The Silent Swordsman

The story of four friends, a silent swordsman, a bunny mage, an arrogant rifleman, and an easygoing sniper.

Hey, if you're reading this it means I somehow magically convinced you to look past that shitty title and that shitty summary to actually read this. The title and the summary both are a work in progress and are subject to change as I get further into this story.

So… ah... yeah a little background info first; I began writing this fic shortly after the end of the first season, only recently getting the courage to actually type it up, so things such as Velvets armor, character backgrounds, etc. may differ from canon works revealed in future seasons. This is my first fic so any advice or criticism, be it good or bad, is greatly appreciated. Also Ideas for how the fic should develop in the future are also welcome.

Italics – indicates written words

Prologue

"Looks like it's gonna rain"

"Hmm"

"I said looks like it gonna rain"

"Hmm"

"Hey Carol, are you even listening to me"

"What.. I mean…"

"I'm mean seriously, what with those huge fox ears you got I would expect you to actually be able to hear everything."

The fox girl stood up from the table by the store window, now ignoring the graying clouds that mere hours earlier were white as the apron she wore over her work clothes.

"No I was just thinking about stuff."

"Would this stuff perhaps deal with a certain Richard who likes to frequent the cafe"

Carol's face quickly turned a deep shade of crimson as she attempted to stutter out a response.

"W-what no I wasn't, I was just thinking about… ah... so what was it you were saying before Ann?" attempting to change the subject

Luckily for her Ann took the bait. "I was saying it looks like it's gonna rain. Not particularly good for me considering I didn't bring my umbrella."

"Yeah, well it's not like anybody expected it, the clouds defiantly weren't that grey when we first arrived."

RING-RING

"Looks like we got a customer Carol, how about I take…"Ann stopped as she looked past the other girl. "Actually just remembered Morgan asked me to reorganize the pantry. Can you handle him?"

Ann turned before Carol could respond, disappearing into the kitchen presumably to handle the pantry. The fox girl started to greet the newcomer as she turned. "Welcome to Cherry Blossom Café, how can I…"

The girl stopped as she noticed the newcomer wasn't one of the customers that would frequent the café, for that matter he wasn't someone that would be seen anywhere near any of the local business let alone able to partake in it.

The boy that stood in front of her was maybe 16 of 17 and was obviously one of the street rats that populated the frontier town's alleys at night. He wore a ratty dark blue sweatshirt at least two sizes to large, the words on the front too faded to be legible. He carried what looked to be the local newspaper under one arm. His jeans and shoes were no better than his shirt; the once blue jeans he wore were faded almost too white in some places. On one of the knees there was a large patch, how the boy was even able to afford thread and needle she wasn't sure. "Probably stole it" She mumbled under her breath.

As she scrutinized the vagrant he merely gave her a short nod of his head and walked to the corner of the café, slipping into a seat by the window.

As she approached the boy she was surprised to discover his smell was not the abhorrent smell that she had come to know from the dumpsters behind the café, given her faunas abilities she had expected to be able to pick up even the faintest of garbage from the boy, here she could only ascertain the faint smell of peaches wafting form the boy's skin and the smell of lavender from his clothes. But given the surprisingly clean state of the homeless boys clothes only one conclusion could come, he must have been to Mr. Laredo's Dry Cleaners. The man always had a soft spot for the 'less fortunate', as he called them, always willing to run them through his cleaners and give them a shower if they ever needed it.

"What can I get for you" not even caring to hide the contempt she had for the boy from her voice.

The boy picked up a pad of paper handing it to the waitress. She took it hesitantly, not sure why he would give her something. Looking down to the pad she noticed he had written something down

I would like a sandwich and a glass of ice water please.

"Do you have the money to pay for this?" once again choose not to hide her contempt nor even her doubt from her voice.

He held out his hand, expecting her to return the pad she assumed, upon its return he immediately wrote a few words down before reaching into his jean's pocket, extracting a wad of lien he placed it back on the pad before giving it to her once again.

Moving the bills aside she read the words that had been written.

I believe this should be enough.

Quickly counting the bills before vocalizing a grunt of disbelief "This should be enough, your food will be ready soon." The fox girl turned practically running to the kitchen, wanting to give a stern talking to her friend.

She was surprised to find her coworker actually in the pantry doing the work as she described. She walked up behind her gripping her shoulder in an attempt to turn the girl around her actions earning her a pleasant squeak of surprise. "Damn it Carol, you scared me"

"The hell with you being scared, you left me with the man. I thought you were my friend, but you just abandoned me in my time of need."

"Oh don't be so dramatic Carol, talking to the homeless isn't going to kill you. And besides Morgan did actually ask me to do this so I didn't abandon you, at least not without reason." She grinned with a slight giggle as she spoke the last words.

At her words Carol threw her arms up in a dramatic fashion" You don't know that, he could have robbed me or tried to kill me, that's to be expected from those vagrants."

"Come now Carol, if any of them were that bad don't you think the Guards would have dealt with them by now, and besides there hasn't ever been a recorded murder in this town." She paused for a moment as a though entered her head "That of course doesn't count the occasional Grimm attack but attacks today are miniscule compared to the early days of when Manning was first founded."

"That's not the point, you …"

RING-RING

"Looks like we got customers Carol. Best you take care of them; I still have this pantry to take care of." The girl grinned, obviously enjoying how annoyed her friend was at her actions." Well, run along now little doggie"

"I'm a Fox" Carol stamped her foot in protest but ultimately choose not to argue any further choosing rather to turn to leave but not before grabbing the required sandwich and ice water. Stepping out of the kitchen. "I'll be just a moment."

The new customers wore the local guard uniform, with their weapons strapped to their waists or in the larger man's case his weapon was leaning against the table, the hammer too large to comfortably hang at his waist.

"Here's your order" the boy merely nodded in thanks before grabbing his meal. The fox girl then turned approaching the guards seated at the table before her. "So what can I get for you today?"

The large man, the leader by the way the other two took deference to him, paused giving the girl a once over stopping at the top of her head before he spoke. "For one you can give us a proper waitress."

"Excuse me?"

"I said I don't want to be served by some animal, we don't want some fucking animal hair in our meals now do we boys." The man threw his arms out to the side and looked to the other two men with expectant looks. The blonde to his left responded, "Of course not Mason, I remember what happened last time, took a week to get that dirty Faunus blood out of our uniforms. Fucking animal just wouldn't listen to orders. But what can you expect when an animal has been properly broken in?" the last few words ended with him giving lecherous looks to her chest.

"I… I… well… um can I take your o-order please?" Carol nervously stuttered, the fear evident in her voice. Wringing her hands she could only hope the men would jump up and laugh explaining it was all just a cruel joke. But she could tell that for all her hope she was lost, while anti-Faunus sentiment was rare in Manning it was not unheard of. But to think that it would come from their supposed protectors.

The leader once again spoke, anger creeping into his voice, "Hey you fucking bitch, I said I want a proper waitress, leave and get us the blonde bitch we saw earlier."

"W-well… I'll just g-go get her then…" Carol stiffly turned, relieved that she was given a chance to escape from these men. But before she could take another step she felt a rough hand grasp her arm and violently yank her back.

"Just because she's an animal, doesn't mean we can't have a little fun before lunch, right boss." The blond gave his leader a knowing look, his lust evident by the look in his eyes, by the way he continued to stare at her chest as attempted force his hand.

"Please… Let me go." She pleaded to the blond man as his grip only tightened.

"Now how about we have a little fun together… the fuck?" the blonde man raised his other hand slowly moving to grasp her bosom but stopped when the sound of a chair being roughly pushed back was heard from the corner of the restaurant. The three men turned to look to see the homeless boy approaching the group, the pad in his hand.

He stopped before the men, pausing to look at each of the three individually before placing the pad in the air before the leader, waiting expectantly.

"The fuck is this?" Mason looked at the boy with a vexed look.

The boy merely responded with a stare and maintained his position. The leader grabbed the pad, if only to convince the boy to leave them to have their fun. He looked down, inspecting the pad; his mood quickly changing from annoyance to rage.

Apologize to the girl, then leave. You're not welcome here.

"You fucking prick. I suggest you leave well enough alone before I run you in for vagrancy. Now fuck off." The man then flippantly tossed the pad back to the boy, it hitting him in the chest falling to the ground. Mason turned moving to voice his encouragement for his blonde friend before he saw a blur in the direction of the vagrant. The next thing he felt was the coldness of 12 inches of hard steal against his throat. The man's eyes widened in surprise; barely choking out a response in fear. "Now boy, don't be doing anything you might be regretin." The silent boy had moved so fast that the man's companions had not yet realized the danger their leader was now in. Confused by their leader's strange statement the man with the scar turned to see his leader taken hostage, he rushed from his seat the chair loudly falling back the noise startling enough that the blonde man turned to witness the events, although much to her dismay, it was not enough to get the blonde man to release her.

The scarred man drew his blade but made no move to stop the boy. "Release him now or I will run you through." The boy answered by moving the blade, pricking the large man's neck, a few drops of blood falling from the wound. The large man coolly warned off his friend, "Arthur… how about we don't make the boy nervous."

Arthur lowered his blade, but kept it ready in case he needed to use it. "Then what do we do…"

"First of all, Benny, you're going to apologize to the kind lass for how you treated her."

"What! I'll do no such thing! I'm not gonna let some runt threaten me away from my fun." Benny stood up, maintaining his grip on the Faunus girl he drew a dirk from his side." I'm gonna kill this fucking piece of trash, after that I'm gonna take this bitch behind the counter and…"

"Benny!" The leader shouted at the blonde man, the movement causing the blade to cut into his flesh but he choose to ignore the pain. "So help me if you don't do as I say right now you will come to regret it."

Even with a blade at his throat his intimidation seemed to waft out towards his compatriots as they cowered in response. The scarred man coughed drawing their attention, "All right boss, what do you want us to do."

"As I said, Benny you're going to apologize to the nice lass."

"But…"

"Now Benny!"

Benny violently pushed the girl aside and away from him nearly causing her to fall over a nearby chair. The girl was lucky enough to catch herself before then. She looked to her aching wrist, the already darkening skin already showing evidence of a coming bruise.

He spat out the next words as if each word made him physically sick, "I apologize for what I did, it was inexcusable."

The leader looked on with relief as he spoke his next order. "Now Arthur you're going to pick up my hammer then leave the store with Benny."

"What about you Boss?"

"I'll be fine, as soon as you are gone and a good distance away I'm sure the boy will release me. We'll meet up back at the barracks, understood."

"Of course boss." The two subordinates hurried out of the café, careful to stay clear of the boy and his hostage.

Minutes passed as the two waited, the blade never leaving the man's throat, never relaxing from its vigilance. The Fox girl stood across form the two, unsure whether to call for Ann's help or to perhaps help the boy, but fear got the better of her as she stood silent as no one spoke.

"I think it's been long enough." The boy agreed with the man nodding in response, although from the man's position he wouldn't be able to see the movement. The blade was removed from its position against the violent man's throat and the boy quickly moved back away from the now free man.

The man didn't respond as Carol expected him to. She had expected him to jump up and rush the boy, using his superior size and strength to beat the boy to death. But instead he calmly stood up, turned, nodded to the boy, and then left the store. She watched the man leave, unwilling to look away fearing that this was all a ruse, that looking away would cause them all to return and do the horrible things they had implied. It was only when the door had closed behind the guard did she finally released the breath she had not realized she had been holding. Looking over to the homeless boy she noticed that he had also been watching the guard leave but had now turned to return to his table. He quietly placed the pad of paper down on the table; he must have picked it up when the man was leaving.

But incredulously the boy seemed to act as in nothing had accrued. He took a bite of his sandwich then reopened the newspaper he had brought with him. She approached him, standing nervously at his side unsure what to do. "Excuse me?"

The boy's head turned. He stared at her, his face expressionless any emotions he may feel at the moment were hidden behind the visage. "Umm… thank you for helping me."

The boy nodded in response then returned his attention to his newspaper.

"Hey Carol I finished up the pantry, you need any help." Ann yelled to her friend as she walked out of the kitchen." Hey, wait a minute. Wasn't there another customer in here? You didn't scare them off now did you?" the blonde girl giggled out the last sentence not realizing the torment her friend had been through mere minutes before.

Rather than barking out an insult at the girl as she would under normal circumstances she rushed up to her gathering up in hug. "Hey Carol? What's wrong? Did that bum say something to you?"

"No, it fine. He didn't do anything. I'll explain later."

The boy continued to read from his paper, an article about the coming mayoral election was prominent on the page in front of him. But he paid little attention to the content, it would be another year before he would be allowed to vote and even then he doubted they would even let him. Outside of Mr. Laredo few people in the town cared for the opinion or well being of the homeless populace. In fact, the local government had chosen to brand the entire homeless population as thieves and criminals, not to say that many weren't as such but not all were like that and even those that did only did so to survive. He looked up upon hearing a tapping against the window beside him. Tiny water droplets fell against the window. The vagrant stood up hoping that he would be able to claim on of the covered benches in the park for the night, perhaps he might be able to stay dry for this night.

He left the café, lifting the hood of his sweatshirt to cover his head but it did little to help as the falling rain began to soak through his clothing. He ran through the now dark alleyways, avoiding the obstacles through years of memories of traversing the lonely walkways. He ran out emerging out onto the road to the park quickly turning in hope of claiming his reward.

Instead he was met with a hammer rushing towards his face.

The boy rolled forward barely dodging the heavy weapon. He landed in a muddle of murky water and mud.

"That was a foolish thing you did there back in the café boy." The giant of a man hefted his hammer onto his shoulder as he sauntered forward, his two lackeys following close behind.

The rain was now coming down with a roar; any person that may have been out was now gone, seeking shelter in their warm homes. There they were safe, but with no witnesses it left the boy with no protection from the men he wronged.

He drew his dagger and a second one appear in his other hand, he bent his knees preparing to jump aside when they struck.

Mason approached the boy straight on, slowly and steadily. His underlings took a more wide approach in an attempt to come from the sides and prevent his escape. The wet boy considered running now but thought better of it. To leave now would only delay the inevitable, they would find him and they would kill him. Better to end it now.

Benny jumped forward his dirk thrusting towards the boy's stomach. He skipped back only to encounter Arthur's sword swing down towards his head. Shifting his dagger along his wrist he blocked the blade, the force of the blow forcing him to his. The boy thrust his dagger forward hoping to hit a lucky blow against the swordsman but an approaching hammer forced him to once again roll away.

"You can't win boy, its three against one. You're only delaying the inevitable, just lie down and DIE!" Mason shouted the last words as he swung the hammer and once again the boy skipped but this time forward. Not expecting the change in tactics he was unprepared for when the boy ducked under the shaft and moved forward thrusting the blade into the giant man's thigh, then running passing the injured man before turning reentering his stance.

"You son of a bitch! I'm gonna kill you!" Mason fell to his knees clutching the now previously bleeding wound.

"You okay Boss?"

"The fuck you think?! Get him!"

The two standing guards rushed forward at their commander's orders. Arthur screamed out as he swung his blade across the boy. He once again ducked under the blade kneeing the man in his stomach.

The fighting felt natural to him, after years of oppression by the local guards the street urchins may final send a message that their treatment was not just, that it would not be tolerated. But his moment ended when he felt a fist connect with his jaw. He fell to the side straight into one of the many puddles forming on the street.

"What! You think you can do the same thing over and over again and we won't adapt to it! You smug bastard!" Benny screamed at the fallen boy. Crouching next to the motionless boy he thrust his hand forward gripping the boy's hair pulling him up to look into his eyes. "I'm going to kill you boy. But I won't do it quickly, I'm gonna take it slow. Really enjoy it." The man smirked at he rammed the boys head into the pavement. "And once I'm done with you I'm gonna find that dirty bitch and have some real fun with her. She's gonna wish you never saved her, because what I'm gonna do now is much worse than what I was gonna do back in the café."

The boy's vision was clouding, he could barely see through the darkness but he heard what he said. The thought of this disgusting man forcing himself on the innocent girl made the bile rise in his throat. He could not allow that to. He desperately searched for one of the daggers he lost when he fell as Benny once again rammed his head into the ground holding it in the puddle.

Panic rose in him as his air dissipated with the blade still not found. But as the man pulled his head up once again he felt his hand to a cylindrical object in the water. Desperately hoping the he found his lost weapon he thrust the object forward with what little strength he had left.

Till the end of his days the boy would wish to never hear again what came from the man's lungs next. The bloodcurdling scream pierced his ears as the man reared back in pain holding the hilt of the dagger now nestled in his groin.

"Shit, Shit, Shit. Benny! NO!" Arthur now recovered rushed forward to assist his friend not realizing the true extent of the friend's injuries. "You're dead!"

The almost hysterical man swung his sword at the boy, who then jumped towards the man holding his crotch. He grabbed the blade, tearing it from the man's flesh. But instead of pursing the vagrant the swordsman knelt next to his friend inspecting his injuries. His eyes widen in horror as he realized the extent of the man's wounds. "Fuck! We need to get you to the Doc! Boss! Help!"

Mason was barely standing leaning heavily on his hammer. "Go on without me! Get him to Doc, I'll only slow you down in my condition." He stumbled forward almost falling on the wet ground.

"But…"

"I said GO! A wound from that little toothpick isn't going to kill me. Now GO!"

Arthur threw his wounded friend over his shoulder. Rushing down the street the two disappeared into the rain.

"We ain't finished here boy. If Benny dies I will find you. And I will kill you."

The silent boy stared back at the man as he limped after his two friends.

The street was then silent; the only sounds were of the rain steadily falling to the ground and the panting of his own breath.

"Oh ho ho. That was quite the display of athleticism now wasn't it my boy!"

The boy stumbled as he turned towards this new voice, fearing that it was another guard here to finish what the other three started. A large heavy-set man emerged from the nearby alleyway. He looked to be in his 40s or 50s with a large greying mustache that seemed to cover half his face.

The boy dropped his dagger, his arms hanging limp at his sides. He no longer had the strength to fight this newcomer. He barely had the strength to stand as this man approached.

"What's you name my boy? Not speaking are we? Well then I can talk for the both of us. My name is Professor Peter Port All Powerful Hunter, Killer of Grim, Slayer of Beast, and… are you okay there now?"

The boy stumbled forward straight into the approaching man's arms. "It looks like the fight took more out of you than I thought, well if was me I would have… well I guess that's not important now. Best find you a doctor, not the same one those ruffians went to that is."

The teacher set the boy down on the ground, retrieving the fallen daggers from the red tinged puddles. Once again he picked up the boy saying something to him. But the words only seem to come out as mumbles to the boy as he finally slipped into unconsciousness.

He awoke to find himself warm and dry, how it was possible he wasn't quite sure. He opened his eyes to see himself lying down in a bed in a lighted room. There was a window to his left with a door opposite where he could see the heavy set man from before talking to a man in a white coat. His head felt like it was on fire and he moaned in pain as he attempted to remove himself from the bed. The professor turned at the sound and entered the room.

"It's best you don't move now. Those hits to your head gave you a concussion. Best that you rest now, those men won't come for you while I'm here."

The boy looked at the strange man; no one had ever treated him this kindly. At least, not for the past eight years or so. Most treated him and those like him as a burden or a charity case, something to make themselves feel good about themselves. Only doing small gestures but nothing big enough to enact permanent change. Any member of this town would have left him to rot, but this man took him to a hospital. He must have paid the doctors or they never would have treated him. So that led to the question as to why this man helped him. But instead of voicing his concerns he just now realized something. Frantically looking for his belongings his weapons, his pad, even the pen would have be enough.

"Are you looking for your things? I have them here, your can have them back as soon as you're all healed up." But the man scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion as the boy in front of him desperately moved his finger across his own hand. "Are you looking for something? Writing? You're looking for something to write with?"

The boy nodded at that last answer.

"Give me just a moment. I think I saw something like that in your belongings." Reaching into a bag on t a nearby table he extracted the homeless boy's pad, only to reveal that it was not completely soaked and warped. He wouldn't be able to write on it. "Give me just a moment and I'll return with your writing utensils in just a jiffy.

The professor left the room returning shortly with a new pen and paper. He handed the boy the objects waiting for him to respond.

Why did you help me?

He laughed as he spoke "Why you beat three against one, a warrior should be able to bask in his glory."

But I'm a nobody. No one helps a street rat.

He face grew stern as he read the words "Now my boy, under no circumstance are you to call yourself a street rat. Or for that matter any version of the word. No street rat could fight that well, even against guards that pathetic."

He paused a moment before a realization hit him "You're mute aren't your?"

The boy responded with a nod.

"May I ask your name?"

Kemos Shepard

"An interesting name… how would you like to attend Beacon"

Kemos stared at the man, seconds passed by as the two men looked each other in the eye neither making a move.

Excuse me? What?

"I said how would you like attend Beacon Academy?" the man looked at the younger man expectantly as if the decision had already been made.

What, do you mean like a school?

"A school to train Hunters to be exact. We would train you to fight the Grimm."

The younger man looked to the older one with an exasperated look.

You can stop this joke. It's not funny. I have neither the funds not the aptitude to attend such a place.

The professor's laugh was beginning to annoy the teenager "Well if that fight you had with those guards was in indication you have the potential to become a hunter, you would of course need to take some training to prepare you for such an endeavor."

Wouldn't be able to afford the training.

"That's what scholarships are for my boy!" the teacher had a shit eating grin on his face, he seemed to think he had already won this argument.

Then where Am I supposed to stay while at school, or for that where would I stay during the off season, I suppose you're just going to throw me back on the streets are you?

"Of course not. We have dorms on campus for the students and as for when classes are not in session…" He paused for a second stroking his mustache as he thought, "Ah, I know. Why not stay with me then. I could use that time to train you, prepare you for classes. Besides it would be nice to have some young blood in my life again. I may be able to ride a Nevermore strait into the sunset but that doesn't mean my back won't ache afterwards" Port laughed jollily at his own joke.

The boy had a dumbfounded look on his face. He had gone from having the shit beating out of him in the street to some man claiming to be a professor offering him a place at a prestigious academy, but not just that but for it all the be free.

You're serious aren't you? Because I won't forgive you if this is some cruel joke.

"Then I take your answer as a yes then. We'll have a lot to prepare for if you're going to make it at Beacon. Your weapons for one."

My weapons?

"Yes, your stance was good but by the look of it you would be more comfortable with some larger swords. We can speak to a friend of mine; he's a good blacksmith, get you paired up with a nice set of short swords."

Kemos looked at port with an incredulous look, but slowly a small smile graced his lips.

When do we start?

Port smiled his lips matching then exceeding the smile of the younger man, "As soon as you're healed"

First of all thanks for reading, I hoped you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. It was tough but I think it was worth it.Now a few notes while Kemos is spelled with an "e" it's actually pronounced Kay-mos, but I can't force you to say it so what have you. As for when the next chapter is going to be released I'm planning on trying to get a chapter out once a week, but with how busy I am with classes and life and such some may be delayed. But here hoping they're not.