'Olivia wasn't kidding…'
Weiss had looked up the location of an amusement park on her scroll, and had guided the both of them through the city, avoiding the larger commotions wherever possible. Sirens blared in the distance, and the streets themselves echoed with the din of thousands of voices. Some shouted in tandem, while others loudly announced their thoughts, opinions, or demands over loudspeakers and microphones.
Olivia still held her hand through it all, though her playful attitude had subconsciously diminished to one far more wary. Weiss could only guess it had to do with the crowds themselves, the faunus having displayed a dislike for them in the past. In light of that, Weiss made sure to give them a wide berth with the route she chose, and clutched all the more tightly to Olivia's hand whenever they were forced to draw near.
Olivia herself didn't seem to notice the efforts Weiss was taking, or was refusing to acknowledge them on account of her pride. Weiss didn't mind either way. Seeing Olivia relax more with every step put between them and the crowds was good enough for her. She'd quickly grown accustomed to the feeling of the other girl's hand in hers, and walked with far more confidence and purpose with Olivia at her side.
'I could get used to this…' Weiss sighed internally, a long standing debate battling it out within her heart. Olivia was blissfully unaware of the struggle taking place in Weiss's mind, the desire to throw away the facade deepening with every step, with each brief glance into the other's eyes. What if she asked Olivia out for real? Right here, right now, before they arrived at the park? Could they enjoy a true date, instead of her half baked scheme?
'Or is Blake right… Would Olivia become more distant… Would she… would she say no?'
Weiss desired more than anything for the date to become real. At the same time… she was just glad to get whatever she could.
"Smells like we're almost there, Princess," Olivia commented, pulling Weiss's focus from her own troubled mind.
'Smell…?' Weiss closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, catching a scent on the air that was both indistinct, and wholly familiar. "Is that…?"
"Popcorn," Olivia confirmed with a grimace.
The loud rumbling of a rollercoaster followed soon after, the shrill cries of its occupants echoing out across the street. Turning one final corner, the city opened up into a much wider expanse. The area nearest them was forested, but even so, Weiss could see the brightly colored buildings and railings overtop the canopy of green.
The entrance to the amusement park itself lay before them, equally vibrant buildings and booths providing a welcoming atmosphere that beckoned them inside. Unfortunately, it appeared that they weren't the only ones looking to have a little fun. A long line of patrons wrapped out of the entryway and along the property's tall iron fence, winding down the sidewalk and around a distant corner.
"It is a Friday…" Olivia stated glumly, staring at the line of people already waiting to enter. She smirked soon after, a twinkle in her eye. "Want to hop the fence?"
Weiss laughed lightly, pulling Olivia towards the front of the line instead. "Don't be ridiculous. Hunters already get a free pass. At least, that's what their website said when I was looking up directions."
Olivia raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure that includes Huntresses in training?" Her gaze wandered wistfully back to the fence line, "We wouldn't even need a running start..."
Weiss shook her head in amusement. One brief glance across the arranged booths was all she needed to notice the one currently in disuse. A bored attendant sat behind the counter, reading a magazine. 'Hunters only' was written across the plaque above him, signalling the express lane for humanities' defenders.
"Admittance for two, please," Weiss stated kindly, trying to garner the attention of the young man behind the counter.
He didn't take his eyes off his magazine, but instead raised a hand to point up towards the plaque above him. "Hunters only. You'll have to go wait in line like everyone else."
Weiss frowned. Normally she might have had some choice words to share with someone slacking on the job. With Olivia at her side though, she found it hard to get worked up.
"We are Huntresses," Weiss replied calmly.
The young man, perhaps a few years older than Olivia and Weiss, flicked his eyes away from his magazine long enough to give them a cursory glance. He returned to the pages immediately, expression not changing in the slightest.
"Too young."
Weiss scowled, "We're Huntresses in training."
The young man glanced at the watch on his wrist, and gave a small shake of his head without turning to face them. "Beacon students don't get out for a few more hours. You're either lying, or playing hookie."
Weiss couldn't help but notice the slow grin working its way across Olivia's face. The faunus squeezed her hand lightly, silently cheering her on while enjoying the show.
Between the young man's attitude, and Olivia's growing amusement, Weiss was beginning to lose her temper. She very nearly stamped her foot in frustration, but managed to hold back her indignation by the skin of her teeth.
'Stay civil, Weiss… A tantrum will get you nowhere.'
Weiss let out a long breath, then forcefully worked the best smile she could on to her lips. "We were given special permission by Headmaster Ozpin himself to skip classes for the rest of the week. Would you please just let us in? We have Beacon IDs on our scrolls, if that will help persuade you."
The young man lifted one hand, and raised a finger for each point he made. "Anyone can look up who runs the school. Beacon IDs aren't hard to fake."
Weiss snapped.
"You-!"
The man was saved from her wrath by Olivia slipping between herself and the booth. The faunus's hand was already on the counter before Weiss knew it, withdrawing soon after and leaving behind a hefty stack of lien.
Olivia let out a small laugh, "I told her we should just hop the fence."
The attendant's expression still didn't change, but he pulled the lien off the counter and replaced it with a paper band for each of them.
"Probably would've gotten in sooner that way."
Weiss could only sputter with indignation while Olivia wrapped the band around her wrist. Olivia paused long enough to put her own on, then grabbed Weiss's hand again to lead her inside the park.
Olivia smirked, "Dating tip number two. Don't be afraid to flash a little cash to get your way. I bribe people all the time. Ladies love it." She scratched her chin in thought, "At least, I'd assume so. Who wouldn't want to find out their date is loaded?"
"I can't believe you paid that… that arrogant little-!"
Olivia laughed, bumping a shoulder into her. "Forget about it. He probably gets people trying to fake their way in all the time. Besides, what's a bit of lien compared to expedience? We're in now, so let's enjoy ourselves."
Weiss took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm herself down. "You're right. Let's just… have some fun." She finally stopped to take in their surroundings, eyes roaming across the busy plaza packed with dozens upon dozens of fellow patrons.
The treeline opened up almost immediately to reveal the amusement park in all its glory. A myriad of colors decorated every building in sight. The air was filled with panicked and excited cries from children and adults. The smell was overwhelming, an assortment of scents all seeming to attack her nose at once, overpowering it until they all became an indistinct mess. Even the paved walkways were brilliantly colored, various patterns worked into the concrete to help guide people to their chosen destinations.
"So, where do you want to go first?" Weiss asked uncertainly. Given so many options to choose from, she wasn't sure where to even begin. Weiss knew she wanted their 'date' to be special, 'But where will we have the most fun…?'
Olivia glanced around the plaza, eyes finally focusing on something a little ways off to their right. She nodded her chin in its direction and pulled Weiss along, weaving through the crowd until they were standing in front of a large, detailed map.
"This should give us an idea…" Olivia's eyes roamed across it. She pointed to one of the symbols in particular, a small black star with the words 'You are here' written above it.
Weiss looked at the corner of the map, where the key listed off all of the various destinations the park offered.
"Rides, carnival games, bumper cars, fun houses, karaoke, food court…" Weiss read them off one by one, finding each on the map as she did so and pointing them out to Olivia.
"Hmm," Olivia hummed while considering the possibilities. "Is there anything you want to try first? We could probably hit up everything on the map by the end of the day."
Weiss shook her head, "Not really. I want to try out the roller coasters eventually, but if there's something you'd rather do…"
Olivia let out a brief laugh, "Sounds like fun to me. Just don't chicken out when we get there~"
Weiss rolled her eyes, turning to lead Olivia away from the map and down the trail towards the rides. "We kill Grimm, Olivia. I highly doubt anything here is going to measure up."
Olivia grinned, "You just keep telling yourself that, champ. In the meantime…" She bumped her shoulder into Weiss playfully, "Dating tip number three! Talk about something your date is interested in. Hobbies, plans for the future. Pay attention and listen closely to whatever she has to say so that you can respond appropriately."
Weiss raised an eyebrow, "Does that mean you or me, then? Should I practice by asking you, or are you going to demonstrate by putting the moves on me?"
Olivia frowned in thought, "Which would you prefer?"
Weiss bit her lip. While she was nervous about potentially killing the mood and dredging up part of Olivia's past, the chance to learn more about her was too good to give up. 'As long as I steer clear of any sensitive subjects, then we should be fine.'
"I'll practice on you," Weiss announced, already racking her brain for a question to ask Olivia. The faunus only nodded her approval and waited patiently, allowing Weiss the time she needed to collect her thoughts.
Weiss was still curious about the application she'd seen earlier, but decided against asking anything so intrusive. Aside from that, there was a question she'd wanted to ask previously, but had been far too embarrassed to voice. Now given free range to ask anything she pleased, she was tempted to try her luck.
'Olivia promised not to tease me, and she's mostly kept to it…'
Mind made up, Weiss cleared her throat in preparation. Even so, she could feel her cheeks heating prematurely, and sweat gathering in her palms.
"You… you mentioned your first time earlier…" Weiss struggled to finish her question, but after a few moments, managed to gather enough resolve to power through. "What… what was it like?"
Olivia laughed lightly, stifling her mirth with a hand before flashing Weiss an affectionate smile. "Getting curious now that you know what you like, Princess?"
Weiss fidgeted with the hem of Olivia's coat, but nodded all the same. In truth, she was interested because it involved Olivia more than anything. At the same time, she was anxious about what to expect should she ever get the chance, Olivia or not. Weiss hadn't worked up the courage to research the topic at all, despite the CCT network being only a swipe away on her scroll.
Olivia seemed to take pity on her. She squeezed Weiss's hand gently, as if to signal that she wasn't taking the question lightly. "I'm not going to shame you for being worried, Weiss. It's only natural that you would be. I think everyone is when it comes to their first time."
"Really? So you…?"
Olivia nodded, "Yup. There were a few older women that I knew, ones I worked up the courage to ask advice from. I started begging them for tips… I wanted my first time to be special, ya know? I think most girls go through that phase… Wanting it to be perfect…"
"Was it?" Weiss asked tentatively.
Olivia laughed, eyes zoning out into the distance while taken by her memories. "No, not at all. There's a big difference between being told something, and actually trying it for yourself. Before then… I'd at least figured out some of the things I enjoyed. The places that felt the best when I touched myself…" She shook her head ruefully, "It's a lot harder when you're trying it for the first time with someone else, though, and everyone's a little bit different. I was so excited… so nervous. We were both too embarrassed to talk, so we were just blindly doing to each other what we'd normally do to ourselves… It was an experience I'll never forget, but I can't say it was anything remotely close to the perfect first time I was craving."
Weiss silently reflected on Olivia's answer. It didn't spell high hopes for her, considering she'd only just recently arrived at the 'touching herself' part of her development. Weiss only knew the absolute basics from her own recent experience. She hadn't done any real exploring, no testing the waters to find out what felt best.
If she did get with Olivia...
'Just lay back and relax, Princess. I'll show you how it's done~'
Weiss's cheeks heated at the thoughts that inevitably began coursing through her mind. Flights of fancy, each involving Olivia continuing her tutelage in a bedroom instead of on their fake date. She focused on keeping her breathing even, and fought to dispel the images running through her head.
'Get a hold of yourself, Weiss! Now is not the time!' Their fake date had only just begun. She couldn't risk falling apart so soon when they had the entire day ahead of them!
"Is there anything else you wanted to know, Weiss? I'm an open book until we find a ride to try out, so ask away."
"Umm, let me think," Weiss delayed. Her heart still beat rapidly in her chest, but she could feel it beginning to slow with each passing moment. 'No more sex questions. Just… hurry up and think of something tame. Something normal!'
"Have you ever owned a pet?" Weiss blurted out, cringing before the words had even finished leaving her lips. 'What a lame question!'
Olivia laughed, "A bit random, but I'm still game. No, I've never owned a pet. My life up until now hasn't really been the most stable to warrant trying to take care of anything. If I was going to get one though…" She pondered the question for a moment, head tilting to the side. "I think I'd want a dog like Zwei… He's such an excitable little fellow… And it would be nice to have something that loyal to come home to… That was always happy to see me, no matter what..."
Olivia shrugged after trailing off for a few seconds, "What about you?"
Despite everything, the topic had done its job in firmly diverting Weiss's mind away from her previous, depraved thoughts. "...My sister had a cat when we were both really young. It was pure white… I don't really know what breed it was. We didn't have it for long. My mother bought it for Winter without consulting my father, and it turned out he was allergic."
"Don't they make pills for that?"
Weiss scoffed, "As if he would have inconvenienced himself for a meager issue like his childrens' happiness."
In retrospect, it was painful how true that statement really was.
Olivia shook her head sadly, "Well, I'm sure wherever that cat ended up, it was in a better place. As far from Jacques Schnee as possible."
Weiss laughed. It started off as a quiet giggle, building up in force the longer it went on until people nearby were glancing in their direction. She couldn't help herself. The same could be said about her, after all. The further she was from her father, the happier she could be.
Olivia smiled widely, waiting until Weiss's laughter had died down before commenting sincerely, "Have I ever mentioned you have a beautiful laugh?"
Weiss choked, her tongue freezing against the roof of her mouth while her steps faltered. "Y-you… what!?"
Olivia grinned, "Dating tip number four, Princess. Compliments are key! There's no better way to win a girl's heart, except maybe through her stomach. That's what the older women told me, anyway."
"Are all of your tips just handed down from a bunch of old ladies?" Weiss managed to strangle out.
"Eh, only the cliff notes," Olivia grinned. "I wouldn't pass anything along to you that didn't have the Mandevilla seal of approval!"
Weiss was opening her mouth to argue, but Olivia's eyes darted away instead. She gestured with her chin, the smile on her face only widening with each passing moment. "We're here!"
Weiss let out a quiet, indignant huff before turning to regard the rollercoaster they'd arrived at. The path through the trees had finally winded its way into another, the new trail leading past an assortment of different rides. Olivia's eyes remained on the first one they'd come across, tracking the coaster itself as it flew through the various twists and turns.
"You ready?" Olivia asked with a challenging tone, flashing Weiss a smirk to see if the other girl was going to back down.
Weiss stood up straighter and set off, briefly pulling Olivia along before the faunus fell back into step. She pointed up ahead, towards a sign set up near the front of the line.
"Hunters' Fast Pass," Weiss read aloud, pausing to check the paper bracelets they'd each been given. Thankfully, it appeared the attendant hadn't screwed them over one final time, as each band did clearly display 'Hunter' across its surface.
Olivia grinned, "Vale knows how to treat its saviors!" She flashed Weiss a playful smirk, "Last chance to back out, Princess~"
Weiss rolled her eyes in exasperation. 'This is nothing.' She slipped her hand free from Olivia's and stepped up first, showing her bracelet to the operator behind the gate. "Two for the ride, please. Preferably in the front." She shot Olivia a pair of narrowed eyes, daring her in turn.
Olivia snorted and stepped up next to her, putting both arms behind her head and humming while they waited for the rollercoaster to finish its previous run. In less than a minute, it was pulling back into the bay and letting its occupants off, many cheering for the exhilarating experience they'd just had.
The operator waited until they'd all stepped off the platform before waving Weiss and Olivia through, followed by the rest of those in line. Weiss went straight for the front cart, and had already pulled her bar down by the time Olivia slid onto the seat next to her.
"If you're going to throw up, make sure you aim that way," Olivia joked, pointing across Weiss to the other side of the cart. She pulled down on her own bar, the mechanism producing a loud ratcheting sound with every few inches. It locked into place with a final click, both of them now secured, regardless of potential second thoughts.
Weiss frowned, a glimmer of worry flickering through her mind after Olivia's previous comment. She leaned over the side and glanced along the railing, then looked up at all the twists and turns the track had to offer.
With all of the seats now filled, the operator pressed a button on his console to start the ride. The coaster let out a loud, airy hiss, it's brakes releasing so that they began inching forward, up a tall hill that would initiate the ride.
"Um… Olivia?" Weiss spoke loudly over the rumbling of the cart, watching as the ground grew further and further away.
Olivia sensed the concern in her voice, and reached the wrong conclusion. "Don't tell me you want to back out now, Weiss. Dating tip number five, ladies love confidence."
"No, it's just… Remember how you don't do so well on boats…?"
Olivia stared at Weiss in confusion for a few moments. Ever so slowly, her face began to pale, and she looked out over the edge of the cart to the twists and turns that had been so enticing only seconds before.
The cart reached the apex of its initial climb, brakes grinding to a halt to add to the suspense. Olivia turned back to Weiss with clear panic in her eyes, and a curse ready to leave her lips.
"Oh fu-"
The rest of Olivia's words were lost to time as the cart rocketed down the track. The wind whipped through their hair and clothes, deafening the screams of the people behind them. Weiss had eyes only for Olivia, for the green tint that immediately began to work its way across her features.
Up, down, and around. The rollercoaster blasted through each and every turn, throwing Weiss and Olivia back and forth, held in their seats only by the grace of the bars across their chests. Olivia desperately fought to keep control, one forearm already stuffed across her mouth to fight back a sudden urge to vomit.
Weiss watched in horror, silently cheering Olivia on but hoping that if all else failed, she'd remember her own advice and aim the opposite direction.
As suddenly as it had begun, Weiss felt the cart slowing back down. They were already winding through the final turn, the docking bay ahead. Olivia didn't seem to notice, so determined was she in fighting to keep control of her bodily functions. Weiss placed a tentative hand on her back and rubbed up and down, trying to sooth while being careful not to disturb her any further.
"We're there, Olivia! We made it! Just a few more feet!" Weiss coaxed gently. The faunus looked miserable.
Olivia raised her eyes, relief washing over her as she realized the ride was over. The coaster finished pulling into the bay, brakes hissing once more to announce them coming to a complete stop. After a few seconds, the bars gave way as well. Olivia jumped up, happy to be back on her own two feet. She stepped hurriedly away from the ride, pushing through the exit and back out onto the path.
Weiss followed close behind, and breathed a sigh of relief once the coast was clear.
"That was a close call," Weiss grinned, "I'm surprised you managed to-"
Olivia puked.
Weiss averted her eyes, refusing to look at the contents being emptied from Olivia's stomach. The stench of alcohol hit her, and she couldn't help but wrinkle her nose. Regardless of her own qualms, Weiss graciously offered up her previous ministrations. She rubbed Olivia's back in small circles while the girl retched, silently glad that her teammate's hair was short enough to not get in the way.
After a few minutes, Olivia let out one final shuddering sigh and stood up straight. Weiss continued rubbing her back, intent on providing as much comfort as possible until Olivia said otherwise. Her eyes were closed, body subconsciously leaning back into Weiss's touch while she breathed deeply.
"Are you feeling better? Is there anything I can get you?" Despite the thought briefly crossing her mind, Weiss couldn't bring herself to tease Olivia as revenge for her earlier comments. It wasn't her fault that her sixth sense had such an unfortunate drawback. It was a little sad, even. 'Olivia was so excited to come here… I hope this hasn't ruined her mood.'
Olivia finally pulled away, allowing Weiss's hand to fall back down to her side. "I'm fine… If we can find something to drink I'll be even better, though."
Weiss frowned in disapproval, "Do you really want alcohol after all that? I can smell it in your puke already."
Olivia snorted, some of the color returning to her face, "I meant like soda or some water, Princess. Even I'm not that self-destructive."
"Oh," Weiss calmed, raising her eyes to glance around the vicinity. She spotted a wayward food stand nearby, and gestured for Olivia to follow before leading the way over to it.
"Anything I can get you, dears?" The woman asked, taking in the two girls as they stepped up to order.
Olivia's eyes roamed across the options. She grimaced with each, hand still gingerly holding her stomach. "Just some water for me, thanks."
The woman nodded and turned an eye to Weiss, filling a cup for Olivia while she waited for the heiress to speak, "And you?"
"An iced tea for me, please." Weiss pulled out her lien as the woman finished pouring their drinks. For once, Olivia didn't protest, but quietly accepted the large cup of water when offered. She drank tentatively, careful not to ignite any lingering nausea that might set her off again.
Weiss placed a hand on her back and steered her away, a small distance to a bench just wide enough for both of them to sit comfortably. Olivia sighed as she sat, leaning back and relaxing while Weiss watched her carefully. The color had fully returned to her cheeks now, cold water being the final ingredient on her brief road to recovery.
"Thank you, Weiss…" Olivia said, sparing the heiress a genuine smile. It faded after a few moments, her eyes filling with regret.
"Sorry for ruining our fake date…"
Weiss laughed lightly, leaning over to bump her shoulder into Olivia's. "Who says it's ruined? We've still got a full day ahead of us. Don't tell me one little old ride is enough to put Olivia Mandevilla down for the count?"
Olivia raised her eyes in surprise, "I don't think I can handle any of the others, either… You really want to keep going?"
Weiss smiled, "Of course. You're not getting off that easy. I still have so much left to learn, and there's still so much left to do. Who else is going to teach me?"
Olivia grinned, "You know, a lot of it really is just advice from old ladies."
"That's more than I have now~"
Olivia stood, appearing rejuvenated and taking one last sip off her now empty cup. Weiss could only see the barest hint of the warm smile she wore. "Well, I'd say you've already mastered dating tip number six."
"And what's that?" Weiss asked curiously.
"Being perfect…"
Olivia spoke quietly, and kept facing away when she said it. Weiss's cheeks colored and her heartbeat raced. The iced tea was entirely forgotten in her hands. She didn't know how to respond. She wasn't even sure Olivia had meant for her to hear it, possibly judging the crowds around them as loud enough to deafen her words.
Weiss needed to be sure… 'Maybe I misheard her…?'
"Wh… what did you say?" she asked timidly.
Olivia turned back to her with a cheshire grin. Weiss could see a hidden strain in her eyes though, an unknown resolution holding her back. She shook her head weakly.
"Sorry Weiss, just another one of my jokes."
Weiss didn't believe her. Didn't want to believe her. Could there be something there? Weiss had heard Olivia crack jokes before, had heard the way she teased on so many other occasions.
'Is she just as afraid to ask me out? Or am I just hearing what I want to…?' Indecision ate away at Weiss's mind. She couldn't bring herself to speak up, not without confirming her suspicions first. There was too much at stake, too much riding on their relationship for her to trip at the finish line.
'If I'm even close to it…'
Olivia glanced around, looking across the crowds that filtered past and pretending as if nothing had transpired. "So, where to next? I don't think we should try any more rides. Not unless they're painfully slow, but in that case, what's the point in even riding them? Maybe the carnival games instead? There might be some fun stuff over there."
When Weiss didn't speak up, Olivia turned back with a cautious frown. "Weiss? What do you think?"
"...The carnival sounds like a safe bet…" Weiss replied finally, standing and hiding her own disappointment by sipping off her drink. Olivia watched her closely for a few moments before nodding acceptance.
"Alright. All we need is another map. I hope the one at the entrance wasn't the only one."
Weiss shook her head, "There has to be more. Let's just walk for now. I'm sure we'll find one along the way."
"Sounds good," Olivia tossed her empty cup into a trashcan before falling back in line next to Weiss. Her hand reached out, seeking the warm comfort of intertwined fingers they'd enjoyed since leaving Beacon. Weiss accepted the contact readily enough, but couldn't help but sigh, yearning for those final steps to make the contact real, to make it mean what she wanted it to mean.
The two of them made small talk along the way, eventually finding another map to guide them to the carnival section. The walk to find the map was longer than the trip to their actual destination. Soon enough, Weiss and Olivia passed through a gate into a wide assortment of colorful tents. Children and adults ran to and fro, exchanging lien with the attendants in the sizable booths. There were an array of strange games to be had, from pools of ducks whose purpose eluded Weiss, to a tightrope someone was currently failing to traverse.
Prizes decorated the walls behind each attendant. Weiss wasn't too impressed, taking note that most were stuffed animals or children's toys. Here and there she could see more expensive items locked in displays, undoubtedly the prizes for games that were either far too difficult, or rigged to be impossible.
"What do you want to try first?" Olivia asked, also busy gazing around at what the carnival had to offer.
The sound of a blunt object slamming heavily against something else drew Weiss's attention. She turned to look, peeking over the top of a few passersby towards where the sound had originated. Weiss's eyes caught on to a beefy, muscular man wielding a large mallet. He raised his arms for the gathered crowd, eliciting a brief cheer before hefting the hammer up once more. With one reckless swing, he slammed the mallet down against a contraption connected to a nearby post. The act catapulted a metal puck up the post, past a series of lines signifying the height he'd reached. It didn't quite manage to ring the bell at the top though, and the crowd groaned in disappointment for his failure.
'Olivia is due for a win after that rollercoaster ride,' Weiss smirked, nodding her head towards the game she'd chosen.
"Think you could get it all the way up?" Weiss teased, watching as the strong man went for another attempt. It went higher the second time, but was still a half dozen feet shy of the top.
Olivia grinned, pulling Weiss along after accepting her challenge. "It would be my pleasure~"
The man was breathing heavily when they arrived, the mallet resting at his side while no others dared to step forward and take his place. Olivia pulled Weiss past the edge of the crowd, and smiled up at the mountain of a man when the murmurs drew his attention.
"Need some help, big guy?" Olivia asked sweetly, a playful grin decorating her lips.
The man looked down at her and scoffed, raising the mallet to lay it across his shoulder. His accent was terribly thick, belonging to the far reaches of Vacuo if Weiss had to take a guess.
"You think you can do it?" Several members of the crowd laughed, sizing Olivia up compared to the muscle-bound man. He towered over her, several feet taller with arms thicker than her torso. "It's not as easy as it looks, let me tell you."
Olivia shrugged, "No harm in trying then, right? We're just here to have fun after all."
The large man grunted, letting out a derogatory laugh that was echoed by several others in the crowd. He set the mallet down and held the handle out to Olivia, then nodded his head to a sizable pot of lien set off to the side. "If you manage to ring the bell then you get all of it." He smirked, "Fifty lien per try."
"Is that all?" Olivia raised an eyebrow, surprising the man with her complete disregard for what should have been a daunting amount. Still acting in order to rile the man up, she turned to Weiss and flashed her a wink. "Sorry, sweetheart. I've gotta take care of a little business~"
Weiss smiled, deciding to play along. She winked in return, shifting her stance to place a hand on her hip. "Ring the bell and we can do whatever you want later~" Weiss couldn't stop herself from blushing when she said it, but was proud to hear a few 'ooh's emanating from the crowd.
"You spoil me," Olivia smirked. She hefted the mallet up with one hand, her other still occupied with Weiss's own. After the large man's eyes had gone wide at seeing the ease in which Olivia lifted it, she finally slipped her hand free and walked the last few feet to the target she was meant to hit.
Olivia dug into her pocket and pulled out a wad of lien that was certainly more than the amount required. "That oughta be enough," she stated casually, tossing the lien into the wide pot. Olivia lifted the mallet up, pointing towards the end of it, then down at the target. She turned slightly to the mountain of a man still standing nearby, a playful frown on her face.
"I smack this against that, right?"
"Y… Yes…"
Olivia brightened, "Sounds easy enough!" She pivoted back around, twirling the mallet in her hands, mimicking the way Nora might have swung Magnhild before going for a heavy attack.
With one fluid motion, Olivia slammed the end of the mallet down against the target. It blurred in her hands, going from above her head to buried in the wood faster than Weiss could blink. Hundreds of pounds of pressure suddenly applied itself to the metal puck, sending it rocketing up along the post and crashing into the bell at the top.
There was the sound of piercing metal and the brief snapping of wood. The bell was cracked in half, board surrounding it splintered and broken from the impact. Weiss frowned, then raised her eyes to the sky worriedly, realizing where the puck had gone. She spotted it soon enough, a small black speck in the clear blue sky.
Weiss pulled Myrtenaster from her hip and focused, ignoring the crowd that began to panic as they also realized where the puck had gone. Their eyes scanned the sky, some managing to point out the large piece of metal hurtling back towards the ground.
With a measured glance at it's trajectory and a brief moment to focus, Weiss waved the end of her rapier through the air. The gravity dust within its chambers activated along with her semblance, conjuring a black glyph in the sky above them. It wasn't a moment too soon, as the puck was brought to a halt a mere dozen feet over the crowd's heads.
Weiss sent Olivia a disapproving frown. The faunus at least had the decency to rub a hand against the back of her head, smiling sheepishly while silently conveying her thanks.
Olivia turned back to the strong man as Weiss lowered the puck into his hands. He stared in astonishment, eyes going between Olivia and Weiss in utter disbelief.
"So… I guess keep the lien and buy yourself a new thing-a-majig?" Olivia laughed nervously. When the man only stared at her, she hurried to Weiss's side and grasped her hand once more. "Best be off, darling."
Weiss sighed and reattached Myrtenaster to her hip while Olivia led them both away. She wasn't truly surprised by how events had played out. Really, she'd been asking for it the moment she called Olivia's attention to the game. The faunus couldn't turn down a challenge like that, especially with such an obvious opportunity to showboat.
"Well, I rang the bell. What was it you said I could have if I did?" Olivia teased while they weaved through the crowd, glancing at Weiss with a mischievous light in her eyes.
Weiss rolled her eyes, waiting for Olivia to make some ridiculous request, "Whatever you wanted."
Olivia smirked, "Such an open ended offer. I'll have to keep that in mind. Your word is your bond, right~?"
Weiss narrowed her eyes, hearing the note of challenge in Olivia's voice. "I'm not a liar, if that's what you're asking…"
"Good!" Olivia said cheerily. "I'm sure I'll think of something by the end of the night."
Weiss ignored Olivia's obvious attempt at riling her up once more. She was on to the faunus's game now, growing more accustomed to spotting when she was only trying to elicit a reaction. Frowning for a moment in thought, Weiss decided to take the opportunity to turn the tables on her. Olivia loved to taunt, but how well could she take being teased?
In a flash of daring, Weiss took a step closer and lowered her voice to speak privately in Olivia's ear. She tried to mimic the women she'd seen in movies, changing the pitch of her voice into an approximation of the sultry tones they used while seducing others.
"As long as it's something we can both enjoy~" Weiss spoke suggestively. She fought to keep a straight face, hoping to hold out long enough to see Olivia's reaction before she herself could break character.
Olivia's steps faltered, and she turned to Weiss with a look of pure shock on her face. Beautiful magenta eyes stared deeply into her own, and Weiss's breath hitched, suddenly anxious upon seeing the reaction to her own joke.
She couldn't keep up the act, not with Olivia looking at her that way. Weiss's coy grin faltered, replaced with rapidly heating cheeks as her eyes darted in embarrassment away from Olivia's own.
Olivia let out a relieved laugh, clutching Weiss's hand more tightly and raising her other to fan her face. "You had me going there for a second, Princess. I'm impressed."
"I… wanted to try it out. You're always teasing me, so..."
Olivia chuckled, "No, I get it. Turn about is fair play." She shook her head in amusement, "I really am rubbing off on you. You'll be turning the ladies into a stuttering mess in no time if you keep that up."
"Was it really that good?" Weiss asked cautiously.
"Let's put it this way. Any girl would have to be blind to turn down an offer like that," Olivia praised, not bothering to consider that she herself fell into that category.
Olivia pulled at the neckline of her shirt as if overheating, causing Weiss to dart her eyes away when the girl's bra and cleavage were put briefly on display. "I'll have to be careful if you keep pulling stunts like that. I don't have Melanie to scratch my itch anymore." She shook her head sadly, "Guess I'm back to taking care of business the old fashioned way."
Weiss blushed deeply upon hearing Olivia admit to something so crass. 'How often does she…? No, no! I'm not going down that rabbit hole again!' She fidgeted anxiously, fantasies fighting for dominance while her eyes desperately searched for anything to take her mind off what Olivia might do in her private time.
"How about that game!?" Weiss pointed randomly, pulling Olivia's attention away from her own quiet thoughts. The faunus looked up, following Weiss's finger to the game she'd chosen. There was a wall along the back filled with stacked cups, and a few patrons taking turns throwing balls to try and knock them down.
Olivia shrugged, "If that's what you wanna do, then sure. Let's try it."
Weiss nodded fiercely and led the way to the booth. The previous players were just then finishing up, each collecting a series of rewards after their minor successes. Weiss caught the man's eye and nodded to the game, making sure to bring her voice back under control before speaking.
"How much to play?"
The man smiled welcomingly, gaze darting down to their hands still held between them. "Five lien for three throws, or you pay ten for ten." He pointed to the side wall and along the upper edge above the board, where the prizes resided. "Six cups gets you one of the smaller toys, ten for the medium, fifteen for the large, and all of the cups nets you the biggest prizes we can offer."
The 'biggest' prizes in question consisted of oversized, stuffed Grimm. Taijitu, Ursa, Beowolves, and Goliaths. There was a wide assortment of stylized fluffy toys, designed to make the Grimm look cute and harmless. Weiss was certain they drew excited children in from all around.
Olivia cooed, "Awww… Weiss~" You must already be familiar with dating tip number seven. Girls love a winner. Are you going to try and get the fluffy Ursa for me?"
"If that's what you want~" Weiss teased right back, reaching in her pocket to count out ten lien. The employee nodded acceptance and set ten balls down, spreading them out in front of Weiss. He then stepped to the side, gesturing for her to throw whenever she was ready.
Olivia slipped her hand free and leaned against the counter, waiting and watching as Weiss sized up her targets. The heiress hefted one of the balls, feeling its meager weight while focusing on the task at hand. She might have only pointed the game out on a whim, but even so, she still wanted to win.
Taking aim towards the middle of the stack of cups, Weiss pulled her arm back and let loose, hurling the ball with all her might. It flew true, straight towards the center. The ball collided, producing a satisfying eruption of plastic as many of the cups were knocked from the table and down onto the grass below.
"Nice first shot," Olivia praised. The center of the pyramid stack had been split in two. While her aim had been on point, it hadn't been nearly enough to finish the game in one, decisive blow. In the aftermath, over a dozen cups still remained standing.
"Nine more, Princess. Don't fail me now~"
Weiss took aim with the next and let loose, earning herself another satisfying clash of plastic as more of the cups were knocked off. One by one, Weiss continued to throw, dwindling down her targets until only a few cups remained standing. Two more had fallen on their sides, still on the table.
Olivia raised an eyebrow, and caught the employee's attention with a small wave. "Do they all have to be knocked off the table, or just over?"
"Off the table, otherwise it doesn't count."
Weiss narrowed her eyes, staring at what remained and trying to figure out how best to knock the rest off with only two balls left. The cups were spread thin, with only one real stack of three remaining while the other two were dispersed more widely.
"You've got your work cut out for you," Olivia announced smugly.
"I'll make it work, somehow…" Weiss muttered, tossing one ball up in the air while considering her options. The stack of three needed to go, and she was more than confident in her own aim to get rid of it. Doing so would only leave one ball for the other two cups on the table though, neither of them were close enough to hit at the same time.
Weiss turned to the employee as well, her own question ready to be asked. "Just to get this straight, what are the rules, exactly?"
The man shrugged, "You can only throw the balls you paid for and can't step or reach past the counter. As simple as it gets, really."
'Well, if there aren't any rules against it…' Weiss thought cautiously. At the end of the day, the game had been designed with regular citizens in mind. 'Do I really need to restrict myself? It's not my fault if they don't take Hunters into consideration…'
Weiss frowned, competitive spirit fighting against her desires to play fair. 'I could use my semblance to try and bounce the ball off and hit the last two cups, but at that point I might as well just sweep them off with my glyphs…'
Weiss sighed, resigning herself to not using her semblance. She hefted the ball once more, and aimed for the stack of three cups first.
Olivia leaned over conspiratorially, speaking quietly into her ear before she had a chance to throw. "Maybe you could send part of the triple stack into one of the other two? You'll have to hit it hard though, and in just the right spot."
Weiss pondered the suggestion for a few moments, eventually giving a small shrug of her shoulders. 'What do I have to lose?'
Focusing more acutely, Weiss eyed the center of the stack, now aiming for the edge of one of the bottom cups in particular. She drew her arm back once more, let out a deep breath, and let loose with all her might. With the minor weight of the balls to consider, she needed to make up for the lack of force with speed alone.
The colorful ball blurred across the intervening distance, flying straight for the center of the triple stack of cups. It collided at the fastest speed Weiss could muster, the stack erupting with the sudden scraping of plastic. The cups themselves exploded every which way. Weiss watched closely as one careened across the table, doing exactly what she and Olivia had hoped for. It smacked into one of the already tipped over cups, sending both to the ground below.
Olivia stood from her slouch to give Weiss a high five, and let out a loud "Nice!" that made the heiress tingle with pride.
Weiss smiled confidently and picked up the last ball while glaring at her final target. Only one cup remained, already tipped on its side and at an awkward angle that would offer a challenge of its own. Even so, the hard part was behind her. Weiss rolled the ball in her hand, finding the most comfortable way to hold it along its seam.
'You can do this, Weiss…' She realized how nervous she'd become over such a simple game and let out an incredulous laugh. Weiss took a moment to roll her shoulders, relieving some of the tension in the air.
With one final, slow exhale, Weiss whipped her arm forward and released. Time almost seemed to slow as the ball flew through the air, on a direct collision course with the final cup. It collided with the cup's edge and bounced off, pushing it towards the lip of the table. Weiss watched with bated breath as it rolled, drawing ever closer with each passing moment.
'Come on… come on!'
Weiss's heart stopped when the cup did, remaining on the edge of the table by only a hair. It rested there for what felt like an eternity, no one daring to breathe while they stared in silence.
"Well, better luck next-" The employee began, but stopped suddenly when the cup shifted the final millimeter and fell, plastic impacting the ground below. Weiss stared in disbelief, heart pounding with excitement.
"I knew you could do it!" Olivia announced cheerily, grabbing Weiss by the shoulders and pulling her into a brief hug. Weiss reciprocated, happily hugging Olivia in return while the girl congratulated her.
The employee brought a hand up and scratched the back of his head, but eventually gave up with a shrug. He swept his arm wide, gesturing to the large fluffy Grimm on display, "Take your pick."
Weiss pulled away and eyed the prizes. She turned to Olivia with a grin, "Which did you say you wanted? The Ursa, right~?"
Olivia smiled and nodded confirmation, "If I had to choose any of them…"
Weiss whipped her head back and pointed to the Ursa, "I'll take that one, please." The man reached up and pulled it down, crossing the short distance to hand it off to Weiss. She promptly held it out to Olivia, a wide smile gracing her lips. "Girls love winners, right? I guess I really am learning."
Olivia accepted the fluffy Grimm, holding it to her chest as if she would cherish it forever. She raised one hand and wiped a fake tear from her eye, voice dropping into a flirtatious tone, "Keep this up and you might win my heart, too~"
'Oh, just you wait…'
Weiss refused to let Olivia's teasing get the better of her, "Where to next?"
Olivia shrugged, looking around at the games yet to be conquered. "Wherever you want to go, Princess. Lead us to victory~"
Weiss nodded her assent and took the lead, Olivia trailing behind while clutching the fluffy Grimm protectively.
In that moment, with a long day still ahead of them, Weiss made up her mind. She wouldn't chance ruining their time together. They would have their fun, and spend the evening on their fake date.
But once it was over...
'We'll enjoy what time we have left, but at the end of the night… I will ask you out, Olivia Mandevilla. I'll make sure you know exactly how I really feel.'
Weiss could only hope she'd say yes.
'Stop it, Olivia… Stop staring…'
Olivia turned away from the subject of her affection, silently berating herself for being so weak willed.
The table in front of her was currently filled, a wide assortment of stuffed Grimm and prizes arranged across it. They'd gone on a tear, winning games left and right. After hours spent at the carnival, both of them had agreed to take a break and head to the food court instead.
Weiss was standing in line at one of the shops, waiting for her turn to order. Olivia would have stayed with her, but she was currently preoccupied with the bounty they'd amassed. Stuffed Grimm, a fake guitar, a wide array of beaded jewelry… Olivia wasn't even sure when they'd gotten the balloon made to look like Beacon's headmaster, but there it was, tied to the table.
Olivia glared at that prize in particular. It was Ozpin's fault she was in this mess, his fault she was feeling so… so… Olivia turned back to stare at Weiss. Her heart ached, growing more and more pained as the day went on. Every time Weiss smiled at her, every time she was allowed even a moment to stare into those clear blue eyes, every second spent with their soft hands intertwined…
Olivia sighed, pulling her eyes away again. 'Coming here was a mistake…' Agreeing to the fake date had been a mistake as well. Olivia's feelings for Weiss had only deepened in the process. She'd only begun to appreciate her more than ever.
'Can I really go through with telling her now…?' Part of Olivia's grand scheme had been to show Weiss a great time, to show her that Olivia had changed from the person she once was. Maybe, just maybe, after all was said and done and the night was coming to a close, she could have worked up the courage to tell her the truth.
Now, her plans had fallen apart. Even if she told Weiss, and the heiress could find it within her heart to forgive her… Would they ever spend time together like this again? Olivia didn't want to lose this, didn't want to lose what they had. Weiss… Weiss was…
'Perfect…' Olivia hadn't been able to stop herself from voicing the truth earlier. Just like the time with Qrow, her mind had blurted out what she'd been thinking. She'd played it off as well as she could, hoping against hope that Weiss would accept it as simple teasing like always.
Olivia had meant what she said with every fiber of her being, though. She'd never felt this way before. Her heart rate skyrocketed every time Weiss stood by her side. Even now, with only a dozen feet between them, Olivia missed her. Missed the feeling of Weiss's hand in hers.
Olivia set her elbows on the table and leaned forward, scrubbing her face with both hands. 'Get a hang of yourself, Olivia… You're just…. you're just friends. You don't deserve her. Think about everything you've ever done. Could someone like her ever be with someone like you? You're a terrible person. You've done awful, unspeakable things-'
Olivia felt Weiss's presence moving back within range and pulled her hands away, trying to play it off as just being tired. Her heart skipped a beat as Weiss came fully into view, setting down a slice of pizza for Olivia before taking her own seat next to her.
"Thanks, Princess," Olivia spoke kindly, trying to keep up her usual airs. Weiss nodded her acceptance and grabbed her own slice, lips parting to bite into the greasy food. She smiled happily and pulled away, only for a string of cheese to remain connected between the pizza and her lips.
Olivia caught herself staring again, enjoying the cute, simple act of Weiss struggling with her food. She grabbed her own instead and averted her gaze, looking at the crowds around them while biting into it. That didn't stop her from feeling everything Weiss did with her sixth sense though, finely tuned against Olivia's wishes to pay attention to even the most minute of details concerning the heiress.
The day had moved well into the evening since they'd been there. If Olivia had to guess, there was only half an hour of daylight left before the sun passed the horizon. The time to make her decision was approaching, the impossible choice of whether or not to reveal her secret. Olivia searched through her own feelings, desperately trying to work up the courage to do what she'd initially set out to do.
Weiss's foot nudged her lightly beneath the table, pulling Olivia's mind out of the depths. The heiress smiled from around the pizza in her mouth, and took a moment to finish chewing before posing the question she wanted to ask.
"Do you think you could handle a ferris wheel?"
Olivia was momentarily caught off guard. She had to pause and think back to what that even was, mind eventually recalling the large circular ride they'd seen in passing earlier.
"It moved slow enough… I don't think it would be a problem. Why?"
Weiss shifted nervously, biting her lip for a moment before continuing. "Well, the park closes in a couple hours... but I was thinking we could end the day by watching the sunset? What better way to cap off a date?" She shrugged, "If… if you wanted to, that is."
Olivia smirked, trying to keep up her facade. That sounded like a fantastic way to end the evening, truth be told. One last hurrah before her world potentially came crumbling down around her.
"That's a great idea. Do you remember how to get there?"
Weiss nodded, "I had the idea earlier, so I've been keeping an eye out. Once we're done here, it's just a short walk up that trail. After we get through the trees we'll be back on the path with all the rides."
"Sounds like a plan," Olivia agreed, trying not to sound too eager. Being alone with Weiss, away from the crowds after hours spent around so many people? Bliss.
Olivia looked at all the prizes spread out across their table. She smiled apologetically at Weiss, and nodded at them in between bites. "Not that I don't appreciate all we've accomplished, but… do you think we should maybe give this stuff away? There's probably a lot of kids around that could use them more than us..."
Weiss placed a hand to her chest, feigning shock, "Surely you don't mean Barry as well?"
Olivia smirked, grabbing the stuffed Ursa that Weiss had won for her initially, "I would never. Those kids would have to take him from my cold, dead hands."
Weiss breathed a sigh of relief, "In that case, I accept." Her eyes roamed across their hoard, "Honestly, it was starting to be a pain to carry all this around anyway."
"You can say that again," Olivia agreed wholeheartedly.
They continued to eat in silence, now with a plan of action in mind and only a limited time to do it. Once they were both finished, Olivia picked up half of the prizes while Weiss grabbed the others. They set off on the path Weiss had pointed out, dispersing prizes along the way to each child they passed. Olivia enjoyed seeing their excitement, and was a little disappointed when they ran out of gifts.
Only Barry remained, tucked beneath Olivia's arm for safekeeping. The skyline was beginning to turn red, the brilliant hues mixing with the darkening blue of the oncoming night sky. The barest hint of stars peeked their way through the deep blue, still hard to make out aside from those that were brightest.
The ferris wheel drew into sight, a massive construct of steel that supported an array of bucket-like seats along the outside edge. Weiss led the way, moving with purpose through the crowds and to the front of the small line. Many people had already started to leave the park, clearing out with the setting sun.
Acutely aware of everything Weiss was doing, Olivia felt her reaching into her pocket to withdraw a wad of lien. She glanced around before sliding it across the podium to the ferris wheel operator, who nodded in turn and gestured for them to enter.
Weiss grinned smugly and waved for Olivia to follow, making her way onto the raised platform and picking out one of the enclosed seats. She opened the small door and stepped inside, waiting for Olivia to join her before securing it.
Olivia raised an eyebrow, "Bribing employees now, are we? Looks like you have been paying attention~"
Weiss flashed her a sheepish smile, "You noticed that?" She shrugged, "There was no guarantee we'd end up at the top. Now there is. We'll have the best seats in the house."
Olivia laughed appreciatively, glad that Weiss was always thinking ten steps ahead.
She was just beginning to get settled on the bench when Weiss slid closer. Olivia's heart froze in her chest when the heiress cuddled against her. A warm, petite hand slipped into Olivia's own, Weiss shifting so that their bodies meshed together. Olivia stared in shock, but Weiss only looked into the distance, acting as if the action was the most natural in the world.
Olivia gulped, trying to gain control over her rapidly beating heart. 'It's okay. This is fine! She… she's just pr-practicing for the real deal some day!' She couldn't bring herself to protest. Weiss's body felt so soft against her own, a welcome connection if ever there was one.
The ferris wheel shook, stirring to life and reminding Olivia of what they were even doing. For a brief moment, the world had ceased to exist around her. She cleared her throat, and glanced off to the side while waiting for the ferris wheel to move. There was a slight queasiness fluttering through her stomach, but it had nothing to do with the ride itself.
With the grinding of gears, the ferris wheel finally started to turn. Olivia felt it shift beneath them, the seat rising and the world beginning to shrink in comparison to the height they were attaining. Ever so slowly, their ride rose up to the midway point, past the tops of the buildings so that they could see more of the sky. They continued even further though, climbing to the absolute apex so that the world fell away around them.
The sounds of the crowds diminished entirely. A light wind swept everything else away, bringing Olivia and Weiss to a place where it truly felt as if they were alone. The skyline rested before them, brilliant orange and red meeting the deep blue waves of the ocean. Patch could be seen in the distance, matching its namesake by appearing as only a small strip of land on the horizon.
Weiss sighed and leaned against Olivia further, resting her head on the faunus's shoulder. Olivia froze in place, incapable of moving or disturbing the heiress's rest. Her thumb began to move in small circles against the back of Olivia's hand, and she let out another sigh, this one holding a nervous quaver in its tone.
"Hey, Olivia?" Weiss spoke breathlessly, refusing to look in her direction, but instead staring at the steadily lowering sun. "Can… can I ask you something?"
'Oh no… she couldn't… she wouldn't…!' Olivia's breath hitched in her throat, panic overwhelming every part of her frazzled mind. If Weiss was thinking what Olivia thought she was, if she had been planning this all along in order to… to ask her out…
'That's ridiculous… isn't it?'
It wasn't, though. Even if Olivia had been too distracted by her own feelings to notice, she could see now that Weiss had been enjoying herself just as much. Had been just as nervous throughout the day.
'I… I need to…' Needed to what? Olivia's mind clawed desperately for answers, for a plan of action. Weiss's feelings… they changed nothing about Olivia's own predicament. There were still secrets she kept, guilt that would do nothing but tear a divide between them if she didn't confess. Olivia couldn't do that to Weiss. She couldn't wind her way deeper into the other girl's heart, only to reveal something so devastating later on.
"Wait," Olivia spoke falteringly, stopping Weiss when she opened her mouth to continue. Her heart sunk in her chest, disappearing into a void from which it might never return. It was now or never. Weiss had forced her hand. If she didn't say something, didn't confess to her sins… she might never have the courage to do so again.
"There's something I have to say first, Weiss… I… I know what you're going to ask and… there's nothing that would make me happier…"
Weiss turned in shock, eyes staring deeply into Olivia's own. Her mouth worked silently, words failing her until she finally managed to speak. "Th-then, you will?"
"If… if you still feel the same way after I tell you about my past… about the things I've done…" Olivia couldn't bear to look into Weiss's eyes any longer. She averted her own in shame, casting them down towards her own feet. She could still see their hands in her periphery, could feel the tremble between them. Olivia wasn't sure who was responsible for it. Herself? Weiss? Both of them?
Olivia inhaled shakily. "Weiss… I'm… I'm not a good person…"
Weiss's eyes frowned in concern, and she replied in barely a whisper. "How could you say that? Olivia, you saved my life."
"I did, but… the things I've done? The people I've…" Olivia couldn't bring herself to say it yet. Her walls held strong, terror over how Weiss would respond, keeping her secrets at bay. "That doesn't make up for it…"
Weiss squeezed Olivia's hand with both of hers, leaning forward to bring herself back into the faunus's field of view. Blue eyes stared fiercely up into her own, locking her gaze in place. "I told you, Olivia. Don't you remember? I told you I would hear you out. Whatever you've done… you can tell me. I won't judge you."
Olivia leaned back, eyes going to the darkening sky so that she could escape those pearls of blue. "It's not that simple, Weiss."
Even without looking, Olivia could feel the disapproval that appeared on Weiss's face. "I won't give up on you, Olivia. We've been teammates for weeks. Our relationship might have started out poorly, but you're my friend now! We study and train together almost every day, and… And I want us to be so much more! I… I wouldn't feel this way if you were a bad person!"
"But I am…" Olivia choked out. Her sight was beginning to blur, tears coming unbidden to her eyes. She raised her free hand and wiped a sleeve across them, feeling her heart being torn in two. It was too much. To tell Weiss, to tell anyone. Olivia had already been betrayed so deeply. How could she ever trust again? How could she put her life in someone else's hands?
"Just tell me!" Weiss pleaded, tears beginning to fall down her cheeks as well. "Please, Olivia… Just give me a chance…"
Olivia didn't know what to do. She desperately wanted acceptance, craved the very idea of having someone that knew her secrets. But the risk… the risk was so great, it terrified her into inaction. Olivia sat silently, staring at Weiss. An internal struggle raged in her mind, a fight between what she desired, and what she feared most.
"I…" Olivia struggled out, only managing to utter the single word.
Weiss stared into her eyes, silently urging Olivia to continue. Only now could she see the affection on such pure display. Weiss was willing to listen. She'd hardened her resolve, long since knowing that there was something Olivia couldn't bring herself to say. Even still, she remained at her side, wanting nothing more than to help her friend, to be with her.
'Can I do it?'
What other choice was there? Olivia needed to move on with her life. Keeping everything repressed, refusing to trust others, refusing to heal. It was no way to live… She was suffering every day, piled beneath so many secrets. They were suffocating, stifling the life she wanted to lead, holding her back. She needed to keep moving forward.
Olivia took a deep breath, gathering her courage and clutching Weiss's hand tightly. She stared into her eyes, trying to dispel her fear. 'I'll… I'll do it… I'll trust her…'
"Weiss… I-"
Olivia was interrupted as the ferris wheel's gears grinded once more. Their small cab shook, distracting her and tearing at her resolve. The ride was ending, motors whirring to life as they started moving again. There was too much to say, too much to explain. Olivia wanted to reveal her secrets, wanted to rid herself of her pent up guilt.
Robbed of their time alone, she could only share a sad smile with Weiss.
"We… we can find somewhere else private to talk. I'll tell you everything, Weiss. Just… not here."
Weiss nodded, raising a hand of her own to wipe the tears from her eyes. "I'll hold you to that, Olivia."
Their cab finally came to a halt back on the ground level. The sun had set completely during their time up above. Now only the stars remained, sparkling dimly while washed out by the city's lights. Weiss opened the small door to step out, and closed it again once Olivia had followed in her wake.
The faunus let out a small laugh, hands once again occupied by the furry Grimm that Weiss had won. Among all the secrets she kept, Olivia would never tell Weiss how exactly the cup had rolled that final inch off the table. The heiress noticed as well and shared in her quiet laugh, the tension between them beginning to ooze away now that they were back on the ground.
"Let's go," Olivia prompted. Her free hand twitched, feeling empty and incomplete without Weiss's in it. The heiress glanced down as well, seeming to have the same feeling. She raised her eyes to smile softly at Olivia, and held her hand out in a silent offer.
'It might be the last time…' Olivia thought sadly. With quiet reverence, she slipped her hand into Weiss's warm embrace. Olivia squinted her eyes shut, savoring the feeling while a deep yearning overcame her once more.
'Please, don't be the last time…'
They were beginning to set off along the path when Olivia's scroll vibrated in her pocket. She flashed Weiss an apologetic smile and held the stuffed Grimm out, knowing which hand she'd rather free up in order to check who was calling. Weiss accepted Barry and tucked him against her own chest, stopping in place while Olivia reached into her pocket.
'Ruby?' Olivia saw that it was the younger girl calling. With a brief struggle, she managed to pop open her scroll with one hand.
Immediately, Olivia knew something was wrong. Ruby was panting heavily, her face stricken with fear and tears rolling down her cheeks. There was a brief flicker of relief when she saw Olivia had accepted her call, but it was soon replaced by reality crashing back down around her.
"O-Olivia," Ruby struggled, breath hitching in her throat, "We need your help!"
"Ruby, what's wrong?" Olivia demanded, her heart dropping in her chest to see her leader so distraught.
"They… they have Blake!"
"Who does!?" Weiss spoke up, face frozen in fear.
Ruby struggled to speak, eyes brimming with shame. She finally cried out hoarsely, voice wavering with every syllable.
"The White Fang!"
Thanks for reading.
- Sybaen