A Prison of Ice
XVIII.
Working for the Yuki corporation was a strange experience for Blake. Strange, but not a bad one.
For one, she never had a job before, so it was something new for her. She never had the time for one in the past since the White Fang took up most of her time. The other novelty was that she was on the other side now. She was one of those people working for a corporation now, in the same vein as the people she had helped Adam ruthlessly murder; many of them innocent people.
Blake inwardly cringed at the thought; that day still haunted her dreams every night.
She couldn't waver now though, not when she finally found her way. She had the opportunity to make positive changes to the world now, without having to rely on violence like Adam believed. It was honestly rather tragic, if she had known that all she had to do was reach out to Makoto Yuki for help, then maybe all of that bloodshed could have been avoided. All of those people at the factory would have still been alive… And maybe, Adam wouldn't have gone down that slippery slope of violence.
Blake let out a small sigh and shook her head.
The past couldn't be changed, the only thing she could do now was work towards a better future. That was why she was taking this opportunity so seriously; Makoto wanted to improve the working conditions for his Faunus employees, but she wanted to do even more. She wanted to have better neighborhoods, better schools, a chance at a better life for the Faunus community here in Mistral. With the Yuki Corporation, Makoto definitely had the resources to accomplish that, she just had to convince him.
And considering how benevolent he could be, she didn't think that he would refuse her.
But, that was something to think about in the future. For now, she would settle for simply assisting him in improving the working conditions for the Faunus that toiled away in the mines every day. It wasn't like he was doing a bad job at it either, from what she could see as she watched her people move in and out of the Yuki Corporation's mines, they all seemed to be in good spirits and condition. It was a stark contrast to the mines she had seen that belonged to the Schnee Dust Corporation.
The people that worked at the SDC looked more like the walking dead than anything.
The worker's here had brand new equipment to go along with much improved safety regulations that Makoto had implemented recently. A cafeteria was currently under construction as well, so that the company could provide meals for its employees. It had only been a few months since she had last been here and there were already so many improvements. It made her feel… good to know that there were people like Makoto Yuki in this world.
That perhaps her dreams of equality might eventually come to fruition.
"Huh… I didn't think you could actually crack a smile."
Blake glanced over towards the silver-haired boy that was leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.
Makoto had asked Mercury to accompany her to the mines and show her around. Makoto had apologized for not being able to show her around himself for her first day on the job, but she didn't blame him for that. He was obviously a very busy person, so she understood. It wasn't like she had much to do today anyway, her only assignment was to observe and provide suggestions on what other benefits the Yuki Corporation could provide for the Faunus working at the mines.
"... I just don't have very many reasons to smile." Blake softly replied as she continued to watch the various miners go about their work below her.
"Oh woe is me, how can I ever atone for my sins? Blah, blah, blah." Mercury mocked as he rolled his eyes. "Seriously, are you always going to be this miserable?"
"... Do you think someone like me deserves to be happy, Mercury? After what I've done…"
"Oh, come on." The boy replied in disbelief. "You weren't even the one that pulled the damn trigger."
"I planted the bombs." She refuted.
"Yeah, and you said that the plan was to evacuate everyone first." Mercury pointed out. "Would you have still planted the bombs if you knew that Adam guy was going to pull the trigger without getting everyone out first?"
"Of course not!" Blake answered as she clenched her fists. "I… I never wanted any of that to happen."
"Why are you so hell-bent on blaming yourself then? The way I see it, that Adam guy should be the one shouldering most of the blame here. Makoto already forgave you anyway, in case you forgot."
"It doesn't matter, those people wouldn't have died if I had never planted the bombs in the first place!" Blake shook her head in distraught. "They died because of me."
Mercury just scoffed. "If that's what you think, then you're dumber than I thought."
"Why does it even matter to you!?" She shot back. "Why do you even care? You said that we were even already, didn't you? So don't say it's because you owe me."
The silver-haired boy didn't respond to that and just looked away instead; the potted plant on the table seemingly grabbing his attention. Logically, Blake knew the boy had made some good points, but it changed nothing in the end. Those people still died because she had planted the bombs. It didn't matter if Adam had lied to her, and to argue otherwise, it just all seemed like a hollow excuse to her.
Mercury wouldn't understand the overwhelming guilt of having contributed to the murder of all those innocent people. Or the recurring nightmares she always has of that fateful day. And the voices in her head. They were the worst of all.
"... I don't even know." Mercury eventually replied with a loud sigh. "I guess looking at you wallowing in your own misery just pisses me off."
Blake didn't have a response to that. She knew more than anyone that she wasn't exactly the most positive person to be around after all.
"… I was twelve." Mercury grumbled.
"What..?" Blake asked, as a look of puzzlement crossed her face.
"I said, the first time I killed someone." Mercury replied, his eyes still focused on that potted plant on the table. "I was twelve."
She only stared at him in response. How was anyone, let alone her, supposed to respond to that?
"My old man was an assassin, and she was a huntsman that had been his target. She was already practically half-dead when I put her out of her misery." Mercury continued to explain with an almost frightening sense of detachment. "It was my old man's doing. He wanted me to get used to the 'family business', of you know… killing people."
"... I'm sorry to hear that." Blake simply replied.
Because what else was someone supposed to say to that? What kind of screwed up childhood did Mercury have?
"Spare me your pity." Mercury replied with another roll of his eyes. "I would have told you a much more colorful story otherwise."
"Why tell me at all then?"
"Because you had that look on your face." He finally turned his attention towards her. "You thought I couldn't possibly understand what it's like to be a murderer. Well, you're wrong. I know exactly what it's like, I grew up in that life."
Their eyes met, and she couldn't help but look away.
"... How did you–" Blake stopped, as if unsure how to translate her thoughts properly into words. "I mean… Does it ever go away? The guilt and… the voices."
"Eventually." Mercury shrugged in response. "I stopped feeling anything all together once my body count hit the double digits, to be honest."
This time it was her turn to scoff.
"So, what? You're telling me to become a killer for hire like you then? That I'll feel better if I made it my profession and got used to it?"
"I'm not telling you to do anything. I'm just saying that I know what it's like." The silver-haired boy responded with an annoyed look in his eyes. "... Anyway, I'm an actual killer, so I know one when I see one. And in my eyes, you definitely aren't the monstrous murderer you seem to think you are."
Blake blinked at that.
Was he…? Was he trying to cheer her up in his own weird way? If he was, that was possibly the worst pep-talk she had ever heard. Honestly, it was so absurd that she couldn't help but let out a small laugh in disbelief.
"Something funny?" Mercury asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Heh… Sorry." Blake replied with a small light-hearted grin. "That was just the worst pep-talk that I've ever heard."
"Oh, fuck off." Mercury grumbled in response. "... That's what I get for trying to act like Makoto."
She couldn't help but chuckle at that. "... You really look up to him, huh?"
"Of course." The silver-haired boy immediately answered. "Even I can tell that he's going to be someone that will change the world. And yet, he's still willing to let a no good villain like me stay by his side. Aren't you the same?"
Blake turned her attention back towards the window and watched as the miners continued to go about their work below her.
"Yeah, I suppose I am." She eventually replied with a small smile. "… I don't think that you're as terrible of a person that you seem to think you are though."
"Hah…" Mercury let out a dark chuckle. "You don't know me well enough then."
Mercury was right about that, she didn't know him very well, but Makoto seemed to trust him and that was good enough for her. If Mercury was as bad of a person that he seemed to think he was, she doubted Makoto would have kept him around, no matter how kind he might be. He had even tried to cheer her up as well, in his own awkward way.
Despite his rough exterior, Mercury was actually just a big softy inside, wasn't he?
Blake couldn't help but smile a little at the thought in amusement.
Makoto stared into the teacup and his reflection on the liquid's surface.
It was just him and Jacob in the kitchen. Blake had gone home for the night and Mercury was training in the gym. He had been putting this off for a while now by pretending to be too busy helping Blake with her new job. That excuse was no longer valid now though and he couldn't just keep pretending like nothing had happened.
Jacob had gone behind his back and broken his trust after all. Mercury had almost died. If it weren't for Blake's lucky timing, Mercury would have died. This was a talk that needed to happen eventually, and now was as good a time as ever.
"... Jacob."
"Yes?" His butler dutifully responded. "Do you need something, young master?"
"Why did you go behind my back with Mercury?" Makoto simply asked. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Jacob stopped washing the dishes and slowly wiped his hands. "... I was wondering when you would finally bring it up. I'm sure you know your father had a good deal of enemies."
Makoto slowly nodded in response.
"You are a kind soul, different from Master Yuki." Jacob continued. "Even though he was my friend, I was not blind to the crimes he committed to get his riches. I may have overstepped my bounds, but I did not wish for you to have to deal with the sins of your father."
Makoto tapped his fingers against the table. "So, you pushed it all onto Mercury instead?"
"It was for the better. The people that I had Mister Black deal with were not the reasonable kind, young master."
"... I would have found a way."
Jacob sighed in response. "That is simply the folly of youth."
Makoto could not fault Jacob for thinking that. He did not know of the hardships and trials he had overcome as Minato Arisato after all. He only knew of Makoto Yuki, the sheltered boy that had grown up with a golden spoon in his mouth.
"... Perhaps it is, but is it not my decision to make? I am not a child that requires your protection anymore, Jacob." Makoto eventually replied after he finished gathering his thoughts. "Have I not shown that already with my leadership of the company?"
For a moment, Jacob looked like he wanted to refute that before he schooled his facial features back into their usual stoic look.
"Indeed… You have grown and taken over your father's position admirably."
"Then what is your duty to me, Jacob?"
His butler bowed his head. "... To serve and to advise."
"I understand where you were coming from Jacob. You only had my best interests in mind." Makoto gave a small smile. "However, I will never approve of something that would put Mercury or any of my friends in harm's way."
"... I understand as well, young master." Jacob replied as he raised his head. "It will not happen again."
A relaxed silence soon filled the air as Jacob went back to washing the dishes.
Makoto had said his piece, and Jacob had listened; that was enough. Father would have probably reprimanded Jacob or perhaps even fired him for going behind his back, but that was not who he was. Even if he went about it the wrong way, Jacob only had his best interests at heart after all and Mercury ended up being alright in the end.
He'd like to think that it was a satisfactory conclusion for everyone involved.
"… Young master, there is one more thing I would like to tell you." Jacob suddenly spoke up as he began to put the dishes in the dryer.
Makoto raised an eyebrow in response. "Sure…?"
"Even if we may disagree about certain things, I cannot help but feel proud at seeing the person who you have grown up to become."
For a moment, Makoto was stunned and at a loss for words. His lips slowly curved into a smile as he stared down into his teacup.
"… Thank you, Jacob."
Makoto didn't know why, but hearing those words from Jacob brought him a profound sense of joy.
Weiss crossed her arms over her chest and pouted at her scroll.
Makoto was late. It wasn't the first time, and she doubted it would be the last time. He was the leader of the Yuki corporation after all, so his schedule was probably packed. She understood, of course, but she still wasn't happy about it. Honestly, she missed the old days, when they were younger and had all the time in the world to talk with each other.
With a shake of her head, she grabbed her scroll and dialed the number she had memorized by heart. A few rings later, she was greeted with a familiar voice, but it wasn't the one she was hoping for. The video feed turned on and Mercury's smug smirk got on her nerves already.
"Hey, princess." Mercury greeted, much to her annoyance. "Looking for the boss?"
Weiss resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the nickname. She had long given up on getting the boy to drop the moniker, so she just ignored it.
"Mercury." She coldly returned his greeting. "And yes, I am. Is Makoto busy right now?"
Mercury's smirk seemed to only grow even more devious in response.
"Not really." The silver-haired boy casually replied. "He's just been working with his new assistant, showing her how things work around here and stuff."
Weiss raised an eyebrow in response.
A new assistant? Makoto hadn't ever mentioned anything about that to her.
"A new assistant?" She repeated.
"Yep." Mercury replied with that smug look of his. "You better stop beating around the bush princess, or else she might end up stealing the boss from you."
Weiss blinked at that as her mind tried to register what Mercury had just said. And then she suddenly felt her cheeks flush in response.
"M-makoto and I aren't like that!"
"Yeah, suuuuure." Mercury dryly replied. "Anyone with eyes can see that's bullshit, princess."
"W-w-why does it even matter to you anyway?!" She snipped back. "It's none of your business!"
"Are you serious?" Mercury asked with a roll of his eyes. "I've been watching you two dance around the subject for years. Just get together already."
For a second, Weiss was tempted to just hang up on Mercury right then and there, but then she wouldn't be able to talk to Makoto if she did that. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she couldn't help but think Mercury had a good point. How long was she willing to let things remain as they were? If she were being honest with herself, she did like Makoto in that sense and she probably has for years now.
She was just afraid that Makoto didn't feel the same way, so she had been satisfied with simply keeping the status quo. The last thing that she wanted was to mess up their friendship. Makoto was one of the few friends she had after all, as sad as that sounded. It wasn't easy to find real friends as the Schnee heiress, so she valued their friendship more than anything.
"Hey, you don't have to look so serious. I was just messing with you." Mercury laughed. "I don't think Blake actually thinks about Makoto like that. Probably."
"… So, her name's Blake, hmm?" Weiss replied, feeling the name out. She didn't like it. "And how exactly did Makoto meet this 'Blake' person?"
She only wanted to know out of concern for Makoto. Not because she was jealous or anything like that. He was far too kind for his own good after all. It wouldn't do for Makoto to hire someone that was simply looking to take advantage of his kindness!
"… Let's just say that it's a long story. Mercury cryptically replied. "You should probably ask Makoto instead of me about it instead."
Weiss raised an eyebrow at that, but decided to not question it. She had been planning on asking Makoto anyway, regardless if Mercury had answered her question or not.
It didn't take long for Mercury to step into Makoto's office. Nor did it take long for the scroll to be passed into Makoto's hands. Weiss actually caught a glimpse of someone with long black hair in the background as the scroll was changing hands; Blake, more likely than not.
"Ah… Hello, Weiss." Makoto greeted her with a rather sheepish look on his face. "Sorry, I meant to call you, but I lost track of time."
"It's alright, I understand how busy your job must be." She casually brushed off. "So, who was it that other person I saw in the room with you?"
"Oh, that was Blake." Makoto simply replied. "She's my new… assistant, of sorts."
Assistant… of sorts. How very interesting.
Weiss couldn't help but feel her eyes narrow in response. "Ah, I see… Well, speaking of your new assistant, Mercury tells me that there's quite a story behind her… origins."
"... Something like that."
She raised an eyebrow in response. "Care to elaborate?"
Makoto looked a bit troubled. "... Not particularly."
Weiss blinked at that.
It was the first time that Makoto hadn't been willing to share something with her. Sure, she usually had to do a bit of prodding to get him to talk, but he had never outright refused before. They had always talked about everything after all. Now she was starting to really get worried.
Had Mercury been serious with what he said earlier? Did this… 'Blake' harlot actually manage to seduce her Makoto?
"Makoto." Weiss smiled as innocently as she could. "Who is Blake and how did she become your new assistant?"
"… Promise me you won't hold it against her?"
Now she was really curious.
"Why?" She questioned with her arms crossed over her chest. "Is there some particular reason that I would hold a grudge…?"
Makoto let out a troubled sigh. "... Yes, which is why I'd rather not say."
She was about to respond to that, but Makoto beat her to the punch.
"But if you really must know, Weiss…" Makoto continued. "Then I won't hide anything from you."
She could tell from looking at his face that he had meant every word he said. Although, Makoto never lied to her in the first place, anyway. If he truly thought that it was better that she didn't know about Blake's origins, then she would believe in him.
There was just one thing that she needed to know though.
"Alright, fine. You don't have to tell me then." Weiss huffed in response. "You and her though. You two aren't… together, right?"
Makoto blinked at that. For a moment, he said nothing before his eyes narrowed in response.
"Is that what Mercury said?"
"S-something like that." She quickly replied. "So… are you?"
Makoto let out another sigh. "You know how Mercury is, Weiss. Blake and I are not 'together'. She's just a… friend."
"I see…" Weiss was satisfied with that. "Alright then, that's all I needed to know."
A bit of an awkward silence filled up the sudden lack of conversation though.
"So, will you still be coming to my recital?" She asked, breaking the silence.
"Of course." Makoto replied with a smile. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Weiss."
Weiss couldn't help but smile back in response.
She had decided. That was when she was going to tell him, at her final recital before leaving for Beacon. Even if Mercury had just been teasing her, they both weren't little kids anymore. Makoto wasn't going to stay single forever and she knew that she would regret it for the rest of her life if she didn't tell him her feelings.
It wasn't because she was worried that some black-haired harlot might steal him away.
Not at all!
Blake suddenly sneezed again.
"… I hope I didn't get sick." She mumbled to herself.
"Maybe someone's just talking shit about you." Mercury casually mentioned. "That's what they say about sneezing, right?"
"It's if someone's thinking about you." She corrected matter-of-factly. "And it doesn't have to always be bad either."
"Nah, someone's definitely having some bad thoughts about you."
Blake narrowed her eyes at the silver-haired boy. "What makes you so sure?"
"Call it a hunch."
Author's Notes- I'm back! I know it took a while, but I've just been so busy that I haven't had any time to write. But anyway, one more chapter and that'll be the end of the prologue. Then we'll be all caught up with the start of the show! Weiss is finally ready to make her move, Mercury's still a smug little shit, Blake's not as depressed anymore, and Makoto has no idea what's coming next. Next chapter should be fun, haha.
Anyway, if you enjoyed the chapter leave a review!
-SFX