Chapter Text
Picking up his phone, Neptune sighed. A missed call and two new messages. All from Weiss. Weiss was beautiful, intelligent, charismatic, talented but Neptune couldn't bring himself to return her affections. It made him feel guilty and frustrated, because he could see no reason why he didn't instantly fall in love with her, but he could genuinely feel no attraction. On his side, the relationship was entirely platonic, and he knew that to keep up appearances, that would have to change. As much as he hated to admit to himself, he was undeniably popular, there was not a single person he knew did not like him. And Weiss was the undisputed queen of Beacon, an heiress to the largest dust company in existence, she was already a princess. It made too much sense that he and Weiss would be an item.
"Neptune it's lights out in 10, do you wanna use the bathroom quickly? I'm finished and Sun still hasn't come back from his 'walk'. Quote unquote." Scarlet flopped onto his bed. "I am exhausted."
"Good night then sleepy head," said Neptune, "I'm using the bathroom then crashing as well. Training was great but man is it tiring." A muffled agreement came from Scarlet. Neptune glanced back over the room before heading into the bathroom. Scarlet was starfished on the bed at the far side of the room, next to him Sage, already asleep, grunted slightly and turned onto his side. Then there was Neptune's own bed and then Sun's hammock, strapped to the ceiling. Empty.
Sighing, he locked the bathroom door behind him, walking over to the sink. He avoided looking in the mirror, quickly washed his face, cleaned his teeth and stood, staring into the basin, thoughts whizzing round his head. He didn't know what to do about Weiss, he couldn't keep lying to her like this, he didn't know what to do about Sun and his mysterious disappearances and uncharacteristic silence, he thought about the Vytal Tournament and the impending battles to be fought, about how they couldn't win without Sun's cooperation. Neptune knew he needed to be on top form for tomorrow, he couldn't keep worrying like this. He gripped the sink a little tighter.
Sleep for now. I need my rest and thinking about things this late at night won't help.
Splashing his face for a final time, he headed back into the room, changed into his pajamas and slipped into bed. Sleep took hold in seconds.
Running, running, running, faster and faster, air whipping his cheeks. Rooftop after rooftop zoomed beneath him. Sun was rapidly closing in on the port, he could already smell the salt of the water. With a final leap, he landed carefully on the concrete and stole up to the end of the small wooden jetty, jutting out to one side. He sat with his legs over the edge, inhaling the scent of the salt of the sea and the smoke of the massive ferries which docked here. Closing his eyes, he remained still for several minutes, taking deep breaths, in then out, in then out. This was his quiet place. He knew the arrival and departure times of all the boats, he had been a stowaway on each one at some point or other. There would be no traffic for another half an hour or so
I have to tell him. I have to risk it. There is no other option. But when? The tournament starts, and we're all going to be preoccupied. Then tonight. I tell him tonight.