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Qrow grimaced as he shoved the rickety door open, giving the room a displeased scowl as he took it in. He hated this cabin back when he used to have to stay here with his father for the summer. Part of the agreement between his parents when they split because lawyers and court were too much effort for his mother to go through to keep them away from the bastard. As long as she didn’t have to deal with it, then she didn’t care. She hadn’t particularly cared when he and Raven had packed up and run off either, though she had called on them when she fell terminally ill. Raven had hung up as soon as she realized who had come calling for help and Qrow had been sorely tempted to but he figured that while she hadn’t really taken care of them in any way that had mattered, she had given them enough financial freedom with what she’d had that they’d been able to live in motels instead of on the streets when they’d run away and that at least deserved something in return.
It wasn’t even something he could regret because he’d only had to tend to her for a couple months before she’d passed and he’d learned that since he’d actually answered her, he’d been named the sole inheritor of everything she’d owned. Which, apparently included his father’s old cabin because his parents hadn’t ever officially divorced or changed their paperwork before his death. He didn’t even understand why she’d kept the place and moved out here instead of keeping the home she’d had in the city. Probably something to do with the “fresh air” and wanting to get away from the crowds. Bit inconvenient for getting prescriptions but it was worth it for the peace and quiet.
Honestly, he liked the solitude.
The only reason he hated the cabin was because of the memories he had of his father but if he could fix it up and change all the furniture, he could probably stand to live here. It was in better condition than his shitty apartment even with the repairs it needed and he wouldn’t have to keep putting up with his even shittier landlord. And honestly, he’d already overcome most of his hate of the place while taking care of his mother. It wouldn’t be hard to overcome the rest of it now that he could change whatever he wanted. He’d already gotten a truck to haul out the stuff he didn’t want, one of which was a huge torn up couch that was shoved into a corner. According to the old woman it was for a big dog that occasionally came by.
Qrow was fine with having a sometimes dog but the couch definitely needed to be changed. Not only was it torn up but it smelled awful and he didn’t think it was the dog’s fault. He’d leave the doggie doors both at the back door and on the one bedroom that seemed to be set up for the dog as well. The mattress on the floor in there might get changed to something new too. He hadn’t decided yet. The mattress didn’t smell the way the couch did but it was a little ratty and had stains Qrow didn’t want to think about on it. Besides, dogs had a keener sense of smell. So just because he couldn’t smell anything, didn’t mean the dog couldn’t, right?
Qrow paused in gathering up stuff he was planning to get rid of, shaking his head as he realized that he was trying to justify to himself getting better things for a dog he didn’t actually own. If he wanted to get the dog better things for when it was around then he could, and would, and there was no one to justify it to. Maybe the dog would even decide to stick around more if it liked what he left out for it. He’d always wanted a dog, it’s why he’d thought Tai getting Zwei for Ruby was a great idea. It gave him the chance to play with the pup when he was over, since he wasn’t allowed pets in his building, and it made Ruby ecstatic. Win-win in his mind.
Qrow was already feeling better about things now that he had a plan in mind and a possible chance to gain company if he could earn the dog’s trust. He knew exactly what he wanted to get to deck out the place now that the estate had been cleared and since he had helped Ruby spoil Zwei he knew what kind of dog toys he could get for the one running around. Getting everything out on his own would probably be a hassle he’d hate but it was better than calling in someone else to help. He could manage it, he’d been managing on his own since he’d chosen to come here anyway. He’d be fine.
~
There was a tremendous sense of accomplishment as Qrow settled onto the couch he had gotten for himself after the last day of settling in. He still hadn’t gotten a good look at the dog, just like when he had been caring for his mother. He heard it occasionally but he was still waiting to see it. As far as he could tell, the dog liked what Qrow had done for him at least. The blankets on the new bed were obviously slept on, so were the ones on the couch. The water he left out had obviously been drank. He didn’t put any food out since he never knew when the dog would be around to eat it. Hell, he didn't even know if it would eat it considering it seemed to hunt for most of it’s food.
The last thing Qrow had to do was make the trip back into the city to go shopping and pick up his prescription and anything else he might need and then he’d be able to stay out here for at least a couple weeks at a time without needing to go back. It was going to be a bit of an adjustment planning his trips out and accounting for travel time but he could do it. He’d have to use his jeep, because there was no way he’d be able to carry enough on his motorcycle but he was looking forward to exploring a bit more around the cabin. He hadn’t been allowed to go far as a child and when caring for his mother, he’d never had the time. Theoretically he could have while setting up the cabin but he’d wanted to get the work done first. The solar panels had needed replacing and he’d had to check both the main generator and the back-up generator to be sure they weren’t in need of replacement too. The filter for the water had still been good but he’d gotten a back-up one so that he was ready when it did need replacing since the water came from the river.
There was a quiet shuffle that started to rouse him, the click of nails on the floorboards and then another shuffle and Qrow sighed. He was familiar with those noises. Either the dog had been inside his room and had just left or it had come inside and gone to it’s room. If he’d been awake enough to listen closely enough he’d know which but he’d been too far asleep to notice. Either way he decided to take the moment of being awake to shut down the lights and move to the bedroom to sleep, slowing a step as he passed the dog’s room. So far he hadn’t gone into it when he knew the dog was inside, worried about provoking a territorial response, even if it would have given him an easy glimpse of it. Figuring it would be best to keep with that in the name of safety, Qrow went into his room and got ready for bed so he’d be ready to make the trip the next day.
~
Qrow kicked his foot as something nudged it, pulling the pillow tighter over his head to block out the light. The muscles of his back twitched when he felt hot air moving over his skin, not quite enough to wake him fully until something cold and wet touched his ribs. He yelped, jerking away, the pillow falling away to put him face to muzzle with a pair of intense blue eyes. Qrow swallowed, eyes wide as he realized what was staring at him, heart racing as the predator stared at him curiously.
His mother was a complete fool is she hadn’t been able to recognize a fucking wolf and misidentified it as a dog.
Or, more likely, she hadn’t cared that it was a wolf and called it a dog anyways.
Gods he hated her.
The wolf shifted, black fur and silver streaks rippling with the movement, locking Qrow’s attention back on to it as it sniffed along his side, ending with a lick to his hair before it left the room, nails clicking down the hall at a casual trot. Qrow fell back to the bed, hands covering his face as he calmed his racing heart back down. Well, if the wolf had been living with his mother whenever it wanted for years without an issue and it seemed to accept him as the new homeowner then there was no reason to start panicking now, no matter how fucking huge the thing had been. It had been coming and going for over a month now without his mother around. If it didn’t like him, he’d have known by now.
Qrow flung the covers off of himself, going about his usual routine while trying not to be hyper aware of the wolf. He slowed a step as he passed it on it’s couch on his way to the kitchen for breakfast. The wolf lifted it’s head as he passed, piercing blue watching his every step and nearly distracting him from the obvious sign that it was a male wolf. He tried his best to go about his day as he normally did, fixing up his food and getting ready to go to his office for work. At one point the huge black wolf had come in to watch him for a bit and without even thinking about it, he’d held out his hand. He felt almost an immediate wave of regret because he was way too used to Zwei, but the wolf nudged his head under his hand and Qrow let out a breath, scratching gently behind his ears. The wolf let out a pleased rumble before he shook his head and left the room, probably going back to his couch to sleep more.
Qrow felt some of the tension he’d been carrying since that morning ease out and he turned back to work able to focus more easily now that he felt like he’d reached a familiar understanding with the wolf. That understanding seemed to be a lasting one as the wolf stuck around instead of vanishing like he had in the past and Qrow wondered at some point if it was because of the new things he’d gotten for him. Whatever the case the days turned to weeks and he found them falling into a routine, with him buying additional meat to give the wolf since he seemed to be going out to hunt less often.
“We need a name for you.” The wolf had come to visit him in his office again when he made the idle comment.
The wolf tipped his head at him and left the room and Qrow turned back to his work. An idea came later that night when he went to the kitchen and saw the colorful magnetic letters Ruby had given him on the fridge. He hardly ever paid attention to them and he wasn’t sure what about it had caught his eye this time but “James” was spelled out messily on the door, the wolf sitting nearby while it waited for food.
“How about James?” The wolf’s tail swished with a small quiet woof of approval as he put the food down and he smiled. “James it is then.”
~
Life with James was surprisingly easy and comfortable. He had to have been domesticated as a pup or something cause it was the only way Qrow could figure would explain his behavior. Qrow was almost surprised at how fast they’d managed to find the comfortable routine they’d fallen into from the earlier days, with James going out to hunt and do wolf things whenever Qrow needed to make a trip into town. James was still out from his last trip when Qrow got home and started putting things away. He put the new bottle he’d bought as reinforcement for the ordeal of going through a trunk of his father’s on the table and then made it into his bathroom seconds before his reminder alarm went off for his injection. After cleaning up and putting things away he made his way back to the living room, taking a deep breath as he walked up to the trunk. He stared at it for a good minute before his eyes flicked back over to the whiskey on the table.
He’d cut down on a lot of his drinking. Not quit entirely but got it under control which was just as good in his opinion. It was why he’d only got the one bottle, because if he’d gotten more to go through for sorting this junk, he’d have downed all of it and he just wasn’t in the mood to deal with that kind of hangover. Letting out a heavy sigh he cracked the lid off and took a hefty drink before he sat down on the floor, staring at the busted lock. It took seven more minutes of staring and two more deep draws from the bottle for him to actually open the damned thing, the hinges squeaking obnoxiously as he flipped it back.
By the time a soft nose pressed against his neck, sniffing him deeply, Qrow had already downed half the bottle and only managed to sort through less than half the box. His hand absently lifted to brush James’s nose back, not even turning to look at the wolf while he picked through the junk inside. Most of it had been thrown into the trash bag he’d brought with him, the paper thrown into the fireplace to be burned later, but there were a few things he’d decided to keep. Some pictures of him and Raven as kids, a few other things that held more sentimental value than anything else. He came to a stop when he pulled out a circular engraved stone, squinting at the etched lines. He gave a choked laugh, tossing it lightly to test the weight of it. Apparently the laugh was enough to get James’s attention because the wolf left his couch to investigate what Qrow had found. Body warm and thoughts pleasantly numb, Qrow tilted it for him to see, leaning back into the steady presence.
“Old rumor was that my great grandma was a witch. Apparently she used to turn her enemies into animals or something.” He laughed again, tossing the stone into the bag and taking another drink. “Just stupid people coming up with even more stupid excuses for why people were disappearing.” He rolled his eyes, chucking a few more things into the bag. “Not like they could have just wandered into the woods and got lost or killed by an actual wild animal, you know. Gotta blame it on the old lady with the dead husband and single daughter living in the woods.” He snorted derisively, turning his whole attention back to the trunk.
James stayed where he was for a time, side pressed close to Qrow’s back. Qrow expected him to go back to sleep on the couch again so he was mildly surprised when the wolf laid down next to him instead. He stopped and carded a hand through the thick fur for a few minutes, taking comfort in the silent presence before he went back to his sorting and drinking. By the time the trunk was empty, the bottle was too and Qrow had slumped over to bury his face in James’s fur, too tired and wrung out emotionally to make the trip back to his room to sleep. At least James didn’t seem to mind Qrow falling asleep on him. Qrow regretted it a bit in the morning though when he woke up with both a hangover and a sore body from sleeping on the hard floor with his back on at an odd angle to lean on James.
Something shifted after that night though.
Qrow woke up with James either in bed beside him or slightly on him more often than he woke alone. The first few times he was confused and considered trying to shoo James back to his own room but honestly, Winter was coming and even with the heating, he got cold at night. James kept him warm, so Qrow saw no reason to stop him. Especially when the cuddles were nice. So instead, he started letting James join him from the start and curled up with him on the couch during the day when he wasn’t working. It was nice to have someone to curl up with and things shifted even more when one day, James brought Qrow a brush and stretched out next to him.
Qrow smiled as he brushed out the thick fur, enjoying the peacefulness of the repetitive motion. It became a regular part of their new routine and Qrow took it as the sign of trust and affection he was pretty sure it was supposed to be. His knowledge of wolves probably wasn’t as extensive as it should be considering he lived with one but he’d never been motivated enough to actually go looking for more information. He knew enough to make their arrangement work and that was fine with him. It was less lonely with James staying so close to him though it didn’t do much for the other kind of loneliness but Qrow was used to ignoring that one.
~
The beeping of the alarm made Qrow look up from where he’d been engrossed in reading, reaching over to shut it off. He stretched as he stood, James looking over at him before settling his head back down when he left the living room. He’d been living with Qrow long enough to have learned what that alarm meant. The procedure of injecting himself was old enough that it didn’t take long. He sighed, grimacing slightly when blood trailed down his thigh afterwards, grabbing a tissue to swipe it up before it dripped on the floor. There was the rushed pads of soft footsteps and then James was in the room, head shoved between his knees to sniff at the blood.
Qrow flushed at the sudden proximity, the way the wolf’s breath ghosted over his inner thighs. The heat of it that he could feel even through his underwear. Clearing his throat nervously he placed a hand on James’s head and pushed lightly, realizing that this hasn’t happened since he’d started living with Qrow full time, or at least, not while he was still in the house.
“It’s fine. Happens sometimes. I’m just… tense. That’s all.” Blowing out a deep breath, Qrow nudged the wolf farther back so that he could stand, scooting around the large body to reach the bathroom.
Qrow was used to James lurking around while he changed but it felt different when he was still wound up from the breath against him. He did his best to ignore it, going through the motions and trying to pretend intense blue eyes weren’t watching his every move. Honestly, he needed to finally do something about it but even though James was just a wolf and one he’d gotten used to being around, it felt… weird to do it while he was watching.
The shower curtain, despite how thin and flimsy it was, gave him a false sense of privacy and allowed him the chance to slide his fingers down, slipping between the folds to curl inside. Qrow sighed at the slightest bit of relief he felt from even that small touch. He’d been ignoring his body’s demands for far too long, putting it off every time in favor of having James with him for warmth. His fingers gathered the growing slick and spread it a bit as he leaned against the wall, letting the water run down his back. The heel of his palm ground against his clit, drawing a whine out of him. He leaned more heavily on the wall, back curling as he tried to reach the angle he needed but he couldn’t. Not standing up. He spent several long minutes futilely trying anyway.
Eventually Qrow hissed out a breath of frustration, free hand clawing at the tiles while he flexed his fingers, hand pressed tight to keep the pressure up on his clit. He just couldn’t get the angle he knew he needed to hit the spot inside that he was reaching for in the confined space. With an irritated growl, Qrow pulled his hand free and shut off the water, grabbing a towel to do a quick dry off with. He stormed back into the bedroom, body burning with need, letting the towel fall to the floor besides James. Determinedly ignoring the watching wolf, Qrow flung himself down onto the bed, the pillows giving him the leverage he so desperately needed as his fingers pressed back inside, thumb brushing roughly against his clit. Belatedly he wished he’d grabbed a toy or two first to fill the empty feeling but then he curled his fingers just right, thumb rubbing hard, and he didn’t care anymore. Not now that he could actually reach what he couldn’t before.
He was too worked up to make it last the way he usually did, too on edge after putting it off for so long but he knew himself well enough to get himself up to the edge, unable to hold himself from falling. His orgasm tore through him, leaving him shaking and yet still wanting more while his clit throbbed and he clenched around nothing. He sighed, wiping his hand on his sheet and threw his other arm over his eyes. He was too tired to go again and definitely too tired to get up to clean himself. He’d regret it when he woke up but he could already feel sleep creeping in and he couldn’t bring himself to care.
The shifting of the bed dragged him back to wakefulness just before something slick slid up his thigh. A confused noise left him as he lifted his head and looked down, squeaking in startled alarm to see James’s head between his legs, pink tongue bathing the mess from his sensitive skin. He fell back with a shaky moan when James’s tongue glided over his folds, smoothing over his throbbing clit in a way he’d forgotten the feel of with how long it’d last been.
He knew he should push James away again, like he had earlier. He should get up and clean himself properly. He should get dressed and sleep alone in his bed.
He spread his legs farther as James nudged in more, broad furry shoulders forcing his knees wide to make room. A desperate noise was wrenched out of his throat when James's tongue lapped inside him shallowly, his hips flexing to chase after the feeling. He felt the wolf pause, like he was considering the noise and then a wet nose was pressed against his clit, teeth against his folds, as the tongue delved deeper. James’s tongue reached deeper than anyone else’s he’d ever been with, curled in a way no human could ever manage, and Qrow could feel another orgasm building, especially with the way his nose kept nudging his clit. The wolf’s sharp teeth dug into his sensitive skin, not breaking it but Qrow knew he could if he chose to. The edge of danger had his hand curling tightly in the sheets, breath leaving him in heavy pants.
His fingers itched with the desire to reach down into James’s fur but he wasn’t sure how the wolf would react to the touch. His fists twisted in the sheets, back arching as he tried to press closer, tried to get James to reach even deeper as he got closer. He felt like he was on fire, clenching down whenever James’s tongue hit that sensitive spot inside of him. He was close. So, so close, he just needed something a little- Qrow shrieked when his squirming caused the tip of one one James’s fangs to scrape over his clit, knees clamping down on the furry body while James hungerly lapped up everything he had to give.
Qrow whined as James kept going, pressing in close to reach as deep as he could to clean him completely until Qrow was scooting back on the bed to try to get away. James crawled on the bed after him, hardly hindered at all by the hand Qrow was trying to push him away with, though he did move to licking clean the pale thighs instead. Qrow sighed in relief, feeling much more satisfied than he had with his own fingers, and sank back down to sleep when James finally decided he was done and laid down on his side of the bed. He threw his arm over the large body, curling close as his skin cooled in the aftermath.
The full reality of what had happened was starting to set in but Qrow was too tired to deal with it.
He hadn’t had a real relationship in nearly a decade, hadn’t been with anyone in over a year, and despite him being a wolf, the living situation with James was the most peaceful and happy he’s been since he was a child. It’s not like there was anyone around to know what was going on anyways. The closest neighbors were over an hour drive away and Tai and the girls only came around every few months. It was nice to have someone clean him up instead of expecting him to get up and do it himself. It was wonderful to have someone else take care of him, even if James was a little intense. He could get used to it, especially since it seemed like the wolf enjoyed the taste of him.
Depressing as it was, this thing with James, if it did become a regular thing, was probably the best relationship he’d ever had. As sleep pulled him under, Qrow couldn’t help thinking that honestly, he wouldn’t mind if it did become a regular thing.
~
After one too many times of being woken up by James trying to rip his underwear off with his teeth, Qrow just took to sleeping naked. It wasn’t like he was going to get cold with the wolf sharing his bed anyways and he'd rather save his clothes. Besides, he had nothing against waking up to a muzzle forcing itself between his thighs so a tongue could lap at him. He’d severely underestimated when he’d thought that James merely enjoyed the taste of him. The wolf seemed to love the taste of him and Qrow was woken up to James getting his fill more often than not. Went to bed that way too, though Qrow couldn’t really complain.
He woken alone that day though, James having gone out the night before to do his own hunting while Qrow went to the town for his usual run.
James still wasn’t back by the time he’d gotten back and Qrow was feeling antsy, so he went to his bedroom and kneeled down to pull the mostly ignored box of toys out from under his bed. He hadn’t had much cause to use it since James had started taking over in his bed but with the wolf out, Qrow was once again left to his own devices. He pushed the toys around, looking for something, anything that drew his interest. When nothing caught his eyes, he huffed, grabbing something at random and stipping down to crawl into bed. His nose crinkled at the coldness of the lube, used to the heat of James’s mouth now, but he slid his fingers down and in anyways, feeling it warm quickly inside him. The bullet vibrator clicked to life and he pressed it to his clit, squirming at the vibrations of it. He reached deeper, missing the feel of James’s tongue desperately as he tried to recreate the feel. The tension inside him built, the fire racing through his veins as he clenched around his own fingers.
It wasn’t enough.
Growling, Qrow shut off the little machine and let it drop to the bed, pulling his hand free and shifting to his hands and knees so he could reach the box again. He knew he had something in there that would reach better than his fingers, he just had to pick which one he wanted to use. He was so focused on what he needed, so caught up in trying to figure out which to use, that he missed the soft steps on the floor behind him until a sudden weight on the bed startled a gasp out of him, heavy fur settled on his back as something hot and slick pressed against his folds, seeking. The first reaction he’d had was to try to buck the weight off of him before recognition set it and he stilled, mind a little at war with him again.
It wasn’t any worse than what he was already letting James do to him after all and Qrow was willing to bet it’d feel even better than his tongue. He bit his lip, knees sliding to a more stable position as he took James’s weight on his back.
Qrow panted as his hands gripped the edge of the mattress while James shifted to mount him better, toys immediately forgotten. Claws scratched against the skin of his back and arms but he didn’t care, tilting his hips to help James get in place. As soon as the tip of James’s cock nudged inside him, James’s hips snapped forward to bury himself as deep as he could reach. Qrow let out a shout, arms shaking as he took the wolf in, the stretch burning him in the best way. It had been so long since he’d been with anyone else and James was big. Hot and heavy inside him in all the ways he missed. James didn’t pause once he was inside, starting a brutal pace from the start that had Qrow trembling and moaning below him.
There was a faint worry, briefly existing in the few moments when he could gather his thoughts, that he’d be knocked from the bed with James’s strength. His grip on the mattress was tight enough and his knees were stable enough that the fear couldn’t hold though, especially not when coupled with the way James’s forelegs were curled over his shoulder, yanking him back into each thrust, his knot slamming against him each time. It made him dizzy with the power the large body had over him, how much was inside him. James already reached so deep inside, Qrow wasn’t even certain he could get his knot inside.
He shook as James started to get erratic, frantic, in his movement’s, getting closer to his orgasm but not yet reaching that ledge. He could have tipped himself over it if he was able to reach down between his own thighs but he couldn’t afford to let go with the way James was fucking him. He clenched every time James hit deep inside him, some part of him trying to pull the wolf deeper even if he didn’t think it were possible. James’s panting was loud in his ear as he leaned over Qrow, light growls sending shivers down his spine. James’s thrusts slowed, became more forceful as he tried to get his knot inside.
Qrow whined desperately, hips tipping up and knees widening as he tried to help James as best he could. He braced his hands, pushing back hard into the next thrust and whimpering when he felt the knot pop inside him, hurtling him over the ledge he’d been perched on. He came hard, tightening around James and feeling his knot more keenly while the wolf howled over him with his own orgasm. Qrow trembled as James’s weight rested more on him, pushing a bit to lay them both on their side on the bed. He felt James lick the back of his neck, one leg laying over his waist while they caught their breath.
Sleep was creeping in on the edges when James slipped out of him, drawing another whine at the empty feeling left behind. Qrow shifted to get more comfortable, ready to get a nap in now that they weren’t locked together but he was jerked awake when he felt James shove his nose between his legs, tongue darting out to clean up the mess he’d made. Qrow’s legs tensed, mewling as he fought the need to close his legs against the additional stimulation. He’d learned the first time that James was going to clean him until he felt Qrow was clean no matter what Qrow was ready for. His hand grabbed the pillow under his head as James pushed in, licking him out before he could leak on the covers. Qrow’s thighs trembled as James fit between them, nose pressing against his over sensitive clit as his tongue squirmed as deep as it could reach. His heels dug into the bed as he writhed, knowing another orgasm was going to hit before James was done.
He shrieked,whiting out and coming hard when James nipped his clit for moving too much, back bowing as the wolf’s tongue forced it’s way back inside his clenching cunt. He was breathing hard, shaking all over in the aftermath as he came back to himself to find James had already moved on to cleaning his thighs, meaning he was almost done. Qrow was thankful because he didn’t think he’d be able to hold still if James hadn’t been done and another nip would have been more than he could handle. As James finally took his place beside him, heavy head settling on his chest with one paw, Qrow made a mental note to keep it in mind for the future that James didn’t appreciate it when he moved too much. He’d have to make sure he only shifted that much when he was ready for the “punishment” the wolf decided to give him for not holding still.