"And one and -no...One and -no...One and two and -NO!"
Rember was working her damndest to contain the giggles bubbling up inside her. When they'd finished conversing with Junior and made contact with the rest of their team, Azure had asked Jad for help instructing him in the art of dance. It had been so bizarre, so incredibly out of her partner's comfort zone that Rember knew she had to witness it. Gayle had been happy to take over grocery shopping, leaving Rember free to conceal herself in the mound of blankets on her bed to watch the show. So far she hadn't been disappointed.
When they finally got started with the lesson, Jad took a rather hands on approach. 'Hands on' in this case meant he was fulfilling the role of his leader's dance partner. Azure was understandably reluctant to have his friend take him by the hand and waist, but Jad insisted that this was the most effective way to learn. The pale archer soon realized he had no other choice if he wanted to learn, and more willing to embarrass himself in private than in public, sucked it up. The girls were conveniently absent for the time being (though he couldn't remember Rember leaving her blankets all piled up like that before), so he'd learn as much as he could from Jad before they returned.
"Ugh, look, I'm sorry!" Azure growled, irritated and embarrassed. "I just don't get why this is so difficult. It's just -argh, this is so ridiculous!"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Jad responded, trying to minimize his leader's frustration. "Just chill, Pasty. You're just going at it from the wrong angle."
"What?"
"Okay, look at it this way," Jad said, breaking away from Azure and taking a stance, "you're a fighter, Pasty. A damn good one. But all that training to beat the ever living crap outta stuff makes first time dance lessons a real sonova bitch. Wanna know why?"
Azure nodded.
"When you fight you take a stance, move, return to a set position, right? That way you're always ready to defend or start another attack. Dancing don't work like that."
The young half faunus cocked an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yep! When you're dancing you don't go back to the starting position upon completing the last step, you continue on with the first step from where you are. Here," the redhead grabbed Azure again, a grimace on the archer's face. "This time, instead of going through the steps and returning to your set stance, flow right into the first step."
Azure took a moment to compose himself. He then, very slowly, did as instructed, moving against years of muscle memory. It felt awkward, and Azure couldn't help but feel foolish (was someone giggling?), but he eventually got the gist of what Jad was telling him. Proud of his student's improvement, Jad decided to break Azure's stiffness. One had to be loose if one was going to be dancing.
"Heeey! There we go! Look who's dancing now!"
Without warning, the tall redhead changed position so that he was the lead dancer, pulling Azure in close so he could look into his yellow eyes with a comically sultry stare.
"You gonna be getting the ladies in no time…"
Before Azure could pull away or verbally respond, the door opened to reveal Gayle with a paper grocery bag.
"Hey I got the-"
She trailed off as she caught sight of the rather...intimate looking moment that the guys were sharing, freezing in the entryway like a deer in headlights.
"Hey good lookin'. You next?" Jad asked, not missing a beat .
"I, uh…" the lizard girl stammered, unsure of how to react as she turned to address her leader. "I...got the things you and Ber needed, Bossman. Do you, uh...need anything? A-a snack? Maybe some...time...alone?"
The mound of blankets on Rember's bed started moving, the girl unable to contain her laughter any longer. Some of the blankets shifted as she kicked her feet gleefully, revealing her presence to a scarlet faced Azure, a startled Gayle, and a sniggering Jad.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAH! OH MY-HAHA- OH MY GOSH! HAHAHA! THIS- AHA- THIS IS AMAZING! BAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The heat in Azure's cheeks spiked and waves of embarrassment washed over him. He took a deliberate step away from Jad, dropping his friend's hands like hot pokers. The fedora wearing dance instructor still wore an impish smile, and the half faunus glared at him.
"Say anything about this, and I will seriously hurt you, Jad," he growled.
Jad shrugged off the threat. "Whatever you say, twinkle toes!"
"Ahahaha, don't, haha, don't worry, Jad! I got it on camera! Ahahahaa!" Rember whooped, swinging down to retrieve her scroll from its hiding place.
When everything had calmed down and Gayle's considerable confusion cleared up, Jad and Azure resumed their dance lesson. However this time Rember stepped in as Azure's partner instead, making it tolerable for the young man and seriously reducing his embarrassment. Gayle took interest in the lessons as well, as she was somewhat limited in this branch of knowledge. Soon enough the entire team was learning from Jad, and the evening was filled with fun and laughter for everyone.
A few hours into lessons, night had come around and the team opted to take a breather before anymore dancing. Azure took to the kitchen, baking his chocolate chip cookies (with Rember's occasional assistance), and Jad joined them there to fry up some bacon. Gayle took to her personal studies. Rember was soon evicted from the kitchen for eating raw cookie dough and moved to her bunk to play with Thistlebutt.
"Azuuuure," Rember whined, her mouth watering at the scent of melting chocolate. "When will the cookies be dooone? And how long on the bacon? This is cruel and unusual torture!"
"You cannot rush perfection, young padawan," Jad hummed, adopting the demeanor of an old sensei. "One does not simply make the masterpiece that is my bacon."
"Exception of one," Azure quipped as he peered into their oven's window, his chef's hat tilting forward slightly. "By the way, you sounded like our old master for a second there."
"Hehe. I do the voice pretty well, don't I?" Jad chuckled, remembering the way their old teacher stroked his beard and spouted random metaphors.
"Is that how you guys became friends?" Gayle inquired, peering over from an old book she was reading in her hammock.
"Yup!" Jad exclaimed, nodding happily. "Back when we were kids and Azure didn't hide his 'cat'ness! Ahhh...good times."
"Hee hee, I guess you could say," Rember smirked, "that back then the cat was out of the bag, amiright?!"
The half faunus let out a chuckle, Gayle cracked a smile, and Jad gave Rember a thumbs up of approval.
"Nice," Azure congratulated. "Cookies are done, by the way."
The timer that he'd set on his Scroll went off the second the words left his mouth. Opening the door to the oven, the dorm was quickly engulfed by the aroma of Azure's chocolate-chip cookies, the four teens inhaling the scent eagerly.
Rember drooled upon sighting the confectionery, trembling with excitement.
"How long do I have to wait?" She asked, peering over her bed.
Azure grinned at her antics. "Five minutes, ten tops. We'll have a few then we can get back to practicing," he said, removing his hat and apron.
Rember sighed melodramatically and flopped back on her bunk, legs hanging comically off the side. The team dissolved into a fit of chuckles when Thistle jumped onto her stomach, making her shriek and sit up in surprise.
Azure grinned as he strolled to their window, taking a peek outside. The moon was beautiful in the dark sky, highlighting the rooftops of the academy and clouds above. Everything looked calm. Serene. Simply put: it was a perfect night.
A flash of movement caught his eye. He peered down to the garden entrance where he'd noticed the shift, and scrutinized the ground.
Stepping out from behind a hedge was a familiar purple haired girl, who gazed up at him before stepping back into the shadows. Azure's body tensed. There was no mistaking that magenta clad figure.
Wisteria.
Azure was stuck. He glanced back at his teammates, but none of them seemed to have seen anything or noticed his abrupt silence. Looking back outside Azure caught the briefest glimpse of Wisteria moving through the garden. She obviously wanted him to know she was there, but why? What else did she want?
What should I do? He thought, his heart beginning to pound. Could it be a trap? No, Creed wouldn't act so brazenly this early on. Did she come of her own will? Possibly. Should I follow her? Probably not. But... Azure continued the silent debate, weighing the risks and possible outcomes. After more thought, he nodded conclusively.
I probably won't get another chance, he surmised. I'm going.
"Oh, shit," Azure said aloud, turning away from the glass while walking to the door with purpose, "I forgot about a thing I had to do earlier."
The other three gave him quizzical looks as he grabbed his scroll and opened the door.
"I'll be back," he said, closing the door behind him.
Rember's eyes narrowed in disbelief. Leaping off her bunk, the fox girl strode over to the window and peered through, trying to see what might have caught her partner's attention. Unable to see anything unusual she casually walked past the others.
"Be right back," she muttered.
Jad and Gayle exchanged glances, but said nothing as their teammate closed the door quietly behind her.
Out in the hall Rember's ears perked up as she searched for the sound of Azure's footsteps. Pinpointing them easily, she stalked silently down the hall after the boy, careful to keep him just out of sight so he couldn't look back and catch her.
Azure headed out of the school and away from the building, probably making his way to one of the gardens. Her assumption proved to be correct, and he stopped walking just beyond the trees and shrubbery.
"Wisteria?" the half faunus called out.
Rember froze. Wisteria? Like, that Wisteria? From Creed's group? What would she be doing here?
"Wisty, I saw you. I know you're out here. What do you want?" Azure continued.
Rember crouched low, and sure enough Wisteria stepped into view. The faunus inched closer, keeping to the shadows and watching the ground to avoid stepping on anything. She was soon close enough to make out the clandestine conversation.
Wisteria Dawn's long white scarf had been pulled up to hide part of her face, shy anxiety emanating from her. Out in the field this meekness would never be present unless it served to disarm a target, but to someone who knew her as well as Azure did it was familiar.
"Hi, Azure," she greeted apprehensively, fidgeting and keeping her gaze lowered. "It's...it's been awhile."
"Yeah. Two years," Azure replied solemnly, folding his arms. "How long has Creed been sending you to spy on me and my team?"
From where she eavesdropped, Rember shivered. They were being watched? Spied on? Was Creed that dedicated? How had she not noticed anyone watching her? The thought of being under surveillance without knowing was...unsettling, to say the least.
"Since the last time we saw you," Wisteria mumbled.
There was an odd undertone in her voice, Rember noted. It almost sounded like shame.
"But that isn't why I'm here now!" Black Claw's Mirage added hastily, eyes widening at the implication she'd unwittingly made.
The pale haired boy raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then why are you here?"
"I...I just...wanted to see you," Wisteria confessed, her eyes downcast.
There was an enormous weight on her chest, and her eyes burned. Acting on impulse she approached Azure. Wary of any tricks, he was taken completely off guard when she threw her arms around, holding him tightly.
In the shadows Rember almost fell over in shock, catching herself at the last second.
"Umm, Wisty? What, uh, what're you..."
Azure was uncomfortable. This was wrong. It was like when a stranger touched you without warning or consent. But...this wasn't a stranger. This was Wisteria. She was the closest thing he'd had to a best friend, once. And despite his growing discomfort, Azure couldn't bring himself to push her away.
"I'm sorry. I know this is -is weird, and-and inappropriate, but I just...I'm just so happy to see you again," her voice was muffled. "I've missed you so much."
"Oh," Azure whispered, finally understanding.
Of course. How could he not have seen it before? Just because he'd gone his own way all that time ago didn't mean he hadn't left anything behind that day. Or to be specific, anyone.
"Azure, why?" Wisteria mumbled, looking up at him with damp eyes. "Why did you leave?"
Azure flinched. She'd been his friend. Maybe his only friend. Something that felt suspiciously like guilt wormed into his gut, and his shoulders drooped. In the shadows nearby, Rember also felt guilty. This was a really personal conversation that she had no business listening in on. But she wanted to hear his answer, and there was no way she was leaving her partner out here with someone working with Creed.
"You have no idea how much it hurt!" Wisteria sobbed. She was trembling when she finally released Azure. "For you to just disappear on us like that! You just attack Creed and then abandon us? You didn't -didn't even say goodbye..."
"Wait, is that what Creed told you?" Azure exclaimed. "That I attacked him for no reason and then left? Creed's nuts, Wisteria! You know what happened to him," he added in an undertone.
The girl wiped her eyes before answering. "I know what happened to him, and I know what happened to you," she stated. "You, him, and all the others are the reason I never went through what they did to you. But don't you understand? All Creed wants is to finally put our desires into action!"
Azure shook his head, disappointed. "Wisty, I seriously doubt what Creed is doing will benefit anyone but himself. Just what is he planning?"
"I can't tell you that," Wisteria replied dismally. "Not if you're not back with us."
Azure sighed. This wasn't going to be this easy.
"Please, Wisteria. I can't go back there. I won't go back," he told her. How could he make her see?
"Why not?" Wisteria demanded, voice wavering. "Are we not good enough for you? Is it those new people you call your friends?"
She froze as she said it, her pink eyes like glass.
Azure didn't miss his old friend's sudden mood shift, and he knew that look far too well. Now was the time to tread carefully.
"Wisty?" he tried softly.
It is, Wisteria thought, deaf to his voice. It is one of them! But which one? Her eyes narrowed as she recalled seeing him interact with a faunus with long ochre hair and black tipped, triangular ears. Her hands crept unconsciously toward the hilts of her daggers, and an unusual smile spread across her face. He'd been awfully friendly with the fox girl. Too friendly, in fact. So it's her I have to dispose of.
"Wisteria!" Azure shouted, finally snapping the girl out of her trance.
"Wha-?" she gasped, focusing once more on the boy in front of her. She noticed her grip on her weapons and let go, glancing away.
"Oh," she mumbled.
"Hey, is-"
"I'm fine," the young woman replied curtly, lying through her teeth, "but I bet it is them. That fox girl, the one you're always with? She's clearly convinced you you're better off without us. I don't know why I didn't see it before. She must have some sort of hold on you."
Even just saying the words made her blood boil.
From her observation point, Rember's face twisted into a confused grin and she had to stifle a snort. Seriously? Why was that always the conclusion people came to? Did they just not know what a platonic relationship was?
Azure's patience had begun to fray. He would not tolerate the villainization of his partner!
"Wisteria, what are you even saying?" he snapped. "Rember's my friend and my teammate. That's it!"
"Then why? Why are you doing this, Azure? I don't understand!" Wisteria wailed, tears filling her eyes again.
Taking a step back, Azure inhaled deeply to cool his head. She had to understand this. She had to...
"Listen," he began, "what we did while acting as Black Claw was very, very wrong. We killed, stole, and hurt people. We did so many atrocious things that I don't even want to remember. But I've been given a chance to atone for all that. To redeem myself! An opportunity to repent for the misdeeds I wrought on the world. Maybe I can never be wholly forgiven, but what in the hellmakes you think that I'm just going to go back to that after getting this chance?"
Wisteria stood in stunned silence. What they'd done was criminal? But they had to do those things or they'd be dead! Did he seriously just tell her it was a crime that they were alive? While she hadn't considered the ramifications of her actions in regards to eliminating White Fang targets, why would Azure condemn what they'd all been forced to do to survive?
"I…I don't..." she stuttered.
"Now do you get it?" Azure asked hopefully. "The White Fang used us. They hurt us! We hated them! How can you still work for them?"
Pushing aside her internal conflict, Wisteria became defensive once more. "We aren't! We're going to get rid of those vile faunus! But we can't do it without you! We need you!" the weight in her chest intensified, and she whispered "I need you."
Wait, what? Rember thought, frowning. I wonder...oh. OH. Oh shoot!
Azure was also taken aback. "What did you just say?" he asked, trying to piece things together.
"I, um. I..." Wisteria fumbled, her face going red. "It's just that you-you mean so much to me. Ever-ever since we met you were there for me. You were kind, and selfless, and brave, and strong. You were strong for all of us. And when you left I was- I was left so-so empty and alone. And I'm still alone." she peered directly into Azure's golden eyes with unusual intensity. "Why? Why would you choose that girl over us? Over me? I thought we were your friends too!"
"I've never said we weren't."
"Then why did you abandon me?"
Azure didn't know what to do. He didn't have an answer for her question. He grasped for the words to explain, but came up empty.
Adjusting her scarf to hide her face again, Wisteria waited.
"I thought so," She muttered eventually, her voice bitter. "Look, we're the only ones left. I can't lose you. So please, just...come back with me."
Rember's eyes narrowed. He won't, she thought, he'd never do it...would he? They were his friends… She frowned, unable to completely quell the uncertainty that rose within her.
The fox's thoughts raced as she strove to predict her partner's response. If he went back to Creed now, he might turn back into the very thing he was working so hard to escape. What if she had to face him one day? What if she woke up one day to find the name Nightmare at the top of an assignment? She'd like to think she was strong enough to do what needed to be done, but he was her friend. Her best friend. She didn't want to do that, didn't want to risk it. She wasn't sure that she could actually kill him if it came down to it, not even if he was Nightmare and not Azure.
She had to believe that he wouldn't do this, but she knew he could.
If he wanted to.
Azure stared solemnly at his old teammate, eyes full of regret. "I never knew you felt that way," he admitted quietly, "but things have changed. I've changed. It might be best if you regard me as your enemy from now on to avoid any more heartache."
"But-" Wisteria protested.
Azure raised a hand, silencing her.
"I know what you want to tell me, but I can't," he stated, his tone gentle and apologetic.
"I don't care if you think you can't, it doesn't change how I feel," Wisteria retorted.
"I know," Azure sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
There was just so much guilt inside him. He didn't want to be the source of her pain; and this was exactly why he preferred not to get involved with people.
Life had a really annoying way of making it hard to be alone.
"My answer is still the same," Azure announced. "I don't believe in Creed's vision, and I'm going to do everything I can to stop him." The half faunus took a full stride up to his old friend, prompting Wisteria to flinch. "Wisty, leave. Be free for the first time in your life. Leave the White Fang and Creed behind."
The girl's bright pink eyes flew open to stare at the boy in front of her. Disbelief was written across her features, and Azure wilted at the resolve behind it.
"I won't betray Creed like you did," Wisteria told him flatly. "I believe in what he's fighting for, and I'll help him achieve it. I'm no traitor."
Azure shook his head, sad and disappointed.
"Then I'm sorry," he apologized, "but I'll have no choice but to stop you too."
"Fine," Wisteria accepted bitterly. When she spoke again, her voice had resumed its usual monotone quality. "It's clear you're more lost than we feared."
Wisteria turned away from Azure, with a heavy sigh.
"I'm not giving up on what I believe," she resolved. "You will come back to us eventually. I've already waited two years. I can wait a little longer."
With that Wisteria activated her semblance and disappeared, leaving Azure to sigh and rub his eyes.
This was bad. If Creed decided to move on him soon, someone was bound to get hurt or killed. He couldn't let that happen. And Wisteria? Gods, just thinking about the girl made his stomach churn. The sooner he settled the score with Creed, the sooner everyone would be safe.
Out of habit Azure activated his empath ability, wanting to know if he really was alone. Unsurprisingly there was a familiar presence nearby.
Of course she was listening, Azure thought.
"Thought I told you to stay in the dorm," he called out lightheartedly, not bothering to turn around.
Rember muttered mutinously as she rose from her cover, keen eyes sweeping the area vigilantly to verify that Wisteria was really gone.
"Since when do I do what I'm told?" she retorted, crossing her arms defiantly. She eyed her partner, unaware that he could sense the apprehension she was feeling. "That was an interesting conversation."
"Heh, that's putting it mildly," Azure responded dryly, mulling it over.
The young woman hadn't offered any clue to SWAN's whereabouts, or how they'd kept tabs on KRME without at least one of them noticing. At least, none that he'd picked up. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing that Rember had been eavesdropping.
"So," he ventured, "any thoughts?"
Rember's right ear flicked, and she frowned. "Several. The most important being that you need to be careful, but you already know that," she replied seriously. Letting out a sigh, she continued, "I have a feeling that Creed isn't going to leave you be. He may have a vision for the world, but it clearly involves you at his side. It may even revolve around recruiting you. I don't think he'll do anything apocalyptic unless that happens. Wisteria, on the other hand..." she trailed off.
"She's a lot stronger than she looks," Azure commented.
Rember raised an eyebrow. "You trying to convince me of that, or yourself?" she asked dryly. She shook her head before Azure could reply, steel in her eyes. "Either way, that's my problem to sort out. Now that we know we're all being watched, we'll keep a sharper eye out. We can all take care of ourselves, and we can do it better when we've got each others backs."
The fox faunus's forest green eyes searched her partner's face, and Azure had the feeling her words had a deeper implication that she'd explain explicitly.
"Yeah, let's hope so," Azure sighed, rubbing the back of his neck again. "I dunno, Rem, I have a feeling something big is about to happen. Did you pick up anything interesting while we were out earlier?"
"Not really," Rember admitted, the pair turning to make their way back to the school. "The owner of a bookshop disappeared not too long ago, and the last students from the other schools are expected to arrive any day. So are a few latecomers looking to participate in the Vytal Festival. Apart from that I can't seem to find much of anything."
"Really? That's interesting," Azure mumbled.
While he usually wouldn't put a murder past Creed, a bookstore owner wasn't really his style. Wisteria only killed if she was ordered to, or if she was in one of her odd trances. It could've been Aries or Starr, but he didn't know enough about them to be sure. As for the latecomers, Azure was intrigued. Everyone should have arrived around the same time.
A musical laugh interrupted his thoughts.
"C'mon, let's not let it bother us right now!" Rember smiled, bumping his shoulder with hers. "I don't know about you, but I am way too hungry to even think about anything other than food. I'm surprised you guys couldn't hear my tummy growling."
Azure let out a chuckle. He could feel hunger gnawing at him too.
"Let's get going then," he agreed.
To Rember's surprise he shot off, running ahead of his partner.
"I'm gonna eat your share if you aren't fast enough!" he yelled over his shoulder.
Rember jolted into a sprint, snorting at the idea that Azure was faster. She quickly caught up to and passed Azure, grinning mischievously. The ground beneath Azure's feet turned icy, making the boy fall flat on his behind.
"Ahahahaha!" she cackled triumphantly, "see ya later, cookie maker!" she taunted, disappearing into the building.
"Dirty trick!" Azure snarled, jumping back to his feet and leaping into action.
He never took the races he and Rember did too seriously, but this time she'd cheated. Flying through the entryway and down the corridors, Azure caught sight of Rember turning a corner with a whoop. There wasn't much runway left between Azure and their dorm. He'd only win this one if he got the upper hand somehow.
Rember flashed a cheeky grin over her shoulder as she heard Azure's footsteps come up behind her, and forced her legs to move faster. Inch by inch she pulled farther and farther ahead, treating the like one of her sprinting exercises, gradually increasing her speed until she was a blur, long hair streaming behind her. The hallway to their room loomed ahead and Rember felt triumphant. She was tempted to slow her pace, but she knew that getting overconfident now could cost her the race.
The distance between Rember and the door was rapidly shrinking, and she coaxed just a little more speed from her legs.
A shape went streaking past her, catching her off-guard.
"Hey!" Rember gasped, wide eyed and stunned as Azure sped passed her.
It took a few seconds to realize that his footsteps were still behind her, and Rember grinned as she figured out he'd used his semblance to try fooling her.
"Sneaky!" she tossed over her shoulder.
Azure cackled in response.
The door was just ahead now and Rember skidded to a stop, reaching for the handle.
"I win!" she exclaimed breathlessly, nearly losing her balance. She started giggling, her blood racing. "Ahahahaha...Ha, good -haha- good race!"
Grinning, Azure just shrugged his shoulders. "You cheated, Rem. Bet I could've beat you if you hadn't!"
"Hah! As if. You cheated -hah- first by starting -starting without telling me." Rember accused, panting. "How-how are you not dying?"
"Uhh, rigorous assassin training, remember? A little jog won't kill me." Azure replied nonchalantly, unlocking the door. "Hey, guys! Did you save us some bacon?"
'A little jog won't kill me.' That was no jog, dude. I jog daily. That was a stupid long sprint! Rember thought. As the smell of bacon reached her nose she fought to calm her breathing.
I am so freezing his pillow tonight.