Thank you DeathOnWings1203 for your help! I've kept your comments and suggestions in mind!
Weiss watched as Cassian scrambled to his feet, carefully extracting himself from Velvet in the process, before giving Weiss a stiff bow.
"Hello Ms. Schnee." Cassian's face was impassive, a far cry from the bemused look he had been wearing just moments ago. "I apologise for showing you that."
"No matter." Weiss waved her hand, surprising herself with her casual dismissal of Cassian's behaviour. Being with her team must have been affecting her a lot more than she had originally thought. "I must admit however, you did escape from Velvet's grasp rather...easily."
"I've had practice." Cassian's face and voice betrayed nothing about the meaning behind that statement.
"Really? I do remember my sister being a rather difficult sleeper, with a tendency to wrap herself around anything which shared her bed." Weiss' pointed question, with its obvious implied meaning, produced no reaction from Cassian.
"I would not know. My mistress' personal affairs are not my concern." Out of the corner of her eye, Weiss could see Velvet's head swiveling from Weiss to Cassian and back to Weiss, as if she was watching a verbal tennis game.
"Hmph." Weiss crossed her arms. She couldn't be too direct in front of Velvet, since the Schnee name could be tarnished if either Cassian or Weiss said the wrong thing. Cassian was obviously not going to divulge any sort of information, and Weiss knew that his military training meant he knew how to resist every interrogation trick under the sun. "Very well Colonel, I'll drop the subject." Weiss' tone indicated however, that the subject was anything but dropped. "Though, why are you here anyway? I don't see Winter anywhere."
"I was doing some morning training Ms. Schnee." Cassian indicated the cliffside, causing Weiss' eyes to boggle in surprise. To Cassian's credit, he didn't smirk. "I also need to check the security measures around the presentation today. General Ironwood said he'd take care of escorting my mistress to Beacon personally, so I decided to take advantage of the extra time."
Weiss nodded her approval. If General Ironwood gave his personal word about Winter's safety, then Cassian was indeed not needed. "Have you eaten yet?" Weiss inwardly smiled at Cassian's startled expression. He quickly regained himself, his face turning stoic immediately.
"No ma'am, I haven't."
"Come with me then. We can get some breakfast at the Beacon cafeteria. Times-" Weiss thought of her team, specifically her blond teammate with an unhealthy obsession with a certain celebrity couple. "-I think my team would like to meet you."
Cassian, suspecting nothing, nodded his agreement. "Thank you ma'am."
"Oh don't thank me yet." Weiss shot Cassian a smile which was most definitely not without malice. "You haven't met Yang."
With that said, Cassian and Weiss left the clearing, Cassian giving Velvet a wink and a small wave before disappearing down the winding paths.
Winter stepped out of the hotel elevator and into the lobby. Immediately, all the hotel staff made a human corridor to the exit of the hotel, where a group of paparazzi stood behind a wall of Atlesian Knights. As Winter made her way towards the doors, the paparazzi immediately surged forward.
Microphones and cameras were thrust between the Knights and questions were shouted as Winter stepped out onto the street. Winter ignored the questions, all of which pertained to her supposed relationship with Cassian, and walked towards the open door of the car. Her face was set in her usual frown, her gait oozing regality and haughtiness, with just a touch of sensuality.
Stepping into the car, Winter waited until the door closed before breathing a sigh of relief. Through the tinted windows, Winter could see Atlesian patrol cars surround her vehicle.
"How long until we arrive at Beacon Fred?" Winter flicked through the tablet that Cassian had left for her.
"It's about half an hour to the airship port, followed by another half an hour via airship. So, around an hour or so?" Fred replied.
"Very well." Winter opened up the speech that Cassian had prepared for her. "Did Cassian leave any messages for me?"
"No ma'am. However, there is one from General Ironwood. He says that due to security concerns, he has dispatched a Atlas Hunter team to provide additional protection for you."
Winter raised an eyebrow. "Additional protection? Is he doubting Cassian's abilities to protect me?"
"I wouldn't know ma'am. He says that the presence of two Schnees in a single place is a very attractive target for the White Fang."
"That man has always jumped at the chance of showcasing Atlas' military force." Winter sighed, before registering the second part of what Fred said. "Two? So my sister is attending the presentation then?"
"According to the General, yes."
Winter looked out the window. She had only seen her sister sporadically over the past six years, their communication at each meeting being nothing short of formal. Winter doubted they had spoken more than fifty words to each other in six years. Neither of the girls had made any attempt to rectify this either.
When her father ordered her to cease all communication with Weiss, Winter had obliged without complaint, mainly because she hadn't had any communication with Weiss long before the order. Hence, the order hadn't caused any real change in the two sister's relationship.
And now, for the first time in years, the two sisters would finally see each other face-to-face.
"Well, it's not like we'll speak to each other." Winter murmured to herself. She wasn't sure how she felt about this. "I mean, she'll be in the audience and everything."
Despite this reassurance, Winter couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation towards their eventual 'meeting'.
As well as some apprehension.
"Ms. Schnee." Cassian suddenly spoke up. The two of them were walking towards the cafeteria. "May I ask a slightly personal question?"
"It isn't like I can stop you." Weiss replied dryly. During the walk, the two of them had engaged in some small talk. Weiss had been surprised to find that Cassian was actually rather friendly, if not incredibly polite. He had been more than willing to answer some of Weiss' other, non-Winter related, questions, even asking Weiss a few, albeit generic, questions in return. "So ask away."
"How is your relationship with the mistress?" Weiss stopped walking, nearly causing Cassian to run into her. He managed to stop himself however.
"...I haven't spoken to Winter in a long time." Weiss replied, eventually resuming her walk, though at a noticeably faster pace. "Though I would have thought you'd know that."
"I'm not familiar with my mistress' personal affairs." Cassian replied smoothly. This time however, he truly meant it.
"Of course." Weiss sighed, having expected that answer. "But why did you ask?"
"Curiosity." Cassian admitted. It was the first time Cassian had said something even vaguely personal. "My mistress never seemed to make any attempt to contact you, and as far as I know, neither did you."
Weiss didn't respond to Cassian's observation, choosing instead to increase her pace. Cassian, realising he had crossed the line, immediately sped up. "I am sorry if I-"
"No, it's fine." Weiss didn't know why, but she felt like she could trust Cassian. "You're right. I haven't made any attempt to contact Winter. Not recently, at least."
"Not...recently?" Weiss nodded.
"She first stopped talking to me when she begun at the Academy." Weiss begun. Cassian noted her hands were clenched into fists. "I sent her a few messages, but never received any replies. Even when we would meet, she'd always act distant. So me, being a typical twelve year old, decided to act the same to her." Weiss turned to look at Cassian, her eyes empty. "I felt that since she had started ignoring me, it was only fair that she be the one to apologise."
"But she never did."
"She never did." Weiss echoed. "So from that day on, we didn't act like sisters anymore unless etiquette demanded it. It's been that way for six years."
"Do you...regret it?"
"A Schnee must always stand by their decision." Weiss replied, quoting one of the many lines that had been drilled into her since birth. "The two of us made this decision, and we'll stick by it through thick and thin. That's the Schnee way."
Cassian looked as if he was about to say something more, but upon seeing Weiss' face he stopped himself. Instead, he rummaged through his pocket, before pulling out a handkerchief and handing it to Weiss.
It was only then that she realised she was crying. Long, racking sobs left Weiss' lips as she stood there.
Cassian watched as the Schnee heiress sobbed. He didn't say anything, no words of comfort or the like. Cassian knew that sometimes it was best to just let it out.
After a few minutes, Weiss' sobs slowly faded away to sniffles. It was only then that she remembered that Cassian was still standing there.
"I-I apologise for showing you that." Weiss said, still sniffling. She blew her nose on Cassian's handkerchief. "That was very uncouth-"
Cassian cut Weiss off by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.
"Wh-what are you doing?!" Weiss shouted in alarm, immediately struggling against his grasp. Cassian however, continued to hold the heiress. Eventually, Weiss gave up struggling and simply allowed Cassian to embrace her. After a few minutes, Weiss mumbled, her voice muffled by Cassian's torso. "Thank you."
Cassian immediately released the heiress and stepped back. His usual indifferent expression was replaced with a kind one, his brown eyes soft and reassuring. With a start, Weiss realised that this was the same Cassian that she remembered from her childhood.
"Ms. Schnee-no Weiss." Weiss' eyes widened as Cassian spoke her first name. "Since I'm fairly certain neither of us will ever talk about this again, I just thought I'd speak my mind if you'd let me." Cassian waited for Weiss' agreement. After a moment, Weiss gave a small nod. "Thank you. Do you remember what the Great War was fought about nearly a century ago?"
"Individualism." Weiss, ever the perfect student, immediately answered. She also knew what Cassian was trying to say. "But I'm a Schnee. I don't have the luxury of-"
"It's a choice Weiss." Cassian interrupted, not rudely but gently. "It isn't an easy one, but it's ultimately down to you to decide who you are. Are you a Schnee? Or are you Weiss?"
"It isn't that eas-"
"-Or are you both?" Cassian finished. Weiss fell silent, having realised what Cassian was implying.
"Are you saying my sister-"
"I will not comment on Winter." Cassian replied softly yet firmly. "But I can say this to you Weiss. To you, I am both Colonel Cassian Gray the bodyguard, as well as Cassian Gray the friend." Cassian gently ruffled Weiss hair, something that would have normally earned him an earful.
This time Weiss let him touch her without complaint, even relaxing as he did so.
"I hope you take to heart what I've said Weiss." Cassian removed his hand from her head and gently used his finger to wipe away any remaining tears. "Follow what you believe and decide who you want to be. Doing what you want doesn't necessarily mean tarnishing the Schnee name."
The way Cassian spoke, it was as if he was speaking from experience.
"Cassian, you-" Cassian placed his finger gently on her lips, silencing her.
"Shall we go, Ms. Schnee?" Cassian asked, his voice turning both formal and impersonal. He removed his finger from Weiss' lips. "I apologise for making you wait."
Weiss blinked, realising whatever they just had was over. Taking a moment to compose herself, Weiss spun on her heels, showing Cassian her back. "Make sure not to do it again." Weiss responded curtly, before resuming her walk. After a moment, Cassian followed politely behind her.
He noted how she slowed down just a bit, shrinking the distance between the two of them by perhaps three inches at most.
A tiny difference, but a difference nevertheless.
Cassian smiled, blissfully unaware of the blush on the younger Schnee's face.
Oooops.
By the time Cassian and Weiss reached the cafeteria, the younger Schnee had finished composing herself. Any sign of her previous crying fit was gone, replaced with a haughty and confident look. Cassian couldn't help but smile slightly at the resemblance to Winter.
"What are you smiling about?" Weiss, noticing the smile, asked.
"Nothing of importance Ms. Schnee." Cassian smiled, holding the door open. "After you."
"Humph. Your attitude is a lot more casual now." Weiss huffed, stepping into the cafeteria. She wasn't actually annoyed though. In fact, she prefered this more casual attitude, even if she would never admit it. "Perhaps I should inform my sister about this change."
"All is for my lady." Cassian whispered. Weiss snorted, causing Cassian to let out a small laugh before stepping in behind her.
"I apologise, but I really should be going." Cassian glanced at his scroll. It was 9:08 and Cassian had yet to actually scout out the presentation area. "I need to complete the security checks before my mistress arrives-"
"So is you calling Winter your mistress a kink thing?" Yang interrupted. She had been grilling Cassian about Winter for the past ten minutes, while Weiss watched on with amusement. "Cause it sure sounds like some sort of dominate/submit thing."
"No. It's a sign of respect." Cassian replied. The blonde brawler seemed to somehow manage to twist everything Cassian said to indicate that he had a relationship with Winter. Cassian had to admit, as infuriating as it was, the girl's talent for word play was outstanding.
"Respect, as in a lov-"
"No." Cassian interrupted, having correctly deduced Yang was about to say. "I apologise, but I really must leave now." Turning to Weiss, Cassian bowed his head. "Thank you for the meal Ms. Schnee."
"You're welcome." Weiss replied. "Perhaps I'll see you later today?" She added, trying to sound casual.
Yang however, seemed to notice something, as a wide smile begun to grow on her face.
"If you so wish Ms. Schnee." Cassian stood up and picked up his now-empty tray. "You have my scroll number."
"Oh my Oum, are you trying to steal your sister's boyfrien-"
"No!" Weiss glared at Yang, who gave her a shit-eating grin in return. Cassian however, was staring at his Scroll. A message had arrived from General Ironwood.
"Ms. Schnee." Weiss stopped staring daggers at Yang and turned to face Cassian. "I've been ordered to bring you to the presentation grounds immediately by the General. Apparently there are a few security concerns with two Schnees being in the same place at the same time."
"Are they worried about the White Fang?" Weiss asked. She remembered her fight with the White Fang lieutenant. That man had an unnatural hate of Schnee's taking obvious pleasure in the life and death battle between the two of them.
"I am assuming so." Cassian slid his scroll back into his pocket. "Regardless, any extra security is always welcome in my eyes. Especially if it is supplied by the General's own troops."
"Very well." Weiss hopped to her feet. "Lead the way Colonel."
"Ms. Schnee, I need to make a quick stop before we go to the presentation ground." Cassian motioned to his outfit. He was still dressed in his workout clothes. "It would be most unbecoming if I was dressed like this while representing the Schnee family."
"Indeed." Weiss nodded. "We can stop by a bathroom so that you can change."
"Or you could just change here." Yang offered, her eyes sparkling. "I mean, you're a guy so…"
"I will have to humbly refuse Ms. Xiao Long." Cassian's facial expression was unreadable. "It would not be very good if pictures of myself topless with the caption Rocking hot bod were spread across the internet."
Yang choked in surprise while Weiss hid a smile behind her hand.
Cassian however, remained stoic, without even the ghost of a smile to indicate his mirth.
Winter stepped out of the airship. She had arrived about 30 minutes before the presentation was due to start. This was partly because Winter was never late and partly because she wanted to see Cassian prior to her speech.
As Winter made her way from the airship to the entrance of the school, she noticed two people standing some ways away. Upon catching Winter's eye, the two of them immediately made a beeline for her.
"You are Winter Schnee correct?" One of the two, a girl perhaps a year younger than Winter, asked.
"And who might you be?" Winter replied curtly, looking the girl over. She had silver hair and piercing red eyes. Her mouth was curled into a small smirk, giving her an overall mischievous appearance. Her outfit, resembling a marching band conductor in appearance, consisted of the typical Atlas Military colors of gray and white but with yellow tassels. What appeared to be a cross between a baton and a scroll rested in a small sheath strapped to her right leg.
"Lieutenant Colonel Silvers Iscariot of Team SHYD." The girl responded casually. "This here is Major Yin Chi-tu also of Team SHYD. We're the team in charge of security for the Vytal Festival."
"An honor to meet you Ms. Schnee." Major Yin bowed. Winter had to admit that at first glance Yin resembled a girl, with a thin body and long limbs. His outfit consisted of baggy pants tucked into his boots, and a tight black tank-top with removable sleeves. Gauntlets covered his hands and arms. The hilt of his weapon stuck out from behind his right shoulder. "Please forgive the Lieutenant Colonel for her rudeness. She's unable to understand common etiquette."
"Rude." Silvers huffed dramatically, hitting her subordinate lightly on the back. "Cass never made us refer to him by Colonel."
"A single exception doesn't mean the rule isn't there." Yin sighed and shook his head, a gesture which was unnerving similar to Cassian's. "Colonel Cassian may have been very lax with us, but that doesn't mean Ms. Schnee is the same."
"True. Though aren't the two of them dating?" Silvers looked at Winter, who had remained silent throughout the exchange. "Ah, that was rude of me. Sorry~"
"Lieutenant Colonel!" Yin shouted at the girl, who stuck her tongue out at him and said tee-hee~, before bowing profusely to Winter. "I am so sorry! Please forgive my stupid leader!"
"You're forgiven this time. But make sure it never happens again." Normally, Winter would make sure that the Lieutenant Colonel was severely punished for such behaviour, but she decided to ignore her antics and instead go straight to the important point. "Though you mentioned you two knew my bodyguard?"
"Yes, Colonel Cassian was our senior student guide during our time at the Academy." Yin replied, his head still inclined downwards in apology. "He taught us how to excel in all aspects of Hunting, as well as-"
"He was also my boyfriend." Silvers added, obviously annoyed at being ignored.
"Silvers!" Yin smacked his commander across the head, earning a yelp of pain from her. "Don't talk to Ms. Schnee like she's your friend! Why would your personal life matter at all to her!" Yin turned to Winter, before dropping to his knees and placing his forehead on the floor. "I humbly apologise for Silvers' actions and beg that you show mercy in your punishment! Silvers is an idiot, but ultimately her dismissal or execution-"
"Wait, why am I being executed for speaking the truth!?"
"-would be detrimental to both Atlas and the security forces in Vytal!"
Winter however, was no longer listening. Her gaze was instead focused on the silver-haired girl who was watching Yin with a bemused expression on her face. Suddenly, as if sensing Winter's gaze, Silvers looked up. Her red eyes locked onto Winter's blue ones. For a moment, the two of them were staring directly at each other.
Silvers shot her a smile, revealing sharpened canines that wouldn't have looked off on a Faunus.
Winter continued to stare impassively at Silvers. Her body language remained the same, excluding a regal and icy aura.
Inside however, an unfamiliar emotion burned in Winter's chest. It took a moment for her to recognise it.
When she did, she was surprised. Winter Schnee had never, in her entire life, ever expected to feel jealous of someone. Especially not a Lieutenant-Colonel she had never met before.
Yet here she was, feeling an odd mixture of hatred and jealousy for Silvers Iscariot.
She had, if her words were to be trusted, once been in a relationship with Cassian.
Winter had never heard of Cassian ever being in a relationship before her.
Admittedly, Winter had never directly asked Cassian if he'd ever been with another woman. She had assumed that this was something that was revealed at the beginning of a relationship, a disclosure of sorts for the other party.
Winter had thought she was the only one who knew everything about Cassian, like only he did about her.
Yet here was a girl who claimed to have known Cassian intimately before she did.
Winter made a mental note to interrogate Cassian very thoroughly about Silvers Iscariot the next time they had a private moment.
"Ugh." Cassian suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if someone was walking over his grave.
"Hmm?" Weiss looked back at the Colonel. "Is something the matter?"
"Nothing Ms. Schnee." Cassian replied, re-adjusting his weapon's sheath. "Probably just a breeze."
The two of them stepped around the corner, only to be greeted by two girls. Judging from the way they stood up straighter upon seeing them, they had obviously been waiting for Cassian and Weiss to arrive.
"Ms. Schnee. Colonel Cassian. I am Captain Davina Camlann of Team SHYD." One of the two girls nodded her head. Davina Camlann had short black hair with a few messy crimson streaks. Her outfit was a ripped and tattered Atlas Military Uniform. To the untrained eye, the tears seemed random. Cassian however, could tell that the outfit's rips had been done in order to maximize flexibility and body movement. Two hilts stuck out behind each of Davina's shoulders. "This here is-" Davina motioned to the other girl. "-my partner Captain Helaine Cassius, also of Team SHYD."
"Hello Helaine." Cassian waved at Velvet's cousin, an old friend from both the military academy and back home. "How have you been?"
Helaine gave Cassian a thumbs up in response. Her large white bunny ears stuck out of her head, indicating her species as a rabbit faunus. The rest of her body however, was completely covered. Helaine's face was covered by a gas mask, while the rest of her body was enclosed in a skin-tight hazmat suit. The word danger was printed in six different languages all over her suit, along with cartoonish skulls and crossbones. Her weapons, a pair of knives, were strapped to each of her biceps. What appeared to be bracelets made of compressed air cartridges lined each of her wrists.
"I see you've brought the principal." Davina noted, inclining her head towards Weiss. "The General wants us to escort her to a secure location within the presentation grounds for protection until the presentation starts."
"So Team SHYD is in charge of security for the Vytal Festival?" Davina nodded. "Whose your leader? I can't say I remember exactly who made up SHYD-"
"Our leader is Lieutenant-Colonel Silvers Iscariot, who I am led to believe you are acquainted with?" Weiss noticed that Cassian had tensed up slightly at the name Silvers Iscariot.
"Ah...yes, I am acquainted with her." Cassian nodded his head, a grim smile on his face. "And where is the Lieutenant-Colonel at the moment?"
"She is currently escorting Ms. Winter Schnee to the presentation area. Apparently she is a fan."
"...shit." Weiss heard Cassian curse under his breath. Davina must have heard it as well, as she tilted her head in confusion.
"Is something the matter Colonel?"
"N-no! Nothing is wrong at all! Ahahahaha." Cassian gave Davina what Weiss thought was the worst reassuring laugh she had ever seen. "So, we're to escort both Ms. Weiss and her sister to the secure location correct?"
"Yes. Please follow me Ms. Schnee." Davina indicated for Weiss to follow behind her.
Weiss, still distracted by Cassian's obvious discomfort towards Silvers Iscariot, obediently followed Davina to the secure waiting room set aside for her use.
It was only when she stepped into the hastily set up tent surrounded by Atlesian Paladins and saw the white-haired girl seated cross-legged on a chair while playing with her scroll that Weiss realised the full implications of what both Davina and Cassian had said.
"One of you find my bodyguard now." Winter ordered, not looking up from her scroll. "I need to speak with him immediately."
Weiss didn't answer, instead choosing to silently watch her older sister from the entrance of the tent. Winter, noticing the lack of reply and movement, looked up from her scroll. Her eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Weiss.
For the first time in years, the two sisters were meeting face-to-face.
Phew. That was long. Some characterisation, some preparation and another cliffhanger. I wonder how this meeting will end? Review what you think please! They really make a difference to me.