Hello there! This is your author speaking. Since this is a shorter chapter, I'd like to preface it with another update. But don't worry, there are some longer ones coming up in the next couple of weeks!
We're only about a month away from the end of volume one (hard to believe, huh?), but don't worry, the story will be back with volume 2 and probably even a volume 3!
I've also got something else in store for you guys: I won't spoil too much, but it's called "The Untold Stories of PR." PR obviously stands for the Phoenix and the Rose. I'm not sure yet when it will be released, but probably not until later, as it does have spoilers for some of the future volumes.
This will be a series that explains some of the things that happen off-book from a multitude of perspectives. In the main story, I'm limited to Zaine's perspective, which is fine. But in this story, you'll get to see some of the things that happen out of his knowledge and find out what some of the other characters are thinking and feeling.
Sorry for rambling, but I'd again like to thank all of you who have taken the time to read my story, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!
CH 8: Melting the Ice
As usual, I was spending some downtime one day just relaxing on the roof, when I got an unexpected visitor. There's no way in hell I could have ever predicted what was about to happen next.
"Ruby, have you seen Zaine anywhere?" Weiss asked, barging into the room, quite upset.
Yang and Blake weren't around, and Ruby was sitting on her bed studying.
"I dunno, why'd you need-pfft what is that?!" Ruby responded, having noticed the poster Weiss was holding.
"This is nothing but blasphemy, and propaganda, it's-it's not funny!" Weiss said, holding up the poster.
"mrmph… Hahaha! I'm sorry it's, it's just-" Ruby could barely even speak straight. In fact, tears were forming in her eyes.
"Stop it! Just tell me where he is, now."
"Did you check the roof?" Ruby asked after collecting herself momentarily.
"Ugh, typical," Weiss responded as she walked up to the window which was partially open and opened it all the way.
She climbed out, using glyphs as walking pads and glanced about until she spotted me. She proceeded to approach me, walking on glyphs and stopped in front of me.
"Hey!" she yelled right at me from practically point blank.
I was half asleep and daydreaming something so she caught me off guard.
"Woah-wha-" I shook and almost fell, but caught myself. "Oh it's just you."
"You think this is funny?" She asked angrily, holding up the poster.
I looked and saw what looked like a pompous, pissed, chibi version of Weiss screaming at a group of scared chibi children, who were crying. The poster read, "WHEN YOUR NICE DAY BECOMES AN ICE DAY, DON'T LET THE ICE QUEEN KEEP YOU DOWN." I immediately burst out laughing, giving a definite and honest answer to her question.
"That's hilarious! Hahaha-"
"It is not! Cut it out! This is just a bunch of profane and ill advised… malarkey! I swear your devilish tricks have gone too far! You better clean this up or I swear I'll-" She approached like she was about to push me off or something.
"Woah, woah, take it easy! You think I did this? No way, even I'm not that clever." She crossed her arms and frowned. "…But, since it is bothering you so much, I guess I can help you sort it out."
"It really wasn't you?" She didn't seem convinced yet.
"Yes, I swear, on the honor of my boomerang that I didn't do it."
That seemed to be enough for her. Despite how dumb it sounded, I was serious, and she knows that I care about my boomerang. She let out a sigh.
"I just can't think of who would want to do something like this. This goes far beyond a simple practical joke, it's humiliating."
Just wait until she sees what I have in store for Cardin Winchester… I thought as she sat down on the roof next to me.
"You know, humility isn't all that bad sometimes," I responded honestly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
She must have thought for a second that it was a sarcastic jab of some kind. To be honest, I'm surprised that it wasn't.
"Nothing, nothing, just a thought. As far as who's behind it, do you have any idea of someone who might have a bone to pick with you in any way?"
"Well…"
"Aka, anyone you insulted, mouthed off to, harra-"
"I get it! ...I don't know…"
"Really," I said plainly.
If Weiss hasn't pissed anyone off even in just the last few days, I'll swan dive off of this roof, I thought.
"Ok, well maybe a few."
Thankfully I didn't have to.
"Great. Then you should start by apologizing to each of them individually."
"What? Why should I apologize to the suspects? Shouldn't we interrogate them or something?"
"Suspects? Don't you mean victims?"
"I'm the victim!" She held up the poster again.
"Listen, it doesn't matter who the victim is, you should still apologize. If you respond to this with humility and forgiveness, whoever did it will stop, and you'll prove that the poster is a lie. If you respond with anger and malice, you'll only make it true, and that's exactly what they want."
"You-I-... I never really thought about that way."
"You might be cold, condescending, and rude at times…"
"Hey!"
"But you're not a bad person. In fact, you're one of the better ones I know. For once introduce some others to the real you, the one underneath the cold exterior."
"...Are you being serious?"
"Of course, why would I joke about something like this?"
"Well with you, it can be hard to tell."
"I'm being 100% honest here."
"...You have a lot more insight than I thought… I guess you're not a moron after all… you're still a doofus though. Regardless, thanks for the advice."
Wait, did Weiss just thank me? The stars must be aligned or something I thought. I was so surprised that I barely noticed her hand was touching mine. At that moment the sun started setting, and we had the perfect view of it. There was a moment of pause as we both just gazed into the sky. I started talking, thinking that maybe I could melt some of the ice.
"You know, sometimes I like to just forget… and get away from problems, just long enough to feel an afternoon breeze, or watch the sunset…"
At this point I noticed that her hand was on mine and I trailed off, blushing slightly. Wait, what is going on here?! I thought as I looked at Weiss for a second. She was staring at the sunset. If I didn't know better I'd say she was daydreaming herself. I decided not to wreck the moment and watched the rest of the sunset.
As soon as it finished, Weiss looked over at me. I think it was at this moment that she realized what was going on. Her face immediately turned beat red. She pulled her hand back and stood up.
"Well, I should probably get going if I still want to catch them… you know, to apologize or whatever," she said as she headed back to the window. On her way she stopped and turned back, saying, "Thanks. Not just for the advice, but you know, it was… nice." After that, she went back inside the window.
I didn't have any words; I was still a bit surprised by this all. I stayed on the roof a bit longer as night began to fall, thinking on what had just happened and what I was going to do. Why do I keep doing this? Why do I keep letting people get so close? I'm not the same this time around, I can feel it… Here I thought she was going to maim me and we end up watching a sunset together. What a strange world it is we live in.
End of CH 8
