A/N: Sorry for the long wait. My laptop screen cracked and I had to wait to get a replacement so I couldn't add any chapters or even work on new ones. I'm back and ready to make more!


Setting: Nexus

Today felt eerily quiet and seemed to stay in one single moment. It felt just like the last few days for many in Nexus and it started the day after Ash Blood's death. The harsh desert land was unforgiving even to the dead. The loose sand made for a bad foundation to bury a body, so holding a funeral was more difficult than Clair realized, but she made sure to honor her friend. With a large quantity of earth dust, she created a large stone area spanning a quarter of a mile. It was here she had Blood buried and held his funeral. Clair, the Enforcers, VRSZ, Onyx, C.P., and the council members all attended the service to pay their respects.

The area was considered sacred grounds. Clair only allowed the people in attendance to return to this place. Every other citizen was forbidden.

To say the ceremony went off without a hitch was a lie. As the burial began, many people cried and shed tears. The person who lost all composure was Remus. Aside from his teammates, Blood was his first friend and someone who came from his original home. His despairing was understandable but it didn't make this process any less painful. Clair was probably the second-worst at the funeral. She fell to her knees after the burial and sobbed for the longest time. It took Violet and Bianca together to remove her from Blood's grave. Seeing their cousin like that destroyed Onyx and C.P., remembering how similar her behavior was when Sterling was killed.

After the funeral, Bianca and Azura took time to carve into a stone serving as Blood's tombstone.

'Ash Blood, Incredible Hero, Friend & Brother'

The whole time they were outside, Azura was silent. Through the ceremony, the burial, the engraving. Everything. Her eyes were sharp and focused on something, something far away.

Even after the ceremony, the day felt empty. Remus spent the rest of his day secluded in his room. Violet asked him to come out but he didn't answer her. He didn't respond to anything she, Silver, Zelts, or anyone else said. Violet understood this and let him have his time, but she was fed up with him on the second day. The moment he refused to acknowledge she was at the door, she kicked through it, breaking the door in half and scaring the young Cobalt out of his funk. He was still wallowing in his bed when she breached his room. She said nothing as she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and dragged him through the Duplex until she practically threw him against the living room couch.

His eyes were still red and his face showed he was crying recently. Seeing him like this sent a tinge of pain in Violet's heart, but she remained firm behind her actions.

"That's enough. You need to get over it," she said, regretting how harsh she sounded. Violet was glad none of her teammates nor Clair were nearby right now. The way Remus looked at her made her soul sink. Fresh tears were on the verge of falling. His head hung low in front of her.

"It hurts, Violet…It hurts not being able to see him anymore…" he said through his sobbing. I miss him… I miss Blood."

When she was taken to her family in Atlas, Violet heard from the others how Remus was more aggressive with everything he did. Zelts and Silver told her it was because he wanted her back. Deep down, she was touched, but seeing how he reacted when someone close to him died was different. It was just like anyone going through the death of a loved one. Knowing he lost his friend and there was nothing he could do about it… How helpless he must've felt.

Without another word, Violet gracefully dove down to the couch and wrapped her arms around him. There were times she needed to be firm with her boys and times she needed to be soft. This was a soft, tender moment. She did nothing but rub Remus on the back as he held her tight and sobbed into her shoulder. All he needed to do was let it all out and all she could do was wait for whatever came afterward.

The crying lasted for half an hour and Remus just rested in her embrace. That lasted for an hour. She just let him sleep in her arms then placed him on the couch with his head resting in her lap. This was a first for Violet. She has never done this for anyone, but given the circumstances, she didn't put too much thought into it. Eventually, the others crossed into the living room and saw the sight, but Violet paid them any mind. She didn't care how out of character this seemed. It was necessary.

Silver walked in on the couple and stared. He was noticed by Violet who looked back at him. They stared at each other in silence, relaying a message that didn't need to be said. The gunman nodded and walked away, respecting the moment between Violet and Remus and saying nothing.

Next to stumble into the living room was Clair who seemed to be in a similar state Remus was in. Violet found her and noticed her longing expression. She sighed because she knew the question her friend was about to ask.

"Sure," Violet said, slightly defeated.

She sat on the couch with Remus's head resting on her left thigh and Clair's resting on her right. Remus was sleeping while Clair was cuddling, loving the intimacy as she nuzzled into Violet. The Scarred Flower's eyebrow twitched as Clair invaded her space, but knowing she was still in mourning and Evergreen was in Vale, she allowed Clair this one time use.

The apartment complex the Enforcers lived in has been quiet for some time. Bianca had been spending less time there during the day, mostly returning only to sleep or not coming back at all, preferring to bunk with Silver. Ghost's activities were overall the same, but he was quieter than he usually was. He didn't complain about his work as he used to. And Azura held herself up in her apartment, rarely coming out these past few days. She just sat in her living room and basked in the silence. "I wonder if it's this quiet for him now?"

She regretted uttering that question, grieving over the fact he was dead. Could even hear after death? Feel? See? Azura told herself he couldn't. Death was the end. "No matter what, he can't come back."

This melancholy mentality did nothing for her. Spitting curses, Azura violently got off her bed and walked out of her room then her home. She only walked a few steps forward to a door across from hers.

Blood's door.

It was unlocked, to no one's surprise, and she took a few steps in. She has been here many times before, but it has been appropriately lifeless since he was gone. Ordinary furniture and ordinary appliances, but the focal point of Blood's apartment was the array of plant life. Azura saw these flowers and cacti every time she came here. Blood made a hobby of collecting and nurturing them. Several times, she accompanied Blood to the trading district and watched him purchase or trade for flowers that were rare in Vacuo or were from other continents. She thought it was a weird, unexpected interest for someone like Blood, but now she made sure to water each of them every day.

A knock on the door.

Azura turned and figured it was Bianca or Clair coming over to cheer her up. Opening the door, she was surprised to find her younger cousin staring at her. He was in worse shape than her, but he was already up and about.

"Hey," he said weakly.

"Little brother," she said with some warmth. A closer look and Azura could see the redness in his eyes. He was crying earlier.

"I wanted to see how you were doing. Ghost said if you weren't in your room, then you'd be here."

"My actions are that predictable now?" she thought. "Thanks. I'm…" she sighed, "I'm not doing great. I'm pissed off. Angry. I hate this."

What was the point of lying?

Remus had a small smile but they were partnered with sad eyes. "I miss him too," he whispered.

She remembered the last time he and Blood spoke to each other. They promised to have a match to settle who was stronger. Not once did the young Cobalt win, but he felt confident about this one. Now, he'll never get that chance. How does that unfulfillment weigh on him?

"Azura, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What?"

"What was the Grimm that killed Blood like? What did it look like?"

She was not expecting that. "Wha- Why?"

"I just want to know what the Roaming Grimm looks like. In case I ever run into it." His eyes were downcast, avoiding her gaze. She knew what he was thinking. She had the same look when it happened.

"Remus," she called out his name loudly. He flinched momentarily. She knew it. He reacted like a child caught in a lie. "If I could find the Roaming Grimm, what would you do?"

He didn't answer. His intentions were easy to read. She could only sigh in disapproval. Going after that thing alone is dangerous, even for you," she chastised and Remus's shoulders slumped.

"Unless," she started and Remus peeked up.

Setting: VRSZ Duplex

Sighing in relief, Violet laid on the couch eagle-spread. Two hours of sleeping on the couch. Before that, Clair left her and Remus, leaving her to talk with him a little before he left to see Azura.

"I just hope he'll be alright," she said aloud.

"Don't worry, Remus is an idiot, but he's not stupid," a voice said and Violet jumped up from the couch. She found Silver leaning on the back of the couch, looking at her with a grin. "Our boy is going to be fine. We just need to give him time."

His words did make her feel better. "As long as he does what we discuss, Remus will be-"

Zelts burst through the front door, alarming his two friends to his presence. Before either of them could ask why he came in like that, he shouted, "Clair wants to see us! Remus and Azura left Nexus!"

"Son of a bitch," Violet said, exasperated.

Setting: Ebony's Airship

The airship soared a few hundred above the desert. The looming metal vessel moved with grace despite the roaring of the engine. The pilot made sure to keep a close eye on the ground below. Instead of Brenton, Ebony took the helm of her airship and surveyed the area. Eyes focused and full of determination, she searched for the Grimm who caused her so much grief.

All the reports from small villages and settlements said the Roaming Grimm should be somewhere in this area. This information was vital to her. Killing, destroying eviscerating the monstrosity that killed Blood was her only objective. Nothing else came before that.

"Dammit. Nothing," she grumbled to herself. She found no sign of the Roaming Grimm. "And this area is too close to Nexus territory. The chances of being allowed in their borders are abysmally low, considering Clair might blame me for…"

"Clair," Brenton's voice called out to her, snapping her out of her train of thought.

"What is it?" she asked, not coating her words in her playful tone. She was serious.

"How long is our 'guest' going to be with us? Can't we just dump her somewhere?" he asked in annoyance.

She knew why Brenton was vexed with Alexandrite's stay. Their former enemy walked among them and was even given a room. She didn't have free range to roam around the airship, but she was still brought meals and treated fairly. She was treated like a guest, much to Brenton's irritation. Zinnia voiced her concerns too and Ebony wasn't deaf to their plights.

"With Monochrome being repaired, we'll need the extra muscle. Plus, having her here where we can keep an eye on her is better than having her runabout," she explained.

"Does that make her a Champion like us?" he asked and got a laugh from her.

"Of course not. If anything, she's a guest party member. For now, her addition is temporary."

"For now?" Brenton repeated with suspicion. Clair looked back at him. 'Don't worry about it,' was what her face said to him. He rolled his eyes in acceptance.

Their conversation ended but as soon as it did, Ebony heard her scroll going off. Someone was calling her. She picked up her scroll to see who wanted to speak. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers when she read the name.

Ash Blood

Setting: Desert

Remus watched Azura with concern and doubt. They were in the middle of nowhere in Clair's hovercar which she took without permission. They were doing a lot of things he didn't approve of but hoped the payoff would be worth it. He kept his eyes on his cousin who had a scroll in her hand.

"Um, are you sure this is going to work?" he dared to ask.

"Yes," she said like a statement.

"Clair and Violet are gonna-"

"What they don't know won't hurt them. Killing the Grimm on our own is what they'll be mad about. As long we don't tell them how it's done we'll be-"

Sand and wind picked up around them, blowing in their faces and scattering everywhere. Both Cobalts heard the roaring on an engine and felt the ringing tremble in their bones. An airship was descending to the ground near them. Azura and Remus backed away as the vessel landed.

She was here.

The younger Cobalt was nervous about this gambit. He wouldn't have thought of doing this. Azura, on the other hand, remained unfazed. She just watched as the doors to the airship opened, finding Ebony and Zinnia exiting and coming toward them. The Paragon had her whip-sword already in her hand, showing she was ready for a fight if one arose. Ebony didn't have her weapon by her side. The only thing she had equipped was her charming smile.

The Vantablack-Underland duo approached the last of the Cobalts, standing only a few feet away from them. Zinnia had her eyes on Remus and Azura but she clearly wasn't looking at them like they were people. She saw them as a potential threat. The two last remaining members of the Cobalt tribe of Vacuo.A legacy of warriors. There was no way she would think they weren't a threat.

Ebony could only smile at the two in front of her as her eyes trailed over to Remus. She still found him fetching. Months have passed since they first met and she could tell by a glance he changed from boy to man. He matured when she wasn't looking and it pained her not to be there for the transition. Her glances must've turned into a stare because Remus was getting uncomfortable and Azura stood between them.

"Eyes over here," Azura told Ebony, snapping her fingers to get Ebony to look at her and continued, "I gave you our demands and seeing as you're here means you agree, right?"

She was met with a smile that only grew wider. "Of course! I think the conditions are fair. Welcome aboard." Ebony turned to walk back to the airship inviting the two Cobalts into her home. Zinnia walked a few feet behind Ebony, acting as a buffer between her and the duo.

Boarding Ebony's ship felt very wrong to Remus. The interior looked very close to Clair's but knowing it belonged to an enemy made the place feel perverted, wrong. Walking into the common area, he and Azura found Brenton, casually sitting on the couch which was strange for the two Cobalts. Most of their encounters with the King of Flames, a battle ensues. Not seeing him in a fighting stance felt awkward. Neither of them knew how to handle this situation, but Azura played it off better than her cousin. She simply nodded in his direction and he nodded back.

Ebony told him not to fight them and he was keeping his promise, but he wondered how the Cobalts would react to finding Alexandrite in their midst. Probably not in a good way, he concluded.

"Just enjoy the ride until we find the Grimm, then it's yours to kill," Ebony said in a cheerful tone that threw Brenton for a loop but he maintained his stoic bravado. Her attitude changed so quickly it was scary. His friend was a wonder and he didn't know if that was good or bad.

"Right. Don't forget," Azura warned despite the numbers greatly against her and Remus. He found his cousin to be fearless and didn't know if that was good or bad.

"We won't interfere with your kill. I know. I'm surprised Clair and Violet agreed to this little joint operation," Ebony said in false surprise. A flicker of Remus's eye looking away told her everything she needed to know. "...Or maybe they don't agree or even know about this. Is this a personal family outing?"

"The reason doesn't concern you," Azura spat back

"But it does and I know the reason," Ebony said, dropping her facade and speaking seriously. "Think whatever you want, but Ash was a Champion as well. That alone is the reason I'm agreeing to your terms. This is all for him. Now, play amongst yourselves while I search for the Roaming Grimm."

Her words were used with Charm and she did this not to manipulate Remus and Azura, but to stir their hearts and rouse their fighting spirit. Remus and Azura couldn't wait to get their hands on the monster who killed their friend.