Suddenly the door flew open to the women's bathroom at the end of the west wing of the Beacon Academy main building. A blur shot through the room, quickly throwing open the doors of each stall, confirming that no girls were in the bathroom at that moment.

Approaching the full length mirror by the door, an unsettled Blake Belladonna stood looking in the mirror. Slowly, without looking away from her reflection, Blake reached up and unwrapped the bow that rested delicately upon her head. As the bow unfolded into her hand it revealed a pair of beautiful black cat ears. Though they were lovely and satin, Blake did not see them that way.

For Blake, her ears were a badge she wore. She wanted to be proud of them and her people as she was raised. She wanted the world to accept her and other fauna as equal. Wasn't she just as capable as anyone else. Didn't she love, and care, and feel just like everyone else? Then why was what she felt worth so much less. Looking in the mirror, she began feeling as if it might be because the world was right. Maybe she was worthless.

At that moment the door opened and so entered the graceful and flawless Weiss Schnee. "Oh hey, Blake." Blake quickly moved to the sink, wiping away a tear and pretending to wash her hands.

"Hey," Blake replied looking down. Weiss' smile quickly turned quizzical as she turned to look at Blake. The girl seemed distraught and uncomfortable, something felt off. That's when Weiss noticed Blake's ears. She had missed it at first because she was so used to seeing Blake without her bow in the room. But here? In public? Something was wrong.

"Hey, Belladonna. What are you doing… here?" Weiss queried as she began applying makeup in the mirror. "Isn't your next class in the north tower?" Weiss wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on with Blake but she wanted to play it cool until she was sure what was wrong.

"I don't know. I'm just here." Blake tried to sound distant and dismissive, but she knew she was barely succeeding and so did Weiss.

"No, really what's going on?"

"Noth.." Blake turned and ran for the door.

Weiss had to act.

As Blake reached the door a glyph formed over the handle. Blake pulled against the door but it would not budge. She sank to the floor and began crying.

Weiss frowned. Reaching across the counter, she retrieved Blake's bow and walked to her to sit down. "Come here." Weiss pulled the crying girl into her arms and re-tied her bow over Blake's ears. "It's okay, you stray. You don't have to tell me what's wrong, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here." Weiss smiled as Blake looked up at her, the girl's eyes were full of tears and a mixture of many emotions. But at least two things were for sure, Blake knew she was going to be okay and Weiss knew that she would always protect her little kitten. And with this knowledge, Blake nuzzled closer to Weiss, Weiss began to pet Blake's hair, and the two sat there skipping their next class

-RWBY-RWBY-RWBY-

"Wake up, dunce."

Blake Belladonna woke with a start. She had fallen asleep in Weiss' lap. She was surprised to hear a softness in the tone of the usually painfully sarcastic girl looking down at her.

"Weiss?"

"Yes," said Weiss Schnee, her smile beginning to turn back into the usual scowl of disapproval she used to mask the fact that she had feelings. "It's time to get up. You slept through two classes and I will not be missing dinner over you. Up, up, up." Weiss ushered the girl to her feet and bid her come to the countertop by the sinks.

A still groggy and barely awake Blake sauntered over to the counter.

"Now let's get you cleaned up," Weiss said patting the countertop to imply that Blake was to sit. Without waiting to see if her directions had been followed - as she fully expected they had - Weiss entered a stall and grabbed some tissue.

She turned around to no surprises and found a quiet, seated Blake. Facing Blake, Weiss ran some water over the tissue and raised to Blake's face. Most of Blake's tears we dry, but had left salty tracks that simply would not do for her dark and mysterious image that she liked to maintain these days. After a moment Blake's face was clean and Weiss was working on the bow that had shifted during Blake's nap. As she did she began to talk.

"Hey, Blake look at me." She looped the bow. "I'm only going to say this once so listen. You are beautiful. I don't care what's going on in that head of yours. Don't you dare shed another tear because you're different."

While Weiss spoke, Blake shrank into herself. The normally outwardly strong girl seemed to shrink under the pressure of the harsh but caring words. The truth was that Blake couldn't believe her. Blake didn't believe she was beautiful. She didn't even really believe she was much good at anything. Most days the only thing that kept her going was the fact that she had so many sins to atone for. So as this wonderful girl tried to help her, Blake couldn't help but to feel small and alone.

That was when Weiss finished her bow and lifted her chin.

"Look, if you're too dumb to have the right opinion of yourself, then your opinion doesn't get to count. Throw it away and use mine." Weiss offered a faint smile. She knew she was terrible at this being nice thing, but Blake was her friend and she had to try. "Now come on I'm starving." Weiss walked to the door and the binding glyph vanished as she opened the door. Blake sat for a moment and after a deep breath got up and walked out, cutting in front of Weiss rudely.

As she passed by, in her usual dry and stoic tone she spoke. "We never speak of this." She continued on. Weiss smiled faintly.

-RWBY-RWBY-RWBY-

It took no time at all to arrive in the dining hall where Ruby was furiously stuffing her face full of meats, cheeses, and various other food. Blake quickly sat down, reached for Yang's bag and took out one of her books.

"How did that even get in there?" Yang said tiling her head sideways. Blake stared at her blankly over the top of the book as if to say 'don't worry about it'. "So… anyway where have you two been?"

"Disgusting," Weiss spat. "Why even bother with silverware? You could just eat out of a trough." Weiss starred at Ruby with obvious disgust. Ruby froze and locked eyes with her. Meanwhile, without breaking eye contact, Ruby slowly raised the fork in her left hand to her mouth to finish the bite she had paused on.

"Ow!" Ruby missed her mouth, managing to poke herself in the eye with a chunk of potato. Yang's boisterous laugh filled the room rising a little higher than the dull roar of a cafeteria filled with students. Blake smiled with a small chuckle and continued to read her book. Weiss successfully stifled a laugh long before it reached her lips. Instead she released a contemptuous huff, muttering something that sounded quite like brute under her breath. Ruby simply frowned and stared at the potato.

"I shant be bested by a spud like you!" She suddenly exclaimed and began devouring the remaining food in sight. Weiss smiled inwardly as she looked at girl somehow had managed to work her way into Weiss' lonely and guarded heart.

At first Weiss had found the girl insufferable. After all she had knocked over all of Weiss' bags. They were white and some stains never come out. She had to buy a whole new set. but then she showed that she wasn't completely useless and after a while Weiss had seen her begin to grow into a fairly adequate leader. If only she would just stop being so childish. Though deep down, Weiss knew the real question in need of an answer was when was she, the fearless and flawless Weiss Schnee, going to work up the courage to admit the truth to herself.

Well it didn't matter. That day was not today.

**I have no ownership of or affiliation with the official release of RWBY***