It was a rough start to the First Semester, Dan learning my burden, and Azu is still an enigma to me. Also, Sumire was still trying to defuse the tension on our team. Some leader I am.

I looked at my teammates. Dan wasn't trusting me since I didn't tell him that I was a Faunus. I'm not sure about Azu and what she does.

The girl with Bluetooth headphones looked at me. “Gold Senpai, have you learned to relax?”

I didn't answer. My mind was somewhere else. Sumire wasn't helping. She was trying to get us to talk. I'm not a leader type of guy.

“Well, maybe a trip to the city could change him.” Sumire closing her fans. She was tired of Dan and I fighting.

“Just keep the Faunus filth away from me.” Dan eyed me. I'm no match for him in a fight. Yet something was off about Azu still. We only knew she was from the Dark Lands.

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Dan’s hostility towards me was palpable, and I could feel it like a weight on my chest. His words stung, but I couldn’t blame him. I had kept a huge part of myself hidden, and now that it was out in the open, it felt like everything was falling apart.

Sumire, always trying to keep the peace, suggested a trip to the city, but even she seemed weary. Her usual calm demeanor was strained, and I knew she was frustrated with how things were going. But what could I say? I wasn’t cut out for this. I was barely holding myself together, let alone this team.

Azu, with her ever-present Bluetooth headphones, remained as enigmatic as ever. She didn’t seem bothered by the tension, but that only made me more uneasy. We knew so little about her—just that she was from the Dark Lands and her parents were Horobi and Izu. What kind of upbringing did that entail? How much did she know that she wasn’t sharing?

“Let’s just get this over with,” I finally muttered, the words coming out more defeated than I intended. “I’ll go to the city if it’ll help.”

Dan scoffed, crossing his arms. “I don’t need your permission. Just don’t expect me to play nice.”

Azu remained silent, her red eyes focused on something only she could see. I couldn’t tell if she was uninterested or just waiting for the right moment to say something.

Sumire sighed, clearly at the end of her rope. “Look, we’re a team. We’re supposed to have each other’s backs. If we can’t figure this out, how are we going to survive Beacon?”

Her words hung in the air, a reminder of the reality we were facing. We were all here for a reason, but that didn’t mean we were ready for it. Especially me.

“Fine,” Dan finally said, his voice gruff. “I’ll go, but don’t expect a miracle. And Corey, don’t even think about trying to pull anything.”

I nodded, knowing that there was no use in arguing. This trip to the city might be a disaster, but maybe it was what we needed. Or maybe it would just push us further apart. Either way, I wasn’t looking forward to it.

As we gathered outside the dorm, I could feel the tension lingering between Dan and me. Even with Sumire’s attempts to smooth things over, it was clear that this trip to Vale was a last-ditch effort to pull us together as a team. I wasn’t sure it would work, but at this point, I was willing to try anything.

When Team RWBY and Team JNPR approached us, I noticed how seamlessly they interacted with each other. They were already in sync like they’d been doing this for years. It made me feel even more out of place as a leader.

Yang gave me one of her trademark smiles, trying to lighten the mood. “Looks like someone is doing a good job of being a leader.”

Her words hit harder than they should have. I knew she was just trying to be supportive, but it only highlighted how much I was struggling. Before I could respond, Sumire jumped in.

“He’s doing a wonderful job,” she said, her voice steady and convincing.

I glanced at her, surprised by the lie. Sumire had always been the most honest of us, but here she was, covering for me. I couldn’t tell if she was doing it out of kindness or if she just didn’t want to make things worse in front of the others. Either way, it didn’t sit right with me.

Yang seemed to buy it, though. “That’s great to hear! Leadership isn’t easy, but you’re handling it.”

I forced a nod, knowing that anything I said would only betray how I felt. We were headed to Vale, but in my mind, this trip wasn’t about bonding. It was about survival—keeping our team from falling apart at the seams.

Pyrrha, always the empathetic one, looked between us and then at Dan. “It sounds like you’re all trying your best. That’s what counts.”

Dan scoffed but didn’t say anything. His eyes were still hard, filled with that anger he’d been carrying ever since he found out I was a Faunus. It was a look I’d seen many times before, but it was different when it came from someone on your team—someone who was supposed to have your back.

“Well, if you ever need anything, we’re here for you guys,” Jaune added, clearly trying to be supportive.

“Thanks,” I muttered, knowing that as much as I appreciated the offer, this was something we had to figure out on our own.

As we started walking toward Vale, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. The city was supposed to be a place to relax and unwind, but for us, it felt like just another challenge. Azu was excited, Sumire was determined, Dan was reluctant, and I… I was just trying to keep it all together.

As we left Beacon behind, I wondered if this trip would be the turning point we needed—or if it would just confirm that I was never meant to lead in the first place.

When we got to Vale. It was bigger than I expected. “You've never been out of the Kingdoms have you?” Azu looked at me. I didn't answer. “Come on, you need to get out Gold.”

“Hm, Atlas is the greatest Kingdom,” Dan adds. “For an ex-terrorist, you don't get out.”

How did he know that I was a former member of the White Fang? It doesn't matter, my past isn't keeping me from living. “Well, I…. Didn't see the sights when I was in the White Fang.” I retorted.

“Well let's just have fun and try not to kill each other.” Sumire felt more of a leader than me. I saw Team RWBY walking past us.

They had what I wanted my team to have open trust. My hands grabbed my hood, and I took off my hood.

Azu tilted her head in confusion. “What did he do?”

“Well, Only Dan, and Sumire knew that I was a Faunus. This is the first time in months I let myself be seen without my hood on.” I looked at her red eyes with my silver eyes.

“Oh okay, wait cat ears. They are so cute!” Azu tried petting them. I stopped her.

“Does anyone else have something they want to get off their chest?” Sumire adds in. She probably saw all this with her dream powers.

“Nope.” Dan crossed his arms.

Azu looked at us once again. Her hands felt cold on my ears. “Stop petting them.”  I didn't enjoy this.

Azu pulled her hands back, looking a little embarrassed. “Sorry, Gold Senpai. I just couldn’t resist,” she said with a small laugh, though it was clear she meant no harm. Despite her usual enigmatic demeanor, there was an innocence to her curiosity that made it hard to stay irritated.

Sumire, ever the peacekeeper, took a step closer to us, her fan tapping lightly against her palm. “Alright, we’ve all got our secrets, and some of us are more comfortable with sharing than others. But this trip is about building trust, not just airing out our dirty laundry.”

Dan scoffed but didn’t argue. He kept his arms crossed, his expression unreadable as he looked at me, then at Azu. There was a tension between us that hadn’t dissipated, but at least we weren’t at each other’s throats—yet.

“Let’s focus on enjoying the day,” Sumire continued, trying to lighten the mood. “We’re in Vale, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s a chance to relax and maybe, just maybe, start seeing each other as more than just teammates.”

I glanced around at the bustling streets, the vibrant shops, and the people going about their day. It was hard not to be a little awed by the sheer scale of the city, especially when you were used to the more covert operations of the White Fang. But I wasn’t that person anymore, or at least, I was trying not to be.

“I’ll give it a shot,” I said, mostly to myself, though I knew the others heard me. This trip was supposed to be about bonding, but I still felt like an outsider in my team. The weight of leadership was something I never wanted, but it was mine now, and I had to figure out how to carry it.

Azu, seeming to sense the shift in mood, gave me a playful nudge. “Come on, Gold Senpai. Let’s see if we can find something to lighten you up. Maybe some catnip?” She winked, clearly joking, but the attempt at humor was appreciated.

I managed a small smile. “Maybe something a little less... stereotypical?”

As we started walking through the city, I couldn’t help but notice how the atmosphere began to shift. We weren’t entirely comfortable with each other yet, but the hostility was melting away, replaced by a tentative camaraderie. It wasn’t perfect, and it certainly wasn’t going to happen overnight, but it was a start.

Dan stayed quiet, but he no longer looked like he was ready to explode. Sumire continued to lead, guiding us through the crowded streets with the ease of someone who had seen this all before—probably in one of her prophetic dreams. And Azu... well, Azu was still Azu, mysterious and a little odd, but undeniably part of our team.

As we wandered the city, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the beginning of something new for us. Whether it was good or bad, I didn’t know yet, but for the first time since the semester started, I felt like maybe we had a chance to make this work.

And maybe, just maybe, I could start to trust them enough to let down my guard. I made a fox with my right hand. We were getting along with each other on this trip. Dan looked as if he was finally letting go of me being a Faunus.

“Have you guys been to Junior’s?” I asked them. They looked at me, their eyes looked at me a mix of: Red, Violet, and Dan’s blue eyes.

“Why would we go to a bar?” Sumire looked at me like I was an idiot.

“Uhm Team Bonding!” I quickly responded.

“I've never been to a bar.” Azu looked at the place.

I threw my hood back on in case it was a no-Faunus place. My team followed me. This was our true first mission: Getting to know one another. Openness is what we lack but that is because of me. I’m never open about myself. I have kept to myself since I left the White Fang.

“Hey, Gold Sempia!” Azu exclaimed. “What’s is this place?”

“Junior’s a nightclub.” A familiar voice answered. It was Yang Xaio Long. “A place for dancing and having fun.”

Yang's presence was like a burst of sunlight breaking through the tense atmosphere that had been hanging over us. Her confident smile and easygoing demeanor made it hard not to feel at least a little more relaxed. She leaned casually against the entrance of the club, her golden hair catching the light as she looked at us with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"Looks like you’re finally taking some initiative, Gold Senpai," she teased, her lilac eyes sparkling with mischief. "Bringing your team to a place like this? You must be feeling brave."

I chuckled awkwardly, trying to play it cool. "Just thought it’d be a good way to loosen up. We could all use it."

Dan, for once, didn’t have a snide remark ready. He was too busy taking in the sight of the club, clearly out of his element but not openly objecting either. Sumire looked a bit more skeptical, her fan snapping open as she studied the exterior of the building with a thoughtful expression.

“A nightclub isn’t exactly what I had in mind for team bonding,” Sumire finally said, her tone more contemplative than critical. “But I suppose it could work... if we’re careful.”

Azu, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with excitement. “I’ve never been to a nightclub! This is going to be fun, right?”

Yang grinned and gave Azu a thumbs-up. “You’ll have a blast, trust me. And don’t worry, I’ll be around if you guys need anything.”

I glanced at the others, gauging their reactions. Dan still seemed uncertain, but he wasn’t backing out. Sumire’s skepticism was still there, but she seemed willing to give it a chance. Azu was obviously on board, her usual mystery replaced by pure enthusiasm.

“Alright,” I said, making the decision. “Let’s do this. We came here to bond, so let’s make the most of it.”

With Yang leading the way, we entered Junior’s nightclub. The thumping beat of the music hit us immediately, the bass reverberating through the floor. The lights were dim, with flashes of neon cutting through the darkness, illuminating the dance floor where people moved in sync with the rhythm. The atmosphere was electric, a far cry from the structured environment of Beacon.

As we navigated our way through the crowd, I felt a strange sense of relief. For the first time in a while, I wasn’t thinking about my past, my mistakes, or even the fact that I was a Faunus in a world that still harbored prejudice. Here, at this moment, I was just Corey—Gold Senpai—trying to connect with my team.

Yang stuck close by, making sure we didn’t get separated in the crowd. “This is where you let loose,” she said, her voice raised over the music. “No worries, no stress. Just have fun.”

We found a spot near the bar, and for a moment, I hesitated. The idea of relaxing, of just letting go, still felt foreign to me. But when I saw Azu’s eager expression, Dan’s reluctant acceptance, and Sumire’s cautious optimism, I realized this was exactly what we needed. What I needed.

“Alright,” I said, more to myself than anyone else. “Let’s see what this place has to offer.”

And with that, we began our night at Junior’s, not as a fractured team with too many secrets, but as a group of students trying to find common ground. It wasn’t perfect, and there was still a long way to go, but it was a start.

Maybe, just maybe, this would be the first step toward something better.