"I still can't believe you stole my girl." Nerium joked, taking a seat next to Cerulean.

"I swear to god I'll break your neck." Cerulean threatened, accepting a can of soda from his friend.

"Fine fine! But serious question, how was it?" Nerium waggled his eyebrows, leaning to him. "You never said what you think of it." Cerulean sighed, leaning back on the sofa. The two of them were in the ships rec room. Instead of Mistral's ship this time it was Ironwood's. After the test mission with Winter and a brief discussion the four hunters had officially chosen to be part of the Atlas Special Forces and therefore they would now travel and work with Atlas. It was at least one in the morning and both Yuki and Agyris were in their rooms.

"Why does it even matter? It's not like I like her and she didn't do it cause she loved me. She did it so you'd stop flirting with her."

"Sure, and my name's Monty Oum." Nerium joked. "Well you must've felt something. Any normal guy would've been happy that a young adult, and a smoking hot one at that, chose to kiss them." He took a sip of soda. "And during a mission, how special, eh?"

"Well normal guys are weird. What's the point of kissing someone you don't like and that doesn't like you? Even if they're hot."

"See, if she didn't want it then it means nothing. But if she chose to do it you should be flattered." Nerium got up, walking towards the fridge and opening it for the thousand time. Even though he still had his soda. "Stop thinking about others so much and enjoy yourself for a moment. Be a bit happy you got a lucky kiss and then move on."

"Thinking about others?" Cerulean sat up, narrowing his eyes at Nerium.

"Dude, I've known you more than a year now. You can't hide that." He closed the fridge, leaning against it. "It couldn't be more obvious."

"You, my good man, are drunk on grape soda." Cerulean stated, standing up for no reason and then sitting back down. Great now he was jittery.

"Seriously dude, it's not like you wanted it or did it. So stop worrying about it."

"I'm not worrying about anything!" Cerulean defended. "I am perfectly normal and you are making way to big a thing out of this." Nerium laughed, opening the fridge and looking in it again. He was nervous.

"Nerium, what's up?" Cerulean put his soda aside, walking up to his partner. "You're nervous, and it's not because of Winter."

"What do you mean-

"Nerium. I've known you for more than a year. You can't hide that." Cerulean stated seriously, gripping one of his shoulders. Nerium sighed and put his soda on the fridge, when their eyes met Cerulean was surprised to see just how much worry they showed.

"That women we fought…she's beaten us twice. She could've killed you. She's the first thing we've ever encountered to do that. I mean we're hunters most people can't beat us. Even if we're first years. We fought an army of Grimm and survived yet she almost got you. Twice."

"You're worried that someone is stronger than us?" Cerulean asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm worried we're rushing into this. I'm worried that we're going way in over our heads Ceru. Think about it, we have the training of first years and that's it. Now we're chasing the people responsible for the downfall of an entire kingdom." Nerium sighed, looking away. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not scared. I mean considering our job we have to accept dangers…I'm just worried we'll die for nothing."

"Nerium whatever happens we can handle it, as a team."

"Can we?" He walked away slowly, grabbing a beer off the table and staring at it. He turned back to Cerulean. "As I said, we're first years. Can we handle what's out there or are we going to just die for nothing?"

"Nerium, listen and listen closely. We can handle anything. We've had training before Beacon. In odd ways but we've had it. We managed to get into Beacon freaking Academy and pass our year there. We fought in the tournament and together made it to the finals. We fought an entire army of Grimm and White Fang and Atlas mechs and droids. We may have studied for one year but we have a ton of experience and together we can do it. So no worries, we'll handle it." Nerium smiled faintly at his friend.

"I see why Ozpin elected you leader." Nerium said, nodding at Cerulean. "You're right. We'll be fine, it's just that with everything happening so suddenly it's…it's a lot. Anyway I think I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow. And have this, I may have been the serious one today but you definitely need to lighten up." Nerium had walked to the door as he spoke, but he turned again to toss Cerulean the beer. "One won't get you drunk."

"I can't believe he did that!" Yuki said angrily, pacing across the room. "The little ungrateful dick!"

"Yuki, nothing happened between them." Agyris said calmly, reading a book.

"You saw his face, he liked it. I've been trying for months and then suddenly that and he likes it?!" Yuki crushed her glass of water, the shards falling to the ground.

"You know Cerulean." Agyris said without looking up from her book. "He's clueless. You can flirt and try but unless you tell him he won't notice. Or maybe he won't accept it."

"What do you mean accept it?"

"He never thinks badly of himself, but he never thinks good of himself either. He won't accept a fact that praises him unless you spit it in his face. Had he been offered to be a leader he probably would've said no, thinking he isn't fit for it." Agyris closed her book so she could look up at Agyris. "Obvious isn't enough. You need to be blunt, like your fighting style."

"Ok, I can see what you're getting at. But that doesn't change the fact that in one day he fell for Winter."

"Well she is strong, smart and beautiful. And she cares for her peers, it wouldn't surprise me if he fell so easily." Agyris said, earning an angry glare from Yuki. Despite her partners anger Agyris managed a smile. "I'm joking. Of course Cerulean doesn't like her."

"But he liked to kiss her, that's just as bad!"

"Yuki, you're telling me if some handsome man came up to you and kissed you, you wouldn't enjoy it?"

"Uh…" That seemed to put a stop to her angry rampage. She shifted nervously, looking away. "Well…not too much."

"I believe I made my point clear. Winter kissed Cerulean and he couldn't help it. That's not his fault at all, plus she didn't do it because she liked him." Agyris opened her book again but Yuki just raised an eyebrow at her. Agyris sensed her confusion. "Yuki your jealousy will be your downfall. Winter is an adult, she wouldn't just fall in love with some teenager she's known for one day. She obviously did it as a way to shut Nerium up."

"Oh come on that's stupid!"

"Ever since they kissed Nerium stopped flirting, stupid or not it worked. Now I think you owe Cerulean an apology." Yuki seemed like she was going to protest but Agyris kept talking. "Apologize for treating him so badly all day and worrying him. As I said, he's clueless. He probably thinks it has something to do with the current situation."

"Fine…" Yuki said with a sigh. "Thanks Ris, I guess I can always count on you."

"A pleasure. And good luck."

"You know, for someone so serious you still manage to act girly." Yuki said with a wide smile.

"Excuse me?"

"Well we just had a heart-to-heart talk about the boy I like and how he's an idiot. That makes you girly in my books. And you've tried to help me Cerulean before. Best girl friend ever. Thanks Ris!" Yuki said cheerfully before leaving the room, knowing full well Agyris would give a sermon of every logical reason she had to help that proved she wasn't being super girly if she stayed.

"Idiot." Agyris muttered, although she smiled despite herself.

"Explain to me again why you came to my quarters at one in the morning." Winter asked, looking tired and tying her hair. She didn't seem to mind the fact she was in nothing more than a short sleeved bluish nightgown so Cerulean decided he shouldn't think much of it either.

"I needed advice before tomorrow's mission and, to be honest, you were the only person I could think of going to. I don't know if Ironwood is on this ship and to be frank he makes me nervous." Cerulean was sitting on a chair inside Winter's room. After Nerium had left he decided he needed to talk. Now.

"And why didn't you come to me before midnight?" Winter asked with a yawn, sitting in the other free seat.

"Because it just came to mind now. I kind of had a talk with Nerium and it made me realize some things."

"Cerulean, if you came to talk about the kiss then I will freeze you where you sit." Winter threatened, making him pale.

"N-no! It's not that! He's stopped asking me about it actually." Cerulean chuckled nervously. "I mean something serious. See, Nerium never really worries too much about anything. He takes our job seriously and our missions to, but he never worries about us messing up."

"Go on." Winter prodded, sounding genuinely intrigued now.

"For the first time since I've met him, he's truly worried. He's wondering if we made the wrong choice to work with Atlas. Not because he doubts if Atlas is good or bad, but because he thinks we're not ready."

"What did he say exactly?" Winter asked, leaning forward.

"Basically, he thinks that with everything that happened with Vale and now us chasing those responsible for the attack, we're moving too fast. He thinks we're getting in over our heads and eventually…one of us is going to die." Cerulean let out a shaky breath. "As his leader, I obviously reassured him. But if I'm honest, I'm worried about the same thing. Was I too reckless? Am I leading them to their deaths? Am I just doing the wrong thing?"

Winter waited a full minute before speaking. She observed him, watching his face and body movement. Scrutinizing every detail of him, not like she did in battle or when she saw someone she didn't like. She was just seeing how much this was getting to him.

"Cerulean, tell me, between the time of the attack on Vale and when Mistral took your team what did you four do?"

"We kept working. Hunters were still needed around to help the people and secure the safe zone. Once things settled down most people just kept guard or rested. Besides Beacon we were pretty safe. But I kept volunteering the team for search and destroy. Soon after that general from Mistral got us, we talked a lot and then Ironwood came for us." Winter nodded as if she understood the situation.

"The doubts you have as a leader, and that Nerium has, are normal. You've faced many dangers and only continue to do so. I'd be surprised if you weren't worried." Winter smiled kindly at Cerulean. "As a leader, you carry a type of burden. You carry the lives of your comrades on your shoulders and the knowledge that any wrong decision could doom them, you carry their trust. To feel doubt is normal and it will happen many times throughout your life as a huntsmen, but let me assure you now in this moment, you are a fantastic leader. Whatever obstacles appear on your missions, I am sure you will make the best decision possible."

"How can you be so sure? I mean I almost died today, I ran at an enemy that I knew was stronger. It could've had a worst result than my death, I could've gotten the others injured." Cerulean laughed bitterly. "Pretty good decision, huh?"

"Don't be too harsh on yourself. You are, after all, a child. A kid." Winter cupped his chin in one hand, forcing him to look at her. "You are a good leader, I see it. And I am well aware of what I speak of. When the time comes you will make the best decision possible giving the circumstances, don't doubt it."

"You're not the best at this sort of talk are you?" Cerulean asked, raising an eyebrow. But Winter saw his lips curling up in a faint smile.

"Sadly, I never was. But I see your smile, what I said helped." Winter said. "Now go rest, and tomorrow don't go to the rec room. I'll have a conversation with Ironwood, you and your team go talk a break in Mistral."

"What? Why?" He asked surprised. "We still have work to do, right?"

"You and your team have worked nonstop since the attack on Vale. I think you four could use some well-deserved rest. Go to Mistral, explore and enjoy yourselves." Winter sighed as Cerulean opened his mouth, about to protest. "You may feel like you need none, but in reality you might. And your needs aside it sounds like your teammates certainly need some rest. You need to think of how hard you have been working them."

"…Fair enough. I guess you're right, I've been working them nonstop." Cerulean admitted. She could tell he felt somewhat bad for this now. "I guess a day in a new kingdom would do well."

"Good, now go get some rest."

I am going to say sorry to him and then I am going to be blunt. Just like Agyris said, because that idiot can't take the most obvious hints. Yuki thought to herself, smiling widely at the thought. And then I'll tell Agyris all about it of course.

"Goodnight, and thanks again. It was…nice."

Cerulean? I'm not by is dorm yet. Yuki frowned, peeking her head around the corner. A hiss of anger almost escaped her as she saw the two of them. Winter and Cerulean at her dorms door.

"Don't hesitate to come by again." Winter said, giving him a smile.

"I won't, thank you Winter. Made me feel better tonight." He answered, walking in the opposite direction of Yuki. Winter watched him leave for a few seconds before entering her dorm.

What were the two of them doing so late at night? It was nice, she made him feel better…come by again…

Yuki's eyes widened as she connected the dots in her mind, realization washed over her. Unfortunately the dots were connected wrong and that realization was controlled by jealousy, she literally did hiss this time, glaring at Winter's door as if she could kill the huntress by sight alone.