Chapter 10

After a slow breakfast, the two women briefly returned to their room to gather their clothes and a few other items before making their way to the laundry room. Now, seated in the uncomfortable laundry room chairs as their items were spinning through the sudsy water, the pair leaned close together as Weiss walked Neo through the last couple of weeks' worth of notes from Ooblek's class. Occasionally, Weiss would stop to reference something from the textbook in Neo's lap before she continued. So far as she could tell, the woman followed along pretty well, though it was hard to know for sure with her inablity to say so. From time to time, Neo's eyes would alternate colors as she looked a bit perplexed before they returned to normal as Weiss explained something to her in a different way. Neo would slowly nod at Weiss's words, then more swiftly as the explanation concluded.

She's trying so hard to be patient. It doesn't seem like her thing though. The heiress really didn't really strike her as the teacherly type. Having never been through school before, she already felt a bit overwhelmed. She could barely imagine what it was going to be like attending classes, reading constantly, and writing papers. She looked at the heiress as she continued her explanation of the notes. Weiss was on the hook for her behavior and performance. No wonder she's trying to get me up to speed already. Neo didn't want to jeopardize Weiss's future, so she committed herself to doing all she could to become a respectable student. Even so, the information overload was already taking a toll on her. When Weiss paused, Neo tapped her wrist then motioned for a little time.

Weiss agreed that it was a good time for a break and promptly stretched and splayed out in her seat. "These chairs are some of the worst on campus. You'd think for as much time as we have to spend in here doing laundry, they'd spring for something nicer. Maybe Father would consider making a small 'donation' to the Academy?" Weiss trailed off, mumbling the last thought more to her self than fully aloud. She felt Neo's hand on her shoulder and turned to see an inquisitive look on the woman's face and her head cocked slightly to the right. "You're wondering what it's like to be a Schnee? To have the kind of money necessary to make that happen on a whim?" Neo shook her head 'no'. "Wait, Father?" Neo nodded. "No." Weiss began, "I'm sorry Neo, I just have a very complex relationship with my family and would really rather we don't talk about them just yet. Do you think that you could give me some time on this one?"

Neo was saddened that her suspicions that Weiss's relationship with her family was as bad as she thought; the girl deserved better. She nodded her assent, which Weiss graciously accepted. Neo touched Weiss's bicep and traced her fingers downward until her hand rested against the girl's hand. She felt Weiss spread her fingers as she allowed them to interlace with hers. Neo decided to just enjoy the feeling of holding her friend's hand and not press her to talk anymore about this uncomfortable topic.

The two girls sat in silence, as they watched the tumbling laundry through the round, glass windows. This is nice. Just enjoy it for a little while longer. She squeezed Weiss's hand after a few moments of watching the hypnotic show. Not too long, though. With her free hand, she opened the text on her lap to the table of contents and motioned through it to Weiss.

"Well, Ooblek doesn't exactly go in exact order. He's a little, I guess you'd call him non-linear." Weiss paused to think before continuing, "He knows his history, but he's a little high-strung and a touch overly-excited, so we kind of jump around. A lot." Weiss reached over and flipped to the chapter on the Faunus Wars; it was a topic that Ooblek kept hammering, so it would be a good place to start.

Neo placed a small kiss on the girl's cheek before she turned her focus to the chapter before her, but never let go of Weiss's hand.

Engrossed in the lessons of the past, Neo never heard the wash cycle end; nor did she notice Weiss get up, toss their items in the dryers, or return and reclaim her hand. It barely registered that Weiss's head was on her shoulder and the heiress was softly snoring. These battles… So much loss of life. Senseless destruction. Neo realized that much of her life was not so different. Cinder wasn't much different from these generals and leaders. Strategy, cunning, manipulations – for what? For a little more power? For a plot of land? To push an ideal or agenda? I contributed to this, as an accomplice. A loud snort caught her attention. She looked towards the sound and saw Weiss was completely out, mouth agape, fast asleep on her shoulder. Gods! Weiss. How will this girl forgive my past? The part I played in repeating the worst of humanity?

The increasing volume in the laundry room roused Weiss from her sleep. Neo was still intently reading, the world around her tuned out. Glancing over at their dryers, Weiss saw that they were finished cycling. Sunday's were typically busier in the afternoon, so she was happy they got this out of the way earlier than later. Slipping from her chair, she stretched luxuriously before tapping Neo's arm to get her attention. Though the tapping failed to rouse Neo from her book. As did a subsequent attempt. Finally grabbing her shoulder, she shook Neo hard and called out to her, "Hey! Listen! We need to get our stuff and head out, it's starting to get crowded."

Neo looked up, both eyes were white. She looked around and blinked a few times before they returned to their normal orientation: one pink, one brown. She glanced at the book, took note of her page, and closed it as she stood up, gave Weiss a small squeeze on the shoulder, and walked towards the washing machines they originally placed their clothes in.

"Neo?"

She stopped and turned to Weiss.

"The clothes are in the dryers, I moved them earlier."

Neo shook her head. What? When did that happen? She looked at Weiss while tapping her wrist, confused.

"I moved them while you were reading." She pulled out her scroll, "It's, ugh… 1235! Well, at least I didn't sleep through lunch." Weiss mused. "We better be quick folding our things so we can dump them in our room and run to lunch before the dining hall closes, otherwise we'll have to head into town or wait for dinner."

After they finished folding, the pair quick-stepped, double time, to their room as Weiss tried to make up a little lost time. Weiss suggested that they leave everything on the bed so they could run and grab lunch before it was too late. There would be time later to hang everything and make room for Neo's uniforms before they needed to be picked up in the morning.

To Weiss's satisfaction, the line was non-existent and they were able to quickly load up their trays just before the staff started packing up; almost everyone else had already been in and out.

"Look. There's Yang with Pyrrha and Nora. Let's join them." Weiss lead the way as Neo followed along. They took their seats, Neo between Weiss and Pyrrha on one side with Yang and Nora on the other, and tried to catch up with the conversation.

"No, it's not that, I mean, he's… He seems nice… I just don't quite get what you see."

"He is nice, Yang." Pyrrha corrected. "And that's why I like him. He's nice and doesn't treat me different. He's the reason you guys are my friends."

"Pyrrha," Nora began, "in fairness, he's not the most observant. Maybe you should just be more direct with him. Just tell him that you're dating! Problem solved." The small Valkyrie offered her more direct approach.

"How did that work with Ren?" Pyrrha jabbed back.

Yang tried to contain her laughter as the two JNPR teammates went back and forth. She turned to Weiss, "How's your guys' morning?" She grinned wickedly and winked at the pair. "You guys make use of the privacy we left you earlier? I know I would have!" The last statement came out somewhere between a husky purr and a seductive growl.

Neo glanced down as she felt her cheeks flush and warm. Weiss remained far more composed and cool. She rolled her eyes but didn't bother looking to the blonde, "I certainly see where Ruby got her nature to be a complete pest from."

"Oh, c'mon, Weiss. I'm just saying that I figured for as long as you've been in the closet, you'd start your first day as an out and proud lesbian with and Ice Cream Sandwich. Eh? Guys? Huh?"

Neo was now bright red; she stared at her plate and wished she wasn't the butt of this joke. Weiss seemed to lose her voice as she blushed at Yang's calling her a lesbian, in public. Nora and Pyrrha stopped midsentence, heads turned in unison towards the conversation between Weiss and Yang. Nora lunged across the table, scattering trays as she went, and threw her arms around Weiss. "Now all we have to do is get Jaune to start dating Pyrrha and the last of you uptight little things will finally start to be a little more civil!"

"HEY!" Weiss and Pyrrha shouted together. "Nora!" Pyrrha began, "I am not nearly as uptight as the Ice Queen,"

Weiss interrupted, with another sharp "Hey!" as she tried to wriggle out of the boisterous redhead's grasp.

"I'm sorry, Weiss. And, Nora, dating Jaune is not a 'solution' because there is no 'problem'. Got it?" Pyrrha finished.

"Whatever you say, Pyrrha…"

Weiss finished sloughing Nora off of her and saw Neo was drawn tightly into herself, bright red, and no longer eating. "Neo?"

This is humiliating, Neo thought to herself. Wide-eyed, she spared a quick glance at her friend, avoiding everyone else at the table. Having never been in an environment like Beacon Academy before, she was unprepared for the open book characteristic that all of their lives seemed to have.

The Amazon was the next to notice Neo's discomfort and placed her arm around the small woman's shoulders. "I'm sorry. You're still new here and probably haven't had an opportunity to see how we really interact with one another. The teasing is really meant to be harmless fun; a form of bonding with fellow comrades-in-arms." Reaching out further, she grabbed Weiss as well and pulled both women to her. "We're so happy for you both! Weiss is a spectacular young woman, and for you to have captured her attention, well, you must be as well." Weiss's arms flapped under Pyrrha's strong grip, as a second JNPR team member was hugging her in as many minutes. Pyrrha paid her no heed as she continued to speak to Neo, "It's really grand that you're going to be a part of our group!"

Squished between the giant Pyrrha and the flailing Weiss, Neo began to feel incredibly claustrophobic. She began to hyperventilate and tremble. No. No, no, no. This isn't like that. No. Stop it. Don't panic. You're fine. NO. Stop. You're free from Cinder's cage. You're not a prisoner. No. Stop. Breathe. Please don't do this. Weiss cares about you. You're not in danger. Pyrrha is trying to support you. Control. In. Deep. Deep in. Slow out. Control.

Feeling the small woman shaking under her arm, Pyrrha let go and gently pushed Weiss away as she slid to give Neo some room.

"Are you okay?" Pyrrha asked Neo.

Neo remained crunched tightly into herself, shoulders hunched forward, pulled inward, hands tight together and white-knuckled, eyes closed, her breathing deep and hard.

"Neo…" Weiss gently reached out towards her arm, but held back from touching her.

What to do? Torn. Bolt? Break down? Still torn. Which? Breathe. Keep breathing. You're okay. Breathe, Neo. You can do this. No one's touching you. You have room. Pyrrha gave you space. She's still close. Supportive. Weiss too. They're here for you. You're going to be okay. Breathe. Breathing deep, she finally had control. As she opened her eyes, Neo saw four concerned girls around her, though at a safe distance.

Her eyes flashed between colors as she blinked before settling on brown for both. As she turned to Weiss, they both flashed pink before returning to her normal brown and pink combination. She placed her left hand on Weiss's knee as she reached her right out to Pyrrha, inviting her in for a hug.

"I'm sorry, Neo." Pyrrha said, accepting the invitation. The multihued haired girl, tiny against her, released Weiss and wrapped both arms around Pyrrha's waist. The two embraced for a moment before she leaned against Weiss and put her head on the girl's shoulder. They're good people. Finally, she turned towards Nora and Yang across from her and opened her arms wide. Nora, ever the model of self-control, dove straight across the table, tackled both Neo and Weiss clear out of their seats.

With an 'ooof!' from Weiss and a dull thud from Neo, Nora landed across the two as she excitedly started chattering. "We're going to be best friends for ever! Pyrrha, Yang, you guys need to get in on this." Nora shouted from the ground.

The four girls laughed as Yang and Pyrrha piled on. Neo, now relaxed, smiled at the show of affection and hid her mouth behind a coy hand as she silently giggled with them.

A/N: Fortunately, this one's a little longer to help you through the weekend!

Those of you that have been with me since the beginning know that I normally post early in the morning ~ this is a shot at a later update to see what it does to my numbers. If I don't see any real increase (or a drop off), I'll go back to the normal schedule.

Thanks to all of my followers! I hope you're enjoying the ride.

A/N 2: updated 29 October 2016 at 2200Z for continuity / clarity on a few lines. Sorry!