I am sorry for the unintentional hiatus. One word as usual is 'Life'. The other author/writer favorite word is 'writers block'.
I suffered from both. This chapter was a bitch to write and was giving me utter hell. However, it sets the stage for what is to come at this new version of Haven.
New Divide
And oftentimes to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths.
-Peter Solomon Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol on Peacock TV
It was an uneasy sleep. Echoes of the voices ringing in her ears in a murky sea of memories:
Her father and sister from when they were younger, when Zwei first arrived at Team RWBY's dorm room, when she and her team are about to start a food fight, and when they get noodles after their victory in the tournament. Flashes of Penny Polendina during their first few encounters, then to when she first saw Jaune, having fun bonding experiences with Team JNPR, of Pyrrha…
She turned over to her side, eyes clenched and a heavy swallow to dislodge the massive and suffocating lump in her throat as the montage continued:
The multiple nights before arriving at Haven of Jaune training alone with a recording of Pyrrha, when she saw her friends wounded as Beacon was being evacuated, when Yang sank into depression over the loss of her arm.
She lets out a pathetic whimper this time, turning back to her back, beads of sweat rolling down her head:
First of Pyrrha delivering the death blow at the tournament, Penny's lifeless body the first time lying on the stadium floor, and then of Cinder standing over Pyrrha before she was flash incinerated before her eyes…
"Ruby…when we came here, we said we'd follow your lead…but…things haven't exactly worked out." Yang's voice was overlayed this time as it seemed Pyrrha's death was paused behind her eyelids.
No, not this. She cannot help but to think, however whatever pull that has her trapped this time, it isn't letting up.
In the meantime, Weiss is the first to stir awake. Once they had gotten back to the room, not one of them spoke a word seeing that Ruby was in a state of silent contemplation, staring at her notebook with a blank face. In fact, it took all their persuasion to have Ruby change for bed and to try to get some sleep…despite the fact they had to be up in a mere few hours.
Now hearing a slight whimper, with practiced caution, she too rolls to her side to see a torrent of mixed emotions that flash across Ruby's face: disappointment, annoyance, sadness, a hint of frustration. She sits up as Ruby again lets out a whimper, a little bit louder this time, "Weiss?" Weiss looks over and sees that Blake is sitting up and looking over at them, "What's happening?"
"I'm not sure." Weiss responds as she looks down at her partner.
Ruby whimpers again as she clutches the comforter, a bead of sweat appearing on her forehead, "Yang…" The reaper whimpers louder, "Please no." The words were filled with regret and yearning.
The blonde next to Blake stirs and the monochrome pair look over to the elder sister, "Do we wake her?" Blake asks.
Having been on the receiving end of Ruby's nightmares previously made Weiss pause in her response at this inquiry and clearly, she could tell that Blake was having the same thoughts. Ruby lets out another whimper, "Not yet."
"But we should wake her, right?" Blake asks as she slowly and carefully leaves the bed to go over to the Weiss and Ruby's bed.
Weiss sighs as Ruby increases her grip on the covers and her eyes squeeze shut a bit more, "Ruby. Come on Ruby. It's ok, wake up." The former heiress's voice is gentle, but she makes no move to touch the sleeping reaper.
Ruby doesn't respond, but she does hear her partner's voice, which only intensifies the horrific memories, In her mind, she sees the:
Various reactions from Weiss, Nora, Oscar and Penny, as well to Yang's statement. The terrifying realization what Salem was doing to those with silver eyes in the form of the Hound that had been hunting them and Penny. The Fall of Atlas, Penny's second and this time permanent death. Neo switching between the form of her teammates as they fall into the void.
It was too much, "Ruby, please it's ok. You are safe. You-" Blake's voice now.
"Don't always know what to do, but that's never stopped you from doing something. I was like that as a girl, but time and…a lot of other things, took their toll on me. Then I wasn't sure if that kind of girl could actually survive in the world…until I met you. It was a little strange at first because you were younger, but I've always looked up to you, Ruby. And I still do."
The memory of standing in front of the generator in that last desperate attempt. Blake's voice brought her slightly more back to the light. The reassurance was much needed, "Ruby." Again, her partner's voice reaches her with a bit more urgency to the tone but still trying to remain gentle.
"Ruby." Blake's voice again calls to her. It's sad, and that hurts. It hurts that she caused that pain. Pain which brings back more memories transformed into nightmares as she descends back into the pool of her own personal darkness.
A training room filled with pre-teens, older teenagers, adults, and even elderly looking at the small stage. Sad amber eyes staring at her in a resigned fashion. Haunting whispers that made the room feel suffocating, but all she could feel and hear was angry buzzing in her head as she stares at the prey in front of her, "You should be ashamed of yourself! After all you had seen and witnessed, how dare you do them such a horrific disservice."
"Ruby." Cat ears folded to the side, amber eyes pleading and imploring her to find a trace of humanity that Ruby was fighting with herself to possess.
"If they die, then their deaths will be on your head." Malicious growl, inhuman in nature. Cat ears are up in alarm, eyes wide and yet sad. Full of remorse, this infuriated Ruby more, "Just. Like. Yang." Silence. Utter silence fills the room as the whispers stopped. Footsteps eventually were heard fleeing the area. No doubt trying to find help.
"What is happening?" Blake and Weiss's heads turned to see Yang sitting up, rubbing her eyes. They had still been trying to wake Ruby and of course their voices had gotten slightly louder as Ruby's whimpering grew out of control- pleading for forgiveness, "Ruby?"
Yang gets up and walks over to Ruby, "Wait Yang-" Weiss tries to warn, but it was too late. Yang's hand just barely touched Ruby's shoulder and the reaper was up and out of bed in a swarm of petals…along with Yang.
With a massive crash, the swarm of red and yellow petals disappeared out the door and down the hallway.
"Ruby!"
"Yang!"
"What the hell is going on?!" Weiss and Blake look to see JNPR and Oscar's head poking out of their respective rooms, anger and annoyance in their expressions at having been woken up.
There was a massive crash heard from downstairs and yelling coming from outside. The teams looked at one another before heading in the direction of the commotion.
In the middle of the lawn, Ruby was staring Yang down like a predator about to go for the kill, "Ruby please-"
"You are not Yang." Ruby growled out dangerously.
"Yes I-whoa!" Yang barely had time to dodge as blood red petals swirled passed her, "Ruby it really is me!"
"She is in a nightmare Yang. This is not our Ruby." Weiss called out.
Yang looks over at the two before she looks back at her sister, who is showing a wide range of emotions: hurt, anger, devastation. She sees that Ruby is muttering to herself, "What should I do then if she isn't going to listen to me?"
"Do we get involved?" Jaune asks as he looks at Ruby, unsure of the situation.
Blake shakes her head, "No. If we get involved, there is a high chance she may not recognize us as well."
"Tell her to ask you a security question." Weiss responds to Yang as Ruby's eyes start to flare to life.
Yang swallows as she notices the silver flames ignite, and a dark aura starts to pool around her sister, "Rubes please. It's me. I am not sure what you were dreaming-gah! Ruby stop!" Yang found herself pinned against a tree with a blazing silver knife to her throat, out of the corner of her eye she sees the others getting ready to jump into action, "Ask me a question! Our…our security question." She swallowed the huge lump in her throat, mindful of the blazing knife in her sister's hands…which is something she filed away to discuss at a much later and safer time.
Ruby analyzed her target in front of her. There was a nagging feeling that this wasn't right, but between the memories and the nightmare, she had no room to doubt herself now. Cinder…Emerald…Neo…anyone could be in her midst and this…imposter that she had pinned would not deter her, "I am not Rubes. Not to you." She growled as she applied a little more pressure, "I am your escort to a place worse than death. I will ensure your final moments are deserving of the crime you committed."
"Crime?"
"Impersonating a member of my family. I will end you."
Ok so this really wasn't Ruby. This was the bringer of Death, "Then final request. Please, ask me the question."
Something now really wasn't right, two sets of memories converged: kind, bright, cheerful lavender eyes with an equally bright smile and then darken, fierce, unloving lavender tinted red staring back at her with just as equally scowl to match, "Fine." She let up on 'Yang' and slowly backed away, willing the knife to disappear.
She snorted and turned her back on her 'enemy'. Everything drowning out around her. The remnants of her team had created questions with each other- each question with significance to one another. That meant four different combinations of questions with four different answers. With the most recent nightmare and memory there was one question she needed to ask, something that she and her sister deemed a significant turning point in their relationship, "Schnee Manor," Ruby started looking at the 'imposter' dead in the eye, "after I stormed off when we couldn't come up with a plan to stop Ironwood's ultimatum…what was our conversation about?"
"Wait…what?" Yang asks as her brain halts its thinking process. She glances towards the others, hoping they could offer some light on the situation, but they were all puzzled.
Ruby hadn't really gone into details about the events of Atlas other than Ironwood having so much fear and mistrust that he threatened to throw Mantle to the wolves just to protect the relic and Atlas. Just what the hell happened to them to offer a question like that and not one from let's say…childhood?
Ruby turned back around and once more had a ruthless and murderous expression, "Tick tock sister. Tick. Tock."
Yang tries to think fast. Going over every possible detail that would allow her to answer the question Ruby had asked.
"We have to do something." Pyrrha said desperately not letting her guard down, "Ruby might really kill Yang."
"She is right Weiss." Blake states as she looks at the former heiress, "If this is how Ruby was with you when she first woke up-"
"I know, but after a nightmare she asked me a question that only she and I would know the answer to. Our fight at Beacon during the first day." Weiss was also trying to think quick wishing she had broached the topic of security questions earlier in their explanations.
"But we were not at your house." Ren pointed out, "And this question sounds like something that either hasn't happened yet, or might not ever happen."
"I'm sorry," Nora said cutting in, "but is no one else worried about that fiery silver knife magic bullshit thing that just happened? We do not have our weapons out here, how are we going to match that?"
Oscar looked at his new friends before feeling a jolt, I'm sorry, but I have to intervene.
Thanks for the heads up, Oscar responded bitterly. Ozpin ignored him, "I believe that we should stay out of it…for now." Ozpin said sadly as he looked at the sisters, "I have to believe Ms. Rose will fight a way out of this."
Yang was internally panicking as she looks at the predator like gleam. She swallowed deeply and lets out a shaky sigh, "Uhm…is there a hint available?" The silence and accompanying look gave the answer, "Ok no hint then." Come on! What the hell am I supposed to answer to this?
Ruby continues to stare the blonde down her silver eyes ablaze, "I am giving you one more minute."
Yang was partially aware of the murmurs of their friends trying to come up with a plan to help her. Somehow though, she knew that it was only up to her to save the both of them. Just as Ruby started to magically summon another weapon that eerily was taking shape of a very lethal scythe, a feeling of déjà vu overcame her. It was sudden and fleeting, mere flashes of memories that were not quite her own: Fallen suit of armor with a bony hand sticking from it, sounds of sniffles being heard with murky echoes of conversation, "Time's up." Ruby announced suddenly lunging with a glowing silver very lethal scythe now fully formed.
"RUBY!"
"YANG!"
"MOM!" Yang yelled suddenly arms up in defense covering her face, eyes closed. A blur of red passed by her along with the faint scent of roses. Yang lowered her arms and opened her eyes, meeting the pale and shocked looks of their friends. Slowly, Yang lowered the rest of her guard and slowly turned to face the personification of Death.
Ruby had her back turned, the eerie glowing scythe still at the ready. Based on the silence, Yang continued, not knowing where the words were coming from, but instinctively saying them based on the patterns of behavior and hints as her sister revealed the tragedy of the future she had to endure, "And how everything that has happened was unexpected. Nothing had gone according to plan."
Based on their current predicament, nothing was really going right either. The glow around the scythe was fading, "No." Her voice was soft and sad, "Nothing worked out. It was my fault." This last part was said more quietly.
"It wasn't-" Reignited once more, Ruby turned on heel and lunged. Yang dodged out of the way, "Ok look Ruby-!"
"She was experimented on! Salem tried a new trick on her! She discovered what she could do with those with silver eyes. Silver eyes like mine!" Ruby yelled back with a snarl, "That's what happened to mom. Salem tried to turn her into a mindless creature of Grimm who only lives to do her bidding like that damned hound."
Stunned silence, "No." Ozpin gasped out.
"What is she talking about?" Weiss asked.
Ozpin didn't seem to have heard as he stared at the siblings, "I…" Yang choked out not able to comprehend, but once more shook herself. Now was not the time to be questioning these things. She had to push her feelings aside in this moment, "Mom took a risk the day she left, and I don't think…I don't think it went the way she wanted it to. I mean that is why they are called-"
"Risks." Ruby finished. She looked at Yang. Really looked at her and took her appearance in. At the sudden realization, the scythe vanished and her eyes returned to normal. She started backing away slowly complexion pale and sick looking, "Yang…I…oh shit."
"It's ok. We're good." Yang saw it happening, Ruby was looking for an escape-but she would be damned if she just let her sister go. Immediately she launched forward to engulf her sister in a hug, "It's ok." She looked over Ruby's shoulder as her sister shook in her arms. She met the sad eyes of everyone, "It'll be ok." Slowly she started to bring Ruby over to the lodge, giving everyone a look to 'leave well enough alone'.
Ozpin let out a sigh, "Headmaster?" Tired eyes look to Pyrrha, "Going back to Weiss's question earlier-"
"There was a rumor that I heard a long time ago that Salem was creating a creature of Grimm that has Human-like intelligence and cunning."
As they made their way back to the lodge, Jaune looks at the man, "But that's…impossible. No Grimm has that kind of intellect."
They were back in the living room, heading towards the stairs. Ozpin placed one foot on the step and hung his head low, "You heard Ms. Rose. She apparently managed to create a creature like that. A kind of Grimm that could show enough cunning, patience and stealth to be a force to reckon with."
"And people with silver eyes? What does that have to do with anything?" Ren asks as his glance goes to the general area where team RWBY's room is located.
Now fully standing on the stairs, Ozpin looks to his students, "Those born with eyes of silver are descended from an ancient lineage of legendary warriors who possessed special abilities through the usage of their eyes. Their power destroys Grimm and is believed to originate from the God of Light."
"Which would destroy the Grimm, who were created by the God of Darkness." Nora says slowly. Heads turned to look at her, "What? I paid attention."
This got small chuckles which elevated the tension, Ozpin nodded, but then grabbed his head as he leaned against the banister, "Are you ok?" Blake asks.
"Yes. I'm ok. Ruby will have to explain the rest, as I only know the legends and I am sure she knows the entire truth, but in case you are wondering, yes that was an unusual ability to create any form of weapon like that." Oscar's body slid to the step as he sat down, Ozpin retreating once more into the young man's mind.
They watched him for a moment, before Pyrrha went over to help Oscar find his balance, "Are you alright?" She asks as she steadies him by the arm.
"Yeah. It was just a headrush that's all. One massive headrush." He adds before looking up the stairs, "Are Ruby and Yang ok?"
The group collectively look up the stairs, "Think it is safe to find out?" Nora asked after a moment looking towards the group.
Weiss sighs and leads them up the stairs. Approaching team RWBY's room, they overhear, "Ruby you don't-"
"I have to Yang. I should have told you after the whole future explanation. In fact, I do not even know how you used the right words with me." They heard the amaze and proud tone in Ruby's tone.
"Just because you gave us the bigger picture, I knew things didn't go the way you wanted it to in Atlas, though it sounds like you've tried everything humanly possible up until that moment. Besides, the topic of mom was always something between us." Yang explained sadly, "You always tried to aspire to be like her."
"I was an idiot."
"No Rubes. You always tried doing the right thing. Even now, as infuriating as it is, to try and protect me and my feelings." The door was partially shut, so they were unable to see the sisters' facial expressions, but the tone revealed the disapproval and Blake could picture her partner's matching facial expression.
They hear Ruby chuckle softly, "Doing the right thing. Yeah right. Even now I am no different from Oz." From inside the room, Yang frowns. She could see the internal self-loathing festering underneath her sister's demeanor. Before she could pull her sister out of it, Ruby continues to speak, "A memory from when our team decided to divide after we were deemed outlaws triggered all of this. Your words in particular about following my lead hadn't worked out."
"Ok…?" Yang stated confused.
"To think a few weeks before that we were deemed Hunters curtsy of Atlas Academy." Ruby lamented, "It was my idea to keep Ironwood in the dark. I guess I wanted him to prove to me that he was…worthy enough…to know the truth. Especially after the Lionheart disaster at Haven. I had asked Qrow if mom's last mission was an Ozpin secret as well…"
Yang's eyes narrowed, "And was it?"
"According to him while there was a lot of secrets in regards to Ozpin…mom was keeping one of her own. Not even Ozpin knew what mom was planning, just like Dad and Qrow." Ruby responded with a heavy dejected sigh. Yang looks away this time, she feels tears in her eyes and uses one hand to wipe them away.
From outside the room, the group noticed as Weiss slowly backed away from the door, an uneasy expression on her face, "Weiss?" Jaune calls over to the former heiress quietly as an uneasy silence settles upon them.
Weiss looked away from the door, "Ruby told me what happened, after she started to explain about the future. We had taken a break and I had followed her to the training room."
Blake's ears were folded down, "So you knew?"
"Part of it. Not the Grimm part, but yes. Ruby had said she would tell Yang when the time was right." Weiss said.
"And it wasn't your place to tell." Pyrrha continued the unspoken expression.
Weiss only nodded as they heard Yang's voice, "So you know her fate then."
Ruby nodded at Yang's assumption, "We were in Ironwood's office when the Seer appeared." Sensing the question, the reaper continued forward, "It's basically a jelly-fish like Grimm, but she mainly uses it to transmit messages. Anyway, words were exchanged and I stupidly stood up to her and she basically confirmed that mom fought with her…and…"
"Killed her." Yang growled out angrily.
Ruby looked away, "I think worse happened."
Yang looks at Ruby again, the anger momentarily forgotten as her sister's earlier outburst came to the forefront of her mind, "She was experimented on! Salem tried a new trick on her! She discovered what she could do with those with silver eyes. Salem tried to turn her into a mindless creature of Grimm who only lives to do her bidding like that damned hound."
Yang shook herself and took a deep breath and tried to reign her temper in slightly, "Please explain."
"I think we should join them now." Ren offered, "As much of this conversation is private, they are treading into waters that will eventually affect all of us."
Jaune sighed, seeing the uneasy looks, but he knew that Ren was correct, "I hate it, but Ren's right." Taking a deep breath and holding it for a minute, he turned and knocked on the door.
"Not now." Yang's voice called back.
"No Yang, they need to hear this too." There must have been a look that was exchanged because next thing they hear is Ruby saying, "I'm sorry." Then, "Come in."
Slowly with hesitance, they walked through the door and saw Yang's disapproval glance and Ruby's resignation, "First I am sorry. I really do not understand why that nightmare had gotten so violent." She sighed again and said, "So during my time, when Atlas was beginning to fall, our teams had split up due to differences of opinions on how to handle the fallout."
"That doesn't sound good…" Ren comments slowly.
Oscar hesitantly came forward and offered up, "Doesn't that go against what this mission is all about? Like playing right into her hands?"
Ruby chuckled darkly, "Oh we were. We definitely were…and it was my fault. I had too much blind optimism. Anyway, there was this Grimm that could think, plan, speak. It was learning faster than any of the elder Grimm we had ever encountered. It was also a…faunus; a silver eyed person."
"I'm sorry what?" Blake asked eyes wide and feeling sick.
"She turned the innocent person into a creature of Grimm." Ruby said darkly, then taking another deep breath, "It was the reason why she wanted me kept alive." Then looking at Yang she says, "It was the reason why mom died. She tried out a new trick to try and turn anyone with silver eyes into Grimm."
They were all silent and sick to their stomachs at the notation, "I'm…we're…" Pyrrha shook her head, "I'm sorry I really do not know what to say. This is…"
"Unbelievable." Nora said uncharacteristically quiet.
Ren looks at the reaper and briefly sees a bit of colored petals surrounding her. His eyes widened for a brief moment before they vanished as if they weren't there; but he did feel incredible sadness, "Devastating." Was all he could say.
"So, you think mom was…turned into a Grimm?" Yang asked, she was standing now, fists balled as if ready to hit something.
"Experimented on. Why else was I so far spared for so long if not to be eventually turn into something that would kill my friends and family?"
Yang looks away as they take in the information that Ruby presented to them, "And what is it exactly about those with silver eyes that are such a big deal?" Jaune asks gently as he leans against the wall.
"And your other abilities." Oscar hesitantly chimes in.
"I'm sure Oz already went over the importance." Ruby said almost dismissively, however winced at her own tone, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap."
"He did discuss it, however all he really mentioned was the basics? Like mentioning an ancient lineage of legendary warriors with the belief that their power destroys Grimm and is believed to originate from the God of Light." Pyrrha explained.
"And that the weapon summoning was an unusual ability." Nora adds.
Ruby looks over to her own teammates, before resting on Yang's dark expression. She knew that her sister was already trying to process so much of the information and was also still hanging on to the fact that their mother may have been tortured. This was becoming too much, and if she was honest with herself, it was starting to overwhelm her too. The adrenaline that had been fueled by the nightmarish memories and the fight with Yang was diminishing, "Look I know that this information is important, and I plan on explaining; however it is already so late, and there is other things we need to discuss so perhaps can we pick this up at a much more reasonable hour?"
They all looked at each other and saw Yang's expression, "Understood." Jaune said, nodding; for once not arguing, "Uhm…see you later. Feel better." Team JNPR and Oscar hesitantly looked at their sister team and left the room, closing the door behind them.
Unbridled silence settled around them as Ruby stood off to the side on guard. Yang hadn't said a word since she had confirmed their mother's fate at the hands of Salem. Before Ruby could comment, Blake took a step towards the unusually silent blonde, "Yang…are-?"
Yang held up a hand, effectively silencing her partner's inquiry, "Yang, Ruby was going to-" Weiss quickly snapped her mouth closed at Yang's look, lavender eyes flashing red.
The black and white duo looked towards Ruby. The reaper sighed and took a step forward with her arms at her side, "Do it." She ordered standing right in front of her sister with her chin up.
Yang's eyes turned on her. Now she fully turns her body so that Ruby has her attention. Fists are balled at her side. She is analyzing her sister and sees the implication that Ruby is making, "No. I'm not going to punch you."
"You want to." Ruby pointed out, standing tall herself, "So just do it."
As Yang stares defiantly into Ruby's steely silver eyes, a memory comes forth, an echo of what seemed like a different lifetime, "I'm gonna be leaving for Beacon soon. I wanna make sure my little sis can hold her own while I'm gone." Yang momentarily blinked, breaking the stare off she was having with her sister, as another round of words that were spoken after Ruby had managed to speed away from her while they were sparing in the clearing before Ruby was accepted into Beacon, "You're not always going to be able to run away from your problems, though. Sometimes, you just have to stand your ground and fight, no matter what."
Breathing out the breath she didn't know she was holding, she again looks at Ruby, "Yes, I do want to hit you." Yang agreed slowly, "I want to do more than that though. I want to annihilate you. I want to crush you into the next two centuries." It was Ruby's turn to look away this time, "But I am not going to. Make no mistake I am livid as hell at you for not coming clean about this first." She adds seeing her sister's surprised look, "However, it will not bring mom back. It will not fix the horrible future you are from."
Ruby shakes her head, "No I suppose not."
Yang watches Ruby closely as Blake and Weiss watch the sisters, trying to determine whether or not a physical intervention would be warranted. The eerie silence stretched on, until Blake broke it gently, ears pinned down and a look of hesitance danced across her face, "Do you have anything else you would like to share with us? Or with Yang?"
Yang raised an eyebrow expectantly, "Before you answer that;" she started saying as Ruby opened her mouth to respond, "think very carefully Ruby."
Ruby nodded and closed her eyes before taking a deep breath, "There is more to tell. And I will share I promise." She gives Yang a pleading look, "But it also requires everyone knowing too. Please Yang, I know I don't deserve it, but-"
Yang held up her hand, "Stop." Her voice was firm and uncharacteristically quiet, "You told me about mom; I think that is enough for tonight. Now let's get some sleep…for another few hours."
Yang didn't look at Ruby again as they got themselves resettled. Yang faced the wall as Blake gives Ruby a sad look before climbing in too. Weiss looks at her partner, "I'm sorry Ruby. I know that is not the way you wanted to tell her."
"No, it is not."
"Something else is bothering you." Weiss observes as the two got into their shared bed.
Ruby shakes her head, "The nightmares. Unable to differentiate real and the not real. There has got to be away to stop this from happening all the damn time."
"We'll figure it out." Weiss says giving her a sad smile.
"We?"
"If you think after all this time, we'd let you just figure this out on your own, then you are an even larger dolt than I thought. Now try to get some sleep."
Ruby stares at her partner before settling back down. She stares up at the ceiling as the lights go off. The last thing she feels is Weiss's hand grabbing her own, trying to offer the long-forgotten comfort she so desperately craved as her mind gave her the void she had craved.
