Chapter 39
She felt like she had spent more than one life-time in beds by this point as she stared blankly towards the ceiling with dulled lilac eyes. Her body still ached from the injuries she had sustained and she frowned at the thought of how long she was going to spend here. Her aura would help speed her recovery of course but she was still looking at a while. Blake hadn't returned yet and so she found she had nobody to talk to. Or at least, nobody who could talk back as she peered over towards Winter in one of the other beds. She decided to humour herself however, speaking out. "Hey, Winter, you awake?" she asked. A pause in silence as she received no response.
Sighing to herself she tried to roll over onto her side, the pain she felt quickly changed her mind as she remained flat on her back instead. She wondered if she should tell her when she wakes up that her mother had almost killed her. Just then her scroll started to vibrate, she wasn't sure where it was and so her eyes glanced around from corner to corner. Eventually spotting it upon the chair besides the bed. She groaned as she reached an arm out towards it, fingers just barely touching the side of the device before painfully pulling it towards her. When in closer reach she was able to grab it properly and laid back comfortably in her bed as she looked to the screen. The caller was her father, she wasn't sure why she was surprised.
Answering the scroll she placed it up against her ear, "Hey dad" she greeted, doing her best to keep her voice from sounding like she was in discomfort.
"Hey Buttercup, guess who just got out of prison!" replied Taiyang's voice.
"That's not the best thing to say in public you know" answered Yang with a smirk.
"Yeah... Realising that now..." his voice quietened, "People are giving me looks..." he whispered.
Yang chuckled softly at the image in her head, "So how was it?" she asked.
The sound of wind could be heard through the scroll before her father replied, "Not too bad at all. This guy called Junior was a huge help though, said he'd give me a years membership at his club once he gets out too. Nice person, we really got along" he answered. "What about you? Everything going okay up in Atlas?" asked Taiyang.
Yang was happy to hear that Junior kept to his word but she was also worried that the two had apparently become friends. "Yeah, everything is going just as planned I guess. We found my buddy Weiss" she answered in return.
"The Schnee girl? Great news, I'm about to start tracking Ruby down myself. I tried to contact Qrow but he's not picking up. What's that beeping by the way?" asked Taiyang.
Yang's eyes darted to the heart monitor next to her. "Uhh... This really big truck is reversing. Any idea where you're starting by the way? Looking for Ruby that is" she replied.
Her ruse appeared to pay off. "You're outside? Must be cold up there. As for searching, no idea. I'm heading back to Patch first to talk to some guys who work at the airport, thinking that maybe they remember where Ruby was heading. It's a long shot but it's all I have so far" answered Taiyang.
"Yeah, pretty cold. Have you been here before? The city is huge. Like, twice the size of Vale" replied Yang.
"Atlas? I think I went on a mission or two with the old team. From what I remember that place doesn't sleep... You are sleeping right?" asked her father with slight concern in his voice.
"I'm sleeping, I'm eating, I'm drinking" answered Yang, anticipating his questions to follow.
A pause came from the scroll, "You sound a little under the weather, you sure everything is okay? And is that truck really still reversing?" asked Taiyang once more.
Yang sighed to herself, she couldn't keep lying to him. He had a right to know. "Dad... I'm fine, recovering, but fine. I've got my friends with me-" she began.
"Wait, what happened?" asked her father, the concern growing.
"We got into a fight with another Paladin, it did a number on me but like I said, I'm recovering" replied Yang.
Another pause came from the scroll, as if Taiyang was fighting the urge to say that he was coming to Atlas to check on her personally. "You said you've got your friends?" he asked, as if needing to be reassured.
"Yes Dad, they're all here. I'm in a hospital, even the General checked up on me. I'm safe" sighed Yang as she did her best to curb her father's worries.
"Right, okay then. Okay. Yeah, no- That's good" replied Taiyang, he sounded as if he took a deep breath.
Yang's lilac eyes glanced around her room as a sour expression made itself apparent upon her features. "There is something else though..." she spoke.
"What is it?" asked Taiyang.
"I saw m-... I saw Raven" she answered.
Another long pause. "Say again?" asked Taiyang in disbelief.
"I. Saw. Raven" answered Yang clearly.
It was as if Taiyang was at a loss for words as silence came through the scroll again, "What? Like... How-... Did she say anything? Do anything?" he answered, his voice lowering.
"She didn't say anything... She stabbed my friend and cut off her hand so I got mad at her and tried to attack" answered Yang bluntly.
"Wh-..." Taiyang's voice paused again, "Listen, Yang. You need to stay away from her. She's not... She's not safe" he urged.
"You don't need to tell me twice, frankly I don't care any more but if she does show up I'm going to punch her in the face" answered Yang, her voice growing more annoyed.
"No. You see her, you run. I don't know if her head is messed up enough to attack her own daughter but I'd rather not have you take that risk. Don't try to fight her, she's cut down stronger huntresses" replied her father.
Yang narrowed her eyes as she spoke, "Fine" she sighed, not having any desire to argue.
"Thanks Buttercup" answered Taiyang, relieved that his words got through to her.
"Anyway, I should probably go now. Let you get to work" spoke Yang.
"Okay, you get well soon you hear? And remember, daddy loves you" said Taiyang.
Yang smirked softly, "Hard to forget. Stay safe dad" she spoke.
"You too Buttercup" replied her father before the call ended.
Yang looked to the scroll in her hand before finally resting it down upon the bedside table. Her eyes returned to the ceiling before darting towards the door as it opened, the familiar face of Blake entering with a plate of toast and a cup of juice in both hands.
Weiss and Neo turned away from the member of staff who had given them directions as they continued down a hall. "How was I supposed to know we managed to go down a floor? I don't remember seeing any stairs" grumbled Weiss as she led the shorter woman. Her day with Neo had been... unique to say the least. It was certainly one of the more embarrassing days she had lived so far. They made their way to a stairwell that extended up to the next floor as Weiss took the lead, ascending the steps and unaware that Neo had paused before following in order to try and catch a glimpse up her skirt, wherever she was successful or not was known only to her.
The stairwell came to a halt half-way up before turning around to continue its way to the next floor. Weiss paused to glance outside the window half-way, a tall thin one that showed just how high they were in one of the many spires of the city. She smiled to herself before moving to carry on but she was halted as she glanced back to raise a brow at Neo who had caught her arm.
"What's wrong?" asked Weiss as she turned to face her. Neo cautiously glanced around herself to make sure that nobody was present before looking upon the heiress. She pointed a finger at Weiss. "Me?" she asked, to which Neo nodded. "What about me?" asked Weiss once more. Neo this time shook her head before pointing at Weiss with her finger again and then pointing to the side of her head.
And so the game of charades had begun.
"Uh..." paused Weiss. "Not me... I?" she asked, Neo nodded before pointing to the side of her own head once more. "I... Head- No... Mind...?" said Weiss with an unsure expression. Neo tilted her head as if considering the wording before shaking it. "Think?" asked Weiss. Neo nodded firmly before pointing to herself. "I think you?" asked the heiress. "Oh-! What do I think of-" she paused as the realisation struck her, cheeks once more for about the fiftieth time that day turning a shade of pink.
Neo nodded twice again as she smiled at Weiss, her own blush appearing. She was asking Weiss what she thought of her.
"W- Well... You're nice and... Talented" nodded Weiss, trying to avoid any direct compliments of attraction. She looked to Neo to gauge her reaction, the girl seemed rather passive for now, not receiving the answers she was looking for. "And-..." gulped Weiss, tapping her finger against her chin as she glanced away. Neo watched her like a hawk. "I... Mean... You're fun to be around, even though I've only known you for a day or two..." continued Weiss.
The shorter woman held both her hands behind her back as she took a step forward, closing the gap between the two. Weiss took one step back cautiously.
"Y- You want more?" she asked unsure. Neo nodded with a smile as she took another step forward, this time seemingly blocking the way to the steps as Weiss was forced back into the corner of the wall. "Uhh-... You're... Cute...?" she answered, blush growing deeper as Neo's trademark smirk appeared at the comment, taking a step forward towards the heiress until their bodies were only inches apart. "N- Neo, what are you doing?" asked Weiss. She still wasn't sure how she felt about her, well, not entirely. She felt some attraction towards the girl but this was all very sudden. She watched as Neo brought her hand up to her face, holding her cheek as her thumb brushed over her delicate lips, parting them slightly. "...N- Neo...?" asked Weiss again quietly.
Neo's actions halted, she realised she may be moving too quickly for the heiress and so had to find a way to play it off. She wiped her thumb against the corner of the girl's mouth before pulling her hand away and smiling. Weiss seemed confused but then it struck her.
"Oh, did I have something on my face...?" she asked. Neo nodded in response as she turned to continue up the stairs. Weiss for a moment stood at a loss, she couldn't stop thinking that something very lewd was about to take place. She shook the thoughts from her mind before following Neo up the remaining stairs. Her thoughts on the girl had now become a messy bundle and she wasn't sure wherever she really was actually attracted to her or just plain out confused by her actions. Maybe Neo was just socially awkward? It's not like she hadn't dealt with people like that before, one red cape came to mind.
The two continued on down the hallways as they slowly but surely found their way back to the room where Yang and Winter were located. There were voices coming from the room, a man's included. Neo approached the door and opened it, revealing inside that the General had made another visit. Weiss popped her head in around the corner as she looked to the three.
"Are we intruding...?" asked Weiss as she glanced over to Blake.
"Probably... best to wait outside for a moment" answered Blake in response with an apologetic smile. Weiss nodded once with a smile in return, she knew she had to respect their privacy after all. She made to leave through the door and pulled a stalling Neo with her.
As the door closed the General looked back to both Yang and Blake. "So there stands the offer in full, Xiao Long" he spoke firmly.
The blonde didn't have to spend too much time thinking on her answer, not after Blake told her the options beforehand. Her lilac eyes gazed over to Winter, she was probably one of the only pluses of joining the military, being able to hang out with her more. But of course... Her eyes turned to Blake, she would always have to come first. Looking to the General she answered, "I'm sorry... I just can't join the military" she answered.
The General nodded respectfully, "Understandable, it's not for everyone and I won't push the subject. This does mean the only other way I can provide you a prosthetic arm would be to pay for it, this is assuming you really want one" he answered.
Yang lowered her gaze in thought, "You know now that I think about it I'm not sure I do. I'll get an arm back sure but... It'll be all metal and cold... It still wouldn't be me" she answered.
A smirk appeared on the face of the General as he closed his eyes briefly. "Atlas technology has progressed far. We have been working with synthesized human tissue for some time now, at one point we even had a model that was inseparable from a human crowd. If you so desired we could make it seem like an actual human arm and not just a piece of metal" he answered. "We can even build it to remain heated though sometimes it may differ from your actual body temperature, nothing is perfect yet after all" he added.
"Is that what Winter is getting?" asked Yang as she raised a brow at him.
"If she wants it, of course. Though she has always been a practical woman with a fondness for machines, I believe a metal hand with a sleek design would suit her far better" he answered.
"It does sound nice... I won't say no but if I can't find a way to pay for it then I guess that's that" answered Yang.
The General nodded again, "If you ever change your mind on anything ask the staff to contact me, I've a fairly open schedule in the coming few weeks" he said as he bowed his head slightly, preparing to leave.
"Thanks by the way! For... For what you did for us all" spoke Yang as he left.
"Don't mention it, rest well Xiao Long" replied the General with a smile before leaving the room, shortly after Weiss and Neo entered.
"Weiss, what's up with your face?" asked Yang as she narrowed her lilac eyes towards the heiress, her cheeks still red.
Weiss glanced around awkwardly before moving towards her chair, "What? Nothing. How are you?" she asked, sitting down and looking upon Winter as Neo climbed back into her own bed, her smirk still present.
"I'm fine" replied Yang, she was sure that something was going on with Weiss, and more sure that it was a result of Neo. After all, she had an expression that was for too pleased for nothing to have happened.
Night moved over the city once again as the lights came in through the window. The sound of cars, distant people, the wind rushing past the building. All sounds she was familiar with. All sounds that reminded her of home. She felt stiff, like she had been sleeping awkward and her whole body ached when she tried to move so much as a muscle. Her breathing was struggled and each breath of air that she took in stung. She curled her fingers to grip the sheets of the bed. Something was off though... She couldn't feel the sheets on the right side of her. She moved her right hand to pull back her quilt but she couldn't grab it... Her icy blue eyes opened and glanced around the dark room.
Of course... That's what happened. Her eyes trailed down to her right arm, tracing along the pale skin in the moonlight that shined in from the window. They came to a halt at a bandaged stump at her wrist.
That's right. She lost.
Winter narrowed her eyes up at the ceiling before closing them once more, she knew the one thing she needed right now was more rest.