Destiny No More

Chapter 93

"War?" Winter asked skeptically. "You're sure that's what he said?" Pyrrha nodded. The words had stuck with her, and it hadn't been more than an hour since she heard them. Winter shook her head. "It's politics, nothing more. They would not risk open war with Atlas."

Qrow didn't seem so easily convinced. She had found the two of them at a café located on school grounds. It served the same food as the cafeteria, but it was brought to you and located outside, giving people the chance to enjoy the air. The two had looked a little annoyed to have their date interrupted, even if neither of them would call it that, but their opinions had changed as she recounted what the Colonel had told her.

"I don't think war is too far off," Qrow grumbled. "The Council feels backed into a corner here."

"That may be so," Winter conceded. "But war is a step too far, sanctions? Perhaps, or maybe a public declaration of their disapproval, but war? Vale would never make the first move."

"In their eyes they aren't." Qrow responded. "Atlas has effectively blockaded Vale. That would be an act of war in any other circumstances."

"The General is trying to curb White Fang activity in the city." Winter looked back towards Qrow. "He was tasked with that by the Council."

"Only after he brought the fleet here." Qrow didn't look happy to be shooting Winter down, and his wince at her glare only supported that, but it was also proof that Pyrrha's fears weren't unfounded, that the Colonel's words were not entirely without merit. "Atlesian Troops in Vale, Specialist Teams conducting military operations in the city, doubling the guard of Amity without even consulting them? It looks like an invasion, Winter. You know that."

"The General wouldn't do that." Winter shook her head. "He is a good man, he... he's just doing what he thinks is right."

"And so is Mistral and Vale." Qrow replied.

Those weren't the words Pyrrha wanted to hear, given everything that had led to now. They had an advantage on Salem's forces for now, the White Fang was on the run and Cinder was a known quantity, now was not the time to turn against one another. That was exactly what Cinder had done when she attacked Beacon before. She had used Atlas' robots against them, making it seem like Atlas was the aggressor while in reality they had been trying to help.

"What do we do?" Pyrrha wasn't one for politics, but she knew this wasn't something that could be easily solved by the three of them sitting around a table. Despite that, she dared to hope.

Qrow couldn't meet her eyes, and Winter seemed to be looking straight through her when she tried.

"We have to talk with Ironwood. I-we might be able to convince him to stand down." Winter finally said.

"Do you really think that will work? James hasn't exactly been taking advice lately." Qrow asked. Winter didn't seem to hear him however, and he sighed before placing a hand on her shoulder. "What is it? You aren't usually like this."

Winter's eyes shifted for a moment between the two of them, before she looked around the deserted area that they sat in. She took a deep breath before looking back to them.

"Do you know what his Semblance is?" Winter asked suddenly, earning a shake of her head from Pyrrha, but a confused nod from Qrow.

"Pain suppression, right? Or something like that..." Qrow asked, though he clearly doubted that now that she was bringing it up.

"That is an effect of it, but not the primary purpose." Winter shook her head. "His Semblance... it allows him to hyper focus on something, on one task, and ignore all other distractions."