"Hold her down! Don't let her aggravate her wounds!" Velvet screamed to Yatsu and Nora who were doing all they could to hold Weiss down on the bar counter. She grabbed another pair of clamps and attached them to the artery before doing her best to stem the bleeding in other areas. Her own clothing covered in her friends blood. The Hunter taskforce had taken over a nearby bar in their run from the hotel.
The owner more than generous in allowing them to rest there, at least when Coco put a gun to his head. After the bombing the group had been running around like headless chickens, no idea whether go this way or that, everyone was freaking over one thing or another.
Blake sat with Yang, holding her hand tight and using a cold rag to dab away the sweat on her girlfriend's head. Pyrrha was helping Jaune and Coco create defensive strategies should the need arise. Ruby and Ren were putting their own medical experience to use on Cat's own injuries, struggling from time to time with her strange internal anatomy. Fox was merely running back and forth with any makeshift medical supplies they asked for. A crash had Pyrrha running to Velvet, Weiss seemed to have knocked Nora off of her again. "What is going on with her?" She said as she held down her right shoulder.
"I can feel her magic running through her veins, out of control mind you." Velvet was moving quickly, stiching and restiching the wounds she found, many of them ones she'd already dealt with-Weiss's movement popping knots and staples. "She must be reacting to some type of poison or something. All I know is that she needs to stop moving."
A particularly rough jostle made the girl beneath them scream out in pain. Across the room Cat convulsed on the table, her heart jumping in their hands, pumping harder and faster than it would do so normally, even for her. Ruby had a thought and rushed to move the table closer to where Velvet was working on her teammate.
She pulled her aura to her eyes and watched with a small smile as the two patients calmed themselves. Their auras where mixing together, both giving and taking in tandem. "The hell?" Nora said. "What did you do?" Velvet nodded in question as she worked to fix Weiss's wounds now that she was unloving and calm.
"Whenever Cat cried out, Weiss moved slightly towards her. The same for when she screamed out, Cat responded to her." She looked at rhe small group,"I figured since their the Guardian and Winter Knight, their magic must be linked somehow." Velvet found a bit of logic in that, but decided instead of dwelling on it moved to work on her friend's injuries. "That makes sense."
Pyrrha claimed,"Their magic was already merging, at least, when we we're able to see them through our use of aura." Yang chimed in from her spot on the pool table, "I guess it means she finally confessed to her."
Blake perked up, "Yang!? You're alright?" Chuckling Yang sat up,"Yeah. I guess all that was too much for me." Blake almost grimaced at the look in Yang's eye before taking her into her arms and holding her close.
"Confessed?" Jaune asked from above the Tomarange city map. Ruby smiled as her partner's vitals stabilized, "Don't tell me you can't see how they make googly eyes at each other."
Coco laughed, "Yeah, you could practicallyfeelthe awkwardness between them."
Jaune seemed confused,"Who are you talking about?"
Ren facepalmed from underneath a laughing Nora, "Weiss and Catalaya."
At Jaune's even more confused look, Nora clarified,"Weiss has had a major, no,colossual,crush for tall, sexy, and wolf over there."
Jaune looked as though he finally understood,"I thought those two were just friendly with each other." Ruby sighed and mumbled, "You've never been very observant have you?" The group laughed at the JNPR leader's face. They all turned and halfway moved towards the two when Weiss's heart rate spiked for a second but all sighed in releif when Ruby zoomed over there and just pushed them closer to each and had the new couple holding hands.
"Oh, I see it now" Jaune claimed creating another big laughing circle. "I don't blame her though." Coco said as she enteres the bar with her arms ladened with drinks of all kinds. Tossing beers to the light weights and a bottle of the harder stuff to the rest. Velvet sighed, she knew what was going to come out of her girlfriends mouth. "Don't look at me like that, Velv. Geez, she's toned." Yang spat a bit of her drink,"No, not toned. Weiss is toned."
Blake nodded as Yang continued,"That woman is the perfect balance between feminine and built." The girls laughed heartily. Nora chimed in from her spot on the floor ,"Yep. Basically, she can go from "I'll kill your ass 100 different ways."" She said while striking and action pose, "right into,"I'm killing these heels." Am I right?" The entire room laughed loudly at the fashionista pose Nora struck from the top of the table.
"Think she's going to be one of them protective or laidback girls when it comes to Weiss?" Fox asked as he poured himself a vodka. "Protective." Was the unanimous response. "And what's this "going to be" stuff? She already there." Blake said.
Ruby tossed a small ball into the air as she spoke, "I think, maybe, she can be laidback too. Probably only when Ice Queen is around though." Velvet laughed, "Weiss seems to be the only one to get her to get out of that little Warrior Mode she goes into." The group laughed and drank throughout the night, smiles all around hiding the serious worry for their friends. The next morning however, was alot different.
Next Morning 8:23 am
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Shut the fuck up!" Yang shouted from her spot atop the pool table. Blake flicked her cat ears around before settling back to sleep on her girlfriends stomach. Ren grumbled and turned away from the window, cursing the existence of light under his breath with Nora clinging to his chest.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Go away!" Velvet said as she wrapped her jacket around her rabbit ears, trying to fight off a headache. Coco was snoring beside her peacefully, Fox lay half on and half on the table above them as Yatsu rested with his back against the wall. When the knocking stopped however the building full of hungover soldiers began to fall back asleep. Right untill...
Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!
"For fucks sake!" Ruby said as she stomped over to the door, grabbing her pistol on the way. She yanked the door open and pointed the gun at whoever stood in the way of her hungover wrath,"What the hell do you want!? Trying to sleep here!" The man in front of her gulped nervously,"We're here about some armor." Ruby felt slightly less murderous at that,"Who contacted you?" The man pulled out a small peice of papaer,"Some one named Catalaya." The red head sighed and harnesaed her gun, begrudgingly allowing the men entry. The men glanced at the numerous bottles strewn across the floor, nothing the hadn't seen before really although they did stare cautiously at the ginormous pool of dried blood on two of the tables. The two comatose women on the bar did strike them as odd.
Ruby kicked a few of the people in the room to wake them up. "Get up. Work to be done." Yang nearly swiped her leg from under hee but complied either way. The leader of the men did whistle and ogle at Coco a bit before being silenced by a glare from Yatsu. Oonly once they were all settled, and properly drowning in coffee, did they actually speak to the group. "Where is the piece?" The head of the group,"Morning to you as well. The name is Alfred, these are my brothers."
He pointed to each man in turn"Baron, Jay, Davis, and Axel." The Hunters didnt respond so Alfred continued,"We were told to rendezvous with Catalaya and no one else." Velvet sighed and walkes over to the two comatose girls, checking their vitals. "Unfortunately, for you-" "I'm right here." The room jumped as Catalaya lifted up, tearing her IV cords out along the way.
The wolf girl looked around the room, tilting her head at the stares of her group. "What?" Velvet blinked,"You've been comatose for a while now. Your aura was all wonky." Cat nodded, "Oh. Just my wolf's magic." She stopped Ruby before she could ask,"Tell you later." She looked at the men before her,"Well?" Alfred nodded and spoke,"We know where it is thanks to you." He placed a blueprint on the table,"The Bourint Building. Top floor, locked away in the most impenetrable safe and hidden away behind dozens of trained gaurds, and unhackable security systems."
Cat pulled the bag from behind her. The Minotuar's bag and tossed it to them. They exchanged it for the blueprint and she watched warily as they left the bar. "Why'd you give them that?" Yang asked as she pulled on a clean shirt. "It's his father's." Cat said nonchalantly. "So that means you..." Ruby was afraid to finish her question, her stomach knotted at her friend's nod.
"They knew their father was doing such acts. Knowing he would pass, their father, deserved the quick death he was given." Cat seemed ashamed as she spoke. Yang patted her shoulder in solidarity and began helping the group pack and ready themselves. They watched with smiles on their faces as Cat smoothed out the covers above Weiss, tucking her in properly after checking her wounds. "What about Weiss?" Ruby asked,"Will she wake as well?"
Cat nodded, "She should be awake before we leave, her aura was damaged pretty badly in that attack."
She gripped the table so hard they could hear the metal warp and bend under her, the attack wasn't just hurtful to her mission. "The Council of Nine have just made a new enemy by hurting Weiss." Cat said with a dark voice, her wolf was close to the surface, the beast was thrusting for blood. "And we'll make aure they know just how dangerous we are." Yang said, her normally lilac eyes turning a bright crimson, slamming her fists together in a menacing manner.
Cat smiled and opened up the blueprints they were given, the signal for the group to gather. "This is the Bourint Building. Home to the biggest criminal organization known to Tomarange, the Red Scarves. A former military group turned militant turned mafia, they once fought for their country against the Council of Nine." Blake butted in, "Why aren't they now?"
Cat snorted, "Power. Money. They offered them that in exchange for stopping their war. They agreed, took over the country, and make a profit from basically everything."
Blake snarled, she knew how that works, she saw it in the White Fang. "So, according to those guys, they have the next peice of armor?" Cat nodded, "Yeah, its locked up in the most secure safe they have. Behind a security system with firewalls and trick programs. Even worse is the gaurds, people theypersonallypick to do the job." Nora asked as she cleaned her gun, "How's that even worse?" Cat sighed, "It means they won't hesitate to kill us."
"Why do they have the armor piece anyway?" Coco asked. "Because they're guarding it for the Council." Weiss said in a harsh whisper. Cat was the first one up, rushing up to see the paler girl. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly. "Yeah, I'm fine."
She said, "I almost suffocated on smoke, was stabbed in my own bed, and I got the best sleep ever on this bar counter. So yes, I'm fine." Sarcasm practically drowned in her voice. Yang laughed, "There's the Ice Queen I know."
Cat tilted her head,"Ice Queen?"
Weiss groaned and sat up, "Don't start with me Yang." Yang snickered as Cat picked Weiss up bridal style and carried her to a nearby chair. "I can walk fine, Catalaya. My legs are fine." Cat simply shrugged as placed her down carefully, "Yet, you were smiling." Weiss blushed and flicked Cat's nose, "Bad Wolf." Garnering a blush from the taller woman.
"Why guard it though?" Coco asked. "Because just one part of it contains huge magical power. Having the entire suit of armor could very well end their plans, whatever they are." Weiss said as she stuffed her face full of food. "We have two peices now, meaning we are probably getting on their nerves." Yang said garnering a nod from the wolf shifter, "That could put us in more danger if we keep getting close right?" Cat sighed, "Yes, which is why I was doing this by myself in the first place."
Weiss plucked her forehead, "You wouldn't have gotten far. While it is inherently more dangerous it makes the job easier and safer. With someone to watch your back and keep you centered." Cat and Weiss stared into each other's eyes for a while, having a conversation without words. Before smiling softly at each other before turning back to the table, grasping a hand under the table they continued trying to form a plan.
6 Hours Later
"Get it off! Get it the fuck off of me!" Yang screamed as she tried to get a giant roach from off of the top of her head. "Stay still dammit!" Ruby shouted, she lined up her scope and took the shot. The bullet went straight over the bug.
"Yang! Stay still! I can't hit it!" Blake sighed from her spot above the pair, she picked up a wrench and hopped off the shelf, grabbing Yang's hair on the way down she slammed the tool into the insect, killing it instantly. Yang latched onto her girlfriend murmuring her thanks and so on.
Blake patted her head, "Let's just do our jobs." She walked down the corridor tapping her earpiece,"We're in." After a short static response,"What was so that screaming?" Coco asked. "Nothing we couldn't handle." Yang said, with enough confidence one wouldn't know she was just screaming and crying like a little girl two seconds ago. Once the communication cut Yang shuddered as she pulled goop from her shirt. "What's with the bugs?"
"They're most likely summons." Cat said from behind her suddenly causing her to screech and jump in fright. "What the hell!?" She whisper yelled at the taller girl. Cat tilted her head like a confused puppy before walking ahead and continuing on. "Weiss sensed a few summons heading your way, sent me to help. Just in case." Yang questioned, "You mean that giant roach?"
At her nod Yang shuddered again. "According to the employee files, there's a summoner guard on one of the next floors, with a liking towards insects." Cat knocked out a guard coming around the corner by flinging a quarter at his head with incredible force and speed, "We've already alerted them to our prescence, so there's really no point in being sneaky."
She placed the body out of the pathway and waved into the cameras above the group. Just before they all suddenly disabled and the emergency systems activated. She spoke into the comm, "Nice one, Pyrrha." The redhead in question responded, "Thanks but it won't last long. Sorry."
Cat nodded,"No need. Are the others in position?" Pyrrha hummed,"Yep, just waiting on the signal." Cat smiled,"Good. Connect the channel to there's please. Lets get ready."
The Hunter taskforce was ready to go, each two or three person team in position, their eye on the prize. "A Team confirmed. B team confirm?" Cat asked into the communication device.
"B Team ready." Jaune said as Ren gabe him a thumbs up. "C Team confirm?"
A small burst of static covered before Yatsu spoke in a deep voice,"C Team ready." He watched as Fox dragged a gaurd into the closest, locking it behind them.
"D Team ready?"
Coco spoke quietly, "D team confirmed." Her, Velvet, and Pyrrha said at once in the vents.
"E team ready?" Weiss spoke into the earpiece, "E team confirmed." Cat nodded and crouvhed in position.
"On my mark." The groups tensed their bodies, prepared for the very moment they would strike.
"Three." Weiss took a deep breath.
"Two." Coco cocked her gun.
"One." Jaune tensed.
"Go!"
Everyone was in motion.
The plan, so far, was that Coco's team would distract the gaurds on the lower levels, keeping any from getting past. Jaune and Ren watched from the cameras, battling on the technological front. Weiss and Nora would block off any corridors where the gaurds and Red Scarves good get in and intervene, by creating blockades of debris and creating ice walls. While Blake, Cat, Yang, and Ruby would make their way up the building, straight to the safe.
They'd been doing well, only a few straggler scientists and accountants have crossed their paths, easily scared away by either the weapons or Cat's growl. Right until Weiss sensed something too dangerous for her team to face without her. Nora readily allowed her temporary partner to run off, claiming,"More fun for me." As she ran. Blake and Weiss collided with each, and fell to the ground in slight pain. "Oomph. My butt." Weiss said as she rubbed her posterior. "Weiss?" She looked up to see Cat's worried face. "What are you-" "Tell me you felt it too?" Cat's brow furrowed as she nodded. "I did." Catalaya sighed, "It keeps getting stronger. Getting closer."
Ruby looked around nervously as Yang sighed, "Just great. Is it a summoner?" Blake shivered off to the side, The air around them setting off red flags in her head. "No, something even worse." Catalaya said as she unsheathed her blade foe the first time that night. She'd been careful to only fight the mortal gaurds using only her fists and sheath, her claws only for defense. Her sword was too difficit to wield in the narrow hallway, too dangerous, for the mortals around her. Not only that but her wolf had become restless during the mission, a strange sensation making it hard to keep it locked away in the dark recesses of her soul.
Ruby took that as a sign to summon the sythe her mother taught her to master,Crescent Rose, she calls it, the perfect name in her opinion. Blake steadiedGambol Shroud,the weapon the troll advisor had given her after beating him in a game of chess. Yang casually strapped onEmber Ceciliaeager to test out her new weapon. Weiss moved closer to Cat, creating a rapier out of ice in the palm of her hand, a grimace on her face at the approaching danger's spiritual pressure.
The five ventured slowly forward, exiting the stairwell entrance to the floor housing the safe. The floors were a pristine white, the walls made out of polished steel, no windows were present, blocking a possible escape route. Ruby took an experimental step forward onto the tile, jumping back when a lasee shot from the wall, aimed right where she was standing before. "Well, definitely wasn't expecting lasers." She looked towards Catalaya, "Any ideas?" Cat simply looked to Weiss and nodded solemnly.
Weiss took a deep breath, "I'll create a pathway of ice above the tile, we'll use it to get to the next part of the secure floor." With a quick hand gesture a pathway of thick ice formed above the tile, arcing at one point like a bridge above a riverbed. She walked across gracefully, laughing to herself as her team shivered at the change in temperature as they slowly walked across, nervous on the ice bridge. "Why aren't you coming, Cat?" Ruby asked, not hearing the sudden whistling near her head. Weiss blocked an arrow that narrowly could've killed her team leader. "They're why." She gestured with eyes toward the two woman across the room.
The women's skin was slightly pale, they wore skin tight leather outfits, their hair almost as pale as the ice mage's. The outfits more skimpy than expected, the one on the right held a spear, resting lazily on her shoulder, the handle a metal black as midnight. The one that stood left to the other was wearing an outfit that covered slightly more, with hair as short as Ruby's, she also wore a leather blindfold over her eyes. Their bodies radiated malicious intent, matching smiles of pure malice on their faces.
"Are these the people he spoke of, Lana?" The one with the longest spoke to the other. "They are indeed, Ayna. Alot less frightening than he claimed." Yang snarled from her spot behind Blake, leaning forward only to be held back by Weiss, "You wouldn't survive. We must go." The paler woman said this with a dry voice, fear for her wolf shifter's safety clear in eyes, but the mission was more important now. She pushed them through the door at the end of the hall, looking back at Catalaya she said,"You better make it. Or I'll kill you." Weiss smiled morbidly as Cat winked at her,"Your wish is my command, Princess." Weiss rolled her eyes and ran after her three friends.
Cat watched to make sure they made it through before blocking an attack by Lana,"I don't think so." She head butted the girl backwards. Sucking her teeth as she landed in a three point stance, unharmed. Anya tried to head for the door, being tossed back by a backhand to the face. "You're not getting through me." Anya smirked at the girl, "We'll see about that." In a synchronised move, the sisters attacked Catalaya, ready to cut down down the wolf. The Phantom Beast stood ready, eyes closed as she at the wolf free from its cages, full control is what she was offering the monster within her. Her eyes opened wide just as the sisters were close enough, she blocked both weapons with her forearm.
The twins flew backwards, landing unharmed once more,"What was that, sister?" Anya asked as Lana responded, "We may have underestimated our opponent." She said as they looked in awe of of the sight before them. The wolf snarled as it was unleashed from within. Glowing red markings formed along the taller womans skin, her already taught muscles grew in size, five inch long fangs burst from the gums, and vibrant red red eyes stared back at the twin killers.
The katana, now unsheathed, became wreathed in a black flame that singed and melted the flooring it came in contact with. The sisters were told of this power, but the information didn't put it at this magnitude, nowhere near it. They weren't staring into the eyes of a human being anymore, what stood no more than 2 yards away was a monster. One they began to doubt the to ability to defeat as it let loose a sound that was more a road than a howl.
Within that monster, behind the eyes of the wolf, Catalaya asked one thing, and one thing only of her wolf. Just as more people, gaurds and Red Scarves soldier started piling in, surrounding her.
"Make sure none of them get to Weiss."
The wolf simply nodded and laughed darkly as the takeover slowly completed itself. It spoke back to its master in a dark voice.
I want claim of the Ice Mage.
It looked around the room and took a defenaive stance as time slowed around them, their opponents charging them, a pitiful mistake. Catalaya gulped mentally, fearing having the wolf out around her love, noting with desperation as the group continued closing in. She sighed, "I will allow it, you must not hurt her or her friends though." The wolf nodded as the transformation completed.
None shall harm our love.It said aloud to the ones edging closer toit.It took an offensive stance, and smiled like a maniac, bloodlust in its eyes, and claws ready.
Those who try shall wish for death!!
The wolf shouted just before the soldiers were upon them and the lights shut down,This will be fun.