AN: This chapter has literally been in the works since I first drafted A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I hope you enjoy.

Another day, another airship. They tried not to think too hard about it. The sounds of the battle - civilian screams, gunshots and grim roars alike - reached them long before they saw the hole in the wall and the grimm taking over the streets.

The ship got in as close as it could, hovering just high enough for them to be able to jump out safely.

Velvet didn't wait for Coco to give the order - the four of them knew what to do - jumping out of the airship, having faith that the others would be just a step behind her.

She led the charge, Fox following her into the fray with Coco and Yatsuhashi taking up the rear.

Focusing on the grimm ahead of her was easy, though she began to calculate the next steps and how the rest of the battle would go.

Once Fox was grounded in his surroundings, Velvet went to Coco's side to help mop up the grimm that continued to come in through the massive hole in the wall.

One of her rabbit ears twitched as she looked over the grimm that had surrounded the two of them. She reached for her weapon, doing the mental calculations of what she should pull. If she started with Coco's gun, she could take out most of the smaller, faster grimm, then pull out Thulian's bracers to soften the larger ones…

"Hey!"

Coco's sharp order drew her attention. "Come on, you just spent all the semester building that up. Don't waste it here."

She startled slightly at Coco's words, relaxing her grip on her camera box - it was true she had, but at the same time she felt like she'd be better able to contribute if she pulled out her weapon.

But then Coco unfolded her own purse and started to mow down the grimm surrounding them.

Right - of course, Coco hadn't even pulled her weapon yet, and there was considerably less danger with her using it than if Velvet had pulled hers. And Velvet was a perfectly capable fighter without her weapon. It was just nice to have in a pinch.

Coco thinks well on her feet, that's why she's the leader, Velvet reminded herself, darting off to take care of more of the grimm.

She was relieved - she didn't have to make such decisions and calls like that on the fly - she could relax and let Coco do the heavy lifting.

After the past week, a few grim trying to overrun downtown Vale just wasn't that scary.

Yatsuhashi watched as Roman Torchwick was arrested. He should have been pleased at the turn of events.

But there was something off about the whole situation that he didn't like.

Team CFVY was supposed to have sparring class the day after the fight in downtown Vale, but Coco instead went to see if they could be excused from the session.

Coco frowned at the schedule she'd been given as she walked to Professor Goodwitch's office. It was just for the four on four matches but...

Team CFVY was to fight on the first day.

It shouldn't have been that unusual, but the first day was usually saved for the big headline matches - siblings of former champions, the previous tournament's winners, and other 'celebrities'. It didn't bode well for their chances for moving onto the second round.

She shrugged, figuring that wasn't the point of the exercise anyway.

Knocking on the office doorway, it was only a moment before Professor Goodwitch called her into the room.

"Miss Adel, it's good to see you. Is there something I could help you with?" she asked, gesturing to the chair on the other side of the desk from her. "If it's about class today, considering everything it's been canceled. I was about to send out a message."

Coco slumped into the seat. "It was, thank you professor. I don't want to take up any more of your time - "

"Actually, Miss Adel, I wanted to speak with you about an unrelated matter, if you have a moment."

She sat up straight, caught slightly off-guard by the question. "Of course, professor." Goodwitch wasn't one to idly ask for a moment of her time.

"Are you planning on participating in the Vytal Festival tournament?"

That got Coco's attention. After Goodwitch had been so keen to see team CFVY participate, the question of if they'd still do it was unexpected. "We were."

Pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, she asked, "Have you gotten a chance to review team CFVY's schedule for the tournament?"

"I saw it on my way here. Does this have to do with us being scheduled on the first day?"

Goodwitch's lips pursed. "How much do you know about how the fights are scheduled?"

Coco frowned. "Not much. My family was involved a few years ago when it was in Atlas, but I was young and I don't remember much. I mean, I've followed the tournament for long enough that I know the four on four isn't completely random - advertising when celebrity fights are going to take place certainly negates that."

Goodwitch nodded. "The Vytal festival tournament has media managers who help arrange the big fights in order to drum up ratings. Generally, they work with the headmaster of the hosting school to pick the headline fights." She sighed. "Unfortunately, your team has been targeted as a celebrity fight."

"I'm sorry?"

"Professor Ozpin and I don't know how the promoters found out about what happened to Velvet, but they did. We suspect Professor Lionheart may have tipped their hand, but regardless, you will be facing team MRRN from Haven in your first fight." Goodwitch pulled up the information on her computer screen.

Coco scowled at Faris' face. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because Professor Ozpin and I disagree with how it was handled, and so we were given some leeway with how it was handled. The story won't be told on the broadcast. It won't be promoted any more than a regular fight, and you would have the right to withdraw from the tournament before having to fight team MRRN."

Coco stared at the faces, reeling with this information. "Why us?"

"You understand that Velvet leaving was a much bigger deal to Haven than it was for Faris to leave here. There was no way to do it subtly. It's become something of a legend over there. But I know Miss Scarlatina has enjoyed her privacy here at Beacon and we want to support that if we can."

Coco shook her head to clear it, but nothing was helping. "We can withdraw, though, right?"

"Yes. I want to impress upon you the unique situation we have here. We absolutely cannot have any missteps if you go through with the tournament. You must understand, Miss Adel, that under the circumstances even a true accident will be scrutinized and likely result in your team's removal from the tournament, possibly even the perpetrator's expulsion - and perhaps yours as well."

"Can you send me that?" Coco asked, pointing at the team roster. "I want to discuss this with the rest of my team."

"Of course, Miss Adel. The offer to withdraw will remain open for as long as you need."

"Thank you, professor."

This was too much - too big to even start thinking about on her own. Just knowing that she would have to face Velvet's old tormentors on the battlefield and be polite about it - nevermind Goodwitch's odd statements.

She pulled out her scroll - pleased to see that Goodwitch had already sent over the information - and called an emergency team meeting.

The other three were already in the dorm when she got back, sprawled out on the double bed they'd made and never bothered to separate. Coco kicked off her shoes and joined them, leaning back against the headboard.

"They want us to fight team MRRN for the four on four," Coco said. At the blank looks from all of them - even Velvet - she clarified: "Velvet's old team."

Velvet flinched back.

"We don't have to. This is why Professor Goodwitch told us early. We can withdraw without any repercussions. The fight isn't going to be publicized, but she said something about it being of interest to Haven's students in particular? I didn't really follow it."

"I would not say no to fighting Velvet's old team." Yatsuhashi's usually stoic face held a smirk instead.

Coco held up her hand. "It's not that simple. We cannot have any accidents during this fight. Not a bruise or a hair out of place. Goodwitch mentioned expulsion was not out of the realm of possibilities - for whoever went too far." Quieter, almost as an afterthought. "And, likely, me."

"I can't promise, but I would try," Yatsuhashi said. "As much as I would love to see them hurt, this is not the time nor is it the place."

Fox voiced his agreement with the plan.

Coco turned to her last teammate, who hadn't spoken since the reveal of who their opponent would be. "Velvet, I want to make it clear you have executive override here. If you want to back out, we will, no questions asked."

Velvet put her hand on her stomach. "I - I don't know."

"You don't have to decide now," Yatsuhashi reassured her, looking to Coco for confirmation.

"We have until the day of the match to decide. You don't have to make a decision now."

Velvet nodded, leaning against Yatsuhashi.

"I have a question," Fox said, reaching out to put a hand on Velvet's knee. "Team maroon? V and S don't fit into that color name."

"Perhaps someone changed their name," Yatsuhashi said. It wasn't unheard of, and schools did their best to be accommodating.

Velvet cocked her head. "They had to, when I left."

"Colors with a V sound aren't that common," Coco said. "What R, M, N, and V or S? Or maybe a different initial for the others too..."

"Do - do you not know?" Velvet said, pulling a pillow towards her to hug it to her stomach.

"Ozpin never said anything about your team name to us. I think he assumed you'd tell us or thought it wasn't relevant."

Velvet buried her face in the pillow. "Vermilion," she mumbled. "VRMN."

The room went still.

"VRMN," Coco confirmed, not sure she'd heard that right. "As in - "

Velvet sat up and threw the pillow across the room at the wall. "You don't have to rub it in! Yes! I was the leader of my team back at Haven, okay?"

Her teammates went completely still.

"What?!"

AN:Because this won't be addressed at all: Lionheart told the promoters about CFVY and MRRN because Salem wanted to sow discord. It also increases the chances of CFVY withdrawing or being disqualified - the latter of which would sow even more discord.

It would have been easier, by far, to name the other team something like KFVE - still pronounced coffee - and call it a day. But that wasn't the story I wanted to tell. Also - y'all - it was a pain in the ass to come up with a team name that started with a V that then could be morphed into a different name that didn't make Farris leader. 0/10 do not recommend.

Shout out to Ling_San on AO3 for figuring it out. Brownie points for anyone who goes back and finds all the foreshadowing I did. (There's a lot - starting in chapter one.)

As for the elephant in the room, my life is on fire, and has been for the past year. My life continues to be on fire as I struggle with my own demons and other issues. Bear with me please. In better news, my first book is coming out later this year. So there's that. (True Trans Bike Rebel from Microcosm Publishing, if you're interested.)