Cerise followed Ghira and Sage out onto the porch as a new conversation began within the living room behind her. With things at least temporarily settled down, her attention was drawn to the décor of the beach house… and just how expensive it all looked. In any other situation, the temptation to pilfer something and pawn it would be irresistible. Even then, with tensions high and everyone distracted, she could absolutely take some alcohol or fancy foreign food and sell it off in the markets to the right person. It was something the woman made a note of as she closed the sliding glass door behind herself. Such larcenous thoughts were almost immediately out of her mind as Ghira and Sage turned to face her simultaneously, creating a more or less impassable wall of muscle.

"…hello," Cersise said meekly. "Can I help you? I might be able to cobble your usual orders together with what the princess has in her kitchen, but it would take me a while to find everything…"

"We need to speak openly and honestly," Ghira said firmly as he folded his arms across his chest. "This situation is gravely serious, an-"

"And I've been ride or die with your team for how long now?" Cerise interrupted, putting her hands on her hips. "Why are you suddenly coming at me like you don't trust me? These foreigners are already up in arms over the fact that they 'had' to let me in on their big secret, and now I'm getting it from you, too? Sage, I'd expect, but what the hell, Ghira? Back off."

Ghira let out a weary sigh and shook his head, letting his arms drop to his sides.

"…that wasn't the impression I was trying to give off, Cerise. I meant only to warn you of what may come. Sage, Fox, and Velvet are used to open combat with some frequency. We're used to having enemies trying to kill us, both grimm and humanoid. I know that you are capable of fending for yourself on the streets and that you have some skill with a knife, but… that may not be enough, going forward. Even your Semblance, powerful though it is, can only take you so far. We'll need to train you, given that you say you're now fully committed to the cause. I, personally, am more than willing to do so along with whoever else Professor Gumo may offer you."

"Thanks," Cerise replied, letting her arms drop as well. "Sage? Thoughts? Standing there menacingly doesn't work on me anymore."

"I'll help out when you need me," Sage said simply. "Whatever you need, whenever you need it."

Ghira cast his teammate a sidelong glance, his expression hardening a bit.

"Is that so?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, would you like me to be difficult?" Sage asked, returning the glare. "I'm doing my part for the team, regardless of how I feel about it."

"And yet, you don't sound particularly upset by the obligation or the trainee," Ghira observed before pausing a moment. "…and you both reek of sex."

Cerise said nothing, sliding her hands into the waistband of her skirt as she gave Sage a slight downturn of her head.

"…my sex life is none of your concern," Sage asserted, his cheeks faintly red against his darkened skin. "I… just haven't had a chance to shower yet, and it isn't like you to bring something like that up. Now I'm going to tell you to back off."

"And I'm going to say no," Ghira countered. "While I agree that under normal circumstances you would be correct, your sex life is my concern when it could directly affect the dynamics of our team. Fox is already miserable, a-"

"Whoa, whoa," Cerise cut in, making a 'T' symbol with her hands. "What does Fox have to do with this? Sage and I had a one-off fling up in the security tower. We were angry, nervous, and horny, and decided to just fuck it out. Simple as that."

"…you can't be serious," Ghira said, looking dumbfounded. "Do you not see it?"

"What, the flirting Fox does?" Cerise asked. "All of you flirt with me. Well… except Sage. Until now."

Ghira raised a hand and rubbed the side of his face in exasperation.

"So focused upon the grains of sand you cannot see the desert all around you," Ghira muttered. "It is not my place to tell you to stop this… whatever it may be, but I am going to ask that you two be careful moving forward. Fox is in turmoil over his role in pulling us into the Salem problem, and should he figure out what's going on between you two…"

"About that," Cerise replied as she leaned back into the strip of frame between the sliding doors. "He already knows. I mentioned it offhandedly before we came down from the tower. You're seriously telling me he's caught feelings for me? For how long?"

"I didn't think it was serious," Sage said, looking uncomfortable. "If he already knows, then…"

"You have some damage to repair," Ghira advised. "Not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But… soon. Fox is like family to us, Sage. You should have known to at least ask how he would feel before indulging yourself with one of his closest friends."

"Ghira, I'm… a private person…"

"Not that private, apparently," Cerise mocked as she checked her nails.

Sage shot the woman a glare before letting out a sigh.

"…fine. I'll talk to him."

"Please do," Ghira insisted as he took out his scroll. "The two of you have always been like brothers. I would not like to see this come between you… to say nothing of how it may affect the current overall situation."

"Hello again," Cerise said in a mockingly cheerful tone. "'This' and 'It' is standing right here with you. I'm not just some sex doll getting passed back and forth. I'll talk to Fox, too. Even if I didn't know he was serious, I do care about him, and as a part of the team I th-"

"You are not part of the team," Sage interrupted firmly. He could feel Ghira's eyes upon him before he turned his head to confirm the stare. "…she's part of the team, isn't she."

"Such an outcome seems very likely at this point," Ghira said as he held his scroll out in his palm while it began to dial. "We'll see what Professor Gumo says."

"Thought we were waiting to talk to Fox," Cerise pointed out as she nodded toward the scroll.

"I'm calling Velvet," Ghira explained as the line continued to ring. "We haven't heard from her in a while, and this is the first time the line has even connected since sh-"

"Hello?" came the faunus' voice. "Good timing, we just came out of the cave. Thirty seconds earlier and I wouldn't have had signal."

"Velvet," Ghira began, "we need you back home. Well… at the Schnee beach house, immediately. There's been a situation, or more accurately, several situations that will impact the team moving forward. Adam needs to come with you as well. Do whatever it takes to convince him to set aside his grudges and come home. His team needs him."

"I dunno, that sounds pretty weak to me," Velvet said in a sing-song tone. "You're usually a lot more convincing and urgent sounding when something's serious. If this is just a ploy to get Adam to play ball…"

"Vel? Honey, it's me," Cerise said. "Ghira isn't bullshitting you. Things went south, and all of us are in deep shit. We need you and this Adam kid so we can get our shit together and figure out next moves."

There was a brief pause in which Velvet spoke to someone on the other end of the line, quietly enough that her words were indecipherable through the scroll. Not long after, the faunus spoke again in an entirely different tone that suggested she was taking things more seriously.

"Alright. We'll start making our way to you. Is everyone okay?"

"Relatively," Sage answered. "Some people from the other teams almost got killed, and Cerise put herself in danger to save them. Now, she may be joining our team after a few unexpected developments."

"For real?" Velvet asked excitedly. "That'd be my idea of a good time."

"No, it isn't," Cerise denied. "Much as I love you, these circumstances are shit. Temper your expectations, and get here soon."

"Well… alright," Velvet resigned. "Just stay safe until I'm there, yeah? Don't want to see you lot get hurt or miss out on any fun."

"Such a thing is unlikely," Ghira reassured. "See you soon. We'll be staying here until you and Adam are caught up, and then we'll head for the academy."

"Got it. Scarlatina out."

"Do you think she'll take it well?" Cerise asked, looking up at Ghira. "About Salem, I mean."

"Velvet is not easily discouraged," Ghira answered as he furrowed his brows. "That being said… knowing what we know now, even I am beginning to have doubts about our place in all of this."

"Doubts?" Sage asked as he moved to lean against one of the wooden railings at the edge of the deck. "What else could we possibly do in this situation, other than follow Professor Gumo's orders and protect Cerise until she's field-ready?"

"That is an answer I only wish I knew," Ghira said with a sigh as he moved to sit in one of the deck chairs. "For now… we simply wait."

Fox stayed quiet on his way up the steps, following Willow while holding her hand. Her skin was cool to the point of being almost frigid, but Fox didn't mind the contact. Had he been in a better mood, he might have commented on the sensation. Perhaps he might have even enjoyed it and allowed his mind to wander. Given the situation surrounding Cerise, though, any sort of affection was the farthest thing from his mind.

"Nice place you got here," Fox said halfheartedly, more to break up the silence than anything. "Love the décor."

Willow rolled her eyes and allowed herself a small, sad smile.

"You don't have to keep doing that, you know."

"Doing what?" Fox asked as they made their way into the upstairs hallway.

"Cracking jokes at your own expense to try to lighten the mood, especially while you're feeling so low," Willow explained. "I'm no therapist, but it doesn't exactly seem healthy to bury your feelings and put everyone else before yourself all the time, even in small, humorous ways. It's okay to be upset."

"I wish that was an easier lesson to learn," Fox grumbled as Willow led him into one of the bedrooms.

"Me too. It's one I'm still grappling with," Willow admitted as she guided Fox to sit on the mattress of her bed beside her. "So is Summer, really. If you'd like to talk, I don't mind. If not, I'll leave you to it. Sometimes a good nap is enough to turn things around."

"Yeah, somehow, I don't think that'll do it this time," Fox replied as he flopped backward and let his arms extend up and behind his head. "I do want to talk, but I'm not sure what about. I just feel so… guilty."

"I know that it may not help to hear, but none of us blame you," Willow offered as she copied Fox's pose and laid back atop the bed. "I guarantee it."

"It's not just about this Salem mess," Fox admitted. "There are other things going on. Inter-team stuff that's just… I probably shouldn't talk about it. It's petty. It's no big deal, and I need to just get over it."

"You say that, and you may feel as though others will think it isn't a big deal, but if it's affecting you to this extent… it is," Willow replied. "Don't let it consume you in silence. That's a lesson I did learn in my time with STRQ and OKRA. Talking out my problems helped immensely throughout the school year."

"Yeah?" Fox asked. "You sure you want to listen to me complain about girls?"

"If such a thing would help you… then yes," Willow answered. "I don't have much experience in that area, but… I'll do my best to give advice."

"You're too kind," Fox said quietly as he began to focus in on Willow's aura. "It's about… Cerise…"

Author's Note:

Back to the main group next time.

-RD