Weiss awoke early the next morning — as per her usual schedule. As soon as there was any semblance of light outside her window she needed to be awake and ready. There were too many things to be done and too little time.

That morning, however, it wasn't the chime of her alarm clock that had roused her. She had, in fact, awoken a couple of minutes before the alarm went off. To her surprise, she didn't feel that infamous grogginess that many felt when disrupted from their usual sleep schedule. Instead, she felt refreshed.

It was probably due to the fact that there was an adorable bundle of cute curled up beside her, still asleep, on the bed.

Blake had started crying last night.

Weiss could handle basically any situation except for tears. Tears were her bane. The first and only time Weiss had seen her sister cry, which was the weirdest sight she had yet to see in her lifetime, Weiss had frozen. She didn't understand what to do with tears. How do people know what to say to them? One wrong word and the tears just flow harder.

You could convince Weiss of practically anything by crying.

Somehow though, Weiss had managed. Instinctively she had wrapped herself around the scared little kitty, stroking her hair until the rush had subsided. Weiss never said anything, neither had Blake. Weiss was fond of the fact that they seemed to be able to communicate without words. Since you know, Weiss wasn't very good at communicating emotions with words. Things always came out wrong with her.

A small sneeze brought Weiss' thoughts back to the present. Blake's nose twitched and she brought up a curled palm to rub at the offending itch. Weiss found herself smiling at the sight. The angel's hand was fingering the waves of hair that were splayed across the pillow.

This is how Blake should look all the time. Innocent, carefree. Not petrified of every moving being.

A knock on the door sounded. Neptune entered without awaiting permission.

"You need to knock you imbecile," Weiss snapped brusquely, annoyed at having her quiet moment interrupted. Her words were quiet, however. They carried an impossible amount of venom and authority at the volume they were voiced.

Neptune, who normally responded cavalierly to Weiss' quotidian morning insults, was not amused. "May I have a word with you, princess?"

Rolling her eyes, Weiss brushed aside a stray strand of hair from Blake's face then stepped off the comforter. Grabbing a robe and swinging it over her shoulders, she stepped outside the room.

Neptune followed, closing the door behind them.

"You know I'm not really a princess, right?" were the words that rolled off Weiss' sharp tongue as soon as the door closed.

"What were you thinking? I can't believe you actually bedded her!" Neptune roared, his eyebrows furrowed and his lips pursed in an unmistakable look of disapproval. "You —"

The slap echoed through the corridor.

"Wha —?" Neptune gaped, his hand tenderly covering the stinging skin on his cheek. "What was that for?" Neptune got out, the shock of the slap distracting him from the consequential physical pain of the attack.

Weiss steeled her expression. A cold mask dropped over her face. Lifting a finger, she jabbed Neptune in the chest hard enough to send him stepping backwards. "Oh my apologies, you didn't deserve that at all." Weiss sneered sarcastically, rolling her eyes and looking away. "What is it to you that I used a worthless little pet as my bed warmer? I mean, that's obviously the reason why I bought her from Cardin, who is a saint compared to me. I'm just the kind of heartless, cruel person to manipulate a poor defenceless, traumatized girl into her bed and use her for my own carnal desires. After all, I am the person that cares not that my own mother is on her deathbed, dying. Is that right? Did I get everything?" At that, Weiss stepped back and crossed her arms.

Was that how little he thought of her?

"Christ, Weiss, I'm sorry," Neptune stammered, thoroughly chastised. He ran a hand through his hair sheepishly. "It's just, yesterday, you were talking about using her as a bed warmer. And you just always sound so serious that nobody knows-"

"Shut up, move on." Weiss cut him off, not in the mood for excuses. Quickly, she changed the subject. "Did Ren finish his reports on the council members?"

"Um, yeah. Yeah. I set them in your office already... Weiss-"

"Okay then," Weiss charged through. "All the documents for the funeral should be finished by now?"

"Yes, we can officially set that behind us."

"The ingredients we bought yesterday?"

"Glynda has them. She has already begun working on an antidote."

"Lovely, anything else?"

"Um, yeah. I just came to tell you the meeting has been pushed back two days."

"Really? Why?"

"Lord Winchester and Roman Torchwick can't make it." Neptune informed.

Weiss paused at that information. "Torchwick? The weapon's dealer?" At Neptune confirmation, she continued. "And Cardin's father?" Again, Neptune nodded. "Well that's suspicious. Probably nothing to worry about but send someone to look into that."

"Ren? He's the best."

"Not Ren, he needs a break. Plus Nora would smash me."

Neptune laughed. "That's so true." Neptune paused, sobering. "I can't think of any other huntsmen that are available though."

"Send one of our rogues then," Weiss stated matter-of-factly, as though it were obvious.

"Righty then," Neptune nodded.

"Speaking of rogues..." Weiss' voice trailed off meaningfully.

"We got a message from him already. That report is also on your desk."

"Oh. Good then. That'll be all." Weiss dismissed with a wave of her hand. She set her hand on the doorknob.

"Weiss," Neptune hesitated, biting the edge of his bottom lip. "I didn't mean anything by it. You know? I just got shocked and lost my mind for a bit. You know?"

"Right," Weiss responded.

"Righty then," Neptune repeated. Then he stepped away.

Weiss closed her eyes and leaned her head against the door.

Hush now, just sleep okay? She had said to Blake after tucking the scared soul away into the bed.

Don't leave me. Blake had whispered, her hand snapping out to catch the angel's wrist.

I'm not going anywhere. Just to the next room. I'll be here if you need me.

Please?

Tears had always been Weiss' bane.

Humans never did grasp that Faunus' senses were two to three times as good as that of humans.

There were scientific studies done on the matter. Faunus' had night-vision, their ears picked up sounds at volumes and pitches undetectable to human ears, Faunus' physiology were stronger and more nimble.. the list goes on.

But believing that Faunus' had better senses would go against one of the most fundamental beliefs of human beings.

That humans are better than the rest of us.

So what did they do? They just disregarded the evidence. Otherwise Weiss might have understood that closing a door wouldn't stop Blake from overhearing.

Blake rolled over on her side, turning to face her back to the door. She reached out to hold the empty space Weiss had slept in. Blake had felt so safe that night.

So she was bought to be Lady Weiss' bed warmer.

It wasn't a thought she was unfamiliar with. She was, after all, meant to be Cardin's sex slave. The slavers had given her the appropriate training and made sure she had remained untouched. This was bound to happen sooner or latter. If Blake had to choose, she'd rather be Weiss' sex toy than some other's, some unknown devil's. Weiss seemed like she'd be gentle. The angel definitely had it in her to be caring. Not to mention it wouldn't be too bad to live in a room like this the rest of her life.

This was it, Blake decided, fingering the tag on her collar. This is where she stops fighting her destiny.

If she gives the command, Blake will comply, no questions, no protestations.

That was when the door crept open.

"Blake?"

The voice was accompanied by the smell of food. Blake rolled over, her eyes perking her and her senses prickling. Lady Weiss stood by the door holding a tray of savouries.

"Lady Weiss," Blake greeted, immediately sitting up into kneeling position.

"You don't have to kneel. Just come help me." Weiss instructed.

Blake pounced off the bed immediately, taking the tray from Lady Weiss. She made the mistake of inhaling, breathing in mouthwatering scents of delicacies she wouldn't have the privilege of tasting. This food was for Lady Weiss, Blake reminded herself.

But if she was good, if she was lucky, she might be able to get leftovers.

Weiss took the bowls of soup off the tray then made her way to the bed, sitting down. "Come here," she gestured at Blake.

Blake set the tray on the bed and crawled on beside Weiss. She organized the plates to face Weiss neatly and handed Weiss a fork.

Weiss took it with a smile. "Thank you, here's yours," Weiss reciprocated the action.

Blake blinked at the utensil, confused.

"Eat you dolt," Weiss scolded playfully. "I can't finish this by myself."

"Yes my lady," Blake responded, blinking back tears.

"What do you like to eat? I got the cook to make a bit of everything, since I wasn't sure." Weiss continued, taking a bite of french toast. She then thrust her fork at Blake. "And don't answer in monosyllables."

Blake gave a tentative smile.

If this was what it was like being Lady Weiss' bed warmer, she really didn't mind.

"Anything but apples please."