Here we are again! Today, you find me on the edge of what will probably be the worst weekend ever. I'm working from 9:30 tomorrow until 1:00 Sunday morning, then from noon to 5:30 on Sunday! Let me tell you: I'm ready to be a rich author. I'm very eager to be at that point in my life.

Enjoy!

"You know what?" Sun said through a mouthful of cream, pastry, and chocolate frosting "When I'm rich, I'm gonna hire my own personal chef to make this stuff for me all the time." He scarfed down the rest of his éclair, leaning back with a contented sigh.

"And how are you going to get that rich?" Blake asked, taking a bite of her treat: two sugar cookies with jam sandwiched between them.

"I'm thinking I should marry into a rich family who's okay with open relationships," Sun said casually. "Hey, Weiss? You know any?"

Weiss chuckled. "Why don't you ask one of Jaune's sisters?"

Sun's tail twitched. "Ooh, that's a good idea. What about it, Jaune?"

"Somehow, I don't think they'd go for that," Jaune replied. "I'll let you know when Katie's a little older, though."

"Oh, so I just get to be your mistress? Is that it?" Blake drawled, flicking Sun's forehead.

"Ow! Hey, you can marry a rich guy! Then, we can double up."

"I'm sure there's no downside to this plan at all," Weiss muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Well, you're just gonna have to keep sneaking goods out for us until then," Sun said with a shrug. "I gotta hand it to you. Getting a whole box of goodies out of that place must have been difficult."

"Not really," Weiss said, though her cheeks flushed at the praise. "Klein had them ready for me when I went into the cellar. I had no idea there were so many leftovers. We haven't had a party recently, and Mother only has a few things for her afternoon tea."

"Maybe Klein makes full batches," Yang suggested. "Then shares with everyone else. Seems like something he'd do."

"It does," Weiss agreed. She noticed Ruby nibbling on the edge of a candy with a contemplative expression. "That's marzipan. Do you like it?"

"I'm not sure…" Ruby muttered, taking a small bite. It had a thick, doughy texture and an overwhelming almond flavor.

"It's fine if you don't. Marzipan isn't for everyone."

"No, I know. I'm just not sure how I feel about it. It's really almond-y." Ruby popped the rest of the candy into her mouth and chewed.

"Thanks for the food, Weiss." Yang stretched out her arms, casually letting one fall across Weiss's shoulders She was thrilled when the heiress instinctively scooted closer. "Nothing like fancy pastries to make us feel classy for a little while."

As if on cue, Sun let out a loud belch. Ruby burst out laughing while Blake rolled her eyes.

"Can you believe I'm in love with this idiot?" the cat Faunus muttered.

Weiss couldn't help but notice a distinctly sad look crossing Ilia's face, as well as a definite bluing of her freckles. She remembered Jaune telling her that Ilia was in love with Blake and felt a flash of empathy for the poor girl.

Meanwhile, Ruby popped another piece of marzipan into her mouth. "Okay, I like this," she decided. "Hey, Jaune? Have you heard anything from Pyrrha?"

Jaune nodded, his smile widening. "I had a dream last night where she talked to me. She said she's arranging for a Gyptian ship to take me up north when they come here in the fall."

"Do you think you'll go?" Yang asked, though the wistful look on Jaune's face was answer enough.

"I think so," Jaune said. "I've talked about it with my parents. They said they'll give me enough money to make a start up there. It won't be easy, but I've been wanting to go out on my own for a while now…" He sighed. "I'll really miss you all, though."

"Hey, maybe some of us will join you," Sun commented. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired of this place. I hear they actually treat Faunus like people up north!"

"That would be great!" Jaune grinned. "I'll check with Pyrrha. I have a feeling Hermes will be dropping by soon, so I can ask him if it's possible."

"Aw…" Ruby pouted. "You're gonna leave us behind?"

"Hey, if we go, why shouldn't everyone?" Blake asked, her ears perking up at how genuinely exciting this idea was. "I've heard the hunting is pretty good up there, so Taiyang wouldn't have trouble finding employment."

"Yeah, we could all-" Yang stopped suddenly, her heart sinking as she glanced at Weiss. Stupid, stupid, stupid. To her surprise, however, Weiss was smiling.

"Think you could hide me somewhere?" the heiress asked.

Yang gaped, but quickly recovered as her expression turned into a full grin. "Please. You're so tiny, I could probably hide you in my coat without anyone noticing."

Weiss giggled. "And if someone tries searching you?"

"I'll punch them in the gut and tell them to stop touching me!" Yang laughed.

"Oh, I'm sure that won't raise suspicion at all." Weiss lightly elbowed her soulmate while Anmut let out an amused honk.

After that, conversation turned to the many different ways they could smuggle Weiss up north while paying their own way up. The plans became increasingly ridiculous as an hour passed.

"So, we cover her in wax, which will dry clear," Sun was saying. "Then, we can just say we're delivering a really-realistic wax sculpture!"

"And how will I breathe?" Weiss asked. "Or eat?"

"We can cut little holes in the wax."

"It would still crack when I chewed things. Also, I'm not about to spend several weeks encased in wax, never taking a bath. Next plan." Weiss rolled her eyes.

Despite the half-joking nature of the conversation, Weiss felt a definite quickening within her. Now that she knew for certain that her sister was up north, living in a state of true freedom, she wanted nothing more than to join her. If her friends wanted to go north, even in passing, was it possible that she wouldn't have to leave them behind after all?

Also, it would definitely be easier to plan an escape with more people. And, we have a witch on our side, she thought.

Anmut's eyes were bright, and his wings flapped excitedly.

Yong Shi purred, nuzzling the swan's back. "I think we can do it," he murmured.

"I hope so," Anmut replied, rubbing his head against the lion's cheek. "I don't want to be away from you."

"If we were north, you wouldn't have to sneak anymore," Yong Shi pointed out.

Yang and Weiss felt the conversation between their dæmons and simultaneously started blushing. They glanced at each other, smiling shyly as the romantic-bordering-on-cliché thought of running away together settled in both of their minds.

Baynar stood up, suddenly tense as he glared in the direction of the Faunus District. He sniffed the air, his fur bristling and a low growl rising in his throat.

"What is it?" Ruby stood up. "Smoke… Something's on fire!"

Immediately, Sun climbed up to the top of the Xiao Long house, squinting into the distance. "Shit, that's our neighborhood!"

Blake and Ilia were already rushing toward the District, followed by Yang and Jaune.

Weiss stood up, her expression uncertain, her limbs freezing up at the thought of actually going in there. There's probably a riot of some kind…

"Weiss, Ruby, go inside with Dad!" Yang ordered. There was no question about it. Ruby was too young to get involved in this, and Weiss was terrified and possessed no fighting experience. "Stay there until we get back. This may spread closer, so don't go outside."

Weiss needed no further prompting, and hurriedly pushed Ruby toward the house, shutting the door behind her. It was then that she felt a deep flush of shame. She hadn't hesitated to run away, leaving her soulmate to help Blake, Sun, Ilia, and Jaune without her. What if she got hurt?

This time, it was Anmut who stopped her from doing something impulsive. "What good would we do?" he hissed. "Yang is strong. She won't get hurt."

Taiyang seemed to realize what was happening immediately. He brought the girls into the kitchen and made some very watery coffee. "This happens sometimes," he explained to Weiss. "Someone gets into a fight, and it gets out of control. Other people come in and try to take advantage of the chaos by looting places."

"Why, though?" Weiss wondered. "I mean, Faunus are so looked down upon by humans. I'd think that they'd want to band together and not hurt each other."

Taiyang shook his head. "That's not how it works, kiddo. When all you know is oppression and hatred, that changes you. Many of the Faunus in there are all alone in their struggles, and don't know how to trust anyone else. They pass that onto their children, and as a result, they become more and more suspicious of everyone as time goes on."

Weiss thought about how closed off she had been not so long ago and understood immediately. "Is there something we could do to help them?"

"Not unless you can change the law and give Faunus equal rights," Taiyang said. "Even then, it would take years and years for things to truly heal."

Weiss glanced to the side. "I never really thought about how hard it is for them."

Ruby patted her shoulder. "Well, it's not your fault. You've kinda been locked away in a mansion most of your life."

"There are a lot of problems in the world," Taiyang pointed out. "And it's easiest to focus on the ones closest to us. I do my part by giving away some of what I bring back from hunting trips, since I know a lot of the people around here are hungry."

"But, aren't you hungry?" Weiss asked. "Isn't that why Yang fights in the rings?"

"She finds ways to get some of that to Blake and the others," Taiyang explained. "We get by with what's left. Sometimes, we're able to buy a lot of food, and even a few items we don't need. Other times, we don't. When we have extra, however, we always try to share it."

Weiss touched Anmut's head as she digested all this. "My father holds grand charity balls, but it's more for his status than anything. If he wanted to, he could probably rebuild this entire area and give jobs to everybody. I know I would if I had money of my own."

"I know you would, sweetie," Taiyang assured her. "You have a good heart."

Weiss remembered Hermes saying the same thing when they first met. "Why is it that people who have less do so much more for others?"

"It's because we know what it's like to be where they are," Taiyang sighed. His doe dæmon rested her head on his lap, her eyes on the door as she waited for the first sign of Yang and Yong Shi.

Time dragged itself along like a dying animal, and Weiss felt herself growing tenser and tenser by the minute. Scenarios started to play in her mind, scenarios where someone got hurt or worse. Her heart trembled at the thought of Sun, Blake, Ilia, or Jaune on the ground, bleeding onto the filthy streets. She didn't even allow herself to wonder what might happen to Yang. If she let herself imagine being forever separated from her soulmate, forever ignorant of the bond they could have shared, she would probably break down on the spot, and she didn't want to scare Ruby.

Baynar sensed Weiss's unease and padded over to Anmut, snuggling against the swan's side and licking the side of his neck with a warm tongue.

"Weiss," Taiyang eventually said. "Would you like me to walk you home? It's getting late."

Weiss shook her head. "I need to see that they're safe."

Suddenly, she remembered something. The flower! She reached into her cloak's pocket, feeling the tiny flower that Pyrrha had given her. I just need to think of her, and she'll-

Before she could finish the thought, the door swung open. Jaune and Yang hurried in, supporting Ilia between them. Taiyang immediately got up to help, leading them over to the couch. Weiss hurried over.

"What happened?" she gasped. "Can I get anything?"

"Ruby, get water," Taiyang demanded. "Weiss, get the pan so we can boil it."

Weiss obeyed while listening to Yang explain what had happened.

"Some looters got into Sun and Blake's house," she said. "Stole basically all of the food. We managed to save most of the books, but Ilia got into a fight with one of the looters. He was trying to rip the cover from one of the books, thought the gilded edges might be worth something."

Weiss gasped. "Gilded edges? Oh dear…I think that's the book I gave Blake last week…"

"Hey." Yang hurried over to Weiss, putting a hand on her shoulder. "This isn't your fault. Looters can hit anywhere. Ilia's okay. We just need to clean up those cuts and let her rest until her head stops hurting."

Ruby returned with the water, which Yang set to a boil. Not sure what else to do, Weiss went over to where Taiyang and Jaune were comforting Ilia. She winced at the sight of several nasty-looking cuts and a sizeable lump on the side of the Faunus's head. "Will you be okay?"

Ilia groaned. "I'll be fine. I've had worse." She glanced up at Weiss. "Blake really liked that book. Wish I could've saved it."

"You did what you could," Weiss assured her. "I can always sneak another book out." Her father mostly kept books as ornaments, anyway.

"Nah. Don't get in trouble." Ilia let out a cough. "Wouldn't want Daddy getting mad, huh?" When Weiss frowned, Ilia grimaced. "Sorry. That sounded more lighthearted and funny in my head."

"It's quite alright," Weiss assured her.

"You know, it's weird. You're not half-bad for a Schnee," Ilia muttered.

"And how many Schnees have you met?" Weiss shot back.

"I…" Ilia paused, then let out a short laugh. "Good point."

Yang and Ruby returned with the boiled water. Taiyang dipped a rag into the water, wrung it out, and started cleaning the cuts. "Jaune, why don't you take Weiss home? I can handle this."

"I'll do it," Yang cut in. "If you don't need anything else."

Taiyang nodded. "Okay, but hurry back."

Yang led Weiss out, her arm wrapped firmly around her soulmate's shoulders as they moved further and further away from the smell of smoke. Once they were a good distance away, they slowed down.

It was then that all the worry that had been building up in Weiss crashed down on her, and she flung her arms around Yang. She let out a sob as those strong arms immediately came up to support her. "I'm sorry," she gasped. "I must seem so pathetic right now. I just… I got so worried, and…"

"Shh, hey. Don't worry about it. I'm fine." Yang held Weiss close, hating the way her smaller form was trembling so much. "I've helped out my friends in the District during lootings before. It's nothing to worry about."

"I wish there was more I could do," Weiss murmured, nuzzling Yang's shoulder. "I just feel so useless. I can't help you financially, and I'm worthless in a fight because there's no way for me to learn how to, and now I'm standing here crying while Ilia isn't shedding a single tear after being slashed up, and…and…"

"Shh," Yang repeated. "Look, it's not your fault. Your dad doesn't give you any actual money, but you're still helping us by sneaking food out whenever you visit. And you've never had to fight anyone, so who could expect you to know how?"

An idea hit her. "Actually," she placed Weiss down, wiping at her soulmate's cheeks with her sleeve. "What if I taught you?"

Weiss's eyes widened. "Really? You could teach me how to fight?"

"Yeah, why not?" Yang grinned. "I've been doing it for years, and I've already taught Ruby some self-defense moves. I can do the same for you next time I see you. We'll just need to be careful. I doubt it would be good if you had visible bruises at home, after all."

"Oh, I have makeup to hide bruises," Weiss said brusquely. "That won't be a problem."

Yong Shi stiffened, growling softly.

Anmut dipped his head sadly in response to the lion's silent question, nodding his head once.

Yang's eyes prickled as she realized exactly why Weiss would have that kind of makeup on hand. She pulled her soulmate into yet another hug. "There's something else," she murmured. "I've been thinking, and I've decided that I want you to touch Yong Shi."

Weiss pushed away, her eyes wide. "Y-Yang, I…I can't. I…"

"Hold on." Yang held up a hand. "I'm not asking to touch Anmut until you want me to. What I want is for you to make the bond with Yong Shi, so you'll be able to feel me, even when you're stuck at the Manor." She placed a hand on Yong Shi's head. "I miss you when you're gone, but I have Ruby and all my friends. You and Anmut are all alone up there. I don't want you to feel that way, and I don't want you to worry if I have to help Blake and the others in the District again."

Weiss felt a tear trickling down her cheek. Her heart was pounding, and she felt so incredibly warm. Yang was offering to let her touch her dæmon, offering up her very soul, and expected nothing in return. "Yang, I…" she trailed off, unable to speak all of a sudden.

Anmut gazed at the lion with shining black eyes, thinking what his human had only just realized. I love you.

"You don't have to do it now," Yang said. "Not if you aren't comfortable with it. I just want you to know that you can, and I won't ask for anything from you."

Weiss reached a shaking hand toward Yong Shi, watched his eyes close and his mighty head bow before her. Just before her fingertips touched his mane, she stopped, suddenly very aware of the fact that they were in the middle of an open street, right after a riot. "Not here," she said, drawing back. "Next time. When we can be alone somewhere."

Yang understood. "Okay." She brushed her hand against Weiss's cheek. "Will you be okay until then?"

"Yes," Weiss replied without hesitation. Just remembering Yang's face in that moment, remembering Yong Shi's devoted bow, would keep her strong until she could see them again. "Thank you, Yang." She stepped forward, hugging her soulmate one last time.

At their sides, Yong Shi wrapped a strong foreleg around Anmut's slender form, drawing him in and nuzzling him gently. Anmut nestled close, not wanting to move away for anything in the world.

The soulmates parted, and Weiss hurried back to the Manor. As they ran, she and Anmut spoke quietly.

"We have to tell her," Anmut insisted. "If she's willing to trust us so much, we have to."

"I know," Weiss replied. She knew that Yang wouldn't ask this of her, but she knew that she wouldn't touch Yong Shi until after she offered this freely: She was going to tell Yang exactly what had happened to her as a child. She would finally let those repressed memories come to the surface, and hope that everything wasn't ruined by them.

When they reached the safety of their room, Weiss entered her private washroom. She stared intently at her reflection in the mirror, at the perfect, beautiful, doll-like girl that her father paraded around so proudly. Her lip curled with disgust and she turned on the faucet. As the water splashed over her hands, she bent down and rubbed fiercely at her eyes.

As she rubbed, a layer of makeup slid from the left side of her face, turning the water flesh-colored as it swirled down the drain. She rubbed until that layer she was so used to, that layer that she applied every morning, was gone.

When she looked in the mirror again, she was greeted by her face, which looked exactly the same except for one thing: a single scar that began at her brow and ended below her left eye. A tremor went through her as she regarded it, but she forced herself to remain still, to keep staring at it.

"We're going to tell her," Weiss murmured, feeling Anmut's resolve hardening with her own as she stared at the flawed picture of herself, as she watched the face looking at her adopt a determined expression, one that gave her courage. "Even if we can't establish the bond, Yang is going to know me."

…..

Klein hurried to Willow's room, walking as fast as he could without drawing attention to himself. Weiss had been incredibly late coming home, and he had waited for her, his foot tapping and his heart sinking lower and lower as he wondered if something was wrong.

When Weiss returned, tear stains on her face, he didn't ask questions. He just hurried her off to bed, giving her a warm smile as she left the wine cellar.

Now, he rushed to his own soulmate, opening the door, holding a bottle of wine that he had forgotten to put in an ice bucket. He felt a pang when he saw that Willow was wide awake and staring at the door.

"You're late," she said bluntly.

"I know," he replied. "I'm sorry. I was…distracted." He walked over, placing the bottle on the table and holding out his hands.

To his surprise and dismay, Varian turned his nose up, letting out a quiet "Hmph!"

"What were you distracted by, Klein?" Willow asked, her voice sharp. "There's something you're not telling me, something worrying you."

"I'm sorry, Willow. I-" Klein stopped, suddenly aware of the way Willow's voice wasn't slurring. He reached for the empty wine bottle, only to find that it was actually mostly full. His heart sped up. "You haven't been drinking."

Willow tilted her head, then glanced toward the table. "I suppose not. I took a few sips, but then I got worried. I was wondering whether to go looking for you, or not. I must have forgotten." She reached for the bottle, but stopped when Klein's gentle, work-worn hand touched her arm. She loved the feel of that hand, so unlike the cold, overly-manicured hand of her husband. Klein's touch was rough and warm, the touch of an honest, hard-working man rather than a cold-hearted pretender.

"Could you forget to for a little longer, my dear?" Klein asked, his voice trembling with suppressed excitement. "For me?"

Willow met his warm caramel eyes and desperately wanted to say yes. "It's not that simple, Klein."

"What if I watered it down?" Klein asked. "Maybe there's a way for you to drink less and less over time."

"I…" Willow picked Varian up, cuddling him to her chest. "I can't, Klein. This is the only way I can endure being stuck with him. I'm sorry."

Klein breathed a sigh, drawing back. "I understand."

Varian slid from his human's chest and jumped into Klein's lap, snuggling against his front while making tiny chirruping noises. "You deserve so much better," he muttered.

Klein picked the dæmon up, feeling Willow's self-loathing and helplessness more than he ever had before. He kissed the ermine and stroked the white fur gently. "No, love. You deserve better than that monster."

Sonja hopped into the bed, gladly accepting the gentle touch of Willow. She curled up at the woman's side, a comforting, warm weight on the blankets.

Willow sighed as Klein's devotion, sympathy, and his desperate wish to save her washed over her. If only, she thought, her sober mind imagining with perfect clarity a future that could never be: one where she, Klein, both of her daughters, and her son were somewhere far away, somewhere they could be happy.

If only.

That's right, folks. Next week, we find out exactly what happened that made Weiss so scared of the Faunus District, and of establishing a soul bond. I'll be posting trigger warnings, of course, but fear not. I will be balancing out the angst with some fluff, as I feel you guys deserve it.

If you like what you see and want to show extra support while earning sweet rewards, my P/atreon is Solora Goldsun.

Peace out!