The ball lasted well into the night before the final guest retired for the evening. Some went back to their homes, but a large number stayed on the premises. Weiss and Blake entered their rooms, but tonight they weren't alone as the double doors to the sitting room closed and Yang claimed her usual post.
"Glad that's over." Blake murmured. "I'm just not cut out for those kinds of events. They're so draining."
"I'm no better suited, I just pretend I am...Yang, you may retire as well." Weiss told her, knowing the woman had to be equally as exhausted as everyone else.
"Nah, I'm good." The blond replied, staying by the door, though she stretched her back. Several loud pops and cracks punctuated the action. "I'll stay here."
"We don't plan to exit this room until breakfast time." Weiss assured her. "We're all tired. Go get some rest, you're going to need it."
"Don't think I'd be able to sleep anyway." Yang shrugged, a seriousness in lilac eyes. "There's still a lot of Faunus haters around here…Ruby and I already agreed we're going to keep watch. Ruby's stationed outside the door." The sisters planned to be a double force of reckoning for anyone who might try to break in. Not that anyone would, but Yang didn't want to be seen as weak either.
Weiss was too tired to argue. "Suit yourself, but at least bring Ruby out of the chill in the hallway." She said then, her order succinct . "Light the fireplace, take shifts."
She padded to the bedroom, where Blake had already sleepily headed. It took immense effort not to leave a trail of laundry from floor to bed, but they both managed to force themselves to hang everything up neatly. Dressing in nightgowns and collapsing into bed, they both had to admit, their feet hurt and they were overtired. It would be hard to rest easy with so many people in their home, their training having taught them to always remain vigilant.
Blake pulled Weiss into her arms, and let loose a soft purr. It felt right to have Weiss to herself again. Without anyone giving them any weird looks. Though Blake didn't admit it outright, she was glad the other half of their old team was nearby too. Even if Weiss didn't need protecting. Feeling Weiss finally start to relax, Blake was able to do the same, the small few hours of respite well-earned and sorely needed.
Weiss didn't know how long she was out for, but she became acutely aware of the early morning hour when she felt Blake lift her and carry her into a dimly lit bathroom. A bubble bath waited, with hot water that was just too alluring to say no to. Weiss followed the ritual that she was now very accustomed with, allowing Blake to do with her as she pleased.
Blake bathed her tenderly as they shared the hot water. Soft kisses and even gentler caresses carrying away the stressors that had taken their toll.
"Mm, Blake, we're going to be late for breakfast."
"So we are." Blake conceded. "Yang's going to bring something up."
"That's hardly acceptable. We have guests to entertain."
Blake's lips pressed a kiss to the nape of her wife's neck, followed promptly by a gentle nip of teeth. "What's not acceptable is how many people were all over you last night." She pressed another kiss to that sensitive little spot, sighing away a world of anxiety that she'd been carrying with her since yesterday afternoon. "The smell was unwholesome…hardly fitting for the great Weiss Schnee."
"Oh hush." Weiss laughed. "You were dragged across the dance floor just as much as I was."
"No kidding, but at least you don't detect it the way I do."
"Speak for yourself…some people wear far too much perfume."
"And how do you think that comes across?" The playful little growl in Blake's voice made Weiss smirk as well. "My poor nose is far more sensitive than yours is. If it's bad for you, what do you think it is for me?"
"Point duly noted." Weiss sighed, melting into Blake's soft caresses.
Blake purred happily when Weiss leaned back into her embrace. "I love you."
"I love you too." Weiss murmured as a knock at the bathroom door interrupted them.
"I got what you wanted." Yang called from the other side. "You're not gunna kill me if I come in there, are you?"
Blake rolled her eyes. "Smartass." It wasn't anything Yang, or Ruby for that matter, hadn't seen before. "Stop fooling around and get in here…" Beacon didn't allow for much privacy, and missions provided even less. Communal bathing in the river had been the only way to ensure everyone safety, and the amount of sponge baths they'd all endured after injury had thoroughly dashed any sense of personal boundaries that team RWBY might have had. Besides, if she had any hope of keeping Weiss in that bathtub, they both needed food.
The blonde did as she was told, wheeling in a cart of fresh fruit, two glasses of newly squeezed juice, and two cups of hot coffee. "Ah, bubble bath, gotcha…"
"As if I would care even if there weren't bubbles." Blake replied with a laugh. "Thanks Yang, it means a lot."
"Yeah, no problem…" Yang said, keeping her gaze as decent as possible. "I'll be eating my own breakfast in the sitting room. Holler if you need me."
Weiss delicately popped a blueberry in her mouth, savoring the taste. It was equally as enjoyable as the fingers dancing across her midriff and lower. "The single best argument for staying cooped up in our room for a few extra hours."
"I thought you might approve." Blake agreed lazily.
As relaxing as the bath was, Weiss thought it prudent to bring up one minor, scheduled, detail. "We have a meeting with Oobleck in the conference room this afternoon. I told him we could use his expertise. He's very willing to be of help." She partook another piece of fruit. "Before that, though, I'm going to have a word with my father…privately. It might be best to warn him outright, instead of giving him a heart attack later on."
"Do you think he'll take it well?" Blake murmured, her tone dripping in anxiety.
Weiss mulled the question over. Honestly, she wasn't entirely sure how he would react. "I don't think he'll blow a gasket, if that's what you mean. I'm sure when it comes to the company, he'll put up a fight. That's just his way."
"Weiss..."
"This baby will be my flesh and blood too, an extension of his own genetics." Weiss interrupted her. "Whatever animosity he might feel towards the Faunus as a race, I've never known him to want to harm his own family."
"Even when that baby starts making inhuman racket?"
"Hmm?"
"Our child will have catlike characteristic just like I do. As a baby, it won't be able to control them." Blake worried. It was in her nature to worry. Furthermore because of who this man was, she felt it prudent to be even more so. "What will he do the first time he hears purring, or even worse, mewing?"
The first statement Weiss was able to from to any of that was one of mild surprise. "You can meow?"
"I can make many vocalizations that I choose not to do...but never mind that." Blake sighed. "Has he ever even seen a Faunus infant up close? What's he going to do the first time he sees our cub?"
"Okay, so he's not the warmest human being on the face of Remnant. Even so, he's not that cruel." Weiss soothed as she turned around to face Blake. "Chances are, he won't know what to do. He'll probably react the same way he did the first few times you came to the mansion for holidays. He'll probably put up a lot of space, and watch from afar." She leaned in, kissing Blake deeply, taking her time to savor the intoxicating feeling before pulling back. Her words were barely there murmured, but she knew Blake would hear her. "At worst, he'll kick up another fuss or two behind closed doors. Experience tells me that'll be the worst of it."
Blake wasn't entirely sure, but chose to submit to the sensibilities of her lover until proven otherwise. There was an amused glint that made Blake take pause. "What?" She asked softly, her lips ghosting across tender skin.
"I'm just pondering…"
"You're pondering rather loudly then, sweetheart." Blake said as her hands came up to rest over Weiss's rump, pulling her ever closer. "Lien for your thoughts?"
"As if I'd need that."
"A kiss then." Blake offered, her tone sultry.
"There's just so much about your inherited mannerisms that I don't know about. I've never pressed you for those kinds of answers…" Weiss shrugged, feeling a little more than out of sorts. "When we first met, you were doing your best to blend in as a human. Then when we started dating, I just started letting you tell me about those things piece by piece...between us, it's always been a non-issue…but…" Weiss sighed, she didn't know what to say.
"To be fair, there's a lot even I don't know." Blake only had her vague memories about her own parents, and she was a predatory Faunus besides. "For example, I loved to play roughly as a child. I always wanted to be 'it' when I played tag. I like to chew, and bite things. If those types of mannerisms stem from my ancestral heritage, or just because I was just that sort of kid, I'm not sure."
"Innate hunting instinct, maybe?" Weiss offered curiously.
"Maybe. Erratic lights or small objects still attract my attention, so it's entirely possible. I've just never given it much thought before." Blake hadn't the foggiest. As a person who'd always relied more on her human qualities, she had no idea what to expect. "Outside of the basics that apply to all Faunus regardless of species, we're both going to be guessing at first…I don't know any other cat Faunus that would know."
Weiss merely sighed, sinking into her wife's embrace. "I was afraid of that…"
A gloved hand held a small crystal broach. Wilson Schnee made a point to hold the object in his palm every time his visited. A trinket he'd long since treasured that he kept here, in the family home. He placed it back up upon the mantle of the fireplace, wondering why life had to be so completely complicated. He went back to the plush sofa, sinking into it.
For hours he sat and watched the fire. There was just nothing better for him to do. Nothing, at least, that wouldn't involve further unwanted complication.
The drawing room was warm, the fire roaring pleasantly. Wilson sat comfortably, enjoying the quiet as he took his morning coffee in silence. The morning paper sitting on the side table had already found its purpose as his new coaster. He found it odd when Weiss joined him, shooing away the maid that had been tending the room as she closed the door and locked it.
Weiss, never having been good at making small talk with him since the wedding, dove directly into what was comfortable. "Our stocks remain even…"
"So they do." He replied, having already verified that.
"Ruby inspected a mineshaft up in the north that we haven't used in years. She says it might be worth building proper facilities. The amount of yellow dust located deep inside is of an unusually pure quality."
"Then you should verify these finding. Seeing as how rare pure yellow dust can be, it might prove to net some hefty profit."
"I plan to." Weiss murmured. "Doctor Oobleck from Beacon requested a few samples of dust from our northern most mines. I thought it might be prudent to get a second opinion on the one Ruby investigated. I made him the offer of allowing him to go procure what he would like."
"He is a renowned researcher." Wilson replied then, a hint of approval in his voice. "An interesting play, even for you though. Surely you stand to gain something other than profit from this venture. Might I ask what that is?"
"You know me too well." The woman sighed, licking her lips as she contemplated how best to formulate her next few words. "Listen, father…SDC, we can both agree, it has seen better days. Grandfather's efforts will have been in vain if it fails to stand up to its image during my reign."
"I'm glad you recognize this..." Wilson replied with his usual sternness. "You must make careful choices, plan better than you have been. Act with modesty and decorum, Weiss, and you will succeed in continuing our profitable trade."
"I have no intention to let the company falter." Weiss replied then, though she let just a small glimpse of her unease slip into her voice. "Although, the question of what comes after has been bothering me."
"As well it should." The man grumbled thoughtfully as he smoothed out his mustache. "You've come to seek my advice then?"
"It's more that I'm looking for your opinion." Weiss told him. "It'll happen either way, but, I'd still like to run the prospect by you."
"Hm." Wilson nodded. "What is it about the company bothers you?"
"Progeny…"
This earned her a rather odd look. One caught between confusion and annoyance. "I see…"
"This is the next best move, I believe. Both for the family, and the company." Weiss forged ahead, unable to stop herself now. "Blake and I are going to speak to Oobleck about dust induced pregnancy. If all goes according to plan, she'll be carrying my child."
The silence fell heavily in the room for several long moments before the man slouched forward. "I don't know what you wish for me to say…"
"That you'll put this White Fang nonsense behind you, and talk to Blake properly." Weiss all but begged.
"And why on earth would I ever do that?"
"Because she wasn't the one that murdered mom in cold blood."
"That is none of your concern."
"It is. No matter what your late wife was to you, she will always, always be my mother too. You can't argue genetics, or a little girl's fondest memories."
"Weiss, what nerve do you think you have brining that up!?"
"Enough that you'll listen!"
They were both standing now, and though Weiss was much shorter than her father, she was every bit his daughter. "I've listened to you for years, cowered under your rage, rolled my eyes at your off colored remarks! I have afforded you the luxury as the head of this family, and now you'll do the same for me!" Letting loose a shaking breath. "I am the head of this family now…you will defer to me…you owe me at least that much respect."
Wilson sat down slowly, waving his hand as an incentive for her to continue. He sat with his chin up, as if his nose was upturned in silent defiance. Weiss sat back down in her seat slowly. "I know how your mind ticks, father, but she doesn't. For you, it's just a matter of bloodline and lineage. Seeing the human race as the privileged of society…but Blake doesn't understand that. She doesn't have a concept of how you'll react when she carries our child."
"Then that burden is hers to bear."
"You've made it no easier for her."
"I have done the absolute best I can."
"Then do better…" Weiss demanded quietly.
"I beg your pardon?" Wilson asked, the heat in his voice returning.
"I am not asking for your blessing in this matter."
"That much, I assure you, is obvious."
"I'm asking you, as my father, to acknowledge the fact that my progeny will be Faunus." With gritted teeth, Weiss forced out her next words less like an order, and much more like a plea. Perhaps, deep within the pits of her heart, where the last hints of warmth for this man resided, it was. She hated to admit that she was begging, she'd never say it outright…but she was. "It would mean something to me…something very dear, and very precious…if you could set aside your rage for one goddamn hour, and talk to Blake properly…that's all I'm asking you to do..."
AYangThang: I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Okay all, so I have a very important question to ask. I've now reached the point where this fiction stays roughly 10 chapters ahead of itself comfortably on any given day. The "prequel" if you could call it that now sits 10 chapters in. My question is this: would you like to see that story posted along side this one, painting a more cohesive universe as time moves forward? Or, would you rather I wait until this fiction is fully completed and posted first? I'm writing them side by side to get rid of plot holes anyway, so it's just a matter of follower preference at this point.
What would you rather have? Let me know.