RWBY: Beyond the Broken

by Lucky DWG

"Go and live, kid..." The words of my mentor rang in my head. A broken soul goes to Beacon, the past is the past, as some would say. But would looking beyond the past, into the future, help at all? OCxHarem

I have no idea why I decided to write yet another new fic, but here we are. Its honestly baffling that I do this when I have other fics to worry about…

Anyway, enough talk. Let's get this rolling.

Beta'd by: Old man/Darklord331 and Demonoid

Chapter 1 – Welcome to Beacon

I don't own anything except some stuff

"Why can't you be like her?!"

"I'm tired of being compared to you!"

"What a disappointment..."

"Get up, kid!"

"...eat and live..."

"I'm sorry...go and live, kid..."

...

Gray eyes slowly blinking open, I calmly looked around the bullhead heading to Beacon. Various teenagers my age chatted amongst themselves as they made their way to the same academy. Some were excitedly discussing what classes they wanted to take while others were boasting about how much of a badass they would become, of how Grimm would tremble at the mere sight of them.

Like Grimm would actually do that, most of them are not smart enough to fear humans and Faunus.

I closed my eyes as I rested my head against the back of the seat, ignoring everything else going on around me. I need to clear my head. Focus on what's really important.

The offer from Ozpin, the Headmaster himself.

I did mention that I wanted to be a student...and he offered it to me. Accepting it was the only right decision in that scenario.

'Besides,' I looked up towards the window, seeing the prestigious Academy coming into view. 'That's what he would want me to do...to move forward.'

"Alright! We'll be landing in five minutes!" The pilot called out as I watched some students peer out the windows to get their first look at Beacon. "So don't forget any of your stuff back home."

I didn't bother looking outside; I have more than enough time for that later. Instead, I focused more on my weapon: a gauntlet that can shift into a simple long blade. Simple and efficient, just like how he taught me.

"Ooh! A gauntlet that has a blade inside it? That looks so cool!" My attention snapped upward to see an energetic girl dressed in a black gothic-like dress. She has black hair with red tips and has silver eyes. "Did you make it yourself?"

"...no," I answered simply before looking back down at my weapon. The shine from the sunlight made it seem almost new, which is ironic since this thing's already been through hell and back.

"Well, it looks so cool!" The girl continued talking energetically, obviously gushing over my weapon. "I bet it looks so cool whenever you use that thing!"

'Or terrifying...'

My gaze moved from my weapon to my hand, covered by a fingerless glove. I felt my fingers twitch slightly from every sound I heard in the bullhead. But now that this girl is sitting beside me, gushing over my weapon, it feels li-

"There you are!" A blonde girl rushed towards us, her lilac eyes darting between me and the black-dressed girl. Her long blonde hair bounced lightly as she stopped herself from running straight into someone, standing beside us instead.

"Hey Yang!" The energetic girl greeted me happily. "Where were you?"

"Looking for you!" The blonde girl exclaimed, placing her hands on her hips. "I looked away for a second and you were gone."

"Oh yeah...sorry about that..." The energetic girl apologized, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "I just...saw his weapon and...lost control I guess..."

The blonde girl glanced over at me and smiled widely. "Hi there! The name's Yang Xiao Long, and this is my sister, Ruby Rose!" She wrapped her arm around the other girl's neck, pulling her closer.

Sister? They don't look al-no, not my business.

"H-hey there," Ruby nervously waved at me with a smile.

"Jack," I replied without looking up at them, resting my arms on my lap while intertwining my fingers.

"Nice to meet you, Jack," Yang said, still smiling brightly. "Hope we all get along!"

I stare at her for a few seconds. She's a walking bombshell compared to her younger sister who seems like an adorable puppy. Not bad looking either; I bet guys are falling heads over heels for her left and right. The jacket showing off her midriff, the booty shorts, and the way her top shows off her cleavage are probably contributing factors in that regard.

"Yeah..." Ruby muttered awkwardly as I turned my attention to her. While cute in appearance, she also looks awkward. Especially when talking to someone she just met.

'She'll never last at Beacon,' I concluded before leaning back against the seat, ignoring the two sisters as they began discussing amongst themselves. 'Too naïve and innocent. That kind of mindset will get her killed out there.' I glanced to the window, eyeing the tallest building in Beacon: the clocktower.

'Life isn't so sweet and nice...' I pursed my lips. 'But that's that...' I close my eyes and begin clearing my head. No use thinking about what could happen. Focus on what's really important now.

'And if it means following in his footsteps...so be it,' I thought as the bullhead finally landed within the docks of Beacon Academy. Everyone stood up, one by one, towards the exit. Even those two girls who talked with me earlier did the same.

"Urgh!" I glanced towards a blond boy retching on a trash can. He looks pathetic. But then again, he is vomiting in public view. Not exactly something people should see let alone smell.

'He'll never make it,' I concluded once again while getting up from my seat, walking towards the door with the other students. Once outside, I found myself standing in front of a group of students.

Their smiles, the excitement in their eyes—these kids are ready to take on the world, to become heroes who fight for justice and protect those too weak or defenseless to stand against the Grimm and criminals alike.

'Is this what I wanted? What he wanted for me?' I asked myself as I slowly walked away, distancing myself from the crowd. 'I did say I wanted to learn how it feels to be a student at an academy...but does this count? Am I even fit to be here?'

"...eat and live..."

I froze mid-step, closing my eyes tightly. "Not now...not ye-"

Is that girl shaking a vial of Dust?! She might kill herself or someone else! Is she insane!?

My body moved before I could think, running towards the girl as fast as I could. I can even see Ruby standing beside the pompous white-haired girl who is holding the Dust in a hazardous fashion.

"The cap's loose...of all the idiots!" I growled under my breath as I reached out my hand towards her, intending to snatch the vial from the idiotic girl's fingers.

"A...Ahc-" I quickly stopped Ruby from sneezing, covering her mouth with my hand before turning back towards the other girl. That was close; one wrong move and we'd all be dead. I've seen firsthand what happens when Dust is ignited by fire, lightning, wind, water, you name it. Never ends well for anyone.

"What are you do-"

"I should have been the one asking," I interrupted the idiotic girl, carefully taking the vial from her fingers carefully. "You could have blown us up."

"Hey! I'm not some stupid idiot!" The idiotic girl exclaimed angrily, placing her hands on her hips. "You're talking to Weiss Schnee, Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company!"

"Then you should know that vials of dust are to be sealed tightly." I countered calmly, showing her the vial in my hand. "As you can see, the cap is loose...and you were waving it around like a damn flagpole."

"Hmph!" Weiss huffed indignantly as she crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at me with her icy blue eyes. "Fine. You have a point there...but still, you didn't need to grab me like that!"

'What?' I stared at her incredulously. What part of 'you could have killed yourself and others around you' don't you understand?!

Taking a deep breath, I sighed through my nose. "You're here to be a Huntress. A little love tap isn't gonna kill you." I looked at the vial. Seeing the SDC logo, I stared at Weiss briefly before narrowing my eyes. "Besides, you shouldn't play with Dust unless you know how to handle it safely."

Weiss opened her mouth to argue but nothing came out. After staring into my eyes for a few seconds, she grabbed the vial. "I will have you know that I am perfectly capable of handling these things." She said while sealing the vial tightly. "Now, if you'll excuse me. There's something I must do." With that, Weiss walked away with a few butlers carrying her luggage following behind her.

"Thank you..." Ruby muttered shyly, fiddling with her cloak.

I nodded curtly before turning. "Where's your sister?"

"Oh, Yang?" Her face looked like she swallowed a lemon. "She went ahead...something stupid about leaving me so I could get more friends. Pffft! Yeah right. Why would I find other people when I got her?" She glanced towards me and smiled sheepishly. "And you too! Y-yeah!" She paused before looking up, her silver eyes staring straight into mine.

"We are friends, right?" She asked hopefully.

"...sure," I answered after a moment of silence. No point in denying it anyway. She just wants someone to talk to.

"Yay!" She cheered happily before glancing around the area. "So um...do you know where we're supposed to go? Maybe we should follow the others?"

Barely stopping myself from letting out another sigh, I turn around. "Follow me," I ordered without waiting for her reply. It doesn't take long for Ruby to catch up. Looking over my shoulder, I can see that she's smiling brightly.

All that excitement, the brightness in her eyes in hopes to be someone who will save the day, fight for justice and protect the weak and defenseless. "Heh," I smirked humorlessly.

'If only it were that easy...'

"Hey, wait up!" Pausing, we turned to see the same blond boy who was puking earlier running towards us. He stopped beside Ruby and gasped for air, putting his hands on his knees while doing so. "Can't believe how fast you guys are."

My eyes narrowed as I noticed his condition. The few bits of armor he has hide most of it well, but he is sweating buckets. His breathing is unsteady, meaning that he ran all the way here from the landing docks, which isn't even that far away. And yet, he looks like he just ran a marathon—as if he hadn't trained himself properly before coming here.

The blond boy finally caught his breath and smiled at us. "I'm Jaune Arc! Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it!" He then pointed a thumb at himself.

We both stare at him for a few seconds. "That's great and all, but we need to get going," I said while turning around once again. 'He needs help...he won't make it three weeks. Someone who has never trained a single day in their life should not be here.'

"Wait, you two aren't going to leave me behind, are you?" He asked frantically as I heard him try to run after us. But he barely manages to keep pace with us.

Pausing, I turned around to face him. "If you can't even jog a mile, why did you come to Beacon?"

Jaune visibly gulped under my gaze and laughed nervously. "W-well...it's a long story..."

"It better be worth it," I deadpanned as he stared at me for a few seconds before sighing. "Never mind we don't want to be late."

"Late? Late for what?" Ruby questioned as Jaune tilted his head in confusion.

"What do you mean late for wh-"

"All first years please gather at the ballroom," A voice spoke through an intercom, interrupting whatever the blond was saying.

"Looks like they're about to explain everything to us," I stated calmly while walking forward.

"Then let's go!" Ruby exclaimed excitedly, grabbing onto my arm. Surprised by her sudden action, I allowed her to lead the way, dragging me along with her. Glancing behind, I noticed Jaune following us. Though, his glanced towards me. His nervousness is plain as day on his face.

'Not surprising,' I mused as we made our way inside one of the many buildings within the Academy. 'Someone like him shouldn't even be here.'

"Hurry up, Miltia! I want this over with!" My ears picked up a pair of girls talking amongst themselves. I recognized them as the twins from Junior's Club. Their attractive features didn't escape my notice; their red and white dresses, coupled with their makeup, made them look even more appealing.

Seeing me, Melanie, the white one, gave me a glare before huffing indignantly. "Let's just get this over with," She growled in annoyance as she stormed past me, her sister following closely behind her.

'They are not happy to see me,' I thought dryly. 'Then again, I'm probably the reason why they got roped into this whole thing anyway...'

"Whoa...twins..." Jaune muttered beside me, staring after them with wide eyes.

"You know, if you're gonna stare that hard, might as well take a picture." He flinched under my gaze and chuckled nervously. "Or would you prefer your scroll taken instead?"

"N-no thanks, hehe..." The blond replied quickly before scratching his cheek awkwardly. "So um...do you think those two will be in our class or something...?"

I remained silent for a moment before answering simply. "Maybe." Before continuing to walk, we entered a large room filled with dozens of other students. Some looked nervous, while others looked eager to learn about what lay ahead for them. Some were standing around idly chatting away with each other.

"Ruby!" I glanced and saw Yang waving towards Ruby with a bright smile plastered on her face. Her eyes widened when she noticed me before smiling wider. "And Jack too! Hey, guys!" She called out happily as she walked towards us.

"Hey, sis!" Ruby greeted cheerfully as her sister ruffled her hair affectionately, laughing good naturally at her annoyed expression. "Yang! Stop that!"

"Heh heh heh...sorry." The blonde apologized before looking at me. "Nice to see you again, Jack." She winked playfully and smirked mischievously.

"...right," I replied simply while ignoring the suggestive glance from her. 'This girl's gonna be trouble...' I glanced around the room once again, observing the ones worth noting. Other than an energetic ginger-haired girl bugging her silent friend, a black-haired girl reading a book leaning on one of the columns, Weiss Schnee, and the twi-

'That's Pyrrha Nikos...' My gaze landed on a girl with long flowing red hair, green eyes, and fair skin. The fact that she's wearing armor doesn't hide her beauty either.

'Looks like Beacon has more interesting people than I initially thought,' I noted while turning back to Yang and Ruby. "If you're done saying hello, we should take our seats."

"Okay!" Ruby exclaimed excitedly, grabbing onto my arm again. Before I could even say anything, though, she dragged me towards three empty chairs. Sitting down on one of them, she lets go of my arm as soon as I sit down beside her. Glancing over my shoulder, I notice that Jaune is still standing near us.

"What are you doing? Take a seat already," I told him as he nodded quickly. After taking one last look at the other students, he sat down next to Yang, which put me between him and Ruby.

"Grabbing his arm, eh? I like it, Rubes. Gotta mark your territory early," Yang whispered teasingly into Ruby's ear, making the younger girl blush bright red before pouting cutely.

I rolled my eyes at their antics but kept quiet otherwise. It didn't take long for the room to quiet down after everyone had settled themselves inside. A few seconds later, Ozpin himself stepped forward with a microphone in hand. His glasses glinted slightly under the light shining above.

"I'll...keep this brief." He began calmly, gazing upon the crowd of new arrivals before continuing. "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge - to hone your craft and acquire new skills - and when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to protecting the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose – direction..."

'He makes it sound so easy...' I mused as he spoke. 'But then again, being born gifted is different from working hard every day to get stronger.'

"You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step." With those words spoken, Ozpin left the stage and left behind several confused expressions on some students' faces.

"Hey!"

"Eep!" Ruby yelped, jumping into Yang's arms as Weiss stormed toward us angrily. Her icy blue eyes glaring daggers at both sisters. "I..." She bit her lip nervously before continuing. "I...apologize for my actions earlier today."

I raised a brow curiously. Apologizing means she actually took what I said seriously enough to admit fault. But that doesn't mean I'm going to forgive her anytime soon. Not until I'm certain she won't be waving any more vials of Dust around like an idiot.

Ruby glanced towards me briefly before smiling timidly at the Heiress. "It's okay. Besides, it looks like Jack handled it without getting hurt too..."

Weiss frowned at that remark but kept quiet instead of retorting back. Instead, she turned to me with narrowed eyes. "Yes...he did." Her voice sounded reluctant and unsure of herself. "I apologize for my behavior...it was not proper nor polite of me," She added finally after taking a deep breath.

I stared at her silently for a few moments before nodding. "Apology accepted. Just don't go waving Dust around like it's nothing next time, okay?"

"Yes...yes, I understand completely." Schnee answered quietly, nodding quickly in agreement. Then she looked past me towards Jaune, who flinched visibly under her gaze.

"And you are...?"

"Jaune Arc! Nice to meet ya!" The blond boy introduced himself enthusiastically while holding out a hand towards the Heiress. Smiling brightly at Weiss who gave him an unimpressed stare.

The white-haired girl eyed his hand skeptically before turning away from it. "Charmed..." She replied sarcastically before walking off without another word.

"Charmed...?" He turned to me with hope shining within his eyes. "Do you think she meant it?"

I shrugged noncommittally. "Probably not." My blunt reply made him slump forward dejectedly.

Hearing heels clicking on the stage drew our attention to Glynda Goodwitch. "You will gather in the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow your initiation begins; be ready. You are dismissed." And just like that, everyone began to move once again, heading out of the building while conversing amongst themselves. Some stayed behind while others followed closely behind them.

Standing up, I watched as Ruby hopped off her seat happily while excitedly looking around the room. Seeing Yang wink suggestively at her sister, I let out a soft sigh before walking away without saying anything else.

As I stepped outside, my ears picked up footsteps following close behind me.

"Hey," I turned around to see Melanie's scowling face glaring daggers at me. "We need to talk." Behind her, Miltia stood silently, watching us with a frown etched across her pretty face.

Glancing towards the other students, I nudged my head outside. "This way." Leading them out of earshot, we stopped near a wall where no one else was nearby. Turning to face the twins, I folded my arms over my chest and waited patiently for whatever they had to say.

Melanie stepped forward while narrowing her eyes dangerously, jabbing a finger onto my chest harshly. "Any idea why Junior sent us here?" She asked with venom dripping off every word she spoke.

I stared at her silently before shrugging indifferently. "Don't know," My answer annoyed her further as her scowl deepened. "My mentor used to know Junior. That's about all I got."

"What? Is that it?" The white-clad twin spat angrily, taking a step closer toward me. Her sister put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her from coming any nearer. "You're telling me you don't even know what he wants us to do?!"

Miltia tugged at Melanie's arm gently but firmly. "Calm down sis..." She whispered soothingly into her sister's ear, trying to calm her down. "Junior told us to keep an eye on this guy...nothing more."

"For what purpose then?!" She snapped back at Miltia who winced slightly under her sister's glare. Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose in annoyance.

'Why does everything always have to be so complicated?'

"Look, if I had any answers regarding this situation, I would've already said something. But since I don't..." I trailed off before looking straight into her pale green eyes. "We'll just have to wait and see how things play out."

Melanie scoffed loudly while crossing her arms under her chest. "That's your plan?! Wait until someone says what we should do? What kind of idiot-" Before she could finish her sentence though, I grabbed onto her wrist tightly, squeezing hard enough to make her grunt in pain.

"Listen," My voice came out low and menacing as I glared directly into her eyes. "I don't know why Junior sent you here either. All we have is that Junior sent you to keep an eye on me for whatever reason. It could be because he owed my mentor something or maybe he knew my mentor personally...who knows."

Releasing my grip on her, I stepped away from both sisters and continued speaking. "Right now, you're both in Beacon Academy which means there is no point in arguing about why Junior sent you two here when neither of us has a single clue."

The twins watched me silently after hearing what I had to say. Glancing at each other briefly, they turned back to face me again. This time Miltia spoke instead. "Then...what do you suggest we do?"

I sighed through my nose. "Play along for now. We're going to be classmates soon anyway...we might as well get used to each other." The red-clad twin nodded slowly as if agreeing with me completely while her sister frowned deeply.

"...fine." Melanie relented after some time before smirking confidently. "Now that I get a good look at you, you're kinda cute yourself~" Her teasing tone made me raise a brow questioningly. "Too bad I'm not interested in boys like you~"

'So that's what she wanted,' I thought dryly as I rolled my eyes at her attempt to flirt with me. 'If she thinks flirting will work on someone like myself, then she's got another thing coming...' Shaking my head lightly, I sighed.

Time to bite back.

"I've been with plenty of girls, so don't expect anything special." That took care of that problem. She blinked once before giving me an unimpressed stare. Then she glanced toward her sister who seemed mildly surprised by what she heard too.

"You...you've been around before?" Miltia asked curiously, tilting her head slightly while staring at me intently.

I shrugged. "When you've got a mentor who brings you to his drunk parties all the time, things happen." A small smirk crossed my lips as memories of those nights resurfaced in my mind. "Lots of things..." I grabbed Melanie by her chin, pulling her close enough for our faces to touch. She gasped softly at my boldness but didn't try to resist when I leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

"And I always aim to please," I finished quietly, letting go of her afterward. Stepping back, I chuckled amusedly when I saw both sisters blushing lightly.

Turning around, I began walking away from them, leaving behind two flustered women alone in their own thoughts. 'That should keep them busy long enough...' As I entered the ballroom again, I spotted Ruby sitting beside Yang and Jaune who seemed to be having fun chatting with each other. Nodding towards the blonde girl who winked playfully back at me, I moved past them without saying anything else.

Finding an empty corner, I sat down against the wall with my arms folded over my chest. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to relax while listening carefully to everything happening around me. Conversations were being held between groups of students, some laughing while others talking seriously amongst themselves about whatever topic they had on hand.

And then I heard the sounds of a page turning. Turning my gaze towards its source, I see the black-haired girl reading one of her books while ignoring everyone around her. Noticing me watching her, she looked up briefly only for our eyes to meet. Gray met amber before she quickly turned her attention back to her book.

"Jack," I said my name plainly before leaning my head back against the wall.

"...Blake Belladonna," She replied in turn while flipping another page absentmindedly. "Nice to meet you."

'Belladona? Isn't that...' My brows furrowed slightly as I remembered where I'd heard that name before. 'The White Fang...?' Frowning deeply, I narrowed my eyes at her.

After making sure no one is paying us any attention, I spoke up once more. "Pleasure's all mine, daughter of Ghira Belladonna." The effect was immediate as she tensed visibly under my words. Her grip on her book tightened until it creased the pages slightly.

Observing our surroundings, I nod before whispering towards her quietly. "I don't know why you're here, but if you even think about doing something stupid..." I let that hang in the air between us as I carefully watched her expression. "Let's just say I'll make sure you won't get very far."

She glared coldly at me with a deep scowl etched across her face. But after taking a moment to compose herself, she glanced around us cautiously before turning her attention back to me. "How did you find out?" She asked softly in a low voice so that no one else would hear.

"Your surname is a dead giveaway," I stated simply, shrugging nonchalantly before continuing. "Ghira Belladonna is the former leader of the White Fang. And your bow," I glanced pointedly toward the accessory that covered her cat ears. "It doesn't take a genius to figure out what you are..."

Hearing my explanation, Blake nodded slowly while biting her bottom lip nervously. "I see..." After staying silent for several moments longer than necessary, she shut her book and stood up abruptly. Looking straight into my eyes, she spoke firmly without hesitation. "You have nothing to worry about, Jack. I'm not here to cause trouble."

"Good," I nod simply before glancing at her book. "Ninjas of Love, huh? Interesting taste..." Her cheeks flushed bright red upon hearing my comment as she stuttered incoherently under my gaze.

"Its a good book!" She retorted silently while glaring at me in embarrassment.

"I know, I've read them too," I replied calmly which only served to further fluster her even more. Seeing this, I shrugged before making my way past her. "Have fun reading then, Blake." As I walked away from her, I could feel the heat coming off her body from behind.

"W-Wait!" She grabbed onto my arm tightly while keeping her head down low enough for her bangs to cover most of her face. "You...you won't tell anyone about this...right...?" Her voice trembled clearly in fear and worry as she held onto me desperately.

Sighing heavily, I pulled myself free from her grasp before replying plainly. "No, I won't." My answer seemed to relieve her greatly since she relaxed visibly afterward. Turning around completely, I met her gaze directly. "Your father is a peaceful man...I hope you're the same," With those last words spoken, I left her alone to continue enjoying her reading time without interruption.

Bzzt!

Feeling my scroll vibrate inside my pocket, I took it out and tapped the screen lightly, revealing its contents. 'A message from the Headmaster?' Reading through it quickly, I frowned deeply at what he had sent me.

'Come to my office.' Sighing quietly, I slipped my phone back into its original place before heading towards the exit. It doesn't take long for me to reach Ozpin's office. Stepping inside, I noticed him sitting behind his desk drinking from one of his mugs. There's Glynda Goodwitch and another person; a girl with light brown skin, brown hair, and brown eyes.

"Jack, glad you could join us." He greeted warmly while gesturing toward an empty chair in front of him. "Please sit down."

Taking the offered seat, I glance curiously between the three adults who remained silent throughout this entire exchange. "So...what do you want?" My blunt question earned me a chuckle from the Headmaster himself while Glynda frowned disapprovingly at me.

Ozpin set aside his mug before meeting my gaze calmly. "I wanted to discuss some things regarding your enrollment here," He explained simply while folding his hands together on top of his desk. "As you know, you and your fellow classmates will undergo their initiation tomorrow morning. After that, you'll be assigned partners for the duration of your stay here."

He paused briefly to take a sip from his mug once more before continuing. "However, due to certain circumstances...your situation is different compared to everyone else's." Seeing that I didn't say anything nor react negatively to his words, he smiled slightly. "I already have your partner chosen beforehand..."

That caught my attention immediately as I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him. "Who...?" The word escaped my lips automatically without even thinking about it first.

Glancing at the brown-haired girl, he raised his hand toward her casually. "This young lady right here." She stepped forward after being called forth by Ozpin, looking straight into my eyes determinedly. Her brown eyes shone brightly under the light shining above our heads as Ozpin spoke once again.

"This is Amber," Ozpin introduced her properly while keeping his gaze fixed solely upon me. "She has agreed to be your partner during your time here in Beacon Academy."

The room grew eerily quiet for several seconds afterward. No one dared utter a single word until finally, I broke the silence by asking directly. "Why? Why choose me as your partner?" Amber didn't answer immediately before stepping forward and gently grabbing my gauntlet-covered hand tightly within her own hands.

"Because I owed your mentor, Drake, my life," She answered softly yet firmly enough so that there was no mistaking what she meant by her statement. "And if helping you is how I can repay him then...then this is something I must do."

I stared silently at her face, trying to find any hint of deceit, but found none. Taking a deep breath slowly through my nose, I exhaled quietly before nodding curtly. "Help me? With what exactly?" My question came out more forcefully than intended; however, neither Ozpin nor Glynda seemed bothered by it, judging by their expressions.

Amber glanced back at the Headmaster who nodded encouragingly towards her which made her smile sadly. Looking downwards onto the ground instead of meeting anyone's eyes, she bit her lip nervously before speaking hesitantly. "I...I heard how he saved you, kept you ali-"

"How do you know that?" My tone took on an edge instantly after hearing those words leave her mouth causing Amber to flinch visibly while taking a step backward away from me. Frowning deeply, I stood up suddenly which caused both teachers to tense themselves ready for action. "Who told you?"

"I did," Ozpin responded calmly, raising a hand to stop Glynda who seemed prepared to intervene should anything happen between us. "Jack, I know you don't want to be reminded of such events. But Amber deserves to know why she needs to stay close to you." He explained calmly, his gaze never leaving mine since we began talking about this subject.

I inhaled sharply before glaring coldly towards the headmaster who continued unfazed despite my reaction thus far. "Then tell me why I'm the one getting stuck with her as a partner. What makes her different from everyone else? How come you chose me specifically for this?"

Ozpin sighed tiredly before answering honestly. "Because unlike most people, you don't hesitate to kill when necessary." His blunt response made me scoff loudly in disbelief at what he'd just said. "You know exactly what must be done to protect others."

Sighing through my nose, I raised my head to look straight into his eyes. "Even so, it doesn't mean I have to play babysitter to Amber." He frowned deeply upon hearing me say that but didn't respond otherwise. Instead he simply remained quiet with his mouth drawn tight into a thin line while waiting for me to continue.

"I understand you wish to help her but putting her next to me..." I trailed off for a moment before speaking up once again, "I don't think you've thought this through completely. Besides, why would you tell her something so personal?"

His expression changed slightly when I brought up this point which made me realize immediately how much information Amber actually knew about my life.

"Because she is your partner, Jack. She deserves to know everything about you. Why you are the way you are...and how much pain you've gone through during those days after losing your mentor..." He sighed softly as he glanced towards me with an understanding smile plastered across his lips.

"It may seem foolish to you but keeping secrets between teammates could cause them to lose trust in each other eventually, leading to disaster when it comes time to fight against Grimm together." He stated matter of factly.

My brows furrowed slightly while staring straight ahead into his eyes, contemplating what he'd just told me before answering with one word. "Fine." After hearing my reply, he nodded in agreement, satisfied with the outcome thus far. "I'll accept this arrangement for now until further notice."

"Now," Ozpin cleared his throat loudly, drawing everyone's attention towards him. "You asked what makes Amber different from every other student." He leaned forward, his elbows resting on top of his desk. "Tell me, other than taking you on his drunken escapades and training you, has Drake ever told you anything other than his job as a Huntsman and a bounty hunter?"

The question made me pause briefly. "What do you mean...?"

"Exactly what it sounds like." He said cryptically. "Has he ever mentioned anything about the Silver-eyed-"

"Ngh!" I clutched my head tightly as memories flashed before my eyes. Images of needles, tests, and experiments...everything blurred together. Groaning loudly, I stumbled backwards until my back hit something solid behind me. "Ah..." Breathing heavily, I gasped softly when I saw a concerned expression written all over Ozpin's face.

"Jack," He called out worriedly as he stepped forward with his hand outstretched. "Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes...I'm fine." I shook off whatever remained of the headache that had attacked me earlier. Rubbing my temples, I tried focusing on Ozpin who watched me silently for a minute or two before finally deciding to speak again. "Silver eyes..." I mutter under my breath before looking straight towards him once more.

"I remember he mentioned something about Maidens and silver eyes, but that was years ago..." I trailed off when I realized what I just revealed. "What does that have to do with Amber?"

Ozpin smiled softly at me while nodding his head towards the young girl who stared intently at us both. "Everything. Now, what do you know about the Maidens, Jack?"

"Just bits and pieces..." I recalled vaguely before sighing heavily. "But that was a long time ago. But I remember there's Summer, Fall, Spring, and Winter...all representing the seasons themselves," I recited what Drake taught me, glancing towards the headmaster, who nodded approvingly.

He hummed slowly before glancing towards Amber. "Amber is the Fall Maiden, Jack." Hearing those words made me frown deeply at what he had said. "And the reason why we chose you as her partner is simple; she needs protection. Until Amber masters her abilities fully, she needs someone who won't hesitate to eliminate anything that might threaten her life."

"Then why didn't you just pick someone else?" I questioned back.

"Because there is no one else who can do the job better than yourself, Jack." Ozpin replied calmly. "You know you're capable enough to handle anything thrown at you; even if you fail, you will learn from your mistakes and improve yourself. That's what makes you the perfect candidate."

"...and you're willing to risk her life based solely on my abilities alone? You have no idea if I'm capable of protecting her." I started bluntly, frowning at him for even suggesting something so stupid. "This is way beyond my pay grade. You think I'm capable of protecting her? You're out of your mind Ozpin."

He nodded gravely, sighing softly afterward. "It's true, but this is the best choice we can make given the circumstances." His reply didn't reassure me in the slightest, though, because I'm not entirely sure whether or not I could live up to his expectations.

Sighing heavily, I rubbed my temple tiredly before closing my eyes momentarily. "Fine," My voice sounded defeated even to my own ears. "If you really believe that then so be it," Glancing at Amber, I gave her a small nod which she returned.

"Thank you, Jack..." She whispered softly as she stared into my eyes. "I won't let you down, I promise."

"We shall see." Turning to Ozpin, I nod curtly towards him. "Is that all?" I asked curtly while waiting impatiently for him to answer me.

He nodded briefly before responding calmly. "Yes, thank you Jack," His words came out slightly amused as he glanced between me and Amber who smiled weakly in response. "Please be sure to meet me after your initiation tomorrow morning."

Nodding wordlessly, I made my way back to the elevator with Amber in tow behind me. Neither one of us spoke anything else afterward because what could be said right now?

Ozpin POV

Seeing Jack and Amber leave, he watched their backs disappear from view before sighing heavily once they were completely out of sight. "Glynda, I know that look on your face." He called out without turning to face his assistant who stood beside him. "Care to tell me what's on your mind?"

"With all due respect, Headmaster," Glynda began speaking calmly. "Are you sure it was a good idea to place Amber with Jack?" She questioned, looking directly at Ozpin who stared blankly ahead. "I have read everything about Jack Noir...his past is not exactly a pretty one."

"Yes, it isn't." He acknowledged her words truthfully before taking another sip of his hot beverage. "I had hoped that when Drake took him in, he'd be able to help change his future...but unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. His death changed everything."

"Headmaster," Glynda pressed her point further by pointing out. "You had kept the cause of Drake's death a secret from everyone. Even General Ironwood doesn't know the true reason why he died that day."

"It's for the best," He explained simply. "Not for us, but for the boy himself." Glancing toward her, he smiled sadly. "Jack deserves a second chance to prove himself...to redeem his past actions." He chuckled. "When I asked him what he wanted to do, he told me he wanted to be a student here in Beacon."

"So, you think placing him here would help him move forward?" Glynda questioned, tilting her head curiously. "He was a criminal, Headmaster. I don't believe he should be allowed anywhere near these grounds."

"I trust him." He stated firmly before setting aside his now empty cup. "Drake did too, which is why I'm willing to give him the opportunity to prove himself."

"...Very well." She relented with a sigh. "If you're willing to give him that chance, then I won't stop you."

"Thank you, Glynda," Ozpin smiled brightly at her.

"Of course, Headmaster," She nodded respectfully. "Now, if you excuse me, I have a few errands to run before tomorrow's initiation." Bowing politely, she left the room, leaving Ozpin alone once more.

Closing his eyes, he sighed quietly to himself while leaning back in his chair comfortably. "Drake, my friend...I'll make sure your sacrifice was worth it."

Jack POV

The sun was already setting the moment Amber and I got back to the auditorium where the other students gathered. Most of them seem exhausted, some already passed out on the floor while others lay asleep on top of one another. It looks like the party ended some time ago already.

"So...you and me?" Amber asked with uncertainty as she fidgeted nervously with her fingers.

"Yeah," I answered shortly before walking towards one of the couches and sat down. Seeing her hesitate, I raised an eyebrow at her. "What? Something wrong?"

She shook her head vigorously before smiling brightly. "Nope! Nothing's wrong," She quickly reassured me before following suit. "I'm just...a little surprised is all." She explained while taking a seat right next to me. "To be honest, I didn't expect you to agree. Especially after everything the Headmaster told you."

"Well, like I said before," I began, turning to look directly at her. "You don't need to worry, Amber. I won't let anything happen to you."

"That's not it, Jack." She chuckled lightly. "I'm not worried about myself...but about you."

"Me? Why me?" I asked incredulously. "I'm the last person you should be worried about."

"Because..." She paused briefly as she glanced away from me before facing me again. "Because, when the Headmaster told you about Drake's passing, I saw your expression change instantly." My face shifted slightly upon hearing her words.

"You looked sad." She said quietly, looking straight into my eyes. "So, I want you to know that if there's anything bothering you or if you ever need someone to talk to, I'll always be here for you." Her hands wrapped around my own, holding it firmly. "So please don't hide anything from me, Jack."

"...it doesn't matter." I murmured while staring downwards onto my feet. "That's the past...and I prefer to keep it that way." I stated bluntly before pulling my hand free from her grasp. Getting up, I walk away leaving Amber sitting there alone with a dejected expression written all over her face.

"Some things are best left alone, Amber..."

I whispered those words under my breath, glancing back towards her direction momentarily only to see her staring intently at me. Our gazes met for a brief moment before I averted mine quickly afterwards, avoiding eye contact altogether. "I'll see you tomor-" I stopped as a storm of rose petals blocked my vision for a moment.

"Where were you, Jack?! You made me worried!" Ruby whined loudly while pouting heavily towards my direction. "Why did you leave without saying goodbye to us first?! I thought we were friends!"

I raised an eyebrow towards her exaggerated behavior. "Ruby, I left without saying goodbye to anyone, not just you..."

She crossed her arms across her chest, frowning towards me. "Well...still! Next time, you have to at least tell us where you're going or at least leave us a note!"

"A note? Seriously?" I scoffed loudly, rolling my eyes at her ridiculous statement.

"Yes, seriously! One second, you were standing next to us then poof!" She raised both her hands into the air, spreading her fingers outward. "And just like that, you're gone!"

I sighed deeply. "Ruby, I left to get some fresh air."

"Oh..." She muttered sheepishly. "Then...why didn't you say something earlier? I was worried sick about you!"

"Well...it wasn't exactly important." I shrugged carelessly, earning myself another pout from the young girl. "Ruby, if you keep that up, your face might stick."

"Rude," She mumbled quietly, sighing heavily afterward. "Anyway, Yang got us some bedrolls to use for tonight. We're camping inside the auditorium." She explained excitedly before looking behind me curiously. "By the way, who's your friend?"

Glancing towards Amber, I shrugged slightly before answering her. "Amber, we met each other earlier."

"Ohhhhh, cool!" Ruby cheered happily while smiling brightly toward us both. "I'm Ruby Rose! What's your weapon?! Do you use a gun?!" She asked excitedly in rapid succession causing me to raise my eyebrows at her antics.

"Ummm...no, I just have my staff." She grabbed her collapsible staff from her back before expanding it into a quarterstaff. "It has wind and fire dust, so yeah..."

"Cool!" Ruby gasped excitedly as she stared intently towards Amber's weapon. "It's so simple but also cool!" She squealed while hopping on the balls of her feet excitedly. "And this is my bab-hey!"

I quickly stopped Ruby from taking out her weapon by holding onto her wrist tightly. "Not here," I warned firmly, which seemed to finally snap her out of her trance. "One thing I know from weapons that transform into different things is they are usually big when not in compact form."

She blinked for a few seconds before chuckling awkwardly. "Right! Sorry, got carried away there..." She apologized sheepishly, blushing slightly afterward. "So...how about you guys come join us? We can hang out for a while and get to know each other." She smiled brightly.

"I'm fi-"

"Sure, that'd be great!" Amber cut off my words instantly before grabbing my arm firmly. "Let's go, Jack." She insisted with a huge smile on her face, dragging me along with her.

Sighing tiredly, I followed along while rubbing my temples with my free hand. "Alright, let's get this over with..."

—

I honestly don't know what's going on in my mind as to why I got another fic out…anyway, onto my Beta Readers' thoughts!

Beta Readers' notes:

Demonoid: Welp. Let's see how this ends up for Jack as this goes on. I give it… a couple of days before it all goes downhill for him. How bout you?

Old man/Darklord331: This is gonna be by far my favorite story ever! One that I'm closely familiar with. With a badass like this dude Jack, this is gonna be fun.

Anyway, I have a naughty P word if you want to support me. You know what it is!

Pat /luckyerofu

Here's my link for my inactive discord: discord .gg/3Tw93K8anZ

I'll see ya all in the next chapter/fic/update!

Ciao! Peace!