Lavender set a hand on the back of Jaune's chair. "Hey, are you busy?"

They leaned forward and set the ship on autopilot. "Not anymore." They smiled. "Why, what do you need?"

"Well, first, I wanted to make sure you were okay. Val said she saw Rouge come past here. I know all these accusations are getting complicated, but think about where all of them have come from. Who hasn't Rouge accused?"

"Did you say my name?" A figure was standing in the doorway, sliding up the visor of their helmet.

They frowned at the windshield, slowly standing up.

"This whole time... I never saw it. Not once did you defend yourself. It was always Val this, Clover that. I was too busy telling you to shut up that I never asked you where you were.

"Can you shut up and start making sense?"

"Lav, go get Clover and Val."

She dashed off to find the others, her breathing heavy. She was anxious to leave Jaune alone if Rouge was the imposter. They all gathered with each other in the cafeteria, all of them seeming apprehensive.

They all looked at Rouge, who didn't notice, as he was taking off his helmet, revealing his long shaggy brown hair, nodding the red-tipped strands out of his eyes.

"What?" he asked, looking at the others, his green eyes filling with confusion.

"Rouge, we think that- well, I think that you've been really..." Jaune struggled to find his words. "Hard to trust,"

Rouge scoffed. "What do you mean? I've been trying to help this entire time!" He said incredulously.

"You've been quick to accuse. Too quick," Jaune reasoned, their facial expression hardening. Their helmet had been taken off, which made their startling blue eyes look much sharper and focused.

"I'm sorry that I'm using common sense to try and get the people who k-killed our friends! I don't want to wait until we're all dead, Nobi," he said, saying a gender-neutral term for a nonbinary parent.

Jaune scowled, and took Lav's hand supportively, who had gotten a little rattled by the yelling.

"Well, I've talked enough. Lavender alerted me of this, but Clover? Val?"

"I guess you're right..." Clover caught Lavender's eye. It was her who told Jaune in the first place... and now that he knew Rouge wasn't the other impostor, this was exactly what he needed. Rouge would be safe from him, finally. Clover didn't want to Rouge die because of his greediness for food. "Or it could be Jaune! They were the one to find Raven and also knows all the vent paths! You guys never questioned that!" Rouge said furrowing his eyebrows

"This is the whole reason we suspect you! What, that makes..." Jaune pretended to count on their fingers. "Everyone! You've accused everyone here of murder! It's fine to be a skeptic, but seriously? You may as well have climbed into a vent in front of us,"

"That's true," Clover said, faking a suspicious expression.

"Clover..." Rouge took a step back. "It could have been you! Tell me, did you ever care? Was the Clover I trusted- my stern but friendly crewmate- ever in there?" Their eyes narrowed. "Or did you lie? About everything?" They continued through gritted teeth, leaning closer to their crewmate menacingly. "Did you just rip and tear your way to the top with no empathy, nothing human about you?"

"That's enough," Jaune cut him off. Clover clenched his jaw, trying to silence the echo of Rouge's words. "Val, that leaves you,"

The group was silent for a moment, waiting in anticipation. Everyone's attention was directed at the girl fiddling with her thumbs beneath the table.

Valentine glanced up at Lavender, then at Rouge, still looking conflicted.

"Val, please, no, you can convince them to save me, can't you- It wasn't me, I promise!" Rouge said desperately.

She folded her arms, her eyes narrowing as he backed up against the wall, the folds of his red gloves glinting. "Rouge, you always break your promises. I want everyone to be safe."

"Come on, this isn't fair, she doesn't know the consequences, she doesn't understand!" His eyes darted across the room, begging to see sympathy in someone's eyes.

"It's official, then." Clover nodded.

"Any last words, Rouge?" Jaune asked, a hand on their hip as Clover stood by the control panel. Rouge's fists collided with the door, thumping on it repeatedly as his voice grew unsteady. He was pleading now.

"You idiots have to listen to me!! It isn't me!! You all are going to d-"

His voice cut off, as the door to the airlock slammed shut, slicing away the cold air in front of them. As Jaune walked off, their head held high and hand in Lav's, Clover grinned at the ground.

Jaune gave a hug to Lavender, giving a soft kiss to her forehead. Even if she wasn't too fond of Rouge, the sweet girl still was upset.

"We're safe now, dearest," he said, stroking her hair softly. The two stood there for a moment,