Author's Note: You know what rather ironic conclusion I came to while writing this chapter was?
Brain: That the hardest part of novelization is actually novelizing the parts that do happen in the show?
Damn right it is. You'd think it'd be easy since you're just writing down what's already occurred but noooooo…trying to make them interesting for the reader when they've seen it already is the really hard part. Not to mention me weaving my own plots into them. Just had a difficult time getting through this chapter and I hope I didn't let it show too much here. Lingering fatigue from the Black Trailer may have something to do with it.
Brain: Well that and the constant mini-snowstorms we kept getting the past two weeks that constantly shifted our already hectic work schedule around. Reminds me, can't wait until we get back to our sixty hour work weeks.
As long as we can at least churn out two chapters a month we may remain on schedule despite this delay. Well, barring any more brilliant ideas on your part that may extend this fic more than our previously-planned chapters.
Brain: I'm sure we can make room for the Oobleck idea in one of them! It doesn't have to turn out into its own chapter!
*sarcastic* Oh yeah, where have I heard that before? 'Come on xT, this can stay as a quick and fun little oneshot, I swear! Just write it and be done with it!' YOU SAID THAT FIVE TIMES AND ONLY TWO OF THEM STAYED AS ONESHOTS!
Brain: And look how great they turned out to be!
Uugghh… *rubs temples* Lets just start this already.
After Weiss pulled her dress out from within her locker, the only article of clothing left hanging was the pale blue bolero jacket. It swung in place due to the rather forceful retrieval of the former and when it stopped it was slightly turned to present half of the snowflake-shaped crest of the Schnee dynasty towards the young heiress.
The symbol was successful at galvanizing her when she saw it although it may've influenced one too many tugs against the knot of the sash which bordered on painful with how tight the makeshift belt became. That just motivated her to drive her feet and calves into her boots with similar results as the action inflicted a sting at her heels. All of this worked to feed her anger and desire to correct a mistake that should've never been made in the first place.
The fencer did exert caution upon picking up her specially-designed rapier. Holding it up in front of her face, Weiss allowed her Aura to flare briefly so that its energy may flow into Myrtenaster. The revolving cylinder spun in response to show off the multi-colored Dust cartridges and she nodded in approval at seeing that each chamber was filled with the refined power that would fuel whatever spell she chose to unleash.
Sticking it in its place at her side, Weiss reached back into her locker to get her jacket before she halted so that her fingertips were left to brush against the material. Acting on a sudden impulse, she nudged the jacket enough to bring the whole crest into view.
The mark of her family represented everything that she wished to obtain when the time finally came. Whereas her home could be seen as a focal point of their established sovereignty, the crest was meant to show how far their influence had spread with every vial and crate of Dust that was stamped with it such as the few containers she kept at the top shelf of her locker. It was that influence that was dispersed all throughout Remnant whether by land, sea, or air.
Her father had spoken true: one day, Weiss would inherit not only everything that he and his father built but the responsibility that would come in making sure that their dynasty would further prosper. There was always room for expansion if you had the right opportunities and the strength to pursue them.
Weiss wanted to prove that she had it. Her jacket, her vials of Dust, her glyphs, all of them had this badge that was meant to transmit the pride and fortune that came with the name Schnee. Wherever Weiss would go, whatever she would accomplish, it would all be sent with a message that she was the rightful recipient of the title that awaited her. Here in Beacon, she would prove that she had the skill and fortitude to become a powerful ally or a fearsome enemy to any who held wavering opinions about her.
There was just one obstacle that was preventing her message from getting through to the public.
The hostility that a certain nose-picking girl encouraged returned and Weiss forcibly tugged the jacket free from the hanger. Once she got her arms through the sleeves and brought it tight around her shoulders, she gathered up the scattered pieces of her school uniform and all but flung them into the locker before shutting it. She'll worry about the proper storage of uniforms for another day.
The close proximity of the lockers to Port's classroom probably contributed to this live performance that Weiss was starting to suspect wasn't an irregular occurrence when it came to Beacon. Self-absorbed or not, Weiss had to admit that she found this teaching method to be rather invigorating. The prospect and obvious danger of combat with a monster added that extra dose of adrenaline and excitement that had been missing from her controlled sparring matches, as well as the fear.
It had been the same with the Beowolves. Surrounded by a pack of them, Weiss knew that the initial dread was due to her self-preservation instincts being triggered in response to the threat of serious harm. She overcame it then, replacing it with a slowly-building sense of exhilaration as she forced herself to stand defiantly against the beasts that unveiled themselves from the shadows in order to kill her.
She felt something else too. Behind the raised hilt of Myrtenaster, it had shaped a sneer that had come over her features just as she made a thrust towards what she assumed was the alpha of the pack.
We will be monitored and graded but instructors won't interfere, Weiss remembered. The headmaster had said that for the duration of the initiation but she wondered if that mandate extended beyond that. If she found herself in trouble, would Professor Port remain in place?
It was a concern that didn't hold any sway over Weiss. She wouldn't need help. This underlying sense of fear beneath the anticipation was sorely misplaced.
When Weiss opened the door to the lecture hall, she managed to catch the clamor of excited conversation in response to the show that the students were waiting for until it stopped upon the arrival of the star. Keeping her chin held high and back perfectly straight, Weiss strutted in.
Port was standing in a similarly dignified manner with his arms held behind his back. The persistent snarling of the animal caged at his side did little to affect his stance or his tone when he politely asked, "Are you ready to begin, my dear?"
Forgoing a verbal response, Weiss let her drawing of Myrtenaster do the talking for her. Presenting the blade ahead of her, the fencer rolled her shoulders back while her right foot slid forward. The possibilities of what her opponent could be went through her mind.
Not that big, she theorized. Cage is too small for anything like an Ursa or Beowolf. Maybe something I haven't-
"Go Weiss!"
Her concentration slipped at the shout of encouragement from Yang. She refused to turn away from her prey but Weiss did glance to see that her chosen spot just happened to put her in front of the desk shared by her team. Oh, great.
Even Blake was offering her support unnecessarily. "Fight well!"
"Yeah! Represent Team RWBY!"
Weiss found that she couldn't ignore that last one. She turned and snapped, "Ruby, I'm trying to focus!"
The smile that had been on the young girl's face dissolved at the loud reprimand. "Oh, um…" She lowered the arms that she had raised in excitement as she replied with a meek, "Sorry."
Weiss maintained her narrowed-eyed stare on Ruby for what she thought was an appropriate length of time to, hopefully, keep her quiet. She was not doing this to represent her team; she was only representing herself. The victory that she would seize here would come from her efforts alone.
Just as she recalled the Beowolves, she remembered how Ruby had blundered into the path of her strike. What should've been a straightforward fight turned into a hasty retreat when Weiss had set a portion of the forest on fire because of her partner's lack of communication. The heiress later came to the conclusion that Ruby ruined the demonstration that should've convinced the observers that she was the better candidate and Weiss was not going to let her do the same for this second chance.
Redirecting her sights back to the cage, Weiss saw that Port had retrieved a weapon that looked as archaic as the ones her family collected. By all the elements of Dust, that gunstock was made out of wood and she questioned the practicality of the location of the axe blades that were attached to it.
"Alright!" came his baritone call. "Let the match begin!"
Practicality aside, the blades were effective enough to cleave through the lock when Port swung this blunderaxe down. Without it the entire door of the cage fell away to reveal its occupant. Weiss barely had time to recognize the black and white of fur and bone-like protrusions that the Grimm were known for before her opponent was racing out of its prison.
She reacted to the charging creature by stepping to the side and slashing with her rapier. A clang resounded within the classroom as Weiss's blade deflected off the armored flank, the impact sending a shock up her arm. The fencer used it to turn her sidestep into a roll to put more distance between them, ending in a crouch.
Her dark-spawned enemy swung its wide body around, its cloven hooves sliding across the smooth tiles of the floor as it came to a halt. Four red eyes locked onto Weiss while the pig-like creature snorted.
The large tusks that curved in front of its armored head matched the written diagram that Weiss had minutes ago copied as well as the two smaller pairs that jutted up and down at its snout. What the heiress hadn't seen but could now, however, were the rows of razor-sharp teeth that lined its mouth. Whereas a Beowolf and an Ursa's bony growths tend to look more like spikes to add to their armaments, the ones on this Grimm were smoother and resembled armor plating that protected its bulk.
Boarbatusk.
"Ha-ha, wasn't expecting that were you?"
Weiss gave Port a quick peek over her shoulder. There came a sense of déjà vu as Weiss imagined herself back in her training room practicing her technique while her trainer watched her and piqued up with a compliment or advice. During that time though, Weiss had been practicing against a training droid within the safety of the Schnee estate to get accepted into Beacon.
For this, the stakes were much higher. Examining the Boarbatusk, the heiress tried to establish a plan based on what she's seen so far. She had to consider the armor plating as impervious to normal physical attacks but they didn't cover everything. An accurate thrust with Myrtenaster's slim blade could slip between them and stab into the fur and fat to slay it.
Attacking head-on will be difficult, she surmised. The armor protects the sides but they become scarce as they get lower.
The Boarbatusk was fast but its hooves and the smooth floor of the room hampered its ability to stop and turn. Weiss could keep dodging and split open its flanks to cripple it further during another charge. It'll make it easier for her to select a proper location on its hide for a death blow. Maybe she should use a Dust spell?
"Hang in there, Weiss!" called Ruby.
Weiss tightened her grip on her rapier's hilt. No, there was no need to drag this out. She'll go for the direct approach for a quick kill. The front had its weaknesses too: the four eyes and even the slit of black fur located between the protected face and snout. A successful stab at either of those spots would allow Myrtenaster to pierce the brain.
She can make it work. She didn't need to waste her Dust. She would have to get past the tusks in order to reach those vulnerable points but she was confident that she could do it. The Boarbatusk was fast but she was faster. The best and brightest that the Schnee family had to offer outclassed anything that the darkness spawned.
After all, it was just a beast: a rabid animal that needs to be put down as such.
The Boarbatusk's legs tensed in time with Weiss's. When the former commenced a second charge, the latter sprung from her crouch to meet it with a thrust. Tusks and blade were extended as hooves struck against tile while boots glided over it.
With her eyes looking down the length of her blade, Weiss witnessed the pointed tip rushing towards her intended target. The Grimm seemed almost eager to throw itself onto her weapon and die. That was until it turned its head and used its tusks to parry Myrtenaster.
The heiress felt a moment of surprise that it accomplished such a feat but it paled in comparison to the pain of those same tusks slamming hard into her side. The cry that issued from her lips would've been shameful to her ears if not for her having to worry about another problem. Although she was lifted up into the air, instead of being flung back there came a sudden jerk of her sword arm that twisted her around and returned her to the floor.
The Boarbatusk had not only parried her weapon; it managed to get the blade stuck in between those tusks! It was Weiss's tight grip on Myrtenaster that stopped her from being separated from it and another tug from the Grimm threatened to wrench her arm out from its socket. The fencer's other hand joined in to try and pull her weapon free.
She barely noticed Port saying something but the Boarbatusk's barbaric snarling and her own struggle made it incomprehensible. What she was becoming aware of though was how this duel had devolved into a humiliating game of tug-of-war that the Grimm was winning if the dragging of her boots was any indication. It was taking all it had for her to just hold on.
"Come on Weiss, show it who's boss!"
Somehow she heard Ruby just fine and, before she could think of the folly of doing so, Weiss looked over to glare at her. Does she ever shut-?
As if its primitive mind could identify the opening, a particularly violent jerk of the Boarbatusk's head yanked the rapier from the heiress's hands and sent it spinning to the other side of the classroom behind it. Unarmed, Weiss tried to retreat only for the Grimm to bring those curved pair of ivories back around to bash into her.
This time there was nothing to anchor her. When she was knocked off her feet, Weiss sailed up and back before landing hard onto her stomach.
This was turning into a disaster. Having been standing as a model of pride and dignity a minute ago, she was now struggling to her knees weaponless and breathing labored while the weight of the class's attention bore down on her. Her Aura had prevented her from suffering any major injuries from the repeated blows but being knocked around didn't do anyone any good. Her stamina, she also knew, had never been that great; a result of packing too much training in too many fighting arts – sword and Dust - while balancing out her education in two meager years.
"Oh-ho!" came Port's voice. "Now what will you do without your weapon?"
The answer to that was obvious: she had to get her weapon back. Raising her head to see where her Myrtenaster had fallen, the heiress was instead met with the sight of the Boarbatusk in another charge that would end with her being trampled beneath it. Eyes going wide, she instinctively leaped to the side and out of the way to land in a roll that brought her stumbling to her feet.
There came a crash and a squeal of the Boarbatusk hitting something sturdier than it. She'll congratulate herself on her theory of its turning capabilities later. Right now she desperately ran for Myrtenaster that lay on the floor.
She dropped and slid the last few feet, the slim hilt filling her palm. She used the comforting weight of her reclaimed rapier to try and tame her racing thoughts to form a plan on how to-
"Weiss!" Ruby shouted. "Go for its belly! There's no armor there!"
The adrenaline, the unexpected intensity of the fight, and her desperation to salvage this mess already had her on her last nerve. Hearing that infuriating voice that was responsible for all of this yet again had Weiss whirling around, the last remnant of her composure breaking as she hollered, "STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!"
Any shame that should've come with the infallible Weiss Schnee having lost her cool wasn't present. All that the heiress felt was satisfaction at witnessing the shock that rose to Ruby's face.
She can do this on her own. She did not need help! With her so-called team leader having been silenced, Weiss directed a particularly frosty stare to her true enemy.
The Boarbatusk had recovered from its collision with one of the desks at this point and the red orbs that lacked a soul yet held plenty of violence met Weiss's frozen blues. With a roar, the Grimm jumped into the air where its body curled up on itself to form an armored ball that started spinning. As soon as it returned to the floor, it shot towards Weiss with speed that excelled its previous charges.
It did little to discourage the fencer's newfound resolve to see an end to this duel. She held up Myrtenaster, the fingers of her free hand brushing along the cylinder as she drew out the power of Nature's Wrath contained within the loaded cartridges. She extended the blade forward while pointing her other hand behind her.
The blue glyph materialized in front of Myrtenaster to create a wall in the Boarbatusk's path. As proven with countless others of its kind, the Grimm couldn't contend with the might of Dust as it slammed uselessly against the barrier. Squealing in pain, it uncurled from its ball and dropped to its back, dazed.
Weiss backflipped up to the second glyph that she formed above her. Once her boots touched it, the glyph turned black and stuck the heiress's feet to it. She pulled Myrtenaster back in preparation for the death blow.
The Boarbatusk remained unmoving with its defenseless belly in plain sight.
Weiss hesitated for one beat too many. Then, with gritted teeth, she launched herself down and buried her weapon to the hilt within the creature's body.
The Boarbatusk squealed with legs kicking in response to the strike. However, the sound and movement were short-lived as the swift approach of death quieted its cry and sapped the strength from its limbs to leave them hanging lifelessly.
Weiss dropped to her knees and a hand next to the corpse. She still had a grip on Myrtenaster, using it and its spot within the Grimm's innards as a prop to keep her from fully meeting the floor. Her shoulders shook as she panted for breath.
She refused to maintain this state of weakness with the attention of the entire class still on her. With the help of her rapier, Weiss started to push herself to her feet. As if setting it up perfectly, the Boarbatusk started to dissolve and the heiress hoped for a bit of theatrics to enhance her image as she stood triumphantly while the Grimm was disintegrating into dark wisps of smoke that curled and twisted around her.
Port seemed willing to contribute with some genuine praise. "Bravo, bravo! It seems that we are indeed in the presence of a true Huntress-in-training!"
The spirited words managed to get Weiss to overcome her lingering fatigue. She let her body collect a final deep inhalation of oxygen before she regulated her breathing. With a quick flourish of her weapon, she straightened her posture and held her head high despite the complaints of her own body that requested her to ease it. She also kept her gaze straight ahead to further establish this cool image and to stop any wanderings of her eyes that may bring her team into view.
"I'm afraid that's all the time we have for today," Port continued, now addressing the other students. "Be sure to cover the assigned readings and stay vigilant! Class dismissed!"
Weiss persisted in her refusal to bring her team into view. Purposely turning in such a way to keep them out of her sight, she walked out of the lecture hall, returning Myrtenaster to its place at her side as she did so. Even after she left she kept her spine and shoulders stiff. The continued complaining of her muscles was drowned out by her own mental criticism of what had just transpired.
What was wrong with me? she asked herself, her measured walk turning into an angry stomp once she was sure that she was no longer in sight of her fellow students. I shouldn't have tried to attack it head-on! That was an unnecessary risk and it nearly ruined everything!
She had won but did not feel anywhere near as victorious as she should've been. How could she possibly be proud of that shameful display? She had gotten hit, had gotten her weapon stuck, had lost her weapon, and had been driven to her knees. Was a Schnee heiress supposed to be scrambling around for her sword while being chased by overgrown swine?
She couldn't even find any kind of satisfaction when she killed the Boarbatusk. She had slain it with a skillful use of her glyphs and a precise stab from her Myrtenaster but any thoughts of how that might potentially turn her audience's thinking that she was an exceptional student were dampened by a single outburst.
Why couldn't she just keep quiet?
Somehow all of her misfortune always led back to Ruby. In this instance, her partner's incessant babbling had robbed her of everything; from her composure to her win.
They'll think I won because she told me its weakness, Weiss thought bitterly. I could've figured it out!
She may not have deduced that its stomach lacked any plating but she noticed how the armor became scarcer down there so it would've only been a matter of time. A few seconds at most. If Ruby had taken her previous hint to let her concentrate Weiss would've been able to do it by herself. Blake and Yang had remained silent so why didn't Ruby?
Weiss almost didn't go for it. When she had the Grimm dead to rights, the idea came to her to let it recover so that she could kill it another way. As tempting as it was, she recognized it as irrational to willingly give up on such an obvious opening. Besides, at that point it was best to end the fight there and avoid any additional embarrassment.
That's twice now. Twice that she got in my way.
This was all Ruby's fault.
There came the sound of hurried footsteps of someone trying to catch up to her. Weiss didn't need to bother using an iota of her mental functions to guess who it could possibly be. Despite knowing the futility of the effort, the heiress turned a corner a tad sharp to try and get out of the individual's sight to convince them to give up.
"Weiss!"
It didn't work and Weiss had gritted her teeth with the expectation. For what was becoming all too frequent, she found herself turning around right on cue to spot Ruby just as she came around the same corner and skidded to a halt. The incredulous look that she directed at Weiss did little to lessen her irritation as she practically snapped, "What?"
"What's wrong with you?" her partner asked, truly seeming to be utterly clueless. "Why are you being-?"
What? What? "What's wrong with me?" Weiss interrupted, unable to fathom how her team leader was making it sound like this was her doing. "What's wrong with you? You're supposed to be a leader and all you've been so far is a nuisance!"
Ruby actually had the nerve to appear offended. Emitting a noise of disbelief that further rankled the heiress, the younger girl questioned, "What did I do?"
What hasn't she done? Nearly blowing them off the side of the cliff, preventing Weiss from teaming up with a suitable partner, making her set a portion of the forest on fire, putting them on a suicidal flight on the back of a Nevermore, and her complete disregard for her academics that was dragging the heiress down with her.
Instead of listing all of these faults, Weiss exclaimed, "That's just it!" She thrust a finger towards Ruby. "You've done nothing to earn your position! Back in the forest you acted like a child and you've only continued to do so!"
The cloaked girl had shrunk back at the finger that had been directed at her and seemed to become even smaller as Weiss ranted. Any previous hints of defiance were crushed as Ruby's tone became morose. "Weiss, where is this coming from? What happened to all the talk about working together? I thought you believed in acting as a team."
The subdued words succeeded in calming the heiress and Weiss felt the weariness brought on by the day's events lessen the tension in her limbs. Closing her eyes, she calmly replied, "Not a team led by you."
When she opened them it was to see her partner's chin having lowered until it was nearly touching her chest. Silver orbs that slid up from the floor displayed a clear sign of hurt. Weiss was actually surprised to experience an uncomfortable stirring.
She fought against it. She was the one who had been wronged, not Ruby. "I've studied." That edge came back though it held a fraction of its earlier intensity. "And trained. And, quite frankly, I deserve better."
As justifiable as it was, she remained unsettled by how Ruby was staring at her. She turned away from her. "Ozpin made a mistake."
Ruby didn't say anything and Weiss felt an unexpected urge that had her eyes attempting to swivel around to bring the scythe-wielder into her view again. The fencer managed to restrain her head from twisting around with them and, after a moment, she forced herself to stare ahead. When she walked it was without Ruby following her this time.
And yet it did little to erase this uncertainty. Weiss turned another corner, effectively putting a wall between them, but that wasn't enough. Those silver eyes remained in her mind as well as the words that Ruby had spoken.
Yes, she did say that. She had said that if they were going to get through Beacon they were going to have to do it together. But that had been before Ruby stabbed her in the back.
"I want you to know that I can do this."
Weiss halted in mid-step, something about the timid words that came unbidden to her mind causing her to do so. The fire that crackled and burned beneath her icy exterior weakened in the face of that particular recollection.
The heiress found herself looking down at her boots, lost in thought. Why is that bothering me?
The markings at the edges of the sleeves to her jacket were at the corner of her vision. While they did not possess the full shape, seeing them curled around her wrists reminded her of the design that she couldn't see but swore she could feel the weight of the extra stitching.
There were more important things than just the two of them. Ruby had nothing to prove to anyone, especially not to her.
Weiss became aware of a different weight on her person, this one loading down a pocket located at the inside of her jacket. It accomplished adding further stress to her mind and body. What am I supposed to say?
The clicking of heels started again as Weiss resumed what was becoming a random journey within the halls as any sort of defined destination was absent. She just needed to move and deceive herself into thinking that it would help her when, in truth, she had no idea as to how to get herself out of this corner that she had been forced into.
There came a break off to her left; an opening that led to one of the balconies. With this view of the outside, Weiss was able to see that the sun was setting. The sky had changed to a dull orange coloring as it dipped towards the horizon and the heiress felt this sense of dread coil within her stomach. She was running out of time.
Someone else was staring at the sunset. Amongst the benches that were scattered around the balcony, there was the solitary individual who stood with a hand resting against the rail. While they had their back turned to her, it was impossible for Weiss to mistake that burgundy suit for anything else.
A rather daring plan came to Weiss's mind as she stood and struggled with her decision to go for it. The fact that the sun wasn't going to stop getting lower on her behalf insisted that she decide immediately.
She really didn't have a choice. Second chances were difficult to come by and a third was all but impossible. Resigning herself to it, Weiss strode onto the balcony. Whether it was because he had come out to contemplate his own thoughts or he legitimately didn't hear Weiss's approach, the older gentleman didn't move an inch until Weiss spoke up. "Professor Port!"
Her professor turned to face her, presenting those bushy brows and moustache that stood out so prominently. "Ah, Miss Schnee. And to what do I owe this fine pleasure?"
A good question. With the suddenness of this plan, Weiss wasn't sure how to begin. It was a first for her to go into a conversation without a way to turn it in the direction she wanted to go and the heiress feared that this was going to end up exactly like her fight with the Boarbatusk. "I..." Her head lowered as a sign of her internal struggle until she managed to raise it back up, lips forming a smile. "I enjoyed your lecture."
It wasn't exactly a firm opening and she chastised herself for her hesitancy but the heiress figured that she could play on his self-absorbed tendencies. Not to say that she wasn't speaking with some sincerity; she was grateful for Port giving her the opportunity to prove herself in his class even if it was all for naught.
That, at least, seemed to be accurate with how Port replied matter-of-factly, "Of course you did child; you have the blood of a true Huntress in you!"
She wasn't expecting the genuine happiness she felt in response to the compliment though. Part of it, she knew, was because it let her believe that this could work but there was another part that made her legitimately flattered. She reasoned that this was probably Port being charitable yet she still asked, "Do you really think so?"
"Most surely!"
The assurance, again generous, served to convince Weiss that she had a chance. If Port honestly found her to be skilled then maybe she could convince him that she was skilled enough to be the true leader of Team RWBY. He was a professor at Beacon – a veteran at that – so surely he had some influence that may allow Weiss to usurp Ruby from her position.
It was an underhanded tactic and Weiss knew it. Attempting to argue that there was no difference between this and having her trainers recommend her to Beacon in the first place was a useless gesture. For here, she was trying to reverse a decision that would lead to the demotion of another.
She shouldn't care. It may be underhanded but it was a legitimate strategy. She's done it before even if it had been an accident.
"You're about to see a whole different side of me today, Weiss!" she claimed, throwing an arm around her shoulders and smiling brightly. "And after it's all over you're going to be like, 'Wow, that Ruby girl is really really cool!' And I want to be your friend."
Why was she being so reluctant then?
"Hm, something's troubling you."
Weiss had become downcast, gazing off to the side as she struggled with this reluctance that shouldn't exist but did. She glanced up at Port, finding one of those brows having risen curiously. "Yes, sir."
"Dear girl, confess to me your strife!"
The rather overly dramatic tone of her professor did calm her somewhat and Weiss followed up on it with the argument that it wouldn't have come to this if Ruby had shown that she was capable. "Well…" The rest came out in an indecent rush. "I-I think I should've been the leader of Team RWBY!"
Port didn't respond, not right away, and Weiss was impressed with how still he became. There wasn't even an errant twitch from his brow or moustache that may tell Weiss as to what he was thinking. The fencer dared to believe that he was taking her words seriously and was perhaps agreeing with them.
He was silent and immobile for several seconds. Then without warning there came, "That's preposterous!"
Now it was Weiss's turn to stand there except none of her emotions were hidden. Her brows had flown up and her mouth opened enough to create a dumbstruck expression. Regaining control of herself, Weiss clicked her mouth shut and surprise turned into offence. "Excuse me!?"
A raging Boarbatusk failed to intimidate her professor and it didn't seem like her shout was having any better luck with how his fists became planted at his sides. "I've believed in Professor Ozpin for many years and the man has never once led me astray!"
"So you would just blindly accept his decision even after seeing how exceptional I am?" That didn't make any sense!
"With all due respect, your exceptional skill on the battlefield is matched only by your poor attitude," he countered.
No one had ever spoken to her like that and Weiss found herself glaring up at him. "How dare you!"
"My point exactly." That usual jovial tone had vanished entirely, replaced with a tempered voice as he admonished, "I see a girl before me who has spent her entire life getting exactly what she wanted."
"That's not even remotely true!" Weiss hastily denied, raising her chin high while crossing her arms over her chest. Doing so had her folded limbs pressing the hilt of Myrtenaster against her.
It was that and how she could sense Port's doubtful scrutiny despite having shut her eyes that the heiress found her resolve crumbling. Frowning, Weiss tilted her head down, her eyes opening so she could look at her rapier. "Well…not entirely true…"
She had gotten what she wanted here. With her family's Lien and resources, she received the best training that money could buy and had a weapon forged for her chosen path – the latter at the cost of someone's job.
Even before this she can't say that she had been deprived. Yes, her father tended to limit her in certain regards but his daughter had always been provided with a luxurious lifestyle. As much of a prison her home became, there had been servants who would wait on her hand and foot, and when she did request things from her father he would provide them as much as he allowed in order to maintain his family's best interests.
And it hadn't always been like this, she reminisced. Before the White Fang things had been different. He would rarely get angry, all the security hadn't been necessary…the graves were unfilled…
"So the outcome did not fall in your favor," Port calmly spoke, returning her to the present. "Do you really believe that acting in such a manner would cause those in power to reconsider their decision?"
She…supposed not. Thinking back to the lecture hall, she admitted that her shouting at Ruby in the middle of a fight may have been as unsightly as her own blunders with the Grimm. Letting her temper get the better of her here, with a professor no less, wasn't going to do her any favors. And she had approached Port with the intention of essentially overthrowing Ruby. What kind of loyalty can she be expected to achieve with not only that girl but her sister if she used such measures against them? It was a blatant oversight of the long-term consequences of her actions that only an amateur should make.
"So instead of fretting about what you don't have, savor what you do. Hone your skills, perfect every technique, and be not the best leader, but the best person you can be."
Weiss wasn't sure what it was. It may just be Port's strangely gentle lecture that did not carry the veiled demands that she should become greater. Instead of seeking a more prestigious position that is worthy of her, she should become worthy of the one that she had been given. It was a notion that she had never thought of before, had never really been allowed to consider, yet she couldn't find anything wrong with it.
That last part specifically sounded sweet to her ears: be the best person that she can be. It incited that same liberating sensation that she experienced when she had beheld Beacon and the heiress felt the lifting of her shoulders at the sudden lightness that she felt.
It spread to her face and the corners of her lips turned up effortlessly as she regarded her professor. Guess she had to reevaluate her initial opinion of him; there was some wisdom in those fond recollections of his it seemed. "Thank you, professor. This has been rather...stimulating."
"Naturally!" he replied unabashedly with a proud jutting of his chest. "And I can assure you that the rest of your time in my class will be as such!"
She wasn't entirely sure about that; it all depended on how many of his stories he wished to recount to his students. Still, with a nod of her head, she replied, "I'll look forward to it."
"You will not be disappointed, my dear." Port gave a respectful bow of his head. "Unfortunately, while I do take delight in discussions with such attentive students, there are other duties I must attend to."
"I understand," Weiss assured, returning the gesture.
The man stepped past the smaller girl to head back into the building, leaving Weiss alone on the balcony. She ended up drifting to the same spot that Port occupied only a minute ago and the heiress gripped the railing to better stare down at the school's expansive courtyard that stretched out below her.
Her professor's words continued to echo within her and the view that was offered affirmed just how different things were here. These people and places that granted her knowledge but left her to her own devices as to what she would do with it gave her the opportunities that she had lacked. Here, she can achieve her own goals.
If only it was so easy to accept all this when she knew that this could still be taken away from her.
Weiss dipped a hand into her pocket. Considering how it felt so heavy to her, it was strange that the source of her distress was so thin. Once she pulled it out, the heiress held up her scroll in front of her.
It wasn't even active as the device was currently inert in its compact form. Yet the sight of it managed to beat down that lightness and laden the heiress down once more. Now what am I going to do?
She can strive to be the best person that she wanted to be here, but such a thing can prove to be worthless when it came to the views of those others in power no matter how far she separated herself from them.
The sun had finished its descent but despite the darkness that sought to replace light with shadow over Beacon and the lamp posts illuminating in order to combat it, Weiss still had no idea as to what she should do. She had spent what she assumed was the past hour wandering around Beacon's courtyard with no destination in mind after leaving the balcony. However, she was making an effort to keep away from the dormitories.
The avoidance was partly because the heiress didn't wish to encounter any of her teammates. For obvious reasons, she didn't expect a conversation with Ruby at any point for the rest of the night to go over well and an altercation, she knew, was all that she was going to get with the fiery blonde known as Yang Xiao Long. Blake she still wasn't sure about but considering how the two siblings had somehow managed to brainwash her in the past twenty-four hours if this morning's antics were any indication, she predicted no reprieve either if she happened upon the bow-wearing girl.
Retiring to the dorms also meant defeat. If she crossed over the boundary she may as well start getting her bags ready for the morning ride out of Beacon.
She tried to convince herself that a day shouldn't matter but it was a useless endeavor. Whatever excuse came to mind – that she had been busy, that she lost track of time, anything like that – was promptly shot down due to them being just that: excuses. A Schnee never falls back on such a thing because they never allow their existence.
So what was she supposed to say then? Astonishing as to how that question was proving to be a greater challenge than her life-threatening duel and Weiss found that no matter how high the degree of her intelligence was, she couldn't think of a solution for this problem.
Even her perceived sanctuary that was Beacon seemed to have turned against her. She knew it was ludicrous to think that her continued meanderings would somehow stop the arrival of tomorrow but the approaching curfew robbed her of that fantasy anyway. There had hardly been any students traveling through the courtyard when she started and, at this point, it was deserted. If it wasn't time for curfew now, it had to be a few minutes off at most.
It was that and the theory that her teammates should've retired to bed at this point that convinced Weiss to make the grueling journey to the dormitory building. The door felt ridiculously sturdy but that was due to the small fragment of strength that the heiress found herself barely able to produce as she pushed it open. Her feet all but refused to be lifted from the floor and Weiss ended up shuffling her way through the entryway, her shoulder brushing against the frame because of the miniscule space.
Unwilling to believe that this could be the end, her hand lingered on the solid wood until her fingers sluggishly slid from it to let the door settle back into its position with hardly a sound but still managing to prove deafening to the snow-haired girl.
That was it then. All that was left for Weiss to do was go upstairs, go to bed, let the last few hours of the night tick past, and then wake up to face the music. A shame; she had honestly been looking forward to another day of Grimm Studies.
"Weiss?"
Lost in defeat, the voice had Weiss nearly jumping with how unexpected it was.
The speaker apparently saw it and hastily apologized, "I'm sorry!"
Weiss turned to spot the source and found it to come from the common room of the dormitory. While the several teams that occupied the multiple floors of the building had their own rooms, there was still a lounge area for those who wished to either take a break from their own quarters or chat with the members of said teams while they either did their own work or relaxed.
There were a selection of couches and armchairs for whoever may wish plant themselves with short tables to dump their schoolwork and supplies. A fireplace had been constructed off to the side but it was currently empty of flame and wood as it wasn't the time of year for extensive use. To brighten up the room, a lamp had been turned on although it was currently set to offer a dim glow which explained why Weiss didn't notice it before.
Nor did she, obviously, spot the individual who had taken an armchair for herself. When she did, Weiss made out the bronze circlet and then the red hair that draped over it. Thin chains hung a pair of teardrop-shaped emeralds from the decoration which matched the color of the girl's irises.
Weiss may not be a fan of Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes but she didn't need to be to recognize the face of Pyrrha Nikos. She knew her better as the top student of Sanctum and four-year champion of the Mistral Regional Tournament anyway.
Weiss hadn't solely spent her time researching for her acceptance into Beacon. Ever the proper planner, she had thought ahead and screened for suitable candidates in preparation for her team. While she may not have known how teams were formed, she wanted to at least decide who she wanted to be on hers. Pyrrha was the top choice to complement Weiss's intelligence and Dust control with pure physical strength. Smartest girl with the strongest, both of them celebrities in their own right; it would be a perfect partnership.
It ended up being another perfect disaster. That being said, the redhead was one of the few people here at Beacon who Weiss genuinely respected with her proven accomplishments and the heiress gave her a nod and greeting that transmitted it. "Pyrrha."
The Spartan glanced down at something in her hands and Weiss recognized the telltale light of an active scroll. Despite the metal headpiece, she was still dressed in her school uniform. "You're here rather late; curfew started ten minutes ago."
She must've looked at the digital clock of her device. Weiss didn't give a response right away, instead deciding to enter the common room and take an entire couch for herself. Shifting Myrtenaster around so that she wouldn't put a hole in the furniture, the fencer actually stretched herself out along the full length of the couch, resting her head on one arm while her feet propped themselves up on the other.
It was a very sloppy and unseemly display but, similar to her struggle with the door, Weiss didn't find it in her to care right now. Staring up at the ceiling, she finally replied, "I wasn't keeping track of the time." Which - while an excuse - was true.
There was a pause that hinted to Pyrrha being rather put off by Weiss's attitude. "I see."
The heiress didn't even glance over but knew that the other girl was examining her. She didn't have any kind of conversation that she could initiate though as her placement had really occurred on impulse. The explanation was probably the same as her walk: a mistaken idea that if she didn't go to bed just yet, she could somehow extend the night for far longer than whatever deity that had shaped the world intended it to be.
An uncomfortable air hung between the two of them and while Weiss was willing to let it last, Pyrrha seemed reluctant to do the same. "How was your day?"
For an attempt at a relaxing discussion, the warrioress picked the wrong opening for it. To be fair, it may've been influenced by how the heiress was acting.
Whatever the reason, Weiss reacted to it as any would in her position: a scoff. "You were there this morning; it didn't start out good for either of us." A humiliating sight to be sure. For being such respectable individuals, the way they ran through the middle of Beacon's campus in such a rush was akin to uncultured miscreants.
To Weiss's shock, she heard a short giggle followed by, "I suppose I was. But you have to admit, it was a rather lively morning."
Lively? Really? That was what Pyrrha was going with? Weiss gave her a glance this time. "I guess the rest of your day went fine then."
She witnessed a small smile appear on the Spartan's face as she nodded. "It's a combat school similar to Sanctum but there are quite a number of differences here other than the location. Our initiation gives credence to that but the topics our classes cover are remarkably different. The professors are unique as well."
That Weiss agreed with at least. While not having Pyrrha's experience at a normal combat school, the topics concerning the Grimm and the Huntressing life were leagues away from her previous business and political studies concerning her family's company. Professor Port hadn't been the only 'unique' professor that the heiress experienced today either.
"I haven't met him yet but Professor Oobleck is supposed to be teaching my history class tomorrow," Weiss pointed out. Although she hadn't formally been introduced, a blur that shot past her during her transition between classes had her questioning, and a second-year student later identifying, it as one Bartholomew Oobleck. While there were quite a variety of last names, Weiss's tongue twisted unpleasantly whenever she uttered that one.
"What a coincidence!" Pyrrha exclaimed, trying to add a bit more life into their conversation. "I have him tomorrow as well. I guess this means we'll be in the same class together?"
The fencer hadn't been giving it too much thought but hearing Pyrrha's excitement for tomorrow drove it home that Weiss probably wasn't going to be here the next day. Exhaling audibly through her nose, Weiss replied, "Yeah…I guess…"
The lackluster response caused Pyrrha to frown, the Spartan staring at her questionably. "Is there something troubling you, Weiss?"
Took her that long to figure it out did it? Weiss turned her head so that she was staring back up at the ceiling, lids sealing shut soon after. The idea of establishing a renewed silence was tempting but, in the end, Weiss found herself uttering, "Everything's troubling me." She released another sigh. "At the moment though, it's my father."
"Your father?"
If it was anyone else – specifically anyone in Team RWBY - Weiss wouldn't have unveiled this to them. But, again, her respect for Pyrrha and her lack of care when it came to anything right now was persuading her to speak. "He's expecting a message from me."
The light of the redhead's scroll was snuffed out as it shrunk in her hands before she placed it on the low table that rested in front of her. She looked to Weiss attentively. "I'm guessing the reason he's still expecting one now and you being here is that you don't know what to say."
An accurate guess even if it wouldn't take much deducing. Nonetheless, it encouraged Weiss to go on. "What am I supposed to say? When I left I told him that he could expect me to take the position of team leader with only the finest serving under me. What is he going to think when I tell him what actually happened?"
All that work, all that training, for nothing. Just because she fulfilled her promise to get to Beacon on her own, it never meant that she would be allowed to stay without worry. It was hardly that easy. For a Schnee, exceeding one challenge just meant that another needed to be placed on you to constantly motivate you to be better and not be allowed to become complacent.
Weiss may've gotten to Beacon, but she needed to show that staying there would benefit her and her family. If she had to look at it in a business sense – something she knew her father was doing -, her participation and success at Beacon could be considered as advertisement. The mark on her jacket was as much of a badge of Schnee pride that she carried as it was a burden of endorsement that was no different to when it was stamped on cargo crates. Her Dust spells were powered by crystals that were quality-proven by the SDC and her weapon was constructed by their finest engineers.
As much as Weiss was able to triumph with her own talent, she was also displaying how she was doing it with her father's resources. So how would it look when it turned out that there was someone out there who can be considered as better than her?
For me, Weiss thought, being the best person only works when it's beneficial.
"I understand how you feel."
The heiress became very still, not believing that she heard that right. She opened her eyes. "What?"
"I said," came Pyrrha's voice, "I understand how you feel."
A fuse was lit, a very short one. Whereas a moment ago Weiss was all too willing to languish around listlessly, the words that Pyrrha spoke served to ignite a sudden bitterness within her. Very slowly, the fencer turned her head back towards Pyrrha. Her next words came close to coming out as a growl. "You understand how I feel, do you?"
The short nod that Pyrrha gave her while expression became unreadable further insulted the heiress. No one understood her. How can anyone possibly understand her? She had always been kept away from the world, locked away in some castle. The only time people ever really saw her was when she was performing and any thoughts of Weiss Schnee as an individual was overshadowed by her father's reputation. Port may've had an idea about an aspect of her life but anyone who claimed to understand her was just lying through their teeth.
"So you understand what it means to have everything you worked for mean absolutely nothing." Weiss brought herself up to a sitting position, her legs swinging around so that they hung over it. "To have all your accomplishments and all your talents become obscured because of some nobody who managed to luck their way into Beacon. To know that the position that should've been rightfully yours being handed over to someone who is completely unworthy of the title. You're saying that you can understand how I feel about something like that?"
It seemed that famous Schnee intimidation was losing its touch or Weiss needed to start practicing again because Pyrrha met her glare unflinchingly. Instead of making an argument out of it, the redhead flatly questioned, "Are you forgetting about my team leader?"
Whatever retort Weiss thought to make was brought to a standstill at that, the heiress having opened her mouth, paused, and then closed it.
Right, Jaune Arc. Preoccupied as she was with Ruby and her own predicament, the heiress had forgotten about that buffoon. Between him and Ruby, Weiss refused to believe that both of them had managed to get into Beacon legitimately. Somehow though, that boy was picked over an undefeated champion to become team leader. Weiss's resentment may be warranted, but even she had to admit that Pyrrha had a better reason to be angry here.
It puzzled her that the other Huntress-in-training didn't seem to be. From what few glimpses she had seen with the two of them together, Weiss could recall Pyrrha actually encouraging Jaune even before they had become part of a team. Hell, she had even bonded with him.
She didn't get it. She wasn't going to pretend that she knew Pyrrha's own family matters, but she would think that her own fame came with some kind of parental pressure. Wasn't she concerned about what others may think about her own arrangement?
Struck by a sudden suspicion, Weiss looked down at Pyrrha's forgotten scroll. "Have you messaged your family?"
"As a matter of fact, I just did," Pyrrha confirmed. "I expect to hear a reply from them in the morning."
She didn't sound the least bit concerned about what that reply may be. Was that the result of confidence in what she told them or did she not care about what they think? "What did you tell them?"
Pyrrha shrugged at that. "The truth."
Weiss blinked. "…The truth? You mean that you got passed over for some bungler who couldn't even land on his own feet?" She had noticed that it was Pyrrha's spear that pinned him to that tree.
Those bright emeralds hardened at the slight against her leader. "The truth," she started, "is that I was placed on a team that Ozpin himself had selected through his own means and my leader is the latest son of the great Arc family."
Weiss blinked again at that. "Wait…what? Jaune?" The great Arc family? How did she miss something like that? No, she couldn't be blamed; if Jaune was the latest apple, he had fallen far from that particular tree. Nothing about him spoke of greatness.
Pyrrha grinned at her perplexity and laid back in her chair. "The Arc line is known for producing great heroes. There are quite a few stories concerning his sword – Crocea Mors – and the foes that fell to it during the war. I was proud to report that yesterday it contributed to my team's slaying of a Death Stalker."
That…that… Weiss tried to find some other name to call this account that Pyrrha had just given her and found that she couldn't. It was the truth. She was leaving out a lot of the details but what she was saying wasn't false no matter how much the heiress doubted this latest revelation concerning Jaune. And, she had to admit, it did sound impressive to her ears.
There was still one thing bothering her though. "And you're fine with that?"
"The truth?"
"No, following Jaune."
Pyrrha could put whatever spin she wanted when it came to the truth but it didn't change the fact that Jaune Arc was still her team leader. Her family may not have seen his deplorable performance but she has. How did it not bother her that she's supposed to follow his lead?
It still didn't. Even when asked that directly to her face, Pyrrha responded with another smile as she regarded Weiss. "There's more to this than being team leader, Weiss. And even if you aren't the leader, it doesn't mean that your efforts are going to be neglected. A team requires the support of all of its members. A leader can issue orders, but it's the teammates who carry them out and see them done. I will support Jaune as will Ren and Nora and it's through our combined aid that will make him a better leader and, in extension, make our team better."
Pyrrha was saying the same thing that Professor Port had said: don't be the best leader, but the best person. This time, however, it hit Weiss that her professor had meant exactly what the redhead had just enlightened her to. By the best person, Weiss had taken it as being the greatest member of her team. Ruby may be leader, but the heiress could still show that Team RWBY was only successful because of her expertise.
All her life Weiss had only been able to count on herself. Every single one of her actions today carried the belief that she could achieve her goals by herself. She was part of a team but it was what she did that mattered; Yang, Blake, and Ruby were all irrelevant. Finally she was starting to understand the folly of that thinking.
"I…get it," she spoke. She leaned against the cushioning of the couch. She got it but… "But how do I make my father see it? How can I tell him the truth when it's that I failed to make team leader and it's a fifteen-year-old child who became it instead?" She rested her head back, hand coming up to splay her fingers across her face.
"I don't know. I just know that I can't think of anyone else who got pushed up two years ahead by Ozpin."
The words took their time to sink in. When they did, Weiss shifted head and fingers so that one eye can land on a smirking Pyrrha.
The Spartan must've seen the comprehension because a second later she was standing up from her chair, scooping up her scroll in the process. "I should get going. Don't stay up too late; we both have classes tomorrow after all." She gave Weiss a curious tilt. "See you in Oobleck's class?"
Weiss dropped her hand from her face which now sought her jacket pocket. "Yes, see you then."
When Weiss did eventually arrive at Team RWBY's dorm, two things hit her instantly upon walking through the door. First was the bitter aroma of brewed coffee. It took a turn of her head to locate the cause: a coffee maker that was placed on a desk. It was still plugged in to keep the pot and the dark liquid it held warm.
Such a waste of electricity, Weiss chastised, flipping the switch to turn it off.
The scent had alerted her to it but it was due to the second thing that she noticed upon walking in that allowed her to see it: that being a point of radiance that was dampened by the curtains that hung around the bunk directly over her own.
Despite the sign of light, there was none in terms of life. There were no shadows dancing upon the thin material of the improvised drapes or any sounds of subtle shuffling of an active occupant. The bed was just as hushed as the pair that occupied the other side of the room – or it would be if not for the distasteful sound of snoring that came from Yang's.
The oddity played on Weiss's inquisitive nature. What has she been doing?
The fencer moved to their side of the room and stood up on the edge of her bed to better reach up towards Ruby's. This close she soon heard that there was at least some sign of activity being made by the younger girl; that being her own snoring. It was softer than Yang's, nowhere near as disturbing, but Weiss rolled her eyes anyway. Honestly…
All thoughts of irritation were swept aside as easily as the curtains when she saw just what Ruby's been doing.
The familiarity of the scene struck Weiss hard. Ruby was sprawled out on her bunk, arms splayed out around her as she slept. Her face happened to be directed in Weiss's direction, allowing the heiress to see that those silver eyes that would herald a soon-to-be headache were sealed with sleep. The gentle snoring came from the parted lips beneath them, the red-tinted locks of hair that fell over her features waving in time with her breathing.
Weiss could make a comment of how poor her posture was and a prediction of how sore her partner was going to be in the morning but her attention was focused on what surrounded her. Even in the midst of her slumber, a pencil remained held between the fingers of a hand that rested next to a couple sheets of paper, a corner of which was pressed against the mattress due to the weight of Ruby's head. The pillow it should be laying on was instead the home of a few books that were haphazardly piled on top of each other with one left open at a designated page.
Lifting herself a bit more, Weiss also saw her leader's scroll located on the other side. The screen presented multiple windows of online sources meant to help Ruby with her assignments. Weiss examined the scribbled letters on the papers. Nature's Wrath and its relationship to Aura…
Taking in the scene with wide eyes, a memory came unbidden to her mind. A memory that wasn't that recent but not that far either. A memory that placed Weiss in an identical position except it involved a table within the Schnee manor's library. While the morning drills concerning her rapier had fatigued her, she had stubbornly reasoned that she could relax her muscles while her brain took in the latest batch of her studies. The heiress was unable to recall how it happened but at one point the pages that she was skimming through became an impromptu pillow when she awoke from an unexpected nap with her cheek flat against them.
Weiss chewed on her lip, debating about something which ended with her reaching out and nudging Ruby's arm. The contact interrupted the steady rhythm of the younger girl's snoring, turning it into a snort while eyelids fluttered open. The silver irises looked blearily up at Weiss yet didn't immediately recognize her pale visage.
When they did, the pupils shrunk in the wake of the shock that originated from them and coursed throughout the rest of Ruby's body, jolting it into action. Arms went flying as Ruby hurriedly turned on her side, the pencil that she had loosely gripped tumbling from her digits and over the side of her bed.
"Weiss!" Ruby cried out, quickly rubbing the sleep from her eyes while she stammered. "I-I was studying and then I fell asleep, I'm sorry-!"
The same hand that wakened Ruby now came over her mouth to stop her from saying anything more. Weiss used the other to hold a finger to her lips to signal Ruby to keep quiet while nervously glancing over her shoulder to see if the noise managed to rouse the rest of their team. Fortunately, other than a slight movement from Blake, both of them remained in their dreams.
When Weiss directed her attention back to Ruby, she happened to catch the tipped over coffee mug that she missed. Considering that there were no stains on the sheets, she assumed that it was empty. Taking advantage of this opening, she asked, "How do you take your coffee?"
She removed her palm from Ruby's lips to let her speak, not that anything really coherent came from her. Caught off guard by the question, Ruby's mouth flapped uncertainly. "I…I don't…"
"Answer the question!" While impatient, Weiss kept her voice low although that did little to stop Ruby from looking like she got zapped anyway.
"Uh, cream and five sugars!"
Weiss rolled her eyes at that. All day she wanted nothing more than for Ruby to be quiet yet ask the girl a question and she can't even form an answer. "Don't move."
She eased down to the floor and didn't hear anything from Ruby. Taking it as her confirmation, the heiress went back to the desk that held the coffee pot. Next to it was a small bowl of sugar and short pitcher of cream. It was then that Weiss was aware of her oversight for not bringing Ruby's empty mug with her. Shaking it off, Weiss grabbed one of the other three mugs that were left instead.
Cream and five sugars, she repeated as she poured the still warm coffee into the container. That does explain a lot. She added a measure of cream before using a small spoon to start dumping the prescribed amount of sugar. While stirring everything together and giving the original black coffee a brown coloring, Weiss became absentminded.
She hadn't known what to expect when she woke up Ruby but it certainly hadn't been the apology that her drowsy partner had spouted. She was more inclined to think that Ruby would've given some kind of suggestion of displeasure instead considering the last time Weiss had spoken with her. But no; all that Ruby had been worried about was assuring her that she had been studying.
What a dunce. She shook her head but neither the action nor the thought carried any hostility. Setting the spoon aside, she made her way back to Ruby's bunk, pausing to bend down and pick up the pencil that had fallen to the floor.
When she boosted herself back up, she found that Ruby had stuck to her directions as she remained propped up on her side the same way as she left her. This included the look of incredulity on her face that grew upon Weiss presenting her with the full mug of coffee. "Here."
"Um…" Ruby took possession of the mug uncertainly. "…Thanks, Weiss." Unsure of what to say, she hesitantly sipped her drink, the caffeine and sugar affecting her instantly by providing a bit more life to her expression that chased away any lingering grogginess.
Weiss knew what she came to say but the thanks and the strange fluttering within her chest that was so different from the previous unpleasant stirring made her temporarily mute. Setting the pencil next to her leader, the fencer examined the gathered reading materials as if to draw confidence from them.
The coffee had been a good initial step with making up with her partner but even though she'd like to leave it at that, Weiss had to go further in the interests of her team. The setting was perfect: Ruby awake and studious while Yang and Blake were asleep. It would allow Weiss to wipe away any unpleasantries that this day had caused in time for the morning where things can go on normally.
With that in mind, Weiss brought Ruby back into her sight. "Ruby…I think you have what it takes to be a good leader."
It was a good thing that Ruby hadn't decided to take another sip when she said it as she looked rather startled at hearing the words; a reaction that could've led to her choking on her coffee. At first she was only able to blink disbelievingly at the snow-haired girl until a small, hopeful smile starting to spread on her face. "Really?"
The positive reaction had Weiss mimicking the facial gesture. She nodded in confirmation. "Just know, that I am going to be the best teammate you'll ever have."
Ruby's lips stretched further, showing the whites of her teeth. "I…thanks, Weiss. I'll try hard to become the best team leader you'll ever have."
They could probably go all night but Weiss wanted to avoid such a thing. This was meant to be quick, lasting as long as it needed to mend the bridges between them. The sincerity in Ruby's voice and the pleased expression told Weiss that this was enough. "Good luck studying."
She started to drop down to the floor only to stop partway. Well, maybe there was room for one last thing. She came back up and pointed towards the paper that Ruby had been resting her head on. "That's wrong by the way."
She lacked any manner of scolding, her tone light, and Ruby took the helpful advice for what it was as she set her coffee aside to double-check her work. Leaving her to it, Weiss set herself down and circled around their bunks in order to reach their shared bathroom. With all that had gone on today, she desperately needed it; she swore that she could still smell the stink of the Boarbatusk on her.
However, when Weiss opened the door, she couldn't help but look back over her shoulder, her gaze landing on her bunk. It rose to take in Ruby's. One day that thing's going to kill me.
But another memory, this one of another time that was long gone, crept up on her. "Hey, Ruby?"
The curtains on this side of Ruby's bed parted so that she could look down at her. "Uh huh?"
Weiss hesitated, for some reason unwilling to meet the curious eyes of her partner. She stared at her own bunk again. Why mention this? There was no reason for Ruby to know about something so trivial. Arguing that this could just be used as a friendly way to build a bit more trust between them, she quietly spoke, "…I always wanted bunk beds as a kid."
If Ruby had been thinking of replying, Weiss didn't feel it necessary to wait for her to do so. She stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. The heiress found herself pressing her back against it, taking in a deep breath as soon as her privacy was obtained.
Step two accomplished, she thought with relief, resting her head against the wood. Step three? Shower and sleep.
What she was to do afterwards will be decided in the morning. Wanting nothing to do right now other than give herself to the relaxing rain of hot water, Weiss slipped off her jacket. Compared to how forceful she had been when dressing in the locker room, the movements she used to undress were lethargic as she carelessly tossed the jacket on top of the sink.
She removed Myrtenaster next and set it against the bathroom wall. It was when she began removing the sash from around her waist that every muscle in her body froze.
The jacket that she just discarded shook, a beeping issuing from within the pocket.
So soon? Weiss assumed that she wouldn't hear anything tonight what with the late hour. It appeared that a couple of her steps had just switched around.
He must have got home late again, Weiss suspected, her insides freezing with the dread that formed within the pit of her stomach. Or is still at the office.
Or something else happened that was keeping him up. That possibility attempted to drive out the breath from Weiss's lungs.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the heiress approached the article that was responsible for the fear that caused her hands to shake. It was that shaking that Weiss blamed for her difficulties in retrieving the scroll when she dipped it into the pocket, fumbling until she pinched the thin shape. She drew it out.
[1 New Message]
The notification that came to the forefront tried to burn itself into her retinas and Weiss closed her eyes in response, taking a steadying breath as she did so. With a similarly trembling finger, the heiress tapped it against the screen.
For the next minute, Weiss held the scroll in a solid grip. Other than her eyeballs that swiveled around as they read the words that were presented to her, she didn't move an inch. Only at the end did the heiress move. Releasing the scroll so that it fell into the sink, Weiss traded it for the edges of the cabinet as she leaned heavily against it, unable to believe it.
It worked.
Once Pyrrha left her alone in the common room, Weiss had pulled out her scroll and got to work in typing out her message. For how much stress she went through, the words came unusually easy to her as her fingers danced across the touch screen.
As the Spartan suggested, Weiss had told the absolute truth. In her message to her father, she claimed to have been picked by Ozpin himself to form a team with a prodigy who he advanced two years ahead of her class; a feat that even Mistral's Regional Champion couldn't claim to have done. While Weiss knew little about her other teammates, they managed to kill one of the most terrifying specimens that the Grimm had to offer for their initiation so she was confident that she had been placed with exceptional individuals for her team.
The whole time Weiss was waiting for some kind of self-berating thought that she was telling a lie, that she was stretching the truth farther than it needed to go, anything that would lead her to believe that she was drifting too close to deceit.
She was very amazed that, when she proofread her message, that she felt nothing of the kind. Quite the opposite: Weiss believed her own words.
This whole time whenever Ruby's two year advance came to her, she explained it away as luck or some joke that had been played on her to mock her own hard work. It was when she was writing about her partner and the later review that it dawned on her that the reason that Ruby was allowed to attend Beacon so soon might in fact be because she deserved it.
It led her to seeing what happened in the Emerald Forest in a new light. They had killed the Nevermore together. As unorthodox as Ruby's plan was, it led to success and in such a display that Weiss realized justified that amazing strength and combat skill that she had once believed to be restricted to empty boasting.
"Think you can make the shot?"
The expression on Ruby's face when she said that was not that of a child. Eyes narrowed at her target in concentration, a hint of a grin on her face, and poised to deliver the death blow that she would achieve with Weiss's help, that was the matured look of a warrior.
When she sent her message, Weiss convinced herself to make up with her leader. While Weiss Schnee may not be the best team leader, she can be the best teammate to help establish what would be a lavish reputation that would be attached to Team RWBY during their time at Beacon. Yesterday Weiss had considered Pyrrha as the perfect candidate for strength but now she was reconsidering that Ruby was a suitable runner-up. What just happened in the dorm supported that.
Reading her father's response, Weiss found that he was pleased to hear that she had been placed on such a team and expected to hear more about them in the future.
The future…
With her chin tilted down, the ever-present crest on her jacket filled her vision. She lifted her head so that she could instead stare at the mirror that presented her with her reflection. A hand came up and she placed it over the left side of her face.
Staring back at her was Weiss. With that flawless skin and pale, noble features, it was that little girl who appeared so delicate that she needed to be sealed away from those who would wish her harm. Trapped within the sanctum, the only thing that she would hear was the news of another board member that had been killed, another family friend that had been kidnapped and executed. And each and every time when her father came home, bringing with him the rage and hate caused by those who had done it, little Weiss could only curl up, helpless and afraid and unable to do anything.
The hand slid to the other side.
Now it was Weiss Schnee that she was seeing with a mark that sullied that purity yet suggested to what she was truly capable of. She was still young in her own right, untested, but possessed the capacity to show just how far people had underestimated her.
Tell me something, she requested from her reflection. Can a heart turn to stone?
She had a plan for the future alright, and today she managed to keep it intact.
And until the time came to enact it, no one needed to know about it. Not her father and not Ruby.
Author's Note: Wooo, glad that's over. Again, a mix of life and my own struggles when it came to this chapter that left very little for me to really get creative kind of made it difficult. Between that and how I ended up getting so delayed I did kind of rush, specifically with the ending which I'm definitely not too proud of. Badge I had predicted to be the more troublesome episode and I'm sure it shows.
But that should all hopefully change. With Jaunedice, Forever Fall, and my own chapters, the added room for creativity should help me out for the next four chapters that should turn out a lot better than this.
Brain: Eh come on, it wasn't that bad. I mean this is a hundred times better than all the crap you used to write. Speaking of your dislike of OCs, need I remind you of A Warrior Named Zealot?
*mimics getting gut punched* Ugh, that title says everything that a newbie can do wrong that I did.
Brain: Pffft, as if you got better. The Lone Cardcaptor ring any bells?
…Okay you need to shut up now.
Brain: What about when you thought crossovering/implementing DBZ with everything was cool?
You shut your filthy mouth right now!
Brain: You can delete your shame but I shall always rememb-BLARGHSGNADOUGDANGO!
*currently strangling self* BLARGHSAGNOGDAOJ!