Chapter Four: Personal
Beep, beep, beep…
"Ngh…" Weiss pinched her eyes shut and buried her head deeper under the covers where it was dark, safe, and so far away from reality it might as well be a dream.
Beep, beep, beep…
"You gotta wake up eventually, Blue," whispered a sultry voice she knew didn't exist anymore. "C'mon, get hyped! It's a brand new shiny day."
"No," Weiss muttered groggily.
"Wake up, baby. I know you can do it."
"What if I don't want to?"
"You can't keep dreaming."
"But I want to…" Weiss breathed in deep, forcing the tears stinging her eyes to fall. This was not the way she wanted to start the day, but it felt so good to hear that voice even if it was just a fleeting dream.
"Wake up, Weiss."
Beep, beep—Weiss slammed her hand down on the alarm clock like a hammer and winced in pain when the hard plastic bit into her palm. Weiss grumbled a few choice words in Western Atlesian when she pulled her hand back to cradle it. But now that she was somewhat lucid, Weiss clicked her tongue in annoyance and slowly, with great reluctance, rose out of bed. Her body ached and her hair was a mess with random ends sticking out in strange places.
So much for a graceful awakening, she thought grimly.
Bleary-eyed and still caught between the waking world and dream world, Weiss looked down at the cold, untouched left side of the bed with a heavy heart. She ran her hand over it, smoothing out any wrinkles she saw and pictured a time when she didn't wake up alone. How many days had it been since it became her norm exactly? Two or three months, maybe four? Weiss didn't know anymore, the days were beginning to run on like a life sentence that wouldn't end.
Lifting her gaze, Weiss looked to the nightstand and smiled at the photograph staring back at her. She didn't have her glasses on, but she knew the blurry face was smiling back at her.
"Bonjour, mon amour," she whispered, forcing her smile to widen. "Tu me manques tellement…"
If the woman in the photograph could respond, she'd probably laugh at Weiss and tease her for her sentimentality. But it would've been a front because there was no one in the world more sentimental than her; Weiss had several boxes stuffed to the brim with Chrys' scribbles and doodles to attest to that.
"Oh, Nicole," Weiss said, shaking her head, "you simpleminded fool."
"But I'm your fool—and stop calling me 'Nicole.' "
But your actual name is Stupid…
"Well it's my stupid name so get used to it. Now up and at 'em, Big Boss! You've got ass to take and names to kick."
You've gotten it backwards again, Weiss quietly laughed. She closed her eyes and took a minute to savour the small genuine smile that replaced the one she forced. She felt serene in that moment with a nostalgic warmth filling in her chest. When she reopened her eyes, Weiss resolutely stared back at the photo with a confident smirk. "Let's take the day."
Weiss got out of bed and stretched, moaning with pleasure when her stiff joints popped and cracked. She felt looser, more awake, and definitely more aware of the pain radiating from her left shoulder. It felt like hellfire spreading outward, burning her skin, blood, and nerves, leaving the rest of her arm feeling numb and heavy.
"Now for the hard part," Weiss said.
She gritted her teeth and rotated her left shoulder by the cuff carefully, mindful of the taut muscles fighting to stay locked in place. The pain was almost unbearable now, but the more she stretched and worked the muscles, the better she felt.
Weiss massaged the sorest area of her shoulder with the heel of her palm in slow lazy circles. And in that time, Weiss wondered if her chiropractor back in Atlas could recommend someone in Vale for her. In hindsight, she should've done that weeks ago when they first moved here. But between the office and Chrys, she barely had time to breathe let alone find a nonessential service. Weiss decided to ask Ciel for help later today and made a mental note of it.
Looking at the time and squinting to see the numbers, Weiss saw that it was 6:30 a.m. on the dot; Ciel would be proud. She picked her glasses up from her nightstand and headed towards the bathroom to start her morning routine. Fifteen minutes was all she could allow herself to spend freshening up today. Ideally, she would have given herself the usual twenty-five, but staying up to text Ruby made her sleep.
While she washed her face, Weiss thought about what she'd make for breakfast. They had toast and sausages yesterday and ate out the day before… toasted bagels and cream cheese perhaps?
Patting her face dry on a towel, Weiss glowered at her equally frustrated reflection.
"Really, Weiss—a bagel and cream cheese? You might as well feed Chrys junk food and soda for breakfast! Think, you idiot." With her wet bangs pushed back, the scar over her left eye was in plain view, souring Weiss' mood even further. She covered the scar's reflection with a hand and asked herself, "What do we even have in the fridge?"
"When in doubt omelette au fromage."
"That's going to take effort." Weiss fought off the painful memories bleeding into her thoughts, but it was a battle she didn't have the strength to end, so she turned away from her sympathetic reflection and let the memory to play out.
"It'll take effort, yeah," her wife said as she snuck into the bathroom, "but it would definitely hit the spot."
Strong slender arms wrapped around Weiss' shoulders, pulling her in close enough to smell the faint cologne clinging desperately to fabric. Weiss breathed the comforting scent in and sighed, all the tension leaving her body at once. She'd been tossing and turning all night worrying endlessly about the idiot she married. And now that she was finally home, safe and sound, Weiss felt like she could finally breathe.
"I suppose. Did you just get home?" Weiss asked, lifting a hand to caress her wife's cheek. A tired "mhm" and a kiss atop her head was the only response she received. Weiss crinkled her nose and frowned. "You should at least change out of your uniform then. You smell like the station and Brunheilda's awful coffee."
"I should," her wife tiredly laughed. "I really, really should, but I want to take a shower first."
"Then take one."
"Join me?"
Weiss laughed and turned to face her wife with a faux look of disinterest. It was tough keeping the smile off her face, but Weiss managed to maintain the act long enough to see her wife pout. "Thank you for the kind offer, Officer, but you look dead on your feet."
"Ugh, I feel dead..."
"They'll take you off the nightshift soon," Weiss said, looping her arms around her wife's waist. "And when they do, I'll gladly join you in the shower. But, for now, you need to take it easy and rest."
"What if I make it quick?"
"It's always quick," Weiss deadpanned but the shocked look on her poor wife's face made her crack and change her tone. "Fine, fine, you're so needy."
"Yes!"
"You have five minutes—but you're helping me cook breakfast after since it was your genius idea," Weiss said, planting her feet firm on the ground.
"Breakfast, fine. But only five minutes?! I need way more way than that just to wash my hair!"
"And it takes two hours to dry my hair," Weiss countered, already unbuttoning her wife's uniform. "Four minutes."
"What?!"
"You're wasting time, Officer Hot Stuff. Tick, tock, tick, tock."
"You know how I said I liked Ciel?"
"Mhm."
"Well, I take it back. I don't like her."
"Well too bad I—" Weiss frozen in place, her eyes glued to the large discoloured purple bruise just below her wife's left breast.
"I can explain—"
"Take your shower," Weiss said, shrinking back when her wife tried to touch her. "I'll bring you some fresh clothes and an icepack, but the painkillers need to wait until after you've eaten."
"Weiss, please—"
"No! No more," Weiss hissed. She used the sink for support as she forced herself to take in deep breaths, but her lungs vehemently rejected the air turning Weiss' slow, steady breathing into stuttered gasps. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
"No, Coco, I don't want to get into this right now!" Weiss angrily shouted, slapping her wife's hand away.
"Ugh, so now you use my name… look, baby, please, just listen to me for—"
"I can't do this anymore!" Weiss cried out in frustration. She struggled against her wife when she forced her into her arms, but her familiar warmth and scent made Weiss melt. She leaned into the embrace and timidly wrapped her arms around her wife's waist, shedding more tears than she could count. "I can't keep waiting all night for you like this. I'm scared—what if you never come home?"
"Weiss…"
"I hate this…" she wept. "I hate sleeping alone…"
"I'll always come home to you."
"Liar."
Weiss neatly folded her towel and put it back on the rack before flicking the lights off and making her way to Chrys' room down the hall. She opened the door carefully and looked for any carelessly discarded clothes, but Chrys' room was immaculate as always.
"She gets that from you," the voice teased.
One of the few things she did, Weiss thought humourlessly.
Weiss tiptoed over to Chrys and sat on the edge of her bed. She took a moment to appreciate how peaceful her daughter looked wrapped snuggly in her golden yellow blanket. She reminded Weiss of a chocolate cornet with the filling spilled out.
"Or a burrito."
Shut it, you.
Smiling, Weiss brushed Chrys' bangs to the side and kissed her forehead. "Wake up, mon coeur," she whispered, planting even more kisses. Chrys stirred but turned away, curling deeper into bed. "Chryssie, you need to wake up."
"Maman…"
"No, mon coeur, it's me," Weiss replied, fighting to keep hurt out of her voice.
Looking to the desk beside Chrys' bed, Weiss searched for the switch that turned her daughter's aquarium lights on. She found it almost immediately and flipped it, bringing the modestly decorated tank to life. Its sole inhabitant, a platinum white half-moon betta named Tuna Casserole, swam out of his hiding place, flaring at Weiss. He swam around in furious zigzags, taunting her to come closer. Chrys always insisted her pet was just happy to see her; Weiss didn't have the heart to tell her otherwise.
"Wake up, darling, Tuna Casserole looks really hungry."
"Ngh…"
"Chrys D'Artagnan Adel, wake up before I tickle you. You have until the count of three," Weiss said sternly. "Un… deux… last chance, mon coeur… trois—"
"I'm up! I'm up!" Chrys yelped when she felt the first of Weiss' fingers poke her ribs. She scrambled to sit up but, in her haste, got caught in her blankets. "Mama!" she whined, pouting beneath her messy mane of tangled hair.
"How did you even manage this?" Weiss asked as she carefully unravelled her daughter's cozy cocoon. "Mon dieu, where's the end—ah, I see an arm!"
Chrys dropped her guard, and Weiss saw an opportunity. She immediately pounced, tickling Chrys' vulnerable sides until she was an unintelligible giggling mess.
"N-No more! No more!" Chrys begged between breaths. "I'm awake!"
"Are you really?" Weiss asked. "Because I think I should check again and—"
"No!" Chrys shrieked. She slipped under the covers to escape her mother's tyranny, but the blanket was ripped away and she was scooped up and forced to sit on Weiss' lap. "Nooo!"
"You still look so sleepy, Chryssie," Weiss teased, hugging her daughter tighter to lock her arms down.
"No, no! I'm awake, Mama!" Chrys squirmed like a wriggling worm to get away, but Weiss was too strong.
"So you say," Weiss said, "but I really should double check."
She planted several kisses all over Chrys' face, but each kiss lead to even harder struggling. And when Chrys' knees touched the floor, Weiss had to admit defeat. Chrys saw her chance and took off straight into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her. Weiss jumped at the noise and winced, hoping their neighbours downstairs didn't hear the racket. A noise complaint from crotchety Mrs. Hue and her much, much, much younger husband was the last thing she wanted.
Ugh, so gross, Weiss shuddered in disgust; thank god Chrys hadn't been with her when she saw them in the elevator the other day.
Weiss sighed and accidentally made eye contact with the fish. He glared at her, majestic fins flared out. She knew what he wanted, but she wouldn't give it to him.
"Don't forget to feed Tuna Casserole!" Weiss shouted with her eyes still locked on the fish.
"Oui, Mama!"
"And speak Valese! The sooner you're comfortable with the language—"
"The sooner I can make fun of my enemies!"
"What?! No! And what enemies?! Is someone picking on you?!" Weiss rushed to the bathroom and knocked on the door. "Mon coeur, I'm being serious. Is someone picking on you?"
"I'm using the bathroom, Mama!" Chrys groaned in exasperation. "And no!"
"You're not lying to me are you?"
"Non, Mama, I'm not lying."
"Okay," Weiss sighed in relief. "But you will tell me if someone bothers you, right?"
"Oui."
"Valese, Chryssie."
"Yes," Chrys reluctantly grumbled. Weiss could practically hear Chrys' eyes rolling from behind the door.
Weiss tapped the wall next to the door twice and left Chrys to her business without anymore interruptions. She trusted Chrys not to lie to her, but as a mother, Weiss couldn't help but worry. Chrys was her whole world, she would do anything to keep her safe—just thinking of someone laying a hand on her made Weiss' blood boil.
"Get rid of it or I will!" shouted a man with bleached white hair and angry sea green eyes. He towered over Weiss menacingly, his ringed right hand poised to strike her if she so much as utters a single word against him. "You've disgraced this family for the final time! You're worthless to me now—both you and your defective sister!"
"Father, please, I—"
"But nothing!" he shouted even louder, slamming his fist down hard on the desk behind him. "I have given you everything and more," he said with thinly veiled anger, "and yet all I asked of you was to behave."
"I haven't done anything wrong! I—"
"Nothing wrong?" He quirked an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "You're fifteen and pregnant with some no-name's bastard. Tell me, dear daughter, what isn't wrong here?"
Weiss kept her mouth shut, too afraid to mention her former lover's name.
"Still keeping your silence? Fine. If you won't get rid of it, then I'll just get rid of you, simple," he said, looking down at her the way he would at a broken tool. "I want you out of this house by nightfall. And since I am such a kind and generous man, I'll even let you take one suitcase with you. Just one, nothing more."
"Father, please, you can't—"
"Oh, but I just did," he said coldly. "You are not my daughter anymore and, thus, no longer my responsibility."
Weiss violently shook her head, arms wrapped tight around her stomach protectively. That night had been terrifying in more ways than one.
And as if on cue, the pain in her left shoulder flared up, reminding Weiss of what he did shortly after.
"He can't hurt you anymore, Blue," whispered a much kinder voice. "I'll protect you."
You did, Weiss thought gratefully, her head held high again. Thank you.
Weiss ran a mental checklist of all the ingredients she'd need to make breakfast, and by the time she finished, she was in the kitchen staring into a perfectly organized refrigerator. It brought a tear to her eye seeing everything in place, sorted accordingly by size and expiry date; it was a work of art.
"Who alphabetizes their fridge?"
"I do," Weiss murmured, reaching in to grab what she could. "Four eggs, milk, cheese, onions, and…"
"Ham, butter, parsley, and don't forget the mushrooms."
We're adding green peppers today. Weiss grabbed a pepper along with a small yellow onion and two white mushrooms. Perfect.
"Fine, fine, but only because you're cute."
Weiss crinkled her nose. She wasn't cute.
"Are we having omelettes today?" Chrys asked as she padded into the room excitedly. She wrapped her arms around Weiss' waist and hugged her tight. "Bonjour, Mama."
"Bonjour, mon coeur. And yes, we are," Weiss said, putting her ingredients on the counter to hug Chrys back. "But I'm going to need help. Is my sous chef ready to begin her shift?"
"Oui—I mean, yes!"
"Good, now go wash your hands and the vegetables while you're at it."
"Onion too?" Chrys asked, poking it.
"You can leave the onion to me," Weiss said.
The kitchen was a bustle with Weiss and Chrys working in tandem to make breakfast. Weiss did the seasoning and handled the finer cutting while Chrys got to beat the eggs and chop the pepper, mushrooms, and meat to the size she liked. The end product was good—amazing even—but it didn't look or taste the way they were used to. Weiss had tried her best though and that was good enough for now.
Breakfast was always a quiet affair in the Adel family household and today was no different. Chrys had put on a brave face as she ate, only speaking up once to compliment the food. Weiss quietly watched Chrys eat while she drank her coffee and occasionally checked her scroll. She had a few bites of her own omelette, but a worrying email from one of her assistants killed her appetite.
"Is everything okay, Mama?" Chrys asked.
Weiss looked up from her scroll and forced a smile. "Yes, mon coeur, everything is alright. Your Uncle Neptune just sent me a joke that wasn't funny at all."
"What was it?"
"What do you call a fat penguin?" Weiss replied, coming up with a quick white lie.
"I don't know, what?"
"An icebreaker."
Chrys quietly picked up her fork and started eating again, eyes avoiding Weiss at all cost.
Weiss was a little offended her joke didn't get a laugh, but it was better than telling the truth in this moment.
The email in question was sent late last night shortly after Weiss went to bed. Neptune, like Ciel, took their job seriously. If Weiss needed to know something urgent, her assistants would call her without hesitation. But since Neptune had only forwarded the email without attempting to call or leave a message, she wondered how worried she should be.
"Mama?"
"Hm?" Weiss hummed as she typed a message to the group chat she shared with her assistants. She was asking them both to come in a little earlier so they could brainstorm how to best handle the issue.
"You look angry."
"What?" Weiss blinked, her attention shifting to Chrys.
"I said 'you look angry,' " Chrys repeated with a frown. "I'm sorry I didn't laugh at Uncle Neptune's joke…"
"Oh no, no, no," Weiss said, getting up to comfort her daughter. "Mon coeur, you weren't at fault."
"Then why do you look so upset?"
"It's work… and," Weiss sighed, her head hung low in shame. Why was she making excuses? Weiss kissed the top of Chrys' head and held her tight. "I'm sorry, I know I promised I wouldn't work while we eat. This is entirely my fault."
"It's okay, Mama," Chrys smiled. "I know your job is important."
"Not more important than you," Weiss said. "No more work emails this morning, I promise. And you know what? No more scrolls at the table starting today. Let me put it away so I won't get tempted."
"Okay," Chrys grinned.
Weiss kissed the top of her daughter's head again and fetched her scroll, only checking it when she was back in her bedroom, far away from Chrys and her highly perceptive blue eyes. Weiss was relieved to see that Ciel and Neptune had messaged her back almost immediately with an affirmative, but it was a message from someone else that made her smile.
"Morning, Weiss! I didn't keep you up too late did I? Anyway, hope your day goes well."
"Oh, Ruby," Weiss said as she typed out her own greeting. But as she was typing, Weiss had a thought. "Are you working this afternoon?"
Ruby texted back, "Yep! From 7 to 3, then straight to uni. If you don't hear from me at all tonight, it's because I'm in jail for murder."
A quiet chuckle rumbled through Weiss' chest. "I'll see you at lunch then with some colleagues of mine. But I have to go now, talk to you later."
Weiss had wasted enough time texting and set the scroll down on her nightstand, plugging it in before leaving. By the time she returned, Chrys was almost finished eating, but she didn't look happy at all.
"Is something the matter?" Weiss asked, stepping in behind her. She laid a hand on Chrys' shoulder and gave it a light squeeze to jostle her out of her thoughts.
Chrys looked up and shook her head. "Nothing. I was just thinking."
"About what?" Weiss took the seat next to Chrys and stroked her head.
"About what you said earlier… about the… the… um… what's the word?"
"Earlier… earlier…" Weiss mused aloud. A lot had happened since she woke up but only one thing really stood out as a concern. "Is someone bullying you?"
"Bullying? Is that the word?" Chrys tilted her head curiously. "Valese is weird…"
"It is, but what were you trying to say?" Weiss said, trying to keep Chrys focused.
"Um… w-what if I was the bully?" Chrys asked, pulling her knees up to her chin. She nervously looked up with a sad pout that pulled on Weiss' heartstrings. "I think I did something bad, Mama."
Weiss couldn't believe her ears. There had to be some sort of mistake here. Chrys was literally the most well-behaved child she knew, and this wasn't a hyperbole or Weiss' personal bias talking. She had other parents constantly badgering her for tips on how to wrangle their own little monsters, but all Weiss could ever tell them was to treat their children with dignity and respect. Chrys' behaviour wasn't due to some amazing life hack or Weiss' talent as a parent, it was simply because Chrys was Chrys.
"A girl in my class—Auburnie, I think—she called me a bully because I wouldn't let her play with my scroll… I was only checking to see if Auntie Ciel was on her way. You said it was only for emergencies and that it wasn't a toy, so I said she couldn't see it."
"Good girl," Weiss said proudly.
"No…" Chrys shook her head, denying the praise she rightfully deserved. "She tried to take it from me, but I wouldn't let her… a-and then she pulled my hair, so I pushed her."
Weiss kept a straight face on, but inside she was furious. "Was there a teacher nearby?"
"Mm, Ms. Valkyrie saw what happened," Chrys answered. "But Auburnie hurt her knee when she fell and started crying… I-I said I was sorry, but she started yelling about how she'd tell her mommy about what happened… she swore vegetables at me."
"Vegetables? Vegetables as in carrots and broccoli?" Weiss blinked, her churning thoughts grinding to a screeching halt. She tried thinking of how the sentence structure would work then immediately smacked herself on the forehead when she realized her folly. "Are you trying to say 'vengeance'?"
"No," Chrys shook her head. She snickered to herself a little then laughed out loud when she saw the perplexed look on her mother's face warp into one of pure confusion. "Non, Mama, she definitely said 'vegetables.' "
"Huh?" Weiss leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms and legs. "Well, that's still an awfully big word for a girl who doesn't know not to touch other people's things… what did Ms. Valkyrie do?"
"She explained what happened to Auburnie's mommy, but they were talking so fast I didn't really understand what they were saying."
"Tell me what you did understand."
"Um," Chrys fiddled with the hem of her nightgown nervously, "I think I heard the lady say I shouldn't bring something to school if I'm not willing to share? And I think she said she wanted to talk to you about… my rotten bee hive?"
"I see…" Weiss said. She assumed Chrys meant "behaviour" and not the words "bee," "hive," and "your."
"I'm not sure though," Chrys said. "Her grammar was all over the place and her accent was weird. She was also using words I've never heard before. I still don't know what bees have to do with me. Valese is weird, Mama. Really, really weird…"
"It is," Weiss laughed. "Chryssie, you have to promise me that if this Auburnie bothers you again with her rotten vegetables, you'll tell her we have beef with her. I'll talk to her mother and we'll see if we can come to a conclusion." Chrys snickered at the clever pun and nodded her head eagerly. "Now that that's all settled, is there anything else you need to tell me?"
"Non, Mama, that was it," Chrys replied, back to her usual cheery self.
"Okay," Weiss smiled, patting Chrys' head. "Thank you for being honest with me, mon coeur."
"Thank you for listening, Mama."
Weiss quickly glanced at the clock hanging on the wall behind Chrys and balked at the time.
"We need to start getting ready now so finish your breakfast—and don't forget to feed Tuna Casserole," Weiss said.
"I already fed him," Chrys answered before taking her second to last bite of food.
"Good," Weiss smiled.
She picked up her coffee and took a sip only to recoil in disgust when the lukewarm beverage hit her tongue. Chrys caught the look and giggled, offering what was left of her orange juice.
"It's okay, I'll get some coffee at the office," Weiss said, pushing the glass back towards Chrys. "You need to drink all of your juice if you want to grow as tall as your maman. Are you finished eating?"
Chrys quickly popped the last bite into her mouth and nodded with a puffy-cheeked smile. Weiss laughed as she kissed the top of her daughter's head and gathered the dirty dishes. She set aside her half-eaten omelette and poured the cold coffee down the drain. It hurt her heart to waste it, but she knew she wasn't going to drink it even if she reheated it when she got home later this evening.
"Thank you for the food, Mama!" Chrys said as she carefully put her empty cup in the sink.
"No problem, mon coeur," Weiss replied, amused by the fact her daughter didn't need to tiptoe to reach the sink anymore.
Chrys ran off after hugging Weiss, leaving her alone to finish the dishes.
"Babe, lemme help—"
"No. Just… just rest, Nicole," Weiss said through tightly gritted teeth. "You aren't showing it, but I know that bruise is hurting you..."
"Seeing you mad at me hurts even more."
"I'm not mad at you!"
"You sure look like you are..."
"No," Weiss said, "I'm—"
"Sorry for getting mad at you that day," Weiss whispered as she scrubbed and rinsed Chrys' plate clean. "I never should have raised my voice or placed the blame on you… you didn't deserve that."
"Hey, it's okay."
"Why do I even bother?" Weiss chuckled sardonically. "You'd never yell back; you were good like that."
"Alright, you got me pegged, Blue. You know I can't lie to you so here's the truth… it hurts like a bitch. Breathing sucks, and I really want to take a nap, but I can't let you handle everything. I know you're tired too so let me take on my share of the work. We're in this together, remember?"
I wish more people saw you the way I did, Weissthought as she kissed her wedding ring.
Once the dishes were done, Weiss dried her hands and headed towards her bedroom. She did her best to ignore the many photographs hanging on the walls and kept her gaze locked forward until she closed the door behind her. And when she did, a sudden wave of exhaustion had her slumped against the door on her knees.
"Damn it," Weiss cursed as she tried and failed to stand back up. She used the doorknob for leverage, but her legs still wouldn't budge.
"You need to stop overworking yourself."
"I know, I know," Weiss muttered, forcing herself to move. Her shoulder burned worse than this morning, but she couldn't cry out in pain without Chrys hearing her. Weiss needed to get up, be strong, and face the world, not crumble beneath its weighted gaze.
"If you know, then why?"
"If I stop, I don't think I'll be able to get back up again," Weiss answered, huffing as she stood. "I can't stop, not yet. Not when there's still so much left for us to do."
A tired sigh resounded in Weiss' head. "This isn't personal."
"And neither is death but here we are—still resentful as hell."
"You need to let go."
"No, not yet," Weiss muttered stubbornly, clenching her fist as she pulled the bifold closet door open.
"Maybe it's time to start?"
"No."
Weiss stared at the black uniform hanging from the empty half of the closet with a pained expression. She traced over the starched collar and the buttons she used to do up—or down depending on the situation. A small, timid smile graced Weiss' lips when she thought of the first time she ever buttoned this uniform. It was her wife's first day and she was a nervous wreck, so much so that she couldn't work the buttons right. She eventually gave up asked Weiss for help, but she sounded like a child, all pouty and whiney with a frustrated blush on her cheeks—which was hard to imagine since the woman was a little over six-foot-two.
"You always did like a woman in uniform."
"I preferred you out of it," Weiss replied, tearing herself away from the uniform. "Now what should I wear today?"
She perused through her half of the closet, skipping over anything excessively white or blue, and pulled out a black formfitting, sleeveless dress that hugged her in all the right places. She held it out to carefully inspect it in the light then turned to the photograph on the nightstand.
"What do you think?" she asked the photo, showing it the dress layered over her body.
"Yeah, no. Pick something else."
"What would you suggest then?"
"Suit up, buttercup."
"Hm," Weiss put the dress back and pulled out her favourite black blazer and a white ruffle blouse. She was tempted to get the matching skirt but the pants were calling her. She held the ensemble together and showed it to the photograph. "Well?"
"Perfect. Nothing pisses a man off more than a woman who can wear a suit better than him."
Flatterer, Weiss smiled. She laid the clothes out on the bed and changed into them.
"Shame about the skirt though."
"Hm?"
"Those legs and that butt, girl, they might as well be WMDs because you are devastating. What I wouldn't give to get my hands on you."
I'm fairly certain Chrys was the result of you getting your hands on me, Weiss thought with a wry chuckle as she strutted towards her vanity mirror, looking at herself from all angles.
"Mm, got me there. Are you going to do your hair up?"
Probably, Weiss replied, running a hand through her hair.
She sat down in front of the mirror, flicked the lights on, and pulled out her makeup kit. She quickly applied the basics, not at all interested in spending an hour on her face, though she did use a little bronzer to contour her nose and cheekbones to draw the eye away from her one major fault. Weiss couldn't help herself. And as narcissistic as it sounds, Weiss knew she was pretty, gorgeous even (if her equally narcissistic wife was to be believed), yet that thin, jagged scar above her left eye made her question everything. It was ugly and a literal eyesore depending on the weather, but it served as a reminder of the life she left behind.
Weiss traced the mark down from the tip on her forehead to the bottom on her cheekbone. Her gaze was distant, lost in the never-ending labyrinth of repressed thoughts and memories. The deep red hue and the discoloured skin that used to accompany the blemish was long gone, but the smooth light pink scar tissue it left behind was something she'd have to live with forever. It wasn't that bad though, at least she could cover it up with foundation and a bit of blush. The emotional scars lying beneath it? Not so much.
"I wonder what Ruby thinks of it?" Weiss quietly asked herself.
It was hard not to notice the way the younger woman stared at her. It was easy to dismiss the first time. Weiss chalked it up to Ruby being caught off guard, but all the times after that? Weiss had to wonder if there was more to it. She was no stranger to superficial admiration and empty compliments, so it was difficult to process when she came face to face with the genuine article. Ruby looked at her like she was the one responsible for hanging the stars in the sky and that worried her almost as much as it flattered her.
How do you act around someone who only sees the best in you?
Weiss furrowed her brows and clicked her tongue, brushing the aberrant thought away like dust under a rug. She didn't have the time or the patience to pick apart Ruby's weird fascination with her face. She had to focus on today, not her self-conscious anxiety; there would be plenty of time for that later, probably when she's in the shower or trying to sleep.
After putting her makeup supplies away, Weiss stared at herself, wondering which lipstick would suit her best today. She wanted to make a statement, so a pale pink or coral wouldn't do. She needed something that showed no fear, something brave, bold—something red.
Weiss opened her lipstick drawer and took out the latest addition to her collection. She bought it on a whim the other day during her trip to the mall with Chrys. The colour stood out to her and she just had to have it, even Chrys agreed it looked good on her. Though, Weiss did have to question the validity of a nine-year-old's opinion on makeup.
"You always did look good in red."
Weiss' mind briefly drifted over to Ruby and her rich red hair and shining grey—no, silver—eyes. She blushed a little and shook her head. This had nothing to do with her. Absolutely nothing. But on the off chance it did…
"Maybe another day," Weiss said, putting the lipstick back. But after another moment of agonizing hesitation, Weiss redacted her decision and quickly applied it before losing her nerve entirely. She stared at her reflection feeling both scared and elated, fingers ghosting over the vibrant red hue painted across her lips.
"It looks good."
Weiss smiled; she felt pretty.
With her makeup done to perfection, Weiss moved on to the most laborious part of her morning routine: wrangling in her hair. At this point it had become a running joke amongst her closest friends that Weiss had two children, her hair and Chrys. Though, Weiss used to argue she had three…
Weiss knitted her brows in concentration as she weaved an army of bobby pins into her hair. She decided to go for a centred braided ponytail today instead of her usual asymmetrical style. The last thing she wanted was for her "guest's" eyes to wander away from her death glare as she tore into him for throwing off her entire schedule with his unwanted presence.
A knock on the door followed by a timid "Mama?" drew Weiss' attention away from her reflection.
"Come in, Chryssie," Weiss replied as she finished the final segment of her braid with a black hair tie.
The door creaked open and Chrys poked her head inside. "Aw, you already finished your hair," she pouted.
"I'm sorry, mon coeur," Weiss said with an apologetic smile. She beckoned her daughter over by patting her lap. "How about I help you with yours instead?"
"Really?" Chrys ran into the room and climbed onto her mother's lap with an infectious grin. "I want to match today!"
"Absolutely."
Weiss brushed Chrys' wavy waist length hair with the utmost care and styled it to match hers exactly.
"Your hair is getting really long," Weiss absently commented.
"Mhm," Chrys smiled. "I want it as long as yours."
"We should go for a trim soon then."
Chrys shook her head. "Nooo! They cut too much off. Can't you do it?"
"I don't think I can," Weiss said sadly.
"But Maman could do it, why can't you?"
"Chryssie…"
"I know, I know…" Chrys sighed.
Weiss tied the end of Chrys' braid before wrapping her arms around Chrys' shoulders. She thought long and hard about the words she needed to say to comfort her child, but her vast vocabulary failed her. How do you comfort a grieving soul? She couldn't bandage and kiss it the way she did a scraped knee, and screaming at a ghost when she missed her the most was about as helpful as picking a fight with a clear blue wall.
"Chryssie," Weiss whispered into her daughter's hair, "it's okay to miss her. I miss her too. But we can't change the past."
"I know… but that doesn't mean I have to like it," Chrys muttered with a sniffle. "I really miss her."
"I know, baby." Weiss nuzzled the top of Chrys' head, ignoring the hot tears seeping into her blouse. She let her daughter cry until the tears naturally subsided before leaning in to see her face. She offered Chrys a smile and kissed her on the nose. "Feeling better?"
"A little…"
"Do you want to get a treat before school starts?"
Chrys thought it over and nodded. "Ice-cream?"
"Only if you promise to keep your head held high for the rest of the day."
"I promise!" Chrys said, wiping away the last of her tears. She flashed her mother a great big smile and hopped off her lap. "I'm going to finish getting ready," she announced before running out of the room.
"Am I being too soft on her?" Weiss asked the photograph. "Oh who am I kidding," she sighed. "I know you used to get her ice-cream and candy before school."
By the time Weiss finished dressing, Chrys was already waiting by the front door with her My Little Budgie backpack beside her. And even though it was early autumn, Chrys looked like a pretty patch of spring in her bright yellow tights and favourite green coat.
Weiss knelt down in front of Chrys and adjusted her beret to sit more comfortably on her head. She also took the time to adjust her coat and make sure her shoes were on properly. Chrys didn't fuss at all and even helped by holding her arms out.
"You're looking so grown up, mon coeur," Weiss said as she got up and fetched her keys from the table by the door.
Chrys beamed at the compliment and followed Weiss out the door with her backpack in tow. Weiss held her hand out for Chrys to take and they walked hand-in-hand until they got to the car. Chrys climbed into the back and took the middle seat, buckling herself up before her mother did it for her, though Weiss still double-checked out of necessity.
"Are we still going for ice-cream?" Chrys asked when Weiss got into the driver's seat.
"A promise is a promise," Weiss replied as she started the car up and guided it out of the underground car park.
"Yay!" Chrys exclaimed, hugging her backpack tight. "Can I get vanilla?"
"Of course you can."
The drive to the closest Big Mack's was spent singing along to the radio, though the drive after was much quieter since Chrys was preoccupied with her soft serve ice-cream. Weiss had ordered herself a black coffee and a dozen assorted donuts for her assistants to share.
"Make sure you finish your ice-cream before we get to school," Weiss said, eyeing her daughter from the rear-view mirror. "We don't want anyone getting jealous."
"Oui, Mama," Chrys obediently nodded.
And true to her word, Chrys finished just as they pulled into the school parking lot.
Weiss waited until Chrys finished chewing to get out of the car. She helped her out and walked with her to the play structure where three children Chrys' age, two girls and one boy, ran up to them, calling Chrys' name eagerly.
Heizell, Briar, and Donovaughn were Chrys' closest friends in Vale. Chrys told Weiss that they were the only ones who didn't make fun of her accent or tease her mispronunciations, immediately putting them in Weiss' good book. Their parents were also genuinely nice people, always inviting Chrys over, practically stealing her away from Weiss whenever they could. Weiss didn't mind too much since it gave her some precious "me time" after work.
"Hi, Chryssie, hi Chryssie's mom!" the boy said with a big grin.
"Hello, Donovaughn," Weiss said. "It's good to see you so energetic in the morning."
"Hehe!" Donovan laughed, blushing under Weiss' attention. "Thanks."
Chrys glared at him.
"He's just happy to see you, Mrs. Adel," said Heizell on Donovan's right. "I think he has a crush on you," she snickered, her teasing green eyes aimed at Chrys.
Weiss blushed, surprised by Heizell's bluntness.
"What?! No!" Chrys yelled, hugging Weiss' waist tight. "Mama only loves me and Maman!"
"W-What?! I don't—ugh, girls are so weird!" Donovaughn screamed in a panic before running away. The girls he left behind giggled in his wake and high-fived like a couple of tried and true villainesses.
"You're so lucky to have such a pretty mommy, Chryssie," Briar said, stepping closer to a grumpy Chrys.
"She's the prettiest mama ever," Chrys replied, letting go of Weiss now that Donovaughn was gone. "And my maman is the coolest!"
Weiss watched Chrys tell her friends all the reasons why her parents were the best with a proud smile. Chrys was so genuine with her adoration it warmed Weiss' heart. She could honestly sit and listen to Chrys talk all day, but Neptune and Ciel were probably already at the office waiting for her.
"It's about time I get going," Weiss announced with a frown. She knelt down and hugged Chrys tight, giving her a kiss on the cheek before they pulled apart. "Oh, I left a little something there," she chuckled as she tried to rub the stubborn lipstick off Chrys' cheek.
"M-Mama!" Chrys whined in embarrassment, pushing her mother's hand away.
"Shush, you weren't this fussy when we were at home."
"That's because we weren't in front of my friends!" Chrys pouted.
Weiss rolled her eyes. "Fine. You can walk around with it on all day then."
Chrys blanched in horror and quickly tried to wipe the lipstick stain off on her sleeve, but the coat was about as effective as Weiss' thumb.
"Mama…"
"I thought so, now hold still," Weiss said with her handkerchief in hand. She managed to rub the lipstick off for the most part but there was still a barely noticeable mark left that Chrys would need to wash off later. "I'll see you after school, okay?"
"Okay," Chrys nodded, giving Weiss one last hug.
"Keep your head held high," Weiss whispered into her ear. "You're an Adel, and Adels are noble people. Do not let anyone talk down to you."
"Oui, Mama."
"Good." Weiss looked her daughter in the eyes and cupped her face with both hands. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Weiss looked at Chrys' friends and nudged her daughter towards them. "Take care of her for me, okay?"
"We will!" the two girls said in unison.
Watching Chrys look back as she ran off with her friends left Weiss feeling strangely nostalgic. She couldn't remember a single time she ever did the same during her childhood so it made no sense.
"I must be losing it," Weiss said to herself wearily.
The walk back to her car was an apprehensive one. Weiss could feel several pairs of eyes on her, but whenever she looked around, she couldn't see anyone of note except for one familiar woman who was blatantly sneering at her. She had introduced herself to Weiss on the first day of school under a friendly pretense, but after learning a little more about her, every interaction after that was about as pleasant as nails on a chalkboard.
The woman was a pretentious high school bully in a forty-five-year-old's aging body. Her name was—Weiss couldn't remember. She was as forgettable as milk in the back of a full fridge. And if Weiss was being completely honest, she aged just as well.
Mme. Lait was, as usual, surrounded by a gaggle of middle-aged women who were all dressed similarly in garish, bright colours and frills. It was clear to Weiss that these women had nothing better to do other than gossip before going back home to their unfulfilling lives. Weiss didn't envy them in the slightest, and she'd avoid them like the plague… if they weren't currently standing between her and her car.
Oh god damn it, kill me now, Weiss groaned internally.
The sneering woman whispered something before breaking away from her pack. She shooshed them angrily as she stared down at Weiss with a pencil thin eyebrow raised. Weiss kept her head held high though, refusing to play this childish game.
"No chauffeur today?" Mme. Lait asked, cocking her hip to the left.
Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. She could feel the onset of a migraine coming. "Can you please step away from my vehicle?" she asked politely.
"Oh, this is your car?" the woman gasped before turning to her friends who gasped in surprise as well. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were old enough to drive."
The urge to punch this witch in the face was so tempting. Weiss could do it—she's done it a million times in her head—but what would that teach Chrys?
"Yes, this is my car," Weiss replied, clenching her fists. "Now will you please step away from it."
"So you say, but it's still hard to believe," Mme. Lait chuckled. "Car this nice—what's your secret?"
"A job?" Weiss snidely shot back. "Look, you and your friends do this every morning. Don't you have anything better to do other than harass me?"
"Harass you? Oh, darling, we're just trying to get to know you," said a woman from the pack. "It's nothing personal. We're just curious."
"'Nothing personal'? Hardly." Weiss scoffed at the women heckling her. "You've mocked me for my age, height, and clothes, what's next—my sex life?"
The women all balked in unison, scandalized by Weiss and her unfiltered Atlesian mouth.
"You might think you're wearing me down and proving yourselves superior, but, truthfully, all this has taught is me is that you're all jealous I'm younger, prettier, and much, much wealthier than all of you combined."
Weiss ended her sentence with a smile, but she wasn't done yet. She pulled her keys out and started the car with a push of a button. The powerful engine roared to life, giving the women crowding it a bit of a fright. Weiss activated the driver's-side door next and happily watched as her tormentors scattered to avoid the rising metal.
"Never seen a scissor door before, ladies?" Weiss asked. "They're the latest fad in Atlas."
"Are you insane?! You almost gave me a heart attack!" one of the women screamed, red faced and panting. She had a hand pressed against her chest, showing Weiss her fancy diamond ring.
"No, just annoyed." Weiss ignored the women as she got into the driver's seat and, just before she pulled her door down, shot them a warning, "Do this again and you'll be hearing from my lawyers."
Weiss revved the engine and carefully pulled out of the parking lot, making sure no curious children were drawn to the noise her "super cool awesome" car made. The women, whose names Weiss still couldn't remember, were back to gossiping like nothing happened, no doubt to laugh at Weiss and her empty threat.
While Weiss found the whole situation bothersome, she was disappointed she couldn't actually get her lawyers involved. It would've been hilarious to see her overpaid suits try and work a literal schoolyard squabble into a case.
When the stop sign turned red at a busy intersection, Weiss used the time to take a sip of her coffee.
"Damn it," she cursed.
The coffee was, once again, lukewarm at best, but it was still too cold for Weiss. She was starting to regret even getting it now that the cheap coffee aftertaste settled in her mouth.
"This is what you get for buying a cheap cuppa joe, Blue."
"Ugh," Weiss groaned, putting the cup back into the holder just as the light turned green.
And as she drew closer to her destination, the urge to stop by Ruby's café grew. And, no, it wasn't so she could see her. Weiss needed a good cup of coffee to start her morning or else heads would roll in the wake of her uncaffeinated tyranny—it definitely wasn't to see Ruby. Though, it would be nice to see a friendly face before work…
Weiss tapped her steering wheel twice. She couldn't do it. She just couldn't. First of all, what would Ruby say if she saw her roll up in a car people could only see in pictures and movies? Their burgeoning friendship would end right then and there. Weiss could spin another lie to try and salvage the situation, but all that would accomplish was lead her down a deeper hole.
"Why didn't I just tell her the truth?" Weiss groaned. All of her problems would've been solved if she hadn't been so worried about Ruby's opinion.
She tapped the wheel again, her eyes darkening. She had made a decision.
Weiss drove past the café without a second glance and headed straight to her company's underground parking lot only to find someone had stolen her space.
An even longer groan disrupted the peaceful silence in Weiss' car. She knew the chauvinistic dipshit that stole her spot.
"Merde!" Weiss swore, thumping her forehead against the steering wheel. "No, no, no!"
He wasn't supposed to be here yet, she still had two hours! Why didn't Ciel or Neptune warn—Weiss' eyes shot wide open, reaching into the back for her purse. She frantically dug through it but came out empty.
"No, no, no, no, no!" Weiss threw her purse to the side angrily and thumped the back of her head against her headrest. She forgot her scroll at home. Her assistants were probably blowing it up trying to get a hold of her all morning. "God damn it, Weiss, get your head on straight!"
First things first: get that asshole's car towed. It was the company president's exclusive spot, not a man-child's. There was even a sign warning people not to park there without permission or they'd be towed. But this was more than just a clear defiance of her authority, it was a power move. The bastard was confident enough to think his actions wouldn't have consequences—he was wrong.
Weiss worked hard for her position, so it was only fair she exercise her right to have him removed. She climbed to the top from the bottom. Her mother-in-law had nothing to do with this. It was all Weiss and no one else.
Get it together, get it together, Weiss furiously chanted in her head. Don't let this shake you. He's nothing.
Gritting her teeth, Weiss wrapped her fingers around the steering wheel then fanned them out, curling them back slowly one by one.
Get it together, Weiss. Breathe.
Weiss took a deep breath in, filling her lungs to the brim before exhaling through her mouth. Her therapist's wise words came to mind, reminding her to take things one at a time and to think before acting. She needed to play this cool. Ice cool. Or as her wife used to say "Weiss cool."
"God damn it," Weiss said, chuckling a little as she forced back a smile. She took another deep, calming breath and readjusted her glasses. "Calm, cool, and in charge. You can do this, Weiss."
She peeled out of the lot and parked in the first spot she found in front of her building. Taking her purse, her donuts, and her nasty cold coffee, Weiss walked in through the front doors. The employees milling through the main floor immediatelycstopped and stared at her, some even scampering away to avoid being in her path. No one dared to speak to her, but she could hear them whispering. Weiss wondered why they were so spooked, but her answer came from the gentle giant she had manning security near the front desk.
"Mrs. Adel!" Yatsuhashi exclaimed. He stood and bowed before her. "Ciel and Neptune have been trying to get a hold of you all morning!"
Weiss clicked her tongue. "I forgot my scroll at home—oh, before we get to business, have a donut, Yatsu. You deserve treat."
Yatsuhashi stared at the box of donuts his boss held open for him and picked the one that called to him the most. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Weiss replied smoothly, closing the box. "Now, I have a bit of a problem, my friend. There's a car that isn't mine in my parking space."
Yatsuhashi quirked an eyebrow, his interest piqued.
"Send out a PA warning the driver of a silver Ventley that his car will be towed if he doesn't park it elsewhere immediately," Weiss continued. "Also, keep an eye out for my car. I had to park it in front—which was a really stupid idea now that I think about."
"Haven't had your coffee yet?" Yatsuhashi asked with a knowing smile.
"You have no idea," Weiss grumbled. "Anyway, if that salaud goes anywhere near my baby, take him down. Alright, now you may send out that PA."
"Understood," he replied, sitting down and picking up his phone.
Weiss watched him work with a happy smile. She knew the moment the public announcement went out, the leech harassing her assistants would have one of them call Yatsuhashi to override the command. And not even a second later…
Yatsuhashi silently offered Weiss the phone respectfully.
"All according to plan," Weiss said, smiling even wider when she got a low rumbling chuckle out of Yatsu. "Hello?"
"You!" screamed a furious man.
"Yes, me." Weiss pushed aside her warring feelings and held her head up high. She was in the right. This was her company, not his. "Get your car out of my parking space now."
"You mean my parking space! You stole my job, fired my employees, and now you're—"
Weiss hung up before he could say another word. She shot Yatsuhashi a tired look before instructing him to call the towing service. He nodded in understanding and got straight to work. Weiss left him behind to face her next challenge: the public elevator. The moment she stepped in all the people filed out like scared sheep.
"Damn it," she cursed, staring at all the floors she'd have to stop at before reaching her office on the top floor. I miss my private elevator…
Ten unnecessary stops and an eternity of dread later, Weiss finally reached the twenty-seventh floor only to be besieged by the joyous cries of her frantic assistants before the elevator even finished opening its doors. Weiss stepped into a scene straight out of a catastrophe novel.
"What the hell happened here?!" Weiss shrieked as she surveyed the damage.
Papers and pens were scattered everywhere along with the shattered remains of the little knickknacks Neptune loved to collect on his desk. Ciel's workstation was relatively unscathed compared to Neptune's decimated half. The only casualty on her side was her phone and a potted plant that was two days away from death either way; it was strewn across the room, lying in a mound of dirt and broken clay.
"Mrs. Adel, oh thank god you're here!" Ciel cried out in relief. She was holding a sobbing young man with striking blue hair to her chest doing her best to comfort him.
"Neptune!" Weiss put everything she was carrying onto the reception desk and rushed to his side. She looked at Ciel, silently asking her what happened.
"Mr. hawthorne, ma'am," she responded shakily. "He threw a tantrum after you hung up on him and—"
Weiss followed Ciel's gaze to the door leading to her office and saw red. It was shut, but there was only one place he could be.
"He's sitting in my chair right now, isn't he?"
"Most likely, ma'am."
Weiss had several photos of her family on the wall and on her desk. Hawthorne had chastised her for being sentimental the last time he was there. He tried to pick one up but Weiss grabbed his wrist before he could. Weiss didn't want to imagine what he'd do now that he was in there alone.
"What did he say to Neptune?" Weiss asked.
At the sound of his name, Neptune looked up, mascara dripping down his cheeks like runny ink. "Oh, now you show up!"
Ordinarily, Weiss would never allow an employee speak to her the way Neptune did, but since he was her best friend and no one else aside from Ciel was around, she allowed him to air his grievances.
"Girl, you forgot your waterproof mascara," Weiss said with a wince, feeling sorry for Ciel's white blouse.
"Bitch, I didn't think I'd need it today!" Neptune cried, angrily snatching some tissues to dab around his eyes. "And there better be something long, chocolatey, and stuffed to the brim with sticky, white cream in that box of yours."
Ciel's jaw dropped.
"Ugh…" Weiss groaned.
"You are a disgusting man, Neptune," Ciel added, smacking him on the shoulder. "And you are paying for my dry-cleaning!"
"Ow! I'm delicate," Neptune cried, pinching Ciel back.
"Hardly," Ciel muttered.
"Excuse you," Neptune said. "I am a delicate flower!"
"A pansy?" Ciel teased.
"I hate you," Neptune grumbled.
"I love you too, but you're still paying for my dry-cleaning."
Neptune gasped in shock. "I am under duress—duress, bitch—and all you care about is your stupid clearance sale blouse!"
"You take that back!" Ciel said
"You're right, I do—I love your blouse. It looks super cute on you!" Neptune tearfully apologized. "Brings out your eyes."
"Damn straight I look cute in it—now stop rubbing your snot all over it, you nasty ho!" Ciel growled.
Witty banter and euphemisms aside, Weiss wasn't going to allow her assistant to continue looking like a thrice divorced woman weeping over the "untimely" death of her fourth husband. She got her makeup kit out from her purse and smacked Neptune's shoulder with it.
"Alright, alright, enough. Get it together, Neptune," Weiss said. "The last time an old man in a suit made you cry you kicked him to the curb. Hawthorne is nothing compared to you."
Then for fun, Weiss smacked him again.
"Why is everyone hitting me today?!" Neptune yelped.
"Because you're acting like a whiny child," Weiss said, opening the kit to hand him her waterproof mascara. "Get. It. Together, girl."
Neptune glared at her and then at the mascara before sighing in acceptance.
"You're right, you're right," he agreed, the last of his tears falling. "My father at least knew how to wear a suit. And speaking of suits, lookin' good, Icy Mama!" he said, snapping his fingers. "Lovin' the black and gold."
"'Nothing pisses a man off more than a woman who can wear a suit better than him,' " Weiss replied with a confident smirk and a raised eyebrow.
"You haven't had your morning coffee yet have you?" Ciel chimed with a burgeoning smile on her normally stoic face.
"No, I have not and that's pissing me off!" Weiss said.
"Should I get you a cup?"
"No."
Weiss adjusted her glasses as she stood and calmly rounded the desk, careful of the pens and pencils laying about. She kept her gaze low to the ground, burning the mess on her floor to memory. Her janitors worked hard to keep the building spotless, but this mess wasn't going to be theirs to clean.
Weiss clenched her teeth.
Every piece of crumpled paper, shattered glass, and tear that Neptune shed was a nail in Hawthorne's coffin. And if he so much as even looks at a picture of Chrys or her family, Weiss was going to hammer in the final nail herself.
"Weiss?" Ciel timidly called, breaking the formality she strictly adhered to at work.
"Yes?"
"Should I call security?"
"No." Weiss grasped the handle to her office firmly, her furious blue eyes locking with Ciel's. "He's mine."