Just a few things before letting you get on reading.
First off, know that I started writing this after V5 finished but before V6 started, so any plot threads introduced post-V5 in the show proper are irrelevant to this compilation. (This is just in case anybody finds this compilation in the future)
Second is the fact this is a compilation of oneshots written completely out of chronological order. For the most part, these are written when inspiration strikes me. There may end up being some contradictions because of this. My views and interpretations of the characters are still evolving as I learn about them.
There may be passing mentions of dates in here. The year system I came up with is arbitrary. I just wanted something concrete to work with for organisational purposes in preplanning/plotting things.
Also I apologise if I'm not writing Ozpin correctly in this. He's just such a difficult character to grasp for me personally so…
Summer's back pressed to the wall and she trembled as she gripped her backpack. The police circled around her and she swallowed. "Give back what you've stolen and we'll go light on your sentence." She shook her head, silver eyes wide. She hadn't stolen anything! She'd bought all of it with the money she'd earned! She'd been framed again!
"Now gentlemen, I believe there's been a misunderstanding here." Summer's gaze snapped to the unfamiliar voice and a man with silver-streaked black hair approached. The police looked at each other and parted as he walked through them. She kept her gaze trained on him, throat tight. Nobody had ever defended her before. What did this man want? He had to have some sort of ulterior motive; nobody ever helped anybody without something to gain for themselves.
"Young lady, you didn't steal that, did you?" Summer shook her head and fished into the pocket that contained her receipts. May 1235… She thumbed through them and found the one from just a few hours ago, offering it to the man with trembling hand. She held the very edge of the slip with her fingers, willing he wouldn't make contact with her. Unfortunately, with as short as the slip of paper was, he did and she flinched. His eyebrows raised but he didn't back away. What? But everyone freaked out because of her Semblance…
The man walked over to the cops and spoke with them for awhile. Eventually, they left and he returned, a faint bun unreadable smile on his lips. He returned the receipt to her and, again, their fingers brushed. The smile simply grew a little and he looked at her over top of his glasses. "That's quite the interesting Semblance you have, miss. Have you ever considered enrolling in Beacon Academy?"
Summer just stared at the man. Who was he to be asking if she'd enroll in Beacon? It wasn't like she had the knowhow or ability to become a Huntress! Plus, it was way out of her price range. She was lucky to scrape ten lien together in a week for food. Fund even a day at Beacon would be impossible! And she didn't want to hurt anybody…
The man simply continued to smile and pulled away from her, pushing his glasses up. He offered her a business card and her eyes widened. Headmaster Ozpin?! What in the gods' names…?! Why was he intervening here? She was just some random street urchin, not anybody important! There had to be people more deserving than her. And it wasn't like she had any ability or predisposition to fight.
"Would you like to attend Beacon? It wouldn't be hard to get you in. If you'd like a little time to consider my offer, the new year begins on June the first." She stared at the card in his hand before looking up at him. Why? Why her? Nothing about this made any sense… She didn't understand. She didn't want to stay on the streets but the possibility of hurting someone… But a bed and consistent food and…
She looked up at him with wide eyes, a lump in her throat as she nodded. It was a hard choice even in the moment. Twelve years on the streets was too much. She didn't know how much longer she could stand this. The last winter had killed dozens with as cold as it'd been and only her knowhow had kept her alive. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to survive another one like that, though. The summer was already shaping up to be a scorcher which almost always meant a lethally cold winter to follow.
Ozpin's smile only grew further and he made a motion toward her. "You can speak to me without fear. What's your name?" His tone implied he already knew—not surprising, given his talk with the police, but still she hesitated. He had already felt the full brunt of her emotions when making contact with her, but still…
He continued to smile and she let out a breath, voice shaking. "I-I'm Summer Rose, sir. T-Thank you for what you did…" Her voice was a bit rough and cracked due to severe disuse, but it still carried a girlish pitch that dusted her cheeks with pink. She knew he could feel the trepidation, distrust, and fear, but he made no visible signs of the massive flood she forced on him. Beacon headmaster or not, he should have shown something. After all of the research she'd done at the public library, she'd discovered her sort of Semblance seemed to be unheard of. So how…? Why…?
"I have encountered many things over my life, Miss Rose; your curious Semblance is but one of many." He smiled again and she flipped the hood of her too-small hoodie, trying to hide her reddening cheeks. He simply chuckled and straightened up, starting to walk. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and followed behind him, falling silent as he led her to a small café. It sat empty of patrons oddly and she settled across from him, scanning his face.
She didn't like his face. She couldn't get a read on his mood. Even if she couldn't feel other people's emotions, she could still read people well. She didn't like this. Someone like him was dangerous. He was controlled and control almost always meant thinking. Thinking meant planning and planning meant motives. Just what was going through his head? She narrowed her eyes and he just chuckled in response, look at her over top his glasses.
"Your silver eyes are quite interesting, Miss Rose. They're very expressive." The waiter walked over and started with drinks (she just mimed for water) and Ozpin spoke as they looked over the menu.
"I can tell you're quite sharp, Miss Rose. Your eyes show you're asking questions and, if I'm correct, then they're the right sort." He interlaced his fingers and rested hem in front of his mouth. Summer could tell he sensed the distrust rolling off her, but it wasn't like she was exactly trying to hide it. Just what was he getting at? What was with the focus on her eyes? They were an unusual color, yes, but what did that have to do with anything?
Ozpin stirred a bit of sugar into his coffee after the waiter sat it down and she held the man's gaze. It was ancient, timeless, beyond what any human should have seen. In some respects, it scared her, but she refused to look away. Only him blinking got her to return her attention to the menu. It was hard to choose when she was so used to not eating for weeks at a time…
"You are quite astute, Miss Rose. I really do believe you'll thrive at Beacon." He took a sip of his coffee and she looked back at him, eyes narrow. He gave her that mysterious smile again. "As to why, I have my reasons, but I trust you'll find them on your own in time. Your Semblance gives ou a unique perspective on other people many don't have." Oh the cryptic riddles were going to be annoying, weren't they? They were already maddening and she'd barely known the man fifteen minutes. At least he was being honest about his ulterior motives. She had a feeling he normally wouldn't be so transparent, but she'd forced him into a bit of a corner.
"So you want me to attend, but I have no background in Hunter training or even academics. What do you propose to remedy this situation?" Summer folded her arms, looking at Ozpin seriously. She had the survival skills to be a roving Huntress, that was for sure, but everything else? She didn't know a damn thing about Grimm, kingdom law, combat, or anything of the sort. The most she knew about was Semblances for obvious reasons.
Of course, that received another faint chuckle, but his gaze was steady and serious. "A teacher just recently retired from Beacon and is feeling the strain of not having a job any longer. I believe this might be a good fit." Summer continued to stare, but she gave a faint nod. Well, at least she wouldn't be staying with the headmaster himself. At the moment, she could barely stand to be around him, so it was a blessing. At least it finally meant an end to her days on the streets…