safely into her pocket. The two girls' chatter cut off abruptly as the door closed.

"I'll bring you your drink when I'm done," Qrow said to James. "And Penny her hot chocolate. Go on, go sit already."

An hour, two hours of chaos and then suddenly the cafe quieted down, a few stragglers here and there, but mostly just his regulars enjoying the day. Qrow was damn lucky to have gotten a space right between the two schools—and no, it wasn't just for the business. He had a strange compilation of friends here: Glynda bent seriously over some sort of budget sheet, her hair now piled up hazardously in a bun; James on one of the second-hand couches with his bad arm support on the pillows Qrow had gotten him; Penny now back and happily talking about the new computer game Ruby had promised to teach her. Ruby herself was nestled in the corner with her book, taking a much needed break. She'd come out promptly at 8:30 with a collection of cookies, brownies, and rolls to sell throughout the day, the latter sculpted into some strange, grim looking creatures. Honestly, that girl's imagination was wild.

And Yang...

Well. That explained a lot.

"Concerned?"

Qrow didn't jump at Ozpin's voice this time, but that was only because he'd spotted his reflection in one of the machines. Still, the man stood agonizingly close, far closer than even he had a tendency to. Not that Qrow was complaining. He shifted his weight slightly and suddenly his back was very nearly pressed up against Ozpin's chest. He could just make out the feeling of their shirts brushing together.

"Me? Nah," Qrow said, keeping his voice low. "I figured it was something like this. She's been going through an 'independent' stage lately, you know?"

"I do indeed."

They turned to find Yang tucked into the corner on one of two identical chairs, a small table between them... and Blake Belladonna occupying the second seat. She'd arrived soon after James and, as usual, had latched onto Yang like a particularly prickly bramble. Qrow had nothing against the girl; was glad they'd found a friend in one another, someone to confide in…though even he, sarcastic and biting as he was, thought that Blake could stand to smile a little more—

—kind of like she was now.

That corner of the coffee shop was always cramped, but the chairs didn't need to be thatclose together. The girls' knees were touching. Their hands fiddled with their jeans like they wanted to intertwine; their heads bent conspiratorially, arched and titled as if preparing for a kiss.

Qrow snorted. "Damn kids probably think they're being subtle." Lost in thought, he slowed in cleaning a glass, his movements growing languid. Not because Qrow was worried about Yang dating, or even having sex. Girl knew how to handle herself and she was smart about it too. No. It was just...

"You ever think about it, Oz?" he asked, nodding at the girls. "Finding something like that?"

Qrow didn't turn to look at him—honestly wouldn't have been able to if he'd tried—but he could still feel Qzpin: the steady rise and fall of his chest, as gentle, powerful, and everlasting as the sea.

"I sometimes wonder if I haven't already," Ozpin murmured. It was so quiet that Qrow almost didn't hear. Ozpin rested his hand briefly on Qrow's shoulder before walking away.

…what?

And it took a serious dose of self-condemnation, three more drink orders, and a quick nip from his flask for Qrow to even begin theorizing what the fuck that was supposed to mean.