Chapter 30…

A ground-rattling burp broke out in Team MARS' dorm room, shaking the walls and various trinkets its inhabitants had set up around the room. Rust allowed a few aftershock burps to rise to the surface before wiping his mouth with his large hand.

"Nice," muttered Asher, who was sitting beside him.

"I try." Rust responded, taking a swig of soda before settling his hands back onto his game controller.

The two had decided to spend the day relaxing and playing video games, a hobby they had to give up for a long time in favor of training for the Vytal tournament. It had been a few days since their team victory in the arena and it had been decided that Sage and Mauve would be representing the team in the doubles round. While Asher and Rust had feigned interest about continuing the two secretly conspired to worm themselves out of the competition by throwing Sage under the bus. Their reasoning for doing it wasn't entirely illogical, combining Sage's defensive abilities with Mauve's relentless offense would certainly ensure victory!

Mauve was quickly won over by their reasoning… much to Sage's chagrin. The hard-working team leader was quick to focus on the new challenge, leaving Asher and Rust completely out of the training sessions so she and Sage could focus on strategy. The green haired boy clearly wasn't enjoying the increased training, speaking less than ever and slumping into his bed every night. This morning had been no exception, with Mauve dragging Sage out of bed for an early morning workout.

But hey… Asher and Rust got to drink soda and play video games again!

"Killing Spree!" Yelled the in-game announcer as Asher sniped an unfortunate player. The grey-eyed boy had sunk hard into his new-found free time, not bothering to take a morning shower and dressing sloppily in workout sweats. "Hah! Did you see that idiot tumble?"

"Heh." Rust answered with a grin, maneuvering his character into cover. "Hey man?"

"Whats up?"

"A few days ago… was that your parents on the phone?" Rust asked carefully.

"Yep." Asher answered with surprising nonchalance, popping the "p" as he did.

"How'd it go?"

"Exactly as expected… my dad feigned friendliness for all of five seconds before bringing up the team."

"Do you think you'll ever reconcile?" Rust asked, his tone still cautious.

"He called Mauve a 'mangy animal." Was Asher's neutral response.

"So… no?"

"Yep." Asher popped the "p" again.

"Killing Frenzy!"

"Hey Rust?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks…"

Rust broke his eyes away from the screen to face his friend. "What for?"

"For preparing me… and letting me vent about it a little bit." Asher responded, still sitting with the utmost relaxation.

Rust nodded and turned his eyes back towards the screen, wincing when his character was obliterated by a rocket launcher. "Well… I'm gibbed."

"It was his last rocket…" Asher muttered. "We won't have to worry about it again."

"Good!"

"Running Riot!"

"Do you feel bad about not continuing in the tournament?" Asher pondered. Rust answered his question by taking a very large swig of soda and burping loudly. "Understood…"

Rust laughed. "What? Do you feel bad?"

"Nah… I did my part by helping in the team round." Asher explained. "Mauve busted our asses for the last few months with all the training… time to kick back!"

"What about Sage? Don't you think he wants to kick back too?"

Asher viewed Rust with a suspicious glare. "Why are you bringing this up? You were just as complicit in nominating him…"

"True." Rust shrugged. "But don't tell me you don't feel a little bad about throwing him to the wolves… or wolf."

"Rampage"

"Alright!" Asher admitted. "I suppose I feel a little bad… Mauve's been pushing him non-stop!"

"Great!" Rust cheered. "So I know you'll be on my side when they barge in soon."

Asher's posture straightened at his ominous words. "What!"

"Come on… you and I both agree that our friend could use a breather…" Rust batted his eyes. "Stand up to the girl you care about to give our homie a break?"

"Untouchable!"

"One kill to win!

"Game over!"

Asher gingerly set down his controller and turned to view Rust with a suspicious look. "Rust? Are you meddling again? Because I think you're meddling again…"

"Not in love lives my friend," Rust reassured, reaching forwards to turn off the game console. "But in all seriousness, Sage needs a break and they'll be here soon… you in?"

Asher huffed and scratched his sweaty armpit. "I guess… but you're taking the blame if this goes south… I'll do it for Sage's sanity."

"Thanks Asher! You're far more agreeable than Sage ever was!"

"Right… what exactly did you tell them to lure them here?"

The two friends were interrupted when the door was bashed open, the guilty party not even bothering to turn the door knob. Mauve stood in the doorway, heaving for breath and amber eyes flicking around the room for danger, finally settling her gaze on her two teammates. Sage huffed in after her, wheezing for air and collapsing to one knee so that he could breathe.

Asher's eyes were locked on the form of his girlfriend, unabashedly checking her out. She had departed the dorm room that morning in her workout clothes, which consisted of compression shorts and a cropped tank top. Now she had returned in the exact same outfit, but her clothes were notably tighter due to sweat and exertion.

"What's going on!" Mauve demanded, eyes wide. "What's the emergency?"

"The emergency is-" Rust began as he stood up and held out his hands. "That our beloved teammate Sage... is dying!"

The green haired boy turned his sweaty face to give Rust a look of confusion, a similar expression to Mauve's own face. "I am?"

"Of course! Look at you!" Rust pleaded, crossing the room with several large strides and wrapping Sage into a tight (and sweaty) hug. "Poor boy… what has the mean girl been doing to you?"

Mauve's right eye twitched in irritation. "Rust!?"

"Please…" Sage pleaded into Rust's biceps, his voice muffled. "The mean girl is making me miserable…"

"Cruel!" Rust wailed into the air.

"Rust!?" Mauve snarled. "Did you seriously just lure us here for some dumb prank?"

Rust gasped. "I lured you here because I'm concerned for Sage's health!"

"Save me…" Sage whispered and sobbed at the same time, his voice still muffled. "I don't know how she does it… her strength is unnatural..."

"Unbelievable! And what about you!" Mauve channeled her fury towards her still- seated boyfriend. "Do you have something to do with this?"

Asher groaned and stood up with a ruffle of fabric. "I do now…"

"What about him?" Rust interrupted, holding up a hand to point to Asher. "How do you think he feels? Your poor boyfriend is lost and confused without you!"

Mauve wrinkled her nose as her sloppily dressed boyfriend drained the rest his soda and gave her a lazy wink. "Help me babe…"

Mauve let out a long sigh and rubbed her temples. "You two were the ones that suggested Sage and I move on to the doubles round… now you're telling us to stop?"

"Not stop!" Rust corrected. "Just take a day off… mostly for Sage's sake…"

Mauve gave Rust a long hard look, flicking her gaze momentarily back to Asher who was smiling and scratching his armpit. "Fine… but only today."

"Thank you!" Sage cheered. In a flash of green the wolf faunus sprinted into the bathroom, the soft humming of the showerhead soon becoming present. Rust clapped his hands in celebration at his successful ploy, grinning from ear to ear as he wandered over to his wardrobe.

Mauve stared with a raised eyebrow as Asher sauntered towards her. He stopped a foot in front of her and looked her up and down, from her running shoes to the tips of her ears. Asher smiled once he finished his observations and reached up a hand to gently scratch the tip of her left ear.

"You need to dress like this more often," Asher spoke softly. Mauve realized in an instant that he was referring to her workout clothes.

"When did you become such a sleaze?" Mauve chuckled, jutting out a hip. Asher swept forwards and wrapped her in a tight hug, Mauve returning it by snaking her arms around his waist. The lynx girl was surprised when Asher pulled away with a sour look on his face.

"You're really sweaty…" Asher muttered. "Like… just got out of the pool kind of moisture…"

"Oh, like you're much better!" Mauve snorted, gesturing to his sweatpants and messy hair.

"I'm comfy…"

"Right." Mauve closed the distance and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips before Asher pulled away again.

Asher's face was still sour. "Your lips are salty too."

"Well-"

The two were interrupted when they felt brawny hands clamp down on their shoulders. They craned their necks up to look up at a glowering Rust, a peeved look on his face. "I'll kindly ask you two to keep the P.D.A. down to a minimum… this is team night… Sage and I will not be playing third and fourth wheel."

The two nodded slowly, eyes wide. Rust smiled politely and pulled away, busying himself by preparing his clothes before his shower. Mauve glared at Rust behind his back and delivered a slap to Asher's behind when he turned away, eliciting a yelp from the boy.

"I heard that!" Rust chastised.

"What?" Mauve chuckled. "Are you jealous? Do you want to try?"

Rust turned with a thoughtful look on his face, rubbing his chin with his fingers. "Well-"

"Don't you dare!" Asher hissed, pressing his back against a nearby wall for his own safety.

Later…

Team MARS prepared themselves for an afternoon of relaxation and boarded a bullhead to Vale. The team made their way to their favorite coffee shop, with Rust bringing a backpacks worth of board games. Rust was also quick to suggest they go see the latest Spruce Willis movie, which had been recommended to him by Jaune. In a reversal of usual occurrences the team was not greeted by Mary at the door, the dirty-blonde waitress seemingly absent from the premises. In another reversal of usual occurrences Mauve also ordered a coffee instead of her usual green tea, although she had yet to take a sip from it.

Rust pulled a full board game from his backpack, unpacking the box and setting up on the table to play. Today's game was Clue…

Things were getting interesting…

"I'd like to make a suggestion." Mauve muttered as she held her cards, eyeing her teammates. "I'm going to suggest that it was Colonel Mustard in the conservatory… with the revolver."

Mauve moved the small metal revolver piece into the conservatory. Her eyes flicked around the table again, Sage was sitting to the left of her and was shuffling his cards. The green haired boy covered his cards with his hands and pointed them in her direction. Mauve spotted the mugshot of Colonel Mustard before he pulled away, disproving her suggestion and giving her the last piece she needed to win…

"I'd like to make an accusation then…" Mauve spoke up. "I accuse Professor Plum of murdering Mr. Body in the kitchen with the candlestick." Mauve grabbed the envelope in the middle of the table and deftly opened it. A look of shock and disappointment crossed her face when she realized she had made an error. Out of the game, Mauve slipped the cards back into the envelope and sulked back into her seat.

"Since Mauve is out…" Sage muttered. "I'd like to make my own suggestion. I suggest that it was Ms. Scarlet in the library with the candlestick."

Asher was the nearest player to the left and flashed Sage his cards. A sour look crossed Sage's face and he crossed off something on his notepad.

"Ahem!" Asher cleared his throat. "I'd like to make an accusation. I accuse Mrs. White of murdering Mr. Body in the kitchen with the candlestick." Asher opened the envelope in the center and grinned when he slapped the three cards that proved his accusation down.

"Nice one!" Rust complimented. "Normally it's Mauve who wins! Smooth moves!"

"I would've had it…" Sage grumbled. "I just needed to cross off one last possibility."

"Too slow!" Asher chuckled. He turned his attention across the table, where Mauve was sitting with a neutral look. Asher let a smug smile creep up on his face and he propped his head against his hand. "Let me guess… I'm a rat?"

Mauve nodded and smiled. "Yes… yes you are…"

"But I'm your rat." Asher grinned.

"Yes… yes you-"

Rust stood up to his full height and leered over the table. "Ahem?"

The two slunk back down and broke eye contact, looking embarrassed. Mauve cleared her throat and grabbed her cup of untouched coffee. Mauve tilted back the cup and let the liquid pour into her mouth only to cough and gag the drink back into its cup.

"Problem?" Rust inquired with an arched eyebrow.

"How do you drink this stuff?" Mauve sputtered, her face twisted in disbelief.

"What?" Asher asked confusedly. "You never had coffee before?"

"No!"

"Then why did you order it… don't you always drink green tea?" Sage asked.

"Yeah…" Mauve answered, setting down the cup. "But I drink green tea for the health benefits… not the flavour. I figured I would try something new… relaxing afternoon and all that."

"So you ordered black coffee?" Sage chuckled, gently shaking his cup of chocolate milk.

"Well… I realize that was a mistake now."

Mauve fumed when her three teammates all simultaneously sipped from their own cups. The team leaders face reddened in embarrassment as she crossed her arms. Realizing it was time to head out Rust packed up the game and shoved it into his backpack. Filing out of the coffee shop and into the street Team MARS made their way to the movie theater.

As they watched the mind numbing and nonsensical action flick, Asher couldn't help but throw an arm over Mauve's shoulders.