Brand Neo Day

Neo left the library and went directly to team SSSN's room, knocking vigorously on this door when she arrived.

"Jeez, what's the hurry?" Sun asked as he opened in the door. "Oh, hey Neo. Did you find Neptune?"

"Yeah, I did. We talked for a bit, and I think he's gonna be alright."

"Really? Oh thank God. Neo, you're the best," Sun said with a sigh of relief.

She blushed, "Thanks. He should be on his way back here now."

"Cool. Alright, well I need to get back to studying for that dumb plant test tomorrow. I'll catch you later."

They said goodbye and Sun closed the door, and Neo decided to go meet Weiss back in their room. She was surprised when she arrived to see the door was wide open. "Hey Weiss, why'd you leave the door open?" she asked, receiving no answer. "Hello? Huh, guess she went out somewhere."

She closed the door behind her and turned to see the window wide open, the wind blowing the curtains around wildly. She rushed over and shut the window, and groaned when she turned to see the mess it had created. With a sigh, she began picking up papers that had been strewn around the room. First the door, then the window? How much of a hurry was she in? Neo thought as a folded note with her name on it caught her eye. A note? Why wouldn't she just message me on her scroll? Wait, this isn't even her handwriting.

Suspicious, she picked it up and began reading it in her head, Neo, I hope you've had an enjoyable first week of school. Unfortunately, it's time we got back to business. I'm very disappointed with the choices you've made. I'd hoped to bring you back on my operation, but you've made it clear that won't be the case. So now, what to do with you? At first we were going to take with your redheaded leader to get your attention, but you gave us a much better target yesterday. Don't worry, we won't hurt her, so long as you cooperate. Be at the address attached at the bottom of this letter at midnight, and we'll have a little discussion about what happens next. Regards, Cinder.

The note slipped from Neo's hands, her entire body frozen in horror. ' Oh my God, she has Weiss!? How? How did she find me here? Emerald and Mercury, we had a deal! Why would they...? Fuck it, fuck it all! It doesn't matter anymore, I need to get Weiss back. What should I do? I can't just meet Cinder, she'll kill us both, I know it. I have to go to Ozpin.

Neo snatched the note off the ground and sprinted from the dorms. She was in complete shock, her whole body feeling numb, but she still ran as fast as her legs allowed her. She knew that Cinder was lying about not hurting Weiss as well, and didn't want to think of what was happening to her girlfriend right now because of her. I never should've made that agreement. I knew it would come back to haunt me, but I never imagined like this. Fuck! How could I be so fucking stupid?

She charged up the stairs to Ozpin's office as tears started to well in her eyes. She flung open the doors, "Professor Ozpin! Weiss has—" She stopped mid-sentence at what she saw inside. Ozpin stood with his back to the door, General Ironwood to his left. Neo's eyes went straight past them and to the white-haired girl they were facing. It was Weiss, her clothes covered in dirt, her face and hands as well, along with numerous cuts and bruises.

"Neo!" the heiress exclaimed, running across the room to hug her girlfriend.

Neo was utterly confused, "Weiss, you're okay! But, Cinder? The note, what?"

"Perhaps I can clear some things up," Ozpin said, turning you the two. "Your teammate is very lucky. One of my informants found the note in your room, and General Ironwood sent troops to retrieve her after it was brought to our attention. Unfortunately, her captors eluded custody. What the general's men report about the kidnappers is somewhat... disturbing. All three of them are in our student database under the names Emerald, Mercury and Cinder as visiting for the Vytal Festival. I have a feeling you might know a little more about them, and their real reason for being here. I also understand you've had contact with two of them while you were here. Care to explain?"

Neo looked down at her feet, "Yes sir. Emerald and Mercury work for Cinder, like I did. Last week they came up to me after class, and at first I thought they'd been sent to kill me, but they weren't. We had an agreement that I wouldn't tell anyone about them if they didn't tell Cinder I was here. I didn't want to do it, but I was afraid if I came to you, Cinder would come after me and my team, but I guess she had it in mind to do that anyway."

"You skipped the first part," Ironwood interjected. "Why are they here at all?"

"I-I don't know. Cinder never told me any of her long term plans. My job was just to guard Roman, I swear."

Ozpin calmly sipped his coffee, "First, let me say I'm very disappointed that you would not come to me immediately with that kind of information. You're very lucky that Miss Schnee wasn't more seriously hurt, and I doubt you'd be so lucky again. I'm going to ask you now if there is anything else you know that you're keeping from me. I'm willing to overlook this incident and call it a minor a lapse in judgment, but should I find you've withheld anything else, I'll be forced to turn you over to the general. So, I want you to think very hard before you answer. Is there something more you wish to tell me?"

"No sir," Neo said quietly after a moment.

Ozpin nodded, "Very well. Should you remember anything, I advise you come to me before I find out for myself. I won't levy any sort of punishment against you per-say, however, I'll be extending my watch over you indefinitely. That will be all."

"That's it?" Ironwood asked angrily. "You're simply letting her go? Ozpin, the Vytal Festival is less than a month away, we can't have liabilities like her compromising its security! Asher what's just happened, I'll be stationing guards throughout this campus to ensure that Miss Schnee's captors, or anyone else from their operation for that matter, won't step foot in this school. As for Neo, she will be coming with me for further interrogation, and—"

"She will do no such thing," Ozpin sternly interrupted. "I've had her under close watch since her arrival, and I have no reason to suspect she poses any threat to the school, the festival, or anyone else."

The general sighed, "You may have forgotten, but I've been appointed as head of security for this event, and I will not allow anyone here who is a risk to the safety of the people."

"And if I should come across anyone whom I feel is, I'll let you know right away. Now then, Neo, Weiss, the two of you are dismissed. The general and I need to speak in private."

The girls nodded and quickly left the room, Ironwood glaring at Neo until they were out of sight. Weiss closed the doors behind them, and Neo dropped the ground the instant they shut, unable to contain her emotions.

"Weiss, I'm so sorry," she said in tears. "I never thought—"

Weiss didn't wait for her to finish, "What the hell were you thinking!? How could you make an agreement like that?"

"I'm sorry! I didn't want you guys to get hurt, and—"

"Well look how that worked out! You can't just—" Weiss stopped web she turned and saw the look of despair in her girlfriend's eyes. She sighed and collected her thoughts. "Neo, I know you meant well, but you should've known better than to trust them."

"I know, I know! I-I didn't want to do it, but I... I just... I don't even know. Weiss, I'm so sorry, please forgive me."

The heiress' gaze softened, and she took a seat beside Neo on the floor, "I forgive you. Just promise me you won't keep secrets like that anymore."

"I promise," Neo replied weakly.

"Good, now let's go," Weiss said, standing up and pulling Neo to her feet. "I want to get back to the room, I really need to lay down."

"Of course," Neo replied, taking her girlfriend's hand and leading her back to the dorms.

"So, did you get to talk to Neptune?" Weiss asked as they approached their room.

"Mhm! He didn't want to at first, but I got through to him. He's gonna be just fine."

"I'm glad to hear that." They arrived at their room and were greeted by that rest of their team, who had already been informed of what happened via a message from Ozpin on their scrolls. Weiss got into bed as Neo explained what she had told Ozpin. The team wasn't happy with her, but what they cared about more was that both her and Weiss were alright. She was relieved they weren't angrier, and turned back to Weiss.

She walked over and kissed the heiress' forehead, "Get some rest, we still have a date tonight if you're feeling up to it."

"It'll take a lot more than this to make me miss it," Weiss smiled, and was asleep within minutes.

"I've never seen Weiss this happy before," Blake said, looking over at Neo. "I don't think she's smiled this much since Zwei was here. You've made a real impression on her."

"No kidding," Yang added. "You might've actually melted the ice queen's frozen heart."

Neo smiled, "I've never been this happy before either. I know it's only been a week since we met, and a day since we got together, but I don't think there's any doubt about it in my mind... I love her."

"Awww!" came in unison from the rest of the team, making her blush.

Ruby giggled, "So, can I ask you something?"

"Anything," Neo replied.

"Can we pleeeease call you two Weiss Cream?"