Chapter 48

At first she could hear a high pitched ringing sound. She could feel a throbbing pain, it felt like it was just behind her right eye, pulsing. She quickly discovered that she had a headache and she groaned weakly as a result. Her eyes felt heavy and she struggled to open them. Warmth pressed against her cheek, the contact doing some use in distracting her from the numbing pain. Lilac eyes crept open to see the blurred image of Blake's face above her, looking down with worry, her hand pressed softly against the side of her face. She saw her lips move but heard nothing, just the ringing in her head.

She tried to lift her left arm to wipe at her eyes but before she could manage Blake had softly grasped her wrist and pressed it back down against the bed. She then brought her own hand towards her face as she performed the action for her. Her vision became less blurred as she blinked afterwards, Blake's face becoming clearer to her. "Bla- Ah-..." groaned Yang as she spoke, her own voice deafening to her as she closed her eyes in discomfort. When she opened them again she saw that the Faunus was frowning, she leaned down to place a soft and brief kiss against her lips before looking elsewhere. Something had caught her attention and her eyes seemed to track whatever it was.

Yang attempted to shift her eyes to follow Blake's but when she tried she felt them ache, forcing her to look straight ahead again. A figure was coming into view, a man Yang did not recognize but his uniform told her that he was another doctor. There was something in his hand. Blake shifted aside as the man came closer, the object in hand disappearing from Yang's view. Something sharp poked at her right arm. The man withdrew as Blake came back to her side, hand once more softly brushing her cheek in comfort. The texture of her hand was more noticeable this time and the pain in her head was started to dissipate as her vision cleared further. The ringing was slowly fading away as sound returned to her.

"Yang?" came Blake's gentle voice. "Can you hear me?" she asked again.

"Ugh... I hear you..." replied Yang in a groggy tone.

To this alone the Faunus smiled, it was progress at least. "How are you feeling?" she asked, Yang noticed that her eyes briefly peered to her forehead before back down at her.

Lilac eyes glanced left and right with more ease now, she could feel herself improving. Whatever she was injected with was doing the trick. "Not... Great..." she answered, looking back into Blake's eyes.

"They said you're going to feel rough for a while after waking up, but you should be better in a few hours. Your body just needs to adjust first" replied Blake.

"It's... Heavy..." said Yang, eyes dropping down to her right side, she couldn't see it yet. Blake reached her hand out towards the part of her arm that was real, fingers softly pressing against it.

"It weighs the same as your other arm... You're just not used to it any more, but it'll get easier" said the Faunus as her fingers trailed down to the artificial section, there was only a slight difference in the texture between genuine and fabricated skin. Yang could feel her touch disappear as it left the part of her that still had those senses.

She slowly brought up her left hand once more, bringing it to her forehead. Blake watched as her fingers reached towards the area just above her right brow. She quickly withdrew them when she felt the cold metal. "Nngh... That's sore..." she said, wincing slightly as she touched the metallic chip.

Blake looked to the device, it was similar to the General's but smaller in scale, but it was not any less noticeable as a result. "You probably shouldn't touch it" replied Blake with a half-smile.

Yang forced a smile in return, "So... How does it look?" she asked, eyes trying to look down to where her right arm was.

"Like... Like you" answered Blake, her smile becoming fuller.

"Is the General gonna help me figure out how to use it...?" continued Yang.

"I think so, he said he had something else he needed to do first though. He had some of his soldiers with him too" replied Blake.

Yang raised a brow, "Is he worried about something...?" she asked once more.

The General marched down the hall, four guards following behind him. He walked with a sense of purpose, a decision had to be made. Truth be told he didn't need to think about it too much, the answer came logically to him as he approached Neo's room. He raised his left hand as he knocked upon the door, the guards standing idly behind him, securing the hall. After a brief pause the door opened as Neo poked her head from behind it. The General smiled politely at her, "Is Miss Schnee present?" he asked. Neo paused before closing the door. At first the General was confused but following a brief minute it opened again, fully. Stood before him was Weiss, Neo at her side.

"General Ironwood" greeted Weiss as she inclined her head politely.

"Miss Schnee" nodded the General as he held his hand to his chest in similar polite manner. "Might we have a word?" he asked.

Weiss glanced behind the man and towards the soldiers before looking back to him. "Of course" she nodded, taking a few steps back into her room.

"Thank you" responded the General as he entered. Neo's gaze locked onto him in a watchful manner. The man sighed as he looked to Weiss, "It's... Concerning your father. He knows you're here" he began.

An expression of worry carried itself across Weiss' features, "He... He does?" she asked.

The General nodded, "As unfortunate as it sounds, yes. Not only that but he has made demands that I can't ignore" he responded.

"Demands...?" asked Weiss curiously. Neo took a step closer towards her side, hand grasping a hold of hers.

"Yes. To put it plainly, if I do not deliver you to your father he will incite civil war on your behalf. And as much as it pains me to do so I am first obliged to ensure the safety of my people. In this case, it'd be the needs of the many. Atlas can't suffer another war in its own home" spoke the General in a regretful manner. He looked upon Weiss, she seemed frozen with eyes wide and full of fear. "I... I know it's not what you want to hear, but I'm sure you would agree that no single life could be worth the thousands of this city" frowned the man, still Weiss remained frozen. He glanced back and sighed softly before taking a step towards the two. "I am truly sorry Miss Schnee" he spoke as he reached his hand to place it upon her shoulder. "It's the only-" he halted his words as his hand passed through her. Her image shattering along with Neo's before his widening eyes. It took him a second to realise the two had ran. "No!" he yelled as he turned around, the soldiers immediately looking into the room on alert. "Find them, quickly!" urged the General, the soldiers nodded and split up into two groups as they both hurried down the halls. The General rushed out of the room and looked both ways, how long had he been talking to their image? If he could not find Weiss within the next few hours the city of Atlas would be alight with conflict.

He rushed down one of the halls as he came quickly upon Winter's room, bursting through the door. The woman was alarmed as her eyes darted to the man. "General-...?" she began before he spoke.

"Winter! I need you to contact your sister, tell her to come back!" yelled the General as he approached her swiftly.

Winter's eyes narrowed, "What happened...?" she asked.

"N- Neo!" called Weiss as she was pulled along. The woman in front of her had a firm grip on her hand and refused to let go as she led the two with haste through the hospital. She turned a corner to see two soldiers approaching, they were armed and aimed their rifles at the two as they ran towards them.

"Stop!" yelled one of the soldiers, but they didn't. One looked to the other in an unsure fashion with their rifles aimed.

They weren't going to fire.

Neo narrowed her eyes as she took note of this. Nobody was going to take Weiss from her, nobody. She let go of her wrist as she leapt up towards one of the guards, her boot stomping into his face with a punishing strike. The other soldier took aim and hesitated as she leapt from his comrade, bounding towards him with a snapping kick that clashed against the side of his head, sending him to the floor with a thud. Neo landed and looked back to Weiss who took a step back in shock. The shorter woman lunged towards her and grabbed her wrist once more as she pulled her along.

"Neo, we need to stop, this isn't right!" called Weiss as she was led on. Neo seemed to ignore her however, turning another corner and finding a stairwell as the two began heading down. "Neo you heard what he said, if I don't go back people are going to get hurt!" continued Weiss. But again her protests went unheard as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Neo turned a left as she pulled Weiss along and towards the exit of the hospital. With any luck the General had yet to get any reinforcements to lock down the area.

The two reached the doors as Neo slammed her shoulder against it. The doors swung open as a crowed engulfed their vision. The had exited into the central area of the tower, the hospital was simply a section of it after all. Few looks were given to the two as they had burst out from the doors and quickly submerged themselves into the populace. Not long after did two soldiers appear from the hospital, eyes searching the crowd as one of them moved their hand up to their ear.

Neo pushed through the crowd, ensuring she kept a firm grasp on Weiss' wrist. Their height worked to their advantage but anyone close enough would instantly be able to tell who Weiss was. They had only left the tower once before so the most direct route out was not clear to Neo as she did her best to navigate. She pushed herself from the crowd as she now found herself in front of three elevators. Weiss glanced around as she spotted three more soldiers approaching, one pointed at the two as he yelled "Halt!" in a commanding tone. Neo looked to the soldiers and showed no desire to do as they ordered, rushing forward towards one of the elevators. She pulled Weiss inside as the soldiers gave pursuit. The door had started closing as the troops reached it, both Weiss and Neo looking to the entrance in a shocked manner as it was pulled open by a gloved hand. The three soldiers entered the elevator as the door closed behind them. Reaching for the two their images shattered. "Wh- What!?" yelled one of them in confusion as they turned around to see the top floor had been selected, their elevator beginning to ascend. Through the glass they could see into the one besides them as Neo and Weiss entered it. "Damn it!" yelled the soldier as he slammed his fist against the window.

Neo pushed the ground floor button as the elevator began to descend down the side of the building. Weiss was panting as Neo finally let go of her wrist. She looked to her partner before steadying her breath. "N- Neo. Listen to me" began Weiss as Neo glanced away with a frown. She approached her, placing both hands upon her shoulders and turning her to face her directly. "Neo!" yelled Weiss in an attempt to catch her attention. Slowly the mismatched eyes of the shorter woman looked to her. Reflections of light bounced off the windows of the tower behind her outside of the window as they descended further down. "I... I need to go back. General Ironwood was right, I'm not worth the pain that'll be brought upon the people of Atlas. I know you're just trying to protect me... But this is my decision too, and I don't want my home to be at war with itself" answered Weiss.

Once more Neo's frowned deepened as her gaze lowered. She couldn't let Weiss leave her, she had to stay. She needed her.

"Neo... I'm sorry... I can't let you make this choice for me..." frowned Weiss as she also lowered her own gaze. Going back to her father likely meant a return to her sheltered life, meaning she would not be allowed to see Neo again. Her father would not permit her to see friends, never mind a lover, and a woman at that. It would damn the Schnee line if she were unable to produce an heir after all.

She felt Neo's hands reach to hers, taking them into her own as she lowered them between the two. Weiss looked up to see her face, her eyes an ice blue as her lips parted. But it was not to kiss. Her expression strained as her lips moved and produced no sound.

"Neo..." said Weiss softly, the girl was trying to speak and she could only imagine the words she wished to convey.

She continued to struggle, shutting her eyes tight as her lips moved again. Her expression reddened as she tried to force herself to produce the words she so wished to say to her partner. The elevator drew closer towards the ground.

"It's okay Neo... You don't need to..." spoke Weiss, watching her try so desperately only sent pangs of depression into her heart.

Yet she kept trying. Her hands gripped around hers tighter as she opened her eyes, they were starting to glisten as tears began forming. Her mouth opened once more, she had to keep trying. She had to say something to her.

"..."

The numbers above the exit were drawing closer to the ground. If she was going to give up Weiss she would let her know how she felt with words.

"..."

She would let her know what she had taught her through the short time they had been together.

"..."

She needed to hear it...

"...Ah-! ..." emitted a soft sound from her voice as Weiss widened her eyes. Neo herself was equally surprised as she clutched her hands to her throat in pain, her eyes shifting into white.

"N-Neo!?" yelled Weiss with concern in her voice.

The elevator hit the bottom as the doors began to slide open. A shadow blocked the exit but the two were too stunned by what had just occurred. Too stunned to realise the tall mask-wearing figure that stood in their path. Her crimson red eyes glared as her hand reached to the hilt of her blade.

An armoured vehicle made its way to the mansion upon the hill, the snow softly falling from the sky once more. It was allowed entry through the gates as it made its way to a halt in front of the entrance, the door opening as a butler prepared to meet the guests.

Within the mansion Mr Schnee sat upon his throne-like chair in the grand hall. One of his own personal guards approached him as he lowered himself to speak into his ear, "Sir, they have arrived" he spoke.

"And my daughter?" asked Mr Schnee as he looked up to the guard.

"Accounted for" answered the man.

Mr Schnee sighed, "Send out the payment to that woman again... I only hope she left her in better condition than the last time..."

"Of course sir" nodded the guard as he stood up straight, turning to leave the room.

Suddenly several gunshots became audible, the guard stopped in his tracks as he looked to the door. Mr Schnee stood up from his chair, pulling out his antique silver pistol in preparation. He looked to his forming shield of guards that stood down from the steps that led up to his chair. "What now!?" yelled Mr Schnee as he aimed his pistol towards the large two doors at the opposing end of the hall. The guards all aimed their rifles at the entrance as silence passed over.

Distant and echoing footsteps were approaching the door and soon came to a halt. Mr Schnee narrowed his eyes, a bead of sweat dripping down the side of his face. He couldn't believe that Weiss would be so bold as to attack him. It was then that the doors burst from their hinges, one flying off to the side while the other launched straight towards the group of guards. Their rifles opened fire at the entrance, bullets lighting the front of the door that came towards them and around the original doorway itself. The lower half of the door slammed against the front line of guards as it launched up and over them, knocking down several of the men. Mr Schnee set his sights, finger on the trigger. As soon as the bottom of the door passed from his aim he fired a dead-shot straight towards the entrance of the room. The bullet passed through it and hit nothing. Nobody was there.

His eyes widened as they followed the door that had flipped over the guards in front of them. There was something on it as it rotated forward. His eyes caught those similar to his own cresting over what used to be the top of the door as it aligned itself. He tried to move his pistol up to take aim at his daughter. Soon she came into full view, she was knelt down on the back of the door the entire time, hidden from everyone as her glyph kept her firmly attached to it. Her blade was already aimed straight at him, his guards didn't even know she was above them. Winter. Icy blue eyes narrowed as her glyph launched her towards her target, the door blasting itself away from her as it smashed into the wall above the entrance. Her silver blade on a deadly course towards her father. His pistol was brought up, aimed towards her.

A loud bang resounded as a splatter of blood painted the floor.