Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Cold Compassion. Enjoy the 2000-word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth do.
(Atlas, Alsius Academy.)
Slater drank from his soda while looking at Winter. She was trying to deal with her injuries to her arms.
"Perhaps we should discuss what we want out of a relationship?" Winter looked at Slater. She was silent, the very fact that they had taken very treacherous and cautious steps.
"You go first," Winter asked. Slater hummed before he tapped his chin.
"Ok…" He tapped his knees and took another bite of his sandwich. He cleared his throat.
"I would like to have this relationship or any I be about not be rushed. I know nothing about romance besides a few fleeting crushes. I also don't want a long-distance relationship if it can be helped. I feel relationships should be close and personal, the further away someone is? The more you feel their slipping away." Slater said. He crossed his legs and slowly blinked before speaking again.
"I think a big part of my preferences for a relationship? I don't want our relationship for example to still seem like the 'soldier, commander' thing. I like when you open up more and trust me, I want you to trust me with things, like I trust you. I also want us to spend a lot of time bonding, not missions and 'I'll deal with our emotions later.' I get the mission being important, but I don't want it to be super minor. Salem's war with us will be straining us between emotions and loyalty." Slater looked at Winter.
Both continued to sit in their bunk in their pajamas and slowly pick at their wrapped food.
"Your turn. I'll tell you if anything else comes to mind. I didn't expect to get asked out anytime soon." Slater stated. Winter looked at her feet, she wondered if Cinder did more damage to her legs then her heels did.
"I would prefer our relationship remain more private for now. I am happy to tell you issues, but I would also like to do them away from others. We just started dating, neither of us needs the baggage of the others commentary. I would also prefer we do not engage in the more… Forward romantic gestures, gifts and hand holding are fine. Nicknames carry a lot of emotional weight and shouldn't be given lightly." Winter grasped Slater's hand with hers.
"I would finally wish to schedule more training and talks like this. relationships are built upon a bond, if we are going to make it work? We have to be able to fight as a team and keep information between us… If you talk to another female? I want you to tell me, I'll tell you if I talk to another boy. Your right when we need to share secrets. I still do not wish for that to keep us from the mission, we must be willing to continue on even if it kills part of us… That doesn't mean I'm putting our war above our relationship." Winter said, Slater looked at their fingers.
"As long as you remember you're not alone? AND your willing to relax, act casual and open up more? I can promise that. I already know Salem will prioritize you as a massive threat. You not only killed a maiden; you have the ability to get the staff and overpower most of her army." Slater said, both looked out the window at the city.
(Outside Atlas)
Neo had retreated after she learned of Cinder's death. She wasn't very concerned for the Fall Maiden. She still had a hand in Roman's death, that was clear, Cinder just refused as usual to take responsibility for anything that made her look bad or like she was wrong.
She looked at the White Fang Lieutenant, she had found him in the rubble of the train, she also recruited Bertilak Celadon and Carmine Esclados. She would have recruited Junior, but he was useless as a fighter and his men were worth only cannon fodder.
"Remind me why this trip to Vacuo is a good idea again?" A White Fang soldier asked before the Lieutenant looked at Carmine and Celadon.
"A better question should be why I shouldn't kill both of you right here. We're trying to rid the world of Humans and yet I see 2 Human TRAFFICKERS… One of whom is from Atlas." He looked at Carmine, both had approached Neo after escaping from jail.
"Because of neo, your only other option is heading to Salem and you both know you can't do that and still get the relic to lure out the goodie goodies. You forgot that, fur face." Celadon muttered. The Lieutenant grabbed his chainsaw and went to kill him.
Neo slapped Hush down before the Lieutenant growled at them.
"Get the damn relic, that's what she's paying you for. Neo only hired you because we're short on skilled fighters. Leave the Schnees to me." They looked at Neo who shrugged, she just wanted to avenge Roman. She'd kill the others after their goal was done.
But first she needed the Vacuo relic, and that was where the group was headed.
(With Winter and Slater)
Slater sat next to Winter in their bunk. Her beefsteak with egg and his sandwich and chicken laid in the garbage.
"You know I don't regret helping you fight Cinder. She would have killed you. Her attack would have destroyed the Manticore you were riding and you wouldn't have survived the fall. I'd gladly take the hit again if it keeps you alive." Slater said, Winter hummed.
"You should have focused on trying to kill Cinder, my life…" Winter was cut off by Slater playfully flicking her head.
"Is just as important as mine, Penny's or anyone else's. We're soldiers, not Grimm. Soldiers die in war to sacrifice themselves for victory. They don't jump into the meat grinder for nothing. You die, we have no maiden, you die and we lose the war… And if you die, I have no partner. Atlas taught us to work together, you're not throwing your life away just because you're not concerned to lose it for Remnant." Slater rubbed at his temples while the couple sat in his bunk.
"We aren't going to defeat Salem if we aren't willing to sacrifice." Winter stated.
"We also won't win by senselessly throwing our lives away. I'd rather die by taking out Hazel or someone important in Salem's army… You should know we're supposed to be deployed as reinforcements to Vacuo's government. The Ace Ops, Penny and JNR are headed to Vale to secure the relic. RWBY, the Happy Huntresses and Oscar are staying in Atlas… General Ironwood also asked team FNKY and Ciel to provide more security for the relic and Cordo to send a small group of troops to help the Mistral." Slater stated, Winter blinked.
"I thought General Ironwood wanted all troops in Atlas." The Winter Maiden blinked.
"Salem is leading the siege on Vacuo herself. She retreated after her attempt to divide Atlas was ruined. She doesn't want to fight us. We're going to keep the relics away from her. The Ace Ops are taking the relic with them to Beacon. Everyone in Ozpin's circle are headed to Vacuo. We take out Salem and this is over, General Ironwood is taking the Lamp somewhere Salem won't get it. He's dividing all the relics in the world again." Slater put in.
"And the staff?" Winter looked at her bare hands. Her fingers were finally back to normal. She had been clutching Slater's hand for so long, she had forgotten it.
"That's your decision. General Ironwood is saving the decision to move Atlas to orbit for a last ditch move." Slater looked down before clearing his throat.
"Fria… Her funeral is tomorrow. Her family would like for you to appear there. We plan on launching the Amity Tower at the end of the day before we begin the counterattack in Vacuo. I also heard your mother and brother are going there." Slater said. Winter looked ready to say something.
Slater slowly and reassuringly ran his thumb over her fingers. She looked at him.
"I… Would like your support." Slater heard as the Winter maiden looked away.
"I'll be there… She chose you, not just because Ironwood designed it that way. She saw something in you, she wouldn't have willingly given you her powers if you weren't the one, she believed about." Slater got up and patted Winter on her right arm.
"You need a bit more time for the burns to go away for good. Rest, I'm going to tell General Ironwood your recovering nicely." Slater said. Winter grunted and went to lay down in her bunk.
Slater draped his blanket over her, shaking his head.
"I said REST. You have a burned arm and concussion still. You're going to fall out of the bed if you try and climb down alone." Slater rubbed at his arm and own wounds. Aura could only do so much to patch up wounded arms and more severe injuries.
"Thank… You." Winter sounded so unsure of the concern. Slater wondered if her family had given her any affection. Willow probably, so did her grandfather and sister. He doubted… No, he knew Jacques didn't care about her, he valued Whitney because Whitney was loyal and acted like a servant of the upper class.
"I'll bring some Ice Dust for your arm. Weiss is coming to see you soon. You're not a machine, Winter. Stop acting like your life is just a statistic, soldier or not. We're fighting to save Remnant… not throw our lives away to gain some ground." Slater left the room.
Winter looked at him with disbelief before her light blue orbs slowly closed. The Winter Maiden thought about her date, her FIRST date.
She smiled; it had been good. She knew Slater and her had laid ground rules for their relationship. She would work on being more grounded.
(With Slater)
Slater saw that the Ace-Ops and Happy Huntresses were inside the office.
"Winter is still recovering?" Ironwood was talking to RWBY on his Scroll.
"She's resting. Her arm, ribs and legs are going to be healing for a while. She still is going to need physical therapy, but she's fine." Slater stated.
"Fria is being buried tomorrow. 21-gun salute, personal convoy. She gave her life for Remnant." Clover said. Ironwood shook his head.
"Some of us are still going to rot by the time we are done. An elderly woman with dementia had to die for us to get onto an even fighting scale with Salem. Clover, if anyone thinks of crashing that funeral? You bury them… Atlas isn't just healing; we don't forget the people Salem slaughtered without remorse. We mourn tomorrow, we all go to war after that." He stated. Slater nodded.
"We also launch the Amity Tower tomorrow. Salem can't divide us. The second we turn against each other; Salem gets what she wants. I'm going to oversee the wall reconstruction. Robyn and her group are the people dealing with the wall. Salem won't wait and we do need to send some troops out to Vacuo." Slater folded his arms behind him.
The world needed to rise against Salem if they were going to stop her. tomorrow? Atlas buried Fria and any people killed in the attack.
Then they buried Salem before she hurt anyone else. Slater wondered what would happen down the road.
He left to help make sure Atlas was safe for tomorrow. Slater hummed.
Author Notes
Phew, another chapter done! I want to apologize for overuse of words and periods. I'll try to fix it next chapter. I am also not trying to make Ironwood and the military look like saints. Next chapter will be on Saturday or so and will show Fria's funeral and Winter and Slater bonding more. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!