Weiss POV

After we finished that dragged out breakfast, which was basically a lunch, we started cleaning up the table. We made the boys do their own things and Jaune didn't have a problem with that. Ren on the other hand needed some persuasion. He wants to help all the time but he really needs to stop. We also forbid Nora to get in the kitchen so she was having a little nap on the couch after eating that much. Tori went to her room, telling us that she has some teacher business she has to deal with. Ruby was doing the dish washing with Pyrrha and for a change of pace, even Cyra helped out here and there. She actually acted a bit different. It looked like she wanted to help out more but it wasn't her strong suit. At least she put effort into it.

I picked up the plates and put some cutlery on it that I could gather. Suddenly Blake appeared next to me and snatched out all of it from my hands with a kind smile on her face. She seems a bit too nice now. She is totally hiding her true feelings deep down. I don't know which is better to be honest. Seeing her with a fake smile or seeing her cry and depressed.

"Weiss, I want to apologize to you…" Yang said as she was still picking up stuff from the table.

"I…" I know I wasn't imparting my feelings perfectly with this start, but I knew how Yang felt this whole time and I didn't want to make her confirm my thoughts about it in front of everyone. Especially not Blake, because she is so blind when it gets to this that she wouldn't notice it.

"You… don't have to accept it." She was so sad all of a sudden but I didn't know how to phrase it so the only thing I could say was 'I'. I rushed to her and grabbed her shoulder as she had already started to walk away to the kitchen.

"May I have a word with you… In a more private place?" I could see her feelings were mixed up and I actually expected her to tease me about the part that I want to be with her privately but she only nodded to my request.

So there we were, standing under the stairs. We decided that would be a good spot because they would see us but we were further away so hearing us was out of the question. We could worry about Blake because she has super hearing and I'm just about to include her in my discussion with Yang, but she was pretty much occupied with the dishes and her clumsy self.

I was rubbing my arm as I was a bit nervous.

"So… I don't know if my conclusion is right, but… Did you get angry at me because I'm with Blake?" I managed to word my question but if I'm completely wrong, this is so awkward.

"Yeah…" She said, not waiting much time and I felt calmer now about my assumption being correct. "...I love Blake… and I told her." Well, that's new. I didn't think she would tell her.

"Oh…" Pretty bad of an answer but what else should I say to this? But she looked back up at me with the corner of her mouth bending upwards.

"But don't worry. She rejected me because she loves you. I already saw this coming so couldn't hope for a better ending." She laughed softly but I couldn't ignore the real emotions behind it.

"We… aren't in a relationship so…" What am I even saying?

"Weiss… Do you seriously think I would steal your girlfriend?" That last part made my face hotter.

"She is not my—"

"Please, princess… Stop living in denial. You want her so bad you are yearning for her." She said with a huge smirk on her face I would love to wipe off.

"What? I'm not!" I said loudly, but for some reason no one heard it.

"Just look at her being so cool." I'm actually doubting the fact that Yang is sober. Was there something in that meat? I don't even want to know.

I looked at Blake but she was choking on a yellow colored drink. Is that orange juice? How can that be in any way cool? She is so lame I can't stop laughing. I actually lost myself in that moment for a bit.

"You see? You looking at her with an expression that shouts 'I'm in love!'" Why did she have to shout that part? Luckily Blake was still coughing while Ruby was hitting her back and Pyrrha was giggling to herself, watching them. Cyra didn't care as she was cleaning a plate.

"Quiet down." I whispered at her while I covered her mouth. She kept smiling, I could feel from her skin. What do I have to say so she stops? "Okay… I might have developed something… for her…"

"Extreme arousal everytime you lay eyes on her?" She said under my hand and I didn't need much to punch her for her stupid teasing. I pinched her face with my hand so she would shut up for once. "Owww…" That's what she deserves. If you want to play like that.

"Aren't you talking about yourself, maybe?"

"Ohhh, what a comeback from Weiss Schnee. When did you become so savage?" I could only growl at her. I let her go so she could breathe.

"Hmph."

"So… Can't you say those words to her?" She asked me and changed so quickly I thought I was talking to someone else for a second.

"Those words?"

"Seriously… I have to do everything here. You guys are extremely clueless. The 'I love you' are the magic words. When will you say it to her?" It shouldn't be a problem anymore, right? I do feel like I want to be with her, even now.

"I will… at some point."

"You know she really wants to hear it."

"But then she would get excited and would act weird again…" I shouldn't have shared these details with Yang.

"Ohhhh… mind telling me what really happened on that night when you were gone?" Now she won't let this go. But maybe… she can give me some advice. She is experienced after all.

"Uhh… can we discuss this in the room?" I really don't want to talk about this here where everyone can see us and maybe even hear it. I have to make sure Yang is the only one who hears this.

"Of course. Come on! Yaaay, girl talk with Weiss…" She didn't have to make this creepier.

Blake POV

We were finished with the cleaning and it looked spotless. Everything was shining now that we made care of this. After I was choking on that orange juice Pyrrha gave me, I was kinda dead inside. I hate orange juice, it always makes my throat scratchy. Of course the red head didn't know this. I didn't know what was in the cup and drank it before asking. I was thirsty so I couldn't help it. Well, even though I didn't drink much of it, I wasn't thirsty anymore.

I didn't get to see where the others went while I was trying to keep the life in me. And when we finished, I realized that they just disappeared. Weiss and Yang must discuss what happened earlier. I will give that time to them. I need Yang to apologize to her.

Now that everyone is just chilling on the couch, I feel like I have to do something useful. And what else can I do other than train? So I went outside to do that. Calisthenics training is all I do and you don't need anything, only your body. I started with some push-ups as a warm up and did some running on the spot. I was doing this for a while now when I heard a voice.

"Can I join?" I looked to the side and saw Weiss for a second. Oh jeez, can you snap out of it? It's not her, idiot.

I didn't reply to Cyra, only continued on with my training 'cause I wasn't interested in her after what she did. Yeah I know, she kinda helped me out, but she is untrustworthy. You have to be careful what to say to her. So I just ignored her completely. Although, she saw me looking at her so she knows now I noticed her.

"Then I'll just watch you." Is she really going to watch me while I'm training on my own? That's just plain awkward. You can't do that with Weiss' face. Okay, I know she is not her but I can't let this go. They do say that everyone has a person that looks just like them somewhere in the world.

I was doing my exercise but I could feel her staring at me and I felt the urge to go on harder than I usually do. I don't like her but I still feel like impressing her. I mean if someone is watching you, you just have to give your all. I was performing a planche to look cool. I was sure that even Yang couldn't do this. She had big muscles but I had a shredded body. Oh, how much I would love to do this in front of Weiss.

I actually got distracted as I was thinking about Weiss as she looks at me impressed, so my body just gave up and I landed on my face. Seriously, why do I have to land on my face all the time? I still haven't healed from the last one. I put one of my arms up in the air.

"You didn't see that…" I tried saying but I was sure she didn't understand any of that. And of course she was laughing at me.

"I was impressed at first but then this happened." She said, still giggling at my failure. Now that I think about it, this is the first time she shows emotions. And this one is positive indeed. I turned her way to see it and I could catch a glance before she went back to normal.

She started walking my way and I was surprised as she sat down on the freshly cut grass next to me. I turned back to watch the ground immediately as the awkwardness sneaked its way into me. Why is everyone acting so weird today? First Yang and now Cyra? They went soft all of a sudden. Why can't Weiss do this?

"W-What do you want?" I tried asking without giving out any weird sound. I think I managed it without doing that.

"I'm… not sure." That's it!?

"What!?" I screamed, sitting up real fast. I could see I scared her a bit.

"Uh… Just felt like… being with someone." Out of everyone she had to choose me. Why is that? Do we have something in common she is relating to?

"Why not go and be with Ruby for instance? She is much more cheerful than me." I said gloomily. After what I did with her, which just happened, I thought she doesn't want to speak with me.

"That's why I'm not choosing her."

"I mean, looking at you… I can understand it. So why me then?" I was really curious because she is actually the first person in my life who comes to me. No one wants to befriend me at first glance. Although Ruby did, she is just a pure soul.

"I don't know. Feel like I can relate to you the most…" This side of her is something I actually fond of. The one that beat my ass is not so much.

"In what way, really? I don't see you have any problems in life." I said while motioning with my hand lazily.

"Because you don't know me." I kept my gaze on her but she didn't say any more.

"Well, you don't know me either, and maybe it's better that way."

"I know that you were in the White Fang." Well, that just froze me. Is she going to show her hatred to me now? That's why she wanted to talk to me I guess. It hurts when you manipulate people to think that you want to be with them and then show your true self. How many times have I experienced that?

"Then I guess you chose the wrong company." I said it sternly. I turned my whole body a bit so I wouldn't sit face to face with her. I crossed my legs and leaned back a bit, holding myself with my arms.

"I know they did terrible things with kids like you…" Wait, she might know more than me. Is she a faunus and hiding it? Was she part of it too? She just caught my attention. I turned one of my ears her way but I didn't look at her. Didn't say anything either. I was waiting for her to continue. Maybe something slips out that I forgot long ago.

"You suffered a lot… even wanting revenge against the whole world. Killing wasn't a hard thing to do… am I right?" That snapped my eyes wide. She knows so much that she had to be a part of it. Is she my enemy? Because now everyone who is any way connected to the White Fang is my foe.

"Why do you know so much?" I finally snapped as I turned her way and grabbed her shoulders. She didn't look scared at all.

"I had friends… who got out of it in time." She, having faunus friends is just fishy for me. I hope she is not lying to me. "...I can be that person that stays by your side even when you feel like pushing everyone away." My grip strengthened on her shoulders as my temperament became hotter.

"Why the past tense? What happened to them?"

"They are dead. All of them." Hearing this I let go of her but I still couldn't believe her story. If they got out of it in time, how did they die?

"How—"

"There is an evil force… lurking in the darkness. She doesn't have mercy for those who are weak." Why is her voice trembling?

"What evil force?" I asked slowly as the tension didn't ease in me.

"After I couldn't save them, I kept working on it to find out what's behind all this. It might be connected to your condition. The woman… called Salem." That name… It does ring a bell but I never heard it before. "When I said I was related to you, I said because we have the same enemy." My enemy is Salem? Is she the one who caused all of this? Just hearing her name makes the fire burn in my veins. I got so angry all of a sudden. If I want answers I have to ask the one who caused this in the first place.

"Where is she?" I asked into the air as my eyes started to turn slit again as I got angrier. I felt a spot on my face sting as she pinched me, throwing me out of my state. I started rubbing my face as I looked at her, almost tearing up from the sudden pain.

"Don't be an idiot. You can't just barge in on her door and say that she is looking at her biggest enemy. She would slap you with one finger and you would fly through miles." I still wasn't sure if I could believe this. And how does she know so much about this woman? But I went with it anyway. Because if this is true, I finally found out what I have to search for.

"Right… But I have to defeat her underlings too. Every big name has some. I'm sure that Cinder is one of them and that Torchwick guy." I said, cracking my fingers.

Cinder POV

I had a conversation with Raven when that whole commotion with Blake calmed down after that collar knocked her out. She was asking why I was acting weird last night. I knew she would find it out. I told her that I'm a horrible person who loves seeing others in pain. I hate myself for that. Life wasn't kind to me. But when fate decided to bring me to Salem, it was the worst luck of my life.

She was another mother figure who disliked me. I was a puppet to all of them and nothing more. I killed my last fake mother too so I'm going to do the same with this one as well. And then I will finish with myself for bringing hardships to this world. There is nothing worth doing that would atone my sins.

And there is this girl in front of me. I haven't met a person before who I could relate to at this level. She is having a fight with herself just like me. And the cause of that is the same for both of us. Salem. She needs to be gone.

I feel like the others are following her out of fear, just like I did. If she finds me I'm dead. I need allies to save them and end this for good. I have friends but they haven't made it… yet. I want freedom for them. While I'm sitting in a dark place, at least I want them to walk on the brightest path. I want to die knowing that they won't have to suffer anymore.

"Yeah. We defeat Salem and you can finish with Cinder when we find her. I will make sure you will be the one who makes her pay."

Note: In this one, Salem is not immortal but she is still op and can use magic.