"I can effectively say that I hope this is the first and last time that I ever have to attend a ball," Ilia told Titus as she stepped out from behind the room divider, she wore a tight black dress that sparkled and accentuated her curves, she bent down to fix one of the straps on her heels and looked back at Titus. "It's long enough, right? You can't see my ass?"
"Trust me, if I could, I would tell you," he reassured her. She bent awkwardly and acted as if it was difficult to move in, moving to Titus so that she could adjust his tie.
"So, this is what it feels like to be on one of your military missions, huh?" She asked. "Why do you always wear that military uniform? Don't you have anything else in your closet?"
"Like my Beacon uniform?" He asked. She laughed and shook her head, satisfied with how he looked and repositioning his collar.
"Do we just wait in here for Winter?" Ilia asked.
"Winter will find us," he told her as he looked over his collars and secured the cufflinks. He offered his arm to her and she pulled on the elbow length gloves that went with her dress, taking his arm and following him out into the lobby where most of the guests were meeting. They looked rich, most likely friends of the Schnees or shareholders and proprietors, Atlesian Military and staff members mixed in. Titus and Ilia greeted some of the guests, shaking hands and kissing on cheeks, it seemed methodical to a point. Winter had drifted through the crowd and reached them, Ironwood steps behind her as they greeted each other discreetly.
"Will we be briefed?" Titus asked.
"If there's any credible threat, someone else will inform you of the situation. Ironwood and I are too high level to not be noticed giving out such details. Honestly, Titus, we don't expect anything to happen, so try and enjoy yourself tonight," Winter told him as the two of them left Ilia and Titus behind. Everything stopped for a moment as Weiss appeared at one of the entryways and made an announcement.
"It is with great pleasure and privilege that I can inform all of you that the ballroom is now open. There will be dinner and dancing, with the charity auction beginning shortly afterward this evening," Weiss declared. "Please enjoy yourselves. From the Atlesian Military, The Remnant Peace Council, the Schnee Dust Company, and myself, welcome and enjoy the ball." There was a quiet and civilized clapping as the mass slowly trekked the long porcelain and marble hallways to the ballroom. Ilia took in the architecture and intricacy of the building.
"You seem impressed," Titus said.
"I grew up in the slums, of course this is impressive," she told him.
"Well I'm glad you're enjoying the sights, but you need to be a little less obvious about it," he told her. "This is nothing new for the people that attend these social gatherings on a regular basis." She shrugged him off.
"And your commanding officer told us that we need to just enjoy ourselves today," Ilia reminded him.
"You know I don't do the greatest enjoying myself," he told her. She chuckled under her breath, taking his hand as they slowly made their way down the stairs into the ballroom and cameras flashed around them. Titus glanced over and noted several news stations setting up video cameras, making sure that they get the best angles and coverage of the event. It had turned into a full-blown multimedia frenzy, the public and press were eating it up, and it only made Titus more nervous towards the fact that something would happen. He greeted a few more of the sponsors and moved to the punch bowl, pouring a glass for both himself and Ilia.
"You still seem far too tense, and how am I supposed to dance with a gargoyle?" She asked. She extended her hand, waiting for him to take it and he smirked at her. As he reached for her hand he was approached by a member of the staff, a waitress that smiled and asked if he'd care for any hors-d'oeuvre. He shook his head before realizing who it was.
"Well if it isn't Kitsune again," Titus said with a sarcastic enthusiasm. "I suddenly get the worst feeling that you're our informant."
"Funny, I was hoping that you'd get the feeling that I was hitting on you," she told him. "I have this outfit rented out for the rest of the night, we could certainly put it to good use when we get back to the Officer's Quarters later." Ilia looked at Titus, shocked to find that he was blushing. She glanced back at the Faunus. She was attractive to be sure, and had an ample pair of breasts, but was that all it really took for Titus? He had only met her yesterday and it had been one of the most abrupt encounters that Ilia had been involved in. "Maybe you'll take me up on that offer?"
"We'll see," Titus replied. "How are things looking out there?" Ilia's jaw slacked as she stared at him.
"Nothing much happening big guy," she told him. She winked at Ilia and then moved away. "Catch you later?" Ilia watched as Kitsune left and then glanced up at Titus again, catching him watching the Faunus walk away.
"What is happening right now?" Ilia asked.
"What do you mean?" Titus asked. Ilia shook her head.
"Maybe it's just me," Ilia offered as she began to walk away.
"What are you talking about?" Titus pressed again.
"Nothing Modern Major General, just dance with me," Ilia requested again. He agreed after a long moment of internal protest and they shared a dance together, laughing and smiling as Ilia was impressed at Titus' skills, and Titus was trying not to lose it over Ilia's overly apparent two left feet. The song ended and Titus bowed, Ilia curtsying as another song started up and Titus offered his hand again.
"One more?" Titus asked.
"Mind if I cut in?" Asked a familiar voice. Titus turned slowly to face Camellia who wore the same dress she had the night of the dance in Beacon and she took his hand. "I'll only need to borrow him for a minute." Titus snatched his hand away and shoved Camellia back slightly.
"What are you doing here?" Titus asked.
"I thought that you'd be happier to see me, Titus," she told him.
"You thought wrong. You have about ten seconds to explain yourself before I turn you over to the authorities," Titus let her know. Camellia moved to Ilia, placing her fingers against Ilia's gloves and pressing firmly.
"They're very sure hands," Camellia said. "Were your weapons taken at the security check when you entered the building?" Ilia glanced at Titus. They had been, but she still had her butterfly knife secured to her thigh.
"Time's up," Titus informed her, gripping her arm tight and walking her across the room to Winter and Ironwood. He strong-armed her and shoved her at Winter who looked at Titus wide-eyed for a moment before grabbing Camellia herself.
"Camellia Admon?" Winter asked looking at the woman, still cautiously perplexed. "Titus, where did she come from?"
"She probably rode someone's body in here and released herself once she found me," Titus explained. "She's been working as the secretary at Beacon since I started attending, we last met up when Beacon held its dance only a month or so ago."
"Has she?" Winter asked. Titus glanced at the two of them.
"I just assumed that they knew about her criminal records and were wanting her to work where they could keep an eye on her. Otherwise, I would have told someone sooner," Titus explained. Winter flagged down one of the other officers that were incognito and forced them to hand over their cuffs, securing Camellia and shoving her out towards one of the sets of doors that led into the dance hall.
"Your next test it about to begin Titus," Camellia told him as she stumbled by, Winter moving her as quickly as she could without raising suspicion. Titus let the words sink in and as Winter passed through the doors with her captive, Titus quickly pushed through the mass, trying to reach them.
"Wait, what do you mean!?" Titus called out. The doors slammed in unison and Titus stopped in his tracks, glancing around the room as the music stopped and most of the staff moved to the doors, they wielded guns and yelled at the group to stay put and give up their money. This wasn't actually happening, was it?
"May I have your attention please?" A voice thundered over the speakers, someone had grabbed the microphone and were letting their presence be known. "Let me be the first to say that I will never be able to thank all of you entitled rich pricks enough for the donation that you're about to make to my cause. I know what all of you are thinking. You're scared. You'd like to get out of here alive. I don't blame any of you, and I'm more than willing to let all of you leave, with the exception of the Schnee and the General. But where are my manners, I haven't even given a name yet."
"Admon!" Titus called out. The entire attention of the room turned to focus on Titus and he heard the man chuckle loudly into the mic, moving to the bandstand and leaping onto the stage. Admon had a wicked smile on his face and he dropped the microphone, removing the gun from his back and aiming it at Titus. They both stared at each other for a long moment, all of the guests cowering in fear and covering their heads.
"Titus." He spoke. "You've come."
"I think the more interesting aspect of this meeting is the fact that you managed to get out of prison," Titus answered. Ilia slowly drifted through the crowd for Titus, hoping that Admon wouldn't notice her.
"Why else Titus?" Admon asked with a smile. "How is not important, the question you should be asking is why, and isn't it obvious?" Admon changed his view quickly, aiming at Ironwood and chuckling. "Why don't you tell me, Titus? I'd like to hear you tell me."
"Admon, if you do anything rash, I'll make sure that you die before you can leave this building," Titus said.
"That doesn't answer my question, Titus!" Admon shouted out. Despite his yelling, Admon seemed very calm, never taking his eyes off of Ironwood as his finger fell to the trigger. "Answer me or I will kill Ironwood."
"How do I know that you aren't going to shoot him even if I do answer you," Titus asked. Admon chuckled as he peered down the sights, his breath steadying.
"That's something you need to figure out, it's why I'm here," Admon spoke. "So I'll ask again now that I've handed the answer over to you. Why am I here?" Titus felt Ilia's hand on his shoulder.
"Where's Weiss?" Titus asked. A gunshot rang out and the bullet slammed into the wall beside Ironwood.
"You're stalling!" Admon shouted. He chambered another bullet and smirked. "I'm not here for Wiess! Tell me why I'm here Titus and then we can begin!" Titus was well aware of why he was here, it was almost as if Camellia was trying to warn him. Why would she betray her brother? It was probably more of a harbinger, Admon probably wanted Titus to be well aware that he was testing him again. Ilia gently shook his shoulder.
"Answer him," Ilia said in his ear barely audible. Titus swallowed hard.
"You're here to finish my training," Titus replied.
"Good." Admon told him. "But we aren't going to be able to get anywhere unless we get Ironwood out of the way. My sister is taking care of Winter as we speak, and I believe Kitsune was locked out with Weiss, so neither of them will pose an issue. It's just going to be you and me Titus, and this time, no one will be able to help you." Admon steadied his breathing again, Ironwood frozen in his sights. Ironwood had finally reached a point that could be considered old age, he had a horrible cough more often than not, his limbs shook when he felt anxious, and Winter had taken over the majority of his duties. He couldn't shoot first. He couldn't think his way out.
A gunshot rang out and the bullet crashed into the wall beside Ironwood again, Admon being jerked back and standing in stunned silence as the crowd panicked. The staff members that had been part of Admon's plan threatened the guests and silenced them once more, leaving them too frightened to move. Admon looked down at his shoulder, noting the butterfly knife that was lodged in his body. He glanced back at Titus.
"Who was that?" Admon asked. Admon leapt down from the stage, marching through the crowd, the people parting and tripping over each other to get out of the way. "Who was that? Who threw the knife, Titus?! It's not yours!" There was a flash of anger on his face and Titus glanced back. There was no one behind him or directly beside him, Ilia was hiding inside of his body. Titus smiled and watched as Admon shook violently.
"Maybe it was mine," Titus said. "Maybe I'm finally one step ahead of you. You leave Ironwood out of this. You let me have my weapons. We'll finish this like men." Admon laughed and shook his head, shooting Titus in the shoulder, jerking Titus back.
"There is someone else here, Titus, you shouldn't keep the truth from your commanding officer!" Admon shouted. "And even if there isn't, this is war, not a gentleman's agreement. You need to find a way to stop me and if you can't I'm going to get pissed and kill everyone here."
"You are not part of this military anymore! You are not my commanding officer! My commanding officers are General Branwen and Ironwood! You are a psychopathic killer who wants to make sure that I suffer, though I'm not so sure that it's due to my failures anymore! You weren't trying to get me alone to prove my strength to me, you wanted me alone because you knew that it would be your best chance to kill me! Sometimes you need the help of others to survive!" Titus shouted back. Admon shot him again in the same shoulder, jerking Titus back once more, Admon marching up to him and attempting to strangle him, shoving him to the wall.
"If only you knew how wrong you are!" Admon growled. "I wanted you to succeed on your own! You were to be my predecessor, I could have given you Atlas on a silver platter! You threw it away because you were scared!"
"If you're so strong on your own, why are you relying on all of these other soldiers? Hmm?" Titus asked prying back Admon's hands. "You don't have an answer, do you?" Titus kicked him back and rushed Ironwood before Admon could aim again, tackling the General and snatching his gun away. Titus stared Admon in the eyes as he aimed, the two swapped places and weapons, Admon standing over Ironwood with the General's gun, Titus trained on Admon with the rifle. Admon laughed.
"You truly are pathetic Titus," Admon chortled. "Did you forget that my eyes are my semblance? Did you forget that only Camellia and I can use that rifle?" Admon turned back to Ironwood, aiming the revolver at the man. "Is there anything you'd like to tell your 'General' before I kill him? Perhaps that he failed you? Maybe tell him that he should have stayed out of my way? The Taurus incident was necessary. The Mantle incident could have been our finest hour, Titus. Ironwood and Branwen, always getting in the way." Another gunshot. Screams.
Admon stumbled forward and Ironwood smashed his fist into the man's chest, cracking his ribs. Admon coughed up blood as he stumbled back, landing on his back and looking up towards Titus. Ilia stood in front of him, aiming Admon's gun at its owner and slowly moving in. Titus watched the scene unfold as he ran to Ironwood to check on him. Camellia had helped them. Titus had wondered at first, but once he was holding Ironwood's gun in his hands a few seconds ago, it was obvious. It was the reason that Camellia had made it a point to press her fingers against Ilia's gloves so that Ilia would be able to use Admon's rifle.
"Sir, are you alright?" Titus asked Ironwood.
"I'm fine," Ironwood told him. "You and your partner have done amazing work today."
"Admon!" Yelled a voice from across the ballroom. Admon found the voice, meeting their eyes and swapping places, two more of his men opening the door quickly and letting him out. Titus retrieved Ironwood's gun from the floor, Admon had dropped it during the hit to the ribs. He handed it to Ironwood who stepped forward through the crowd and stepped onto the stage with Titus. Ilia joined them a moment later.
"If I may have your attention please!" Ironwood shouted. "Anyone here who directly opposes the Atlesian Army has one of two choices. I know you men aren't killers and I'm now fully aware of the fact that the Faunus that were hired are members of the White Fang." Titus glanced at him before glancing out at the staff members. Traits. Ears. Eyes. Tails. Claws. What if Kitsune was a member of the Fang? Something seemed off the first time they met. "I know that most of you are not killers and were only hired to help Admon complete his goal, is that correct? Now I'm not sure what Athena told you to convince you to help this man, but he was responsible for the murder of countless innocent Faunus."
"We're willing to let you go with a full pardon if you open the doors now and let these guests leave," Titus added. Ilia smirked.
"Or you can take your chances and we'll find out how many of these people you can kill before I take you all out," Ilia spoke. "Wouldn't you rather live to see peace between humans and Faunus? Nobody has to die, Admon is gone. You'll all be free to go back to your families and enjoy the rest of your lives." There was a prolonged silence before one of the staff members opened the doors, prompting the rest to follow suit.
"How did you know they weren't killers?" Titus asked.
"Athena would never put these men in a high-risk situation if they were of value to her. Not to mention the fact that when Taurus helped Cinder, he did so because it benefited him and she'd strong-armed him into it. Admon poses no threat to Athena," Ironwood explained. "The Atlesian Military doesn't either, we've had no luck finding where they're hiding for months now."
"Do we go after Winter?" Ilia asked handing the rifle over to Ironwood.
"I'll assist Winter in her escort," Ironwood told them. "You two check on Weiss."
"Don't kill Camellia too quickly," Titus requested. "I need to have a word with her."
"Of course," Ironwood complied walking away. Titus nodded to Ilia and she followed him as he quickly made his way towards the last unopened set of doors. Titus pushed against them as Ilia glanced back at the crowd.
"Should one of us go after Admon?" She asked. Titus shook his head, slamming against the door again in vain but determined to follow through with making sure that Weiss was okay. "If he gets away, won't he just cause problems later?"
"That's true, but Weiss takes priority. Not to mention, even with his injury, he'd still be more than one of us could handle," Titus explained. Ilia nodded in understanding.
"In that case, I'll go get our weapons." Titus felt his scroll vibrate as she took off and he slammed into the door again. He'd have to answer later, he had a more pressing issue at hand.
The doors slammed behind Weiss and Kitsune as they left the ballroom and they both stopped for a moment, glancing back at the doors. Weiss moved to them, trying the handle only to find that she was unable to open it, despite both pulling and pushing as hard as she could. She glanced back at Kitsune who shrugged, moving to the door and thrashing against it numerous times, deciding that it wasn't going to budge.
"Mrs. Weiss Rose-Schnee. A word if I may," a woman asked coming towards them from the far end of the hall. She had a staff that contained a glowing rock on one end, a red dress that showed off just enough hugged tightly to her body. "I think we should discuss the SDC's plans to do any further harvesting of Dust on Menagerie."
"You must be Mattachanna Awinita," Weiss said. "Ghira informed me that you would be coming soon to tell me how you feel about the company's proceedings. He said that after you talked with me, you would be more receiving and open to what we're doing on Menagerie."
"Athena Taurus told me that you were planning on wiping out everyone on the island so that you'd be free to do with it as you like," Awinita explained. Weiss watched Kitsune step past her, pistol aimed towards Awinita and she grabbed the girl's arm.
"Wait," Weiss told Kitsune. "Let me talk to her first." Kitsune lowered her gun, allowing Weiss to slip past her and cut down the distance between her and Awinita. Kitsune retrained her gun and watched Weiss, her finger at the ready if necessary. "Awinita you can't listen to Athena, she's a maniac that just wants to see the world burn beneath her. Ghira spoke highly of you, you don't really think that the SDC plans to take Menagerie, do you?"
"Why wouldn't I?" She asked gripping her staff more tightly. "Atlas Military wiped out the White Fang before, despite the fact that they had been given orders not to!"
"That was a different situation, we had a rogue general leading our army at the time," Weiss explained.
"Are you aware of the fact that the White Fang are in the building?" Awinita asked. Weiss glanced back at Kitsune whose eyes were wide, stepping forward so that she stood beside Weiss.
"Ma'am, we need to get out of here, I feel that your life is in danger," Kitsune informed her. "Please continue to the room at the end of the hall and I will meet you there in a moment."
"I don't believe that she's a threat," Weiss told Kitsune. "Ghira trusts her, so I trust her."
"Perhaps his trust is misplaced in you, Weiss," Awinita suggested. She lifted her staff, it glowing brightly and prompting Kitsune to open fire. Lightning blasted out from the stone, throwing Kitsune back but failing to move Weiss who had opened a glyph between them, creating a sizable rock wall. "You can't hide for long!" A mechanical Ursa crashed through the window forcing Weiss to use speed glyphs to move quickly out of the way. It roared at Weiss who sprinted for the door, sliding to a stop as Awinita blocked her path.
"You don't need to do this!" Weiss shouted. Awinita fired lightning at Weiss who used several glyphs to divert the attack and send it into Bjorn. Bjorn let out another roar, leading Weiss to believe that her decision had been a bad idea. She glanced past Mattachanna, remembering that Myrtenaster was in the room behind her. She opened a gravity glyph, running through it and rushing Awinita, both of the women tumbling into the next door and Weiss summoning her Armor as she separated herself from the Faunus. Her Armor made its way to the door, swatting Bjorn back who slid through the hall, annihilating the rock wall that had been formed earlier. Titus smashed through the doors and ran to Kitsune.
"Where's Weiss?!" He yelled at her grabbing her up off of the floor and slamming her to the wall.
"Don't you think this is out of line?" She asked.
"The White Fang just tried to kill Ironwood, is Weiss their next target?" He demanded.
"I'm well aware, the woman in there with Weiss that has the deer tail is trying to kill her!" Kitsune yelled at him. She grappled him and trying to push him off. "For the love of Oum, Titus, would you listen to someone who is trying to help you for once, or did that psycho Admon really do a number on you? You do not need to do this alone!"
"My teammate is here, I'm not alone," he told her. "I think it might be better that I bind you and leave you here."
"Titus, don't do this," Kitsune told him. "I can help you!" Titus dragged her across the wall, moving her quickly out of the way of the Armor as it crashed into the wall, struggling against the mechanical Grimm. The Ursa clearly had the upper hand in strength and batted the knight away. Titus shoved her, letting her go.
"Fine. But if I even get the slightest itch that you're helping the Fang, I will run both of my blades through you," Titus told her. He began to leave, but Kitsune grabbed his arm. "Aka!"
"I've read your profile!" She told him. "You haven't finished semblance training, you can't use it unless you lose your aura, right?" He gritted his teeth and nodded. Why did they have to list that on his file? "Won't it help you fight that Grimm?"
"I'm not worried about him," Titus told her.
"If he beats the Armor, his next target will be Weiss," Kitsune told him. She grabbed his forearm, pulling him in. "I can be your catalyst." Titus felt a strange feeling wash over him, unable to push her away.
"What do you mean?" Titus asked. Kitsune planted a kiss on his lips, his eyes growing wide and it felt as though his life was being drained. Was she taking his aura somehow? He wanted to break away, but his body wouldn't let him, giving in further and caving into the kiss. She shoved him back and watched him fall to the ground.
"Call me if you live through this!" She yelled back as she took off after Weiss and Awinita, Titus watching her from the floor. She had stolen his aura, but at this point, he wasn't sure whether or not he should be grateful. If he beats the Armor, his next target is Weiss. She wasn't wrong, but couldn't he have taken down the mech without losing his aura? Bjorn slammed the Armor through the wall, crashing back into the ballroom as Titus glanced over towards the carnage. That was bad… he needed to give up resisting.
"Titus, what the hell is…" Ilia began to ask but stopped short. She held out his swords, watching him stand up and reach for them. She hesitated before giving them up, her eyes looking him over. "You… You're… You are a gargoyle. Now it makes sense." Titus was covered in stone from head to toe, his eyes glowing white. He didn't say anything. "Titus. Why were you always so afraid that we'd find out? You know that we're here for you, Neela, Eliana and myself. It's absurd to think that we would have thought that you were a monster."
"It wasn't that," he told her. "I wanted to prove that I could be as strong as the rest of you without having to rely on this." Ilia chuckled.
"We all have to rely on our semblances sometimes," Ilia told him.
"All of your's don't push you to the point of death," he replied.
"I'd think it's better that way," she disagreed. "When most of us have our aura's break, we're at our most vulnerable. Not to mention, you got as good as you are without having to rely on that." He smirked and glanced back. "We can get more sympathetic later, you should probably go stop that creature." Titus nodded, sprinting through the hole in the wall and slamming his fist through the Grimm's jaw before it could attack the Armor again. Bjorn stumbled away, looking back at Titus, his attention leaving the knight.
"Ilia, get to Weiss!" Titus called out to her.
"Right!" She replied. She ran into the next room, watching as Weiss used her sword and glyphs to deflect and cut through the bolts of electricity that Awinita cast at the Schnee. Weiss opened a glyph in front of her, choosing gravity Dust and opening a second glyph behind the first, swiping her blade and compacting the two glyphs. It moved quickly forward, throwing Awinita back, knocking her off of her feet, Weiss forming a glyph behind the girl that created a small ice wall and keeping the girl in place with another glyph as soon as she stood.
"Mattachanna! Stop this! You can't defeat me, and fighting me is going to get you nowhere. I am not going to do anything to the people of Menagerie!" Weiss yelled at her.
"Lies!" Awinita yelled. "Only I can protect Menagerie now! All of you Schnees are the same! Bjorn!" Bjorn crashed into the room, sliding towards Awinita as Ilia and Kitsune opened fire on it, doing no damage as their bullets ricocheted off. The mech collapsed and the metal from its body reassembled on Awinita, forming a sort of power suit as it absorbed a massive amount of lightning from her staff. The joints of the armor lit up as she pointed her staff, one large bolt that branched out slamming into a glyph and surging harder, the girls still firing at Awinita to no avail. The lightning cracked the glyph, shattering it and throwing Weiss back into the wall as she quickly turned and blasted Ilia and Kitsune away. She moved to Weiss, shaking slightly as she pointed her staff.
"I can see that you're afraid Mattachanna. We can talk about this," Weiss pled as she lightly pushed off the wall. She manipulated Myrtenaster behind her back as she spotted Titus from the corner of her eye, placing speed glyphs leading to the Faunus, the girl now held in place with an additional glyph.
"Talking won't save my people!" Awinita screamed still shaking. Weiss was right, she didn't want to do this and she was afraid, but it was the only way to make sure that her people were safe.
"Prasinos." Awinita looked at Weiss confused.
"What?" She asked. Without warning Titus flew through the room, his fist crashing through her jaw and sending her airborne and crashing through the wall, the armor around her face shattering and landing about the room before reforming and flying back to its owner.
"What took so long?" Weiss asked. Titus looked back at her and smirked.
"If you would be so kind Dust Queen," Titus replied. "I don't think my kopides will cut it." She chuckled.
"I don't care much for puns," Weiss told him as she summoned the Armor's sword and Titus wielded it. Awinita charged at him as he sprinted for her, his massive blade meeting her staff, lightning dancing about the room and Dust particles glancing off. Titus met every physical blow as she managed to push him back for a moment with a stream of lightning, but he resisted and slowly pushed forward.
"What the hell are you?" Awinita yelled.
"The guy who ruined your plans of overthrowing the SDC," he answered. He swung again, pinning her staff and punching her in the gut, forcing her to double over as the armor betrayed her and moved out of the way of his blow. He kicked her in the face and she stumbled away, freeing her staff as she blasted the others in the room back again. The lightning grew at the end of her staff, filling the room and crawling over everything, Ilia had leapt inside of Kitsune who was being protected by a barrier formed by Weiss.
"I can't hold out all day here!" Weiss called out. "Whatever that weapon is, it's stronger than anything I've faced before!" Titus was grateful for the first time in a long while for his semblance and he rushed the girl again, she leapt back as he swung the Armor's sword once more, tossing it aside and throwing both of his kopides, they planted into the wall on each side of her. He moved in quickly, her inexperience showing as he kicked her back and into the wall, moving in and gripping his swords. He activated the blades, fire Dust erupting and destroying the wall as he ducked, an ice pike flying through the air and burying itself into Awinita's armor in the middle of her chest. She stumbled out of the building and Titus reached back in anticipation of the Armor's sword, but it didn't come.
"She's getting away!" He called out.
"She's not a fighter and she's not much older than you are," Weiss told him. "Let her go. She'll come around to her senses soon enough. I'll be sure to let the council know if they don't from the news." Titus nodded and looked back at Kitsune and Ilia who'd left the fox's body and he smirked. He pointed at Kitsune.
"Now I recognize you…" Titus exclaimed before collapsing. Ilia ran to him as Weiss and Kitsune slowly made their way over.
"Titus!" Ilia shouted.
"He'll be fine," Weiss told Ilia. "This happened after he bested the Giant Armor during his training also." Ilia looked up at Kitsune.
"How does Titus know you?" Ilia asked.
"He knew my father… or I should say, he killed my father. The Faunus that snuck into the SDC and threatened to blow the place sky high was my dad. I joined the military to undo the wrongs that my father had committed. Titus just helped the process along," Kitsune explained.
"Don't you resent him?" Ilia asked.
"My father had done horrible things and would have killed thousands of people," Kitsune told Ilia. "It almost seems that I'm in his debt." Weiss glanced around the room and sighed at the sight of the damage.
"Well at least we all made it out alive," Weiss declared. "Hopefully the rest of your winter break is a little less eventful." Ilia laughed.
"Hopefully."
Titus and Ilia managed to help protect Weiss from Admon and seemingly made an ally or two along the way. Next week, the next chapter of the Winter Arc. Chapter 48 - Friendzoned!
A big thank you to Y8ay8a, Sa-Dui, Diyaru4500, Demize00Zero, TheCipherNine, SketchHungry, Ookaminoki, Lightning-in-my-Hand, and Dishwasher1910. All of their artwork can be found at Deviantart, you can search Silent-Celica and under my favorites tab, I have a collection for NITE.
Until next week, stay classy!