"Hey, Sienna!" Sienna woke to the smiling face of Osiria, who was sitting on top of her, shaking her awake.

Sienna groaned. "What is it?" She asked before realizing the sun was up and it was time to get ready for class.

"Today is our real first day! Aren't you excited? The others are already downstairs eating breakfast, so hurry up!" Osiria got off of Sienna's bed before noticing that Sienna had worn her black beanie all night. "And take off that stupid hat! It's tacky and collects sweat like a water pitcher!" Osiria said as she snatched the beanie off of Sienna's head before she could stop her. The action revealed Sienna's light brown cat ears, one of which had part of it torn off.

"Hey, give it back!" Sienna said, jumping out of bed and chasing Osiria around the already messy dorm room as she dangled it tauntingly. "I still have to get ready!"

"Oh, you don't need this to get ready. You need clothes, makeup, you know, the usual stuff." Osiria said casually.

"Hat, now. Give it to me." Sienna growled as she held out her hand, expecting Osiria to place the hat in her palm. Osiria noticed that Sienna's cat ears were flattened in annoyance.

"Aw, come on. I've never talked to a Faunus before. Why hide who you are? You look so cute!" Osiria argued.

Sienna's ears lifted slowly, then flattened again. "It's not who I am, it's what I am, and it's none of your concern." She crossed her arms and turned away from her cousin.

"Excuse me? I am your teammate, not to mention your cousin. It's always my concern." Osiria said. "If it's bullies you're worried about, you shouldn't be. You're like, the strongest person I know! You can take anyone down, if you really wanted to!"

"Although we've made great strides for Faunus equality, that's not enough to get rid of the human nature of prejudice and acting on that prejudice." Sienna explained.

"How do you know?" Osiria asked.

"Because I've experienced it!" Sienna shouted. "Yang was just like you during my childhood, but Blake didn't listen. We both believed it would be best if we hid it. My first combat school, the only friend I had ever made...he convinced me to open up to him. I couldn't stop myself. He made me tell him everything, even take out the bow my mom had given me. Ever since then, he dangled it in front of me. I had to do what he said or else he'd tell everyone my secret."

Osiria tilted her head. "So, what happened?"

"He didn't care, eventually. I was revealed, even though I didn't do anything wrong. It was proof of dominance. It was fine at first, then it started. The insults, the lesser treatment. Someone even hooked one of my ears and tore part of it off. It was getting harder and harder to learn, and I had to learn my semblance and fight back at a young age. Eventually, I had to switch schools. Yang caved and got me that hat, and I was human, an equal, again."

Osiria sighed and handed Sienna her beanie. "Here. Just know, that not everyone is like that. And things are different now."

Sienna took it and put it back firmly on her head. She smiled lightly. "Thanks, just know that this is my decision."

"But if you would just try-"

"You know not of which you speak. Now if you excuse me, I have to go get ready." Sienna said as she started towards the bathroom.

"I'll wait for you." Osiria said quietly, sitting down on Sienna's bed, since it was the lower bunk.

"And, Osiria?" Sienna asked, peeking her head out of the bathroom door.

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell anyone about this. I don't want to be trapped on the leash of my own cousin."

"Leash?"

"Trust is like a leash. The more you tell someone, the shorter the leash is, the closer you are to them. If you are unleashed, chaos happens to the beast on the leash, but the owner is unscathed."

"Oh. No, I won't do that."

"Right. That's what they all say."

The root of suffering is attachment.

-Buddha

Me too, Sienna. Me too.

More RWBY.

Ugh I feel like Osiria is too much like Ruby and Sienna is too much like Blake...gee, I hope not. I'm trying hard to keep them separate.

Anyway, a little dialogue bit about Sienna's Faunus heritage. I was fascinated with the Faunus ever since The Stray, so I'm glad I got to talk about it a little while incorporating Sienna's trust issues.

Welp, reviews are encouraged as always!

(Ugh sorry for these being so short)