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To say he was uncomfortable would be an understatement- James Ironwood wasn't exactly used to walking around bars and clubs like the ones he was currently searching through.
James wasn't here to drink, of course- no, he was here looking for his fellow Huntsman, Qrow Branwen.
It was no surprise that Qrow had been bar hopping for the whole night- honestly James was surprised he'd even managed to pull himself together enough to go and see Ozpin a few days ago- but ever since that meeting, the Huntsman had practically fallen off the grid, only managing to send a message to Ozpin here and there reassuring the man that he was still alive.
James had finally had enough of the mans self destructive behaviour- even if he did understand why.
Summer.
It had been a grand total of two months since she'd gone on her last mission- less than a week since Summer had officially been pronounced dead.
Qrow had managed to hold himself together for a few days- long enough to tell Taiyang, to comfort the girls, and to make his way to Beacon Academy.
But, the pressure had finally gotten to him- and he'd snapped.
James was honestly surprised he was still in Vale- he'd half expected the Huntsman to fly off somewhere in a drunken stupor.
Sighing as he left yet another bar without Qrow, James headed in the direction the bartender had seen him stumble off in, once again trying to call him- though James was not surprised when there was no response.
A few people gave the General some strange looks as he walked by, obviously wondering why the General of the Atlas Military was walking around Vale at night, stopping in every bar and club he saw without buying a single drink-
James was so distracted by both his Scroll and and searching for the next bar- that he almost missed it.
A flash of deep red.
James paused, turning to try and locate the pop of colour- and finally, he looked up.
And there was Qrow, sitting dangerously on the edge of the roof of a tall building.
Panic flooded James, and he wasted no time in finding a way up to the roof- beyond glad to find a ladder leading there.
James stared at the man- terrified that if he moved, he'd shock the man and cause him to fall.
"... Qrow?" he called, softly.
Qrow didn't respond- but now that James was standing here, he could hear soft, muffled gasps for air.
James swallowed- he was never very good when it came to... emotional things, but he couldn't just leave- Qrow might do something beyond stupid.
Taking a breath, James slowly walked up to the man, "Can I sit with you?"
For a moment, James didn't think he'd get a response- until Qrow nodded weakly.
James sat down carefully, keeping a comfortable distance between them as he did.
"... Glynda and Oz are getting worried" James sighed, turning to face him, watching Qrow curl into himself, wrapping his arms around his waist.
"T-tell 'em t'stop" he slurred.
"I don't think that will help"
"Why not? I- I don' mat-matter t'anyone" Qrow laughed weakly.
"You matter to me" James sighed, watching Qrow carefully.
Qrow laughed louder at that- self-deprecating and cold.
"Y-You really sh-shouldn'! Y-you need t'ge' be-better taste"
James frowned, shaking his head.
"Considering you're one of the only people who don't find my prosthetics disgusting, I don't think that's possible"
"... Y-you ha-had Summer" Qrow croaked, his voice cracking weakly.
"... Yeah... I did... but I still need you"
"Bu-b-bullshit- y-you got Oz n' Gl'nda"
"And they're great, but I still need you. And I'm not the only one who needs you."
"Who- who the f-fuck else needs me? I'm a f-f-fuckin' curse"
"Off the top of my head? Oz, Tai, Yang and Ruby"
Qrow fell silent, glaring at the ground as his shoulders shook.
"Th-they'd be better off wi-withou' me."
"You think they'd be better off by going through losing you and Summer in less than a month?"
It was harsh- James knew it was harsh- but... it was necessary.
Qrow flinched- looking as if he'd been struck.
"Those girls need you, Qrow- Tai needs you- he's already lost Raven, he's lost Summer- he can't lose you, too. Not now. Not ever. It would break him."
"Stop."
"And what about the girls? They need you! You mean the world to them- they've already lost Summer, you want them to go through that again? You can't possibly want to do something so stupid- you don't want to be the reason they get hurt again."
"Stop it-"
"And what about Oz? You gonna make him lose someone else? He's already lost so much- he trusts you the most out of all of us-"
"SHUT UP!"
Qrow's voice snapped through the air like a bullet- before he dissolved into uncontrollable tears.
"Shut up" he muttered weakly, slumping to his side, leaning heavily against James' side.
James slowly wrapped an arm around Qrow's shoulders, pulling him closer.
"Please don't make me go through this again, Qrow- please don't make me lose someone else- not now, not ever- I can't lose you."
"... I- I'm so-sorry"