Previously...
"I've met her in the past."
"I told Professor Ozpin about my encounter with her."
"But I never imagined she'd wind up behind right underneath me all these months while I worried for her well being."
"Say it already." Ironwood narrows his eyes
"Where. Is. Amber."
Continuing
"How does he..." Ironwood draws his weapons and aims right at the thorn in his side
"James!" Glynda briskly walks towards the two and stands in front of Link, raising her crop and pointing it directly at Ironwood, "Not a step closer. Do not lay a finger on another one of my students."
"I appreciate the support professor but I can handle the general." Link's eyes never leave his nemesis
"Even if that may be true, the last thing we need is fighting amongst each other, for we are all on the same side."
"Your negligence for the strength of the foes you face will be your downfall boy." Ironwood grunts
"Better scrap that entire file you have on me, because it is clear that you still know nothing about me."
"The kid wasn't kidding about that, huh Jimmy?" Qrow chuckles as his sword is back to its inactive state
"What I do to hunt down known criminals is neither of your concern." Ironwood eventually gives in and puts away his revolver, "Now start talking, how do you know-!"
"No way! All I've done for the past month is talk." Link furiously shakes his head, "I'm sick of giving and giving and giving but receiving nothing in return. Someone is telling me where Amber is or I'll shred through that elevator and get down there myself."
"You don't call the sh-!"
"General." Ozpin says with a calm down before motioning him over, "James, let us talk you and I, Qrow... you and Link do the same this instant."
"You sure about that? We only just told the Nikos girl." Qrow shrugs
"It seems we do not have a choice, do we?" Glynda looks back at Link
"I'm going to find out one way or another." The beacon student says with a straight face
"Fine, don't go shredding elevators or tearing down Beacon."
Qrow wraps his arm around the back of Link's neck for a very weak but clearly non-threatening headlock. Meanwhile across Ozpin's office it is the headmaster of Beacon whispering plenty of words to General Ironwood, each side clearly being told what is happening and how they are all here today.
"I see, he met her long before she was assaulted." Ironwood looks at Link with a surprised look on his face
"So, she was brought here after all." Link sighs, "I always wondered what happened to her after our brief fight."
"Yeah no kidding, I couldn't sleep at all for the next week. I figured you'd come crawling back and trying to finish the job." Qrow shrugs
"What was that?" Glynda eyes Link closely
"Long story." Link looks at the ground, "One that I don't feel comfortable sharing again anytime soon."
"I understand." Glynda nods
"Thank you."
"Hold on a second." Qrow walks straight up to Ozpin, only the desk separating the two, "Oz, you mean to tell me we had one of your most powerful students in the know about Autumn, but you didn't even bother telling us about him? Jimmy and I clearly knew him already."
"He did not inform me either." Glynda looks towards Ozpin's way, "All he would tell me is how this boy may not have the credentials or be as technically skilled as Miss Pyrrha Nikos but he definitely has the passion, heart, lack of fear, and drive to surpass her one day."
"Yeah, it's not like I asked you to keep my story a secret, if all of this is really important..." Link points to Glynda, Qrow, and Ironwood, "And life changing, why not tell at least Glynda... which by the way, I appreciate the kind words but I merely got lucky against Pyrrha."
"Wrong, what you did was-!" Ironwood attempts to cut in
"No." Link cuts off Ironwood, "I want to hear from professor Ozpin before I tell you about how stupid you really look."
"Why you little-!"
"Isn't it a coincidence that it happened to Yang only a day after it happened to me?" Link smirks, "I know my so called friends are stubborn but you? Aren't you meant to be the head of Atlas military?"
"Fine, one chance." Ironwood shakes his head
"Thanks?" Link surprisingly finds himself nodding at the general
"But first, I also want answers from you."
The three inner circle members turn their attention to Ozpin, as does Link.
"The truth is..." Ozpin glances outside, staring at the shattered moon, "I did not trust the boy completely. Despite his raw talent and strength, Beacon should have turned him away and recommended him to other academies."
"What?" Link narrows his eyes, "Then why didn't you?"
"I did not write you off either. I know who you are, the stories written, rumors, most of it at least. However, seeing you in person intrigued me enough to let you stay at Beacon and keep an eye on your myself. To see if you were really a heartless criminal out for money or a monster only looking to shed blood."
"What do you make of me so far then?" Link asks
"I have come to conclusion that the stories written and rumors were... quite false." Ozpin takes a sip out of his mug, "When you told me about your encounter with the Fall maiden, I expected something far different if what was said about you was true. The maidens know all about vanquishing evil yet here you are with nothing but praise for Amber. I continued monitoring you but over time I stopped being as attentive and concerned about you attending my school..."
"Meaning?" Link raises an eyebrow
"I knew you could be trusted." Beacon's headmaster nods as he speaks
"Even Ironwood's concerns didn't sway you?"
"..." Ozpin turns back and looks at Link before smiling and shaking his head
"Good, you'll see eventually why-!" Link stops and sets his sights on the general, "You will see why I despise Atlas with a burning passion, I'm just not there yet... still need more questions answered."
"What questions?" Ironwood raises an eyebrow
"Atlas took someone dear to me, let's leave it at that." Link looks down and shuts his eye
"Who!?"
"Jimmy, listen to the kid before he snaps, this one's a hothead just like my niece." Qrow frowns
"Yeah, I'm probably worse than Yang too." Link chuckles
"Fine, but now tell me what's been happening with the attacks during the Vytal Festival Tournament."
"It's not combat induced stress and delusion like you suggested with Yang, no no no." Link paces back and forth, "It's something more than that, this has been caused by someone. One of the participants in the tournament actually."
"What!? Who is it?"
"Emerald Sustrai, I KNOW her semblance is involves hallucinations. Ever since her team defeated team CFVY without breaking a sweat I knew something was up. Someone with Coco's experience doesn't crumble under pressure like that." Link shrugs, "They did it to me as well, I even spoke to Pyrrha about it and she believed me. Lastly, we are onto Yang, is it not a coincidence that it involved a teammate of Emerald? Besides-!"
"I've heard enough." Ironwood waves him off, "Your theories are intriguing but there is too much going against you; besides the girl you speak of along with her team including her injured teammate have flown back to Mistral. If her true intention was to sabotage tournament matches then we won't know for sure until she can be questioned and asked the proper questions at a later time."
"Fine, I just have two more questions then. For all of you actually." Link walks towards the elevator but stops in his tracks to face his professors, the general, and Qrow
"What is it kid?" Qrow grabs his flask and takes a swig
"What does this mean for Amber? And why Pyrrha?" Link crosses his arms
"Well." Ironwood clear his throat, "We don't know what will happen when she passes."
"What do you mean when?" Link grabs his elbow with his left hand and squeezes hard
"We can't possibly show you now." Qrow tucks his flask out of sight, "Look at you, just the thought of her passing away is making you lose your mind."
"Answer my question already."
"The way you saw her that day, it's worse now... her condition continued to deteriorate." Qrow nods at Ironwood, "Right now she's only surviving because of Jimmy's technology."
"Sadly, there is not much we can do for the young maiden anymore." Glynda sighs
"Why don't we take her assailant down and restore Amber's powers, won't that do anything for her?" Link continues to apply pressure on his arm
"You're talking about fighting someone with maiden abilities who surely has accompli-!"
"She does." Qrow cuts off the general, "Two minimum, they were kids but very talented ones."
"I can defeat them, believe me I know enough about them along with their strengths and weaknesses." Link says with determination
"You?" Ironwood frowns, "This is not a tournament match where your opponents hold back and stop once your aura is dangerously low, these are trained kil-!"
"Stop with the lectures." Link finally stops and lets go, instantly flexing his arm to shake off the pain, "Like I said, I know who they are and what they do, and besides don't you think I've been holding back as well? Not to discredit team SLVR or Jaune and Pyrrha but I don't know where my abilities peak, what you see now is not even me close to my best."
"Good, we'll need all the help we can get, if you're on our side that is." Qrow passes by Link and roughly slaps his shoulder, "I know you went from mercenary to aspiring huntsman, we need to know now if you'll keep it that way."
"Don't question my loyalty." Link smirks but then drops his head, "Being a mercenary has only brought me grief, not that this is any better but if it's the right path then you have my word, I will not divert from the path."
"Even if you could defeat them yourself, it just makes everyone's lives more difficult if we have to do the hunting." Ironwood speaks up "This woman who stole the fall maiden's powers could be anywhere."
"As for what it would do to Amber if we could bring her assailant in to restore what rightly belongs to her." Glynda shakes her head, "We can be hopeful that it will bring her back to being the maiden she once was, but in her current state nothing is guaranteed."
"So, the more likely option is Amber dies and Pyrrha takes her powers."
Link steps back, slowly heading for the elevator, until the sounds of a mug making contact with a table stop him
"I believe we did not answer your second question." Ozpin sits in his chair
"My biggest concern was Amber, but if you tell me she has no chance of surviving then you're right, don't take me down to the vault." Link sighs, "However, you did remind me of that at the right time."
"Oz picked the best this school had to offer, that's about it." Qrow rolls his eyes
"Qrow!" Glynda glares
"What? You know I'm right."
"No need for bluntness Qrow, I shall tell him the same thing about her that I told you." Ozpin meets Link's eyes, "Pyrrha is strong, intelligent, caring... and she is ready. She will make more and more mistakes but at the same time you are all still students... if you came to us as prepared huntsman and huntresses then what purpose to do we serve?"
"Out of everyone in Beacon? A first year? Not one of your students near graduation?" Link asks
"She is making strides that go beyond what any of my other students have achieved. By the time she finishes her time here in Beacon she would most likely be the second strongest huntress, that is unless she gets the fall maidens powers."
"Second? Oh wow, who would be the first then?" Link thinks deeply, considering his current 'friends'
"You." Ozpin smiles
"M-me?" Link takes a step back, "There must be some sort of mistake, I defeated Pyrrha because of circumstances out of both of our control."
"I do not just mean because of your match in the tournament. From what I have seen in training or during your mission... even during 'that' particular incident with the general."
Ozpin glares at Ironwood who turns his head in shame.
"You are showing signs of being one of the strongest we've ever seen, I dare to even say your level of strength could match that of a maiden, minus the abilities of one, which does say a lot." Ozpin nods and turns in his chair
"About as strong as a maiden huh?" Link smirks, "I definitely won't tell anyone about this then, even Pyrrha."
"Speaking of her." Qrow grunts, "Let me guess, she squealed about Autumn to you?"
"No, I figured that out on my own. The thought of her not being the same after receiving Amber's powers is what she spoke to me about, not quite second thoughts but..."
"Unsure of the future." Glynda nods
"Right." Link turns his back on them and sighs, "This sure was an interesting talk, I expected to find Amber alive at the bare minimum but we can't all get what we want."
"What?" Ironwood steps towards him, "Hard of hearing or something? We just told you she-!"
"Stop." Link cuts off Ironwood again, "She is not alive, you know it and I know it. You are just delaying her inevitable death."
"Yeah, well you're not the only one with a bone to pick." Qrow turns to Ozpin, "You warned me about this kid shortly after I came back but never once hinted that he was actually on our side."
"With how brash and unique your personalities are I figured you two would become acquaintances naturally." Ozpin smiles, "After all you're both close with Miss Rose."
"Yeah well, a little heads up would've been nice."
"Get used to that." Link whispers as the elevator doors open, "Professor Ozpin has shown he is a secretive person with anyone he comes in contact with, even his associates and close friends. He is probably hiding a lot more secrets from you right now and probably will for years to come."
Link enters the elevator and closes his eyes as he processes Amber's condition, upcoming fate, and most importantly Pyrrha's future, his mind stays on that and he does not even realize the elevator doors closed
"That kid has some real problems, you know? He may be the fastest growing student Beacon has but does that bode well for us? He could snap and lose his mind any second now." Qrow sighs, "Oz, how much has he told you about himself?"
"Everything I told James." Ozpin mumbles
"But that was barely anything!" Ironwood shouts
"I know..."
By the time Link's eyes open the elevator is already almost down to the main floor.
"Damn!" Link steps out of the elevator but quickly turns to face it again, "I want to see her again but I already know what will happen if I do."
He clutches his stomach in discomfort and squeezes tightly.
"Amber is going to die regardless of what happens next and there's nothing I can do about it?"
Link moves both hands to his head and positions them on each side of his skull, just above the ear whilst walking like a machine, clearly not thinking straight but his legs continue to guide him. The sound of a loud creak is heard as he feels his feet step on different material, no longer was it the pristine floor of Beacon but now it was cement, he was outside.
"Damn it why!?" Link drops to his knees and clutches his head as the tears slowly flow down the cheeks.
The lone huntsman in training reaches across his body with his left hand and reaches for not his pouch, not his reliable bad of projectiles, but instead grabs the canteen given to him by another close yet deceased friend.
"Ray, you'd kill me if you saw me this way... at the same time I wish you were still here." Link unscrews the cap and shakes, feeling it completely full, "How did I even get this? I don't even remember leaving my dorm..."
He brings the canteen right up to his nose and does not flinch once to the scent of the strong alcohol.
"But then again I also blacked out after my talk with Ruby yesterday. Watched the tournament match, I recall exiting my dorm but never returning; although I was in bed the next day."
Instead, Link brings it down to his lips and starts with small sips before downing the entire thing within five minutes.
"Ugh." Link violently shakes his head and blinks multiple times, "I need... more."
The mentally strained Beacon student picks himself up to feet and stumbles down the steps, nearly crashing and burning face first. He eyes the end of the courtyard, glaring at the ships on the landing platforms... Link walks towards them, sight on the Atlas ships, but what he doesn't see the shadow behind, trailing and clearly following him.
"Where are you headed?" A soft but still sharp voice can be heard, her heels click as she stays on his trail
End of the Courtyard, Landing Platforms
"You again!?"
"Look at you kid, you're a complete mess. The rabbit leave you already?"
"Just shut up and give me a ride to Vale will you?"
Link continues holding his head in pain as the same three men from a previous night as in his way.
"We did you a favor last time, what do we have to gain this time?"
"It wasn't just 'the rabbit' it was almost everyone I dared to once call friends. I need to be in the city of Vale within the next ten minutes or somebody is getting hurt."
Link picks up his head and stares at all three Atlas soldiers
"Now you're threatening us?"
"Now is really not the time to push my buttons. Will you take me down there or not?"
"We don't need to take this crap from you, our boss can deal with you no prob-!"
"Your boss? After the words he and I exchanged tonight? By all means tell him all about this, he'd love to hear it."
Link chuckles and nearly bursts into laughter
"These stupid mind games won't work this time kid!"
"Yeah we don't buy anything you're saying!"
"You don't get everything you ask for kid, that's life."
"Fine. I hope you're ready to fight then."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"
"Okay kid you got us, we were just pushing your buttons!"
"Get on the damn ship, you know the process."
BOOM!
The ship awkwardly hovers over land before taking a small hit as it touches down on the city of Vale, but the only passenger does not flinch in the slightest
"Nice." Link shrugs but can barely get up to his own feet
"Alright kid, last time you got an hour and a half, this time I mean it when I say forty five minutes, with the recent attacks at the tournament, the entire city of Vale has just felt, off. You don't really see many people out late anymore nowadays."
"Speaking of last time." Link raises his right hand and attempts to reach into his pouch, but misses several times
"I don't need your money, even if it's merc money you wish to throw away due to guilt, hold onto some of it. There are people who need it more than me anyway."
"One more thing." Link turns and stares right at him
"What is it now?"
"Why did we take so long to take off?" He shakes his head, "I know I'm not all here right now but that didn't feel like an extra fifteen minutes, it was an extra fifteen."
"For your own sake it's best I don't say what that delay was all about. Good luck and I mean it this time, forty five minutes and you're back here or else I'm gone."
"Hmm..." Link looks at the ground and thinks carefully
In reality
"Miss Schnee?! What an honor."
"Likewise." Weiss smiles at them both
"I'm afraid you cannot be out this late, please allow one of us escort you back to your dorm."
"I actually have something to do in the city of Vale, my friend is on your ship." Weiss continues to politely speak
"You're friends with that degenerate? But miss Schnee-"
"I know he's not in the best condition or state of my mind, but... I care about him, just let me on the ship please." Her smile slowly fades
"I'm afraid we cannot allow that."
After a long standoff between Weiss and the Atlas soldiers guarding the ship containing Link inside, Weiss sighs and realizes what she has to do.
"Very well then, perhaps my father would-!"
"Come right this way!"
"That's what I thought."
Present time
"Fine, you guys are just slow I suppose." Link waves him off and exits the Atlas ship
Link stumbles away from the ship, heading off in a completely different path from where he usually heads to upon setting foot in the City of Vale. Despite this, he still does not hear or suspect the clicking heels a fair distance behind him
"Why am I here anyway? I do not know what it is, we only just became actual friends recently, I am worried about you and in a way I feel a lot of pity because nobody else is in my position right now... I would have expected Ruby, Velvet, Ren, anyone really to do what I am doing currently, they may have abandoned you but I refuse to, you're too good of a person for me to just let you walk down this dark path Link."
After a long walk, Link does not wind up anywhere. Rather than heading to prybar, a place of comfort despite its rough area, he unknowingly goes in circles clearly with not a clue of where he is headed despite walking like he does
"I need something, but I cannot possibly go see Shane right now, not tonight anyway, I need another way to get it."
He shrugs and continues to cross streets and round corners for what seems like much longer than the forty five minute time limit he was given, hardly anyone was in sight as many buildings are obviously shut down for the day with the exception of a few businesses. At last, after a lot of walking, Link spots people who look tired as if they had just emerged from a club or came back from a party
"Finally, maybe they know where I can go from here."
Link walks towards them calmly not wanting to show any aggression or desperation, but before he could even get near them every single vale citizen jumped with fear, some running off instantly while others began to shout obscenities at the Beacon student
"GET OUT OF HERE!"
"HOW ARE YOU STILL A STUDENT AT BEACON?"
"WHY WOULD YOU TRY TO MURDER SOMEONE!?"
"SICK MONSTER!"
"Screw this." Link shrugs and drops his head as he pushes past them while making sure to not touch anybody
Ignoring more screams and rude words, Link walks straight ahead, turns another corner and finally he seems a lit up building, smiling in disbelief he stumbles into a more upscale bar located exactly in Central Vale.
"Hey!" Link shouts as he swings the door wide open and sloppily marches to the bartenders, two of them to be exact a man and woman both startled by the sudden noise made inside the otherwise bar operating as it normally is.
"Y-yes sir?" The male bartender speaks with a firm tone despite just being taken aback
"Fill..." Link sighs and drops his canteen without hesitation on the counter "Fill this up please, your strongest stuff." he stops himself for a moment and chuckles, "Also, before you assume anything about me no worries, money is not an issue."
"Umm sir?"
"Yes?" Link instantly feels anger and agitation begins to build up
"We cannot serve you any alcohol, you are a minor. However, you are more than welcome to enter this bar and be served age appropriate drinks or perhaps you'd like a nice meal we have one of the best chefs in all of Vale."
"I am not hungry." Link sighs and balls up both hands into fists, "Look I will pay you double the fee, I had a generally crap day and a horrible night to top it off so I would like to end it on an upwards trend."
"Sir I am afraid we cannot do that; we know you are a minor you look it and everyone knows you attend beacon academy."
"Look." Link slams his left hand on the counter, "I am not asking for a lot so why don't you-!"
"HEY!" The female bartender protectively steps in front of her coworker, "Makei already said no twice, one more and we will have you thrown out of here."
"Oh yeah?" Link's angel filled eyes go deadpan as he begins to get angrier, "Do it."
"Huh?" She blinks, unsure of what to say next
"You heard me... Do. It."
"Leave our establishment at once, we do not want to call security but we will if we must."
"Just make our lives easier okay? You want me out and I want something to drink." The one man team sighs as he feels his anger about to boil over
However, before either of the two bartenders can respond Link slides over the counter and as if he just completely calmed down he starts to grab bottles of liquor, not knowing what any of them specifically are. He shrugs and reaches for his pouch to pull out what is more than likely more lien than needed
"STOP!"
About seven men emerge from the back quickly and in formation, each one carrying a baton in their right hands, they all wear the exact same attire black suits, red ties, black loafers, and sunglasses, each of them carry a baton like object in their left hands, the prime definition of perfectly coordinated.
"What is this?" Link completely ignores the two behind the counter and turns his head to the security guards while closing his eyes and embracing the situation he has gotten himself into, he leaves the bottles of liquor where they belong and slides over the bar again, "This would not be the first time I go up against generic guards."
"Listen kid-!"
"I am done talking." Link opens his eyes and sharply cuts the guard in the very front off "If someone says one more word to me I am going to tear this entire place down!"
Time feels like it has come to a complete halt as the trouble vale student's eyes flash gold, his left hand rapidly moved to the handle of his sword before any of the 'foes' in front of him could even move a finger
"TEST ME!" Link throws five cards of lien on the counter and in another rapid motion slices through an empty table and slashes up the chair in front of it
Silverware, wood and glass collides against the ground as the already silent and concerned customers gasp loudly
"You need to leave... p-please!" The female bartender pleads as she ducks under the bar
"Get him out of here! Veela stay there and do not come out!"
The security guards with perfect coordination squeeze their batons and it becomes clear that their batons are handles swords formed by aura which each form in unison
"Swordsmen as well? Let's see how you all deal with a real swordsman, one with everything to gain and nothing to lose!"
Link's shouting echoes throughout the bar and surely can be heard by anyone within fifty feet, despite their cool composure the security guards look hesitant to strike first as they know that despite being a first year, this is a dangerous person to face off against
"ALRIGHT ENOUGH OF THIS CRAP!" Link slashes another chair as the mysterious lines start to emerge from his eyes and spread across his face rigidly, "You won't come to me then I guess I will just have to-!"
Link's feet shift as he prepares for rapid attacks due to being outnumbered, but suddenly he freezes and cannot spring forward to catch his opponents off guard
(What the hell? Why can't I move?)
Time comes to a complete halt as Link does not move, the security guards look puzzled, Veela emerges from her hiding spot while she and Makei the bartenders look on in shock but also relief that the violence in their bar has stopped, customers inside the bar continue to look concerned but their silence turns into gasps
"You idiot..." A soft voice is heard as slim arms wrap around Link's waist and squeeze him tightly
"What the-!" Link looks down and instantly recognizes who it is, "W-weiss? What are you doing here?"
"I should ask you the same thing" Weiss' voice cracks and it is very clear she is sad
Link's heart sinks as he hears his friend and INSTANTLY the lines and golden eyes fade away almost as if they were never there. He turns his head and sees a glimpse of Weiss, there are individual tears slowly going down her cheeks indicating that she just started to cry
"Weiss..." Link struggles to turn as Weiss has a vice grip like hold on him but as soon as he's able to face her, he returns the hug and lifts her up off the ground
"Stop what you're doing and let's head back okay?" Weiss sighs and rests her head against Link
"Sure thing Weiss, just oneeeee thing."
"Yeah?" She looks up
"As nice as this is, we cannot leave if you are holding onto me for dear life." Link chuckles
"O-oh... sorry" Weiss at first hesitates but then quickly lets go, never breaking eye contact with Link as she unwraps her arms
Link quickly puts slides his sword back in his sheath and does not even look back as he just exits the bar in shame, wanting to apologize but knowing nothing would salvage what almost occurred had Weiss not been there.
"Can I ask you something?" Link slowly walks forward trying not to trip and fall but suddenly stops and realizes that Weiss is taking her time exiting the bar
"I HEARD YOU!" Weiss hurries to catch up, "Yes ask away."
"Why the long stare? When you were letting go of me, were you looking for something?"
"Oh, well yes I wanted to make sure that... it was gone." Weiss gestures towards her eyes and cheeks
"I see." Link nods as his head drops down, "Thank you Weiss, I really thought I was nearly alone, seeing everyone turn their backs on me the way-!"
"Hey." Weiss firmly speaks as she grabs her friends elbow to help him stand, "Do not think that way they just don't under-!"
"No." The conversation is completely shut down as Link shakes his head firmly, "I do not want to hear that, I know your heart is in the right place but don't do that for them, they don't deserve you sticking up for them."
"But... Link please."
"They made it clear what they think so now I am doing that too. I am sorry Weiss but I don't want to talk about this anymore or anything else for as a matter of fact. Can we just walk together and can I simply enjoy your company?"
Weiss sighs, gives Link's elbow a firm squeeze and nods gently as she respects her friends wishes and remains silence as they walk back to the Atlas ship that brought them to Central Vale to begin with
Back at the Atlas Ship, after what feels like forever to make it back
"That was more than forty-five minutes kid! You are just lucky Miss Schnee likes you for some reason."
"Yeah otherwise you'd be sleeping on the street tonight!"
"We should still leave him here."
"That is enough." Weiss' voice is stern as she scowls at the Atlas soldiers
"Y-yes Miss Schnee my apologies."
"Thank you, but don't apologize to me." A slight smirk appears on her face, "Apologize to Link."
"WHAT!?"
"But-!"
"Miss Schnee!"
"But nothing." Weiss crosses her arms and does not board the ship, holding tightly onto Link's elbow still and not letting him board either
"Fine, I'm sorry."
"This is ridiculous but whatever sorry kid."
"Sorry I guess."
"Thank you, we can get going now." The Schnee heiress gives them overly generous nods as she and Link enter the cargo area of the ship
Ten minutes later, the ship lands but no further interactions occur between Link, Weiss or the soldiers on the ship. The two beacon students slowly make their way back into the academy and walk more quietly as they enter and head to the dorms. Whilst being absolutely precise about their footsteps, Weiss impressively did not struggle at all despite Link already weighing more than her with all of his gear on
"Please please pleaseeee." Weiss internally speaks to herself and holds her breath as they pass by the team RWBY dorm but make it past without any real struggle until at last they reach Link's dorm, "I require your assistance now."
"I never lock it." Link genuinely laughs for the first time all night, "Besides ever since you guys broke into my room I think Pyrrha actually messed up my door."
"Sorry." A loud sigh comes from Weiss as she opens the door
"No worries it is just a door and I am not scared of anybody coming in during the night or anything like that."
"No Link, I mean that I AM SORRY." Weiss emphasizes the last three words, "For all the times I gave you flack ever since we met, I was just bad to you and to a lot of people too. But ever since I met and got to know my team, JNPR and you, I realized that I could not possibly remain the same Weiss Schnee that first started at Beacon this semester. I know I'm not perfect but-!"
"Enough." Link slips away from Weiss and process to walk over to his desk and place down all his weapons along with his hat
"Very well then, sorry for rambling I guess I should get going."
Weiss turns to exit the dorm but within seconds she finds herself in a familiar spot, Link was behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist
"I was saying enough because you do not need to be sorry for being the person you used to be, yes you made mistakes but nobody should hold that against you for the rest of time, I know I sure will not so nobody else has the right to do so."
Weiss tries to turn towards Link so he eases his hold on the RWBY member as she returns the hug in return and even tries to lift him up
"Weiss what are you-!"
"Ahhhhh!"
The huntsman and huntress both fall back as Weiss' return gesture did not go exactly to plan; but instead of dramatics they look at each other and laugh
"I know you're strong but that was bold, I respect and appreciate it a lot." Link chuckles and lightly punches Weiss' arms
"You made it look really easy the two times today you picked me up today." Weiss grins
"Fair enough... hey Weiss?" Link looks right into her eyes
"Yeah?"
"Everything you said today, did you really mean it? I do not mean to question your words I just need to know who really has my back." He holds out an open hand as they both lie on the ground
"Link." Weiss takes his hand and they execute a sloppy handshake on the floor, "I meant every word I said to you, especially the part where I said I was nasty to you and desperately want to change that and I hope you can forgive me."
"Your apology has been accepted already Weiss." Link sits up and smiles at her, "Thank you for assuring me about what you said, thank you for standing by me and lastly, thank you for looking out for me tonight. I know you blame yourself a lot but I could have reached out to you sooner and maybe we would been closer earlier but better late than never, now come here."
Link gets up and extends his hand, Weiss takes it and is helped up to her feet; she pats her dress to get rid of any dust
"I am glad I went to go find you, I could tell you did not look okay and I knew I could not let you go off on your own tonight, you could have been-!"
"My canteen." Link cuts her off and feels around his waist but only remembers tossing it on the counter of the bar and horror begins to set in, "I left my canteen at that bar."
Link ponders going back to retrieve his cherished item but as he paces back and forth, he comes face to face with Weiss who has Ray's canteen in her hands
"This is what I stayed behind for." Weiss smiles and presents it to him
"You keep finding ways you make me say thank you but seriously thank you." Link takes the canteen and puts it on his desk next to his hat, not even noticing that it was empty and then gives Weiss yet another hug, feeling eternally grateful
"You do not have to keep hugging me!" Weiss says sternly despite the feint blush across her face
"Sorry, I just cannot thank you enough, I would offer you money I got as a mercenary but what I have is a joke compared to what you have."
"I would not accept it anyway, although I probably should." Weiss sighs
"Huh? What do you mean by that? You are a Schnee." Link lets go of her and walks over to his bed, proceeding to first sit and then pats the spot on the mattress next to him
"My father cut me off from the family fortune." Weiss sits down and lets out another sigh, this one much weaker
"But you are not bothered?"
"I was at first but then I talked to my sister and I realized that I do not need my father, my family's money or the Schnee name, I am not just a Schnee, my name is Weiss." She smiles proudly
"That's beautiful." Link chuckles, "And very true as well, you are not THE WEISS SCHNEE, you are Weiss and hey you might not have all the money in the world at your disposal anymore, but you are my friend and you will forever have my love and loyalty."
"Now THAT is actually beautiful." Weiss' smile grows even wider, "And it means a lot more to my than my father's money every will."
"Thanks." Link smiles back, "Do you want to go back to your dorm now, I think you have babysat me enough tonight."
"Stop it." She shakes her head "Honestly I was only going to leave when I thought you did not want to hear what I was saying anymore, I thought I annoyed you."
"Nonsense!" Link rolls his eyes in a very exaggerated way, "Come on I'll walk you there."
Weiss continues to shake her head and instead reaches for her scroll
"Actually, I was just thinking of calling my sister and maybe I could go with her tonight, it is already very late and I do not want to wake up my team."
"Nope." Link lifts up his hand and wags his finger, "You have done enough walking today, just stay here."
"H-here?" Weiss stammers and looks around
"If you do not want someone sleeping next to you no worries I can sleep on the floor."
"But this is your dorm I could not possibly do that to you."
"Hmm, well how about this the choice is yours."
Link lies back across his bed horizontally and shrugs his shoulders
"You can call your sister, stay here and I sleep on the floor, stay here and we can sleep on my bed or you can try to risk waking up your team."
"I think I am going to have to pick we both sleep in your bed. This is your dorm, even if it was our dorm I still would not make you sleep on the ground and I also do not want to reject your generous offer of letting me stay the night here." Weiss nods firmly without any hesitation
"Very well then." Link adjusts himself to be in bed vertically, "Come on over, you can have the blanket and the pillows, I only ever use one anyway."
"Thank you that is very kind." Weiss walks around the bed and gets in bed on the opposite side
Despite their natural conversation that just took place after half an hour of silence earlier in the night, they both go quiet once again and all is not well as Weiss turns to face Link but he is just staring at the ceiling.
"What is on your mind?" Weiss asks with concern
"Nothing really, I know I have you and Pyrrha and even Skylar and her team have my back although I cannot lie when I say that even though YOU were the first to tell me you were on my side, I had my doubts since you did not sound completely sure, but after tonight I owe you another apology."
"I do not want your apology, I'm simply happy that you know where I stand now." Weiss continues to stare, wondering what sort of emotions her friend is feeling
"I'm... not happy Weiss, I know I am not alone but, it sucks having more friends turn their back on me than trust me, ever since all of this happened I wake up feeling miserable and not even wanting to get out of bed."
Link turns so his back is facing Weiss, not wanting to face her with sadness and hatred on his mind and a facial expression of pure anger, he lets out a huff before opening his mouth again
"Just want everything to go back to how it was before."
"I..." Weiss promptly goes quiet and sadly sighs
Seconds turn into minutes as Link tenses up and the anger begins to overtake the sadness. His fists ball up and his blood is going from a simmer to a boil at lightning speed, he begins to hyperventilate and softly shake thinking about his so called friends, learning about ambers fate, anger that the bad guys are going completely under the radar and nobody else sees that and lastly frustration with himself for not giving every single detail of his past to his friends when he initially poured his heart out
"H-hey!" Weiss feels the tension and without thinking she slides over and wraps her arms around Link, resting her chin on his shoulder with no concern that are practically touching faces
Link instantly lets go his formed fists and reaches to grab both of Weiss' arms, one of his hands grabbing her forearm and the other grabbing her hand, his breathing slows down as the shaking goes away; while the anger is very much still present, having a trustworthy friend next to him puts Link at ease. Weiss has no reaction to having her forearm and hand grabbed and continues to hold Link and keeps her grip the same, not tight at all but very soft and passionate. From small talk to silence then laughter and finishing it off with silence, the room is cold as Link's window is creaked open but that does not faze the two friends who hold each other and fall into a deep sleep.
(Not weekly at all turns out, sorry everyone for the long hiatus lmao, I hope to stick around this time and really take this story to the next level. It has been on my mind 24/7 but the passion to actually sit down and write was not unfortunately, but now it's back.)