Note: Not going to lie, I was fully intent on leaving this a one shot. I'd be lying if I said I was really satisfied with how Whitley's brief arc resolved, but I didn't see or feel any reason to do more with this. However, a few weeks ago, I came across a Tumblr post where a person thoroughly deconstructed how Whitley's "redemption" was not only misguided, but rather callous when one thought about it, and it give me a new wave of inspiration. Additionally, I recently saw Ice Queendom (which is OK, I guess, but I'll go deeper into that another time, though I will say the animation is absolutely fantastic), and it gave me some motivation to do some RWBY writing again, and I decided to expand on this some.
When Weiss heard the door knock, her first instinct was to expect the worst. It saddened her how that was where they were at this point; that she could only assume the worst in people. Did that mean Salem had already won? But she answered the door nonetheless, and she greeted by renewed hope.
"Klein!" she cried happily.
"Miss Schnee," one Klein Seiben said as he tipped his hat, "I heard there was a patient here that needed my help."
"I, I am so sorry Klein," Weiss said shakily, "It's my fault that Father..."
"Please don't worry, my little snowflake, it had nothing to do with you," Klein said, before his eyes turned red, and he added angrily, "And everything to do with Jacques!" With that, he made his way in, as the rest of Weiss' group just looked rather confused by all this, even if no one was protesting.
"Well, that's sweet of you," Weiss said, as she wiped away a couple tears, before a thought came to her, "But wait, how did you know..."
"Aah, young Whitley!" Klein greeted, "I'm so glad that you rang!" Weiss' eyes widened as she saw her brother descending down the stairs to greet them.
"May I please see the patient?" Klein asked, "I understand it's urgent."
"Yes," Whitley answered as he reached the foot of the stairs, "She's in Weiss' room. Just go up the..."
"I haven't been gone that long, Master Whitley," Klein interrupted, "I believe I can find it." He then patted Whitley's shoulder as he started to ascend the stairs, leaving Whitley to look up and face his sister.
"You called Klein," Weiss said slowly.
"That girl needs a doctor," Whitley said, looking away, "I didn't do it for you." Despite herself, Weiss couldn't help but smile at him.
"I know," she said after a moment, "That's why it means so much to me." With that, Weiss moved to embrace her brother.
… only for Whitley to swat her arm off. He then turned on his heels, and strode back up the stairs, not even sparing a glance for Weiss. Weiss opened her mouth to call, but no words came up, as she just watched him live.
"Tch," May grunted, "Should've seen that coming."
"Brat," Blake grumbled, with a frown. Ruby just looked at Weiss at concern, not sure what to say. However, the white-haired girl herself didn't say anything, she just stared at the space Whitley was once at.
(|)
Whitley retreated back to their father's study, where he ran his hand across the desk. Sitting on top of it was a wine glass, which indicated that his mother was in there at one point. The sight of it made Whitley scowl, as he leaned on the desk, hanging his head.
After a little time passed by, he heard the door opened, to which he glanced back to see Weiss opening the door, and leaning in.
"May I come in?" She asked slowly.
"You made it very clear when you first arrived that I couldn't stop you coming in if I tried," the young man said, as he averted his eyes, in a tone laced with such bitterness that it made Weiss wince.
"Whitley," Weiss said slowly as she made her way in, "We need to talk."
"I've got nothing to say to you," Whitley said, still not looking at her.
"Fine, then I'll do all the talking," Weiss said as she sat on the desk, "But first you should know that I am truly grateful for helping us here." Whitley didn't answer, as he walked over to the window, trying to put more distance between him and her.
"I want to help you, I want to make things better between us," Weiss said, "But you have to let me in, you have to stop standing off like this." Whitley didn't answer, as he kept looking away.
"This attitude of your's isn't helping either," Weiss then said, glaring at him. Hearing that made Whitley visibly flinch. In that moment, something inside of him snapped; something that had been building for nearly ten years now.
"My attitude?" He said slowly, as he looked at his sister, "After all this, you still think I'm the one who's at fault?"
"All you've ever done is scorn me and Winter," Weiss said, "Trying to emulate our father, trying to be a man no one should want to be like. Trying to get heirship of the company, just to one up the two of us."
"Is that what you really think this was all about?" Whitley asked coldly.
"Do you not understand what our father was doing?" Weiss asked, "Who he was doing it with?" Whitley didn't answer that, before he looked away again, as Weiss sucked in a breath to try and call herself down. She knew she couldn't blame him; it wasn't like Whitley was privy to the (awful) truth that Weiss was.
"Whitley, I'm trying…," she began.
"How dare you." Weiss silenced herself, as she stared at her brother, who had possibly the harshest, hardest look she'd ever seen on him.
"Excuse me?" Weiss asked, taken aback by the sudden reaction.
"Neither you, nor Winter ever spared me a second glance," Whitley said, "And now I'm supposed to believe you had some sort of epiphany, and want to be my big sister now? You said you'd do all the talking, and well, you're certainly doing exactly that, but do you know what I'm not hearing? An apology."
"An apology for what?" Weiss asked, "What sort of apology could I possibly owe you."
"For leaving me alone!" Whitley hissed. Those words hung heavy in the word, as Weiss stared at him numbly, trying to make sense out of what she'd just heard.
"Whitley," she said softly.
"Did you know he also hit me?" Her brother then asked. Weiss was going to say "of course", but in that brief moment, her brain betrayed her, and paused, trying to make sure that was right. It was then that it struck her how many times she'd seen Whitley with bruises on his face
"Of course not," Whitley answered, his voice starting to shake slightly, as his hands balled into fists, "You and Winter never paid any attention to anyone but each other. It didn't matter how many times I got hurt, how many times I came to you, all you ever did was ignore me."
"You weren't the only one who was getting hurt in this house," Weiss protested, spreading her arms, "Do you know how many times I had to go to bed hurt?"
"Yes, I do," Whitley answered, "Because every time it happened, you went to Winter, and she was always there for you. But how many times were either of you there for me?" To that, Weiss legitimately didn't have an answer.
"The answer is none," Whitley answered for her, as tears began to build in his eyes, "Never at any point did you come to me. Never did you ever even take note of me, unless you were irritated in some way."
"I…," Weiss said, looking away.
"I was alone, and you were my big sisters!" Whitley said, tears streaming down his face at this point, "You should've protected me! But all you ever did was leave me alone! First Winter disappeared, and then you followed her!"
"I had to help my friends!" Weiss shouted, looking close to crying herself, "I had to help Remnant!"
"Why do you care so much about Remannt?!" Whitley shouted right back, "Why did you never care about me?!" With that, he threw the glass that was on the table at his sister. It sailed through the air, and crashed into the wall next to Weiss. Whitley was legitimately surprised at what he did as he panted, but Weiss barely seemed to notice, as she just stared at him, as if unable to comprehend anything her brother had just said. Eventually, she bit her lip as tears started to slip from her eyes, as she sucked in a breath, before she turned around to leave. Whitley hung his head, as he tried to force back the tears, to little avail.
"Whitley." The younger Schnee finally looked up at that, to see his sister looking back at him.
"I'm sorry." With that, she closed the door, and Whitely was alone again. Whitley then buried his face in his arms, and cried. Really, there was nothing else to do.
Note: I hope that wasn't too corny or over the top. Now, where's that soapbox…
*clear's throat*
The "Schneeblings" reconciliation was completely mishandled in my opinion.
One problem I had with Whitley's "redemption", is that it came across as transactional, in that Weiss doesn't show him any compassion or kindness until after he provides a service (an important service to be sure, but a service nonetheless). She doesn't even make an attempt to engage with him after going back to the manor, and by all appearances, had no intention of ever doing so.
In the end, it's not so much that she didn't forget about him, so much as he proved himself to her. I suppose that could work, but the show otherwise sets up that he was a victim of the toxic family relationship to, but unlike Weiss (and to a lesser extent Winter), he's not given any sympathy by the characters until after he helps them. In the end, Whitley's not treated as the victim, Weiss is, and it's not until Whitley gives her something that it's decided he deserved redemption, as if it's something that he needed.
But one thing, that really rubbed me the wrong way, was how Weiss treated Whitley when she came with the others to hide out. The first thing she did upon seeing her brother? She pointed her sword in his face, treating her own little brother, who she's treated so coldly, like he was an enemy, for no reason. That is is absolutely unacceptable in my eyes; Weiss was not a good big sister to him, and she deserves to be called on it.
OK, sorry 'bout that. Just had to say it. Hope you enjoyed this. I don't think I'll continue it beyond this, but who know's? Maybe I'll write one last chapter for a better reconiliation.