After over a week of the girls keeping themselves in the dorm to watch cartoons while they ate, it was nice to Cobalt that he could finally go to the cafeteria with his entire team. He'd not actually mentioned the fact he missed spending time with them; they'd simply run out of cartoons to watch, but he was grateful for their company anyway. Sitting with them was a lot nicer than sitting by himself and watching Storm when they weren't looking.
I should talk to them soon. He reminded himself. Well, he had talked to Storm on occasion, but not as often as he wanted to. Not about the things he wanted to.
A poke from Lily broke him out of his thoughts.
"You good?" She asked him. "You seem out of it."
"I'm okay," Cobalt assured her. "Just thinking about Storm."
Lily smirked. "Ah, of course. When aren't you?"
On the other side of the table, Astra's eyes narrowed slightly. A quite "Hm," was all she said. Cobalt blinked at her.
Luna nudged her gently. "Hey, come on."
Astra sighed. "Sorry," She glanced apologetically at Cobalt. "I know they seem to be trying. But they never changed over the five years I knew them at Titan. I just don't know if I can trust that they suddenly have."
Cobalt bit back the defense that it wasn't 'sudden'. He knew it must feel that way to Astra, when she'd know them for so much longer than the rest of them. "Have you thought about talking to them?" He asked instead.
Astra tipped her head slightly. "To Storm?" She glanced over at where the other student sat with Yarrow a few tables away. "What would I even talk to them about?"
"Anything you want to know," Cobalt replied. "I'm sure they'd be happy to give you answers. And I think they're past the point where they'll just make excuses for themself."
Astra rested her chin on her arms. "Yeah, maybe. We'll see."
Cobalt was almost about to take a bite of his pie slice before it got cold when he noticed people approaching their table.
"Hey, if it isn't Crush Boy!"
Cobalt looked up to see Blaire Arylide and the rest of Team BLCD grinning down at him in greeting.
Blaire blinked past him at the girls, who stared back in confusion and slight surprise.
"Oh, the whole gang's here!" Blaire chirped. "Good to see."
"Hey, Blaire," Cobalt replied, still surprised by the friendliness of the older team. "Did you need something?"
Blaire looked back at him. "Ah, we were going to ask if we could join you, but it's all good if you'd rather spend the time with your team."
Cobalt glanced over at Astra, who was staring at him with her hands clasped and her eyes wide.
"Nah," He responded. "I think you're welcome."
"Neat." Blaire sat down next to him, Dusk beside her, while Ceionn and Lycoris headed around to sit by Astra, who stared in awe, hands squished to her face. Cobalt wondered if they were sitting according to the partner arrangement of their team, as his own team often did. That would make Ceionn and Lycoris partners, which he could see, but for some reason, it surprised him that Blaire and Dusk would be. Then again, people probably wouldn't have imagined that he and Lily would make very good partners either. There was always more than met the eye.
"So Cobalt, why'd you never tell us you were friends with Team BLCD?" Lily asked lightheartedly. "That's pretty impressive."
"We've spoken once." Cobalt corrected her.
"Also, we're not that impressive," Lycoris piped up. "I dropped pudding all over myself once," She sighed. "And kept eating it."
Blaire huffed. "That's nothing. Back in combat school, I misfired my first attempt at a weapon and set the school flag on fire."
Dusk smirked. "You got in so much trouble for that."
Blaire crossed her arms stubbornly. "You'd think no student had ever accidentally set school property on fire before."
Astra sat up eagerly. "I set Winter Schnee on fire once." She announced cheerfully.
All seven heads turned to stare at her in utter disbelief.
Luna broke the brief silence that followed. "You what?"
Astra waved a hand casually. "Oh, it wasn't that big of a deal. She'd come to Titan to give a speech as Atlas' headmaster about the importance of Hunstman work and all that and when we were each given a chance to show off our combat abilities to her I may have not aimed my shot well." She grinned sheepishly. "She put it out before it hurt her or anything, but let's just say there's a reason Light of the Party doesn't have shooting capabilities."
Blaire blinked at her. "All right kid, you win."
Beside Astra, Ceionn nodded. "You have my respect."
Astra's eyes sparkled. "Cool."
"So hey," Lycoris commented. "The first-year missions are coming up soon, right? Are you guys excited?"
In all honesty, Cobalt had almost forgotten. Between boredom and thinking about Storm, his mind hadn't been much in the future. And yet, missions were only a week away, and he'd not mentally prepared himself at all. He hadn't even wondered what kind of mission they'd have, or what dangers they might face.
Luna sighed. "I'm terrified," She admitted. "There's so much that could go wrong."
Astra flung an arm around her girlfriend affectionally as she grinned at Lycoris. "I dunno what she's talking about. I'm ready to go at literally any moment."
Blaire laughed. "Honestly, it probably won't be that scary or exciting." She admitted.
"Right," Dusk added. "It won't be like with Team RWBY dealt with. Usually, first-year missions are extremely basic; nothing much more than routine patrols or dealing with a couple of Grimm that might be a threat to untrained villagers."
Astra pouted slightly, but she pulled Luna closer. "Aw see, you've got nothing to worry about," She told her. "Might be a little disappointing but…nothing to worry about."
"Remember that missions aren't for fun," Lycoris pointed out to Astra. "They're for learning and doing what you can to help people." She smiled slightly. "Mind you, they can still be a little fun when you're with the right people."
Astra flexed the arm that wasn't around Luna. "Well, I hope I can help people and have fun. Best of both worlds!"
Cobalt poked at his pie, which was no longer warm. He sighed. "I'm going to go and see if I can get this heated up," He told the others. "I'll be back in a sec."
Blaire grinned at him. "We'll take this chance to get to know your team," She glanced at Luna, Lily, and Astra. "If they don't mind, that is."
Astra's eyes glowed. "Of course we don't!"
Satisfied that he was leaving them in safe hands, Cobalt picked up his place and began to head over to the kitchen, hoping the cafeteria staff would take pity on him and let him use their microwave.
He'd almost reached it before an annoyingly familiar couple of figures blocked his path.
"Where do you think you're going, bunny boy?"
Cobalt suppressed a groan. He did not want to deal with Rowan and Birch right now. "I'm just going to heat up my food," He replied flatly. "I don't want any trouble."
Rowan crossed her arms. "Oh really?" She sneered. "Then why'd your freak little friend go and humiliate Birch in front of everyone?"
Cobalt stared at her, not knowing what she was talking about for a moment. "…Do you mean the sparring match? Rowan, that was last term. Why bring it up now?" These two were utterly ridiculous.
Birch crackled his knuckles. "As if we could do anything with the eyes of the whole school faculty on us." He growled. Cobalt was surprised he knew what 'faculty' meant.
"But they're not around right now," Rowan added menacingly.
Cobalt sighed. He didn't have time for this. "Whatever. I'm going to heat up my pie." He tried to walk past him, but Birch shoved him roughly, and the plate slid out of his hands to shatter on the floor, splattering the pie into a mess. Coablt blinked at it, then looked back up at Rowan and Birch in annoyance.
"There," Birch sniffed. "Fixed your problem."
"Now," Rowan stepped close to Cobalt. "Let's discuss how you and your little friends are going to pay us back for what you did."
"Yeah, no thanks." Cobalt started to turn back around, but Birch grabbed his collar and jerked him back. A degree of nervousness mixed in with Cobalt's annoyance. He'd promised Coco he wouldn't get into any more cafeteria fights, and yet, here he was.
"Hey, leave him alone!"
Still in Birch's grip, Cobalt turned his head to see, not any of his own team or BLCD, but Storm hurrying up, Yarrow right behind him.
Birch glared at Storm. "Do you mind, O great and mighty leader?" He asked scathingly. "Kind of in the middle of something."
Storm grabbed his arm, hazel eyes narrowed. "I said, let him go."
Birch let go of Cobalt's collar and turned on Storm instead. "You may think you're my leader, but you've got no power over me." He growled.
Storm looked tired. "Why can't you two ever just listen?" They pleaded. "Nothing would have happened to either of you if you hadn't been so nasty to Team LLAC in the first place. You'll be so much happier if you just let it go."
Cobalt gave them a half-smile. It warmed his heart to see them continue to try, but nothing was going to get through to Rowan or Birch. They just weren't open to learning.
"Ugh," Rowan groaned. "You know, you were already pretty boring, but you've gotten so much worse since you got soft for this rabbit-eared freak."
Storm lifted an eyebrow. "Is 'freak' really all you can ever come up with? Can't you think of any other adjective?"
Cobalt chuckled. Birch, however, was not amused. Before Cobalt could react, he swung a fist at Storm, only for his fist to collide with invisible air, the knuckles audibly cracking. Beside Storm, Yarrow crossed his arms and grinned.
Storm patted his teammate's shoulder, not having reacted at all to the swing. "Thanks, buddy."
Cobalt went and stood beside them, turning to Rowan and Birch. "Give it up," He told them. "Nobody else is on your side. Physical or not, this isn't a fight you can win."
Rowan looked even more furious than Birch as she summoned her weapon, though standing beside Yarrow, Cobalt wasn't threatened by it.
"You think you're so special, don't you?" She seethed. "You think you deserve sssoooo much more than everyone else because of who your parents are don't you?" Her voice was rising, though Cobalt wasn't sure she was aware of how loud she was getting. Others seemed to be though, because the noise in the cafeteria had significantly quietened.
"You think you deserve special treatment," Rowan continued, "Just because your stepmother went and ruined her status by marrying some weak, pathetic, lowlife rabbit girl!"
"What," The voice was cold, sharp, and dangerous, "Did you just say about my wife?"
If the cafeteria had gone quiet before, it was silent now. Not a person spoke, except for a whispered 'oh shit' that Cobalt had a feeling came from Astra. Rowan and Birch were pale as chalk, horror clear on their faces as they turned around, slowly, to see Coco standing behind them. Glynda was at her side. Both looked furious, though Coco's fury seemed far hotter than Glynda's icy demeanor.
For once, Rowan and Birch were speechless.
"Professor Adel...!" Rowan managed. "I-I didn't know you were there! I uh…I wasn't talking about you!"
Coco looked severely unimpressed. "Oh, really? So then Cobalt has some other stepmother who's married to a rabbit faunus?" her voice dripped with seething sarcasm. "I wasn't aware. Should I have a talk with Velvet when I get home?"
Rowan was soaked in sweat. "N-no! You…you misunderstood! You misheard!"
Glynda stepped forward calmly. "Miss Coldstone," She began icily, "You have demonstrated several times now that you are not willing to cease your discrimination and bigotry against your fellow students. Disrespecting a professor as well only adds to this."
Rowan's eyes flicked from side to side. Cobalt watched her desperation and panic turn to anger. "Well- they started it! If they hadn't attacked us last term, we wouldn't have to make them pay us back!"
"It is my understanding, Miss Coldstone," Glynda replied coolly, "That Team LLAC were already punished accordingly for the altercation in the cafeteria last semester. As were you, for provoking them as you did. What would you have expected otherwise?"
Rowan seethed. "They-they shouldn't even be here!" She stamped her foot like a petulant child. "They only got in because of their parents; they- they aren't even good fighters. They're just a bunch of freaks!"
Glynda adjusted her glasses. "I've heard quite enough. We don't tolerate discrimination of any kind here at Beacon. Miss Coldstone, you are hereby expelled from this school. You will have to continue your studies another day." She looked over her glasses. "Or, preferably, not at all, until you learn what it means to be a Huntress."
Cobalt could have cheered as he heard several gasps from the watching crowd. Rowan was red-faced and incredibly pissed off.
"That's not fair!" She screeched.
"Yeah!" Birch spoke for the first time, puffing out his chest. "If you expel her, you'll have to expel me too!"
Glynda barely looked at him. "Very well. I want both of you packed up and out of this school by the end of the day."
This time, several people did cheer. Cobalt couldn't blame them. As Rowan and Birch stood in furious silence, Glynda turned and walked back out of the room, her job done.
Coco, however, stepped right up to Birch and Rowan. "Get out of here," She hissed. "Now. And if I catch either of you harassing my son off-grounds, I will personally deal with you myself."
As Birch and Rowan scurried off, Coco turned to Cobalt. "I'm sorry," She said, her voice a lot softer now. "I should have dealt with them properly a long time ago."
Cobalt wrapped her in a hug. "Don't be sorry," He assured her. "It's done now."
After hugging him back, Coco stepped back and regarded Storm and Yarrow, giving them nods of approval. "Thank you for defending Cobalt," She told them. "Don't tell anyone, but I'll be sure to add some extra credit to your next assignment."
Storm looked sheepish. "Aw, you don't have to do that," They replied, grinning. "We just happened to be close enough to do something, that's all."
"Although, uh," yarrow piped up. "What do we do now? You know, now that our team's just been halved?"
"Oh, right," Coco looked thoughtful. "Actually, luck might be on your side. I've been talking with an old friend lately who's just transferred her daughter out of Haven Academy. She was looking to send her here instead. It should be easy enough to arrange that she be added to your team," She shrugged. "Won't be full, but it'll be better than just the two of you."
Storm nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Professor Adel."
"Anytime," Coco sighed. "Well, now I have paperwork to go and do," She checked her watch. "And you lot should be getting to class soon."
Cobalt smiled at her. "Good luck with the paperwork."
Coco smiled back fondly. "Hey, it'll be worth it."
As she walked out of the room, Cobalt found himself hugged from behind.
"I can't believe that just happened!" Astra squealed. She let go of Cobalt. "We're finally free of them…"
Cobalt turned to see that the rest of his team, as well as Team BLCD, had approached.
Lily gave him a quick hug as well. "We were really worried about you," She told him, giving a half-smile. "Luna wouldn't let us come and help. She said you could handle yourself."
Luna chuckled. "You make me sound mean. I wouldn't let you guys go if it got too bad."
Astra pounded one fist into her hand. "I would have destroyed them."
"Hey, don't worry about it," Cobalt assured them warmly. "I'm glad we didn't get into another fight."
Astra sighed. "Yeah, I guess we would have gotten into trouble," Her eyes narrowed. "I still wish I'd been able to destroy them though. Just one last time."
Luna wrapped her arms over Astra's shoulders. "You'll get the chance to destroy something on our mission, I'm sure."
"Right," Lily added. "And we'll be able to spend time together as a team." She placed a hand on Cobalt's shoulder, looking at him sympathetically. "I know we haven't exactly been hanging out all at once outside of class. I'm sorry."
Cobalt smiled at her. "It's okay, I promise. We all have our own stuff to deal with. And you're right, we'll get the chance to bond on the mission."
"Oohhh, I can't wait!" Astra exclaimed. "We're gonna camp out together, beat up some monsters, share monumental moments from our childhoods…it's going to be amazing!"
Cobalt's earlier downcast mood slipped away. His team was right. He couldn't blame them for not spending much time with him when Emerald had her mother to help and Astra and Luna were still adjusting to being a new couple. But they would get their chance. And he was looking forward to it.
