A Grimm Huntsman
Chapter 29
-Weiss-
Head held high, Weiss walked silently through the halls of Beacon, her expression a blank mask that gave away nothing of what she felt. It was a mask she'd had years of practice in wearing at the insistence of the late Jacques Schnee, a man who'd had a firm hand in ensuing that she mastered the skill to his personal satisfaction. The reason why her mask was necessary was the whispers and rumors flitting about, easily picked up as she continued steady onward. Every student at the school, whether local or visiting, talked of only three things.
The first was the school dance, a subject that the upper years were remembering with eager fondness while the younger ones looked forward to with fresh excitement to see if it matched the stories they were told.
The second topic of discussion were the upcoming first missions of the year, something she knew would be much more dramatic for her unit as she'd gotten a message from the Headmaster and Deputy Goodwitch to come to their office later with her unit and the Blackbriar Unit. If she had to venture a guess, it would be figuring out how to handle the missions due to their larger than normal groups and Belladonna's house arrest.
The third matter though was what truly held her mask up. Not long after the General spoke with her and Winter, the news outlets from all over Remnant covered the story. Covered the death of Jacques Schnee. Of Whitley having replaced her as heir and taken over the company despite being only fifteen years old. Of her mother losing custody and more importantly why. Jacque's Schnee tricking her mother into marrying him. Tricking her grandfather into signing over the company. The abuses, the calculated trickery in the business world. The general disregard of how he viewed everyone that wasn't himself, whether they be his family or his coworkers. And Whitley had even gone on record about throwing herself and Winter out of the family. About how they'd never stood up for him to Jacques, how they'd essentially abandoned him. Looking back, she could see how he would feel that way, even if she didn't agree to it. Growing up, Winter had always been the strongest of them all, the most willing to defy father and never back down. Weiss had some of that but upon reflection, found she'd also taken at least some of father's less favorable habits and traits. Whitley though, had decided to try and earn father's favor, to appear compliant and in doing so Weiss had written him off as just like their father, and done her best to avoid him like the plague.
Now that all that was public though, Weiss couldn't go anywhere and be safe from overhearing people's opinions on the matter. Some praised Whitely and condemned Weiss for being a participant in Jacque's abuse if she never tried to help her brother, likely thinking of her own…altercations with some of her classmates earlier in the year. Other's took a more moderate stance, pointing out how they didn't have her side of the abuse story or even all the facts. Even in her dorm, she wasn't safe as her squad mates had already had to break up a fight between her and Blake when the Faunus girl had made a comment about how she hoped Jacques passing was 'as painful as the lives he's ruined'. He may have been a bastard, but he was still her father; she still had the faintest of memories of him from before he got the company, of a time when she had been happier.
Shaking her head, Weiss pushed into a training room that Professor Port had said her sister was currently using, needing to talk to Winter. Inside, she could see her sister in exercise gear, going through some hand-to-hand training with, to her surprise, Potter of all people, the two of them showing an unexpected familiarity with each other. Upon her entry however, they looked up, seeing her standing in the doorway as there was a slight stiffening. They likely, and not all that unfairly, expected her to blow up at Potter or make some sort of inflammatory remark.
"Winter, I was hoping to speak with you." Weiss worked to keep her composure, trying not to show how much it hurt that even Winter seemed surprised at her lack of aggression.
"Of course, Weiss." Winter gave her a soft nod and comforting smile. Despite their recent disagreements, they were still sisters and Winter had always been there for her, "Just give me a minute to go rinse off and change. Harry, we can continue our sparring at a later time." Potter just nodded as Winter went towards the changing room and Potter headed for the door.
When he got by her though, he paused, looking over "I read about what happened." His tone was different than everyone else's that had spoken about the 'Schnee Abuse Scandal', it held an understanding that was far too profound for her comfort.
"I'm not surprised." Weiss chose the most neutral response could, at least making her best attempt to avoid picking another fight rather than just demanding to know what Potter's point in bringing it up was.
"I think I get you a bit better now." Was the shrugged response, "I used to live with a cousin who I hated growing up. He was entitled, he was violent, aggressive, greedy, manipulative, selfish, and an all-around bastard."
"And you see me just the same way." Weiss' reply was admittedly sharp, but she was sick of people talking about her, about her family, like they truly understood what was going on.
"But my cousin eventually changed." Potter pressed on unphased, "He started forming his own opinions rather than just following those of his parents. Those two, they spoiled him rotten, encouraged his abusive and violent behavior, wrote off anyone pointing it out as jealous or a liar. From them growing up, my cousin learned to take his anger out on others, on me." Potter pulled down his collar to show her the back of his neck where she saw a nasty looking scar "Business deal fell through and so my uncle got drunk and smashed the bottle against me. I was six at the time." Weiss wanted to hurl, unsure if it was at the graphic images the story conjured or because Potter actually might understand what was going on. In all honesty it was probably both.
"What happened to them?" Weiss blinked when she realized that she was the one who'd just spoken.
"They went into hiding about a year before my island's people got whipped out but my cousin, he went out of his way to try and patch things up with me, stood up to his parents against me. He became someone I genuinely considered a good friend, and a good man." Harry readjusted his collar as he opened the door to go, "I'm not going to lie Weiss, I don't like you all that much." Brutal but honest "I do understand you though and you at least seem to be trying to figure things out." Potter let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair, "Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that if you keep it up. Well, I wouldn't be opposed to starting over." With that he gave her a nod and departed, leaving her alone to wait for her sister, and to think about the conversation she'd just had.
-Mercury-
Sitting at a worktable, Mercury grunted as he continued to tighten the bolts on his prosthetics, needing them in perfect condition for any jobs that might need doing, especially now that Cinder was driving away any and all allies, they might have been able to use. Hearing the door to the warehouse open, he saw Emerald enter, eyes locked onto the door to Cinder's private area as the green haired simp set a determined pace. "I wouldn't if I were you." He called out to her, not even bothering to get up as Emerald turned towards him.
"What?" the bitchy illusionist snapped, glaring at him as she always did.
"I'm trying to save your hide here." He snorted, swapping out his wrench for a better one "She's in a foul mood at the moment. I think she's trying to do some sort of séance or ritual to call those Maiden powers back but from what I can gather it isn't working. If I were you, I'd prepare for shit to go sideways and get prepping."
"You have that little faith in Cinder?" Emerald snarled, nostrils flaring angrily.
"I expect that Winchester dumbass to fuck things up." Mercury snorted, finally finishing his right leg as he switched to the left one "Cinder sent him to Mount Glen to take over what was going to be Roman's task before he started working for that Hazel guy."
"So?" Emerald crossed her arms huffily, "If Cinder thinks he can do it then you should trust her. And I don't see the big deal there. Both Cardin and Roman are human ex-huntsmen who make racist comments towards the White Fang."
"First, Roman is an ex-huntsman, Winchester got expelled freshmen year." Mercury corrected, ticking off his points on a finger, "Second, Roman isn't actually racist. He just loves pissing people off for his own amusement while also knowing when to stop to keep things functioning. Winchester genuinely thinks all Faunus are beneath him and loves insulting and pushing them around to feel big and tough. Third, Roman had that terrifying ice cream midget with him to keep the White Fang in line and from stabbing him in the back. Winchester is by himself, so I give it a week, two tops, before he goes to far or they finally have enough of him, cut his throat in the dead of night, and try to do the plan themselves with their own alterations they come up with as they go. Hence, prepping for shit to get fucked sideways in the most colossal fashion possible. One upside is we get plausible deniability."
"…The fact that what you said actually makes sense terrifies me more than anything else I've ever seen." Emerald admitted with a gulp before joining him at the table, working on her guns.
"Cinder found you in Vale yeah?" Mercury asked as he changed the oil for the hydraulics "You know any other street thieves that could come in handy here?"
"Some might be useful, why?" Emerald narrowed her eyes at him as she started cleaning the firing chamber of a pistol, one that was 'coincidentally' pointed at him.
"Because I plan on finding an underground fight club, I heard was in Vale to look for some new muscle I could recruit. If we want this shit to go over without us getting screwed or arrested, then we're going to need more hands-on deck and right now I think Cinder is more focused on those powers than recruitment." Emerald still seemed unsure, so he decided to be underhanded "Think about how she'd react if we found a bunch of useful aides without her even needed to ask. Before she even needs to ask." Ah, there was the eager gleam he knew was coming. Sometimes it was just too easy.