Trapped
Chapter 4 Discussions
By Lightningstrxu
Weiss lay awake in her bed, unable to sleep. A rather unfortunate side effect of having slept most of her day away.
She checked her scroll, the ungodly hour of two thirty flashed across the screen.
"Still no reply." She whispered.
It had been hours since she had sent Jaune that text. Had he read it? Did he care? Did he not care?
"Ugh!" she growled in frustration as she rolled over buying her face in her pillow.
This was just asinine. This shouldn't matter; she was a young woman, not some petulant schoolgirl. Why should she care?
But unfortunately, she did. She rolled over on her back again and sat up and sighed.
"Want to talk about it?" a voice whispered to her left. She looked over to see a single amber eye looking back at her through the darkness.
"Not right now Blake." Weiss reached over to her nightstand and retrieved her leg brace and fastening it to her ankle. Sliding on a pair of slippers she stood.
"I'm going to take a walk. Sorry for waking you."
"No problem." Blake's eye closed as she snuggled back into her pillow.
Weiss slipped quietly out of her team's dorm room and out into the hallway.
Atlas Academy, it felt strange being here, walking its dark hallways. Had she been even a little more subservient to her father's will this is where she would have ended up. She would have never gone to Beacon. Would have never been a part of team RWBY. She would have never met that infuriating idiot Jaune Arc.
"Damn it," Weiss muttered under her breath. So much for trying to get him out of her thoughts, how long was that like a minute?
Checking the signs on the wall, Weiss wandered over to the mess hall. A large room with sparse decoration, long tables for the student body to sit at while they ate. There were also serving stations where students could receive their meals and disposal stations for their trays when they had finished their meals. It had only the bare minimum of what was necessary to function and lacked the opulence that Beacon's dining hall had.
"I'd like to see them start a food fight here," Weiss said with a smirk.
While there was no one else here right now, there was at least a reason to be here. Off to the side of the mess hall was a row of vending machines that held simple instant food and drinks. While lacking in quality, it was available at all hours ensuring that no student would go hungry no matter the hour.
Weiss went over to one of them and swiped her scroll across it. Pushing a button, she made her selection. After a few minutes, she had prepared her grand feast a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of subpar hot chocolate.
She sat down at a table and ate in silence. Her eyes glanced down to her scroll, still silent.
"Well, of course, he's not going to message me it's." she checked the time. "Quarter after three." She sighed.
Weiss picked up her scroll and dialed; she propped it up on the table. After a few minutes, the call answered
"You better have a good reason for…" Yelled Winter Schnee as her face came into view on screen, hair disheveled and anger in her eyes. "Weiss?" The elder Schnee's face softened upon seeing her sister.
"Hello, Winter," Weiss replied softly with a small wave of her hand.
"What is wrong Weiss? How are your injuries? Are they worse than diagnosed? I am sorry I have not been able to visit you personally. Did you get the flowers I sent you?" Winter belted out one question after another.
"Its fine I know you've been on an important assignment, and no I haven't received any flowers," Weiss stated with a shake of her head.
"Hmm, it seems I will have to have a very stern conversation with the head of our shipping department." She brought her hand to her chin in thought. "So what is wrong?"
"I never said anything is wrong." Weiss smiled sheepishly.
"Weiss it is nearly three thirty in the morning. There had better be something wrong." Winter's eyes narrowed into a harsh glare.
"There might be something…" Weiss trailed off, unsure how to continue.
"Well, what is it?"
"Winter how…" Weiss paused to consider the wording of her question. "How do you know you like someone?"
"I presume you mean in a manner different than friendship?" Winter said with a single raised eyebrow.
Weiss nodded.
"Am I correct in assuming we are talking about the Arc boy who saved you on your last mission?" Winter continued her tone even. "I guess he did not receive his flowers either."
"Yes, we are talking about Jaune." Weiss said with another nod. "You sent him flowers?"
"Of course I did, he saved the life of my little sister did he not? He deserved my gratitude." Winter coughed into her hand clearing her throat. "So you believe you have feelings for him?"
"I guess that is the best way to say it." Weiss said hesitantly.
"Hmm, well he is not a bad choice. The Arcs are an old family going back to the earliest days of Vale. You two would make a fine union."
"Winter!" Weiss's face was tinged pink with embarrassment.
"Relax Weiss." Winter held her hand up and waved it dismissively. "I just had some amusement at your expense." She gave a brief laugh.
"Well, why do you like him then?" Winter's face softened she was no longer Special Operative Schnee; she was just big sis, plain and simple.
"That wasn't my question?" Weiss objected.
"I know." Winter nodded. "But I believe you already know whether or not you have feelings for him at all. I want to know why?"
"That's the point Winter." Weiss hung her head down. "I don't know. I've known Jaune for almost two years, and we've never really been close, but ever since he saved me…I've started seeing him in a different light. But I don't know if it's because I actually feel that way or if it's just gratitude."
"Well, of course, it is gratitude."
"Oh." Weiss seemed disappointed "Was the answer really that easy?"
"Of course not." Winter admonished. "You are grateful to him, and that allowed you to perhaps see past any reasons why you may not have been interested in him in the past. But you never answered my question. Why is it that Mr. Arc has managed to earn your attention where so many others have failed?"
Weiss closed her eyes. What did she even find attractive about him?
"He's nice." Weiss began unsure of her own words. "He's also very kind, determined, a surprisingly good strategist." Words seemed to come easier the more Weiss spoke. "He's driven to succeed in being a huntsman; he is constantly working to improve himself."
Winter's smile grew as she listened to Weiss continue to list off Jaune's positive qualities.
"He's incredibly selfless at times, He's…"
"That is enough Weiss," Winter said with a laugh. "You have said more than enough. Well, then it seems you have but one course of action then."
"And that is?"
"Ask him out, you dolt. See if he is interested in you the same way you are to him."
"I can't do that Winter." Weiss shook her head.
"Why is that?" Winter asked her eyes narrowed.
"You weren't at Beacon with us so you wouldn't understand. It just wouldn't work out if I asked him."
"I would not understand. If that is the case, then we simply need the opinion of someone who would." Winter pointed at Weiss, no behind Weiss. "Miss Rose, you were my sister's partner at Beacon, what is your opinion on this matter?"
"Eeep!" a small voice sounded behind Weiss.
Weiss turned to see Ruby, silver eyes peeking around the entrance of the mess hall.
"Ruby?" Weiss whispered in shock.
"Hey, Weiss." Ruby waved her hand nervously as she stepped into the room.
"How…How long have you been listening?" Weiss managed to sputter out.
"She arrived shortly after we started talking." Said, Winter.
"And you just let her?" Weiss gave an exasperated sigh before turning to Ruby. "How dare you eavesdrop on our private conversation?"
"I'm sorry." Ruby looked down shuffling her feet awkwardly. "I woke up and saw you weren't in bed and Blake said you went out for a walk. You've been upset, so I wanted to make sure you were okay. But then I saw you talking to your sister, and I didn't want to interrupt."
"Think of it this way Weiss, I saved you from having to have this conversation a second time. I assume the reason you called was that you felt you could not discuss this with your teammates?" Winter stated in a matter of fact tone.
"This is because I woke you up isn't it?" Weiss glared at her sister.
"Perhaps," Winter replied with an amused smirk. "So Miss Rose, I believe you have heard most of our conversation. So what is the sordid history between Mr. Arc and my sister?"
"Um well, they didn't get along very well. Not for lack of trying on Jaune's part." Ruby began. "When we first started Beacon Jaune had a huge crush on Weiss."
"That is an understatement. Jaune asked me out nearly every day." Weiss rolled her eyes. "He was always complimenting me, told me I was beautiful every time we met. He even tried to serenade me when he asked me to the dance."
"Yes, that does sound terrible." Winter's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "But I fail to see how that prevents you from asking him out now."
"It would be hypocritical of me to ask him now, how would I even be able to?"
"You just ask him, Weiss." Stated Ruby causing Weiss to turn to face her. "The worst he can say is no. Sure it might seem odd if you to ask him so suddenly."
"But I treated him so poorly before; I can't just…" Weiss was stopped by Ruby's hands firmly clamping onto her shoulders.
"People change Weiss." Ruby looked Weiss directly in the eye. "You've changed, I've changed, and Jaune's changed. We've all changed. Just talk to him."
Weiss sighed before smiling and pulling her partner into a hug.
"Thank you, Ruby."
"Well, now that we have everything settled, perhaps we can all get to bed?" Winter smiled.
"Yes, I think I could sleep now." Weiss nodded.
"I have one more question." Ruby walked closer to the scroll staring at the older the Schnee.
"Did you have something you wanted to ask me, Miss Rose?" Winter replied confused.
"Yes." Ruby's silver eyes narrowed. "Why are you wearing my uncle's shirt?"
Winter's face turned bright red.
"Well, you see." She sputtered and stammered over her words. Weiss had never seen her so flustered. "There is a perfectly logical explanation for this." The screen went dark as the call was suddenly dropped.
Ruby and Weiss both just stared at the now darkened scroll, their mouths open in shock trying to process what just happened.
"You don't think we interrupted my uncle and your sister while…" Ruby broke the silence.
"Please don't finish that sentence Ruby, I just ate." Groaned Weiss. Ruby laughed hard enough to make her normal knees buckle.
"So you and Jaune huh?" Ruby asked as she wiped a few tears from her eye.
"There is no 'Jaune and I'. Not yet anyway." Weiss sighed. "What if he says no?"
"Then he says no." Ruby shrugged. "But it's better than not trying."
Weiss shook her head. She guessed that would work for now. It would be better than stewing in self-doubt for who knows how long.
"Besides." Ruby put her arm over Weiss's shoulder. "You just won me and Blake fifty lien."
"Blake and I." Weiss instinctually corrected the younger girl. "Wait how did I win each of you fifty lien?"
"Oh, no reason." Ruby shook her head before bringing a hand up to her ear. "I think I hear Yang calling got to run."
The scythe wielder vanished in a cloud of rose petals.
"Ruby?" she blinked in confusion before scowling. "You bet on my feelings!"
Weiss stomped down the hallway fuming. She had a team to destroy.
#####
Jaune snuggled into his pillow dead to the world. But sadly peace was not meant to last.
"Good morning Jaune!" Nora Valkyrie shouted as she strode proudly into the room, followed closely by a slightly haggard looking Lie Ren.
"Morning Nora." Jaune groaned as he managed to sit himself up. "Morning Ren."
"Hey," Ren replied sinking into a chair looking as if he could fall asleep at a moment's notice.
"Didn't get enough sleep, Ren?" Jaune asked.
"Sleep?" Ren very sluggishly allowed his gaze to meet Jaune's.
"We didn't sleep; we just got back." Nora exclaimed somehow filled with energy. "So how ya doin?"
"I'm fine Nora." He looked down at himself, torso and right arm still encased in bandages. "Well, better. The doctor said I should be out of the bandages by tomorrow morning, and then a few days in a sling to ensure my shoulder heals properly."
"That's awesome!" Nora beamed. "Soon the team will be back in action. Right, Ren?" She turned back to her partner.
"Zzzzz…" was Ren's only reply.
"Ren!" Nora snapped, however, he didn't seem to wake up.
"Let him sleep, Nora." Said Jaune. "You should go get some rest too, especially if you only just got back."
"No can do Jaune." Nora reached out and booped Jaune's nose. "We haven't been able to be here for you, so you're stuck with me." She stuck her tongue out.
"You sound like Weiss, she insisted on taking care of me too."
"Speaking of Weiss." Nora fished through her pocket and pulled out her scroll and held it up to Jaune. "What's going on here hmm?"
Jaune's face turned bright red as he looked at the scroll. There he was a scroll in hand watching a movie, Weiss curled up fast asleep next to him, a little smile on her face. This must have been the first picture that Yang took of them. Before he nearly died of embarrassment.
"We decided to watch a couple of movies." Jaune glanced anywhere other than Nora's smirking face. "Weiss fell asleep during the second movie; she must have been exhausted."
"Mmmhm." Nora rubbed her chin looking from Jaune to the picture and back again. "Fine, but why was she in your bed in the first place?"
Jaune paused, how had she ended up there? He remembered her being uncomfortable. Had her lying next to him been Weiss's idea or was it his?
"Would you believe me if I said I don't remember." Jaune looked to Nora with pleading eyes.
"Not really." Nora looked at the scroll again. "You two look pretty cute together."
"Please stop." Jaune sighed
"I think she likes you," Nora said with a confident smirk.
All thoughts left Jaune's head as he heard his teammate's words.
"Excuse me." Jaune finally managed to stammer out.
"I think she likes you." Nora's grin reached ear to ear. "You don't just get that cozy with someone you're not close with."
"We've known each other for two years, Nora." Jaune griped.
"True, but I wouldn't have called you close."
"Nora I think I would know if Weiss was interested in me." Jaune rolled his eyes.
Nora laughed uproariously.
"Oh, that was a good one Jaune." Nora wiped tears from her eyes. "Tell it again?"
"That wasn't a joke Nora!" Jaune glared. "Weiss just wants to be helpful while I get better, sure she's been here at every opportunity, but she's just concerned." He paused as his eyes narrowed. "And she helped feed me breakfast yesterday, and she did seem comfortable sleeping next to me, and she was pretty embarrassed when Ruby and Yang saw us like that."
Jaune reached for his scroll and looked at the last message Weiss had sent him. He had assumed Weiss just added the emote as a friendly gesture, but maybe she had meant something more. Weiss never did anything that wasn't deliberate.
"She likes me doesn't she?" Jaune sighed.
"Mmmhmm." Nora crossed her arms over her chest while smiling. "So what are you going to do about that?"
"What?!" Jaune had a look of shock on his face. "I'm not going to do anything."
This was too much. He would have been ecstatic if this had happened back at Beacon, but now…
"Why not?" Nora asked hands indignantly on her hips.
"I'd be taking advantage of her; this is only happening because I saved her life." Jaune flopped back onto his pillows with a groan.
"Jaune do you honestly believe you could take advantage of Weiss?" Nora smirked. "She'd freeze you in a block of ice."
"And Cinder's still out there; I still have to…" Jaune was cut off with another boop to his nose from Nora.
"Jaune…Pyrrha she'd want you to move on." Nora's voice lowered. "I'm not saying you can't avenge her still, but don't cut yourself off from all happiness in the process. Look I'm not asking you to marry her tomorrow; just maybe go on a date and see what happens."
Jaune sighed and chuckled softly.
"I guess a date could be kind of fun, but why do you seem so adamant about this?"
"Oh…no reason, I'm just looking out for my leader's happiness," Nora said with a sly smirk as she glanced at her scroll. Particularly an early morning message she had received from Ruby.
Okay, so Weiss will kill me if she finds out I sent this but…
WEISS LIKES JAUNE!
She's going to ask him out later today, and she would be devastated if it didn't go well.
Could you maybe test the waters, see if Jaune is receptive to the idea?
Nora smirked typing a quick reply.
Snow Angel is cleared for landing.
THIS IS HAPPENING!
"Who you talking to?" Jaune Asked.
"Oh, Ruby she wanted to know how our mission went." Nora lied to his face.
"How did your mission go?"
Nora stood as she dramatically regaled Jaune with the tale of an army of at least a thousand Beowolves.
#####
Weiss paced in her team's dorm, not so patiently awaiting a text from Jaune. She rechecked her scroll…still nothing. She wandered to the bathroom checking her reflection.
Hair perfectly maintained, skin free of blemishes, make up expertly applied. She nodded as if to approve her appearance, before resuming pacing again.
After a few minutes, she repeated these actions and walked to the mirror again.
"You look fine Weiss!" Yang snapped. "You looked fine the first three times you checked the mirror too."
"Only fine?" Weiss replied taking another step toward the mirror.
"Ugh, you're beautiful, ravishing. It'll take everything Jaune has not to pin you against the hospital wall and claim you right there." Yang groaned in frustration. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"
Weiss stopped cold as her face turned bright red as certain thoughts flitted through her mind.
Yang grinned, as she eyed the heiress.
"Whatcha thinking about Weiss?" Yang said in perhaps the most amused tone possible.
"Nothing!" Weiss replied immediately.
"Yang will you leave Weiss alone she's nervous enough." Ruby chided her older sister.
"Hey I lost a hundred lien, this is just collecting dues."
"Not our fault you bet wrong." Blake chimed in before turning another page in her book.
"I'm still furious with all of…" Weiss stopped as the scroll in her hand buzzed. She stood there staring at it.
Ren and Nora are going to be leaving in a few minutes if you want to still visit today.
Weiss read it and then reread it, and then once more for good measure.
"Breathe Weiss!" Yang placed a hand on her shoulder.
Weiss let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Well, what are you waiting for get going?!" Ruby started pushing Weiss towards the door.
Weiss grabbed her jacket before stepping out the door.
"Wish me luck." Weiss gave a nervous smile before walking down the hallway.
"You can do it, Weiss!" Ruby cheered.
"Remember to use protection!" Yang shouted after causing Weiss to flinch.
Blake rolled her eyes choosing to remain silent.
"So we're following her right?" Ruby looked at her older sister.
"Following? I'm filming this." Yang grinned
"You two have fun with that." Blake calmly flicked another page before being physically dragged out of her chair by Yang.
"You're coming too." Said the blonde.
"My book…" Blake said sadly reaching for her fallen friend, cat ears drooping.
#####
Weiss reached the hospital just as Nora was leaving.
"Hey, Nora." Said Weiss a little confused as the hammer wielder was currently carrying Ren bridal style. "Is Ren okay?"
"Oh, he's fine." Nora smiled. "I'm just taking him back to our dorm to put him to bed." Nora let out a somewhat unnerving giggle.
"I see." Weiss nodded. "I was just going to visit Jaune."
"Oh, that's super nice of you." Nora smiled
"Yeah, it is." Weiss suddenly felt uncomfortable being near the boisterous bruiser.
"Hey, Weiss I just want you to know one thing before you go in there." She leaned close to the Heiress. "If you break his heart, I stop yours." And with that Nora turned and skipped down the road away from Weiss.
Weiss stood there a few moments, not even sure of how to process what had just happened. She shook her head and walked into the Hospital, and after checking in her coat at the entrance, she made her way to Jaune's room.
Weiss took a deep breath before knocking on Jaune's door.
"Come in." Jaune said from the other side.
Weiss opened the door and walked inside, there Jaune lay on his bed. That stupid goofy grin plastered on his face.
"Hey, Weiss." Jaune waved with his one functioning arm.
"Hello, Jaune." Weiss waved back. She walked over to him and sat down in the chair by his bedside.
"Did you manage to get some rest?" Jaune asked once she was seated.
"Yes, I got plenty of rest." Weiss lied.
"Well it shows, you look really pretty today Weiss." Jaune looked away from her as he said it.
Pretty? Was that it? Did he even know how long she spent prepping for this? He should be saying beautiful or stunning. She shook her head trying to stamp out her pride before it got the better of her. Pretty was just fine as a compliment.
"Thank you, Jaune." She smiled.
Weiss stared at her hands; her finger's tapping together nervously.
"When do you think you'll be released from the hospital?" Weiss asked.
"The doctor said I should be able to have the bandages on my torso removed tomorrow morning. So most likely the day after, then it would be a few days of taking it easy to rest my arm." Jaune stated in an almost professional manner.
"Why do you want to know?" he asked.
It was the moment of truth; it was now or never.
"I was thinking." Weiss began her hands gripping the bottom of her skirt. "Would you like to go out with me sometime?"
Weiss could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Jaune turned his head to look into her eyes.
"No." Jaune said flatly "I won't go out with you."
Weiss felt her world shatter; her left hand went to her chest in some vain attempt to soothe her heart.
Weiss felt Jaune's hand grab her right hand.
"But I would love it if you went out with me." Jaune smiled.
"Wh..what?"
Weiss's mind reeled as she felt her emotions invert themselves. This fool, this dolt, this absolute charmer had caught her off guard.
"Well, would you?" Jaune looked at her hopefully
This was her moment, and he took that from her. How many times had she rehearsed this scenario in her head today? Oh no, she would not allow him to get the upper hand against her, not that easily.
Heart racing and rational thoughts fading Weiss Schnee took back her power the only way she knew how to at that moment.
She kissed Jaune Arc.
Well, that's another chapter down. Hopefully, you enjoyed it.
This fic has been an exciting ride; it was initially supposed to be a one-shot, and now it's this. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure where it's going, I mean I know the definitive epilogue but what happens before that well its unknown. Obviously, a date is going to happen, but one date does not make a relationship.
So I ask you, my faithful readers, for I have a couple of ideas. One is to just come up with random fluff and couple drama for them to deal with.
The other is to do a slight time skip of about three months. And do one final story arc in which they have to fight against some foes that ultimately cements their bond together as lovers and hunters' in arms.
I'm leaning a little towards the latter option because I wouldn't mind flexing my action writing muscles. You do write with muscles right. But also because in about a month or two I should be starting a new RWBY story.
It's based off a RWBY tabletop RP that my friends and I have been running since about mid volume 2
Called "A SLVR Lining" (working title) featuring our unique team that we play in the RP. Here is a small preview. Sing it to the tune of red like roses part 1.
Silver alloy starts so soft, but since refined became so tough.
Gray is hard and ever constant. Pushed too far, she's had enough.
Green bears weight upon his shoulders.
Blue the bird that flies free.
Yes, we wrote alternate character songs cause we're nerds. Just ask my friend Red like roses part II was a pain to adapt.
Once again I can't begin to thank all of you enough this story is a lot more popular than I expected. As of typing this right now
Trapped
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Thank you all. As always read and review I want to know you're opinions.