Chapter 62

A mismatched gaze of brown and magenta stared down upon Weiss as she slept. Neo was sat upon the edge of the bed as her eyes turned to peer towards the window. The sun was cresting over the village and shined into the room the two of them were staying in. Her gaze lowered as in her hands she held a pencil and paper. She kept telling herself how comfortable she was with Weiss, and how her words, even if written, would not be chastised by her. Not like how they used to be. She closed her eyes as she breathed in a steady breath. She exhaled and placed the nib of the pencil against the paper as she opened her eyes once more. For a while she realised she could not move her hand. It was like the time Yang had asked this of her and she had failed to comply. Her grip tightened upon the pencil as she took in another breath while attempting to steady her thoughts.

Writing was not unknown to her, in fact her penmanship was quite beautiful and elegant. Yet she had only ever written down her words for one person before; for the man she considered a father: Roman. She looked over her shoulder to Weiss once more and she knew that she cared for her deeply. Perhaps more than anyone before. Yet still she hesitated as she looked back to the pencil in her hand. A fear of rejection, or a desire for her to remain silent and perfect. A ceramic doll for display that would shatter at the slightest touch. Much like her semblance allowed her to do.

She narrowed her eyes at the paper as she recalled only bitter memories of her past. Things were different now. Weiss loved her, and she loved Weiss. There was no stronger bond and if she couldn't express her feelings to her like this, then surely there would be no hope for them as a couple. How long could they really just depend on her silence? She focused upon the pencil and paper in hand as slowly she drew the first line of a letter whilst her past started to flood back to her.

Mistral city; the height of show and fashion. The city was many things to many people, but ugly was not one of them. And as everyone knew; in order to truly appreciate the finest and newest lines of clothing was to see them adorned by an example of beauty. People would often dress their children in the most adorable and expensive clothes as they, especially in regards to nobility, represented the qualities and wealth of their parents. So it was that the shows for the latest fashion were not restricted to adults upon a catwalk...

A slender finger tilted her chin up as a red velvet ribbon was wrapped around her thin neck and neatly tied into a bow. It was too tight and she desired to voice her concern. But as her mouth opened the finger placed itself across her lips as a woman knelt down in front of her. Her hair was brunette and flowed over her shoulders like a silky curtain. Her features were sharp and her green eyes pierced that of the child's mismatched pair. When she spoke her voice was a gentle whisper, "What have I told you my dear? Nobody out there comes to hear you. They come to see you. Do not distract their senses with meaningless words." The child, no older than ten, nodded in response as the woman smiled at her.

The girl was dressed in a frilly carmine dress with vanilla flower patterns and a large tie around the waist. Her brunette hair was tied into a single long braid that went down her back.

The woman before her ran her fingers down the side of the girl's face, "I believe... Ombre auburn hair, and vermilion eyes..." The child nodded as she blinked, her mismatched brown and magenta eyes shifting into a vermilion shade. Even her hair slowly altered into an auburn colour at the roots and fading into a lighter shade towards the ends. The woman smiled once more, "Ah! Yes, that's perfect!" She took a step back to look upon her daughter in full view, "Very good. This will be the one my dear, they'll be talking about it all season!" She threw her hands up in exaggeration and to display her excitement, but she paused as her green eyes glanced down to the girl. She lowered her arms and approached her as she brought her hands to her face while her thumbs pulled the corners of her mouth up harshly, the girl winced in response. "Goodness girl, smile won't you? This is a moment of pride and I will not have your frown ruin it!"

When the woman pulled back the child held a smile upon her face. It was entirely false but good enough to fool the people waiting for her.

"Now dear, let me see you walk," The woman took several steps back. It was the first time her daughter had worn heels and as a result she was hesitant. "Well? Don't just stand there. Just like we practised now," The woman clapped her hands together.

The girl held her smile still as she took a step forward. It was a step she had been made to practise countless times, so as expected, it was flawless. She took a second and a third before coming to a halt.

The emerald gaze of the woman judged every movement of the child's body with a critical eye. She smiled again after she came to a halt, "Perfect my dear. Simply perfect." She looked up to an ornate clock upon the wall as it ticked away. "The curtains will draw soon and you are tonight's opening, I do not believe I need to tell you how much is at stake here, do I?" Her gaze turned to the child and narrowed, "I spent many nights on that dress and I expect it to make an impression. So play the part, my little doll, and we'll all be happy."

The child nodded with a smile.

The curtains were themed after her own dress; carmine and vanilla. The entire display was designed with her in mind, she was the centrepiece. She wore a frown as she stood alone behind the curtain, her gaze looking to the ground. Beyond the barrier between herself and the crowd she could already hear them, from the murmured whispers to the boisterous laughter.

Her attention was drawn up as she saw the curtains darken and the voices hush at one another before falling silent. An announcer made the introduction with words through speakers,. there was a lack of excitement or thrill in his voice, and why would there be any? This event was one of calm class and so when he spoke her name he did so in such a manner. "... And next presenting: Neopolitan."

Neo forced a smile and tilted her chin up as the curtains were drawn open and the stage was revealed to her. She first noticed the lit-up path before her that led out to the centre of the room. The crowd consisted of older men and women as well as finely-dressed nobility. Neo knew the steps as she walked forward. She could see the smiles and hear the whispers of the people around her; they were enamoured by her. When it came to fashion for children Neo was second-to-none. She was early to discover a small portion of her semblance which allowed her to change the colour of her eyes and her hair, much to the delight of her mother who designed clothing for a living. So it was that there was no outfit that Neo couldn't pull off, and everything she wore would spike up in popularity. To her mother Neo was a goldmine of a child.

She reached the end of the walk as she stood before the audience with her bright smile. They continued to smile back and some silently clapped their hands in appreciation of the young girl. Those that took pictures used cameras without a flash, such devices were not allowed at the venues. But at times that particular rule was ignored. She turned to begin the walk off the stage, it was her favourite part. But as she moved, her eyes caught a large dish-shaped object in the audience. She was slightly perplexed by the device before she was blinded with a bright flash.

The crowd gasped as a thud upon the stage was heard, and after a moment the low voices of concern began.

"Was that a camera with a flash?"

"Is she okay?"

"Look at her eyes..."

"That dress must be unlucky..."

"She's crying..."

Neo was knelt on the floor. The flash had disorientated her and she had fallen upon the heels she wore. Her vision was still blinded and to everyone else her eyes were a stark white. Her wrist burned with pain; she had attempted to use it to break her fall but something else had broken instead. Her tears fell from her face as she cried for all to hear. The lights of the stage were quickly snuffed out.

The child found herself laying in her bed. The curtains of the window were drawn but it was light outside. Her wrist was bandaged as she used her other hand to pull her quilt closer against herself. Across from the room was a cabinet of porcelain dolls that stared back down at her to remind her of what she was. They each wore smaller variations of the outfits her mother had designed for her shows but they stopped abruptly at the carmine and vanilla dress and would forever, for no show after that was ever attended by Neopolitan. Her eyes looked to the vanilla scented candles besides her bed, the flames flickering and dancing.

She heard muffled voices from outside her room, first hearing the voice of her mother as she spoke, "Are you sure?"

The second voice was that of the doctor that had just visited her, "Her bones are like glass. Every time she falls she'll break something." The doctor paused as his voice grew quiet but precise, "And the smallest taps leave bruises. Bruises that she already has."

"Good doctor, what are you implying?"

"I'm implying that I don't get paid enough to cover up the fact that you're a wrathful bitch. I want double this time or the papers are going to have something new for the headlines next week. You have until then before what little reputation you have left crumbles into dust."

The sound of a door slammed and there was for a moment a pause of silence. Footsteps hastily began making their way towards the door of her room as she pulled the quilt over her head.

It had been a year since her mother had abandoned her to the streets. Neo was tainted in her eyes, no longer would anyone buy the clothes that she displayed. One broken rule, one simple mistake. That was all it took for the higher nobility of Mistral to shift their attention to something else.

She sat against the wall of an alley, her hair was longer and black yet her eyes persisted in their magenta and brown combination. In her hands she held a piece of parchment that was slowly being destroyed by the rain that fell on her. Upon the letter was the name: Sanctum Academy. It was an academy for younger pupils wanting to become a hunter or huntress, from there they could enrol at Haven Academy before finally graduating. It was the fifth time she had written to the academy for a chance to learn something and a place to stay. Yet this was also the fifth time they had declined her request. It seemed that her mother was right. Nobody cared for her words. In her other hand she held a quarter of a loaf of bread, wrapped in paper. She had stolen it from a nearby bakery. These days theft was the only way she could survive and her semblance had evolved to compliment that.

Yet her semblance also seemed to have a sense of humour as every time she created a clone of herself, it would shatter like glass upon impact. Like her. Like a porcelain doll.

Her eyes continued to gaze lifelessly upon the wet piece of paper as the ink started to run. She let out a soft yelp as she almost burst into tears, though she stopped herself. But it wasn't enough as she heard footsteps from around the corner. "Who's there?" A voice called out for her as the steps drew nearer. She brought her knees to her chest as she watched a man appear; he was dressed in ragged clothing with a foul odour clinging to him. For a moment the man looked down to her and his eyes spotted the wrapped bread in her hand. "Hey girl, give me what's in your hand," The man ordered, his voice threatening as he pointed down to her food.

Neo remained silent as she glared up at the person before her.

The man's expression grew angered, "I said give it here you little shit!" The man growled as he reached his hand down to grab her wrist. She tried to pull her hand back but the man squeezed tight and pain shot through her as her bones started to fracture. She refused to cry, she couldn't. Making sounds only seemed to cause her pain and get her in more trouble. She was thrown back to the ground as the bread was taken from her hand. Her eyes blinked into a stark white as she curled herself into a ball upon the wet floor, one hand clutching at her fractured wrist as the tears fell from her face.

She could see as the man unwrapped the bread from its package. He took a hungry bite from it before something smacked against the back of his head with a hollow metallic sound.

"Ah- What the shit!" The man stumbled forward as he dropped the bread to the floor. He turned and was struck a second time across the face as he crashed into the wall. His nose bled and shards of his teeth lay upon the floor. He looked up to see a figure standing before him in a white coat. Green eyes stared down upon the man before he turned and fled down the alley. Neo looked up to see the figure that had appeared and she noticed a cane in his hands. He turned to regard her with a mere passing glance as he adjusted his black bowler hat. He turned his gaze away as if to simply continue on his stroll but he paused as he stood upon a piece of parchment.

The man narrowed his sharp gaze at the paper as he righted it with his cane. "...Sanctum Academy, huh?" He turned back to the girl, "This yours, kid?" To this Neo nodded once, she was still in pain. The man paused before glancing up to the rain that fell down upon him, as if considering. Eventually he approached Neo as she tried to shuffle away from him. He knelt down besides her as he turned his head towards the direction the homeless man ran. "It feels good doesn't it? Seeing someone who was an ass to you get beat," The man smirked as he looked back to her. Neo seemed confused but she remained silent still. "Not much of a speaker huh? That's fine- Wait... I know you. You're that girl that's always on those shows, the one that changes her eyes. Ahh what was the name... Neopolitan right?"

Neo stared at the man before blinking as her eyes swapped their colours, as if confirming his suspicions.

The man chuckled, "Well fancy meeting a celebrity in a place like this... So Neo, I can call you Neo right?" He didn't wait for an answer, "My name's Torchwick, Roman Torchwick. I'm something of an entrepreneur in these parts, and I couldn't help but notice you have an interest in... Fighting? That is what they do in academies, right?" Once more Neo gave no response. "Well that's just great, for me and for you. So what if I told you that you've already done enough for the world, and that you can take whatever you want? Everyone owes you after all, you're a celebrity that provided entertainment. Something to look at and make people go, "Wow, I wish that was my daughter". And you're not even like what, twelve?" Before Neo could even come up with a response the man stood up and offered his gloved hand down to her, "So why don't you come with me and we can get you something to eat that isn't some mouldy bread that a guy with bad breath already nibbled on?"

The girl hesitated as she took in his words. Slowly she reached up her hand towards his.

Roman grasped Neo's hand as he pulled her to her feet. "We'll have someone look at that wrist too. I know this great guy who usually specializes in removing Faunus parts, but boy oh boy can he do some crazy things with a knife," Roman smirked as he turned to walk down the alley with a hesitant Neo following after him. She had nowhere else to go after all.

Neo looked to the paper in her hand, pulling the pencil away from it. She had written a name upon the parchment: Weiss. In the past, whenever she expressed words or talked, misfortune soon found its way to her as a result. She had attempted it back in Atlas and as a result she had her arm broken. Silence kept her safe, but for Weiss she was willing to brave the dangers. She would express her love for her in ways she was unable to before. A smile appeared upon her lips as she brought the pencil back down to paper as her hand scribbled more words.

"Neo...? You're awake early..." Weiss groaned as she sat up in her bed. She looked suspiciously at her partner as she made her way towards her, arms wrapping around her form as she glanced over her shoulder. She saw what was in Neo's hand and what was written upon it; "Weiss, I love you."

With a happy smile Neo turned to look at Weiss, kissing her upon the cheek. Her partner was shocked that Neo had written anything down at all. She smiled as she looked back at Neo.

"I love you too," Weiss replied before Neo turned to wrap her arms around her and push her down upon the bed.

If only she had met Weiss sooner, then perhaps much would have been different.