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"So….bunk beds, huh?" Winter remarks before drinking her cup of coffee.
Weiss squirmed uncomfortably as she took breakfast with her sister.
She could still remember how embarrassing yesterday was when Winter knocked on their door after Jaune and Ruby's uncle left.
"Winter! I can explain!"
Weiss shuffled nervously as her sister raised an eyebrow in front of her outside the door.
"Hello, Weiss." Winter said in greetings as she looked at Weiss' appearance.
Right. There were greetings to be made. Any other time and she would have been excitedly greeting her sister yet this time…
"Hello, Winter." Weiss greets embarrassedly, very much self-conscious of how she must look right now.
Her hair was a mess. Try as she might, Weiss just barely managed to get rid of the black color dyeing her hair. She didn't have much time left to fix her hair adequately before Ruby's uncle barged in and by then it was too late.
It didn't help that she played with Zwei and had pieces of dog fur stuck on her hair.
"May I come in?"
Weiss winced at her sister's request. The polite thing to do would be to say yes and open the door for her but….she was already embarrassed as it was. The last thing she wanted to do was let her teammates have the opportunity to humiliate her even more.
She had the inkling feeling that Yang and maybe Ruby would be intentionally weird just to mess with her while Blake….well, Blake was part of the White Fang. As much as Weiss idolized her sister, she didn't know what her reaction would be if she knew Blake was an ex terrorist.
"Is something wrong, Weiss?" Winter clears her throat, jolting Weiss out of her thoughts.
"I…uhm, my room is a mess."
"No problem, I am fully aware how hectic the life of a huntress-in-training is and have already lowered my expectations on the cleanliness of your room."
She winced at that as the accusation she was disorderly sends a pang of pain through her heart.
"Uhm…don't you think we should go somewhere more private? My friends are here." She admitted nervously.
She knew lying to Winter would be a bad idea, she just wished her sister would have gotten the message. Winter did not as she gave her a raised eyebrow while taking a tentative step forward.
"Oh, good. I can finally meet them."
"N-no! T-they're weird!" Weiss immediately blurted out embarrassedly and her face went red when she heard the voices back inside her room.
"Hey! Who are you calling weird?! We've got normal knees, you know?!" Ruby squeaked indignantly.
"Normal knees?"
Weiss grimaced at her sister's incredulous look but before she could even reply, Yang was already pulling the door behind her open.
"Yeah! Now don't be shy and come in here you Schneeblings!" Yang Xiao Long grinned as she stood there menacingly from Weiss' point of view.
Weiss wanted to die as she cried tears of humiliation. She knew. She just knew they were going to be intentionally weird.
"The name's-"
"Yang Xiao Long and Ruby Rose." Winter interjected as matter of factly as she could.
"You know us?" Yang asked in the wake of Winter's interruption.
"Weiss has written about you in her letters to me." Winter's expression softened as she turned to Weiss even as Weiss blushed when her teammates looked at her with knowing looks.
"You wrote about us?" Ruby asked with a beaming smile on her face.
"Nothing bad I hope." Yang waggled her eyebrows as she spoke to Winter.
To her horror however, Winter smirked at her before answering.
"She told me you were careless and irresponsible while your sister was immature and underwhelming for a team leader."
"Winter! T-that's not what I said!" Weiss shrieked immediately as she saw Ruby's hurt look.
"It was when you started sending me letters after you arrived at Beacon."
"I-It was at the start of the year! I've changed since then!
"Heh, yeah. You were a lot more unbearable back then, Weiss-Cream." Yang laughed as Weiss glows red.
"Hey!"
"Yeah, Weiss. You were a lot more mean back then." Ruby piped in with a smile and Weiss…..Weiss sighed resignedly at how she treated Ruby at the start of their year.
"...Alright, fair. But I'm not mean now, am I?!"
"Ehhh, maybe a little bit." Yang replied, tilting her hand from side to side.
"Only sometimes though!" Ruby squeaked and Weiss' shoulders lump in defeat.
Her sister's laugh causes her to snap her head back however.
"I see you are enjoying yourself. I'm glad you found good friends." Winter remarks with a smile on her face.
What part of that was Weiss enjoying herself? Yet who was she kidding? Only one look at Ruby and Yang's smirking smug faces causes her to blush.
"Hear that, Weiss. She called us good friends!" Yang laughed loudly even as Ruby squealed excitedly at her.
"We are good friends right?! Right?!"
Seeing their excited faces, Weiss couldn't help but groan shyly.
"Maybe sometimes."
Weiss blushed even more as Winter laughed at her before smiling at her team.
"On behalf of my sister, thank you for being good friends with her though I was under the impression you were a team of four instead of three."
Ruby's excitement suddenly froze at that before she shuffled nervously.
"You're welcome but as for Blake….it's better if you just see for yourself." Ruby sighed, pulling Yang away from the door so all of them could see an incredulous sight.
Zwei was barking from down the floor towards Blake who was perched atop Yang's bed ... .Yang's bed which was barely supported by stacks of Blake's books. Stacks that were currently shaking as Blake visibly trembled in fear.
It was just her luck that the moment Winter met her ex-terrorist teammate, it would be when she was just besieged by the cutest and fluffiest creature Weiss had ever had the pleasure to touch. It was also the same moment Yang's bed decided that it was a good time to topple over towards their direction.
The world froze as Weiss' thoughts suddenly sped up at this disaster.
She knew. She just knew the universe was out to get her and there was nothing she could do about it.
Yet as they all screamed at the same time, Weiss was at least thankful enough that Winter never managed to find out about Bleiss.
She could already imagine what such an encounter would look like. Weiss, playing as Bleiss, would of course freeze at Winter's horrified look. Yet she knew, she just knew that her dedication to play the role so well would take over and she would inadvertently insult her sister.
"What are you looking at bitch?!"
It was not good. Not good at all. Weiss shivered internally and that was when the world decided she had enough time to herself and proceeded to resume crashing down on her as she gripped her sister's hand tightly.
And that is how Weiss found herself having breakfast with her sister in one of Beacon's gardens this morning as an apology.
"I-uhhh, I'm sorry about the bunk beds! I already told Ruby they were unsafe and yet-." Weiss rambles apologetically but Winter's laugh cuts her off.
"Mhhm. I'm glad you are having fun with your friends."
"F-fun?!"
What part of that was fun?! Winter must have been experiencing things differently but Weiss was really stressing herself out yesterday hoping her sister would not be weirded out by her friends!
"Yes, unstable bunk beds notwithstanding, I haven't seen you this animated and emotional for a long time." Winter smiled and Weiss paused at that.
That's right. Winter did say that she found good friends in her teammates.
"I-I suppose they really are good friends." Weiss smiled shyly at that before taking a bite out of her meal.
Considering how yesterday turned out, this was certainly a much better outcome than what she had been expecting.
"Fufu, I'm glad. Other than your team, how has Beacon been treating you so far?" Winter smiled at her, taking Weiss out of her thoughts as she perked up happily.
"Oh, splendid! Thank you for asking! My studies have been going wonderfully and I'm in the upper rankings of our Combat Class!"
"Upper rankings? I was under the impression you were in the highest one, not just the upper rankings." Winter raised an eyebrow, causing Weiss to freeze up as her thoughts turned to the reason why she was no longer in the upper ranks.
She winced as Winter's brow rose even higher at her reaction.
"Uhmm…that is…you see…I…lost one match against the deadlast of our class." Weiss squirmed as she slowly and honestly shared the reason.
Weiss still remembers the day Jaune Arc beat her. That fire…..that passion. It was an image that would stay with her for a long time.
To this day Weiss still doesn't know whether it was intentional or pure luck on Arc's part but no matter the reason, it does not change things. She still lost and that seems to be enough to short circuit Winter's brain as Weiss could see Winter struggle to process her words.
She does not begrudge her sister her reaction for it was her own when she realized what happened back then.
"...What?" Winter muttered in disbelief.
Weiss flushed in embarrassment at Winter's incredulous reply before she snapped to defend herself.
"It was an accident! Purely because of luck on his side and careless on mine! It won't happen again! I promise!"
Winter breathed deeply before looking at Weiss with a comforting smile.
"Fuuu, I'm not mad, Weiss. Just surprised though perhaps I shouldn't have been. Even the strongest warriors lose from time to time." Winter spoke before drinking a glass of water.
Winter might have meant well but Weiss couldn't help but cringe even more at her sister's attempt to comfort her. She was far from the strongest and the reminder that Jaune Arc could beat her sent a wave of insecurity through her heart.
"Now tell me about this….person who managed to defeat you." Winter continued slowly, causing Weiss to squirm uncomfortably at her sister's stare.
"His…..name is Jaune Arc. I…wrote to you about him before." She said slowly.
"Blonde hair and blue eyes?" Winter raised an eyebrow at her and Weiss looked at her sister in shock.
"You know him?!" She gasped incredulously, knowing for a fact that she never made the effort to describe Jaune in her letters.
"I met him in Headmaster Ozpin's office yesterday but isn't he also the one who was trying to court you before?" Winter clarified before throwing another question back at her.
"C-court?!"
Her eyes spun dazedly at the word as Winter furrowed her brows at her.
"Yes? Didn't you used to write how he was always asking you out on a date?"
"W-Well….he was." Weiss answered nervously, knowing for a fact the reason Jaune stopped asking her out was because….he already had lovers of his own.
"Was?"
Her eyes flitted nervously from left to right before she leaned in skittishly. Her sister raised an eyebrow before leaning in curiously at Weiss' actions.
Weiss knows it is a secret but….this was Winter. Her sister. If she couldn't talk about something like this with Winter then who else could she confide in? Certainly not her mother.
Besides, Weiss has always wanted to try having some sort of girl talk with her sister. And so, surreptitiously, Weiss spills the tea.
"Well ... .you didn't hear it from me but ... .Jaune Arc is having relations with Pyrrha Nikos and my teammate, Blake Belladonna, at the same time." Weiss shared slowly, her voice taking on a scandalous tone right as….Winter took a sip of water.
For the first time in her life, Weiss has a front row seat to the sight of Winter spitting out water. Weiss should count herself lucky that Winter was quick enough to turn her head or else liquid would be dripping down her face.
She flinched back as her sister then turned back towards with wide shocked eyes.
"B-Both?! At the same time?!" Winter gasped loudly even as she absently wiped water away from her lips.
"SSSHHHH! We are trying to keep it a secret but….yes. Both of them. At the same time." Weiss shushed her sister immediately before looking around them panickedly.
Winter's eyes go wide as she realizes how loud she was being. She instantly covers her mouth with a blush on her face.
Both sisters look at each other embarrassedly before they both try to act casual as they lean back on their chairs.
"And….they are okay with it? The women with each other I mean?" Winter opened up nervously after clearing her throat.
Weiss flushed red at that question. Judging by how she caught Blake and Pyrrha making out in a dressing room, they were probably more than okay with each other. As it is, she only nods embarrassedly at Winter in reply.
Weiss gasped as she saw Winter squirm with a blush on her face yet she could not blame her. Being a Schnee, heck just being from Atlas which valued discipline as a fundamental principle, this kind of topic was naturally taboo. Yet here they were, gossiping like two school girls as they whispered hastily at each other.
"And….a man such as that tried to court you?" Winter breathed quietly as she rubbed her thighs together.
"...He did." Weiss gulped with a blush on her face as she wondered what in the world was happening.
Yet if she thought that was already crazy then it is nothing compared to what her face looked like when Winter asked her next question.
"And…you did not consider falling for such a man?"
"Winter!" She yelled scandalously, her heart beating rapidly that she had to put a hand on her chest.
She can't believe they are talking about Jaune of all things!
"What?! You can't fault me for asking. There must be something about Jaune Arc that managed to catch the eyes of a Four-Time Regional Champion and the Princess of Menagerie."
Weiss fanned herself at the thought of that but she paled when she realized her sister's words.
"Y-you know?"
Winter opened her eyes wide before taking a deep breath. With a safer topic at hand, Winter was now able to speak more calmly.
"That Blake Belladonna was a Faunus? Yes, it was very obvious with how she tried to hide her cat ears with a bow and how she didn't even change her name. It was easy to identify her as the daughter of Ghira Belladonna who is currently the Chief of Menagerie and the former Supreme Leader of the White Fang."
Left unsaid was the accusation that Blake herself was a part of the violent terrorist group and Weiss sighs in relief when Winter shakes her head. However, Winter's next words put the blush right back on her face.
"Back to the topic at hand, what else can you tell me about Jaune Arc?"
"W-what?!" She asked incredulously.
She thought they were already done with this! That Winter would at least pick a safer topic after getting the opportunity to talk about something else! Yet here her sister was, staring at her with an intense look on her face.
She gulped nervously but before she could even answer, a voice called out to her from a distance.
"Weiss! Come on! We need to get to class!"
Thank the Brothers for Ruby Rose as she waved at her enthusiastically from afar. She looked at Winter apologetically yet she couldn't help the sigh of relief from leaving her mouth for not having to talk about Jaune Arc.
Winter certainly noticed because she gives Weiss an understanding smile. She's thankful she has a great sister in Winter. If it was Yang with Ruby then she could certainly see the blonde brawler pushing to get her answers.
As it is, Winter only stands up with a resigned sigh.
"Thank you, Winter, for this wonderful breakfast." Weiss says honestly because no matter how uncomfortable she was with having to think about Jaune's relationships with Pyrrha and Blake, she did enjoy the experience of having a girl talk with Winter.
"You're welcome, Weiss, and can I just say….I enjoyed our talk together." Winter smiled at her with a light blush remaining on her face.
She nods back with a smile of her own. She had never seen her sister react so….flusteredly and it brings joy to Weiss' heart that they can both act so honestly with each other.
Yet before she could turn to leave, Winter grabs her hand and looks straight into her eyes.
"Tell me one thing though, why did you not entertain Jaune Arc?"
Weiss blushed at that as she inadvertently squeezed her sister's hand while her eyes looked away in embarrassment.
"It's….because I thought he was after my name." Weiss answered with a whisper.
It was the truth and besides….
"And he wasn't as impressive back then compared to how he is now." She continues as she remembers those first days she met Jaune Arc.
He was certainly nothing impressive back then. Who knew he would grow so much? Not her, that's for certain.
"And what about now? If he approached you, what would you do?" Winter asked, her face blank of any emotion as Weiss colored at the thought.
"I-I have Neptune! Besides! I-I do not want to be a third choice!" She answered vehemently and it seems to mollify Winter enough that she lets go of Weiss' hand.
"I apologize, Weiss, but a sister can't help but worry." Winter spoke with a smile on her face.
She sighs gratefully at that before giving Winter a warm smile.
"Thank you, Winter, but do not worry. There is nothing to worry about."
"That may be so but a sister will always worry and I hope you tell me more about this Neptune next time."
"Next time?" She asked hopefully with bright eyes.
"Of course, next time. I will be staying in Vale for some time yet so we can surely speak of other matters next time we meet." Winter nodded with an equally bright expression on her face.
"I…I would appreciate that."
"Yes, yes. Now go. You still have classes to attend to." Winter laughed at her as her eyes grew wide at that realization.
Weiss immediately turned around to rush to her teammates, unaware of Winter's thoughtful expression as she fetched her scroll.
Winter….blinked as she tried to process what she just learned from her sister.
Without anyone to see, Specialist Winter Schnee, paragon of discipline, slumped bonelessly back on her seat as she shakily tried to call her superior.
When General Ironwood asked her to investigate a student named Jaune Arc, she was curious but did not think deeply into it.
Yet just one conversation with her sister illuminated her that there might be deeper reasons why a student such as him could garner General Ironwood's attention.
As her scroll rang however, Winter didn't even have the time to gather her thoughts in order as the General spoke on the line.
"Specialist. Report."
"He's dating two women." She blurts out immediately with a blank voice before Winter colors at the unprofessional tone.
Yet the news was just that shocking that even the General seemed to pause on the other side of the call.
"...What?"
Winter cleared her throat before speaking once she had gained control of her mouth.
"I apologize Sir, Jaune Arc is dating both Pyrrha Nikos and Blake Belladonna."
"At the same time?" General Ironwood asked in what was clear disbelief.
"At the same time." Winter replied although with a blush on her face.
She could not even imagine such an arrangement and yet by Weiss stories….Jaune Arc has managed to not only have relations with two women at the same time, but to also have both women willingly share him. It was unthinkable and the General seems to think so as well.
"...Damn." General Ironwood muttered in either worry or awe, causing Winter's brow to rise in shock.
"Sir?"
"Ahem. I apologize. This is the same Blake Belladonna that is the daughter of Ghira Belladonna?"
"The very same, Sir." Winter answered even as she tilted her head.
Whatever dots the General was connecting, Winter was not privy to it as she did her best to calm her racing heart. Her attempt to calm down however fails when the General speaks again.
"Winter, I want you to watch Jaune Arc closely. Interact with him if you have to."
"Sir?!"
Her heart rate rises at the ambiguity of her superior's words. Interact with him?! Just what kind of interaction does the General expect her to do with a man of such appetites?!
The General must have heard the worry in her voice because he replies with a grave tone.
"Winter, we have reason to believe Jaune Arc has ties to the White Fang and Roman Torchwick."
So that kind of interaction. An investigative approach that might have her talk with Jaune Arc to ascertain loyalties.
She breathed a sigh of relief at that before she stiffened up at the realization that such a potential threat managed to infiltrate Beacon. Worse, said potential threat was near her sister and by Weiss' own admittance, said threat has already managed to defeat her in a spar.
Winter could only pale in horror at what kind of damage Jaune Arc could do if he wanted to.
"I-Is this actionable intel, Sir? Can we not apprehend him if we already suspect him to be an infiltrator?"
"Ozpin will not let us move without irrefutable evidence. Evidence that Qrow is in the middle of verifying. In the meantime, all we can do is watch him closely."
"Understood, Sir." Winter's eyes sharpened after receiving her orders and as the General dropped the call, she could only think of one thing.
Jaune Arc, you better pray you are innocent or you are dead for being a threat to my sister.
General James Ironwood sighed as he lied to Winter.
It left a bad taste in his mouth yet as a military leader, he was aware how to compartmentalize intelligence.
He had no reason to tell Winter that the evidence they were waiting for was if Qrow was ambushed or not. Not when all he needed to do was to label Jaune Arc as someone to be watched closely for Winter to do what he needed her to do.
After all, that was all there was to it. If Qrow got attacked then it would mean Jaune Arc's intelligence was duplicitous and was a trap designed to hamper their forces. He could then order Winter to apprehend him and ferret out any other information from him.
And if Qrow was not attacked….well then there's no harm done and all he needed to do was call off the investigation.
All they had to do now was wait for Qrow.
Qrow flapped his wings as his eyes narrowed at the city in the distance.
Mountain Glenn.
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