To say that Sam Hix had been experiencing a bit of a bad day would certainly be an understatement. Even just looking at him, anyone could tell that the boy was in an extremely bad mood. Trudging up to the front door of his home, the flowers almost seemed to bow before the powerful rage-fueled aura the teenager was giving off. Very few things had gone right for Sam. Let's list them off, perhaps? To start, his alarm clock had glitched and woke him up three hours earlier than he wanted, at 4:00 AM. He tiredly reached over and shut it off, grabbing it and putting it back to the correct time. It then took him an hour to get back to sleep, only to then be awakened five hours later as the clock had glitched again and went off three hours later than intended, which put quite a dent in his plan for the day.
Speaking of said plan, that is where it began to get worse for Sam. He was homeschooled, so it didn't take him nearly as long as most others. However, he had been assigned all quizzes and tests for his assignments that day, which caused a good five hours of work to be done, two more than his plan could really risk. However, his grades had been As and Bs, so he had one thing going for him. When he finally did finish with school, Sam was forced to skip his regularly scheduled time of writing. He usually spent two hours a day working on stories he was writing, but he had gone two hours over schedule. He could still get in his final plan however: finally asking out that cute - and recently revealed as transgender - guy he had met and befriended at the local library a few weeks ago.
Of course, life had other plans. Sam had strolled up to go and meet up with Connor, make a bit of small talk, and then finally ask the question. But as he had turned the corner, he had caught Connor making out with what he learned minutes later was Connor's new girlfriend. Sam couldn't remember her name, nor did he really want to. That last thing had upset Sam the most. Coming to the realization that he was panromantic was difficult to process, but the attempts at finding a partner had remained fruitless. Not that he could really blame anybody. He had an acne covered chin, the middle of his eyebrows grew in way too fast, and his entire life had led up to a horrifyingly disgusting gut and pair of man boobs that he managed to hide with loose shirts and jackets.
Sam quietly stepped into his home, slowly closing the door behind him and locking it. He was glad no one else was awake. That meant he could spend the rest of his waking time in peace. He loved his family, but they could be a bit much. He made his way to his room, making sure to flick off every last light as he passed them. In the bathroom, Sam paused when he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. No changes. His chin had acne, the unibrow was growing in, the gut was hidden beneath a loose shirt and a hoodie that showed a design from one of the many fandoms he was in. His eyes were a dark hazel, paired well with his brown hair. His legs sported a simple pair of blue denim jeans, and protecting his feet were some sneakers. The pure embodiment of average. Sam gave a disappointed sigh when he flicked the light off. Yup, just average.
Sam paused when he saw that his laptop was opened on his desk. The screen was dark, meaning it was asleep. Sam didn't remember leaving it open. In fact, he very clearly remembers closing it after finishing his schoolwork for the day. Closing his bedroom door, Sam sat down in the folding chair looking towards his desk. He hit the spacebar on the keyboard, prompting the screen to flash back alive. He typed in his passcode and awaited the device to be unlocked.
Sam's gut filled up with fear. His Discord was open, which would be fine in of itself if it wasn't for A) what it was opened up to and B) that he didn't have Discord open when he left. His Discord showed a server he was on that was a safe haven for people in the LGBT+ community, and one of the messages currently displayed was Sam's account declaring he was anything but straight. And the only people who knew his laptop password other than himself were his parents. Put two and two together? Sam was currently terrified.
Sam flew into a flurry of thoughts as his body started moving on its own, grabbing his suitcase and beginning to pack clothes and other things he would need. His parents were not accepting of "those who went against the word of God" and all that. He couldn't believe his own stupidity in the moment. He had been so careful as to not allow his secret to be discovered, and yet, here he was, packing a suitcase in order to run away. He wasn't sure what his parents would do to him, but he was sure it wouldn't be anything good. He heard stories of kids kicked out of their homes, or beaten and abused, or sent to special camps in order to "straighten them out." And that thought was terrifying.
Sam snapped out of his thoughts when he realized that his suitcase couldn't fit anymore. He had filled it with socks, under garments, jeans, and now shirts. He took out the shirts that wouldn't fit and put them back. Now for the finishing touches. He grabbed several items of food, and stuffed them into a bag. He made sure to take his phone and crack it in half, ensuring his Discord couldn't be checked from there. He would continue to use the platform, but he wanted to make sure he couldn't be tracked. He packed his laptop into a messenger bag, along with its charger. He didn't bother to leave a note behind - his parents wouldn't care. As he walked off into the night, he didn't bother to look back. He was never returning home.
And Sam didn't know it yet, but that thought was more correct than he thought it would ever be.
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Credence Doe, a deer Faunus bartender, grunted as he lugged the heavy trash bag into the alley. The clinking of the glass bottles threatened to awake the apartment building next to his bar, but he didn't worry too much about it. He was glad that the trash people would be stopping by the next day. The alley was filled with a bunch of trash. Piles of trash bags, broken bottles, human legs, the remains of food…
"Huh?!" Credence yelped at the human legs that were poking from under the pile of bags. He quickly pushed the bags away, hoping that the person underneath wasn't dead. Underneath the bags he found a thankfully breathing human boy, brown hair disheveled and his clothes - except the hoodie, strangely - torn up. Credence hesitated for a moment. If someone saw him carrying this unconscious boy it would look incredibly bad. His inner demons duked it out for a moment before the angel on his shoulder won and Credence decided to help this mysterious teenager out. He picked up the limp boy and hurriedly carried him up the stairs from his bar and into the apartment above it. "Rain! I need your help!" Credence yelled out. From around the corner Credence's teenage daughter, Rain, came in a hurry.
"Dad? What's - oh!" Rain saw the boy in tattered clothes in her father's arms. She understood the need and she ran into the bathroom to retrieve the first-aid kit her father kept for emergencies. As she ran into the room, she watched in surprise as the boy coughed into consciousness. She got onto her knees beside the mysterious brown-haired teen as his father took off the boy's hoodie and shirt, keeping the jacket and tossing the shirt in the trash. His torso was covered in cuts likely obtained from the glass bottles among the trash he had been under.
"Where… where the hell…" The boy tried to speak, struggling in the process. Credence shushed the teen, holding him upright as Rain began to tend to the boy's wounds. She warned the boy that this was going to sting as she applied disinfectant to his wounds, some of them being especially deep. He winced in pain as she pressed a soaked cotton ball against the first of his especially bad scratches. "I… what? The last thing I remember is getting hit by a car when I was running away from home…" The boy was stopped by Credence again, telling the teen to save it for later. He weakly nodded and allowed his arms to be wrapped with bandages and gauze, his chest and stomach receiving the same treatment. There were too many cuts to only put bandaids on them. Credence picked the boy up and moved him to the couch, gently setting him down. "You… have antlers." The boy said, seeing Credence's Faunus trait. Credence nodded, not sure if it was a question or a statement.
"Rest for a moment, young man. You received quite a few scratches, some of them very bad. And now that we know you've been in a hit-and-run, we'll need to inspect you for any other injuries." Credence went to leave. "I'll be back in a moment, I need to close the bar. Rain, watch him for a little bit, please." Credence said to his daughter, quickly going back down the stairs. Rain nodded, turning to the bandaged up boy.
"Hi." She greeted, taking a seat in a chair in the room. She shifted a bit, her deer tail pressed up against the chair uncomfortably. "Uh, my name is Rain. Rain Doe." She introduced herself. The boy turned his head to Rain, and opened his mouth to speak.
"Sam Hix. Nice to meet you, Rain." The boy, now known as Sam, returned the introduction. His face then turned to confusion when something occurred to him. "Hey, where am I?I don't remember being near the city when I got hit." Sam asked, forcing himself to sit up, grunting in effort.
"Oh, you're in Vale, above my dad's bar." Rain answered Sam. Vale? That name rung a bell in Sam's mind, but he wasn't sure why. He nodded. Sitting up he now got a good look at Rain. She didn't have antler like her dad, but he could see a tail from the angle he was at. Her skin was lightly tanned, which accompanied her freckles very well. She had brown hair that was a shade lighter than Sam's, which fell along her back, and her eyes were a striking blue. She was currently wearing pajamas, loose pajama pants and a form fitting shirt, both decorated with a snowy forest against a red background.
"I recognize that name. Um, if I may ask, why do you and your father have those animal attributes?" Sam asked, nodding to her tail. Rain tilted her head, a confused look now coming onto her face as well.
"We're Faunus." Rain saw understanding overcome Sam and then watched as his eyes widened and he ran to the window, throwing the curtains open. Outside, Sam saw the gray buildings and holographic lamp posts, and most importantly, the castle in the distance that was Beacon Academy. There was no way! Sam was in Vale, in Remnant, from RWBY? Sam looked back at Rain, who had gotten up from the chair. Credence had now come back up from the bar below, the last of his customer being forced out.
"I'm in Remnant?!" Sam yelled. The deer Faunus both nodded, slightly scared. Sam's face was overtaken by a smile. He knew this might just be some sort of coma dream from the car accident, but he didn't care. Here, he was free from Earth. Here, he was free to go on adventures and fight monsters.
Here, it was his time to shine.
When Sam realized where he was, he immediately rushed out of the apartment, telling his Faunus saviours that he would return later. He was ignoring the fact that he had run into the streets barefoot, with only his jeans and bandages keeping him clothed. Jogging along the streets, Sam took in the sights of the city. Here he was, in the world from what was arguably his favorite animated show ever. A smile was growing ever more on his scratched face, ignoring the pebbles that bombarded his feet. He felt great! He could feel the wind against his smooth skin, his heart pumping in his chest, his flat stomach rising and falling from his heavy breathing.
Sam paused, looking down at his stomach. This was odd, he usually had a rather large gut there, he could have sworn. His hand went to his chin, and felt smooth flesh. HIs acne, it had disappeared. Stopping by a nearby window, he inspected his reflection. It was him, the same Sam he was before, only he looked better. The acne and pimples around his body were now nowhere to be found, and he didn't have any hair forming a unibrow either. His currently bandaged stomach was flat instead of the round it used to be. They weren't abs, but it was a start. He looked… handsome. Looking up at the sign of the building, Sam's eyes lit up at the name. Dust Till Dawn, the famous shop from the first episode of the series. It was open, appropriately, from dusk until dawn, so the lights were shining bright in contrast to the dark city. Sam hopped up the steps and pushed the door open, ringing a bell that signalled his greeting. The old shopkeeper gave Sam a wave as he entered the shop.
Heading towards the back of the store, Sam made sure to check the right side of the building. There was no girl in a red hoodie there, and the shop wasn't being repaired, which likely meant that Sam was here before the series even started. Not that he was complaining, but the chance to meet Ruby Rose would have been amazing. Doing some more wandering of the building, Sam contemplated buying some Dust before he remembered he didn't have any Lien. So he simply left the store, waving a farewell to the shop owner.
Sam took in a deep breath as he stepped back into the streets of Vale. He couldn't say it enough times. Just as Sam was preparing to head back to the apartment he came from, he heard a noise come from an alley nearby. It seemed like some talking was going on, and Sam couldn't resist the urge to eavesdrop. Peering into the alleyway, Sam saw a very familiar face.
"What are we gonna do, Oz? I can't stall Tai forever, he's been getting too suspicious recently." Qrow Branwen said in his usual raspy voice, talking into a scroll. Next to him a green-haired tall, lanky man with thick round glasses stood. A dusty old crow and the hyper doctor. Sam's insides squealed with excitement. "This next year at Beacon is less than five months away, and if you don't find a suitable candidate from any of the students, we're gonna have a disaster on our hands." Sam couldn't resist doing what he did next. If he was going to be here in Remnant, he was going to help save it no matter what the cost.
"Might I suggest a certain Pyrrha Nikos?" Sam declared out loud, turning the corner. Qrow and Oobleck both turned to Sam, slightly startled. Sam leaned up against the wall, giving a small wave. He heard a questioning Ozpin come from Qrow's scroll, and the scythe-wielder was glaring at Sam.
"Hold on, I'll call you back. We may have a bit of trouble." Qrow hung up on the Headmaster, storing his scroll into his pockets. Oobleck stepped to the side as the black haired man put his hand onto his weapon's handle, taking a few steps towards Sam. "Get out of here, kid. I don't know what you heard, but you better leave and not tell anyone what you did hear." Sam inwardly smirked as he stood there and ignored the threat of his favorite Drunkle.
"Alright, alright, I'll go. I just wanted to give you some advice on who to transfer the Fall Maiden's powers to, since that girl - Amber, I believe her name was - isn't in the best condition to do so." Sam turned and raised his hands, beginning to walk away. He heard from behind him two weapons unfold. "Hey now, killing me isn't the way to go. Especially since I'm on your side…" Sam turned back to the two Huntsman, seeing that they had their weapons at the ready. "...and not Salem's." He put his hands into his pockets. Was this a stupid idea? Yes. Does the author feel like this is a bit too fast-paced for a believable story? Yes. Did the author just need a way for Sam to be trained within the five months before going to Beacon so he could start the juicy stuff? Again, yes. Did those last two questions actually exist in this universe? No.
"How do you know all of this kid?" Qrow gave another glare at Sam, probably sizing the boy up. Sam laughed at the sight. Did Qrow actually seem a bit intimidated? Probably not, but Sam was giving himself too much credit at the moment.
"I'm not going to tell you… yet. For now, all you're gonna know is that I think I can help you stop Salem." Sam raised an eyebrow, looking back to the two Huntsman. He wasn't sure where this confidence was coming from, but he wasn't going to turn it away. "If you don't believe me, ask me anything, something only Ozpin's most trusted would. If I'm wrong, I walk away now and leave you alone. If I'm right, however… you train me so I can get into Beacon." Sam raised an eyebrow to his offer, then his hand for a shake. "Deal?"
"Kid, I don't know if I can train you enough to get into Beacon in such a short time. But you know too much about the current situation to be ignored, and you don't seem like someone to work for the White Witch." Qrow walked toward Sam, extending his hand to shake Sam's. "So deal. On one condition." Qrow drew his hand back. "I'm fully aware I'm likely making an incredibly dumb decision I usually wouldn't make so easily. But we're desperate. So, everyday I train you, I'm going to ask you another question. And if you get even one wrong…" Qrow put his hand back to shake Sam's. "I might not be so merciful. That being said, it's time for question number one. What is Ozpin's biggest secret?" Oh, this was an easy one.
"Well, Ozpin has many secrets. Such as his fight against the White Witch, or that he never actually has any coffee in that mug he carries around." Qrow let out a small chuckle at the second claim. "But his biggest secret is that he is cursed to a life of reincarnation." Qrow was impressed, Sam could tell. Speaking of. "The name's Sam, by the way."
"Well color me astounded kid." Qrow walked past Sam, prepared to leave the alley. "I gotta go and tell Oz about this. Meet me at any bar in town, I'll find you eventually. We'll start your training there." Qrow rounded the corner and Sam heard a soft noise before he saw a small crow fly into the sky. A voice cleared from behind Sam, which slightly startled him. Sam had completely forgotten Oobleck was still there. "Oh, Doctor Oobleck, I forgot you were here."
"Actually, it's- Oh, you actually called me Doctor. Well done, young Sam. I have to say, child, it was very bold of you to barge into this fight. We could have attacked at any moment, and yet you didn't flinch at all." Oobleck stepped closer to Sam, his hands behind his back. "I don't know much about you, but whatever force is driving you to do this, I hope you are prepared. It was oddly specific that you should meet us with the knowledge you currently have."
"I've got a feeling luck is on my side." Sam stepped out of the alley and back into the city, walking back to the apartment from whence he came.
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"What the hell?! You just barge out on us after we find you injured?!" Credence loudly whispered, trying to keep from waking his daughter who had, since Sam's departure, gone back to sleep. "Kid, I don't know you but if something had happened to you after I had just let you stroll out I would never forgive myself."
"I'm sorry, I just went and did some sightseeing! This is my first time in… Vale, and I just had to see what the place had to offer!" Sam pulled on the hoodie that was now much looser on him than it had ever been, and zipped it up. Credence, as he now knew what the man was called, had awaited the return of this stranger. Whatever confidence Sam had with Qrow was gone and he became an awkward mess of words. "I'm sorry, I was just so excited! I've always wanted to visit Vale, and I was just so overwhelmed, and I did something that shouldn't have worked in thousand years, and I think I'm into something deep!" Sam muttered out. "By the way, I kind of ran away from home and I don't have any Lien… could I stay here for a while?" At this Credence pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and pointer finger. He slowly nodded, saying they would figure everything else out in the morning.
And thus began Sam's first night in Remnant.
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A/N: So hi again! I am aware that the first chapter feels kind of rushed, but I didn't really have a plan for this story. I'm writing more stream of consciousness style. I'm more getting the basic stuff out of the way before I get into the real meat of the story. I've just been super obsessed with self-insert stories recently, and I wanted to do one myself, so I hope you enjoy. But do I know that I will actually spend time on Sam's training and for him to spend time with Credence and Rain.
Also, for anyone wondering, the hoodie that survived was a hoodie that looks like Connor's suit from Detroit Become Human. I actually got one myself recently so I decided to make it part of Sam's (or, in this case, my own) outfit.