Winter leant against the brick wall of a random store in Atlas, watching as the cars went by. She was well hidden from passers-by, both by the dark and by the hood covering her face. She sighed, her breath coming out in a white cloud, and she pushed away from the wall and began walking in search of a place to sleep the night.
It was unusual to find a Schnee outside their manor in the upper level of Atlas, but Winter needed to get out of the house. Even if it meant roaming the streets of Atlas in search of a hotel to stay in for the night while her father spends the whole night nurturing several glasses of whiskey in his office. Father will have Ironwood send soldiers to find me by morning… He wouldn't dare ask the police to do it because if it made the papers that his 12-year-old daughter ran away then the press would be all over it, Winter thought, her nose scrunched up at the thought of press swarming the house and asking her questions. Although, Winter was rather tall for her age, being around 5'6, so she didn't stick out like a sore thumb amongst all the adults in Atlas.
It took her a few moments before she realized that she had stopped in the middle of a street. Winter didn't know how long she had walked for but the golden glow of the building in front of her made her raise her head in curiosity. "The Glass Unicorn?" Winter mumbled, cocking her head to the side in curiosity. The name sounded familiar to her, but she couldn't quite place it. Her blue eyes looked around, trying to make sense of where she was but as a cold breeze hit her like a fully loaded truck, Winter realized that she didn't have a choice but to go inside.
Winter pushed open the door, immediately being struck by warmth and the smell of food, and she had to swallow hard, so she didn't start salivating. The growl of her stomach reminded her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast that morning. Winter stepped forward, walking towards the reception desk where a stern old woman stood, watching her every move. Winter noticed the two girls hovering at the side, also watching her. Winter narrowed her eyes as she came to a stop in front of the desk.
"We don't serve beggars" The woman said, a clear hint of disgust in her voice and Winter leaned on the desk and countered, "You don't serve faunus either… Apparently you beat them" Winter placed her scroll on the table, a video playing on loop of the woman hitting a tired and hungry dog faunus after he asked for some food.
The woman grimaced and Winter asked, "Tell me, have you served a man named Jacques Schnee before?" The woman shakes her head and answers, "No. However, we have accommodated his wife several times in the past" Winter nodded and said, "Then you should have no problems accommodating me" She looked up at the woman, her white hair and blue eyes on show and the woman's eyes widened, and she opens her mouth to say something when Winter says, "I would appreciate it if you would keep my being here quiet. I do not wish for my father to find me here" The woman nods quickly and says, "Of course ma'am" Her voice is hushed, and Winter smirked, "Good" The woman handed her a key and Winter read the tag and the woman called, "Cinder! Come here girl!" Winter looked up just as a girl with amber eyes and black hair surfaced from the back room.
Winter swallowed hard, mesmerized by this girl and Cinder seemed to be under the same spell. The woman grabbed Cinder by the shoulder and pulled her close. Winter noticed the controller in her other hand and her eyes flitted to the yellow gem around Cinder's neck and her mind connected the dots. Winter narrowed her eyes, clenching her jaw and her fist. "Please show Miss Schnee to her room" Cinder nodded, and the woman leaned down and whispered something to the girl that made Cinder's face go paler than it already was.
Cinder stepped forward and Winter smiled at the girl and said, "Lead the way" Cinder let a small smile appear on her face, and she led Winter to the stairs. Winter noticed that the two girls had disappeared as they made it to the top floor of the hotel. Cinder walked ahead of her, noticeably trembling and Winter's aura pulsed, as if something bad was about to happen.
And Winter's aura was right.
A foot slid out of the door in front of them and Cinder tripped over it. Winter grabbed her hand, keeping her from hitting the ground, and she pulled Cinder up, pulling the girl a little too hard and Cinder collided with her chest. The two girls stepped out of the room and smirked as they walked past Winter and Cinder but one glare from the blue-eyed girl made them scurry off.
Winter gazed down at the girl in her arms, praying to the gods that she couldn't feel the thumping of her heartbeat in her chest. Cinder's amber eyes flicked up to meet Winter's blue ones, but her gaze quickly dropped to stare at the blue fabric around Winter's neck. The Schnee chuckles softly, the sound vibrating in her chest, "Are you okay?" Winter's voice was tender, her hand splayed against Cinder's back, keeping her up right and the other locked tight with the girl's other hand and Cinder nodded, "Y-Yes… T-Thank you" Winter cocked her head to the side and said, "Why are you thanking me? I just did what any decent person would do" Cinder looked away and asked, "Met a bunch of 'decent people' have you?" Winter felt guilt in her gut, and she asked, "Do people seriously not help you?" Cinder shakes her head and answers, "No. They either turn away and pretend not to notice or they laugh and then I…" Winter lifts Cinder's head up with her hand and says, "You don't have to say anything else, okay?" Cinder nods and a faint blush appears on her cheeks before she scrambles away from Winter and stammers over her words, trying her hardest to apologize.
Winter giggles, the sound making Cinder stop and stare and Winter says, "Don't worry about it. No harm done" Cinder nods hesitantly and Winter walks forward and says, "Lead the way Cinder" Cinder's breath hitches, and she continues walking, a noticeable crease to her brow as she nibbles on her lower lip in thought.
Eventually they stop outside Winter's room and Winter reaches to unlock the door when Cinder takes the key from her hand and stammers, "L-Let me" Winter rests a hand on Cinder's and says, "Cinder, I've got it, okay?" Cinder swallows, and she begins, "But I-" Winter cuts her off and says, "Trust me, I'm not going to report you for not opening the door for me. Or for anything for that matter. I'm not like them" She jabs her thumb towards all the Atlas elites sitting on the first floor and Cinder looks away and Winter takes the key from her hand and unlocks the door and pushes it open.
"Would you like to join me?" Winter asks, leaning on the door frame and Cinder looks at her, eyes widened and sparkling with something that Winter can't quite place. Cinder shakes her head and stammers, "N-No thank you… I-I have to get back to work" Winter hums and asks, "Do you want help?" Cinder's cheeks flush but Winter can't tell if it's out of anger or embarrassment, and she snaps, "No! I can do it myself" and she turns on her heel and Winter reaches out her hand, the pads of her fingers brushing Cinder's arm. Winter sighs, lowering her hand, and she mutters, "I didn't mean it like that…" Cinder stopped at her words but shook her head and continued walking. Winter watched her leave and slapped a hand to her forehead as she grumbled, "Stupid" repeatedly, walking into her room and closing the door.