Coco squinted as the brilliant scarlet portal closed around Raven's foot, leaving the cliffside dark again. Only the meager campfire that Qrow had started up and the light of the broken moon and stars afforded any visibility at all for the four who remained at the edge of Argus. Somewhere in the fight with Salem, Coco had lost her sunglasses. She could only imagine what the expression on her face must have been as she watched things play out throughout the night. As ridiculous as it seemed, she couldn't tell if the icy feeling on her cheeks was just the frigid mountain air or trails of tears.

"Hey," Qrow said softly as he crouched down on the other side of the fire and gave Coco a sympathetic look. "You alright?"

Coco met the older man's eyes, watching as their soft red hues adopted an eerie orange glow in the firelight.

"…I don't know," Coco in a small voice. "That may have been our last bid for safety. That may also have been one of my best friends limping his way into an active warzone. We'll have no way of knowing which it was until- unless Raven comes back, once it's safe. I don't know what to feel right now other than…"

Coco trailed off, not wanting to admit to what she knew to be true. As her tenure as the leader of Team CFVY continued, her three colleagues and critics turned friends had slowly begun to trust her with their lives. Where she first saw a burden and constant clashes in them, things had eventually progressed to the point where she loved them like family. For one of them, the feelings extended beyond even that notion. Admitting to what was on her mind and in her heart felt like a betrayal of their trust and admiration, and yet, she knew that Qrow could see right through her. The only judgment came from within herself, and some childish, defiant piece of Coco felt that failing to say it aloud somehow made it less real.

"…you're terrified."

Coco looked up and to her left, where Taiyang stood with a guilty look upon his face.

"Sorry," the man offered as he lowered himself to sit in the light snow beside her. "My semblance allows me- or really, forces me to read the emotions of everyone around me. If they're strong enough, I feel them, too. I know exactly what you're feeling at the moment… including the guilt."

"…I don't like that," Coco said quickly as she pulled her knees into her chest. "I really don't like being that vulnerable."

"And that's why Raven is my ex-wife," Taiyang replied. "Part of the reason, at least. She hated me prying into her mind, but… I couldn't help it. We all have things about us that we can't control, Coco. There are positives in there, too, though- like your bravery. For whatever shame you're feeling right now, thinking you're weak, or making a mistake, or whatever it is causing you to feel as miserable as you feel- you're here. You're standing up to Salem in a situation when most would run. That's commendable."

"That's the job," Coco said icily as she narrowed her eyes. "That's what I- what all of us signed up for, and I'm not going back on my hunter's oath just because things have gotten scary. I'm the leader of Team CFVY. I'm an icon to a lot of people back home, despite the fact that I'd just be starting my third year. I'm damned well going to get my shit together and act like it."

"Team CFVY…" Qrow mused as he cleared away some snow to sit upon the resulting patch of dirt. "I've heard that name before, as far out as Mistral. Nice to finally meet you outside of a screen at the Vytal Festival. You may well be an icon after all."

"And you two are legends," Coco replied with a sniff. "Legends who don't seem to be bothered at all by what's going on right now."

Qrow and Taiyang exchanged a knowing look. The blond gave the other man a nod, and he let out a sigh before running his hand through his ashen hair.

"Kid… it's not that we don't feel pretty similarly to how you probably do right now- it's that we've gotten good at hiding it. Team STRQ… we went through a lot. I mean, a lot. Over time, you get used to just… bottling it up. Literally, in my case. That being said, it's… okay to let it out and air your emotions, around the right people. Despite what you might think, they'll respect you more for it afterward."

Taiyang gave his teammate a nod and smile in response to Qrow's uncertain glance.

"I can confirm that they will. Qrow and Raven got used to having those talks with me, for reasons I'm sure you can imagine."

"That sounds… awful," Coco concluded. "Being forced to confront your emotions like that. Awful, healthy, and probably a good thing. But still awful."

"Sounds a lot like our job in general," Qrow said with a smirk. "Hard. Grueling. Uncomfortable… and necessary for everything around us to function. I know we just met, but I'm already proud of you. Just keep going and lean on those around you."

"And talk to us, in the little moments we get like these," Taiyang insisted. "They're rare, but they're valuable. If all of STRQ had taken advantage of opportunities like this…"

Taiyang trailed off, and Qrow looked away from the fire.

"…painful memories?" Coco asked as she looked between the two men.

"Yeah," Qrow answered. "Yeah, you could say that."

"Then let's change the subject," Coco offered. "I have a question… Taiyang? Can I just call you that?"

"I think you've earned the right," Taiyang answered with a smile. "Shoot."

"What the hell's on her mind?" Coco asked as she nodded her head toward the edge of the cliff.

Neopolitan hadn't moved since the group's arrival. The young woman stood staring out at the flames within Argus, her two-toned hair billowing in the breeze. Upon hearing Coco's question, she turned around and gave Taiyang a hard glare. Slowly, she shook her head, her expression furious.

"I…" Taiyang began, "I don't think I should say…"

"So, what, she just gets a pass?" Coco asked as she wiped her face with her sleeve. "Why are you still with us, Neo? You had opportunities to get out. Now, you're stuck halfway across the world from your boss with a group that was working against you until earlier today. You have no code to keep you in this, and you have to know our odds aren't good with everything you've heard up until now. So… what's the deal?"

Neopolitan swallowed and approached, drawing her scroll as she walked.

"Not gonna get any signal out here," Qrow warned. "It's being jammed from somewhere nearby."

"She's mute," Coco explained. "Neopolitan, Roman Torchwick's partner in crime and… that's really all I know. She was there at Beacon and came with us when she found out that he's alive and on our side."

"Roman Torchwick's alive?" Qrow asked with a laugh of disbelief as Neopolitan made it over to the group. "And with us?"

"It's odd, I know," Taiyang acknowledged as the three people gathered around the fire took out their scrolls. "From what the others explained to me, he didn't know about Salem until recently. He thought he was just working for Cinder and got in over his head."

Neopolitan nodded as she sat down between Coco and Qrow. A signal was sent to adopt the contact information of those around her, and she began to tap at her scroll while they continued to speak.

"For the record- I didn't know about Salem until recently, too," Coco added. "I know that's not really a surprise to either of you, but… we're in a similar boat in that regard, Neo. I'm not trying to come off as aggressive. I just want to know why you stayed. It can't be as simple as 'because that's what Roman wants.'"

A soft ding echoed out around the campfire, and Coco, Taiyang, and Qrow checked their screens for the first message from Neopolitan.

Because that's what Roman wants.

Coco shot Neopolitan the nastiest glare she could manage. The other girl gave her a mischievous smirk in kind.

"…alright, that was good," Taiyang admitted with a chuckle. "But… really. In times like these, your past isn't as important as what you're feeling right now. This is an olive branch, and an offer to help you however we can. After all, we need everyone we can get. Share what you're feeling. I already have some idea, so… why not tell us in your own words so there's no misunderstanding?"

Neopolitan let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, beginning to type once again.

"Hey, while you're writing your novel, I'll get the tent set up," Qrow offered. "I've only got one, so three of us will have to jam in there. Honestly, it'll help all of us keep warm, so maybe it's a good thing..."

"I can think of worse guys to be sandwiched between," Coco joked. "Two legendary, older huntsmen? Sign me up."

"You just earned yourself first watch," Qrow said as he stood up with a stretch. "Tai's my body pillow, and mine alone."

"That's a threat more than a comfort," Taiyang replied. "He snores. Loudly."

"As if any of us are getting sleep tonight anyway," Coco said with a sigh. "An hour or two at best, I'm thinking. Full of nightmares, naturally."

"Naturally," Taiyang agreed. "You get used to it over time."

"The snoring, or the nightmares?"

"Yes."

Another soft ding rang out, and Qrow stopped fiddling with the tentpoles to check his scroll along with the others.

You may not think of me as a huntress, but today, I've become one. A different sort of huntress- one more classical and primal. I will stop at nothing to corner and kill my prey, and that prey is named Salem. I thought that Cinder took everything from me, but now she lies dead, and her master is out in the open. I don't care how powerful she is. I don't care how much the odds are stacked against me. I'll bide my time and strike when I have an actual opportunity rather than rushing headlong into death. My best bet at seeing that opportunity is by remaining with you. Even if you all end up being nothing more than a distraction, I'll take what I can get in order to have my shot at her.

I don't want to talk about how I felt when I thought that Roman was dead, but I want to say this- I will never let that witch make anyone else feel like I did ever again. What Taiyang senses within me is vengeance. Righteous anger. There is nothing else there, and there is no one else there for me but Roman.

"She's not lying," Taiyang confirmed.

"But she is mistaken," Coco corrected as she turned to face Neopolitan. "The only way there's 'no one else' is if you choose that path. Not everyone's going to accept you, but… I'll have your back, if you let me. I know what it's like to be pushing the tides and feeling like you're the only one trying. I'm sure others in the group will feel similarly, even if some of them shun you."

Neopolitan gave Coco a blank stare before tapping out a simple line.

Sometimes I'm glad I can't speak, like when I get the offer to sit around a campfire and sing friendship songs or whatever bullshit you're suggesting.

"…come on," Coco deadpanned. "It's not like that, and it doesn't have to be tonight. Think it over. I hated feeling alone, and I'm pretty sure you do, too."

Coco turned to Taiyang as if seeking confirmation. The man had his eyes on Neopolitan but said nothing as another text came through.

First watch is mine. Get some sleep.

Neopolitan rose, her boots crunching through the shallow snow as she walked back toward the cliff's edge.

"…give it time," Taiyang suggested as he patted Coco's shoulder. "Your heart's in the right place."

"Yeah, well," Coco began in a bitter tone, "I don't know if that's going to be enough anymore."

Author's Note:

Two scenes remain before The Confrontation with Ironwood…

-RD