Weiss was seventeen when she finally got to escape the Manor for school.
She was far from being a skilled fighter like Winter. Her scar ripped open again during her fight against Arma Gigas, a possessed suit of armour Winter somehow got a hold of. Victory against it was essential for Father to allow her to leave – a deal crafted by Winter when she proposed to train Weiss for Huntsmen Acadamy. Despite her less-than-stellar performance, she managed to win and land a spot at Beacon Academy.
A part of her couldn't believe what was happening, even as the servants carried her pile of suitcases out to the airship it felt like a dream. Her sword was the only thing she didn't allow any of her servants to touch.
Once the last of her belongings were gone, Weiss collapsed at the foot of her bed. Her room was completely stripped of all items that held sentimental value to her. Now, it was no different from the cold lifeless chambers in the rest of the Manor.
She frowned when Whitley let himself in without even knocking.
"Your room sure looks clean without all that junk, Sister."
"You're one to talk," she scoffed. At least she never needed a second room to hold all her belongings.
Weiss never understood why Father spoiled Whitley so much. Maybe it was because he was the only male heir or maybe because Whitley resembled Father more and more as the years went by.
"I still think you made a mistake by going all the way to Beacon. Atlas Academy is one of the most prestigious Huntsmen schools," Whitley said with an air of importance.
"No one asked for your opinion."
"It doesn't matter. With you so far away, perhaps Father will allow me to take over your room."
"I swear to gods I'm going to kill you if you go through my stuff!"
"I was joking, Sister. How will you survive the school year with that awful temper?"
His smirk and mocking tone reminded her so much of Father whenever he watched Weiss train. She didn't know when Whitley learned to act so much like him, but she sure as hell wasn't going to put up with a mini version of Father.
"Leave me alone." She jumped up to her feet and stormed past her brother.
"Why Beacon?"
His question was so abrupt it made her pause. There was not a hint of condescension in his tone. He had his back turned to her, his bony shoulders held up tight. Had her brother always been this thin?
A familiar image of another thin, malnourished boy flashed through her head - a boy who never failed to bring a smile to her face. For a moment she forgot how to breathe.
Weiss wiped the old memory away at once as if the mere thought of him would summon Father's wrath.
"Why do you care?" she asked.
"It's so far from home. I–F-Father would prefer if you pursued your studies close to home."
"Father allowed me to attend Beacon."
"Just because he let you go doesn't mean he has to like it!" Whitley turned to face her, his usually relaxed expression now livid with rage. "I'll bet Mother would prefer if you stayed home as you should!"
"What's your problem?! He already said I could go, why the hell are you acting like such an ass?!"
"I–" Whitely looked down at his feet with a scowl. "I think it's a bad idea to go."
"What would you know? I earned the privilege to attend school abroad, not that you'd understand. You don't have to lift a finger to get whatever you want."
"Y-you don't know what you're talking about!"
"I know exactly what I'm talking about, Brother."
"What's with all the shouting?" Father's entrance made them both quiet down.
When did he sneak up on her?
Weiss instinctively rested her hand on the base of her sword. She wouldn't live to see another day if she drew her sword against Father, but having it close to her side eased the cold dread washing over her.
"Nothing, Father," the two of them answered together.
"Your airship is about to leave, Weiss. Come on, it's improper to show up late."
She followed Father out without giving Whitley another glance.
Weiss kept her eyes glued to the floor as Father walked her to the front entrance. The entire time he kept his hand stuck against her back. She wanted to push it away, cut it, burn it; do something to keep him from laying his finger on her again. Her hand clutched the hilt of her sword so tightly her knuckle turned white.
"I expect you to be on top of your classes," Father said. "I will not tolerate the Schnee Heiress getting anything less than perfect marks."
"Yes, Father."
The exit was in view now. Only a few more steps stood between her and freedom.
"You will network with the right people and ensure the reputation of the SDC is secure. I will not tolerate you befriending less reputable individuals."
"Yes, Father."
Her heart quickened as their butler opened the door, letting in the fresh morning breeze. The airship was waiting for her on the other side of the exit, ready to rescue her from–
"And most importantly," Father's hand clasped onto her shoulder like a vice, keeping her from taking a single step outside. "Stay away from the Faunus. The Headmaster may allow those animals in his school, but that doesn't mean you can stoop down to his level.
"Do you understand, Weiss?"
"Y-yes, Father. I won't disappoint you."
She swallowed the bile rising in her throat and kissed Father's cheek before hurrying to the airship. Once the ship took off, she buried her face in her hands as the tears became too much for her to hold in.
Shattered glass.
Broken mirror.
Red staining white.
Though the distance between her and Father grew bigger by the second, those fractured memories haunted her all the same.
It'll be better in Beacon, though. Once she was there, he'll no longer have any power over her.
She'll be completely free of him.
She'll finally be okay.
Weiss was not throwing a temper tantrum.
What did Professor Port know? He didn't understand a single thing about her life behind closed doors. How could he be so presumptuous?
She kicked the leg of a park bench set up in the campus courtyard before collapsing onto it.
A fucking temper tantrum. She'd never been more insulted her entire life.
Weiss wasn't sure what she expected at Beacon, but taking orders from an incompetent child was not what she anticipated. Hours of hard work and preparations were completely wasted because of a stupid little girl. This was a mockery of all her training.
Weiss had every right to be upset. Beacon promised to provide her with a stellar education, not make her a plaything for someone's little brat.
If there was anyone who got whatever they wanted it was Ruby. She was likely a spoiled granddaughter of one of the professors. It was the only explanation for why someone like her could attend Beacon so early.
Weiss held her tongue when someone sat down on the same bench as her. Did the people of Vale not have common decency? There were plenty of other benches available aside from hers.
"Would it kill you to be nicer to the peasants?" The sarcastic drawl in Blake's voice soured Weiss' already disgruntled mood.
Of everyone in her team, Blake was the one who irritated her the most. Blake had an opinion on everything Weiss did. She complained about Weiss' sleeping habits, called her spoiled when she saw Weiss' designer brand clothes; made fun of her for taking detailed notes on everything in class. The emo know-it-all would probably reprimand her for making coffee the wrong way if given the chance.
"Are you still throwing a hissy fit over our team situation?" Blake snorted.
"I'm not bending over backwards to let a child walk all over me. Some of us have self-respect."
"Ruby's trying her best. It's not like she asked to be the leader," Blake said with an amused smirk. "It would make our lives easier if you stopped prancing around with a stick up your ass."
"Is it a crime to want someone competent as our leader for the next four years?"
"Oh please, you're only throwing a temper tantrum because the Headmaster didn't make you our leader. I know you're used to people kissing your ass all day, but that's not how the real world works."
"What the hell is your problem?" Weiss glared at Blake.
"I'm just saying what we've all been thinking." Blake stared back at her with unnaturally yellow eyes. "It's not my fault you're incapable of taking criticism."
"You only act like an ass to me. If you have something to say then say it to my face."
"You can't blame me for feeling annoyed about your attitude–"
"Bullshit! I don't see you terrorizing Yang or Ruby! It's always something I did wrong! What did I do to offend you so badly?"
For once Blake didn't have any witty responses. She took a sudden interest in studying the school courtyard, her arms locked over her chest.
"I didn't realize I was singling you out," Blake muttered to herself. Weiss rolled her eyes, getting up from her seat. The bench was getting too stuffy for her liking.
"Why do you want to be a Huntress?" Blake's question stopped her from leaving. She sounded genuinely curious.
"Why do you care?"
"I'm just curious. Isn't it less profitable than running your family business?"
Weiss waited for Blake to make another nasty remark about the SDC, but no more insults followed.
"It's not about the money," Weiss answered.
"Then why do it? It's not an easy profession."
It'll keep Father from hurting her again.
Weiss bit her lip. How lowly Blake would see her if she knew the truth? Father didn't even have a Semblance to hurt her with. If anything, she should have the upper hand against him with her training and Semblance. It was like being terrified of a sitting duck.
"What about you?" Weiss deflected the question back to her.
"I want to learn how to be a good person…I'm not doing a very good job if I'm constantly picking on you, though."
Weiss wasn't expecting her to respond or even give the answer that she did. She slumped onto the bench again.
"Professor Port said I needed to focus on being the best person I can be." Weiss sneered. "Easy for him to say, it's not like he's stuck under the leadership of a literal child."
"I get where you're coming from. It's a bit difficult to accept how…immature Ruby can be at times."
Weiss glanced warily over at Blake. This was the first time they'd ever agreed on something. She was under the impression Blake was completely okay with their team predicament.
"I'm not blind." Blake smiled. "I see her goofing off in class all the time."
"Weren't you here to defend her honour?"
"Just because I'm not complaining about it doesn't mean I like it. When I enrolled I wasn't expecting to take orders from a fourteen-year-old kid."
Hearing someone share the same opinion was more cathartic than she expected. Weiss thought she was the only one who saw the obvious flaw in assigning a child with such a big role.
"I don't see why she should be the leader. She's immature, obnoxiously loud, and completely unqualified for the role."
"Maybe her fighting skills impressed the school board. She was pretty amazing in Emerald Forest."
"I find it hard to believe someone like her would put in the work to enrol early. I think she's got inside connections."
"People say similar things about you. For all we know, you could've bought your way into Beacon."
Weiss was ready to throw another insult at her when she caught the kind smile on Blake's face. She snapped her mouth shut, not sure what else to say.
"Who did you train under?" Blake asked. "That fight you put up against the Boarbatusk was impressive."
"I-it was alright." She shrugged. Winter would've taken it out within seconds. "My sister taught me. She works closely with General Ironwood now."
A tight expression flashed across Blake's face for a second. Weiss braced herself for Blake to criticize Atlas Academy in some way.
"Good for her. The Military pays well," Blake said, her voice unusually tense. Weiss wondered if she wanted to enrol in Atlas Academy in the past but was rejected.
"And who trained you?" Weiss asked.
"It was someone I used to know," Blake tilted her head up to inspect the passing clouds. "I lived in a…rough part of Remnant, so I asked an old friend to teach me how to fight."
"Are they a Huntress?"
"No." Blake snorted. "He's just one of the best swordsmen I know. Anyway, we had a big falling out and here I am. Even though I've faced a lot of Grimm in the past, I'm still glad to be here. It's a good chance for me to learn new tricks from my team."
Weiss never imagined someone like Blake was already familiar with fighting Grimm. Her quiet and withdrawn personality hardly gave off the impression of an experienced fighter. What impressed her most was Blake's willingness to go through proper training and learn from the rest of them.
Blake laughed when Weiss voiced her surprise to her.
"I could say the same thing about you, Weiss. I never thought the Schnee Heiress would be such a good fighter."
"I think this is the longest you've been nice to me," Weiss blurted. They both shared a short laugh at her callose response.
"I'm sorry we got off the wrong foot. Let's make the most of our situation and help each other out." Blake got up from the bench and held her hand out. "Whatever happens, we'll go through it together."
Weiss latched onto her words like a moth to a flame. If Father were here he would've reprimanded her for teaming up with people who had no financial or political influence. He would demand she invests in people who can benefit the SDC.
But Father wasn't here to tell her what to do. Father wasn't here to tell her who she could and couldn't speak with.
Here, she was free from his control.
Here, she had someone who will watch her back for the next four years.
"I guess I could be more patient…f-for the sake of our grades." Weiss accepted Blake's hand.
"That too." Blake laughed, pulling her up. "You never answered my question. Why do you want to be a Huntress?"
Weiss mulled over Blake's answer and Professor Port's advice. She didn't think either of them would be too impressed with the real reason she wanted to train. They were both too righteous. They'd likely reprimand her for being selfish or training for all the wrong reasons.
"I-I want to bring honour to the Schnee name by helping people in need," Weiss lied.
Blake appeared to have bought the lie. Whether she sensed deception on Weiss' part didn't matter.
The following few weeks went by peacefully for Weiss. Despite having grievances about her team's situation, Weiss held her tongue and tried to heed Blake's advice. It was easier to get through the day when she wasn't trying to fight Ruby's every decision or worrying about Father's reaction.
As she let herself forget about Father's judgement, she slowly warmed up to her classmates. Many of them acted far too childish for her liking, but they always managed to leave a smile on her face. Even the flirtatious comments made by a cute blue-haired boy were endearing to some extent.
Out of everyone, Weiss was closest with Blake. They spent most of their time discussing and sharing novels they borrowed from the library. Blake shared her…unique taste in romance while Weiss eased into reading classical literature.
And when Ruby's immaturity got the better of her, Blake and Weiss shared knowing smiles and braced themselves for the aftermath of Ruby's decisions together. It didn't make Ruby's childish antics any easier to face, but at least now she had someone to share her grievances with.
For the first time in her life, Weiss was able to forget about Atlas, Father, and the past she had buried deep in her heart.
It was everything she imagined it to be and more, at least until she learned what was beneath Blake's black bow.
Once again, a huge thank you for all the favourites and follows! I didn't expect to get the numbers that I did during the first batch of uploads, so thanks for all the support!
And Gleaming Onyx is 100% right about more going on outside of Weiss' POV ;)
I'll see you all again tomorrow!