Our Dance

Day 8: Free day

Monoweek2018.

Weiss singing once upon a dream dramatically everybody. Also please listen to the musical's ost especially the song In My Dream, which largely inspired this fic

Summary: As the days went and Weiss struggled to sort the foggy mess that was her past the more Blake saw the Princess in her memories. It should have been a good thing yet Blake could not fathom parting ways any longer. The least she could do was enjoy this one dance that was just for them (Anastasia au)

xxx

Blake paced along their cabin mumbling to herself as the boat swayed and their lantern tinkered on its stand. Weiss laid on her bunk her back to them ignoring the rambling to the best of her ability, trying to get some rest and hoping with envy that she would soon join the snoring Ruby on the bunk on top in dreamland. Yang sat cross legged on Blake's bed scribbling on her journal until she could no longer stand the clicking of her partners boots.

"Blake, buddy, how about you take a seat?" Yang pleaded shutting her notes with a snap, "The ship's rocking plenty without your help,"

"We've barely made it out of Mantle alive Yang and she's got so much to learn," Blake hissed throwing her hands out towards the Weiss.

Yang grimaced as Blake's temper seemed to flare at any form of reassurance the blonde would throw at her, "Alright a derailed train threw our plans off the rails a little bit," A small smirk was already forming on her lips, her partner glaring daggers.

"Yang,"

Yang raised her hands in a motion of surrender, her smugness didn't falter but she did have to admit they were having a rough time taking Weiss to Vale's city of Beacon. Ever since they found the girl resting in the ruins of the Schnee's palace in the old capital of Mantle it was one risk after another with the Grimm hot on their tails and a strange stroke of bad luck followed them. They couldn't back down now, not after they found a perfect doppelganger of the princess. If anyone could fool her majesty Winter, it was their Weiss with her pale skin, her white hair and misty blue eyes that could easily belong to a real Schnee. It didn't hurt that she shared a name with the lost princess either.

"You need to calm down partner, besides, Weiss is a fast learner," Yang said trying to sound as persuasive as she could.

"Yes, but we still have to go through etiquette, the family tree and it wouldn't hurt teaching her to read," Blake tapped a finger for every one point she mentioned looking almost on the point of hyperventilating.

"I'd like to be kept out of your squabble, thank you very much," Weiss whipped up to glare at the pair levering on an elbow before she scoffed at Blake, "And I can read perfectly fine, although I wish I hadn't entertained the thought of borrowing your books,"

"Now listen he-," Blake faltered as the implication in Weiss words sank in and felt the heat rise up to her forehead and down to her toes if that was even possible, "Wait how did you, no..." she stopped raising her arms to hide behind hands and took a deep breath trying not to groan. "Don't answer that actually, just..." She sucked in a quick breath and pointed a finger at the girl, "Everyone has their guilty pleasure,"

Weiss rolled her eyes turning to sit before slipping out of her bed, "Oh yes, sure, and yours sure is guilty," She moved past the flabbergasted cat faunus announcing the need for some fresh air.

"One more point to our snow princess," Yang chuckled falling onto her back and wiggling until the mattress took her form. It was early enough to not warrant the need to get up anyway.

Blake could only stare mortified at the cabin door closing in on her face. The snickering from the top bunk further fueled her embarrassment and she almost contemplated the idea of jumping off the ship. Yet she could not get rid of the nagging feeling at the back of her mind.

Yang seemed to notice or perhaps she read her thoughts, "Anything else you want to share?"

"She can read," she grumbled shoving her hands in the pockets of her trousers. The implication was not lost to the sisters.

"School is a thing Blake," Ruby ventured but she couldn't help but agree with the points Blake brought up, "Weiss seems smart, she probably...uh" Ruby looked down at her sister who simply shrugged. "She got a few lessons?"

"Alright let's say she's good enough to learn in a few lessons but her name?" Blake huffed crossing her arms.

"We've been through this, she's about the princess age, maidens know how many Weiss' there are out there," Yang said weakly, she couldn't deny there was certainly too many coincidences. Yet as con men coincidences and facts could never be the same and they had to have proof.

"She looks exactly like Lady Winter," she pointed out shaking her hand and glancing at the cabin door. Could she really be just grasping at straws.

"Alright, but if she is the lost princess isn't it a good thing?" Ruby's lips curled up, "We would be heroes instead,"

Yang nodded, "That would be a nice twist to our story,"

Blake blinked momentarily stunned. It was true, why would it be a bad thing? Why was she so against it? It would be like killing two nevermores with one stone, they would get their money without conning anyone and avoid the need to disappear and Weiss would find her family and figure out her hazy past like she dreamed to. However, if her hunch was right it would mean the two of them didn't belong in the same world and it didn't sit quite right with her.

"I...I'm going out for a bit," she stuttered rubbing her sleeve over her eyes.

Ruby looked at Yang with a frown as the faunus trotted to the stairs leading to the outside.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Yang shook her head stuffing her hands behind the back of her head, "No, it's just something Blake needs to figure out,"

xxx

The sea remained choppy following the night storm that had passed. The frigid breeze that gently blew through her hair was nothing compared to the howling winds of a few hours ago. Weiss found it pleasant, it reminded her of Mantle although she could do without the nauseating swaying of their ride. She found she did not like the ocean all that much, it was vast and mysterious and she did not like not to know, it was a little bit like her memories. An empty misty slate that could lead her to nowhere depending on which course she set sail. And yet here she was unable to look away as she crossed her arms on the railing and lowered her head to rest on them. She passed a hand through her hair noting that it had almost gotten to her shoulders as it grew this past few months since she had left the orphanage.

Heaving a sigh in exhaustion she wondered if she should attempt to sleep once more but it was likely to be futile. The dreams that had plagued her in her childhood returned in the past nights with an intensity that left her sweating and cold as soon as she awakened. As the years passed in the orphanage she had grown accustomed to the inexplicable nightmares especially when she was particularly stressed, the screams, the red hot fire and the sensation of fear as she was pulled into the freezing snow and she waddled after the frantic figure in white. She was used to the frightful ones, it was the new pleasant ones that Weiss could not quite explain and trickled a sense of dread into her frantic heart. It was always the same sequence of events, the figures in her dream were too scrambled like static rendering them unrecognizable as they sat around a table chattering in the snow with the exception of the girl in white. Weiss knew the girl was older from the way she would smile down at her, a small curl of the lips whenever she saw Weiss coming. The girl was composed and stood in the gardens covered in frost in what seemed to be a dress that ought to be to light for the weather. Even if the picture her mind projected little unclear Weiss could see a poised air of dignity even though she could not have been older than 12 at best the girl radiated elegance she watched the frozen lake in silence. Her dream self always approached her in haste with a jump in her step and to her delight the girl would notice her and positively beam reaching out for her hand. There was always a name on the tip of her tongue she could not quite recall. Even now her head throbbed in protest as she tried to reach for the name never quite grasping it. All the while she wondered if rather than a dream it could be a memory.

"Are you alright?"

The voice startled her and she grabbed the rails in a panic pushing away from them. She spun round to face Blake who flinched at her sudden jerk and Weiss immediately relaxed seeing who it was, leaning back onto the railing. Blake furrowed her brows as she took in the sight of the girl's pale face. Weiss had never been tanned to begin with but had always had a healthy creamy coloration which had been replaced by a yellowish pallor. Blake was not at ease floating on top of gallons of water herself yet she did not like the look of the dark circles under her eyes and the uncharacteristic slouch.

"Yes, yes, I-" she replied holding one hand to her heart, "I was just lost..." She took a small shaky breath in, "...in the scenery,"

Blake walked over by her side mimicking her posture, their arms almost touching. Weiss frowned as she felt goosebumps rise at the near contact, the cat faunus had been privy to invading her personal space as of late and she found it irritating that in every occasion it was only an almost touch and never quite close enough to do so even in such vicinity. Blake smiled softly at her ignorant of what was passing through her mind, "A lien for your thoughts,"

Weiss resisted the urge to roll her eyes finding the question ironic but replied curtly, "Right now, believe me, they're not worth that much," It was all she could do to join the dots struggling to push the pieces of the puzzle that were her notions into their rightful place. Blake didn't seem convinced as she rubbed a hand over her nape. "Alright, maybe I may be having second thoughts," Blake didn't respond and Weiss took the opportunity to keep on going as she fiddled with her thumb. "Lady Winter obviously loved her little sister if she's still looking for her after all these years, I know I said I'd do it but I really believed going on this journey could be fate," Weiss groaned drooping dejectedly and staring at the foaming waves hitting the side of the ship. "I went to Mantle's palace because I felt the need to and when you invited me I felt that pull inside again to take the leap but the closer I get to the truth the more jumbled up I feel,"

"I-I'm scared,"

Weiss hid her eyes behind the back of her hand, lips trembling. Blake didn't quite know what to do, the woman had been prideful and never faltered from the first time she had set eyes upon her. She took a step closer and slid her arm around her pulling Weiss closer from her shoulder as gently as possible. There was no signs of protest and she was content to stare at the horizon until the shuddering stopped completely.

When Blake was certain the other had regained her composure she ventured to ask, "Are you having second thoughts?"

Weiss shook her head, Blake was no longer holding onto her but their arms remained touching and she felt oddly heartened by the warmth that was shared between them.

"No, we shook on it, I want to see this through," she said nudging the other, "Besides, I've never been this close to remembering something before I started traveling with all of you," Blake wasn't certain if she found Weiss' stubbornness in keeping her word endearing or frightening. It dawned on her that she was being frowned upon as the shorter girl looking over her face and tapping a finger on her chin, "Now that I think about it, I don't really know much about you,"

Blake raised a brow at her sudden curiosity, the four of them had not asked any question and were simply content to leave their relationship as business like as possible. After the ordeal on the train and their encounters with a couple of grimm, especially the beowolf who would have almost chomped off Blake's head was it not for Weiss intervention, they had become more comfortable with each other yet if she recalled they never asked about the past. The sisters, half sisters really, had a complicated backstory, Yang was the daughter of a bandit and Ruby's mother had vanished into thin air leaving their father to raise them as best as he could and Weiss did not have a past beyond her fragmented memories of what could have been so Blake knew better than to ask. On the other hand, her own childhood had been filled with hardships as a faunus but as her family served the Schnee's she had it better than most.

"I was the kitchen help in Mantle's royal palace," she admitted feeling the urge to share. Maybe it was the fatigue from all the traveling or the itch at the back of her head telling her that it might jog something more than fond nostalgia.

"Is that why you know so much about the royal family?" Weiss asked a spark of inquisitiveness flashing in her eyes. Blake hummed in affirmative although she felt torn, she wanted to help their Weiss however if by chance Weiss was a Schnee, they would have to part ways and she found herself at odds with that premise. It would mean that they did not belong in the same world and the more she thought about the princess from her childhood, the more she could see the similarities in the woman that stood by her side.

"Y-yes," she stuttered trying to choke the need to run away and averted her gaze instead, it helped Blake a little that she could not see the excitement in the icy blue eyes. "I used to sneak in and try and catch a peek at the princess,"

"Did you ever manage?"

"Most of the times," she puffed her chest proudly, if there was anything she was good at it was not getting caught, the skill came convenient even now as she scammed the rich, "Although, lady Winter was not easily fooled," Blake shivered at the memory. "She was really mad the first time and I almost got beaten by a princess,"

"I guess hiding behind some tacky curtains wasn't the best plan," Weiss giggled and she could easily imagine the scene. The young scrawny faunus shriveling under the scrutiny of the king's eldest daughter as the youngest peeked curiously from over her studies.

"Not it wasn't, the princesses knew the palace even better than I did," Blake chuckled feeling a little sheepish at the silly mistake her younger self had made. There was the nagging sensation that she had missed something important that always manifested as a twitch in her faunus ears. She couldn't quite put a finger on what it was. "I tried again and again, in the end the princesses gave up and let me be, Lady Winter even taught me some words, and its how I learned to love a good book," It had been once or twice and Blake doubted the Lady even recalled something so insignificant but to her it was a special memory.

"I don't think her majesty would approve your current choice in romance novelizations I must say,"

"Be quiet would you!"

xxx

It was Yang that interrupted their reverie as Blake continued to share stories of her past endeavors. Weiss had closed her eyes, dry and heavy as they were as the warm rays on the sun washed over her skin and rested her head on Blake's shoulder up until she felt the clap on her back. She resisted the urge to shriek instead whipping round to glare venomously at the brawler as Blake rubbed her aching back most likely sharing her sentiment.

"Come on lover girls, It's a beautiful day to learn some royally good moves," she clapped her hands waving for them to follow. Blake shrugged at the questioning look Weiss gave her and the pair trotted after Yang. She brought them to the large empty space at the forecastle of the ship were they were greeted by a slow, somber melody of a piano coming from an old phonograph record that scratched at parts. It was a soothing tune that reminded Weiss of the drizzling rain in the night and a room filled with a single light and she found herself wondering what the sense of familiarity could mean.

Yang didn't give her time to dwell on it as she gestured toward the two of them, "Well then, go on then,"

Blake was shaken for a moment as she turned to a curious Weiss and looked behind her to find no other possible individual Yang could be addressing. Swiveling round pointing a finger to her chin incredulously she was met with a snort.

"Who else?" Yang trotted towards her pushing her to an inch away from where a bemused Weiss stood with little effort, "You're the one who has been complaining about how we're behind schedule,"

Blake was about to protest but Weiss surprised them lowering in an short and fluid curtsy. The cat faunus chewed at her bottom lip glancing back at Yang who prodded her back.

"See she's a natural, didn't need to show her," she grinned digging into Blake's shoulder blade with her pokes.

Blake shuffled a few steps back inclining into a low bow and gulping as she offered her hand to Weiss. Running her fingers through the white strand of her pulling it over her ear Weiss took a confident step forwards almost pressed herself to the Faunus who ghosted over Weiss hip hesitant to grip. Blake was vaguely aware of her icky sweaty palm and was about to try and wipe it clean if not for the slap that shoved her poor limb onto the bony hip. Letting out a yelp she glared down at her dancing partner only to find their noses almost touching. The only thing that consoled Blake was that it appeared that they had both stopped breathing at the proximity until Yang smacked their lower back. Weiss would have flung herself at her had she not been holding hands with Blake.

"Concentrate!" she mock growled arranging their posture roughly and smirking all the while as she skipped away giving them some space.

Blake took a step back and then another to the side testing their reaction time together. Weiss following a second later and she felt a flutter in her gut as she watched the muddy boots counter the pacing of her own black shoes. As Weiss synced with the rhythm of her steps and Blake allowed herself to look up to her beaming partner all the more frequently as their tentative choppy walk started to resemble a dance more and more. With a little bit of Yang's directing and Ruby's insightful cheers Blake was no longer slouching and Weiss trusted her to lead letting her body shadowing her every move. They didn't even notice as the sisters soon mumbled their excuses having fake passports to prepare for their arrivals and Blake caught herself stuttering a reply to whatever excuse Yang gave her as she pulled Ruby from her collar directing her back to their cabin.

"You're doing great!" Blake coughed trying to free the knot in her throat.

Weiss gave her a quizzical look, her lips twitching in bemusement, "I'm merely following you as you guide me in circles, we're hardly really dancing,"

"Well you haven't stepped on my toe and you've already mastered the posture," Blake grumbled, "That's really all you need to do,"

"Well,thank you, kind ma'am," she giggled,tone mocking as they entered yet another loop twisting round until they were feeling quite was asking to stop, Weiss didn't really want to as Blake furrowed her brow eyeing her in a curious manner.

"A lien for your thoughts," Weiss prodded hoping to transmit some courage to the cat Faunus. Blake's head snapped up to look at her and she flushed once Weiss gave her the best smile she could master, teeth white and unnaturally clean. The girl had always been very adamant on a good state of hygiene and Blake always caught her smelling of something fresh tickling her nose whenever she got a whiff. Suddenly, as she stared into the vibrant, blue eyes she nodded in determinations feeling the need to come clean now that it felt like this may be the last time they would be alone together. The closer they got to Vale, the more Blake knew she would have to part ways soon enough and it felt like a knife was being twisted in her gut.

"What would you do if Lady Winter turned out to be your sister?" she swallowed throat dry, feeling pins and needles running about her skin.

Weiss seemed to mull over the question and her feet stopped moved, her grip on Blake ever tight and causing the latter to come to a stop. "I don't think I'll know until then," Blake's shoulders drooped and her expression must have shown her disbelief and slight annoyance as Weiss held a snort, her hand moved to Blake's chest."Does it matter Blake? Can't I enjoy our now?"

Blake expression turned sorrowful, "Wouldn't it make things more painful then?"

"Aren't they always?"

Blake took a step forward pressing her forehead into the other's, their hair prickled as they nuzzled. Weiss moved her arms to lock them around Blake's neck, the cat faunus own were swung around the smaller girl's hips. As their chests pressed together, neither was very certain to whom the frantic heart beat belonged to.

Blake sighed, "How can you be so brave,"

"I just don't want to lose anything every again," Weiss breathed out from her nostrils amused at how Blake would fixate on the word courage, "I'm much more scared of regretting never trying, aren't you?"

Blake's arms fastened around the princess' waist as she hid her face into her neck, "I don't want to say goodbye," Weiss felt her neck become wet and pressed her hand against Blake's hair, stroking gently and soothingly.

"I'm here right now Blake,"

Weiss words coaxed her out of hiding, their noses touched and Blake's thumb pressed against the scarred eye, wiping any tears that formed. A giggle escaped her lips and she nodded fervently pulling the girl closer as carefully as possible least she shatter in her arms and the dream would hands found her shoulders and they dug in painfully. It was soft, warm, sloppy and just a little salty, yet both of them couldn't have imagined a more marvelous first kiss.

xxx

With this last fic end RWBY's was a fun ride and i'd like to thank all the organizers and wonderful content creators for this amazing week. I know it's very much cliffhangery but I get to angst a bit don't we all know the ending to this movie don't we?