Chapter 9 - Dreams of Destiny

Weiss and Yang both deal with the illusive concept of destiny.

Yang was full of emotion as she paced in front of their bunkbeds. Frustration, guilt, disappointment, and anger had been festering and growing inside of her for weeks, and the worst part was she couldn't find a way to let it out. She desperately wanted to just punch something to make the feelings go away.

But I can't, it won't actually fix anything. It's my fault things ended this way. Blake's going to be disappointed. She'd never come out and say it, but she knows it's my fault.

Grinding her teeth Yang fought the urge to hit something just as much as she struggled to hold back her semblance's release.

I've trained so hard. How did I lose that badly, to that- that little umbrella wielding- argh!

Just as she had finished another turn of angry pacing the door to their dorm room opened.

Blake stood in the doorway peering in at Yang with cautious eyes, "Is it okay if I come in, or do you need the room?"

The question made Yang's guilt grow worse as she struggled to put a brimming smile on her face that was exactly the opposite of how she felt. More than anything Yang wished that she could sink through the floor to escape the mere possibility of the conversation she had been avoiding having with Blake.

"Of course you can come in; it's your room too. " Yang scratched behind her head nervously, "I mean I can leave though, if you don't want me here." She hastily walked over to her desk and pocketed her scroll.

Giving Blake the room was for the best. Yang knew how she liked to have peace and quiet when she read, and Yang still hadn't figured out how she was going to talk to her partner about everything she was feeling. As Yang turned to stalk out she was met by a pair of perfect golden eyes blocking her exit.

Ahh sneaky ninja cat!

Blake looked up at Yang with a critical gaze that made her nervous.

"What's wrong?" Blake asked. Her partner's voice wasn't at all demanding or forceful but it managed to cut into her just the same.

The blond leaned backed a little, feeling anxious from the faunus's proximity. "What are you talking about?" Yang forced a laugh, "I'm fine. A-okay. Right as r-" the last word got stuck in her mouth on the way out when she saw Blake narrow her eyes, indicating that she wasn't buying it.

Blake's disapproving stare didn't let up, "Yang I heard you pacing before I even made it halfway up the stairs and you've been uncharacteristically quiet for days. You only act this way when you are trying to hide something."

The blond gulped before turning away, but her partner was persistent. Blake grabbed her wrist.

"Yang," there was an undercurrent of pain in Blake's voice that made the blond's shoulders slump. "Tell me what is going on," Blake's voice was firmer. "And don't say it's nothing, you've been avoiding me for over a week now. We're partners you need to talk to me when something is bothering you."

Blake released her and for a moment Yang thought about coming up with an excuse or making a promise to talk to someone else on the team about it. But as soon as she turned and saw the worry on Blake's face her resolve disappeared faster than a slain grimm.

Her head turned to the side unable to look her partner in those piercing golden eyes. "I let you down… I'm… sorry," was all she could muster.

Silence annoyingly filled every corner of their small room making the inadequacy of her words frustratingly clear. She knew that Blake would want her to say more, but it was hard. And she really didn't want to, so instead Yang stared down angrily at the intricate curving leaf pattern of their rug.

"Yang I'm sorry, but I don't understand. "There was a pause before Blake finally asked, "Can you tell me more? Please."

Ughhh, like I can say no if you ask me like that.

Yang retreated to stand by the window, knowing that if she had to look into those flawless soul-penetrating eyes every bit of resolve or restraint that she possessed would melt away.

This whole thing made her feel so stupid. She was training to be a huntress. She could shatter mechs, pulverize grimm, and own nearly anyone that stood in the same ring as her, but she couldn't get her words out or overcome her fear of talking to her own partner. Her hands gripped the bookshelf in front of the window hard enough that she heard a soft creak escape the strained wood.

Just spit it out! You know keeping it locked up is worse.

She looked down as she tried to figure out what to say.

Sighing Yang finally answered, "I wasn't good enough to take down that girl on the train. If I had, then we would know more about why all of it happened." Yang stared out at the shattered moon, "After everything was said and done we all just assumed that capturing that jerk would be the end. But Ironwood has had Torchwick for weeks now, and that creep still hasn't said anything about who was really behind the attack or why the White Fang would work with him. You still have so many unanswered questions, and..." Yang paused to take a deep breath before pushing on, "I don't want those questions to tear you apart and make you slip away from-" Yang caught herself, "the team, like you did before." Her fists had balled so tight that they hurt, "So I'm sorry. I'm your partner and I wasn't good enough. I let you down."

Yang stained to take a deep breath as silence quickly enveloped the room. She gritted her teeth in frustration at how difficult it was to talk to Blake about this. Despite being different they had always been close as partners, but now that Yang had gotten too close all she could feel was the distance between them.

Don't be a coward, just say it!

"And you're the one person that I don't want to disappoint more than anyone," Yang choked out.

Unable to take the quiet anymore Yang turned. Blake had apparently deciding that giving her space to talk was the best option, and hadn't moved from her spot on the rug. The faunus's face was as relatively impassive as it always was, but Yang could see that Blake's eyebrows looked drawn down and her bow dipped a little more than normal. Yang clenched her jaw when she realized that Blake wasn't going to say anything.

Yang looked away to make the last of what she was willing to say easier, "You're my partner Blake, so what you think of me means a lot. I know what other people think when they look at me," she gestured towards her outfit, "for the most part I've never really cared, but sometimes…" Yang finally looked at her stoic partner to try and find some way to get her to understand all of the emotions that were welled up inside of her and had been bottled away for too long.

"Sometimes I can tell that when people see us together as partners they think you got stuck with the dumb blond whose only skill is to punch really hard," Yang's shoulder's slumped but she pushed on, "But you've never made me feel like that. I haven't ever felt like you judged me or that you regret having me as a partner. So I want you to know that I mean it when I say I'm sorry."

Yang was heartbroken when she finally looked up to see her partner's reaction. Blake's face was full of disappointment and anger as she looked off to the side, brow narrowed deeply in thought.

"You're wrong," the faunus finally responded.

Yang felt her throat tighten at the words. Head racing to think of what Blake meant and if there was anything she could do or say to fix the anger in her partner's voice.

Blake looked up at her with a small frown, "You haven't let me down... ever. And… it wasn't chance that we got partnered together." Blake looked her right in the eye and for a second Yang felt like she couldn't breathe the gaze was so intense, "I chose you."

Yang's brain suddenly didn't work, like not even a little bit. Instead it just played the words back to her as she struggled to gain any meaning from them at all.

I chose you. I... chose... you.

Blake sighed and her frown deepened, "That first day when we were in the forest I secretly watched everyone I could in our class. But after meeting you and seeing you fight those Ursa I decided that I wanted you to be my partner."

Somehow the Blake's words made Yang's brain start back up. As the blond remembered those first two days a million questions suddenly bombarded her. Even though her mind felt like it would burst from all the new thoughts and questions she decided to keep her mouth shut and let her usually quiet partner talk.

The smallest smile changed Blake's tone as it touched her lips, "Even before I really knew you I could tell that you were brave, passionate, honest, and fun. I wanted- I needed someone like that after everything I'd been through before coming to Beacon." Blake looked at Yang and bit her lip.

The words from her partner made Yang's heart race. But the look that Blake was giving her made her feel something she had been trying to hold back for months now.

Fire.

Emotion welled inside of Yang and left her trapped in thought about all that Blake meant to her and how much more she wanted them to be. When she came back to her senses Blake was standing directly in front of her.

Slowly the faunus's hand reached up to her bow, "Even before you knew," the ribbon fell away to reveal soft black ears, "you believed in the faunus being treated fairly. You were the first person that I have felt like I could really trust since leaving the White Fang... since leaving him ."

Golden eyes looked up at her with an intensity that Yang had never seen before, "You mean a lot to me Yang. You haven't done anything to disappoint me."

Every cell in Yang's body was screaming for her to grab Blake and kiss her, to tell her how much she cared for her, to tell her that she thought she was beautiful and smart and amazing in too many ways to count. To hold her and let the warmth of that embrace wash over them till there was no question in Blake's mind how much she meant to her.

But deep down Yang knew that after everything Blake had been through throwing her emotions out like that would only chase her away.

So as much as it killed her, Yang restrained herself, "Blake, you mean a lot to me too. I've wanted to tell you for a while now , but I-"

Blake's finger touched her lips to stop her words, and Yang froze. For an instant her partner looked at the lips she was touching with the same type of fire that Yang was trying to keep inside and it made Yang positively ache. Even though it only lasted a second, Yang knew she would never be able to forget the way Blake had looked at her.

The raven haired woman of Yang's literal dreams drew her hand back with a face full of regret, "I know how you feel about me. I-I feel... similarly..." The words offered Yang a second of unrestrained hope, but sadly it wasn't meant to last.

"But I'm not ready for more than what we have right now. I can't…," Blake's eyes looked panicked and she started to back away, "not yet."

Yang knew what happened next; she didn't want Blake to go. She didn't want to see the woman that she loved turn away from her again.

I know this is a fucking dream, but just once let me change it. I can't let her run away, I can't lose her again!

With regret and fear on her face Blake jetted for the door. Yang went to run after her, but her right arm was tightly held back by someone.

Yang turned towards the source full of rage that quickly turned to surprise.

Weiss?!

Her teammate's presence was new and confusing, and it made the blond furious. The heiress didn't say anything ; she just seized Yang's arm tightly with both hands and shook her head. Her small cold fingers and pained expression instinctively made Yang feel the same fear that was etched across Weiss's face.

Anger soon made its way back in, and Yang yelled at the smaller woman, "Let go, I have to get her! I can't let her leave!"

Jerking her arm free she ran for the door.

Don't leave me, not again!

As she threw back the door to their room everything fell away and she was back there; the ruined cafeteria during the fall surrounded her.

No, no, no.

Spinning in panic Yang saw Blake. Her partner's back was turned from her.

"Blake!" Yang reached out as she called her partner's name.

Searing pain dropped her to her knees.

Her left hand gripped what was left of her right arm, and Adam stood in front of her blocking her path from reaching Blake. Rage and pain ran through her unchecked and unending.

"I hate you," she screamed at him with every fiber of her being. "I hate you!"

The man just sneered down at her, "You can hate me all you want, but it won't change anything. It will always be the same. You will always lose to me," he pointed back to Blake, "and you will never see her again." As if by command Blake disappeared just like one of her shadow clones.

"It's destiny," Adam smirked as he raised his sword.

Icy fear ran down Yang's body in an instant, "Just like it is your destiny to fall by my hand!"

The sword moved and Yang jerked awake.

Panting the blond grabbed her right arm. It felt like fire and electricity were running through her whole limb, even the parts that weren't really there anymore. She rolled onto her side.

"Fuck," She groaned into her pillow as she fought back tears.

It took her a few minutes to get the pain under control. Her right arm still hurt like hell, but she was able to stabilize herself enough to sit up. She flexed her cybernetic into a fist and then opened it again. She didn't really understand why, but it always seemed to help her with the phantom pain.

Yang rubbed her face with her left hand. Her heart rate was still pretty erratic, but she knew that would eventually pass. She was mad. She thought she was past this, but the nightmares were coming back.

The blond frowned as she thought. This time Weiss had been there, which was really weird. Yang frantically searched for an explanation, and after a bit she vaguely remembered that someone had once told her that dreams were your mind trying to connect new information to old information. If that was true then what happened would make more sense. That time she had talked with Blake in their dorm had been full of self-doubt and frustration, and Weiss had just lectured her about not letting self-doubt control her less than…

Yang looked over at her clock and groaned.

Nine hours ago.

"Great," she growled, knowing full well getting back to sleep was not happening. "Getting up then. At least the sun should be sun up."

Pissed and contemplating the merits of taking a long mind-clearing run the blond decided that she had to get dressed either way. After getting clothed she pulled on her shoes; even though it took most of her concentration to lace them she couldn't stop seeing the look that had been on Weiss's face. The blond clenched her jaw. As much as she hated the nightmares it bothered her more that one of them had changed. And for some reason every time she remember that anguished look on Weiss's face she felt guilty and angry.

Shaking her head she focused on tying off her laces.

Dreams are such a stupid pain in the ass, it doesn't mean anything.

Weiss had decided to take her morning coffee on the balcony outside of her room. She wasn't in the mood to run into her mother or Whitley. It wasn't that she resented her brother, but it was hard to suppress negative feelings toward him when their father clearly favored him no matter what Weiss did.

That's father's doing, and you know how irresponsible and unfair it would be to take that out on Whitley.

Regardless, it still made conversations with her youngest sibling… difficult . Not that any conversation with her family was ever easy or what it seemed. Her family had never been what anyone would deign to call close.

Trying to once again to force her morning to a more peaceful place Weiss pushed the thoughts away as she sipped her coffee and looked out at the spacious grounds. But her efforts were for naught, the heiress let out a long frustrated sigh. It was entirely contradictory, but the view of the family's vast estate left her feeling confined and restless.

What's wrong with me? Most people would love spending their days with absolutely nothing to do while basking in the lap of luxury, but to me it's a nightmare. I want to do something. I have to do something, otherwise what purpose do I serve?

Setting down her cup she pulled out her scroll. At least she had Yang's training to distract her even if it would be another day before she saw the shameless blond. Weiss frowned upon reviewing the data she had collected about Yang's fine motor skill. It was just the first data point in what would be a long road of analysis and hopefully growth. Nevertheless, Weiss couldn't manage to dismiss the feeling that something was off. The heiress knew with absolute certainty that there was more going on emotionally with Yang than her teammate was willing to share, but Weiss had also known Yang long enough to know that that alone shouldn't be enough to hold her back from her goals. She just couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else in the mix.

Weiss reviewed Yang's training itinerary once again. It was technically perfect. Every drill and exercise had been researched, references, and could be backed up by no fewer than three peer-reviewed sources.

Tapping her index finger on the table impatiently she scolded herself.

It doesn't matter if it feels off; you can't justify changing the routine till you have data to back up your intuition. Give it more time before you decide to rewrite the world of cybernetic therapy.

Unable to heed her own advice she went back to reviewing the data on her private server. She obsessively scrolled threw file after file, but it wasn't long before her mind grew weary and wandered back to the thoughts she had been struggling to keep at bay all morning. Looking over Yang's training routine had let her memories remind her of what her mind had done with the gorgeous blond's teasing offer while Weiss slept.

Certain parts of the dream flitted back to Weiss, and she immediately felt a familiar ache below her waist.

Drat!

Failing to fight back her thoughts anymore Weiss quickly found herself so worked up that she feared she would have to take care of the issue herself. That was until her traitorous wandering mind was thankfully interrupted by her scroll alerting her to a new email.

Weiss felt a sigh of relief fill her at the break from her own debauched thoughts, but when she switched screens to check who was messaging her Weiss's blood froze .

Father.

Stealing her resolve she opened the message.

|| Weiss,

I have reviewed your performance and will be moving you to the Technology Division of the Schnee Dust Company's Research and Development Department. Your new appointment is to be Supervisor of Operations. The details of this position will be given to you today by Sergeant Reeves. I'll be keeping an eye on the results you produce.

Jacques Schnee ||

Weiss held her breath as she read the email over again three more times. Its contents were not entirely surprising. Her father would never openly chastise or threaten her on a medium that could potentially be leaked to the wrong eyes. But the subtext of the message was quite clear to her.

What he really meant was, 'Since you decided to deviate your focus and challenge me you will be sent to Research and Development as a punishment. I will have your every move watched, and if you disappoint me again your status as heir will be the least of your worries.'

She had no doubt that the decision to send her to the Technology Division was a multifaceted slight. The first was obviously to rub her face in her mistake of not staying focused on her duties at the Acquisition Department, and the second was to deny her any further influence in the company's outward business practices. The final slight was no doubt also a test. It was no mistake that he had given her zero advanced notice of the new position. Her father wanted to see how she would cope with the sudden shift and increase in responsibilities and how quickly she would be able to adapt. Or more likely, how miserably the sudden change would cause her to fail.

Weiss swallowed back her anger so she could start researching and make preparations for her new appointment. After a bit she opened her scroll's settings she accessed her private hotspot so she could send out a secure message. It really was too bad that she would only be able to use Glenn's assistance privately from now on, but the more she learned about her new position the more work she found for the man.

Weiss continued to scoured the Schnee servers. She would know every available detail about her new division before she arrived, but knew she could only afford herself approximately two hours to do so. Weiss was glad that her knowledge of the company was anything but cursory, but she still had a lot of work to do. She quickly started to speed read everything she could find about the current Research and Development team, though she took her time when researching her father's spy, Sergeant Reeves.

In between opening new files Weiss sent out a few more messages and called down to Klein to ensure that her car would be ready when she needed it; she couldn't afford for her arrival at the research and development branch to be delayed. Her timeliness would be judged just as much as preparation. She needed to appear flawless.

Weiss walked into the bright metallic lobby of the Research and Development building, and of course found Sergeant Reeves waiting for her.

He was a tall man who she knew from his file to be in his mid-thirties. His hair was mostly brown but peppered with flecks of grey, it was cut in a traditional military flat top style. His uniform was standard officer fair, boots, white slacks and high necked jacket with silver buckles. The only splash of color to adorn his garb were the bars and ribbons signifying his rank and accomplishments.

It was hard to judge the true character of a person based on paperwork and records, but what she had read about him was not heartening. He was a career military man, enlisting when he was eighteen. Although he had never had any formal reprimands brought against him, there were several reports of reckless behavior in the field and along with a number of harassment allegations from female and faunus subordinates. Despite all the damning reports none of the charges ever managed to make it to formal hearings; any investigation seemed to be thrown out before it ever really started. Which to Weiss meant one of two things: Reeves had friends in high places or he was not afraid to use intimidation to get what he wanted. Given his age and leisure appointment at the Schnee Research and Development Branch she was betting on the former.

Weiss knew she would have to be extremely careful around the man. He would report back every step she took to her father, and after the smirk that she caught on the the man's face upon entering the building she had no doubt that he would enjoy the chance to throw her to the beowolves.

As she approached the sergeant she noticed how his eyes narrowed in disapproval as they scrutinized her. Weiss was all too familiar with that look. Reeves had already decided, on first glance, that she was an entitled heiress that would be demanding and of little use to him. While she was certainly not planning on resting on her laurels while she was here, she could use his preconceived notions to her benefit.

"Sergeant Reeves, how nice to meet you," Weiss addressed the man by holding out her hand to him palm down.

Whether you know it or not you are about to tell me quite a bit about yourself.

How he took her hand would tell her of his upbringing and social standing. In addition, whether or not he took her hand would tell her how willing or unwilling he was to submit to her whims and would give her a good idea of how their interactions in the future would progress.

Reeves looked at her extended hand with disdain.

Oh he does not want to submit to formalities for me, and he is terrible at hiding his expressions. Sometimes I wonder what it must be like to bask in the opulence of male privilege.

Reluctantly Reeves grabbed the tips of her fingers and gave the barest nod of his head. He quickly released her fingers and got to business, "If you don't mind there is quite a bit that I have to show and explain to you today." Without waiting for a reply he turned and started walking towards the elevators.

When the doors to the lift opened the older man stepped in ahead of her. Upon entering the elevator she let him see her raise an eyebrow before she turned to face the doors, "Hmm, we will have to do something about your manners."

Weiss could see the glare that the sergeant wore on his face in the polished metal of the doors. Nothing she had done so far could be reported back to her father as unacceptable behavior, but they were just the first of many such slights that Weiss planned to deploy. She was going to systematically push at Reeves till the man wanted nothing more than to be several rooms away from her at all times, preferring to spy on her paper trail rather than to tail her. It wouldn't be the first time she had used her etiquette skills to drive off unwanted attention, nor would it likely be the last .

If only such efforts had worked on Juane.

As the lift indicated that they had reached their level Reeves spoke, "If you don't mind," he emphasized, "I will take the lead to show you around the labs."

Weiss smiled sweetly, "How kind of you to offer."

When the doors opened Weiss quickly took in her surroundings mapping and relating everything she could see with what she had read just hours before. Most of the labs were completely blocked off with glass paneled walls and were positioned around the perimeter of the floor. To her left there was a large and relatively empty office that was similarly walled off.

Good thing decorating has never been high on my list of priorities. Sigh, glass walls. They make for fantastic privacy.

The center of the department was an open space that housed banks of computers that were currently being used for data analysis and holo-projected design schematics. Everything on the floor was pristine and top of the line. There were ten labs in total for this department, which according to the Schnee servers housed twenty-eight scientists and employed a rotation of thirty-four lab assistants, twenty of which were currently enlisted in the military.

Reeves stepped out of the elevator with a curt, "This way."

The sergeant lead her to the first lab on their right. Upon entering Weiss saw that there were several people at work, all of which were naturally wearing long white lab coats. Two people stood out though. The first was a woman in her forties with a shock of blue-green hair tied back into a ponytail hunched over a microscope. And the second was a man in his fifties with silver hair and a green bowtie that was giving instructions to two assistants near a whiteboard that was full of derivatives that looked to be physics based.

Upon seeing them enter both of the scientists made their way over to the pair.

Reeves gestured to the male scientist, "This is-"

"Doctor Kelly," Weiss interrupted the sergeant. "How nice to meet you," she shook the older man's hand, "I was absolutely fascinated by your paper on heat detecting dust projectiles." Her greeting brought a pleased smile to Doctor Kelly's face, while simultaneously planting a frown on Reeves's.

Weiss then turned to address the female scientist, "And you must be Doctor Viridian, I'm quite interested to see the latest stable dust combinations that you have designed. I'm a personal fan of your time delayed air and fire mix, it's proven quite effective for me recently."

Doctor Viridian smiled, "Really, I'd love to talk about how exactly you utilize it if you have time?"

"I'll see if I have time to stop by tomorrow." Weiss smiled, "My grandfather instilled a love of dust utilization in me at a young age. I have no doubt the conversation will be most satisfying." Weiss made a tiny frown reach her face, "Is Doctor Forest not feeling well today?"

The older scientist answered her question with a kind smile, "No, no she's out at the southern military base testing her latest prototype. She should be back tomorrow."

"Oh wonderful, she must have found a suitable material for long range containment then. I'll look forward to her briefing." Weiss smiled at the older man. She intentionally waited for silence to set in before looking at Reeves and clearing her throat.

The sergeant didn't let it show on his face this time, but his eyes burned with irritation, "This is Miss Schnee. She is the new Supervisor of Operations for the department."

Weiss smiled as she addressed both scientists, "Well I dropped in quite unexpectedly on you today; I'll let you two get back to work. It will be my pleasure to work with you."

Before she had even finished her farewell the sergeant was already making his way to the next lab. He had pulled out his scroll and was angrily tapping away as he waited to take her to their next location.

Much to Weiss's amusement and Reeve's vexation things progressed in a similar pattern; that was until they reached the seventh lab. It was the darkest and least occupied of all the labs in the department and much of the larger equipment was covered in white sheets. Several holo screens sat around a desk in the middle of the room, and a balding white haired man with untamed locks and an equally bushy beard sat with his back to them.

She didn't need to see his face to know who he was. Quietly she walked up and politely addressed the older man, "Doctor Polendina."

The man turned upon hearing his name, so Weiss continued her introduction, "I'm Weiss Schnee, I'm glad to be able to meet you."

The older scientist glanced at her then at Reeves. Polendina simply nodded, but kept Reeves in his line of sight.

Knowing exactly how he felt the heiress chose her next words carefully, "I wish to offer my condolences for the loss of Penny at the tournament," Weiss made sure Reeves wasn't looking when she let her face convey the true meaning of her next words, "She was truly remarkable." Quickly reforming her composure she closed with, "I look forward to what other marvels you will produce for us Doctor."

The older scientist quickly looked at Reeves and then back to Weiss. "Of course," Doctor Polendina answered with a nod. It was simple, but Weiss knew that he had caught her meaning.

Internally Weiss let out a sigh of relief. Having Reeves watch over her was undoubtedly a nuisance; she genuinely hoped that she would be able to find the opportunity to have a more authentically talk with Doctor Polendina. After all that Ruby had shared with her after The Fall she knew that the doctor most likely had few others that understood how truly special Penny had been. Not only that, but Weiss felt she had a duty to her teammate to let him know how much Penny had meant to Ruby as a friend.

He looks so lonely.

Weiss was thankful that touring the rest of the labs had gone quickly. As much as she enjoyed irritating Reeves, his insentient tapping as he documented her every move was starting to become a bit vexing.

Sorry sergeant, but it will take more than angry tapping to provoke me.

Upon entering her new office she looked at the moderately large glass and metal desk with disdain. If she was going to spend any extended amount of time in this office then her desk needed to make its way here. The current bureau had several piles of documents stacked on it.

Eyeing the papers Reeves smirked, "Your predecessor left some work for you upon learning of his departure."

If he thinks that this measly pile of paperwork is going to intimidate me then he is sorely mistaken, this is no worse than the required readings for one of Doctor Oobleck's mid-terms.

"I'd better get to work then," Weiss smiled at Reeves just to see him scowl.

Sitting down she noticed that an origami crane with a note had been slipped in between two of the larger stacks of paperwork.

Picking up the small letter Weiss read the message that had been left for her.

|| Miss Schnee,

Congratulations on your new position. Cranes represent longevity and good luck. A piece of advice, when dealing with a division like the Research and Development Department it is always important to look beyond the easiest interpretation of a thing.

Good luck,

Dr. Polendina ||

Weiss looked at the paper crane. She carefully picked it up and studied its form as she thought about what message he really wanted her to see. She quickly found the maker's signature, a tiny set of initials, on the foot of the crane. The heiress had a feeling she understood what the note meant.

Knowing that Reeves was watching her every move even though he appeared absorbed in the file on his scroll; she crumpled up the crane and its note into a ball and threw it into her trash can before activating her holo screen on her desk. It was best to portray the vapid persona that he would expect of her. If he wanted to see an uncaring entitled heiress that he was forced to babysit, then she was by no means going to correct his underestimation.

People will always believe a lie if it is something they want or already believe to be true.

Weiss worked for a few minutes sifting through the files on the desk while using her computer to cross reference things as purchase orders and funding proposals. Absently she addressed her babysitter, "Reeves, get me a cup of coffee please."

The sergeant looked at her with an irate look that quite pleased her, "I'm the department's military liaison, not your secretary. I don't fetch coffee," he growled.

Weiss simply looked up at him and with a straight face and replied, "Well then I guess my father shouldn't have fired my last assistant. Take it up with him if you're displeased, but it won't change the fact that I have work to do while you are simply standing there." She returned to her holo screen, "Black half a sugar, and do make sure it's fresh please ."

From her position she didn't miss the man's the eye twitch at her words. Reeves closed his scroll angrily, "This is the only time that I will be doing this. You'll have an aid assigned to you tomorrow."

Weiss simply waved her hand at him in acknowledgment. She had to fight back the urge to smile when the sergeant shut her office door a little harder than was necessary. She waited till he was out of sight to activate the blackout function of her office windows. The heiress quickly retrieved the crane and unfolded it completely. The inside of the paper, just as she had hoped, was a message.

|| Miss Schnee,

Creation always hides the best secrets. Should you wish to speak in private know that we are both closely watched.

I wanted to thank you for your kind words. I'm sure a intelligent girl such as yourself will have many interesting things to share.

Happy folding,

Polendina ||

The heiress quickly folded both the papers into a small square and then slipped it in between the layers of her sash. She would have to destroy it later, and apparently pick up a new hobby while she was at it.

She then played around with the tint settings to make it look like she was trying to figure out the remote before settling on a much lighter the tint would appeared as if she wanted privacy, not secrecy. Getting back to work she quickly read the stack of memos that had been left for the previous Supervisor of Operations, purposefully crumpling and discarding the majority of the useless notes in her trash.

"I've made arrangements for your new assistant to start tomorrow," Reeves answered as set down her coffee.

"Excellent," She grabbed the cup and took a sip; she quickly frowned at the taste, "I'll look forward to having someone of use around."

The sergeant predictably scowled at her words, but then looked down at her trash can. Weiss worked for a few more minutes as she pretended to sip on her coffee and then nonchalantly threw the mostly full cup in her trash so that it spilled all over the papers in the receptacle.

Let's see if you go looking through my trash for that note now . You have no idea who you're playing against Reeves. Far more competent than you have tried to stand in the way of my destiny.

Feeling refreshed after a truly grueling run and lengthy cold shower, Yang sauntered back to her room to get ready for her afternoon shift that would be full of fixing all the things that Aims had listed on his precious clip board.

Even if the nightmare still had her feeling a little weird, Yang felt like she was going to miss getting to hang out with her favorite princess today. A smile touched her lips as she remembered the fun she had had training with Weiss the previous day. Despite her cool and often displeased demeanor Yang knew that Weiss cared about her just as much as the rest of their team. In a way team RWBY had become sort of like a family for all of them.

Even if we are all in different places now.

Yang threw her towel over her shoulder before reaching for her door's handle. When she walked into her room though she was meet with a strange and unwanted surprise.

Winter stood in the center of her small room, hands behind her back and posture so straight that it made Yang uncomfortable just to look at her.

More than a little agitated at the invasion of privacy Yang stood with her hand still on the door, "Can I help you?"

"Close the door," was all that Winter said.

No brain. I know how perfect that setup was, but I'm too pissed off for jokes right now.

Yang glared at Winter and shut her door. "I'm pretty sure meeting with a subordinate in their personal quarters is against protocol," Yang spat the dig at the older woman.

Winter returned Yang's scowl easily, "This is more of a personal matter."

Okay, are all Schnee women oblivious to how easy it is to take their words the wrong way? It's like they want me to make fun of them.

While Yang was able to hold back the obvious innuendos, she was not able to keep herself from ribbing her commanding officer, "You said not to discuss personal matters on base, and as homey as my little shoe-box it still qualifies as on base."

Winter brought her right hand out from behind her back to show Yang a small cylindrical device, "I was careful not to be seen entering your room and this will prevent anyone from eavesdropping on our conversation." Winter returned her hand to its previous position. "I've come to talk about Weiss."

A sudden flash of panic mixed with her already pissed off attitude, "What's wrong? I know you wouldn't be here otherwise, so spare me the cloak and dagger routine already."

A small smirk momentarily tugged at the corner of Winter's mouth to acknowledge the blond's words. "Sometimes I can just barely see why she likes you. Fine I'll get right to it. You are my sister's teammate and due to your current arrangement you will be able to spend far more time with her then I will." Winter paused before making soul piercing eye contact with Yang, "I've just been informed that certain things have happened; due to these event and the eventual backlash that they will cause Weiss will be in need your support."

Yang's mouth almost dropped open upon piecing together what the woman was saying. Winter was asking her for help.

Thinking for a moment Yang decided on what she would say next, "Weiss is my friend, of course I will be there to help her, but…" Yang hardened her expression, "I'm not going to play any of the ridiculous games that either of you do. I want to know everything. No subtleties or half-truths, if you truly want me to help you need to tell me what is really going on."

Winter looked at her with a frown, "Take a seat. This won't be short," then the elder Schnee pulled out her scroll.

To Yang's irritation the older woman was apparently sending messages as the blond was forced to sit on her bed and wait for Winter to finish whatever it was she was doing on her scroll. After a couple of minutes Winter stopped typing and pulled the chair from Yang's desk out to face her.

Taking a seat Winter asked, "How much do you know about our father?"

The blond looked at Winter a bit surprised, "Honestly your sister never talked about your family that much. Everyone on our team has their own family issues, so the subject was never pushed by anyone." Yang took a breath. "But from what I could piece together he sounds like a massive jerk that has never treated Weiss kindly."

Yang caught Winter's eyes flash, "That's putting it far more politely than I would."

Winter openly and angrily scowled, "Jacques Schnee is a monster, and he has spent every ounce of his time subjugating the females of our family to further his own personal wealth and stature."

That is far more honest then I have ever heard either of them speak, she must really hate her father.

"Truthfully I'd rather not go into the details of my own dealing with our father, but suffice it to say that there is a reason that I joined the military and gave up my position as heir." The older woman frowned, "It shames me to admit, but except for the occasional day with Weiss I avoid our family at all costs."

It was subtle as hell, but Yang was able to make out the pain underneath the anger in Winter's face. Whatever had happened to Winter had been bad, and it made Yang furious to think that Weiss still had to deal with it.

"Sadly our lives weren't so adverse," Winter looked to the side briefly. "Weiss was likely too young to remember, but before our brother was born father was less horrible. I have a feeling that our grandfather still being in good health and alive played a part in that." Winter waited a beat before continuing, "As the founder of the Schnee Dust Company grandfather was a very influential man, even as his health dwindled he seemed unstoppable and wise. If anyone in our family had reverence for him it was Weiss. She would sit for hours and listen to his stories of fighting of off grimm while searching for new dust mines. Even though she was young and probably does not remember him as well as she would like, they were as close as any two members our family have ever been.

"I believe that is why Weiss has always so relentlessly sought to inherit the company. She remembers fondly what our name once meant under our grandfather, and wishes to right what our father has turned our his legacy into." Winter looked sad as she continued, "She has chosen to fight for a place that I believe our father never intended for either of us to take. I do my best to support her in her goals, but truthfully I couldn't have been happier to see her attend Beacon. I had hoped that becoming a huntress would make her set aside her presumed destiny of taking over the company, but after the fall of Beacon father brought her home. And even though she hates it here this is the safest place. Which is why I didn't push back when father had Ironwood revoked her travel rights. Weiss's honor and desire to do the right thing would only get her killed in the world's current state, and as her sister I couldn't willingly let that happen."

That made Yang feel conflicted, while she understood what it was like to be a protective older sister anyone who knew Weiss could see how miserable being in Atlas made her. And for Winter to let their father and the general trap Weiss here…

And here I thought my family was complicated and messed up. Leave it to the Schnees.

Winter continued, "The only reason I am willing to share any of this is because I have seen a change in my sister since her time at school and since learning of your arrival. She has become a more enlightened individual since returning home; I attribute that to the bonds that she made with your team. Unfortunately those new enlightened views directly oppose how our father currently runs the company, and despite her considerable effort to hide her positive influence he recently found out part of what she had been doing behind her back."

Yang looked at Winter pointedly, "I said everything. What happened?"

Winter pinched the bridge of her nose in a way that reminded Yang all too much of Weiss, "We don't have time for the whole story. Suffice it to say that during one of her acquisition dealings Weiss forced some very shady businessmen to not take advantage of a group of faunus and our father found out. As punishment he has thrown her into a position where she will have less influence, and has set her up with a cumbersome new position in hopes that she will fail."

Yang could feel her semblance fighting for control. While she was proud of Weiss for doing the right thing; she was enraged that she should be punished for it. It wasn't right.

Winter narrowed her eyes as she looked at Yang, and the blond realized that her eyes must have changed. Taking a deep breath she pushed down her fury, "So what can I do to help her?"

The smallest smile touched Winter's eyes, "Truthfully, when it comes to matters in the company there is virtually nothing of value that either of us can do to help her. You see our father doesn't want Weiss to inherit the company and so she is destined to fail so that our brother can succeed."

"What! That doesn't make any sense," Yang was struggling to keep her cool, "Look I don't know your brother, but Weiss is amazing . She is talented in literally everything that she does, how could your father not want someone like that running the company? So what if she doesn't agree with his terrible business practices. He has to know that Weiss would never let the company fail."

"Upon coming of age it became clear to me that competence played little importance in his eyes. He only cares that a man, whom he can control, will inherit the Schnee Dust Company." Winter's eyes narrowed "He is simply using Weiss's skills to his benefit till he can find a legitimate reason to revoke her claim as heir."

Yang knew her eyes had turned and she didn't care. The more Winter talked the worse it got. Finally she couldn't take it anymore, "This is all such bullshit, hasn't your mother done anything to try and stop all of this?!"

Winter's expression turned absolutely venomous at the mention of her mother, "While our mother still holds certain influence, she has long since resigned herself to our father's will. She idly sat by as I was dealt with, I don't believe that their is anything that could awaken whatever might be left of her."

"Ugh, you Schnee's!" Yang growled. "So then what you're telling me is that Weiss's whole goal in life is pointless and without hope."

Winter didn't answer, but clenched her jaw in resignation.

Yang couldn't believe the level of bullshit this was, "So then explain to me why you let her keep trying? You're her older sister, you're supposed to protect her."

Winter glared at her with an anger that Yang had yet to see, "My deepest desire has always been for Weiss to walk away from the company and our father, but you should know Weiss well enough by now to know how well that conversation would go. I've tried my best to push her to pursue her own happiness, but as I'm not exactly an expert in that area my words hold very little weight. Realizing that I failed to get her to pursue a different path I instead decided to do what I could to help her achieve her chosen goal."

What is wrong with this family?! It's almost like they actively choose to suffer. How could Winter be okay with any of this?

Yang was tired of being composed, "Why, what's the point in helping her if you are certain that she is destined to fail?! It seems cruel ."

"What would you have me do then?" Winter spat. "Until you arrived I was the only person in all of Atlas that Weiss had an attachment to. Are you saying that it would have been somehow less painful to turn her against me, by forcing her to give up the one thing that continues to keep her going while she is trapped in Atlas against her will?"

The futility of it all finally hit Yang like a train; she didn't even know how this all made her feel anymore. Empty maybe. She wanted there to be a glimmer of light for Weiss, but there just wasn't.

"Why does everything with you Schnee women always have to be so ridiculously complicated and depressing ?" Yang sighed as her shoulders sagged, "Look I'm sorry I took it out on you, obviously you have been doing your best with this completely messed up situation. This is all just… bullshit. I can't believe that one horrible man has somehow ruined so many people's lives. I mean you and Weiss are both amazing, I'm sure either one of you would do a great job running the company. It just pisses me off that Weiss gets treated badly simply because she is female and chooses to do the right thing. It's just not fair. Weiss is... she's a really good person."

"And so you have begun to understand the way of Atlas." Winter frowned, "Good or bad do not matter, for it is only the strong who survive to make the rules, while the weak are destined to follow or perish. Such has always been the Atlesian way."

"So given everything that you have told me, what can I possibly do to help her?" Yang felt completely drained by the hopelessness of it all, "I'm just her teammate, heck, she's the one that dropped everything to help me."

"You are… " Winter narrowed her eyes as she studied the blond, "an important person to Weiss and she has always been at her most vulnerable when she is alone. If you are anything like your father then I trust that you will know what to do when thing get hard. There is a light in you both that always seems to help those that are around it."

Winter looked at her scroll, "I have stayed longer than I should." The tall older woman stood up and smoothed her clothes, "Just please do your best to look after my sister in the times that I cannot."

Winter hesitated at the door and Yang knew there was one last thing that the ivory haired woman wanted to say, "I know that what I ask of you is a heavy burden and that you are working through your own issues right now... but I ask that you do your best not to hurt her… she has had more than her share of hardship already."

Before Yang could ask what exactly she meant, Winter was gone.

Schnees! They can never just say what they actually mean. It's like they are genetically incapable of going an entire conversation without being cryptic. What the hell did she mean? Has my new sparkling personality earned itself a reputation already?

The blond looked at her clock and sighed.

Fuck it. I'd have just as much luck trying to figure it out as I would my dream. If she wants me to know something she should just say it.

Author's note:

Please leave a review if you have time. It really helps to get feedback as a writer. I always appreciate constructive comments or speculation on what you think is coming next. Even if you just really liked something, let me know which parts were the best or why you liked them. The more feedback I get the better the story can become. Who knows you might even see your suggestion used in later chapters. Thank you for reading and enjoy. (Posts will usually be weekly)