Chapter Text
Ozpin almost dropped the cup of coffee in his hand. When the elevator doors opened, he was assaulted by one of the worst stenches he's ever encountered. Glynda stepped out with a disgusted frown on her face. Following her was the teenaged applicant. He wore a school uniform that Ozpin has never seen, neither from any combat school nor Huntsman Academy. The uniform was tattered and looked like it hadn't been washed in days. The kid had black hair, blue eyes, and a wide smile on his face. It was then that Ozpin noticed the weapon being carried on the kid's back. He's too young to be a huntsman, yet there's no reason for an ordinary civilian to be armed like that Ozpin thought. He took another sip of coffee as the kid took his seat in front of Ozpin's desk. Glynda stood to Ozpin's right. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Okumura," Ozpin said.
"You can just call me Rin," the kid said.
"Very well then, Rin. I can assume you already know who I am," Ozpin said.
"Uh, yeah, you work for the headmaster several people quit on this week," Rin said. Ozpin raised his eyebrow, while Glynda coughed into her fist.
"You are speaking to the headmaster of Beacon Academy. I would have expected you to be more formal," Glynda said.
"Oh, so you're the dude who runs this whole place," Rin said, ignoring Glynda's warning. She narrowed her eyes in him.
"Yes, that would be correct," Ozpin said. Glynda handed Rin's application to Ozpin. "So you're looking to join our kitchen staff?" Ozpin asked. Rin nodded. "You wrote 'Japan' for where you live. Is that a village outside the kingdom?" Ozpin said.
"Yeah, sure, let's go with that," Rin said.
"And you didn't list any references or emergency contacts," Ozpin said. Rin scratched the back of his head.
"Anyone I could've put down are either unreachable," Rin said,"or dead."
"I see. Grimm attacks outside of Vale are an unfortunately common occurrence. It must be tough being the sole survivor of your village," Ozpin said.
"Grimm? I mean, yes, it's been hard," Rin said.
"Your only work experience here is being the only cook in a dormitory. Let me guess, anyone who can verify this is unreachable or dead," Ozpin said.
"Yep," Rin said. Glynda pinched the bridge of her nose. Ozpin sighed.
"I am truly sorry to say this, but" Ozpin said. Before he could finish, Rin prostrated himself on the ground.
"Mr. Okumura!" Glynda said.
"Please. This is the fourth interview I've been on this week. I have nowhere to live and no lien. If you don't wanna hire me as a cook, fine. I'll be a janitor. Hell, I'll even be your personal assistant! Just please, I need a job here," Rin said. From Ozpin's position, he could see a part of Rin's tail sticking out of his pants. So he's a Faunus Ozpin thought.
"As sympathetic as we are to your plight, we can't hire someone with little qualifications on a mere sob story. Right, Ozpin?" Glynda said. She was met with silence. "Right, Ozpin?" Glynda said. Ozpin took a sip of his coffee and stared at the item on Rin's back.
"What kind of weapon do you have there?" Ozpin said.
"Huh?" Rin said as his head shot back up.
"I asked about your weapon," Ozpin said.
"Oh! It's a sword. It's name is Kurikara," Rin said.
"Is it alright if you could show it to me?" Ozpin said.
"Ozpin?" Glynda said. Rin untied the cover, and it fell to the ground. Both Ozpin and Glynda were hit by an immense, oppressive aura from the weapon. Glynda flinched, and reached for riding crop. Ozpin hid his fear at that moment beneath his best poker face.
"Whoa!" Rin said, seeing Glynda get into fighting stance, "let's calm down. I don't wanna fight anyone."
"Where did you get that sword?" Glynda asked.
"It was given to me," Rin said. He looked down at his feet. "By my late father. It was a bit of an emergency at the time." Rin put Kurikara back in its cover. Glynda relaxed. There's more to the story of that weapon than he's letting on Ozpin thought.
"If you were working in the cafeteria, and one of our huntsmen in training were being attacked, what would you do?" Ozpin said.
"I'd try to help them," Rin said. Ozpin smiled.
"Glynda, I think Rin here will be fine addition to our staff," Ozpin said.
"Thank you!" Rin said. He bowed and said, "I won't let you down!"
"What?" Glynda said.
"Can you start working today?" Ozpin said.
"Yes!" Rin said.
"You can't be serious!" Glynda said.
"We don't really have any spare rooms with the new students coming in tomorrow, so we'll have to clean out one of the closets for you. I'll get Glynda to get the uniforms for your jobs," Ozpin said.
"Wait, jobs?" Rin said.
"Yes. Congratulations, Rin. You're my new cook, janitor, and personal assistant," Ozpin said.
"Uh," Rin said.
"And if you make one mistake, we'll pack your stuff and you'll have to find a job somewhere else," Glynda said, pushing up her glasses.
"I think that's fair," Ozpin said.
"Uh," Rin said.
"Is there a problem." Ozpin said.
"Nope! No problems at all. Haha," Rin said.
"Wonderful! Do you have any questions?" Ozpin said.
"Just one," Rin said, "what's your policy on pets?"
"Here's your room," Glynda said. She opened the door to a small attic with a single twin-sized mattress, a dresser, and a single window. A set of sleepwear lay next to the mattress. "Being on such short notice, you'll have to sleep on the mattress until we can get everything you need later." Rin proceeded to jump on the mattress in delight.
"Oh bed, how I've missed you," Rin said.
"Your first shift starts 6AM tomorrow. The public showers are down the hall, and I highly encourage you use them before the end of tonight," Glynda said. She pinched her nose.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Rin said, trying to push her out the room.
"One more thing," Glynda said, "I don't know what Ozpin was thinking when he hired you, but I'll trust his decision. Don't make me regret it."
"I won't," Rin said. Glynda closed the door behind her. Rin pressed his ear against the door and listened to her walk away. He waited a few seconds before running to and opening the window. The broken moon was high in the sky, shining on the building he was in. The only sounds were the crickets chirping. "Psst, Kuro!" Rin said. The bushes below rattled, before a black cat popped out and climbed the wall up to Rin's window. Rin! Kuro thought.
"Sorry I took so long," Rin said. Kuro climbed onto his shoulders, and he closed the window. "Look, I'm not allowed to have you here, so you're going to have to stay in my room while I'm out working."
Aw thought Kuro. Rin started to undress. Kuro jumped onto the end of the mattress. Rin, when are we going home? Kuro thought. Rin paused. He looked out the window toward the fractured moon, the first thing he saw when he woke up in Vale.
"I don't know, Kuro," Rin said. He finished changing into his sleepwear and settled onto the mattress. Kuro crawled to the center of the mattress, and then nuzzled his head into Rin's stomach. Rin wrapped his arms around Kuro. "At least we'll finally get a decent night's sleep tonight."
1 hour later
Rin stood in front of Glynda's desk as she dumped a stack of papers on top. "Ozpin has just admitted a new student. This is the paperwork that has to be filled out. Since he's apparently busy," Glynda said, "and you're his PA, you'll have to help do it." Rin's hand met his face.