I Hope Atlas has good insurance.
Anyway i hope you enjoy.
Beurling woke up to Maple shaking her awake "We about to start landing soon, I'll let you wake her up." Maple nodded to Tomoko who was laying down her arms warped around Beurling's waist and head in the brawler's lap, with her face buried into Beurling's belly, before heading off.
Beurling was rather happy Maple woke her up and not Frenda, as she'd never hear the end of it, though she thought she saw a smile on her leaders lips as she walked away "Hey it's time to wake up, sleep head." Beurling whispered as she gently shook Tomoko earning a groan from the gunner.
"Can't I have five more minutes?" Tomoko asked sleepily as she shifted in Beurling's lap.
"Sorry, Maples orders."
Tomoko groaned as she sat up and stretched "I was having a nice dream." she moaned as she sat up.
Beurling smiled and stood up next to her "Don't worry, when we're wherever they want to put us and you can sleep again."
A few minutes later the door of the transport opened and the students exited the transport, the school looked more like a palace to Beurling, turning behind her, she could see the sky, Atlas was up in the sky in their fairy tale world, while those below them struggled. She'd only been here for a few seconds and she already felt sick here, the flying city felt to her as Atlas trying to rise above everyone else because they thought themselves better because they were rich.
"Is it just me or does it feel like we're floating or something?" Maple asked a bit confused.
"We are, Atlas is floating city." Beurling explained, as Maple looked surprised at the news.
"Alright everyone, wait here till our guide comes to us." Tammy shouted to her students as she and Sky to watched the students.
"Are you ok?" Tomoko asked.
"Yeah, just feel uncomfortable here."
"Me too, first time I've been up here." Tomoko smiled at Beurling.
Beurling heard Blau mutter something behind her, she didn't know what the words were but she was sure it wasn't pleasant and along the lines of Tomoko should never come up here, but before Beurling could say or more preferably do anything, Tammy waved at a pair of familiar faces.
Ironclad and Sininen walked up to Tammy, Beurling noticed that Ironclad was walking with a slight limp and using a walking stick.
"Headmaster, I see your students are doing well, Fídi not with you?" Ironclad asked as he kept his eye on Sky.
"No, she's watching the school for me, your boss wanted to see me." Tammy replied shaking Ironclads hand "How's the wounds?"
"Fine, needs a lot more than that to keep me down, besides, it lets me see my nephew James, so every cloud."
"I can see."
Ironclad smiled before turning to the students "I hope you lot had a safe trip, now if you follow me and the major, we'll get you all settled in."
As the group walked, Beurling was behind Sininen and Frenda as they walked side by side "Major?"
"Yeah, got promoted a few days ago." Frenda explained to his sister.
"So unfortunately, we can't bunk you in the main school building, you'll have to be in another building we set up for you and the other students." Ironclad explained.
"What about our weapons and sleeping arrangements?" Sgàil asked.
"Per your headmasters request, you'll keep your own weapons in your own room, your teams will also be bunked together miss."
"Hey, Beurling can I ask you something?" Beurling heard Tomoko ask.
Beurling turned and saw Tomoko walking next to her with a concerned look on her face.
"Yeah, what's up?"
Tomoko moved closer to whisper into the brawler's ear and put her hand on Beurling's shoulder "Erm, would you…?"
Tomoko was interrupted by a shout filled the air "Oi, you!" shouted one of the soldiers "You know the rules you mut."
'Sorry Tomoko, looks like they want to start a fight.' Beurling thought to herself.
Just as the soldier made to grab Tomoko, Beurling beat his hand away and hit him in his chest forcing him to the floor before standing between him and her partner, glaring at him to try again.
"What are you doing you know the rule?" the officer returned the glare, as he stood up and reached for his baton.
"Lieutenant, stand down!" Ironclad shouted to the soldier, his previously friendly and clam voice, was now replaced be a growling voice that would put a lion to shame.
"But sir, the rules on human and faunus interactions clearly states that they must be no closer than six inches and breaking the rules is punish able by hard labour."
Beurling could feel her blood start to simmer 'I should have hit you harder.' Beurling thought, the idea of this officer trying to put Tomoko in chains made her wish she'd slam the man into a wall.
"I know the rule you are talking about!" Ironclad bellowed "However that rule does not apply to them."
The officer looked confused "Sir?"
Ironclad looked furious at the officer's lack of understanding "That rule is for Atlas students and troops, these people are from Vacuo."
The officer's defiance and anger were suddenly replaced with a mix of fear and nervousness
"Did you not pay attention to the briefing that certain rules would not apply to those students coming to Atlas for the Vytal festival?" Ironclad asked.
"Yes, I did sir!"
"Then why did you almost cause a diplomatic incident, or do you want to spend life in prison?"
"I wasn't…"
"Well you should be aware!" Ironclad bellowed again "Now wait in front of my office till I arrive, or do you need simpler instructions."
"No sir." The soldier saluted before leaving rather quickly.
"My apologies about that." Ironclad's voice going back to a much more calm and friendly voice as he addressed Beurling and Tomoko with an apologetic smile.
"Accepted." Beurling responded, unlike most of Atlas Ironclad had proven a good man so he had her respect.
With the matter of the officer dealt with Ironclad lead the students to their rooms Beurling noticed Tomoko was keeping her distance from Frenda and herself, which immediately put her on edge again.
'Blasted Atlas!' Beurling thought to herself.
The building they were to sleep in was a small three-story building, Ironclad led them to the second floor of the building saying that the other two floors were for Mistral and Vale.
The rooms were like the building bland and uninviting, the walls white as snow and ceiling a dark grey, each team's room had a bath room and running along the opposite side of the room was their beds, the beds were old metal bunk beds which Beurling thought had just come out of a storage locker after not being used for years.
"Well this is a happy place." Frenda moaned as she jumped onto the top bunk of the bed that was nearest to the door.
"I'm below you I guess." Maple sighed as she sat on the bed below Frenda.
Beurling turned a saw Tomoko standing a little nervous in the corner, Beurling walked a bit closer before trying to touch the girl's shoulder but Tomoko moved back a bit "Ok, what's up?" Beurling asked, guessing as to the reason.
"Well…it's about our arrangement…" Tomoko replied nervously.
"You're thinking about that incident with the officer?" Frenda asked from her top bunk.
"Well, I don't want to cause you trouble Beurling."
Beurling sighed before grabbing Tomoko and pulling her into a hug and rubbing her thumb at the top of Tomoko's neck "Your worth the trouble Tomoko, besides, I need you." Beurling whispered the last part.
Tomoko stiffened for a second at the hug before she relaxed into the hug "Sorry, it's just…if you break the rules as a faunus in Atlas, they come down hard on you and it shook me up a bit." Tomoko explained as she nuzzled into the hug.
"It's ok I get it."
Beurling expected Frenda to make a joke or comment, but she remained silent, not that Beurling minded or didn't understand why, the pair both knew how bad Atlas could be to faunus.
"Ok so were sharing the bed then?" Tomoko asked though she immediately regretted saying it.
"Don't!" Tomoko and Beurling shouted to Frenda, who was trying to stifle her own laughter rather poorly.
"I wasn't going to say anything." Frenda struggled to say through supressed giggles.
"You were thinking of saying something though, I could hear it from here." Beurling glared at Frenda who kept laughing.
"Ok you two," Maple caught the pairs attention "while I get why you did what you did try and not start a fight Beurling, I'd rather be taken out the competition by losing a fight then being disqualified, so be more careful in future."
"Oh, come one, we've got this in the bag." Frenda countered still working out the last of her laughs "We'll be champions for sure."
"Don't be so confident, pride comes before a fall." Maple countered.
Beurling shook her head "Right, I'll be back in a bit." She explained before heading off to try and find a place to smoke.
After a short search Beurling found her way to the roof and sat watching the sun go down as she smoked her cigarette, the thought of Tomoko's concerned face making her blood boil despite the cold air.
"Beurling, what are you doing up here?" came a voice behind her.
Beurling turned and saw Sgàil walking up to her and sit down "Oh, hey Sgàil just trying to destress."
The older girl smiled "It was very noble of you to do that for Tomoko, many wouldn't have been so chivalrous, I hope I find someone as dedicated as you."
"I hate this place and everything it stands for and won't let them hurt my Tomoko." Beurling growled, not realising she'd just said, "my Tomoko".
"You really do care about her don't you?"
"Of course, I do, she's my partner."
The spear user looked at Beurling with surprise "You mean two aren't…"
Beurling turned to look back at Sgàil confused before sighing "Don't take Frenda's joke so seriously."
"I wasn't, I were basing it on the way you two act around each other, you two seem to really care about each other, plus you called her My Tomoko."
Beurling looked at Sgàil in surprise that she'd let her emotions about Tomoko slip, "You do like her don't you Beurling?"
Beurling could feel her stomach bubbling up "It doesn't matter."
"Even if that's what she wants, I've seen the way you two look at each other, you two clearly feel the same for each other."
At Sgàil's words Beurling imagined herself leaning in for kiss with Tomoko 'No, No, don't!' Beurling chastised herself.
"Look even if it's what I want I can't do it!" Beurling feeling her emotions on the verge of erupting "She's better off with someone else, someone who isn't as damaged." Beurling could feel a tear roll down her cheek.
"Beurling…"
"See ya tomorrow Sgàil." Beurling cut her friend off before walking back inside leave a very confused Sgàil behind.
Beurling kept walking till she was out the building to the side wall. The image of idea of kissing Tomoko still on her mind, in frustration she slammed her arms into the wall, before resting her head on her arms 'Damn you fate, you evil harlot, why can't you just leave me alone, do you get some sick kick making me suffer you evil wench!' Beurling screamed in her head 'You are not taking her to, I will die before I let that happen."
"Beurling, you ok?" Beurling heard Maple voice to her side.
Beurling pushed herself off the wall the face her leader "Maple…yeah I'm fine, is something up?"
"Tomoko wanted to ask us something, are you sure you're ok?" Maple asked again, scrutinizing the brawler.
"Yeah I'm fine, come on let's not keep her waiting."
Before Beurling could dash off Maple grabbed her arm "Beurling, if somethings wrong, we're here for you, you know that, right?"
"I know Maple, stop worrying." Beurling replied her head down to the ground.
"Your acting odd, I'm worried for a reason."
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine, I just don't like being here is all." Beurling knew Maple knew she was telling a half truth, she did hate it here, but it was her heart that was the real reason she was on edge today.
"Come on, Tomoko's waiting for us."
The pair walked in silence back to the room, Beurling could tell just from glancing at Maple that her leader was still worried but she had decided to respect Beurling's wish for now and kept to just watching the brawler.
When Beurling opened the door to the teams room she saw Tomoko stop walking in the middle of the room looking very nervous, the gunner looked like she had been pacing, Frenda was sat on her bunk watching Tomoko looking rather fed up.
"Tomoko, what's up?" Beurling asked her concern starting to seep into her voice already as she moved closer to her partner.
"Well, you see, tomorrow I was planning on going to see my mum and sister in Mantle and I was wondering if you wanted to meet them, you don't have to, I can make up some excuse." Tomoko rattled off quickly as she was fiddling with her fingers.
"Now you know why she was pacing a trench into the floor." Frenda sighed from her bunk.
"Well what did you say?"
"I said I was fine going so long as you two went."
"Why if only we went?" Maple asked her partner.
"It would look a bit strange if I went and you two didn't wouldn't it."
"Fair point, well I'm fine going, besides I'm kind of curious about what Mantle looks like."
"Beurling?" Tomoko asked, looking almost like a child asking its mum for sweets.
"Of course I'll go, why would you think otherwise." Beurling sighed as she hugged the faunus.
Tomoko returned the hug with her tail wagging "Thanks, they were really bugging me to meet you guys, especially you."
"Aw, Tomoko wants to introduce her knight to her family how sweet." Frenda teased.
"Frenda!" the pair shouted at the blonde who was giggling on her bed.
(Night-time)
Beurling opened the bathroom door, once back in the main room she saw Frenda laying on her bed snoring and one of her arms hanging over the side of her bed.
Maple was sitting on her bed reading an unknown book waiting for Beurling to finish, Tomoko was sat on her bed looking at the nights sky from the window.
Once Maple saw the bathroom was free, she walked past Beurling spoke a quick good night and closed the door. Once the door was closed Beurling turned back to Tomoko.
"You didn't need to wait for me you know?"
"I know." Tomoko replied yawning as she stood up "It's just the way things worked out." She smiled.
Beurling returned the smile before hugging her "Thank you." she whispered, she knew Tomoko was lying and she was staying awake so she could go to bed at the same time as Beurling and not cause an issue for the brawler in trying not to disturb the faunus when she would be trying to get into bed.
Once the pair were laying in the bed Tomoko hugged the brawler tight and Beurling did the same, after a few moment Beurling could hear Tomoko's soft snores and feel her tail resting on one of her hands.
Beurling leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Tomoko's forehead, this small act was all she was willing to do and even this made her feel uneasy.
As if sensing her unease Tomoko squeezed her tighter, Beurling smiled at Tomoko's behaviour "Never leave me Tomoko, please." Beurling whispered as she drifted off to sleep, unaware she was being watched by a pair of eagle eyes.
"You two." Maple sighed as she looked at the pair having seen Beurling's secret kiss and heard her whispered plea.
Hmm i wonder what Maples thinkng. Also i am totally not enjoying teasing these two not at all (Crossed fingers)
Also i wonder how the meeting of Tomoko's family will go.