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The city of Vale wasn’t what Cinder had been expecting. When she’d gotten so used to Mantle and Mistral, where someone shifty lurked around every corner, it was almost strange to be somewhere that felt genuinely…pleasant.
Of course, there were still plenty of criminals lurking about in certain areas; Cinder caught the telltale signs that the average person wouldn’t be able to spot. She was also fully aware of a certain notorious criminal that lurked around her; the one they called Roman Torchwick. Rumours were floating around that he was up to something big, and Cinder’s guard was up.
It had been two nights since the group had decided that they would need to start migrating into the city if they wanted to get anywhere in their investigation. For now, however, Winter hung back on the outskirts with Emerald and mercury, still worried about being recognized. Scouting out the city was in the hands of Cinder and Amber today.
Cinder’s feelings on spending the day with Amber were mixed, to say the least. As stupid as she knew it was, a worm of anger and jealousy still squirmed within her gut at the idea of how clearly fond Winter was of Amber, and Amber never seemed to mind ‘subtle’ flirting. But then, if Cinder was the one hanging around with the pretty woman, she wouldn’t have to worry about Winter for the whole day. Maybe she should be using this time to get to know her, rather than be stuck in her own petty problems. She forced her muscles to relax.
“Aw hey, look at you, putting in the effort to relax around me.”
Cinder glanced at Amber. “Huh?” Had she been so tense that her relaxation had been visible?
Amber chuckled. “Hey, don’t worry, I appreciate it. I know you don’t like me that much.” She looked away from Cinder and kept her eyes forward as she walked. “Feeling’s not mutual though.”
Guilt stabbed into Cinder, her shoulders rising again. “I don’t…hate you,” she replied. I just hate the way Winter looks at you.
Amber glanced at her again, still casual. “Hmm, maybe not. But you don’t like having me around, I know that much.”
The guilt worsened. The last thing Cinder wanted was to make Amber think she was ungrateful for the support she gave to the team. “I wasn’t lying when I said bringing you along was a good idea,” she insisted, “I’m fine with being around you, I promise.”
Amber’s eyes narrowed in a way that was almost teasing. “I never said that you didn’t like me being around you. Just around Winter.”
Cinder froze on the spot, annoyance and embracement flaring up her cheeks. Amber had seen right through her. “I don’t…” She trailed off, not even managing a lie. What could she even say? Amber wouldn’t believe her anyway. The woman was far more perceptive than Cinder had initially realized.
Amber stopped beside her, the playful look finally leaving her eyes. “Hey, look, I’m sorry if I’ve ever made you uncomfortable. If you really want, I can leave.”
Cinder couldn’t meet her honey-brown gaze. “I don’t want you to leave,” she replied truthfully. “We need your skills. Things between me and Winter are just…complicated.” And don’t ask about it, she added inwardly.
There was no surprise or even intrigue in Amber’s eyes. “Yeah, Winter told me about some of your history together.” She rose her hands as Cinder glared at her. “Not in detail, don’t worry. I can just imagine that it’d be weird to hang around your ex and another woman your age. Not many people would choose to.”
The tension in Cinder’s body faltered. “Winter’s important to me,” she admitted simply. “I owe a lot to her.” She briefly met Amber’s gentle gaze, then looked away again. “But it’s stupid to be jealous of you. I lost any chance I ever had with Winter a long time ago. She can do what she wants now.”
The words came out surprisingly calm, but it killed Cinder to say them. It killed her to think of Winter moving on from her. But that had happened already, Cinder figured. The flings they’d had on occasion before finding Emerald and Mercury hadn’t meant anything. They were just ways to stay warm and pass the time. All the wishing in the world wouldn’t change that.
“She doesn’t seem to think that.”
Startled by her words, Cinder stared at Amber. “What?”
“When we were alone the other night, and she spoke of you, her tone was soft. I could tell how much she cares about you.” She smiled slightly. “Then again, I didn’t need her to talk about you to tell that you two have an inseparable bond.”
Cinder could only keep staring at her. She hadn’t picked up anything like that from Winter herself, and yet Amber could tell? Was this part of the Maidens powers, or were Winter’s feelings simply obvious to everyone but their target?
“Not to mention,” Amber continued, a teasing look crossing her face, “She tensed up when I said I found you attractive. Seems like she’s just as jealous of me as you are.”
Cinder’s disbelief grew, and her heart gave an annoying flutter- whether it was at the fact of Amber being attracted to her or the idea of Winter being jealous, she couldn’t. tell. Maybe both?
But now she was even more confused. “But the way Winter looks at you…”
“Is the same way she looks at you,” Amber cut her off, shrugging and closing her eyes, “It’s obvious.” She opened her eyes again. “Why do you assume it has to be one or the other?”
Cinder blinked. She hadn’t even thought of that- the idea of Winter wanting both of them. And the way her own heart had jumped when Amber mentioned finding her attractive…could it be that the same applied to her? That she was attracted to Amber while still yearning for Winter? Was this some kind of triangle, with mutual attraction on all sides?
But then, Winter and Cinder still barely knew Amber, even if she had told them enough stories already to last a lifetime. An attraction, sexual or romantic, couldn’t exactly be called love. Cinder found herself drawn to the idea, begrudgingly, but could she and Winter ever have with Amber what they had with each other? Were they overthinking this?
She forced herself to speak. “You know, we don’t really know you.”
Amber tilted her head, her eyes still sparkling with that teasing glint. “But you could. One day.”
One day…for a moment, Cinder let herself think of it. Of her and Winter happy together, and maybe Amber could be there two. The three of them, happy and safe, with nothing to worry about.
But they did have something to worry about. And they weren’t safe. They couldn’t be, so long as Salem was still around. A threat like that needed to be dealt with before Cinder could even think of happiness. She pushed her hopes away.
“We should focus on the mission before anything else,” she forced herself to say. “It’s what’s most important.”
For the briefest of moments, Amber’s face fell, but she was back to normal again before Cinder could even be sure. “Yeah, I suppose so,” she relented, starting to walk again. “What was your plan? Assuming you have one.”
Of course I do! A small spike of annoyance flickered through Cinder’s mind as she fell into step alongside Amber, before she forced it away. Amber was just teasing. Cinder wondered if this was how Winter felt anytime she got cocky like that. If it is, I’ve got a lot of apologizing to do. Not that I will.
She focused her mind on the task at hand. “I highly doubt we’re the only people in the world who know about Salem,” she commented, “So we need to find anyone else who does, and gather what information we can from them. Do you know anyone?”
Amber perked up. “Well, yeah. Ozpin’s got a whole inner circle for dealing with Salem.”
Cinder narrowed her eyes. “Professor Ozpin? Beacon’s headmaster?” She’d never met the man, but she’d heard plenty- the youngest person to ever be appointment academy headmaster was going to be a popular talking point, even years later.
Amber nodded. “He found me after I got my powers and explained them to me- at least, would they could do, how they worked, and what I might need to use them for. All four of the academy headmasters are involved, but I don’t know who else.”
“Why’s he the head of this organization. What makes him so special?”
“Dunno. I trust the guy, but he’s a mystery. He’s younger than the other headmasters, but sometimes it feels like he’s got so much more experience than them.”
Personally, that didn’t sound trustworthy to Cinder. nevertheless, a lead was a lead.
“We should go to him, then, as soon as possible.” Whatever information they could get was valuable, though Cinder doubted how much Ozpin knew. Part of her worried that she knew more about Salem than anyone else outside of her faction, and even that wasn’t a lot.
“So, you want to go to Beacon?” Amber glanced around. “Yeah, let’s just see if I can remember the way. It shouldn’t be too far from here.”
Nodding, Cinder followed Amber as the other woman set a path through the town, checking street signs wherever possible. Cinder’s apprehension grew with each step. maybe Vale was nicer than the other kingdoms she’d been to, but she’d been hoping not to have to set foot on another academy ever again. So much for that.
As she walked, Cinder glanced around at the various buildings. Some looked old, as old as the kingdom itself, while others were shiny and new. The mix was interesting, and spoke of a town that adjusted well to change while still keeping some of its old traditions. There was a fruit store here, a game store there, and then-
Cinder’s step faltered, gazing at the building as she walked past it. An ice skating rink. Memories stirred in her mind.
Amber glanced at her. “What’s wrong?”
For a moment, Cinder didn’t respond, until she could tear her gaze away and regain her pace. “Nothing,” she replied quickly. “I just…didn’t know there were any ice skating rinks in Vale.”
“Come on, what are you so nervous for?” Cinder gazed at Winter, amused. “I thought you Schnees would be used to anything-ice.”
Winter clung to the railing, her feet slipping. “We weren’t raised to enjoy our lives. Things like this were just a waste of time that we could have spent learning about the business.”
Cinder laughed at her. Trust a Schnee not to even know how to have fun. “Just come and try. You’ll like it, I promise!”
Winter frowned. “You also promised that I’d enjoy go-karting. I did not enjoy go-karting.”
“How was I supposed to know you got sick from being in cars?” Cinder slid closer to her and softened her gaze, reaching out a hand. She wanted Winter to trust her, more than anything. “Come on. I’ll help you. Please?”
Winter still hesitated, but reached out and took Cinder’s hand, the warmth of it a contrast to the cold air of the rink.
“Now, let go of the railing,” Cinder instructed. “Don’t worry,” she added as Winter looked doubtful. “I’ve got you.” I’ve always got you.
Slowly, Winter let go. The moment her hand left the railing, she slipped, and stumbled forward into Cinder’s arms with a startled grunt.
Cinder chuckled. “See? I’ve got you!” She helped Winter to steady herself as the other girl stood straight again. “Now, as I move backwards, you start moving forwards. Don’t try to step, just slide your feet.”
She began to move slowly backwards, Winter’s arms still wrapped around hers, and Winter followed with shaky movements. With each slide of her foot, she grew slightly steadier.
“You’re picking this up pretty fast,” Cinder praised genuinely, “I’m impressed.”
Winter glanced around slightly. “I am?” She stood a little straighter, her arms not leaving Cinder’s.
Cinder nodded. “Do you want to have a try on your own?”
“Not yet,” a shade of pink crossed Winter’s cheeks. “I’d like to hold onto you for a little longer.”
Cinder grinned at her, warmth in her heart that fought the cold of the ice. “Fine by me. In that case, let me show you the fun of it.”
She began to move more skillfully, pulling Winter around the rink as she slid and spun. With each movement, Winter tensed a little, and clung more tightly to Cinder, prompting a chuckle from the latter. It was cute to see the normally-so-balanced and composed Winter Schnee so uncertain and shaken.
But the more Cinder moved, the more Winter relaxed. As she did, Cinder was able to move more smoothly, with no stiffness to worry about. Winter’s movements merged with hers as Cinder gently instructed her, and they joined together in a dance on the ice. Their arms remained locked together, but with no grip to hold either of them up. It was purely for comfort, and comfort alone.
“If you ever have to fight on ice for the Vytal Festival, you’ll nail it,” Cinder commented. “You’re a pro at this when you’re not worrying so much.”
Winter gave a warm chuckle that melted Cinder’s heart. “That’s high praise from someone who’s clearly an expert.”
Usually, when Cinder skated, she’d watch her feet move, caught up in the movements, and wanting to keep a check on her balance. But this time, all she could look at was Winter. All she could see was that smile, those eyes. It was something more wonderful and captivating than any graceful movement.
You’ve really gone and done it, Cinder, she scolded herself, though she wasn’t annoyed at all, You’ve done the one thing you thought you never would.
Yes, she, Cinder Fall, had fallen in love.
Cinder wanted to force the memories away, to focus on the mission. But her heart wouldn’t let her, and they remained at the back of her mind. That one particular date with Winter, when she’d realized she loved her- those feelings- had they ever really left? Even when they’d gone their separate ways? Could she ever feel that way towards Amber?
The mission was the most important thing right now. She knew that. This was not the time to fall in love, not the time to think about relationships. This wasn’t the time to try to win Winter back, or to get to know Amber more.
But by the Gods, how she wanted to.