Fox kept his eyes closed as the warm rays of the morning sun filtered through the open windows of the security tower and stirred him awake. The feeling of the gentle, heated caress was heavenly upon his exposed shoulder and back… but there was no real reason to open his eyes. There never was, really- he only kept them open most times out of habit and to placate those who grew nervous with him walking around. His plan was to remain still- very still- for as long as Cerise was content to rest in is arms. The two of them had cuddled up on the air mattress and eventually fallen into a deep sleep… or at least, Fox had managed to do so. He couldn't be sure just how long Cerise had been out, or really, if she had slept at all.

The talk had been long and meandering. Fox found that he had trouble explaining who and what Salem actually was and how Teams STRQ, OKRA, and Willow were involved. With only a cursory and very recently acquired knowledge base, he had tripped over his words, muddied the waters, and ended up confusing both of them. Several messages were sent to his foreign friends to clarify the matter, and the text-to-speech function on his scroll read out their answers to Fox and Cerise alike. In the end, neither was quite satisfied with how the night had ended, and though he couldn't see her face, Fox could sense that something in Cerise had changed. Her aura felt entirely different as they settled in… and it wasn't in a way that he liked.

Cerise had grown quiet as the pair readied themselves for bed. All of the frustration, anger, and passion in her voice had died out. There was no small talk- there wasn't even awkwardness as they had decided to share the mattress and huddle together. It wasn't the first time they had shared a bed. In fact, it was far from it, but it was the first time that Fox had felt oddly protective while holding her. It was more than the verbal admission that he wished they were something beyond just friends. It was also about the sheer gravity behind what they had spoken about turning in, and how much it would affect both of their lives in the future… especially after their guests left Vacuo.

Part of him expected her to be gone in the morning, and he was pleasantly surprised that he could still feel her when he awoke.

"…Cerise?" Fox said in a whisper, keeping his arm slung lazily across her stomach. "You're awake, aren't you?"

"Guilty," came the reply, her voice entirely devoid of enthusiasm as she stared at the far wall. "How the hell can you tell from back there?"

"You breathe differently when you're sleeping," Fox answered as though it was obvious.

"That is… so creepy," Cerise warned.

"I didn't…" Fox started before letting out a flustered sigh. "I didn't mean it like that. I guess I just hear things like that more easily. You know how it is…"

"Yeah," Cerise acknowledged. "It's fine. I know you're not weird like that."

"I'm pretty weird," Fox joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah," Cerise repeated flatly, unaffected by the attempt.

There was a moment of awkward silence as Fox moved in closer, pressing his chest to Cerise's back.

"…are you okay…?"

"What are we doing, Fox?" the woman asked suddenly, her voice up at a normal speaking volume.

Fox hesitated. There were many ways such a question could be interpreted, and he had a sinking feeling that where his mind went immediately wasn't in line with what Cerise was thinking.

"What do you mean? Like… right now? Or…"

"No, 'we' as in… everyone. All of us. Humanity," Cerise clarified. "If I'm understanding all of this right, there are two- at least two- beings on Remnant right now that might as well be gods. They could level Vacuo at any second. They could wipe countries clean in some bullshit magical skirmish. We're not really in control of our lives with walking weapons like that lurking in the shadows. How are we just supposed to go on living like things are normal knowing what we know? And we don't even really know the details…"

"Don't think like that," Fox tried, keeping his tone as warm and reassuring as he could. "Life doesn't suddenly not matter just because there are huge threats around us. If you're suggesting that we just… give up, you could say the same thing about the massive sandstorms that tear apart desert cities, or the huge waves that sometimes wreck the coastal ones. You can't just give in to despair over something that may not even happen during our lifetimes…"

"This is different," Cerise insisted as she remained motionless. "This is… we've been handed a death sentence, Fox. Nothing matters anymore."

"What do you mean nothing matters?" Fox pressed. "A lot of things still matter. I mean… you matter to me. The rest of our friends, too."

"That's not what I'm talking about," Cerise said, her voice carrying a heavy frustration as she pulled away from Fox and stood up with a sigh. She stretched and reached for the ceiling, the shirt she had stolen from her companion lifting up to reveal her stomach and panties as she did so. "Nothing we want from life matters anymore. Nothing considered normal about our lives, like my stupid job, or social events… why even bother? We're wasting time."

Fox pulled himself up into a sitting position and scratched at the back of his neck. The loss of warmth from Cerise's body was upsetting for multiple reasons, and he let out a full-body shiver.

"…I don't understand. What exactly are you saying?"

"I'm saying that knowing what we know… there's no point in pretending life is normal anymore," Cerise began. "I can't know about this whole thing going on behind the scenes and continue working out of some shitty bar, waiting tables and leaning over to show off just enough of my tits to get a good tip. I can't keep snatching wallets and hustling on the streets, acting like it improves my life while all of this is looming overhead and could end it all at any second. It's a total waste to keep going down the path I'm on. I'm quitting my job. I don't know where I'll be staying, or what to do next, but…"

"Whoa, whoa, calm down," Fox insisted as he stood up and made a slow approach toward his friend. "You can't just… Cerise, I don't want you throwing everything away and making some big, radical change like this just because of what we found out yesterday. What are you even planning to do if you go through with this…?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Cerise asked as she put her hands on her hips. "I have to brush up on my combat skills. Start getting ready for the inevitable war, and get used to killing grimm rather than winning street fights. My Semblance is too useful to just sit on the sidelines with the knowledge I have. I can hold my own against some asshole in the streets and probably certain hunters, but if we're up against some immortal witch, I'm gonna need you all to kick my ass until I improve."

Fox simply stared for a moment- or at least, remained still as he felt Cerise's aura before him. Again it had shifted, the overall vibe of it more aggressive. While she normally gave off a fiery, self-assured sort of feeling, there was also an odd bit of sorrow and frustration intermingled within the energy. It was both warm and cold, bitter and sweet, and gave Fox pause. Cerise was clearly going through an internal storm, and she wasn't sharing all of her thoughts about the matter. Whether or not to press her on that fact was something Fox couldn't quite decide, and so, he remained still.

"…maybe sleep on it for a few days?" Fox suggested. "It's never a good idea to rush into major life changes."

"Rushing into things I end up regretting is kind of my thing," Cerise pointed out as she shook her head. "Don't try to stop me, Fox- just help me. Please? I trust you, honestly in a way I don't really trust anyone else. I need you to trust me instead of trying to hold me back. Nothing fucking matters, not that it ever did, and I'm going all-in. If I'm getting roped into this shitshow, I might as well make it count."

"Of course I trust you," Fox reassured as he took another step forward and pulled Cerise into a hug. "Even if some of the others don't, I know your heart's in the right place."

"Is it?" Cerise questioned as she let out a sigh. "There is always the possibility that this is just another one of my sleepless, stupid schemes that ends up getting abandoned… but as of right now, I feel committed. Don't let me waver, Fox. Any decent person would take up the fight, knowing what I know now."

"You're better than decent," Fox replied as he gave Cerise a squeeze. "A lot better…"

"Doubt it," Cerise said as she pulled back, letting Fox's hands linger on her hips. "I need to pull myself together and focus if we're going to get this done. Rein in my usual impulses, at least until I'm on solid ground. Can I stay with you for a few days, until I've got some things figured out?"

Fox raised a brow and let out an uncomfortable little laugh. In truth, he wanted nothing more.

"I mean… I would absolutely share a bed with you, I just don't know if Ghira and Sage would be willing to let you hang around…"

"It's just as much your dorm as it is theirs," Cerise pointed out. "And Sage can't say shit against me, now. Turns out he was just dying to fuck me, despite the way he acts. I'll gladly hold that over his head to get him to shut up around Ghira."

Fox's blood suddenly felt like ice. He tried desperately to keep a poker face, though it was a losing battle. The hesitation before he spoke didn't help matters at all… nor did his awkward fumbling of the topic as he tried to figure out what to say.

"…oh. Does that mean… it's none of my business, I just… actually, forget I even as-"

"We did," Cerise confirmed with a frown that Fox would never see. "Sorry, I probably shouldn't have said anything. I wasn't going to, either, considering how awkward it probably is for you to know, given that he's your roommate and all. I just don't think we should be keeping any more secrets, you know? Especially not between you and me. You've always been the one to defend me when the others got shitty about things, and I appreciate it. I'm not going to lie to you."

"Yeah," Fox agreed, his stomach falling. "Yeah, it's… fine. I'm just a little… surprised, is all. Sage and I don't really talk about our sex lives, or whatever. You just caught me off guard. It's fine…"

"That's one of the things I like about you, Fox," Cerise let on as she cracked her neck and rolled her shoulders. "There's never any drama from your direction, and I get more than enough of it from all other sides. You're my rock in this constantly shifting desert. Never change."

Fox simply nodded, knowing that nothing he could say would do himself, or her any good at all.

"Right. So… I'm gonna go shower down in the main house. I'll stay with you, and then talk to the headmaster whenever you guys can get me in. Use the leverage of knowing about Salem to maybe get at least a discount toward attending the academy. I'll find a way in, one way or another…"

"Sure…" Fox said, deflating a bit.

"…are you alright?" Cerise asked, arching a brow.

"Fine," Fox replied. "Just… got a bit of a headache. Think I might've slept too long, or at an odd angle, or… something. I'm gonna do some stretching and whatnot up here, and then I'll follow you down. Go shower. I'll catch up soon."

Cerise offered Fox a slow nod and made her way to the door.

"…so weird. And… thanks, Fox. For everything, and especially for not trying to stop me. See you soon."

Fox waited until Cerise left before he deposited himself on the edge of the air mattress and put his head in his hands. He had no idea what to do… nor any idea what he even wanted. All he knew for sure was that he felt awful… and he couldn't let anyone know it.

Author's Note:

Poor guy.

-RD