"Are you okay?" Pyrrha asked in a low voice, shifting her seat closer to Weiss. Weiss complexion was even paler than it normally was and there were dark circles under her eyes.
"I'm fine," Weiss repeated the most uttered lie in the universe. She had to hold it together until after the meeting at least. Never mind that she hadn't slept a wink last night and that her mind kept floating against her will to unpleasant thoughts, she was expected to lead the council meeting perfectly, flawlessly. The other councilmen didn't seem concerned at all. General Ironwood was stiff and stern — as he normally was. He never moved an inch from his original position to simply send an army to wipe out the entire White Fang coalition. Junior was smoking his pipe and drumming his fingers on the table. He, frankly, was simply on the side that benefited his business. That meant, he was on Lord Winchester's side — his most important investor. Roman Torchwick seemed to be his own self — relaxed and humming to himself without a care in the world. Only Lord Winchester seemed off. He had this crazed-man look in his eyes, though he sat calmly and was still.
"Maybe—" Pyrrha's suggestion was cut off by a knock on the door. Neptune strode in.
"They're here," Neptune informed.
"How many?" Weiss responded.
"A dozen," Neptune replied. "I left them waiting outside, the guards are watching them."
Weiss thought for a moment. "Leave all but three outside. Confiscate the weapons of those who come in."
Neptune's face fell. "They'll never agree to that."
Weiss waved him off. "Tell them that we will leave our weapons behind as well."
Lord Winchester slammed his hands on the table. "Bull," he raged. "You want us to be unarmed against these beasts?"
Weiss shot him a look. "We are here to negotiate peacefully to come to an agreement. Weapons will not be necessary. That's the end of it." Weiss turned back to Neptune. "Go now."
Neptune nodded.
Before the door even closed, Lord Winchester stalked up to Weiss. "You can leave your weapon behind. I am keeping mine."
Weiss rolled her eyes. "Are you that scared of them?" Weiss scoffed.
"They put a target on your head!" Lord Winchester shot back. "They tried to kill you in your sleep! These monsters have no sense of honour or morality. They are just the kind of people that will come under the guise of peace just to stab us in the back."
Before a murmur of agreement could erupt, Pyrrha blinked at Lord Winchester, speaking up. "They tried to kill Weiss in her sleep?" Pyrrha repeated. "Where did you hear that?"
Weiss froze, turning to look at Pyrrha. She hadn't caught that. Weiss mentally berated herself. She needed to get her head on straight. How did she miss something that obvious? Weiss hadn't told anyone about that incident except for Neptune. It was standard for someone of her status — she couldn't seem weak. And Neptune wouldn't betray her.
So how did Lord Winchester know about it?
To Lord Winchester's credit, he didn't even flinch. "I do my research, as do you."
A knock on the door prevented Weiss from questioning him further. Neptune entered. "I put them in the meeting room downstairs. They are waiting for you."
"Right then," Weiss said, taking Myrtenaster and placing it gently on the table and shaking off her jitters. This wasn't the time to be dull. Pyrrha followed her example easily. The two girls stared expectantly at the other members of the council. When they didn't move, Weiss sighed. "Would you rather I tell Neptune to give the White Fang their weapon's back? It's no weapons, or all weapons. Take your pick. Frankly, I feel safer when the monsters out there don't have weapons." Weiss said pointedly.
Junior fidgeted, then finally set his weapon on the table. The other's followed suit reluctantly.
"Lovely, after you," Weiss smiled coldly, gesturing at the door.
When Pyrrha passed by Weiss, Pyrrha smiled conspiratorially. "A false dilemma, Weiss? I didn't think you'd sink to their level."
Weiss chuckled despite her mood. "Don't tell them that."
The Faunus representatives wore Grimm masks — as Weiss had expected. The one who Weiss suspected was the leader sat in the middle. He was tall, built with brown hair dyed with red streaks that were gelled backwards in one of those consciously messy hairstyles. It also somewhat obscured his horns as they camouflaged with hair. People had to purposefully search for them to make them out.
"Thank you for taking the time to meet us," the Faunus to the left of the horned Faunus spoke up first, in contrast to what Weiss expected. "I'm Tukson." This Faunus was muscular and had cleanly cut hair paired with sideburns. He spoke in a deep, relaxed voice. Weiss couldn't detect his Faunus trait — but undoubtably he had one.
"You didn't exactly give us much of a choice," Lord Winchester barked. "And what's with the masks? You want to be like monsters that badly?"
At that, the air around the Faunus cooled noticeably. The horned Faunus leaned forward, a smirk on his lips.
"I told you guys this was a waste of time," he spat out, turning his head towards Weiss. "They won't listen to a thing we have to say." He said, standing up, his gaze still piercing Weiss through his mask. "Let's go."
"Wait," the Faunus to the right of the horned Faunus called out, grabbing Adam's arm.
Weiss' heartbeat picked up. That voice sounded rather familiar. Weiss shifted, taking in the appearance of the third and final Faunus representative.
She was undoubtably female. Thin, small. Long, auburn straight hair. Fair complexion hidden behind a feral mask. A calming presence. A melodic voice.
And rabbit ears.
It couldn't be.
Weiss watched as the rabbit Faunus slowly raised her hand to her face, her fingers grasping either side of the mask and delicately, languidly removed it.
It was her.
Velvet.
Velvet was here.
With the White Fang.
Weiss had to close her eyes and reopen them to be sure of what she was seeing.
Velvet smiled apologetically at Weiss. "There," she gestured. "Mask removed."
Tukson followed suit, setting his mask down on the table in front of him, shrugging. "A show of good faith," he added.
Velvet pulled the horned Faunus back into his seat. Reaching over for his mask only to have her hand swatted away. Velvet looked back at the councilmen with a contrite smile. "You'll have to settle for just the two of us, Adam takes the whole mask thing very seriously, is that alright?"
The council members seemed to relax at Velvet's soothing words.
On the other hand, Weiss was screaming inside.
Yang lay sprawled on the living room couch, polishing her gauntlets. Every so often, she would look up to check that Blake was still pacing, then she would go back to polishing. This was different, Yang mused. Normally she was the antsy one and Blake was the one sitting calmly and listening to Yang rant.
"What if she hates me?" Blake spoke aloud suddenly, quicken her pace and tapping her fingers on her arm in anxiousness. "I'm so stupid! How am I supposed to fix this?"
Yang pursed her lips. "What are we talking about?" Yang straightened and fixed her eyes on Blake. Wait. "Hey, Weiss took off your collar?"
Blake's hand flew to her bare neck. She felt naked. Freedom wasn't what she expected. She was constantly worried that some slave trader would see through her bow and re-collar her — dragging her away from Weiss. She caught herself reaching for her tag in comfort, only to find that her tag wasn't there. The entire collar wasn't there. Gah. How did it come to this?
"Hey, Blake?" Yang called out, "You still with me?"
Blake's response was cut off by a white flash. Then, a body materialized out of thin air and crumpled to the floor, dropping in a heap.
"The hell?" Yang cursed, jumping off the couch and moving towards the body. Yang could smell the ever so distinct scent of blood — copper and death. A small girl lay on the ground, covered in drying blood and dirt. Christ. Yang had to help her. Yang started running through the list of supplies she needed Blake to get for her, hastening her approach to her new patient.
Metal scraping against metal. Blake had unsheathed her sword and had it pointed at the wounded girl's neck.
"The hell?" Yang repeated, eyes widening at Blake. "What the hell are you doing, Blake?"
"It's her!" Blake exclaimed, her gaze fixed on the still body. "She's the one."
"What are you talking about?" Yang gaped at Blake. Blake had gone mental. "Blake, put Gambol Shroud away. She's injured. We need to help!" Yang approached Blake slowly, trying to find a way to get herself to her patient, only to be met with Blake's sheath extending itself to Yang's chest. Yang looked at Blake in astonishment. "Blake?!"
"Yang," Blake spoke sharply.
"What?!"
"She's the one that tried to kill Weiss."