Grimm always faded away when they were slain. That was just one of the many things that everybody knew but nobody could explain. It also made what was in front of her infinitely more unique. An Ursa major was dissected into its base components, plastic chest cavity exposed to reveal similarly plastic vital organs. How many Grimm had to die to refine this model? How many hunters?
Her mind wandered from the lecture. It was impossible to focus on anything but the idea that someone tried to abduct her last night. That if she was a little less lucky, she would be as lifeless as the faux Grimm standing before her. Not only that, but there was the distinct possibility it was a planned attack. That this could have been just the first of many attempts was... unsettling to say the least. An inkling of a memory flashed in front of her eyes when she blinked, briefly distracting her as a classmate tried to hand off the next piece in the rotation. She took it, staring distantly into the eyes of a plastic Grimm mask. I've seen more of these on people than Grimm...who are the monsters, really?
She shook the thought and passed it along, straightening in her seat. Blinking another memory away, she glanced around to see if anyone noticed. More and more of last night was coming back to her, the details finally setting into place like some kind of self-solving puzzle. She didn't even notice when the professor appeared in front of her, the portly man reaching out to grab the next component that landed on her desk, holding it aloft for the class.
"The heart of an Ursa, like ours, has four chambers. But differently so, should one suffer damage..."
Finally the clock tower chimed and a rush of students stood to file out of the lecture hall. Weiss used the time to organize her thoughts, walking in a daze as she let the crowd push her down the hallway. I wish there was more I could do, if I can just find out who is responsible then maybe I can get some answers.
It wouldn't be a stretch to think the White Fang was involved, but finding the culprit would help her know for sure. Beacon was safe enough to let her guard down, she would never need to worry about them here. It was Vale she should be concerned about. To think she would always need to be on high alert whenever she wanted out now? She would have to bring a friend every time she went dust shopping or wanted to enjoy something as simple as going out to eat. It was just too dangerous to go out alone anymore. Though she made a mental note not to bring Ruby anywhere close to a dust shop, that girl was cursed when it came to the stuff...
"Hey good looking."
A catcall from her left followed by a low whistle stopped her in her tracks, glaring furiously to see who had the audacity—
It was Yang. Who else but Yang?
She was leaning leisurely against the wall, no doubt waiting for Weiss to pass by. To get her attention like that now... she'd done it countless times before, and she knew it ticked her off every time. But to do that now was just in such poor taste. She huffed and stiffened her back, continuing briskly down the hallway.
"Hey, you know I'm just messing with you, Ice Queen!" Yang said jokingly, pushing off the wall to catch up with her. "Come on, talk to me, you know I didn't mean it."
"I know, Yang." Weiss answered quickly, stepping into an alcove to talk more privately. "What is it? I still have a lot on my mind."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about, you kept spacing out in Port's class, this isn't like you Weiss." the blonde said with a raised eyebrow, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "I believed you when you said you got away before anything happened, but how are you really? Are you feeling okay? Maybe you should go see Ozpin or somethi—"
"Wait, why would I need to talk to him about it?" Weiss interrupted crassly. Yang looked uncomfortable, giving a deep frown in response.
"This is big, Weiss. I really think you should at least talk to him. See what he can do for you." Yang pleaded eagerly.
Weiss looked around to make sure nobody was listening and turned back towards Yang. "Okay, fine. I'll see him, I promise. It's just, I keep getting these flashes. Like I'm back there, you know?"
Yang nodded in understanding, clapping a hand on Weiss' shoulder. "I feel you. I know it's tough, but I don't want you to be alone. You wanna grab some food together after class? My treat."
"Sure, Yang. Hey, are they still doing that promotion today?" Weiss instantly agrees, using the subject of food as an escape route to a safer conversation. A victorious smile was beaming on Yang's face, almost like she planned this.
"You know they are! I'll come find you later, so don't you even think about flaking out on me. Don't forget, I know where you sleep."
Weiss flinched away in disgust at her 'humor', cringing at the joke. "Gods, you can be such a creep sometimes, Yang."
Yang blasted finger guns in response, already turning to move away, "I guess that's just the type you attract, Queenie. I'll catch you on the flip, it's a date!" She called back as she melted into the passing crowd.
Weiss shook her head but didn't respond, watching the girl's fiery yellow hair bob further and further down the hallway. She took one last glance in Yang's direction before letting out a 'tsk' and hurrying onward. She honestly couldn't spare even a single moment later, not with all the work her father had sent her. She was still haunted by his words last week, "If you cannot balance your ambitions at that second-rate school with your duties at this company then you are not fit to inherit. Prove to me you still care about the future of this family, or I will find one who does."
Just when she was starting to think about how much better things would be once this nonsense with her father blew over, a shadow fell across her path.
"Hey," Ruby said once she was close enough. "You okay?"
"Yes." Weiss answered automatically, because saying anything else would require more energy than she had left right now.
"You don't look okay." Ruby insisted, placing her hand on Weiss' shoulder, just to draw back twice as fast when a deadly glare was sent her way. "Sorry, I didn't mean—" She paused nervously then added, "...I know you don't always like talking about yourself."
"No, I don't mind telling you guys about it." Weiss sighed sympathetically. She knew Ruby was just trying to help. "I'm fine though, really. I'm here, and I'm alive, so everything turned out okay in the end, thank the gods and stuff..."
"Okay," Ruby replied with an unconvinced smile. Weiss shrugged dismissively and strolled past Professor Oobleck's room, Ruby tagging along a few steps behind her. After a few awkward seconds, Weiss rolled her eyes and called irritably over her shoulder, "Yes, Ruby?"
A few rapid footsteps had the younger girl walking alongside her. When she spoke, her voice took on a much more serious tone: "I was just wondering, do you think anyone will believe you? I mean, if you don't tell them now, they might not take it seriously the second time."
Weiss blinked in confusion a few times before realizing what Ruby was getting at. She bit her lip nervously again, the taste of blood thinly coating her tongue. If she kept quiet now, who would believe her when it happens again? How many times is she going to let people make attempts on her life until she brings it to the police, or Beacon, or even her father?
"No, wait! What I uh... What I meant to say is-!" Ruby started to fluster, Weiss waving a hand dismissively in front of her.
"I know what you mean. You have a point, Ruby. But I don't want to involve anyone just yet."
"Why not? Why wait?" Ruby asked, perplexed.
"I don't know," Weiss answered truthfully. "I know Ozpin can help if we bring this to him, but...I want to do some digging on my own first. See if there's something out there to help me get to the bottom of this. Without involving him."
Ruby studied Weiss' face for a brief moment before accepting the answer.
"Yeah, okay." She returned uncertainly, still fidgeting uncomfortably.
She must be feeling just as bad about this as I am... Weiss thought guiltily. She snuck a peek sidelong out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of the headmaster's looming tower.
"I trust you Weiss. When the time comes, just remember we're here for you, okay?" The sound of her voice made Weiss look up again; she hadn't realized how quiet her friend had become until now. "They're already taking things pretty seriously in Vale after that White Fang attack at the docks..."
"Torchwick was at the docks, there's no proof of White Fang involvement." Weiss countered concisely.
This time Ruby was the one to roll her eyes. "Ha - Ha. Come on Weiss, you were there. What if you're part of their plan? They kidnap you, and I d-dunno..." She stuttered anxiously, "...Ransom you for a truckload of dust?"
Weiss stared deadpan at Ruby, "I'm worth a lot more than a truck full of dust."
"A bus, or a train then, whatever. You're missing the point!" Ruby was reaching her wit's end.
"No, I think I understand it perfectly well. They want something from me, something big enough to be worth the risk. If we tell Ozpin, we'll never find out. But if we investigate maybe we can put a stop to it—"
Ruby threw her hands up in frustration, grabbing Weiss and pulling her hard against the wall. Weiss humored her and let it happen, looking only mildly bothered by the act.
"You're not listening, Weiss! Blake said the same thing, right before she ran off on her own and almost got herself killed! She just needed 'a little more time' or, or 'one more lead' and, and!" She yelled out, tiny beads of moisture welling up in the corners of her eyes.
"Ruby, come on let's go. You're making a scene." She whispered urgently, catching more than a few giggles and awkward stares from the crowd.
What came next was a slap to her face, literally. She turned back to meet Ruby's eyes, bringing a hand up to cover the stinging in her cheek.
"Oh, I... I'm sorry, Weiss. I d-didn't mean to! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sor-" Ruby was tripping over her own words, her hair bobbing crazily as she shook her head in profuse apology.
"Ruby, Ruby!" Weiss sighed and reluctantly palmed her friend's face with both hands to stop her shaking.
"I. Am. Not. Blake." She sounded the words out loud and slow, making sure Ruby heard them. She brushed her thumbs under the crying girl's eyes, then lowered her hands to grip her tightly by the shoulders.
"I understand why you're worried, Ruby. I am too. You don't want to lose me like we almost lost Blake, but that's not going to happen. I'm going to do some research on my own, and if I find anything, I'll come to you before anyone else." Her voice was calm and level as she spoke, watching for any miniscule changes in her partner's face.
Ruby sniffled and wiped the remaining tears away on her own, an embarrassed smile bubbling across her face.
"P-promise?" She asked through shaky breaths.
"Promise." Weiss assured her, nodding her head convincingly. Her eyes darted to the thinning crowd as the second bell chimed in the distance.
"Hey," Weiss held out her arms and drew Ruby into a quick hug. "Don't be late, okay?"
Ruby perked up, the light reignited in her eyes. "Is that a challenge? Heh, heh...Later, Weiss." She laughed dorkishly before disappearing in a flash of rose petals.
Weiss realized she had been holding her breath, and let it out cathartically in one long puff. Half expecting Blake to be behind her to complete the RBY trifecta, she was relieved to find no one else blocking her path. Rounding the corner, she found the door to Professor Peach's classroom and stepped inside.
As much as she knew it would be the smart move to see the headmaster after class, Weiss just couldn't bring herself to do it. She spent most of the afternoon staring blankly out the window of her private dormitory. Even that made her feel guilty. On paper, this private room was a way for her to oversee confidential SDC projects and information, but truthfully, she could have done that in the team dorm. The only reason why she kept this room was to have more alone time. To retreat when her friends became too much, or when the fighting got too heated.
She tried several times to focus on the notes from today's lectures or to think about the mountain of Schnee Corp work being dumped onto her, but the same thoughts from earlier were still plaguing her mind. This was just something she was expected to live with, she supposed. Growing up, the lessons were always close at hand, with stories about distant relatives or friends of the family disappearing or being targeted by extremists. How could she be so naïve to think the same wouldn't eventually happen to her?
"You know you're getting yourself worked up, don't you?" a drawling voice asked from behind her, derailing Weiss's train of thoughts.
She jumped in her seat, but sat back down annoyedly when she recognized who the voice belonged to.
"You know you're breaking over fifteen corporate espionage laws right now? You can't just walk in here." Weiss' voice was flat with sarcasm as she stared at the rough outline of Blake's shadow on the wall.
The shadow shrugged nonchalantly and answered in the same monotone voice, "Wow, fifteen? Put them on my tab. Y'know, if I really thought your company secrets could help me take down the Fang, I would have taken them already."
Weiss scoffed and leaned dangerously far back in her chair, lifting the front two legs far off the floor. "Oh my god Blake, are we really doing this right now...? I don't feel like playing games, and I'm tired of playing hide and seek with terrorists. If you need help—"
"You're the one who needs help! That's why I'm here, I mean just look at you!" Blake cut the distance between them and gave the arm rest a stiff tug, forcing the heiress to face her. "See Weiss, just look at you, you're— wait have you been crying?"
Weiss could feel her cheeks heat up at the question, but laughed and held up her hands as if to gesture 'you got me!'
"It's my room, I'm allowed to do that here, aren't I?" She countered Blake's annoying supposition with an equally annoying question.
Blake recoiled for a second, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. Weiss couldn't help but notice how the motion accentuated the perfect half-moon bags under her eyes. Hypocrite...
"This is what I mean, Weiss. What the hell happened to you...?" The faunus wiped her hand down her face and looked up to see what could easily be her own reflection on the heiress.
"Take a wild guess, Blake. You know what it's like to live with this better than any of us." Weiss said as she kicked the side of her desk with one foot, swiveling her chair lazily back towards the window.
Blake narrowed her eyes shrewdly, glaring intensely at the the other girl as if she could burn a hole in the back of her head and read her thoughts right there.
"You mean... No, wait; So you lied to us?" Blake accused cautiously. When no response came, she probed further, "You told us, told Ruby and Yang, that you didn't really remember what happened last night. But... you do remember don't you?"
"Come on Blake, don't be so naive. Those two are more sheltered than I am, and I grew up in a cage. Metaphorically." Weiss threw out her index finger for the last part. "I didn't lie to them, I just didn't tell them the whole truth. It's the only way to make them not worry. I don't want to be looked at like I need protecting all the time!"
Blake held her breath as a maelstrom of thoughts swirled in her mind. It made sense, from a certain angle; and she was guilty of it too, that was undeniable. The less that people knew about your past, the more they would accept you. But that kind of life... all that leads to is running from yourself until there's nowhere left to run to. She had done it, was still doing it. Until she met team RWBY.
"Weiss, this isn't right. We're your friends, you're supposed to be able to come to us when you need help!" She shouted futilely. "And what can be so bad that you can't tell us? What's so worth hiding from that you would rather die on that hill than ask for help? Don't tell me you lied about getting away from him."
Weiss lilted from side to side in her chair, eyes fixed on a distant point in the courtyard.
"No, not that. I wouldn't lie about that."
Saliva caught in Blake's throat as she tried to swallow.
"So, what? You should come clean. At least to me. If it's really that bad, I won't tell a soul." Blake compelled her.
Weiss considered for a moment, then nodded almost imperceptibly.
"It's... nothing physical. I got roughed up a little, obviously I'm fine now. A car showed up, I think they probably planned to kidnap me, maybe hold me for ransom from my father." Weiss let out a heavy sigh and glanced over her shoulder, "If they wanted me dead, they could have put a knife in my back at any time. It's surreal to think about." She paused for a breath before continuing on, "Honestly its less about the act and more about what it means going forward. The feeling of having a target on your head, of being hunted. It was always a thought in the back of my mind, but now I'm seeing things out of the corner of my eye, jumping at every shadow... I can't relax, not even here."
Blake nodded understandingly. "At least you were right about one thing Weiss, I do know what it's like to be hunted. Things will get easier with time, trust me. But that feeling; it never really goes away. You just get used to carrying it around."
Weiss nodded her head in bleak understanding, "I thought so." She let out a bitter laugh, "Hey, at least we have something in common now, right?"
Blake flashed a smile. "Right. We can add it to the list of small talk, right before shoes and after cute boys."
Weiss rolled her eyes and returned the smile, "Oh please, not you too. One Yang is enough."
The temperature in the room seemed to return to normal, the tension easing. Blake moved to stand next to Weiss, the two of them gazing out over the courtyard. Ozpin's tower, the CCT, and the Emerald Forest all lied beyond. If it was just a little bit later, they might have been able to see the glow from Vale's perimeter wall.
After a few minutes, Blake tapped Weiss' shoulder and gestured to the side. "I'm going to head back to the dorm. You coming?"
Weiss seems to contemplate for a moment before responding, "No, I'll be alright. I still need some time on my own to think."
Blake stepped away, the coldness of the room rushing to fill the void left by her presence. Just before she reached the door, Weiss called out, "And Blake,"
She paused, one hand on the doorknob.
"Thanks for checking on me."
The click of the latch sliding into place left her alone in silence. She sat for a moment, watching the sun crest the far side of the headmaster's tower. A flock of birds flew in V-formation far above its peak, a lone crow landing to perch on a high-up window. Golden light was silhouetting the spire, casting long trailing shadows across the campus square. The vague outline of students could be seen making their way in a single direction, most of them grouped in either pairs or groups of four. Weiss glanced at the holographic clock on her desk, her family's insignia hovering in the corner of the display. The mess hall would be in full swing by now, she thought as she flicked the switch on her personal terminal. The screen blinked to life with a dozen different notifications and alerts. She brushed the unread text bubbles to the side, Yang's face minimizing to join a collection of others in the corner. She hunched forward in her seat, fingers dancing across artificial keys to input her executive login credentials.
"Alright, father. Let's see what you have for me today."
