"Feather Dusters, so good to see you again"

Behind the smirking man, ominous laughter stabbed the atmosphere and resounded through the vacant warehouse. Multiple men stood behind their leader, waiting for the much-anticipated exchange.

Like the comment didn't bother him, the opposing gang leader calmly lit a cigarette. The remark caused the men behind him to glower, and he probably did too, under his white mustache.

"You know it's The Dusts, Hazel," he said, blowing out the smoke.

Uproarious laughter erupted from Hazel as he paced on one side of the warehouse.

"Come on, Jacques. Loosen up a bit. It's my favorite nickname for you guys!"

With an eerie calmness, Jacques inhaled more smoke and puffed the cigarette. Smoke clouded around his head as he glared down at the man across from him. He was growing tired of Hazel's unprofessionalism. When Jacques was satisfied, he flicked the cigarette and tossed it to the floor, smothering it under his shoes.

"I don't have much time to chat," Jacques' stern poker face never faltered. "The bag, if you will."

From his reaction, Hazel smirked and adjusted the strap on his shoulder. "Always the stickler."

Casually, Hazel tossed a large bag to the center of the room. It thudded loudly as dozens of eyes glared a hole through it.

Briefly, Jacques glanced at his daughter, who stood next to him. From the silent command, Weiss became a white blur and grabbed the bag for her father. When she handed the bag to him, Hazel called out.

"You've gotten even faster. Are you sure you don't want to be with Henry? That way, we could combine our power. Think of how much territory we could own."

Since that wasn't the first time Weiss heard the offer, she scowled at the man.

"Hard pass."

From her reply, Jacques seemed satisfied. He wasn't willing to give up parts of Argus to the White Fang. He attained what he controlled from the bottom-up. Blood, sweat, and tears had been drawn to get him to where he is standing today. Hazel wouldn't receive free handouts to new territory.

After Jacques opened the bag, he leered inside. There was supposed to be a mountain of money and coins. Instead, rocks filled it to the brim.

"What's the meaning of this?"

The prickly question pierced the air, almost causing the other gang members to flinch. The tension could be cut with a knife.

"Contract's up, Schnee."

After Hazel said that lowly, Weiss pushed her father to the side. A nanosecond later, a gunshot cracked through the warehouse. The bullet barely managed to graze his icy hair. Right after, the White Fang gang yanked out their hidden weapons.

Jacques dropped the bag and roared. "Show them what happens when they mess with The Dusts!"

With war cries, The Dusts charged their new enemies. They clashed in the center of the warehouse. Sounds of cries and grunts resounded with the occasional gunshot. Weapons from baseball bats to swords collided.

For a while, Weiss provided support to her fellow members and dealt the final blows. This rendered them unconscious. If she knocked them out, then her accomplices left them alone and moved to the next enemy.

After Weiss decked an opposing gang member in the face with her pointy elbow, he tore through the floor with a bloody nose. The man scrambled to stand as Weiss fastly approached him.

"Stay down," she warned. "If you're not a threat, they shouldn't hurt you."

Upon hearing that, the man wiped his nose and bloodied his white sleeve. "O-okay."

When Weiss was about to walk away, a hardened fist punched her stomach. Any oxygen fleeted from her lungs. She was about to retaliate, but a glance up told her not to.

It was her father.

"You show mercy to the enemy?!"

After a weak cough, Weiss breathed. "Always."

Upon hearing that, Jacques slowly removed his hand from her abdomen. She was left to desperately gasp for air. His stoic, deadpan expression returned and an eerily calmed tone drifted out.

"That's unacceptable."

As the sounds of battle exploded around them, Jacques strutted over to the bloodied man. He was still holding his nose and crawled backward.

"I am your leader," Jacques reminded his daughter and pointed a gun to his head. "No one in my gang shows mercy."

"Don't!" Weiss shouted desperately.

In what felt like slow motion, the kill shot ripped through his head. Crimson splattered on the dirty floor and coated the wall behind them. From her distraught expression, Jacques wore a sinister smile.

"No!"

...

A sharp gasp.

"You had quite the nightmare."

That was a soothing, familiar voice. While Weiss gained her bearings, she was confused to find amber eyes staring down at her.

"Blake?" Weiss asked.

Since her breaths came labored, Blake patted the cold cloth on the side of her neck to calm her. A serene chill coated Weiss, which made her feel better.

Blake put the back of her hand on her forehead and focused on her temperature. "Are you feeling okay?"

Only a few minutes ago, anxiety engulfed Weiss' body. It'd been a while since she had to relive the execution of that man. It was a memory filled with immense regret and guilt. One she would give anything to forget.

Confused by the faunus staring at her, Weiss looked around. The blinds were closed, dimming the room. It was then that she realized she was wrapped in a fuzzy blanket and her head rested on a fluffy pillow.

As Blake gazed at her with those concerned eyes, Weiss' anxiety withered away. Compared to a few minutes ago, she felt much more at ease even though she was confused.

"You're still in our apartment," Blake informed and said in a whisper. "You slept like the dead for nine hours straight."

That was news to Weiss. She had no idea her body was so sleep-deprived. She was too busy worrying and feeling guilty for lying to her friends.

"What time is it?" Weiss asked, slightly annoyed by the information.

"It's eleven at night," Blake answered. "Are you feeling better? I'm pretty sure your fever broke."

"I feel much better," Weiss reassured. "It's thanks to…"

It was then that Weiss glanced to the side. From the sight, her heart soared and skipped a beat. Yang knelt on the floor beside her. Her head rested on the sofa and her hand curled around her own.

Was she with me the whole time? Weiss asked herself, feeling the warmth of her hand.

"... the brute…" Weiss mumbled fondly.

Tenderly, Weiss brushed her fingers through those wild blonde tresses. She smiled, and a faint blush tinted her cheeks from the affectionate contact. Grateful for her presence, Weiss curled her hand around her's.

A new voice chimed into the conversation. Ruby stood at the end of the couch and smiled down at her sister.

"She wouldn't leave your side. Not even to pee."

Weiss gazed down at her, deep in thought. Why would you do this for me when I've only pushed you away?

Unexpectedly, Weiss felt connected by their joined hands. A pleasant aura and bubbles floated around the pair. Right now, she felt like this was a dream. It was a beautiful feeling that made Weiss not want to let go. She wanted to protect that.

At all costs.

Ruby whispered. "She was beyond worried."

Blake had to agree. "I haven't seen her like that in a while."

From the information, Weiss squeezed her hand. She recalled their earlier conversation about their own sisters and how important they are to them. Since she opened up to Yang about Winter, she figured she could tell the other two about her personal life a little.

"That reminds me of my own older sister," Weiss murmured. "Always over-worrying…"

From learning that, Ruby beamed. "Is that a trait all older sisters share?"

"It must be," Weiss replied.

No, wait. This wasn't part of the plan. She was supposed to keep them at a distance. Not open up and allow the ice around her heart to melt. Everyone was supposed to be distanced. It was for their own good.

I have to protect her- them, Weiss thought, determined. No matter the cost.

Determined, Weiss pulled her hand away from Yang's own. She missed the warmth and suddenly felt cold from the lack of connection and contact. She sat upright and moved to stand, which confused Blake and Ruby.

"What's up?" Ruby asked.

Robotically, Weiss turned away from them.

"I need to go."

The girls watched her back, sadness on their features.

"What?" Blake asked. "Why?"

Ruby was surprised to hear that and even more astonished by her sudden change in tone. "You live alone. We can take care of you here."

"I'm better," Weiss said and took a shaky breath.

This is for their own good.

When Weiss was halfway to the door, the scuttle of rushed steps followed behind her. A hand grabbed her own and stopped her. It was friendly, warm, and familiar. It was Yang. Apparently, she'd been awake and listening.

Without giving Weiss time to think, Yang reeled her in. A hand wrapped around her waist, while her other hand cradled the back of her head. Her kind whisper ghosted across her neck.

"Stay…"

The suddenness of it all caused Weiss to stiffen. These kind arms enveloped her in a warm embrace that made it hard to resist. The scent of lavender wafted into her nose and she couldn't remember a time when she felt like this. So completely safe and loved. Like everything would be okay.

It was then that Winter's words swirled in her mind.

"Enjoy your new life, snowflake. Promise me."

From the memory, Weiss felt the arms around her more prominently. A powerful sense of yearning overcame her as she melted into Yang. Weiss gradually wrapped her arms around her, returning the embrace.

Our promise, Weiss thought and buried her face into Yang's shoulder. I must fulfill it.

From the thought, Weiss held her tighter in an attempt to hide her tears of harmony. Her mind and heart were finally one. The war was over.

Like this, Weiss believed she could find happiness. And that started right here.

"Okay."

Lyrics from My Dearest: "Cause we'll be connected by our joining hands. Smile and all of my tears dry." "I will stand and be the one to wipe away those tears you shed." "I can't help but believe we'll find happiness." "The two of us have something precious we must protect no matter what." "Our promise becomes a guiding light."

Stay dandy,

~Toto