Titus had been in only a few airships in his life, so he couldn't resist pressing his face against the glass. His future classmates were all around him, chattering excitedly about what was to come. They were on the high of their life; they were going to Beacon Academy.

After taking in the view of the city from above, Titus stepped back and sighed. The bags under his eyes had improved significantly since he had passed his huntsman exam, but he still felt a twinge of guilt every time he saw the color red. It didn't help that when he went to check his practical results, he heard that Ruby hadn't fared well.

"Why did I do that?" he asked himself for hundredth time. He pressed his palms against his forehead, trying to push the memory out of his head.

"Why did you do what?"

Titus whirled around at the familiar voice.

"Ruby!" he exclaimed, panicked. He took a step back. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

Ruby seemed as cheerful as ever, though she had a hint of nervousness in the way she held herself.

"Nice to you again Titus," she said, "and keep it down. I don't really want anyone knowing I jumped two years."

"How did you manage that?" Titus asked, incredulous.

He stood, awestruck, as Ruby told him about her encounter with the infamous terrorist Torchwick. He watched as Ruby grew more excited, recounting how Glynda Goodwitch combined debris in the area into massive spears that she shot at the hovercraft.

"Wow," Titus said as she finished her story. "So Ozpin gave you the go ahead?"

"Yep. I'm officially one-hundred percent huntress in training."

She was smiling, but still looked skittish.

"To be honest I'm still a bit nervous," she told him in a low voice. "I don't think I would have ever passed the legitimate exam. I don't do well on tests…"

Titus felt another pang of guilt in his chest. He considered avoiding the issue, but Ruby's crestfallen look pained him even more.

"Ruby, listen," Titus began. He took a few deep breaths, gathering the tatters of his confidence.

"Look, that night we sparred, I…you beat me and I thought that…I mean you had two more years and I needed…ugh!"

Ruby waited for him to pull himself together.

"I put weapon wax in your ammo inserts," he admitted. "If you failed the practical, it was because of me."

Titus looked away, ashamed to even meet Ruby's eyes. He was sweating, and thankful for the large crowd as no one was paying attention to them.

"I know."

Titus looked back at Ruby in shock. Her eyes were kind, and she was still smiling.

"Wait, you knew?"

"I do regular maintenance checks, so when I found a hard lump of wax in the insert it wasn't hard to figure out who put it there."

"Ruby, I am so sorry," Titus apologized profusely. "I had way too much pride and-"

Ruby placed her hand up onto his shoulder.

"When I said I was bad at tests, I meant it. My weapon was fine. I just sorta cracked under pressure."

"So you failing?"

"Nothing to do with you. Though, what you did to Crescent Rose was pretty low."

"I know, and if there's anything I can do to make it up to you, I'll do it."

Ruby thought for a moment.

"Do you still have the wax you used?"

Titus shook his head and produced a small bottle.

"I used that up a while ago, but I have this unopened one."

Ruby took the bottle and placed it in the pocket of her combat skirt.

"There. We're even."

"But-"

Ruby put her hand on Titus' mouth and shook her head.

"We're even."

Titus could only nod. Ruby smiled as she removed her hand.

"Let's have a good first year!" she said cheerfully, patting him on the back.

"Yeah," was all Titus could respond with, euphoria washing over him. "Thanks."

Ruby left to go talk with her sister Yang before they arrived at Beacon. Titus was happier than he had been in weeks. He was finally attending Beacon, he had discovered his semblance a few days ago, and he had made amends with Ruby. Even if he wasn't on a hovercraft, he would have felt on top of the world.

Titus was one of the first to get off the hovercraft. The academy was beautiful from the vivid green of its grass to the high spires of its main building. He checked his scroll, a small device that acted as his ID, phone, and many other things.

Discovering he had a few minutes before the opening ceremony started, Titus quickly headed to the left following the cliff side. He found what looked to be a safe spot and leaned over the edge. The view from the hovercraft was fantastic, but there was nothing like the rush from looking down at the town without walls around you.

"Damn," he said softly, taking in the immense view. He wondered how long it would take to fall.

"Don't jump!"

Titus arms jerked in surprise which nearly sent him over the edge. A small hand grabbed his and pulled him back to solid ground. Titus grasped at the grass, his heart pounding with adrenaline. As much as he enjoyed the view, he didn't enjoy the idea of being the guy who fell off school grounds on the first day.

"Don't sneak up on me like that," he said, between gasps of breath.

"Says the idiot who wants to end his career at Beacon early."

Titus glared at the girl who had pulled him back. She was petite which surprised him since her grip had been like a vice. She picked a few loose pieces of grass from her long, curly hair and threw them at him.

"I was minding my own business waiting for the ceremony to start and I find an idiot trying to commit suicide." She was irritated, and she glared at him through her spectacles. Her brown frock coat had a few smudges on it now and she scowled as she tried rubbing them out.

"I wasn't going to jump," Titus protested. "I was just after the view. I'd have been fine if you didn't scare me like that.

"Its my fault then?" she asked sarcastically. "God, the people they let into Beacon these days."

The bells of the Academy began to ring, signaling the hour.

"Now you've made me late!" the girl exclaimed. "I swear, the things I do for the common good. Come on, the ceremonies starting soon."

Titus followed her to the main building, though he was going to the ceremony with or without her. She glanced at him occasionally, as if keeping tabs on him. She placed him squarely at her side as they snuck into the back of the crowd. It seemed they had arrived at the middle of the headmaster's speech. Titus saw Ruby further into the crowd.

"I'm going to go stand with my friend," he whispered as he took a step forward. He was pulled back with a jerk of his hood.

"You're not going anywhere," she hissed angrily. "I'm bringing you to a professor after the speech to talk about the joys of living."

"I'm not suicidal!" he hissed back.

Titus felt hand on his shoulder. He looked back to see a very irritated middle-aged woman. He had seen her on the screens of the hovercraft greeting the students before they arrived; Glynda Goodwitch, one of the professors at Beacon Academy.

"Both of you will accompany me after Professor Ozpin's speech."

The girl shot him a look, as if he had brought Professor Goodwitch here. He could only nod, and wait patiently as he listened to the rest of Ozpin's speech; Glynda waiting right beside him.

They were taken to an empty hallway just outside the main hall. Glynda gave both of them a disappointed look.

"Titus Silbon and Connie Mongle," she read off her scroll. "I expected more from two students accepted to our Academy. Not only were you late, you were causing a ruckus during the ceremony."

"But professor," Connie protested, "he was contemplating throwing himself off the side of the Academy!"

"For the last time, I was just enjoying the view!"

"Children! Be silent!"

Titus and Connie instantly stopped talking. Glynda gave them both a long look.

"The initiation begins tomorrow morning," she stated flatly. "I would advise that you two refrain from being tardy."

She left, and Connie fell back against the stone wall. She sank slowly until she was sitting on the floor.

"Why are you so relieved?" Not that Titus wasn't.

"I thought for sure we were going to be kicked out," she replied, wiping the cold sweat from her brow. "I cannot get kicked out of Beacon. It would shame my family."

"So you used me as an excuse?"

"Yeah, sorry."

"Well, at least promise to stop introducing me as the guy who's going to kill himself." Titus paused. "Grimm Hunters?"

"Huh?"

"Your family. Grimm Hunters?"

"No, military leaders."

"Wait, what?"

Connie sighed. She turned her head and pressed the side of her cheek against the cool stone.

"Not much for the military to do in a time of peace, so my family thought it best to enroll me here. And sorry about the suicidal thing, I'm a bit sensitive about that stuff."

Titus decided not to press her for details and sat next to her against the wall.

"Family expectations huh? I understand."

"You?"

"A bit of the opposite. My folks want nothing more than for me to join up with the Schnee Security corps. Felt I should be fighting monsters rather than Faunus, so I applied to Beacon against their wishes."

"If it means anything, I think you made the right choice."

"Thanks."

There was a pause and the two of them enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.

"Where are we meeting for the initiation tomorrow?" Connie asked.

"Um…that might be good to know."