A silence fell, thick with unspoken tension. Hyunwoo, who had been quietly listening, finally leaned forward, his voice cutting through the room.
"There's something else you should consider."
Four pairs of eyes turned to him.
"Roman Torchwick," Hyunwoo said evenly. "Right now, he's sitting in a Vale prison cell. That's a mistake."
Ozpin's brows rose slightly. "And why do you say that?"
"Because Vale's security isn't enough," Hyunwoo replied. "Torchwick's too valuable for them to just let rot there. His allies won't leave him behind, and if they move for him, it'll be messy. Too many people could get caught in the crossfire."
He glanced at Ironwood. "He should be transferred. Quietly. Onto one of your ships. Atlas custody is tighter, harder to break. If the enemy tries anything, they'll be walking into a fortress."
Ironwood regarded the boy carefully, his stern expression softening just enough to show consideration. "A calculated suggestion. One I agree with."
Glynda, however, folded her arms, her tone skeptical. "And what happens when the people of Vale realize Atlas has taken one of their prisoners? Our enemies thrive on suspicion. We cannot afford to appear as though Atlas is seizing control."
Hyunwoo met her gaze steadily. "Better a few complaints than a breakout in the middle of the city. If Torchwick escapes here, public trust will collapse anyway."
Qrow let out a low whistle. "Kid's got a point. Can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm siding with him. Torchwick's too slippery to leave in a rickety Vale cell."
He leaned back, flask dangling from his fingers. "Besides, Oz, you know how this works. Bad guys always pull off some grand prison break if you leave things too easy."
Ozpin tapped his cane against the floor thoughtfully, eyes narrowed in that way that suggested he was already calculating every outcome.
"...Very well. I'll allow it. General Ironwood, I trust you can make the arrangements without causing... alarm?"
Ironwood straightened. "Consider it done."
Qrow smirked, tilting his head toward Hyunwoo. "Guess Hyun's kid knows how to play the game after all."
Hyunwoo simply gave a small shrug. "I just don't like unnecessary risks."
Ozpin finally rose from his chair, the faint weight of exhaustion in his movements. His gaze swept across the room, lingering for a moment on Hyunwoo before turning to Qrow.
"That's all for now," he said, voice calm but firm. "Qrow, Hyunwoo—you may both return to your quarters. Glynda and I will continue with General Ironwood regarding the arrangements."
Qrow stuffed his hands into his pockets, already heading for the door with a casual shrug. "Fine by me. Try not to strangle each other while we're gone."
Hyunwoo stood as well, offering Ozpin a small nod. "Understood."
The elevator doors opened with a quiet chime. As the two stepped inside, the heavy atmosphere of the office remained behind them—Ironwood's stiff stance, Glynda's sharp eyes, and Ozpin's thoughtful silence.
Qrow leaned against the wall of the elevator, flask dangling lazily from his fingers. He cast a sideways glance at Hyunwoo, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Not bad, kid. You handled yourself in there better than most full Huntsmen I've seen."
Hyunwoo said nothing at first, eyes fixed on the closing doors. Then, quietly, he replied, "I'm not trying to impress anyone. I just want to do what needs to be done."
Qrow let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Heh. You really are Hyun's boy."
The elevator descended, carrying them both away from the war council above.
The elevator hummed softly as it descended. Hyunwoo leaned back against the railing, glancing at Qrow, who was already tucking away his flask with that same lazy smirk.
"So," Hyunwoo asked, breaking the silence, "where are we going now? Back to the mission?"
Qrow gave a scoff, waving the thought away. "Nah. Not tonight. I've been running around long enough. Think I'll hang out with my nieces first. Ruby and Yang—if you know them."
Hyunwoo arched an eyebrow, lips tugging into the faintest of smiles. "More than you'd expect."
Qrow's smirk widened. "Heh. Figures. So, you wanna tag along, kid?"
Hyunwoo pushed off the railing, sliding his hands into his pockets with a shrug. "Sure. Why not?"
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, spilling them into the quiet, moonlit hallways of Beacon. Qrow jerked his head toward the dorm wings. "C'mon then. Let's go see the girls."
____
The knock on the door was barely three taps before Ruby swung it open, her silver eyes lighting up.
"Uncle Qrow! You're here! And—Hyunwoo too!" She nearly bounced in place, her excitement spilling out like a sugar rush.
Yang leaned casually against her bunk, arms folded as her lilac eyes flicked between the two men. "Well, well... you guys look like you've been having a good talk."
Qrow stepped inside first, smirk firmly in place, hands in his pockets like he owned the room. "Depends on your definition of 'good.' Mostly me finding out how old I'm getting."
Hyunwoo followed, quieter, but his gaze softened a little at Ruby's joy. "Guess I got dragged along."
"Dragged?" Ruby gasped dramatically, then grinned as she tugged Hyunwoo into the room. "Please, you wanted to come!"
The small dorm quickly filled with noise and laughter as Ruby fired up a console. Soon, Ruby Rose, Qrow Branwen, Yang Xiao Long—and even Hyunwoo, though reluctantly at first—were gathered around the screen, controllers in hand.
Qrow leaned back against the wall, telling half-sarcastic, half-grim tales from his last mission, slipping in details about shady contacts, bar fights, and more Grimm encounters than Ruby wanted to hear about.
Ruby gasped and laughed at the right beats, Yang rolled her eyes at Qrow's exaggerations, and Hyunwoo sat with the faintest smile, caught between their chaos and his own thoughts.
For a moment, it wasn't about enemies or missions. Just family—and maybe, a place Hyunwoo didn't mind being part of.
The dorm was buzzing with laughter, Ruby's voice the loudest as she thrashed her uncle in their third round of the fighting game.
"Ha! You're losing again!" Ruby shouted, mashing buttons with ferocity.
"That's called strategy, kiddo," Qrow muttered, but his smirk twitched as Yang leaned over his shoulder.
"More like you don't know what the buttons do."
"Pfft. Don't need to." Qrow flicked the analog stick lazily. "I survived Beacon. I can survive this."
At that, Hyunwoo raised an eyebrow. "Beacon, huh? You used to study here too?"
The question seemed casual, but it made Qrow pause. For the first time that night, his eyes drifted—not to the screen, but to the window, where the moonlight cast long shadows across the floor. He chuckled softly, though there was weight behind it.
"Yeah... a long time ago." He set the controller down, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was part of a team. STRQ. Summer Rose, Taiyang Xiao Long, Raven Branwen... and me."
Ruby's smile softened. She already knew the names, but hearing them spoken by Qrow carried a gravity that never faded. Yang's eyes flickered at the mention of her mother, arms crossing tighter.
"We were reckless, stubborn, and thought we were invincible," Qrow continued, voice distant. "But we were strong. Strong enough to make a name for ourselves across Remnant." He tilted his flask thoughtfully. "Though strength doesn't mean much when the world starts pulling people apart."
The room fell quieter until Ruby, ever earnest, piped up, "But... you guys were still the strongest, right?"
Qrow smirked, shaking his head. "Strongest I've ever seen... well, except for one other bunch." His crimson eyes shifted toward Hyunwoo. "Your old man's team."
Hyunwoo blinked, caught off guard. "My father's...?"
"Yeah. Hyun Kim." Qrow's voice was almost fond now, the sharp edge dulling. "He and his team gave us hell during sparring weeks. Sometimes I wonder if Beacon even survived us. Between STRQ and his lot, it was like having two storms crashing in the same place."
Yang's brows shot up. "Wait—you're telling me there was a team that could match you?"
Ruby gasped, her silver eyes darting to Hyunwoo. "Does that mean your dad was, like... the strongest ever?!"
Hyunwoo let out a quiet breath, a mix of pride and melancholy flickering across his face. "He... never talked about it much."
Qrow leaned back, smirking faintly as he studied the boy. "Figures. Your old man wasn't the type to brag. But between his team and mine, Beacon had its golden years. Strongest teams the academy had ever seen."
Ruby's hands clenched around her controller, determination burning in her gaze. "Then that means Yang and I... we've got a lot to live up to!"
Yang smirked, brushing her hair back. "Bring it on. We'll be the next legends."
Qrow chuckled, shaking his head as he grabbed his controller again. "Don't get ahead of yourselves. You two have a lot to learn before you can even call yourselves Huntresses. But hey—better start somewhere."
"Like by beating you in this game again!" Ruby shouted, already mashing buttons.
Qrow groaned dramatically, while Yang laughed, and Hyunwoo—though quieter—found himself smiling for real. For the first time, the weight of his father's shadow didn't feel so heavy. It felt... like a path.
Ruby was still celebrating her narrow win over Qrow when Yang leaned back against her bed, arms folded, a sly grin spreading across her face.
"Well, well speaking of story... looks like Uncle Qrow's not the only one with stories tonight."
Ruby blinked, tilting her head. "Huh?"
Yang's grin widened. "I'm just saying... I might remember a certain school dance. Ruby all nervous, Hyunwoo showing up at just the right time..." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Kinda romantic if you ask me."
Ruby's face turned beet red instantly. "Y-Yang!"
Hyunwoo, sitting quietly at the edge of the couch, didn't flinch. He glanced at Ruby—who was covering her face with both hands—and then calmly returned his gaze to the screen. His lips tugged slightly upward, not quite a smile, but definitely not a denial either.
"Oh-ho," Qrow muttered, leaning forward with interest, flask dangling from his fingers. "So that's how it is, huh? Kid, you really know your game. Targeting the daughter of a famous Huntress... bold move."
Ruby squeaked. "It's not like that!"
"Uh-huh," Yang teased, poking her sister's cheek. "You didn't look like you were complaining at the dance."
Ruby groaned into her hands. "Why are you like this?"
Hyunwoo exhaled softly, his voice steady. "She's not wrong. Ruby's... different."
The room stilled for a beat, Ruby lowering her hands just enough to peek at him with wide eyes.
Qrow raised a brow, smirking. "Well, damn. Guess he's not denying it either."
Yang burst out laughing, Ruby covered her face again, and Hyunwoo simply leaned back against the couch—composed as ever, though the faintest trace of warmth lingered in his expression.
Ruby peeked between her fingers, mortified. "Please stop talking..."
Qrow leaned back in his chair, smirk deepening as he swirled the flask lazily in his hand. "You've got guts, kid. I'll give you that. But..." His eyes sharpened, the grin thinning into something with a little more weight. "You break her heart, and we're gonna have a problem. Clear?"
The air in the room shifted slightly, Ruby's head snapping toward her uncle. "Uncle Qrow!"
Yang snorted. "Classic. Overprotective uncle routine. Called it."
But Hyunwoo didn't look shaken. He held Qrow's gaze without flinching, voice calm and certain. "Don't worry. I don't plan on hurting her."
For a second, it was silent—Ruby caught between flustered embarrassment and surprise at his sincerity.
Then Qrow leaned back again, a satisfied chuckle rumbling out. "Heh. Guess you've got more spine than most." He raised the flask in mock salute. "Fair enough, kid. Fair enough."
Yang laughed even harder. "Wow, Ruby. First the dance, now a knight in shining armor. You're just full of surprises."
Ruby groaned and buried her face in a pillow. "This is the worst day of my life..."
Hyunwoo allowed himself a quiet chuckle, almost hidden under Yang's laughter and Ruby's muffled protests.
Yang flopped back against her bed, laughing so hard she was nearly in tears. "Oh, Ruby, you're adorable when you're embarrassed."
Hyunwoo just smirked quietly, resting an elbow on his knee. "You're enjoying this way too much, Yang."
Qrow tipped his flask with a crooked grin. "That's her thing. Don't worry, kid—you'll get used to it."
For a while, the dorm was filled with laughter, Ruby still refusing to lift her head. But when she finally peeked out from behind the pillow, her eyes flicked toward Hyunwoo. He wasn't laughing as loud as the others—just smiling faintly, calm and steady.
Ruby felt her chest tighten, and despite herself, a tiny smile slipped through the redness in her cheeks. She quickly ducked back into the pillow before anyone could notice.
Except Yang, who caught it immediately.
"Ohhh-ho-ho." Yang smirked, eyes glinting. "Guess this 'knight in shining armor' really did make an impression."
"Yang!" Ruby's muffled voice squeaked again, but the warmth on her face betrayed her.
Hyunwoo said nothing—only a small shrug, as though he'd already won.
____
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