Chapter Six: Mirror Mirror

After making bad decisions, most people find the next morning difficult to face. A rising sun means the exposure of the shame and consequences of the previous evening. But for Yang, it wasn't just the next morning. The next few mornings were so, so painful. She didn't see Blake after Christmas Day and throughout the rest of the break. At first, she was eternally grateful, because it meant not needing to talk about it. But as the days dragged out, a nagging pang irritated her. If there was one thing anyone needed to know about Yang, it was that she always got what she wanted, especially when she asked the question Why? Not seeing Blake only meant postponing the answer to that question. Her absence drove her mad, but she failed to motivate herself. She didn't send a text, she didn't drive over to say hi, she didn't even ask Ruby if she could talk to her.

Then, it occurred to her that she might already know the answer.

Of course. How could she not see it? She was the problem! She had the power to move away but she didn't. She had every choice in the world that wasn't closing in on Blake as if she was going to kiss her and she chose to lean in anyway. Damn, am I getting that desperate? And yet, she wondered to herself how soft her lips must have been. They were parted and seemed so ready, so patient, so—

"Whatcha thinking about, Yang?"

Ruby's voice sent a jolt throughout her body, surprising her. As she sat at the dining table, Yang realized that she left her stack of waffles nearly untouched, while her sister had already gone through a few. They locked eyes and Yang recognized that small frown and furrowed brows. Obviously, her thoughts must have been dancing all around her own face.

"Nothing."

Ruby drained her glass and shook her head. "You're so bad at lying."

"Really, Ruby, it's nothing."

Wow, excellent word choice!

"Yang?" Ruby gently set down her silverware on her plate to resume eating later. "Are you hiding something from me?"

Her stomach dropped. "Why would you ever think that?"

"Well, it's just… You haven't really been yourself lately around me. I've noticed that you've been really tired all the time and you kind of seem… muted, almost." She shrugged. "You're just not you."

Yang grumbled. "Is it really that obvious?"

"That you're upset? Yeah, duh."

She frowned and lowered her eyes. Of course her sister would see right through her. "I'm really confused."

"About what?"

"How do I even…" Yang racked her brain to find all of her arguments, taking a few seconds before she plucked up the courage. "Ruby, you've had crushes before, right?"

The question disarmed her little sister. Blushing lightly, she nodded. "Yeah. You knew that!"

"Right. And when you have a crush on someone, you normally tell them, right?"

Ruby restrained a laugh. "No, Yang. Most people don't just tell their crushes."

"Then what the Hell do you do with your feelings?" Yang asked, voice strained and head in her hands. "Why can't people just tell me if they like me instead of hiding it? I sure as Hell would speak up…"

"Who are you worried about this time?" This topic seemed to occur so often that Ruby was no longer worried.

But her sister definitely was. "It's going to sound so crazy."

"Uh, it can't be crazier than when Jaune Arc said he had a crush on you your freshman year."

"Touché." She drew a deep breath and wished all her anxiety would go away when she exhaled. "It's Blake."

Yang thought Ruby would guffaw right then and there. Instead, she gave a small smile, eyebrows raised in interest. "You think Blake likes you?"

"I don't know!" she yelled. "I don't know."

Breakfast forgotten, Ruby leaned in closer. "What makes you think she likes you?"

"I just get this feeling, y'know?" Yang ran a hand through her thick mane. "She's just so nice. Like, I mean, she's really nice to everyone, but she's so talkative with me sometimes and she is so beautiful, y'know?" She was rambling, but she didn't care. "And sometimes she's really quiet but that's when we're studying and she's always trying to help me out and she hasn't done anything to hurt my trust and she loves our family, Rubes, man she could live here if she wanted to. And I almost kissed her on Christmas and—"

"What?!" Ruby squeaked, jaw hanging open. "You what?!"

"Yeah!" Yang groaned, her cheeks feeling as though they were on fire. "I know! I know, isn't that stupid or what? But, she didn't really move away either… See! There, she didn't move away! That's something! Am I gay, Rubes, is that the thing? How do you even know when you're straight?" At this point, she really didn't care what was coming out of her mouth, as long as she was getting her feelings out.

Ruby inhaled sharply and found it hard to say the right words without having a laughing fit. "Yang, slow down. You almost kissed her on Christmas? What stopped you?"

Oh, how embarrassing it was for the poor blonde. "Dad. He was rounding the corner."

Her sister hummed. Then, she asked, "If he wasn't coming, would you have kissed her anyway?"

She was damned if she answered yes and damned if she answered no, so she shut up.

"I think you're a little too stressed out, Yang." Ruby's voice softened, hoping to calm her sister down a bit. "Would it be bad to just ask where you are?"

Yang pondered. "I want to know how she feels, but I feel like it would be wrong to ask, since I don't even know where I stand."

"If it's that much of an issue for you, then maybe you should take time to sort out your own feelings." Yang looked up at her, her attention fully captured. Ruby continued, saying, "Whatever comes your way, you should accept it with an open heart. I bet it's probably scary, especially after last summer. But that doesn't mean you should close yourself off." Her smile widened. "That's what mom would say."

Mom… Yang's mind instantly jumped to Summer and her warm, kind heart. I bet you'd be laughing at me too, if you're not already. Finally relaxed, she nodded her head. "Yeah. You're right."

"You'll figure it out, Yang. You always do." She offered another encouraging smile. "Just take it as it is. I'm sure it'll be made clear to you if something is meant to be."

Ruby might not have been the most charismatic or elegant speaker, but she always knew what to say to make Yang feel better. "Thanks, Ruby. Sorry I kinda distracted us from breakfast."

"We could always eat cookies for breakfast!"

She happily obliged; the morning wasn't so painful, then.

"Everyone skips the first day back from break." Weiss dabbed her mouth with a napkin. She tossed her finished lunch in the trash. "I'm surprised so many people are here." She pulled out a stack of papers from her bag and uncapped her pen.

"I guess we can't all afford a day off. Semester finals are coming up, after all."

The girl scowled. "I'm well aware."

Blake took no offense to her sour expression and gave a small grin instead. The two sat in the leadership room, where the majority of Beacon's school functions were planned. It was fairly rare for Blake to be here, but Weiss had to uphold her duties as a member of the student council, which meant countless hours spent sorting paperwork and approving requests of all kinds. Usually, there were pods of students working on their class projects or chit-chatting with one another. Today, however, Blake had Weiss all to herself. As of late, everyone seemed to be demanding her attention, asking for help in class or simply approval with a new project. Being alone with her made her feel somewhat special.

"How was your break?" Blake asked, hands wrapped around her mug of tea.

Weiss stamped the front page of a packet and scanned over the next few paragraphs. "Fine," she replied, signing where she needed to. "It was cold, of course. The snow almost kept me there for another day. But thankfully, my father isn't always so clueless. He listened to me for once and we managed to get here on time."

Blake noticed the pen she held between her fingers and mentally applauded herself. She knew the girl would appreciate a fountain pen for Christmas. Watching the tip scratch harshly against the paper, she realized that Weiss, although left-handed, hardly ever smudged her words—another testament to how precise she was, even in something so easy as writing.

"How was yours?" she asked her, eyes lifting off the papers for just a moment.

Blake nearly opened her mouth to answer that it was great. But she remembered Christmas, remembered Yang, and replied, "It was alright," instead.

"I trust Christmas went well, then?"

"Er." She swallowed. "Quite well."

But at that, Weiss glanced up for a split second to cast her a suspicious look.

"Really, it went well," Blake added. "Ruby and Yang are always good company."

While a certain blonde might have had trouble keeping the incident to herself, Blake swore that she wouldn't talk about it to anyone else. First of all, it was a private matter, so no one really had to know to begin with. Secondly, even though it was Weiss, she didn't want to trouble her with her own small issues. What happened was exactly what it was. Blake remembered closing her eyes, willing for Yang to kiss her, and opening her eyes to see her father around the corner.

Yeah. Really well.

"I'm glad," the snow angel muttered.

Blake said no more and let her go through a few more packets. When the bell rang, she gave out a pent up sigh. Weiss put away the rest of the papers into her bag and looked up. "Do you want to come over today?"

Blake felt her eyebrows furrow together and her lips press into a line, her head tilting to the side just slightly. Is the Ice Queen really inviting me over to her house? "Is something the matter?"

She rolled her eyes. "You could just say no."

How does she do that? Changing her expression and her mood so quickly…"Weiss, you've never asked me to go over to your house," Blake replied flatly, still trying to process the question. "Aren't you busy?"

"Fine, I'll take that as a no."

"No!" Blake protested, leaning onto the table. "That's not what I meant. Are you sure I won't get in your way?" She knew the girl was busy with fencing, the student council, keeping up with school, and much more. She didn't want to cause an inconvenience or serve as a distraction.

Weiss frowned and slung her bag over her shoulder. "Don't be a dunce. Why would I invite you over if I didn't want you to come over? Who do you take me for?"

"A Schnee," Blake answered. "A Schnee who has lots of things to do." The girl was being so stubborn, she wanted to laugh a little. "I would like to come over, if the offer still stands, and if you're not so offended."

Realizing how on-edge she must have seemed just then, Weiss averted her eyes and brought her arms through her jacket, silent. Something seemed off. She looked so pained, an expression Blake never saw on her porcelain face. In a voice softer than a whisper, she murmured, "I don't normally invite people to come to my house, but I could really use your company today."

How could she be so despondent? Reaching out, Blake put her hand on her shoulder. Gold met sapphire and she gave a weak smile. "I'll be there. I'll wait for you after school."

"Are you just going to stand there?" Weiss called out after her, turning her head around.

Blake wanted to take a few steps forward, but she couldn't with her legs feeling like frozen ice. Everything was so grand. She didn't know why she hadn't expected as much, given the incredible baroque architecture she observed when she first stepped onto the property. The interior proved to be just as extraordinary. The baroque style, if Blake remembered correctly, promoted a sense of triumph, exuberance, and grandeur, much like the family who owned this place. With high, ornate ceilings and impressive furnishings, the Schnee Manor certainly lived up to its reputation of wealth and luxury.

"Sorry," Blake apologized, removing her shoes. "Your house is huge."

"So it would seem," Weiss allowed herself grin, walking up the large stairway. "My room is this way."

Blake followed her, looking at the large paintings on the walls. The hallway seemed to extend into oblivion, rooms on the left side the entire way through. As she walked, Blake caught a few glimpses of the bathrooms, the sitting rooms, and the powder rooms, wondering all the while who on Earth would need this much space. There were no signs of anyone in the house besides the maids and the butlers. Weiss stopped at the doorway of the last room and pushed open the door.

Inside, there was a four-poster, king-sized bed, with a beautiful canopy and sheer dressings, a large desk near the window, a mirror, and two other doors. Blake assumed those probably led to another bathroom and a dressing-room. Despite its size, the room was hardly decorated, the walls remaining a stark white. It seemed clean, almost sanitary, and reminded Blake more of a hospital room than a place to call home. She watched as Weiss set down her bag near her desk and pulled back some of the dressings to sit on her bed. The girl let out a long, drawn-out sigh. She couldn't help but wonder if she had been holding her breath the entire time.

"Would you like tea? I can send for a maid to bring it up."

Blake took a seat next to her. "No, but thank you."

They were quiet for a while. Blake didn't want to break the silence, knowing that the princess was thinking about something and how to bring it up. So they let a few minutes pass away as the sun began its descent. There were a few bursts of color here and there, but for the most part, the room remained gray and sullen.

When Weiss finally spoke, her voice was so quiet, it almost seemed frail. "Did you know that I was supposed to attend Atlas Academy, too?"

Blake shook her head. "I didn't. Why are you here at Beacon?"

"Ozpin, actually." She let her back hit the mattress. "He knows my father very well and convinced him to let me go here. I didn't want to go to Atlas."

Blake knew why Weiss wouldn't want to go there. Although everything had worked out fine for herself, she knew that the girl probably couldn't handle the regimented lifestyle, the bleak winters, and the colorless world Atlas represented. She wasn't sure how she did it either, now that she thought about it. Remembering the conversation she had with Beacon's headmaster months ago, she still wondered about her parents' wills and their decision. The move had worked out after all and she enjoyed Beacon, but why couldn't she be here sooner? What had Ozpin said to Mr. Schnee to move his daughter across the country?

Suddenly, she heard a tiny gasp of air and looked at Weiss.

"I wish everything was different," the girl whispered more to herself than to her friend. "I wish that things didn't have to be this way."

"Weiss, you're not making any sense…"

A single tear rolled down the side of her face, trailing across her temple.

Then it clicked.

Weiss Schnee was falling apart. She was ripping at the seams, her senses spilling everywhere, the mask shattering. Blake wondered why she hadn't seen this coming, why it was so unexpected.

Gingerly, she laid down next to her friend, keeping their bodies far enough apart so that they weren't touching, yet close enough to hear her soft sobs and quiet whimpers. Turning her head, she noticed just how delicate she was in her state of agony. In a strange way, she looked beautiful even when she was crying. Her sapphire pools were glossy, her cheeks just a light shade of pink, lips just slightly swollen from biting down on it to shut up.

"Oh, Blake," she mewled, bringing a hand to her face. "I cannot believe I'm c-crying in front of you," she stammered.

"It doesn't matter. I'm right here." It didn't feel right to ask What's wrong? so blatantly, so she let her regain her composure somewhat and listened.

"I thought that being able to attend Beacon would ease some of my anxieties somehow, but I'm… I'm still so trapped," she cried. "No one understands, Blake. No one knows what it's like to be me, to be a Schnee. Everyone assumes that I have it so wonderfully because I'm so intelligent and so rich, but they don't understand anything at all. They think I'm Weiss Schnee, rich, snobby, know-it-all, who doesn't feel anything. But it just hurts… Everything hurts."

Not knowing what else to do, Blake found her hand and held it in her chest, close to her heart. She was cold to the touch. "What don't they understand?"

Weiss shut her eyes, willing for her tears to disappear so she could sit straight and act properly, but they wouldn't. Taking a deep breath, she answered, "My father. They don't understand him at all. He might seem kind to everyone who meets him, but on the inside, he's cold. He's so ruthless. Do you know what it's like to hear that your dreams mean nothing and that you have a solemn duty, as a Schnee, to uphold the family business?" She frowned. "Or what it's like to have your only role model torn away from you because she has to protect our country? The burden weighs on me, to uphold the family name, and yet…"

And yet…

"I can't do it. I just can't. I'm a burden to everyone around me."

Blake shook her head vigorously, squeezing her hand. "No you're not. You're not a burden, Weiss."

"But I am," she hiccuped. "All I do is cause pain for others. When do I make others genuinely happy? And others don't care about me either. Seeing you happy with Ruby and Yang hurts somehow. I know that this is incredibly stupid to admit, and I have no reason in the world to be jealous of you, but I am, Blake. You are surrounded by so many people who love you, by Ruby and Yang's family. I don't have that."

It struck her, then. She was lonely.

You and I are not so very different from one another, Blake. We're both trying to find the weaknesses in one another.

She is so lonely…

"You realize that I'm your friend, right?" Blake asked. Precious jewels stared back at her, unblinking. "Being friends with someone is like family. Our friends are the family that we can choose. So even if it really is a burden for you to be a Schnee, you have me. Yang respects you greatly and you've been friends with her for a long time now. And although it may not seem like it, Ruby likes you, too. She was really touched with the gift that you got her."

She gave a tired smile in disbelief, her strength leaving her with every second. "Did she really? That dolt…"

"Yes, really." Blake returned a smile. "Weiss, even if you are lonely, just know that you've done so much for me. I can't tell you how Yang feels. I don't know. But I know that I like her very much. You've done a lot for me by bringing us together, first with our Homecoming group, Thanksgiving, and then with Christmas, I suspect. All that means something because you've… brought me something that…"

She was at a loss for words, unexpectedly finding it difficult to speak. "You've… brought me Yang. And that means a lot to me." This is not about you. This is about her. "Weiss, even if people actually hated you, you have people who love you." Blake gave her a sad grin. "I love you." The words rolled off her tongue honest and true, easily and gracefully.

Just as Weiss thought she was finished crying, salty beads welled up in her eyes once again and poured out like small rivers, more violently than they had only moments before. She let her guard down completely and moved closer to Blake, throwing an arm around her and burying her head into the crook of her neck to continue sobbing. At first, the amber-eyed girl was unsure if it was alright to hug her, knowing that Weiss hated physical touch. But when she didn't move, Blake realized she needed it more than ever and held her close. She let her break down, thinking that she probably cried herself to sleep alone in bed more often than she wanted to. Somehow, her presence might be able to set her at ease.

When the fierce sobs had given way to shallower, silent, steady breathing, Blake wondered when was the last time Weiss had heard the words, I love you.

The first thing Blake saw when her eyes fluttered open was the intricately designed canopy above her. Turning over, she noticed that Weiss had already gotten up, leaving her alone on the bed. She must've moved a few minutes ago, she thought, feeling her spot and realizing it was still warm. She sat up and swung her legs over the edge. Deep shades of navy blue and indigo covered the room, making it hard to see. But the white-haired girl contrasted greatly against her surroundings as she stepped out of her private bathroom, drawing Blake's attention to her. Even in the darkness, it was easy to see those deep, azure eyes. Weiss cleared her throat and sat at the nook near the window.

"What time is it?" she asked Blake.

She felt the bed for her phone, finding it underneath one of the pillows. Curious. "It's after seven o'clock."

"Drat," she grumbled. "I didn't mean to fall asleep. I'm sorry."

"Naps can't hurt you if you really need them." Though, she wasn't expecting herself to fall asleep either. "Do you feel better?"

A genuine smile appeared on her face, albeit a small one. "I do, thank you."

Blake took the opportunity to express her own feelings about the situation. "You don't have to play the heiress around me so much, Weiss. If you just told me what was going on, then I could've helped you a long time ago."

"That's easier said than done," she remarked, taking her jacket off. She hadn't undressed since they arrived. "It's not often that I go around showing others my weakness."

"I guess this makes us really good friends, then. What a funny thing, given how we first met… The name Ice Queen fits you so nicely." Blake tried to lighten up the mood. Her dry sarcasm and witty humor always made someone happy, right?

Weiss appreciated the effort and nodded. "Indeed." She looked over at her backpack and frowned. "I meant to invite you so we could do homework together but I… Ugh." She groaned, not believing that she could appear so weak. "I fell asleep."

"I can always spend time with you," Blake replied. "But I should get home. I think Gambol might need my company too."

She nodded, rising. "I'll take you home, then. We'll have to study for finals some other time." Just as she slipped on a pair of shoes, Weiss stopped at the doorway, her back still turned away from her friend. "Blake?" she called out, voice gentle and smooth.

"Yeah?"

"I… owe you so much." She didn't turn to face her. "For today. For tomorrow, and the rest of our friendship."

Blake smiled affectionately and followed her out.

Tossing her towel over her shoulder, Yang sauntered over to the kitchen, where she left her phone on the table. Unlocking it, she noticed that she had a few unread texts. Pyrrha wanted to work out again tomorrow, Nora probably needed help with homework, and… what's this? The Weiss Schnee demands my attention? Smirking to herself, she scanned over the message.

When can we meet? I have to talk to you about something important.

Oh, right. Yang forgot that Weiss had been trying to talk to her about something. That was weeks ago though, so maybe it was something different? Regardless, now that she was back, they'd have time.

You wanna come over?

No, not tonight, came back quickly. Usually the girl took several minutes, maybe even hours to reply. But clearly, she seemed eager in the conversation.

Yang's thumbs twiddled over the screen. How about next week?

Seriously, Yang?

Oh, she was definitely interested. Instead of teasing her a little bit more, the blonde decided to call her, taking a seat and stretching out her legs. She was definitely going to feel today's workout in the morning.

The girl answered before the first ring ended. "Yang?"

"The one and only!" she laughed, imagining her friend's deadpan. "What's got you all up in a twist?"

A deep breath. "It's Blake."

A/N: Hi guys! I hope you enjoyed this last chapter. I know that it's very Weiss-centered, there's really not a lot of Bumblebee in this chapter, and it's shorter than previous ones, but this chapter is key to the set up of the next few chapters and the story as a whole. I tell you, healthy, platonic relationships are extremely important! I've always had a soft spot for best-friend Monochrome.

Please leave me some feedback! I read every single review, so even if I don't reply, just know that it means a lot. You guys are really the best.