"Ugh." Cassian blinked and opened his eyes. His entire body hurt. Next to him Winter was sleeping with a very satisfied look on her face. "Morning love."

Winter's eyes immediately shot open. Before Cassian could say another word, the full weight of the elder Schnee had forced him back onto the bed.

"Mmm." Winter wrapped herself around Cassian, immobilising him and effectively pinning him to the bed. "You're all mine."

"That I am." Cassian replied.

"And I'm all yours."

"I wouldn't know about that-ow!" Cassian yelped as Winter pinched him.

"Cass…" Winter glared at Cassian from between her hair. "We're married-"

"Engaged." Cassian rebutted, only to yelp again when Winter pinched him harder.

"-so we belong to each other." Winter finished, having ignored Cassian's statement. "So when I say you're mine, you're meant to respond by saying that I'm yours."

"I get the odd feeling that you've thought this through quite seriously."

"I've been waiting for this moment for years."

"Years? Really?" Winter nodded. "Huh, maybe I should have done it sooner."

"You dolt." Winter pulled him in for a tighter hug. "It doesn't matter now. All that matters is that we're together forever."

"Until death do us apart." Cassian quoted, playing with Winter's hair. "Though I will admit, I always found that a bit morbi-" Cassian trailed off, noticing the number displayed on his scroll. "...crap."

"Hmm?" Winter looked up. "What's going on?"

"...we have twenty minutes to get to the stadium for the opening ceremony."

"...crap." Winter swore, echoing Cassian's sentiment. Getting ready and making it to the Vytal Festival Tournament would be pretty difficult.

The two of them were naked as butts afterall.

"They're late." Weiss glanced at her scroll. The opening ceremony was about to start, and she hadn't seen heads or tails of Winter and Cassian. "And they're never late."

"Maybe they got held up." Yang wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "I mean, they did disappear from the dance pretty early."

"Yang, for the umpteenth time, they're not dat-"

"Hello sister." Weiss felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind as Winter's voice whispered in her ear. "Isn't it such a beautiful day today?"

"Win-Winter!" Weiss yelped in surprise, partly because she hadn't sensed Winter's approach, and partly because Winter was currently hugging her in public. "W-what are you doing?"

"I can't hug my only sister in public?" Winter pouted cutely. "How cruel, little sister."

"No-I mean-I-uh." Weiss tried to think of a way to get out of this situation. Winter giggled.

"You're so cute when you're flustered!" Winter cooed, hugging her sister tightly. "I could just eat you up~!"

"Mistress, you're in public." Cassian's voice said from behind Winter. He was dressed in a different combat outfit from his previous one. This one was similar to those worn by Atlas Hunters, except Cassian's was gray with a multitude of tools and weapons hanging from numerous holsters on his body. Damocles' hilt was visible behind his left shoulder. "Perhaps you should restrain yourself a bit?"

"You're right." Winter released her sister and brushed herself off. Anyone could see however, that she was very, very happy. Her normally scowling face had a barely suppressed grin on it. "But it really is such a nice day."

"Hey." Yang whispered to Blake. "I'm not the only one who thinks Winter is a bit...not-Wintery right?"

"You aren't." Blake whispered back. "She seems really...happy."

"Maybe they got married?" Ruby interjected. No one noticed Cassian choke, before hastily covering it up with a cough.

"Nah, they've been saying that for years." Yang waved her hand in front of her face. "I mean, imagine if they actually got hitched. The tabloids would go absolutely insane." Yang looked at Cassian, who was trying his best to look disinterested. "Am I right Cassian?"

"Hmm? Oh yes." Cassian nodded his head. "The tabloids already have an unhealthy interest in us. As it stands, even a small hint at the idea of us being more than master and servant causes the media to converge on us like bloodhounds to a sausage."

"Wow that must suck."

"It does." Cassian sighed. "It makes security checks so hard, since they'll appear and disappear as they see fit. The number of assassination attempts I've had to thwart from the White Fang in the past few years is...well classified, but I can say it isn't a measly amount by anyone's' standard."

"Is that why you're so heavily armed?" Blake asked, pointing at Cassian's weaponry.

"Oh no, this is for the exhibition match."

"Exhibition match?"

"Yup." Cassian stretched his arms above his head and rolled his shoulders. "I'm up against Yin. Some showcase of Atlas military might or the like."

"You versus Yin?" Yang pictured Cassian beating the feminine Hunter to the ground. "That seems kind of unfair."

"I know right?" Cassian groaned. "I don't want to be beaten into pulp."

"You don't want to be beaten into pulp? What about Yin?" Yang exclaimed. "He's so tiny and thin compared to you!"

"He's also strong enough to tank blows from a Behemoth Grimm. Add in that ridiculous semblance of his and he's basically unstoppable." Cassian scratched the back of his head. "The last time I traded blows with him was back at the Academy."

"How'd that end?"

"Badly." Cassian shivered at the memory. "Lots of explosions and screaming. I still don't recall the conclusion."

"And you two will be having an exhibition match?" Cassian shrugged. "That doesn't sound very safe at all."

"We're older and more experienced. So it'll be fine." Cassian waved his hand in front of his face. "What's the worst thing that could happen?"

"You're engaged?!" Weiss whisper-shouted. Her and Winter were currently walking a little bit away from the rest of the group, in order to have a private conversation.

"Yes!" Winter sort-of squealed. "He asked me last night on top of the clock tower."

"That's really romantic." Winter pulled her sister into a hug, crushing Weiss against her body. "Is that why you're being so touchy-feely today?"

"I'm just so happy." Winter mumbled, her voice embarrassed. "I mean, it's been my dream for such a long time."

"What are you planning to do about father?" Weiss asked. She didn't want to burst Winter's bubble, but Weiss knew that Reim Schnee would not take kindly to such a change. The strategist in Weiss told her that Winter had to make plans for the eventual confrontation. "Have you told him?"

"Yes we have." Winter replied. "I don't know how he'll react. But I will protect this happiness with my life. If father wants to take Cassian away from me, I'll strike him down myself."

"..." Weiss didn't know how to feel about this declaration. While one part of her wanted to side with her sister, her parental loyalty made such an action difficult.

"Weiss, don't worry about it." Winter, as if reading Weiss' thoughts, gently rubbed her younger sister's head. "Any conflict between myself and father doesn't concern you. Just concentrate on your own life, alright?" Winter lightly bopped Weiss on the nose. "Speaking of which, how are you and Neptune doing?"

Weiss thought back to the previous evening, after Winter and Cassian had left.

"Come on Snow Angel." Neptune slurred, a bit tipsy. Sun had snuck a flask of Atlas Vodka into the dance, and the two boys had partaken in a few too many sips. "One kiss."

"Neptune you're drunk." Weiss couldn't hide the disgust she had for her fellow Hunter-in-training. "Why don't you go sit down and cool off for a while."

"I don't want to." Neptune leaned in, the smell of alcohol evident on his breath. "Now come here and give me a kiss~"

"It was informative." Weiss replied, trying to sound light-hearted. "Neptune and I had a heart-to-heart."

"That's sweet." Winter gushed. "And did you learn anything important?"

"Don't be a tease snow angel!" Neptune's hands were both rough and shaking. "Give me a peck!"

"I did." Weiss replied.

Weiss drove her foot up into Neptune's groin, causing him to collapse to the ground in pain.

"I learnt a lot."

"Man I'm nervous." Cassian rubbed his hands together. He was seated in the battle preparation room. Through the speakers, he could hear the opening ceremony of the Vytal tournament being played. "I haven't had a proper fight in a long time."

"Oh my." Cassian looked up to find Winter leaning against the doorframe. "Is my knight scared?"

"Aren't you meant to be attending the ceremony?" Cassian asked, a smile growing on his face as Winter walked over and sat on his lap.

"Your point?" Winter asked, snuggling against Cassian. Her ear was directly over his heart, allowing her to hear his heartbeat slowly speed up. "I find this infinitely more important than some silly ceremony."

"Whatever you say." Cassian gently wrapped his arms around his lover, enveloping her in his warmth. Winter purred her approval.

The two of them stayed like this for a while, before Winter asked a question that had been on her mind since Cassian had asked her to marry him.

"Why now?"

"Hmm?" Cassian took a deep breath, noting the minty smell of Winter. "What do you mean?"

"Do-don't misunderstand." Winter said, flustered. "I'm so happy you asked me...but why now of all times?"

"Oh." Cassian placed his cheek against Winter's. "Well, I heard part of your speech."

"My speech?"

"Seize the day. Speak your mind. Form bonds. Forgive your loved ones. Because you never know when you'll no longer be able to." Winter felt herself flush as Cassian perfectly recited her closing words. "Coming to Beacon and seeing all those people grown up really reminded me how fast time flies. Coupled with your words, and I realised that I couldn't put off proposing to you any longer. After all, with our lives, we really don't know when we'll no longer be able to-"

"Cassian, make me a promise." Winter cut her beloved off. "Promise me that you won't leave me."

"...are you that worried?" Cassian asked in a pseudo-joking tone.

"Just promise me." Winter turned to face Cassian, her eyes brimming with uncried tears. With a start, Cassian realised just how scared she was of losing him. "Please."

"...that's a big promise Winter." Cassian said after a while. "I'm a bodyguard and a soldier for one of the most hated corporations on the planet. I fully expect to die saving-"

"You cannot." Winter cut Cassian off. her tone reverting back to that of a Schnee addressing her servant. "I forbid you from dying to save me. In fact, I forbid you from dying period."

A heavy silence filled the room as Winter waited for Cassian's response.

"Do you remember when we first met? Back in Castle White all those years ago?" Cassian suddenly asked.

"Of course." Winter responded immediately. "It's one of my most fondest memories."

"And do you remember-" Cassian gently escaped from beneath Winter. "-my answer to your very first order to me?"

"Cass, you can't-" Winter made as if to reach out for Cassian, but the bodyguard slipped away.

"I love you Winter." Cassian walked towards the entrance to the arena. "And I'd give my life for you, whether you ordered me to do so or not. Because that's what I'd want to do."

His decision having been made, Cassian stepped out of the preparation room, leaving the older Schnee alone to ponder the meaning behind her lover's words.

The two Hunters stood opposite each other. Their battlefield was huge, easily half a kilometer in diameter. The spectators, thousands of them, were absolutely silent. Even they could feel the tension that the two fighters were giving off.

"Yin." Cassian murmured, his voice augmented through hidden speakers somewhere in the arena. He cleared his mind of all thoughts save for those relating to the battle in front of him. Any distractions here could potentially be fatal. "When was the last time the two of us fought?"

"Far too long ago Colonel." With a single movement, Yin drew his weapon. The gun immediately morphed into a halberd nearly twice the height of Yin. Yet the man spun the weapon with the ease of someone well versed in its usage. "It's an honor to cross swords with you once more."

"Please." Cassian laughed. His eyes however, were deadly serious. Cassian bent his legs, his hand lightly gripping Damocles' hilt. "I was no match for you before, and I'm definitely no match for you now."

"I doubt it-" Yin launched himself forward, his weapon slashing down at Cassian's head. "-but let's find out shall we!"

Cassian, upon blocking with Damocles, felt the ground beneath his feet crack and break from Yin's ridiculous strength. Had he not had aura, Cassian's arms and legs would have been broken and his body slashed in half.

"Damn." Cassian gritted his teeth as he felt the shock run through his arm. "Your strength is as insane as ever."

"Thank you Colonel." Yin responded by lashing out with a kick, intending to break Cassian's nose. Had the blow landed, it probably would have punched through Cassian's face. Instead, Yin felt excruciating pain run through his leg. Cassian had, in a split second, managed to strike nerve endings all throughout Yin's appentage. "Bloody-"

Before Yin could finish his curse, Cassian had grabbed his leg. With a fluid movement, Cassian hurled Yin like a discus, sending him flying to the other end of the arena. Yin bounced a few times, before managing to upright himself and land in a crouch about fifty meters from Cassian. Pain laced up his leg, courtesy of Cassian's attack.

"Not bad-" Yin ducked down, barely dodging Cassian's slash. The Colonel had, in the span of a second, crossed the fifty meter distance separating the two of them. Cassian, having missed with his first attack, rode the momentum to unleash a much faster second slast at Yin's legs. This one was barely dodged, Yin wincing as he felt the blade brush past his kneecaps. In the corner of his eye, Yin could see his aura drop by a tiny margin.

Cassian continued his relentless assault, stringing his slashes together and increasing his speed with each move. Yin found himself watching as his aura was slowly chipped away, Cassian's attacks all the while getting faster and more accurate.

"Tch." Yin clicked his tongue, parrying one of Cassian's attacks only to take another one in the stomach. Another drop in aura, leaving Yin with about 85%. "This is getting nasty isn't it?"

"Perhaps." Cassian lunged forward with a stab, grazing Yin's shoulder and bringing his total aura down to 80%. "But I need to get nasty before you do."

"Hmm, well unfortunately for you-" Yin cracked his neck. Suddenly, his aura spiked up. Black tribal markings appeared on Yin's skin and his eyes began to glow red. "I've gotten a bit better at invocating my semblance." Yin's voice had turned deep and guttural, with a feral edge.

"Ohhhh crap." Cassian cursed, preparing for the wild beast known as Yin Chi-tu. "I'm screwed."

"Schokolade!" Cacao shouted in joy. "Look, we've finally found an upward sloping pathway!"

"..." Schokolade didn't answer, too busy trying to understand the information that his strings were sending him. The two Vanagandr members had wandered perhaps twenty odd kilometers in the past couple of hours. Schokolade had, in turn, unravelled the equivalent amount of string to record where they'd travelled.

"What's up?" Cacao asked, noting his partner's unease.

"..." Behind his mask, Schokolade had scrunched up his eyebrows. About five kilometers behind them, at their last crossroad, he could feel the familiar vibrations of troop movement. "..."

"White Fang?" Cacao guessed.

Schokolade nodded.

"Let me guess, they took another pathway and they're moving en masse?"

Another nod.

Cacao thought for a moment. While being underground meant that distance above ground was a bit harder to measure, Cacao's instincts told him that approximately seven kilometers away from where they currently stood was the tournament area. "They're aiming for the Festival."

Schokolade and Cacao shared a look, before breaking out into a sprint back towards the White Fang camp.

The two of them could cover the five kilometer distance in ten minutes.

Hopefully it would be fast enough to stop a tragedy.

Reim Schnee looked at the message on his scroll. The content of the message was plain and simple.

Dear Father,

Cassian and I are engaged.

Winter

"..." Reim read the message a dozen times, before crushing the scroll with his hand. Standing up, he approached the massive oak doors that represented the divide between his study and the rest of the world.

With a single movement, the doors exploded outwards. Reim Schnee walked out, his spear Echekalt clutched in his hand.

He had only one destination in mind.

The city of Vale.

Adam Taurus stood at the head of his army. While the attack by the two Vanagandr members had killed a large number of his men, the White Fang was still had access to disposable pawns.

"Sir." The White Fang Lieutenant rumbled. He had nearly fully healed from his injuries, and was capable of combat. "We'll arrive soon."

"Perfect." Adam clenched the sheath of his weapon tightly. He had been made a fool of by those Pale Horse members. "Remember our targets."

"Understood." The Lieutenant disappeared, no doubt to finish the last few checks of White Fang weaponry.

Adam stared at his hand, imagining what they'd be liked coated in the blood of his enemies.

Specifically, those of the Schnee family.

Glad you all enjoyed the proposal. I considered doing something extravagant then realised it wouldn't be Cassian's style to do that...so that's how we ended up with this.

We're approaching the climax! Winter is really, really happy while Cassian is...well Cassian. Weiss gets a harsh lesson in reality (I really don't ship her with Neptune tbh).

Review and fave if you like! It really means a lot.

Ferris