Qrow would be the first to admit he was drunk.
He would also freely admit he was in a bit of a bad mood.
Naturally though, that didn't stop him in the slightest from dragging his shit-faced self out of his home away from home (re: bar) the second he saw a very familiar Atlesian ship flying through the air.
To which he promptly started chasing after it.
No, that's actually what happened.
He dashed into the street, stumbled really, and one second later, was flying through the air as fast as his wings could carry him.
Now, Qrow would never tell Ozpin this, but there was a very nice side effect to being able to turn into a bird. His avian-shaped metabolism found the alcoholic buzz in his system goddamn euphoric.
So, yeah.
Qrow might have been a little drunk.
And in that drunken stupor, he might have, say, crashed ungracefully into Beacon's beautifully tiled pathway, confusing who knows how many people when the dust settled and revealed a guy who hadn't been there prior.
He also might have decapitated one of the creepy robots that instantly started accosting him.
Honestly, at that point, he forgot what he had initially come to do.
But it was okay, since Qrow was reminded once he caught sight of a very familiar stern-faced white-haired woman. Oh, and before he knew it, he was making a grand show of insulting her, too.
They also might now be fighting.
Now, was it a good idea for two individuals with huntsmen training to fight in a public place bustling with civilians? Probably not. Should he instead be acting his age and go about deescalating the situation, stowing his really sharp sword and apologizing? Oh, most assuredly.
But that was what Sober-Qrow would have done.
Too bad Qrow was never sober, currently far too caught up in the endless sword dance, his own adrenaline, or both, continuing to dodge and parry the lightning-fast rapier thrusts angrily trying to bite at him.
He also might have been far too amused to stop, enjoying being able to finally force her royal highness to lose her cool.
Really, for someone in her twenties, she certainly didn't act like it.
Ah, but that was the Schnee way.
Ice-cold bitchiness at all times, or you're disowned.
She should be thanking him, graciously allowing her to go all out against him.
The extensively inebriated warrior might be having too much fun with this.
And that... was likely why he got careless.
Not in the way that he was losing the fight.
Even while drunk—scratch that. Especially while drunk, he still had age and experience on his opponent.
But that meant at some point he ceased holding back.
This wasn't an issue concerning who he was fighting, but it certainly was an issue in regard to the various people who weren't.
Dozens of onlookers were watching their fight from the sidelines, either too scared to move, or far too invested in a clash between too super-powered individuals to even think of doing so.
Thus, it was only a matter of time before something went wrong.
Between him and Winter, Qrow didn't know whose impact caused it specifically, but during another fierce exchange, the concrete at their feet suddenly broke apart and exploded outward, shooting in various directions.
And the worst part?
The huntsman barely even noticed.
It was a miracle he did so at all, with his alcohol-addled mind. Not that it helped, for he could only blink confusedly at the subtle flicker occurring in his peripheral vision. Qrow looked away from the fight for a fraction of a second. This awarded him with a clump of his aura being shaved off, courtesy of his opponent.
But that was already the furthest thing from his mind.
His heartbeat slowed impossibly as he caught sight of what he had ignored.
No, what he had likely caused then ignored, that being the handful of aura-less spectators about to be mangled by various jagged clumps of sedimentary rock.
And yet, his body didn't move.
His stomach did, however.
It twisted.
That feeling... was it because of his indecision?
Or was it due to the even viler thought that crossed his mind.
That it was already too late to even try.
And because he did nothing, the situation unfolded in the only way it could.
In that crowd, a faunus man had the mind to step protectively in front of his wife.
A few feet away, a girl of around twelve was holding onto her father's hand, blinking uncomprehendingly at the barest shimmer of the lightning-fast projectile about to cave her face in.
There was even a woman in her twenties, not even focused on the fight, smiling at something as she tapped away on her scroll, completely clueless to the incoming danger.
Shit.
Qrow... made a mistake.
They were hit in the next moment.
That is...
They were hit with wind.
Unruly gusts suddenly beat at their faces, sending violent ripples through their clothes and air.
But that was all.
Not a single sickening crack, thunk, or squelch was heard. Not even one shrill scream of pain. Instead, the only sound was that of the air being violently whipped by an intense wind current.
The cause, being the several spherical pockets of neon green, all somehow perfectly halting the various wayward clumps of concrete, and right as they were about to make contact with the now quivering forms of the wide-eyed onlookers.
One of them even fell on their bottom, the woman who had been on her scroll, her legs apparently giving out as she stared straight ahead in a daze.
That was when Qrow finally allowed himself to breathe, which he had been withholding until now.
By now, Winter had also stopped, taking in the green phenomenon happening all around them with confusion, pensive uncertainty, and then tight realization, her face ghastly pale.
It didn't need to be said what she was thinking.
Because, even if by some miracle no one was hit in the head and instantly killed, anywhere else on the body would have been just as fatal.
Fractured bones were one thing, but internal hemorrhaging?
A normal civilian who was an adult male at peak health might not even survive the quick trip to Beacon's Tsune.
So someone younger?
A child?
"D-Dad... Dadddddd!"
Qrow's entire body flinched.
In the crowd, the little girl and her father... the former was burying her face in her parents' leg as she cried.
The older man instantly got down to one knee and swooped the girl up in a hug, his mouth moving unintelligibly as he started to caress the girl's hair.
They were okay.
The girl was crying because she was frightened.
She wasn't crying because she was injured.
Still.
Qrow's vision briefly flickered, and he was now looking at the lifeless, mangled and claw-torn body of a small child in the backdrop of her village, long devastated by the Grimm, and him arriving far too late to do anything.
It was a sight he was used to.
And it had nearly happened again.
But this time... he would have been the monster.
Swallowing, Qrow wordlessly looked back to the reason he hadn't become one, that is, the vibrantly colored gales of wind that were still dancing with energy as if alive, trapping the blunt and sharpened projectiles in their orb-like prisons, effectively freezing them in place.
But, even that was incorrect.
That implied that pause had been pressed on them, and they weren't moving.
That wasn't the case.
In the various directions the phenomenon had gravitated towards, the projectiles were caught in what looked to be deliberately controlled gusts of wind.
These gusts, even now, seemed to spin the debris in place with a perpetual buoyancy.
Such control and precision could only mean one thing, that it was a power that was being manipulated, manipulated by someone. In other words, a semblance.
An unmatched one at that, especially with how it had been able to safely encircle, halt, and slow-down various high-speed objects in the span of just a few seconds.
And in multiple directions too.
Nine, to be exact.
Nine spheres of wind for nine deadly pieces of debris.
But any further observation from Qrow was cut off.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
A booming voice rippled through the plaza, and Qrow saw who it was past Winter's suddenly flinching shoulders.
He actually felt the same urge.
Qrow must really feel like a piece of shit if the sight of Ironwood was enough to intimidate him and raise his hackles.
But again, he couldn't say it was undeserved.
It almost felt like he was back in school again, in those bi-weekly disciplinary meetings with Raven. But that just caused a horrid feeling to instantly needle his stomach, as if by reprimand. As if what you just nearly did was so lighthearted...
And that feeling only continued as Ironwood approached, other faces in tow.
Yeah.
This wasn't going to be any fun at all.
...
...
...
Numerous objects held aloft by near invisible energy.
Glynda Goodwitch with her riding crop extended.
It was a sight that anyone could look at and put two and two together.
Especially since the blonde-haired woman was hardly an unknown figure in Vale. Her semblance as well.
Therefore, it was only natural to assume she had been the one to prevent the loss of life that had been about to happen.
After all, who had such capabilities, if not a professor at Beacon?
No, they're wrong.
Glynda saw those looks of appreciation.
She saw the way their eyes widened in amazement and awe as they gazed upon her.
But they were wrong to do so.
They were wrong in assuming what they were assuming. It wasn't her who had saved them. She had tried but had been a beat too slow. No, during her approach, she hadn't even been cognizant of the danger before it had already happened. It was all she could do to just take out her riding crop.
Activating her semblance? Somehow seeing past the crowd that had gathered? Carefully stopping each stray danger before they hit? Applying the correct pressure to objects travelling in different directions?
And all in a fraction of a second?
That was beyond her ability.
But since people didn't realize this, couldn't realize it, they looked at her like she was a hero.
Instead of the person beside her.
"...Miss Glynda, I don't trust myself to lower these without the spin bouncing them off in odd directions. May I please ask that you take some of the strain?"
That was the murmur that flitted into her ears, belonging to the white-haired boy who was staring off into the distance.
No, his face was tight as he stared fixedly at the several ever-rotating pieces of debris being held aloft by familiar wind-like orbs, all but circling Qrow and Winter's stilled forms.
A normal person might have thought the claim of this being his power laughable.
After all, he didn't have so much as an arm extended or hand raised, unlike Glynda who had to use a physical medium to make better use of her own power.
But perhaps more than any civilian, the professor knew very well how proficient the boy was in using that semblance of his.
What was more, there was a certain urgency in his voice that couldn't be ignored. Not to mention, the subtle lines of exertion flickering across his face.
"R-... Right."
So it should come as no surprise that Glynda snapped out her stupor with all the haste she could muster, but not without the mortification that came in realizing how much she was lacking in comparison to her student, in both poise and power.
Of course, she tried not to let anything like that show as she wordlessly and dutifully performed her task.
With her own power, she reached for the objects covered in wind, attempting to infuse her own control over them. And, it surprised her how easily she managed it. She had been worried that there would be some unruly kick to the still spinning debris, and they would go flying off if she wasn't careful.
But... there was nothing fighting her.
It was truly as if she was just snatching something from the wind's currents.
Could Rio's semblance behave in a different way than she imagined? That he wasn't meticulously controlling the iridescent spheres? Or, could it be that the boy's power was so refined that he could subtly lessen his control in increments, bit by bit so as to allow her access...
Glynda wasn't sure.
And quite frankly, it didn't matter.
Only one thing truly bothered her.
"Hey, t-that's Glynda Goodwitch..."
"Isn't she one of the most powerful huntresses among the four Kingdoms?"
"Obviously! Did you see what she just did?"
They chattered on excitedly as she went about safely lowering the clumps on concrete and expertly melding them back into the pathway, making it all but impossible to tell the difference from how it had been previously. Upon finishing, Glynda finally relaxed her body.
Still, she couldn't help but frown.
Because in the midst of all this, even as people continued to praise her, she realized something. This type of misunderstanding... it was exactly the kind of thing the boy known as Rio Amakawa preferred.
After all, hadn't he said as much?
—"When it comes right down to it, I guess I just still don't want to stand out unnecessarily."
Glynda bit her lip.
The threat over, and now standing with a relaxed posture, the boy was devoid of expression save for what looked to be faint interest as he stared at Qrow and Winter in the distance, having been immediately torn into by an irate Atlesian General.
She opened her mouth to say something to Rio, a thank you, an apology that he had to step in in the first place, anything.
But right before she could muster up the nerve, Ozpin's chipper voice robbed her of the chance, addressing the impressive crowd that had gathered, amicably urging them to disperse.
Glynda was actually glad for it, because in short order, the various onlookers began to shuffle away, a select few quicker than others, perhaps not wanting to be on the verge of death once again.
Soon after, Ironwood brought a shamefaced Winter and a morose looking Qrow in front of them.
Though, it was really the latter that came as more of a shock, especially considering the first thing to leave the man's mouth.
"Sorry."
He apologized.
Qrow Branwen, a former member of an infamous bandit tribe, dipped his head and apologized.
"What I almost did... I don't even want to think about it. Still, sorry. And thanks Oz, for preventing me from making a mistake I would have regretted for the rest of my life..."
It was unlike him in every way, but Qrow spoke sincerely, realizing how worse the situation would have been without intervention.
Although, something he said didn't escape their notice.
Unlike those civilians, it seemed he had been able to tell such power hadn't originated from Glynda.
But from there, he made what he thought to be the next most likely guess.
After all, Winter aside, for those in their inner circle, it would have been stranger not to assume such flashy green magic belonged to their resident timeless wizard.
"Ozpin, huh," Ironwood muttered.
Naturally, Ironwood also saw the display of power in all its glory. However, the person he was staring at intently actually wasn't his fellow headmaster.
It was the individual who had retreated into the background a bit at some point, seemingly content with thinking he wasn't needed for the conversation they were about to have. That, or it wasn't his place.
In other words, it was just like that boy.
Ozpin blinked, before chuckling in amusement.
"I believe you're misunderstanding something, Qrow."
"Huh?"
Qrow's confusion did not just belong to him, but Winter too, who only subtly looked up from the far too serious way she was deferentially lowering her head.
"That sentiment of yours should be aimed elsewhere. Both you and Specialist Schnee."
As expected of General Ironwood, he had indeed been able to notice, and while he did still very much look like he wanted to tear into the two even more than that, most notably Qrow, he settled for a heavy glare and a thick frown, continuing.
"The one who saved your careers just now; it wasn't Ozpin."
"Sir?" Winter uttered hesitantly.
Their continued confusion only made Glynda tired, especially when the both of them suddenly turned to her. Impatiently, she crossed her arms. "No, it wasn't me either. Didn't you two watch the Opening Ceremony?"
"I, uh, might have caught some highlights," Qrow delivered choppily, the words 'from a bar' not needing to be said to those present in the slightest.
Winter nodded. "I did watch it on my way over, sir. ...Ah."
Blinking, she seemed to realize first.
"Yes, Mr. Amakawa has quite the handle over wind, doesn't he?" It was rather inappropriate of Glynda, but she couldn't help the slight amount of pride that leaked from her voice as she spoke, the childish sort of feeling one got when you got to show off something you knew of before anyone else.
That said, she managed to stifle it enough to calmly gesture to the boy in question.
Qrow and Winter looked over, and their eyes widened.
Glynda expected that.
But?
"I... see."
"...So that's how it is, huh?"
The first reply belonged to Winter, gaze frosty. Qrow followed right after her with amusement, however the serious look in his eyes didn't lose to the Atlas Specialist in the slightest. They looked like they were staring at something they didn't agree with, and thus, didn't quite know how to show it.
Therefore, more than a little bewildered, Glynda abandoned subtlety and looked to where Rio was supposed to be.
...Ah.
Their reactions suddenly made sense.
No longer alone, three individuals stood with the boy—on his left, right, and center. That the orange haired girl was standing in the center, knowing her personality, made sense. However, the presences of the other two were no less surprising but still widely more noticeable.
They weren't even crowding around him, but the sudden appearances of Weiss Schnee and Ruby Rose standing shoulder to shoulder with Rio was somehow the most attention grabbing. And that they were doing it so calmly too, as if they didn't even realize they were sharing words with such fleeting distance...
Now, Glynda might have had her own feelings about such a scene, her brows even going as far as to twitch slightly, but that just made her realize whatever Winter and Qrow was feeling must have been a lot more complicated.
Especially as, in a horrific show of timing, Ruby suddenly giggled, a smile on her face.
Of course, while the others all had an amicable calm about them, Penny's demeanor put them all to shame, demonstrating the kind of excitement only someone starved of human interaction could have.
Her ear-to-ear grin was as cute as it was slightly concerning, as if she genuinely found the moment to be a highlight of her life.
Rio's expression, on the other hand...
While technically a smile, it looked far too strained, either because he was just that uncomfortable with his present situation... or due to the fact he could somehow feel the extra gazes on him.
Though given what Glynda knew of his uncanny senses, that last one wasn't entirely unlikely.
"Well...!"
Qrow ended up breaking the silence.
"Since Tai's not here, I guess it falls on me to give the brat the lay of the land. The responsibilities of an adult sure are endless." Despite his words, the drunkard looked far too eager, approaching the teenagers with a bleeding smirk.
Glynda wordlessly stopped him with her semblance, and it was followed by Ozpin turning on his heel towards the entrance of the school.
"As amusing as such a scene would be, there really are certain things we must discuss. I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to track down Mr. Amakawa later, whether that be to thank or bully him. Though, hopefully it's the former. He did just help you out quite a bit."
Qrow, scowl deepening as he tried to escape his telekinetic constraints, was eventually forced to give in. With a sigh and a wave of his hand, he halfheartedly gave his compliance. Of course, Qrow immediately changed his tune when Glynda glared at him, his expression turning awkward.
Looking away slightly, he murmured the words that needed to be said.
"I know, I know. I'll... thank the little Schnee-ling."
Glynda huffed, somewhat satisfied. Of course, she didn't ease up on her semblance in the slightest.
Meanwhile, Winter's face held quite the odd expression, something Glynda quickly realized the reason for.
The woman probably didn't know how to react to the ongoing misunderstanding where she had somehow gained another family member.
Even now she was eyeing Rio, and the look on her face was hardly uncomplicated.
"Schnee, with me."
"Ah. Yes, sir."
But, it seemed their first meeting would have to wait.