Holy cow, how long has it been? I hope y'all haven't lost hope on me just yet. There've...been quite a few things happening in my life right now. Anyway, here's the next update, and do enjoy!
Yang at the hospital (3rd POV)
"Seriously; you huntsmen and huntresses are something else," the doctor stated as Yang continued flexing her hand. There was still a very light, almost unnoticeable sting in her hand, but it didn't matter. What did matter was the fact that she could start fighting again. Her lips slowly curled up into a mad grin as she reached over to the half of Ember Celica that hadn't been taken away for repair.
"However."
The grin immediately wiped off her face as she froze in place, hand on the bracelet.
"That doesn't mean to say that you're allowed to fight."
"What!?"
Yang jumped to her feet, gripping her weapon tightly in aggravation.
"Just because your hand feels fine doesn't mean it's completely healed," the doctor continued explaining, "There's still a small fracture in your knuckle right here-," he pointed to a spot on her hand in the x-ray, "—and if you were to apply pressure incorrectly there, you'd break your hand even worse than you did before."
"C'mon doc! I feel fine! My hand feels alright!"
"The x-rays don't lie, Yang," Taiyang stated, having stayed with her the night before. Yang immediately began pouting, crossing her arms and puffing her cheek. Her hair let off sparks here and there as the doctor sighed in annoyance. Readjusting the collar of his shirt, he then said, "And you have to be in the wheelchair when you leave."
Delta's POV
An explosion filled the air, causing me to flinch in surprise. I looked up the building that was the hospital, seeing smoke come out of one window in particular as Hotel, who was next to me, sighed. I turned to him as he said, "…must be Yang."
"I wouldn't deny it," I replied, Ruby eagerly running ahead of us to see her sister. I hopelessly smiled, watching the ball of energy run into the hospital. Following her, she was quick to ask where Yang's room was situated, before Yang came rolling up in a wheelchair, arms crossed as Taiyang tried his best to cheer her up.
"Don't worry honey," Taiyang stated, "You'll get out of this thing soon."
"Pfft," Yang scoffed, "Yeah right. He wants me to stay in this damn thing for the rest of my life!"
"Who wants you to stay in that 'damn thing' for the rest of your life?"
Yang's hair seemingly flinched on its own as she suddenly shot out of the wheelchair, throwing herself on Hotel, who let out a grunt of pain and surprise. I blinked in surprise, followed by Ruby flying past me and tackling her older sister, who had just let go of Hotel. The two shared their joyous reunion as Taiyang walked up to me, a bit worried, before I stated, "…huh. Interesting."
Just then, I felt a dagger of sorts begin piercing through my very being, causing me to shiver as I slowly glanced at the man next to me, seeing his glare. I flinched as he crossed his arms, then said, "…So…what was so important that you slammed the door on me the other night?"
"O-oh, that? U-umm…well…umm…," I stammered, scratching the back of my head. I could feel Taiyang's killer intent intensify before I felt something yank the collar of my shirt, my head suddenly getting buried in what I could only assume to be Ruby's breasts. I let out a gawk of surprise as Ruby said, "Knock it off, dad!"
Taiyang almost immediately appeared flabbergasted as Ruby puffed a cheek, holding onto me possessively. I blinked, but then smiled as I closed my eyes, sensing Taiyang's confused feelings. I could then hear Yang and Hotel laugh in the background as I pushed myself away from Ruby's chest, looking at her, seeing her somewhat confused look.
"It's okay, Rubes," I stated, then turned to Taiyang and bowed apologetically and said, "And about the door, it was either you get mauled by her for having sweets or get the door slammed on your face. I apologize for that."
"What!? I wasn't gonna maul him!"
"Alternate Echo says otherwise, Ruby," I shot back, turning around to see her open her mouth to try and reply something, only to close it several moments later. She then grew visibly red in the face as she averted her gaze, causing me to chuckle. She was so cute at times like this.
"…Aaaannyway," I continued, keeping my gaze on Ruby, "I need to run to the repair shop. What're you gonna do?"
Ruby blinked at me, almost as if she didn't know I was talking to her. I reciprocated, her glance, keeping my eyes right on her. We kept our awkward silence for what seemed like forever. I could feel Taiyang's gaze begin stabbing me again as Ruby glanced left, then right, then pointed at herself and asked, "Wait…me?"
"No duh," I replied, "What're you gonna do the rest of the day?"
"Huh," Ruby said, putting a finger on her chin. I turned around to Taiyang again, shrugging at him. However, the man seemed less than impressed as Hotel said, "Well, we'll be taking our leave now."
"Will do," I replied, suddenly seeing Yang's fist come flying out of nowhere and nail Taiyang a good one with her good hand.
"Oh, stop pressuring the poor guy, pops," she stated, a groan coming from the freshly made hole in a wall. Doctors and nurses alike all began pouring into the entrance room, glancing into the hole that Taiyang had just been punched through as I slowly turned back to Ruby, looping my arm around hers and saying, "...Or maybe it's better if you just come with me for my protection…."
And with that, I dragged Ruby, who was yelling her good wishes to Yang and Hotel, out of the hospital.
"Hey, Del?"
"Hmm?"
I glanced over at Ruby, who was inspecting the newly-repaired half of Ember Celica, then turned back to sharpening one of my swords as she asked, "Did you…want me to fix Alternate Echo?"
"Huh?"
Having made our way over to her little repair shop that was literally just a renovated car garage, I shouldn't have been surprised to hear that question.
I looked at her, dropping the whetstone I was using to sharpen my two remaining swords as she fondled around with the freshly repaired half of Ember Celica in its bracelet form. I blinked, watching her continue fondling around with it nervously. Before I knew it I had grabbed the two broken pieces of Alternate Echo and placed them on her work bench. There was a slight "eep!" of surprise, but then Ruby quickly recomposed herself and brought out a box of tools, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the sheath excitedly.
"Hold up, Rubes, hold up," I stated, yanking it out of her reach before she could begin tearing it apart. I grinned as she dropped her tools and began pouting, standing up to me. However, she didn't quite get her way considering she was still smaller than me, reaching up, but being unable to grab it. I chuckled, then said, "Ruby, I wanted to—hup—change the—nn—design a bit!"
Almost immediately, she stopped. I sighed, then dropped the two pieces back down onto the table and took her hands. Dragging her over to the couch she had conveniently decided to put in the shop, I sat her down on my lap and pulled out my scroll, pulling up a projection. Ruby stared at the projection curiously as I asked, "Can you make it?"
Meanwhile, at Sierra's cell...(3rd POV)
"One-fifty...one-fifty-one…one-fifty-two…!
"What're you doing?"
Sierra stopped her squats, looking up at Scarlet, who was looking straight at her. The cut on her leg had fully healed from what could only be described as a couple days ago, but her shoulder was still no good. Her aura was still replenishing itself.
"Keeping up my strength," Sierra replied, going right back to her squats. However, she was rudely interrupted as Scarlet grabbed her by the collar of her shirt, causing her to gawk in surprise. Struggling against the woman, Sierra felt herself get thrown out of her cell, landing painfully on what could only be concrete flooring, letting out a grunt. Her shoulder stung painfully, causing her to grasp at it as Scarlet stated, "There's someone who wants to speak to you. I think you'd enjoy it."
"Why—nn—the hell would I enjoy talking to one of you…," Sierra breathed, only to pulled up roughly to her feet via her collar again. Gasping again from her stinging shoulder, she felt Scarlet patting her clothing down. Glaring at the woman, Scarlet sighed and said, "You really need a fresh change of clothes."
"Pfft," Sierra replied, "Like hell you're getting me in one of those jumpsuits."
"Nope."
Sierra looked up at the woman, somewhat surprised as Scarlet stated, "You're getting something better~."
"…Oh god…," Sierra said in clear distaste, having no choice but to follow Scarlet down the hall. However, she suddenly felt someone loop their arm around her good arm, causing her to turn to her right to see a familiar ice-cream themed girl skipping gingerly with her umbrella open on her opposite shoulder. Sierra let out a gagging noise, causing Scarlet to laugh as the latter stated, "Neo's taken quite the liking to you, Sakuya."
"Well screw you too," Sierra replied under her breath, shooting one more look at Neo, who was smiling up at her. Furrowing her brow, Sierra immediately began wondering why this girl always seemed to have either a smile or an overly confident smirk on her face. It was beginning to annoy her considering that Neo knocked her out and left her with a headache that had raged on for several days.
"…Neo, was it?"
The girl looked up at Sierra, a smirk plastered on her face.
"…why're you always smiling? It's pissing me off…."
Neo said nothing, much to Sierra's expectations. She didn't say anything during their first encounter, nor their second. Sierra began wondering if the girl was mute, or if she flat out just didn't like talking, similarly to Lima's quiet, placid nature. Nearby, Scarlet chuckled to herself as the ice cream themed girl happily continued walking the hall with Sierra. Scarlet always knew that Neo had a soft spot for anyone who could land a blow on her.
Within the next few moments, Scarlet stopped.
Sierra, not paying attention, bumped into the woman, letting out a small sound of surprise. Neo's grip, however, didn't falter, keeping Sierra on her feet as Scarlet knocked on a door. Regaining her composure, Sierra grimaced, watching as Scarlet entered a room and said, "I've brought her."
"Good good," a voice called out from within.
Just as quickly, Scarlet exited the room and ushered Sierra in. Blinking in confusion and a little fear, Sierra swallowed her spit as Neo walked over to whoever was sitting in the desk in front of them. Neo then proceeded to bow, aptly turning around and walking past Sierra and out the door. Sierra watched the girl waltz out of the room, then turned back around, only to see a woman right in her face. Sierra blinked, feeling burning orange eyes pierce through her very soul as the woman stated, "It's such a shame that such a young lady be wasted by becoming a huntress."
"What did you say…?"
"I like you already," the woman continued, walking back over to the desk. Sierra narrowed her gaze, watching the woman carefully. The woman chuckled, then leaned herself against the desk as she then stated, "I have just the perfect clothing for you."
"What are you talking about…," Sierra asked. There was a shuffling behind her, causing her to turn around to see Scarlet pulling out what looked like an outfit on a clothes hanger. Blinking, Sierra tried to look at the whatever outfit Scarlet was holding, and by god she already didn't like it just from seeing the dark outline alone. In fact, if she didn't know any better, she would've immediately assumed it was a….
*Snap*
Sierra flinched as lights turned on, brightening up the room even more.
And she immediately dropped her jaw.
"What do you think~?"
"Fuck no," Sierra stated, "Hell fucking no! No no no no no! No way in fucking hell you're getting me in that!"
"I think you'll enjoy it," Scarlet stated, her eyes seemingly sparkling as she menacingly walked towards Sierra. Sierra then turned around to face the woman that she was talking to earlier, only to see that they had disappeared. However, there was one person she had forgotten about.
Scarlet's eyes continued sparkling as she then called out, "Neo~!"
Suddenly, Sierra felt arms loop around her shoulders, catching her off guard as she turned her head, spotting Neo grinning madly. For someone so small, she was surprisingly strong. Too strong for Sierra, considering her shoulder was still healing.
"No! Keep that away from me! Don't—gyah!"
"Don't worry sis; everything will be alright~!"