Chapter 1: Back to School

It had been a few days since Team CSRD's battle with the White Fang. Still exhausted from their narrow victory, the boys spent the time regaining their strength. However, something was just around the corner that was sure to lift their spirits, and it wasn't the tournament.

"So, second semester!" Damien exclaimed, excitedly tapping at his scroll. "This oughta be fun! New classes, new people, new opportunities!"

"Speak for yourself, man," Axel replied shakily, "Everyone's gonna be telling stories about how I set myself on fire trying to get gravy out of my shirt." He buried his face in his hands and shuddered. "I'm the laughing stock of the ENTIRE SCHOOL. Even Gemma won't let it go."

"Yeah, about that. What is it with you two?" Cyrus asked. "She pretty much NEVER leaves your side."

Axel threw his hands up.

"I HAVE NO IDEA." Axel replied. "I mean, I get it. We grew up together, and I get that it's nice to have someone around that you know. But she has her OWN TEAM. She really doesn't need to be attached to me at the hip, man." He put his fingers to his temples. "Ugh. She can be so suffocating sometimes."

THUD.

Suddenly, the door flung open and Gemma fell through, landing flat on her face. She got up slowly and looked up at Axel, tears forming in her eyes.

"Am… am I really a burden to you?" she asked, trembling. Team CSRD froze, all staring at Axel. He opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't find his voice. Gemma ran out of the room, her face in her hands, sobbing. Axel just stood there, stiff and rigid like a marionette. His mouth opened and closed again and again, but no words escaped. The other members looked at each other with disappointment. Sebastian shook his head and smacked Axel in the back of the head, effectively snapping him out of his stupor.

"Gemma, wait!" he yelled after her, finally remembering how to formulate words. He took a step toward the door, but Damien held him up.

"Let her go, man. Something tells me you'll only make this worse." He said. "And I mean that in the nicest way possible."

Axel slumped down on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Gee. thanks." he said. He sat up and looked at the rest of his team. "What the hell was she doing at our door anyway?"

Cyrus checked his watch. "SHIT. It's meal time. She always comes to get us for that." he glanced over at Axel. "Especially you."

"I GET IT," Axel groaned as his head drooped once more. "I messed up. But, in my defense, there's no way I could've known she was RIGHT THERE."

The rest of the team shrugged and Cyrus led the rest of his team across campus to the cafeteria, where they met up with Team MGAT. Cyrus and Damien gave a smile and nod, but Axel stuffed his hands in his pockets and slunk down, hiding behind Sebastian. Cyrus rolled his eyes and led the group inside. They slogged through the line, not a word between them, then sat down in their usual places. All except for Gemma, who sat at the opposite end of the table. The meal went on in silence, neither team speaking to one another. Even Sebastian hardly touched his food

"So, Cyrus." Mola said, attempting to break the deafening silence. "Are you guys going to be in the same classes as us again? I was kind of looking forward to a round two between you and Trucy." Trucy perked up and smiled wickedly, considering the proposition of a rematch.

"Hehe, I doubt it," Cyrus chuckled nervously. "We decided to take more relaxed classes this semester. Figured it could be good, taking a little break from things." He glanced at Sebastian, who was sitting at the table, his head resting on his hand, poking at his food. He had been distant ever since the fight with Noir and the White Fang. Cyrus was beginning to worry. But, as leader, he felt like the best course of action was to just take things slow and try to bring him back with a bit of normalcy in his everyday life.

The group finished their meal, and went their separate ways.

"Alright," Damien said, checking his scroll, giddy with excitement. "First class of the new semester? Medicine, with Professor Peach."

Cyrus nodded as the team walked down the hall, eyeballing doorways in an attempt to try and find their classroom.

"Should be… this one." he said, stopping the team and leading them into the classroom. They took their seats next to the notorious Team RWBY. Cyrus eyed them with slight jealousy. Why are THEY the popular ones? He thought to himself. We BOTH risked our lives that night, but nooo. We just took down one of Torchwick's stooges. He shook his head with disdain.

The class was as boring as the team suspected, and they all either slacked or dozed off. As soon as class was released, the team took a collective sigh of relief.

"Well, that was boring as all hell." Cyrus slumped from the sheer boredom he faced in class.

"No way, captain obvious," Damien responded. "I mean whose idea was it to take this class?" Damien and Cyrus glared at Axel who just sheepishly smiled and shrugged. Sebastian looked at the ground, clearly down in the dumps.

"Hey Sebastian," Cyrus said. "We're gonna go walking around the grounds to see some of the new transfer students. Wanna come with us?"

Sebastian barely looked up to see Cyrus.

"I'm good. I'll just head to the dorm room." he replied before he walked off on his own. The team looked at one another with concern.

"What's gotten into him?" Axel looked back at Sebastian, now off in the distance. "I'm beginning to worry about him. I mean what that Sierra girl said couldn't have all been true could it have?"

"We can't know for sure unless we ask Sebastian directly." Damien looked down to pause, thinking. "But I feel like that won't happen for a while."

"I get what you mean," Cyrus replied. It's just with the second semester rolling around now, I'm concerned for him. He's clearly hurting here but we can't do anything about it."

"And if that's the case," Damien continued, "maybe what the White Fang girl said was true."

"Damien!" Axel sharply responded to Damien's comment, angered by Damien's lack of faith in Sebastian.

"Think about it, Axel. She said that Sebastian only came here to get away and hide from the White Fang. That he lied to us about his reasons to be here. Do you remember how he looked when we found him fighting her? He wasn't himself, clearly not even remotely acting how he usually does when confronted by people who make light of him. Which can only mean that what she said actually affected him."

"Still, he's our friend. We should believe in him."

"With what he's hid from us so far, like Sierra herself, the fact that he has actually killed people before, and with everything he has up his sleeve I can't put all my faith into him."

Cyrus stepped in between them, breaking the argument up. "Bottom line is, guys, we need to give him time first. Maybe he'll come around and tell us everything. Until then, let him be."

"Yeah, Fine. " Damien grunted, displeased that Axel didn't see his way.

"Yeah, sure," Axel grumbled. "Can we just get back to walking around? I hear we're getting some new transfer students, and I wanted to size up the competition."

The rest of the team nodded and headed to the courtyard. When they got there, they were amazed to see the sheer amount of students coming in. It was ship after ship of humans and faunus all dressed in their own respective uniforms. Cyrus leaned over to his team.

"So. Who do you think is fighting in the tournament?

"Team RWBY obviously," Damien said with a cocky grin.

"I was talking about the INCOMING students, genius." Cyrus shot back, smacking Damien in the back of the head.

"Ouch. noted." Damien replied, "In that case, I have no clue."

"Yeah," Axel added. "None of these guys really seem like super strong tournament material."

Cyrus gave Axel a skeptical look.

"And how exactly would you know, Mr Weaponsmith?" he mocked. "You don't exactly scream 'warrior' either."

Axel shrugged.

"Touche'."

After a few minutes, the ¾ of Team CSRD turned and headed back to their dorm.

As they were walking, Cyrus noticed Axel wandering slightly, his face distant. They would be talking and laughing, but Axel's smile would fade and he would start to break off from the group. This went on repeatedly until they finally arrived back at the room. Damien opened the door, and was followed by Sebastian, but Axel paused in the doorway, spacing out again. Cyrus was fed up. He grabbed Axel's arm, and shook him until he refocused.

"Dude. What is with you?" He asked impatiently.

"Wha-what do you mean?" Axel replied nervously.

"Are you kidding me? We've had to stop for you to catch up TWICE."

"What are you talking about? I was just walking, bro."

Cyrus tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, his mouth wide open.

"Are you freaking KIDDING ME-" He paused. Many unpleasant words flowed through his mind, but he took a few breaths and recomposed himself. He shoved Axel through the door so he could get in, closed the door, and turned back to face him.

"We had to physically drag you back on track the whole way back here. You're pretty scatterbrained, but at least you can normally walk in a straight line. This? This is different. So you can either spill the beans or I can beat the answers out of your goddamn KNEECAPS."

Axel shrugged and walked over to his bed, where he plopped down. He looked up to see the rest of his team staring at him, their faces a mix of concern and frustration.

"Okay, fine," Axel said, throwing his hands up. "I'm having trouble with the whole… Situation…"

"What 'situation'?" Sebastian asked, genuinely confused.

"The 'Gemma Situation'," Damien said fleetingly, as he and Cyrus brushed the comment off. Sebastian hadn't exactly been "present" the past few weeks to notice or to care. Axel paused for a moment before deciding not to acknowledge the comment.

"I mean I'm pissed at myself for what happened. I never wanted to hurt her like that. She means well, and sure as hell didn't deserve to be called "a burden."

The groups' expressions softened, and Damien sat down beside Axel.

"I mean, in your defense, you didn't actually say she was a burden. You just pointed out that she can be a little suffocating sometimes, which is totally true." Damien said, the rest of the team nodding.

"I just- I have no idea what I'm going to do. Like, she hasn't left me alone for this long since we got here. And I must admit, it's been kinda nice." He said, chuckling slightly, slowly reverting back to his goofy wisecracking self. "But I obviously can't leave things the way they are. We've been friends for a long time, and it wouldn't be right to ruin that for a few extra minutes of 'me time'."

Cyrus folded his arms and rubbed his chin.

"Maybe you could just talk to her. See if she'll back off a little bit." he suggested.

"Are you kidding?" Axel replied hopelessly as he flopped backward and stared at the ceiling." You saw what happened earlier. She'd die if I straight up told her not to be near me."

"Actually, that's where I think you're wrong." Cyrus rebutted. Axel looked up at him pathetically.

"What do you mean?"

"I MEAN that she's not a child anymore. She doesn't need you babying her. She's a grown person now, and you should treat her like one. Yes, she acts like a child sometimes, but I believe she can be reasoned with. Just give her a chance."

Axel sat up and thought over Cyrus's suggestion. He nodded.

"You know what? You might be right."

"Of course I am." Cyrus replied, turning away confidently, striking a pose with his hands on his hips. Axel sat for a moment, staring dumbfoundedly.

"Since when are you the foremost authority on 'girl problems?'"

Cyrus's eyes opened wide and he blushed, his look of confidence turning to a look of embarrassment.

"Not important. For now, you've gotta figure out how to make it up to her. Then you can have that conversation."

Axel nodded, and the group dispersed and just relaxed for the rest of the night.