Professor Arc

Chapter 5: White Lies

Jaune rubbed his hands together nervously as he made his way towards what would be his biggest test in his new faux career. So far he'd done little but stand around and talk, yet now he was going to be doing what he was hired for, and that realization was terrifying.

It was time to teach.

Or support a teacher anyway. Peter to be precise, since he was in charge of the Grimm Studies class, and it probably made sense for the student's first lessons in Beacon to be focused on what was their primary enemy. Jaune expected it to be more of an introduction to the school than an actual lesson, so hopefully he wouldn't have to do much. Also, Peter had been teaching alone for years, so was he even necessary?

Right now the students were most likely in the cafeteria getting breakfast, something he wouldn't have minded doing himself. Instead he'd quickly made a sandwich from the supplies thoughtfully left in his cupboards, and downed some milk before rushing to the classroom. From what he remembered of school, the teachers were always there before the students. That was just the way it was. So he would probably need to get to each class twenty minutes or so early.

That would also give him some time to do a quick recap on the syllabus and material, so he didn't make a fool of himself and get fired/arrested - delete as applicable.

Before he'd gone to sleep the previous day he'd made sure to send a message to his... contact? Within the criminal world... okay, maybe that was too strong a word, it was just someone Jaune had been put in touch with when he'd been looking for a forgery. But it was his only option. Thankfully the man had returned a message by the morning, simply stating that he could have it done if Jaune came into Vale, but that he would 'owe him' a favour.

Tit-for-tat, Jaune was sure a simple crook wouldn't want anything too drastic from him, and he was earning good money now it seemed. He just needed to find a chance to go into Vale.

"Morning lad." Peter greeted as Jaune opened the door to the classroom and stepped inside. "Looking forward to your first day?"

"Somewhat." Jaune replied easily as he let his eyes look around the room. The layout reminded him a little of an amphitheatre, with seats arranged in a semi-circle, spiralling upwards and outwards, with a large display area at the front where Peter stood. There were a number of boards on the back wall facing the students, with diagrams of Grimm. As well as.... Wait, was that a solid gold bust of Peter?

"He's a handsome one, isn't he?" Peter whispered, as he clapped a heavy hand on Jaune's shoulders, making the younger man roll his eyes. Sometimes he couldn't tell if Peter was being genuinely narcissistic, or just sarcastic. Before he could comment on it though, his eyes were drawn to what appeared to be a cage, which was... shaking.

Jaune stared at it for a few moments, hearing some growling and snuffling from within. Considering the school, its aims and the class's name – it wasn't hard to guess what lay inside.

"Peter... did you bring a live Grimm to class?" Jaune deadpanned as he palmed his own face.

"Maybe?" The older man hedged. "Not that I'm saying I did, but if I did then we'll have a student face it, it'll be a real motivator!"

Part of Jaune, the honest side of him – which admittedly had taken a beating in the past few days, wanted to object to the idea. The students were experiencing their first day; they might still be tired from initiation. And wasn't it their job as teachers to protect them?

A larger part of him simply shrugged.

Better them than me.

Besides... Peter was a teacher, right? He surely knew what he was doing.