"Why?" Sin moaned as he laid face down on the floor, Brick had lifted his bed causing Sin to roll onto the floor as a way to wake him.

"Maybe if you woke up when we told you he wouldn't have to do that" Alena told him as she finished tying her hair.

Sin rolled over and sat up his blanket falling from his shoulder revealing his bare torso, "So tired."

Rhia dropped his shirt over his head, "Hurry and get dressed we have our first class in half an hour."

Sin groaned, "Could I bribe one of you to take notes for me?"

"Nope" Rhia said turning toward the door, "Now time to wake up, we've got work to do."

Sin reached for the edge of his bed and pulled himself up, slowly pulling the shirt over his head his eyes still closed. It had been two weeks since their first day, two weeks since their initiation trip into the desert and today they would be sent out on a scouting mission. Their first mission as huntsmen in training, while Rhia was excited Sin could only groan, he was not looking forward to another day under the desert sun.

Like a zombie Sin shuffled out of their dorm room, following closely behind Brick as Alena walked ahead of them.

"What's our first class?" Sin mumbled.

Alena rolled her eyes, "Grimm studies, now wake up. I don't want your laziness to give the teachers a bad impression of the rest of us."

Sin moaned, "It's not my fault. You three kept me up all night with that studying nonsense."

Her frustration increasing, Alena could only groan as she responded, "Thus bringing the day you inevitably get kicked out that much closer."

Rhia silenced them, "Enough, both of you. It's been like this every morning since we became a team."

Sin pointed at Alena, "She started it."

"Enough" Rhia told him, "We are a team now, we need to act like it so no more of this especially first thing in the morning."

Sin yawned lightly as he gave a halfhearted salute and continued to follow his teammates through the hall and into their first class. So far his time at Shade hadn't been as exciting as he had hoped, in fact it was boring. His life up until now had been so fast paced and filled with excitement that now everything seemed too slow. Falling into his seat in the classroom he set his elbow on the desk and rested his chin in his hand while the other students waited for the professor to start the class.

Despite how uneventful Shade may be so far, he was enjoying it. A new environment filled with new people gave him something to look forward to. His eyes moved to the end of the row in front of him where Brick was sitting against the wall. The burly faunus carried on as he always did, silent, but Sin knew what he was thinking. He was also enjoying their time at Shade the bear faunus was happy to finally have something proper to put his natural strength into instead of crimes.

Sin allowed his mind to drift back to Mistral where his father would recruit Brick onto many of his jobs, another reason Sin ran away. Brick looked up as if sensing his friend's thoughts giving him a nod to put Sin's mid at ease. Turning his gaze to the opposite side and two rows back Sin found his other teammates sitting next to each other.

He quite enjoyed Rhia's company though he felt less enthusiastic about her sister. Rhia had told him and Brick about their past, that they grew up in Atlas their family working for the Schnee Dust Company as miners while Rhia and Alena worked as maids for the management staff until they were old enough to work in the mines. She even told them how their mother had died because she was overworked and became sick, the foreman and overseers refused to help her forcing her to keep working until she finally died.

Sin felt every muscle in his body tighten with anger as she told him the story, he already knew how the faunus were treated, but it still made him angry. Alena wouldn't allow Rhia to keep going, she said she didn't trust Sin and Brick enough yet to know more about their past and while Rhia knew why her sister felt that way she still protested, saying that teammates need to be able to trust each other. As much as Sin wanted to agree, he found a childish amusement in annoying Alena which only widened the divide between them.

Another yawn escaped Sin, he covered his mouth to muffle himself until the teacher called his name making him jump. Sin looked forward, his eyes quickly zeroing in on the professor as he locked eyes with Sin. Moving his eyes toward the clock on the wall Sin realized he had dozed off, class had already been in session for over an hour.

"Mr. Saber" the professor approached Sin, "Since you've been paying such excellent attention, tell me, do you know the answer?"

Sin yawned again, "Probably, what was the question?" he could hear his classmates snicker a bit.

The professor crossed his arms, "You are faced with a boarbatusk and have lost your weapon in the fight, how do you emerge victorious?"

Sin straightened himself and held out his hands, "Simple, I utilize my secret, punch it in the face until it dies style" again he heard his classmates snicker.

"Could you be any more of a barbarian?" he heard Alena ask him.

Looking over his should at his teammate Sin shrugged, "Well I suppose I could kick it to."

He noticed Rhia chuckle before quickly covering her mouth.

Turning back to the teacher Sin leaned back in his seat, "For a more serious answer, a boarbatusk has an armored head so punching it in the face would prove to be ineffective. I would probably wait for it to charge me and use my aura to daze it, try to get it off balance and aim for its unprotected underside."

The teacher nodded before Sin continued, "Unless that fails in which case I'd go back to punching it, as a boxer my offensive options are limited" again a few of his classmates snickered.

The teacher shook his head as he turned around to walk back to his desk, "You may be winning points for class clown Mr. Saber, but those points will only serve to shorten your life when fighting the creatures of Grimm, I advise you to pay better attention. The knowledge you learn here will save your life one day."

Sin risked another glance over his shoulder, catching Rhia's eye as she looked at him again. He gave her a quick wave and smiled as her eyes quickly returned to her notebook, her cheeks brightening. Grabbing his own pen Sin began taking notes of his own, as tired and bored as he was, the professor was right.

When the bell rang signaling the end of class Sin set his pen down and shook the cramp out of his wrist, he had managed to catch up of the lesson, but missed most of the lecture itself. Grabbing his notebook he stood up, making his way to the door to wait for his teammates catching several smirks and looks from his fellow students. One of the male students that passed him suggested if he punched their first test enough he might pass it.

Sin shouted back, "That was my plan to begin with" he turned back to the door to see Rhia and her sister standing there, "It wasn't" he told them, "I was actually going to study."

Rhia hid her smile as she walked past him, "I hope so, teammate or not I won't bail you out if your grades slip."

Sin began walking next to her, "Maybe the two of us could study together that way you could give me some private tutoring."

Rhia blushed and began walking a little faster, "Maybe some other time."

Sin shrugged, "Maybe is an acceptable answer, it's that no thing that gets me."

Rhia quickly covered her mouth to muffle her laugh turning her eyes downward as she continued moving until she bumped into someone. A surprised yelp echoed as she stumbled back, falling into Sin's arms. Her apology came before she even saw him; he appeared to be around six foot, dressed in a sand stained white t-shirt with faded tan cargo shorts and a matching trench coat lined with over a dozen pockets. His turquoise eyes met Rhia's as he smiled telling her not to worry.

"Verdan" came a panicked voice from around the corner.

A young girl appearing to be the same age as the rest of them ran over to the student Rhia bumped into. She was dressed the same way as he was save for the trench coat, she patted at him as if trying to dust him off while frantically asking if he was unharmed. Before the male student could answer, the girl whipped around locking eyes with Rhia shooting a threatening glare at her.

Verdan grabbed the girl's shoulder, lightly pulling her back, "Nicole, I'm fine stop worrying. She did nothing wrong ok?"

The girl directed another glare at Rhia from the corner of her eyes before she seemed to simmer down, casting her gaze to the floor and sagging her shoulders. The student returned his attention to Rhia and her team, introducing himself as Verdan Allen a second-year student, he gestured toward his friend introducing her as one of his teammates Nicole Tesla. The girl didn't move, she seemed frozen as if the rest of the world no longer existed.

Sin replied first, "Sin Saber, first-year student. This is my group of misfit minions" he nodded to Rhia first, "Rhia Teysa" he flicked his head to the side, "Her sister Alena" he then nodded to the other side, "And my best mate Brick, Team RUST at your service."

Verdan looked at each of them, sizing them up before nodding, "A pleasure, I hope you enjoy your first year here. Nicole and I were in the middle of something so please excuse us; maybe we'll meet again sometime."

After the two second-year students left Rhia raised her shoulders, covering the sides of her neck, "Sin?"

Sin looked down, "Yes milady?"

Rhia blushed again, "Can you, let me go now?"

Sin realized he was still holding onto her arms after she bumped into Verdan, "Oh, sorry" making sure she was standing straight he released his grip on her arms, gliding his hand down to hers gently taking it and bowing as he brought her hand up to his chin, "I look forward to the next time I get to hold you."

Pulling her hand away Rhia spun around to hide her increasing red cheeks, "We should hurry" she stuttered, "or we'll be late for our next class."

When the last class of the day ended headmaster Eden called all first-year students to the main hall for their first assignment as huntsmen in training. The time had come, they would finally be getting away from notes and studying and were about to see some real action, Sin, rejuvenated, ran from the classroom and toward the main hall not bothering to wait for his teammates. Professor Eden was there wearing the same azure shirt, tan pants and white cloak she was wearing on the first day, sliding to a stop in front of her Sin quickly bowed to her asking how much longer until they could get started. Professor Eden seemed surprised at Sin's sudden appearance and energetic appearance, she merely gazed at him for a moment before concluding he was real and answering him.

"Well, you seem eager" she said.

Sin rolled his shoulders back, "Oh yeah, we finally get to do something to get the blood flowing."

Eden rubbed the back of her neck, "Well I can't promise your assignment will be as exciting as you're hoping for, but maybe you'll get lucky while you're out there."

Sin chuckled seeming to calm down a bit, "If it gets me away from all this studying I'll take it."

Eden eyed him, "Studying is just as important as fighting the creatures of Grimm."

"I know" Sin defended, "Its just studying is so boring. I grew up in the not so civil part of Mistral so I'm used to a more, let's say active daily routine."

Eden yawned, "Excuse me. Regardless, your studies should come first. If you try to rush through your youth you won't have the required wisdom or energy to be a huntsman."

Sin groaned lightly, "You sound like Brick."

"Who?"

"Brick" Sin said again, "My teammate, the mountain of a man, faunus, my best mate."

Eden asked, "You mean Mr. Mauer?"

Sin nodded, "His name is Brick."

"Its Ulrich actually" Rhia's voice said from behind him, "Brick is just a nickname Sin gave him."

Sin smirked as he turned to face his team leader, "My best girl, so good to see you again after so long."

Rhia corrected, "It's been less than two minutes."

Sin hummed, "It feels so much longer."

Alena crossed her arms, "That's probably because you started running around like a madman."

Sin tilted his head, thinking, "No I don't think that's it" he looked back at Rhia, "I think it's because every minute away from you is an eternity of solitude."

Rhia crossed her arms, hugging herself as she looked away from him once again blushing, "I…don't have a response for that."

"They never do" Sin admitted before sighing, "But its serious time" he finished, seeing the rest of the first-year students start to gather.

Professor Eden moved her eyes over the gathered students, "You've spent your first couple of weeks learning the basics" she began, "Today you will all be taken out into the desert to get acquainted with the city's perimeter defenses. Some of you who have lived here for a while will already know a little about them, but as huntsmen in training you will need to familiarize yourselves with how they work and the location of each one. Study the defense equipment well as there will be a quiz about them later this week. Afterwards you will explore part of the outlying desert to search for and clear out any Grimm you find. Each first-year team will be escorted by a member of our staff, if any Grimm are spotted all students are to follow the orders of the huntsman leading them without question, even if they tell you to simply stay back and watch."

Eden turned around gesturing toward several hologram screens, "Each team has already been assigned to a huntsman, simply find your team name and report to the designated location to begin your assignment, and remember to do your best, but above all else keep your teammates safe."

The lists were alphabetized making it easier for each team to find their assigned location, Rhia her team to the final list, finding their names near the bottom. It didn't tell them which huntsman they would be following only the location where they were to meet up, the outdoor amphitheatre. Returning to their dorm room first to retrieve their weapons and equipment the four made sure they were properly equipped in the event they would have to fight.

Sin cradled his pair of grappling gloves, "Soon my pretties, you'll see some action."

Alena looked at him, "Are you talking to your gloves?"

"Yeah" he answered, "Why is that weird?"

"Just a little" Rhia answered, "Mostly the way you addressed them."

Sin shrugged, "I worked hard on these two. Do you have any idea how hard it is to rig a high intensity strobe light and sonic emitter into something this small? And to make sure it doesn't get damaged on impact without sacrificing its output. Spoiler alert, its incredibly difficult, so The Twins are important to me."

"The Twins?" Rhia repeated, "That's what you named them?"

Sin nodded, "It seemed appropriate, they're my special girls."

Alena let out an irritable sigh, "I really don't care for you."

Sin gave her a sinister grin, "Get used to it beautiful, you're stuck with me for a long time."

"Maybe I'll get lucky" Alena replied making her way to the door, "And you'll get eaten by the Grimm one day soon."

Sin called after her, "Well if I taste as good as I look I'll be their favorite meal."

Rhia tapped his arm, "Promise me you'll try to refrain from annoying her while we're out there."

"But its fun" Sin answered.

Rhia slapped his arm, "Promise me."

"Fine" Sin groaned, "But you're going to owe me."

Rhia looked down, pinching the bridge of her nose as she shook her head, "And what would I owe you?"

"I'll think of something" Sin shrugged before looking at Brick, "Let's go buddy."

Sin jogged out of them room leaving Rhia and Brick behind, looking up at the bear faunus she asked, "Has he always been like this?"

Brick nodded silently before gesturing to the door allowing Rhia to exit first before closing the door behind him. Leaving the main building and making their way to the outdoor amphitheatre the two faunus heard a familiar boisterous laugh, upon reaching the entrance they saw him, Captain Shamrock. The former pirate turned huntsman was patting Alena and Sin on the shoulders, his gruff and rowdy voice echoing as he expressed his joy at seeing them again.

"I've missed the two of you" he laughed clapping them on the shoulder, "Alena my sweet, how are you? Still grumpy?"

Alena sighed taking a step back and out of his reach, "Nice to see you again Captain."

Sin smiled, "Well I missed you Cap, how's Crimson? Still hot?"

"Aye" Shamrock replied, "And not just from being around the forge all day" he laughed again.

Sin crossed his arms, "Good to know. You might want to get on that, you're not getting any younger."

Shamrock eyed him, "And just how old do you think I am?"

Sin smirked, "I'm willing to bet that back in your day they were still inventing dirt so you'd have something to stand on."

Shamrock threw his head back, his jaunty laugh echoing, "I wish I had you on me crew in me sailing days Sin, you would have fit right in."

"Captain" Rhia called walking down toward them with Brick.

Seeing them Shamrock held his arms out in a welcome, "Ah, little Rhia and titanic Brick. It's good to see all of ye again, it truly is. I hope ye are all getting along."

"Like family already" Sin told him, "Alena wants to kill me in my sleep, Rhia can't keep her eyes of me and Brick…" he shrugged, "Still Brick."

His childhood friend pushed him making Sin chuckle.

Shamrock smiled at them, "I'm glad ye all made it. That day you fought those beasties in the city I knew ye would each make excellent hunters. The four of ye have already fought together once so you're teamwork should be easy to build on. I know the lot of ye will make me proud."

The captain turned on his heels, "Well that's enough of that, let's weigh anchor. Time and profit they wait for no man."

Straightening his violet tailcoat and adjusting his red tricorne hat Shamrock motioned for his former students to follow him as they made their way out of the amphitheatre and into the desert. Before they left the academy grounds they stopped at the main entrance where Professor Eden handed Shamrock a flare gun, the former pirate thanked his old friend before leading Rhia and her team into the desert. A few of the first-year teams had already left, heading in different directions some boarding an airship since they were heading farther out.

Seeing one of the other students wave, Rhia waved back before looking at Shamrock, "How far are we going Captain?"

"Pretty far" Shamrock answered, "We'll be taking me personal transport though, I don't get in any ship that I don't steer meself."

Alena eyed the flare gun Professor Eden gave him, "And I'm guessing that's in case we run into trouble?"

"Aye" Shamrock nodded flashing the gun, "If we run into something we don't think we can handle we fire these and an armed ship will fly out to us, equipped with a whole mess of first aid and guns."

Alena glanced at Sin, "Any chance we can convince them to use their weapons on Sin?"

Sin looked at Shamrock, "I told you she wanted to kill me."

"Enough" Rhia told them, "Both of you, try to act professional."

Sin groaned, "But professional is boring."

"Deal with it" Rhia snapped, "This is important."

Sin sighed, "Maybe we'll get lucky and run into some Grimm."

Brick looked at his friend a low, muffled grunt coming from his throat.

Sin shrugged, "Well as long as its not one of the really big ones I don't have a preference, I just want some action."

Again Brick grunted.

"I'm sure we could handle a death stalker" Sin answered, "As long as we don't get too overwhelmed we should be fine."

"That's the kind of bond I like to see" Shamrock said, "The kind that can only be forged through a vast sea of experiences, the kind of bond where one doesn't need words to know what his mate is thinking."

A playful grin curved Sin's mouth as he looked at Rhia, "We should work on developing that kind of bond. Can you tell what I'm thinking right now?"

Rhia didn't look at him, "You want to ask me to dinner again."

"Wow" Sin continued to smile, "Guess we're closer than I thought. Any chance we can get even closer?"

Rhia rolled her eyes, hiding her smile as they stopped in front of Shamrock's personal ship and stepped on. The afternoon sun was still high, but in another few hours would begin to set, they would return to Shade after dark, but with enough time to rest for their morning classes. Shamrock took the pilot's seat of the small airship and told the team to hold on as the engines started, slowly they rose off the ground before the ship turned toward the west.