The pale light of early morning streamed across KRME's dorm, stray beams coming to rest on Rember's face. The fox girl felt a tickling sensation on her nose and sneezed lightly, stirring. She awoke rather quickly, but lay unmoving under the covers. Judging by how dark it was outside, it was far too early for class. Gayle and Jad were still sleeping, and Rember could hear soft cries from Thistle underneath her bunk. The faunus slowly pulled herself to the edge of her bed and peeked below, a gut wrenching feeling gnawing at her.
Oh... Rember thought, a strange combination of relief and disappointment welling up inside her. The kitten was minding his own business on Azure's bunk, occasionally pawing the pillows and meowing for attention. The fox faunus smiled as best she could, and hopped down to attend to her pet.

"Hey cat-cat," she whispered, picking Thistle up and cuddling him. "What's up?"
Thistlebutt let out a low, pitiable meow and rubbed his face against Rember's. The feline kept looking between Azure's bed and the door, and Rember's ears drooped a little. While the fluffy cat was totally hers and loved her to death, Azure was the one who took care of him when she was busy. That cat really had grown to love her partner's attention almost as much as Rember's.

"You miss him too, huh?" she asked, scratching his chin. Thistle purred and batted her nose lightly. He looked at Rember for a moment before nuzzling her, his loud purrs putting the faunus at ease. "Yeah, me too..." she admitted quietly as she set Thistlebutt down.
It was true. Despite what had happened three days ago, and how uneasy she felt regarding the matter, she still wanted her friend back. To get some answers from him, if nothing else. She kinda felt like she deserved some after what he'd done.
Sighing, Rember rubbed her eyes and reached for her gym clothes. She wouldn't be getting back to sleep anytime soon, so maybe a run and a long shower would help. Something told her that Azure would be back soon, so she needed to prepare herself. Hopefully everything would be okay.

"Still no sign of him," Gayle said, clearly disheartened as she searched the flow of incoming students.

It was the last class of the day, and there was still no sign of their leader. When other people asked why Azure was absent, they all just lied about him suddenly being sick, and that he had to stay in bed. Privately, Gayle didn't know how to deal with what was happening and was very anxious about the whole matter, while Rember spent the day in stoic silence as she scanned the crowds around her. Jad alternated between his usual jovial attitude and reassuring the girls of Azure's imminent return.
Jad hummed to himself as they sat in the amphitheatre waiting for Professor Goodwitch to start class. "He'll be back," he commented, trying to lift everyone's spirits again. "Don't let it get to you. Your face will go all wrinkly if you worry too much," he joked halfheartedly, poking Gayle's cheek.
While Jad and Gayle conversed, Rember kept her eyes on the entrance. Until the last person walked through that door, she wouldn't- couldn't look away. Throughout the entire day, she grew more and more anxious. She tried hiding it the best she could, but her body language just wouldn't cooperate today. Additionally, she was less and less sure that she wanted Azure to come back, and that made her sick. She hated being afraid of him, but there wasn't much she could do to change that for now.
As Rember watched the diminishing flow of people, she found herself holding her breath as she caught a flash of white hair at the very back. Her heart had skipped a beat upon glimpsing anyone with white hair since Azure's disappearance (and she'd had to apologize numerous times as she kept freezing in the middle of busy hallways, causing pile ups and traffic jams). But she knew that spiky hairstyle all too well.
"He's here," Rember said, her voice tense and quiet.
Jad and Gayle followed their teammate's gaze. It took a moment for them to be sure, but as soon as they spotted him they knew. It was Azure alright, dressed in his combat gear. Any other time they would have been happy to see their leader, but right now they were wide eyed and wary.

He looked terrible. Even from a distance they could see dark circles under Azure's eyes, and he moved as if every step was a burden he wasn't sure he could bear; he was clearly exhausted, but he forced himself to try and move as he would have done any other day.
Azure caught the three of them staring, and his heavy eyes fixed on his team. Rember felt her body tense up, waiting to see what her partner would do and expecting some sort of scene. But all he did was stare. It was a blank, hollow look and neither Rember nor Jad could figure out just what was going on inside that white haired head. He eventually looked away without a word, sitting down in the front row, a good distance away from the team and paying them no further attention.
Before anyone could stew on the matter, Professor Goodwitch walked in.
"Good afternoon," she greeted briskly. "Today's class will be another practical lesson, however, we'll be doing things a little differently." The teacher explained, her stern tone capturing their attention and holding it.
Rember furrowed her brow, a strangely ominous feeling blooming within her. Glynda's class was usually her favorite part of the day, besides lunch. A good opportunity to let her hair down a bit. So why was she dreading what the professor was about to say?
"For the past few months, you've been fighting each other to broaden your abilities when it comes to dealing with different fighting styles, as well as developing maneuvers when faced with an opponent who has the advantage," Glynda recounted, her students listening intently. "Today, you are going to take what you have learned, and apply it to building the synergy of your teams."
There were mixed murmurs from the class, some of them clearly not understanding.

Glynda quickly clarified. "To put it simply, you are going to learn the strengths and weaknesses of your teammates by dueling them."
The reception to this news was overall positive. Students were chittering excitedly, eager to be pitted against their friends. KRME, however, was left with mixed emotions. Rember looked over at her partner nervously, though he kept his back turned. Jad and Gayle exchanged glances before returning their gazes back to their teacher.
"Now that you all comprehend your task," Glynda said as she looked at her data pad, "I would like Mr. Knyte and Ms. Autumn to be our first pair today."
Rember was paralyzed.
Gayle hastily raised her hand. "Um, Professor? I don't think Azure..."

She trailed off hesitantly as the boy in white slowly got to his feet and began moving down to the arena.
"I am aware that Mr. Knyte has been reported absent for most of the day," Glynda replied, "but if he's well enough to be in class he'll receive no special treatment, and I expect his full effort in my lessons. Am I clear?"
Gayle nodded and settled back down. Rember got to her feet sluggishly, feeling as though she moved through molasses. The youngest team member took a hold of Ber's hand as her friend moved. "Ber, wait!" Gayle cautioned. "Are you sure...?"
The fox girl was quiet. But she smiled at her pseudo sister, pushing down her inner turmoil.

"Yeah. I can do this."
Forcing herself to move, Rember walked down to face her opponent. He waited silently in the ring, his gaze clouded, as though his soul was miles away. When the fox faunus finally got into place, she unsheathed Ashweave and Stormshatter. She tried clearing her mind, as she often did before fighting. Muddled minds made more mistakes. She needed to be limber and focused if she was going to beat her partner. Azure beat people by capitalizing on the smallest opening his opponent gave him. Unfortunately, her body remained tense and stiff. She shook out each of her limbs individually, desperately trying to box away her anxiety. She didn't want to fight him. Not like this.
She wasn't sure she could do this.
Across from Rember, Azure took out Tyto Naiatra and separated the weapon into its dual blade form, taking a ready stance. The girl immediately noticed that Azure neglected to put his hood up. Odd. She'd never seen him leave the hood down when he fought...did that mean something? No matter. She needed to get herself together. She didn't have any time to think on it further as Glynda signaled the start of the match.
In a flash, Azure was right on top of her. Rember dove into a backwards handspring as her partner's attack whizzed passed her, barely evading it. Regaining her footing she transformed Stormshatter into a whip and flicked her wrist. The weapon hit nothing but air as Azure anticipated the move and retreated, and they returned to their starting positions.
Retracting the whip, Rember rushed forward. Azure turned defensive, swatting away the strikes that he couldn't dodge with his swords. He was struggling though; his exhaustion was already taking a toll, and Rember landed a few hits. The boy jumped back, confusion sparking in his eyes for a split moment. He was expecting that to hurt a little more, but he doubted those blows would even bruise. They clashed again, each fighter taking a more defensive approach than usual.
Some of the spectators were getting restless. They used to get a show from these Huntsmen-in-training. Each contestant had a uniquely complex fighting style that always promised a good bout, but the crowd wasn't seeing that today. It verged on boring.
The pair danced around each other, neither one taking any truly offensive action. Glynda sighed and hit a button on her Scroll, a sound emanating from the speakers and halting the match.
"Would one of you care to explain what, exactly, is going on?" The teacher asked with puzzled frustration. "If you aren't going to take this seriously, then say so now and we'll get on with the next pair."
Rember looked away, her ears pressed against her head. Azure averted his gaze as well, staring at the ground.
Suddenly a familiar voice shouted "I got twenty fat ones on Foxy! She's gonna kick Pasty's ass right out of the ring! Any takers?!"
Rember glanced up and saw Jad on his feet, grinning. Gayle was trying and failing to suppress a smile from where she sat beside him.

There was an uproar of students taking sides, starting up cheers and chanting Rember and Azure's names. Taking a deep breath, Rember dredged up some confidence and managed a mischievous grin as the chanting grew louder.
"Hey!" she shouted, her anxiety suddenly absent. "You gonna fight me, or what?"
Azure's deadpan eyes met hers and he frowned.

"You sure you want that?" he replied quietly, knowing only she could hear him.
Rember flinched at the hollowness of Azure's tone. It was a bit unnerving, but she wouldn't let that stop her. She'd fought unnerving people before. It was just another strategy that some people used. The girl nodded in determination.
"Oh please!" she taunted with a smirk. "I could beat you in my sleep!"
Seeing his opponent steel herself so confidently, Azure's expression changed. With a focused glare, the boy slowly reached up, pulling his hood up to conceal his face. Rember hit a button on each of her weapons, the clawed ends shooting out. Another button and electricity crackled along their lengths. Azure re-established his footing, his exhaustion having momentarily evaporated. The surrounding students cheered, some of them getting to their feet in anticipation as they picked up a change in the atmosphere. This, they could tell, was going to be interesting. Glynda Goodwitch nodded to herself, satisfied, and with another audio signal the match started in earnest.
Rember made the first move, twirling her electrified chords to keep Azure at bay as she advanced. The boy ducked and weaved, green eyes searching for an opening in the whirlwind attack. He knew that if Rember managed to make contact, it was all over. He'd seen what happened when someone got hit by one of those whips. After a few minutes he began picking out a pattern to his opponent's movements. Reading a particular upward sweep Azure lunged forward, tearing a hole in Rember's defense, and activated the Dust in his swords.
Rember saw the move coming, but her body reacted too slowly and Azure landed a slash across her solar plexus. A large section of her body became enveloped in ice and the girl staggered back. Aware that staying still was practically suicide, she activated her semblance to free herself. The frozen prison quickly evaporated, but Rember was punished for her moment of immobility when an explosive arrow landed at her feet, throwing her backwards to crash on the ground. The faunus leapt up, got her bearings in time to see her opponent mere feet away, and caught Azure's next attack with her batons.
Rember pushed Azure back, neither contender paying attention to anything but each other. Driven away by the newly reactivated electricity in Rember's weapons, Azure sent a volley of arrows at the fox girl. Rember rolled away, coming up in a crouch. She just had enough time to locate her opponent before another arrow prompted her to move again. She shot out one of her whips and managed to snag one of the airborne arrows from its intended trajectory. Redirecting her momentum, Rember sent the shaft hurling back towards the one who'd shot it, forcing Azure to desert his position to avoid being hit.
Up in the stands, everyone was cheering. This was far more entertaining that the farce they'd been watching before, and the crowd was loving it.
Rolling to his feet, Azure found that Rember had rushed across the arena. He ducked to avoid a powerful swing from one of her batons, the clawed end brushing the top of his hood. Tyto Naiatra was quickly split in half, the two swords coming up to deflect Ashweave and Stormshatter.
Of the two, Azure was stronger and weighed more. He used his superior strength to trap Rember under his blades, pressing down in hopes of forcing her to the ground. Quick to realize this, Rember lashed a foot at Azure's abdomen, forcing him to relinquish his advantage and giving her the chance to dash away.
Hand springing back, Rember caught her breath. She had never tried this hard to win an in-class duel before.
Azure recovered quickly, green eyes searching for Rember. His teammate was halfway across the ring, one of her whips whistling through the air towards him. It wrapped around the blade of one of his swords, and before Rember could send electricity to incapacitate him Azure let the weapon go. Surprise flitted across Rember's face as the tension between her and Azure disappeared, and she stepped to the side to avoid being skewered by the airborne sword. With a flick of her wrist she freed her whip and returned it to its baton form. Unable to fire at her, Azure employed a new tactic, vanishing from sight with the aid of his semblance. Less than a second later there were two Azure's, both headed for Rember. In the stands people tried to discern which image was the real Azure, but on the arena floor Rember was ahead of them. She let the twins in close before launching her whips in a completely different area.
Ashweave and Stormshatter wrapped around something invisible and just as the clones reached her and Rember hit the buttons on her whips with a grin as the two phantom swords passed harmlessly through her.
Azure appeared from thin air, his body jerking involuntarily as electricity surged through it. As soon as he was visible Rember stopped the current and disentangled her weapons. Azure panted, maintaining a grip on his remaining sword. As Rember prowled closer he jumped to his feet, taking her by surprise. Rember brought her batons up, barely catching the attack. Azure whipped his sword away, moving into another attack. Confidence shaken, Rember rolled away again and shot out her whips. One of them cracked at Azure's feet, forcing him back. In an instant Rember sent the other whip to latch onto Azure's other sword. She wasted no time in activating the electric current, and this time Azure's weapon served as a conduit. His arm went limp and he dropped the sword with a pained shout. Rember dashed forward and pounced, pinning him to the floor.
"Victory goes to Miss Autumn." Glynda announced, adjusting her glasses. "I expect that level of participation from the both of you in the future," she added, fixing her eyes on the pair in the ring.
Sound filtered back into Rember's attention and she registered uproarious cheering and applause. Despite many of the students being twenty bucks poorer, the overall atmosphere was one of satisfaction and excitement.
Rember looked down at Azure, whose expression was unreadable. The fox girl got to her feet and after a brief hesitation offered her hand to her partner.
"Thanks," she told him.
Azure looked at the gesture in puzzled silence.

"For what?" He asked.
"A good fight? I haven't had a match like that in ages." She smiled hesitantly.
Still dumbfounded, Azure glanced at Rember's hand and then looked to his own. He began reaching up, but changed his mind. He clenched his fist and, with a grimace, got to his feet alone. Silent anger stirred within him as he moved to retrieve his weapons, not once looking back as he left the amphitheater. Not only that, but the young man missed the hurt and concern flooding his partner's eyes.

Azure moved quietly through the dark dorm halls. He had returned to his search immediately after leaving Goodwitch's class, but just as before he'd found nothing. Grinding his teeth, Azure leaned his head against the wall and shut his eyes. He was just so...so angry. And tired. And ashamed -of what he'd done to Rember. How could he ever expect them to trust him again? Sure, she'd seemed okay by the end of the duel earlier, but he knew better. After how he'd acted, what he'd done...there was just no way.
Absent-minded, the boy unlocked the door to KRME's quarters and stepped inside the dark room, gently pulling the door closed behind him. He had just started pulling off his hood when the light switched on. The boy froze, instantly alert. His alarm was shattered by shock when an achingly familiar voice said " You know, you shouldn't be out so late."
His blood ran cold. He couldn't believe it. She was still awake? Hardly daring to breathe, Azure turned. He was stunned when he saw not only Rember, but Jad and Gayle, all in pajamas, watching him.
"I...didn't think I was welcome here anymore," Azure mumbled, not daring to hold his teammates' gazes. He wasn't sure he could handle what he might find there.
"Well that just goes to show how muddled your thoughts are right now." Rember told him seriously.

Gayle nodded solemnly from her perch. "You don't get to make that decision for us. You didn't even think to talk to us and ask."

Thistlebutt leapt down from where he sat on her lap and ran over to greet his friend, meowing happily. Azure hesitated before bending down to scratch the kitten's ears, stalling so he wouldn't have to make eye contact with anyone.
"Azure, look at me." Rember ordered flatly after a moment. She had walked over to stand less than three feet away. The boy tried his best not to but eventually he looked up, apprehension coursing through him.

"We deserve an explanation for what happened a few nights ago," Rember stated.
"I know."
"Then why have you been avoiding us all this time?"
Azure paused. "I didn't think I was welcome here." he repeated.
"That isn't true!" Gayle protested.
"And as far as I'm concerned it never will be," Rember added.
"Have you any idea how worried we've been?" Gayle put in, her eyes wide.
"You've been...worried?" Azure asked in disbelief. "But I-"
"We don't care, Pasty." Jad interjected, his tone blunt but kind. "Yes, you crossed a line. So I knocked your sorry ass back over it. I can't speak for the girls but as far as I'm concerned we're good." He looked at his teammates.
Rember frowned. "I'm shaken, Azure," she admitted. "Memories last far longer than bruises, but you're my friend. I don't have so many of those that I'll ditch one of them for screwing up."

She picked up her cat and made her way back to her chair, settling Thistle on her lap comfortably. "Azure I think we deserve to know what's going on."
Azure sighed and covered his face with his hands before letting them fall back down. He slowly walked over to his bed, slouching. Hunched over, the boy didn't say anything for a long time, but the team waited patiently, each of them noting the dilemma in his eyes.
Rember, Jad, and Gayle exchanged glances, beginning to wonder if Azure wasn't going to tell them after all. At that moment he spoke, his voice heavy with shame and regret. "I...I'm sorry, you guys. But I've...I've been lying to you. About who- what I am."
Leaning in close, the team waited for Azure to explain.
"I don't know how to say it. I think a comparison might be better." Azure called to Thistle and the cat padded over, purring.

Picking him up, Azure turned Thistlebutt around so that the others could see his face.
"See his eyes?" Azure asked. They nodded, unsure of where this was going. He put the kitten down. "Promise not to freak out."
"Of course," Rember replied. Jad and Gayle added their assent as well.
Somewhat emboldened by his team's word, Azure closed his eyes. "If you all recall, my semblance is visual illusions," He started.

After a moment he opened his eyes, and Azure thought he heard a surprised gasp from Gayle. The young man studied his teammates' reactions. Gayle was staring intently, looking analytical. Rember's fox ears were perked up, her forest green eyes soaking in what she saw. Jad, to Azure's surprise, didn't even flinch. He was smiling like he had won a bet.
Azure's eyes now looked exactly like Thistle's. The only difference was that Azure's were a deep shade of yellow. A cat's eyes.
"So this is me," Azure spoke plainly, blinking once. "The real me."
"You're faunus too!" Gayle said.
"Only half. My mother was faunus, my father was human," Azure clarified.
Rember beckoned Thistle and the kitten curled up in her lap, purring. "That actually...explains a lot," she said eventually, her brows furrowed. "But not why you've been gone for so long."
Before Azure could answer, Jad spoke up. "About time! You can't just change your eyes and expect me not to notice." He exclaimed, pointing at his friend.
"Wait, you knew this whole time that he was faunus, and you never told us?!" Gayle asked her partner, a little upset.
The tall boy shrugged. "Not my business to tell. Not that it matters."
"But you just said his eyes were different than you remembered! "
"I figured he either didn't want people to know, or they changed when he hit puberty."
"Guys, hold on." Rember interrupted with control. The two of them stopped. "That is not why we're having this conversation. Besides, Jad's right. It wasn't his information to share."
"Thanks." Azure said. He went quiet for a moment. "You remember those four people we encountered?" Everyone nodded. "They're all faunus too."
Jad straddled a chair backwards. "Go on."
"I used to be close friends with them. Well, the boy in black and the girl in purple, anyways. Don't know the other two." Azure began to explain. "I guess you could say that we grew up together."
Rember's fox ears perked up again. "Creed and Wisteria, right?" She asked, pulling their names from her memory. "The other two were Aries and Starr." She remembered the first two showing more interest in her partner than the others.
"Y-yeah." He confirmed, hiding his surprise at Rember's ability to remember things like that.
"What do they want with you? They said they were waiting for you..."
Azure tensed. "I...I don't know what they want. Not a hundred percent." The boy confessed. "And it's...really hard to explain anything about them. " He took a deep breath and forced himself to keep talking. "Are you still sure you want to know why I've been gone?" Azure asked. His tone held a note of severity that sent a chill through his teammates.
Azure met each of their gazes individually, as if reassuring himself of something. He knew they deserved the truth. They were hanging on his every word with a mixture of emotions. Even without tapping into his empath ability he could read what each of them were feeling.

Unsurprisingly the one expressing the largest range of emotions right now was his partner, Rember. She was so still as she waited for him to answer...it nearly made him refuse to speak further. Until a crumpled up paper ball thrown by Jad bounced off his head lightly.
"It's been to protect you guys." Azure said eventually. "I'm not safe to be around."
"What do you mean?" Gayle inquired, looking spooked.
"I mean that those people are coming after me. Most likely to take me back."
"Where to?" Jad asked skeptically.
"The place where I was raised. Where I learned to be so excellent at fighting." Azure answered vaguely.
Rember's ears flicked irritably. She was starting to get tired of her partner beating around the bush. "Spit it out, Azure." She said bluntly.
Azure clenched his fists and let out a growl. "This isn't something that I can just talk about openly!" he snapped.
Jad threw another paper ball.
"Nor do I expect it to be!" Rember shot back. "I hope you'll forgive me, but after being attacked by my partner, as supportive as I want to be, my patience isn't great!"
Azure flinched but refused to back down, yellow eyes hard.

"Fine!" he snarled. "Haven't you thought about it?! Why I'm so good at fighting? Why I've hidden things from you? It's because I was trained, molded, into an agent of destruction! I..." Azure stopped for a second, fury draining from his voice, replaced by heartbreaking regret. "I was in the White Fang, and now they're coming to take me back because I'm too valuable to dispose of in their eyes. At least, that's probably why...it's the only thing that makes sense..."
Rember was unimpressed, though she made an effort to exert more patience. "It doesn't matter what you're trained for as long as you're acting for the right reasons." She told Azure hotly. "I really don't care if you were in the White Fang." Her partner looked at her, his eyes narrowed in disbelief. "No really, I don't. Everyone deserves a second chance, and you've made the decision to take the one offered to you. If the White Fang wants you back they'll have to go through us. You don't belong to them, Azure. People aren't property. They aren't toys that you can throw away and then pick up again later!"
Beside Rember, Gayle nodded quickly. "You're our friend, Azure." She told him. "You've made mistakes, but we all have. I don't know what those are in your case, but you're trying to fix them, and that's the best thing you could be doing."
Azure looked at his female teammates in silent amazement. They really didn't seem to care about what he'd just told them, and were just as quick to support him as ever. He would've felt touched, had he allowed himself to be. Instead he grew frustrated. They weren't taking this seriously.
"I appreciate it." He said somewhat earnestly. "But my mistakes aren't so easily fixed. I can't be let off the hook like they never happened."
"Why not?" Rember asked.
"Because I know what I've done." Azure stated shortly. "This isn't just a case of taking part in a robbery or-or damage of property. I've made decisions with my sword that have seriously hurt people. People with families and futures. People who could have been here, at this academy." He explained. "So can you really blame me for not letting myself get you three involved? I...I can't bear to let another family die because of me."
Rember froze when Azure mentioned family. What family had died? His own? Someone else's? Did he consider his team to be a family? His family? She shook her head. That was a discussion for another time. Right now she wanted straight answers, not these vague, cryptic statements.
"Every family dies eventually." she said, her voice a little colder than she meant for it to be. She winced and softened her tone. "Look, Azure...We're your friends. You're like a brother to me. I nearly died to protect my sister when I was little and I failed. I know how you feel. But that also means that I'm not about to let you take everything on by yourself. No one should ever feel like they have to do everything alone. Especially since they can't." Azure opened his mouth to say something but Rember plowed on over him. "No, listen to me! No one, and I mean that in the most literal sense possible, can do everything all alone. Every time you go get something to eat, you have it because someone else prepared it. Someone else built the place you live in. Another person designed the weapon your neighbor uses, another the traffic system." Everyone stared at her, Jad nodding his support, Gayle with quiet intensity, and Azure without movement. Even Thistle had stopped purring and stared up at his friend attentively, his eyes shining. "I don't care what your reasoning is, you aren't doing this on your own. You can't."
Rember finished her tirade, eyes glued to her partner's half hidden face. He was looking at the floor near her feet as he mulled over her words, his expression hard to read.
"I...appreciate the sentiment," he started hesitantly, "but you don't understand. Those people, the ones you found the other day...they're dangerous. They were about to kill all of you, just because you know me. I can't let that happen. I can't let you follow me if you're going to be in that much danger."
Azure's eyes were strangely dark and, Rember thought, pleading. He met the gaze of each teammate individually before rubbing his eyes and looking back at the floor. He didn't see Rember, Jad, and Gayle exchange glances, or Thistle nuzzle Rember as he sensed her body temperature cool. Azure sat quietly, waiting for his friends to either get up and leave or tell him he wasn't welcome anymore.
He really should have known better. After nearly five minutes of silence another paper ball bounced off his head and Rember said "That is the lamest excuse I have ever heard."
Jad chuckled and agreed while Gayle nodded with an awkward half smile on her face. Thistle, perhaps thinking the mood had lightened, meowed cheerfully and leapt down from Rember's lap to paw Azure's leg in an unashamed play for attention.
The half faunus couldn't believe how lightly his friends were taking his warning. Irritation flashed through him and he got to his feet without realizing it, earning an indignant mew from Thistle.
The second Azure moved his teammates tensed, regarding him warily. Rember actually flinched, fox ears pressed flat against her head and arms half raised to defend herself . A pang of regret at the fear in his partner's suddenly wide eyes shot through Azure, but forced it aside. They HAD to understand!
"You don't get it!" He said vehemently. "These guys could have -would have killed you if I hadn't shown up in time!"
Rember's eyes flashed and she got to her feet as well, fear forgotten. "So could a Nevermore! Or a Beowolf, or an Ursa! Hell, Pyrrha Nikos could kill any of us if she really felt like it! You seem to be forgetting that we aren't defenseless, Azure!" She nearly yelled. "We've been in life or death situations before, the only difference is that this time we didn't know beforehand! We made it, okay?! That means that next time we'll be ready for it! We know now!" She took a deep breath and noticed Thistle bumping at her legs. Bending to pick him up again she stroked his soft fur. "I don't want to fight you, Azure. You're one of the best friend's I've ever had, but I'm not going to agree with everything you do either. I sincerely hope that you get it through your head that you need help before it's too late, because I have no interest in mourning the death of another friend." She glanced at the other two, moving Thistle to her shoulders where he draped himself. "I'm going to bed."
Without another word the fox girl climbed up onto her bunk, her kitten swaying happily on her shoulder.
As soon as the fox girl got in bed heatedly, Azure deflated. Drained, the boy fell back onto his bed and massaged his temples. This wasn't how he wanted it to go. Not at all. Spying Jad and Gayle still watching him, he motioned for them to head to bed.
"Go on. Don't let me keep you up." He said, speaking gently.
Unsure of what else to do, Gayle nodded and got into her hammock.

Jad however walked right up to Azure and locked him into a tight hug. Azure tried to say something but Jad cut him off. "You're safe. You're home, and you're safe. For tonight that's good enough." Jad released him from the embrace. "Get some rest. I'm here when you need me." With that Jad went to bed.

Azure turned off the lights and sprawled across his bed, staring into the wooden bottom of Rember's bunk. He could hear her moving around as she tried to get comfortable, occasionally murmuring quietly to her cat. He could still feel anger and hurt radiating off her.
I'm sorry Rem, but I can't let you. No matter how much you protest. The boy thought.

It was true. He couldn't let her, or anyone else get involved. Yes, it was stupid to do this alone, but he had no other choice. He considered his team family, but he was their leader. And as their leader, he had to be the one to make the hard decisions that were in the best interests of the was the best course of action, even if they were going to disagree with his decisions. Rember clearly did. Azure had the sneaking suspicion that she would continue to do so no matter what he said or did to dissuade her.
Rolling onto his side, Azure mulled over what his partner had said. She was certainly passionate in trying to convince him to let them in. To have them help carry the burden weighing down on him. But his mind was set on the matter. This was his problem, and his alone.
Something heavy dropped into his chest, and Azure began retreating inwards. It wasn't that he didn't think they could defend themselves. On the contrary, he knew first hand they were more than capable. But this danger was on a whole different level. It made fighting Grimm look easy, and only Azure truly understood just how perilous this was.
Sighing softly, Azure closed his eyes. He had to be strong if he was going to do this. Hopefully, he would straighten this out as soon as possible, and then he could return to being the Azure of team KRME. He knew that Rember would keep pressing him, she had a habit of doing that when she wanted to help, and it irked him. She was insanely stubborn. Then again, so was he. Azure secretly hoped that tomorrow would be productive, but something told him it wouldn't be.
The boy let his mind go blank, and his grasp at consciousness slowly faded into sleep.