Chapter 45

The sound of the ticking clock echoed loudly in her ears as she stared at the door in front of her. She breathed in a silent breath as she turned, her vision looking down to Winter who was sat up in her bed. "Come, sit" she gestured calmly as her hand motioned towards the chair besides the bed. Weiss lowered her gaze as she approached the seat, sitting down upon it and cupping her hands together in her lap. "Look at me" spoke Winter once again as Weiss obliged, her eyes meeting a colder shade of her own. Winter stared upon her with an accusing glare in silence, eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "Is it true?" she asked. Weiss remained silent as her frown deepened, this only seemed to annoy her sister however as her voice shifted into a clearer tone. "Answer the question Weiss" she ordered.

Weiss could feel a growing sense of familiarity in the position she found herself in as her ice blue eyes lowered briefly, "Y- Yes" she answered nervously as she looked back up to her sister's face.

Winter's expression grew sterner as she sighed through her nose. "When you leave this room you will end it, is that clear?" she asked.

"What? But-" began Weiss as her eyes widened with concern, her voice was cut short by her sister's however.

"This is not up for debate and I will not watch as you make a fool of yourself" snapped Winter, her tone of voice now in full discipline mode.

"But I like her, and she likes me!" replied Weiss, her features becoming more distraught by the second.

Winter clenched her jaw at her sibling's refusal. "She doesn't like you, she will never like you. What are you looking for? A relationship? Because she doesn't want one, all she wants is someone she can play with and I will not have that someone be my own sister!" raised her voice as her eyes sharpened at Weiss. "You will end it-"

"I don't want to-!" yelled Weiss in response as she stood up from her chair.

"You do not know what you want!" yelled Winter in response. Weiss turned silent as her eyes looked down at her sister, she was shocked at her words as she clutched her hands together against her chest, taking a step back and bumping her legs against her chair unintentionally. "You have been pampered and sheltered in that mansion too long Weiss, it has made you naïve to the point you will gladly latch onto the first person who shows you a façade of loving affection! She is using you and you are too blind to see it!" continued Winter, now clearly angered at the entire situation. Weiss choked on her words before she could even respond, she took another step back around the chair and closer to the exit. "Do not even think to leave before we are done here..." warned Winter in a threatening manner. But Weiss didn't listen to her, she looked at her sister as if she were looking upon another subject that treated her in a similar fashion. "Weiss!" warned Winter once more as she moved closer to the door. When she was close enough she turned her back and briskly made for the exit, opening the door as her sister yelled her name again.

The heiress once again had tears flowing down her cheeks as she ran by Blake, Yang and Neo. The latter of which looked to her with concern and prepared to run after her. A voice halted her however.

"You. Neo. Get in here now" came the demanding voice of a furious Winter. Neo paused to look at her, conflicted by her desire to chase after Weiss and her willingness to follow Winter's orders. "Did I stutter!?" snapped Winter. Both Blake and Yang looked to her in surprise, never having seen the woman in such a fashion before. Neo frowned as she entered the room and closed the door behind her. She moved towards Winter and stood before her, she was too slow however to avoid the hand that grasped around her neck and pulled her harshly. She was face to face with Winter now as the woman spoke with venom laced words. "How dare you..." she whispered. Neo gripped at Winter's wrist as her hand squeezed tighter around her neck. "The sheer audacity to pursue my sister whilst knowing I'd realize exactly what you were after... I cannot tell if you are stupid or greedy... Maybe both..." she continued on, Neo shut her eyes as her boots slid against the floor in an attempt to push herself away from her aggressor. "So stop what you are trying to get from her, stop manipulating her and stay out of her life. She is far better off without someone like you, someone who could never love or care for anyone. I wanted to help you, but after what you have attempted...? You are alone Neopolitan..." she finished as she shoved her back by her throat, releasing her grasp.

Neo stumbled back and fell over the chair, hitting the ground. She clutched a hand to her throat as she looked back up at Winter with white eyes. Winter was someone dear to her, someone she trusted and found some semblance of friendship in. Now she had lost that. She steeled herself in an attempt to not display her sorrow for that moment as she stood up to her feet and rushed from the room as Weiss had. Winter watched her leave before her eyes glanced to the window of her room, outside of the door Blake looked in curiously before it closed by itself. Yang was absent as Neo briskly made her way down the hall in the same direction Weiss had left in.

Yang had been searching for Weiss after having seen her flee from the scene. She sought to provide what comfort she could after seeing how upset she was, that after all was what friends were for. She walked down various halls and asked numerous members of staff if they had seen her. Sometimes she got answers, other times she didn't. She didn't believe that Weiss would have left the building completely and so kept her searches indoors for the time being. She came upon one door in particular as she peered in through the window. It was a room filled with chairs, tables, two or three arcade machines and other such activities. Her eyes caught the glimpse of something on the sofa inside that faced a small TV.

She opened the door quietly and made her way in, approaching the sofa. She reached a point where she could see over the top of it. It was Weiss, but she was with Neo. The two were sat comfortably, Neo with her arms wrapped around the heiress as she cried softly with her face buried against her. Yang paused as Neo glanced back at her, eyes coloured an ice blue. She'd never seen Neo with those eyes before but she could tell that they mimicked Weiss'. She thought to asking if Weiss was okay but stopped herself as Neo looked back down to the heiress before resting her head on top of hers in a soothing manner.

It appeared although Weiss had all the comfort she needed and despite knowing what Neo was capable of, something about this was different. It almost seemed like Neo actually did care about the heiress. Yang frowned, perhaps waiting outside would be the safest bet for now. That way she would be close enough to ensure Weiss was okay and when they were finished she could simply ask her then. The blonde turned before silently making her way back to the door, closing it behind her.

Neo glanced back once more to see that Yang had left, eyes returning to Weiss as her sobbing began to steady. "Who was it?" asked Weiss with a muffled voice before leaning back to glance up at Neo, her eyes had shifted briefly into lilac. From this Weiss knew that it was Yang. "I'm... Sorry. For... For what Winter did to you..." spoke Weiss as the tips of her fingers brushed across the red mark left by Winter's grip upon her neck. Neo offered a sad smile to the heiress in return before planting a soft kiss against her forehead. Weiss smiled similarly in response before laying her head down against her shoulder. "She... She was wrong right?" asked Weiss. Neo squeezed her arms tighter around Weiss' form as her response. Sometimes it was hard to gauge what Neo was trying to tell her but she believed that in this case she was saying that Winter was in fact wrong about her. Weiss wanted to believe that Neo was right, she needed to.

Outside of the room Yang watched as Blake appeared from around the corner. Yang moved to approach her as they stood to a stop before one another. "Found Weiss yet?" asked Blake.

Yang nodded in response, "Yeah, she's with Neo though" she answered as she pointed over her shoulder with her thumb towards the door.

"You think it's a good idea to leave them alone together?" asked the Faunus with slight concern in her expression.

"Well... I dunno, I went in and looked at them... It's kinda hard to suggest but I think Neo actually..." answered the blonde as her voice trailed off from the words she was about to say.

Blake glanced over to the door before back at Yang, "That's a little hard to believe" she answered.

"I know but... It seems to be helping Weiss for now. So I thought I'd just stick around until they come out" replied Yang.

Heavy footsteps were coming from behind Yang as Blake's attention was drawn to the source. Yang turned as the General stood behind her. "Xiao Long, good to see you up and about so soon" answered the man. He was accompanied by a single Atlesian Knight and a doctor, in his hand was a large grey briefcase.

"Oh uh, General Ironwood" answered Yang as she paused for a moment before raising her hand to her head in a sloppy salute. Blake sighed silently from behind her partner as the General smirked in amusement.

"At ease, just passing through to see Schnee" he answered, gesturing to the briefcase in hand as he raised it slightly. Yang looked down to the case as she lowered her arm.

"Is that her hand?" she asked.

"Would you like to see it?" asked the General in response as he also looked down to the case.

Yang narrowed her eyes at the case in thought before looking up to the General and nodding, "Sure. By the way, Winter's kinda in a bad mood so you might wanna hold off for a while or something" she replied.

"She is? Well, I've dealt with worse" he answered before bringing up the briefcase into his arms, opening it up to show the two in front of him. Inside was a white metallic hand with a short sleeve, sleek in design and with the Schnee emblem in a light blue colour upon the back of the hand itself. "It's a rather practical design so I'm sure she'll appreciate it" he added as the two looked upon it.

"How hard can she punch with it?" asked Yang.

The General chuckled lightly, "Only as hard as she already could, It's just a hand after all" he answered before closing the briefcase and lowering it to his side once more. "That brings me to ask however, given any thought to my proposition?" he asked.

"Uhh... Yeah, actually. I came up with a decision but I think it might have to wait for a bit" replied Yang.

"Schnee agreed? Colour me surprised" answered the General, quickly piecing together what Yang's answer was in his mind from what he had learnt already during their short conversation.

"Uh... Yeah I guess but I don't want to really talk to her about it until she's you know... Chill..." said yang, briefly glancing behind her down the hallway and turning back to the General. Blake gave her partner a disapproving look as a result of the pun.

"In that case keep me updated, we're working on some prototypes so altering one into an arm for you shouldn't be too much of an issue" he answered, completely missing the pun.

Yang smiled and nodded before stepping aside with Blake for the man to pass. "Will do, good luck with Winter" she said as she waved at the General.

"I'll be fine" smirked the General as he walked by the two, the doctor following him. Both Blake and Yang looked to the Atlesian Knight which stood still as it seemed to pause before finally kicking into action and walking after the General.

"Yang" came Blake's voice as Yang looked to her partner.

"Yeah?" asked the blonde in response. The Faunus folded her arms casually before she spoke.

"You should go take care of that mark like you said you would, I'll keep an eye on these two" answered Blake.

Yang smirked and approached her partner, planting a kiss upon her cheek. "You'll be okay with them?" she asked.

Blake's golden eyes lingered on Yang as she smiled softly in response. "I'm not about to run in and kick Neo in the back of the head if that's what you're worried about" she answered.

"Yeah but you might" grinned Yang.

The Faunus sighed and leaned in to return a kiss upon Yang's lips. They parted briefly before a second quickly occurred. Blake pulled away afterwards only to have Yang advance slightly towards her. "Ugh, go already, you're so needy" smirked Blake as she idly pushed her hand into the blonde's shoulder.

"Fine" groaned Yang, "I'll remember you rejected my passionate, sweet and unconditional love you know" she answered a she turned to start walking down the hall.

"Please, you'll forget about it before I do" called Blake as she watched her go. Yang raised her hand up behind her back in a wave as she pressed on.

Her body was starting to ache slightly but she refused to spend another day laying down and being useless. She turned a corner and made her way towards a room that she had in mind. Blake had been the one to suggest this idea to her and she had agreed. Honestly she had forgotten all about the mark on her neck, Neo's name. But Blake was forever reminded of it, every time she looked upon her it was there, a blemish on something otherwise perfect in her eyes. Yang was unsure wherever now was a good time to start removing it with the state that Neo was in, but she kept telling herself that she didn't care how Neo felt about it. She forced it on her in the first place after all.

She stopped before a door and knocked upon the glass window. After a few seconds the door opened as a nurse greeted Yang. "Ah, Miss Xiao Long. I hadn't expected to see you so soon, are you ready to begin the procedure?" she asked.

Yang nodded with a smile, "Sure am. Where do you want me?" she asked as she entered the room.

"Just take a seat over there would you?" asked the nurse, pointing to a comfy looking chair with leather padding as she closed the door behind her.

The blonde hopped herself up onto the seat and leaned back in it, resting her arm upon the armrest as she glanced around the room. It was rather small and full of medical equipment. "So how does it work?" she asked.

The nurse picked up a device from a table besides her, it looked like some sort of advanced laser pen, bulkier in stature and with various buttons. "It's a laser, what it essentially does is break up the ink in your skin into smaller particles that your immune system will then destroy" she answered as she pointed the laser down at the table and pressed down on a button. A light flashed onto the table repeatedly as multiple clicks from the device were heard.

"Does it hurt?" asked Yang as she looked to the device.

The nurse took a seat besides her and brushed back Yang's golden hair to reveal the tattoo upon her neck, Neo's name in bold letters. "I heard it can be uncomfortable after an extended procedure but your tattoo shouldn't be too difficult to take care of. You may also need multiple sessions depending on how deep the ink is" answered the nurse. "Are you ready?" she asked.

Yang breathed a sigh, "As ready as I will be" she answered as the nurse brought the device closer to her neck.