Weiss stepped inside her apartment. Ruby and Sun swiveled to face her. Sun's eyes were filled with shame, and a glimmer of hope. Ruby's with concern.

Weiss offered a small wave. "Hi." She greeted.

Sun's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hi yourself, Ice Queen." He prodded. "Did you bury Neptune?"

"Nope!" Neptune greeted, stepping through the door. "Just dropped my lighter."

"Ah." Sun kept his arms crossed. Defensive.

Ruby put her arms straight down her sides and marched up to Weiss. "Hi Weiss."

Weiss blinked. "Hi Ruby."

Ruby gave her a once over, then shot a glare Neptune's way. "Everything good?" She asked.

Weiss nodded. "Yes. . ." Except for how weird Ruby was acting.

Ruby nodded. "Good. Good." She looked down at her hands. Her shoulders relaxed, and her toe twisted into the floor. "Um. . . Can I hug you?"

Weiss cocked her head, taken aback. "Of cou-"

Ruby slammed into Weiss, knocking the breath from her, arms tight, face buried into her collar. Weiss wheezed. "R-Ruby, you're killing me." Weiss choked out.

Ruby's grip relaxed. "Sorry Weiss." She said, voice muffled.

Weiss, catching her breath, chuckled. "It's okay." She wrapped her arms around Ruby's shoulders. "It's okay. Neptune and I made up."

"Really?" Sun perked up, his hands falling to his knees.

Weiss scowled. "Neptune and I, Sun. You and I still need to chat."

Sun deflated. "Aw. Wait. What's your thing with Neptune?"

Neptune rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm basically her slave for a few weeks."

"A month." Weiss deadpanned. "Four weeks. Thirty-one days. Seven-hundred and forty-four hours."

"Something like that." Neptune shrugged.

Sun rubbed his chin. "I don't have to do that, right?"

Weiss pursed her lips. "No." She said, brushing Ruby's hair with her hand.

Neptune threw his hands up. "What! Come on! He was complicit!" He said, a smile on his face.

Sun huffed. "Way to throw me under the bus." He grumbled.

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Neptune, it's poor taste to enslave him."

"It's poor taste to enslave me!" Neptune cried.

"Oh, quit your bitching." Weiss said, parting from Ruby, who moved to stand beside Weiss, hand rubbing the small of her back, head leaning on Weiss'. Weiss turned from Neptune and met Sun's eyes. "Sun, I am not happy about this whole situation. But I don't want our friendship ruined because of it." Weiss bit her lip. "I. . . I cherish you."

Sun nodded. "Okay."

"I asked Neptune to do my bidding for a month as a gesture of commitment and penance, once everything is over. I need something from you too."

Sun nodded. "Name it."

Weiss' lips pulled in a grin. "You will accompany me to the opera."

Sun gulped. "Is enslavement off the table or. . ."

Weiss folded her arms. "Take it or take it sunshine." She smirked. Making him sit still for a ten hour performance. No distractions, no labor, and he had to be quiet and dress nice.

Revenge. So sweet.

Sun hung his head. "Yes Miss Schnee." He grumbled.

Ruby choked back a giggle, her free hand flying to her mouth.

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, it's not that bad." It was much, much worse.

Neptune pursed his lips, clapping Sun on the back. "I'm sorry my friend." He whispered.

"Switch with me, please." Sun whispered back.

Neptune shrugged. "I would, but it's the opera, Sun. I can't!"

"Yes you can!"

"You're right. I can. And I won't." Neptune slapped Sun's shoulder once more. "I can get you something to ease the experience."

"Shrooms?" Sun's eyes were wide and pleading.

"Edibles and a tab of Lucy?"

"No drugs." Weiss interjected. "You'll watch the opera. Sober." She stared Neptune down. "And you'll do all my bidding sober, Neptune."

The pair's shoulders fell.

"Weiss!" Sun started. "It's not fair!"

"Yeah, this is cruel and unusual punishment!" Neptune echoed.

Weiss blew a stray strand of hair from her face. "Cruel and unusual? Like lying to me and violating every boundary of personal privacy and space I have?" She asked.

Neptune pinched his nose. "I see what's going on here." He sighed. "We're the cows."

"The what?" Sun frowned.

"Yes." Weiss confirmed. "And I'm gonna milk that shit until my fucking death."

"We're doomed." Neptune sighed.

Ruby raised her hand. "Speaking of doom, what's the plan for taking out Jacques?"

Her father's name shot through Weiss. She swallowed. "Um. . ."

Neptune pulled out his scroll. "Belladonna knows the big picture. Let's call her and swap info. Then we can go from there."

Weiss nodded, rubbing her arm. "Agreed." She leaned in closer to Ruby. Fuck she was warm.

Neptune dialed. Set to speaker, and the scroll rang. Once. Twice.

"Belladonna, go."

Neptune smiled. "Good news detective! Is the line secure?"

"Hold please." A gap of silence. "Give it to me Vaseline."

Weiss bit back a laugh.

Neptune Vasilias scrunched his nose. "That's not my codename."

"It is now."

Neptune's shoulders fell. "Why did you change it?"

Blake sighed. "Do you want to tell me the good news before or after I chew you out?"

Neptune blinked. "Uh, what?"

"You know, since we've brought it up, I'll just get it out of the way." Blake said, voice cool and collected. "The unapproved call in your week's logs. Do you remember who that was?"

Neptune and Sun flinched. "Shit." Sun sighed.

"Coco, fucking, Adel." Blake bit out. "A move so stupendously stupid, I can't I can't process how you made this choice."

Sun's eyes narrowed. "You know why we're here Belladonna!"

"Then don't jeopardize the operation for a call about socks and cereal!"

"You listened in?" Neptune whined.

Blake bowled right over him. "Keep it tight lipped, don't leak information to civilians and do your jobs!"

"Uh, hi Blake." Ruby greeted softly.

Silence. Sun gulped. Neptune palmed his face.

"Hello Ruby." Blake said, voice stilted. "Am I on speaker?"

Ruby nodded. "Yuuuuup."

"Cool. Cool." Blake hummed. "Ruby, is there anyone else in the room besides Sun or Neptune?"

Weiss cleared her throat. "Weiss Schnee, at your service Detective Belladonna."

"Oh! Weiss Schnee. Is in the room. And knows my name." Blake popped her lips. "Chef Schnee, how are you?"

"I've been better." Weiss answered. "How about you?" Keep it polite, keep it civil.

"Oh, I've also been better. Before this call, the head chef of the Gele Gloxinia did not know about me or my connection to Sun or Neptune." Blake exhaled. "Who will explain this to me?"

Ruby stepped closer. "It was my fault Blake."

"Ah." Blake hummed again. "How?"

Ruby ran a hand through her hair. "Uh, it's complicated?"

"Summarize it."

Ruby gulped. "I kinda did a Juliet and Juliet and charmed Weiss into falling in love with me then her father threatened my life and I didn't think he was a threat but Weiss thought so and then she pushed me away and then I called Yang to tell her all about it and I said Weiss was overreacting and Yang told me you were investigating him and that he's a really bad guy and he could seriously hurt us so I fucked Weiss and she wants to help us put him in prison!"

Sun and Neptune blinked. "Holy shit." They said in unison.

"God damn it Ruby." Blake sighed.

Weiss cocked her head. "I thought I was the one who charmed you?"

"Not a chance in hell." Neptune grumbled.

"Okay. My day is getting better." Blake sighed. "Schnee, previous reports have shown you hold no love for Jacques Schnee. Is this true?"

"Yes."

"Then are you willing to help me put him in prison?"

"Yes."

"Does she mean it?" Blake asked the room.

"I believe her." Ruby chimed in.

"Same with us." Sun said, nodding at Neptune.

"All right." Blake sighed. "I'm gonna get dressed and make some breakfast. Then I'm going to kill Yang. Then we can video-chat and talk shop. Does anyone have to be anywhere?"

"We've got work at 1:30." Weiss answered immediately.

Sun sighed. "It's at two."

Weiss folded her arms. "It's always been 1:30."

"Weiss, today it can be two." Neptune said, pinching his nose.

Weiss huffed. "Discipline is life."

Sun snorted. "Are you suggesting you have a life?"

Weiss stomped her foot. "Listen here you-"

"IIIIIIIIIIIII'm cutting this short." Blake said, elongating her vowel until she heard only silence. "I'll call back in fifteen." Pause. "Twenty, actually. I need a mimosa. Good morning Ruby."

Ruby beamed. "Good morning Blake!"

Blake hung up.

Sun pushed his hair back. "Fuck, I'm gonna smoke." He patted his pocket. "Uh, Nep? Can I bum a stick?"

Neptune rolled his eyes. "Sure Sun." He went for his pack. "Actually, I'll join ya." He looked pointedly at Weiss. "Call us up when Belladonna's on the line."

Ruby nodded, clapping her hand on Weiss' shoulder. "Stay within earshot, kay?"

"Kay." The front door shut.

Ruby squeezed Weiss' shoulder. "Man, what a morning, huh?" She said, laughing. "I need some water or something."

Weiss nodded. "Yeah." She pulled Ruby's hand from her shoulder. "I'm going to- I'll be in my room."

Weiss walked away, the door to her room shutting. She looked around. Clothes. Clothes everywhere. She bent down and started picking up every article of clothing. She untied the tie from the bed. Sort the colors, separate Ruby's. She can throw that load in first, so Ruby can have fresh clothes.

And the bed, what a mess. How two people could do so much damage to one set of bedsheets, she would never know. Weiss pulled off the ripped sheet and folded it. She could sew it later. Linens in the closet. A flourish and a few tucks and the bed was back in shape.

Her vanity mirror was smudged with sweat. Sweat! On her mirror! The cleaning supplies were in the hall closet. Weiss whirled on her heel and went straight out her room, crashing into Ruby.

The pair went straight down. Ruby's head hit the floor, and bounced slightly, smacking into Weiss' forehead. The pair flinched back, holding their respective noggins, and cried out.

"Ow!"

"Fuck!"

Weiss rolled off of Ruby, rubbing her sore head furiously. She squinted through the pain. "What was that dolt!?" She snapped, swiping at Ruby's shoulder.

Ruby groaned. "Total party wipeout."

Weiss blinked. "What?"

Ruby reached across and rubbed Weiss' forehead. "Are you okay?" She asked, welling with concern.

Weiss' mouth popped open, and no sound came out. Her head buzzed under Ruby's hand. Weiss gulped, and turned away. "I'm okay." She said.

Ruby's hand plopped onto the carpet. "Good. Good." She took a breath. "So, do you clean when you're stressed out?" She asked.

Weiss curled up, making her frame smaller. Harder to hit. "Yes." She admitted softly.

"Cool." Ruby sighed. "Does it help if I help?"

"What?"

"Do you want help when you're cleaning?"

Weiss bit her lip. "N-no."

"Okay." Weiss heard Ruby shift on the floor. "What can I do for you?"

Weiss felt warmth pool in her. Her lip quivered and her hand shook. Before Ruby could react, Weiss threw her arms around Ruby and pulled her close. "Oof!" Ruby gasped.

Weiss buried her nose into Ruby's neck, nuzzling close, standing on her toes to reach. Ruby's body. Ruby's heartbeat. The jut of her collar against Weiss' chin.

Ruby's arms wrapped around Weiss. "Hey, what's up?"

Weiss pulled back. "It's real." She felt her stomach drop. "Oh fuuuuck."

Ruby blinked. "You mean. . . Oh, betraying your dad!" She nodded. "Yup, that's pretty big."

Weiss wheezed. "I'm dead. I'm so dead. He's gonna fucking kill me."

Ruby frowned. "I mean, he could." Her lips puckered in thought, then grew into an earnest smile. "But we'll make it really, really hard for him."

Weiss pursed her lips, head shaking back and forth. "Ruby, that does not make me feel better."

"I'm not trying to make you feel better." Ruby nuzzled her nose against Weiss' forehead. "If anything, it's making me feel better, right?"

Weiss snorted. "Going to your death makes you feel better?"

"We're all going to our deaths. Doing the best I can before I go. . . That's what matters."

Weiss fell silent.

"What?" Ruby asked, poking Weiss' cheek.

"You're an enigmatic joy, Ruby Rose."

Ruby flushed. "Oh! Well you-you're very-uh very-you're pretty!"

Weiss felt amusement well up within her. "Pretty?"

"Gorgeous! And, uh, smart! Graceful. Um. . ." Ruby bonked her head against the floor. "Me talk not great."

Weiss giggled. "I think you talk good good." She teased.

Ruby stuck her tongue out at Weiss. "Thanks, Weiss cream."

Weiss' mouth popped open. "Weiss cream?"

Ruby leaned up on her elbow, leaning over Weiss. "'Cause you're hard and cold," Her lips brushed Weiss' ear. "And you melt in my mouth."

Weiss turned into the floor, her belly squirming. "You better stop that." She said, face hidden in her palms.

"Or what?"

Weiss sighed, and looked into Ruby's eyes. "Or Sun and Neptune will never let me live-mmmph!"

Elbows dug in the floor. Hair feathered cheek and ear. Fingers locked around wrists, a quickening pulse beating the palm. Surrender. Melt.

A blissful moment of silence.

pop

Eyes lidded, Weiss tried to chase that warmth. Then, a giggle snapped the fog in her mind. Weiss came to. Ruby, laying on the floor with her, beaming.

Weiss beamed back. This person, this angel. Laying with her without a care in the world.

Even as they marched to their deaths.

Ruby poked Weiss' forehead. "You're soooooo worried!" Ruby smiled. "What's that gonna do?"

Weiss frowned. "I-I. . ." She bit her lip. "It helps me."

Ruby quirked her brow. "It helps you?"

Weiss pulled away, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Yes. If I can think about all the ways it can go wrong, then I at least have some plans. I can respond faster, and I can say 'yeah, knew this was coming.'" Weiss crossed her arms. "But that's stupid, right?"

Pained disbelief flashed through Ruby's eyes. She grabbed Weiss' hand, easing over white knuckles. "No, that's not stupid." She poked Weiss in the cheek with her free hand. "I do think there's a better way to accomplish that, though."

Weiss blinked, her fingers touching her cheek. She felt hot. "What do you mean?"

Ruby stepped back, Weiss' hand clasped in hers. "Well, you're torturing yourself with worlds that aren't here yet. You're not facing down your dad right this second. He isn't here, he doesn't know what we're up to. Right?"

Weiss nodded. Of course. They were still safe. They had the element of surprise. They had the upper hand.

Right?

Weiss froze.

Ruby frowned, bumping her head against Weiss'. "Hey, what's up?"

Weiss leaned into Ruby's chest. "Ruby," She whispered. "I need you to hold me very tight and listen very carefully."

~0~

The monitor crackled, static searing through the black and white feed. Rows of monitors just like it lined the walls of the room. Each ran a clock in the corner, a name opposite. Bedroom 1, Bedroom 2, Bedroom 3, Hallway 1, Kitchen 1, Living Room 2.

"Any change?" A sultry voice prodded.

"No sir." The SDC spy replied. "They're still on the floor."

"Can you make out what they're saying?"

"The mic can't pick it up, Mr. Schnee."

Jacques huffed. "I thought I told you to install the best of the best."

The Spy gulped. "I did sir, to your exact specifications."

"Then why aren't the bugs picking up their whispers?" Jacques growled.

"I ordered the bugs with the smallest possible dimensions while still giving color and sound. This ensured maximum detail with minimal chance of discovery." The Spy gestured to the monitors. "They weren't discovered by the MPD plants, were they?"

Jacques huffed. "Purchase and hide the best mics on the market. Get them to concurrently record with video, or it's your fucking head."

"Of course Mr. Schnee." The Spy spun around and studied the monitors. "They're getting up now. Front door opened. Sun and Neptune returned." The Spy spun back. "Sir, I believe they're contacting Belladonna."

Jacques huffed. "About time." He laced his fingers together, his lips pulling into a cruel grin. "Turn up the volume."

~0~

Elucidate one

Besieged by blades of grass and

Crimson flows through glass

Cinder Fall smiled. Weiss. A tragic beauty, a porcelain doll, her favorite toy. Tasty. Cinder brought the haiku to her nose and inhaled. She could almost feel Weiss in the parchment. Smell the ink on her fingers. Walking those nails up Cinder's spine. She shivered.

Help her, for she'd never seen anything as beautiful as heartbreak in those perfect blue eyes.

Cinder reached up with a lazy arm. A waiter arrived. "Be a dear, fetch Weiss for us." Cinder purred.

"At once." The waiter bowed, and shuffled off. Cinder smirked. Mediocre food, garish decoration, but impeccable serv-

Crash!

The busboy profusely apologized to the head waiter, who knelt down and began immediately cleaning up the mess. The busboy continued speaking, and the head waiter offered nothing but death in his stare.

Cinder yawned. Perhaps the service had declined as well.

"I haven't seen service like that since Liverpool." Watts quipped.

"We didn't have a chance to be served." Reinart said softly. "They were too weak to survive."

Cinder leaned back. "Oh Reinart, let's not spoil dinner." Any more than it will be.

Watts hummed. "Yes, it might actually satisfy this time around."

"Really." Reinart deadpanned. "I think I'll stick with the bread."

Watts adjusted his vest. "A little bird told me. Tonight's meal is special." He smoothed his moustache.

Cinder's brow quirked. "You mean besides the obvious?"

Watts nodded. "Yes, I've been tol-" He shut his mouth, looking over Cinder's shoulder.

Weiss approached the table, and Cinder drank her like a tall glass of Chardonnay. Her smooth-pressed coat, her tempoed step. Her hair done in that off-center bun. Cinder almost bit her lip.

Weiss offered a shallow bow. "Mister Watts, Mister Reinart. . . Miss Fall. Welcome to the Gele Gloxinia."

"Weiss." Cinder purred. "You're so formal. Come, sit with us." Cinder raked her eyes over Weiss. She was a clever girl, but tight. Like a high-strung violin. Cinder settled for the show.

Weiss gulped, folding her hands behind her back. "No. Thank you, but my kitchen needs me."

Cinder leaned forward, crossing her arms under her breast. "Come on, Weiss. Can't your new sous. . . handle things?"

A flash of fury in those perfect eyes. "She's fresh, and requires my personal attention."

"I require your personal attention." Cinder purred.

Weiss' spine stiffened. "How may I be of service?" She curtsied, her movements stiff.

Cinder blinked. Weiss wasn't one to back down like that. Cinder sat back, the haiku turning in her fingers. "You usually tailor your poems to ice."

"It is the special we are serving tonight."

Cinder cocked her head. "A special?"

"We are serving glass rice noodles with marinated egg yolks, green onion, thin-sliced flank steak, red peppercorn, rosemary and a chicken consomme."

Reinart paused, two hunks of bread in hand. "I will eat that."

"That does sound delicious." Watts mused.

Cinder huffed. "How does that relate?" She waved the haiku.

Weiss sniffed. "Are you having trouble reading the poem, Miss Fall?"

The parchment crumpled in her hand. "I can read it just fine."

Weiss bowed. "My apologies."

Watts shot Cinder a look. "Cinder, please." Watts turned to Weiss. "I would assume elucidate relates to your consomme and glass noodles, and dawn refers to the yolks?"

Weiss nodded. "Yes."

"Clever. And blades of grass relates to the onion and rosemary?" Another nod. Watts grinned. "Splendid. Please, spoil the rest."

Weiss bowed her head. "Of course, Mister Watts. The final line refers to dessert. A strawberry-rosemary-basil ice-cream with a red-wine reduction sauce, garnished with green pear slices."

"I'll eat that too." Reinart piped up.

Unappealing. "You'll eat that?" Cinder asked.

Reinart folded his arms. "I once had a strawberry-basil ice-cream. It was delicious." Reinart's gaze shifted to Weiss. "And, I've never wanted to eat something here before."

Weiss clapped her hands together. "Excellent. An entree and dessert for Master Reinart."

Master Reinart?

"And I'll have my course with a Carribbean Cask Whiskey." Watts piped up.

"We have two on the shelf. I recommend the Sparrow's Sail. It is aged in a pine/oak barrel, making the body lighter and sweeter. The Sinbad, in contrast, offers deeper caramel tones at a higher alcohol content and would overpower the aromatics in the course."

"Then bring me four fingers of Sinbad to finish." Watts pulled out his scroll, his attention completely removed from her.

"Of course Master Watts." Weiss bowed.

Master Watts?

Weiss turned to Cinder. "What may I get for you, Cinny?" She said with a shit-eating grin.

Cinder took a breath. A smile grew on her face, pulling at her teeth. "I could kill you here."

Weiss looked around. "It's possible." Weiss nodded at Watts and Reinart. "But, if I die, they won't get their food." Weiss leaned closer. "So you'll just have to wait until dessert." She said with a soft smile.

Cinder's hand twitched, pressing into Weiss' hip.

Watts looked up from his phone. "Don't let personal feelings get in the way of a good meal." He waved his hand dismissively. "Put it away and let the chef toil."

Cinder scowled. One shot and she'd be on the floor, screaming. Another shot to the throat and she'd gurgle her life away. Cinder wondered, how would her hair look in red?

Another time then.

Cinder sniffed, and pulled her pistol from Weiss' hip. "Three courses. At once."

"At once." Weiss bowed, and shuffled to the kitchen.

Cinder watched her go, wearing an angry scowl. "She's become bratty."

"She grew a spine." Reinart said, ripping off a hunk of bread.

"Yes, she certainly has. But it's not her own." Watts mused, setting his scroll down.

Cinder looked at the pair. "The sous?"

Watts smiled. "She seems quite taken with her." His lips pulled in a sinister grin. "You may have some stiff competition, Cinder."

Cinder scoffed. "I don't compete for my toys. I take them, and use them when I please." She purred at the thought. In fact. . .

Reinart sighed through chewed bread. "Your abuse of her unsettles me, Cinder."

"And yet, you do nothing." Cinder shot back.

". . . There are more important things in life than saving everyone you meet." Reinart whispered.

"The main course." The waiter greeted, setting three bowls down, along with glass chopsticks and a crystal clear broth spoon. "Please enjoy."

Cinder looked at the soup. Three red yolks cradled by a mass of noodles and flanked by seared sliced steak, a cherry red peeking out between the sear. Steam wafted into Cinder's nose, her senses basked with chicken, green onion, rosemary and peppercorn.

Cinder felt her mouth water despite herself. She glanced at her table mates. Reinart was slurping down the yolks whole, while Watts had broken them up, sending a red ooze through the crystal consomme.

Cinder grasped the glass chopsticks and used them to scoop a yolk into the broth spoon. She laid two strips of steak atop the yolk, and dipped the edge into the broth. As dignified as possible, Cinder slipped the spoon into her mouth.

The yolk popped and a soft, creamy heat coated her tongue. The fullness of salted chicken embraced her palate. Little red and green fireworks skittered around like sparks on the road. Her tooth met noodle and steak. Al dente. Tender. A shiver ran up her spine. "Fuck." She moaned. Partly with pleasure, partly in disbelief.

Reinart nodded, eyes closed, mouth softly chewing, hummed his agreement.

Watts twisted some noodles into the broth spoon. "Without a doubt the best food I've had here." He said, popping the bite in his mouth.

Cinder dug in, ravenous. She couldn't believe it. All this time fucking Weiss, when she could've made Weiss cook for her.

Cinder paused. Chefs are used to working double time. Why not have her cake and eat it too? Cinder grinned, her tongue snaking a stray drop of yolk from the corner of her mouth.

The waiter came by. "How is your dinner?"

"Splendid." Watts said through a mouthful of noodle.

Reinart grunted, savoring every bite.

Cinder gently set her chopsticks on the bowl. "It is. . . Delicious." She said, composing herself. "Be a dear and send Weiss out."

"With all haste, Miss Fall." The waiter bowed.

Kiss ass.

"What now, Cinder?" Reinart asked, dabbing his lips.

Cinder watched the waiter leave. "I want something else to accompany dessert."

A smile tugged at Watts' cheek. "What do you have in mind?"

Weiss struck her foot to the floor, announcing her arrival. "Is there something else you require of me?" She said through clenched teeth.

Cinder snaked a finger through Weiss' jacket, and jerked her forward. "I need you," Cinder trailed her nail down Weiss' rear. "To come out here when dessert is served." She squeezed, and Weiss took in a sharp breath.

"Why?"

"Because I want you to sing for me." Cinder answered.

"I refuse."

"That's fine." Cinder pulled back, resting her chin on her hand. "I'll go say hi to your new sous then." Cinder frowned. "What was her name again?"

"Ruby Rose." Watts said.

Weiss stiffened.

Cinder clicked her tongue. "Ruby. Rose. Weiss, don't tell me your favorite colour is actually red?" Cinder chuckled.

Weiss said nothing.

Cinder reached up and pinched Weiss' lobe, pulling her down to the table. "Sing for me, or I'll draw up a chorus from your little flower. Something in G."

Weiss held her breath. Then- "Do you have a request?"

"My favorite."

Pain flashed across Weiss' eyes. Good. "Very well. I will change into something more. . . Appropriate." Weiss curtsied and left.

"Good girl." Cinder crooned. She watched Weiss go. Why do cooks always have pants a size too big? Leaves too much to the imagination.

Watts' scroll buzzed. He checked the screen. "Jacques has arrived."

Cinder held up a finger. "Tell him we need some time. I want him to come in right at the end of the song." Cinder popped her lips. "Tell him to have a drink. It will sell the act."

Watts smiled, and typed out a text. Send, and the scroll rested on the table.

Cinder turned back to her food, finishing out her soup. The chopsticks had been barely set down before the busboy took the dishes away.

The waiter followed immediately, setting dessert on the table. "Please enjoy." He bowed, and left.

Gorgeous. Two heaping mounds of pink ice cream dotted with flecks of basil and rosemary. A fan of pear slices embraced one mound, creating an asymmetry to the dish, a white and green point. The red wine reduction hugged the ice cream in gentle swirls. A small silver spoon with a long, thin stem rested under one scoop.

Cinder waited, watching Reinart and Watts as their bowls were set before them. Reinart immediately dug in, his attack indiscriminate. Watts, on the other hand, carefully assembled an even portion of pear, ice cream and sauce. He set the bite carefully in his mouth.

Both men groaned in appreciation.

"Splendid." Watts smiled.

Reinart said nothing, and dug in.

Cinder, eyes flicking from her bowl, to Watts, to Reinart, slowly picked up her spoon. She picked out a bite that had only ice cream. No sauce, no pear. She slipped it into her mouth.

The texture was heaven in her mouth. Completely smooth. The strawberry was the sweetest strawberry she'd tasted and still had a tart finish. And, there it was, basil and rosemary. With no bits to chew on, nothing getting stuck in her teeth. How?

Her hand moved on its own, and a whole new bite, this time with the sauce and the pear found its way to her tongue.

It was like fucking an ex. Familiar and new all at once. The rosemary was bolstered by the red wine, the sweetness even more apparent in contrast. And the pear-the pear! Impossibly crisp, interrupting the smooth cream, the sticky sauce with a light, tart, crunch.

Cinder shivered.

The head waiter clapped his hands. At once, the entire waiting staff moved with candles and matches, setting and lighting them in the centers of tables. When the tables had dwindled, the head waiter cleared his throat. "Honored guests of the Gele Gloxinia. For your pleasure tonight, Chef Weiss Schnee." He bowed, and the lights went out. A single spotlight lit from the ceiling, shining on a dais by the window.

She was immaculate. A white cocktail dress with the back cut in a V, revealing the jut of her shoulder blades, the dots of her spine down to the lumbar. The dress draped just enough to cover her ass, and the socks started just at the mid of her thighs, ending in creamy laced heels. She wore a half mask over her face. White porcelain, with studs of smokey quartz lining an eyebrow, pink quartz suggesting a blush.

Her eyes opened, sapphire blue piercing like the sky on a sunny day. She took a breath, slowly releasing. In the background, a low clicking started. Then, the long whine of a sax. A snare, tapping an ascending step.

Cinder cradled her bowl and leaned back. Between Weiss and the ice cream, Cinder had a true feast laid before her. She took a bite, and the piano swept in, and her hair stood in anticipation.

Weiss, blank, lazily brought the mic to her mouth.

Take this collar round my neck

Pull the leash with clear intent

And tell me how slow

You want to go~

I'll crawl for miles

Bruise my knees

You're the only one to please

So don't be afraid~

To get rough with me darling.

I'm your porcelain doll

Pose me how you like

Every single night

I'll do it all

I'm your porcelain doll

Throw me at the wall

And I'll pick up my

Pieces~~~

It's not enough for

Your hand on my scruff

My face in the floor

Please~

Tell me how bad I've been~

Give me a chance, babe

My tongue will dance

I'll be your slave

Throw me away when you're done.

I'm your porcelain doll~

Pose me how you like

Every single night

I'll do it all

I'm your porcelain doll~

Throw me at the wall

And I'll pick up my

Pieces~~~

Yeah I'll pick up my

Pieces~~~~~~~

Silence. Cinder set her bowl down, her imagination running. She readied her hands to clap.

Suddenly, another spotlight flared, illuminating the center of the restaurant. Weiss' face twisted with disgust. Cinder turned.

Jacques. Clapping slowly.. His entrance couldn't have been better. Cinder turned to study Weiss, her mouth watering. The heat in Cinder's belly flared with delight at the momentary anguish in Weiss' eyes. Then, she pulled herself together, facing her father.

Jacques continued to clap. Slowly. With every slap, he made a step, until he closed the distance to ten feet. "It's been too long since I heard you sing, Weiss." He grinned.

Weiss' hand twitched. Her eyes bore into her father, as if she could set him on fire if she stared hard enough. "Father, welcome home." She curtsied.

Jacques looked around. "Yes, though it seems you've made a mess of things." He growled.

Her face was unreadable. "Father?" Weiss asked, cocking her head. The cheeky bitch.

"I ask you to take care of the Gele. I ask you to care for the guests."

Weiss squared her shoulders. Novel. "I have succeeded, Father." Was that a hint of steel in her voice?

Jacques picked up a bowl from a patrons table. "Then what," He said lowly. He sniffed the bowl, then slammed it on the ground, glass skidding everywhere, noodles slopping wetly. "IS THIS TRASH!?"

Weiss flinched. "Glass rice-noodles with yolk, flank steak, green onion and chicken conso-"

"It's utter trash, Weiss." Jacques snarled. "You've disobeyed my wishes."

Weiss' face twisted. Her fists clenched. "No, Father. I defied your wishes." She said, her voice hard.

Jacques snorted. He crossed his arms. "Bit late to grow a spine, Weiss." He tutted, steel in his tongue.

Weiss brushed his words aside. "Your food is terrible. The decor is like M.C. Escher painted a pastiche with vomit and shit he found in the woods. You have a knack for hiring specifically untalented fuck ups as favors to your investors and. . . Partners." She hissed, looking toward Cinder. Her core melted when she saw that fire, that determination.

Determination means there's more of her to break.

Weiss' eyes left Cinder's, staring down Jacques. "I'm. Done." Weiss growled.

What a show.

Jacques rubbed his moustache. "This is your last warning Weiss. Any further and I will take everything you have."

"There's nothing you can do!" Weiss yelled. "I have nothing left!"

Jacques raised a brow. "Oh?" He snapped his fingers.

Cinder's heart filled with glee. Ruby Rose was pushed out from the kitchen, a gun to her head, quaking in her apron.

And on Weiss' face, the most delicious terror Cinder had ever tasted.

Jacques smiled, his eyes cruel. "I don't think I made a mistake hiring this one."

Her lip quivered. A slender hand softly reaching. False hope brewed in fear.

Jacques held up a hand. "Detective Belladonna. Xiao Long. Please, set your weapons down. We wouldn't want to pluck the rose before it's bloomed, would we?"

Silence. Then, two pistols clattered to the table immediately to Jacques' right. Two figures stood up, one in a black dress and silk wreath about her head, the other in a busty orange cocktail with purple ribbons braided through her hair.

Jacques sighed. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to cut the meal short, but one mustn't mix business with pleasure." He clapped his hands. "And I do intend to enjoy tonight to the fullest." He held his hand up. "Everyone please leave. Except. . . Yes, except for the staff. They will remain. On pain of death."

A soft murmur as guests rose from their chairs, fetching coats and purses from the check up front, and leaving in their cars. Jacques watched. As the last guest left, he nodded at a guard by the kitchen exit. The doors opened, and every cook in the back of house was led out by gunpoint. The busboys, waiters and waitresses and the sommeliers joined them, and everyone went to their knees.

Weiss's face was unreadable. Her fists were clenched, still as stone. Her knees shook like branches in a hurricane.

Jacques chuckled. "Now now now." He grinned. "What to do with you?"

~0~

"Your dad bugged your place!?" Neptune exclaimed.

Weiss palmed his mouth. The fucking idiot. "Keep. Your voice. Down." She snarled. "We don't know if this place is completely safe."

Sun sliced his hands through the air. "Who could hear us?" He gestured to the rest of the bar. Patrons yelling at each other. Poker chips clicking in a pile. Beer spurting from the tap. Drunken strums of guitars, Ozpin practicing the two-step on the bar, the titular Carousing Cane swinging in hand.

Weiss rubbed her forehead. Yes, it would be hard to hear the group, but-

"You do want this to go well, right?" Ruby asked. Sun and Neptune nodded. "Then what's wrong with a little caution?"

Sun folded his arms. "I'm all for caution, but not paranoia." He jutted his thumb at Neptune. "We bugged that place ourselves, and I sure as shit didn't see any other bugs. Neptune?"

"I didn't see any either." Neptune leaned forward. "What makes you so sure?"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Besides the fact that you two idiots managed to do it?"

Sun and Neptune looked at Weiss, then each other then Weiss. They folded their arms simultaneously.

"We're that good Weiss." Sun said, shrugging.

"Yeah, you don't know shit. We're fucking ninjas." Neptune jutted his jaw.

Weiss sighed. "Neptune, why did he fire you out of the blue?" Neptune shrugged. "Is it possible you said or did something that a bug might have picked up?" Weiss pressed.

Neptune rubbed his chin. "You know. . ." He exhaled. "Literally the night before. Belladonna called me for an update, and I took it out back with a smoke just after close. No one else was there."

Weiss pinched her nose. Ninjas. Yeah right. "Doesn't that seem a little too perfect?"

Sun rubbed his neck. "I dunno. It's a connection, but it's weak."

Weiss felt her belly coil. "I-" Weiss bit her lip. She crossed her arms and leaned back, staring at the fizzing amber ale. "You don't know him like I do." She whispered.

Ruby's hand settled on her shoulder. Weiss jerked from the contact, then relaxed.

Sun and Neptune leaned forward. Eyes wide, mouths closed.

Weiss hooked her hair behind her ear. "I used to keep a diary. I'd write down dreams, hopes. I wrote about this puppy I wanted. This cute little thing I saw while out shopping. I didn't dare buy it, or ask for it. Father didn't want me having pets. He said I was too busy. But this puppy. . . She was so sweet. A Husky Border Collie mix, with ashen fur and little black marks on the tips of her ears.

"When I got home, I went to my room, grabbed my diary from its hiding place, and wrote about her. The walks we'd go on, playing frisbee. She'd play with me. She'd love me. She'd be my friend." Weiss pulled her beer to her. "I wanted to name her Athena." She took a sip of beer.

"The next day, Father was in the foyer." Sip. "With a surprise." Sip. "I walked down the stairs and there she was." Sip. "And she saw me. She remembered me." Gulp. "She pulled at the leash, and Father told her to sit down. He asked me, 'is this what you want?' and I was so excited." Gulp. "He told me to come say hi, and when I-" Gulp. Gulp. "When I did, he pulled out a pistol and shot her."

The blood warm and salty, her head lolled to the side, all her dreams pooling through the tiles, Father's breath hissed in her ear. I'm all you've got.

Weiss swallowed. "I burned the diary after that." She whispered. Her glass went back to her mouth.

Empty.

Wordlessly, Sun slid his beer to Weiss, and she drained it, slapping the glass on the table. Ruby's hand ran up the small of her back, past her shoulder. Her fingers pressed into Weiss' neck, and she leaned into the pressure, her head buzzing.

"That's fucked up." Neptune said.

Sun let out a breath. "You said it Nep."

Ruby said nothing, instead putting her temple to the side of Weiss' head, nose nuzzling Weiss' cheek.

Weiss grabbed Ruby's free hand with hers and held it tight. "I'm positive he's bugged my place, and the restaurant, because he's done crazier shit. Violating me like that would be. . . Par for course."

Neptune nodded. "All right, he bugged the place. That's bad."

"He knows everything we planned with Belladonna." Sun chimed in.

"But he wouldn't know that we know he knows." Ruby said cheerfully.

Weiss nodded. "Right. That gives us the upper hand."

Sun frowned. "Sure, but what do we do with it?"

Weiss smirked. "I've got a few ideas." She waved at the busboy, wagging her empty glass in one hand.

Neptune leaned forward. "Like what?"

The busboy took Weiss' glass, and she smiled. "For starters, we need to find a pay phone. Then you're gonna call Coco Adel."

~0~

Weiss slammed into the chair in Father's office. Before she could move, Reinart's massive hand wrapped around her neck, thumb and forefinger poised at her airway. Ruby landed in the chair next to her with a hiss of pain, cut off by Reinart's other hand wrapping around her throat.

Jacques shook his head. "Tsk tsk, my little snow angel. You've already disappointed me, no need to press further."

Weiss snarled. "I'll press as hard as I fuck-" Fuck, her throat.

Jacques smiled cruelly. "The harder you press, the harder he'll squeeze."

Weiss let out a pitiful squeak. The room was going black. Someone was calling her name, but she couldn't pick it out from the darkness. No breath, can't breathe. Weiss hoped she wouldn't hit the desk with her head. Blood wasn't good for the wood, wasn't good for her, won't-

Reinart released her. Colour and sound came flooding back. Her chest heaved and she coughed.

"Weiss!" Ruby thrashed against Reinart's grip. "Weiss!"

"Settle down girl." Reinart said, his voice as calm and dark as a winter lake.

Ruby stilled, her face twisted with disgust. "You're a fucking monster." She spat at Jacques. "She's your daughter!"

"By blood and rights." Jacques yawned. "Yet she continues to disobey me. What would you have me do?" He stared Ruby down. "In this case, I won't have to hurt her to punish her, and I have you to thank for that."

Weiss' eyes went wide. "Don't you dare, don't you fucking dare!"

Jacques nodded at Reinart, who loosened his grip. Jacques carefully tugged one glove off his hand, then slapped Weiss so hard her ears rang. "I dare what I please, Weiss." Jacques spat. "Time and time again you forget your place. You are mine. Your life is mine. Your passions are mine, your lovers are mine. However you fill your plate, it is mine to take, give, or destroy."

Weiss was nine again. The box was swallowed by the earth. A wet, muddy belch as it hit the mud. Her dress was soaked, and Winter shielded her from the worst of the rain. The empty faces of distant relation washed over her like bowls floating in shit.

"Perhaps I've been too kind, Weiss. I thought a few years to find yourself would have been good. Loosen the leash to empower the dog."

I'm all you have now. Remember that.

"But a dog doesn't forget it's place, Weiss. Your very existence serves to further the Schnee name. My name."

Your voice was never yours to begin with.

His breath was hot on her face. She couldn't move, couldn't scream, couldn't run, couldn't fight couldn't win couldn't live couldn't-

"WEISS! We do this together! You're not alone!"

Ruby. Roses. Lips like petals. Eyes like thorns. Eager hands and a soft smile tucked in the crook of Weiss' neck. Kisses tracing the slope of her jaw. A quiet giggle. A blatant tease.

Jacques slapped Ruby across the face. "Keep her quiet!" He snapped.

Weiss felt a rage, cold and unforgiving, pierce through her.

Reinart's hand slipped from her throat to cover Ruby's mouth, silencing her. Freeing Weiss' neck. Jacques turned to face Weiss.

Weiss drove her forehead into Jacques' face, his nose breaking.

Jacques reeled back. "Fuck! Fuck!" His glove was wet with blood. He looked at Reinart with disbelief. "Why did you let her go!?"

Reinart shrugged, impassive. "You seemed to have it handled."

Jacques snarled. He pulled his desk drawer open, fishing for a handkerchief. "You're gonna tell me everything, Weiss. Who's sniffing around, what they know, what you've told them." He said, staring Weiss down. "Or, I'll stick you in a hole to rot. And, every night you sleep, you'll dream of the screams I will pull from the little rose tonight."

Weiss swallowed. How long had it been? Were Sun and Neptune okay? Did-

Shattered glass. Gunshots. Screaming.

Reinart looked up. "Something is wrong." He said quietly.

Jacques pulled the handkerchief from his face. Blood soaked his moustache. His lips twisted in a grimace, teeth stained red. He reached into his drawer and pulled out a pistol. "Well? Go investigate!"

Reinart snorted, let Ruby go, and left the office.

Ruby's hand shot out and grabbed Weiss', squeezing it hard.

Jacques' nose wrinkled. He lazily leveled the pistol at Ruby. "Let go of her." He said, his voice low.

Ruby jutted her chin. "Make me."

"Ruby." Weiss whispered, her thumb grazing Ruby's knuckle. "It's okay."

Slowly, slowly, Ruby released her hand.

Jacques chuckled. "That's better." He cocked his head. More shouts. More gunshots. "Did you have something to do with what's going on upstairs?"

Weiss shrugged. She lifted her foot to the base of the chair and began unlacing her heels. "How many enemies do you have?" She asked, slipping one heel off. She started unlacing the other. "Could any of them want money, or blood?" The other heel slid off. "Or, maybe the law has finally caught up with you, Jacques?"

The pistol slapped hard against the side of her head. Her vision flashed, and a dull ringing started in her ear. Warmth crept down her neck.

Weiss felt a moment of satisfaction. Now or never.

Jacques was yelling, but she couldn't hear him. No distractions. No mistakes. He was enraged. He was distracted.

Weiss snatched the taser taped to the bottom of the chair. She jammed it into Jacques' belly. His body shook. The gun went off, the bullet tearing through her shoulder. She screamed, the taser dropping to the floor. Her hand went to cover her wound.

Jacques was crazed. Manic. Spit ran down his jaw. His gun shook, and he brought it to face Weiss-

Ruby kicked the gun out of Jacques' hand. Jacques sickly lunged for it, like a weak, starving man. Before his senses could return, Ruby snatched the taser from the ground and dug it into his back.

Weiss watched as her father twitched, his arms and legs convulsing, drumming the floor. His eyes rolled into the back of his head. Then, the taser clattered to the floor, and Jacques stilled. Unconscious.

Ruby, breathing hard, rushed to Weiss, her hands grabbing Weiss' free hand, rubbing her knuckles with the pads of her thumb. Ruby was saying something, but she couldn't make it out. Her shoulder. Her head was numb.

Weiss, shaking, got to her feet. She shuffled past Ruby, right to Jacques still form. Her eyes couldn't believe it. A madman, a titan, sprawled at her feet.

She drove her heel straight into his face. Again and again and again again again again aga-

"Weiss!" Ruby shouted, her hands wrapping around Weiss' stomach. "We gotta go!"

"NO!" Weiss bucked against Ruby, trying to kick Jaques again. "He took my fucking voice! He took my food! He took my freedom!" Weiss writhed in Ruby's grip. "He fucking shot me!"

"I know! But we have to go Weiss!" Ruby pulled Weiss away from Jacques. "We have to go!"

Weiss shook, her feet kicking out underneath her, Ruby's arms steadfast around her waist. Slowly, her breath slowed. She went limp in Ruby's arms, and surrendered. "Okay." She whispered. "Let's go."

Ruby gently let Weiss go. She swayed on her feet, hand clutching her shoulder. Fuck, that was her left shoulder. Prepping food is gonna be a fucking nightmare. And what about pastry? Ruby said she'd be good at it. If her shoulder didn't heal, would she have the precision, the ability? Would she-

Ruby, gun in one hand, took Weiss' hand in her palm. "Come on." She whispered. "We're so close." Her cheek rubbed Weiss'. "When this night is over, he can't hurt you, and we'll be safe." Ruby pulled back, meeting Weiss' eyes. "But we have to finish this."

Weiss glanced at the still form of her father. Upstairs rattled with shouts and gunshots. Glass shattering, and a low, keening cry.

Weiss wiped her eyes. Get it together. "You're with me?" She asked, quietly.

Ruby snorted. "Now who's being a dunce?" She ran her finger down Weiss' cheek. "I'm with you."

Weiss nodded. "All right." She swallowed. "Let's go."

Ruby squeezed Weiss' hand tight. Then, before they could think, went upstairs. The door was closed, with nothing but a small window in the center to see through. The pair peeked through, and Weiss' eyes went wide.

The dining room was sheer chaos. Bullet holes in the sapphire encrusted wall. Tables overturned, leaving piles of scattered plates, broken flutes. The chairs, ruined. The lights, currently being shattered by a storm of bullets. And that expensive wall of window, peppered with white cracks. Like snowflakes.

Weiss let out a quiet bark of laughter, then covered her mouth.

Ruby looked at her, one eyebrow raised.

Weiss lowered her hands, biting her lower lip to hold in the laughter. "The dining room is absolutely fucked." She said with delight.

Ruby brushed Weiss' hair from her face. "You're going white." She said softly. "We need to get you out of here."

Weiss gripped her shoulder harder. "I'm fine." She snapped, swaying on her feet. "I can hold my own."

Ruby crouched down. "There's first aid in the kitchen. Get on my back."

"I do not need to be carried!"

"You left your shoes downstairs Weiss!" Ruby snapped back. "And there's broken glass fucking everywhere!" She glanced at Weiss' shoulder. "I think you've lost enough blood, don't you?"

Weiss grimaced. "Fine." She carefully got on Ruby's back, draping her numb arm over Ruby's shoulder, locking her legs around her waist.

Ruby stood up. She pushed up on the balls of her feet, checking the balance. Satisfied, she gave Weiss the pistol. "When I start moving, shoot at them so they don't shoot us."

Weiss nodded, taking a deep breath. The gun felt heavy, warm. It ruined her shoulder it threatened her life it-

Don't think about it. Anger, get angry. Pull at the adrenaline and unleash fury at the world.

"Ready?"

Weiss nodded, her nose rubbing the crook of Ruby's neck.

"On three. One. Two. Three!"

Ruby sped across the dining room. Her stride put a sharp spike through Weiss' shoulder. She grit her teeth. There. Reinart, Watts, Cinder. Cornered with their backs to the large window, the faint glow of the city behind them.

Cinder spotted the pair, and turned her gun to them. Weiss fired.

The first bullet slammed into their table. The second whizzed past Cinder's hair, sending a lock to the floor. Cinder screamed. The third, fourth and fifth bullets hit the window, the bastards now crouching behind cover. The rest peppered the table and chairs.

Click, click, click. Empty.

"Keep it up!" Belladonna, now standing up, her rifle suppressing the enemy position. Xiao Long and Neptune joined in, and a pane of the wall-window shattered as a whole clip of bullets emptied into the enemy position.

Ruby got behind cover and gently laid Weiss down.

"Ruby, you okay?!" Yang yelled.

"I'm fine!" Ruby called back. "What's happening?!"

Sun came up to the pair. "We've got em pinned, but most of the house ran off instead of helping." He looked at Weiss. "Did you get shot?"

"What gave it away?!" Weiss snarled.

Neptune laughed, dropping an empty clip from his gun. "Why'd you go and do a silly thing like that?" He slid in a fresh clip and continued firing.

"Not like I had a choice!"

Sun shook his head. "Perry, Dawn! Go get the first aid kit from the kitchen!"

"Perry's here?" Ruby said with apparent disbelief.

"What do you mean I'm here?" Perry asked, looking hurt.

Dawn slapped him upside the head. "She thought you'd run, dumbass. Take it as a compliment, you exceeded expectations for once."

Perry pointed his gun at Dawn. "Ya know-"

"Save it for later, shit-stains." Sun snapped. "Get the bandages. And there's some morphine stashed in the ceiling tile above the dishwasher. The one with the red stain in the corner. Go!"

Perry rolled his eyes. "I'll show you exceeding expectations." He growled at Dawn, and the two left.

Weiss lazily cocked her head. "You stashed morphine up there while we were hiding the guns?" She asked.

Sun was silent. "Sure." He answered. "Why not?"

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Seriously Sun, on shift?"

"No! Noooooo." Sun shook his head. "After close. To pre-game. For the bar."

"That's some fucking pre-game." Weiss sighed.

Sun folded his arms. "You can-" A hail of bullets whizzed past them, and Sun ducked down. "You can't be mad, because I'm sharing!"

"Did you bring enough for the whole class?" Weiss said. Fuck, her head was fuzzy.

"Funny." Sun poked Ruby. "How much blood has she lost?"

"Too much. She's getting weaker." Ruby clenched her fists. "We need to get her out of here."

"Here!" Dawn shouted, sliding the first-aid and a small box toward Sun.

Sun nodded. He opened up the box, grabbed a napkin from the floor, and soaked it with isopropyl alcohol. He set the rag on his knee and opened the smaller box. "Alright Weiss, pain's going away." He said, sticking a needle into a rubber-sealed jar.

Weiss held up a hand. "Just enough to take the edge." She rasped. "I don't wanna be useless."

Sun shrugged. "Any more than you already are?" He said with a shit-eating grin.

Weiss lifted up her good arm to give Sun the bird, and he grabbed it and set the needle at a vein and pushed it in. Slowly, he depressed the plunger.

Her shoulder stopped hurting. Everything stopped hurting. A pleasant numbness spread through her hands and feet. "Holy fuck." Weiss said, voice bright and cheery. "How much did you give me?"

"Twenty mils. Enough for a few hours without pain." Sun packed away his supplies. "Give it a minute, the euphoria is gonna kick in, and it is the tiiiiits."

A pleasant warmth pooled in her belly, and Weiss sighed. "Fuuuuuuck, this shit is good."

Ruby chuckled. "How's the shoulder feel?"

Weiss hummed. "Like cotton candy dreams."

Ruby snorted. She looked to Xiao Long and Belladonna. "Yang, Blake, she needs a hospital."

Blake ducked, reloading. "Get out through the kitchen, I've got back up on the way." She blind-fired over the table. "Use my car." She tossed Ruby a set of keys.

Ruby caught em. "Don't die." She commanded.

Yang snorted. "Right back atcha sis."

Ruby cradled Weiss in her arms. "Time to move Weiss."

"No. We need-" Weiss took a breath. A stronger wave of euphoria washed across her. "We need to fight."
"We did." Ruby grunted, pulling Weiss onto her shoulders.

Weiss drooped like a wet noodle. Completely undignified. She opened her mouth to complain, but there was movement. By the door leading to the office. Jacques. Awake. Moving. Gun in hand and a short piece of metal in his mouth. He pulled his hand back.

Adrenaline shot through Weiss. "Grenade!" She yelled, as Jacques let it loose.

Everyone moved. Some leaped over tables, others ran for the kitchen. Ruby lurched for the door, but it didn't matter.

The grenade sailed past the pair. Clink, clink. Then, a clap of sound bowled Ruby and Weiss over like sacks of potatoes. Her ears were ringing. New spots of euphoria sprouted up within Weiss' body.

Morphine, you delicious fucking saint.

Weiss blinked, and pushed up on her hands. Another sprout of euphoria. She looked at her hand. A shard of glass, stuck in the meat of her thumb.

Crimson flows through glass.

A hand struck Weiss across the face. Her head lurched, but she felt nothing. Then again, and again. A barrel of a gun pressed to her forehead, and she looked up.

"You." Jacques spat, teeth bared and bloody. "Are a disgrace to the name."

Weiss pressed into the barrel, staring Jacques down. "You defiled my name."

Jacques smiled wide, like the cheshire with a fresh kill. "I took what was mine to take." He kicked Weiss in the jaw, wrenching her head around.

She spat out a tooth, and it clattered through the glass. She turned around.

Jacques stood over Ruby. She was moving, but barely. Stunned. Jacques' pistol pointed at her belly. Jacques looked Weiss right in the eye. "Watch her die." He said, and fired.

Weiss froze. She watched Ruby's head jerk, her hands flail. She watched the blood blossom over her tank top.

Jacques fired again.

No.

Weiss leapt to her feet. She grabbed an unbroken bottle of wine and ran. Warmth spread across her feet and she slipped. No time no time no time she brought the bottle up and slammed it against his head. Wine splashed everywhere. The gun fell out of his hand. He's wailing. Screaming. The base of the bottle was broken off.

Press the advantage.

Weiss stabbed the bottle at him. His arm. His face. His shoulder. He screamed and screamed, slapping her, punching her. She stabbed his palm, and he roared. She stabbed his chest, and his whole body winced.

She slashed his neck, and blood spurted out. He struggled, panicked, his eyes wide and full of rage. She kept up the pressure. His jacket was soaked. Her arm was wet. Little spurts leapt at her eyes and she blinked it away.

He gurgled in protest. His movements slowed. Little by little, strength left his body. His arms went limp, crashed to the floor. His eyes stuttered.

Then, Jacques Schnee was no more.

Weiss let go of the bottle. Her hands shook like branches in a storm. Red, everything was red and wet. She turned.

Ruby, in the arms of her wailing sister. Belladonna by her side, scroll in hand. Sun and Neptune rushing towards her.

Weiss reached out. Darkness enveloped the edge of her vision. She fell towards the floor. Neptune caught her in his it's so warm.

Ruby. . .

~0~

Weiss woke from a dreamless sleep. She blinked, the white fluorescent searing her eyes. She took a long, deep breath, and twisted her head from side to side.

On the left, a window out to the city of Atlas. Bright blue sky, a few lazy clouds and the haze of movement from traffic and pedestrians. People living their lives. Weiss looked away.

Ruby. Fitted with an 02 mask, her heartbeat a steady beep, bandages wrapped all around her belly. Her breath, ragged, but still going.

Weiss let out a sigh of relief. "Ruby." She whispered.

Someone jerked awake in the chair at the base of Ruby's bed. "Weiss?" She said, coming to her bed. "You're awake?"

The blonde. Yang. Weiss gulped. "I am." She rasped. She looked at Ruby. "Has. . . Has she?"

Yang took in a breath. "No." She crossed her arms, eyes bent in anger. "You got my sister shot." She growled.

Weiss couldn't meet her eyes. Her heart monitor beeped faster. "I'm sorry." She whispered. She waited for the anger. The hate. Never come near her again, never look at her touch her love her-

A hand clapped on her shoulder. "I can't imagine. . . Living, with a monster like that." Yng said softly. "The bastard shot her twice, and I-" Yang choked on her breath.

Weiss faced her. Her left shoulder ached, but her right hand could reach up and, slowly, rest on Yang's.

Yang looked at Ruby. "And I watched him do it, and I wanted to stop him, and then you-" She met Weiss' eyes. "You walked on glass for her."

Weiss sniffed. "Well, easier to do on morphine."

Yang got in close. "Does morphine make it easier to kill your dad?"

Weiss' heartbeat slowed. Red wine soaking his jacket. Blood pooling around his hair. Jaw flopped open, bloody teeth, eyes wide with fear. "No." Weiss whispered. "That I did all by myself."

Yang stared into Weiss. Deep horizons of lavender fields framed by straw-gold tresses. "He was family."

Weiss frowned. ". . . No. He never was." Weiss felt her eyes well up. "My mother died shortly after I was born. And. . . I had a sister. I don't know where she is or what she's doing, but she got away from him." Weiss took a shuddering breath. "And now I'm free of him too." Finally.

Yang wrapped her arms around Weiss' neck, pulling her into a loose hug, cheek against cheek. And, she just held her.

Weiss felt like a warm cocoa was being gently against her soul. Tears ran like hot honey down her face, and her good arm jumped up, pulling Yang closer. She hiccupped soft whimpers into Yang's shoulder.

The years flashed by, one by one. Mother's lullaby. The box in the ground. Winter's last goodbye. The soft fur of Athena. Blood. Singing on a stage, wreathed in white, all the tears dried before curtain. Cutting open a 9-volt. Stomach pump, loss of her voice. His voice. The Gele Gloxinia.

Weiss let it all rush back. Let the walls and the armor and the fear and the rage collapse. Her mind hefted a sigh and her body shook in relief.

Finally. Rest.

She cried until her face was hot and snot ran down her chin. It carried on until she had nothing left to give, and her weeping shriveled to quiet sniffles, her hand clawing into Yang's shoulder.

Yang pulled back. "Let's get you a tissue, snotty." She smiled.

Weiss barked out a laugh. "I'm sorry." She wiped her eyes, smiling.

Yang pulled a box of tissues from her bag on the floor, and handed several to Weiss. "I'm not. Ruby is safe and. . ." Yang poked Weiss in the forehead. "I'm kinda happy she found you."

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Kinda? If she didn't know me, she'd be fine. I told her as much."

"And she didn't listen." Yang chuckled. "'Cause she's a butt."

Weiss burst out laughing, which quickly turned to hisses of pain. "Ow, ow, ow."

Yang grabbed the tissues from Weiss' hand. "Yeah, your shoulder is pretty messed up." She said softly. "But your insurance and inheritance is covering everything."

What? "My inheritance?" Weiss asked. "I don't have one. I was written out. Whitley is getting everything."

Yang nodded. "So I heard. But then your sister showed up with these lawyers and-"

Weiss froze. "Sister?"

"Uh, yeah. Winter. Did you forget about her or-"

Weiss lurched forward, grabbing Yang's shoulder tight. "She's alive!?"

Yang's shoulders fell. "Oh. Wow. Yeah. She's alive." She said softly. "She went with Blake to get some food and talk cop stuff. They should be-"

The door opened. In wafted the smell of pho, carried by Blake. She was saying "-mpressed with the lawyers, but I don't thin-" And froze. "Weiss." Blake said simply. Weiss stared right behind Blake at the tall, imposing figure behind her. Then Blake stepped out of the way.

Winter. Older, hardened. Unmistakably her sister, carrying two paper bags of pho like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Weiss blinked. She reached out to Winter, and a moment later the bags were on a table and Winter was in her arm and holding her close and Weiss broke down.

"I'm sorry Weiss I'm so sorry." Winter whispered.

"It's not fair!" Weiss wailed.

"I know, I should've called, I should've written but he would have found me and-"

"No you moron!" Weiss yelled pulling back, hand tight on Winter's shoulder. "I just fucking cried more than I have in my entire fucking life and you-" Weiss started punching the top of Winter's shoulder. "-show the fuck up outta nowhere and I'm too god damn tired to do more cry-y-y-ying!" Weiss pulled Winter to her, sobbing into her shoulder.

Winter huffed. "Well, if you don't want to cry then there's no reason to ruin my suit."

"Shut up." Weiss sniffed.

Winter chuckled, and held Weiss close. "I am happy to see you sister." She whispered.

Weiss squeezed, hard. Then, "What happened? How did you get away?"

Winter looked away, rubbing the back of her neck. "I, uh, joined the military. And then I was promoted a few times, honorable discharge, and joined a government intelligence agency." Winter gestured to Blake. "I've been at the periphery of Blake's case here, dropping leads and information to allow Blake a closer look at Jacques while leaving my agency's involvement secret." Winter squeezed Weiss' hand. "I've been fighting to take him down ever since I left."

Weiss swallowed. "I-I killed him, Winter. I killed our Father."

Winter put her palm to Weiss' forehead, brushing down her hair. "Beat me to it." She said gently.

Weiss nodded. She looked around the room. Yang, Blake, Winter, Ruby- "Where's Sun and Neptune?"

Blake looked at the floor. "They were captured, taken away from here."

"What?"

Winter took a breath. "Our father was part of the faunus slave trade here in Remnant, shipping them on his railways and airships around the globe. They work his mines, fight in bloodsports, and service the rich and powerful. We think Sun and Neptune are alive."

"But likely not for long." Weiss mumbled.

"No." Winter grasped Weiss' hand with both of her own. "But I swear to you Weiss, we'll get them back. I'm going to make sure you. . ." Winter looked to Ruby. "And Miss Rose, are safe and happy until all of this is over."

Weiss frowned. "What do you mean?"

Winter looked to Blake. "I've been talking with Detective Belladonna. She and I both agree that witness protection is best for the both of you. Somewhere remote, somewhere quiet, somewhere easily defensible and out of the way."

"You'll have to change your names. Make up a cover story." Blake spoke up. "But we could put you and Ruby in a place where a second chance is possible."

A second chance. A life with Ruby, away from everything. "That sounds lovely." Weiss whispered. Then, her brow scrunched. "Blake, if we did this, could we-"

The door smacked open. "Hello hello hello!" A man in a white coat greeted cheerfully. He looked up from his clipboard. "Ah, good, you're awake! Maybe I won't have to barge in here so much!"

Winter pinched her nose and sighed.

The man extended his hand to Weiss. "Doctor Birch Pine, at your service. You may call me Doctor Pine. I'm the one who's fixing up your shoulder, and her intestines."

Weiss bowed her head. "Thank you Doctor." She said quietly.

Doctor Pine wrinkled his nose. "Good god you need a drink of water." He poked his head out the window. "Nurse Gemni, would you get me a pitcher of water and two glasses? Thank you!" He faced Weiss. "Now, I'm told you were a chef."

Weiss nodded. "At the Gele Gloxinia."

"Great! Then I can speak plainly." He tapped his clipboard with his pen. "Your shoulder is fucked up beyond all recognition. The bullet went straight through the ball joint and shattered the whole damn thing. If we let it heal as is, you couldn't lift a skillet." He checked his sheet. "Says here you're left-handed."

"That's correct." Winter chimed in, irritated.

Doctor Pine nodded. "Then you can forget about handling a knife with any sophistication. So, you're gonna need surgery, and you're gonna need a whole new arm. Now, Miss Xiao Long here has a damn advanced cybernetic, and you've got the funds to cover one of those. Or, and this is my recommendation, replace your bone with a bio-compatible ceramic. Your osteoblasts and osteoclasts will be able to break it down and rebuild it, and over time will replace most of the ceramic with bone, leaving only a titanium scaffolding behind."

Weiss looked at her shoulder. "I'll take the ceramic."

Doctor Pine clicked his pen. "Splendid! We'll need to innoculate your blood with some ceramic to get your cells used to them, that'll take a week. Then, when we replace the bone, you won't die of systemic shock." Doctor Pine turned on his heel, about to leave the room, when a gasp came from the other bed.

Ruby! Weiss' eyes shot to her. Her head was moving. Her mouth was scrunched. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked over. "Yang? Blake?"

Instantly, the pair were on her, obstructing Weiss' view. She wanted to jump, run to the bed, and hold Ruby as tight as she could. She couldn't hear their whispers. Was Ruby okay? Was she feeling sick? Did she need water? Food?"

"Where's Weiss?" Ruby asked, and Weiss' heart leapt to her throat.

Reluctantly, Yang shifted away from Ruby, and Blake moved to the base of the bed. "She's over there. See?"

Weiss looked at her silver-eyed angel, a smile tugging at those lips. "Ruby." She whispered.

"Weiss." Ruby rasped. She reached out across the gap.

Weiss needed to touch her. "Can someone move my bed?" Everyone looked to the Doctor. "Please?"

Doctor Pine sighed. "No kissing, snuggling, cuddling, or fucking. Hold hands and talk like a priest around witnesses and you'll heal much faster." He pushed up his glasses. "I'll be back in five minutes to check her vitals. Five minutes." With that, he left the room.

Yang and Winter got up and pushed the bed around the side table so there was a six-inch gap between Ruby and Weiss. As soon as they could, they coiled their fingers around each other and held tight.

Ruby smiled. "You're alive."

Weiss nodded. "So are you. I was worried."

"Yeah, I thought I wasn't gonna make it."

"I don't think you will."

"Really? Why?"

"Doc said no fucking."

"I'm sure we can find a work around. Or are you chicken?"

"Not on your li-"

"Okay!" Yang shouted. "We get it, you like each other, please shut up!"

Ruby giggled. "About time you got embarrassed, sis." She teased.

Yang huffed, crossing her arms.

Weiss snorted, squeezing Ruby's hand. She looked to Blake. "Ruby, Blake says we might go into witness protection."

"Really?" Ruby asked. "That sounds fun."

"It does. But I do have one question." Weiss said.

"Shoot." Blake said.

Weiss pursed her lips. "Where we're going, could we open a restaurant?" She asked. Out the corner of her eye, Ruby's face lit up.

Blake scratched her chin. "I don't see why not." She said.

"You'd have to keep a low profile." Winter chimed in.

"So you can't make it the best restaurant in the world." Yang echoed.

"The best where we are then." Weiss acquiesced.

"Where would that be?" Ruby asked, hope in her voice.

Blake grinned. "Home, Ruby. Soon as you two can walk out of this hospital, we're taking you to Patch."

Ruby squealed, then held her belly. "Ow, ow, ow, ow." She hissed.

Weiss frowned. "Careful you dolt. We can't run a kitchen if we don't heal up.

Ruby nodded. "I know, I know." She looked at Weiss. "What are we gonna call it?" She asked.

Weiss smiled. "I have no idea." She rubbed her thumb across Ruby's knuckles. "But, with you, I'm excited to find out."