Vale Safe Zone, Two Weeks After the Fall

Not for the first time, Cardin looked down at his Scroll and perused his list of contacts. He'd been going crazy with only Goodwitch, Team CFVY, and a handful of Atlas soldiers for company and was getting desperate enough to reach out and contact his team.

Not for the first time, his finger hovered over the surface of his Scroll as he considered whether to try and reach Dove. He'd probably be the most amenable to reconciliation; the most empathetic and likely the one feeling the most guilt over his actions.

Next his finger hovered over Russel's name: his partner, the one whose support had always seemed unwavering. Until it wasn't.

Next Cardin considered Sky: the coward, the one who stuck close to his teammates to try and get their strength to rub off on him. He was the first to abandon Cardin's side when the Grimm started pouring into Beacon. He was the first one to step on a Bullhead and run for cover, claiming that was the sound tactical choice. Cardin couldn't really fault Sky for being true to his nature.

No, of course he could. He could fault all of them for abandoning their academy and their comrades to die. Whatever flaws existed in Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Team CFVY... at least they fought honorably and defended their kingdom.

Whatever Cardin's own faults, he always believed in doing his duty. Being a Huntsman demanded he put his life on the line, and there was no greater service to one's kingdom, one's house, one's name.

Cardin selected all their names for a group text. He typed so many furious inquiries.

Did you forget everything we came to Beacon to do?

He wouldn't necessarily describe his relationship with his teammates as 'close', but Cardin thought they at least respected him. Rooming together, they'd spent a few nights up late talking, speaking about who they were and what their chosen career meant to them.

Only Cardin did more of the talking than they ever had. And in truth, there wasn't all that much he'd seen. Not much more than the surface.

But it hadn't been enough to quell his anger just yet. He still felt the need to lash out.

Did you forget your duty?

They never once used the word with the reverence Cardin had. It may well have been a virtue for his teammates too, but he'd always assumed rather than asked.

Did you forget the team?

They had good times together.

But in hindsight, most of those 'good times' had been during the first semester, when they got to lord over Jaune or when they worked in tandem to pick on a vulnerable student with their superior numbers.

Looking back on it, Cardin wasn't proud to think on the times he shared with his team. But he wasn't ready to accept his guilt. Not yet.

Do you remember what we fought for?

That was when Cardin finally stopped typing his message.

They had only ever fought for what he wanted them to. Until the day Beacon fell, Team CRDL had been geared entirely towards serving the needs of Cardin Winchester, rather than the needs of something abstract like 'the team' or even the individual problems of any one member.

And he couldn't recall his teammates ever complaining about the problems they had. He was sure they had their issues, maybe even would've sought his help, but Cardin had never been listening for it.

He looked down at the messages typed, but still unsent.

Cardin had firmly believed he'd be a great Huntsman once he got to Beacon. His appointment as leader was a fait accompli. His destiny as a hero of the people was inevitable.

Instead, his comrades abandoned him in battle while Cardin had to find a teacher to keep an eye on him, likely only surviving the fight because he had more experienced people fighting alongside him. At the very least, some people who once disliked him respected him for staying and fighting... but none of the teammates he'd expected to stand at his side had been there when their support mattered most. And Cardin wasn't sure he could fault them for saving their own skins when he'd never spent much time caring about their wants and desires.

Cardin deleted the messages and turned off his Scroll. Much as he wanted to lash out at them, he couldn't bring himself to judge his former teammates. Maybe they were in the wrong, but he could no longer see that answer clearly.

Cardin emerged from his tent, hoping there might be something to occupy his time with the Vale citizenry and leftover Vytal Festival guests cramped together... but what first caught his eye was Team CFVY, back from another resupply mission in the ruins of Beacon, bringing with them whatever unspoiled food remained from the destroyed mess hall. It'd make for a nice change from Atlesian military rations.

Velvet was with her team. Cardin remembered she had distinguished herself well during the fight and fought hard alongside students from many different kingdoms. Faunus or not, it was a feat worth recognition.

Cardin almost spoke her name.

It didn't deserve to come from him. Nice distraction though it'd be from his boredom, he needed to do something more before he'd be deserving of offering her praise.

It was the first time he'd ever considered a Faunus more worthy of recognition than himself. But not undeservedly, he had to acknowledge.

Not yet. But she merited that praise, and eventually he'd offer it.

Cardin would spare no more time on his teammates. They decided their course, and he wouldn't shame them -or guilt them- by saying they were wrong. He'd done so much wrong too, and as their leader their failures were his to bear too.

Team CRDL hadn't yet been officially dissolved, but Cardin was ready to consider them such. He was ready to accept they weren't going to come back and do their duty.

But for him, there could be nothing else.

Well, not quite nothing. There was one thing he could do.

"Velvet," he finally said, speaking just loud enough for her big Faunus ears could hear him. "Could I... have a moment?"

Coco eyed him warily. Neither Fox nor Yatsuhashi seemed all that interested in interacting with him either.

But Velvet did grant him that moment. "Y-yes?"

Cardin wanted to offer her his sincere praise of her combat aptitude. But that wasn't the first step to take.

The first step was much harder. And he had no teammates to support him in doing so now.

He'd rather devote his time to those who'd been willing to fight alongside him in the worst of times. Even when he'd wronged them.

"I'm sorry."

Maybe she'd accept. Maybe she wouldn't. Either way Cardin would face the fallout alone.

But if nothing else, he'd do something different.