Chapter 52

It was as she preferred it, the grand hall was dark with the moonlight shining through. The centre of the hall held a single table, round in shape and large enough for a small group. Around it were four chairs and upon the table itself an assortment of food and drink. Candles lit up the table, leaving it to be the only lit part of the large room. Winter sat in her chair, eye idly glancing down at the spot in front of her as the metallic fingers of her left hand tapped against the base of a wine glass. Her mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts and schemes.

Her eye glanced up to the sound of the doors opening, two figures entered the Grand Hall before making their way to the table. The lights of the candle lit their faces as they neared and Winter could see that it was Yang and Blake. The came to a halt and looked down at the table that had been set. "Pretty romantic. Something you wanna tell us?" asked Yang with a smirk. Blake sighed and slapped her arm lightly.

Winter smiled at the comment before gesturing with one hand to the chairs on her left. "Please, take a seat. Weiss and... Neo... Should be here soon" she spoke, pausing at Neo's name for clear reasons as her smile faltered slightly.

Yang moved to take the chair nearest to Winter on her left while Blake sat besides Yang. "Still though, why didn't you light up the rest of the hall?" asked Yang as she looked to Winter.

"I felt although the rest of the room might distract from what is important" answered Winter as she rested her chin on her hand, her eye glancing around the room.

"What's important?" asked Blake, she didn't mind the dark surroundings. After all, her eyes were better than most in such lighting.

"Us" answered Winter, her eye landing on the doors to the room once more. Silently waiting for the last guests to appear. Yang's voice caught her attention as she looked to her.

"By the way, I wanted to say thanks" spoke Yang as the woman raised a brow at her. "You... You've helped me from the start. Back in Vale..." began the blonde.

"My men arrested you at a night club and then I proceeded to arrest your father" smirked Winter as she recalled her time in Vale.

Yang shook her head, "Nah, not that. What I'm saying is... I was by myself in Vale, I had one lead and when I got arrested I thought it was over as soon as it started" she said, eyes glancing to the table. "It probably would have been over" she spoke, looking back up to Winter. "But then I met you. Even though you were really strict and stuff, you were the first to help me when I was looking for Blake here" she continued, patting her partner on the shoulder. "You gave me new leads, you gave me backup soldiers if I needed them, you let me ride on your bike and even protected me. You're... You're a really great friend" finished Yang as she smiled brightly at the woman.

Winter listened intently to her words, she chuckled softly by the end. "I am glad to hear you say as much Yang. It was nice to have somebody I could consider as such. You made me feel like I was a huntress in training again, and for that I should thank you in return" she replied.

"I want to thank you as well" came Blake's voice. Both of the women turned to look at her as she lowered her golden gaze. "It's like Yang said. If not for you she would never have found me. It's thanks to you we're..." she paused for a moment. "So much is thanks to you, Winter" she answered, looking up to the woman and offering a smile of her own.

"You speak although I was without my flaws, Blake. I hardly deserve a thanks from you, not after what I said during our journey here" said Winter in response.

"I know why you had to do that though, and you were right. I wouldn't have listened to you if you told me to stop being open with Yang in front of Neo just for her sake. You did the right thing back then and I don't hold it against you" replied Blake, eyes awkwardly glancing away once more.

Winter's smile grew wider, "I do believe this is the most I have heard you speak" she said.

"Blakey likes to speak more with actions" grinned Yang as she jabbed her partner in the shoulder with her finger. The Faunus swatted at her hand in response before the blonde leaned back comfortably in her chair. "I'm gonna miss it though, travelling with you. I've never really been outside of Patch and Vale before, so seeing more of the world was something. Plus let's be honest, the car ride was pretty fun and relaxing. Well, not one hundred percent of the time but you know what I mean. It was quiet, no one was trying to kill us... Just us, the car, the road and the world" she answered. To Yang it meant more than that though. Her goal in life was to adventure around the world of Remnant and she thought that goal was forever out of her reach when she suffered her injury. But thanks to Winter she got a taste of that life, something she'd never forget.

"It was nice" said Winter as she nodded her head, Blake doing the same in agreement. The entrance doors of the Grand Hall opened as one figure and... something else entered the room. The group looked over as the two came into the light. The first thing noticeable was Neo. Yang and Blake were surprised to see her in a wheelchair with her right arm wrapped and held in a supporting sling. Behind her was Weiss, pushing the wheelchair. The fact there were only four chairs for five people quickly became clear to Yang and Blake as Weiss rolled the chair up to the table and took a seat in the chair besides it and on her sister's right side.

"Uh... Hey Weiss, Neo" greeted Yang, she realised too late that she was staring at Neo's condition. She saw the short girl frown and avoid her gaze. To think that her mother had put her in that chair.

"Yang, Blake, Sister" greeted Weiss in response. Neo, as usual, remained silent. She looked depressed and it was not difficult to understand why. Weiss shuffled her chair closer towards her partner.

Winter looked to Neo's dejected state and frowned herself, "It is only temporary, your leg was just so recently wounded. Your aura should do most of the healing relatively quickly, it was just a stab wound after all" she spoke in an attempt to reassure her. Neo remained silent and avoided eye contact with everyone but Weiss. With a quiet sigh Winter looked to the others, "Now that we are all present however, please, help yourselves" she answered before gesturing towards the abundance of food and drink on the table.

"Wait Winter, is this actual wine?" asked Yang as she picked up a bottle from the table, looking to the label.

"You can read, right?" asked Winter in return.

Blake noticed early on that a majority of the dishes containing seafood were closer to her than anybody else. She took a large fork and quickly began filling up her plate from the rest of the table. "How much did this all cost?" asked the Faunus as she greedily stacked her plate with a variety of food.

"Not enough to even scratch my new and overwhelming budget" replied Winter, electing to pick out a few foods from the table and add them to her plate. Yang was meanwhile trying to open the bottle with brute force, earning her a sigh from Winter as she picked a corkscrew up from the table and held it out to her.

Weiss glanced to Neo who had wandering mismatched eyes, glancing over the selection in front of her. Weiss took note that there were many kinds of sweet desserts in front of her partner. It appeared that Winter had planned out the entire table according to what each of them preferred. She watched Neo reach forward to grab a large bowl of ice cream of her preferred flavours, but she failed to reach from her wheelchair. "Here" spoke Weiss softly, not wanting to draw attention to either of them as she reached for the bowl and placed it in front of Neo. Weiss saw that the girl was staring at her, still with her frown. Did she feel guilty that Weiss had to do something for her? Weiss frowned in return, leaning closer towards her as she whispered. "It's just for today, right? Don't think too much on it" she said, trying to provide what words of comfort she could offer. Neo gave her a singular nod before turning to her dessert.

With the additional help from a corkscrew Yang finally opened the bottle of red wine, instantly pouring herself a generous glass of the beverage before looking to Blake and pouring one for her. "Ah, Yang it's okay, I don't think I want any-" began Blake in protest as she looked to her glass being filled to the brim.

"Nah, it's good, you want it" nodded Yang as she finished pouring her glass. She then turned to hold the bottle out towards Winter who took it into her metallic grasp.

"I thought it might be the first time some of you have tried it, so it is a rather suitable choice. That is not to imply that it is weak however, try not to drink too much" answered Winter as she began pouring herself a glass of the red liquid. After finishing she moved to set the bottle down, but her hand remained grasped around the neck of it as her eye looked over to Weiss who was looking back at her in an unsure fashion. The two paused in silence for a while, Weiss had never had wine before and Winter was reluctant to let her try it if only because of what she believed to be her sisterly duty to protect her younger sibling from all things adult. But she kept staring back at her with that almost pleading gaze to try it. She narrowed her one eye and gestured with her other hand that she give her over her glass.

Weiss blinked in some surprise before picking up her empty wine glass and holding it out across the table towards her older sister. Winter took the glass in hand as she closed her eye and promptly began pouring, as if she didn't want to witness herself doing it. She opened it again as she brought the bottle back, the glass was barely half full as she held it back towards Weiss who knew better than to ask for more. So instead she nodded politely and in thanks to Winter before taking the glass back. She looked to Neo who hadn't even noticed the wine being passed around the table, she was far too focused on her ice cream for the time being as she shovelled spoonfuls of it into her mouth.

A cough came from Blake's direction that caught the attention of all but Neo. The Faunus noticed this and awkwardly brought her hand to her mouth as she tried her best to hide her second cough, but everyone still knew exactly what had happened. Her cheeks flushed red as she glanced over towards Yang's direction awkwardly. The blonde was just grinning at her, "Hey Blake" she began.

"No, Yang, don't" replied Blake.

"Blake, listen" continued Yang, her grin growing wider at the anticipation of her no doubt great joke.

"Just stop, it's going to be bad" answered Blake as she looked forward with a dead expression.

"Blake, you're..." started Yang. The Faunus steeled herself for what was to come. "... Whining" she finally answered as she snorted at her own pun.

Blake shuddered slightly as her gaze lowered to the table, that was a particular bad one. "I hate you" she stated.

Both Winter and Weiss chuckled at the joke, not because it was funny but more for Blake's reaction to it. Weiss decided to try the alcoholic beverage in front of her as she lifted the glass into her hand. She had been taught how to appropriately hold such a glass long before she actually needed to as she brought it to her lips and took a gulp. It was dry and caught a reaction from her as she lowered the glass and emitted a small cough, quickly covering her mouth. She looked up to Yang's sharp lilac gaze glaring at her in preparation for another pun. Weiss looked genuinely worried but thankfully her big sister was always there to watch her back.

"I see you have not deigned to try your own glass yet, Yang" spoke Winter as she looked to her.

Yang returned the glance and seemed awkward as she shrugged her shoulders with a smile, "Oh, you know. Just waiting for the right moment" she answered.

"Now appears a good a time as any" smirked Winter as she glared at her with her icy blue eye.

An awkward chuckle escaped Yang's mouth as she picked the glass into her hand. "Sure thing, it's just wine" she answered before choosing to take a brave and large gulp. She put the glass back down as she swallowed and tried to hold in a cough. She failed and couldn't help herself as she coughed twice, earning soft chuckles from everyone asides from Neo. Yang then brought her hand up to her throat and seemed to start choking.

Blake widened her eyes, "Yang!?" she said as she moved to place a hand on her shoulder in concern. Winter was alarmed as her eye quickly darted to Weiss, she had drank from the same bottle after all.

Laughing was heard, an almost taunting laugh. It was Yang, moving her hand away from her throat as she simply laughed at the reactions of those around the table. Winter looked back to her and sighed deeply, knowing it was probably just Yang getting everyone back for laughing at her cough. "Always with the last word, hm?" asked Winter.

"Yang you idiot" grumbled Blake as she pinched her shoulder hard before sitting back down in her chair.

Yang yelped from the pinch as she rubbed her shoulder with her right arm. She paused to notice her prosthetic was moving once more, staring down at it. "Congratulations" commented Winter as she watched her. Yang smiled wide at the realization, looking to each around the table like an excited child. Blake peered up at the arm as Yang started to move it awkwardly, its motion staggered somewhat like a machine that wasn't fully functioning, but at least it was actually moving now.

Across the table Weiss took another sip of her wine, this time being able to drink it respectfully before she looked down to Neo who had finished her ice cream. It upset Weiss that she couldn't take part in the fun they were having as she reached out her hand to place it over hers on the table. Neo looked up to Weiss and offered a half smile in response, eyes staring into hers.

"Neo" came Winter's voice as the called woman looked to her with concern, quickly moving her hand away from Weiss'. Winter frowned slightly, "It is okay. I just wanted you to know that I will be wanting to talk to you before you all leave tomorrow, in private" she said. Neo nodded in return, still seeming slightly worried about the idea. Especially after how their last private meeting had gone.

"Do you want anything else?" asked Weiss to her partner, looking at her empty bowl. Neo looked to Weiss and nodded, pointing at a second bowl of even more cold dessert. Weiss seemed disappointed with her choice as she spoke, "Are you sure you don't want something else? The steak is really good" she suggested, pointing to another plate on the table. Neo shook her head and once again pointed at the same dessert. "It's... Not really healthy to only eat sweet things" said Weiss as she looked to her partner again. "Where does all of it even go-" she paused as her eyes mistakenly peered towards Neo's rather generous chest for her size. Neo stared back at her knowingly, as if she agreed with what she was thinking.

"It has to be said, it is a wonder how her teeth are still in good condition along with her figure with how much junk food she eats..." commented Winter from across the table as Blake and Yang conversed with one another.

"At least try it?" asked Weiss as she nudged her own plate towards Neo slightly. The shorter woman looked to the plate and made a sour expression, it seemed she really didn't like the idea. "It won't hurt, look, here" began Weiss as she speared a piece of meat onto her fork and held it out towards Neo who at first reclined her head from the offending food. "Just try, you might like it" smiled Weiss. Neo looked to her and frowned, there was something about the way she looked at her that just seemed to... Inspire her in a sense. She hesitantly leaned forward to close her mouth around the fork as she pulled the meat from it with her teeth. She began to chew and her expression was a clear tell on how she felt about the steak. But she kept chewing as she looked to Weiss, eventually swallowing the food. "See? It's not that bad. Do you want more maybe?" asked Weiss.

Neo shook her head and pointed her finger at the bowl of dessert once more. With a sigh Weiss put her fork back down as she moved the bowl in front of Neo who immediately started demolishing it with her spoon once more. Weiss turned to see Winter hadn't moved her gaze from the two, it was as if she was judging them as a couple, trying to decide wherever Neo was in fact a suitable match for her sister. Weiss glanced aside awkwardly as she looked over the table towards Yang and Blake. The two of them seemed in a happy mood as they talked.

It had been a rough day but the evening seemed to make up for it. It was good that they were all here, for Weiss wasn't sure when the last time she'd see her sister would be. She almost gave out a yelp as she glanced to Winter, her eye were looking elsewhere now which gave her relief. Neo's hand had grasped her thigh beneath the table, squeezing it as her cheeks flustered red slightly. She looked back to the shorter woman. "Neo, not here" she whispered as softly as she could. Neo smirked at her as she slowly let her hand slide off from her soft leg. It was as if only two things made Neo happy these days. Dessert and her. Weiss pondered wherever that was a combination she would ever have to see. With how forward Neo was... She didn't completely erase the possibility from her mind.

An hour had passed and the group were still at the table. More food had been eaten, more wine had been consumed. Finally Winter stood to her feet, she seemed as normal, if not a little more cheerful, as ever. "Ladies" she announced as she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. "That will be all for me. Feel free to eat as much as you need, it may be the last good meal you get after you leave Atlas, so make the most of it" nodded Winter. "I will see you all in the morning, drink responsibly" she said, nodding to the group.

"Bye Winter!" called Yang as she waved her prosthetic in a robotic fashion, not out of choice, she was simply just not very used to using it yet. The rest of the group each said their goodnight to the host, Neo offering a wave of her left hand. With that Winter began walking away, heading towards the entrance to the room as she opened both doors and closed them behind herself. Much of the food on the table was gone and a second bottle of wine had been opened and the candles were burning dim. Weiss had a permanent blush on her cheeks, easily noticeable thanks to her pale skin. She had drank three half glasses of wine and was quite tipsy. She smiled more as a result.

Yang had less of a blush and seemed more in control than the others, perhaps something to do with her bloodline. Blake was undoubtedly as tipsy as Weiss, and Neo who had only started drinking the wine recently, seemed absolutely drunk on the stuff.

"H- Hey Neo do it again" chuckled Yang as she leaned forward slightly on the table as all three watched her.

Neo nodded with a wide smile as her form seemed to shimmer, and steadily her clothes seemed to change completely as a light passed over them. Even her hair changed, turning black as a bow appeared on top of her head. For all intents and purposes she now looked like Blake, the only thing that remained the same however was her facial structure. It just looked like Neo was dressing up as the Faunus instead of actually being her.

"Hah!" laughed Yang as she pointed at Neo.

Blake narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Do... Do you have the ears though?" she asked, smiling and too tipsy to care about her little feud with the girl. Weiss leaned over towards her partner as she started undoing the black bow, removing it to reveal nothing beneath.

"Oooh, I don't think she's seen your cute little ears Blakey" spoke Yang, "Minus points to Neo for that one" she added.

Neo bobbed her head side to side as her hair swayed, clearly enjoying herself as the façade slowly began to shimmer and disappear in the same fashion it was conjured. "Wait, do Weiss next" grinned Yang as she looked to Weiss who sat back down comfortably in her chair.

"Wait me? Why me? We haven't done you yet!" replied Weiss as she pointed a finger at the blonde.

"Wait, she's doing something" noted Blake as all three looked to Neo once more, still bobbing her head side to side in bliss as her form shimmered again. Steadily her clothes changed along with her hair. A silver-white ponytail.

As before, she looked just like Weiss but maintained her own facial structure. "Oh hey, that's pretty cute" commented Yang as she compared the two side-by-side.

Weiss looked to Neo and tilted her head at her. Neo's own complexion had turned paler, it seemed she had control even over the colour of her skin. She pondered just exactly what Neo's semblance was, it seemed very illusion based but she was too tipsy to go any further into it. Neo turned her head to face Weiss, her mimicking blue eyes taking on a rather sultry stare. As a result Weiss' blush grew more intense as she coughed to herself before looking back at the others. She couldn't tell if she found Neo's current form attractive or strange. Maybe both.

"Blakey" yawned Yang as she looked to girlfriend, still chuckling at the whole scenario.

"Yellow woman" replied Blake as she looked to Yang.

"Yellow woman?" asked Yang.

Blake nodded, "You are very... Yellow" she answered.

Yang narrowed her lilac eyes slightly, "You're weird when you're drunk" she replied.

"I'm not drunk" replied the Faunus.

"That's what a drunk person would say" nodded Yang wisely.

"You're a drunk person!" accused Blake.

"I didn't say I wasn't. I am also a pretty tired person" responded Yang as she gave out another yawn.

Blake raised a brow at her, "You're also... A pretty pretty person" she answered.

"You could've just said pretty once you know" smirked Yang.

"Shut up..." replied Blake.

Yang stood up from her chair and to her feet, finishing off the last of the wine in her glass without coughing as she reached out her prosthetic hand to Blake. "Wanna go to bed?" she asked.

Blake looked at the prosthetic cautiously, as if it would crush her hand. But she trusted Yang and so raised her hand up to grasp hers, being lifted to her feet. "I... Guess I am kinda tired..." admitted Blake before the two looked to Weiss and Neo.

"We'll see you both tomorrow okay?" said Yang.

Weiss nodded, "Of course, see you tomorrow, sleep well" she answered as Neo waved her hand at the two.

Yang turned back to Blake and gave her a shove in the direction towards the door. "Come on kitten, you're really slow" she taunted with a grin.

Blake stood to a halt after being shoved, "I- Hey don't shove me!" she answered before being shoved closer and closer to the door, "Okay I'm going, stop shoving!" she called as she was continuously shoved out the entrance to the Grand Hall, their voices growing more distant as the doors were left open.

Weiss turned back to Neo after they had left. Her partner still looked although she was pretending to be her, but now that she realised it Neo hadn't stopped looking at her with that same gaze. Did she really want something while looking like that? "N- Neo...?" asked Weiss as she took another gulp from her glass, she almost dropped it as she put it back down upon the table. Neo reached for Weiss' wrist and caught it, giving it a tug towards herself. Weiss blushed more as she was pulled closer towards her. "You... You want to kiss... right?" asked Weiss.

Neo gave a confirming nod, her ice blue eyes staring back into the same ones that Weiss had.

"This... This is going to be weird isn't it?" asked Weiss as she leaned herself closer, brushing the silver-white fringe from Neo's face, the fringe that was an exact mirror of her own. Neo let go of her wrist as she reached her hand up to grasp at the back of Weiss' neck, pulling her into a drunken and passionate kiss. Weiss moaned softly into the kiss as she leaned closer towards her, both her hands holding the back of her head as she pushed into the kiss further.

The candles were burning out completely now as they started to smoke and flicker wildly, the moon outside would soon become their only light.

Tomorrow a new journey was sure to begin, one that would take them far and away from Atlas, and perhaps even into another Kingdom other than Vale. None of them for sure had any idea where they were going, or what they would find. But for now at least they could enjoy their time together. They may not have another chance to do so.