Someone raised a valid point of it being not very clear to jump from the high-intensity, literal life-or-death action of the prologue, to the more subdued first chapter. And, yeah, I can see that. Honestly, that was just a teaser chapter - something I wrote as a POD for the rest of the story.
To make things a little clearer, we jumped back in time. Winter is not dead and reliving all this in purgatory (no... just no), Adam currently isn't enacting righteous justice on - and possibly violating the corpse of - Jacques Schnee. Just thought I'd make that little announcement.
Speaking of announcements, this story is now going to be updated every other week, if I can manage it. On the weeks in between, Mirrored Eyes will be going up.
Weiss looked up with a start as three sharp knocks echoed off her bedroom door. She hadn't summoned Klein, nor any of the other staff, so it was unlikely to be them. Whitley would be preoccupied with his tutors right about now, as well. Father was at work, and she wasn't expecting any visitors. Curious, she set down her book and made her way across the room.
Who greeted her when she opened the door, stole her breath away. Her blue eyes grew as wide as saucers, and it was all she could do to cover her gaping mouth with her hands to stop looking like a trout.
"Hello, sister," Winter said with a nod.
"W-Winter..." was all she could manage.
"How have you been?"
Curse her shocked expression. "I... Fine, I've been fine, thank you."
The two sisters stood, staring at each other for a few moments while Weiss regained her composure.
"As much as I would love to continue this meeting in the hallway," Winter broke the silence. "I do not believe it would be entirely proper."
That was a hint, damn it. "Oh! Yes, would you like to come in?"
The faintest trace of a smirk graced the older woman's lips. It appeared she was in a good mood. "I would, thank you."
Weiss led her over to a table and motioned for her to sit. Her heart raced in her chest as she lowered herself into the chair. How long had it been since she'd seen Winter? Months, at least. The last they'd spoken in person was just before her doubles match with Yang at the Vytal Festival. "Is there anything you would like? I could have Klein bring us up some tea."
Winter shook her head. "No, that won't be necessary. Also, I believe he has his hands full at the moment."
"You've spoken to him already?"
"Who else would have let me in?" Weiss winced at the quick response. Of course, she would have seen him before her. His job was to answer the door. Great, not even a minute into their first time speaking in months, and she was already making a fool of herself.
Winter's gaze softened a bit, and a slight smile tugged at her lips. "It's good to see you, Weiss."
The younger Schnee relaxed somewhat and allowed herself to breathe a little easier. "And you as well, Winter," she said. There was a brief moment of silence where Weiss tried to figure out what to say. Conversations with Winter had always been clipped and to the point, with no window for idle chatter. As such, she needed to come up with the correct ice-breaker.
And immediately upon thinking that phrase, she realized Yang would have a field day with it in this scenario.
"I do wish you had called ahead, I admit, you have me at somewhat of a disadvantage," Weiss stated. "I wasn't expecting company of any sort."
Winter glanced around at her room. The place made her old dorm back at Beacon look like a hovel by comparison. But, having been the only place Weiss had stayed for the last few months, it lacked the livelihood of her team. In fact, without them, she realized just how bleak her life indeed was.
"Yes, I hear you've become something of a recluse as of late. Never stepping foot out of here, seeing no guests."
Again, Weiss winced. "Well, I..."
"However, given your recent experiences," Winter went on, "I suppose such behavior can be forgiven."
Her gut sank in yet again. Memories of Beacon in flames, people running in terror from the Grimm and White Fang, flooded back into her mind.
Winter's comment held more weight than perhaps she realized. Weiss had indeed become more than a little antisocial since father had brought her back. She didn't want to go out, didn't want to return to her old, pampered, boring life as a Schnee. She desired to lock herself away and stew in her own misery.
Which is precisely what she had done.
However, the way her sister had phrased it, it made it sound as though that was a bad thing.
"I..." Weiss started, only to glance away as Winter's brow raised. "I haven't exactly been feeling well enough to socialize." The moment the words left her mouth, her inner Yang piped up. Lame!
Winter apparently saw through the half-hearted excuse as well. "Weiss, it's been months since your return. Believe me, when I say, you can't hide from the world forever." She placed a hand on hers. "Your grief is understandable, but there comes a time when you must let go of it and move on."
Weiss stared at her hands, which were clenching into fists. How could she be expected to let something like this go? Beacon, her home, going up in flames. Grimm and White Fang everywhere, ripping through civilians like parchment paper. Blake dragging Yang's limp body over to her, only to flee a minute later. She'd just left her partner, unconscious, bleeding, and disfigured at her feet.
Everyone just told her to move on with her life. Father acted like Vale being attacked was their own fault, and that it wasn't their problem. Whitley, what little she'd seen of him, he didn't seem to know - or care about - the full story, merely taking whatever dung the media was shoveling. Klein and the other staff were understanding to a point. But even he looked at her with an expression of pity. She felt like they all saw her as damaged - like the whole ordeal had broken her mind in a way she couldn't see.
"I can't just simply forget what happened, Winter," Weiss's voice was lilted with anger. A wave of fury that raged and boiled just beneath her skin. No, she wasn't broken. In layman's terms, she was just pissed. "I lost more than my school. The Fall took my whole life away; my friends, my home."
"And you're upset by this," Winter held a wholly neutral expression, not revealing anything that was going through her head. "You feel angry about all of that being ripped away from you. And you're feeling restless, just sitting in here, while you could be out there, finding those who took it from you?"
Weiss thought about it for a moment. As a matter of fact, yes. Yes, she was getting antsy, cooped up inside the house all this time. Was that... was she feeling this way because she wanted revenge? She had to admit, seeing Adam Taurus' head on a pike, as gruesome as it sounded, would have made her feel somewhat satisfied. It wouldn't be justice, per se, but those who deserved it rarely found it. Case in point - Jacques Schnee.
"Yes. Yes, that is what I want. Those people who ruined my life, I want to see them fall in the same way."
She glanced up at her sister, who still wore that enigmatic face. No one could ever fathom what Winter was thinking based on her expressions alone. It was something that made a very effective as an interrogator when they were children. If Weiss ever got into trouble, their parents would simply sic Winter on her, and she would confess almost immediately.
Winter nodded. "Again, your words are understandable, if not warranted," she said. "However, revenge is a fool's game. And, were you to seek it, you would only lose more than they originally took."
Weiss scowled. Why would she point out to her what she was feeling then warn her against it?
"In the end, the satisfaction you would gain would be little more than a fleeting burst of chemicals in your brain. Then, you'll go right back to where you started, if not worse."
Weiss's shoulders drooped. She could see the logic behind Winter's words. She'd always seen herself as the more level-headed member of team RWBY. Yes, she was prone to sudden outbursts of emotion, but on the whole, she was more in control of them.
Since the Fall, though... Weiss's feelings and thoughts had spiraled out of hand. While she did manage to maintain the thin shred of the cool she had and project the illusion that she was okay, beneath the surface was a different story altogether.
"I can't just forget about what happened," she sighed. "Not yet."
Winter's eyes softened - for a split second, but it happened - and she took the younger woman's hand. "You don't need to forget. Far from it," she said. "But you can't let it fester inside you. Given enough time, you'll drive yourself mad doing that."
"You need an outlet, something to channel all that anger into."
The chair's legs scraped against the floor as Winter rose from her seat. After a quick glance around the room, she looked at her sister. "I assume you've been continuing with your training in your confinement?"
Inwardly cursing, Weiss looked away. Her silence was telling.
"I see. Well, then, I suppose it will be my responsibility to show just how far you can fall after a few months' idleness."
Dutifully stepping over to a display case on a table, Winter opened it and withdrew Myrtenaster. Its slender blade and multicolored cylinders glinted as the light from the windows graced them for the first time in what seemed like years. With a flourish, she then tossed the rapier to Weiss, who caught it with practiced ease. Her fingers molded around the grip, send all manner of nostalgic feelings to her mind.
"Take your stance!" Winter called, tapping into her military discipline as she drew forth her own weapon. "And do not think for a moment that I will show mercy just because you are out of practice."
A grin tugged at Weiss's lips. She hoped not.
Hey! Everybody loves cliffhangers... right?
I'm sorry, I'll show myself out now.
Sorry I took so long to get this out. The next chapter will be out Sunday after next.