Chapter 3

Upgrades, Bullies and Other Things

"Survival. No matter the cost."- Royce Walker, Opening pages to the Wasteland Survivor Guide.

"I have to what?" Royce blinked at the Weapons Expert of Beacon Academy, Bierce Colt who had requested his presence after classes had ended for the day. Bierce was a tough looking old veteran who had a knack for fixing weaponry. He used to be a Hunter until a Grimm took his leg off at the knee. The Ursa Major's head was mounted on a wall over his desk. Because of the unwanted amputation, Bierce had a fierce hatred for anything Grimm. The ones he hated the most were the Ursa.

"You need upgrades kid, I was watching your fight in the Emerald Forest. You've got good guns, I'm sure I can make 'em better." Bierce told him as they looked over the Xuanlong, the scoped revolver that Royce called the Blackhawk. "Except for that plasma weapon of yours."

Royce scratched the back of his head. As far as he knew they had paper money and he didn't have much of that. "...How much is it going to cost?" He asked the weapons expert.

"Cost ya? Nah...it's all paid for by the school. It's famous enough that the governments of the other kingdoms pay for it." Bierce said grinning. "So...what do you say?"

"Why not?" Royce said shrugging his shoulders.

/

In the end Bierce didn't go crazy on the Xuanlong and Blackhawk. He kept it simple, just like how Royce liked it. He updated the barrels, the firing mechanism and the frames on the weapons to make it more suitable for fighting in Remnant. Royce was happy with that, he wouldn't have to scavenge much for bullets anymore.

The Xuanlong in particular was a lot cleaner and thanks to the advanced technology at Colt's command, lighter with a better folding stock that would help with recoil. The weapon was still chambered for 5.56mm rounds but Royce now had the option to use Dust Rounds which could "kill everything that stood in front of the barrel" as Bierce had told him.

The Blackhawk was the same way and had a better scope attached, with its updated frame the weapon was now a lot more effective at medium-long ranges. The Dust Rounds surprisingly enough came from a manufacturer, Schnee Dust Company, which made anything from toothpaste to high powered firearms used all over Remnant.

Schnee, that was Weiss' last name wasn't it? He made a note to ask her about the company.

Royce loaded a magazine of one of the Dust rounds in the chamber and sighted up on a target. Bierce was supervising. The Lone Wanderer squeezed out a three round burst at the target's head. The Ursa shaped target burst into flames. He hit the button on his left side and fired off another burst at the targets that appeared.

He tried out the Blackhawk, and was satisfied with the improved killing power. In particular he was digging the High Explosive Dust Rounds which would be great for taking out anything armored. Sure the Novasurge could kill almost everything but he had more options now. He liked the variety of tools he had at his disposition.

"Nice." Royce said as he hit the magazine release and took out the round in the chamber. "Real nice. Thanks Mister Colt."

Colt beamed at the praise. "You can get more ammo here if you need some." He told Royce.

"Oh yeah what are you gonna call them kid?" Colt asked.

Royce simply told him that he'd keep the names his guns were given.

/

Royce closed the door to Colt's office and walked back to the Academy. It was a crisp morning with a slight breeze. He scratched his head as he walked over to the locker room to put away his weapons. As he walked he saw two of CRDL waiting for him. One was a dude with a blue Mohawk, the other had brown hair. They stepped forward to stop him. They forgot Royce had the Xuanlong in hand.

They realized he was heavily armed and paled as they looked at the massive rifle in the other student's hands. Royce simply gestured to the side with the Xuanlong's barrel and they both stepped out of his way. He glared at them both coldly before entering the locker room. He heard what sounded like a nervous Jaune and a laughing Winchester before hearing the unmistakable sound of a fist hitting a face. Royce quietly put away his weapons then slipped the Trench Knife out from the hidden makeshift sheath on his back. He moved like a ghost and as he moved around some lockers what he saw confirmed his suspicions.

His eyes held nothing in them as he snuck up on Cardin without a sound.

/

Jaune readied himself for another punch from Cardin Winchester when the taller boy stopped. Jaune gulped when he saw the six inch steel blade right next to Cardin's neck and who was holding it. He started shaking in fear when he saw the emotionless mask that was Royce's face. His hazel eyes were blank, frosty. Gone was the seemingly listless but polite new student. What was there instead was a quiet, ruthless young man who had done more than his fair share of killing.

"There are several ways to kill a human being. I can go for your trachea right now. Or I could stab you in the kidneys and while you are writhing in your agony I could finish you by crushing your skull with my boot." Royce told Cardin as though he was stating a fact from a school textbook and not threatening to kill him. Jaune paled when he realized Royce was pretty good with a knife. Good enough to know where he can cause the most damage to something. Or someone. "So...Winchester. Before you hit my buddy Jaune there, I have to ask. Do you want to live? Or do you want to die?"

"What-What do you think you're doing? AH!" Cardin asked his hands raised. He yelped as the blade touched his skin. He was terrified.

"I'm asking you the same thing." Royce answered coldly. "Don't bother threatening me, they won't find you by the time I'm finished."

"Royce...uh..." Jaune said nervously laughing. "We-We were just talking you know. It was just uh...a little chat between two buddies right Cardin?" The look on Cardin's face said otherwise.

"Talking." Royce stated quietly. "With what? Your fist against his face, Winchester? That does not seem to entail talking."

Winchester didn't move or speak. Royce lowered the knife.

"Get out of here before I get creative." Royce said gesturing with his knife.

Cardin fled the locker room. Royce turned to Jaune and helped the other boy up. "You okay?" he asked instantly changing to the normal Royce like flipping a switch.

"Uh yeah!" Jaune said with false cheer. "Yeah I'm fine..." He sniffed. "Yep I am totally fine. I-I'll see you at lunch."

He was out before Royce could say anything else. The Lone Wanderer watched him go, then sheathed his knife. There was something up with Jaune Arc and whatever it was he wondered why that bastard Cardin was involved.

"Aww you gonna cry?"

Royce's fist clenched. While he was on better terms with Butch Deloria he never forgave him. It was a sad fact of his life that he forgot how to forgive someone. Butch was just one of the lucky ones. The Lone Wanderer shook his head of the memories. What was done, was done. There was no point in reminiscing on the past.

That way lay madness. And pain.

/

Lunch was a crowded affair as usual. He took his seat next to Yang who was looking at Nora as she told them all about a dream she had. Something about Ursa (Beowolves, Ren had corrected) and more about making a boatload of money. How Ren knew the contents of Nora's dreams well enough to correct them was beyond the Lone Wanderer. Yang looked enthralled, Ruby and Pyrrha were worried about a depressed Jaune. Blake was reading her book and Weiss was busy with her nails. Royce took a bite out of his massive sandwich. Again Weiss looked disgusted while Blake had a ghost of a smile on her face.

So his sandwich was overstuffed, Royce mused. He liked eating. Good food was hard to come by in the wasteland, even if Rivet City's science team was doing its best to improve that situation. That and starving was not a desirable option so it was either eat irradiated food or die. Yeah, like he was going to give up this awesome sandwich for some Salisbury Steak, screw that. He'd rather try and pet a Deathclaw.

"So...Apart from Nora's rambling, anything else interesting happen?" Royce asked politely.

"Apart from Winchester staring at you for the last few minutes, nah not really." Yang shrugged. The Lone Wanderer looked over her shoulder at another table. Winchester was glaring at him and Jaune. Royce simply stared back as his face turned into an impassive mask, it was his eyes that made Winchester flinch. There was...nothing in them but a promise to do lethal bodily harm. A simple expression of hate. Everyone cringed as the air seemed to chill. Winchester looked away. Even Nora's never fading smile faltered slightly.

Royce went back to his sandwich. The air returned to normal. And all was good, Royce got to devour his oversized Ham, Turkey, Roast Beef sandwich and Winchester had to leave the dining hall because of a growing stain in his pants. Luckily enough for him no one noticed, not even the bunny eared girl that he knocked over. Everyone stared at him, and then at Royce.

The wanderer took another bite out of his sandwich.

"Jaune, if you do need help, don't hesitate to ask any of us." Pyrrha told the sullen blonde boy after the long awkward pause. "I know Cardin has been bullying you."

"Oh come on guys it's not that." Jaune was all denial even as he stole nervous glances at the still eating Royce.

"Yeah don't worry Jaune!" Nora chirped helpfully. "We'll break his legs!"

"Um Nora I think that's not a good idea." Ren said gently restraining Nora from doing anything else. "We could get expelled for that." He could almost hear Nora's pout.

Royce on the other hand absolutely liked the idea but decided to keep it to himself. He instead focused on Jaune who got up and left. Pyrrha watched him go. "Want me to talk to him?" He asked her.

"Excuse me?" Pyrrha asked.

"Jaune. You want me to talk with him?" Royce looked at her seriously. "He's pretty down in the dumps, and we've got PT today."

"Yes, please." Pyrrha looked understandably upset. Jaune was her friend after all. And he was the team leader.

/

In the end the only time he actually managed to do that was after Glynda Goodwitch's class. Poor guy looked terrible, beaten and withdrawn. After warding off Cardin and his goons with a malicious look Royce approached Jaune. He could feel Cardin glaring. The wanderer let him do it. One day Cardin Winchester was going to find out what a knife in between the ribs felt like.

"Fine day today," He told Jaune.

"Yeah...Yeah it is." Jaune answered faintly. "...I know Pyrrha wants you to talk to me."

"I can listen if you want." Royce said without missing a beat. "That's what friends do right?"

"Look, I'm fine okay?" Jaune was suddenly sounding quite angry. "I can take care of myself. I don't need you or Pyrrha looking over my shoulder all the time. It's..."

"Embarrassing?" Royce supplied for him. "It doesn't matter if someone's worried about you, they're going to look over your shoulder." He stood up to leave. "You've got friends, so don't take them for granted. Because one day you'll lose them and then you'll give everything to have them back again. It's...a bitter thing losing friends. They want to help you Jaune and it makes them feel bad when you push them away." Jaune knew who he was talking about.

Jaune watched his back. "Did...Did you lose yours?" He asked unsure, he didn't want to pry into the taller boy's past. One because Royce's knife looked extremely sharp and he didn't want to know how sharp it was and two...well, it didn't seem right to ask him about it.

"We parted on bad terms." Royce answered simply. "Apparently it was my fault."

/

Weiss Schnee was known for a lot of things. She was the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company after all, she was also a skilled swordsman and almost no one could ever avoid the speedy, graceful style she cultivated.

Right now however she was quite concerned with how Royce Walker was quietly enduring everything she threw at him. The Lone Wanderer was slower sure but one single punch from him could take down anyone except Yang who was known not only for her strength but her endurance. In fact apart from Pyrrha or Blake, Yang was the only one who could hold their own against Royce. And win.

Royce stepped forward and threw a single quick punch which Weiss ducked under. With a flourish her rapier went for his chest, a move that was pushed aside by his off hand. Royce then shoved her back with a body blow then rushed forward with his massive gauntlet raised for a strike. The movement was sudden Weiss conjured up a Glyph that barely kept her from being thrown off her feet as Royce's fist met the barrier. Sliding a few feet back Weiss flourished her rapier as Royce tightened his stance.

Good, at least he was taking this seriously. Weiss disliked a lot of things, listlessness was one of them.

"You got her on her heels, Royce! Get her!" Yang was cheering from the sidelines.

"Weiss! You can do it! Don't give up!" Ruby was also cheering and despite himself Royce gave an amused smile as he surged forward, fists up. Weiss met his charge with an equal fervor and raised her rapier without hesitation. Royce jumped forward, sending his fist at Weiss as she prepared to parry the blow with her rapier.

It worked somewhat, Weiss still got punched in the face. But she got Royce back by kicking him in between the legs.

"Ooh!"

Every male in the crowd winced in sympathy. To his credit Royce didn't scream in pain or do anything embarrassing. He was still on the floor though, shaking.

The fight ended abruptly in a draw. On a technicality Royce lost due to the debilitating strike. Glynda Goodwitch lectured the both of them about watching their auras. She was especially stern on Weiss. But it was all in good fun...sort of, except for the unwarranted groin attack.

"Good job Weiss!" Ruby clapped the taller girl on the back when class ended for the day. Glynda had scolded Weiss on using such a cheap hit but Royce actually didn't mind. If he was in her position he probably would have done the same thing. "Although...That looked like it hurt." Weiss had a black eye, she made Royce pay for it though, she smugly looked down at a curled up Royce.

"Well, it was his fault." Weiss said simply. "How dare he raise a hand against me."

"You didn't have to kick me so hard." Royce told her, raising his head and groaning in pain. "Besides I almost had you...until you kicked me in the gonads."

"Right," Weiss said sarcastically. "You almost had me. Still, you did your best. I will concede to that."

Royce gave a sardonic laugh. "Yeah...Nice footwork by the way." He complimented Weiss. Despite herself Weiss beamed at the praise. She then quickly scowled.

"Don't think this raises my opinion of you!" She said stubbornly.

"Right..."

/

The next few days later...

"Pyrrha!"

Pyrrha turned around to see Royce approaching from the side. "Good morning Royce." She greeted him politely. When Royce caught up the pair headed towards the locker room. There was a field trip going on today, they were headed into the Forever Fall to go grab some syrup. Why a teacher needed syrup, Royce didn't know. But hey a grade was a grade. Even if the assignment didn't make sense at all.

"Morning to you as well," Royce returned with equal politeness. "...Jaune's been avoiding you hasn't he?"

"Yes, I'm sure our fearless leader knows what he's doing." Pyrrha scowled. "He..." She sighed. "I do not get it Royce, he has so...much potential? How can he be so...so..."

"Spineless?" Royce offered.

"Yes! Spineless!" Pyrrha shook her red hair.

"I used to be the same way." Royce said as the pair walked to the lockers.

"You?" Pyrrha looked so shocked. To her Royce seemed to be a confident, if a stand offish young man.

"Yep, me. Royce Walker. The shy bookworm." Royce chuckled at Pyrrha's unbelieving look on her face. "Now look at me." His smile turned cold. Pyrrha had never seen someone so unhappy before. "I give someone a mean look he pisses himself in public. Never really wanted to learn how to fight you know?"

"What did you want to be when you were a child?" Pyrrha asked.

"A doctor." Royce admitted. "I never did like fighting, it seems so...pointless. I wanted to help people. Like my father did."

"I...see." Pyrrha nodded. "What was he like? Your father?"

"A good man." Royce said with a sense of pride. "If I were a fourth of the man he was, I'd have tread the same path. He's gone now." He shook his head ruefully. "It's a damn shame, really."

"I'm sorry for your loss." Pyrrha said sympathetically.

/

When everyone was armed up and ready to go Glynda Goodwitch led the class deeper into the woods. Royce was struck by how...red it was. Every leaf on every tree was a bright crimson. It made him feel...uneasy. He clutched his upgraded Xuanlong tightly as his head swiveled to watch for any threats. Ruby tugged on his sleeve and gave him a reassuring smile. Royce tried to smile back but for some reason he really did not like the Forever Fall.

It was much like the forests of Point Lookout. Except without the red leaves. And the inbred, mutated psychopaths trying to kill him.

"Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees inside this forest." Glynda's instructions were clear. "I am here to make sure that none of you are harmed by the Grimm. Collect one sample of red syrup." She held up the jar of red stuff for emphasis. "We will rendezvous at this location at four o' clock. Have fun!"

Jaune tried escaping from Cardin but the bully had dragged him off much to the disappointment of Pyrrha. Royce just kept an eye on him before heading off with Team RWBY to get the syrup. How this was fun in any way escaped Royce. They were stuck in Grimm territory looking for syrup.

"So," He said as he crouched down in front of the tree to find the red syrup dripping out of the bark. "Why exactly is this crap important?"

"I hear that it's quite popular for researchers to study." Weiss answered. Royce picked at the tree bark with his trench knife to get a larger flow going then put up the jar Weiss handed him. They filled it up in a few minutes and Royce took a whiff.

"Hoo, yeah that's popular alright." He commented. It had a good, sweet, attractive smell.

"Don't spill any on yourself." Blake warned him. "This stuff can attract Rapier Wasps. Or worse, the Grimm." Royce...didn't want to find out what Rapier Wasps were so he was careful in sealing the jar of syrup.

"It's great on pancakes!" Nora said suddenly, her mouth was stained with the same syrup in the jar.

"Nora!" Ren exclaimed annoyed, looking at the now empty jar she was holding. It wasn't the only one there were several. Nora had gone around chugging each one without anyone noticing. The fact that she did this so fast undetected was scary.

"What the- oh Nora..." Pyrrha looked at the empty bottle in her hand. "Wait...I was holding this, how did you..."

Royce and Weiss could only stare in complete confusion. Royce then decided to hide the jars of syrup for Team RWBY. If Nora got her hands on this it was probably going to be a lot worse than getting an F on the assignment. She was already close to a sugar high considering how she was even more jittery than usual.

/

"They seem to be having fun." Yang commented balancing a jar of syrup over her head. It had been an exciting few weeks since Royce had popped into Team RWBY's life. He may have been a big, gentle lug but Royce was alright. He was two years older sure but he fit right in.

"Yeah," Ruby said glancing at Royce's back for longer than she should.

Yang grinned. "Aww...Is little Ruby crushing on the big guy?" She teased her little sister.

Ruby had reddened almost as much as her clothes. "N-No! No! No!" She shook her head in denial.

"Just kidding! Just kidding!" Yang laughed. "Although looking back now, he is kinda cute Ruby."

"I'm not crushing on him!"

"Sure~" Yang drawled. But thinking about it right now...Royce was definitely on the right side of cute.

The mood soured, when members of team CRDL rushed past her.

"Hey!" Yang caught the syrup jar in one hand while she grabbed Russel Thrush by the collar. "What's going on!?"

"G-Grimm! Th-They're being attacked by Grimm!"

"Ah crap!" Yang muttered letting Russel go. "Ruby!" Ruby was already on the move.

"Go get Professor Goodwitch! I'll be fine!"

Yang hesitated but knew Ruby could take care of herself. Not wanting to waste time Yang was off.

/

"Royce!"

The Lone Wanderer didn't hesitate and followed Ruby, Weiss and Pyrrha to where Cardinal's goons had run off. He chambered a round into the Xuanlong and heard the loud roar of what sounded like a really big Ursa.

"That's a big one." Royce sped up. As they approached the area where the roar came from they found a dire situation. Royce crouched and took aim but there was a risk. The Ursa had Cardin in its sights. Just as Royce was about to spring into action Jaune stepped in.

They realized that the boy was terrified but he just blocked the Ursa's swipe with Crocea Mors. He was doing surprisingly well. Before the Ursa knocked him down. Royce moved to step in Pyrrha stopped him. He looked her in the eye confused. This was one of the things he hated. Helping people in danger was almost a reflex for him. Telling Royce to stop helping someone was like telling a hurricane to stop moving.

But there was something in Pyrrha's stare that told him to trust her, so he stepped back and watched the fight. Jaune moved forward to face the Ursa again and as he jumped at it, Pyrrha moved her hand slightly. At the same time Jaune blocked with his shield. Weiss noticed the motion.

"Did you just..." Weiss started but Pyrrha shushed her with a motion of her hand.

Jaune had shifted his strategy. He may not be as skilled as most of the students at Beacon but Jaune was sharp, a quick thinker the only thing that stood in his way was a crippling lack of self-esteem. He feinted left then right as the Ursa tried to take him down. With a flash Jaune severed the Ursa's left arm with a sweeping blow then with a war cry he swung his sword upwards as the Ursa stumbled forward in pain.

Its head rolled away as its carcass fell like a sack of bricks.

Cardin stood up. There was a look on his face that Royce recognized, respect. Jaune sheathed his weapon then walked over to Cardin. "You," He said quietly, almost angrily at the taller boy. "You stay the hell away from my team-my friends-because if you lay a hand on them...You'll regret it."

He then walked towards Pyrrha and the others. Royce clapped the kid on the back with a cheerful grin, his superior strength causing Jaune to stumble slightly. Sheepish Jaune looked over at Pyrrha who gave a graceful smile in return. Ignoring the completely shamed Cardin the ribbing started.

"Jaune! That was so cool!" Ruby exclaimed. Beside her Weiss nodded in agreement.

"I have to agree with Ruby, you did well." She complimented him.

"Oh God," Jaune looked terrified. "I-I can't b-believe I-I did that!" He waved back at the forest clearing.

"Yeah well, you wanted to be badass didn't you?" Royce asked him still grinning. "I'm pretty sure chopping an Ursa's head off counts as pretty badass." Jaune tried to keep the embarrassed smile off of his face.

"Good job, Jaune. I knew you could do it." Pyrrha said with a smile.

Needless to say after that little incursion into Forever Fall, Jaune was doing a lot better off.

/

"Ugh...How can you stuff so much between two pieces of bread!?" Weiss complained as she watched Royce sit down next to Yang with yet another oversized sandwich.

"Metabolism." Royce answered simply. "That and a man's got to eat." And with that he began to chow down on the sandwich. Weiss looked rather put off.

"Aw come on Princess, can't you see the guy's hungry?" Yang drawled. "Let him eat what he wants."

"Don't call me that!" Weiss complained.

"Why?" Royce commented suddenly. "I mean...youare quite pretty." His offhand remark caused quite a few people to glance at him.

Weiss's face was beet red. Ruby looked a little upset but she couldn't tell. "W-W-What do you mean by that?" While Weiss surely liked the attention due to her name and status, she was certainly not used to such remarks about her appearance. She had heard such words before but it was mostly from other rich boys. Royce was definitely not one of those people. He was a vagabond of the lower class.

So why did she blush when Royce called her pretty?

Royce blinked. "Did I...offend you?" He asked. He hoped he didn't, he meant no offense.

"N-No!" Weiss shouted at him causing the wanderer to flinch.

"I think he likes you princess!" Yang laughed.

Weiss abruptly left the Dining Hall. Royce stood up. "Ah fuck..." He muttered under his breath. "I really should..." He swore explosively. "Damnit! Wait Weiss!" He ran after her, vaulting over one of the tables, surprising a couple of girls.

The rest of team RWBY and Team JNPR looked on in shock.

"Wow." Yang said chuckling nervously. "Never seen Weiss so worked up before."

"Will the both of them be alright?" Pyrrha looked concerned.

"Hopefully..." Jaune shook his head.

/

Well, never expected to be so busy after finals. I did pass all of them with flying colors if you were wondering.

Anyway. Sorry for taking so long. Had to go see some relatives.