Miss You

November 6th, 2033

If there was one silver lining to Asher's hospitalization, it was how quickly time passed. By the time he woke up, October had come and gone, and much of what had been in progress had already wrapped up in his absence.

According to his own timeline, the automated manufacturing facility should have been completed by late October. That meant it was now fully operational—at least in terms of hardware. All that remained was for him to link the facility to his private network and develop the software that would control the equipment.

Of course, the downside was that it would be a while before he could get to work, even remotely.

As he lay there, a knock at the door caught his attention. After everything that had happened, his parents had stationed guards throughout the floor, both for his protection and to keep the paparazzi at bay.

That meant whoever was knocking—aside from hospital staff—was someone he personally knew and had been cleared by his parents.

"Come in," Asher called, and the door swung open a moment later.

He wasn't surprised to see Liv, but he hadn't expected her outfit. He was used to seeing her in formal attire, so the oversized deep-blue turtleneck sweater, its sleeves puffing out slightly, was a noticeable change.

The wide-leg trousers, the brown shoulder bag, and the golden hoop earrings were just as unfamiliar. It was a casual look—something only practical in Atlas, where the temperature was artificially controlled.

"Hey, Asher," Liv greeted, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion as she stepped into the hospital room. Her tail swayed behind her, brushing against the door and pulling it shut as she entered.

"Liv. You're the third person to visit me since I woke up—and the third to be out of breath," Asher noted. As he spoke, Liv grabbed a chair from near the wall, dragged it over to his bedside, and set her bag down before sitting.

"Yeah, well, your parents called me out of nowhere today and told me you woke up and wanted to see me." Asher raised an eyebrow.

"Did they mention the part where I said, 'when you have time'?"

Liv nodded.

"Of course they did. But considering I'm your attorney—and your parents pay me a lot, like way more than normal—I made time." She brushed a hand through her hair, which looked like it had been styled not too long ago but was now slightly disheveled, likely from her rushing over.

"I see. Well, I hope I didn't ruin anything." Asher gave her a once-over, and Liv followed his gaze.

"Oh… yeah. I was on a date. Trying out this matchmaking thing on my scroll…" She sighed.

"It wasn't going great. Pretty sure the guy was only interested in me because I'm a Faunus, judging by how many times he asked to touch my tail. And all the weird questions. Some people just have that kink, I guess. No idea why."

"Huh. Well, if it's any consolation, you look good," Asher remarked.

Liv blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before a smile crept onto her face.

"Thanks. But I doubt you called me here to talk about my dating life. So, what's up? How are you feeling?" Her eyes scanned him carefully, taking in the way he lay in the hospital bed. His voice, his expressions—none of them seemed to match the state of his body.

"Not too bad. I can't say I enjoy not being able to move or work whenever I want," Asher admitted, earning a chuckle from Liv.

"Yeah, that sounds like you…" Her words trailed off before she continued.

"If I'm being honest, part of me didn't believe it when they said you were in critical condition, it sounded like a dream. I don't know… the idea of you being hurt or worse just didn't fit the image I had of you." She wasn't even sure what she was trying to say, but Asher seemed to understand anyway.

"Well, sorry to ruin that for you," he said with a smirk.

"But I'm just like anyone else—if I get shot, I bleed. And if I fall from an airship a thousand meters in the sky… well, as you can see, I'll manage." That earned a laugh from both of them. The conversation drifted after that, stretching on for nearly half an hour as they caught up on things that weren't particularly important—just idle talk between friends.

Eventually, Asher asked, "So, how have Indigo and the others been holding up without me hovering over their shoulders?"

Liv paused, considering for a moment before giving a half nod.

"Not bad, based on the way you told me to evaluate them. At first, they were confused about why you weren't checking in on them, but when I explained you'd been hospitalized, they got back to work pretty quickly."

"Interesting… seems they're more motivated than I thought," Asher mused.

"Yeah. Oh, and Indigo told me to tell you to recover faster. Apparently, they're worried they won't get paid properly if their contract holder stays hospitalized," Liv added.

Asher smirked.

"Is that right? Well, tell her I'll do my best. That aside, have any other issues come up, or has it been peaceful?"

Liv shook her head.

"Depends on what you consider peaceful. Your little incident caused a lot of buzz, which led to a massive crackdown on crime—a joint effort between the police and the Atlas military, led by none other than our favorite general." She exhaled.

"Normally, I'm against operations like that, but in this case, I think it was necessary." It was no exaggeration to say the White Fang pulling something like this in Atlas of all places was a big deal.

The operation had been well-planned and would have gone off without a hitch if not for Asher and Weiss's intervention. The people of Atlas and Mantle had been rattled, and a show of force had helped calm the panic. The last thing either city needed was a surge of negative emotions attracting Grimm.

Asher let out a low hum at that, but said nothing, so Liv took that as her cue to move on.

"On the plus side, I got confirmation that the warehouse renovations were finished while you were out. They didn't touch the equipment or networking, just like you requested."

"Good. That means everything's still on schedule," Asher said, sounding satisfied.

"So far, everyone's been bringing me good news." Liv folded her arms.

"You say that like you were expecting a flood of bad news the second you woke up. Did you really think everything you worked for would just fall apart because you were unconscious for a little while?" Her tone was lighthearted, but when Asher met her gaze, her smile faltered slightly.

Oh, right… That has happened to him before, hasn't it?

"Sorry, that was insensitive," she said quickly.

Asher shook his head.

"It's fine." Wanting to steer the conversation away from the awkward corner she'd backed it into, Liv glanced around the room. Her eyes landed on a stack of closed boxes in the corner, separate from the flowers and gift baskets people had sent him.

"By the way, what are those?"

"Oh, those are the books I asked my parents to bring me. Once I can move my arms and neck again, I'll read through them to keep from getting bored."

"Huh. If you were anyone else, I'd be surprised you didn't ask them to install a TV. But knowing you? Not so much." She smirked.

"Anyway, was there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

Asher thought for a moment before answering, "Yeah. If you could get in touch with Russet and have him send me the Network ID for the warehouse, I'd appreciate it."

"The Network ID?" Liv raised a brow, more curious than skeptical.

"What do you need that for?"

"Well, since I'm going to be stuck here, I figured I might as well get a head start on a few things," Asher replied with a small smile.

=====================================•=====================================

November 22nd, 2033

Time passed, and as the commotion surrounding the White Fang incident faded, it was gradually replaced by the growing excitement for the upcoming 39th Vytal Festival. The international event, held every two years, rotated between the four Kingdoms, and this time, it was Mistral's turn to host.

The festival always began in November and ended in December, aligning with the conclusion of the Huntsman Academies' semesters. The final rounds of the Vytal Festival Tournament—where students from all four kingdoms competed—took place just before the two-week winter break that carried into the new year.

Even Asher, who wasn't particularly interested in this year's festival, couldn't completely ignore the constant buzz about it when he occasionally checked the news on his scroll from his hospital bed. Nearby, Nurse Calli pulled open the blinds, allowing sunlight to stream into the room.

She then cracked the window slightly, letting in a refreshing breeze.

"How's that? Too cold?" She asked.

Asher glanced up and shook his head.

"No, it's perfect. Thanks. It was feeling a little dreary in here."

"Great. And how's your body feeling? We took off your casts a couple of days ago—any pain or discomfort when you move?" Once again, Asher shook his head, offering a friendly smile, as he moved his neck and shoulder.

"Still a bit stiff, but I figure that's also from being in bed for over a month. Walking with the crutches is getting easier too, so I can't complain."

"Alright, sounds good. I'll go grab your lunch, so just call me if you need anything." She flashed him a warm smile before heading for the door.

"Of course. Thank you," Asher replied. 

As Nurse Calli stepped out into the hallway, she glanced to her right and seemed to spot someone. Asher noticed her pause before she spoke.

"Oh, are you here to visit Asher? You're in luck—he's awake. You can go right in."

"Thank you," a familiar voice responded.

Nurse Calli nodded and continued on her way. A moment later, Asher heard the distinct click of heels approaching. Soon enough, rounding into view from the doorway, Weiss stepped inside. Her familiar white hair, usually tied up, was let down today, and she wore one of the elegant dresses he had seen her in during her previous visits.

"Oh, hey, Weiss," Asher greeted her with a smile, as if weeks hadn't passed since they last saw each other. Stepping fully into the room, she closed the door behind her, glancing around briefly before her gaze settled on him.

"Sorry I didn't visit right after you woke up. A lot's been happening since the airship incident," Weiss said softly, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. She walked over without bothering to grab a chair and sat directly on the edge of the hospital bed.

"Oh? You want to talk about it?" Asher asked, setting his scroll aside.

"Hmm? Oh, no. It's just… father's been trying to milk this whole savior angle for weeks now—reaching out to everyone we helped rescue from the airship, spinning the story for his own gain. It's been exhausting, you wouldn't even believe it." She let out a sigh, shaking her head.

"But it's fine. I'm not going to sit here and vent to you while you're stuck in a hospital bed." Taking a deep breath, she reached out, gently taking his hand in hers. Just the contact alone made her exhale in relief, a quiet, contented sound escaping her lips.

Asher squeezed her hand in return, brushing the back of it with his thumb before giving a light tug, pulling her closer. She clearly wanted to hug him but was hesitating, likely worried about hurting him.

Seeing that, he reassured her, "It's fine. I'm feeling a lot better now."

Hearing that, she finally allowed herself to lean in, resting her head against his chest. Her arm wrapped around him, her ear pressed against him, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was soothing in a way she hadn't expected, and she practically melted against him, sinking into the warmth of his presence.

For a while, neither of them spoke, simply staying there in quiet comfort.

Then, in a near whisper, Weiss muttered, "I've missed you… so much."

Her grip around him tightened slightly.

"I visited you every day I could. When they rushed you to the hospital, I thought… I thought maybe…" She couldn't bring herself to finish, her voice catching as she lifted her head to look up at him. Her eyes were soft, glistening with unshed tears.

Asher's expression softened even more. With the hand that wasn't holding hers, he reached up, his fingers brushing gently against her cheek.

"I know," he murmured.

"My father told me. I really do appreciate it, Weiss—especially after I left you to handle everything on the airship alone." At that, Weiss shook her head firmly.

"No, don't say that. I left you alone with that monster… I was useless, and you had to fight him on your own." Her voice wavered.

"I know you did your best, but… please, don't ever do something like that again. I don't think I can handle it." Hearing those words, Asher couldn't help but recall what his parents had told him.

Their words were so similar, it made Asher pause for a moment.

Then, with a teasing grin, he nodded and said, "Alright, no more jumping out of airships without a parachute."

Weiss immediately frowned, a slight pout forming on her lips.

"You know that's not what I meant."

"Yeah, but you looked like you were going to cry if I said anything else," he replied, his fingers continuing their soft caress along her cheek.

Weiss flushed slightly, pretending to glare at him.

"I did tell you how much I hate when you tease me, right? I thought maybe it would've gotten better after you fell out of the sky."

Asher's hand slid to the base of her neck as she spoke, and she tensed—just for a moment—before he murmured, "You want me to stop?"

She met his gaze, searching his eyes before shaking her head.

Leaning in, she whispered, "No… but it does make me want to shut you up sometimes."

Closing the space between them, her lips pressed against his, their breaths mingling as she shifted further onto the bed. Any hesitation she'd had about accidentally hurting him melted away, replaced by something deeper, something undeniable.

Asher's hand trailed down her back, wrapping around her waist as they kissed. The air between them grew heated, his lips leaving hers to trace a path along the corner of her mouth, down to her jaw, and finally to her neck. Instinctively, Weiss leaned into him, burying her face against his shoulder as his breath turned uneven.

As Asher's lips grazed her skin, he muttered, "You know, we probably shouldn't be doing this in a hospital."

Weiss let out a soft hum, barely hearing him over the warmth pooling inside her.

Then, as his tongue flicked against her skin, she shuddered and whispered through shallow breaths, "I- I know… but I missed you…"

Asher chuckled, the vibrations from his laughter traveling through Weiss's body as he murmured, "I missed you too. But my nurse is going to be back with my lunch soon, and I doubt you want her to see you like this."

Weiss sighed, sitting up as she leveled a narrowed gaze at him. After a moment, she let out an annoyed groan.

"Fine, but you're making this up to me when you're better. I want… another sleepover." Asher raised a brow but shrugged.

"Sure, if you and Whitley are-"

"No Whitley," Weiss cut in quickly, shaking her head. She leaned forward slightly, her voice quieter but firm.

"Just you and me. A private… sleepover. Okay?" Asher froze for a second before a slow smile spread across his face. He caught the faint red on her ears as she tried to say it confidently.

"Hmm, alright. Deal." With that, they let the moment pass, settling into a quieter comfort. Asher shifted to give Weiss room, and she nestled into the bed beside him. When Nurse Calli returned with his lunch, she checked on him briefly but quickly excused herself upon realizing she was intruding.

Once he finished his meal, the only thing left was the bowl of fruit, which he set between them. Weiss picked through it, favoring the blueberries, while feeding Asher whatever she didn't want despite it being his lunch. He had gone back to his scroll, continuing where he'd left off before she arrived.

Being so close to him, she couldn't help but glance at the screen—lines of code scrolling rapidly as his fingers moved across the small keyboard with practiced ease.

She fed him a grape before asking, half in disbelief, "You're programming on your scroll?"

Asher didn't slow down, his hands moving with precision as he answered between bites, "Yeah. Writing software for the equipment in a factory I own. I originally planned to do it at home, but since I'm stuck here a little longer, I might as well get a head start."

"You have a factory?" Weiss blinked, surprised.

He nodded.

"Mhm. Technically, it's a private military facility since I'm working with Ironwood, but I'm sure I can get authorization to show you around—once there's something interesting to see."

"Like another date?" Weiss teased, arching a brow.

Asher laughed.

"Sure, if you wanna call it that. Let's just hope this one goes a little better."

=====================================•=====================================

During Asher's time in the hospital, he received more and more visitors, though they varied from day to day. The ones who came most often were his parents and Weiss—who was sometimes accompanied by Whitley.

Even General Ironwood and Winter stopped by at one point. While it was partly a goodwill gesture, their visit also served another purpose: gathering whatever information they could about the White Fang attack. Since Asher had been hospitalized, the only ones they'd been able to question were Weiss and the hostages—neither of whom knew much.

As for Asher, he had learned slightly more during his fight with the White Fang Commander, but not enough to provide a solid lead, leaving them stuck. 

And so, on the twenty-eighth, he was finally discharged, allowed to continue his recovery at home. Doctor Raye would still check in on him occasionally over the next month as a precaution, but otherwise, he was free.

By that time, his automated manufacturing facility was fully operational. He had completed the software to run all the equipment remotely and linked the warehouse's network to his own private system while hospitalized. Meanwhile, Indigo and her team's training had reached its final stages.

There was only one thing left to do.

Prepare his Insurgents' graduation present.