There's been a lot of firsts for Denji today. First time he's ever been hugged by a girl, first time he's had someone paid for his meal, first time he's ever had clothes given to him, first time he's ever eaten soba and a hot dog, and it's the first time he's ever been on a bullhead. A lot of firsts here apparently but he can't help but feel absolutely exhausted, the constant rocking of the bullhead had made Denji fall asleep almost instantly and getting a well needed power nap. It was only an hour long so he wasn't asleep long enough to dream. But nothing in the world beat the comfort of Makima as she allowed him to rest on her shoulder.
For once in his life he's been treated like an actual person and he was beyond thankful for some force out there in the universe throwing him a bone for once. It was fair to say he was in love with Makima, out of the three bosses he's had in his life she takes the whole bakery.
Currently they were headed to Beacon, some huntsmen school or something. Hey look at that another first of going to school.
"Denji." Makima's voice made the half devil jump as he turned his head towards her.
"Y-Yeah Miss Makima?!"
"I'd like to welcome you to your new home for the next 4 years. This is Beacon Headquarters, both a huntsman school and Vale's main Public Safety office."
"Oh! So that's what that big tower is!" Denji now realized as he has always seen the lights coming from the top of the giant tower, he just assumed it was some rich guy's mansion or something.
"There's someone I'd like you'd to meet Denji, come come." She'd began to walk deeper into the academy and behind her was her finger gesturing to follow her.
"Woof!" Denji like the good boy he was followed Makima without so much as a second thought.
The walk was pretty long, this place was practically the size of a small city by itself and it's a miracle anyone could get anywhere. There weren't many people around except the staff of Beacon but Denji couldn't really bother to remember their names or faces. Except for that Glynda lady, she looked kinda scary but man... she was really hot...
"When you become a full fedged huntsmen you will receive a lot of paid days off, our benefits package is probably the best in all the four kingdoms-" A lot of this stuff was really coming in through one ear and out the next. He likes hearing her talk but he can't even process half of the stuff he's trying to tell him.
Most students were out since it's summer break at the moment, only a week left till classes start, Makima told Denji. Upon reaching Beacon clock tower, the two walked inside and Makima pressed the top floor button as the elevator began to rise as they stood there in silence. These past hours with Makima had honestly been the happiest moments of his life, and recounting everything that lead up to here, his mind began to wander back to the warehouse. Oh yeah that's right, his best friend is dead...
He's been having so much fun that he had nearly forgotten all that's transpired in such a short period of time that he'd nearly forgotten Pochita. He finally to be hugged by a girl and it came at the sacrifice of him, it just left him feeling incomplete...
Makima sniffed and could sense the light hint of salt in the air. She looked over to Denji and was quick to ask "What bothers you Denji?"
Denji looks away from Makima as now he felt embarrassed shedding a few tears around her. "My pet devil became my heart, pretty hard to believe I know..." Makima fave was free from any judgment as she tilted her head as a way of telling him to go on. "I don't really wanna believe it either that Pochita died for me..."
"Hmm... historically speaking your condition is extremely rare, so rare that it's never been officially named... but I believe you, Denji."
"You do?"
"I have a pretty good nose, so I can tell." Makima pointed to her nose while giving Denji a cute wink. "Your best friend is still alive inside you. And I'm not speaking metaphorically or poeticly, you have two scents, both Devil and human."
Denji's smile one returned to his face upon hearing the news, well if she says it then it has to be true right?! "Really!? That's awesome!"
DING!
The elevator dinged signaling that they've arrived at their destination. When the elevator doors parted, Denji's eyes wandered around the scenery of what was the top of the clock tower. What's with all the gears here, like what if one of these come crashing down on you at any moment, even the walls have a bunch of gears that probably work the big clock in the back of the room but seriously what's this dude's deal with gears and clocks, I mean at least you always know what time it is without having to go out and search for one like Denji's always did.
Sitting at his desk looking over emails while paper work scattered his desk, an old man with grey hair wearing dark green suit looked up to see both a familiar and new face. "Good afternoon Makima. I assume this was the boy you spoke so highly off?"
'Makima thinks highly of me?'
"That's right, his name is Denji." Makima turned her head back to Denji which made him straighten up. "Denji, this is Professor Ozpin. Headmaster of Beacon Academy and co-head of Vale Public Safety. We've been collaborating as business partners for the safety of Remnant as I help him as vice headmaster and he helps me as vice director of Vale Public Safety."
"It's a pleasure meeting you Denji, is that your family name or given name?" The headmaster asked.
"Only name, I don't gotta last name dude." Denji bluntly answered.
Ozpin raised one of his eyebrows as Denji took the seat in front of him. "No last name? What of your father and mother?"
"My mom died after I was born and my dad hung himself when I was a kid. I don't know what to tell ya I just don't got a last name." The half devil rested his head on his hand looking bored and completely out of it.
"So, who can I make contact for about your legal documents? Do you have a guardian of some kind?"
"Look man, I don't got any of that family stuff. I don't know anything about my mom, dad, or anyone that can be related to them. Just me and Pochita."
"I understand... but who is this, Pochita?"
Makima intervened in the conversation "Denji here had a pet Devil, Pochita replaced his heart and made Denji a half human, half devil, a hybrid if you will. Hm... that'snot a bad name to call his condition actually"
"Intriguing." Ozpin began to write down. "We've only seen the case of a hybrid only a handful of times, with Denji we could possibly research this phenomenon more."
"Wait, you're not gonna cut me up or anything like that right?" Denji asked with a hint of worry in his voice. "If you think about touching me old man I'm gonna-"
Makima swooped in and pulled Denji's chin towards her, shutting her little puppy up as Denji's face began to flush red. "Denji, I'm trying to secure you a position in Beacon so you may come work with us in public safety. I trust you can be a valuable asset in the fight against devils and grimm, do that and maybe one day we'll be able to work together. Wouldn't you like that?"
"Woof!" Denji agreed with Makima in a way that made the redhead giggle. His demanor changed immediately as he now had a big goofy grin and ready to answer more of Ozpin's questions.
"You may continue Ozpin."
"Thank you, Makima." Ozpin cleared his throat "So what makes you want to become a huntsman Denji?"
"Well I kinda been doing it all my life... I use to owe a big debt to this one gang and I did devil hunting so I wouldn't be killed. And Makima wants me to be one so why not am I right?" Denji scratched the back of his head.
"I see... so let me get this straight, for most of your life you have been paying off a debt, both of your parents have passed away, and there are little to no records about you so you aren't even aware of your family name, and only recently you have fused with your pet devil who Makima informed me was the Chainsaw Devil?" Ozpin taking a look of all he's been able to examine about Denji, it's a suprise this boy us even alive. To think a child could be born in this day of age and forced to work as a huntsman just to live? Then comes the part where he's half devil, public safety has a few devils they work with along with a few fiends in their custody. One of them he's going to have learn at Beacon this year as an experiment, at least she is easy to hide the fact she's a fiend because of her very human like appearance unlike one's like Beam and Princi who they keep in their custody who very much could not pass as faunus students compared to those like Galgali or Angel but Violence is too much of a risk should his mask come off and Angel would likely kill someone on complete accident.
"Yup that covers it."
"Hm... as beneficial as it would be to decline your entry despite Makima's recommendations, who would I be as a teacher to not accept a child in need? Beacon would be happy to accept you but under certain conditions."
"What are they?" Denji asked leaning foward in his chair.
"Nobody but a select few must know that you are a hybrid because under the eyes of the law you would be classified as a devil. You are under Makima's jurisdiction so you will directly answer to her, you shall do as she demands without question. Judging from what you told me, am I right to understand that you never been to school?"
"Not that I remember, but I'm kinda good at math."
"I see, then we'll have to set you up with a tutor before you can join any non combat classes. We'll try to get you up to speed as best we can. Finally, you will have somebody watching over you as a parole officer of sorts." Just as Ozpin finished explaining the elevator door dinged as Aki Hayakawa stepped out of the elevator.
"Miss Makima, Professor." He bowed towards the two.
"Denji, this is Aki Hayakawa. , meet Denji."
Makima walked up to Aki to explain his task with the new member of public safety. "Hayakawa, I'm putting Denji under your care. He'll be living with you for a week and I'll see you're partnered with him once inauguration begins."
"Yes " Aki accepted with no hesitation in his voice that hid his true feelings about the situation.
"Wait I don't get to live with you, Miss Makima?!" Denji's eyes widened as all the excitement he had about this new job flew out the window.
"Of course not." Aki answered in Makima's place. "You and her are in completely different leagues, we're going on patrol."
"But but— NOOO MISS MAKIMAAAAA!" Denji yelled being dragged along by Aki via his collar.
"Hold on a minute Hayakawa." Makima walked up to the two and bent over to be on Denji's eye level which made him face flush red once again and made him gulp. "If you perform well and try you're hardest, we'll be able to work together soon so keep your chin up for me, okay?"
"Yes, Miss Makima!" Denji quickly answered as the duo of Aki and Denji left Ozpin's office through the elevator as Makima waved bye to them.
Only once they were alone Makima and Ozpin had some words for each other.
"I don't appreciate what you're doing to that young man..." Ozpin commented as he has known Makima long enough to pick up on her way of keeping employees 'in line'.
"As if you are much better. Just trust me dear wizard, I will see that we will have him ready for when the Witch begins to make her moves. Believe me when I say the Chainsaw Devil is the only way we can ensure the continued survival of human and faunus kind." Makima turned to Ozpin and smiled.
The headmaster let out a deep sigh, she knows what she says is true despite how much he wishes that it wasn't. "The ends don't justify the means Makima."
"I disagree." A flock of crows flew into the window and surrounded Makima encasing her in a swarm of crows before disappearing into thin air as the crows dispersed.
Meanwhile with Aki and Denji...
"Hey, does Makima got a boyfriend?" Denji was pestering Aki with questions about Makima that the public safety huntsman chose to ignore.
"..."
"Hey, tell me."
"..."
"Hey!"
"Follow me real quick." Aki lead Denji down a dark corner at Beacon, away from cameras and prying eyes.
BAM!
THUD!
CRASH!
Denji was sent falling back onto a pile of trash after Aki brutally socked him right in the face and knee'd him right in the stomach. Denji didn't have the energy to fight back and laid back with his nosebleeding and a big bruise forming on his cheek. Aki pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one up, taking a hit from his cig. "You should quit, if I see you around here again I'm gonna give you another thrashing."
"What's your problem man...?" Denji weakly asked.
"Haah... Maybe my kindness isn't getting through to you. Huntsmen and Huntresses with shallow goals end up dead. This goes for those who only do this job for the money die usually by devils or grimm, or just leave outright. The only ones who live are those with strong conviction. Lemme guess, you're only becoming a hunstman for Miss Makima, am I right?"
"Ding ding ding..."
"Then I was right to beat you up." Aki flicked his cigarette at Denji's chest as it burned his clothes a tiny bit before he hocked a loogie and snuffed it out. "I'll do you a favor and tell Ozpin and Makima you ran away."
Aki turned around and walked out of the alley believing this hoodlum to be dealt with.
He pulled out another cigarette and lit his lighter so he could be in the right mind to get back to wo-
DONG!
"GAK–"
Aki didn't hear the running start Denji took before he kicked a knee straight between his crotch. The pain of getting hit in the balls was enough to send him to the floor and instinctively holding his crotch in pain. Denji, now towering over Aki was still catching his breath as he suddenly got a burst of adrenaline from topknot over here calling his reasons stupid.
"You high and mighty asshole... y'know, you are pretty nice." Denji reeled his leg back and kicked foward as hard as he could, kicking Aki in the balls again!
"Because when I fight guys!"
DING!
"IT'S NUTS-"
DING!
"OR NOTHING!"
DING!
DING!
DING!
DING!
Aki was gasping for air as never in his public safety huntsmen career would he believe that he would lose to some wild mutt that just aims for the balls! Denji had to wipe the sweat off his head with his arm and catch his breath after the adrenaline began to fade. "Whew! Today I ate udon and a hot dog for the first time in my life. This is the first time I have ever been treated like an actual person, the first time I ever got treated to a meal. It feels like a dream dude..."
Aki could only hear ringing in his ears from the pain as none of Denji's words entered his head.
"Maybe I got a shallow reason to be here but I'm gonna fight to keep it! I'm willing to die to keep living like this and I don't give a shit what you think!
...
...
Okay scratch that, this life isn't mine alo-"
Somehow by some miracle Aki got back up and shoulder charged Denji right in the chest. He mustered the strength to send one more punch right to Denji's face. Denji in return kicked him right in the balls one last time and sent Aki stumbling back but not down on the floor.
Both boys were breathing like they just ram a marathon. Aki's legs were wobbling as if they were made of noodles and Denji had bruises all over his face.
"Haaah... a thug like you has no place around Makima!" Aki yelled at Denji.
"Huh?! What gives, you just want her all to yourself!"
Aki's legs began to give out as he fell to the floor "You... seriously only... aim for the balls..." Aki face planted onto the floor as Denji fell backwards too. Everything hurt but he was still conscious at least... oh crap he's screwed up big time...
Maybe he can blame it on something like the testicle devil or some dumb crap like tha-
"DENJI, WHY IS HAYAKAWA PASSED OUT ON THE FLOOR?!" Gkynda Goodwitch yelled after hearing all the commotion these two were making.
"Goddammit..."
After that little incident Makima was called in to talk to her two boys who started a fight before the school year even began. Makima better explained Denji's condition and that he could be killed as a devil if Denji attempted to run away.
These two boys were not getting along anytime soon to say the least, Aki had already spent one week with Denji and he's had to double up on his cigarette intake. First day with Aki, Denji had made the Ultimate Bread which means he slathered a bunch of jams in Aki's cabinet and fridge over some toast. He took an hour taking a bath and was singing a made up annoying song while doing it, and he also fell asleep on the toilet somehow? His patience was running thin with this kid and Beacon initiation cannot come fast enough.
The 4th day together they received a call about a fiend and this was Aki's way of wanting to see what Denji was capable of. Aki was equipped with his swords and Denji got an axe so he didn't need to turn into his hybrid form. When the two arrived at the scene, the whole apartment building was evacuated as a crowd of people were outside behind police tape. They were either people who were forced to evacuate said apartment building or onlookers who were intrigued by what's going on that caused police to close off the building and part of the street. Aki pulled up and flashed his badge to the police and asked what the situation was.
"The fiend was spotted an hour ago holed up in a room on the second floor all the way to the right. We'll ket you huntsmen deal with this."
"Hey Aki, what's a fiend?" Denji asked Aki as he never once heard the term 'fiend' before.
"Did you not learn anything in school? Aki insults.
"I didn't go to school." Denji replied bluntly as Aki's jaw dropped a little not knowing how to respond to an answer like that or if Denji's response was even serious.
"A fiend is a devil who took over a person's corpse."
"Oh! Does that make me one too?!"
"No, fiends are devils who merely look like people. They aren't considered human or faunus, you'll understand when you see one."
Aki kicked down one of the doors to the apartment where the fiend resided. The two saw a middle aged faunus of some sort of reptilian breed due to the scales all over it's body. The part that certified that this man was a fiend was the large pincers that replaced his mouth as the fiend was currently devouring what was most likely someone's pet bird. The apartment was absolutely filthy with trash and bags littered all over the place along with a bunch of porno magazines.
"Fiends have a devil personality, kill this one." Aki commanded Denji "Turn into a devil and show me what you can do, then I'll deduce if you are useful or not."
"Don't look devil hunters! I'll kill you!" The fiend jumped at Denji first and the hybrid was quick on his feet to swing his axe and decapitate the fiend as quick as possible.
The fiend's body fell back, lifeless on the floor with his head rolling off to the side.
"Why didn't you use your devil powers?" Aki asked, confused.
"Oh, uh... when I use my power to kill devils it's super painful. I mean... I could have ended up like this guy here as a fiend y'know so, I guess I kinda wanted to give the poor guy a painless death..."
This was not the answer Aki was looking for. Aki slammed Denji's head against the nearby window and gave him a stern lesson. "Listen up, don't you forget this. Fiends are bona fide devils, a devil hunter shouldn't be sympathizing with devils. I watched my whole family die to a devil right before my very eyes. Everyone is serious about this but you, I want to kill devils in a way where they suffer the most, and here you are wanting to be friends with them."
"I mean, if there was a devil who wanted to be friends then I'd do it. Cuz I never had friends..."
Aki recoiled upon hearing that information and let go of Denji, but before he left to go downstairs he only had this to say to Denji. "I'll... remember those words."
Aki went downstairs to tell the VPD that the threat has been exterminated. Denji listen closely to hear that he actually was gone. So he can claim the prize of the real reason he didn't transform into his hybrid form.
"Blaah... dude needs to relax or something. I just didn't wanna get blood on these babies!" Denji exclaimed, referring to a bunch of porno mags piled up on the floor. He turned his head towards the fiend "Truth is my chainsaws make a huge mess, I didn't wanna ruin all these mags with my blood, I did a favor killing you so quickly!"
Denji picked three mags of the covers he though were the hottest and stuffed it under his arm "All right sexiness acquired!"
'Show me your dreams'
Denji froze as he saw the memory of pochita giving his life for him play in his head. He pulled his collar and looked down at the ripcord impeded inside his chest where Pochita resided. "I'm serious about this too Pochita! I'm living the dream life just like our contract said, aren't I?"
"It's just that I've already crossed the finish line to my dream and that dude is still going after his."
He's right y'know, something does feel off. But what?
He's able to bathe everyday.
Eat bread with jam everyday.
A pretty woman like Makima is always close by.
He's accomplished his dreams but there's just something missing from all of this? Even his devil heart knows this to be true but for the life of him Denji just doesn't know what it is...
Aki probably has some dream about revenge with the way he talks.
Those cops outside probably got a dream about protecting their families.
Does Makima have a dream?
Does Makima also...
An image of Makima was clear in his head, every feature about her was perfectly remembered but his mind went to one thing. Could that be it? Was that what could possibly be missing from this new life he has? It's a natural desire to want this but Denji doesn't know how to fully express himself, he's never had to think so much about something along the lines of this because he never though he would ever be so close to it.
Denji crouched down with his knees hugging his chest. He expressed himself the only way he knew how "I wanna touch some boobs..."
The day of initiation eventually did come, Aki had packed his suit case very neatly taking the essential suits for when he does get called into the line of work as even with classes he refuses to take a break from the search for the Gun Devil. Most of the time he'll be forced to wear a uniform so there's not much need to take that many extra clothes, just pajamas will do. He packed up his deodorant, toothbrush, some pain meds, and just like that he was ready to go. Rolling his suitcase out of his room he came to his living room and questioned how Denji was doing with packing.
"Come on! Get! In there! Stupid! Crap!" Denji struggled to fit his clothes in the duffle bag Aki gave him, and Aki could clearly see why as he just shoved everything in there all scrunched up, not taking any account of storage space. Aki needed to help him fold his clothes to fit inside the bag. Aki drove them to the Bullhead, along the way grabbing some breakfast which led to Denji making a little bit of a mess in Aki's car but Aki did mention it, he wanted this to be a good day.
Aki handed the Bullhead travel employees their tickets and were off to Beacon Academy, Aki had fully mentally prepared for the worst with Denji but to his suprise Denji was practically quite the whole ride, not saying much during the Bullhead ride. Honestly it was a breath of fresh air from the chaotic child Denji usually was to control.
But meanwhile in Denji's head, his thought process was along the lines of...
'What's with all the outfits these guys are wearing? They kinda look like they are from those Mistralian cartoons I saw on TV.'
'So many crazy weapons too... do my chainsaws count as weapons? Too bad Aki's here then I'd show if off and girls would be coming all over me. Wait, would Makima be okay with that? Plus it'd probably be really bloody and everyone would probably know I'm a hybrid thing...'
'Hey Pochita, you think I'd be able to get with someone while we're here?"
Before Denji knew it the bullhead shook as he heard over the loudspeakers that they have arrived at Beacon Academy. Which seemed to shake Denji out of his train of thought, everyone crowded towards the exit as the entrance to the bullhead opened and everyone began funneling out. Denji was slowly walking next to Aki as the two weren't really as enamored with the sight as everyone else. Denji has already been here before and with no Makima around in sight it he just wasn't in the mood to be excited, Aki meanwhile has been to Beacon thousands of times during his time working in public safety, really you seen it once you seen it a thousand times.
As the two we're making it out of the bullhead they we're suddenly bumped by a shorter girl with black hair who shoved past them while holding her mouth closed with her hands. Aki stood firm and unbothered because he attributed it to motion sickness, not the first time he's seen a case of it. Denji meanwhile just gave off an angry tsk as his face furrowed to an expression of annoyance, he wasn't gonna shout at her over something so trivial. That same girl ran over to the trash and threw up presumably her entire breakfast, Denji couldn't help but stare a little as he walked past.
After walking a bit Aki tapped his shoulder and Denji turned to him. "Denji, I gotta drop off some paper work. Orientation starts in 30 minutes, walk doen the path then take a right until you reach the library then another right. You got that?"
"Yerp." Denji gave Aki a thumbs up and gave a lazy smile with his jagged teeth.
"I'll meet you at orientation, don't get into trouble or I'll kill you." An empty threat really but Denji gave him a thumbs up. Aki left with a light jog over to the public safety office building, Denji has been pretty calm today so he trusts that he'll keep his head down.
"Okay so down the path, make a left, then right at the library? No wait... what was it again? Graah... damnit." Denji scratched his head in a mixture of confusion and frustration.
"H-Hey excuse me?" A high pitched voice of behind him called for Denji's attention as her turned around to see who was talking to him. Denji turned around to see a girl who reached his shoulders, his eyes were immediately brought to her silver ones. Huh, he never knew eyes could be silver before, also wow she was really damn cute, the black and red that matched her equally black hair with dyed red highlights, the long red cape of hers too. "H-Hi, do you know where the auditorium is?"
"The audi-wha?" Denji asked not knowing what a big word like that meant
"Y'know the place we're supposed to go for orientation? I'm completely lost."
"Oh, uh... yeah... yeah, I do know!" Denji grew a confident smile despite already forgetting what Aki's directions were. "I'll show you!" Already the first day and girl decided to talk to him, look at the progress he's making already! I mean yeah he's lying to her but maybe luck will lead him to wherever he's supposed to go!
"Thank you so much!" The girl grew a big smile on her face, relived that there was someone able to guide her since her older sister up and left her. "So, what's your name?"
"Denji."
"Ruby Rose!"