Author's Note:
Dear reader,

I hope you enjoy this story. If you have any reactions/comments/reviews, PM me or comment what you think. Oh yeah, I don't own RWBY.

*Raises cookies* Here's to a wonderful story. :)

Yours truly,

RNichts

Prologue

It felt great to be alone for once. These past few weeks have been a blur of dealing with Grimm, White Fang members, more Grimm, and the occasional bar fight. Just another day's work. That's why this moment of just me and only me was a welcomed change of pace.

I brought out a pack of cigarette from my inner breast pocket and lit one up. I exhaled, and the smoke billowed out of my mouth in a small cloud. Ah, that's the stuff. I could feel the tension on my shoulders dissipating with every smoke and I slowly relaxed. My world started to clear and I saw where I was for the first time.

The Vacuoan desert landscape was unforgivingly cold at night and by day, torturously hot. Total extremes—something that perfectly described the people of the land too. Vacuo was a total hodgepodge: humans, faunus, rich, poor, civilians, military, etcetera. I liked it. But of course, this kind of environment just invited people with less than desirable motives. With this many people on the cities, thieves found it easier to do their thing and others, well… let's just say it's like a dream come true.

A January breeze blew towards me, chilling me to the bone. And it didn't help that I was standing on the roof of some fancy ass building in the middle of the night.

Why, you might ask.

Simply put, I was waiting for a friend. A friend that had finally arrived based on the chill I felt down my spine. Behind me, a grey-haired, green suit-wearing man stood with his hands resting on his cane.

I flicked the cigarette butt away and turned to face my friend.

"What do you want, Ozpin?" I asked with a condescending smile.

He looked at me with a calm and friendly gaze. But his eyes screamed "I know something you don't', a look I despised with all my soul. I nearly stormed off. But I couldn't. Not yet, at least. I needed to know why he was here first.

"…I need a bodyguard. For my school," he said plainly. I chuckled slightly.

"I don't do guard duty, Oz. You know that," I replied with a smile.

His face turned serious before saying the next two words.

"They're back."

My expression changed from playful to professional in seconds. They're back? That could only mean one thing: he's desperate. Ozpin will need all the firepower he can get his hands on… including me.

"Wow," I clapped my hands in mock congratulations and went back to my original childishness as I tried to provoke the man. "You must be really desperate to be coming to poor old me, eh, Ozzie?" And then a memory resurfaced—a memory of a time gone by, of scarlet and bronze, of kisses and love…

I turned serious and said the words Ozpin hated hearing.

"Are you sure this isn't just you being paranoid again? You know what happened the last time you were paranoid…"

Ozpin turned around and started to walk away from me.

"Yes, I do. And I don't intend to forget lest I lose someone important… again," he replied without looking at me. But I knew what kind of expression was painted on that calm and battle-hardened face: anger.

I was about to let him walk away, but the logical part of my brain was still functional. And it was telling me to help the man… for old time's sake.

"…So what's my mission?" I inquired. Ozpin paused and turned his head slightly.

"You'll be coming in as a school staff. I'll give you the details when you get to Beacon. And brush up on your social skills, Mr. Arc. You'll need it," the man said with a tinge of amusement in his voice. He opened the exit door and bright light greeted him. He stepped inside the portal and Ozpin disappeared completely. And just like that, I was alone. Again.

I leaned on the railings and gazed upon the shattered moon, its light a reminder of how cold and long the night was. By dawn, I'd have to be ready to move again, and this time towards Vale's combat training school, Beacon Academy, my alma mater. I have to acclimate myself there again before the new semester starts. I need to prepare a lot of things especially if I have to blend in. And that thing Ozpin said about brushing up on my social skills… that worried me.

I heaved a sigh, totally forgetting this was supposed to be a night of relaxation for me. But as the saying goes: Evil never sleeps.

…God knows I tried.

Chapter 1 coming soon! See you... :)