Author's Notes

In spite of the title, Weiss will not be building a nest or laying any eggs.

Happy rats, and don't do crime!

Chapter 13 – Running on Eggshells

In which Weiss Schnee must carefully navigate the intricacies of close friendship and teamly intrigue.

Weiss met up with Ruby in the library, having texted her to find out her location.

"I'm studying," Ruby said proudly when Weiss arrived. "I turned off all my videogames, left my scroll in my room, and won't leave until at least three hours have passed and I'm caught up on all of the Dust safety lessons I missed at primary combat school – whichever comes last."

Weiss nodded, pleased with this development. Ruby didn't lack the discipline to perform as a huntress should; she had merely suffered on the motivation front briefly, before that nasty business with her sister opened her eyes. That was actually what Weiss wanted to talk to her about.

I've put this off long enough.

"May I sit with you?"

Ruby gave her a thumbs up, and Weiss peeked over at the books on Dust. The topics were rather simplistically described, in layman's terms that Weiss as a Dust manufacturer's heiress could have read and understood before her third birthday.

"I was hoping to have a chat with you about…what I said to you."

Ruby's forehead creased. "What you said…whaddaya mean?"

Weiss held in her next breath. "What I yelled at you, two days ago. About your fitness to be a huntress."

The young girl froze for a second, and Weiss immediately rushed to reassure her. "This is me apologizing for my words."

"Weiss, I already said, I think you were spot on to call me out."

"Perhaps," Weiss admitted. "But the manner in which I did it was unbefitting of a leader. I lost my temper and lost my head. Furthermore, I couldn't help but overhear a conversation between you and Yang in which you admitted that you believed I still want you gone from Beacon."

Stroking her chin, Ruby ostensibly took a second to recall what Weiss was even talking about. "That? I was just using you as ammo against Yang at the time. Er, sorry."

"Either way, I wish to retract my words about you being kicked off the team had you not shaped up. Nothing you'd done at the time had justified such a harsh punishment, and I was reaching beyond my station to even suggest it."

"Awwww!" Ruby cooed. "You like me!"

"I suppose I do," Weiss begrudgingly said.

Ruby grinned as she opened her book back up. "Maybe try not to look like it hurts you physically to admit that, Weiss."

Now that that was out of the way, Weiss could broach the second topic. "Ahem. Ruby. If I may now pose a question for you?"

"Shoot."

"Y-Yang. Um…d-do you believe your parents can…rehabilitate her?"

Ruby not only closed the book this time but also set it down. "Oh."

Weiss wings twitched uncomfortably at the unpleasant topic of conversation, but she'd been worrying about this far too long for it to be healthy. Yang's beatdown of her still haunted Weiss, and she couldn't bear to keep worrying that Yang would return to Beacon without having changed to continue to terrorize Weiss.

"First, just a small thing – it's my dad and my uncle. Qrow kinda raised us for a bit, so he's like a parent, but he isn't either of our fathers or anything weird like that. Second…"

Ruby blew out a long breath, and Weiss' spirits fell. She'd been hoping for a more sure answer – that yes, the Rose family could absolutely convince Yang that what she'd done wasn't acceptable. Ruby's hesitance meant that either there was a good chance either way, or that she knew the answer was no and just wanted to break it to Weiss gently.

"Yang's always been headstrong, but she picked it up from Dad and Qrow mostly. I said before that they have the best chance of getting through to her, and I stand by that."

Best chance…that sounded grim, like appeasement of Weiss' question rather than an answer.

"If I had to bet, I'd say they could," Ruby said. "It's more likely than not. But Weiss, even if she's still unrepentant, she isn't going to hurt you or anything. If she even tries it, you can just have Goodwitch…you know."

And then what? Weiss wondered. Would we get a new teammate? Would you ever be able to forgive me? What would become of the scorned huntress whose life I ruined – would she target me? Become a rogue or a mercenary?

The option to give Yang the boot wasn't a realistic one. Goodwitch was generous in giving Weiss that much power as a leader, but the choice was one that would have lasting consequences if she took it.

Naturally, Weiss didn't ask any of these questions. Just like she and Ruby had an unspoken mutual agreement to not bring up the incident with…the incident at lunch yesterday, it was obvious to Weiss that vocally referencing that Yang could be removed from Beacon was off limits.

Weiss politely thanked Ruby for her input and left her behind in the library.

That was two teammates resolved for the moment, but Weiss had saved the hardest for last.

Blake was in their shared dorm room. Weiss knew this because she'd bribed her erstwhile partner Arc with some spending lien to keep an eye on their door and inform Weiss the moment Blake returned from wherever she'd gone (most likely a remote hiding spot in a hidden corner of Beacon).

They had both…and Weiss had seen…

The problem was obvious. Weiss couldn't clearly verbalize it precisely with words, but she knew what it was. Her…relationship…with Blake.

The solution was less obvious. There were many options Weiss could take, but she wasn't sure she liked any of them.

Some seemed easier than others, but they promised less pleasant results. For instance, she could ignore their brief moment of blushing cheeks and stunned faces the other day and continue on with her life. If Weiss did so, there was no doubt that Blake, the less visibly emotional of the two, would follow suit, and just like that, the problem would go away. However, the idea of just letting something fester, of willfully being dishonest (for it would be – the absence of lies did not preclude dishonesty) with someone like Blake, who she was supposed to be closer to than anyone, it made her heart feel like it was being boiled in a vat of one-thousand-degree water.

On the other hand, the other options Weiss could take would be incredibly worrisome and terrifying, and those ways yielded no sure results. Furthermore, Weiss wasn't even sure if she had the mental fortitude to go through with any of them.

I just need to be careful. I'm Weiss Schnee, the cool and collected heir to the Schnee industry, and I can analyze my problems with strategic acumen befitting of a businesswoman like myself. And it's not as though I need to address this the moment I walk through that door. It's Blake we're talking about; I'll be spending the next four years with her.

As Weiss talked herself down, the fluttering ache in her heart gradually began to subside. If she took the time to observe Blake's behaviors and reactions, as well as her own, she would gain a better understanding of their standings relative to one another. Should things look promising…she could refine her future plans based on the specifics. Otherwise, it might all just be a big misunderstanding.

Perhaps she was just embarrassed by Ruby's insinuation. It's not as though I haven't locked eyes with Blake and stared her way for a moment or two in the past. I could be reading into this far deeper than it truly goes down.

I've been looking at this situation as though I'm Ruby or Yang, reacting viscerally and rushing forward headfirst with no forethought. I am neither of those two; I am Weiss Schnee. How would a Schnee react?

"Hey, Weiss," Blake said with a nod.

Weiss shut the door behind her.

"Let's go out on a date," Weiss said.

To hell with how a Schnee reacts. This is how Weiss reacts.

It was terrifying, to open herself up like this and be completely at Blake's mercy, but the two of them were all alone, meaning there were none of the judgmental eyes that Weiss typically cared about more than she should. And it was Blake here, her Blake. If she couldn't trust herself to be completely vulnerable with Blake, then there was no point in being a huntress. In being anything, really.

Blake stared at Weiss, her lip hanging down slightly. Weiss half expected her to drop the book she was reading, but she merely held onto it loosely.

"Forgive my phrasing," Weiss said, ignoring the crack in her voice at the first and last syllables in her sentence. "Would you like to go out on a date with me, Blake?"

"A…" Blake looked down at her chest, then back up at Weiss. "…a date?

Weiss nodded. Her own heart felt like it was about to rupture and instantly kill her, but she stood strong in front of her fellow Faunus.

"What, like a team outing? With Ruby?"

Weiss' heart might've dropped at the rejection if she didn't hear the fear in Blake's voice. It was the same fear that had nearly paralyzed Weiss just moments ago – fear of rejection, fear of ruining what they comfortably shared already, fear of losing her dearest friend's love.

But that's the reason I had to ask her directly. When I stepped back and analyzed the situation, I had to look inward and judge my own feelings, and they were all fairly clear. Perhaps I was ignorant before, but when Ruby accidentally dragged it into the limelight and made me think of Blake in a romantic context, it was too obvious to deny.

"No. A romantic date, between you and me. As girlfriends." Weiss cleared her throat. "If you'd have me."

Weiss waited as the seconds past while Blake merely acclimated to the fact that Weiss had chosen this path in spite of everything Blake knew about her suggesting she'd behave otherwise.

"H-Ha…Ha!" Blake's laugh was forced at first, then nervous. "G-Good one, Weiss…did Ruby put you up –"

Weiss smiled. "Blake."

She didn't need to say anything more to dispel the concerns of it all being a joke at Blake's expense. She'd gone through the same fears just moments ago and had ample time to sort out her feelings in solitude before passing through that door. Blake was now forced to do so on the fly, and Weiss would give her anything she needed to get through it, be that time or excuses.

"I…I…" Blake looked down. "…yes. I would."

Weiss nearly collapsed then and there. She hadn't known what to expect when she'd forced herself to go through with this, but she'd promised herself to respect Blake's choice no matter what outcome. This, though, was the best possible scenario.

"Would you like me to plan –"

"Yes," Blake said without hesitation this time. "I'll trust you with…everything."

Blake smiled and looked away, embarrassed. Weiss herself had to turn away as well, for she was far too overcome with joy to look in Blake's direction. The collective blush on the two girls probably contained more of the color red than Ruby's hood.

Weiss backed out the door, not trusting herself to contain her own emotions without some sort of barrier between them. As soon as she shut it, she buried her hands in her face and let out a muted squeal.

"Weiss?"

Weiss looked up to see that all of Team JNPR stood in their own doorway. Pyrrha was the one who had spoken.

"Are you alright?"

Straightening her back, Weiss replied. "I'm –"

Her voice was far higher pitched than usual, and she probably sounded like a shrieking monkey Faunus. Weiss cleared her through.

"I'm –"

The same pitiable squeak disrupted her words, and Weiss realized this was going nowhere. Instead, she chose to nod at the other hunters before making a break for the stairwell.

She…She said yes!

The full implications of Weiss' predicament began to set in as her initial state of panicked joy cleared up and made way for reason to return. Blake said yes, which meant that she harbored feelings for Weiss of some sort. They had spent their entire lives together, meaning that she had probably buried them as Weiss had or hidden them exquisitely well.

She was going to have to plan a date, but that was something she could handle. After all, Weiss had an immensely stable and successful relationship off of which to base her own, one where she could reach out to either participant and secure romantic advice at a moment's notice – her own parents.

HA! Could you even imagine?

No, she would just call the Belladonnas. She was sure they would –

Wait, I can't! Blake might not want to tell them. I-I mean, I don't think she would…but…well, it's her choice how she informs her parents.

It was no problem either way. Weiss knew enough about Kali and Ghira that she felt certain she could feasibly pretend to be requisitioning aid and matchmaking on behalf of someone else – perhaps Jaune and Pyrrha. And Klein was married – Weiss could ask him how he wooed his husband if she needed advice unique to same-sex relationships.

Blake had given her control of the plans, meaning that she could set the date's date at her leisure – a weekend would be best, as they wouldn't have time for it on a schoolnight, but it would ideally be this weekend. Pushing this entire affair off by two weeks would do neither girl any favors.

It's only Thursday, meaning I have time. Haste makes waste, and unlike jumping in headfirst by asking for Blake's hand, hurrying could actually backfire on me. Well, it could've backfired then too, but I imagine that if I didn't just make the plunge while my courage held, I would never have retained the strength of will necessary for it.

Having a team of three, even temporarily, made for an entirely different scholastic experience. It was only one person, but simply having both of her teammates at her side in any given class radically altered her sense of teamliness. She didn't have to lean forward to see one teammate hidden beyond another – all of them could stand in a very obtuse triangle formation when walking and be aware of one another's presence at all times.

Three is already reaching the point where you have a third wheel, and four just pushes it over the edge. It helps that we're not three strangers – it's Blake and me, and then that makes it us and Ruby.

Beacon was constructed more similarly to colleges and trades schools than primary or secondary schools, in that classes were scattered throughout the day with periods of rest and study scattered throughout. Their schedules also varied day to day – typically, Tuesdays and Thursdays were reserved for more practical laboratories or combat classes, whereas the Monday-Wednesday-Friday routine was limited to lectures.

The exception was Professor Goodwitch's combat class. Due to its high importance and the limited number of spars that could take place in their allotted time, it took place every single day.

Currently, Jaune Arc was being demolished by Cardin Winchester. As much as Weiss had wished to support him as a partner at the time, she was now almost relieved at not having had to be the one to train him up. Ruby may have been bumped a few years ahead, but at least she knew how to check her aura and to not scream whenever she charged forward in a 'surprise' attack.

Her wings were still recovering, but even if she'd fully recovered, Weiss knew better than to volunteer for a fight until things had at least calmed down. Goodwitch would inevitably protest if she did, and her opponent, whoever that may be, would probably feel uncomfortable at having to challenge Weiss with the memory of Yang's last fight still fresh.

Based on her experience in the past, Weiss expected that her aura would solve all problems that remained in regard to the broken bones in her wings by Monday, if even that late. As a child, both she and Whitley had frequently sustained injuries that came about from two Faunus children living in a home that was designed by humans for humans. For instance, Weiss had once attempted to climb a ladder in the library with her wings outstretched and only realized that the bookshelves were too close together for her to rotate her torso after she'd already knocked the heavy shelves onto herself.

One other time, Whitley had fallen asleep tightly wrapped up in his bedding. When he woke up suddenly to the noise of a fire alarm going off (Weiss may have been involved in causing that), he twisted with enough force to displace one of his more fragile bones. He'd actually had his aura unlocked after that incident, to speed up healing and ensure it never happened again. Of course, he'd gotten her back by rubbing stolen spices from the kitchen against her pads, causing her (and several members of the manor staff that had sticky fingers) great discomfort. Weiss had been bedridden for days, too impaired to even walk.

I really do despise that brat.

Come to think of it, perhaps one of the reasons Weiss appreciated this trio formation so much was because she had two siblings who she could barely stand. Blake and Ruby were her new partners, overwriting the unpleasant number of Schnee with two peers her own age or similar that genuinely cared about her.

Winter grew up with a Faunus sister all her life and chose to join the military, the last true bastion of discrimination in Atlas. When she does visit home, she can barely even look at my wings without cringing. And Whitley – I don't think I've ever had a single positive experience with him. Always trying his best to ruin me or one-up me; I can even recall a time when he explicitly asked if I would be leaving for the military when I came of age and being disinherited.

They were both far behind her in Atlas, as was the rest of Weiss' family. Her only true regret was having had to leave behind the few people up north that loved her – Klein, Kali, and a scant handful of other manor employees that acknowledge Weiss as a person and not a paycheck.

Weiss wished Blake luck as she was called up to do battle with a member of Team KRLL. It was nice that neither girl chose to make things weird by forcing themselves to change how they behaved around the other.

Even if we decide to break up, I still believe we're mature enough to resume our friendship. Though I can't imagine Blake doing anything break-up-worthy. I've known her for the majority of my life, and we get along great. I can forgive her for anything (I frequently have had to, given her proclivity for mischief) and there's nothing I could imagine her doing that would be unforgivable. Turning to drugs, cheating on me, toxic behavior – that just doesn't sound like Blake. There's no way she could be secretly keeping some deep dark personality flaw from me given how frequently we interact.

They'd probably spent less time together in this past week than any time they'd been together, though. It had a lot to do with the rigors of their classes and homework, but some of the blame also lay with the Rose sisters.

Perhaps not blame, but fault. I've had to spend a lot of time fixing a partnership that was broken from the start, but now that Ruby's on track, I should be able to devote more time to Blake.

It was then that all of the factors presently surrounding her – Goodwitch's combat class, Blake down in the ring, her thoughts about partnership with Ruby – that Weiss realized she'd deprived Blake of her own partner. Blake was alone…

Except she wasn't, not really. Truthfully, Weiss had never truly seen the divides that Ozpin's eye contact determined in her team. It had never felt like Weiss and Ruby vs Yang and Blake; aside from their own poor first day, Yang and Blake hadn't individually interacted whatsoever. Though, had they, Weiss wouldn't have been around to witness it.

She declared her hatred for Yang when my wings were broken, so I'll assume she's on my side and not bitter about being made single.

Weiss couldn't help but wince at the memory and how close she was to the location in which it had happened.

I need to get myself under control. A leader shows no fear. She must be above the rest, lest they see her as fallible.

I am fine. More than fine. I do not feel fear.

"Hey," whispered her red-streaked partner. "It's okay."

Weiss blinked, unaware of how Ruby was aware of her inner turmoil. The little girl pointed to Weiss' own right hand, which had involuntarily begun to stroke her feathers.

"You're gonna be okay, Weiss. They'll heal up soon, and you'll be back in that ring kickin' all sorts of butt in no time. Large butts, small butts, medium butts, XXL butts…you get the picture."

"I was merely scratching an itch."

"Sure." Ruby winked at her. "I won't tell."

"I'm not lying, Ruby," Weiss lied. "I wasn't perturbed, merely itchy."

Tapping her nose, Ruby turned back to the fights.

"R-Ruby!"

"Sorry, Weiss. I gotta listen to the teacher at all times – leader's orders."

As much as Weiss wanted to draw away Ruby's attention and correct this oversight, she was truly trapped by her own words. Any attempt to chat during class risked punishments like chidings or detentions, and there was also the risk of missing some important tip or pointer that Goodwitch offhandedly threw out to those who listened attentively.

I'll just have another talk with her after class.

After class, Weiss was cornered by Pyrrha Nikos before she even had a chance to corner Ruby

"Did you tell Jaune that you would train him?"

Weiss stared back at the golden-armored huntress in confusion. "What?"

"Did you say you would train Jaune?" Pyrrha repeated. Weiss couldn't decipher her stoic face – perhaps it was truly as serene as it appeared, or perhaps Pyrrha was just barely holding back her rage. The accusatory nature of her question and its timing implied the latter.

"I…I did during initiation, but then I recanted. You were there; I pushed him your way."

"Yes, but since then?"

"No," Weiss answered, shaking her head. "What gives you that idea?"

"Every time I offer to spar with him, he insists that I can't, and he has to be self-reliant. It makes him clam up like nothing else, but the one time I got him to admit why, he said it was because of you. Are you training him?"

"Oh, that." Weiss had nearly forgotten about their brief conversation. "We merely traded ideas on how to be leaders and shoulder the burden of it just before the day before last's combat class. He mentioned declining training, and I confirmed that it was the right choice."

Pyrrha looked at her with alarm. "What? Why? The day before…that was just when I thought I might've been getting through to him." The Invincible Girl put her hands to her forehead in what looked like despair. "Weiss, why would you say that?"

Because he mustn't look weak in front of you. And if I tell you more about his fears, that defeats the purpose.

"Our conversation was private," Weiss said, hoping she didn't sound too defensive. "I cannot betray Arc's confidence."

That earned her a glare, but Pyrrha didn't seem to have the anger necessary to maintain it for longer than a moment. "Okay, that's fair, but please, Weiss, I'm begging you. Don't tell Jaune he can't get help. Ren and Nora have spoken with me about it, and we all agree that we want to –"

"Wait a second," Weiss interrupted. "Hold on. You…You were having meetings with the rest of his team behind his back?"

"I…we…n-not like that?"

"Then what was it like?" Weiss practically hissed, forgetting that she'd once sought to impress Pyrrha. All that mattered to her in that moment was that a fellow leader, one she'd come to hold some professional regard for, was being conspiratorially undermined by his own partner. This could not stand.

"Well, our conversation was private," Pyrrha shot back, turning Weiss' words against her.

Weiss could've been mistaken for her home country for how frosty she grew. "Well, then. It appears that we have nothing further to say here. I bid you farewell, Nikos."

"Wait, Weiss, I didn't –"

It was too late. Weiss had already left the girl behind. She was a leader, and if this foreign subordinate couldn't understand that kind of responsibility, then that was her team's problem. She briefly considered warning Arc of this impending mini-mutiny before deciding against it; loathe as she was to admit it, Pyrrha had her own right to privacy, just as Jaune did. But if she chose to be snarky about it, Weiss owed her nothing.

Now, where's Ruby run off to?

"Weiss, you got a minute?"

A dismissal formed on her lips for a microsecond before Weiss' brain kicked in and recognized the voice as Blake's. "Of course."

"I wanted to have a word with you about something…something I heard."

Weiss tilted her head slightly. Blake had never been the type to endorse or legitimize rumors by paying them any mind.

"Someone…told me that you expressed some…unique ideas about leadership."

"Was it Pyrrha?" Weiss asked.

"No," Blake answered.

"Ruby, then."

"I…I can't disclose who it was. They came to me anonymously."

"Was it Jaune?"

"No."

"So it was Ruby."

Blake frowned. "I can't talk about who my source was."

Weiss couldn't help but smile slightly. "You can when it's not Ruby."

"Damn it," Blake sighed. "You're too smart for your own good, Schnee."

"I would never be so boastful as to call myself smart; I merely know you and your tells far too well."

Blake smiled back. "That's what I lo– like about you."

Weiss decided to just let that lie; she could leave such topics for their coming…eeeeeeh!…date. "Now, you mentioned leadership?"

"Yeah." Blake's smile flattened. "Ruby said you…crap. Oh well. Yeah, Ruby seems to think your being too tough all the time and not letting out your emotions when people are watching. She's worried about, and I quote, your 'toxic masculinity but with your girl body.'"

Weiss tried and failed to make sense of that. "Toxic…? Please translate to sane."

"She thinks you're afraid to show any weakness in front of the team because you're the leader."

Weiss scoffed. "I'm not afraid."

That didn't seem to be the answer Blake wanted. "Weiss…"

"I'm aware that you and I have open and honest communication, but at the same time, we're huntresses, not a company or something. Our responsibility is far greater. Decisions we make in the field will one day mean the difference between life and death for not only ourselves but those we protect. There will be times when I need absolute trust in my decisions, and visibly displaying weakness may erode that trust."

"I trust you," Blake said. "And so does Ruby."

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Does she? Does she trust me so absolutely that there's no chance she'll disobey me when I tell her to stand and fight against a horde of Grimm? Or when I tell her to leave me behind so that she may defend a village while I slow the enemy? Or, Gods forbid, I tell her to stay behind while I evacuate the village? It might not seem like much now, but if I continue to present myself as prone to flaws, she'll come to subconsciously view me as a fallible person."

Blake's lips smooshed together. "Weiss, I think you may be underestimating her. I hate to say it, but you are a little prone to that."

Weiss hated to say it too, but it was true: she did tend to assume the worst when it came to Ruby. And yet…

"It was because I flinched that Yang chose to keep pushing," Weiss pointed out. "She knew that she could bully me around, and she would still be doing so if Miss Goodwitch hadn't put her on the boundary of being expelled. If she respected me or my decisions, she might have never done so."

That made Blake pause. She wasn't convinced, but the memory of Weiss telling Yang to get lost and it taking the rest of the team to convince her to leave was still only a day old.

"If I give up my way and let myself show fear or anger or any other weakness in front of the team, I can never go back once. The image of my courage will always be ruined in their mind."

"I hate to break it to you, Weiss, but we've already both seen you at your worst," Blake said, clearly distressed at the turn this conversation was taking. "I'm not trying to tell you how to lead, but if you think you can go throughout Beacon or the rest of your life without showing any weakness, I think you're asking too much of yourself."

Weiss bit her lip. Blake had her there – her spar-turned-beatdown with Yang had broken the image of Weiss as a leader beyond reproach.

No. It was when I chose to berate a literal child because I couldn't restrain my own temper that I did so.

"I…I don't know how else to lead," Weiss admitted.

"Just trust us. We'll do the same to you, I promise." Blake gave Weiss a mock military salute. "Supreme Leader."

It wasn't what Weiss wanted, but it was what Weiss would need to do to adapt. The best leader she knew was…

Oh, this sickens me to even think it.

…the best leader was her father. Not because of any strength of character, but because for her or profit or whatever reason it had been, he'd seen the winds changing and decided to adjust his sails to ride with them rather than against them. He was a reprehensible rat of a man, but there was no doubt that the SDC was simultaneously the most profitable company in the world and now an undisputed bulwark of the civil rights movement. The very notion of it falling apart was unthinkable – Weiss knew that Faunus (those who'd never met Jacques personally) worshipped him as some sort of second coming of King Oswald. They would probably keep mining even if he went bankrupt and couldn't pay them.

He adapted so adeptly that he left the rest of his world behind before it collapsed. My own team is already on the brink of crumbling. I need to start changing myself to fit within the new politics and social structures forming around me.

She'd been closing her ears due to stubbornness, but when everyone around her was asking her to make a change – Pyrrha, Ruby, even Blake – that meant it was the necessary thing to do. Even if it wasn't right, it was what Weiss would need to do to survive.

Next Chapter: The Day Before the Date

In which Weiss Schnee must take responsibility for the problems she's caused.

Author's Notes

Weiss x Blake was promised, and Weiss x Blake shall be delivered.

One of my least favorite things in fanfiction is seeing self-inserts who overcome the protagonists challenges and shortcomings with ease. Thus, I tried to avoid this by having a lore reason why Weiss would learn to get over herself early on. I think I've introduced plenty of new failures for Weiss to content with, preventing us from encroaching into Mary Sue territory, but Weiss and Jaune's shared belief that leaders must stand alone won't last all that long.

Happy rats, and don't do crime!