Coco, Fox and Yatsuhashi stood outside their dorm room while Ozpin and Goodwitch were inside checking on their teammate. A high fever caused Velvet to pass out, but she woke up after Coco sent her teammates to find help, she seemed to be more aware than before she fainted. Coco kneeled next to her, her shades concealing the tears quickly filling her eyes as she placed a wet cloth over Velvet's forehead. A bite mark from a grimm on her left leg just above her ankle and her skin had begun to change color to a ghostly white.
Fox returned with Professors Ozpin and Goodwitch who told them to vacate the room immediately while they checked on their teammate. Seeing the bite mark on her leg and her skin pigmentation changing Goodwitch covered her mouth as Ozpin hung his head. Outside the room Professor Sin rushed down the hall a one-man stampede as he juked, spun and jumped avoiding the other students sprinting for Team CFVY's room.
"Velvet!" he shouted running into the room and dropping to his knees sliding to a stop next to her, "Velvet!"
The faunus girl slowly turned her head to him, "Sin?" she asked her voice weak, "Is that you?"
He leaned down his hand cupping her cheek, "I'm here Velvet, it's me" he looked down at her leg confirming the bite for himself his eyes going wide, "No" he said his body trembling.
He slid his arms under her, lifting the faunus into his arms and carrying her to her bed, "Why did you say anything?" he asked.
"I was scared" she answered weakly.
Setting her on her bed he kneeled next to her grabbing her hand, "It'll be ok" he told her, "I'm close to finding a cure. I'm going to get you some medicine from my lab and I'll be back ok?"
He let go of her hand and stood up seeing tears forming in her eyes as she tried reaching for him, "I'll be right back" he told her running out of the room and past the group of students that had gathered.
"Sin" Velvet weakly pleaded watching him run from the room her hand still reaching out for him.
"Professor Sin?" Ruby asked seeing their teacher storm down the hall at full speed.
Weiss watched as their field medicine teacher ran past their room, "What's going on?"
"I don't know" Ruby replied, "Professor Sin just came running down the hall."
"What's all the commotion?" a voice yelled entering the hall.
A tall green-haired girl a few inches above six feet, her black shirt tucked into her azure pants while a yellow and black scarf hung from her shoulders. Her red eyes locked with Ruby's as she approached them, her black, blue and yellow stripped hat in her hand. Kayla Jade, third year and leader of Team KAKI the best of the third years.
"Well?" she asked, "I trust there is a reason for this disturbance?"
Ruby answered, "We don't know."
Weiss nodded, "Yeah, for some reason Professor Sin just came running down the halls, he looked like he was in a hurry."
Kayla studied them, "Very well" she said, "Carry on."
Team JNPR's door across from them opened and the team rushed out.
Kayla jumped back to avoid them, "No running in the halls!" she yelled as they ran to the stairs leading to the second floor.
"Please move" they heard someone call from behind them.
Professor Esperer better known as Ivy to her students was running toward them, her russet red hair trailing behind her as she ran carrying a medical kit.
"Professor Ivy!" Kayla said, "What's wrong?"
Ivy ran past them, "Just go back to your dorm Ms. Jade, tell everyone to stay in their dorms."
She to had run up the stairs to the next floor. Something was wrong, first one of their teachers came stampeding down the halls, then the members of JNPR rush up to the second floor and now Ivy as well carrying a medical kit. Ruby bolted out of her room a trail of rose petals left behind as she zoomed through the hall leaving Weiss and Kayla to call after her.
"Weiss!" Yang called running over to their room with Blake continuing past them and toward the stairs as well.
Weiss looked at her teammate, "Yang, what's going on?"
"It's Velvet" Yang replied trying to catch her breath, "Something's happened."
Outside Team CFVY's room a mass of students had gathered each of them wondering what was going on, the three professors inside too busy checking on Velvet to make them disperse. Coco, Fox and Yatsuhashi were told to wait outside, each of them leaning against the wall waiting on any word. Coco leaned against her teammates crying into her hands sobbing her girlfriend's name between breaths. Some of the students began to move as Blake and Ruby pushed themselves through stopping when they saw Coco crying between Yatsuhashi and Fox.
"Coco" Ruby said pushing her way past the two in front of her and standing next to the members of CFVY, "What happened?"
"Move!" a voice demanded before Coco could register someone was talking to her.
Sin returned pushing the students to the side carrying something with him, "I said move dammit!" he yelled surprising the students as he pushed his way through knocking a couple of them over each other.
Running into the room he pushed Ozpin and Ivy out of his way standing next to Velvet and opening a bottle in his hand shaking out a pair of pale blue pills and fishing a bottle of water from his pocket.
"Velvet" his said getting to one knee, "Swallow these" he said lifting her head and holding the pills to her.
The faunus girl turned her eyes, "Sin?" her voice was still weak and her fever had gotten worse.
"I'm here" he gasped out of breath, "These will help, take them."
Velvet let her mouth hang open and Sin turned his hand dropping the pills onto her tongue before holding the water bottle to her lips telling her to drink. Slow, short gulps some of the water escaping past her lips and running down her chin as she tried to drink from the bottle. Confirming she swallowed the medicine Sin gently set her head down and pulled another bottle from his pocket a red and yellow capsule once more handing it to her and lifting her head up so she could drink.
He panted as he watched her weakly drink from the bottle, "That's right" he gasped rubbing his against her cheek in a gentle massage, "Keep drinking, that's my girl, that's my girl."
Velvet's eyes slowly closed, "It will be ok" he whispered hugging her against his chest, "I'm close, I won't let you die. I promise you're going to be fine."
Setting her head down he stood up sliding the water bottle and the pill bottles back into his pockets, "Ivy keep an eye on her, Ozpin, Glynda get everyone back to their rooms she needs rest."
Ozpin grabbed Sin's shoulder as he turned to leave, "Sin. Can you save her? She's already changing."
He shrugged his hand off and ran out of the room once more pushing past students and stepping on the feet of those who didn't move fast enough as he sprinted down the hall and back to his lab. He was close, his latest attempt yielded promising result he just needed to confirm it and then test it, but he was out of time testing wouldn't be possible he had to use it as soon as he confirmed the results. The medicine he just gave her would bring her fever down and numb any pain she felt as well as help her rest, but they wouldn't delay the infection spreading through her. He lowered his shoulder crashing through the doors to the dorm nearly bowling over another student as he sprinted for his lab, he had to save her, nothing else mattered.
Glynda and Ozpin stepped out of the room ordering all the students back to their rooms and allowing Coco and her team back inside. The fashionista ran to the faunus' side dropping to her knees and grabbing her hand and gasping her name. Ivy stood there placing her hand on Coco's shoulder telling her to let Velvet rest for now, but Coco refused to leave her side. Grabbing the chair from the desk she pulled it next to the bed and sat down again taking Velvet's hand in hers and using her free hand to brush at Velvet's hair, massaging her forehead and temple in the process.
It had already been four hours classes for the day were canceled leaving many students to wander about. The dorms, the library, the gym, the courtyard or the cafeteria it didn't matter, the news had already spread, Velvet Scarlatina had been bitten on her team's mission and was beginning to change. Though the minutes turned to hours Coco refused to leave her side, refused to move, still holding her hand and brushing her hair with her hand, remembering the times they had with each other.
The Emerald Forest, that's where they met. It was the day of initiation for the new first years, Coco was so busy patting the dirt from her clothes that she didn't hear the boarbatusk creeping up behind her until it was too late. The grimm had curled itself into a wheel and charged at her slamming into the student's back sending her to the ground. Coco managed to turn onto her back slamming her designer bag against the monster and kick it away, but a beowolf leapt out at her its claws raking against her aura knocking her to the ground once more. Scrambling to her feet she turned to meet the monsters only to hear a battle cry from behind her and a creep was thrown through the trees before a girl dressed in brown leapt after it intercepting it in the air with a flying kick.
"Nice move" Coco told her, "I'm Coco, welcome to the party."
The girl replied, "I'm Velvet, nice to meet you."
Coco noticed the long rabbit ears the girl had and smiled, "Well I hope you can fight as good as you look" a comment that made the girl blush.
Partners from that day they made their way to the temple in the forest to find the relics their headmaster told them about.
"Chess pieces?" Velvet wondered walking over to them and picking up a black bishop, "Are these the relics we're supposed to find?" she asked.
Coco looked around, "Well I don't see anything else, might as well take that back. You ready, partner?"
Velvet smiled at her and nodded, "Yeah, let's go."
After initiation ended the school gathered in the auditorium for the announcement of the new first year teams. Ozpin stood center stage with a microphone stand next to him, coffee mug bearing the academy's and kingdom's emblem in hand and a projection screen above him. The screen showed the pictures of each student as he called them by name in groups of four before announcing presenting them to their fellow students and declaring their team name.
"Coco Adel, Velvet Scarlatina, Fox Alistair, Yatsuhashi Daichi" he said as the picture of each student appeared above him, "The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces, from this day forth you will work together as Team CFVY. Led by, Coco Adel."
"Of course" Coco said clenching her fist in victory.
A few months after the formation of their team, "So you're friends with Professor Sin?" Coco asked her partner.
Velvet nodded, "Yes. I've known him since I was little, it's been nine years now. I wanted to become a huntress because of him."
Coco smirked, "He must be a good guy then, huntsman and a doctor. Between being a huntsman, a teacher and a doctor researching a cure for this virus I'm surprised her can juggle that much work and still appear sane."
Velvet smiled, "He's always been like that, at least for as long as I've known him. He never stops working. He'll even go for a couple of days, not stopping until he passes out at his desk."
Coco turned to her, "Really? He may want to be careful, if he doesn't get enough sleep he'll get sick."
"No he won't" Velvet replied with a smile, "Sin can't get sick. His semblance prevents it, his immune system is perfect."
"Really?" Coco answered, "Well that sounds nice. Do you think that makes him immune to the grimm virus?"
Velvet's smile dropped, "I'm not sure. He doesn't even know, he said it's possible, but the only way to find out is to try it."
"Well we don't want him doing that" Coco said, "His last name is Helms right? Why does he want us calling him by his first name?"
Velvet's smile returned, "Oh that's just how he is. He doesn't like it when people call him by his last name, he's just friendly like that."
The night of the school dance a couple of weeks before the Vytal Festival. The festival was being held at Haven this year, CFVY were given a dorm to share with the visiting teams from the other academies.
"So Velvet" Coco began watching her partner try on her dress in front of the full length mirror, "Who's the lucky guy?"
Velvet frowned a little, "I, don't have a date. How about you? I know a lot of guys were asking you."
Coco nodded to the side, "They did, a couple of girls to" she smirked when she saw Velvet's surprised expression, "But, I turned them down."
"Really?" Velvet asked, "Do you not want to go?"
"I do" Coco answered, "But the person I want to go with still isn't sure they want to go."
Velvet turned back to the mirror staring at her navy blue dress with purple trims, "I see. I was too shy to ask anyone so I'm still not entirely sure if I'm going to go."
"Well I'm still going" Coco told her, "May as well check it out if we already bought our outfits, no sense letting those go to waste."
Velvet seemed hesitant, but agreed, "Well I guess we could just spend the night hanging out."
Entering the hall where the dance would be held Coco smiled as she turned to her partner, "Well looks like the person I wanted to ask showed up after all."
Velvet's ears dropped, "Oh" she replied her nervous smile completely gone, "That's ok you go have a good time I'll be fine on my own."
She saw her leader smile at her before a yelp escaped her as she felt her hand being grabbed and Coco was pulling her toward the dance floor. Coco's dress matched her name, a thin over the shoulder strap dress with black heels while still wearing her favorite necklace, beret and aviators. Taking Velvet's other hand in hers Coco wrapped her arm around the faunus' waist and smirked when she noticed the blush on her partner's face.
"C, Coco" Velvet gasped, "What are you doing?"
"What?" Coco asked, "I told you I wasn't sure if the person I wanted to ask was going to be here, and now she is."
Velvet's cheeks grew brighter when she realized, "You, you mean" she saw Coco nod, "But we're...why me?"
Coco's smirk changed becoming a normal smile, "Because I like you Velvet. I have for a long time now."
Velvet felt her body lock up when her leader leaned forward and kissed her. The blood rushing to her cheeks making her feel faint and her mind going too fast for her to form a sentence. It took a moment for everything to register, but Velvet finally moved her eyes looking away still blushing as she confessed she liked her as well.
Coco took off her beret and aviators wiping the tears from her eyes, it had been eleven hours now, the sun had set and dinner was wrapping up. Still refusing to leave Velvet's side her teammates told her they would bring something back for both of them and Ivy had left to go check on Sin who had still not gotten back to them. Coco lifted the collar of Velvet's sleepwear seeing the skin up to the base of her neck had changed into the bone white color of the infected.
"Velvet" she gasped burying her face in her hands crying like she had been all day.
"Coco?" she heard Velvet say.
Choking back a sob Coco looked up seeing Velvet's eyes had changed as well, the one glistening brown eyes she loved had turned red, it was too late.
"I'm here" she said leaning over Velvet, "I'm here for you."
Velvet slowly sat up unable to feel the aches in her body anymore, "Why feel so hot?" she asked.
Coco noticed the slurred speech and the missing words as she spoke, the delirium had set in, "You have a fever" she told her forcing a smile to her face, "It's ok, you just need to rest and it will go away."
Slowly Velvet turned her head to her, "You're crying, why?"
"Don't worry about it" Coco said grasping her hand, "It's not important, the only thing that matters right now is you."
Velvet's breathing was slow and labored sounding more like a growl with each exhale, "I. I feel...bad" her eyes widened with realization.
The faunus girl lunged forward throwing her arms around Coco, "Please Coco. I don't. I don't want to go. Please" she was struggling to breathe with each word.
Coco held her tight, "It's ok" she cried as she held her, "It'll be ok."
"Please Coco" Velvet began crying, "I don't..."
Coco squeezed her, "Do you trust me Velvet?"
Velvet's grip weakened, "Y...yes."
Coco turned to her and kissed her holding her lips against Velvet's holding back her sobs as memories of their time together flooded her mind.
"I love you" Coco told her after breaking their kiss, "I love you Velvet."
"Coco..."
She hugged Velvet again holding her head over her shoulder right next to her own.
"Close your eyes for me Velvet" she told her, "Close your eyes and don't open them until I tell you. When you do everything will be back to normal and this will all just be a bad dream."
Velvet felt her eyes growing heavier, she couldn't keep them open if she wanted to, "I...love you...Coco..."
Fox and Yatsuhashi were walking back to their room carrying a tray of food for Coco and Velvet, team RWBY walking behind them wanting to check on their two friends.
"It will be fine" Ruby said, "Professor Sin loves Velvet, she's like a daughter to him he won't let this happen to her."
A gunshot echoed through the corridor silencing them. Fox and Yatsuhashi dropped the trays they were carrying and ran into their room standing there in shock when they saw it, Fox stumbled back into the wall while Yatsuhashi dropped to his knees and the girls of RWBY gasped.
"No" Ruby choked quickly turning to bury her face into Weiss' shoulder.
Both Velvet and Coco were slumped against each other, blood soaking their clothes as it ran from the wound in their heads, a gun hanging limply from Coco's hand. They were gone.
