Chapter 53
It was the morning after, Neo stood outside of Weiss' room, fully clothed and still with her arm in a sling. But she was at least standing now, her aura having made quick work of the stab wound in her leg. It still ached to put pressure upon it, but she refused to spend another day in a wheelchair. Before her was Winter, staring down at her with her one eye. She had brought Neo out of the room in order to have her private discussion with her.
Winter began as she spoke, her voice as stern as usual as she crossed her arms. "You understand that I still do not approve of this relationship. It is my belief that you are after one thing" she said as Neo listened intently. "Do you deny this?" she asked. Neo paused briefly before offering a single nod. "I see... She seems taken with you, whether because she is actually attracted to you or simply naïve, I do not know. But she does not seem to be separating from you any time soon" continued Winter as she looked to the door behind the girl in front of her. "Know that if you harm her, or break her heart, there will be consequences" she added, looking back to the woman before her.
Neo nodded once more, understanding what was being said to her.
"If she is upset, you will comfort her. If she wants something, you will give it to her. If she is angry and snaps at you, you will not retaliate and start an argument. And you must always be by her side, she has spent many years alone and I do not wish for that isolation to continue. Do you understand what I am asking of you Neo?" asked Winter.
Again, Neo nodded.
"And I believe it goes without saying... Do not take advantage of her. If I hear any of these conditions have not been met I will be sending someone after you in response. I take my sister's well-being and happiness very seriously" stated Winter as she finished. Neo nodded once more in reply. Winter's eye lingered on the shorter woman for a while before she sighed softly, "I am placing a lot of trust in you Neo, do not betray it... I will see you again shortly with the others" she answered before turning and making her way down one of the halls.
Neo watched as she leaved, eyes narrowing slightly. She didn't like the fact that she was trying to set boundaries on her relationship with Weiss. She was hers now, not Winter's. She turned and opened the door to her room, she could see that Weiss had only just started waking up, sitting up in her bed, holding her quilt to her chest to cover her body. "What were you doing outside?" asked Weiss as she rubbed at one of her eyes with her hand.
In response Neo shrugged her shoulder as she closed the door behind her and briskly approached her partner. She set a knee up onto the bed as she grabbed at the back of Weiss' neck, pulling her into a sudden kiss. To hell with Winter's regulations, Neo didn't need to be told how to treat Weiss, she believed she knew exactly how already. She pushed further onto the bed, lowering herself slightly onto the woman who seemed quite happy to lay back and continue the kiss.
"Do you remember what Winter said before everyone started getting tipsy?" asked Yang as she walked alongside Blake down another hall.
"Something about transport?" replied Blake in an unsure fashion, rubbing her eyes with her hands.
"Sounds... Kinda right" answered Yang as they continued on, reaching the stairs that led down to the main entrance of the mansion. They could already see Winter, Neo and Weiss waiting.
"Ah, here they are" spoke Winter as she watched the two make their way down the stairs. Yang took note that Weiss seemed different. It was then that she realised she had switched into her travelling attire, one she had worn before back when they fought Roman and his Paladin. That was also the first time they ever saw Neo.
Both Blake and Yang descended the steps and moved to stand besides Neo and Weiss, all four of them now facing Winter. "Didn't keep you waiting did we?" asked Yang with a casual smirk.
"Only a few minutes, but now that you are all present let me remind you of what is going to happen" said Winter, once more crossing her arms. "You will be flying to your destination, the pilot you are being supplied with is one of my finest. He will take you where you need to go, providing the vessel can make the journey. I have also supplied Weiss with some funding to get whatever you might need, be it a hotel, food, so forth. Should you need to reach me, she has also been given a private number. Any questions?" she asked.
"Uhh... Yeah, come with us?" asked Yang.
Winter looked to Yang with a pause, eventually she smiled. "Would that I could, Yang" she answered.
"How fast is the ship?" asked Blake.
"Faster than the car" answered Winter. "Travel time should not be a problem" she added before silence passed over the group, a sign that there were no longer any questions to be had. "Well... In that case, your transport is waiting outside..." spoke Winter softly, looking to all four of the women before her. She approached Neo first, who was at the end of the line. "I wish you all the best of luck on your travels, and that you find who you are looking for" she spoke to the group as she moved her hand forward towards Neo. The shorter girl looked to it before grasping it into her own and shaking. After a few seconds Winter moved to the person besides her, her sister Weiss.
"I'm going to miss you" spoke Weiss as she moved forward to hug her sibling.
"And I you, Weiss" smiled Winter as she returned the hug. "Stay safe, eat plenty, do not forget to drink too, you know how bad your headaches can get when you do not hydrate yourself properly. And remember, I am just a call away" said Winter before pulling away from her. Weiss smiled and nodded. Winter then moved further down the line and stood in front of Blake, extending her hand out to shake.
"We'll probably be back after it's all done" spoke Blake as she looked up to Winter.
"Let me know ahead of time and I will have a welcome party ready for you" she smiled and nodded back at the Faunus before moving towards the last person. Winter once more extended her hand out to shake Yang's. The blonde just looked at it for a moment before her lilac eyes glanced back up to Winter. Abruptly she threw her arms around her into a friendly hug. Winter seemed caught by surprise as she awkwardly patted Yang on the back in response.
"I know I said it before, but thanks Winter, you're awesome" said Yang.
Winter chuckled softly, "You are very welcome Yang, I would not hesitate to travel with you further if not for my new responsibilities. Look after yourself" she answered before parting from the hug. Yang nodded at her as she took a step back into the line. With that all four of them were ready, turning around to face the exit to the mansion as the elderly butler opened the door. Outside the sun shined and within the courtyard was a small airship with four white ribbons hanging from it, Winter's personal transport that she used to visit Beacon during the tournament.
All four started to walk towards the exit, the cold air greeting them as it blew in from the door. The sky outside was clear and blue, the snow that covered the ground as a result shined brightly, and nearly blinding. They moved closer to the airship as its side-ramp folded down onto the ground to allow them entry. As they boarded the craft they looked back to the mansion, it was white and incandescent beneath the sun in the cold sky. At the door stood Winter, raising a hand up in a still wave to the group. The four all raised their hands back, some waving more enthusiastically than others. The ramp began to fold back up as the sight of Winter was leaving them, she smiled at the group as she watched for as long as she could. After the ramp shut she lowered her arm as the engines of the craft sprang to life with a hum.
The ship slowly lifted from the ground as the snow around it was blown into a white powder. From behind Winter could hear the elderly butler, "Lady Schnee, shall we begin?" he asked as he approached.
"In a moment" answered Winter as her icy blue eye remained locked onto the airship as it continued to ascend, the engine turbines rotating as it prepared to begin its journey. The last glimpse of her sister that she would have for some time. She didn't like the idea of her travelling some place where she may be danger, but she had to let her do what she wanted. She couldn't cage her like her father had. The airship accelerated as the four ribbons streamed behind it, quickly growing more distant. She watched until it had vanished from her sight completely, and even after she waited a few minutes alone and in silence.
She finally turned to look at the elderly butler, nodding her head at him before re-entering her mansion, the two large doors slowly closing behind her.