Hey, guys, just a heads up. This chapter gets pretty dark, and touches on depression, abandonment, abuse (verbal, physical, neglect), blackmail, and just goes in a generally depressing place, especially for this fanfic recently.
This chapter, in short, emphasizes the angst part of this fic.
I don't own RWBY
Weiss watched with hopeless frustration as the case began. Jacques Schnee's main lawyer, Caroline Cordovin, sat next to him. She was an older woman, and an extremely aggressive attorney. She had won every case he had participated in ever since he first hired her, and had a reputation for being ruthless and effective.
"Mrs. Cordovin," the judge said, a moment into the hearing. "Please present your introductory statement.
"Yes, your honor. My client is bringing to light a gross overstep of boundaries and violation of custody law by the Boise School District. Today he will show evidence that the Boise School District held custody of his son, even going as far as to refuse to release him back into his custody when demanded. The primary persons of relevance in this case are Principal Ozpin Pine, Vice Principal Glynda Goodwitch, Student Resource Officer Qrow Branwen, my client Jacques Schnee, and his son, Warren Schnee."
"And are all of the afforementioned persons present?" the judge asked, scanning the audience through his glasses.
"Yes, your honor," the Boise School District attorney responded. "They are all seated at this table."
"Good. You may present your introductory statement, then."
"My client is seeking to defend the actions taken by staff members to protect a student as detailed in our school's legal rights."
"Then let's begin. Mrs. Cordovin, you have the floor," the judge said.
Weiss watched Cordovin stand. She all but repeated her introductory statement, and then called Jacques Schnee to the stand.
"Jacques Schnee, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
"I swear," he said, taking a seat next to the judge.
"Mr. Schnee, is it true that on December tenth of last year, you attempted to pick up your son from Taylor High School?" Cordovin asked, pacing in front of him.
"Yes, it is," he said.
"Objection, your honor," Mr. Shields, the school's attorney said.
"On what grounds?" the judge sighed.
"The student that Mrs. Cordovin is referring to is listed in our school's current registry as Weiss Schnee. This adjustment was filled on November 24th, by said student's request. This student has self-identified as a transgender woman, and we make it a point to be accepting of diversity. As such, the intentional misrepresentation of this student is classified as harassment."
"Your honor, Warren Schnee's birth certificate still lists as male," Cordovin said. "And my client would be happy to provide said birth certificate as proof."
"I recognize that Taylor High prioritizes diversity, son, but this is a court of law. As such, all relevent persons are to be referred to under legal name and gender status," the judge said. "Overruled. Please continue, Mrs. Cordovin."
Weiss winced, embarrassment rising in her mind. Qrow passed her a look of empathy.
"Thank you, your honor. Now, when you attempted to retrieve your son, you were met with resistance from the school?" Cordovin asked.
"Yes, I was. Heavy resistance, in fact," he said.
"Who did you face this resistance from?" she asked.
"The school's student resource officer. His badge named him as Officer Branwen," he said.
"And in what ways did he prevent you from taking your son?" Cordovin asked.
"I was attempting to bring my son home, and was at a disagreement, which isn't uncommon with teenagers. When my son refused to come with me, Officer Branwen ordered me to leave the premises and made a threat of police response if I did so with my son. He went as far as to call it kidnapping, if I recall."
"Thank you, Mr. Schnee," Cordovin said. "I'd like to call Officer Branwen to the stand."
After Qrow was sworn in, he took a seat, trying to suppress his annoyance.
"Now, Officer Branwen, would you confirm that you prevented my client from taking his son off of school premises?" she asked.
"Yes, I would confirm that," Qrow said. "I've seen-"
"Officer Branwen, please keep your responses relevant," she interrupted. "Was it true that you threatened to arrest my client for kidnapping if he pursued this course of action?"
"Yes, I did," Qrow said. "I've heard from-"
"Officer Branwen, may I remind you again, you're up here to respond to the questions asked, not to elaborate," Cordovin interrupted once more.
"Objection, your honor," Mr. Shields said. "By refusing to allow Officer Branwen to elaborate, the information at hand could be misrepresented."
"I'd have to agree," the judge said. "Mrs. Cordovin, you called him to the stand. Allow him to give his full response."
"My apologies, your honor," Cordovin said, a slight hint of irritation buried under her professional tone.
"I've heard from the student at hand that worrying measures of child abuse have occurred at the hand of Jacques Schnee. As the Student Resource Officer, it's well within my right to enact Taylor High's custody laws in the instance of the safety of a student. These rights include Taylor High temporarily maintaining custody of the student, up to a duration of twenty four hours. It would be irresponsible to ignore that possibility when the safety of one of the students I work to protect could be at stake," Qrow said.
"Child abuse is a very serious allegation, Officer Branwen. What evidence, if any, do you have to back up these claims?" Cordovin drilled.
"A full list of statements from the student, as well as camera footage showing that this student was extremely disoriented as a result of neglect for several days. I've provided this evidence to Mr. Shields," Qrow said. The air of the courtroom changed, becoming tense and quiet. The various members of the jury looked to each other, uncomfortably.
"Then I'd like to call Warren Schnee to the stand," Cordovin said.
"Objection!" Mr. Shields, Ms. Goodwitch, and Officer Qrow all angrily said.
"You'd call a child to shine the spotlight in their face about their abuse?" Qrow snapped.
"Your honor, this is incredibly irrelevant to the case at hand!" Glynda said.
"I'll have order in my court," the judge said, banging his gavel. Everyone quieted down. "It is well within the rights of an attorney at law to bring forth relevant witnesses. As for the relevance of this instance, if Jacques Schnee committed abuse, then this case needs to factor that in. If he didn't, then this is an instance of slander, therefore Warren Schnee is necessary at the stand. Overruled."
Weiss grimaced, standing. She felt all eyes settle on her, feeling awkward and uncomfortable. She was still dressed in her comfort, hair extensions and and makeup included. Ruby had asked if she was going to present at the court case, and she had been adamant. Now, however, doubt swirled in her mind as she walked up to the stand.
"Warren Schnee, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
She attempted to gather her confidence, as she agreed, and was sworn under oath.
"Now, Warren Schnee," Cordovin said, a slight sneer to her expression. "Officer Branwen claimed that you reported abuse committed by my client. Is it true that you made this claim?"
"Yes, I did," Weiss said, leaning into the microphone.
"And would you care to elaborate about this alleged abuse?" Cordovin asked.
"Yes, I would," Weiss said. "The most notable instance was about three to four months ago. I had gotten into an argument with my father, and he shoved me into my desk. I hit a sharp corner and received a three inch scar over my left eye."
To prove her point, Weiss turned her head, pulling her bangs out of the way.
"There were several other instances of physical abuse, many dating further than I remember. Any time any argument has happened, there's been a significant chance of my father slapping me. His abuse has also been verbal in nature, as many times he attempted to belittle me for various insecurities, primarily my gender identity, which he doesn't approve of. There was substantial neglect, on top of it all, in which he refused to allow me to eat, forced me to sleep on the living room floor, and these happened because I hadn't met his requirements for academic prowess."
"The scar on your eye is listed in hospital records as the result of an accident, and it is recorded that due to your concerns, the medical staff performed an examination for signs of physical abuse, including bruising that would have caused the fall, and found nothing," Cordovin responded. Weiss fumed, holding her tongue. She remembered that examination taking place. She remembered them noting the bruising, and lying in the report. She also knew, however, that accusing them of such in this instance would only make her look desperate.
"Perhaps they missed it, then," Weiss said. "As Officer Qrow stated, there is video evidence that I was disoriented, nearly to the point of passing out, for about two weeks straight due to malnutrition and exhaustion."
"There are several factors to teenage exhaustion," Cordovin said. "Do you have any evidence that verifies malnutrition as the source?"
Weiss froze, panic beginning to set in. She had nothing. Her father had buried every footprint well, leaving no traceable trail back to his hand.
"No, I don't. But what I can tell you is that this abuse got severe enough that I ran away from home in November, despite weather conditions, to escape it. I lived on the streets for days, and I felt safer there than I did near him," Weiss said.
"And how much of this fear that you speak of originates from my client's refusal to allow pursuit of your desired gender transition?" Cordovin asked.
"Objection!" Mr. Shields snapped.
"Overruled," the judge said. "Mr. Shields, I'm going to request that you cease the interruptions to Mrs. Cordovin's questioning."
"I won't lie, that played a part," Weiss said. "But whether I wanted to transition or not, the abuse was present either way. I don't understand how that's relevant."
"Were you eager to leave due to your desire to pursue this transition?" Cordovin asked.
"Yes, that was part of it," Weiss said.
"So, in summary, you are able to provide no concrete evidence of abuse, even after a medical examination right after one of the alleged instances of such, and the only reason you have resisted your father's authority that there is valid proof of is your... personal lifestyle," she said. "Mr. Schnee, in the state of Idaho, and to the extent of my knowledge, any other rational state that exists, the parents of a child have legal right to determine said child's privileges as long as their basic needs are being met. Also, in the state of Idaho, one is free to explore the options of a sex-change once they have reached the age of 18, and not a day before. Therefore, my client's refusal to allow you to pursue this change does not constitute as legal ground for you to separate from his custody. Therefore, your honor, there are no valid reasons that Taylor High would have to prevent my client from re-assuming custody of his son."
Weiss felt a stunned silence wash over her.
"I'm going to have to agree," the judge chimed. "Unless conclusive evidence of abuse can be provided, there isn't a legal instance in which Warren Schnee may separate from Jacques Schnee, without Jacques Schnee's agreement."
Weiss quickly leaned back in.
"He did agree, your honor," she said. "The night that I left, he told me that if I wanted to leave so badly, I could."
"And, do you have any record of this verbal contract?" Cordovin sighed. Weiss felt that last strand of hope sever, and she looked down towards her feet.
"I wasn't able to procure one," she said.
"I see," Cordovin said. "You are dismissed from the stand."
Weiss returned, miserable, to her seat by Qrow. Qrow and Glynda looked livid.
"My client has two requests to make of this court," Cordovin continued. "The first; a measure must be taken to ensure that Taylor High respects the legal custody of a parent to their child. My client wants to instill a set of regulations preventing Taylor High from turning away a parent in cases such as this again. And second, as Officer Qrow is in clear violation of custody law in holding Warren Schnee's custody at the school with insufficient reason to do so, my client demands that he be terminated of his position at Taylor High School and removed from the police force."
"What?" Weiss asked, shocked. She heard Ruby, Yang, and Blake muttering from the crowd, equally stunned by her demands.
"This court will allow the defense to make their case before coming to a conclusion," the judge said. And with that, the case continued, with Mr. Shields attempting to lessen the damage of the ruthless argument Cordovin had made. After fifteen minutes of unsuccessful damage control, however, the court went to a recess to allow the jury to come to a conclusion. Weiss met up with Blake, Yang, and Ruby in the hallway, nervously trembling.
"Weiss," Blake said, pulling Weiss into a hug. "I'm so sorry. That must have been awful. I can't believe she was allowed to talk to you that way."
"I can," Yang sighed. "Idaho law. This is about par for course."
"I'm sorry," Weiss said. "I never wanted to get Qrow caught up in all of this."
"Hey," Yang said. "If Qrow gets canned for this, that's not on you. There's no debating that. He was doing his damn job and if he gets penalized for that, that's on that Cordovin bitch."
"Weiss, none of this is on you," Ruby joined in. "And we're not worried about any of that. We're worried about you."
"I'm scared," Weiss admitted. "I feel like I'm about to get yanked back there."
"That's not how this'll go down," Yang said. "That's a separate case, remember? He needs a court order to force you to go back there."
"So I have a few days," Weiss snapped. "A few days. What would that get us? You saw how this case went. His lawyer's ruthless. I don't stand a chance of winning a case against him."
"We'll figure it out," Blake said, pulling her in again. "I promise you, Weiss, we'll figure this out."
"I don't think we will," Weiss said. "Blake, he's powerful. There's nothing I can do. Qrow and I spent hours gathering all the evidence we could of the abuse that happened and Cordovin just tore through it in seconds."
"Damn it, Weiss, if we need to run away together, then that's what we'll do," Blake said. "I'm not letting you end up back in his despicable hands."
"Hey, kiddo," Qrow said from behind Weiss. Weiss turned, unable to look him in the eyes.
"Officer Qrow... I'm so sorry," Weiss said, struggling to maintain her composure.
"Nope," he interrupted. "Not a word. This wasn't your fault, Weiss. I did what I did because it was the right thing to do, and if that burns me, then so be it. I'd do it a hundred more times."
"Told you," Yang said.
"Anyways, they're about to reconvene. The jury's come to a decision. Here's hoping we at least made a dent," he said. "Luck's never exactly been on my side, but who knows?"
"Alright," Weiss said, taking a deep breath. The five of them steeled themselves to return to the courtroom, each and every one of them terrified of what lay ahead.
"Has the jury come to a conclusion?" the judge asked.
"We have, your honor," one woman from the jury's panel responded. "This court unanimously finds Taylor High School and the Boise School District guilty of refusal to comply with parental custody, unjust threat of arrest, and minor kidnapping. As such, this court orders the Taylor High School to accept a staff member of unbiased status to be present to regulate interactions with parents to ensure that this doesn't happen again, and this court orders Taylor High School and the Boise Police Department to terminate the employment of Officer Qrow Branwen, effective immediately."
"Thank you," the judge said. "Qrow Branwen, you are to turn in your badge and equipment immediately and surrender any documentation of Officer status. Dismissed."
Weiss stood, glaring at her father, who met her gaze with a pompous sneer. She went to step out of the courtroom, and he intercepted her.
"I would like a word with you," he said, subtly making it clear that he was demanding, not asking. She reluctantly followed him to a quiet hallway.
"Are you proud?" Weiss asked as they walked. "Does it make you feel strong to ruin lives on a whim?"
"You'd best watch your tone," he said. "After all, you'll be living under my roof soon enough."
"You can take this to your corrupt little court as much as you want, I will run away from the police if that's what it takes to stay out of your hands. You have no power over me anymore, no matter how much you'd like to."
"If you'd like to believe so, then feel free. I'd simply like to offer you the choice to return home tonight," he said. Weiss scoffed.
"Then let me answer," Weiss begun. He held up a hand, halting her.
"You'd really best hear me out before you give me your answer," he said.
"I think I know my answer," she said.
"Then by all means, make your answer. And the consequences are on your hands, not mine," he said.
"What consequences do you think would coerce me into willingly coming back?" Weiss spat.
"Well, if you do want to know, then let me make it clear. The Xiao Long and Belladonna families have been harboring a runaway, and I've got evidence to prove it. On top of that, I can only assume that this absurd getup you've chosen to wear came from them. That would render them guilty as well of assisting a minor in an illegal life decision."
"Life decision? All that's changed is that now I wear makeup!" Weiss snapped.
"Yes, from your perspective. But this... delusion of yours is not one that I tolerate. And if you were aided in embracing a decision I expressly denied, then legally are violating my status as your legal parent, and that can also be taken to court. And don't think I've forgotten about your sister, either. You can return home tonight, or you can wait until the court orders it. It's very simple. Is today the only court case, or will you bring several more upon those that you claim to care about?"
"That's ridiculous! You're blackmailing them? For letting me stay on a couch and buying me some eyeliner?" Weiss spat. "No court would be willing to hear that case out."
Jacques leaned in further.
"You seem to forget that I control every aspect of this city. I control the doctors that examined you. I control the police that will enforce my rules. And I control every judge and jury that I want. Or did you already forget that this case came to a unanimous conclusion?" he sneered.
Weiss glared back up at him.
"Did you blackmail them too?" she asked.
"I gave them the choice. Either receive a generous donation of wealth or have their secrets brought to the attention of the public. They made their choice," he said. "And now you must make yours."
Weiss tried her best to glare, putting on her bravest angry scowl. Under the surface, however, she felt the foundation for everything she seemed to know crumble, falling away into an abyss of fear.
"You're a monster," she said through gritted teeth.
"You can think what you'd like of me," he said. "I'll be returning home in ten minutes. If you aren't waiting by the car, then I'll assume you've made your decision."
"Wait!" she said, as he turned to walk off. "What about my things? I would need to retrieve my personal belongings."
"I think you can manage without them," he said. "Ten minutes."
And with that, he walked off. He had seamlessly stolen back all of the power, regained complete control of the situation, and Weiss felt like she was being thrown around in a storm, with no way of seeing what's ahead, and no way of controlling what direction she was yanked.
Weiss' eyes teared up, and she no longer cared to hold back her tears. She fell against the wall, burying her face in her hands.
The decision was as good as made. All of the talk she had made to intimidate him and even so, she was at his beck and call once more. She could never leave Blake, Yang, and Ruby and their families to the mercy of Cordovin's aggressive domination in the courtroom. They'd be stripped of every cent they owned, Jacques would see to it. He didn't need a reason. He just needed a good lawyer, and power over the jury, and he could get any resolution he desired. He was a titan, and she was just a scared little girl.
She wiped her face with her sleeve, glad that at the very least, she was wearing water resistant makeup.
Step by step, she forced herself down the hallway, having stopped crying at least for the moment. She turned a few corners and finally came to see her friends. Ruby, innocent and caring, was sitting, thinking. No doubt, she was trying to find some way to formulate a defense. Yang was angrily pacing, a giantess, who looked as though she was about to shatter the nearest wall. Blake was the first to notice Weiss, also sitting, fidgeting uneasily. The quiet bookworm leapt to her feet upon seeing Weiss.
"Weiss, what happened? We saw you walk away with Jacques. What did he say?" Blake asked. Weiss felt her heart shatter into pieces. If Jacques held this much power over her, she may never be able to spend any time with Blake again. She looked into Blake's eyes, hoping it wouldn't be for the last time.
"Weiss?" Yang asked, as Weiss tried to gather the strength to speak. "What's wrong? Whatever happened, we'll get through it."
"Not this time," Weiss said. "I'm sorry. I love all of you, and I'm sorry."
"For what?" Ruby asked, standing up nervously.
"I appreciate everything you've all done for me. And I'll miss all of you," Weiss said, forcing herself to speak, hating every single syllable that left her mouth.
"What are you talking about?" Blake asked, stepping closer. "Weiss, you're scaring me."
"Blake, you've made me so happy. You got me through so much agony, I owe all of my happiness to you. I'll never forget that," Weiss said. Before she could say another word, Jacques Schnee stepped through the hall.
"Warren," he interrupted. "I'm leaving. If you're coming, this is your last chance."
Weiss winced as he walked, not breaking stride.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Yang snapped. "You bastard! What the hell did you do?"
"Weiss," Blake pleaded, holding out her hand to Weiss. "We'll figure this out, please don't go!"
"I'm sorry," Weiss cried out, the dam holding back her tears shattering again. She watched Jacques' shrinking form move down the hallway. "I don't have time. I love you, Blake. I love you with all of my heart."
And before Blake could object, Weiss turned, running after her father.
Every step she made to catch up to him felt wrong. Every step felt like she was stabbing her friends in the back. She heard all three of them calling her name, begging her to stop. It was all she could do not to look back. She gritted her teeth and took every agonizing step forward, despite every single fiber of her being screaming at her to go back to her true family, who loved her.
And the worst mistake she made, right before she made her way through the doors, was glancing back. Just one brief glance backwards.
Ruby was running after her, the fiercest look of protective, nurturing love Weiss had ever seen engraved on her face. Yang had stepped forward, but not broken into a sprint, looking more angry than anything else. Her face was a mixture of betrayal and frustration.
But the worst was Blake. What she saw when she looked back at Blake would haunt her her entire life.
Blake didn't look protective, or angry.
She just looked broken. Hurt. She hadn't moved an inch. Her hand was just starting to lower, and tears had begun to flow down her face. But she hadn't taken a single step.
Weiss recognized the look on Blake's face. She knew it all too well. Blake's face reflected what Weiss had felt so many times as a child.
Blake's face showed defeat.
Weiss stepped through the doors of the courtroom, finally catching up to her father as they stepped outside.
"So you have made your choice," he said, as they stepped into his shiny, blindingly chrome white car. "At least that's something you can do right."
Weiss sat in the back, lacking any semblance of strength to snap back at him.
"Let me make a few things clear," he said. "I will not tolerate any of this nonsense you've conditioned yourself into. You will not wear any makeup. You will keep your hair short. You will stop distorting your voice. I don't tolerate delusion. Is that understood?"
"Yes, father," Weiss said, exhausted.
"Good. I'm glad you didn't completely forget your manners. The way I see it, you have another choice to make. I'm willing to allow you to continue your education at Taylor High School," he said. "But not without compromise. You will associate only with respectable students. This includes none of those hoodlums you were fraternizing with in the hallway. You will meet the requirements I give you for your grades. You will complete every task I assign you, without even a single failure. Or, if you still feel rebellious, then I'll have to establish your education elsewhere. There's a school I've been looking into. It's a prestigious academy called Chronos Academy. They're an all boys boarding school."
Weiss felt as though she would wilt away at the thought of being forced to be at a boys-only boarding school. She would break there, she knew that as a fact.
"I'm willing to work with your requirements to continue at Taylor High," Weiss sighed.
"Wonderful," he said. "You know, your mother was devastated to hear that you left."
Weiss winced, shrinking away.
She felt abandoned, even though she had been the one to leave her friends behind. She had nothing, not even her mp3 player. Everything had been at Yang and Ruby's place. Weiss spent the rest of the car ride in silence, misery getting the better of her small attempts of optimism. All she could think of as she saw her father's house grow closer and closer was Blake's miserable expression as she ran.
So, that was chapter 27. I wanna make sure it's clear, this fic still isn't done. That isn't the ending. There's plenty more coming, I'm already started on chapter 28. This fic will be in dark territory for the next few chapters, just so everyone's aware.
Thank you for reading this far, and I hope everyone continues to enjoy Chrysalis.