I Think I Like You – Weiss POV

Chapter 21: The Human Condition

"I'm really nervous, Weiss. I don't think this is good idea..."

"And why's that?" I ask with obvious annoyance, attempting to straighten Ruby's shirt collar for the tenth time.

"I don't know… It's just the last time I saw your sister it didn't go great or anything, she barely even acknowledged me. I just don't want to make a bad impression, y'know?"

Giving a huff of irritation at Ruby's difficult attitude, I reach down to roll up the cuffs of her sleeves properly. "We've been over this, Ruby. Winter might not give off the most… hospitable atmosphere to guests, but she really wants to meet you and I think this could be a good chance for you two to get along."

"But you two don't even get along." She complains, making me purposefully yank the cuff of her sleeve as I continue rolling it up. "Hey, I'm just pointing out the obvious. How in the hell am I supposed to make peace with your sister when you can't even hold a proper conversation with her?"

"Look, Winter has been in the army for almost a decade now. I don't expect things to be just as they used to, she changed any chance of that the moment she left without telling me."

I start agitatedly working on Ruby's other cuff as she lets out a whine of protest and glances at my front door.

We're currently standing off the side of my driveway, so I can help Ruby put herself together before we head in for dinner. I told her to wear something nice, which she did comply with, but when she pulled up on her bike with her hair and clothes already tousled, I realized I should have had her come ten minutes earlier.

Even though I'm attempting to appear collected for Ruby's sake, I'm more anxious than I'm willing to admit, feeling my hands clam up at the thought of Ruby having to hold a conversation with someone as manic as my sister.

Winter didn't use to be this way. For the past week I've been trying to figure out what's been causing her to act as strait-laced and irritable as she's been. I can't recall a time she ever acted this way before she left for the military, so something must have happened to change her behavior over the years.

Nevertheless, I've been doing my best to follow her orders and take her coarse comments as criticism, hoping that maybe this will eventually be enough to please her and bring part of the old Winter back, the one that would spar with me during her spare time and crack jokes every now and again.

I feel Ruby tug her hand away slightly and give a feeble look to the end of the driveway.

"Maybe I should just go-"

She makes a move to turn in the opposite direction, but I pull her back by her shirt and continue smoothing out some of the wrinkles in it.

"Ruby Rose, you are not going anywhere."

"But-"

"But, we have been training all week for this. I promise you'll be fine."

-One Week Previous-

Ruby stares hard at the silverware I have meticulously laid out before her, probably never having seen so many utensils assigned to a single dinning set.

She studies the tools before her calculatedly, as if looking at them for long enough will give her the answer she needs.

Glancing up at me nervously, she slowly reaches for the fork resting above the plate, sitting right next to the water glass.

"Wrong." I say, crossing my arms.

Ruby grimaces and reaches for the fork closest to the right side of the plate.

"Wrong!" I say again, frustrated with Ruby's poor listening skills. "I said the salad fork, not the dinning fork."

"Gah! Whatever! This is so stupid!" She gripes, throwing the last possible fork towards me on her kitchen counter and leaning back in her chair.

"It's not stupid." I say, picking up the fork and setting it back in place. "It's necessary."

"Why can't we just order pizza or something for dinner with your sister? Does it really matter if I don't know the difference between a tea spoon and a soup spoon?"

"As a matter of fact, it does." I say, throwing a vain look at Ruby, who is pouting like a child.

"You should listen to your girlfriend, Rubes." Yang says as she walks past us through the kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing a half-empty milk carton. "You can't keep 'em pleased forever, might as well not piss her off now."

"I'm not trying to piss her off." Ruby whines, running a hand through her scruffy hair. "I'm just saying there has to be an easier way to go about this."

I let out an exasperated sigh as I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I've tried telling you that Winter is very meticulous about this stuff. You should have spent some time studying a few of the mannerism sites I sent you, but no, you just had to wait until the last minute."

"Hey! Don't blame this on me! It's your sister."

"I'm absolutely blaming this on you-"

Yang interrupts our arguing, slamming the fridge loudly and taking a long gulp out of the milk carton, finishing it and throwing it towards to nearest trashcan.

"Kobe!"

The carton bounces off the trashcan, hitting the floor and slowly sliding towards me as we all watch it.

"Way to go, Yang." Ruby says, huffing and spinning one of the spoons on the table with her finger.

"Look, you guys are way too tense about this. How about just making a cheat sheet or something?"

"And how do you suppose we do that?" I inquire, picking up the carton and walking to the trash can to throw it away.

"I dunno." Yang shrugs, nonchalantly. "I always write on my wrists when I'm cheating for a test or something."

"Ooh, good idea!" Ruby cheerfully agrees.

"I'm not normally one for cheating, but that might have to be an option..." I admit, walking back over to the table and leaning my arms onto it.

Yang and Ruby grin, exchanging a rather loud high-five that makes me wince.

"However," I state, holding a finger up, making the sisters freeze in place. "That still does not fix your lack of mannerism and lack of… acceptable fashion sense."

Ruby frowns. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" She asks, looking down at her red-striped shirt and beat up sneakers.

"Nothing's… wrong with it. Your fashion sense is very… you. For this dinner though, you might need something more fitting. I'll just have to pick you up some clothes and have one of my drivers drop them off sometime before next week."

"And what're you gonna do about her lack of mannerism, Pres?" Yang sarcastically asks, picking up one of the glasses and taking a fake sip out of it.

I hold a finger to my chin and give Ruby a look over, noting how her hair falls into her face as she gives me a curious glance.

"…That's something we might have to keep working on."

-Present-

"Please, Weiss, let me go! I don't wanna go in!"

"You're going in!" I say, stomping my foot down and dragging an unwilling Ruby up the steps to my door.

"B-But I don't remember what to say! I'm gonna freeze! You know how bad I am with people!"

Tugging her up some more steps, I let out an audible grunt. "Yes, which is why I've been teaching you what to say the entirety of this past week."

Ruby continues to struggle, however not nearly as forcefully as we reach the last step.

"This dinner is very important to me, you know?" I say quietly, noting the guilty look Ruby gives me. "Just think of it as a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant."

"Yeah, a restaurant with your sister there. Judging my every move. No big deal."

"Ruby." I say, asking for her attention, which she gives me after a moment of hesitation. "Please… You're not just here to meet Winter, I need you here for me."

Ruby gives a solemn nod and takes a deep breath. "I know. I know." She says, apologetically.

After another moment of hesitation, she grabs one of my hands and runs her thumb across the snowflake bracelet that's hanging from my wrist.

"Do I at least get a reward if I behave?" She cheekily asks.

I give her a small smile in return and press one of my fingers to the tip of her nose. "We'll see."

Just then, my front door swings open, revealing a surprised Winter.

She's dressed in her usual white pantsuit and heels, with her hair pulled back and a smile plastered on her face.

"Oh, Weiss. You didn't inform me our guest had arrived already."

I quickly turn myself to face Winter and give her a small curtsy in greeting. "Yes. She just arrived. I was escorting her inside."

Ruby gives a nervous wave and Winter steps onto the porch to offer her a hand to shake. Ruby takes it and gives it a firm shake up and down, making her sleeves come up to where you could slightly see the notes written on her wrist.

She swiftly pulls it back down and gives a nervous chuckle. "Hello, Winter. I'm Ruby, vice president of the student council."

"As I have been told." Winter says letting her hand go and folding it right behind her a back. "Weiss has told me a lot about you, but we will get to that soon. Please, come in, the food our chef prepared will be getting cold."

With that, Winter briskly walks back through the front door and into the foyer.

When Ruby looks at with me a questioning glance, I give her a thumbs up, telling her she did good with the introduction.

A thousand-watt smile forms on her face as she shakes some of her nerves before following my sister inside.

I feel my heart take an unexpected leap in my chest at her expression. I've always loved Ruby's smile.

We follow my sister through a large corridor, off the side of the foyer that leads to our chef's kitchen and family dining room. Winter had originally wanted to use to dining hall, but I told her I thought it would be a bit too much for one guest.

We enter through a large archway to our dining room, which is currently decorated in many fall colors and a grand chandelier that hangs low over the table, providing ample lighting for the fair-sized room.

The full meal is laid out on the table, consisting of risotto, paella, steak, and a variety of salads and side dishes.

"My apologies for the rug. I am aware that it doesn't match the rest of the room, but I could have sworn we had a different one the last time I was here..." Winter trails off.

Ruby glances at me in confusion, then at the green colored rug, and then back at Winter, realizing she's supposed to give some sort of input.

"Oh, uh. I think the rug is just fine?"

Winter nods and looks distastefully at the object as she steps on it. "I have already ordered a replacement, but it won't come in until next Tuesday, I believe. I could have sworn this was not our fall rug, though. Do you know when this happened, Weiss?"

I look down at the random item she's somehow fixated herself to this time, hoping this dinner would be over quick.

"I don't know. Father changes some of the furniture every few years. He probably just replaced it." I inquire, pulling out my chair in the middle of the table.

Winter walks to the end of the table to take her seat, continuing to mumble to herself and straightening some of the silverware as she passes.

Ruby looks at her in bewilderment as she takes her seat towards the other end of the table, but I just wave her off when she looks to me in questioning, already being used to my sister's neurotic behavior.

I notice Ruby looking around the room, spotting a trophy case that she seems particularly interested in.

"Are those Weiss's trophies?" She asks. "There's so many of them."

Winter finishes aligning her plate properly and looks towards the trophy case. "Yes, well, some of them belong to our brother, Whitley, and some of them are mine as well, I believe."

"That's pretty cool. What're they all for?"

"Well, most of mine are from the military and most of Whitley's are from academics. Weiss, however, used to be a master of all trades. Hers range from sports, academics, and singing competitions. She used to be so adept in so many things..." She begins trailing off again.

Winter stands up and begins cutting servings of all the meal portions for me and Ruby, and I sigh a breath of relief that Ruby wouldn't have to figure that part out herself. Ruby, however looks a little put off by the way my sister is speaking, of course, this too is something I'm already used to.

I feel myself twitch as I hand my plate over to sister. "I still excel at many things. I'm in the top five percent of our grade when it comes to my GPA and the council has been more successful than ever this year."

"Yes, yes. I understand." Winter brushes me off as she hands my plate back, which is now full of vegetables and various meat. "You just used to be so good at a multitude of talents and you had all your competitions to attend. You should consider playing sports again."

I give a half-hearted shrug and look down at my plate. "I guess I'll think about it…"

My sister finishes setting up our plates and sits down in her own seat to begin cutting into her meal. I catch a glance of how she eyes Ruby, who is staring anxiously at her different silverware, probably trying to remember which one she's supposed to use.

Ruby shrugs her cuff a little bit, most likely looking at some of the notes she'd scribbled along her wrist. Although it had looked like chicken scratch to me, after a moment she manages to pick up the correct fork and cutting knife.

When my sister gives her an approving look, I feel some unnoticed tension escape my muscles as I begin cutting into my own food.

"So," Winter begins. "You're the vice president that Weiss has been telling me about? From what I hear you are quite the little helper."

I can tell Ruby didn't like my sister calling her 'little' but she seems to quickly get passed it as she continues cutting into her steak.

"Heh, yeah that's me."

"What sort of activities exactly do you help with? If you don't mind me asking." Winter inquires as she takes a bite of her steak.

"Oh, lots of stuff." Ruby says with a mouthful, quickly swallowing when my sister raises an eyebrow at her. "Anything from paperwork to making banners and plastering them all over the hallway – if you can name it - it's most likely the student council's job."

After a moment, Winter gives a short chuckle, which relaxes me enough to start breathing more normally and not in the nervous breaths I've been taking.

"That sounds like some diligent work. I know Weiss used to love coloring and making pictures. Mother would hang them up on the fridge."

I feel heat rise in my cheeks and I quickly swallow the bread in my mouth, ignoring the amused glace from Ruby. "Y-Yeah when I was like five maybe."

Winter shakes her head. "Weiss, please, don't scarf down your food. And stop acting so uncivilized and place your napkin in your lap."

"Ah, sorry…" I apologize, quickly fiddling with my napkin and draping it across my lap, along the end of my dress.

Winter tsks at me and turns her attention back to Ruby, who's eyeing my sister with an irked expression.

"May I ask how you got involved with the council, Ruby? Back when I was president I remember the council was much bigger than a measly eight students. It seems your recruitment skills have gotten a bit… off track."

My finger flicks nervously on my glass as I take a sip of water, having felt my mouth go dry for some reason, like someone was shoving cotton balls down my throat.

Ruby finishes taking a sip of her water and calmly looks across the table to my sister.

"I was recruited by Weiss during the first week of school, since the last vice president moved over summer break. It was my friend Penny who actually recommended me for the position." Ruby says, uneasily scratching the back of her neck. "I can't say I was really looking forward to it at the time, but after meeting all the members and running a few events, I think it got through to me that I really liked doing it."

"I see. Does the council room still have that large oak table in the center?"

Ruby nods and takes a bite of peas. "Yep. Although Nora did almost break it one time, when she tried to see if she could do a backflip on it."

Winter gives a displeased look before taking a sip of her wine. "I did so love that table, no matter how uncomfortable it may have been. I have very fond memories of my time in the council as well, though from what you say it sounds a bit more… rowdier than before. Weiss has never had the best judge in character."

Ruby looks bothered by my sister's words and hastily swallows the food in her mouth.

"I think everyone in the council is great." She says slowly, letting her softening eyes wonder to me. "They're all really talented people, Weiss especially."

I appreciate Ruby attempting to back me up, but if I'm being honest with myself, it's not much use around Winter.

"Of course Weiss is talented, she has so much to uphold in her position. During my time as president, we had around twenty kids in the council, all appointed by either myself or Mrs. Goodwitch. I remember taking Weiss to a few of our meetings when she was just a toddler. The other kids just adored seeing her, always fussing over who got to sit by her."

Ruby grins and I feel my face heat up once again.

"I was fairly young at the time. I-I don't remember it that well." I admit, picking at my food.

"Weiss," Winter snaps at me out of nowhere, making both me and Ruby jump slightly. "For goodness sake, sit up straight young lady. I will not have you slouching at this table."

I hastily reposition myself so that I'm sitting with perfectly aligned posture, giving a quick apology to Winter.

Ruby's eyes narrow as my sister clears her throat to continue.

"Where was I…? Oh, yes, the council of course. The council used to be a place where any students could visit and offer a suggestion or idea. With the resources and availability we were provided with, we were usually able to fix any problem from cafeteria food to running a variety of clubs events. However, I suppose that isn't exactly possible with the amount of people involved now, is it?"

Ruby shrugs and thumbs the fork in her hand.

"Even with only eight people we have been able to do plenty this year, and since I know what I'm doing now and know how the council works, I'll be twice as helpful next semester."

Winter gives a thoughtful nod and takes another sip of wine.

Much to by disbelief, this has been going better than I had expected it to so far, other than Winter's minor comments toward me. If I wasn't already used to the way she's treated me since she got back, I would probably be more hurt than I feel right now.

It's always the same thing – Winter bringing up a fond memory that she likes and then ridiculing me in some way about the way I am now.

I would be lying if I said I don't regret telling her all the details with the council and my personal life. I just wanted her to know about me, everything that's happened in my life, after all these years we've spent apart. I want to know about her.

We used to be so close, regardless of our age difference. I suppose it was too much to ask for things to be the way they used to. It's quite foolish of me now that I think about it.

"Yes, I suppose there has been quite a lot done in the council this year. Weiss, you should really take some more advice from this one here. She seems to know a good bit about running the council." My sister inquires, swirling some of the liquid in her glass and taking a sip.

"Yeah, well, that's why she's the vice president..." I mumble, almost instantly regretting my tone of voice.

"Well, with an attitude like that you better watch out. When it comes to elections, I don't think arrogance is what makes a winner. This one here seems to be much more lively." My sister says, motioning towards Ruby.

The thought of Ruby actively wanting to be in charge of the council and take over my position is something I find to be plenty amusing. Imagining her walking into a meeting prepared and on time is something she's only able to do if I walk with her, and even then, all she does is complain the whole time.

A small chuckle escapes my mouth before I'm able to catch it, and I quickly clear my throat and straighten up.

"Is something funny, Weiss? I assure you this is no joke. You're already slacking enough in the council as is, I don't need your manners to begin faltering as well."

"Right. I'm sorry." I say, not having the inclination to argue.

I feel a thick rope of despair slink its way around my shoulders, all of my sister's words echoing in my head, having been tormenting me for this past week.

I feel heavy.

I'm not proud to say I've been lying to Ruby most of the week, telling her I'm fine when, in reality, my anxiety from Winter's visit has shot through the roof and I've been plunged into a similar dark space that I feel when I'm around my father.

I know most of what she says isn't true.

I know that. I know that.

I know that - but still - I'm upset about it.

I don't want her to view me the way she does, like I've fallen off or gotten off track, but I can't figure out what she's thinking half the time and her thought process is so rapid I can't keep up. I've never seen someone change subjects as fast as she sometimes does, making me surprised that she's been holding herself back throughout dinner.

"I don't think I would ever consider running for president, much less taking Weiss's position." Ruby carefully says, giving a glance my direction across the table.

I feel myself shake slightly and I feel my muscles tense, knowing what was about to happen. I begin taping my shoe on the rug in a very uneven motion to try and suppress myself from shaking too visibly, even if it isn't too bad right now, I don't want it to get worse.

"With the amount of tact she exhibits nowadays, I wouldn't be too sure yet. Weiss used to be so good at the table, I never had to remind her of any manners or behaviors, as any good Schnee should know proper etiquette."

"I don't think Weiss's tact is the one in need of repair." Ruby says, her voice becoming increasingly inimical.

Winter raises her eyebrows, realizing something she said might have been a bit too much, and I grit my teeth to try and control how rapidly I was hitting the carpet with my heel.

"Apologies, I must have misspoken, I only meant to say that she needs a little reminding these days, nothing more. I think Weiss is quite exceptional in that department, regardless."

I'm about to excuse myself from the table, but just as soon as I open my mouth, Ruby finally snaps. She loudly screeches her chair back from the table and stands up, pointing an incriminating finger at my sister.

"If you actually think that then why are you being so mean to her!? The entire time I've been here you've done nothing but ridicule her!"

Tense silence stretches across the room. I feel my shaking slightly subside, but I bite my tongue as I look to my sister across the table.

Winter stares at Ruby, perplexed. "I assure you I am not being mean to her, I simply don't want my sister to fall out of line in a way that could end up hurting her later. A Schnee is supposed to know how to act."

Ruby throws her hands up, giving an unbelieving and bitter laugh.

"What's that even supposed to mean!? Who cares if she doesn't use the right fork for her salad or if her posture isn't as straight as the apparent stick up your ass!?"

"Ruby-!" I shout sharply, attempting to intervein.

"Weiss doesn't have to listen to you." She continues, animosity dripping into her words as she speaks them. "She's perfect and she can do whatever she damn well likes. And you sure as shit don't have the right to walk in here - after god knows how many years - and tell her otherwise."

Ruby glares at Winter across the table, her posture displaying outraged hostility. I look nervously between them, worried that fists my start to be thrown in the next few minutes if I don't do something.

Thankfully, Winter's stance falters when she notices my distressed look.

"I'm only trying to help-"

"Bullshit." Ruby shakes her head, giving Winter an incredulous look. "All you're doing is making her feel bad about herself, and here she is trying her best to follow every little order you give her and taking in all of your barbed and ludicrous accusations."

Ruby gives my sister a cold look that I never would have thought her capable of, judging from the happy-go-luck Ruby I usually see.

"Well, I got some criticism for you, Winter. You're not in the military anymore, so how about you stop acting like a bully and start acting like an older sister."

A moment of silence passes throughout the room, tense enough that someone would feel the strain if they were to walk in.

I look over to Winter, who has a distant look in her eyes as she dusts off her pants and pulls her chair back.

"Excuse me for a moment." She says, briskly walk behind me and out through the kitchen.

Ruby continues staring heatedly at the floor, breathing heavily in anger, and a few seconds later I hear a muffled door thumping shut.

Letting out a long sigh, I brush off my dress and sit back down, putting my head in my hands.

After a few moments of silently fuming, Ruby ruffles her hair and turns to me, looking like a kicked puppy.

"I-I'm sorry, Weiss. I didn't mean-"

"Ruby." I say, sounding more tired than I expected. "It's fine. I'm going to go talk to her… but I think it would be best if you…"

"Waited here?" Ruby finishes guiltily.

I nod and stand up, noticing Ruby grimace as she sits back down.

Before I leave to go find Winter, I walk over to where Ruby sits and lightly place a still mildly shaky hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.

"Thank you by the way… for standing up for me."

After taking a few minutes to pull myself together in one of the many hall bathrooms, I feel my shaking go down significantly and my breathing slow to a normal degree.

Before I leave, I make sure to splash some water on my face and wash my hands to help sooth me.

I wander the house for the next few minutes, opening doors to rooms and closets that probably haven't been used in years. Most rooms have a thin layer of dust coating the area like a sheet, probably because the last time we had the cleaners come visit was about a month ago. Of course, this was already one of the many qualms Winter has expressed to me about the house.

I eventually walk around to the back hall, glancing out the windows and into the back garden as I pass. We have many gardeners who come here and spruce up all of the tall bushes and flower beds that line the intricate pathways that cover the entirety of the backyard.

Coming up to the clear garden doors, I finally spot Winer, sitting on the top steps of the stairway that leads down to the koi pond at the central most point of our backyard.

Sliding the door open, I take care stepping onto the concrete, not wanting to trip in my heels. Winter doesn't acknowledge my entrance but gives a loud sigh as I near her.

I flatten down the back of my dress with my hands as I sit down on the top step next to her, letting my legs rest to the side on a few steps down.

"You know, when I first entered the military the first thing they told me was that it was not only an honor to serve, but a life changing experience." My sister begins, eyes focused out towards the koi pond. "I, of course, didn't believe either of those things. I didn't see it as an honor to serve my country – I saw it as a way to escape. As a Schnee we've never had a choice in what we do, but the moment I was introduced to my first teammate, my first sergeant, and my first drill, I didn't feel like I was being punished – I felt content."

I scrunch up my face in thought. "Why would you be being punished?"

It was you who decided to join the military in the first place.

"Punished might not be the right word for it… atone, perhaps? Anyways, I knew the second I started training that this was what I must have been meant to do from the start, not run some bank company that I clearly only had interest in because I wanted to uphold the family name, and because of this, there was a sense of shame I felt from being in the military."

"That still doesn't explain your – uhm… disposition - does it?" I carefully question her.

Winter forcibly chuckles and shakes her head, placing her arms across her knees.

"I suppose while in the military I might have developed a… slight case of neurosis. I apologize if it gets too much to handle sometimes, it's harder for me to catch it now that I don't have a set routine every day."

I nod and look up at the night sky, my vision being obscured by my breath as I exhale into the cold night air.

What she's saying makes sense, and I've pretty much assumed it was because of the military from day one of her coming back, however, it still doesn't really explain her attitude towards me.

"I'm sincerely sorry for the way I've been treating you. I haven't been fair to you." She quietly admits.

"It's okay, Winter. I'm sorry for the way Ruby behaved. It was-"

"It was necessary." Winter speaks assuredly, a small smile tugging at her lip. "And quite brave if I do say so, but it was… it was something I needed to hear."

"Yeah." I say, scrunching up my shoulders in uncertainty.

"I was just so… so focused on making sure everything was just as it used to be, like when we were little, that way I know father wouldn't be mad-"

Realization hits me like a freight train.

You're kidding me.

"Is that what this is about." I cut her off quietly, promptly.

I watch as her mouth ceases movement and she looks over at me, anguish plastered onto her face as she traces the thin line of skin marred down my face with her eyes.

She turns away hastily, her face showing pure affliction.

So, this is where the root of the problem lies.

There has always been a thought buried in the back of my mind that wondered how Winter felt about my scar.

Guilt? Grief? Anger?

I know those are all emotions that I felt when the incident first happened. Despite those long-forgotten feelings, now every time I look in the mirror all I'm reminded of is the ruined opportunity of my sister to be a part of my life.

However, I think I have also been subverting what Winter's feelings about it must be.

"Winter it wasn't your fault." I say carefully, treating my words as though they were walking across broken glass. "I was the one not wearing a helmet, you couldn't have done any-"

"But I could have Weiss." Winter speaks, her voice noticeably cracking, which is something rare from the older Schnee. "I'm the older sister. I should have never agreed to fence with you under such perilous circumstances. You were only a child, Weiss. You didn't know any better - but I should have. I should have-"

I make a noise of protest and stand up on the stairs, facing my sister and trying harder than I would like to admit to hold back tears.

"Maybe you should have – but I don't care!" I state almost frantically, getting angrier when Winter turns to me in shock.

"I don't care about this mark on my face! I don't care about how father sees it! If you knew you were at fault why did you-!" I feel myself choking up and take a moment to swallow my emotions. "…Why did you leave?"

Winter tries to hide her face by holding her head in her hands briefly, attempting to not let her grief overtake her. "I didn't have a choice, Weiss. Father was furious at me, he told me I damaged you and that I would never get to see you again. I had no choice but to find a way out of the house and the family business."

"But you could've told me." I say with acerbity.

"I-I could have." Winter says quietly, looking down at the steps. "I was just so ashamed... How do you face your little sister after you soil her image for the entirety of her life?"

I feel my face go harden as I walk over and sit beside Winter once again, putting a hand on her shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

"This wasn't your fault, Winter. It was just a dumb, easily-preventable mistake that could happen to anybody. We're both to blame, but I wouldn't trade it for never having sparred with you in the first place."

Winter solemnly nods and finally lifts her head to look at me.

"And don't you dare think for a second that you've soiled my image with this scar. I might have hated it at first but it's a part of me now and I accept that, even if it is a reminder of what I've missed over the years. I can't imagine never having fenced with you when we were younger, and I would never give up this scar is it means I can keep those memories."

Releasing her from my grip and letting my breathing go back to normal, we watch the koi pond in silence for a few minutes.

Feeling the cold of the night starting to catch up to me, I shiver, and after a moment Winter unbuttons her coat and drapes it across my shoulders.

"I thought about you every day in the military, Weiss."

I raise an eyebrow at her and smile. "Yeah?"

"Everyday." She trails off, eventually looking back over at me. "I'm sorry for misunderstanding things and ruining our relationship entirely."

"It's alright, Winter." I assure her for what is probably the fifth time tonight. "Someone once told me that when we realize an imperfect understanding is part of the human condition, there is no shame in being wrong, only in failing to correct our mistakes, so how about we start making amends instead of trying to make things the way they used to be?"

Winter breaths some warm air into her hands to heat them up, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye as she does so.

"I would like that."

"Sooo, even though everything turned out okay, I'm guessing that didn't count as behaving?"

After my talk with Winter, I went back inside to see Ruby off.

Even as she grabs her bike and wheels it to the road, she chooses to be difficult as always.

Not that her being difficult is necessarily a bad thing, since it can sometimes lead to much needed situations, like the chat I just had with my sister, other times, however, her persistence is enough to almost make me go insane.

Nevertheless, tonight I'm feeling moderately generous. Although, if I'm being honest with myself, I miss Ruby's affection.

"You're lucky I'm in a good mood right now, otherwise I would have sent you off without as much as a hug."

"Oh, so I've earned a hug?" Ruby says mischievously, propping her bike up on the side of my fence and making her way back to me.

She meets me at the end of my driveway, under one of few street lamps that are illuminating the path down the road.

Leaning in, she gives me an all too brief kiss to the forehead and snakes her arms around my back. I wrap my arms around her as well and smell the familiar scent of roses, like I'm being wrapped in a blanket of flowers and doused in clean, summer air, regardless of the falling temperature.

Neither of us say a word, enjoying the moment. She nuzzles her head into the side of mine and I chuckle, reaching up to run one of my hands through her messy hair.

I breath in her scent and feel her warmth envelope me for a moment more before pulling away.

"You're so perfect." Ruby says, grabbing my wrists and thumbing over my snowflake bracelet once again.

"Flattery has always been a strong suit of yours. I suppose a reward might be in order."

Ruby giggles and looks at me through the hair falling in her eyes. "Wow, and it isn't even my birthday."

I roll my eyes before pulling her wrists towards me. "Shut up."

As our lips touch I feel a familiar bliss, cornered by confliction, consume my being.

The trouble was that I didn't want to kiss her goodbye, I want to kiss her goodnight, and there's a lot of a difference.

-After dinner - Weiss's house-

"So, was Ruby the one who violated your neck like that."

I blink in surprise, almost dropping the plates I was cleaning up, before feeling my face turn flush red with heat and reaching a hand up to cover my neck, as though it would help.

"Wha-! I- I beg your pardon?" I stutter.

"You know..." Winter says, placing silverware back in the correct drawer. "You're not the only one to try and pull the old flat iron trick, but I must say you did a fairly decent job at attempting to hide it."

Feeling my eyes widen, I cross my arms and glance to the side dismissively. "I- I don't know what you're talking about!" I persist, knowing I've already been compromised.

"Please, Weiss, it's like I've told you before, I can read you like an open book."

"W-Wait a minute- I- You-!?"

"-Know you are in a scandalous relationship with the vice president of your school?"

I feel my already steaming face flush darker with embarrassment. "We- We're not in some scandalous relationship-!"

"Oh, really?" Winter jests, almost like she finds humiliating me amusing. "Then to what status do you hold her?"

I feel my mouth open and close, attempting to grasp at any explanation I could find, but ultimately coming up empty.

After a moment I feel my mouth shut and Winter looks at me with raised eyebrows.

"I'm pretty sure you already know..."

"Yes - but I'll still get a kick out of hearing you say it."

"Winter!" I complain, frustratedly stomping the ground with one of my heels, making a muffled thumping noise on the tile. "Now you're just making fun of me! How do you even know that we're-! Ah- you know..."

For the first time tonight, my sister's face turns soft. "Oh, Sweetie. With the way you look at each other it's obvious enough."

Something about her words soothe me, knowing that just as much as Ruby and I understand what a look from the other means, other people might understand too.

"Really...?" I say quietly, a ghost of a smile appearing on my face.

Winter nods. "Yes, but if you are engaging in scandalous behavior, I recommend some form of protection-"

"Winter-!"