Chapter 21: Fault and Responsibility

The morning sun was shining in through the window in Team RWBY's dorm. It was a lovely day outside, the perfect start to the weekend. Weiss was quietly humming to herself as she made her bed. She neatly folded her sheets into place and smoothed out the wrinkles. Then she threw her blanket over her bed and tugged on it until it was sitting perfectly. She took a step back and nodded, satisfied with her work.

Weiss was alone in the room. Ruby and Blake had already left, and Yang was in the powder room, going through her elaborate morning hair care ritual. Weiss could hear the sound of Yang's hairdryer running through the closed door.

Weiss looked the room over. A trophy was sitting on top of the bookshelf, and the light coming in through the window was reflecting brightly off its silvery surface. Yang had not been happy that she'd only managed to take Team RWBY to second place in the Vytal Festival Tournament, regardless of the fact that it was extraordinary for a first-year student to get to the singles round, much less make it to the final match. Weiss had encouraged Yang by reminding her that there would be another tournament next year, one that she was sure to win.

A week had passed since the end of the Vytal Festival, and what Blake had revealed to Weiss was still weighing heavily on her mind. What disturbed Weiss the most was that she hadn't known. She was supposed to inherit the Schnee Dust Company someday. How could she have been ignorant to the fact that it exploited faunus child labor? Had she been too naïve to ask the right questions, or had Father simply been too crafty in his cover-up? It was tempting to lay the blame at Father's feet, but Weiss had a bad feeling that the real reason she hadn't known was because she hadn't wanted to.

Yang had been furious when Weiss had revealed the details of what Blake had shared with her. She'd been ready to rampage all the way to Atlas, straight for the Schnee Dust Company headquarters. Fortunately, Weiss had managed to calm her down. Satisfying though it would be, Weiss knew that punching Father in his face wouldn't make things better.

Over in the powder room, the sound of Yang's hairdryer cut off. Yang was almost done. Weiss was always a bit perplexed that Yang was so meticulous with her hair but so blasé about more important things, like her grades. If Yang spent half as much effort on her schoolwork as she did on her hair, she'd probably be one of Beacon's top students. Weiss supposed that was just who Yang was. She went all out on the things she cared about and just let everything else slide.

The door to the powder room finally opened, and Yang emerged, carrying her basket of hair care products. She walked over to her bed and simply dropped the basket on the floor. Tidiness was clearly not one of the things that Yang cared about, much to Weiss's chagrin, but she'd already made her peace with that. At least Yang's bed was made, which was a rare sight indeed. By Yang's logic, there was no point in "wasting time" making her bed when she was just going to unmake it again the next night. Although these days, Yang's bed actually was made more often than not. It wasn't because she'd suddenly started caring, but because she rarely used her bed anymore. Weiss had discovered that her appetite for cuddles was immense, and she and Yang had gotten into the habit of sharing Weiss's bed at night. Just thinking about it now made Weiss smile.

Yang looked over at Weiss. She said, "It's good to see you smile again. Are you feeling any better?"

"Somewhat," Weiss said. "Have I really been that bad?"

"You've been pretty mopey this week," Yang said.

"I'm sorry," Weiss said. "It's just—"

"Hey. I get it," Yang said. "It couldn't have been easy hearing what Blake had to tell you. Especially since your dad's the prick who's letting it happen. But it's not your fault. You can't be responsible for something that's been going on since before you were born."

"I'll agree that it's not my fault," Weiss said. "But I'm not so sure it isn't my responsibility. I am the heiress to the Company."

"Well then you'll just have to fix everything when you get put in charge," Yang said like it was the simplest thing in the world.

"Yang…" Weiss said. Like usual she'd waited far too long to have a conversation she really needed to have. It was past time that she explained to Yang how she was inadvertently endangering Weiss's status as an heiress. Weiss had considered a dozen different ways of easing into the topic, but she realized now that none of them were the right way to go about it. This was Yang. It would be the straightforward approach or nothing.

Weiss walked up to Yang. She took a hold of Yang by her jacket and pulled her into a kiss. Yang let out a surprised sound, but it was swallowed by Weiss's lips. Weiss's hands clutched the fabric of Yang's jacket even tighter as her lips pressed hard into Yang's. She kissed Yang like it was the last time she ever would.

When Weiss finally pulled back, Yang smiled big. She said, "That was nice, but what was it for?"

"It was to make sure you know how much I love you," Weiss said, her hands still clinging to Yang's jacket.

"I'd say you succeeded," Yang said.

Weiss smiled, but her smile quickly faded. She let go of Yang and walked over to the window. Staring at the world on the other side of the glass, she said, "Yang. As long as we're together, Father will never let me take control of the Schnee Dust Company."

Weiss wasn't looking at Yang, but she could still picture the horrified looked that was doubtlessly crossing Yang's face. "What?!" Yang said. "But you're his heiress and all that!"

"I wasn't always," Weiss said. "Winter was supposed to inherit the company until she did something that made her unsuitable in Father's eyes."

"But Weiss, that's your big dream!" Yang said. "To run the Company like your grandpa did!"

"I don't think my grandfather's company exists anymore," Weiss said. "Father has corrupted it into something monstrous."

"That doesn't mean you should give up!" Yang said.

Weiss didn't say anything. She just kept looking out the window. The weather was far too pleasant today in her opinion. She would have much preferred rain and thunder. It would suit her mood better.

"Weiss," Yang said. "Please look at me."

Weiss slowly turned to face Yang. She was floored by what she saw. There were tears in the corners of Yang's eyes. She was actually on the verge of crying!

"If…" Yang stammered. "If you're saying you want to break up with me…."

"No! Absolutely not!" Weiss exclaimed, surprising even herself with how emphatically she'd said it.

"But your big plan," Yang said.

"It wouldn't mean a thing if I didn't have you by my side," Weiss said.

"Oh…Weiss," Yang said. Her mouth opened once or twice more as she tried to find words to express herself. Words weren't necessary however. The look of wonderment on her face said it all.

Yang gave up on trying to find something to say and pulled Weiss into a big hug instead. The two of them just stood there like that for several minutes. Tears from Yang's eyes wet the shoulder of Weiss's Jacket. If Weiss had harbored any lingering doubts about her feelings for Yang, they'd been completely swept away. She needed Yang in her life, no matter what.

Eventually, Yang pushed Weiss back and said, "There's got to be a way! You shouldn't have to give up on your dream just because of your dad's stupid ideals."

"I agree with you," Weiss said. "But I don't see how."

"What if…" Yang said. Weiss could see the wheels turning in her head. "What if we wait until your dad makes you the boss? Then we can tell everyone about us once it's too late for him to take it back."

"Yang, that would be decades from now," Weiss said.

"So?" Yang asked. "That's still decades I'd have with you."

"You'd really hold on to the secret for that long?" Weiss asked.

"Of course!" Yang said.

"If we somehow did manage to do that, when we announced our relationship publicly it'll be a media circus," Weiss said. "They'll be pounding down your door day and night just to ask you a few questions."

"You bet they will," Yang said. "They'll all be jealous of my super-hot wife!"

Weiss's mouth fell open. "Did you just say…wife?" she asked.

"Yup!" Yang said.

"Isn't it a little early to be talking about that?" Weiss asked, but she was secretly elated that she hadn't been the only one thinking along those lines.

"Well yeah. It's way too early now," Yang said. "But decades from now…."

"I see your point," Weiss said. She sighed. "It's a nice idea, but let's be realistic. There's no way Father won't find out before then."

"He hasn't found out yet," Yang said.

"But he will," Weiss said.

"Then we'll deal with it," Yang said. "Just promise me that you won't give up on your dream."

"I promise," Weiss said, and she fully intended to keep her promise to Yang. But she knew now that her dreams had changed.

Yang let out a long breath. "Well that was all pretty intense," she said. "I think you and I need to go do something fun."

"I'd love to, but…." Weiss pulled out her scroll and glanced at the time. "I have to be at the CCTT in ten minutes. I have a communication session scheduled. It's important that I don't miss it."

"Alright," Yang said. "Send me a message when you're done then?"

"I will," Weiss said.

Precisely eight-and-a-half minutes later, Weiss was riding up the elevator to the top of the CCT Tower. She glanced at herself in the mirrored surface of the elevator door. She couldn't help but think that her expression was one of a woman facing down her own execution. She supposed she wasn't too far off the mark. She had no idea how her impending call would go, but it might very well spell the end of what had defined her life since she'd been very young. If that turned out to be the case, Weiss had no regrets. She was a better, more fully realized person than the one who'd stepped onto Beacon's campus last spring and promptly gotten into an argument with a bright young girl named Ruby Rose.

Weiss's mind began drifting, as it often did these days, to thoughts of Yang. She wouldn't have believed that it was possible for her to fall more in love with Yang, but it seemed she'd done just that. Seeing how devastated Yang was at the prospect of their relationship ending, knowing that Yang was thinking about a future where they were married, and learning how far Yang was willing to go to let Weiss take her rightful place as head of the Schnee Dust Company, had deeply touched Weiss's heart.

The elevator doors opened, and Weiss stepped out into the communications room. A holographic receptionist appeared at the front desk and said to Weiss, "Good morning, Miss Schnee. Terminal Three has been prepared for your session today."

"Thank you," Weiss said. She walked across the room over to her assigned terminal and sat down. Her fingers drummed nervously on the console as she impatiently waited for it to establish a connection.

After what seemed like an eternity, the terminal flickered to life, and Winter's face appeared on the screen. "Weiss. We must be brief," Winter said in lieu of a greeting. "What is it you wished to discuss?"

"Did you know?" Weiss asked.

"You'll have to elaborate," Winter said.

"Did you know what our family's company does to the faunus?" Weiss asked.

"In general, yes," Winter said. "But by your tone of voice I assume you've discovered some specific offense."

"My…schoolmate, who is a faunus, told me of how she started working in the Company's mines at the age of six for little pay under brutal conditions," Weiss said.

The slight downturn of Winter's eyes was the only indication that she'd been affected by Weiss's statement at all, but for her, it was a dramatic gesture. She said, "I see."

"Is that all you have to say?" Weiss asked. "She has scars from where she was whipped!"

"That is unfortunate, and I do not condone it," Winter said. "But what would you have me do?"

"You were the heiress to the Company once," Weiss said.

"That burden has fallen to you," Winter said. "I understand now. You believe it's your responsibility to end the faunus plight."

"It is my responsibility," Weiss said.

"You could have a positive impact, no doubt," Winter said. "But do not be foolish enough to think that just one person could make the Company completely change its ways."

"Father is one person," Weiss said. "He succeeded quite handily at changing the company's ways."

"Don't be so sure of that. I know you idolize Grandfather, but the faunus of his day were thought of as little better than animals by all but the most enlightened," Winter said. "Regardless, the Schnee Dust Company is unto a kingdom. Father may be king, but kings can be deposed. Let us not forget the Company's board members, investors, managers, and foremen. The Company could not do what it does without their consent, implicit or otherwise. If you wish to save the faunus, you will have to change the culture that allows such things to happen."

Weiss hated what Winter was saying. She hated it even more that Winter was right.

Winter asked, "You've spoken to Yang about this, I trust?"

"Yes," Weiss said.

"Then it's come down to it, as I knew it would," Winter said. "There are other ways to fight for the faunus. But if you want to do it from within the Company, you will have to give up Yang."

"I know," Weiss whispered.

"It is clear which choice you wish to make," Winter said.

"Am I being foolish?" Weiss asked.

"The foolish thing would have been to rush to a decision without considering the repercussions. Clearly, you haven't done that," Winter said.

Winter's head turned to the side like she was listening to someone. She turned back to the camera and said, "I must go. You will need courage to continue down this path. Courage like you've never known before. No matter what happens, remember that I believe in you. And I am proud of you."

"Thank you, Winter," Weiss said.

The screen in front of Weiss went dark. She stared at it for a long time. Truthfully, she didn't know why she was still hesitating. She'd already made up her mind. The allure of the Schnee Dust Company had nothing on Yang. And even under the best of circumstances, it would take years to change things. Weiss absolutely would not preside over a company that tortured and exploited children.

Weiss reached out and pushed the call button on the terminal in front of her. The screen lit up again, and an image of the automated receptionist appeared.

"Yes, Miss Schnee," the receptionist said. "What can I do for you?"

"I need to make a call to Schnee Company world headquarters in Atlas," Weiss said.

"Absolutely," the receptionist said. "Please stand by while I connect you."

Weiss hadn't scheduled a communication session with Father, but he would almost certainly be found in his office at the Company's headquarters right now. With as many requests as he'd sent her through the CCT Network, she knew he'd take her call immediately.

Weiss had no idea what she was going to say to Father. Maybe she could cite her future career as a huntress as the reason she was stepping down and leave it at that. He'd be furious, but far less furious than if she told him that not only was she gay, she also had a girlfriend.

Now that Weiss had made her decision, she could see that giving up her future control of the Company was for the best. With her no longer being Father's heir, the burden of being perfect in his eyes would lessen considerably. She might even be able to get away with keeping Yang a secret for long enough until it didn't matter anymore. It was a pity, because Weiss almost wanted to tell Father about Yang. What was the worst he could do to her? She had a full scholarship to Beacon, and he had already cut her off from her trust fund. Admittedly, not having access to her money this week had been trying for Weiss. She'd had to put on a brave face for Yang and pretend that she didn't care about it. Knowing where her money came from had dimmed its appeal, but Weiss would be lying to herself if she said she knew how to survive without it. She'd most likely have to endure being cut off from her money for a few more weeks since she was about to raise Father's ire even further, but she could handle that. Sooner or later Father would relent and give her back access to what was hers.

On the monitor in front of Weiss another receptionist, this one a live human being, appeared. She said, "Thank you for calling Atlas—oh! Miss Schnee! What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to speak to my father, please," Weiss said.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," the receptionist said. "He left just an hour ago on a business trip taking him out of the kingdom."

"I see," Weiss said. "Then please let him know I called. Tell him…tell him I'm ready to talk."

"I will do exactly that, ma'am," the receptionist said. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No. Thank you," Weiss said. She hit the button to end the call and the screen went dark.

Weiss would have preferred to have gotten her conversation with Father over with sooner rather than later, but she supposed that was what she got for ignoring him for so long. She stood and walked to the elevator. When the doors opened, she stepped inside and hit the button for the ground floor.

The doors closed, and Weiss took a long, hard look at her reflection. She had expected to see apprehension or anxiety on her face, but they were conspicuously absent. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that there was no reason at all for her to be upset. She'd finally decided her future. For the first time in far too long her path was clear, and that path led right to Yang.

A smile worked its way onto Weiss's face. She realized that there was nothing holding her back anymore. And with her newfound freedom there was something she wanted so badly to do. She pulled out her scroll and typed in a message to Yang.

Me:
I'm finished at the CCTT. Meet me in the dorm room in half an hour.

It didn't take long for Yang to reply.

Yang Xiao Long:
Ok ill c u there

Weiss slipped her scroll back into her pocket. Taking Yang's chronic tardiness into account, she would have about forty-five minutes. That should be plenty of time for her to get ready for what she had in mind. She was going to show Yang just how much she loved her in a way that not even Yang would see coming.

Author's Note: Before you ask, I have no idea who beat Yang in the finals. I don't even really know who was in the singles round without Cinder there to manipulate the roster. Contrary to what I said in this chapter, in the actual show most of the finalists were first-year students, but that never made much sense to me (beyond the meta-explanation of them being established characters). I'll chalk it up to being due to Cinder's interference.

As always, I welcome constructive criticism. Please feel free to leave a review. And if you like what you've read, taking the time to favorite and/or follow really helps me out. You can also find me on tumblr (electronicyarn) if you want to send me a message or be notified of updates.