A/N: Hey guys, Arch here, with the next chapter of JPLL! Like usual, I hope you all enjoy the chapter, and so, without further ado, let us begin:
As the weeks started to roll in at Beacon Academy, Teams JPLL and ACMM's lives started to take a certain rhythm to them. By now, Jin was officially inducted to the student body, records being official and formed filled out, and so far, things sailed smoothly for the two teams.
Each morning, the teams would wake up, Leila and Hue working together to try and dress Jin in her already tattered and torn uniform, which she managed to ruin the day she got it, simply by being far too large to such tight clothing. On top of it, she seemed to have a distaste for the uniform in general, and even when they managed to dress her up, she'd shake her body violently, causing even further tears in the poor fabric, making Leila wish she knew the fine art of hand sewing. Perci, of course, would just sit on her already messy bed, or rather, two beds, as Jin seems comfortable sleeping curled up on the floor. This gave the delinquent the leisure of conquering the bed next to her own, much to Leila's protests of unfairness and the fact that it wasn't meant to her. Occasionally, while the other two would try and dress up their mighty team leader, she'd pass a snarky comment and laugh at her own joke, taking her sweet time to find her uniform, which she hated just like the rest of the things in Beacon. The only real reason she even wore them was that doing otherwise would put her parole at risk.
On ACMM's end, things worked far smoother, as the team leader wasn't some wild creature from who knows where. Though Undine's sleeping habits and snoring did leave the rest of them slightly sleep deprived, Ash's expression never went sour with her, though at the same time she was the one to wake last, usually Melody having to tap her shoulder to get the detective girl to open her eyes to yet another world.
In yet another typical, rather slow school morning, after the teams got ready for the day and several loud laughing streaks could be heard from team JPLL's dorm, the group all got out, dressed up and ready to go.
"I swear, Jin's uniform gets more and more torn up every day I see her..." Ash commented, laughing silently, Leila having to fix a part of her braid, which got loose in the ongoing war between Jin and clothing.
"And good morning to you too, Ash." Leila addressed her, bowing as she usually did, the cross pendant hanging from her neck over Beacon's uniform. While she'd usually put it under her robe, in times such as this she took to letting it show, signifying her faith and connection to the Lord.
"Right, right. Mornin'." Ash nodded back and pointed towards the hall with her head. "Let's get to class, shall we? I think we have Oobleck's class this morning."
"Oh boy. My favorite." Undine grunted, gritting teeth.
"Tell me about it." Perci agreed with her. "I swear for everything that asshole says, you'd think SOME of them would be interesting."
"History is interesting," Leila interjected, looking at Perci with eyes weary of her constant negativity. "Perhaps if you bothered to listen instead of making ridiculous jokes and quips all lesson you'd find it enjoyable to listen to him."
"Nah, if anyone in this school is worth listening to it's Port. T'least his stories are gripping, I'd tell you that much..." At this point, the rest of the group, sans Jin and Copper, who didn't have any opinion on the matter, gave an audible sigh. So far, Perci was one of the only students in Beacon who actually gave a shit about Port's tall tales of heroism and might, seemingly enjoying each and every over the top one.
"I honestly have no idea how you can even manage to listen to him all day without going mad..." Undine threw in her two cents. "I literally have to fight myself not to fall asleep, unlike Jin over there." Her round face turned in place to see Jin's tall frame, walking alongside them, seemingly enjoying the pleasant mood and humming some pleasant tune to herself.
"I mean come on, you KNOW he's awesome when he tells about the time he jumped into a FUCKING VOLCANO to fight a grimm. Seriously Fish-girl. A VOLCANO. How awesome is THAT?" Perci's voice started to pick up in excitement.
"More akin to a blatant fabrication." Hue corrected her. "If you bothered to listen to the smaller details of his stories the inconsistencies and plot holes pile up rather quickly, all things considered." The rest nodded, with Perci rolling her eyes.
"Bah, none of you know how to have fun." She muttered, putting her hands in the uniform's pockets, walking with her shoulders stiffened and raised, trying to stave away the rest of them.
"W-Well... I like Professor Peach the best." Melody tried to join the conversation, shifting the subject lightly.
"I suppose out of all the teachers in Beacon Oobleck would be the most tolerable." Hue brought up her opinion, Copper nodding in agreement.
"Oobleck possesses vast amounts of knowledge. He is quite useful." Copper added to Hue's words.
"Hmm... I would have to go with Glynda. So far, she seems to be the most virtuous and selfless person here." Leila thought about it a bit.
"More like the one with the longest ruler up her ass," Perci mentioned off hand, Ash snickering to the sound of her words.
"Alright credit where it's due that was kinda funny."
"I know right? I mean have you SEEN her during combat practices? You move your legs ONE inch away from where they're supposed to be and she starts screaming her ass off about disrupting her class or something."
"I'm certain sitting with your legs over the seats before you and smoking in her lesson didn't do any better to elevate her mood Perci." Leila reminded her, and Perci shrugged.
"What? I DID throw it after she told me, didn't I?"
"And AGAIN, I am sure throwing your cigar into the arena wasn't the best course of action EITHER." Leila's patience was starting to run thin, and Jin came closer to her, noticing her innate anger at her teammate.
"Hugs?" She asked, spreading her arms a bit, Leila taking a few steps away to get out of her hugging range.
"N-No, No, I'll be fine Jin. See?" Leila put on a fake smile, but Jin's eyes didn't go off from her, waiting until Leila actually calmed down before letting her hands fall back.
"Okay!" Jin smiled, stepping back, Leila sighing in relief as the group finally reached the proper classroom, may of the other students already inside, preparing for the lesson.
About ninety minutes later, and one long speech about the history of Remnant, Oobleck was finally nearing the very end of his lesson.
"And THAT, children, is how..." He tried to add another sentence, though the sounds of Jin snoring managed to catch him off guard, the giant dust infused faunus sitting with her head between her hands, snoring as she slept the entire lesson away.
"Ms. Jin, is there something I should know about?" He came towards her, mug of coffee in hand, now standing right in front of Jin's dormant form. "Ms. Jin... Ms. Jin!" He tried waking her up, shouting or making some noise, but alas, nothing seemed to help, and Jin kept sleeping, much to the amusement of the other students, many of them sharing a laugh, Perci included. As he heard them laugh, Oobleck turned around, looking rather annoyed at the whole saturation.
"Alright then. If you all think one of your friends sleeping is more interesting then my lesson... Then I want an essay of the material in this lecture on my desk by next week." He said, the students groaning in defeat.
"Man, fuck that!" A lone voice spoke up from the crowds. "Why the hell are WE getting punished? Not MY fault she decides to sleep like that all damn day."
The classroom turned silent, heads turning to the source of the voice, when Perci stood up, facing Oobleck defiantly. "You wanna punish someone? Punish them for what they DID." She finished her sentence, sitting down, an awkward silence spreading in her wake for several seconds, as even Oobleck said nothing, pondering his words.
"...Perci, please stay after class." He finally concluded, the girl huffing with pride at the fact that she managed to peeve the teacher. From there, Oobleck, unable to do anything with Jin, left her be, tuning out her small snores as he resumed his lecture. At this point, fearing their grades, the students redoubled their efforts not to fall asleep right there and then, diligently writing the material down, taking notes and preparing for the homework at hand. Finally, the bell rung, and the lesson was other, giving the students some break time in between lessons.
"..." Leila stared at Perci, who remained seated. She didn't even have an open notebook, nor any writing material. "I will see you next class." She finally managed to mutter, getting up and walking out. Soon enough, the class emptied up, with the only remaining people there being Perci, Oobleck, and Jin, who was still sleeping soundly, despite all the noise around her.
"Alright then." Perci, once seeing the last of the students, and her team, in particular, walk out, stepped over the seats, going to the first row as close to Oobleck as she could get. "What's up, doc?"
"I don't think I have to tell you what is up." Oobleck didn't spare her any breaks, handing her a piece of paper with her name on it, as well as a failing grade.
"...So it's a failed test. And?" She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms and staring at him curiously, trying to determine if there was ANYTHING that he said that was worth her full attention.
"Perci... Why? Why do this? I've seen your grades on Professor Port's class, and you could do so much more than this if you tried." He paused, trying to inspire some part of her to strive for better, Perci only giving him a cold shouldered shrug.
"What's the point? History is bullshit anyway. So some guy said this to another guy and they ended up killing each other. Whoopty shit I could show you THAT happening downtown in like ten minutes."
"If this is what you see in history, then I'm afraid you've been missing the point." He argued, only to be met with stern disagreement from the other end. "Don't you think that if you learned from your past you could improve upon yourself?"
At that moment, Perci grew oddly quiet. Her smirk faded slowly, giving way to an almost painful looking grunt, the look in her eyes giving a stark hint as to the truth laying deep within. "The past? You know what's good about the past?" She inched in, looking him dead in the eye, with the gaze of someone who's seen enough shit in their life to be able to think any different. "That it's not here anymore. And NOTHING else." Her voice was resolute. Oobleck took a moment to register her extreme views of the world.
"I think... That you need to give it a shot. If you can sit and listen to Peter's stories for hours on end, then I want you to at least try. Don't you think cutting what you don't like from your life without looking at it from every side is gonna bite you in the end?"
"Sometimes, 'doctor'..." She sighed, her gaze unchanging. "You burn enough bridges the only way to move is forward. I don't HAVE a past. And I don't NEED one."
After that, Oobleck finally realized what he was dealing with. He quieted down, and sat in front of her, sighing. "Perci... Many students passed through my class. Each of them, I gave the knowledge I know, and the skills they'll need as Huntsman on Remnant. Do you know why I want to do that?"
"Enlighten me." She sighed, bracing herself for yet another boring lecture.
"Because, at the end of the day, when all is said and done, this is the most powerful tool I can give my students. The gift of knowledge." He explained himself to Perci. "There are many uses to the past, Perci. It's not just a bad memory."
"Oh SHUT UP!" Her voice raised to a shout. "You don't know ANYTHING about what I've been through! You think you're so high and mighty here, in your little class and lessons?! Well SEE IF I CARE! Let's see YOU survive like I had to!" Her emotions ran wild, anger overflowing, years of her own past flashing in front of her eyes.
"Regardless... I cannot let you fail the class." He concluded. "If you get another failing grade here... Then I'd be forced to report this to Ozpin and your parole would be at stake."
"Tsk!..." She sneered, looking at him with a degree of disgust. "And here I thought I was rotten to the core... Eh, I guess being strong armed into doing something isn't something that surprising." She sighed, looking to the side.
"Just one last thing..." He came to say, taking a seat. "You know that Beacon has a psychologist on grounds, right? Please, go to him. I know I'm not qualified for this sort of task... But I genuinely think you could use someone confidential to talk to."
"What, HIM? Oh please, Topaz is as creepy as they get." In truth, she was going to him on a weekly basis every since the school year began as part of her parole plan. "Dude's an odd, creepy fuck if you ask me."
"Disrespect notwithstanding, he is an expert in his field. I'd do wisely to listen to him." Oobleck countered her argument, taking a sip of his coffee. "In any case, you are dismissed. Don't forget to take notes from one of your teammates to get the assignment done in time." He then looked at Jin. "And please help your... Team leader, out."
"Right, right... Whatever." She rolled her eyes one more time, walking up to Jin and shaking her up. "Oi! Brute! Get up you dumb fuck the lesson's over!"
"...Hmm?" Jin's eyes fluttered open, and she looked at Perci again, with that ever-present smile, only further angering her for some reason. "Hi!" Jin called, and hearing her approach her with the same tune, even after treating her so badly, made Perci's expression even more perplexed than before.
She just didn't understand it. In the several weeks she's seen Jin and lived with her, the girl didn't show anger or sadness even ONCE. The nun was easy to rile up, and even that nerd Hue had some semblance of emotion, or at least anger. But Jin... She could have sworn that the giant didn't even know what anger WAS. "Come on... I'm calling you so many terrible things here... You're not even gonna react to it? Call me names too? ANYTHING?" She questioned it out loud, while helping Jin out of the chair, which barely fit her, getting the gentle giant out to the floor, walking with her to the door.
"B-But you're a friend..." Jin muttered, looking at her with that same hint of admiration. "And you're so... big!" She said it without hostility or discontent in her voice, making Perci wonder what it meant anyway.
"And that means..." She looked at her, spinning one hand to gesture her to explain, opening the door with the other, Jin stepping out and herself coming after.
"That you're big! And pink! And strong!" Jin exclaimed, grinning widely like she completely understood what it meant.
"...Alright, then. Never asking you about THAT again." Perci, having had enough bullshit for one day, walked with her to the next class, the exchange with Oobleck clinging to her mind.
All throughout that day, Oobleck's words echoed through her mind. She tried shaking them off, but no matter what she did, the past just kept popping back into her head. Images of her childhood, pictures of a weakling girl who let her parents lock her up inside their home for years on end flashed back into her mind, Perci physically shaking her head at times to try and rid herself of them.
That girl was dead now. Only Perci remained.
By the end of the final lesson, Perci looked weary and strained. She hated days like these, and to top it all off, she now had to spend the entire evening with those bitches that called themselves team JPLL. As soon as the final bell rung, Perci got up, walking off to the dorm, not even bothering with waiting for the rest of them. Thoughts and doubts kept running through her head, and for the most part, she would have handled them fine, if that asshole of a psychologist didn't read her so damn well, playing to her weaknesses, as few as those were, peering into her mind both figuratively AND literally.
Seeing Perci leave in such a hurry, Leila couldn't help but wonder about what transpired that day to make her so... quiet. Usually, she'd spew those dumb gags of hers at everything around her, or try and aggravate Leila herself with some insult to God or something of the sort. Yet, contrary to her regular persona, she said nothing, deep in thought every time she saw her walking about. Sensing this might be another trial for her to overcome, Leila turned to Hue, pointing at Jin.
"Hue, can I ask you to take Jin back to the dorm? I want to see what is happening with Perci." She asked, and Hue nodded, intending to head there either way.
"Very well. I will see you later on Leila." Hue sighed, taking Jin's hand, and walking with her away. Ash approached her shortly after, slight concern in her eyes.
"You gonna go and talk to Perci?"
"Yeah... I've never seen her as quiet like this. I'm a bit worried, I'll be honest." Leila admitted, Ash nodding in agreement.
"Just... Be careful 'round her, alright? Types like her... Are rather quick to anger." She spoke out of experience, hoping her friend would keep herself safe.
Leila agreed, and with the warning in mind, set out to look for her teammate, combing Beacon for any clue as for the delinquent's location. Eventually, students she passed by told her they saw someone fitting Perci's description, holding a bottle of liquor of all things, heading to the roof of the school. Assuming the worst, Leila hastened her steps, running the halls as quickly as she could, and upon getting to the roof's balcony, she stepped out, seeing a slightly blushing Perci with a half empty bottle, leaning on the railing surrounding the terrace and watching the sun slowly descend into the horizon.
"...Perci?" She spoke up, the girl in the hat not turning to recognize her. Leila approached her, worry in her voice, though also a hint of distrust, knowing not what she'd do. "Is... Everything alright?"
"Heh..." Perci muttered, taking another sip of her bottle, turning her head to look at Leila for a second before returning her gaze to the sinking sun. "You have the same tone they did..." Perci's voice, as well as demeanor, were those of one sunk deep in their own history and life.
"They?" Leila, curious, stepped in a little closer.
"Yeah... I'd come to a place, try and find somewhere to sleep, and the moment people realized what I could do... They'd all have that same look..." She finally turned her face around, and Leila could see that she was, in fact, drunk to a degree, cheeks pink and a bitter, sorrowful smile on her face. "The look that meant it's time to go and find another home..."
"Perci... Where did you get that?" She pointed to the bottle in her hands, Perci shrugging.
"Smuggled it when I came to Beacon. I was hoping to save it for a better occasion... But I suppose using it to wash away the bad memories would do." She chuckled, sadness still audible in her slow, rough voice, taking another sip and giving a small hick up.
"Perci, please, put down the bottle." Leila beseeched her. "I know that we don't usually see eye to eye... But it's never an excuse to refuse to help someone. If you need to talk, we're here."
"Oh please, cut the crap, Nun. You all hate me and you know it." Perci sneered, laughing bitterly. "Why in the name of fuck would you want to be friends with a monster anyway?" As she said this, Leila tilted her head a bit. Something inside her finally realized it too. Perci wasn't this mean because she wanted to hurt anyone.
She didn't know anything else in her entire life.
At that moment, Leila paused, and decided to step closer to her. Perci looked at her, breath reeking of alcohol and a smile of someone who didn't fully realize what was going on around them, not doing anything in particular to stop her.
"What, you gonna try and hug me or some shi-" Before she could finish that sentence, Leila embraced her, wrapping two arms around Perci's form, keeping herself steady. Perci's expression soon shifted, from a rather relaxed drunkard to that of borderline aggressive tendencies.
"...Get off." She commanded, though her body did not resist the nun's touch.
"No. I won't leave you like this alone." Leila insisted, making Perci even angrier.
"So what, now we're fucking FREINDS?!" Her voice raised again. "And just how long this time, huh?! Just how long until you grow tired of this charade and boot me out?!"
"I won't! None of us will!" She called out, resolute in her words. Perci paused again, small tears forming at the corner of her eyes.
"And just how the fuck am I gonna trust THAT, huh? You REALLY think you're the first person out there to tell me I can trust them before stabbing me in the back? You REALLY think you're the first one to try and get me to open up with a hug, only to throw me out like yesterday's trash when it wasn't convenient keeping me around anymore?" After that, Perci paused a bit, her voice lowering to a mere whisper.
"Do you honestly think I could ever trust anyone out there after all the shit I've been through?" As she asked this, Leila herself closed her eyes, pondering. She had to think carefully, as Perci might act violently at her if she said something wrong. Deep down, however, her compassion for the girl she thought was irredeemable gleamed brightly. She now knew what the Lord planned for her by placing her with Perci on the same team.
"There's always a first time for everything," Leila concluded. "And I won't let you stay like this." She kept hugging her tightly, her strength not nearly as powerful as Jin's, but regardless, she managed to convey her feelings properly. For the first few seconds, all Perci could do was fidget in her hands as she tried to get out of her touch, tear falling from her face. Soon enough, however, the tears intensified, and sadness she was harboring for years on end manifested before the nun, showing her a whole other side of the girl who claimed everything to be horrible.
"You better not tell anyone about this, got that? I'll never forgive you if you do." Perci managed to say in between silent sobs, Leila nodding in agreement. While she was not one to keep secrets forever, believing the concept of secrecy and lies to be appalling, she knew it had to be done if it meant Perci would be able to heal.
"I'll take it with me to the grave." Leila managed to sneak in a small smile, Perci rolling her eyes.
"You better." Slowly, her mood managed to improve. The tears still came to her after that for a few minutes, but soon enough, she managed to kick that out too, returning to being slightly drunk and mellow.
"Now come on, let's get back to the dorm." Leila let Perci wrap an arm around her shoulder, leading her slowly back through the halls. By now the sun already set entirely, shards of the moon slowly appearing in the windows as the two walked together, finally bonding for the first time since they met. "I'm sure the others are worried about you."
When they finally got back, Hue was vacant, having left a note on her bed she'd be back later on. Jin was sleeping soundly on the floor like she always did, though when the two of them got back, her lips curled upwards a bit as if sensing the two of them being close to her once more.
"Now, please, get some sleep, alright? You should let the alcohol... Um..." Leila paused, having no real knowledge of how drinking alcohol worked. "...Disperse? Is that how it works?"
Perci shrugged. "Eh... Close enough. Anyway, I'll sleep in a bit, I have something I need to do first." Leila nodded, leaving her be, finally changing from her school uniform to her pajamas, crawling into her bed and wrapping herself in her blanket.
"History, huh?..." Perci sat on her bed, taking the history book issued to her as part of her scholarship in Beacon. "Well... I guess it won't hurt giving it a shot..."
She opened the book, and for the first time in her life, began to read about Remnant's own past.
