Beacon Academy - The Present
Laughter filled the courtyard as Team RWBY and Team JNPR sat together beneath the shade of a large tree, enjoying the rare moment of peace between missions and training. Hemera sat between Ruby and Yang, happily munching on a cookie that Nora had enthusiastically given her.
"So, Hemera," Yang grinned, ruffling the young girl's hair. "What's it like having the coolest dad in all of Beacon?"
Hemera giggled. "Daddy is the best!" she said proudly, her silver eyes shining. "He's strong, super smart, and he tells the best bedtime stories!"
"Okay, now I'm jealous," Ruby pouted playfully. "Onyx has never told us bedtime stories."
Jaune chuckled. "You wanna ask him to tuck you in at night too?"
"Maybe," Ruby huffed, crossing her arms while the others laughed.
Nearby, Onyx stood by the walkway, leaning against a pillar, watching the scene unfold. His lips curled into a small smile as Hemera happily chattered with his friends.
She fit so easily among them, as if she had always belonged.
It was a stark contrast to the first time he had ever seen her-so small, so fragile-floating helplessly down a river.
That night felt like a lifetime ago.
---
Years Ago - The Riverbank (Onyx, Age 11)
The night was cold.
Onyx pulled his hood tighter around his ears as he walked along the edge of a quiet river. He had been traveling for months now, taking odd jobs and hunting Grimm to survive.
That was when he saw it.
A small wicker basket, gently floating downstream.
At first, he thought it was nothing-just debris carried by the current.
But then, a soft cry pierced the silence.
Onyx's heart skipped a beat.
A baby?
Without thinking, he sprinted forward, jumping across jagged rocks until he reached the basket. He waded into the freezing water, his hands gripping the edges as he pulled it onto the shore.
His breath caught.
Inside, wrapped in a thin white blanket, was a tiny infant girl.
She had silver eyes.
Onyx felt something stir in his chest-something unfamiliar.
She was so small. So fragile. And yet, she had survived.
For a long moment, he simply stared.
He had spent his whole life fighting for survival. No one had ever protected him. No one had ever been there when he cried.
But this child...
She was alone. Just like he had been.
Her small fingers twitched, grasping at nothing, as if reaching for someone.
A choice formed in Onyx's mind.
A choice that would change his life forever.
She would never be alone again.
Carefully, he lifted her from the basket, holding her against his chest.
She immediately calmed, as if she recognized him.
"...Hemera," Onyx whispered.
The name came to him like a whisper in the night.
A name that meant Day.
His Little Light.
And from that moment forward, she was his.
But then, she started to cry.
At first, it was soft, just a whimper. But soon, the quiet riverside was filled with heart-wrenching sobs.
Onyx stiffened. He had no experience with babies. What was he supposed to do?
He shifted her in his arms, bouncing her slightly. It didn't help.
His heart pounded as he desperately tried to think of something-anything-that would calm her.
And then... a melody surfaced in his mind.
A song he had heard once, long ago, in the orphanage.
A lullaby.
Hesitantly, Onyx took a breath and began to sing.
"Come stop your crying,
It will be alright,
Just take my hand,
Hold it tight..."
Hemera's cries faltered.
Her tiny fists clenched his cloak, but her sobs grew softer.
"I will protect you,
From all around you,
I will be here,
Don't you cry..."
Her silver eyes, still wet with tears, blinked up at him.
For the first time in his life, Onyx felt something warm bloom in his chest.
Not the thrill of battle. Not the satisfaction of victory.
Something softer.
Something deeper.
"For one so small,
You seem so strong,
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm..."
Hemera let out a tiny sigh.
Her fingers curled around the fabric of his cloak.
And then, to Onyx's shock-
She smiled.
A tiny, sleepy, trusting smile.
Something in him shattered.
For the first time since he was a child, he wanted to cry.
But instead, he just held her closer.
"This bond between us,
Can't be broken,
I will be here,
Don't you cry..."
Her breathing evened out.
She was asleep.
But Onyx kept singing.
"'Cause you'll be in my heart,
Yes, you'll be in my heart,
From this day on,
Now and forever more..."
The wind howled softly around them, but for the first time in years, Onyx didn't feel cold.
He looked down at the baby in his arms-his Little Light-and knew.
This was his moment.
His new beginning.
"You'll be in my heart,
No matter what they say,
You'll be here in my heart,
Always..."
And from that night forward-
Onyx Thorn was no longer alone.
---
Beacon Academy - The Present
A soft voice pulled Onyx from his memories.
"Daddy?"
He blinked and looked down to see Hemera standing in front of him, her small hand tugging at his coat.
She looked up at him with those same silver eyes-the same eyes he had stared into that fateful night by the river.
For a moment, Onyx simply knelt and pulled her into a gentle hug, holding her close.
Hemera giggled. "What was that for?"
Onyx smiled, brushing a hand through her hair. "Just... remembering something."
She beamed. "Was it about me?"
He chuckled, standing up. "Yeah, kiddo. It was about you."
"Was I cute?" she asked, tilting her head.
Onyx smirked. "You were loud."
Hemera gasped dramatically. "Daddy!"
Yang laughed from behind them. "Sounds about right!"
Onyx rolled his eyes as the rest of the group chuckled.
He glanced back at Hemera-his Little Light-before ruffling her hair once more.
"Come on," he said. "Let's go join the others."
And with that, father and daughter walked back toward their friends-toward their family-ready to create new memories together.