Rarely did Weiss feel the need to snap at someone. Usually, they would catch the hint from a cold glare sent their way, but that was in Atlas where people were actually aware of social cues and the like. The problem was the uneducated, unrefined folks in Vale. Here, one girl in particular stood out and annoyed her the most.
Weiss had been bumping into her for weeks, so her patience was wearing thin. Weiss couldn't understand why the gym owner let her set foot in here so casually. It was hard enough to focus or feel some sense of safety with one of her people at the gym, but on some days, there would be a whole busload of them.
The place was infested.
She could never stand the sight of them all clamped up together — much less the pungent stench they carried with them. It was god-awful, sticking to her clothes and equipment. To top it all off, this girl persisted on using the gym equipment right as Weiss was about to use it herself. Weiss didn't know what her deal was, but it had to be on purpose at that point. She'd get away with it only because Weiss would let her.
Weiss wasn't so heartless. She'd considered the possibility that the girl might not have been welcome in other gyms… how pitiful was that? She should be thankful for Weiss' show of leniency. Instead, the girl would give her this look of unbothered ambers.
An odd one she was, showing up at the strangest hours. She'd already be here by the time Weiss entered, and at night, she'd be the last to leave. Rain or shine, she was there. Yet, for all the time she spent at the gym, she never talked to anyone.
Weiss couldn't wrap her head around this girl.
Was it deliberate? An act to gain sympathy? Was that all this was? Walking in with tattered clothes to gain entry and food — she was living the life.
The worst part was how absolutely clueless everyone else was, just letting her roam the place and do as she pleased. Couldn't they see she was different? It's like they didn't even care!
Thankfully, her sister had arrived for a visit. She could use someone with more sense to talk to. Whatever happens, she could always count on Winter.
"How have you been?" Winter asked while stirring her tea.
"I've been better," was Weiss' short response, which made her sister raise an eyebrow.
"Oh? Why is that?" When she was met with silence, she added, "Is there something bothering you?"
There was a lot, in fact. But she didn't want the first topic of their discussion to be so gloomy and depressing. Winter was finally here, so first things first.
"I really missed you," she answered honestly, and Winter placed a hand on top of hers.
"I've missed you too. Believe me, I'd visit you every day if I could, but this is an essential stage of your life," she explained. "You have the opportunity to figure yourself out for the first time without the influence of your family."
That is true. It had been a longtime dream of hers to leave Atlas and have a taste of freedom to build her own character. However, after years of social conformity and people-pleasing, she quickly realized she didn't know where to start. After all, this was the first time she was presented with this task.
It is believed that we often imitate those we admire. Their values in life, their personalities, even their looks. In her case, she had Winter. She was the only one who stepped up to be a proper role model for Weiss, so pushing her worries aside, she looked at her situation from Winter's point of view and regarded it as a challenge.
"There is that, I suppose."
"And? How is that working for you?" Winter inquired, taking a sip of her drink.
"It feels… different."
"Different can be good." Again, she replied with such confidence that Weiss couldn't help but be convinced.
Right in front of her, Winter radiated an aura that portrayed she was wiser beyond her years, and it only made Weiss look up to her more. Who wouldn't be impressed by her achievements? Being able to live on her own, having only herself to rely on for her whole life — she was perfect. But Winter had discouraged Weiss from describing her as such, claiming that she was just as flawed as anybody else. It almost made her want to ask…
"Did you ever feel like this when you moved out?"
"I've had my moments. Everyone has. If you feel lost, I'm sure there's tens of thousands who struggle the same way."
Weiss snorted. "Oh, certainly. Now that you mention it, there's this faunus girl that I keep bumping into at the gym. Dark circles under her eyes, dirty clothes. It's like she wants us to hand her money with the way she presents herself."
"I beg your pardon?" Winter paused from stirring her tea.
"You know how some faunus dress up to look poor?" Weiss suggested, as if her sister understood while idly picking at her food. "You can never be too sure these days, but the gym owner falls for it all the time. He gives her free access to all the equipment and even hands her free meals. I mean, how could you take advantage of a person like that? You have got to be the lowest of the low if you-"
"Weiss."
"Yes?" she paused from her rambling to look up, completely unbothered. It deeply contrasted Winter as her eyebrows knit together and a frown set on her lips, yet her anger wasn't prominent. If Weiss were to be asked, she looked sad… and appalled.
"That's the one thing I wish you'd never inherited from him…" Winter said with her head hung low and her hands lightly rubbing on her mug.
The mood shifted from a casual Saturday brunch to something entirely different and tense, like she'd mistakenly placed herself on a hot seat. What's even more concerning was Winter's prolonged silence. There were times when they enjoyed the absence of noise or small talk, in favor of simply appreciating each other's presence. But this seemed more like Winter was taking the time to weigh out options in her head, calculating whether or not she should go through with this discussion.
It reminded her too well of the few moments before an argument would explode at home — the instability and the fear of saying one thing out of line that would detonate a bomb.
Unable to quiet her anxieties, she asked, "Did I say something wrong?"
"Weiss… have you ever tried talking to her? At least once?"
"No? Do I have to?"
"Do you even know her name?"
"No. What's the point of all this?" she asked with a slight raise in her voice.
"The point is," Winter began calmly, but firmly. "How do you know all that you've said is true if you don't know the first thing about that girl?"
The question had Weiss stumped. Why was Winter defending a stranger all of a sudden? And not only a stranger, she was defending one of those people.
"She's a faunus. I think that says enough."
"And you're a Schnee," Winter replied just as fast. "But you don't like being associated with our father. You traveled across Remnant to cut ties with him and be your own boxer, but you haven't had much luck, I presume?"
"I… no."
"White hair, blue eyes, and —" Winter pointed at the snowflake symbol on Weiss' shirt, "— the mark of a Schnee. As soon as anyone spots any of the three, they steer clear. They don't want any trouble."
Patiently, she let the words linger in the air before delivering the final blow.
"In vulgar terms, they don't want anything to do with a jackass."
Weiss pursed her lip and found it hard to meet her sister's eyes, so she settled for staring at the table as if a snappy comeback would reveal itself if she analyzed the wood hard enough. But there was nothing she could say to battle the cold hard facts presented to her.
"Don't get me wrong," Winter said. "I'm not mad, but I am disappointed."
Hearing that only stirred up heavy emotions in Weiss' stomach. Guilt pressed down on her while embarrassment flared up her cheeks. Even in her own house, the right words could make her feel small again. She didn't want to be here, she didn't want to have this conversation, but her feet were planted to the floor and Winter's fixed gaze prevented her from leaving.
"I'm sorry…" Weiss said without directing it to anyone in particular.
"Who are you apologizing to?" Winter asked, sensing the insincerity behind the apology. "Think about that more."
When she stood up, Weiss glanced at her sister's now empty cup and pushed her chair back to follow Winter.
"Y-you're leaving?"
Pausing at the door, she replied, "I thought I'd informed you that this was just a quick stop."
By then, Weiss noticed the cab that's been parked outside this entire time.
"Oh… right."
The sinking feeling in her chest amplified, making her drop her shoulders. If it was a short visit, she should've made the most of it. Instead, she just had to go ahead and ruin it… Winter had been looking forward to it, too. But how was she even supposed to know Winter meant 'a quick stop' literally? If anything, she thought they'd at least be able to spend the afternoon together.
Now, she had to wait another few months to see her again. If only she'd pulled herself together earlier… before Winter could've seen the cracks into her interior.
A gentle hand on her shoulder pulled her out of her thoughts.
"You may not be able to solve all your problems at once, but this could be a start."
"How are you so sure?" she asked with the same amount of innocence as she did when they were kids.
With a warm smile, Winter answered, "You have a good heart, Weiss. And a good heart isn't one that's perfect, but one that always tries."
She held Weiss close, lending her support and affection. In that brief moment, Weiss savored the security that came with Winter's embrace. It told her she was going to be okay, and more importantly, that she'll get through this with her own strength, in her own time.
"You can do that, right?"
Weiss nodded into the hug.
"Then you'll be just fine. I have to go now. You ought to bring me good news in the following week," she said with a knowing smile before entering the cab.
"Goodbye, Winter," she sighed as she watched the vehicle carry her sister away.
Even after the cab was nowhere in sight, she remained standing outside while analyzing Winter's words. The advice could work as a stand-alone, but Winter was never the type to spoon feed Weiss. There was something missing… something that would only make itself clear once Weiss put in the effort. Winter always liked challenging her that way.
And so, she was left with another question.
"Always tries to what?"
The very next day, Weiss went to the gym. Surprisingly, the girl was nowhere to be found. Checking the time on her phone, Weiss began pacing.
She should be here by now, so what was with the hold up? Did she somehow sense that Weiss was going to approach her today and decided to skip a workout? That wouldn't be too far-fetched, considering that Weiss basically spent the previous day thinking about her. But she wasn't even going to start a fight! She was here to apologize.
Although, it was probably a good thing that she wasn't at the gym yet, because Weiss had no idea how to start. Hey? Sorry I kept giving you nasty side glances? Sorry I aggressively wipe the equipment after you use them?
For all her knowledge on speeches, she never had the talent for making apologies. Did she even have to think that hard? There was always the option of an impromptu conversation, and it seemed like the most appropriate approach for such a topic.
Great! She figured that out… sort of. Now, all she had to do was wait.
She let seconds go by, then minutes. Aaaaand this was getting boring. Grabbing her phone, she did the most logical thing to do: scroll endlessly past ads, movie trailers, news articles. A mix of glowing colors reflected on Weiss' skin as she mindlessly skimmed through different thumbnails.
Until a familiar patch of black caught her eye.
Scrolling back instantly, her face scrunched as she read the headline.
With slightly lowered eyebrows, she whispered, "Shadow Boxer sightings… looks like she's found a new haven in Vale…"
The picture featured the very same girl she was waiting for, entering a restaurant while checking for onlookers behind her. Weiss stared for a good second to make sure and… it was undoubtedly her. She continued reading, the crease on her forehead only increasing at the information relayed to her.
Blood loss. Final round. Paramedics. Critical condition.
That was only the most recent incident. Upon opening related articles, she soon came to the conclusion that this girl had a track record that was far from clean. Everything from her most prominent fights was described in great detail. Brutal, merciless victories with the same ominous glowing eyes. Her supposedly black gloves dipped in thick maroon.
It was hard to look away. The more she scrolled, the more gruesome the photos were. Seemingly lifeless corpses laid next to her as she held the champion's belt up high.
Then, just as if the photo came to life, the girl entered the gym right when Weiss lowered her phone.
As she passed, they briefly made eye contact, raising goosebumps along Weiss' arms and neck. Her breath caught in her throat while the realization sank in of what she was about to do and who she was about to befriend, had she not stumbled upon the news.
She was spooked. But that fear quickly morphed into disgust, then anger.
Before she could go to her usual spot, stomping towards her, Weiss yelled, "You've got some nerve using this as your little hiding place!"
Right as Blake turned, she shoved the phone to her face, surprising her. Confused, she began reading before rolling her eyes and walking away to ignore her.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Weiss demanded, not planning on dropping the confrontation as she followed her.
Dropping her bag with a heavy thump, Blake answered, "I don't know, is there anything I can say that'll get you to shut up?"
The ferocity in her tone made it seem like she'd had this conversation thousands of times before.
When Weiss remained quiet, Blake picked up her stuff and proceeded to one of the benches to scour through the items inside her bag. At that point, Weiss had used up all of her patience. She couldn't stand the sight of Blake going in and out of the gym, living a normal life like she'd done nothing horrendous.
"You know, I was about to apologize to you! I genuinely thought I was wrong for once," she said, catching Blake's attention. "For a second, I thought not all faunus were animals, but I guess I misjudged you. We're nothing alike."
Leaning on the bench, Blake went with a harsher jab, hoping to end the one-sided conversation. "Do you always have this much free time on your hands? Also, I wouldn't trouble myself too much with that last part. The last thing I'd want to be is a Schnee."
That was the first time Weiss saw her smile, but her eyes gave away the poison in her words. Her name sounded filthy in her mouth, like someone you hated randomly using a term of endearment to taunt you.
"And the last thing I'd want to be is a murderer," Weiss snapped back, loud enough for other people to hear and turn their heads.
As soon as Blake noticed what she'd done, she walked dangerously closer, and whispered, "You have no idea what you're talking about."
"The innocent never run, Blake. Do you really think they let you in here because they're welcoming you? Or are they just afraid of what you'll do when you don't?" To further prove her point, she turned around.
Blake followed her gaze, and already, there were a bunch of onlookers scattered around the gym tuning in to the talk, keeping their distance and looking fearful for their safety.
With a smile, Weiss faced Blake head on.
"When the cat's away, the mice will play."
As she said that, she waited for Blake to make a move, knowing she'd lose either way. If the pressure got to Blake, she'd leave. For good, hopefully. If she fell into anger, she'd hit Weiss and only prove her point, spreading panic amongst the people.
Yet, unexpectedly, Blake clenched her fist then released the stress in slow, deep breaths.
"I wasn't running," she answered calmly, this time, leaving Weiss with a decision. "And if you want me to budge, then you're gonna have to chase me off."
Never one to back down, Weiss casually shrugged.
"Fine then."
The two wasted no time in transferring their squabble to a physical means, racing to the boxing ring and taking their respective corners. Weiss cussed herself when Blake snatched the corner with white gloves. The grin on Blake's face showed how pleased she was to get on her nerves, knowing Weiss would be irritated by their mismatched color pattern of black and white. And she was.
Blake didn't deserve the symbol that came with snow-white gloves — purity, honesty, and integrity. Those were the things that Weiss embodied. It was her symbol to the world as a boxer. Ever since the start of her career, she'd always worn white.
Right now, her goal was to take those back, and Blake wasn't going to get in the way of that.
In the ring, they almost skipped warmups in favor of heading straight to the good part, but they knew better than to fight with an unprepared body. The simple, yet crucial act of stretching alone could determine the fate of a fight.
Once they were good to go, Weiss was practically bouncing from heel to heel. This was a no-headgear match, which made things all the more risky, but interesting. With the last of her black gloves strapped in tightly, she smiled at her opponent.
Here comes trouble.
The fight started with a bang, much like their argument earlier. Blake, at first, was doing a horrible job at hiding her frustration, and it showed in her fighting style — heavy punches, even ones that merely passed by Weiss' head, were followed by a gust of wind.
Typically, those who let their temper grab a hold of them were doomed to lose in the ring. Their muscles were tense, their thinking wasn't rational. And if Blake kept overextending her arm for every punch like that, she'd break her own elbow without Weiss' help.
"At least try to pace yourself," she taunted with a laugh, and Blake momentarily lowered her gloves.
From the other side of the ring, Weiss couldn't spot exactly what it was, but there was a change in her opponent's demeanor, and for a second, there was a glint of mischief in her eyes.
"Just warming up."
As the words left Blake's mouth, she closed the gap between them, shattering Weiss straight in the jaw.
Now, that had her heart racing. One second, Blake was a meter away, and the next, there was a throbbing pain in her mouth, like landing face-first on concrete. And without protection, too. Her head, the most vulnerable area, would've been exposed to more attacks if she hadn't stepped away in the next second.
She kept her distance, watching Blake from afar. From the looks of it, she wasn't even exhausted from her earlier bursts of anger.
But was it really?
Bloodlust that could be faked, controlled…
Just who was this girl?
She would lunge forward and annoy Weiss with consistent jabs to the face. It was a game of mouse and cat — one that Blake visibly enjoyed.
At that point, she was warmed up and, recalling their interaction earlier, it seemed like Blake knew who she was, which meant she had an idea of her fighting style… She was just testing out if any of her defenses - her tendencies had changed since her last fight.
While Weiss was too occupied mocking her, Blake had gotten into her rhythm and studied that of her opponent.
"What, can't multitask?" she asked as though she'd read Weiss' thoughts. "I thought you said you were gonna chase me off."
It was a taunt — something to push her over the edge and lose her cool. But Weiss wasn't about to fall for it. Unlike Blake who could throw a tornado of punches without a hitch in her breath, Weiss had minimal stamina.
However, Weiss' thoughts were interrupted as a white meteor of a fist smashed her on the face, almost as if she was hit with a baseball, but instead of a broken window she got a red nose. The Schnee wheezed as tears formed in her eyes. She quickly rubbed her nose to alleviate the stinging sensation, but even her attempt to brush off the pain wasn't convincing anyone.
The faunus in front of her had a wide grin as she was forced to put her gloves against her mouth to hide her chuckle. The mere sight of this made Weiss see red as she pressed her teeth.
It was already personal, but this stupid cat was just asking for it now!
Not now, she had to control her temper… no, she could use it to her advantage instead. As Weiss took a quick breath, she maintained her frown towards her opponent and focused on concentrating her rage into thinking of a strategy to take the lead and get back at that insufferable faunus for her bravado.
Blake may have the upper hand at the moment, but now Weiss knows to take her seriously. And with the info she collected through that single encounter… she might just win this round.
Weiss was a swarmer facing an outboxer who relied on speed and distance. Often, Blake's type would win by points decisions rather than knockouts. Luckily for Weiss, today's fight didn't have a judge.
First, she needed to slow her down and she had the perfect tools for that.
As soon as Blake was within her range, she threw a head shot, one that Blake reacted to just as she planned. When she saw the opening, Weiss dug into her stomach and forced the air out of Blake with a pained cough.
Amateur fighters would always obsess over flashy head shots, but Weiss' techniques weren't just for show. A body shot was just as deadly when used right.
In front of her, Blake was almost crouching to defend her stomach. It was a weakened attempt. Any person wouldn't be able to stand straight after a surprise hit to their core. And judging from the meals usually given to her at the gym, she lacked the necessary nutrients to keep her in top shape. Give it enough time and the first to deteriorate would be her core muscles.
That was Blake's weakness, and Weiss had an eye for those.
After years of having to fight close range with little stamina, she's had to develop the ability for quick thinking. She's had to make use of the limited opportunities presented to her in swift, precise movements, using only the necessary energy to deliver a powerful hit.
From then on, Weiss would shuffle between blows to the body and the head, but over time, most were aimed at the head. Body shots would only be a hundred percent efficient if she had the timing right, especially if Blake was caught off guard.
But right as her body was being carried by the momentum — clash, slam, dip, repeat — Blake cut her off entirely, choosing to add some space between them. During the small intermission, both fighters had a moment to catch their breath.
However, Weiss wasn't going to let her recover fully, not when she'd made enough cracks into her walls. She went back in, throwing punches even with Blake backing up more often than she'd like.
She was shorter than Blake by only a few inches, but the difference was still there in the long strides Blake took while evading Weiss' attacks. By the time she'd realized it, she was breathing heavier than usual, while Blake was almost as she was in the beginning.
"I didn't think you'd actually chase me," she joked.
Quickly, Weiss caught on and blocked the same body shot that she'd used against Blake earlier. One hit like that and her energy would drain faster than usual. When she opened her eyes, Blake was already on the opposite side of the ring, but Weiss couldn't risk rushing in after her anymore.
Patiently, she stood her ground, ultimately forcing Blake to fight without one of her greatest advantages, and meeting her in the middle.
Blake had the crown for speed, but between them, Weiss easily overpowered her.
It helped that she was an A-class actress as well — deliberately leaving herself open, hands sagging in fake exhaustion to bait Blake into the offensive. It didn't matter that she was fast if Weiss was in control of her moves. Pretty soon, Blake was mixing up real attacks from feints.
Then in the blink of an eye, jabs suddenly rose in number, multiplying, all out to get their prey… but something was odd — none of them were power shots. What was Weiss doing? Was she trying to pressure her and put her into the defensive? That didn't seem like the brightest of ideas, as all she was going to accomplish was tire herself out and leave her open to be Blake's prey instead.
However, as both boxers' feet danced on the ring, something snapped Blake out of her thoughts. It was a cold feeling, one that sent shivers down her spine — a feeling of cool, solid rubber.
Her back just touched a corner.
In a moment of panic, Blake turned to watch her back in disbelief.
How did she get there?!
Despite her frantic state, she tried her best to calm herself. She stood her ground to give her enough time to analyze Weiss as she came in for another blow. If her eyes lingered in a certain area for too long, it would give her intentions away. And so, she waited… focusing on the eyes, anything that would give Weiss away.
Gulping, her heart drummed against her chest when Weiss dashed towards her with a hand coiled back, eyes locked on hers.
Weiss, with her ragged scar, stared her down frighteningly, enough to scare her into forming a solid barricade in front of her head. It was then that Weiss slowed down at the last second, redirecting her flow to exposed flesh.
Blake sank with the weight of a bowling ball pushing into her stomach.
She almost spat out her mouthpiece as her back hit the corner, causing a loud thud that echoed through the whole gym. Drool trickled on her chin as her body's only support was Weiss' arm pushing her against the corner, that was until Weiss slowly removed her glove from Blake's midsection.
Weiss was able to lower her guard, watching Blake wince in pain against the floor. There was a reason body shots worked so well against her. Firstly, it was one of the best moves for hindering her speed. Secondly, it wasn't just a physical attack; it was also a psychological one. With her breathing cut off, she began to panic like one would in a sinking ship. It was the feeling of water levels steadily rising, swallowing her as she struggled to gasp for air.
Blake was drowning.
Weiss was right. Take away her speed, and she was nothing.
But then… how did she manage to crush all those girls in the ring?
The heat that draped around her body like a blanket was finally rising to her head. Her breath was hot and shaky. Normally, she could last longer, but somewhere along their squabble, they'd forgotten to rest between each round. Nobody could go at that pace for that amount of time. Especially not Weiss.
However, she took a moment to look at her feet and see her handiwork in front of her…she may have been feeling a bit tired but she couldn't resist forming a smile on her lips from the satisfaction under her breaths.
Who was having fun now?
Weiss, instead of resting on a neutral corner, decided to take a step forward, then she put a glove on one of her hips and slowly leaned forward until Blake, still hugging her stomach, managed to get a good look at her between breaths and both had a moment to make eye contact.
"What's the matter? Poor cat can't take as much as she scratches?''she said with a wide grin on her face before slowly returning to a more relaxed stance.
Sweat rolled from her eyebrow and stung her eye, and in that split-second, Blake was already mid-swing. Her eyes widened as a white glove exploded in her chest, knocking her down into a sitting position.
Weiss scrambled to guard herself when she saw Blake coiling for another punch, but seconds passed and it never came. Hesitantly, she cracked open her eyes to see a fist mere inches away from her face.
"Thought I could teach you a thing or two about acting." Blake retracted her fist and gave her warning. "Stay down… for your own good."
This girl could say whatever cool lines she could think of. She wasn't fooling Weiss by calling that acting. Her attacks should be doing something.
She glanced at Blake up and down. Her eyes were unreadable as usual, but her legs were trembling.
Now… if she wanted to settle for a cheap fight, she really should've chosen a different boxer.
Spitting on the ground, Weiss struggled to regain her balance. It still felt like Blake had rammed a brick into her chest, but she urged her body with all her willpower. Using her glove, she pushed herself up and silently raised her fist to point at her foe.
Blake's eyes widened, but eventually, she mirrored the action. White and black stared each other down, both on the edge with serious frowns.
En garde.
They returned to their starting positions, circling each other with laser focus behind their gloves. There was a quick exchange, then a cobra strike that forced Weiss' head back. The last thing she saw was the ceiling before her eyes began filling with tears. Figures Blake would go for the eyes — everyone went for the eyes!
Opponents that faced Weiss blurred her vision whenever they were in a pinch. They had to keep her from analyzing them. So long as she had a plan, she never backed down. Without her vision, she was forced to fend for herself by swinging at the air in hopes of landing a hit. Blocks could only do so much, they still left openings for others to exploit. Yet the only option ate away at her already depleted energy and created an opportunity for them to do as they desired.
That was the tactic used against her in one of her worst defeats. Maybe now it won't just be droplets of blood… maybe now she'd swim in a warm pool of it.
She really should've anticipated this…
Bracing herself, she tried to absorb the blows as best as she could, at least until she could regain her vision. She wasn't going to be a punching bag. Focusing internally, she remembered the direction of each strike and their patterns. Soon enough, she could barely make out a blotch of black in front of her. She waited for the right moment to come, Blake throwing herself for a jab. And with her eyes closed, she slammed her fist into Blake's cheek at the same time Blake threw herself forward.
Her rhythm was thrown off and she stumbled with a yelp.
Rolling her wrists, Weiss squinted. Just a few ways beside her, Blake was lying on the floor.
In all honesty, Weiss didn't know how she managed to survive a round without her vision. Blake's fighting style wasn't matching up with the injuries inflicted on the other boxers either. There were deep cuts, blood painting the canvas. But all Weiss got at her most vulnerable moment were body shots? It didn't add up.
It was almost like… Blake was only trying to immobilize her this entire time without brutalizing her.
Something had changed. Between now and then, she was fighting a different Shadow Boxer, and Weiss was intent on getting answers.
"Get up."
Nothing. Blake remained wheezing on the ground.
Hey… don't be giving up so quickly now. Where did all that moxie from earlier go?
There was still the beating of her heart, her shaky but stubborn fists in front of her. Rarely did Weiss feel the need to snap. Usually a cold hard punch was enough to knock those lousy Atlesians out of the ring. The problem was the uneducated, hard-headed idiots in Vale. Before her was the girl who was undeniably the worst of them all.
To push her to this point, to rile her up all these weeks and shut her out after a glimpse of the truth — Weiss would never settle for such a shoddy outcome.
Frustrated at Blake's lack of response, she cried out, "If you have something to tell me, then let me hear every last bit of it! GET UP!"
A second later, Blake's ear twitched. She planted a glove on the ring and wobbly returned to her fighting stance.
The fight had been dragged on for long enough. At this point, they were worn down, acting with the last boost of adrenaline.
Blue and amber spoke to each other, knowing the fight was coming to an end.
In a flash, the two charged into the center of the ring at the same time to share a final exchange, carrying the deepest part of their souls.
This is who I am.
Remember me.
With the last of her strength, Weiss stabbed through Blake in a liver punch. And Blake, with all her fire, struck Weiss' eye in one clean slice.
With that, their bodies collapsed on the ground, thus ending and starting history.
Weiss laid there for what seemed like an hour, her vision fading in and out. The ceiling lights were nothing but blurry orbs too bright for her to process. She gulped, finally realizing how dry her mouth was. The floor was cool on her skin, but it still felt like she'd just exited from a sauna. She would've stayed down there if it weren't for the girl that walked up to her.
Weiss stared at the white gloves Blake offered, still as pure and fresh as before the fight started.
"Well?"
"Looks like I really was wrong for once." Weiss sighed as she took a hold of her hands.
Helping her up, Blake replied, "Knowing you? Wouldn't be the first time."
Weiss only rolled her eyes while they sat in silence. She wasn't sure what to say after that, but she figured she'd get one thing out of the way first.
"Sorry… about what I said. It wasn't my place."
As she spoke, Blake's ears perked up.
With the anger out of her system, she was able to think more clearly about Blake's reputation, about the news… how it all seemed so similar to her situation. For all her life, Weiss has lived under a microscope. People were so hungry for anything to write, they were willing to make outrageous, intrusive claims and theories. She's been a victim of countless rumors and pointless interviews that were hardly ever her own words because of the influence of scripts.
So if anyone were to doubt the credibility of the media, it would be Weiss Schnee. It was because of that shared struggle that she was now able to give Blake the benefit of the doubt.
"There's still a lot I don't understand, but I'm willing to listen," she said, unable to look into Blake's eyes. "If… you want to talk, that is."
Beside her, Blake smiled at an awkward Weiss.
"You realize we could've done that first."
"You think so?" She turned to Blake with a throbbing eye, and they both laughed.
For a moment, she felt a bit lighter and despite the injuries she sustained, this was probably the best thing about her week, which only made her regretful of the previous treatment she gave Blake all this time.
"Sorry, again. I got caught up in the moment. I saw the news and…"
"Everything escalated from there," Blake finished. "I've learned not to believe in everything the news says a long time ago. You'd think they'd have the decency to get off my back after months of laying low."
She focused her gaze on Weiss, repeating what had fallen on deaf ears earlier.
"What I said was true — I wasn't running away."
"What are you doing here then?"
"Taking some time to think? Everything's a mess at home. I just need to figure this out by myself," she replied. "What about you? Shouldn't you be in Atlas?"
Weiss was surprised by the sudden question. Still, she answered, although she left it short and vague.
"Same as you. But… it's a sad story."
"Let's take it slow then." She extended her glove. "Blake Belladonna."
Shaking her hand, she gave a thin smile. "Weiss Schnee."
At that moment, a man with black hair and kind eyes stepped into the ring — it was the gym owner.
"Are you girls alright?"
Weiss was quick to respond, "Oh, yes, we're fine. Apologies for the earlier commotion."
The man had been one of the few people watching their dispute before it erupted into a scuffle. At first, she couldn't tell if it was concern or fear of Blake in his eyes, but now she knew which of the two it was.
Softly, he spoke. "It's okay, I'm just happy to see you two work things out in the end."
He had an air of paternity and calmness around him, like he was meeting his daughter's friend for the first time.
"Weiss Schnee, was it? Please, take care of Blake from here on out. She may be headstrong and independent, but there are times when she wanders off on her own," he explained. "I'm sure you've noticed the bags under her eyes. I keep telling her to rest, but she insists on helping me around the gym before it opens."
"I only do it to repay you for your kindness…" Blake muttered.
"You don't have to worry about an old geezer like me." He smiled with crinkles in his eyes, like he'd been waiting for this moment before turning to Weiss. "She won't listen to me, but I'm sure she'll listen to her first friend. Take care of each other."
It was only when she nodded that he was able to relax and return to his usual spot behind the counter, somehow looking brighter than he usually did.
"He says that, but I wander off myself," Weiss mumbled, glancing at the black gloves in her hands.
With a gentle tap on Weiss' lap, Blake reassured, "I think we all have that tendency."
Weiss could only beam at the person that popped into her head when she saw Blake's gloves. White as snow, cold as ice, but warm and loving like the stars. She really owed today to her sister.
"It's just a matter of having the right people to pull you back, right?" Weiss said, and Blake nodded.
"What should we do now?"
"Coffee?" Weiss offered.
Blake's eyes softened.
"Tea."
That was the beginning of their friendship. It took adjustments here and there. There was the debate with oneself whether or not they should approach the other, maybe offer to spot them if need be. There was the hovering of thumbs over the 'send' button. But all friendships started with a healthy amount of tip-toeing, right? It was especially true for those who preferred to keep to themselves, and Blake was the queen of introverts. How weird was it that she spoke more openly during their fight than after?
Weiss took it upon herself to take initiative and discover more about this girl. In a week, she was able to learn Blake's favorite tea. In another, she discovered the secret to making Blake talk.
Books.
When the topic of books surfaced in their conversation, Blake took over and showed Weiss the land of mysteries and wonders. Whenever Weiss would mention a book she'd read in her childhood, Blake would perk up in a way she hadn't seen before. She'd go, 'You read that too? That one's a classic!' Then ramble about how the sequel had missed so many opportunities to explore the characters to their full potential.
Apparently, her attachment for literature started as early as she could remember, claiming it was even one of the biggest factors that shaped her own character, if not the biggest. It was the desire to do good for the people — a child's dream of having everyone get along. It was something so simple, yet… something she'd lost sight of.
Not long after the admission, Blake spoke of guilt, the burden that came with nearly claiming a life. It was much too unnecessary if there were more peaceful means to achieve her goal of equality. And while she couldn't make amends with a specific person at the moment, she was doing what she could to right her wrongs, so if the time were to come when she was ready to talk… Blake would be able to show her sincerity in the fight for change.
In the meantime, she trained endlessly and worked for everything she had — her place at the gym, her food, and her crumbling apartment. The first time Weiss saw the place, she couldn't grasp how a person could live in such terrible conditions, yet somehow Blake found the strength to continue each day all by herself. Then again, her life depended on it.
All over Remnant, there were faunus in much worse conditions than this, as hard as it was to believe. In comparison to the other kingdoms, Vale was somewhat tolerant, always striving for progress. And to think, Weiss had been in the way of that just a few months ago…
As the face of the SDC, she garnered white gloves that symbolized her objective of cleansing the boxing world by inhibiting the participation of all faunus. She believed they were vicious delinquents that used cheap tricks and abused their gifts. It was even said that when pushed too far, they would revert to animal instincts and go berserk, in some cases, killing another boxer in cold blood.
That was engraved into her mind… until Blake.
The way they clashed in the ring, the way Blake fought with excellence and propriety — but more importantly — the faint twinkle in her eyes when Weiss bought her a good book, the soft purrs she let out after a sip of lavender tea, and the glowing smile she gave while she talked about her hometown.
Weiss, after spending most of their time together, came to one indisputable conclusion: Blake, for all her reclusive, antisocial tendencies, was actually an incredibly tender-hearted open book. But the way she spoke was through actions. In everything she did, her efforts spoke more than words ever could.
With that realization came self-reproach. This entire time, Blake was actually a good person…
She had to make this right. Weiss had to make it up to her.
Blake wanted a hardcopy of the latest fantasy novel? It's on her shelf. Blake needed warmer clothes for the winter season? Check the closet.
She was about to continue her splurge until Blake herself confronted her about the wave of gifts.
That's not how you do it.
Although she was grateful, Blake explained that she wasn't a paragon for all faunus and that Weiss shouldn't overcompensate for a specific individual.
She had a point. It was something Weiss couldn't refute, so she eased on the lavish offertories, but never did she stop reflecting on herself, searching and searching for a purpose.
There must be something she could do.
Then one day, it clicked.
After weeks of typical Weiss-level overanalyzing, she invited Blake to the café.
"You said you had something important to tell me?"
"Yes… it's… it's important, yes."
Blake raised her eyebrow but said nothing. Weiss fiddled with her hands while trying to figure out how to go about this. The setting was already set — it was a calm afternoon at the patio from their favorite café. Barely any people passed by. It was just them and the light rustling of leaves with the wind.
Weiss just had to open her mouth.
"I've been thinking, Blake, you and I have been friends for quite some time now," she began, having the same look on her face as when she'd talk about Winter. "In many ways, I look up to you. To be driven by honest and genuine dreams, to move with purpose — it's like you've got everything figured out. You don't even brag or search for praise… you just do what you think is right for the sake of it."
Weiss paused briefly, her gaze focused on the table.
"For a long time, I couldn't understand that, and I'm sorry if I'm only saying this now. I should've realized sooner."
She looked up, seeing the curiosity in Blake's eyes, like she wasn't even aware of her good traits, like it was the first time she'd heard it in her entire life. Something about the image tugged at Weiss' heart.
It wasn't fair…
Why did Blake have to get the short end of the stick when she clearly deserved more? Why did she have to fight so hard for something Weiss overlooked? To be heard, accepted, and cared for. The most basic of all necessities — the freedom to just be.
Since when did people have to fight tooth and nail for that? Why did people have to fight for that?
What pricked Weiss' heart was the way Blake had just accepted that reality. Neither of them had control over it, but she was doing all she could. Even when faced by presumptuous jackasses like Weiss, she clung to her beliefs and showed Weiss exactly why she'd been on the wrong side of history. And Blake did all of that through kindness and understanding — something that had never been freely given to her.
Weiss gritted her teeth from the stress and the anger. But when she closed her eyes, her mind flashed the image of a white glove extended towards her. Instantly, she relaxed, but there was still a heavy feeling in her chest. If it wasn't anger, what else could it be… but sadness?
She didn't deserve compassion. She didn't deserve generosity. Still, she knew if Blake heard her thoughts, she'd convince her otherwise. That was just the type of person she was.
"You always did see the good in me," she said as her eyes stung with tears. "That day, you gave me the chance I selfishly deprived you of. And to think of how far we've come, I can't even begin to comprehend it…"
She sniffled, genuinely at a loss for an explanation. Her eyes pleaded with the shimmering of tears, as she released the question that had her awake at night.
"Why were you so nice to me when I was awful to you?"
The words stung, but saying it out loud was relieving. Blake must've been fed up with her all this time, or maybe not. Nobody knew. Blake was always inside her own head. Weiss had grown up with people putting up with her attitude for their own agendas. She'd been able to sense that from just about anyone, but with Blake, she couldn't read anything.
She knew she was missing a piece of the puzzle, but why else would someone be nice to her? It wasn't an issue about Blake's character — it was about hers. She had no problem with the idea that some people were just that selfless, but to believe that she deserved any remote act of kindness from Blake — after all she'd said and done, after being one of the symbols for an anti-faunus movement — Weiss struggled with that the most.
How could it be that two girls on opposite ends of the spectrum found friendship? How could she be so close to someone she wouldn't have given a passing glance just a few months ago?
She never imagined she'd get this attached to a friendship she didn't deserve. It was… selfish. But right now, she just wanted to know if it was real.
"Back then, I said the last thing I wanted to be was a Schnee," Blake spoke up, her expression hardly changing like always. "I only said that because, at the time, you were everything I was going up against — excessive, thoughtless hate. And don't get me wrong. I was moderately pissed even after the fight."
Hearing that, Weiss shrunk in her seat. But it didn't last long because the next few words were about to change her life.
"That's why I wanted to gauge your reaction first. It was always up to you."
Blake held her hand, and Weiss lifted her gaze to find ambers twinkling like the reflection of sunsets on a river. She was visibly touched by Weiss' words and she had no trouble lowering her guard, if only for a moment, to show tenderness.
"You don't know how long I'd waited for someone to just sit down and listen to me like you did," she went on. "You ask me why I was so nice? Weiss, it's because you gave us a chance. And for that, I'm grateful."
That last line was the final push that broke her already crumbling composure. Instantly, Weiss was overflowing with tears. Her bottom lip quivered as she tried to pull herself together, but she quickly gave up on that. Never had she experienced such an overwhelming wave of emotions — positive, wholesome ones anyway.
She dissolved into heavy sobs, her shoulders shaking from the relief. Never mind the waiter who was taking the next table's order. Never mind the people walking into the café. This moment was hers to remember.
As she wiped her tears, Blake switched seats to sit next to her and pulled her in for a delicate hug.
"Do you think we can put this behind us now?" Blake asked.
"No."
"But-"
"I don't want to forget," Weiss confessed. "I want to keep moving forward… with you."
Startled, Blake pulled away from the hug. "What are you-"
Without letting her finish, Weiss positioned herself to face Blake, her eyes still fresh with glistening tears and her cheeks a light red.
"Blake, if you'd let me, I promise you won't have to do this alone. However I can and whenever I can… it would be my honor to aid the Shadow Boxer."
"Weiss, you don't mean - What about your own career? Your own dreams? You can't just throw that away," Blake argued, but Weiss only smiled faintly.
"I'm not. I just found a better one."
That's right. Being a boxer would only bring her fame and money — something that had failed to bring her happiness in the past. But now, she'd found meaning in trust, loyalty, and compassion. Simplicity in a life-long struggle for perfection. If Blake would accept, she'd be able to devote herself to a bigger, more worthwhile cause.
So, in a delicate show of lowliness, Weiss bowed her head and clasped her hands forward like a knight would for an oath.
"Please… let me be your coach."
There was a lengthy wait, but Weiss kept her head low, until warm hands wrapped around hers in acceptance.
"You don't know how much this means to me." She hugged Weiss, still in shock as she replayed the moment in her mind to process what just happened. Then without a second thought, Blake clung to her tighter — the tears that rolled from her cheeks forming dark splotches on Weiss' sleeve.
They stayed in the embrace, for once, feeling somewhat healed, like they could both breathe fully and without worries. Any hesitation around each other was gone when they pulled away, wiping at their faces.
"Were you expecting that?" Weiss chuckled.
"Honestly?" she said. "No, because that totally just sounded like a confession at first."
"Blake!"
"'Blake, you and I have been friends for quite some time now,'" she said in her best Weiss imitation, complete with the silly fluttering of her eyelashes.
Covering the flush of her face, Weiss mumbled, "Gosh, you're right… I didn't have time for a script, okay?"
"So all of that was straight from the heart?" Blake nudged.
"Of course!"
Chuckling, Blake relaxed in their shared seat. "You're a good friend, Weiss."
"Tone down my sarcasm and maybe I would be." She jabbed at herself, making Blake's laugh grow in volume.
"That's what makes you special," she said finally while smiling.
Weiss accepted the compliment, not wanting to start a debate after all that.
"I guess this calls for a celebration?" She raised her hand to call a waiter, only to be stopped by Blake.
"You don't have to keep doing that anymore," she said as she raised her own hand while lowering Weiss'. "This one's on me."
That… was the first time someone offered to treat her. Then again, Blake had given her a lot of firsts. Including the worst headache of the millennia! Overanalyzing, staying up and questioning herself when the answer was so simple.
The girl with the golden eyes. The girl whose lifeline came in the form of boxing.
Blake Belladonna — the girl who'd rather die than watch injustice unravel before her.
A heart that always tries.
Weiss couldn't help but scoff when she pieced things together. So that's what Winter meant. Looks like she's actually gonna tell good news this time around. She was going to hear a lot of it, including the bad. But ever since then, they've had one goal.
Justice for the faunus.
"So? How'd you like that story?"
Ruby had her mouth wide open until Weiss motioned for her to close it.
"Wow… I mean, wow! You should tell more stories for when we have sleepovers!"
Weiss sipped her drink. "Maybe I will." She smirked as she watched Ruby beam at her response.
"The fight was as awesome as I expected it to be! And the moment you offered to be her coach! I was about to start tearing up myself if we weren't in the middle of a restaurant…"
"Sleepover story time it is. Make sure to bring lots of tissues."
If it was even possible, Ruby's smile grew wider, but it quickly dropped when she remembered something important.
"Is it okay that you told me about it?"
For a while, Weiss pondered the question. Part of her was happy to see that Ruby didn't think any less of Blake and that she actually considered her feelings.
"Her past isn't something she hides or tries to forget. It's something she faces head on. As her friend, I'm there to support her," she answered confidently. "Isn't it the same for you and Yang?"
Weiss expected an instant 'Heck yeah!' or even a simple nod of her head, but Ruby took longer to answer this time, mulling over what Weiss had considered to be an easy question.
"She makes me want to get better…" Ruby concluded with a hand on her chin.
Smiling at Ruby's little input, Weiss decided to give the sisters a push.
"That's how it is for me and Blake — a partnership. It only works if two people see eye to eye and communicate without reservations."
"Right." Ruby nodded. "But what about the thing your sister said… 'A heart that always tries.' Always tries to what?"
Curious silvers focused on her, eager for an answer, or with luck, a hint. With a pleased huff, Weiss set her glass on the table.
"It only works if you figure it out yourself."
As expected, Ruby took her advice and ran with it as soon as she could. For the whole ride home, it looked like she was solving the world's hardest riddle. Her head was already high up in the clouds. If Weiss hadn't opened the car door and led Ruby to the front porch, she would've stayed there for another hour.
When she looked up, she was shocked. She frantically glanced back and forth between Weiss' car and the front door to make sure she hadn't somehow magically teleported, which made Weiss giggle.
"Oh, um. Goodnight, Weiss. Thank you for tonight." She tried her best to give a happy expression, or at least tried not to let her nerves show while she held the doorknob, but Weiss frowned when she caught on.
The temptation to give another hint was there. She could even scratch that and just tell Ruby the answer to her question from before to save her from the struggle. Weiss didn't know how Winter had been able to withhold such simple words of advice from her at one of her lowest points, because seeing Ruby struggle in front of her, she could easily let the words slip.
But this was her challenge — just like it had been for Weiss. It was her turn to discover herself. The only thing Weiss could do and should do was offer another nudge, because she knew that was all Ruby needed. The rest she could figure out on her own.
Carefully, she placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You can do this," she reassured while they shared a look. "Goodnight, Ruby."
As she returned to her car and drove off, Ruby inhaled. She turned the knob and stepped into the light.
Here goes nothing.
She scanned the living room — No sign of Yang. Then her head popped out from the kitchen.
"Hey, chief! What took ya so long?" Yang walked into the dining room and placed a steaming pot of stew on a trivet.
"I, uh-"
"Did you get my gloves?"
…
"Shiiii-" Ruby slapped her forehead as she closed the door behind her. "I forgot them at the gym. Sorry."
Yang tilted her head. "You mean like how I 'forget' mine or…"
"I actually forgot! Promise!"
"That still doesn't explain why you were gone for four hours though," she said while taking her mittens off and setting them aside. In typical Yang-fashion, she crossed her hands on her chest, waiting for Ruby to fess up.
"Eh, well…" Ruby looked up to the ceiling for an escape, but gave in and spoke in a hushed voice when she found none. "I sorta bumped into Weiss on the way."
"Pause." Yang held her hand up before grabbing a chair and sitting down. "Okay, spill."
Spill? What was there to spill besides…
"We had a training session and dinner afterwards. She also told me about partnerships and open communication." Pausing, she made steady eye contact with her sister. "Yang, if I ask a question, will you answer honestly?"
Dropping the grin that appeared from the first half of Ruby's statement, Yang sat up straight, her attention directed fully on Ruby and whatever she had to say.
"Sure."
"Do you think…" she began hesitantly, fumbling with her hands. Yang's steady gaze on her didn't help in soothing her nerves either, but she gulped down her nervousness. "Do you think you can take the kid gloves off…? Starting today?"
Yang's eyebrow rose. However, her surprise didn't linger. She quickly composed herself to shoot back. "Why all of a sudden?"
Ugh. Typical Yang, answering a question with another question. Ruby just wanted to get this over with. If she really wanted to know, it was because…
"Because this is the only thing I can think of to repay you," she whispered almost inaudibly. She rubbed her thumb along her palm to hopefully get some friction in and get rid of the cold that was building up. Once she saw confusion instead of clearness in Yang's expression, she realized she had to push through the discomfort and explain further.
What else could Yang want but to fight in big arenas and face the toughest opponents? Ruby had been an outsider separate from that world, but with all the time they spent training together, she might as well be an amateur boxer. Sure, 'amateur' didn't sound as threatening, but it was a title given to someone who'd already taken the first step. Oftentimes, the first was the hardest, but Ruby made her decision.
She was going all the way.
Yet, up until now, Yang was careful not to shake her up too badly. She'd always have this guilt in her eyes when she'd hit Ruby too hard in the past, but then it defeated the purpose of having a sparring session in the first place.
"I can tell, you know, that you hold back…" For a split-second, her admission drew shock from Yang's eyes.
Ruby recalled her session with Weiss this afternoon. Her punches were the real deal. Some of them were even harder to defend against, unlike Yang's attacks, and it didn't make sense. Yang was a slugger — her punches should deal more damage. Heck, one of the biggest highlights of Yang's career was that one time she one-hit K.O.'d another girl. With that much raw power, she should've been able to uphold her record of zero defeats for a little longer.
And Ruby was well aware that the exhibition match didn't count — Yang had reassured her of that. Still, that day, she could sense how it diminished their morale… She knew if she didn't step up sooner, Yang would place more pressure on herself, taking responsibility for everything like usual. Ruby just wanted to alleviate some of that, little by little.
It was too much of a burden for Yang to do this by herself. Maybe she trusted Ruby to get better one day, and she could burn herself out by doing everything on her own, but Ruby couldn't just wait for that to happen. She had to actively pursue growth to be a worthy partner to Yang.
She had to do this now.
"Weiss told me what's important is the bond you have with your partner," she said, finally sneaking a glance at Yang. "And I know I'm your little sister, but for once… could you rely on me?"
Suddenly, it was Yang's turn on the hot seat. Determined silver eyes locked with hers as she scrambled for words.
"Well, I…" Yang pursed her lip as she ran a hand through her hair. She clearly hadn't expected such a declaration out of nowhere.
Ruby watched as Yang blinked several times, like she was fighting to keep her tears at bay. But eventually, she went in for a hug, holding Ruby close.
"I'll try," was all she said faintly.
From their embrace, Ruby could feel Yang's heart as if it were her own. It was a steady thump… thump… thump. It could be her exhaustion from today's training session, but it was almost like Yang was heavier than usual, like she was finally leaning onto Ruby for support.
"I knew you'd make the best partner." Yang squeezed her tightly, and as Ruby returned the gesture, there landed cool droplets on her shoulder.
"Does that mean…?" When Yang pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes, Ruby looked at her expectantly. "The kid gloves?"
"Off. Tossed 'em in the trash can." Yang said while pretending to throw invisible gloves into the nearest bin.
"We'll start training for real?"
"Yup! We're not stopping until the whole gym feels the heat!"
"And you'll stop popping out of thin air whenever I'm at the shop?"
Yang snapped her finger. "That, I can't promise. I have 24/7 visiting rights to practice." When Ruby pouted, she ruffled her hair. "But I'll ease up on that."
"Thanks, Yang," she sighed happily.
She could hardly believe it. They were going to do this together now! They were going to face bigger opponents like Blake and take them down! Ruby couldn't be happier with the outcome of today's quest.
And so, the two celebrated the beginning of honesty and trust. Whatever lies ahead, they need not worry about. Because for now, they could be at peace and appreciate the steady change of the present. Indeed, before gentler times could slip through their fingers, the universe with its divine mercy, granted them a chance — a chance to make the most of the calm before the storm.
Bonus scene 1: The Video Call
Weiss: Winter, you'll never guess what just happened!
Winter: You made a new friend?
Weiss: Yes, but we got into a fight at first *shows black eye*
Blake: *scooches into the frame with a beat up face* Hello
Winter: *horrified face*
Bonus scene 2: Free Cake
Blake: You don't have to keep doing that anymore. This one's on me. *orders coffee and tea*
-later-
Waiter: *lowers tray with B and W and a heart in between* Congratulations on your engagement! Would you like me to take a picture for the special occasion?
Blake/Weiss: *confused but comply grudgingly*
*waiter walks away*
Weiss: Is that okay?
Blake: Free cake.
Weiss: I agree, free cake. I'm sure he'll forget about this anyway.
-the present-
Blake/Weiss: *walk in*
Waiter: Ah! Mrs. and Mrs. Belladonna-Schnee! Or is it Schnee-Belladonna?
Blake, blushing: Just… Blake and Weiss, please.
Waiter: I see, still no wedding. I'm about to have gray hairs from all the waiting!
Weiss, covering her face: I'm about to have a funeral from all the embarrassment…
[The waiter knew they were faking it, but wanted to get back at them for taking the cake.]