Chapter 07: Team Building

Back at Beacon the students stood off stage as Ozpin called their names and announced the name of each team as well as the leader.

"Warren Marune, Ozwald Marigold, Liseran Mathews, and Faerien'Diaz Von-Vert."

[Looks like it is our turn.] Warren thought as they stepped out onto the stage with the others. When he saw the piece that Liz and Fae recovered he figured they'd be on the same team. Looked to be that his guess was spot on.

"The four of you retrieved the 1/4 domino pieces. From this day forth, you work together as as...Team WOLF, lead by...Warren Marune!"

The crowd cheered as the newly formed team nodded and walked off stage. All the while Warren silently raged to himself, [Team WOLF!? Really!? Come, ON!]

"Aqua Galantaea, Zaffre Ladon, Ube Erzulie, and Russet Pontus. The four of you retrieved the 2/2 domino pieces. From this day forth, you will be known as...Team AZUR(azure), lead by...Aqua Galantaea!"

While the crowd cheered for the team, Liz noticed that Ozwald looked especially pleased and decided to tease her new team member. "Oh? You look especially happy that Aqua ended up as team leader. Is it possible that…" Liz gave a short pause before she grinned and drew out the length of each of the words, "You~ like~ her~?"

Oz jumped at her proclamation but before he could offer rebuttal Fae cut in, "Oh that is no good! What if Coco found out? She seems like the jealous type." Fae nodded sagely as Ozwald sputtered in shock. Warren grinned under his hood, glad that Ozwald was the target of their teasing instead of himself. Before he could come up with a reply Ozpin called out, "Coco Adel, Fox Alistair, Velvet Scarlatina, Yatsuhashi Daichi. The four of you retrieved the notated 2/3 domino pieces. From this day forth you will be known as...Team CFVY(Coffee)! Lead by, Coco Adel!"

"Speak of the devil..." Oz muttered out loud at the formation of Team CFVY. Warren watched the newly formed team make their way off stage to join the other teams. At that point Warren stopped paying attention. He was exhausted from their encounters in the Emerald Forest. He was ready to get his room assignment and crash. Tomorrow he'd look over the War Suit and make repairs as needed.

-x-x-x-x-

Warren seemed completely out of it. He didn't even react when Coco cheered when she found out that there were mixed dorms and that they bunked based off team formations. Oz was about to get concerned about his leader when a sly voice spoke out next to his ear as he felt two soft objects press into his back. "To bad I found Fox instead of you. Although I don't think Yatsu and Velvs would appreciate us keeping them awake, all. Night. Long."

Oz jumped away from Coco which prompted her to start to pout. "What's the matter loverboy? I thought you offered me a ride?" Oz groaned as Liz broke down into hysterical laughter. Fae offered him a sympathetic look but ultimately left him to his fate.

"You are never going to let that go are you?"

Coco responded without a thought, "Nope! Would you rather I stop?"

"Yes." His immediate response prompted Coco lowered her shades as she gave him a look that asked, 'Really?'

"Fine. I can admit it was funny. The first time. But that's it."

"Good enough for me! I'll stop bringing our first time up. But you're not getting away that easily, loverboy." Coco turned and sauntered away as Oz just stared at her in disbelief. After a few seconds he shook his head and muttered to himself as he ignored the roaring laughter around him, "I...just. Don't. Care anymore."

-x-x-x-x-

Liz woke up. With a yawn she stretched and sat up. She cast her gaze around the room and looked at the luggage piled at the foot of her bed. Puzzled she tilted her head as she stared at the unfamiliar bags. The door to their room opened as Oz stepped in shirtless. Apparently he just got out of the shower, as he dried his hair. When he moved the towel and saw Liz awake he froze in surprise. "Ah..."

Liz waved cheerfully as she climbed out of bed and stretched once more. Completely surprised by her nonchalant attitude he spoke hesitantly.

"Um...m-mornin'?"

With a cheerful bounce Liz replied, "Good morning! Where are the showers?"

"There is a shower in each room's bathroom but there is also dorm showers. I didn't want to wake anyone so…" Oz pointed out of the room as Liz looked to the other beds and spotted her luggage. [Ah~ well we DID kinda just collapse in any open bed…]She moved over to her bags and started to dig through it for a change of clothes. Oz coughed and turned away as clothes went flying. Warren groaned and sat up. He blinked groggily at Liseran before he inquired, "What are you doing in my luggage?"

"This is my stuff, see?" Much to the two boys' embarrassment Liz held up a bra. "No one looked for their stuff last night we all just kinda fell in any open bed so..." She grabbed a few more items before she walked to the door and waved again, "Bye! Be back in a bit!"

Warren stared after her for a few moments before he looked at Oz and asked, "What the hell?"

"...I have no idea."

"Screw it." Warren flopped back down as their last team member groaned.

"Ung. I request that you turn off the lights. 5 more minutes..." Fae rolled over and curled up into a ball under the blankets.

Oz chuckled to himself as he thought, [We'll looks like we found out very quickly who the morning people on the team are...] He walked over to Fae's bed and pulled a shirt out of his luggage. He grinned when she grumbled something about the noise and pulled the blankets tighter around herself.

After he got fully dressed he made his way over to one of the four desks in the room and started to look through it. One of the drawers had a note addressed to 'first year student'. It explained that they'd have this first day to themselves to explore the school and to settle into their rooms. It also told them that their schedule was sent to their scrolls and to consult it for the location and times of their classes.

He pulled out his scroll and started to look at his schedule. It didn't list his classmates but it was likely he would be in the same classes as his teammates. Maybe even Team AZUR and Team CFVY. As if summoned by his thoughts he heard a panicked shout, "COCO, WHAT THE HELL!?"

Warren leapt out of bed in a panic while Fae flailed wildly and tumbled off the bed. Warren and Oz both just stared at her as she straightened herself and sat up. "Okay. I changed my mind. I DON'T like her."

Oz howled with laughter as Liz walked in the room. She looked at Oz who was clutching his sides with laughter as Fae slowly stood and dumped her blankets back on the bed. Warren acted like nothing was out of the ordinary, which so far seemed very true. "Why were you on the fl-"

"Coco." Fae interjected with a flat tone to Liseran's unfinished question.

"-ah. Yeah, that was loud." Oz burst into a fresh bout of laughter as he fell out of his chair. Liz looked at the others to see Fae and Warren completely ignore him so she shrugged and did the same. With the others finally awake they quickly re-arranged the luggage so each person's personal effects were next to their bed. Fae and Warren went to their respective bathrooms to take their showers while Liz started to unpack.

"So when is today's classes?"

Despite the fact that he knew the answer Ozwald asked her instead, "What makes you think I know?"

That brought her to a stop as looked over at him and after a moment deadpanned, "Wow. I didn't think you actually knew. You have a really bad poker face." An indifferent shrug rolled off his shoulders as he replied. "I'll take it as a compliment. It is not really a good thing to be a good liar."

With a sly smirk she replied, "If you don't ever wanna win at poker, sure. By the way I'll be sure to tell Coco to rope you into a game of strip poker for lying to me~!"

Ozwald froze as he imagined the numerous issues that would arise from that scenario playing out. He gave a pathetic whimper shortly after the door opened.

As he returned from his shower, Warren paused in the doorway at the sound and looked over at Oz who had turned to stare at Liz. "Please, PLEASE, don't do that."

"When is today's classes?"

Ozwald hurriedly gushed out his response, "There are no classes today, we have the day to settle in. Classes start tomorrow 9am. Please, please, PLEASE don't give Coco ideas."

Unsure as to what the hell was going on, Warren slowly turned his questioning gaze to Liseran as the door closed behind him, "Do I want to know?" The girl shrugged with a mischievous smirk as she looked at Oz. "I don't~ know~ hey Oz~? Should I tell our esteemed leader-"

"I'll give you my desert for the next three days."

Liz turned back Warren and stated, "Nope! Nothing important."

Warren shrugged and muttered, "Whatever." As he grabbed a few tools from his bag. He made for the door and paused. "Hm. We probably should exchange scroll numbers, huh?" The door opened once more as Fae walked in as Liz replied.

"Yeah! I already have Coco's, Aqua's, Velvet's, Fae's and Oz's! I should get yours too!" Dumbfound the team stared at her before Warren managed to snap out of it and asked, "When did you-"

"The slumber party in the ballroom." He paused and considered it then shrugged. They quickly exchanged numbers and War flipped his hood up before mentioning he was going to the workshop. Liz left as she said something about getting the remaining members of CFVY's and AZUR's numbers.

Oz was pulling random items out of his bags as he 'personalized' his space. After a while he noticed that Fae sat at her desk as she wrote something.

"What'cha writin'?"

Faerien gave a slight start as she glanced over to Ozwald. "Ah, a letter. For back home."

"Ah? Already? To anyone in particular or...?"

"This one will be to my mother." Fae replied with a soft smile as she then gestured to the two sealed envelopes next to her. "Those are for my personal maid and butler, and I plan to write another one to the staff in general."

Oz gave a small surprised chuckle as he pulled up a chair.

"Sounds like you treat them as if they were family."

Fae stretched as she looked out the window and contemplated her response. "In a way...they are. Mother was often busy with keeping Vertile running. But she loves me and made sure I knew it." Fae smiled at a fond memory before she continued. "Charles was my butler while Mads, pardon Madison, was my maid."

"...did you really need a personal butler AND maid?"

Fae grinned and replied slightly matter-of-factly, "Yes. Madison helped me maintain my room, clothes and all problems of feminine nature."

Ozwald sighed and facepalmed. [Seriously...how often am I going to stumble into these situations?]

"Ah, that was a rather boring reaction."

With a deadpan stare, Oz looked back at Fae who shrugged innocently under his gaze before she continued. "In any event Charles managed everything else. Informing the other servants of how to take care of me, of my wants and desires," Fae laughed ruefully, "Sometimes before I myself knew about them. If there was ever a mistake or someone couldn't fill their role due to one problem or another, Charles would step in and perform it perfectly."

Oz was genuinely curious as he asked, "Like how?"

"He always knew what I was in the mood to eat, without me saying anything. Yet if the cook was out or sick, he could cook it himself. Or if Mads was, sorry Madison, was visiting her sister and a dress or shirt was torn, Charles could fix it himself."

"Sounds like a do-it-all kind of guy."

"Yes. From those duties to medicinal practices, to fighting, weapon smithing, and AI computing."

"...He is human, right?"

"Yes?"

"..."

"...who is he?"

Fae shrugged and said, "He was my father's best friend. A huntsmen. Before my father passed apparently he asked Charles to look after his, at the time, unborn child. He passed and shortly after that time I was born. Charles then retired from being a huntsmen and became my butler."

Oz took on a sorrowful look as he stated, "I'm sorry for your loss. I was being rather nosy."

"I appreciate the gesture. I never met him, but I have been told countless stories. It is a little embarrassing but the story about my parents meeting and falling in love is almost like a fairy tale."

"Well? Don't keep us waiting!"

Oz and Fae both jumped to their feet as Liz spoke up. With a glare at the girl, Oz irritably asked her, "Why can't you use the door like a normal person?"

With a laugh Liz pulled herself up into the room through the window as she replied, "I got everyone's numbers and wandered around the school when I saw you two were still in the room. I was gonna ask why you guys were still here when I heard you two talking about this Charles fella."

The door opened and Warren walked in. He looked around before he asked, "Okay. I'm here. Liz said you were talking about something important?"

Embarrassed to be the center of attention Fae blushed as Oz answered for her. "We started talking about the letters she was writing when got on the topic of her family. Liz overheard and I guess decided to call you over?"

With an enthusiastic pose Liz declared, "Sharing time is important team building!" She plopped down on her bed and scooted closer to Fae. "So? Your parents! You said it is like a fairy tale!"

Warren leaned against the wall to listen as Fae resigned herself to her fate.

"I was told that they met at Beacon. They were actually paired during the initiation and apparently it was love at first sight. Their team mates ended up being Charles and Kiara. The two of them could tell that my parents were head over heels for each other but much to their annoyance neither said anything. Mother was convinced that, following tradition, after a few short years a being a huntress she would have to return to Vertile and take over as head of the household. While father knew about his own physical condition. What ever his illness was, he was born with it. He knew that he would not live a long life so he chose to become a huntsmen to try and do as much good as he could before he died."

"They graduated and decided to go on one last mission together as a team before going their separate ways. It went terribly ary. Kiara was crippled and Charles almost died. He told me that father shouted at him, 'I refuse to leave anyone else behind! You are like a brother to me, and I would rather feed myself to the Grimm then to let you die!' Charles always said that he had a rough childhood. A street orphan, with no family to speak of. Father calling Charles his brother, meant the world to him. Together they rescued mother and Kiara and managed to escape. When they reached safety father confessed his feelings for her. She confessed and they were married."

"Less than three months later his illness rapidly progressed and mother found out she was expecting. Father asked Charles to look after his unborn child and not even a full month later he passed away."

Fae trailed off as she noticed Liz silently sobbed. She looked to the others and saw the Ozwald had red eyes and balled up tissues in his hand while Warren had pulled his hood low over his eyes.

With a sudden flurry of movement, Liseran jumped up and threw her arms around Faerien as she exclaimed, "Th-that was so tragically romantic! Love at first sight! Unrequited for four years! A night of tragedy lead to an unbreakable brotherhood and the lovers' confessions! Only to have their love cut short before their happy ending!"

Fae fidgeted and patted the other girl on the back while she mouthed to the boys, 'Help me!'

"Well, you were right. That certainly was like a fairy tale." Oz stood as he spoke, "My parents met via mutual friends, started to date, got married and had me and my two siblings. End of story."

Lis let Fae go as she leapt across the room and started to question Oz about his siblings. Motion drew her attention as she saw Warren wave from across the room. Silently he mouthed the question, "You okay?"

She nodded and looked away. "Admittedly hardly sounds truthful. When I was first told the story, I didn't believe it as it was so outlandish. I never got the chance to meet my father, so it doesn't ever seem...real. Like it is just a story about someone else."

Suddenly Warren asked in an abrupt change of subject, "So is the 'Legend of the Invincible Line of Vert' true?"

"Oh not you too!" Fae groaned loudly and drew the attention of Liz and Oz.

"Well? Is the legend true?"

Puzzled Ozwald asked, "What legend?"

Liz practically bounced in place as she raised her hand, "Ooooooh! I know! Most people just call it the Legend of Vert! Ever since the founder of Vertile, Seriona Vert, certain coincidental traits had followed the firstborn children!"

Even more confused Ozwald looked at Fae, "Like what?"

With a sigh Fae explained, "Every firstborn child, myself and my mother included have inherited the same green eyes of Seriona Vert. Additionally each of our Semblances have something to do with time. In any case the 'legend' is that the last member of the blood line is invincible. The most famous example is my grandfather. He fought against a Grimm incursion that almost breached Vertile's walls. For two days he fought without rest, taking increasingly dire injuries. He lost an eye, his left hand, and his right leg from the knee down. At dawn on the third day my mother was born and about an hour after the sun left the horizon's edge, he was struck down by one of the last remaining Grimm. They said he only survived all those injuries due to the Legend, and when my mother was born she became 'the last of the line.'"

"That's ridiculous!"

"I agree. However..."

Liz cheerfully interjected, "Even if it is just a myth...it is a myth that has yet to be proven false~. The firstborn line of Vert has yet to be broken!"

Fae sighed so Ozwald tried to turn the table on Liz, "So what about your family then?"

"Hmmm~? Which family members?"

A sinking feeling settled in his gut as he and Fae exchanged confused looks. "Let's start with immediate family, parents and siblings."

"Only child, parents are dead, next question~?"

There was a long painful silence as the three team members stared at cheerful girl who sat on the end of her bed. She shrugged and continued nonchalantly. "I was...6? Dad was a huntsmen, mom was a private detective in Vale, with close ties to the Vale Police Department."

"They met during one of mom's cases that took her outside of the city. Apparently when they first met they could not stand each other."

Chuckles came from Ozwald as Fae smiled somewhat sadly. "Anyways they continued to run into each other on odd jobs and one time dad got captured by some bandits after he wore himself out dealing with Grimm."

"Not even an hour later Mom had found the warehouse they were keeping him in, broke in freed him and radioed in for them to start the police raid."

Warren gave a low whistle before Oz commented in an off handed manner, "Wow. She must have had some serious pull with the Vale police department."

The sniper shrugged as she flopped backwards onto her bed and continued, "Dad asked her how she found him so quickly and she came clean. When they first met she planted a bug on him so she could keep track of him. At first it was as means to follow a troublemaker and make sure he didn't hurt anybody."

That brought a grin to Fae's lips that she swiftly hid behind her hand as Warren chuckled. Flabbergasted, Oz just stared at her in shock. "He must have taken that poorly."

Loudly Liseran laughed before she answered cheerfully, "No, that's the weird part! I can't remember what my uncle told me but apparently dad said something like, 'See? Even back then you knew I was quite the catch!' Whatever he said she punched him in the face and left. He spent the next few weeks doing little sweet gestures before he asked her out to dinner and they started dating. Eventually they got married and had me!"

Everyone's smiles faded as the mood in the room dropped when she finished. Quietly her partner asked, "What happened to them?"

"Dad died on a solo mission. Got killed trying to defend one of the small villages. And yeah, I know where it is. Mom tried to drown her sorrows in her work but she slipped up. Got caught by some criminals and they killed her."

A long drawn out sigh came from Liseran as her demeanor fell. Somewhat subdued she continued her story. "I was barely even six years old. I got picked up from school by one of mom's coworkers and they told my that mom wasn't coming home either. I got shipped to Minstrel to my dad's brother's house. Mom was an only child. Dad's sister is also a huntress in Vacuo but she completely fell off the grid when they told her my dad died. Anyways my uncle is a part of the police force in Minstrel, his wife is a nurse. Their son joined the army, while their daughter left the city to live in one of the smaller towns. Well she leads the militia there so not really a peaceful life."

Silence descended once more as each of them were lost in thought. Liz looked to Warren who still had his hood pulled low from when Fae told her story. "How about you, oh great and fearless leader?"

Warren gave a start as flood of emotions played across his face. Before anyone could say anything more a loud rumble sounded from Liseran's stomach. With a nervous chuckle Ozwald shook his head in disbelief while War composed himself. Finally after a long pause Warren nodded. "I...I'll tell you guys the story. One day, I promise. Just...not right now." Fae frowned slightly as she mentally reviewed the emotions that played across her leader's face. A loud clap from their cheerful teammate drew their attention as she practically shouted, "I don't know about you but food sounds won~der~ful~ right about now!"

With that she leapt up and dashed from the room while Oz shook his head with a wide grin as he followed her out of the room. Seemingly to follow the others Fae walked over to the doorway before she called out to her two teammates, "I'll catch up later. I have to meet up with Coco."

She then shut the door and turned back to face Warren. Silence stretched between them. It slowly grew awkward and neither seemed to know what to say. He kept his hood pulled low as he refused to look in her direction. As if refusing to acknowledge her would convince her to leave. Frustrated that she continued to linger and clearly had something to say, Warren started to snap at her. "What. You clearly want to say something so just say it al-"

He cut off startled when she had wrapped him in a light hug, one he could easily break away from. Quietly she whispered, "I'm sorry."

[...what?]

She moved back slightly but kept her hands on his shoulders as she met his gaze. "I won't pry. I won't ask you to explain. But I feel as though I must apologize for that promise the situation forced from you." Sympathy was etched across her features when she paused and seemed to contemplate her next words.

"We are all apart of Team WOLF now-" A chuckle escaped him at the remark, but even to his own ears it sounded broken. From his scroll a sympathetic sound escaped from the speakers as Fae continued, "-and our survival may very well depend on our ability to work as a team. Eventually we will have to come to trust each other. Or at the very least, be able to tolerate one another. So please, don't force yourself to say something before you are ready. That will only bring resentment and hurt us in the long run. Trust takes time to build, we'll get there eventually."

With that said she stepped away and crossed her arms. A slightly amused smile crossed his lips as he noticed she was waiting for a response. Hoarsely he started to reply, "Alrig-"

He coughed and cleared his throat before he tried again, "Alright. Thanks, for trying to make sure I'm alright."

She gave him a knowing smile as she softly responded, "I saw your expression. Shock, grief, fear-" Swiftly she shook her head to keep herself from continuing, instead she asked, "I'm not foolish enough to ask if you are alright. Instead I'll ask, will you be alright?"

"Yeah. I think I will."

Satisfied she nodded. For some reason she saw fit to curtsy before she turned and left the room. The door clicked shut behind her as she thought, [Well. Barely one day in and already we are dancing around childhood trauma. That could have gone better.]

AN: The whole part with Charles and Ozwald asking, "He is human, right?" is actually a reference to Hayate the Combat Butler. Shesh I really need to sit down one day and finish reading that...