Chapter 42
It was a peaceful Atlesian morning. The clouds were hazy in the sky, the warm sun streaming through what few windows had been left unshaded. The apartment was clean, still smelling of the lemon scented window spray they had agreed upon as suitable to all their senses. Though, as always, there were imperfections. An empty can of soft drink sat on the living room table, alongside a folded, half-empty packet of corn chips. A battered brown leather jacket lay draped over one of the dining table chairs, an equally weathered purse dumped on the table itself. Its owner rattled about the kitchen, the thick smell of frying eggs slowly overcoming the cleaning spree of the prior day.
Blake did not have a problem with any of that however. Living with Sun had taught her to tolerate little lapses in cleanliness, and a little disarray made a place feel like home. It was the garment on the couch that drew her ire. "Yang." Came Blake's gritted greeting. The subject of her annoyance looked up from cooking to flash an annoyingly brilliant smile.
"Morning Blakey, omelets for breakfast today." Yang chirped, far too cheerfully for the early hour.
"And what kind of omelet is this?" Blake pointed to the offending garment, garish yellow with black patterns. She wrinkled her nose at the tiny kitten whiskers taunting her, from panties no less.
"Well, not an edible one for sure, though edibles do exist." Yang replied. "I just don't like the idea of slapping gelatin against my puss."
"Why is your underwear on the couch, Yang?" Blake sighed.
"Drying out." Yang answered. "I was gonna' wear 'em, but I think it got buried in the other clothes and didn't dry out properly."
"And you chose the couch of all places?" Blake grumbled.
"Eh, no one was using it." Yang shrugged.
"I don't need your stink spreading any further than it needs to." Blake complained.
"Hey, it's clean, and I'm gonna' shower after breakfast." Yang protested.
"You've been smoking, again." Blake observed.
Yang's smile grew tight at that, and she turned back to her cooking. "I have."
"Ruby will be coming home in time." Blake noted.
"She will." Yang nodded.
"And you will quit before then." Blake insisted.
"I can't quit." Yang frowned.
"You've done before, presumably." Blake suggested.
"I tried vaping, but it tasted like shit, felt like shit." Yang complained.
"So deal with it." Blake bit, planting her hands on the kitchen counter. Were it not for the marble, her claws would have marred the surface. "Ruby thinks the world of you. Do you really want to disappoint her now?"
"I won't disappoint her, because she won't find out." Yang declared.
"She will find out." Blake countered. "If you don't quit before she gets here."
"So what, you're gonna' blackmail me into quitting?" Yang accused.
"No." Blake deadpanned. "I'm blackmailing you out of lying."
"Funny." Yang smirked.
"Not in the slightest." Blake glared.
Yang sighed, lifting the pan from its burner and sliding the freshly cooked cheese and bacon omelet onto a plate. "It's not that simple Blake." Picking up a nearby peppermill, she dusted the surface with the spice, before doing the same with salt. "And I don't lie to Ruby because it makes me feel good. She's got enough to deal with and so do I."
"And the last thing she needs is losing trust in her sister." Blake persisted. "Yang, you do not lie to family, above all things." She tapped a nail with each following word. "You. Do. Not."
"Well I do, because there are things I like to be kept private." Yang excused. "You do know what privacy is, don't you?"
"Privacy, secrets, I don't care." Blake waved. "Quit or I'll tell her. I don't care if you get moody, tough it out."
Yang huffed, placing the finished plate in front of Blake with a forced smile. "I'm gonna' have a shower, got training today. Hope you like it." She padded out from the kitchen on feet far lighter than her build would indicate.
Blake ignored the burning, offensive scent that breezed past her, and the lack of real pyjamas. She focused on the breakfast before her. It was a simple cheese and bacon omelet, lightly seasoned with Menagerian spices, and two arrows gave the impression of a joyful face. She tried to ignore the pained feelings in her chest.
Nora scratched her chin as she examined the prosthetic attachment points. "You think maybe you could put vibes on your stumps?" The sound of ejecting beverage awoke Sun from his nap, shooting up from the cot in the corner as Jaune coughed and spluttered, thankfully missing anything important in the process. He had only managed to soak his smart blue button up.
"Whossh dying?" Sun slurred through a yawn, blinking sleep from his eyes. "Ruby okay?"
"I'm fine Sun." Ruby replied. "Jaune, you okay?"
Jaune gave a shaky thumbs up, groaning as Nora slapped his back, an amused but affectionate smile on her face. "I gotta'-" He coughed again. "Gotta' go clean myself up. You guys want anything?"
"Yeah, can you grab me a Grimm Energy?" Sun requested, standing to stretch, a chorus of cracks filling the room.
Jaune could not help but cringe. "Sure, anyone else?"
"I'm fine, thanks Jaune." Ruby declined.
"I'm waiting 'til brunch." Nora added.
"Alright, be right back." Jaune sighed as he left the room, still clearing his sore throat.
"Is he doing okay?" Ruby asked once he was out.
Nora sighed, her cheerful smile fading. "He's...he's trying not to let it get him down...but it's harder than he lets on."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Ruby asked.
"I dunno' Ruby." Nora frowned. "Jauney isn't really ready to open up about what he feels. I wanna' give him some time before trying...something."
"You know, therapy is covered under our health plan...I've uh, been reading the handbook, finally." Ruby suggested.
"Have you been going?" Nora inquired.
"No...well they said I should, but honestly I really don't want to." Ruby answered. "I don't remember anything of what happened, and I don't want to remember."
"But what if you do?" Nora pressed.
"Then I'll see how I feel then." Ruby replied.
"Oh...well, in the meantime…" Nora stood, undoing the buttons on her coat. The fine, tan garment was an oddity for such a colorful woman. "Nurse Nora is here to offer a hand...or a leg!" With a flourish, Nora shucked the coat onto the floor, revealing what could have been described as the most stereotypical sexy nurse outfit ever made. It was only notable for its quality. It looked tailored to her size, and the cap Nora pulled from her purse perfectly fit her head.
"Am I actually still asleep right now, or are you like a cosplayer or something?" Sun asked in surprise.
"Funny you should ask Sunny dear." Nora grinned. "I actually got hired to be part of a cosplay group once. I thought it was gonna' be an orgy or something, but nope, just a rich gay dude who loved anime."
"Did he just want you to like, pose for pictures or something?" Ruby questioned.
"Apparently he was some hot shot illustrator, wanted to promote his new work." Nora explained.
"At a convention?" Ruby queried.
"Yeah, AXC." Nora confirmed. "It was my first actually."
"I've always wanted to go there." Ruby noted. "Maybe now I'll be able to afford it."
"Weiss could probably get you tickets." Sun suggested.
"Knowing her she probably owns the convention center or something." Nora joked.
"I don't wanna' take advantage of her." Ruby said. "She's already treating me so well."
A commotion came from somewhere down the hall. Someone ran by the door, and extreme oddity in the normally strict, organized and calm environment of the Schnee Medical Center.
"Where's the fire?" Sun craned his neck to look.
"Not my fault, this time." Nora chuckled.
Ruby sat up and tried to get a better look through the door. "If it's anything important, Weiss will probably visit and tell us."
It was rare for Weiss' mind to drift peacefully. So often was she swamped by tasks and burdens, there was hardly a moment she could spare to just be. She had too many responsibilities, too many worries, dozens, if not hundreds of potential consequences if she made but one mistake. This played a part in forming her weekend rituals, two days during which she could block out the world, spend her time freely, without care nor responsibility. Even then she found it difficult to escape her wandering mind.
If there was one thing that could drive all thought from her being, it was the gentle haze of a slowly earned orgasm. Her lovers had grown very skilled in drawing her pleasure out until her mind could take no more, leaving her raw and fuzzy, limp, breathless mush helpless where she lay. Which happened to be Ren's bare chest this time, the warm, toned body firm in all the right places, as skilled hands worked their way down her back in a caring massage.
"Today seems quite pleasant, perhaps a trip to the gardens?" Pyrrha's voice speculated from within Weiss' wardrobe. "It has been some time since we had a nice lunch there."
Weiss hummed a dazed agreement, nuzzling into the firm warmth beneath her cheek. Ren's hands pulled at her rear. She felt her nethers spread and let out a blissful moan. "Ren…" The warmth shook with a gentle chuckle. Ren always found her sensitivity endearing, finding the simplest ways to bring it to the surface.
"I suppose a lazy day is not out of the question." The bed dipped as Pyrrha settled beside them once more, barely visible from Weiss' slitted eyelids. Bare but for her crimson laced panties, Pyrrha struck her as more of a goddess than a human, her long, thick hair curling slightly over her shoulders, free of its usual taming. No one made Weiss feel so inferior, so incomparable, and yet she deemed her fit to love. Who was she to deny her?
"Hold me." Weiss murmured. Pyrrha's hand soon slid across her back, fingers delicate in spite of their strength.
"If we stay longer, we may never leave." Pyrrha cautioned.
"I shall entertain the fantasy, just this once." Weiss responded.
Several loud vibrations sounded from the bedside table, followed by a familiar chime. Weiss felt her blood run cold, the dreaded sound of the Atlesian Military Network. It was a far too innocent, if cold jingle that sounded during recruitment advertisements, military announcements, and in Weiss' case, messages from a certain General James Ironwood.
"Weiss?" Pyrrha shook her from her paralysis.
Weiss moved to roll off her warm perch. "I've got it." She resisted the urge to tremor as she reached for the scroll dock. "Wha-" She choked on her tongue as she read the text on the screen: Winter alive, call immediately. "She's alive." She breathlessly uttered, the scroll suddenly weighing down her arm like a block of lead. The bed shifted as Pyrrha shifted to her side, slipping her arm around Weiss' waist. She had no hope of resisting, and nuzzled into her comfort.
"Winter?" Pyrrha asked, receiving a nod in response.
Weiss felt dizzy, a buzz of emotion filling her mind, her body numb, the reality slowly sinking into her psyche. Winter was alive, that was all she knew. There was surely a catch, there was always a catch. "Alive, that is all I know." She took a deep breath and stood, Pyrrha's arm slipping from her own as she paced. She unlocked the scroll and made the call. It rang five times before he answered.
"Ms. Schnee." Ironwood greeted.
"Where is she?" Weiss asked.
"Enroute to Atlas." Ironwood replied. "We've notified Schnee Medical of her impending arrival."
"Medical...what happened?" Weiss demanded. "When was she found, can we speak?"
"For safety reasons she has been placed in a medical coma." Ironwood answered. "She was found eight hours ago in front of the Sanctum City consulate, presumably left on purpose."
"In what condition." Weiss inquired.
"Ms. Schnee-" Ironwood started.
"James." Weiss barked. "What happened to my sister? Tell me."
"It...is not appropriate to discuss details under these circumstances." Ironwood resisted.
"You do not get-" Weiss growled.
"We will arrive before sundown, and I promise you we will speak properly then." Ironwood interrupted.
"James you-" Weiss barely got the words out before the line beeped and went silent. She felt fury run white hot through her body, her hands aching as they clenched.
"Weiss." Pyrrha soothed, her voice like cool water to the raging fire. "Give me the scroll." She felt a tug on the device and loosened her grip enough for it to be pulled free, followed by a hand slipping its way into her grip. "Come back to us. You are loved, you are not alone, your burdens are ours to relieve." Weiss suddenly became aware of a wetness on her cheeks, and how shaky her legs had become. "Come now, sit a moment, gather yourself."
It was such a reasonable request, and Weiss was supposed to be a reasonable individual. "We need to go to Schnee Medical." She protested.
"And we will, when you're ready." Pyrrha pulled her back. "Come now."
Pyrrha sat on the bed and seated Weiss in her lap. She felt so small in Pyrrha's arms, so light and easily handled. Her legs were lifted up and onto Ren's lap, his nimble hands already working their way through her sore soles. She wished she could have enjoyed it as much as she normally did, but for the time being, she could at least take a deep breath before the real pain began.
If the Schnee Medical Center had been in a fuss before, it was positively chaotic now. Weiss had barged through the entrance in a flurry, barking demands and orders to the first employees she saw, and only picked up momentum from there. Pyrrha and Ren followed at a distance, offering sympathetic smiles to those tossed aside in their partner's wake. Weiss was in the middle of going through the room's inventory with a doctor when Pyrrha gently pulled her aside.
"Weiss, sweetie, you need to slow down." Pyrrha cautioned.
"Slow down and do what?" Weiss groused. "I need to focus on something productive or I'll just sit here and stew."
"Ruby is awake, perhaps you could visit her." Ren recommended.
"Ruby has enough to handle without me using her as a distraction." Weiss resisted.
"Ruby sent Sun home to get some rest." Pyrrha noted. "She'd appreciate the company." She wrapped Weiss in a warm hug, Ren joining at her rear, until all Weiss could see and feel was their warmth, and her racing heart calmed.
"Won't you come with me?" Weiss asked.
"Soon, dear, soon." Pyrrha soothed. "You need a heartier breakfast than half a bagel and a cup of coffee."
"I'm not hungry." Weiss pouted.
"You always say so when you're hungry." Ren noted.
"Come now, go play with your friend while mommy and daddy make breakfast." Pyrrha joked.
"I hate you." Weiss grumbled.
Pyrrha just smiled at her. "We know dear."