Dirt & Grit

Chapter 14


"Come on, Jaune, cheer up! You got your first win!" Nora said, tapping Jaunes shin with her foot as he stared listlessly at his lunch, not paying attention to what she was saying.

"Yeah, Vomit Boy, you're starting to bum me out. So, what if it was a fluke, you still won." Yang chimed in as she bit into a vanilla protein bar.

"Yang," Ren said quietly, "I don't think that's what he is thinking about."

"Well, I mean, for someone who has no idea what they're doing, this should be an ego boost."

"Yang, stop being mean." Ruby pouted as Yang put her hands up and apologised.

Jaune continued staring into nothing as his mind played the fight from earlier over and over in his head. Pyrrha began to worry at Jaunes silence and reached over to shake him.

"Jaune?"

He jolted from his thoughts to see his team, Ruby and Yang, looking at him with different variations of concern. The only exceptions were Weiss, who was currently on her phone swiping and pressing who knows what, and Blake reading through a book, not bothering to pay attention.

"Oh…Hey, guys, what's up?" He asked shakily while trying to cover it up, "Why're you all looking at me like that?"

"We're just worried, Jaune. You look pretty shaken up," Pyrrha replied, putting her hand on his shoulder and lingering for a few seconds before pulling away.

Jaune half smiled, "I…I'm fine; just thinking about that guy, is all." He fiddled with the chicken sandwich before him until he moved his hands away to just fiddle with his thumbs.

"Ah, don't worry about him, Jaune! He's just a big ol' jerk!" Nora exclaimed with a grin, "After what he said to our Pyrrha, I'm gonna break his ankles!"

Pyrrha looked embarrassed as she gestured for Nora to sit down as people around them turned around at the shouting.

"Nora, everyone it's fine," She reassured as Nora sat down with a frown, "I've already forgotten about it; let's just let it go now."

Ren shook his head but said nothing while Jaune looked conflicted, "Pyrrha, he was horrible to you for no reason! I can't just let him get away with that."

"I mean…He kinda did already," Yang said before yelping as Ruby elbowed her in the side, "But tell you what, I'll smack him around next time. Sound good, Jaune?"

Jaune looked even more put out as she said that.

"You guys are being too mean!" Ruby said, putting her hands on the table, "Grit isn't a bad guy; he's actually pretty nice."

Everyone looked at Ruby in surprise before she slid into her hood a bit to hide from their gazes.

"Oh yeah? How would you know that, Rubes?" Yang asked suspiciously while everyone looked at her curiously, "Something you wanna tell us?"

"Uh, well, I'm partners with him in Metalworking class."

"Huh?! Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"It was only this morning! I completely forgot to tell you guys." Ruby explained as Yang sighed before taking another bite from her bar, "Anyway, I think you guys need to give him another chance. He was actually nic-uh, goo-um; he was decent enough in class to let me clean his weapon. Even though he told me to shut up a few times." Ruby mumbled that last part so as not to upset Yang.

"I dunno Ruby, that guy gives me the creeps." Yang said, finishing her bar, "Just comes off as a giant asshole."

"Yeah, I gotta agree with Yang here, Ruby," Jaune cut back in as Ruby looked at him with a frown, "You didn't see his face…I really thought he was going to kill me…." Jaune swallowed as he stared off a bit before refocusing.

"Yeah! He was taking it way too far with how he treated Jaune like a ragdoll." Nora banged her hand on the table, making everything shake causing Weiss and Blake to look up, annoyed. Weiss sighed and put her phone away to focus on the conversation.

"Not helping Nora," Ren said, rubbing Nora on the back and making her look over at Jaunes hurt face.

"Oh, heh, sorry, Jaune, if it makes you feel better, you were really taking those hits." She tried to cheer him up, making him weakly stick his thumb up.

Ruby huffed before standing up.

"Come on, everyone, let's at least give him – and the rest of his team – a chance," Ruby pleaded before gesturing to Weiss, "He's like Weiss. Mean, grumpy, crabby and snobby, she would be all alone if we didn't give her a chance."

"Excuse you!" Weiss interjected, "I am not crabby!"

"So come on guys, what do you say?" Ruby stuck her hands to her side, "Let's give it another chance."

They glanced at each other uncertainly, "Ruby, you can't be serious." Weiss looked up at Ruby while sitting up straight.

"They are criminals, delinquents, and neer-do-wells. They should not even be here in the first place." Weiss turned to her tray with an assortment of fruits and vegetables, "The fact they even are here is an insult to Beacons prestige; I mean, what was Ozpin thinking? Gyspys, filthy barbarians and bandits? It's disgraceful." She bit into a slice of dragon fruit while not looking at Ruby.

Ruby sat down and flung her arm around Weiss's shoulder, who stiffened at the contact.

"Come on, Weiss, that's mean! You don't know what the rest of them are like. They could be super-duper nice."

"I seriously doubt that. Have you not heard what Gypsys even do?"

Jaune titled his head.

"Uh, what even is a Gyspy?" He asked, causing the rest to look at him like he had grown a second head, "What?" He felt embarrassed by their staring.

Weiss made to respond before a book slammed shut.

"They are nothing more than disgusting murderers, thieves and scum that have no right to exist." They all turned to see Blake scowling and tucking her book into her inner pocket, "All they know how to do is spread misery wherever they go, and Remnant would be better off without them."

She stood up abruptly and looked over to Ruby, "If you're smart, Ruby, you would get this notion out of your head that they could ever be trusted before it comes back to bite you." She stormed off, not sparing another glance behind her as she left the dining hall.

They said nothing momentarily as the awkwardness permeated the air, "Geez, that sounded personal. I wonder what happened with Blake?" Jaune said as he watched the dining hall door slam shut.

"Dunno; I'll ask her later when she's chilled out." Yang replied as her eyes drifted over the dining hall and spotted some of team GOSM sitting over at a corner table, "Hey, that's the rest of them, right?"

They followed her direction when Ruby spoke up, "Yeah, that's them. Looks like Grit isn't with them." Jaune tried to hide his sigh of relief. "Neither is that Viking dude."

Ruby turned back to them, "Let's go talk to them!" She suggested making some of them double-take.

"Absolutely not! I will not associate with those filthy ruffians." Weiss turned her nose up at the suggestion and returned to eating her lunch.

"I…I think I'll just sit here, Ruby; thanks." Jaune meekly replied as Pyrrha nodded so she could stay with her leader.

Nora and Ren also elected to stay at the table, making Ruby more crestfallen before Yang stood up with a grin.

"I'll go with ya Rubes!" As she began walking over, she said, "Can't let them take advantage of my baby sis."

"Yang!" Ruby whined as she got ahead of Yang, who laughed.


"Ya seen 'em anywhere yet? The big bastard hasn't picked up his scroll at all, and we got class in ten minutes."

Ove shook his head, making Marsden sigh in aggravation.

"Goddamn bastards, it's only the first goddamn day, and I already wanna shove my boot up their ass," Marsden crumbled as he bit into a chicken leg.

"Calm yourself," Ove sipped on his green tea before putting it back down, "They will return."

"But where are they supposed to go? They don't know shit about this castle, they could've fallen off the cliff," Marsden finished off his chicken leg before taking off his cowboy hat to run his hand through his hair, "Dunno if you figured this out yet Ove, but those two bring our smart's down by two points."

Ove chuckled.

"Glad yer getting' a chuckle out of this, 'cause I don't think ol' Goodwitch is. Did ya see 'er face when he left-?"

"People," Ove said, taking another sip out of his mug while gesturing behind Marsden, who raised his eyebrows.

"Huh?" He turned around to see the blonde with the big-

-Personality and another girl was walking next to her, looking very nervous.

"Well, howdy, ladies!" He greeted, tipping his hat at them slightly while Ove waved slightly as he watched them quietly, "What can my friend and I do for ya?"

The blonde looked to the more petite girl beside her, who swallowed as she tried to find the right words. Marsden looked at her, waiting for the words to come, but she kept looking around until the blonde nudged her forward.

"Yang-!" She started before focusing on Marsden eyes as they looked her over, "Woah! Cool eyes."

Marsden chuckled, causing her to shake her head and start sputtering apologies, "Oh geez! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude about your strange face-Wait! Not strange as in bad but strange as in-I mean, people call me strange but-."

"Woah, Woah, Woah! easy girl, easy." Marsden laughed as he stuck his hands to calm the situation, "I'm an eagle Faunus; that's why my eyes are this 'cool'."

He stuck his hand out with a toothy grin.

"Names Marsden Heath," She grabbed his hand to shake it as he jerked his thumb back to Ove, "That's Ove Timur, currently the only fella not making me not want to deposit a bullet in my skull. What's yer name miss?"

"Uh, my name? Oh right! My name is Ruby Rose! Leader of Team RWBY!" She proclaimed, making Marsden hold his hands up in mock surrender.

"Team RWBY? I've 'eard of you!"

Ruby looked surprised as her eyes also lit up.

"You have!?"

"Nah." He laughed at her sullen face making the blonde step forward.

"Hey! Go tease your own sister Hawkeye." She crossed her arms in front of her, making Marsden keep his gaze on her eyes. He looked between them for a moment, trying to find the resemblance.

"Course darling, whatever you say." He looked back over to Ruby, "I'm just messing with ya, Ruby, I'm sure yer names gonna dancing be in everyone's ears soon enough."

"Thanks! I think?"

Marsden looked back at the blonde before sticking his hand out again, "Gosh, I realised I ain't asked for yer name." She looked at his hand before gripping it and giving it a firm shake.

"Names Yang. Don't wear it out," She said, winking before releasing their hands, making Marsden shake it momentarily as he grimaced.

Firm grip; it's like a freakin' gorilla.

"Yang, huh? Well, what can we do for you two lovely ladies?" He asked as Yang turned back to look at Ruby, who momentarily rolled her tongue in her mouth.

"Well, I just thought we would come and introduce ourselves, I kinda understand standing out in a new place, and well, I thought…." She trailed off as she lost her nerve.

"Yeah? How'd ya know that?" Marsden asked, leaning back on the bench onto the table. Ove quietly moved the plates and cups away from his elbows to prevent spillage.

Before Ruby could say anything, Yang pulled Ruby to her side and squished her cheeks.

"Because my lil sis is only sixteen!" Ruby tried slapping Yang away, who dodged out of the way, "She got into Beacon two years early because she's so kickass!"

"Yang, stowp!" Ruby pulled herself away as Marsden whistled, and Ove clapped behind him, looking uncertain.

"Damn, two years? You must be some kinda special then." He said, looking her over. Ruby shuffled her feet and bashfully grinned.

"Well…It was kinda awesome how it happened." She replied quietly.

"A story?" Marsden grinned and gestured to the empty seat next to Ove and himself, "Take a seat and tell us all about it, darlin'!"

Ruby and Yang looked at each other for a moment before Yang took a seat next to Marsden and Ruby next to Ove as she began retelling the story of how she beat up Roman Torchwick's gang when they tried to rob a dust store.

"Impressive," Ove stated as he turned slightly to look at Ruby, who rubbed her head in embarrassment.

"Gotta agree with Ove," Marsden grinned, "Tanning a gang of criminal asses on yer own ain't easy, believe me."

"Aw shucks, I guess it was pretty cool," Ruby mumbled as she looked off to the side.

"It was badass, Ruby, don't sell yourself short." Yang bumped Marsden's shoulder, "So…Where's the rest of your team?" She looked around the dining hall, ignoring the looks she received from the other students.

"Feh! Those assholes can go walk off a cliff." Marsden huffed as he crossed his arms, "Ain't even been a full day and already kicking up a scene. Dunno where Grit went, and I ain't got a clue where Sudri is, but you know what? It ain't my damn problem."

He realised that only silence greeted him, making him look at the people he shared a table with. They looked with expressions ranging from grins to sympathetic smiles.

He felt his face heat up a bit as he grinned bashfully.

"Ah, pardon me, I don't mean to come off as a wet rag I jus' ain't ever had to deal with so many…tough personalities, you know?" He explained before gesturing to Ove, "Well 'cept Ove here, he ain't tryna make me put a bullet in my skull."

"Gratitude," Ove replied with a smile.

"Hey, don't sweat it; I had trouble with my team when I started," Ruby said while Yang rested her elbow on the table, resting her head on her knuckles and looking at Marsden.

"Yeah? What happened?"

Ruby glanced behind her towards the white-haired girl on her phone while writing something on a notepad.

"You see her? That's Weiss; she's my partner – and also soon to be an ultra best friend – but when we first started, she tried to get me replaced as team leader and was just a big meanie about it." Marsden and Ove looked over to Weiss, who finished looking at her phone and went to take bites out of her fruit salad.

"Well, that ain't good. What'd you do about it?"

"I proved myself."

"Proved yourself?"

"Yeah," Ruby smiled, "I did everything she thought I wasn't capable of. I studied, trained even harder, and listened to her opinion. Then all of a sudden, she became the bestest partner ever."

"So yer sayin' I should just wait?"

"Uh…Kinda?"

Marsden laughed as Ruby pouted and Yang scowled.

"You laughing at my sister?" Yang asked threateningly as she leaned back off her knuckles.

Marsden put his hands out to placate her, "Naw. It's just that from what I've understood of those crazy bastards, it's that waiting for them to come 'round ain't gonna work."

"Naw, that ain't gonna work at all…" He looked back over to Ruby, "I appreciate yer advice, Ruby but I think I that's just gonna be like barkin' at a knot. Nah, I gotta come at this from a different angle." He rubbed the stubble on his chin in thought.

He didn't think much before the bell rang, signalling the end of lunch and the beginning of the next period. Marsden looked up from his musing to the two girls who began getting up to leave.

"Hey, thanks for this." He said as they looked at him, "It's nice knowing that not everybody 'ere wants us to die."

"Thank you." Ove quietly said as he also began rising while checking his scroll for his next lesson.

Ruby smiled, "No worries, I know what's it like to feel a bit out of place." She shuffled her feet a bit, looking nervously around, "Maybe…maybe we could be friends?"

Marsden smirked playfully, "Maybe later, Ruby."

She looked a bit put off before smiling and walking away. Yang stayed for a bit, looking into his eyes; searching for something.

"You looking for something?" Marsden asked as she refocused back on the rest of his face.

"Maybe. I'm not sure yet." She leaned forward with a toothy grin, "But I'll let you know when I do." With that, she sashayed away, confidence oozing from her gait as she waved to Ove, who waved back.

Marsden watched her as she went watching as her hips swung from side to side drawing his eyes lower and lower…

He gently slapped himself in the face.

Come on, Marsden! Remember what happened last time, you can't keep chasing every pretty face.

He heard a small laugh to his side as he saw Ove hiding his smile underneath his metal hand.

"Aw, shut up, Ove." Marsden laughed as he stood up to get going to the following lecture.


Sudri was lost.

In fact, he was confident that he was not even in Beacon anymore and was instead trapped in another dimension of infinite hallways. He would go right and end up coming out from the left. He would walk up the stairs and start right back at the bottom.

By Loki's tricky balls, I've been trapped in an illusion!

He held his axe in his hand, tapping it on his shoulder as he looked in each direction, trying to figure out which way to go.

Hmm, I could break these walls down and see if I end up somewhere familiar. Where are Heath and Timur? Would they abandon me in my time of need? Cowards!

He growled at the memory of when they left the blood match. He had been following behind them when he closed his eyes for a moment and had ended up in this trap.

"Well," He gripped his axe with two hands as he charged it with thunder, "It seems I must destroy this illusion!" He could taste the electricity on his tongue and began to swing.

"What are you doing?"

He stopped to look to his left to see a nervous girl with large rabbit ears clasping her hands together as she looked up at his tattooed face. Sudri looked aghast as he stared at her.

"By the gods," He shook his head, "You've been trapped in this prison as well, haven't you?"

She looked utterly lost.

"Um…What?"

"Well, don't fear Rabbit. I will save us from this torture. Stand back." He commanded as he began charging up his axe again and getting ready to swing it at the wall.

"Wait!" The girl ran in front of him, causing him to stop swinging his axe. He growled in annoyance.

"What is it woman? Why do you stop me from saving us?"

She stared at him as though he were a complete moron.

"Illusion? Torture? What are you even talking about? You can't just go destroying the school for no reason you know?" She asked as he lowered his axe to his side in disbelief.

"What am I talking about? I am speaking of the fact that I have been trapped in these infinite corridors!" He gestured wildly around him, "I walk to the left, and I end up running right. I march upwards and come falling back down! I cannot have gotten lost, so it must be a witch's work!"

The girl looked up and down the hallway, then to her left and right to make sure she wasn't being pranked.

"A-are you serious right now?" She looked at his deepening scowl, "I…I think you might just be lost."

Sudri reeled back.

"Lost? Lost?!" She jumped at his raised voice, "I am Sudri Baldrson, son of Baldr Bloodhammer; I can find a needle in a snowstorm. I can track any animal that walks on four legs! I do not get lost!"

"Um…Well, I don't get lost either, and I was on my way to my next class, so…uh…maybe I can help you?"

"Help me? Hah! I would like to see you try woman," He holstered his axe on his back, "But very well, try your best. I have to go to a…." He looked up and licked his lips. He stopped and looked down at her again, "…Boobblock."

"Dr Oobleck?"

"Whatever it is."

"Oh, well, I think that's on the way to my lecture, so you can just follow behind me." She began walking away and gestured her head to follow him. He shrugged and trailed behind her.

They stayed in silence as they walked Sudri looked around him as they passed through hallways he had never seen before. Looking through one window, he saw a group of men and women in white coats sitting around a table as one in front pointed to a diagram of a human body on a hologram. He then noticed that the walls had become white and sterile and that there were now more of those white coats walking around with a small group of young people wearing a mix of red, green and blue clothes.

Are these also Veiðimenn? They look soft.

"Woman." He called, making his guide turn around to look at him, "Where and what is this? Who are these weaklings?" He asked loudly, making the people walking by him glare at his words which he was confused by.

The woman apologised to the people as they huffed and walked off. She moved to his side to hurry him up, which he reluctantly accepted.

"They're not weaklings, they're doctors in training, and this is the medical wing." She hurried them out as Sudri looked at the people hurrying behind him.

"Training? I thought this was a warrior school?" He asked as they returned to normal corridors with the occasional student walking about or rushing to their next class.

She shook her head, "Nope. Beacon is mainly known for its Huntsman program, but it actually also doubles as an advanced medical school along with mathematical sciences and engineering." She smiled at him.

"The Huntsman program only makes up about thirty per cent of the school." She further explained as they continued walking.

"Ah, I see. How heimskulegt of me." He looked back behind him, "græðara is an honoured profession."

"What language is that?" The woman asked him as they continued walking, "I've never heard it before."

"It is my mother tongue, Solitisian. I do not understand your language yet, so I have trouble with the words." He explained as she nodded her head.

"Oh, I see," She said nothing further as they continued to walk. Eventually, they stopped outside of a classroom, and Sudri stared at the plaque on the wall for a few seconds.

"…This is Dr Oobleck's room." She supplied helpfully as Sudri turned to her with a wide grin.

"Ah! So it is." He stuck his arm, which she copied but let out a small eep as his hand clasped her forearm, his large palms nearly swallowing her arms. She copied the action and shook it once before releasing it.

"My apologies, woman; I did not think it would be possible for you to show me the way." He rolled his shoulder back, "On my grandfather's spirit, I will repay this kindness."

She backed away a bit from the intensity of his eyes and just smiled gently.

"Oh! No, it's ok. I was just trying to be helpful; you don't have to do anything for me." She hastily explained while he shook his head.

"Impossible. My people always pay our debts regardless of how small; trust me on that woman."

"Well…I guess if I wanted you to do anything," She stared as she looked up at him, "You can call me Velvet, not…woman."

He looked into her eyes for a moment before nodding.

"Of course woma-Velvet," He grinned, which she returned, "Then you may call me Sudri."

"I know, you shouted it earlier."

"Ha! So I did." She laughed before looking at Sudri curiously.

"Um…Why didn't you just use your scroll if you were lost?" She asked.

"My what?"

"Your scroll. You know," She reached into her pocket to out her device, "This thing."

Sudri felt his mouth drop slightly.

"It's a map?"

Velvet stared at him momentarily before giggling, which she tried to hide behind her hand. Sudri looked offended for a moment before he started laughing as well.

Eventually, the laughter died down, and she stuck her hand out – Waiting for him to take his scroll out, which he realised was what she wanted.

Putting it into her hand, she stood beside him to show off how to access the map; the instructions confused Sudri, and he began to feel his head hurt from how complicated it was. Velvet seemed to take notice of this and smiled in pity.

"I-If you find this hard to follow, you can just hold it up to your mouth and say 'map' It should then go onto it automatically." She did so, and the screen swapped to a school map.

Sudri's eyebrows jumped up, and he began mumbling to himself.

"…Are the kingdom-dwellers this far ahead?"

"What's that?"

"Nothing. It's nothing, but I seem to owe you my thanks again." He clapped her on the shoulder again, making her stumble forward, which she managed to catch herself on. She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.

"Ah-um, well, it was, uh, nothing. Don't worry about it, Sudri. I-I-If you have any other questions, just let me know, and I-I-I will try to help." She smiled at him, which he returned.

"Gahahaha! You are far too kind to me, Velvet; I promise I will repay this debt." She opened her mouth to respond, which he raised his hand to, "I will hear no objections!"

She huffed in embarrassment and found herself agreeing but panicked when she saw the time.

"Oh, crap! I'm going to be late! Bye, Sudri, good luck with your lesson!" She hurriedly said as she sped down the hallway away from him as he stood there watching.

What a nice woman and fast too! Now onto my next trial.

He turned to the door and slammed it open to a sea of students sitting behind their desks.

"Greetings Wiseman Poopslick! I have come to partake in your knowledge!" Sudri ignored the open-mouthed stares he received as he marched in.

"It's Doctor Oobleck!"

"Sudri, you asshole! Where the fuck were you?" Marsden shouted.

Sudri's grin widened in response.

"HEATH! YOU LEFT ME TO DIE!"


"Not even a full day, and already you nearly killed a student." Grit stood in front of Goodwitchs desk as she sat across from him with a fierce glare, "I told you the rules of engagement and yet you still ignored them. Did you even understand what I was trying to teach you?"

Grit stared at her, his fingers tapping the side of his thigh.

"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" She testily asked.

He shrugged.

"Why did you not listen when I told you to stop?"

"Couldn't hear you," He glared at her, "And that bastard was pissing me off. Is that really what passes for a huntsman now?"

She took her glasses off for a minute as she rubbed her eyes.

"Mr Arc is a…special case, and my lapse in judgement nearly ended in tears. That mistake will not be repeated, believe me." She put her glasses back on, "is there anything else you wish to ask me?"

"Yeah, are we done here?"

"No, we are not, Mr Merrick." Goodwitch replied as she leaned forward on her knuckles, "It has not even been a full first day yet, and already you have wound up in my office. Because it is your first offence, you will be let off with a detention which you will serve at the end of the day. Am I clear?"

He grunted and looked off to the side in annoyance.

Maybe I wouldn't have this conversation if that blonde prick weren't such a weakling.

"…Yeah, whatever." He stated as he turned around to move away.

"I'm warning you, Mr Merrick; you have been given a great opportunity to attend Beacon by Headmaster Ozpin. I strongly suggest you not throw his kindness back in his face." She warned sternly.

Grit had his back on her but only rolled his eyes in response.

"Now, your next lecture will be with Professor Port, am I correct? I implore you to be there on time lest you end up in my office again."

Goddamn, shut the hell up already.

"Yep."

"You will be serving detention in my lecture room at 6:30 pm; I will see you then. You are dismissed." She had turned her head back to her papers and began writing away as Grit swung the door open and stomped out down the hallway.

"…Fucking cunt…Not my goddamn fault that twerp can't defend himself…Bastard is lucky that witch was even there…." He muttered darkly under his breath as he pulled his scroll out to follow the directions on his scroll to his next class.

Professor Port – Grimm Studies & Survival

Professor Port? Port? Why does that sound familiar? Fuck it, who cares.

Grit stalked down the corridors and followed the directions on his map as he wandered around, eventually stopping outside a door. Behind, he could hear a deep voice bellowing and laughing, along with muffled sounds of crashing and snarling.

Grit's hand hovered over the door handle.

What the fuck is going on in there?

He looked over to the side of the door where the plaque was;

Professor P. Port – Grimm Studies & Survival

I guess this is the guy. Time for another waste of my fucking time.

His scarred hand turned the handle, and he opened it up to see a man of average height with a barrel chest and thick gut currently head locking a Beowulf. It desperately tried to escape his grasp as the man let out a jovial laugh before tightening his grip until the Grimm's neck snapped and slumped to the floor. The man dusted himself off and faced the class again.

"Hohoho! As you can see, students with certain Grimm of the Canidae variety have much weaker necks than the rest of their species. If you ever find yourself in a jam and need to muscle your way out, remember that most juvenile Beowolves cannot overpower a trained aura user, especially one with –." He stopped his speech as he turned to the door to see Grit standing there watching him with an annoyed look.

Grit watched as the man's bushy grey moustache stopped moving, and his eyes widened as he kept blinking repeatedly. Grit raised an eyebrow at the guy's behaviour and started getting pissed off that he wasn't saying anything.

"…By the brother's…" The man mumbled as he looked over Grit.

"Oi! What the hell is wrong with you? Knock it off already." Grit sniped, causing the Professor to shake his head and return to reality.

"Ah! Pardon me, young man, you must be…Mr Merrick. I've heard…much about you. Come, come." He gestured for Grit to come in, which he did reluctantly, "I am…Professor Port and I uh-teach Grimm Studies and Survival Techniques. If you would find a seat, we can resume the lecture. You can sit next to Miss Schnee over there." He pointed up towards the seats where the white-haired girl he vaguely recognised from this morning sneered at him and turned her head away.

Great. Some snotty cunt.

He then looked to her side and noticed that Ruby was sitting next to her, and she gave him a tiny wave, making him groan internally.

For fuck's sake. Her again?

He scowled but said nothing as he walked up the stairs ignoring the glares he received from the other bootlickers around him as he slumped into the seat next to the bitch that shot daggers at him now and then. He noticed that Port continued glancing at him while continuing with his lecture.

Port…Port…Port…where have I heard that name before?

"Now, students, when out in the wild, there are four things you need to increase your chances of surviving out in the wild. These are Water, Shelter, Food and Warmth. Without these, your chances of staying alive until the next morning drastically shorten and then you will wind up in the belly of some hungry Grimm!"

Yeah, no shit.

Grit glanced to his left to see Schnee jotting down what Port was saying in her notebook. He then looked around the class to see most of the other students doing the same thing.

Does no one know this? This is basic shit.

The only one he didn't see writing anything down was Ruby, who instead looked bored out of her skull. She glanced to her side to see Grit looking at her which made her smile at him, causing him to turn back to the front to see Port still talking about other crap.

He groaned when he realised he was stuck here for the next hour, listening to this man drone on. Grit turned slightly when he heard a scoff next to him which he assumed came from the Schnee.

"Something you want to say?" Grit said, his voice being drowned out by Ports' own booming voice.

Schnee glanced at him from the corner of her eye, "I'm just embarrassed that I'm sat next to a delinquent criminal. The least you could have done was shown up with a pencil and paper."

Grit felt his eye twitch.

"Ah, well, I don't have any paper, but maybe you can pull a pencil out from your ass bitch. Something seems to be stuck up there anyway."

Weiss gasped.

"You disgusting, vulgar piece of –."

"Miss Schnee, is there a problem?" Port called, attracting the attention of the rest of the class towards her.

Her face began to redden, and Grit felt himself smugly smirk at her causing metaphorical steam to start pouring out of her ears. She took a deep breath and perfectly straightened her back.

"No, Professor, there is not. I apologise for interrupting the lecture."

"Not to worry, Miss Schnee! Anyway, as I was saying, when in the wilds, you must always –."

Grit leaned back in his seat and took the satisfaction of winding up the brat beside him. It always felt good to put some smug bastard in their place. He stayed in that position for the rest of the lecture ignoring Schnee's glares and glances filled with venom until the bell rang, signalling the end. She stood abruptly and hurried past him with Ruby following close behind her, where she shot him a frown but said nothing else.

Whatever.

He ignored the slight twist in his gut as she left the classroom, and he got up to follow the rest of the herd out as well.

"Mr Merrick, if you would hold on a moment, I would like to speak to you."

Grit turned to see Port standing by his desk while waiting for the rest of the students to leave. Eventually, it was just the two of them, with Port looking over him multiple times, trying to figure out what to say as Grit looked back at him in confusion.

"Do you want something?" Grit asked, making Port jump slightly.

"Ah…Yes, lad, it's just…something I need to confirm for myself truly." He took a deep breath, "Are...are you Gin's child?" He asked with a hint of fear in his voice.

Ohhh…Now I remember where I heard Port from.

Grit only nodded, which caused Port to deflate slightly as he buried his face in his palms. He took a few shuddering breaths while trying to hold in his sobs. Grit looked around, feeling incredibly uncomfortable as the Professor rubbed his face a few times before looking back up at him with red eyes and a sad smile.

He moved over to Grit and looked up towards him before putting his hands on his shoulders and clasping them. Grit made no move to shrug him off as he felt his body freeze up.

"Mr Merrick…No Grit," He grasped a bit tighter, "All these years, I've been tortured by the thought of what happened to my brother and his family, how I couldn't save them. How I wasn't there for them and how much I failed Gin."

Grit felt himself start to breathe erratically.

"But…seeing you standing there looking like the spitting image of your old man…I only can say this to you…" Port began to start crying again as he stared into Grit's eyes.

"I'm so happy you're alive, my boy."


10:26 PM – Team GOSM Room

Rubbing the towel over his hair, Ove stepped out from his team's shared bathroom and into their sleeping area, where a single bedside lamp dimly lit the room. He looked around to see that his teammates were in various positions around the room, from sleeping to brooding.

Looking over to where his partner was, he saw that Sudri had already passed out in his bed, completely naked, without a care in the world. He grumbled something in his sleep about 'wenches' and 'ale', but Ove just smiled and left him to it. Trailing his eyes over to their resident gunslinger, he saw that Marsden was reading a book of all things, which he seemed thoroughly invested in as he did not acknowledge Ove looking over at him.

I wonder what he is reading? I'll ask if he recommends it tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

It had only been their first day, and it seemed like they had been here for weeks. Ove tossed his towel into their hamper while moving over to his own bed. He stood over where his prosthetic arm lay on the blanket, picking it up and lining it up with the socket on his shoulder.

Even though it had been gone for years, he swore he could still feel his missing arm twitching. He could also still remember the day he lost it.

The pain he suffered while –

Shaking his head, he connected his fake arm with a practised motion with the same dull routine. Clad only in his boxers and a baggy t-shirt, he climbed into his bed and made himself comfortable.

One day down, another thousand and a bit to go. I'll be fine here; at least this time, they won't find me for a while.

"Aight, fellers, I'm hitting the hay. Good job – most of you – on not fucking up too badly today." Marsden called as he leaned back in bed, putting his cowboy hat over his face.

Ove looked to where Grit sat on his bed, resting upright against the headboard. He only wore a pair of boxers, revealing the rest of his scarred body to the room.

What's the story behind his wounds? I don't have that many myself. Has he been fighting since he was a child? Like me? Why did he not respond to Marsden's taunt?

Ove felt surprised that Grit said nothing at the jab but seemed content to brood, staring off into the opposite wall.

I wonder what he is thinking about?

"Grit?" He called quietly, sitting up slightly.

Grit turned to him with a less fierce scowl than usual.

"…What?" He grunted.

What is on your mind? Is there anything I can do to help? You seem as though you are lost?

"Are you well?" Ove slapped himself mentally as he asked that.

Grit looked at him momentarily as he rolled his tongue in his mouth before deciding on an answer.

"Yeah, I'm fine now. Mind your own business." Ove felt his stomach drop at the venomous answer.

With that, he laid down and turned away from him, facing the wall. Ove could tell that he wasn't asleep, nor would he be for the next few hours. He would probably stay up late again and just watch them for a bit like he did this morning.

I wonder why he does not sleep well?

Ove looked over to where Marsden lightly snored.

Why does he always wear his hat everywhere?

He turned to Sudri, who let out a fart and a soft belch before giggling in his sleep.

What does he believe in? Why is he so loud? Would he teach me his language?

All these questions burned through his brain as he stared at his team, his comrades, his…friends he hoped to say one day. He has so many things he wants to ask them, but he can't seem to find the words.

He just can't seem to find the words to say what he wants – it was all so frustrating for him.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll ask them more questions.

Ove reached over to where his bedside lamp was and turned it off with a click drowning the room in darkness. He closed his eyes and began thinking of distant flower fields and the smell of honey.

I'm going to do it, mother. I'm going to make friends like you said. These people are strange, but I think we will be friends eventually.

He began drifting off to the thought of a pink-haired woman who held his hand as they walked through a field of flowers.

Tomorrow.

I'll try as hard as possible tomorrow.

Goodnight mother.

With that team, GOSM finished their first day at Beacon.


Authors Notes:

Damn sorry this came out so late, I've been stuck doing shitty uni work for the past couple of weeks so haven't had any time to plug away at this. Anyway here's the chapter to round off their first day, I won't be going day by day because that will take fucking forever to write and will just be boring instead I'll be doing appropriate time jumps with the occasional flashback to give context to what is going on.

Other than that, thanks for reading and I'll try and get another chapter out soon, I think I will try my hardest to stick to the 5-7K word range so I can get these out faster and also so I can work on the quality not the quantity.

Review Reply:

Rangda: Yo whassup home slice, how ya been? Yeah I agree that Jaune does suck ass in the show in the beginning and well...actually he kinda just sucks in general but I hope to straighten out his character in this story by actually having work like a damn dog for his powerup and shit. He also won't be going full retard in this fic.

Yeah right now Grit has only fought perhaps the stupidest guy in beacon so right now his perception of Huntsman is not very strong right now, however if he were to fight some other plucky young hunter that actually knows what they're doing well...let's say he'll have an interesting reaction.

Kodaking: Thanks a lot man I really appreciate it! Reading reviews like these always give me encouragement to keep writing. I am a complete amateur when it comes to writing and in fact I would consider myself less than that honestly lol so it really does mean a lot.

Yeah, most of the OC fics I read here suck ass. I'm of the mind that if you write a character then you have to write them like a human being for them to be interesting and human beings are complex creatures. We feel everything depending on the situation, Love, anger, envy, spite, joy and sadness. Nobody is perfect and anyone that tries to be mostly turns out to be an insufferable prick.

Sorry that was a bit edgy. Anyway I'm trying as hard as possible to make these characters and the existing ones feel as real as possible.

Also...

"looks like she needed a hand huh"

BOOOOOOOOOOOO! BOOOOOOOOOO!