Chapter 2: Thinking back

While settling in to his flat that he'll share with his team, he stops as he recounts the events that followed before he was found by Professor Ozpin after a fight. Back before he gave up a music career, he just finished his second show when a masked man named Adam approached him.

"Your recent show has really touched me," Adam said to him as Gris was packing up to leave, "the name's Adam and I'd like to ask if you'd help me get the spirits up in the Faunus population."

Gris, being a Faunus himself, pondered on it for a moment before he said, "It's tempting, but why would you ask me? There are other musicians that could be better than me."

"But, you are special," Adam said to him, "I know your little secret, young man."

Gris was taken aback and, at the same time, felt exposed as he saw that his hood is down and his ears are up but he gathered himself as he said with a smile, "Okay, you caught me, I'm a Faunus. What else do you know?"

"I am aware that, like the rest of us," He began, "you have been ridiculed left and right by humans, am I right?"

Gris raised an eyebrow at the word 'us' but he then noticed his horns and understood where he's coming from, "So, your saying I have to play songs that would inspire anyone who's oppressed, likely other Faunus."

"Exactly," Adam said to Gris holding out his hand, "So, are you in?"

Hesitating for a quick moment, he accepted the gesture shaking Adam's hand firmly in agreement.

A month and a half went by as Adam set Gris up for an album recording and went to work on making and arranging music for his album. One day, a week before the album's release, Gris decided to ask a few things.

"Hey, Adam," Gris began as Adam turned towards him in acknowledgement, "I've heard you talking about a girl named Blake some time before, is she part of the White Fang as well?" Gris has been aware of the White Fang and the many protests that rarely broke out into riots as he was caught in the crossfire during one of the small riots. Adam even said that he's one of them during the second week of recording.

"To be exact, she was," Adam admitted, "in fact, Blake was my partner in many missions."

"Were you two close," Gris asked.

The masked man nodded, "We were, but during one mission, she decided to quit when it came to harming innocent lives, I've never seen her again."

"Talk about rough," Gris said to him, "but I can relate to her, no matter what, I won't harm innocent people no matter what their race is."

Adam didn't say anything after that as they continued to look for places to sell Gris' album. After searching, they found at least 5 music stores including the ones Gris usually used to sell his albums. Before he knew it, more than 500 copies have been sold on the first day, even Gris was surprised by how popular he is.

Later, Adam, deeming his work done, bid farewell to Gris and they went separate ways. A week after he began selling copies, he found out that the White Fang began to start even more riots amongst the ever-increasingly aggressive protests. People began pointing fingers at him so Gris sought shelter with Kala and Matt and stayed out of the public eye for the rest of the month as it blew over. Even so, Gris still keeps his hood up every time he goes out into town to train as he gave up on music and fame but he still accepts a fraction of his album sales. Months later, one night while he decided to get some Dust crystals for making more of his custom bullets for his Sub-Machine Swords, he found a robbery taking place.

Gris decided to try and fight off these robbers. He attacked as the men walked out of the store, their spoils in a trunk. "It's the Ghost," One of them shouted.

"Get 'im," Another one shouted as he drew his weapon.

Gris saw it and smacked the guy with the flat of his blades as he channeled his Aura adding an extra kick as another opened fire. Gris narrowly dodged it and blocked another guy's blade. Gris spun with his arms extended and knocked down a few more men with his blades. Before he continued, Gris shouted, "Why are you guys doing this? In fact, what do you even need Dust for, anyway?"

One of them spat and said, "We're under orders from our boss, Roman Torchwhick."

Torchwhick! Gris, gritted his teeth at the name being mentioned. He always hated Torchwhick, harassing Matt's and Gris' families many times now he's stealing Dust. Before Gris moved an inch to finish off the group, one of them threw an Impact crystal and detonated it. The blast sent him flying and he hit the pavement head first on his back.

Before he lost consciousness, Glynda found him. After meeting Ozpin and agreeing to come to his school, he waited almost eagerly for the transport the next day. After saying goodbye to Kala and Matt, he almost bumped into a girl dressed in black as he found a spot to chill near the windows. Now, he is on the same team as her along with Ruby, Yang, and Weiss. "Hard to believe I made it here, Mom and Dad," He said while looking out of the window in his room, "I promise that I'll be a Hunter just like Dad was." He heard his team gathering in the flat's lounge so he went to join them after double-checking to organize some of his things before leaving his room and joining the girls.