The cafeteria always seemed louder when Cobalt was in there alone. Normally, he'd eat with his team, either in the dorm, outside or in the cafeteria, but today, the girls had elected to stay in the dorm and watch Astra's new favourite cartoon. Cobalt had considered joining them until Astra and Luna had started getting overly cute again, and he'd elected to sneak away and leave poor Lily alone with them.
Admittedly, in the couple of weeks since second term had started, Astra and Luna's overwhelming sweetness had calmed, giggling a lot less, though they still held hands at any time possible. All the same, Cobalt still couldn't help but be a little uncomfortable around them when they got too excited about it. Though he wouldn't admit it out loud, a big part of Cobalt knew it was jealousy. Not of either of the girls, of course, but that they could have a relationship when he couldn't. Not yet at least.
Lost in thought and looking down at his food tray, Cobalt didn't realize that the path in front of him was not clear. At least, not until he bumped into someone, almost knocking over his glass of water.
"Hm?" The other figure turned to look at him as he backed up.
"I'm so sorry!" Cobalt blurted, shame making his ears droop. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."
The person he'd bumped into looked up at him, blinking with blue-gray eyes, before her face split into a grin. "Oh hey, don't worry about it! Happens to me all the time. Are you okay?"
Though she'd reacted in a rather friendly way, Cobalt's shame grew when he looked her up and down and realized who she was. Blaire Arylide, third-year student and leader of Team BLCB (blackbird)- one of the most impressive teams currently attending Beacon. Even back at Signal, Cobalt had heard of them. Jaune had even mentioned them a couple of times while Cobalt had been over at Luna's house. Cobalt had always gotten the impression that they'd been an awful lot like Team CFVY, if CFVY had stayed at Beacon long enough to be third-years there, and he'd been proven right. He'd never interacted with any of the team's members though, and this was how he met one of them for the first time. Their leader, no less.
"Uh- yeah I'm fine," he managed. "Sorry."
Blaire chuckled. "You already said that."
Cobalt's ears dropped lower. "Right. Sorry." Holy shit. He cursed himself inside his head. You sound like Luna. What ever happened to being cool? You're supposed to be cool!
Blaire didn't seem to mind, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You remind me a lot of myself," She commented. "I can appreciate that." She squinted through rectangular glasses. "You're Cobalt Scaraltina right? Of Team LLAC?"
Cobalt's ears pricked. Somehow, the idea that she saw herself in him was a comfort. "Oh…you know us?"
"Yeah, of course!" Blaire replied. "Your family names are pretty well-known, you know."
"Oh, right." Cobalt tried not to feel disappointed. Of course it was just because of their parents. Why wouldn't it be?"
"Mind you," Blaire continued, catching Cobalt's attention again. "You guys pack a pretty good punch on the battlefield." She grinned, showing off slightly-pointed canines. "Hearing about the way that Astra kid beat up a bigot in sparring class was a treat, I'll tell you that."
Cobalt smiled in relief. So they had built a bit of a reputation, then. "Thanks," he replied. "It was admittedly pretty fun to watch."
"I'll bet," Blaire cracked her knuckles. "Wish I'd been there. Heh, I might've helped."
Cobalt found himself relaxing, adjusting into his cool-minded state again. It was good to know that Blaire wasn't all as intimidating as he thought she'd be. Then again, realizing how short she was now that he was standing face-to-face with her and having to look down also helped.
Blaire glanced around. "So, where's your team? Not hungry?"
"Oh, they stayed back in the dorm to watch a show," Cobalt responded, shrugging. "Just me today."
Blaire looked thoughtful. "Why don't you come and sit with us?"
They invitation surprised Cobalt. Two years ahead, and she wanted him to sit with her team? "Are you sure" he asked hesitantly. "Won't they mind?"
Blaire shrugged. "It'll be fine. Besides, nobody should have to sit alone for lunch."
Cobalt didn't bother telling her that he didn't actually mind sitting alone if he had to. He relented. "Well, okay then."
Blaire smiled. "Great!" She led him over to a nearby table, where three other students were seated. Cobalt recognized the other three members of team BLCD; Lycoris Asano, Ceionn Vernell, and Dusk Haas-Faullen, and he found himself feeling slightly intimidated again.
"Hey nerds," Blaire greeted them as she sat beside Lycoris. "I've brought us a friend."
Cobalt seated himself, placing his tray down, thrusting away his nervousness as three pairs of eyes turned on him. Eyes that had seen and experienced an awful lot more than him. These students had been on missions. He, on the other hand, had barely killed a few Grimm before.
Ceionn's eyes glowed. "Ooh, lovely!" She chirped. "We haven't had fresh meat sit with us in a while."
Cobalt tried not to sweat. Fresh meat?
Dusk nudged Ceionn with one elbow. "Don't call him that," They scolded. "You'll make the poor kid nervous."
Well, at least they can't see that I already am. Cobalt thought privately.
Lycoris offered him a friendly smile. "You're Cobalt, right? Of Team LLAC?"
Cobalt managed to nod. "That's right."
"Ooh," Ceionn leaned forward. "You guys are the ones those little bitches Rowan and Birch keep trying to beef with." She leaned back again. "Goodness, those two are a nightmare. Kudos to you for putting up with them."
"Oh hey, Ceionn," Blaire tossed something into the air. "Catch."
Ceionn gasped in delight as she caught the small object. "Ooh! Tiny muffin!"
"Hey," Lycoris gave Blaire a mock-frown. "You didn't get me a tiny muffin."
"That's because you stole the one I had yesterday," Blaire shot back. "No muffins until you pay for your sins."
Lycoris responded by flicking a pea into her leader's face. Blaire threw back a piece of bread, which Lycoris dodged.
"Come on, guys," Dusk protested quietly. "You'll get us in trouble."
Blaire looked at them teasingly. "You upset because I didn't get you a muffin either?"
Dusk flicked an ear, their expression not changing. "I might be."
Blaire sighed. "Fine. I'll go get you all muffins." She stood up. "You guys had better be grateful you have such a selfless and giving leader." She glanced at Cobalt. "Do you want a muffin?"
"No, that's okay." Cobalt replied politely. His mother had always told him to turn down offers of food if he didn't know whether or not they could afford it.
Blaire shrugged. "You're getting one anyway. See you guys in a sec!" he hurried away before Cobalt could protest.
The eyes of the other three turned on him again.
"So Cobalt," Ceionn leaned their chin on their hands and stared at him expectantly. "Have Birch and Aster learned to leave you guys alone yet?"
"Oh, uh," Cobalt wasn't expecting the question. "I'm not sure," He admitted. "They might have? But it's hard to tell with them."
Lycoris gave a light huff. "Hopefully, they have. It even took us a while to get rid of them."
Cobalt pricked his ears. "You've dealt with them before?" His team, he could understand them picking on, but surely they'd have known better than to do it to a team two years older?
Lycoris nodded solemnly. "Dusk and I have, specifically."
Cobalt drew the connection, taking note of Lyrcois' pretty blue snake scales and Dusk's wolf ears. "Oh…I'm really sorry about that."
Lyrcoris shrugged. "Don't worry about it. We gave 'em a lesson they wouldn't forget." She grinned at Dusk. "Didn't we, Dusk?"
Dusk smirked. "Mmhm."
"Man, I wish I'd been there when it happened," Ceionn sighed. She slammed her first into her palm. "I'd have loved to dish out some black eyes."
Dusk gave her a pat on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll get your chance, Cei."
Lycoris glanced away from the table. Following her gaze, Cobalt's ears pricked as he realized she was looking over at Storm and Yarrow, who were seated further away.
"At least those two seem to have a good head on their shoulders." Lycoris commented.
Ceionn leaned over to look past Cobalt at the other two students. "Hm? Oh yeah, they're chill. I see that Storm kid in the library a lot, studying faunus stuff. They seem sweet."
"They are." Cobalt hadn't realized he'd spoken with such wistfulness until he turned back away and saw the three older teens staring at him.
Dusk smirked gently. "Something on your mind there, kid?"
Cobalt tried not to blush, searching his mind for how to respond. "Um."
"Aww," Lycoris squished her cheeks with her palms. "I haven't seen someone look so longing since Blaire had a crush on -" She was interrupted by a small muffin hitting the side of her head and falling onto the table.
"'Ey!" Blaire scolded as she approached the table again. "We don't talk about that." She sat down and handed Dusk their muffin, before passing another to Cobalt. "Now," She pulled her seat in and peered expectantly at the other students. "Why are we talking about crushes?"
Ceionn grinned. "Seems like Cobalt here has one on Storm Hunter."
Blaire glanced at him, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Is that so? Well, they do seem nice." She sipped at her juice.
Cobalt shifted uncomfortably, deciding he'd have to open up to these older teenagers that he barely knew. "It's…a bit more complicated than that."
Dusk lifted an eyebrow, suddenly seemed interested. "Oh?"
"We went on a date last term," Cobalt explained, "But I ended it after it turned out they still had some prejudice against faunus left over from their upbringing in Atlas." The memory hurt to think of.
All four of the team narrowed their eyes, and Cobalt quickly continued before they got too bad an impression of Storm.
"They learned from it, though. I don't think they'd ever been called out on it before," He admitted. "So, after everything happened, they started researching faunus rights in an effort to become a better person." He couldn't help but look over his shoulder at Storm again. "They've been trying really hard, and they've learned a lot."
He sighed, turning back. "They've told me they're not doing it to get me back, but...I'd still like to give things another shot one day." This was his first time telling anyone else this. "I just…don't know when."
"Aw," Lycoris commented. "Well, at least they're trying. That's a start."
Blaire nodded. "I can't say I've ever dealt with that exact situation before, but I've had friends turn out to be assholes. Most of them didn't learn from their mistakes though, so it's good Storm has. It's rare to see these days."
"I can see why you're still hesitant though," Ceionn added. "I would be too."
Cobalt picked at his muffin. "I think…I'm just waiting for something." He admitted. "Something to show me that they've changed for good."
"I hope you get whatever you're waiting for," Blaire told him kindly. "I know I don't know anything about either of you, but I like seeing things end happily."
Cobalt turned back and gazed at Storm again. This time, Storm actually noticed, looking up and giving him a shy wave. Cobalt smiled. "Yeah. I hope so."
