Chapter 26: A Brief Respite
The crackling fire reminded Levi of Brunswick Farms. It was alluring, watching it burn. The fireplace had been a traditional, wood-burning fireplace, but thankfully, there had been a lot of wood in storage. It did a lot to help bring a little bit of warmth to the otherwise cold house. Willow had passed out drunk, much to his dismay. The idea that had been burning in his mind would have to wait until she had woken up. He could have tried speaking with Whitley about it, but the boy already didn't like him, he didn't want to upset him more than he needed to.
His eyes scanned the room. It was so big, far bigger than any bedroom he had been in. The entirety of Brunswick Farms could probably fit in this room. The Schnee Crest had been painted on the ceiling, and a hard-light chandelier hung from the center, made up of mostly, small crystals in the shape of the famous snowflake. There was a large painting of a knight hanging over the mantelpiece, along with several trophies, pictures, and awards. Tucked to the very left of the room, next to the large panoramic windows was a large vanity, chock full of expensive makeup, perfumes, blushes, eyeshadows, and a myriad of other things he couldn't name. There were large dressers, wardrobes, and even a full closet, filled with clothes.
There were more clothes in Weiss's closet than he had seen at a store. It was honestly impressive and disheartening at the same time. It was clear that these things were given to her to appease her. Now, they were just the items given to a bratty child who no longer needed them. Weiss had changed far too much.
A groan filled his ears, causing him to turn around. The woman in question had been tending to Nora, wrapping her burned arms and chest in gauze. She hadn't woken up, and her fever hadn't gone down at all. With her being unconscious, they couldn't really administer any medicine. All they could do was place a wet towel on her forehead and hope her fever broke. It made everything a lot more hopeless for them.
"How is she?" May asked, causing Weiss to frown.
"I'm not sure, this fever isn't normal. The scars on her skin are clearly a result of her absorbing too much electricity. This shouldn't be possible though, she told us her semblance would just keep increasing with the absorption."
"Maybe she just said that… maybe she didn't want to worry you," Levi said, ears folding back, glancing back at the fire. "Or maybe she did believe she could handle it, but wasn't ready for the massive surge."
"That… seems more likely. Nora hasn't been herself for the last few days. She had an argument with Ren and well… I don't want to assume things." Weiss said, setting the gauze down in the first aid kit. "For now, all we can do is keep an eye out on her."
"Hm… I'll take a walk then. I haven't heard anything from Fi or Jo and I'm starting to get worried." May said, heading toward the door.
"Oh um… would you mind not heading to the upstairs east wing? That's where my mother's room is and well… she might think you're a maid." the white-haired woman asked, earning a nod from May.
It wasn't long before Blake entered the room, wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts, a pair of white socks on her feet. She stretched her arms, sighing contently. "Haah, nothing like a hot shower to make you forget how fucked you really are."
"Gee, thanks for that blast of negativity, Blake," Levi replied, crossing his arms. She merely frowned, crossing her arms.
"Sorry, I was trying to make a joke."
"I'm kidding," he said, poking her midriff. "Cute belly button, ever consider getting it pierced?"
"Nah, I don't exactly like needles," she said, rolling her eyes. She noticed his eyes focusing on something, following his gaze, she noticed he was looking at the scar on her side. She covered it with her hand, frowning. "I got that from him… at Beacon, when I saved Yang… after he… you know."
"I know," he said, brushing her hand aside. He traced the scar with his fingertip, giving her a smile. "You shouldn't hide it, it's the mark of a survivor. I got my own from him, and so does Weiss. We'll have to carry those forever."
"All of us are broken in some way shape or form. Part of the job, I guess." Weiss said, sitting beside her boyfriend. She took a hold of his hand, yawning as she leaned against him. "I'm so tired."
"I haven't slept in such a long time. I'm running on caffeine, adrenaline, and sheer anger." Levi said, causing the girl to pout. "I was joking."
"Maybe you should take a shower, it'll help wake you up. Ruby's gathering our clothes to give them a quick wash, might as well add to the pile." Blake said, sitting down at Weiss's vanity, checking herself in the mirror. "I'll keep an eye on Nora."
"I don't have any clothes. I can't just hop into a pair of Weiss's clothes as you and Ruby can." Levi said, causing Weiss to stand up.
"You can use something from my father's room. I'd offer some of Whitley's clothes, but I doubt he'd be willing to part with any. Besides, you are far taller than he is." she said, brushing some hair out of his eyes. "Hey, are you okay?"
"I am, thanks for asking. I'm just… tired," he mumbled, closing his eyes for a moment. He felt her lips on his cheek, making his ears stand on end. "Thanks, darling, you know how to cheer me up."
"Come on, I'll take you to my father's room. I'll send Ruby a message and let her know to collect your clothes. If you're okay with a girl touching your underwear that is."
"Weiss, Sona did my laundry for two years and she always laughed at my choice of underwear. I'm already used to it," he said, rising to his feet. "That little shit stole three pairs of boxers from me, and my jacket. What's up with that? Why do girls steal our stuff?"
"Because boy jackets just keep us warm. As for underwear-" Blake paused, grabbing one of Weiss's hair ties, putting her hair up in a ponytail. "-There is nothing sexier than a woman wearing a man's shirt or underwear. It's like putting your flag on an enemy castle."
Weiss placed her hand on her hip, shaking her head. "You need to stop reading mommy porn."
"Yeah yeah, hope you don't mind me borrowing your hair ties and spare hair clip, I think I want to wear a ponytail for a while." the feline faunus said, returning to what she was doing.
"Help yourself, I'm not as possessive of my things as I used to be. Oh, but don't use any of the used makeup, that's kinda gross. I have a lot of unopened stuff in that bottom drawer. Use whatever you'd like." she said, earning a thumbs up from the raven-haired woman.
Levi, by now, had finished unlacing his holster from his leg, placing it next to Crescent Rose, Myrtenaster, and Gambol Shroud. He placed Shiva and his spare pistol beside it, emptying his pockets of all the Dust Vials he had taken. He had somehow managed to take three Dust Vials of every type, placing each one on the nearby dresser in elemental order. He looked at Weiss, who was giving him a stern look.
"What? The Happy Huntresses were stealing a lot of Dust too."
"Oh, it isn't that, it's that you managed to stuff so many in your pockets without any of those vials breaking," she said, giving him a worried look. "At any moment, a stray bullet or aura slash could have gotten you, and… that wouldn't have been pretty."
He sighed, realizing how foolish that had been of him. "I won't do it again, Snowflake. I promise."
She smiled, flicking his nose. "Good, don't make me do what I did with Ruby. I had to give her an S.D.C. Dust and Me Pamphlet."
"Oh good, what every young girl wants when they arrive at school, a boring pamphlet about Dust," he said with an eye roll. She gave him a pout, taking his hand.
"Come on you, time for a bath."
"I'm a miqo'te faunus, not a dog faunus." he quipped, causing her to growl. Blake held back a snort, straightening up as she caught her friend's glare in the mirror.
The walk through Schnee Manor was quiet, the echo of their footsteps serving as the only sound they heard. They passed by a large showroom, where a statue of a King Taijitu was on display. Levi stared at it for a moment, appreciating the detail of each snake before following after his girlfriend, who was looking at her scroll.
"I always hated that statue. It was so damn gaudy, but my Father said I didn't appreciate art."
"That bastard really knows how to flaunt his money, that's for sure. The statue looks cool, I'll admit, but it isn't anything I'd be willing to spend money on," he replied.
"On that, we can agree."
It didn't take long for them to reach her Father's bedroom. She opened the door, flicking the lights on. It was just as big, gaudy, and expensive as he imagined. The largest bed he had ever seen sat against the back of the room, along with matching dressers and wardrobes. The whole room smelled of expensive cologne, the kind that made his nose pucker.
"That door there is the bathroom. The middle wardrobe is full of casual clothes, and the other two are full of business attire, so just ignore them. As for underwear, I think my Father has some unused packs somewhere, if not I can give you a pair of my frilliest panties."
"Hey, so long as I get the matching bra, I have no issue with wearing them." he joked, earning a laugh from the woman. He sighed, giving her a kiss on the lips. "Thanks for cheering me up, baby girl, I need it."
"No problem, it's my job to cheer my boyfriend up. It's still weird saying that, I never once thought I'd have a man by my side. Never really focused on that sort of thing in school." she said.
"After Velvet, I never thought I'd find someone else but… I'm glad that we met, and I am glad that we traveled together. I love all of you dearly, but without you, without Trivia… I likely would have given into revenge and… Cinder probably would have killed me by now." he said, looking away from her. "It'll be hard getting through this, but when we do, I'll take you out on a true, proper date."
"I'd like that. I'm gonna go take a shower, I've been dying to undo this braid, get all the dirt out of my hair," she said, turning around. "Um… I-"
She cut herself off, shaking her head. "I'll see you soon."
"Yeah."
He closed the door, leaning back against it, heart pounding in his chest. He felt his cheeks heating up. "She almost said it."
The smell of Jacques' gaudy cologne brought him back, making him sigh. He unlaced his cloak, shrugging it off. He folded it, placing it on the bed. He unlaced his boots, taking them off, placing them on the floor by the end of the bed. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, seeing how worn out he looked. He was practically on autopilot, the darkened rings under his eyes were becoming visible. He'd certainly need a touch-up on his makeup.
He held back a yawn, beginning his search for a spare set of clothes. Maybe now he could drop his guard and get some good rest in. Hell knows he needed it.
xxx
"What do you think, Ruby? Does it look good?" Blake asked, turning to face her best friend and leader. She had finished styling her hair, now sporting a stylish ponytail, held up with one of Weiss's old ribbons and a spare tiara. The silver-eyed girl looked up from her scroll, giving her friend a smile.
"Oh yeah, it looks really cute. You'll be swooning all the boys around you."
"All the boys around me are taken," she said with a frown. "Levi's with Weiss, Nora, and Ren are together, Oscar is with Alto, and he's kinda young and Jaune is… Well, he's in love with someone else," she admitted, leaning back against the vanity. "I doubt I'll find anyone any time soon."
"Well, you have Sun."
"Sun is… a good friend. He means well and has shown me that he really cares. But honestly? I don't think we're compatible. There were some mixed feelings, and he was a great help in Menagerie when we were recruiting to stop the White Fang but… I dunno."
Ruby nodded, glancing back at her scroll. "And Ilia?"
"She's a good friend too, I just never saw her that way," she said, glancing up at the ceiling. "It would take time to get used to a relationship with another woman. I never gave it much thought, you know? But I'm not against it."
"Honestly, I think anyone who takes an interest in you will be a very lucky person. You've been through a lot, and have experienced more pain than any of us. If they're able to look beyond your past, make peace with who you are, and help you heal from everything… then I think that man or woman will earn themselves a beautiful young woman with a kind personality. Because that's who you are, Blake."
She blushed, ears flattening against her head. "Thanks, Ruby."
The feline faunus turned back to the vanity, opening one of the makeup packs that Weiss had told her about. She started giving herself a touch-up, glancing at Ruby through the mirror. "You think Jaune would be up for a date? After all of this."
"Ohohoho, crushing on Vomit Boy, are we?"
"It's the haircut."
"I knew it, Nora is gonna have a field day when she wakes up," she said. Her smile dropped after a moment, glancing back at the unconscious woman. "I'm so scared for her, Blake."
"Hey, she'll be fine. She's Nora Valkyrie, she took a bullet from Crescent Rose and got some hits in on Tyrian. She can shake off a little bit of extra lightning," she said, trying to remain hopeful. Ruby's expression didn't change, causing her to stand up. She shortened the distance, kneeling down next to her friend, giving her a hug. "Have faith, Ruby. Nora will be fine."
"I know… I just have so much on my mind. The General abandoning Mantle, Penny becoming the Maiden, launching Amity, fighting the Ace-Ops, Qrow supposedly killing Clover, Salem being outside Atlas's borders, Nora being hurt. It's just… so fucking much!"
She hugged her friend tightly, shaking a bit. "I don't know what to say, what to do. I feel responsible for everything. It was my idea not to tell Ironwood, it was my idea to launch Amity, and now Yang, Ren, Alto and Jaune, and Oscar are out there, probably hurt. Penny is a sitting duck at Amity, and the whole kingdom is against us. It's all too much."
"We're all here for you, Ruby. Don't ever feel like you're alone, and don't ever feel like this is your fault. If anything, it's mine. I was the one who told Robyn about Amity, it's my fault Ironwood distrusted us. We all make mistakes, it's who we are after we commit them that shows us what kind of people we are. Ironwood is continuing to make mistakes, and he has to be stopped."
She shook her head, looking away from her friend. "I still have faith in him. We can work together, it isn't too late."
Blake's eyes widened in surprise, her face softening. "You're too kind and hopeful for your own good, Ruby. But we can't keep acting like this toward everyone. This isn't a fairytale."
"I know… it's the real world with real-world consequences," she said, tucking her legs into herself, sighing. "Maybe Ren is right, maybe we aren't ready to be Huntsmen and Huntresses."
"Well, he's wrong. Doesn't matter how long you train, even if we had graduated from Beacon, we would have faced something similar or worse than this. You are never ready for things like this, you just have to jump into them."
She sighed, giving her friend a hug. "You're right, I'm overthinking things. I'm gonna take a nap, mind getting our clothes from the washroom for me?"
"Sure, I can handle that," Blake said, giving her friend a smile. The silver-eyed girl crawled up onto Weiss's bed, curling into a ball next to Nora. She was passed out within moments. Blake frowned, looking toward the windows, noticing the sun had finally gone down. She forced herself to her feet, stretching her arms above her head. When she opened her eyes, she noticed Whitley standing at the doorway, causing her to frown. "Uh… hi?"
"Where's Weiss?"
"No idea, she's probably taking a shower. Mind telling me where the laundry room is?"
The boy frowned but gave her a nod. "Sure, I'll take you there. I was just wondering where she was because Mother had woken up. She's still locked in her room so… I'd rather not get into the details."
The black-haired faunus remained silent, not knowing what to say. She could see the effects of Jacques Schnee's parenting everywhere she went. From Winter leaving to Weiss abandoning her brother, to Willow drinking herself silly, and finally, a young man who was groomed to be the man's spitting image. It bothered her knowing how one man destroyed an entire family, who didn't deserve it, knowing she still has her own loving, if overprotecting parents. It made her really sad. But she bit her tongue, not wanting to say anything that would upset the boy.
xxx
"Blake was right, a hot shower really was what I needed," Weiss thought to herself, as she strolled through the empty manor. It was odd traversing through these corridors. It had been cold before, but now, without the staff, without Klein, it felt even worse.
Her mother was still locked in her room, she had been ever since her father had been arrested. Whatever was left of the staff had taken their leave when it was revealed what the man had left. It was just them, her mother and her brother. She was convinced the manor was never truly a home, just a bland empty house filled with expensive toys. She was just so tired, but she knew the night wasn't over. She wished she could go back to a few days before, before everything happened before her Father threw that banquet. It felt so foreign like it happened years ago despite it being days ago.
Those thoughts drifted away after a moment, stopping in front of her Father's bedroom door. She knocked on the door, the hollow sound echoing through the door. "Levi? It's me, may I come in?"
"Yeah, go ahead!" the man cheerfully replied. She wondered why he was so cheery all of a sudden as she entered the door. Her eyes grew wide for a moment before narrowing.
Standing across the room on the raised step was Levi, his back turned against her. He was wearing a freshly pressed white suit with matching slacks. A pair of polished white shoes adorned his feet. His silver hair was slicked back with gel, falling perfectly past his shoulders, his ears were tucked back slightly, the fur was neatly trimmed. She closed the door behind herself, leaning against the door.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Oh, nothing," he said, turning to face her. The long-sleeved blue shirt was poking out from the suit, though he lacked a tie. The golden cufflinks on his wrists gleamed in the light, adding to his outlandish appearance. "I just thought I would try out your father's business casual."
"Gods, you are such a dunce," she said, giggling, shortening the distance between them. He didn't say anything, moving toward the wardrobe, pulling it open.
"What the hell? Wait, your father wears clip-on ties? All of these are clip-ons?!" he exclaimed, looking them over. "What a hack."
He picked one out, a bright red tie with the Schnee crest on it. He clipped it on his shirt beneath his collar, neatly tucking it in his suit before buttoning it. He turned to face Weiss, who had a look of annoyance on her face. Her hair was wrapped in a towel, and she was wearing a frilly ice-blue nightgown and a pair of white socks on her feet. She looked so different, so normal, without her usual garments. The only thing that stood out was her prosthetic arm, but even it looked normal on her.
She tugged on his suit for a moment, brushing some of the wrinkles out as she adjusted his tie for him. "You shine up like a new penny. You could almost pass for a Gentleman."
"Almost," he said, giving her a smirk. She placed her hand on his face, holding it in place for a moment as she looked into his eyes.
"I didn't mean to say it like that, you are a Gentleman. It's just… you look way too posh in an outfit like this. I think you are incredibly handsome wearing what you normally wear." she said, smiling.
"And I think you look incredibly beautiful in what you normally wear as well. It took a while to get used to the braid but, I think it looks really gorgeous on you," he admitted, flushing as he looked away from her.
"What else do you like about me?"
"How earnest you are, I like that you keep your word no matter what. I like how seriously you take your training. I love your personality. You put the people who are important to you before your own needs. You are kind, caring, and amazingly beautiful. You may have your flaws but well, we all have our flaws." he said.
"We do. I'm glad that you like so many things about me, Levi. Personally, I love how caring you are about all of us. You've been through so much, but you readily joined my friends on this journey. You learned from your mistakes, and are incredibly forgiving. You forgave a criminal, who was involved in the downfall of Beacon, you put your life in danger just to make sure Blake was okay, and… you gave so much for me." she said, grabbing a hold of his mechanical arm, squeezing his fingers tightly. "I've been keeping these emotions within my heart for so long, hearing you scream in pain, watching you lay in that hospital bed, all because of me, I…"
"You don't have to blame yourself for what happened, Snowflake. I told you before, if we were back there on that cliff, fighting against Adam, and he was going to kill you… I would do it all over. Because that's how much you mean to me. Losing my arm, my leg, my tail… That is nothing to me. Because you are here, and that is what matters to me."
Weiss teared up, sniffling a bit as she looked away from the man. He hugged her, rubbing the small of her back in light circles. "Thank you, Levi. For being such a good friend, such a good man, and a good partner. I… I love you."
"I love you too, Weiss," he said, kissing her forehead. He held her tightly for a moment, guiding her toward the bed so they could sit down. "Listen, we don't know what the future has in store for us. I don't know how we're going to save Atlas and Mantle, I just want you to know that I trust you with everything. I trust Ruby as our leader. But I don't know if we'll be okay after this."
"We have a lot on our plate, and we are at fault for everything," she said, reaching up for her towel, pulling her hair loose. She ran her fingers through it, letting it fall down behind her back. She closed her eyes, sighing. "We should have told Ironwood the truth, at some point, we should have said it."
"Ironwood wouldn't have reacted well to that news. He was prepared to sacrifice whatever it took. If we told him right off the bat, he would have sent Winter to claim the power, and used the Staff to raise Atlas, and Mantle would have been left behind in its entirety. We managed to evacuate half the city, that counts for something." the faunus said, glancing at the floor, shoulders dropping slightly. "He was going to be problematic from the get-go, but I still think we can salvage this plan."
"Why do you have so much faith in him? Why do you trust someone willing to leave behind Remnant and the people he swore to protect?"
"Because of my mom," he said, causing her to tilt her head. "My mother did so many awful things for the greater good. She followed Ozpin's plan to the letter because she believed it would help everyone. She killed a teenager and stole her power, just to keep the Sword of Destruction out of Salem's hands. But she knew, she believed, that what she was doing was right. She believed in Ironwood as well, she knew he wasn't a heartless machine, and that his fears were just that, fears."
He opened and closed his hands, staring at his fingers for a moment. "General Ironwood did so much for my mother, for me. He made her weapons and armor, he made me my contact lenses. He offered to bring me here to Atlas, he has always been kind to us. Yeah, he's a little fucked up in the head, but all of us are. It's why what he did to us, what we did to him doesn't settle with me. I know there's a good kind-hearted soul in that man, a soul that's slowly turning into a machine. But I don't want to give up hope that he can make the right choice. I don't want to lose faith in the man who helped my mother so much."
"I understand, that's precisely why we need to get our message out. I hope and trust what you left for Ironwood gets through to him. I know what you are going to ask my mother, but honestly, I don't think she's in the right mind to help. This is something my brother can do, he's the heir to the Schnee Dust Company now. But I know if we ask him, he's likely not going to help us." Weiss said, looking away from him. "He has every right in the world to hate me. Winter left the two of us when things got rough, and Whitley relied on his big sister Weiss to protect him. And when the time came for me to step up to the plate, I abandoned him as well. With my abusive father and my alcoholic mother."
She bit her lip, her hair covering her eyes. "I deserve his hatred, I deserve his treatment. I am an awful sister for not speaking to him, not even visiting him. I was so scared of what my father would do that I didn't even come here. I was a Huntress, what could Father have done to me? General Ironwood wouldn't have taken shit from him and yet, I didn't do a thing."
"Darling, you had every reason not to come here. I mean look at how Jacques treated you the moment he saw you. Like a piece of garbage. But he also gave you a piece of advice, one that we didn't heed. We should have been more wary of the General, just as we should have told him the truth." he said, holding her hand tightly in his own. "Ultimately, this was just a bunch of shit that got out of our hands. Maybe Ren is right, maybe we weren't ready to be Huntsmen and Huntresses."
"He's wrong."
Levi looked at her, seeing the look on her face. "We've been through a lot since the Fall of Beacon. We have trained hard, we have gotten stronger, we have faced things normal people don't face. We brought the Relic to Atlas, we trained here, we earned our licenses. Blake put it the best, no matter how much you train, you'll never be ready. But we have to face the music at some point. We faced the music in Haven, now we just have to keep going."
He found himself smiling, chuckling softly. "You have a point there, I suppose. We have earned it, even then, I was a second year when all of this happened. By now, I would have graduated from Beacon. Regardless of if we earned it early or not, Ironwood gave those licenses to us because he trusted us. We broke that trust, but we can mend it. It isn't too late."
"Then let's hope Doctor Polendina can get Amity up and running before Salem does anything. If we rally the troops, prepare the rest of Remnant. We'll stand a chance. Even if they don't aid us, even if Atlas falls, unifying humanity will be our priority, because that's what the Brother God told Ozma to do."
He nodded, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I know… I'm just scared, everyone I've met since the fall, all of the friends I made. They're like my family now, and knowing that they could all get hurt or worse, I…"
Weiss wrapped her arm around him, pulling him into a hug. He hugged her back, holding her tightly in his grasp. "I'm scared, Snowflake."
"I am too, Kitten. But if we give into fear, then she wins," she said softly, kissing the side of his head. He held her tightly, his heart beating hard in his chest, the tiredness of the day finally falling on him. She pulled away from him, looking deeply into his silver eyes, holding his hand tightly.
Levi glanced away for a moment, his cheeks burning hot. "Y-you nervous?"
Weiss merely shook her head. "No."
Silver met Ice Blue once more, seeing each other reflected in their eyes. The white-haired woman wrapped her fingers around his hand, placing a gentle kiss on them. Levi merely watched, catching the small smile on her face. Weiss leaned forward a bit, closing her eyes for a moment.
"Put your hands on me, Levi," she whispered, causing him to gulp quietly. She gently placed his hand on her chest, leaning in for a kiss. He greedily kissed her back, digits digging into her soft skin.
She moaned softly as he continued kissing her, kneading her breast through her gown. She was wearing nothing underneath, her nipple poking through the thin satin cloth. He suckled on her lower lip, practically beginning to deepen their kiss. She happily obliged, their makeout session evolving. Moments after, she pulled away from him, leaving light kisses on the side of his jaw, her hands fiddling with his suit.
She pulled his clip-on tie off, tossing it to the floor, doing the same with the rest of his suit, popping the buttons as she tugged on it. She stared at his chest hungrily, tracing every single one of his muscles, practically licking his lips. Levi briefly wondered what had gotten into her, shuddering a bit as her hands felt him up. His breath hitched in his throat, her soft digits tracing his pectorals and abdominals. Her gaze settled on the long and deep scar that Adam had given him, but she merely smiled, kissing him again.
Weiss pushed him down, sitting on his lap, her eyes sparkling. She bit her lower lip, cheeks glowing crimson. "You really kept up your training, didn't you?"
"Duh, whenever I can I lift weights and keep a regimen. I want to rely on my own strength whenever possible," he replied, swallowing the lump in his throat as he felt her grinding into his lap. "What's gotten into you, Snowflake?"
"What's gotten into me? I've been stressed for a long time, but I've been hornier for longer. I trust you with everything, Levi, even my body. We might not get a chance like this again for a while, and I am not going to waste it."
She reached for the hem of her nightgown, lifting it up, pulling her hair free as she threw the garment to the floor. She sat upright, chest rising and falling with her labored breathing. Her pale ivory skin was glowing in the moonlight, the young man drinking in her appearance. She had a toned flat stomach, with a cute navel that he couldn't stop staring at. His eyes slowly traveled up, resting on her chest.
Her breasts weren't large but they weren't small either, a healthy amount, enough for him to grab in the palm of his hand. Dotted at the tip with hard pink nipples. Weiss sat back a bit, flipping her hair over her shoulder, leaving her hand behind her head as she stared down at him, biting her lower lip. Of course, Levi's focus shifted to the brand that Adam had given her, the mark of the White Fang, which would forever be burned into her skin.
She followed his gaze, lowering her head a bit. "I know it's an ugly scar but-"
"Don't… I just want to say you're beautiful, Snowflake, brand or no brand," he replied, hands on her hips. He slowly felt her up, the girl gasping a bit as his fingers raced over her soft, supple skin. He grabbed a hold of her breasts, giving them a light squeeze.
"T-they aren't that big."
"Shhh… I like them just the way they are," he said softly, sitting up. He pulled her into a kiss, the woman hugging him tightly. He slowly trailed kisses down her jaw, suckling on her neck, leaving small bites on her flesh. He kept kissing her, slowly taking one of her nipples into his mouth. She gasped, groaning quietly as his tongue swirled around her areola.
Weiss's hands dug into his scalp, slowly rubbing the base of his ears, making him suck harder. His mechanical tail stood on end as she kept doing what she was doing. He moved to her other breast, not wanting to ignore it. Eventually, he returned to claim her lips, laying her down as he kicked his shoes off, unbuckling his belt. He joined his girlfriend in their half-nakedness, pinning her onto the mattress, hands above her head. She merely smiled at him, biting the corner of her lower lip.
"The big scary kitty has captured the princess," she said, tilting her head a bit. "What's he going to do to her?"
"Whatever the princess wants."
She leaned up, Levi releasing her wrists as she kissed his cheek, lips hovering by his ear. "Make love to me, Levi."
Her voice made him shudder, the erection in his pants begging for release. He grabbed the waistband of his boxers, taking them off. Weiss brushed the comforters away, leaving enough space for the two on the massive bed. Her hands shook a bit as she pulled her cotton-white panties off, tossing them to the floor. She looked away for a moment, taking a deep breath. Her icy blue eyes shined as she looked into his brilliant silver jewels.
Ever so slowly, she spread her legs, presenting herself fully to him. Her face was glowing bright cherry red as the miqo'te faunus stared at her. He memorized her appearance, taking in every single inch of her body. His eyes landed on her sacred spot, flushed red and drooling, completely shaven. He didn't move for a moment, eyes flitting around the room for a moment.
"Don't tell me you are getting cold feet now, Levi. Is it not to your liking?"
"Of course it is," he said, looking at her face. "It's just… it's gonna hurt."
She lifted herself up on her elbows, bangs partially covering her eyes. "I've been punched, kicked, thrown, stabbed, and then some. Feeling a little pain at our union… that is nothing. Don't be nervous, and don't be scared. Just… make us feel good, okay?"
He silently, nervously, nodded. He took a hold of his erection, pushing into her nether lips, rubbing himself against her lips for a moment. She gasped a bit at the pleasurable feeling she felt. Once he lined himself up, he took a hold of her hand, holding her hip as he broke her barrier. She let out a pained cry, squeezing his hand hard. He leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on her lips, brushing the tears out of her eyes.
"Does it hurt too much? I can-"
"No, it's okay. My aura will heal it," she whispered, wrapping her mechanical arm around his neck, practically holding him in place. "Just stay inside, it feels so nice and big."
He continued peppering her face with kisses, the woman giggling and moaning happily. After a moment, she gave him the go-ahead, allowing him to finally move. He went slow at first, but the look Weiss gave him told him what he needed to know. If he didn't speed up, she was going to lose her mind. So he did.
She gasped, gritting her teeth as waves of pleasure coursed through her. She could feel a bit of tension down below, but it was a nice and pleasurable feeling. Her walls were tightly gripping her lover, every single thrust sending her over the edge. A loud moan erupted from her throat, her hand clasping over her lips.
Levi merely smirked, pinning her legs to the bed as he sped up, jackhammering at her wetness. Her soft and quiet squeaks evolved into loud screams, her eyes tightly clenched shut as her mind slowly started going blank.
"Haah… Oh Levi~"
She grabbed his mechanical hand with her own, squeezing it so tightly he thought it would break. He pulled partially upright, hand on her back as he slammed into her formerly virgin pussy. He placed a hard needy kiss on her lips, practically shoving his tongue down her throat. She hugged him tightly, grinding her hips against his hard cock.
"Get on top," he said after a moment, Weiss eagerly nodding. Still joined together, he leaned back, laying down as she got on his waist. He interlaced his fingers through hers, giving her rump a hard smack, her giggly scream echoing through the room.
She bounced on his cock, fingernails digging into his pectorals as she worked her hips. The sound of their bodies clapping together with every thrust sent her over the edge. She felt an intense build-up in her pussy, causing her to look at her lover. "I think I'm about to cum."
He took that as the signal to go at full speed, pulling her down, hugging her tightly. With the willpower of the Gods, he managed to hold himself back as he brought the white-haired woman to her first orgasm. Her body shook and spasmed as rushing waves of immense pleasure filled her body. She remained laying on him, tears running down her cheeks. She sat up a bit, panting like a dog, her lips curving into a smile.
"That was so good, darling. But now it's your turn," she said, pulling herself off of him. She instinctively grabbed his cock, slipping his length into her mouth. He groaned a bit as her tongue swirled around his head, her muffled moans almost driving him to the brink. She released him with a pop, brushing the comforter aside as she got on her hands and knees, wiggling her rump at him. "Go on, Levi. Give me that hard dick."
He didn't need to be told twice. He slipped right in without issues, practically going at full speed from the get-go. She howled in pleasure, looking over her shoulder, giving him a saucy wink as he kept pounding her from behind. That wink alone made him increase his pace, hands on her hips, entranced by the shockwaves on her skin from every clap of their union.
Levi didn't know how long they had been at it, but his resistance was beginning to wane. That knot in his stomach was getting harder and harder to hold back. Weiss groaned as he slowed down to a snail's pace. She gave him a heartwarming smile. "I can feel you throbbing inside me, darling. It's okay, you can do it inside."
"But we're not protected."
"It's a safe day, you have nothing to worry about."
Despite the immense trust he had in her, he knew it was still a risk. She flipped herself over, resting on her back, pleasurable tingles flowing up his body. Her chest was rising and falling at a rapid rate, he could hear her heart beating hard beneath her chest. Her lips were partially parted, her ice-blue eyes staring into his own.
He continued on, her moans filling his ears again. He tried keeping his focus, feeling that knot returning. He clenched his eyes tightly, trying to hold it back as long as possible. Just before he felt himself about to explode, he pulled out, shooting his seed on her stomach. She gasped a bit as the thick, warm cum splattered on her. Rope after thick rope shot out, with enough force that it struck her face. He wrung out his penis as best as he could, the last of his seed dribbling over her womb. Weiss let out a sigh, smiling from ear to ear as she looked at the love of her life.
"Thank you, Levi. For being my friend, for being so kind to me, for trusting me so much and… for being my first."
"Y-yeah… I… thank you too, Weiss, without you I don't know where I would be," he admitted. She sat up, placing a hand on his face, forcing him to look at her. She kissed him, their tongues swirling around each other for a moment before they pulled away. She placed her mechanical hand behind her head, scooping a bit of his semen onto her finger.
She suckled it clean, licking her lips. "Mmm, so tasty~"
He was hard almost instantly, the former heiress giggling. "Looks like you're still pent up. Allow me to take care of that for you~"
xxx(Lemon for Ao3, remove for FFN)xxx
Just outside the door, Blake was standing still, her ears straight up. She had Weiss and Levi's cleaned and folded clothes in her grasp, having planned on handing them to the pair. She glanced at Ruby who had been standing next to her, confusion on her face. "Do you want me to knock, or?"
"No." she simply said, stepping away from the door. "We'll give these to them later."
The silver-eyed girl merely shrugged, not bothering to ask her feline friend why her face was so beet red.
Location: Stockade B: Atlas Military Compound
"Nothing?" Robyn asked, causing Qrow to shake his head. The hopeful expression on her face melted away to one of disappointment. She stepped toward her bench, sitting down on it. "Looks like these things are airtight."
"If you thought you could find a way out, I'm afraid you won't. Ironwood wouldn't place his prisoners of war in a cell they could easily escape." Ivy said, foot bouncing as she leaned back in her seat. "I should know, given Brown Ironworks Iron is in these things."
"Wait, you saw the design plans?"
The brown-haired woman shook her head. "Sadly, all I knew is what we needed to forge specific parts. We didn't know what they would be used in, only that they needed special installations. If we had a Scroll, maybe we could remotely hack into them. But I doubt that'd be possible, given how tight security is."
"Not tight enough, given what Watts did to Atlas."
"Something caused by you," Qrow growled, causing Jacques to shut up. The room was silent once more. Robyn merely lay down, hands behind her head as she stared up at the ceiling.
"I hope my girls are doing well out there. Knowing Johanna, she's probably already mounting a mass-scale operation. Fi is leading them to safety, May is caring for the children, Crimson is kicking ass like always. And then there's me… the leader that failed them."
She closed her eyes, sighing. "I'm an idiot. I thought I was doing what was right for Mantle, but I was just a part of the problem. If those Girls hadn't told me about Amity, I would have kept stalling the project, and now… thanks to us… the tower probably won't even be able to launch."
"Don't count your chickens yet, Robyn. Knowing my nieces as well as I do, they're probably planning something. Doctor Polendina and Penny were among the Fugitives named. Ruby wants to unite the world more than anyone else I know. Hell, even before we came to Atlas, she was already thinking of plans to achieve this hoping Ironwood would agree. He was ahead of the curve,"
"Do you actually think she'll succeed? Launching the tower is a massive operation. I remember the General signing an exclusive deal with us just to get a lot of parts made. Piccolo provided all the internals and everything else was handled by the SDC." Ivy said.
"Amity Arena boasts an incredible size, but its Gravity crystal is enough to keep it afloat. It was sourced from a mine in Mistral, near Lake Matsu. To date, it is the largest Gravity dust crystal mined intact. I sold it to Ironwood before he went and put an embargo on all Dust mined and refined here." Jacques said, looking over his shoulder. "I do not know how much more was sourced, but as Gravity Dust is the main force used to keep Amity afloat, I would assume it would take a lot more to keep it in orbit. It would take a lot to manage, but for the purpose of a quick message, I'm sure Doctor Polendina can handle it."
"I got to see parts of the Arena while it was being converted. Before this whole mess with the Council Meeting, Ironwood assured me that the main structure is finished. The tower is ready to broadcast, but it lacked materials for a long-term operation. At most, it has enough fuel to keep itself aloft for two months, four if it's managed correctly. It however doesn't have enough for a proper launch." Qrow said, staring at Clover's pin with a frown. "Guess luck was against the General as well."
"Don't say that, if the Doctor can hold it up there for long enough, then maybe help will come! I mean sure, Atlas isn't doing well with the other Kingdoms. Last I heard, things with Mistral's council weren't favorable, Vale is still recovering from the Fall of Beacon and Vacuo is-"
"Vacuo." the others said, earning a nod from Robyn.
"Yeah… their interim Government is probably prioritizing its kingdom. They can barely rule themselves, and if what Jacques said is true, then there might be a lot more dangers there than in Vale or Mistral."
"They're our only ally, Shade Academy is filled to the brim with Huntsmen, Huntsmen from Haven, and Beacon. If that force lands on Atlas, then we might have a bit of a chance to pull through. But that is a gamble, and James isn't going to gamble against Salem. He's taking the coward's way out." the gray-haired man said, sitting up in his seat. "What we need to do is get out of here and put an end to him."
"Good luck with that. I doubt you'll be able to handle Ironwood on your own, even if you are an experienced Huntsman. There is no taking him off guard, he knows what he's doing is wrong. If he didn't, you'd be out there by his side." Ivy said, smirking. "Face it, he doesn't trust you."
"Fuck you!"
"Come on you guys, let's not do this. Nicholas Schnee once said: The only thing that can redeem mankind is cooperation," Robyn said, coughing into her fist as she looked at the others around her. "I think we can all appreciate the relevance of that right now."
"Hah… wasn't aware you were knowledgeable on my Father-in-Law's famous quotes."
"Of course I am, Nicholas Schnee was a hero, he's the real reason Alcius Academy became what it is today. He's the reason the Schnee Dust Company exists. He mastered his craft, fought against the Grimm, and led to the end of the war 80 years ago. The people of Atlas owe him a lot." she said, crossing her arms. "We could all use a bit of his guidance, now."
No one said anything. Everyone was just tired. Robyn finally relented, deciding to remain quiet as she tried to get some sleep. Her ear perked up when she heard Qrow moving, the man pocketing Clover's pin.
"It's going to take a lot to redeem humanity. I doubt Ozma is going to be able to fulfill the goal the God of Light gave to him."
"The… what?" Jacques asked confusion on his face. The man turned around, looking at his fellow prisoners, nodding.
"I'm gonna tell you a story, one that a good friend spent multiple lives keeping a secret. The reason that Salem is here isn't because she wants to attack Atlas. She's here because of Atlas because it floats."
Ivy's brows furrowed in confusion. "Atlas floats because of the natural deposits of Gravity Dust, that's what she wants?"
He shook his head, sitting up a bit. "Once upon a time, there was a beautiful woman, who lived in a tower…"
Location: Schnee Manor
Levi let out a groan, ear twitching as he heard an incessant beeping. He opened his eyes, his vision being clouded by white. His eyes grew wide as saucers when he noticed Weiss sleeping next to him. She had a serene look on her face, her mechanical hand still wrapped around his own. He was glad at that moment that it was mechanical, or else it would have gone numb ages ago. He heard another beep, causing him to look around, noticing his scroll flashing on the nightstand beside him. He reached for it, yawning as he rubbed his eyes, flicking the device open.
He looked at the icon, seeing Trivia's contact photo, a picture of her, giving the camera a wink, blowing it a kiss. He tapped on the messages he had received, holding back a yawn as he read it. He became more awake the more he read, his heart dropping when he got to the end. He read it again, just to make sure it was real.
"Levi, things got bad. Oscar was kidnapped by some demonic monster Grimm. Salem personally tortured him and now a man named Hazel is beating him up. Not only that, but Cinder forced me to take her and Emerald to Amity Arena. We are about to leave.
I know you guys were still planning on launching it, which is why she assumed something was going on there. If Penny is there, she needs to go! Cinder is not kidding around, she's going to kill her!
She's probably going to destroy the tower in its entirety. Salem told her not to go but she didn't listen. I don't have much time, I'm running diagnostics on our ship as a distraction just to send you this. Please, please, please! You need to do something. I told her we might be low on fuel so I can fly slow, but she's the Fall Maiden, she'll just fly ahead of us. If Penny is there, if her father or anyone else is there, tell them to go, now!"
"Shit," he muttered, throwing the covers off of himself. He jumped out of the bed, the motion of it causing Weiss to stir.
"Huh? What's going on?"
"Babe, get up, we have a problem!" he announced, opening the door, just as Blake was going to knock. He noticed the bundle of clothes in her grasp and took them, placing them on the nearby desk. Thankfully, he had remembered to put his underwear back on before falling asleep.
"Whoa, why the rush? I didn't disturb you two, did I?" the raven-haired faunus asked. Weiss merely crossed her arms in annoyance.
"No, we were pleasantly asleep until a moment ago. I don't know what seems to have bitten Levi's butt all of a sudden."
"This was what bit me in the butt, darling," he said, throwing his scroll at her. She caught it with ease, activating it. She read the message on it, her eyes widening, her hand moving to her mouth.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"It's a message from Trivia, Cinder is forcing her to go to Amity Colosseum," she said, making Blake step out of the room.
"I'll go tell Ruby, she's changing Nora's bandages, her fever still hasn't broken," Blake replied, racing down the hall. Levi finished dressing himself, glad that Ruby had taken the time to wash his clothes for him. He'd have to thank her later. He looked up at his girlfriend, who had gotten out of bed, the blue dress shirt he had been wearing an hour before hanging off of her body.
"Hm… Blake was right, the shirt of a man on a woman's body is like putting your flag in an enemy castle."
"Seriously? We don't have the time for that." she hissed, taking the shirt off, ignoring the fact she was naked from the waist up. She held her hand out. "Give me my dress, hurry."
He did so, moving toward the doorway. "I'll go meet up with Ruby and Blake, see if we can do something about it."
"Go, I'll see you soon."
Levi left, shutting the door behind himself, not noticing Willow standing just outside of it. He left in such a hurry he didn't notice anyone else. She stumbled a bit as she entered her Husband's bedroom, noticing her daughter getting dressed. Weiss looked up, screaming when she saw her mother.
"Mom!"
"Ugh… can you not yell, please?"
"What are you doing here?"
She sighed, taking a drink from her glass. "Can't I go for a walk in my own home?"
Weiss ignored her, sitting on the bed as she put her socks on, sliding her feet into her boots. Once they were on, she grabbed her belts and pouches, securing them onto her dress as quickly as she could. "You are free to walk around the house, Mom. That isn't what I was asking. I was asking why you are here in Father's room, I didn't think you liked this part of the house."
"Oh I don't, I just happened to see my daughter and her boyfriend half naked in the cameras and wanted an explanation," she said, making her daughter go beet red. She finished the vodka in her glass, chuckling. "I didn't see anything if you were curious."
"Thanks for clearing things up for me, doesn't make it any less embarrassing." the young woman said, slipping her arm through her burned parka. She secured the belt in place, sliding her sole remaining glove on her hand. She looked up at Willow, who had a look of endearment on her face, her smile only growing.
"Look how big you've gotten."
Weiss looked away from her, a small smile on her face. "Yeah, guess I'm not that little girl hiding behind mommy's skirt, huh?"
"No. You're a woman now, a strong, kind, and beautiful woman, who's protected so many people. Three years ago, you were a heartless spoiled brat who disliked the faunus and clung onto the family name. Now, you are a brand new you, and I couldn't be any prouder."
She sniffled, wiping her tears away as she moved forward, hugging her. "Oh Mommy, I've missed you so much. The you that was there for me when I was eight, who read me bedtime stories. The mom that wasn't consumed by alcohol."
"And I've missed you, Snowflake. I've decided to stop drinking but… it's so hard. I locked myself away, so Whitley didn't see me. But those withdrawals, the shaking, the need. I had to grab another drink, just to feel normal." she said, wiping her daughter's tears. "I'll get better, I promise you that, Weiss. I need to step up and be a mother, not just a trophy for your father to gallivant around with."
"Then help us, a friend of ours is really hurt. You were a huntress, right? Do you have any medical knowledge? Anything at all?"
"It's… been a while, but I can try," she said, sighing. "I'm a little drunk though so… maybe it isn't a good idea."
"Yeah… but just being there is enough. Besides, you haven't met Blake and Ruby yet, they're my best friends, my sisters-in arms. They've been dying to meet you." she said, taking her hand, pulling her along. "Come on, Mom. It'll sober you up and help you through your withdrawals, okay?"
Willow nodded, stumbling a bit as she kept pace with her daughter. She cleared her throat, a small smirk on her face. "So, was he good?"
"Incredibly."
"Your sister is going to be so jealous, she's always wanted a boyfriend, but she's too stern for one."
"I'm sure she'll find one soon," Weiss said, her face still glowing red. She focused on reaching her bedroom, hoping by then her cheeks weren't burning hot.
xxx
"If you can hear us, please respond," Levi said, holding his scroll up, a look of distress on his face. Ruby and Blake were standing by the edge of the bed, their scrolls in hand as they sent messages to Penny, Pietro, and Maria. Weiss was by Nora's side, changing her bandages. May was standing at the other end of the room, looking out the window at the northern lights.
"Penny, it's Ruby again. We need to talk as soon as possible, you're in danger. Cinder is going after your powers. You need to get Maria and Pietro out of there as fast as you can." the silver-eyed teen said, sighing. "I got nothing, you?"
"Sorry Ruby, I tried. Amity Colosseum is just out of the range of the CCT. The signal out there is poor but the blizzards make things harder. If we aren't getting through, it's because we're just too far." Blake said, pocketing her scroll. "I'm afraid we won't be able to do anything."
"Nora's hurt, we're fugitives and we have no contact with Yang. On top of that, if what Trivia said is true, then Oscar is inside that Whale. He's being tortured for information and-" Levi bowed his head, slamming his fist into the dresser behind him. "Fuck! What the hell do we do?"
"Hey, don't start yelling," May said, whirling around as she looked at the faunus. "You have to keep your emotions in check, man. I get it, we're in a shitty spot, but screaming isn't going to solve anything. We can't go out to Amity ourselves and we can't leave Nora behind. Right now, all we need to do is focus and hope Amity is launched before Cinder gets there."
"She's right, if Amity gets launched in time, Global Comms will go up, and we'll be able to contact them," Weiss said, tying off the bag with the soiled gauze. "Let's just… remain calm."
"What if you call General Ironwood?" Willow asked, causing them all to look at her. She shrugged, shifting her gaze. "He has the firepower you need,"
"If Ironwood finds out Penny is at Amity, he'll try to catch her at all costs. That is a risk we can't take right now. Besides, we can't exactly trust his judgment." Blake said firmly.
"We'll have to wait, the second our message goes online, we send Pietro, Maria, and Penny a call," Levi said, glancing out the window. "I just hope things don't go to shit before that."
Several beeps filled the room, everyone pulling out their scrolls. May gave them an apologetic look. "Sorry, Johanna shot me a message. Sectors 10 and 12 just got cleared, there are only a few sectors left before everyone's in the Crater."
"At least we got some good news. Hopefully, we'll get some more news. I just hope nothing's happened to Yang, Ren, Jaune, and Alto. They were with Oscar, and if he got captured, maybe they did too."
"Trivia didn't mention them in her message, Ruby. It's possible Oscar was the only one targeted. He's the one who knows how to use the Relic of Knowledge. We can trust him not to speak, but if Salem uses the last question-"
"How would we know if she's used it?" Blake asked, looking around the room. "Levi used the lamp back in Mistral and we didn't know. Time froze when we used it. For all we know, she's using it right now, watching us, learning of our plans."
"Well that's fucking unnerving," May replied with a shudder.
"I don't think she's going to use the Question, at least not now. She hasn't attacked Atlas yet, she wants the Staff and she knows Penny is the key. What could she possibly learn from using that Question? Where the vault is? What Ironwood's plans are? He activated the Hard-Light Shields and deployed his forces to the Agricultural District. There's nothing else for him to do, at least not at the moment." Levi said, crossing his arms.
Ruby sat down at the edge of the bed, slowly sliding to the floor, resting her head in her hands. "What do we do?"
"Wait, that's all we can do," Blake said, sitting down next to her friend. "I hope Yang and the others are okay."
"Blake, Ruby, would you accompany me to the kitchen?" Willow said, causing the girls to give or an odd look. "You all haven't eaten anything since the banquet, have you? We can't have you wasting away with worry. I might be a little drunk, but I can at least cook you something."
Blake and Ruby shared a look, glancing at Weiss who gave them a nod. They both stood up, holding their hands out to the woman. Blake wrapped her arm around her, just in case. "I'm okay, I'm not gonna fall."
"Just making sure, ma'am. I'd hate for my friend's mom to get hurt when I could help her out," she said, leading her to the door. "I just hope you are okay with getting help from a faunus."
"Darling, I am okay with anything. My husband was the racist bigot, not me. You got some really cute ears." Willow replied, making Blake smile.
Levi watched them go for a moment, joining Weiss by the edge of the bed. She brushed some hair out of Nora's face, the girl groaning a bit in her sleep. She looked at Levi, a saddened look on her face. "Her fever's gone down a bit, but she's still not doing well. I wish we had more medical training."
"I do too. But she'll be fine, she's Nora after all. If she can survive being shot by Ruby, she can pull out of this." he replied, taking a hold of Nora's hand, and giving it a squeeze. Weiss did the same, placing her own over Levi's. May found herself smiling, glancing back out the window.
Location: Monstra
Cadence sighed contently as she walked through the empty corridor. She had just witnessed something juicy going down. Like the good and humble person she was, she decided it was time to tell her mistress about it. Oscar's cries of pain and Hazel's growls of anger were music to her ears. Things were getting interesting and she was drinking in every single moment. It had been the best feeling for her, and nothing would compare to it. Not dancing in Mantle and not fighting Grimm at Beacon Academy.
The fleshy door opened, allowing her to step into the bridge, where Salem's throne was located. Her smile disappeared the second she caught sight of Tyrian, the cackling murderer was staring out at Atlas, wringing his hands. He reminded her of a cartoon villain from an old show she and her teammates watched on Saturdays. The man honestly disgusted her, but her hands weren't clean, so she wasn't going to judge him. It was clear he had gone insane a long, long time ago.
The second Salem caught sight of her, she knelt down, bowing her head. "Mother, I've come to alert you of something."
"And what would that be, my darling?" Salem said, gesturing for her to stand. Cadence smiled brightly, resting a hand on her hip.
"It seems Cinder is once again acting like a rogue pawn. She's convinced her little friend and dear Emmy to take her to Amity Colosseum."
Salem didn't move, she hardly did anything. Cadence noticed her hand had become tense, her sharp nails digging into it. The woman closed her eyes for a moment, taking a long deep breath through her nose. "It seems to me like I've been far too lenient with that one."
"Forgive my intrusion, Your Grace, but you have always given that one a lot of favor. I understand you chose her to be your Fall Maiden, but she is becoming too unhinged. I say we dispatch her before she gets herself backed into a corner. If we lose Fall, we lose the Relic of Choice." Tyrian said, causing Salem to look at him, her head shifting ever so slightly.
"We cannot be hasty, Tyrian. If you decide to take care of her, then she could easily send the power somewhere else. Remember, Odette is our insurance policy."
"The only other candidate for Fall would be Emmy, and knowing how close to pissing her pants she is, she'd likely run as far as she could." the pinkette said, tracing her clawed fingers with her human hand. "Of course, she'd have to get away first, and she likely wouldn't get that far."
"Grr… she has to be taken care of at some point. How many more times will she disrespect her Grace? How many more times will she continue to bite the hand that feeds? Personally, I would have dispatched her after her failure at Haven. She lost the Relic of Knowledge and only recovered it because she had a man on the inside."
"It doesn't matter who brought me the Relic, we hold it, and that is all that matters," the darkened queen said, sitting up in her seat. "But I do agree with you, Tyrian. Her past mistakes cannot be so easily forgotten. However, she is still useful to me."
Cadence bowed her head slightly, pouting her lips as she gave Salem a downward look. "Mom, when can I claim my powers?"
"Soon, my dear, soon. At the moment, Cinder isn't aware of your existence, though it is likely Emerald will tell her. After the stern talk, I gave her and Mercury, I doubt that would be the case. They are loyal to me, and they know what to expect if they betray me." she said, gazing back toward Atlas. "Cinder will return, and she will receive punishment befitting her mistake. But we still need her to access the vault. The time will come when it will be most beneficial for you to attack, you'll know it when it presents itself to you. When that time comes, you have my full permission to recover those powers by any means possible."
"By any means possible? Oh… this opens up a lot of ideas for me. In some twisted way, Cinder is also responsible for how I ended. It led to my enlightening! I haven't thanked her for that yet, so that's what I'll do. I'll thank her for what she did, and then I'll yank her powers right from her soul while she bleeds out on my sword." she said, licking her lips. "I'm so excited."
"As well you should! Her Grace is a very generous and kind being, someone who deemed you worthy. You should always be grateful that you were found by her and saved by her. She will lead the two of us to salvation." Tyrian said, cackling like a madman, only to stop, looking her right in the eye. "Just remember, the second you betray Her Grace, you are dead meat."
"I wouldn't dare betray someone as kind and as beautiful as Mother, Tyrian. I have followed her orders to the letter, and I have had my fun. If she orders it, I will follow. I do wish to get revenge on my partner for abandoning me, but I am a patient woman." she said, grinning as she stared at her reflection in the emotion orb she had stolen. "I'm more excited to see the moment Mother starts the show. How much longer?"
Salem gave her a pat on the head, smiling. "Not much longer now, darling. We just need to wait, let people's fears start taking over. That's when we'll finally strike."
Cadence returned the woman's smile, sitting down by her throne, staring out into the city of Atlas. For a long time, she wanted nothing more than to see it fall. The people of Mantle had constantly been mistreated by Atlas. Now, it was Atlas's turn to suffer with an influx of Grimm, just as her hometown had. She could sense people's fear building, that delicious feeling was what she was going to use to make the people of Atlas suffer. As soon as the sun rose, she hoped to finally be able to cut loose.
A/N: Whelp, things happened lol. I consider this a filler chapter, more of a wind down after so much stuff has happened. Of course, I couldn't help but make it a little spicy. I think, after such a long slowburn, it was necessary. The plot does still move forward. So, if you are a fan of that sort of thing, I hope you enjoyed it. For the first time in a while, I will be doing a double post, as I am going to be busy for the following days, so I decided to do a double post before taking time off. I've been meaning to work on a personal project that isn't writing, and I've been in a bit of a funk over it. So, hopefully, that works out. Thanks to everyone who has been reading this so far, and thanks to my reviewers who keep leaving their thoughts in the comment section. Your words are always appreciated. I'll be back in a few hours with the next chapter, so until then, see you soon~