Equal But Opposite: Weiss

Despite the frosty nature of their outward appearances, the Schnee family were very passionate people. They would always prioritize the good of their loved ones over themselves when the situation was dire, even if it resulted in a loss for their other ambitions. Or, at least, that's what Weiss desperately wanted to believe as she sat across from her elder sister, doing her best to keep from snapping at the absurd lack of helpfulness from one of Ironwood's most trusted officers.

"Look, I understand how bad this looks, but there has to be something you can do," Weiss asserted, on the brink of exasperation with Winter. The past few days had been taxing and stressful. She had barely survived the war zone Cinder Fall had created, only to learn her team was now in the cross hairs of the most powerful man in Atlas. Worse still, she didn't have her leader to fall back on. Weiss suppressed the urge to sigh. How could Ruby hide so much and then leave her to deal with all of this? Didn't she trust her? Weren't they partners?

"I told you already, this is completely out of my hands," Winter retorted as she pinched the bridge of her nose to ward away the irritation` . "This is a matter of state security. The general has made investigation his priority and he won't be talked out of it."

"But you're his direct subordinate! Practically his second in command. If anyone can persuade him to stop this, it's you."

"And who says I should stop this?"

Weiss couldn't believe the words that had just come out of her sister's mouth, "You can't be serious. You're willing to allow him to come after my friends and I over something we had no part in?!"

"The General has every right to pursue any potential threats to the kingdoms, after what's happened. We're in a sinking ship right now. Every leak needs to be plugged."

"Are you even listening to yourself?! This is a witch-hunt!"

"A witch-hunt, you say? Your friends have more than affiliation with Ruby Rose counting against them. Destruction of public property, vigilantism, conspiracy. Xiao Long is an obvious powder keg who's been witnessed consorting with criminals in her off time. Belladonna is a White Fang with a direct association to radicalized leader Adam Taurus. Nothing more should need to be said. And you…"

"Me?" Weiss had to keep herself from gulping as Winter's gaze narrowed.

"Did you think no one would notice the theft of sensitive information from the SDC? Information which was delivered right into the hands of an enemy of the state. You have no idea the mistakes you've made by throwing in with those degenerates, Weiss."

"…Don't."

The elder Schnee quirked an eyebrow at her sibling's threatening drop in tone. "Excuse me?"

"Don't ever call them degenerates. Every one of them has proven themselves more a guardian to the kingdoms than any of your troops. Each of them, including Ruby, have been working to protect this kingdom and its people since the day I met them."

"Your friend stole Atlas military property, turned a loyal asset into a traitor, and has now perverted the symbol of peace and unity between the kingdoms into a tool of destruction," Winter's voice was raising to the point she had to stop and collect herself before continuing, "I realize Ruby Rose meant a lot to you. Of all people, I can understand how an academy partner can change one's life. You need to face facts, though. This girl is not who you thought she was. She used you for her own means and the only way to survive this is if you completely disown her."

While friends knew how to build you up, family was adept at tearing you apart. Even if they weren't aware they were doing it. That was one of the lessons Weiss had learned during her time at Beacon. She had to shut it out before she was pulled back in. She did not want to go back to the person she had been before she met her friends. Nothing was worse than that. "No," she shook her head weakly as she averted her gaze to the table. "Ruby wouldn't do this to me. There has to be something more going on."

Winter looked at her little sister with a mixture of rage and pity. Clearly, she wasn't going to make any headway. "If you can't let her go, there's nothing I can do to help you," she stood up, turning her back and striding away, "You'll have to find someone else to bail you out."

Bail.

Heh.

The word brought Weiss back to the depressingly simple situation her team had been in just a week ago. Yang was looking at assault charges and she was going to need a good lawyer to get her through the ridiculous circus that trial was going to be. At the time, Weiss was considering whether or not those were desperate enough measures to contact her father and beg for access to his legal division. If anyone could get Yang through that storm, it would've been one of the most powerful figures in Atlas.

Wait.

Now alone, Weiss took out her scroll and brought up the contact screen simply labeled Father. She had no idea why she was hesitating to hit the call button, though. If the possibility of Yang going to jail for assault was desperate enough for her to consider this, all three of them being prosecuted for conspiracy to commit high treason was more than appropriate a circumstance. After taking a moment to breathe deeply, she tapped the command prompt and gingerly put the scroll to her ear.

Ringing…

Ringing…

Ringing…

He couldn't seriously have been playing this game, could he?

Ringing….

"Weiss. I was wondering when you would call."

"Father. It's… good to hear your voice. I apologize if you tried to contact me, before. The Vale CCT had been compromised by a virus."

"Of course. I hadn't considered the reason I have not spoken with you in months was because the CCT was offline all this time. How foolish of me."

Weiss had to suppress a growl before responding. She knew what she would be getting back into. If this would save her friends, she could bear the weight. "How much do you know about recent events?"

"A terrorist leading the White Fang turned the Amity Coliseum into a weapon and tried to devastate Vale. Huntsmen and students allied to the kingdoms stepped in to stop this; one Ruby Rose, partner to my youngest daughter, having information on the plot no one else was aware of. The stadium was evacuated on the orders of this girl and she used the weapon to devastate the incoming Grimm horde brought about by her own sister's mass televised scandal. However, once the battling was over, this student, so closely tied to you, decided to sale off with the prize as opposed to returning it like a good little hero."

"Then you know why I'm calling."

"Indeed. At this point, James is most likely out for blood with the loss of his favorite little science project as well as several thousand of his new drones. With the perpetrator nowhere in sight, he's begun targeting those closest to her, starting with the team who aided her in acts of vigilantism, among other crimes. In other words, you're looking for protection from the military authority in Atlas and I am the only one who can manage that. Hmph. While you've certainly done your best to show how much you don't want me in your life, I have no desire to visit you behind bars, or worse, at a grave marker. I can pull some strings with the military to keep you out of his reach."

"Not just for myself, father. I want Yang and Blake to make it out of this, too."

"You what?!" the Schnee patriarch's furious bark made Weiss hold the phone away from her ear in preparation for the oncoming tirade, "Not only do you demand me to strain my relationship with the military to clean up your mess, but you expect the same for your decadent teammates?! You think a temperamental savage and a faunus extremist are worthy of a Schnee's aid?!"

"Speak of either of them in such a manner again and I will hang up," Weiss' voice turned ice cold, "They are innocent and deserve shelter from this attack. If you're not willing to give them the same courtesy, I'll be forced to decline any of your help and stay with them."

A few seconds of tense breathing floated over the line before her father managed to seize a tenuous grip on his anger. "I cannot do this without gaining something I want."

"And what is it you want?"

To Weiss' surprise, her father let out a tired sigh. "It's time for you to come home, Weiss. As this last week has proven, Beacon is far from safe. Ozpin is nowhere to be found and I cannot keep you protected from across the sea. You have far more enemies than Ironwood, even if you may not notice it. If you return to Atlas and take a position in the company, though…"

Of course it would come down to this. She had to admit, the terms were fairly acceptable. Her father was essentially offering what would most likely be a secure and handsomely paid job under the family company for the freedom of herself and those closest to her. No one could argue the generosity in such an arrangement. It was hardly like staying at Beacon was still on the table, anyway. She wasn't sure if any of the combat academies would accept her either, at this point. Unfortunately, it also meant she would be forced back into direct contact with her father, giving him a greater opportunity to control her. Could she really continue to resist that for the rest of her life?

What would Ruby do? Even in the face of this insane plot, Weiss still felt like she understood her partner better than most. The girl wasn't power hungry, she wasn't cruel, she wasn't even vain. Stupid, impulsive, and absurdly ambitious? Absolutely. But, Ruby's ideals were real. They had to be. She wanted people to be happy and safe. She wanted to open up the world for humanity to explore. Everything she had done recently still lined up with all she had claimed to believe in, Weiss was sure of it. She supposed Ruby would make whatever sacrifice was necessary for the salvation of as many people as possible. This would accomplish that, right?

Weiss thought back to the trials she had faced over the course of her stay at Beacon. For the first time in her life, she was given the opportunity to apply the training she had endured so long to actually make a difference in the world. For the first time, she fought alongside friends she respected and admired. Could she bear letting that go?

"I'm waiting for your answer, Weiss."