Winter liked Vale, despite the complicated language and odd traditions. The people were lively, the few times she was allowed out, and the temperature was so much warmer than she was used to. The air was easy to breath and the sun didn't threaten to blind you when it bounced off the snow.
Which was why, as she sat under a mountain of blankets near the fireplace in her room, she missed Vale dearly. Atlas was cold and white, and she could never leave the house without the fear of being impaled by a stray icicle.
"Ms. Schnee, I would appreciate if you would come out of there and get ready for your lessons." Her favorite servant asked.
Favorite or not, she was not leaving the safety of her blankets.
"No, Friedrich! I am warm and happy! It is cold and sad out there and I will not subject myself to such an abomination!" Winter had learned that word yesterday and she silently congratulated herself for using it so well.
"What if I were to say that I have a surprise for you?"
Her eyebrows knit together. "What kind of surprise?"
"It's about your sister."
"What about her?" Winter asked, peeking out of the blankets and fixing him with a suspicious look.
He smiled and pulled his scroll from his pocket, tapping a few buttons before a video file came up.
"I have footage of her first concert. I thi-"
She launched herself out of the blankets excitedly, clambering up his side to sit on one of his broad shoulders. "SHOW MEEE!" She squealed.
He chuckled quietly, raising the scroll up so she could see before starting the video. Winter watched in confusion as the video began with the camera bouncing rapidly and spinning around to look at a smoking building occasionally. There were sirens and a lot of other loud noises that confused her even further.
It was only when it twirled to capture a red blur flying through the air, a black one following close after that Winter gasped. "It's Ruby and Blake! Why are they flying?" She paused to gasp louder, "Weissicle's flying too!?"
She watched with rapt fascination as Weiss began to sing. Winter's eyes were wide, mouth slightly agape. She had never seen Weiss sing like that in front of anyone else! Her eyes were soft and warm, something she'd only seen late at night over bed time stories and lullabies.
As the end came and the blonde one that played with her (Yang? Yes, Yang was her name!) lifted her into the air, Weiss said a couple of words that Winter didn't know before flying through the air like a majestic dove. Though she sounded more like a green jungle fowl.
"Wow..." She whispered, holding onto Friedrich's head to keep her upright. A pang went through her heart at how far away her sister was. All she wanted to do right now was hug her.
The man turned his head as much as he could, "Will you get ready now? Your father would like to see you before your lessons."
Winter frowned but nodded and Friedrich left her to get dressed. As she went about the process of putting on her dress and putting her hair into a bun (she could finally do it herself!) she huffed and pouted. Dresses always left her legs cold and she had to wear two pairs of tights not to freeze! She wondered if she should just start wearing suits like Weiss.
Finally, when she was looking her best , she stepped out and grabbed onto Friedrich's hand. It was much bigger than hers and she could only hold onto the first few fingers, but it comforted her nonetheless.
The walk to her father's office was a long one. It was on the opposite side of the manor on the bottom floor. On the bright side, Friedrich told her about the birds he saw when he went into town that morning.
The man knocked on the door and she put her hand back down to her side, squaring her shoulders and tilting her head up. The lock on the door clicked loudly and they stepped inside.
Her father was at his desk with a thick pile of papers in front of him. As they moved to stand in front of it, he looked up with his stormy green eyes for a moment before signing a couple more documents and pushing them aside. He ran his fingers through his thick black hair before pressing his hands together on the desk.
"How are you doing this morning, Winter?"
"I am fine, father." She said shortly, making sure to pronounce all of her words properly.
He nodded. "Good. I called you here to ask what you would like as a christmas present."
A smile tried to pull her lips up, but she fought it, managing to keep -what he called- a proffesional expression. "Can we go back to Vale? I would like to see one of Weissic- Weiss' concerts."
"I don't believe that will be possible." He said, his lips getting a little thinner and his eyebrows a little lower. "I meant an actual gift."
The girl tried to keep from shuffling her feet, not having to fight off a smile this time. Winter wasn't sure what else to ask for, she didn't really need anything else. She'd really like to have a pet bird, but she knew he wouldn't approve of anything that made noise. And she'd heard Weiss talk about Fluffy.
She shuddered.
"Sorry, father. May I have a necklace? Like the one mother had?"
He stiffened slightly, but gave her a nod. The picture sat on the side of his desk. It featured her father, her mother, Weiss (who looked to be as old as her), and herself in a little bundle in her mother's arms. The most she remembered of the woman was a foggy image of gentle eyes and a soft voice.
Winter hoped that she looked like her mother when she grew up. Weiss looked a lot more like father. A lot of sharp lines and pointy edges. But Winter wasn't like Weiss. Her big sister made all the angles look super pretty, like one of the statues in the courtyard. But she didn't think she would be as pretty if she were like that. Weiss was harder than her.
Her gaze snapped back to her father when he spoke again. "That will be all, Winter. It is time to start your lessons."
She gave him a quick nod and curtsied before turning and starting for the door with Friedrich. Though, she stopped quickly as she remembered something she wanted to ask him about Weiss' concert. Winter turned back around, seeing him start to shuffle the papers on his desk. "Father?"
"Yes Winter?"
"What does 'fucking' mean?"
Friedrich let out a barely audible snort.
Father stared.
She looked different than Ruby remembered. Summer's red hair was longer than it was in those pictures. It even had a few streaks of grey near the temples. Her skin was a little more tan and she had barely visible wrinkles lining her mouth and at the corner of her round silver eyes.
Her smile was one that Ruby had seen in the mirror thousands of times, but it didn't seem right. It was as if she were having the time of her life, happy and fulfilled. Carefree and relaxed. Like she hadn't abandoned her daughter and left her to fight her entire fucking life with nothing but a last name.
Ruby didn't notice her hands were clenched until the edge of the photo had creases in it. That was also when she noticed the trembling and the way she felt as if she were drowning. She tried to take a few deep breaths. She was past this. She had to be. It couldn't affect her anymore.
"Ruby..." Yang murmured, staring down at the picture with wide eyes. "Is that...?"
"Yes." She rasped. More deep breaths. Stay calm.
Ruby bent down to pick up the folded piece of paper that had also fallen out of the envelope, forcing her hand not to shake. It shook anyways, even as she delicately unfolded it.
Ruby Rose,
We may not have met, but I know many things about you.
I have a proposition. There is a place for you here at Haven Studios. Whether you accept or not is your decision, but I can make it very worth your while. Some of my friends have uncovered information about a woman named Summer Rose and, in exchange for your cooperation, we're very willing to share it with you.
With love,
Cinder Fall
Ruby felt numb.
As she heard the rustling of paper from the others, she let the note fall out of her hands to concentrate on the picture instead. She'd given up searching for her mother long ago. To see her, happy, healthy, and much older was something she hadn't expected.
As she looked up, she could see the same numb feeling in all the others. Heavy silence pressed down on her shoulders until she couldn't bear the weight, forcing her to sit clumsily on the ground. Weiss followed close behind, pulling her knees to her chest. She looked as small as Ruby felt. Blake simply stood there, still as a statue. Ruby would've been worried about her breathing if she didn't see the slight expanding and contracting of her chest. Yang seemed to be taking it the worst. Her face was a mess of uncertainty and pain.
Yang was ultimately the one to break the silence, voicing the feeling with ease. "Fuck."
The rest groaned their agreement. The blonde's pacing began anew, with more fervor this time. Ruby scooted over next to Weiss until their shoulders touched, desperate for contact but not having the strength to stand.
"What…" Ruby cleared her throat when her voice came out weak and ragged. "What did your letters say?"
That seemed to spur Blake into action. She took a few steps forward, handing over the letter and photograph attached.
The photograph was of a large man with hair as red as Summer's. Two curved horns sprouted from his head and there were dark circles under his bloodshot, crimson eyes. His clothes were nice, despite his bedraggled state and a bandage was wrapped around his bicep. She felt as though she had seen him before, but couldn't quite remember where.
The note was nowhere near as formal as her's. It simply read: "Somebody's looking for you. It'd be a shame if he knew where you were." in messy print.
Ruby looked up at her, tilting her head in question.
"Adam." Blake explained shortly.
She felt like someone had just poured a bunch of rocks in her stomach. Ruby looked to Weiss. Her blue eyes looked dull. Tired acceptance in place of fear or panic. She threw a photograph gracelessly on the ground in front of them.
It depicted Weiss and Yang after the concert, their lips locked and arms tangled in each other. What should've been a joyous moment to capture was turned devastating in the context. Weiss pulled her legs closer, tucking her face into them. "Blackmail. They're going to post it on the internet."
Another heavy load of rocks were dumped on top of the others, growing colder. She swallowed nervously, gaze drifting to her pacing older sister. Ruby had to hold onto hope. Someone here had to get away unharmed. Someone had to be okay. That's how it was in all of the stories she read. Yang had to be okay.
"Yang?" She asked cautiously.
The blonde stopped. Her shoulders hunched for a moment before she turned to face them. Her arms were folded tightly over her chest, mouth set in a tight-lipped frown. Ruby realized that she wasn't the only one shaking.
When her voice came out, it was soft and broken. Filled with emotion, though her eyes shed none of it. "Ruby… they have information about who killed my mom."
The rocks had been replaced with a boulder larger than the sun, crushing her heart into a million, razor sharp pieces that filled her chest with pain. Weiss stiffened beside her, head snapping up. Even Blake's ears dropped.
They were caught between a rock and a hard place. Everybody had something to lose. Nobody was okay and real life wasn't like the stories she'd grown fond of. There was no way out.
"What do they even want?" Weiss asked, eyes darting around to all of them.
Ruby sighed. "They want us to join Haven Studios. These are from Cinder Fall."
"All of this for a fucking job!?" Yang snapped, hands curled into fists. "They couldn't, I don't know, offer us money? Fame? A bigger apartment!?"
"I have to agree." Blake growled. "Why would they do this when there are so many ways they could've done it easier?"
"Haven Studios has a record with this kind of thing." Weiss spoke up, head hanging. "Poaching artists from other companies. I wanted to work there because it was further from Atlas. When I saw how confining the contracts were, I decided on Beacon."
"Confining?" Ruby asked, concern leaking into her tone.
Weiss nodded slowly. "They demand half of the royalties you make. You can't leave the country unless it's for a tour. Hell, they even have a productivity waver stating that you have to put out one new song a week. If you don't, they charge you a fee."
Ruby swallowed hard, letting her head fall into her hands and closing her eyes tightly. How was she supposed to work like that? How did anyone work like that? She couldn't force inspiration and she couldn't make a song that didn't have any meaning. They'd be in debt by the end of the month.
"What do we do?" Ruby asked quietly. This was one question that wasn't simple.
They all stayed silent for a moment, nothing but the rattling heater to fill the air.
What were they supposed to do? Not only could they endanger Blake and get Weiss disowned, but Yang had been searching for the man that had killed Raven since they met Qrow. Ruby had given up on looking for her own mother for nearly as long, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't want to know. But was it worth it?
Blake played for peace. She needed to be free. There was no peace or freedom while fighting for scraps behind the tall walls of a contract.
Weiss played to make people feel better, and she needed the same understanding for herself. When It Falls set the tone for a lot of songs by Haven Studios. They didn't make anyone feel better. The producers were judgmental and practically hand fed their artists to paparazzi.
Yang played to release her inner fire. Despite her carefree attitude, Ruby knew that she really just wanted to keep the people she loved happy. There could be no fire in a place that sucked out passion like a leach. And, being judged and imprisoned, Ruby wasn't sure there could be any happiness either.
Ruby just wanted to make her music. She didn't want anyone to tell her what to do or how to do it, she just wanted to let all of the anger, hope, and resent for injustice she felt shape the world into a better place.
She couldn't do that behind their paper bars.
She couldn't do that under their judgmental stares.
She couldn't do that with all of the passion she had being ripped away and leaving her a cold husk.
And she couldn't do it without her team.
If they signed with Haven, it would be the end of all they worked towards and how much they grew. If they didn't, their fears and limitations would come true.
She looked at the frightened, angry, and resigned faces of her band. Her face probably mirrored theirs, if the painful feeling in her chest was anything to go by. Ruby grit her teeth. She would've given up the chance to see her mother, if only to keep making her music. But she couldn't do it alone, and she couldn't ask them to sacrifice so much.
"Just tell them to fuck off."
Ruby blinked a couple of times, gaze coming to rest on a pair of burning gold eyes. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, eyebrows knitting together.
Weiss shrugged, shoulder jostling Ruby's. "Maybe in an even more vulgar manor."
Their expressions hadn't changed. Their posture hadn't changed. They were talking about it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. What had changed?
Wide silver eyes traveled to her sister. She may not have been in physical (or financial) peril, but this was something she had been searching for, for years.
Yang smiled. And, though it didn't reach her eyes, it gave Ruby a sense of relief. "We could always just beat the shit out of them."
"While that would be beyond satisfying," Weiss sighed, curling smaller. "They most likely have the images backed up and a few fail-safes in place. They're experienced with this, Yang."
"You guys aren't going to Haven?" Ruby blurted out, her mind still trying to shuffle through the change in information.
They all looked at her, confused. "You were?"
Ruby looked down, frowning. "I didn't want anything bad to happen to you guys." She murmured, hands fidgeting in her lap.
A hand rested on her shoulder and she looked up at Blake. Despite the slightly terrified look on her face, her voice was determined and unwavering. "Ruby, Adam would've found me sooner or later. And after that concert, I don't think it would be hard."
She had a point. They did kind of set the club on fire and get arrested. Not to mention the fact that they kissed onstage. Ruby's cheeks warmed at the memory.
"I'm quite sure my father would've found out about my sexuality eventually." Weiss spoke up. She let her legs separate from her chest, folding them and gripping her knees. "I mean, I do plan on dating your sister. We all know that Yang is about as secretive as a stick of dynamite."
"Hey!" Yang said, stopping her pacing to wander over. "I could be secretive!"
Weiss rolled her eyes, a small smirk at the corner of her lips. "I doubt it. Though, I wouldn't want to be anyways." Her arms folded over her chest and she looked away, a hint of red coloring her cheeks. "You aren't exactly a fling, Yang. I did not ask you out on a whim. Depending on your ongoing cooperation, I would like to continue our relationship until further notice."
Ruby's eyebrows knit together and an unsure smile pulled at her lips. She wasn't sure if Weiss wanted to go steady or propose a business deal. Yang grinned nonetheless. A real one this time. She wasted no time in ducking down and planting a quick kiss on Weiss' cheek, prompting a small squawk and darker blush. "D-Don't kiss me while we're in jail, you oaf." She muttered weakly.
"Oh my god, please stop." Ruby groaned, putting her face in her hands. She couldn't stand watching all the mushy stuff those two did and it was worse now that they were a couple. Ugh.
Since those two were sorted out, that only left one. "What about you, Yang? I know this is important to you."
Yang's smile dropped and Ruby almost regretted bringing it up. The blonde sat heavily on the ground, heaving a sigh. "Ruby, do you remember that time we snuck out to beat the shit out of that drug dealer and had to have our ass saved by Qrow?"
Ruby frowned at the memory. They were both young, only 16 and 14, but it was vivid in her mind. Yang had found the drug dealer that sold to the killer, but when they got there to interrogate him he had friends with him. A lot of friends. And, though they managed to knock out most of them, the numbers overwhelmed. "Yeah. I remember."
"I told you in the hospital that I would never do that again. That I would never let that search control me." She seemed to relax a bit, the next words spoken more to herself. "And it won't. If they want to wave it in front of my face, let them. I won't bite."
Ruby leaned forward to pull her sister into a tight hug, burying her face in a warm shoulder. They were afraid. They were angry. But, they weren't giving up. The resignation on her friend's faces wasn't a byproduct of working for Haven. It was for facing the consequences of staying with Beacon.
"What about you, Ruby?" Blake asked, joining them all on the floor.
Ruby smiled slightly at the care in her deep golden eyes, but shook her head. "It doesn't matter. It's probably for the best that I don't know her."
"How could you not want to know your mother?" The question wasn't meant to sting. The pale woman would've had a lot more venom if it was. Weiss looked a bit more relaxed, her back straight and her chin up.
"Honestly? I think it would be disappointing. I have this whole image in my head of what my mom would be like. Someone who fights for justice. She's never wrong. She never fails." She paused, laughing nervously. "That's why I wanted to name our first album 'Huntress'. Like the ones from the fairy tales."
A small smile pulled at the pale girl's lips, before it flattened out again. Her eyes slowly turned to Yang. "Why didn't you tell me your mom was killed? I mean, I talked about mine." She asked softly.
The blonde winced, her smile humorless. "Well, I was trying to help you. You don't exactly tell someone you're trying to help that your mother was murdered by a serial killer. I was trying to make you feel better, not feel sorry for me."
"You are much too worried for your own good." Weiss huffed. Despite her scowl, the hand that rested on Yang's arm was gentle. "Worry about yourself every once in awhile, brute."
The lilac eyes softened and hand shot around Weiss' waist, pulling her unceremoniously into the blondes lap. Ruby couldn't help but smile a little at them. It may have been mushy, but Ruby had never seen Yang's eyes so soft. That went double for Weiss. Though the heiress huffed and scowled, she made no move to get off.
"What did you mean about your mom?" Ruby winced at the way Weiss flinched. "I mean, I get it if it's a touchy subject or something."
Her eyes flicked from her to Blake and back a couple of times before letting out a slow breath. "No, it's okay." She waited a moment, her eyes closed, before she began the story. Her body was tense and her eyes hard. As she told it, Ruby felt as though a knife was slowly twisting in her heart. She swallowed the feeling down. That's not what Weiss would've wanted. She didn't need anyone's pity. Though, when she finished, it was a struggle to keep her eyes dry.
Weiss let out a sigh, body going slack. "It was a long time ago. I don't want you to treat me any differently because of it."
"You're still Weiss." Blake said firmly.
"Thank you." She murmured, leaning back against Yang. "Though, we still don't know much about you. I get that that's kind of your 'thing', but you are our friend. I wouldn't mind hearing more about you. If you're willing to share, at least."
A bolt of excitement shot through Ruby like lightning. She was always eager to know more about Blake.
The faunus shrugged, indifferent. "There's not much to tell. I grew up in Vacuo with the activist groups. Adam and I moved to Vale, but stayed close to the border when we started the White Fang."
"What about your parents? Or family?" Yang asked, peeking over Weiss' head.
Blake gave another shrug, ears twitching. "I don't know. I've never met them. From what I heard, they found me in the desert. Adam took me in when I was around 5, but that's the earliest I can remember."
Ruby didn't understand how she could say all of that like it was nothing. Blake's tone was even and unfaltering, showing next to no emotion. The silver eyed woman scratched her head. Where did she come from? She couldn't have just materialized out of thin air.
Or could she?
Ruby narrowed her eyes slightly. If Blake was some kind of mythical creature, she wanted to be the first to find out.
Yang spoke up again, "Well, what did they put on your birth certificate?"
"I don't have one. Or… any form of ID for that matter. Legally speaking, I don't exist" She pointed to the set of numbers on Ruby's jumpsuit, then to her own simple name tag.
"What!?" Weiss nearly shrieked, "How can you not have one? How do you have a bank account when you don't have any proof of identity?"
Ruby couldn't help but roll her eyes. Trust Weiss to think about the money. Blake simply smirked. "I get paid in cash."
Weiss' eyes were wide, her eyebrows knit together as if she simply couldn't imagine not having a bank account. "Isn't that unsafe? What if you get mugged?"
A dark eyebrow rose. "I won't get mugged."
"How do you know that?" She huffed. "You could be caught without your weapon someday."
"I always have a weapon."
"There's no way-"
Blake's neon orange pants rustled and moved before her tail snaked it's way out, the end curled around a toothbrush. A toothbrush that came to a tapered, lethal looking end. They stared at her for a moment.
"Blake. We've only been in here for like, an hour. How the fuck did you already make a shank?" Yang asked, more than a little concerned.
"They haven't even given us toothbrushes yet." Ruby murmured.
Blake smirked.
He wished he had the words to describe the way the sun caught the platinum blonde locks as it filtered in through his window. He was on the verge of conceding that there were no words for it. Every time he saw it, and there had been many times, he found himself idly searching for something that would do it justice. But, always found nothing.
Her clothes were rumpled slightly. She must have just got out of bed. He nearly glowed at the thought that his office was the first place she came when something caught her attention in the wee hours of the morning. If the furious scowl on her face was anything to go on, she was in a worse mood than usual. Her hands gripped the crop tightly behind her back as she glared.
"They really are a 'rainbow of diversity'." He knew it only threw wood on the fire, but he couldn't help but want to be burned.
It was only through seeing the subtle twitch of her left arm that he was able to lean far enough to the side, so the mug she threw shattered on the wall behind him and saved him from a trip to the hospital.
"They are in jail, Ozpin!" She snarled. He couldn't help but compare her form to a displeased goddess.
Ozpin sipped the bitter, fragrant coffee in his cup, holding back a pleased noise at the taste. "Then I guess this isn't an after school special, after all."
"Don't use my own words against me!"
He couldn't help the slight smile that tugged his lip up. This didn't help to calm the radiant being in his office, but it was better that way. Controlling the rage that burned inside her would only make the fallout more destructive in the long run.
"What exactly do you suggest I do?" He knew what he was going to do, but he was ever curious about the things she saw.
"Oh, I don't know, give them actual time to prepare? Not scare them out of their wits? Stop forcing them to jump through all your little hoops?" Glynda growled.
He nodded slowly. She may be furious, but there were few things hidden to his gaze. The shining emerald eyes were lit with as much concern as rage. The stiff set of her shoulders and the way her usually plump lips were tight and thin spoke where her words did not.
'Don't hurt them. Don't break them. Don't ruin them.'
He sighed softly, setting down his mug and steepling his hands on the desk. "Do you know why I'm doing this, Glynda?"
She raised an eyebrow, stance becoming a little less aggressive.
"They don't need to slow down, or stop. They would have been through all this sooner or later. I'm ripping off the band aid, and in doing so, making their bonds unbreakable."
She ran a hand through her hair, careful to keep it neat in the way of her anxious gesture. "That kind of continued stress can break bonds as much as it can forge them. What are you going to do if it falls apart and they leave with more scars than when they came in? When they break and crumble and fail to put the pieces back together?"
"They won't." He assured. "They were broken pieces when they came to us." Her expression darkened, but he spoke again before she could tell him how wrong he was. "They were puzzle pieces, jagged and uneven, but they fit together to make a bigger, more beautiful picture."
"Pieces forced together are notorious for being fragile." She pointed out, finally taking a seat in front of his desk."You can't shove them together and expect everything to be okay."
"I have, and it is. Glynda, I may push them. I may push every artist at beacon to some degree, but that is the only way to make them successful. To grind them into dust, and put them back together even better."
She heaved a sigh, looking him in the eye. When emerald locked onto his own dark amber, he wondered how she didn't see him. She always told him that she can't see what he can, but it was times like these that he believed she could see into his very soul. His thoughts, his feelings, the way he saw the world in the beautiful but lonely way that no one else did.
But, within the minute, it was gone. And he was back to being her annoying, cryptic partner that knows both too much and too little.
"Just try to make sure they get a break every once in awhile." She huffed, leaning back in the plush armchair.
He smiled, pushing his glasses back up his nose as they attempted to slide off. "No worries. I won't be giving them their next assignment until after their holiday."
His heart jumped at the small smirk that lifted the corner of her mouth. Her eyes rolled, but she held none of that violent energy from earlier. "Next assignment? Knowing you, you'll probably have them go outside of the kingdom and play for the wolves."
"Of course not." They shared a chuckle. He sipped his coffee, basking in the carefree mood before adding, "At least, not entirely."
Her arm twitching was the only warning he got, yet again, before another cup was being lobbed towards him. Even as he ducked under it, the gleam never left his eyes. Though, one thing did worry him.
Her accuracy was improving.
"They're behind the dumpster." The Ice Queen breathed, back pressed hard against the tree. "I'll draw them over and you attack while their backs are turned."
Blake sighed and rolled her eyes, small smirk pulling at her lips. Even as her eyes caught her prey, she muttered, "Don't be so dramatic."
"Says the one in the tree." Weiss huffed.
Blake looked down at her. She wasn't wrong. "Hey, you blend in with the snow. I have to work hard to not be seen."
The heiress opened her mouth to say something, but movement across the lot caught her attention. Their enemies had finally made a move, choosing to make the charge together.
Weiss darted out from behind the tree, throwing a couple of neatly packed snowballs at the sisters. They screeched and dived to the sides as the heiress cackled and retreated further into the clearing, camouflaged by the snow. Blake had to hold back rolling her eyes again. For the resistance she put up when they pulled her into the battle, she was into it more than anyone.
"I got her!" Yang yelled, charging into the line of trees, just a little too far for Blake to attack.
"Wait," Ruby shrieked, bolting under the tree that Blake was currently hidden in. "It could be a trap!"
So close, but still too slow. Blake stomped on the branch. All the snow on that side of the tree slid off and flattened the girl to the ground with a quiet "Oof!"
Grinning victoriously, she jumped down to inspect the black and red locks that seemed to be the only thing left of Ruby. "Are you ready to surrender?" Blake drawled, sitting down on the pile of snow.
The girl wriggled until her mouth was uncovered. The smirk on her face made Blake narrow her eyes in suspicion. "I'll never submit!" Then, taking in a deep breath, she let out the most miserable, pathetic, heart wrenching wail that the faunus had ever heard. "Yaaang!"
"Ruby!" Came a yell. The blonde suddenly burst out of the trees, sprinting towards the pair like a semi-truck. Blake's ears flattened and she cursed herself for not taking Ruby's little sister powers into consideration.
Before she could make a break for it, a pale hand shot out of the snow and wrapped around Yang's ankle. The blonde screamed in terror, eyes wide with panic as she fell face down in the snow. Weiss rose out of the snowdrift, her evil cackle coming back as Yang tried to scramble away.
Blake looked down at Ruby, chuckling. "How about now?"
The smaller girl watched Weiss pounce on her (still screaming) sister and shove snow in her face for a few more moments before hanging her head. "I surrender."
"We win, Weiss. You can stop now." She called, getting up and starting to dig Ruby out.
Weiss slowly got off of the terrified woman, brushing the snow off her coat and squaring her shoulders. "If it's alright with you guys, I could really go for that coffee now."
Blake's ears perked at the thought of a warm beverage. They had just gotten out of the car in Beacons parking lot, set on getting something hot and sweet after spending the night in a cell. It was then that Blake's attention was pulled away by Ruby's impromptu snowball fight that lasted for nearly an hour and migrated to the thicket of trees beside the lot. Luckily, Weiss was the first victim and not her.
They shook the snow off of themselves and stepped back into the parking lot, making a beeline for the doors. Blake let out a silent, relieved sigh as they stepped out of the cold and into the heated air of the building. She hadn't thought much about the stores on the first floor when she first moved in, but they seemed like a godsend now.
Her ears twitched as Ruby chattered excitedly about how many marshmallows she could fit in one cup of hot chocolate. Weiss was starting to look tired and Yang seemed to have gotten over her fear and was instead shining her sunny smile on everyone who passed. Ruby seemed to grow even more excited as they got to the cafe
"My treat this time, get whatever." Weiss said, promptly ordering the strongest cup of coffee they had. Apparently, it had six espresso shot and was aptly named 'The Revolver'. It also came with an (ignored) health warning.
Blake quietly ordered her jasmine tea as Yang walked up to the counter. "Aw, Weiss, what's the occasion?"
A red tint colored the heiress' face as she slid the card over to the cashier. "Consider it thanks for preventing a trip to the chiropractor."
Blake snorted slightly. At Ruby's insistence, Yang had dragged the mattresses onto the floor and initiated what they called a 'super sleepover cuddle puddle'. Weiss had been placed on the top of the pile, considering that she was the lightest. Blake may have been skeptical at first, but she would admit that it was rather warm.
The cashier slid the card back, tapping his monitor. It read 'DECLINED' in big, red letters. Weiss sputtered for a moment, confused, before taking out another card. And another. All were declined.
Yang put a hand on her back before she could begin foaming at the mouth. "Hey, relax. I'll get this one. I still owe you from the time you stabbed that waiter." She handed the man her debit card, only to get the same result. She scratched her head, "Didn't we just get paid yesterday…?"
"Let me try!" Ruby spoke up, handing hers over. Declined.
The three looked at each other with varying levels of confusion. Blake subtly paid for all the drinks in cash as they murmured to each other. Weiss could fret all she wanted. Blake didn't need a bank.
"Can you tell us why our cards were declined?" Weiss asked, her eye developing a dangerous twitch.
The man typed a few things into his keyboard and let out a grunt, turning to them. "All three of your accounts are frozen due to a criminal investigation on embezzlement of the Schnee Steel Company."
Weiss let out an enraged squawk. "Embezzlement!? How can I embezzle from a company my family owns!? And why does it affect them!?"
The man put his hands up in defense, like the heiress might fly across the counter to assault him. Knowing Weiss, that was a legitimate possibility. Blake inched closer, just in case someone needed to hold her back. "Look, I'm just telling you what they put down. I don't know what you guys have going on, so don't kill the messenger!"
Weiss fumed, but nodded. After a short, "Thank you." she turned and stormed out of the shop, scroll already out of her pocket. Blake looked at the other two curiously. They had Cinder's contact information, but the deadline was supposed to be in two days. Then again, Cinder was a shady motherfucker that couldn't be trusted.
Yang picked up Weiss' cup and they started after the girl. They found her in a stance that Blake liked to call 'rich girl tantrum'. Her hips were cocked and feet shoulder width apart. She had one hand on her hip and the other gripping the phone so hard she hoped Weiss had a warranty.
"That is illegal!" She screeched into the phone. They stopped a ways away, not wanting to get caught in the fallout. "Well, you tell him to fu-" She stopped abruptly, her shoulders slumping. "Yes. No. I see. No, that will be all. Thank you."
She shoved the scroll back into her pocket, heaving a sigh. Ruby, that brave soul, stepped up to lay a hand on her shoulder. She gave Weiss a small smile and tugged her in the direction of the elevators. Blake didn't think she was talking to her father. She usually looked a lot more exhausted after those conversations.
When they made it into their apartment, Blake caught the scent of settled dust. Though the underlying smells had a soothing effect that couldn't be mimicked elsewhere. They were finally home.
Weiss ambled over to the counter, leaning against it and pressing her fingers to her temples. After a moment of silence, she murmured. "I need to go to Atlas."
Blake's eyebrows nearly shot to her hairline. Yang and Ruby gaped openly.
"Um, why?" Yang asked, pressing the cup of pure caffeine into the heiress' hands.
She took a sip, frowning. "My father wants me to spend Christmas in Atlas. I'm guessing that my account, and yours, are frozen in an effort to strong arm me into following his orders."
"Then why are you listening to him? No offense Weiss, but you don't take well to people telling you what to do." Ruby said, concern knitting her eyebrows together.
"I usually wouldn't," She allowed, "But it is very close to Christmas. I can't let this continue to affect you when you will most likely need your funds."
"And, in the process, ruin your own Christmas." Blake raised an eyebrow at her. She didn't know a lot about the cheery holiday, but she did know that it was usually a day that you were to be 'merry' on.
Weiss winced, "Just because mine will be… difficult, doesn't mean that I have to bring you all down with me. Besides, I'm used to it."
Blake nodded somberly. She had never exactly celebrated it. Whether it be from lack of caring or lack of funds. Yang had an uncharacteristic frown on her face. She moved towards Weiss, but Ruby, the most distraught out of all of them, beat her to it. She wrapped her arms around the pale woman's waist and squeezed so hard that Blake thought Weiss' eyes might pop right out of her head.
"That's terrible, Weiss!" She wailed as the heiress did her best to escape. "We're a team! We're a family!" At that, Weiss stopped struggling. Her blue eyes blinked a few times, looking up at the girl. Ruby continued, her voice growing thicker. "If you go up to Atlas, we won't have as much fun cause we'll be worrying about you! Nobody deserves to have a shitty Christmas!"
"Besides," Yang said, pressing a hand to the heiress' back to keep Ruby from smashing the small woman into the counter. "We can get money a different way. It's not like we need to get a whole bunch of expensive stuff."
Ruby released the girl, leaving her to gasp in an attempt to regain her breath. "We should get part time jobs!"
Blake stepped in immediately and grasped Ruby's shoulder. "Ruby. That's a really bad idea."
With Ruby's hyperactive nature, Yang's short fuse, her own antisocial personality, and Weiss being the living definition of the word 'aggressive', there was no way that could end well.
The faunus forced herself to look away as Ruby pouted up at her. It didn't last long. The girl made a full recovery in less than a second, gasping. "I have a great idea!" With nothing more, she bolted to her room.
The rest of them shared apprehensive looks. Blake really hoped this didn't end in jail again. She was starting to get tired of it.
"Forgive me, but I'm unclear as to what just happened." Weiss said after a moment.
Yang chuckled and pulled her gently into her side. "I guess you're spending Christmas with us."
"Oh." She said simply. Blake wasn't sure Weiss really understood. Hell, Blake wasn't sure she completely understood.
Just like a whirlwind, Ruby sped back into the living room. She came to a stop directly in front of Blake. She had a guitar case on each shoulder and an amp in her hand. "Wanna come with me?"
Blake considered saying no. Whatever Ruby had planned was sure to be tiring and and probably illegal. But the radiant smile and wide silver eyes forced her heart to fumble clumsily in her chest. It wasn't a bad feeling. So, with a sigh and a soft smile, she nodded.
Ruby squealed excitedly, taking Blake by the hand.
And, just like that, they were off.
Yang watched the two leave, a small smile on her face. The gears in her head were already turning. Ruby was always the best at getting Christmas presents, but Yang was going to knock her off her throne this year.
When she turned back to Weiss, the heiress' eyes were still narrowed in confusion. Yang's smile faltered slightly and she reached out to grasp her shoulder gently.
"Are… you alright with not going to Atlas? I can call them back if it's really not something you want." She said quietly.
The pale woman blinked a couple of times, ice blue eyes eventually coming up to find Yang's. "No, it's fine. Great actually. I just... " She hesitated, her eyes dropping to the floor as a hand ran through her hair.
Yang cocked her head, giving her an encouraging smile. Asking Weiss for answers may have been the fastest way to get them, but she'd rather let her tell them in her own time.
"What did she mean?" At Yang's confused look, she specified. "Ruby. What did she mean by family? I mean, it's not like we're suddenly related. And I'd really prefer if we weren't. I know Atlas is the punchline of many inbreeding jokes, but I don't-"
"Weiss, it has nothing to do with blood." She giggled.
Weiss pouted slightly, only for a moment before her lips thinned. "Then what?"
Oh boy. Yang scratched her head. How did you just explain that? She motioned towards the couch before taking a seat herself. When Weiss sat next to her, she hummed for a moment as she tried to get her thoughts in order.
"Well, I guess it means that Ruby loves you. Platonically!" She added at the look of panic she received. "Like… Like how you love Winter!"
Weiss tilted her head slightly. "How is that possible? Winter is my sister. I have loved her since she was born."
Yang groaned softly. They had come a full circle. "Think about it this way." She started. "Do you love your father?"
"That is a… complicated question." She said softly.
"We've got quite a while before we go out."
Weiss sighed, leaning into the soft cushions of the couch. "Well, I love who he was. Before mom died, he was my dad. Who he is now is someone I hold no love for."
Yang nodded, "I don't love my father, but I love my dad." Weiss' eyes widened slightly, filling with a hint of realization. Yang continued, "It's possible to not love someone you are related to by blood. But the opposite is also true. You can love someone who is not related by blood."
Weiss nodded slowly and Yang pulled her against her side. "What are the differences between how you feel about Winter and how you feel about Ruby and Blake?" She didn't know if Weiss felt the same way that they did, but making the comparison would definitely help her understand better.
The woman opened her mouth. After a moment with no sound coming out, it closed slowly. Weiss' face flashed through many different emotions before settling on anxious. Yang tensed slightly, a spike of concern piercing her heart.
"T-There is no difference." The blonde squeezed Weiss tighter against her side at the meek admittance, not sure why she looked so frightened. Love was something that brought bright, sunny feelings, whether it was given or received. When Yang had learned about family, she didn't stop smiling for hours. The fact that she could have even more people to love made her excited.
"Weiss?" She asked softly. "What's wrong?"
Pale fists curled and uncurled. "There's no difference. I love them. I love all of you." She took a shaky breath. "I don't… I loved my mother. I loved my father. When she died and he stopped loving us… Winter was too young to understand. I had to do it-" Weiss trembled ever so slightly.
Yang's eyes widened and she silently cursed herself. Weiss was already in the process of making herself smaller when she began to rub her back in gentle circles. "Hey, hey, we're not going anywhere, alright? You don't have to worry about that."
Weiss shook her head. "I can't do that again. I broke, and I just barely put what was left back together. I can't do it again."
"You don't have to. And if I have my way, you won't ever have to." Yang murmured. "That's what we're here for. That's why we're family. If you fall apart, we'll put you back together again. You don't have to do it alone."
Her breath caught, eyes snapping up to Yang's. She paid no mind, trying to keep her momentum before the panic could set in again. "You love us? That's fine. We may be dorky and vulgar and obnoxious, but we love you too. And we're not gonna leave you all alone."
"How do I know that?" She whispered. "How am I just supposed to place my trust in it and expect everything to turn out alright? How am I supposed to put my vulnerability, my well-being in someone else's hands and expect them not to break it."
"I'm speaking from experience." She said firmly. Yang let her head rest gently against Weiss' in an effort to make her feel safe "I trust Blake, because she has given me no reason to do otherwise. But, I trust Ruby because she has come through for me more times than I can count."
She felt Weiss' tremors begin to slow and kept talking. "When my mom died- when she was killed," She corrected, squeezing her eyes shut. "I was broken and lost too. I didn't have my mother, I didn't have my home. But I had Ruby. She took one look at me and, frail and weak as she was, smiled and gave me a hug and told me how excited she was that I was there. That I existed.
"Every time I felt broken and hurt, she'd give me a smile and a hug and remind me that I was important to her. Even when I found out how my mom died, she stuck right by me. Even when I lashed out at everything and ran myself ragged trying to find the bastard, she picked me up and kept me going." Yang took a deep breath, her own arms shaking slightly. She swallowed hard and nuzzled into the snow white tresses.
"Weiss, when Ruby says you're family, she means that she's gonna stick by you forever." Her heart throbbed painfully at the memories.
Weiss stayed silent for a long time. Yang was about to pick her up and take her to her bed, but she spoke quietly. "She never left?"
"Not once." She affirmed.
Weiss let out a tense breath, going limp against the blonde for a few moments. When she recovered, it was with her shoulders square and her head held high. "Okay. I'll trust her. And you. And Blake. But so help me, if you make me regret it-"
"We won't, Weiss Cream. Have a little faith, alright?" She chuckled.
She nodded, posture relaxing slightly. After a moment, she spoke up again, "I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to be so insensitive about your mother. At least with mine, they knew who it was and he was put in prison immediately. I can't imagine not having that kind of closure."
"Don't worry about it." Yang said quietly. "It may still be an open wound, but it's well on it's way to healing. Besides, I'm still looking. Even if it's going slow. I know that I'll find him someday."
"You said 'when you found out'. They didn't tell you right away?"
Yang shook her head, looking down at the pale hand that found it's way to her arm. "No. I didn't figure it out until we were already living with dad. Guy shows up drunk on our doorstep one day, apologizing over and over. He was an absolute mess, but when he sobered up a bit, we found out why."
"It turns out that my mom saved him." She let out a humorless chuckle, shaking her head slightly. "I always knew she was a hero, but I didn't know it was what got her killed. He said that he was picked up by the serial killer from an alley. He was homeless, so when the guy offered him a hot meal and a place to sleep, he jumped at the chance. Even if he did wear a mask.
"That guy… he was ruthless Weiss. He told me a lot about what he did, and I'm not gonna repeat it. But the victims were always found bruised and broken with a lethal dose of heroin in their system."
Before he showed up, Yang had always wondered why they had a closed casket funeral.
The hand on her arm squeezed gently. "Who was he?"
"His name was Qrow. Uncle Qrow, if you ask Ruby. He stuck around after he found us. Even if we had already been adopted, he always helped out when he could. I think he still feels guilty about what happened, even if it wasn't his fault.
"Hell, we'll probably meet him later tonight."
Weiss looked up at her curiously, an eyebrow raised.
"What? You didn't think Blake and Ruby were going to be the only ones making money, did you?" Yang chuckled, giving the woman a smile. "What I have in mind for Ruby may not cost anything, but I'm still gonna get something for everyone else."
"Of course not. That smile makes me think that it might go horribly wrong though." Weiss sighed, resting her head against the blonde's shoulder.
Yang took a look at the clock, her eyes widening. "Speaking of, we really need to get going!"
She quickly set Weiss on her feet rushing to her room. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found that it was no longer covered in caution tape. She was in and out in minutes, emerging in a pair of shorts and a bright yellow t-shirt.
Weiss looked her up and down for a moment. "It is winter, you know."
Yang waved it off, snorting. "Go get the outfit you got from Safeword. We're gonna need it."
"Why do we need that outfit!?" Her eye widened slightly, "How did you know I still had had it!?"
"I didn't, but I do now." Yang chuckled, grinning smugly.
Weiss groaned, retreating to her room.
When they were ready, Weiss' outfit hidden tactfully under her clothes, they rushed to the elevator. Weiss was staring at the door, looking slightly confused as they descended. Yang really hoped it wasn't as confused as last time.
"What's up Weiss Cream?" She asked, bumping her slightly.
Weiss looked up at her, frowning. "Why is it that every time we're alone together, one of us has a mental breakdown?"
That… was curious. But false. "I don't know. Last time didn't seem so bad, mistress." She gave the smaller woman a smirk and a wink.
Weiss groaned, but Yang didn't miss the small smile on her face."What have I gotten myself into?"
"Well, you haven't gotten into anything yet." She practically purred, waggling her eyebrows. "But play your cards right, and that'll change real soon."
Weiss' face turned bright red, but that didn't stop her from making the blonde jump slightly when she ran her fingertips down her arm. The pale woman shot her a small smirk, fingers interlacing with her own. "I have a Royal Flush."
Yang blushed.
AN: Happy holidays! I hope you like the new chapter! This one officially bumps the word count of the story past 100k.
Yes, I know that the actual Christmas chapter is actually going to be a week late, but bare with me.
Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews! (And sorry for taking so long to reply to them.)
Until next time friends!
-Vox