Winter ran her fingers up and down her sisters back with her right hand while her left was busy playing with her sisters hair. It was almost like she was playing an instrument, with Weiss' sobs and moans getting quieter and louder when she moved just right. Winter wasn't much better, her tears and snot rad down her face and she wasn't exactly being quiet.
Winter felt bad for Klein, having to stand there and watch two girls hug and cry for who knows how long. But Winter wasn't embarrassed, not at all. After someone watches you cry practically since the day you're born, you stop caring. Scratch that, she was pretty sure he'd seen her cry the day she was born too.
Weiss pulled away slowly, but kept her arms wrapped around her sister. "Win, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the city" She sniffled, trying her best to keep Winter's jacket clean.
"You didn't think I was gonna leave you alone for Christmas, did you?" Winter smiled at her sister, ruffling her hair. Wiess laughed and pushed her hand away, like she always did, but then looked at Winter, confused. Then a smile broke out on her face, and she wrapped her sister in another tight hug.
"So you're coming with us? That's amazing! We're gonna have such a great time at the conference! I was excited when Klein brought it up with Father, but this is even better!" Weiss gushed, her excitement was electric and adorable. It was the type of thing that Winter had missed so dearly about her sister. If only Winter didn't have to end it so quickly.
"Weiss, I'm sorry, but-" Winter started, but Klein cut her off by coughing into his hand, drawing the attention of both of the sisters to him.
"I hate to interrupt Ms. Weiss, but that was actually a small fib on my part. I knew you wouldn't have agreed to leave your studies without good reason, certainly not for anything like a vacation. Plus, your father would only let you leave for something of importance. So, a fake business conference where you could learn and make connections for your father was the obvious solution" The more Klein talked, the more confused Weiss looked.
"Wait, so the conference you've been telling my father and I about for weeks…"
"Completely fictional. All it took was a fake website here and a fake phone number there and he was convinced. It was all me. I am truly sorry for lying to you, Ms. Weiss, but it was needed" Klein bowed his head in apology.
"It wasn't just Klein. It was my idea" Winter admitted, catching her sister even further off guard. She appreciated what Klein was trying to do, but she wasn't gonna let him take the blame. Weiss pulled away from her sister and took a step back, looking lost.
"I'm confused, what exactly is going on?" Weiss questioned, annoyance starting to seep into her voice. Winter sighed and rubbed the back of her head. The aches and pains of her body and the exhaustion of her drive were taking their toll on her, and all she wanted to do was to find a hotel and pass out. But she owed Weiss an explanation.
"Well, I know how hard father was with me when I was going through tutoring, it was brutal. I thought that it might be wearing you out, but I know you'd never admit it. So, I called Klein. We talked about it, and thought you needed a break. So I came up with the idea for the conference. The plan was for him to convince father to let you go and for him to take you here, then for me to come and pick you up. Then, I'd take you back to Vale with me for a while. You'd be able to relax, explore the city, have a little fun for Christmas, then I'd get you back here" Winter had a small smile on her face as she explained.
It was a pretty good plan if she was being honest. She only felt right taking two days off work, but Weiss could stay with her for longer than that! Winter could take her sister to her Christmas party and introduce her to Amy and Dr. Ironwood, she could meet Earl, and maybe, if they'd still have her, she could even meet Qrow and the girls. Have a big, happy Christmas together…
Weiss was looking between her and Klein, an odd look on her face. Winter was waiting for Weiss to jump back into her arms, excited to see the city and to finally get some alone time with her sister. Instead, Weiss balled her hands into tight fists and her eyes filled with anger.
"God, this is so like you, Winter! You always try to be the hero, even if someone doesn't wanna be saved!" Weiss fumed. Winter blinked, not sure if what she was hearing was real or not.
"Weiss, I-"
"No, just stop for a second and listen! Look, I appreciate it, but I can take care of myself. I'm not getting worked too hard and I'm not some princess locked in a tower that needs you to come and get her! You have your own life, so why can't you just mind your own business and let me live mine!" Weiss was panting now, and Winter could see how she was holding back even more words.
Winter's mouth was dry after hearing what Weiss had to say. She was shocked and confused, not sure what to do or say. Thankfully, Klein had something to say.
"Ms. Weiss, I believe you're being a bit too hard on Ms. Winter. She was only thinking about what was best for you. And honestly, I think you've been working too hard as well. I've been watching your sleepless nights studying, how feverishly you've been trying to get through school. When was the last time you've taken a day off? Or taken some time to sing or play piano?" Klein asked softly, his rational voice reaching her, at least a little.
"Klein… You two are unbelievable. I'm glad I got to see you Winter, but I can't go with you. I have school work to do, piano to practice, and some extra projects father gave me to work on" Weiss admitted as her eyes avoided Winters like the plague.
"Weiss, please, just for a few days? It's been so long since we've been together, I think it would do us both a little good" Winter lied. Weiss was doing fine without her, as much as it hurt to admit. Honestly, Weiss was probably even smarter and stronger than she was, could probably handle the tutoring easily. If it wasn't for their mother, Winter wasn't sure if she would have survived. But here Weiss was, by herself, thriving. Winter on the other hand, wasn't.
She felt weak and vulnerable by herself, and she didn't like it. It was an oddly sobering feeling, knowing that you needed someone more than they needed you. Her life in Vale had been chaotic at best lately, and the idea of having Weiss, her rock, there for any bit of time… was comforting. She was sick of being by herself, and would gladly beg her sister to come with her if she thought it would work.
Weiss looked sheepish as she finally met her sister's eyes, there was sadness and guilt in them as she spoke. "Win, I want to, but I can't. I can't fall behind on my studies or father won't be happy" Something about the way Weiss was talking about him, the man who was keeping them apart, with such reverence… It lit a fuse in Winter, and something in her exploded.
"Stop giving a damn about what that old jerk thinks, Weiss! You're just the heir to his stupid company! He doesn't care about you, he just wants to use you like he used me! Then, one day, when you figure out what you really wanna do, he's gonna shut it down and throw you out just like he did with me!" Winter screamed, letting out all of the bitterness and rage she'd been keeping inside for so long now. She was so loud it wouldn't have shocked her if Amy had heard her in Vale.
Weiss was looking at her like she'd just been slapped. She had fear on her face and tears in her eyes. Kleins eyes were wide, not sure if it was really Winter who'd just said that. Winter took a deep breath, her throat was raw and in pain, but that was nothing compared to how Weiss was looking at her.
"Weiss, I- I didn't mean that. It was just-" Winter wanted to tell her that there was a good reason for her outburst, but everything she thought about saying sounded like excuses. Weiss stood there, biting her lip forcing her tears at bay. Winter felt like she'd just destroyed her whole world, and it wasn't anyone else's fault but her own.
"What he did wasn't right, Win, I know that. But he's our father, and I love him. I know he loves us, even if he doesn't know how to show it, just like mom told us. I'm sure if we give him time, he'll come around, then you can come home" Weiss explained as she grabbed the hem of her shirt tightly, her eyes open wide at the ground, like she was forcing them open. Winter wasn't sure if her sister believed that last part, but it was clear that she still cared for their father.
Some part of Winter felt betrayed. It was like her sister was picking their father over her, which stung like a knife in the back… But Winter knew that wasn't true. This isn't some competition where somebody won or lost. Weiss loved their father, and she had every right to. But that led Winter to a question she'd never thought of, and had never even considered before. Did she love her father?
"Klein, I think we should be leaving. I'm supposed to start my homework soon" Weiss suggested, looking just as uncomfortable as she sounded. Winter had no idea if what her sister said was true or if she was just saying it to get away. Either way, she wanted to leave, and Winter couldn't blame her.
"It is getting rather late. Ms. Winter, I think it would be a good idea if you were to accompany us to the manor for the night. Can't have you drive too far after you've come all this way" Klein looked at her with a warm smile, trying his best to help the two of them, just like always.
"Thank you, Klein, but I don't think father would forgive even you if you let me back in the house" Winter chuckled lightly with no humor in her voice.
"That shouldn't be an issue. Sir Jacques is out of the country on business, and won't be back until late tomorrow. In addition, most of the staff is gone as well. The only ones there, well, they know how to keep a secret" He winked at her, bringing a spark of warmth back to her chest.
Winter looked at Weiss, waiting for her to say something or to outright tell her no. Instead choosing to keep silent and to keep looking away.
"Alright then, I guess it couldn't hurt" Winter relented, Klein lit up, flashing her a brilliant smile.
"Excellent! Then we'll be on our way immediately. I'm sure you still know the way, so we'll see you there" He chirped, opening up his door and finding his seat. Winter wanted to invite Weiss to come and drive with her, but right now it felt best to let her go back with Klein.
Weiss looked up at Winter for a second as well, their eyes meeting. Weiss opened her mouth to say something, but stopped herself. Instead she climbed back into the limo with Klein, and the two of them drove off into the night.
Winter felt shell shocked. She had been so confident that everything would be ok once she got here. All she had to do was see her baby sister again, to have her in her arms, and everything would be better. So how did everything go so wrong so quickly?
She sighed, as she climbed back into her bug. Winters bones creaked and groaned as she buckled herself in the car, exhaustion almost totally taking over. But, just like always, she fought through it as she started her car and made her way after the limo.
Klein wasn't wrong assuming she knew the way back to the manor from here, honestly she could probably make the drive blind folded at this point. Lets just say that her father loved to travel, and loved to drag Winter along with him more often than not. Winter enjoyed traveling, but when you're gone more than you're home, it sort of loses its splendor after a while.
The way to the manor was simple, two rights, a left, go down a few miles, make a left at the large oak tree that she snuck out to climb when she was a kid, and you're there! But now that she was older, and since she'd been gone for so long, she was noticing something that she forgot. Atlas was beautiful.
The trees were huge with snow sprinkled on them like frosting, with long crystal clear icicles hanging off everything. There were plenty of streetlights, making everything they illuminated look like something out of Santa's workshop.
In the distance was a city where her father often did work, and she used to hate looking at it. It brought up images of his boring company and warehouses. Now though, it looked a lot like her city in Vale, and brought a feeling of nostalgia that Winter hadn't been expecting. Winter put down her window despite the cold and let the gentle scent of pine enter her car, and it made her muscles relax just a bit.
Winter felt the building before she saw it. It was a feeling of anxiety and dread in her very core and made the hair on the back of her neck stand on edge. Even knowing it was coming, she wasn't ready for the monster of a building that was Schnee manor.
To say her old home was massive was an understatement to end all understatements. It could probably fit the whole population of the city down the road and still have an empty few floors. It was at six floors high and spread out over a massive 80,000 square feet. They could have made it even bigger, smashed the world record to pieces, but her father thought it wasn't worth the cost of getting into a size war with the current number one. So, they stopped at the biggest home on the continent.
The whole thing was glistening marble white with accents of black for contrast. Oh, and column. Lots and lots of columns. Her father was insistent that columns be used as much as possible, and the architect obliged.
On the property they had tennis courts, a horse stable, a massive garage for her fathers cars (even though he never drove himself anywhere), massive gardens that her mother insisted she grow herself, and in the way back of the estate… the family cemetery.
Winter gripped the steering wheel tight as she drove up to the massive iron gate. On each half of the gate was a large and intricate S, that Winter swore looked like a snake to her right now.
Klein and Weiss were right ahead of her in the white limo, typing in the gate code. Assuming they hadn't changed it, Winter could still recall the numbers flawlessly: 10242015. It was something her mother had insisted on, though she never explained why.
The gates opened quickly, the snakes letting her pass. The limo moved forward without hesitation, but Winter took her time. She drove past the guard box, and saw that there was the normal security guy there. He smiled as she passed, nodding to her with a grin which she sheepishly returned.
The driveway was long and straight, with the manor growing larger by the second and looming over her like some kind of God. Winter never got why people were so intimidated when they would come over and visit her father. They always stuttered and trembled when they got out of their cars, and often they were pretty sweaty too. Like many other things, Winter understood a lot better now.
Klein parked the limo and hurried out to open Weiss' door as well. Weiss hurried out of the limo, quickly walking into the manor leaving both Klein and her in the dust. Winter stopped her car and got out, grabbing her small backpack of clothes out of the back seat.
"Well that didn't exactly go as planned, did it?" Winter sighed as she swung her back pack on her shoulder. Klein pulled Weiss' suitcase out of the back seat with a grunt, but set it on the ground softly.
"No, I suppose it didn't. But you know your sister, always the unpredictable one" Klein chuckled, "By the way Ms, when I gave you that phone all those months ago, I somewhat expected you to call me for help because your car broke down on the way to the city. I'm glad nothing happened though" Klein smiled while Winter took her turn to laugh. She decided to save some shred of her pride and not tell him that her bug had died and she'd tried calling him for a whole day.
"Yeah, would've sucked if something dumb like that had happened" Winter laughed, looking away from Klein. As her laughter stopped, she noticed that Klein was looking at her closely. "What? Do I have something on my face?" Winter wondered, wiping her face. She hadn't eaten anything all day, but you could never be too sure.
"No, nothing of the sort. You look tired, Ms. Winter. Exhausted, actually. You're also pale. Skinnier too. When was the last time you've eaten?" Winter felt her cheeks flush crimson. Maybe Amy wasn't as crazy as she thought?
"It's been a tough few weeks, Klein. By the way, now that I've been disowned, I think you can drop the whole Ms thing now" Winter joked, already knowing his answer.
"Please, I've been calling you that since the day you were born. I don't think I could stop even if i wanted to" He grinned at her. His face softened for a second, "Ms, one more thing"
"Yeah, Klein?" Winter asked, not knowing what he was gonna say.
"It's… It's very good to see you again" He sniffled, wiping an unshed tear from his eye. Winter couldn't help but smile at him. Ok, she was wrong earlier, maybe there was one more person she cared about in Atlas other than her mother and sister. Winter took a step forward and wrapped the short man in her arms, holding him tight. Winter was scared to go into the manor for sure. But at least when she went through those doors, the man who raised her would be right by her side.
-Authors Note-
First off, ten points to the first person who can comment what exactly the gate code is from. Hint, its related to rwby. Well, I've been waiting to write this chapter for awhile, and I think it turned out pretty good! I hope you guys are enjoying where the story is going, because I'm excited to share it with you guy. Please post any comments, questions, or anything, its all appreciated and read! See you guys next week!