Chapter 8: Black v. White

Between buying stuff she couldn't buy at Beacon and seeing all the dazzling decorations being designed for the upcoming Vytal Festival, Ruby was having a great time visiting Vale with her team.

The only downer was the awful stink of fish guts smothering Vale's portside docks. Weiss was so enthralled by the decorations that she didn't even complain about the smell, but Yang couldn't stand it and complained. Really loudly. Blake didn't seem to mind, since she really liked fish, but ever since they passed a police patrol, Ruby didn't hear a peep come out of her mouth.

Good thing Roman Torchwick's death wasn't on her criminal record. That meant as long as she didn't break any rules, she'd be safe and sound, but if Ruby didn't know she wasn't in danger of being arrested, she would have been just as wound up as her partner. She didn't want the police to go away, though.

A string of robberies forced Vale's police force to tighten security, leading to police cars or beat officers lurking around what felt like every single corner. They came across a Dust shop cordoned off by police tape. Pretty much all the Dust was gone, and according to the detectives guarding the shop, so was the money.

"Who needs this much Dust?" one of the detectives asked.

"An army, maybe," his partner answered. "I'm thinking the White Fang's responsible."

"Doesn't fit their MO. No one was hurt during any of the robberies."

"Point." The other detective sighed. "Hope we get a raise for all this extra work."

"It better be a big one."

The detectives went to guard a different section of the shop. Once they were out of earshot, Weiss sniffed in derision.

"The White Fang's definitely responsible."

"Didn't you hear those detectives?" Blake said. "It wasn't them."

"They're wrong. Only a pack of rabid degenerates would be brazen enough to do this."

Blake scowled, glaring at Weiss. "Where do you get off on calling them degenerates?"

Weiss matched Blake's glare, stepping towards her. "That's exactly what they are."

"They're not degenerates. They're misguided."

"Misguided?" Weiss repeated. "They want to destroy everything humanity has built!"

"If that's true, why didn't they burn down all the shops they robbed? Why didn't they attack the staff?"

"Obviously, it was to keep the police from pinning it on them. You know just as well as I do that the White Fang have the manpower, resources and the motive to rob nine Dust shops and get away with it."

"Nine?" Yang asked.

Weiss scoffed. "It was on the news, Yang."

Blake's eyes narrowed. "What's their motive?"

"Blake's got a point, Weiss," Ruby said, cutting in. "Why would the White Fang want to rob a bunch of Dust shops?"

Weiss scowled. "They attacked a train carrying a whole shipment of Dust mere months ago, so don't tell me that stealing Dust is above them. Hoarding Dust bolsters their strength and prevents law enforcement from using that Dust to apprehend them. Constantly stealing Dust makes trading Dust a risky prospect, and we need Dust to fight the Grimm!"

Those were some pretty good points. They just didn't explain why the White Fang would rob Dust shops if they robbed a train.

"Then why would they rob Dust shops here in Vale?" Blake asked, saying what Ruby was thinking. "Look at their mode of operation: they always take responsibility for their crimes. They've taken on the police in the past. Why would they change their tactics now?"

Weiss opened her mouth, but she was interrupted once again. This time, Ruby wasn't responsible.

"Stop that Faunus!" some guy said. He was on the ship, and looked like a sailor, but he was too slow to catch the Faunus as he slipped past him and the other sailor with quick, nimble footwork.

"Thanks for the ride, guys!" the Faunus said. With his ringing laughter and roguish smile, he looked like he was having too much fun for someone being chased. He latched onto a lamppost with his yellow monkey tail and looped around, leaping onto the nearby street.

He might have gotten away, too... but a police officer got in the Faunus' way, training his pistol at his chest.

"Stop moving this instant!"

The Faunus stopped in his tracks, raising his hands above his shoulders. With his agility, he could have easily escaped, but he didn't.

"Everything all right, officer?" he asked.

"No, everything's not all right." The police officer was in full uniform, sunglasses hiding his eyes. "You want to explain why you were running away from the scene of a crime?"

"What crime?"

The officer's lip curled. "Don't play coy. A Dust shop was ransacked just a few hours ago."

"Really? That sucks."

"For you. You're coming with me for questioning."

"For what? I just came here!"

The officer's finger edged towards the pistol's safety. Blake was about to pounce, but Ruby grabbed her wrist. Her partner whirled around, teeth bared in a snarl. Ruby stood her ground.

This wasn't their fight, and so far, the Faunus boy wasn't putting himself in danger. If Blake got involved, she'd get in trouble or worse, expose herself. Fortunately, Blake relaxed as the Faunus boy tried his best to explain how he got to Vale, unknowingly giving the sailors all the time they needed to catch up.

"You caught him, officer," one of the sailors said, a blond.

"Was this Faunus giving you any trouble?" the officer asked.

Both sailors noticed the gun, then looked at the Faunus.

"He's just a stowaway. We can take care of him."

"Are you sure?"

"We are," the other sailor said, black-haired and stern-faced.

The police officer didn't respond. Ruby hoped he'd listen. Eventually, he moved his finger away from the trigger and holstered his pistol.

"Consider this your first and only warning, boy," the officer said. "Break the law again and it'll be the last thing you regret."

Ruby caught the Faunus' dejected frown as he turned away, but when he faced the officer, he smiled.

"Yes, sir, officer."

After exchanging nods with the sailors, the officer walked away. Ruby let out a sigh of relief. Yang was frowning at the scene, while Weiss clicked her tongue, shaking her head. Blake's hands were balled into fists as she rushed towards the Faunus.

"What made you want to stow away on our ship, kid?" the blond sailor asked.

The Faunus chuckled. "Haven't you heard? The Vytal Festival's coming up, and I plan to win."

"Yep, that'd do it. You're lucky we were there to bail you out."

"They're right," Blake said, after joining the Faunus and the sailors. "That officer was looking for an excuse."

"Thank the White Fang for that," the black-haired sailor said. "Bunch of robberies lately, if you didn't know."

Blake frowned. "I've seen officers justify much worse for much less. All it takes is for them to think you're a danger."

"Makes sense to me," the Faunus said.

"Next time, if you want to come on our ship, pay up," the black-haired sailor said. "Got it?"

"You don't have to tell me twice. Thanks for the save, guys."

The blond sailor smiled. "Good luck, kid. Don't let your excitement steer you in the wrong direction."

Once the sailors left, Ruby joined up with Blake and her fellow Faunus, Yang and Weiss following close behind.

"You all right, dude?" Yang asked.

The Faunus dropped his hands. "Yeah, thanks to those sailors."

Yang frowned. "Sorry you had to go through that."

He grinned, though it didn't have the same energy Ruby saw in his first smile. "Thanks, but I'm used it."

"This shouldn't be happening in the first place," Blake said.

Weiss was about to open her mouth, but Ruby looked at her and shook her head, slowly. It was enough to stop Weiss before she could get going. Judging from the calculating look in her eye, though, she wouldn't stay quiet for long.

"I know, but nothing happened this time, so it's cool. Still, I appreciate the advice." He extended his hand towards Blake. "Name's Sun. I haven't had the pleasure of learning yours."

"It's Blake."

They shook hands.

"It's very nice to meet you, Blake."

Sun smiled, and it was this bright, daring smile that caused Blake to suck in a quick breath. He was pretty good-looking with his shining blue eyes and messy blond hair and ripped, tanned abs. It was easy to see why he was so confident.

"Where did you stow away from?" Ruby asked.

"Vacuo. Couldn't wait for my team to catch up, so I went on ahead."

Weiss scoffed. "Typical."

"That's me, can't stay still for long. Anyway, I've gotta go. Hope to see you again, Blake."

Blake smiled. "You too."

"What about the rest of us?" Yang asked, a sly smile on her face.

Sun winked. "There's enough of me to go around."

Blake watched him leave, curiosity glazing her stare. Yang shot Ruby a mischievous grin, angling her head at Blake. Ruby shot her sister a thumbs-up. Time to begin Operation: Maiden in Love.

"So, Blake, when are you planning to shoot for some Sun?" Yang asked.

Blake's eyes shot wide. "We just met. Let him settle down first."

"Don't worry, we'll make sure you guys get some alone time," Ruby said.

"What do you see in him?" Weiss asked, arms crossed.

"Have you seen Sun's abs?" Yang shot back.

Weiss smirked. "They are pretty nice." Then, she frowned. "But I'd prefer that good physique on someone who isn't a filthy Faunus."

"His name is Sun," Blake said, frowning. "He's not filthy, he's a person, just like you and Ruby and Yang."

Weiss craned her neck. "Sun is the type of person to stow away on a ship and run away from his rightful justice. Why should I show him any sort of respect?"

Blake's scowl returned. "Because he learned from his mistake! But how will he ever accept responsibility for his actions if people like you denigrate him because of his species!"

"If that police officer didn't catch him, he would have run off to irritate someone else. I wouldn't be surprised if Sun joins those freaks in the White Fang –"

"That's enough, Weiss," Ruby said.

"Would you stop interrupting me?" Weiss said.

Ruby frowned. "I'll stop when you stop calling the Faunus names just because you don't like them."

Weiss seethed. "They're CRIMINALS. If you want me to give those terrorists an ounce of respect, then don't bother wasting your breath."

"What about Sun? He's not part of the White Fang."

"He will be, mark my words."

Blake stepped right in front of Weiss. "If he does, it'll be because of judgemental bigots like you giving him so much grief that he won't have any other choice!"

Shock like Ruby had never seen on Weiss burst across her face, silencing her. A moment later, she glared at Blake, fury searing in her blue eyes.

"I am not bigoted! You're the one apologizing for those terrorists at every turn! They chose to ruin innocent people's lives, Blake. Some Faunus are good people, but there isn't a single member of the White Fang worth saving!"

"Why can't someone from the White Fang become a better person?"

"Because it's never happened, and you know it."

Blake tensed up, but Yang clasped her shoulder and grabbed Weiss, pushing them back.

"Cool it, guys," Yang said. "You want to argue about this? Do it back at Beacon, where no one else can hear you."

Blake clicked her tongue. "What's the point? Weiss won't listen to a word I say."

"There's no need to: I'm right and you're wrong."

"You still can't tell me why the White Fang would steal from those Dust shops, because you're too bigoted to assume that someone else might be responsible."

"I don't need to state the obvious, Blake."

Even with Yang holding them back, someone was going to say something they'd regret very soon.

"Stop fighting like this!" Ruby said. "If you really want to fight, do it in the arena, but don't do it here."

Blake turned away from Weiss. "I won't fight. Weiss isn't worth it."

Weiss sniffed. "Neither are you, Blake. But that doesn't mean you're off the hook. This discussion is far from over."

Unfortunately, Weiss was right. As soon as Team RWBY returned to their dorm room, Blake immediately got in Weiss' face.

"Why did the White Fang rob those Dust shops?" Blake asked.

Ruby figured that the time it took for them to return to Beacon would be enough time for them to cool down and realize that this argument wasn't worth having, but they were just waiting for the first chance to lash out.

Weiss scoffed. "They don't need a motive to attack innocent people, but since you asked: they want humanity to be afraid of them, so they can take what they want and leave us with the scraps."

"Then why didn't they attack the shop owners?"

"What does it matter? They've done much worse, and all it's done is undermine whatever message they've been fighting for. They chose the worst possible way to make their voices heard. It's not surprising, since that's all they're good for, but it's very disappointing."

Blake frowned, and it expressed every bit of suffering and pain she had to endure as a Faunus. Why couldn't Weiss understand that, because she didn't know who Blake really was?

"That's utter garbage. The White Fang doesn't exist because they want to hurt people. No one cares if a Faunus child is assaulted right in front of them, because humans pull on their ears or their tails and get away with it. Faunus can't get jobs even if they're more qualified and more capable than their human counterpart. If they do managed to get hired, they're blacklisted the moment they make one mistake."

"And their answer to all of this is to what, burn down buildings and assault innocent people?"

"They wouldn't do that if they were given the rights and the dignity they deserve in the first place!"

"But they did! Who's going to watch all of this chaos unfold and think that the Faunus are peaceful people who deserve to be treated equally?"

"They tried peaceful protests, awareness programs, everything you could possibly think of, but people only started listening once they got violent!"

"And look where it got them."

Blake took in a couple of harsh breaths, clearly trying not to lose it.

"They would have reached that point if they were given a real chance. And don't tell me it's because they're criminals. You gave Ruby a chance after you learned what she did, but you won't do it for someone from the White Fang?"

"Don't get Ruby involved in this," Yang said. "Don't even think about it!"

Ruby's breathing quickened. It was easy to forget that Blake didn't approve of her decision, that Yang only let it go because Blake did everything to make amends.

"It's okay, Yang," Ruby said. "Blake was just trying to make a point."

Blake nodded. "That's right. Ruby deserves a second chance. That goes for everyone, human or Faunus."

Weiss sneered. "Ruby killed a criminal who deserved to die, and she still felt remorse for what she did. The White Fang thinks that being mistreated and facing injustice gives them the right to steal and kill. They deserve to be thrown in jail so that they can rot and die!"

The harsh scowl on Blake's face made Ruby's heart skip a beat. It honestly felt like Blake was a second away from ripping Weiss' head off, and that wasn't a fair thought at all.

"They deserve a chance to redeem themselves!"

"The White Fang wouldn't feel remorse if it hit them in the face, because they're pure evil!"

"Wrong again. You said that no one's ever left the White Fang and become a better person, but you're wrong about that, too."

"I am? Then please, tell me exactly how I'm wrong."

Ruby watched Blake shaking from fury, and hoped she wasn't going to make a big mistake.

"Blake, it's okay –"

Blake raised a hand. "No, Ruby, this is my fight. Let me handle this."

At this point, this argument wouldn't stop because Blake and Weiss would find another place to scream at each other. Ruby knew that feeling well, and she sympathized with them both, but there was a big difference between fighting with blades and Dust, and fighting with harsh words.

Scars that formed on the inside were harder to heal.

"Okay," Ruby said.

Blake took in a deep breath, steeling herself. "You want to know why I believe a member of the White Fang can redeem themselves? Because I was part of the White Fang, and I left! That's why I'm here!"

Ruby froze. It couldn't be... but there was no way that Blake was lying about something as serious as this. Yang stared at Blake like she'd grown an extra pair of ears. Weiss opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Blake stared at each of them, drinking in their astonishment, and wilted, all of her anger dropping out of her body, leaving nothing but fear behind.

"I..."

She bolted out of their room. Ruby didn't wait: she ran after her partner. Blake was fast, and had a head-start... but Ruby was faster, catching Blake before she left the dorms.

"Wait, Blake! Please!"

Blake didn't stop, and Ruby continued to chase her until they entered the courtyard. The broken moon shone down on them, and as Ruby tried to grab her, Blake finally stopped running, only a metre ahead.

Tears were streaming down her face.

Ruby's heart sank.

"Are you okay?"

Blake furiously wiped her face, scrubbing all the wetness off. All that was left was a resentful frown.

"No. You're afraid of me. I knew this would happen."

Ruby smiled, tentatively. "I'm not afraid of you, Blake. I don't think Yang is, either. We're just surprised. I mean, it's not every day you find out that your friend used to be a terrorist."

It was real shocking that her fellow partner was also a fellow criminal... but the signs were there.

"You didn't mention Weiss."

She bit her lip. "Weiss'll come around. She just needs time. It's like you said, she gave me a chance. But even if she doesn't, we're still here for you, Blake."

"Are you sure?" Blake said, all bitter. "I was a terrorist. I've done terrible things."

"I've done bad things, too." A tentative smile appeared on Ruby's face. "That's why I'm here. And that's why you're here, too. I'm on your side."

Blake smiled, but it was brittle, seconds away from falling apart. "I really appreciate that."

Ruby's smile burst into life. The wind whistled around them, the only other sound in the courtyard.

"What do you want to do?"

"I'm... going to go clear my head."

Her smile wavered. She knew what was coming, but a small part of her hoped she was wrong.

"Then you'll come back, right?"

Blake frowned, deeply. She didn't need to say a word, because Ruby heard her message loud and clear.

"So, you'll bottle things up and run away again? Is that how you're gonna solve all your problems?"

"Even if I go back, Weiss won't look at me like I'm her equal. You can't undo years of hateful thinking at the drop of a hat, and honestly, I don't want anything to do with her. I'm so tired of dealing with all of this."

The resignation in her tone, that unbearable sound of defeat didn't make Ruby wither from guilt. It set her blood on fire.

"You just said you came here to make yourself a better person."

"I did."

Ruby scowled. "Then don't mess this up! Trying to forget where you came from isn't going to work, and it's not going to stop all the thoughts you want to forget!"

Blake's face contorted, torn between fury and sadness. It settled on a mask of cold indifference.

"It won't undo everything I did as part of the White Fang."

"You're right, it won't. I can't imagine what you've gone through, but you left the White Fang, Blake. That's a good thing, so don't let one setback hold you back."

Blake looked right through Ruby, and there was something in her golden eyes that Ruby hadn't seen before.

"Why do you keep on fighting for me?"

Ruby frowned. "You're my friend. You accepted my secret and you've been really good to me ever since. If it wasn't for the friends I made here, I probably wouldn't have made it this far. So the least I can do is be the friend you need. If you want me to."

Blake blinked, and it cut some of the suffocating tension hanging between them.

"I do, Ruby. I... still want some time alone. But I am going to come back."

"You promise?"

Ruby immediately cursed herself the moment those words left her mouth. She shouldn't have said that, it was so lame.

"I promise," Blake said, putting Ruby's pity party to an abrupt end.

Ruby smiled, utterly relieved. "Thanks, Blake."

Blake smiled. "I'm sorry for being such a poor student. I promise I'll learn."

Then, Blake walked away. Ruby let her go. Seeing her smile made her realize that she wasn't saying empty words. She was going to come back. When she returned, Ruby would make absolutely sure that Blake knew how much she was appreciated.

It took Weiss a few seconds to process Blake's revelation. She was a member of the White Fang, a prospect so ludicrous that she never seriously considered it. Yet, when she did, all of Blake's little idiosyncrasies began to make sense. Even her last name wasn't mere coincidence, it was a glowing sign of her true allegiance, and she was a fool for not realizing it sooner.

Before she could say anything, Blake ran away. Ruby followed suit, without telling either of them about her plans. As if that was actually a problem. Blake was her partner and their leader. It was her right to deal with her as she saw fit.

With half of Team RWBY gone, Weiss was left alone with her own partner, and Yang was not remotely amused.

"Are you happy now, Weiss?"

Weiss grit her teeth. "Of course not! Our teammate was part of the White Fang. She hid this from us!"

Yang shook her head, but rather than respond, she closed their door. Then, she marched towards her, looming larger with every step before she stopped right in front of her. Instead of the furious red-eyed glare she expected to see, Yang's eyes were a calm lilac. Her frown was chiding, like a mother about to scold her child.

(Not that she had the privilege of knowing how that felt.)

"I wouldn't tell anyone about that with you on my team. Did you hear all the things you were saying?"

Weiss frowned, trying to gather her resolve before it slipped past her fingers. "There was no way I was going to let her think that the White Fang have any reason to exist."

Yang sighed. "Look, I'm not saying you're wrong for how you feel about the White Fang, but did you have to call Faunus freaks and degenerates? You're better than that."

When she thought about the vile words that spewed out of her mouth, she quailed. She didn't care for the Faunus, she was never given a reason to, but not only did she provide Blake with loads of ammunition to potentially win their argument, she debased herself in the process.

"I am," Weiss said. "That doesn't change the fact that Blake was part of the White Fang. Don't you care about that at all?"

"Of course I do, but I'm not going to hold it against her. She left, and it's obvious she feels a ton of guilt for being with them."

Yang frowned, out of sympathy for a criminal terrorist. What a joke.

"If she was serious about leaving, why didn't she go to the authorities and admit her crimes?"

"Would you do it?"

Of course she would... but she'd never been put in the position to put her money where her mouth was. The only other person she knew who committed a crime was Ruby, and from what she knew, Ruby had admitted her culpability, despite the fact that it was self-defence at worst.

"I can't answer that question."

Yang smirked. "Well, I wouldn't. Doesn't mean I'd keep committing crimes. Did Blake seem like the type of person to blow up a train or burn down buildings? Is she a killer?"

"No."

Although, she hadn't been on the best of terms with Blake. She barely knew anything about her.

"Exactly. If Blake wants to keep that part of her life to herself, that's her business. What matters is that she's trying to become a huntress and fight the good fight."

"That doesn't absolve her of anything."

Her partner frowned. "It doesn't, but there's no point in making her feel like she isn't welcome. Do you want her to go back to the White Fang?"

"Of course not! But Blake hid herself among us for months, knowing full well who she was and what she did, yet when she decided to reveal her past, she didn't stand her ground. After everything she said, that was the least she could have done. Instead, she didn't like the reaction she saw and ran away with her tail between her legs!"

Yang rolled her eyes. "Come on."

Weiss coughed. That was a rather embarrassing turn of words. It didn't ruin her point.

"The innocent have nothing to hide, Yang!"

"Yeah, they don't. But I don't blame her for running anyway. You wouldn't have given her a second to explain herself."

"No, I – "

"Don't lie to me, Weiss!"

Weiss scowled. Yang's temper finally reared its ugly head, but three months of dealing with her partner helped Weiss learn how it ticked. She was well aware that Yang wasn't one to flaunt her power and authority over people she deemed inferior. It made tolerating her outbursts a lot more palatable.

"I wouldn't have, okay? I would have torn into Blake for admitting she was part of the White Fang, and I wouldn't have given her an ounce of sympathy, either." Weiss' scowl quavered, guilt swarming her for reasons she couldn't understand. She smothered it with fury. "I would have done all that without a second thought. If you want to tell me I'm wrong, then go ahead, but it won't change a thing."

Before Yang could say a word, the door opened, revealing Ruby. Without Blake at her side.

"Don't tell me you guys are fighting, too," Ruby said.

Weiss frowned. "We weren't fighting, we were having a discussion."

"I heard your voices from down the hallway."

Yang cracked a smile with ease. "We were just about to wrap things up."

Ruby looked at both of them, clearly not buying what Yang was trying to sell. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ruby," Weiss said. "Yang and I have an understanding: we can fight and argue as loudly as we need to, but at the end of the day, we're partners, with all that implies."

"That's right," Yang said.

Ruby frowned. "If you say so."

"So, where's Blake?" Yang asked.

"She needed some space, but she'll be coming back soon."

Weiss scoffed. "Are you sure?"

The glare she received from her leader made Weiss regret opening her mouth.

"I am, and when Blake comes back, you're going to apologize for all the mean stuff you said."

Weiss took in a deep breath. She wanted to say no, but that wouldn't get her anywhere. Ruby cared a lot about her partner, that much was obvious. If nothing else, Blake felt the same way. Only Blake would have wanted Ruby to leave Beacon to preserve her mental health. It was one of the few things Weiss respected about her.

"If Blake comes back, I'll apologize to her."

"She will. I don't care what you think about her, but she's still our teammate, and she's trying to be a good person. Don't ruin this for her."

Ruby did raise an interesting point. Blake was part of Team RWBY, regardless of her true loyalties. Weiss had trusted Blake to defend her when they fought the Grimm, and they worked decently well together. In the event that Blake returned, she could perhaps maintain a professional relationship with her, if only to ensure that her reputation and her performance didn't suffer.

Everything else was off the table. Quite frankly, it was baffling that friendship or otherwise, Ruby was actually condoning the fact that Blake used to be a terrorist.

"Can I ask you something, Ruby?"

"What?"

"Did you know Blake was part of the White Fang before she told us?"

Ruby's indignant glare evaporated. "No, I didn't."

Weiss faltered. It did explain why Ruby was so surprised, but her attempts at protecting Blake from herself still stood out.

"Is Blake hiding anything else?"

Ruby stared at her boots. Her refusal to say anything was all Weiss needed to hear. There was a large part of her that wanted Ruby to reveal Blake's secret that instant, but she suppressed that impulse.

"I suppose I'll have to find out from Blake herself," Weiss said. Ruby looked up, staring at her with her large silver eyes. "Don't get this twisted, I'm not doing this for her sake."

It wouldn't be right if she made Ruby betray Blake's trust in her, not after all of the anguish she experienced in trying to hide her own secret.

"Can I ask you something, Weiss?" Ruby asked.

"Go ahead."

"Did the White Fang hurt you?"

Weiss sighed. Divorced from its proper context, her anger towards the White Fang did come off as rather unhinged.

"They've been at war with my family for as long as I could remember."

Weiss went on to explain how the White Fang attacked her family company's shipments, kidnapped family friends and executed executives. Through the White Fang's actions, her father would come home furious, resulting in a difficult home life. Strangely, it made Yang look at her with what appeared to be guilt, of all things.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that," Ruby said.

Yang nodded, frowning out of concern. "Me too. I totally get why you'd hate the White Fang. You really should have told Blake about this, though."

Weiss frowned. "I'm not sure if it would have helped. However, I suppose I can tell her once the opportunity presents itself."

Until then, Weiss would wait, and reflect, and hope that Blake didn't prove her right.