Before anything else, I own nothing but the original characters, and content therein related to them. RWBY is owned by RT, and any mentioned creator's work belongs to them, and them alone. Rest in peace Monty, your vision lives on in us all.

CHAPTER 6

In the frozen north of Solitas… 6 months ago... Weiss Schnee sat by the window in her room. There was a knock at the door, and Klien, her favorite butler, more of a father to her than her real dad had ever tried to be, entered the room. "Miss. Schnee, your father requests to speak to you." Always spoken to, never spoken with…

Weiss held a brief conversation with her brother, but pushed the words aside when she reached the hall outside her father's office. She hadn't mentally prepared herself for just how badly things would have gone when she returned home. For starters, the fallout with Siniy. Her father forbade him from traveling to Atlas with her on his private airship, and worse when she pleaded with the Schnee patriarch to allow her "loyal friend" to come with her, she sensed her father had figured her out. He hid his revulsion well enough, but Jacques Schnee, while greedy and arrogant, wasn't completely brain dead. He pretended not to notice the obvious fact his second daughter was enamored with a faunus, thinking positively about how at least this one wasn't a woman.

Forced to leave him behind, along with all of the friends she'd made at Beacon, Weiss felt alone once again. Looking out the window, she yearned to just be held by the giant warm fuzzball she'd come to love. As the proverb went; Separation makes the heart grow fonder.

The denizens of Mantle cleared a path, as the largest man many of them had ever seen walked slowly down the street. Looking up at Atlas, Siniy let out a sigh. The airship ticket back to Mantle had cost him nearly all the lien he had, but if he could go just a few days more, it would be worth it. Shifting the old Atlesian grey wool M43 field cap on top of his head, Siniy looked back to the streets. He needed to find a ride up to Atlas, and soon. Winter had been cold in Vale, but nowhere near as bad as it was in Atlas. If he only knew how hot Menagerie was on the other end of the world, experiencing one of the warmest summers in their history, he would not be complaining.

Having prepared to arrive a few months sooner, Siniy had rifled through a military surplus store in Vale then sewed together his custom sized clothing to replace the outfit he destroyed during the battle of Beacon. Leather jackboots, grey wool pants, a grey wool button up shirt with Atlesian army markings on the collar, a Prussian blue M40 style overcoat that swept his toes. And a leather over belt and suspenders for his ammunition pouches. On his back, a soft canteen, hot meal kit, canvas tarp, wool blanket, a cylindrical tin he had no clue the purpose of, and his newly acquired steel helmet were kept in place by leather belts. Two Theaters was slung over his shoulder, having been starved for munition since Beacon. Clutching at his own stomach, Siniy felt hunger striking him. He'd endured worse than starvation. He continued on to find a way to his Angel of the Morning.

On a construction site in Mantle, Siniy Garnet put the last pallet of bricks onto the back of a truck. Having finished his shift at the yard, he collected his daily pay, Human wages at that, since he kept his bear ears covered, and left with his things. He'd caught wind of an art charity taking place in Atlas, SDC hosted. Weiss was scheduled to sing at the event. After a week of working overtime shifts every day and triple time on the weekends, Siniy had saved up enough money between daily porridge meals to buy both a ride to Atlas and tickets to the charity. He didn't have a suit to rent, but it's not like anywhere would have one made for him on such short notice, besides his winter greys looked quite professional on their own.

The finale song of the Vale Charity concert was being performed by an angel in human form… At least, according to Siniy Garnet she was an angel. "Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Hymn of the Cherubim." Siniy thought to himself, as he listened to Weiss and the small choir behind her. He recognized the song. It was an opening hymn sung before mass in what few Cyrillic communities there were before they faded into history… The hymn was one of the few surviving pieces of art from before the purge. The sounds brought tears to his eyes. His beloved had learned to sing in Cyrillic… From his private viewing booth on the left side of the concert hall, he hoped that she would spot him during the performance, only to see her glancing up at her father across the concert hall.

Weiss had chosen the final song of the night as a form of defiance. Her father would have no clue of the lyrics or the meaning, but praising a pantheon of gods other than the brothers in a language he had a hand in erasing from existence, one her forbidden boyfriend spoke, would have on any other occasion seen her belted. She only wished Siniy was there to hear her sing…

Weiss had left the concert hall once her performance was over, and as per the preplanned evening schedule stood beside her Father as he talked with his business partners and associates about nothing. "We offer the Faunus the same wages as our human staff, right out of the gate their argument is wrong." Weiss couldn't help but scoff at her father's words in silent contempt. Lies or the negligence of a man too wrapped up in his own dealings to know of his companies exploits… She had a feeling of which it truly was. Weiss excused herself, and walked away from the conversation, making up some lie about attempting to speak with some son of a goldsmith, when in reality, she was going to look at the art up for auction.

The largest of the paintings on display was one of Beacon's entrance courtyard. Oil on canvas. 1,000,000 lien as a starting price. She couldn't help but remember her first day there, much like the one depicted in the painting. It was bright out, she had been stuck in an airport for two hours on layover… And that was the day she met Siniy… They'd battled the White Fang together for the first time aboard their airship. Looking back, she'd wished she'd treated him better… The rest of the faunus in their entirety really… If she had, maybe she and the polar bear faunus would have been together sooner. She began to tune out the noises around her… Until a shrill voice caught her ear. "Really does it come as any surprise what happened to Vale…"

Down the hall, Siniy was walking through the mansion, a glass of champagne in hand. He'd left his weapon, backpack, and other assorted gear in the hotel, leaving only the leather belt in it's place. A silver spear and shield held sideways in the claw of an eagle adorned the belt buckle, which had been polished for the occasion. An old blue Atlas army visor cap sat atop his head, hiding his ears in place of his field hat or helmet, keeping with the formality of the night. The few smaller pieces of art on display in the halls were pretty by any metric, but he was seeking the finest of them all. The looks Siniy got as people moved out of his way were to be expected. He was likely the largest man any of the Atlas elite had ever seen. If they recognized him was up for debate, and depended on if they paid close attention to the Vytal Tournament.

"Is he a faunus?"

"I've heard that some can get big, but never that large."

"Impossible, he'd never be allowed in the manor."

"Perhaps one of Ironwood's men, he is in a uniform."

"It's too old."

"Ceremonial guard perhaps?"

Siniy ignored the whispers people thought he could not hear, and drank the rest of his fine wine, setting the empty glass atop a wait staff's head, leaving him to balance there, as both his hands were full with a tray of wine and horderves.

Looking left, Siniy saw a closed room, with a sign outside of it that read, "Private auction." Siniy hummed. This was it. This was where he would find the image of sculpted perfection in human form. Putting a hand on either of the two large oak doors, the entrance tall enough for Siniy to just barely clear, he pushed his way inside, and the music being played by the band in the corner stopped, having been surprised by the size of the man who entered, only to immediately resume playing. (Purely for ambiance, entertain the idea. Christopher Willis, Moscow 1953 2:15)

Weiss looked left to the doors as they opened, ignoring the woman who had earned her ire, and instead focusing on the impossibility of what she was seeing. It couldn't be him. Garbed in an old Atlesian Army uniform, Siniy Garnet stood at the entrance of the room, an imposing 10 feet tall now. "Siniy." Weiss muttered as she locked eyes with him.

"Weiss." He said, his voice carrying well over the silenced room. Stepping a few more paces into the private room, he'd removed his visor cap, and held it under his left arm. The crowd parted with each step, some whispering about him being a faunus, others his size. Weiss found her feet moving on their own. Each step made her feel like she was closer to some dream she was surely having… Until reality stepped in. Her father had put himself between Siniy and her.

Jacques glared at Siniy intently. A look Siniy returned in full. "Mr. Schnee. I am Siniy Garnet. I believe we've met on one occasion. The fall of Beacon." Siniy said, extending a hand to his most hated enemy.

"I don't recall, remind me of your… Occupation. It might help jog my memory." Jacques had dawned a bull-shitting smile, one Siniy recognized Weiss had made before. All the same he shook Siniy's hand, the disparity between the size of their palms alone would have been emasculating enough for the Schnee patriarch, but Siniy made a point to forget his own strength and give Jacques a firm handshake.

"Oh you wouldn't be interested in such things, logistical movement of mining assets is so… Beneath you… The work of a Huntsman on the other hand…" Siniy said, releasing Jacques from his grip, the elder man nursing his more than likely injured hand by rubbing his palm discreetly. "As I understand it, your daughter is to continue her second year of huntress training at Atlas Academy in the Spring." Siniy continued.

"Yes… Might I ask, why are you here then?" Jacques raised a quizzical eyebrow, fully knowing now that Siniy was playing a game with him.

Siniy hummed in thought, before speaking. "Why, to ask for your blessing to marry the young Miss Schnee of course." From across the room, Weiss gasped.

Siniy's words caused ripples of whispers to break out amongst the otherwise completely silent crowd observing the duel of wit being fought between the giant and the business mogul… A duel Siniy may have just won. Jacques was caught in between a rock and a hard place. He couldn't outright lambast the giant about his words, or even about the thought of some animal being engaged to his daughter, as much as he wanted to. It would look bad of him to do so in front of a crowd this big, and the PR nightmare that would come from yelling at a faunus would undo years of work correcting his image. On the other hand, Siniy's charismatic delivery made it sound as if he wanted him to get angry and start yelling at him, which gave him no choice but to act as if he'd consider it, lest he seem prudish, or otherwise overly protective, at the cost of the opinions of the other elites around him who would see it as a weakness, letting a man born in poverty no doubt, marry a Schnee… There was a third option he hadn't considered until just then… Laugh his ass off.

A deep, genuine sounding laughter came from Jacques Schnee. For only a split second Siniy's concentration broke, before he joined the man in his faux laughter, playing off his words as if they were a joke. After a second, the laughter shared between the two ceased. "Mr. Garnet you have a great sense of humor… Why don't you and I discuss our dealings elsewhere." Jacques said, as he attempted to place a hand on Siniy's lower back, guiding him out of the room and away from the prying eyes of the Atlas elites. "Come along Weiss." Jacques said. "Better to deal with both of them at once." He thought.

Weiss had been taken to her room by her father, and Siniy was told to wait outside in the hall, with a small security detail keeping an eye on him. Had he been privy to what went on behind the thick walls of Weiss's room, he would have lost his temper, and more than likely hurt someone… Someone being Jacques.

When the CEO of the SDC came out of the room, he turned to Siniy, and straightened his tie. "I want you to listen to me very carefully. Your appearance tonight has fundamentally eroded the Schnee family's foundation, and has caused a great deal of chaos and disorder… Whatever reason you might think you have to pursue my daughter has been removed. The company inheritance is being passed on to my son, as Weiss is in no condition to be financially responsible as of this moment, nor should she be making public appearances, and for that reason she is in no state to be taking on relationships either. Weiss is to be confined to the manor grounds until she's recovered from her trauma, and visitors will be restricted to family, and therapists for her own health and wellness… Which means, Mr. Garnet, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the premises." Jacques said. Siniy raised an eyebrow at that long list of bullshit.

"And what if I say no, and simply decide to walk right into that room, and comfort Weiss in her time of need, for her… Health and wellness as it were?" Siniy asked.

Jacques clenched his fists. "I would have these fine gentlemen escort you out." Jacques said, knowing full well the two guards in the hallway would be insufficient for the task.

"Would they now?" Siniy asked, before he looked down at the two men at his side, the left guard gulping as discreetly as he could. "Well then Mr. Schnee, I think I'll be on my way." Siniy said, as he turned to leave. "Oh… And, I'd advise you to look into the security of your mining operations… I've heard stories of prisoners escaping the labor camps before their 5 years are served. Dread the thought, you'd be in the doghouse with the counsel if any rumors turned out to be true. Imagine what that would do to your brand." Siniy said, as he began walking away, a smirk plastered to his face. It might have been poking the bear, so to speak, letting slip that much information about himself in innuendo and double speak, but then again, Siniy was the bear.

Two weeks later, Siniy Sat hunched over a blacksmith's anvil in Mantle's crater. He was making preparations. He'd already bought tickets for an air ferry ride to Atlas again, and had restocked all of his munitions. Now he just needed to put the finishing touches on his plan to break into the Schnee manor and free his beloved. It might not have been a very rational plan, but it was very much his own. Charge through. Break opposition. He'd memorized the security cameras of the manor on his way out of the building when he was there two weeks ago, and had a good estimate on the number of private security guards on the grounds at any given time. He also had a set time for how long it would take Atlas Police and military forces to arrive from the mansion, as he'd called in an anonymous tip about a bomb in a nearby subway, then waited for information to be broadcasted on the news to figure out the response time. Unethical, yes, but for Weiss it was worth it.

"Some heavy plates of metal you're working with." The blacksmith said. Siniy grunted in acknowledgement. "Sure you're going to be able to move in that?" Siniy shrugged. He knew he would be unburdened by the weight. "Must be some big monster you plan on fighting there huntsman." Siniy looked over to the Blacksmith.

"The worst kind." Siniy said, before setting the finished oversized faceplate on the table.