Growing Pains
The biting, bitter wind whipped past her face as she sat at the edge of the dorm's roof. Her feet dangled into the empty void before her as she gazed out at Beacon's grounds, watching the other students as they wandered the grounds and gardens, no doubt enjoying the fading rays of another day's end. She was so many stories up the other students would probably look like ants to her teammates, and a strong wind liable to knock her off her perch with little warning, yet she couldn't find a reason to care about anything other than the wind making an absolute mess of her hair.
We are quite used to the first rocky week as you get used to the slightly more freeform life within these walls.
She let out a small scoff as she thought back on the words Glynda had spoken not three weeks prior. Freeform, as it had turned out, was just a fancy word for chaotic.
Chaotic, and loud, and so much more frustrating than anything Atlas had put her through.
If she had thought acclimatizing to her teammates would be difficult, then figuring out how to deal with the sudden onslaught of constant change that Beacon's schooling presented, was a down right nightmare. One she regularly failed to handle.
Whereas her tutors and classes had an underlying sense of uniformity, discipline, and stability, Beacon seemed to prescribe to the much less elegant, school of hard knocks approach to teaching. Each day had a different set of classes, each class starting at a different set of times. Each time had a different professor, and each professor had a different style of teaching. Even the week-to-week schedule seemed to change, as unplanned or announced trips to the Emerald forest and sparring sessions began, throwing any sense of stability completely out the window, where it shattered into a million pieces on the bricks far below.
A heavy sigh misted the air in front of her, as she rested her elbows on her knees. About the only good news, if it could even be called that, was her father ignoring her call to him that week on account of a mine collapsing.
Her own failures not quite stacking up to the PR disaster that now faced the SDC once more. Who was she kidding though? It was only a matter of time until she stacked up. Almost every moment in her first weeks could be considered a complete failure. She was a complete failure. She knew practically nothing about her teammates outside of their names and work habits despite living with them for three whole weeks- not that she was all too forthcoming with their attempts to get to know her. An icy mask of indifference might ensure that no one outside of her team ever got physically close enough for her to worry, but at what cost?
What had it cost her in understanding that had her now sitting there on the edge. More alone than she had ever felt in weeks…
Earlier that day…
"But alas, many still question why it took thirty five whole years, an unprecedented revolution, and countless other conflicts to finally pen what would become the single most important document in Remnants history. Does anyone know which document I am referring to?"
"Of course, we only learned about it back in grade school."
"I am aware most of this is a review for you Mister Winchester, however for others it may not be, and it is important we all have a firm grasp of how we ended up here before second year."
Weiss shot up as Ooblecks harsh words dragged her back into the waking world, her gaze snapping up and back to the professor as he took a sip from his mug.
"Come second year you and Professor Leoux will be delving deep into the tremulous world of legal doctrine and when he does, rest assured will look back on these days fondly as I have. However, enough reminiscing, does anyone know the actual answer."
"The Remnants Universal Rights act of AGW thirty five." She blinked as her voice cut through the silence of the classroom, earning a scattered collection of grumbles from various other first years who had their hand up.
"Correct Miss Schnee." Oobleck smiled as he turned and practically seemed to teleport to the white board, the words appearing a fraction of a second later. "The one and only universal document in existence. Its importance can not be understated, nor the effect it has had-"
The sound of the class bell chiming cut the professor off as he turned back and addressed the students who had instantly leapt to their feet.
"Which we will discuss tomorrow. Please read pages twenty through twenty five in preparation, thank you and good night."
Weiss slid her text into her bag and stood, stretching her shoulders back slowly, the binding digging into her tight shoulders, while she waited for Ruby, Yang and Blake to all finish jotting down in their notes to complete the assigned reading, before haphazardly shoving their text book into their respective bags.
All three followed behind her as she led them out of the classroom. The hallways alight with small groups of people and students hurrying back to their dorms.
The end of class for the day, Weiss let out a deep breath as she followed the long since memorized path to the cafeteria, worming her way through the hallway with much more grace than the first few days. The routine of getting their meals after class was wonderfully well established. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the very least she could count on those three things to remain mostly untouched day to day, along with the food being somewhat palatable. Not nearly as varied or delectable as the meals at the manor, but not so off putting she would never be able to get used to it.
What she would never get used to however, was how loud the cafeteria always was, something both Yang and Ruby seemed immune to. Thankfully she had caught Blake covering her own ears a few times, at least she was not alone in that particular frustration, something Ruby and Yang must have noticed as well, given they often found seating near the edges of the room, away from the more rambunctious tables.
The hot chicken pot pie earned a content hum from her as she took her first bite, the world snapping back into focus as she looked down the table at her three teammates, animatedly chatting with Team JNRP, one of the more promising first year teams…
Weiss cocked her head as she took another bite of her meal, trying desperately to catch up on the conversation. More and more it felt like she was floating through the days. Going through the motions, following her teammates steps-
"I just can't believe him sometimes!" Nora's brash voice cut through her thoughts as the orange haired girl threw her hands up. "Like who does he think he is?!"
"He thinks he's a noble," Blake didn't even look up from her book as she spoke, deftly taking a bite from her meal before she continued. "Old money families like his are all like that. They think they are above it all. Winchesters, Corsica's, Sch- Marigold's…"
"I guess," Ruby agreed, poking the peas out of her pie. "And at least Glynda handled it quickly; Coco looked soooo angry…."
"She probably sees enough of it to know," Yang frowned, quickly polishing off her portion before motioning with her head towards one of the second year tables. "But hey, he's in detention and they're eating dinner. Win win right?"
Weiss glanced over in the direction Yang had gestured, spying a rabbit Faunus happily polishing off her third helping of pie. Her teammates, all smiling and laughing around her, her ears on full display as she placed her plate down and pulled the two fuzzy appendages down to cover her eyes, an embarrassed blush spreading across her face… Father would have had her reprimanded instantly for such behavior at the manor. Her ears, no doubt hidden beneath a hat, or some manner of head piece… such was the blessing of a smaller trait like hers. So easy to-
"Weiss?" Phyrrha waved a hand in front of her face, snapping her attention away from the second year table.
"Hm?" She quickly glanced back down the table, noting most people now looking at her. "Yes?"
"Are you alright?" Pyrhhra cocked her head to the side, her red hair pooling to the side as she took in Weiss' expressions with an inquisitive look. "You seemed quite upset for a moment."
"I'm fine. Thank you." Weiss took a moment to take a bite of her meal, glancing down the table at the various eyes on her. "A change of topic however would be much appreciated."
"Mm," Phyrrha nodded as she glanced down at the table. "That's quite alright. I can only imagine it's been quite the adjustment coming from Atlas-"
"Wait wait, you're from Atlas?" Nora leaned over the table to look down at her. "As in like Atlas Atlas? Not… Mantle Atlas?"
Weiss politely dabbed her mouth, before she pushed her meal a little more away from herself. "Yes. My family owns the Schnee Dust Com-"
"The SDC?!" Nora's shout drew a number of heads as she lit up, practically jumping onto the table to get closer to her. "Oh my gosh! Okay. So. Could you saaaaaay I don't know, getmeadiscount? Cause I don't know if you saw during initiation but I use a lot of dust and Ren and I are kinda sorta here on scholarship sooooo we don't really have a whole lot of Lien kicking around…"
The verbal bombardment slowly tapered off as Ren quietly pulled Nora back into her seat before sending an apologetic smile down the table. "I believe what Nora was trying to ask, is what was Atlas like."
"I…" Weiss bit her lip as she glanced down the table sheepishly. "I may not be the best person to ask. I spent most of my time in our manor-"
"You have a manor?!" Nora's eyes couldn't possibly get any larger as she stared at Weiss practically gobsmacked. "Like a big house with lots of servants?"
Weiss smiled as she took in the wide eyed wonder, trying to recall as many details as possible. "It is quite spacious, yes. We have an indoor garden and ballroom, and a number of servants. Not as many as we should have, but my father had security concerns, and as the saying goes, Gute hilfe ist schwer zu finden."
"I have no idea what that means but it sounds so cool!"
"It's a saying." Blakes clipped tone cut through the conversation, her eyes boring into Weiss from down the table. "Good help is hard to find. I just hope you treat your help better than your company treats its workers."
"Of course I-!" Weiss cut herself off as she glanced down the table, watching as Nora's expression dulled, Ruby and Yang nervously finishing their meal while Blakes impassive gaze never wavered. "I can assure you Blake, their quality of life was drastically improved under our employ."
"Because you pulled them up from Mantel?"
"Originally yes, however due to security concerns we had to-"
"How many were Faunus?"
"I don't-" Weiss shook her head as she tried to think back. "I'm not sure- Their uniforms were designed to cover their traits-"
"Mm fascinating," Blake hummed as she stood and closed her book, grabbing her bag as she did. "Almost fascinating enough for me to stay, but I think I'll leave you all to it."
The table remained uncomfortably quiet as she left, Jaune and Pyrhha sharing a look, Nora and Ren whispering between each other, while Yang and Ruby nervously glanced down at her.
"What?"
"Their uniforms? They were designed to…" Yang awkwardly gestured towards the second year Faunus. "Do you not see the issue Weiss?"
"No?" She cocked her head, glancing at each one of them as their expressions all changed at the single work, panic working its way into her mind. "I- We hosted a number of high profile events at the manor. Their uniforms helped keep them from garnering unwanted attention."
The explanation did little to sooth the tension that was not almost palpable, all of the other occupants now sharing a number of worried glances that had Weiss' own stomach turning in knots.
"...It was for their own protection…"
Her words if anything only further exasperated the rift that had suddenly opened up between her and the table occupants. Only Nora and Ren were able to hold her gaze for longer than a scant second. Both looking at her with a mixture of understanding and… pity…
The emotion stoking the fire in her, anger burning the discomfort and shame to cinders as she stood and grabbed her bag, barely sparing any of them more than a nod before she left the table and stormed out of the cafeteria. Her feet were already set on the path to the one place she knew she could find some measure of reprieve.
Stairs blurring with the hallways until she finally pushed the metal door open and took a deep breath of the cool evening air. Feet carrying her to the edge where she now sat, mentally slapping herself.
She had been so stupid. Absolutely blithering stupid to speak on such matters at a table of people who likely had no experience in her world. Blake had baited her and she had fallen head first, with no one but herself to blame.
Of course they wouldn't understand. None of them knew her, knew the risks she faced, or what the nobility of Atlas could be like- The ruthlessness… She knew better than this. She was better than this…
There were just so many things- emotions and situations she had never experienced. So many things she didn't even realize were uncommon… All these things she had to learn, topics to skirt around: all condensed into such a short period of time. It was unfair.
Not to mention getting used to being around other girls her age, being around people who didn't know or even care about her family name, her constant wing cramps, molting from the tighter harness- it felt like she was locked into a never-ending spiral of chaos… and it was all so, so… draining…
She kicked the empty air, wishing there was something solid to strike.
Meanwhile her teammates all seemed to thrive under this strange style of tutelage; clearing past training sims, making friends with the other first year teams, all while still having time to goof off and make her life that much more stressful…
She was a failure in every respect.
Easily ranked as the weakest member on the team. Her academic grades would barely be considered passable even for her normal standards, combat scores were somehow even worse than that, the tighter binding did everything in its power to suffocate her every chance it got, and now, as if things could not possibly be more impossible, everyone no doubt thought she was just as bad as Cardin…
Now here she was. Running away to the roof tops. Hidden away from the chaos and clamor of her teammates, relishing in the cool evening winds and vertigo-inducing heights the rooftop offered her… and the harness at its loosest settings…
Her father would kill her if he knew what she was doing… but she needed this. Needed to breathe. Keep the problematic part of her stated and docile. She didn't have the time or energy to spare fighting against her instincts right now… It vexed her how much she needed the break, how desperately she fed the animal that she should be starving to keep it locked up.
Seventeen years long years, and she still hadn't rid herself of the barbaric urges. Her wings still flared up and strained pointlessly against the bindings. She still caught herself daydreaming reaching out and touching the horizons despite knowing full well they were nothing but wishful thoughts of a future she would never have. It honestly hurt to even sit on the edge, to entertain the mere idea, and yet she still found herself climbing the stairs, time and time again.
"Was machst du…" Weiss muttered as the sun dipped fully below the horizon, blanketing the grounds in darkness that her eyes, only further aided by the glasses so easily cut through.
She didn't have time to sit there, moping. She was failing in quite literally every category her father had set out for her, with her first meeting with Glynda at the end of the week no less. Lord only knew what she would have to say about all this…
Her wings tried to ruffle themselves at the thought.
It would be nothing good no doubt- especially after all of her and Ozpin's quite shrewd work in keeping her father placated was for not. Not when she found out at the rate she was currently going, no amount of rule bending was going to keep him from branding the whole experiment a failure, pulling her from Beacon, and flying her straight home-
No. Weiss shook her head adamantly to the open sky. She would figure it out. Work even harder. Make good on their hard work. It didn't matter that she was already exhausted. That she could barely stay awake in history some days. She just needed to keep pushing. Nothing else mattered. Keep moving forwards, no matter the costs.
Her scroll chimed twice. Her reminder to not linger too long. Besides, it was getting late… Ruby and Yang would no doubt be returning from whatever antics they got up to with JNPR after she left. She had best be there to greet them.
She had an image to uphold after all, and father would not be pleased if he caught wind of her antics. She was Weiss Schnee. Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company. She was not an animal. She did not hide.
With a resigned sigh, Weiss stood and tightened the harness once more, before stretching her arms high into the sky and letting them drop to her side. She winced as the bindings clamped down even more on a particularly raw joint of her freshly plucked wings. The small measure of ice dust she had used on the bathroom door handle that morning had barely been enough to keep the obnoxious blonde brute from bargaining in… Something she would need to account for in the future.
"So viel Spaß…" Weiss shook her head as she let the heavy metal door slam shut behind her, the boom echoing off the walls of the empty stairwell. She had more important things to worry about, yet here she was. Wasting time thinking about things she would have never needed to at the manor…
Was this what Klien and her sister had been talking about? Was this the great mystery? The thing she would learn? All the inconveniences students had to face on a day to day basis? She let out a small chuckle as she walked down the hallway to her shared dorm, pulling out her scroll and placing it against the lock. It would be quite amusing if it was. Another disappointment to be added to the list… right beside her own name...
She let out a quiet sigh and shoe'd the intrusive thought into the back of her mind as she opened the door to a black room. The curtains drawn, lights off, with only a slip of moon light illuminating the room, and not one of her teammates to be seen.
Perfect.
Weiss smiled as she stepped in and let the door close behind her, reaching down to undo her boots before placing them by the doorway. There was something about night that made her feel at ease, something about the darkness that felt right. She didn't get to indulge in it as often as she liked, but she would take these moments she could, padding quietly over to her desk.
The sound of a page turning broke the silence as she moved- Weiss stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes scanning the room for signs of movement, signs of an intruder… her hands preparing a series of glyphs behind her back until her eyes finally found the source of the sound, locking with the brilliant amber orbs of her equally reclusive teammate.
Blake sat curled up in the corner of her bed, a blanket haphazardly wrapped around her. A small number of books lay scattered around her, one book even precariously perched on her knee as she cocked her head to the side and blinked at Weiss as she spoke.
"Good evening."
Weiss quickly dropped her hands with an amused huff before she shook her head. God she was paranoid, acting like an intruder was hiding in her room, waiting for her to turn her back to them so they could tear her throat out… She knew better. Terrorists had no need to get close. They could end you with the push of a button…
"What's so funny?" Blake's sharp voice quickly pulled Weiss out from her own museing. Her inquisitive eyes followed her as she took a few more steps and turned the light on her desk on, illuminating the room in a soft yellow glow.
"Nothing," Weiss replied easily as she pulled out her desk chair and sat, she refused to be baited by Blake twice in a single day. "Merely amused at the absurdity of my own thoughts."
"Mm," Blakes eyes flashed as she closed her book. It was almost impressive how small she could make herself, the way the shadows of the room almost seemed to pool around her- shrouding her in. It was little wonder she had been missed the first time around. Without the sound of her book, Weiss doubted she would have ever noticed her at all. "A Lien for your absurd thoughts?"
"And cut into your precious reading time?" Weiss rolled her eyes as she pulled out the large history text Oobleck demanded they use. "I wouldn't dare."
Blakes laughter drew her attention away from the text once more, earning an irritated huff as she turned in her chair towards her. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Blake smirked as she spoke. "Merely amused at how deftly you avoid talking. Did they teach you that in Atlas?"
"Yes," Weiss curtly replied, her mind already hard at work examining all the angles she could be playing at. "And I think we have talked enough for today."
"You're angry," Blake almost seemed to preen, her shoulders rolling as she moved the blanket off and slowly slipped to sit at the edge of the bed. "Did our conversation at dinner strike a cord?"
"It's nothing-"
"You haven't heard before. I know." Blake cocked her head as she spoke, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "You have been quite adept at avoiding those types of conversations, avoiding talking about yourself… and your family."
"Oh please," Weiss rolled her eyes as dramatically as she could as she scoffed. "Like your one to talk, little miss tall, dark and brooding."
"I have my reasons-"
"And I have mine, as you well know." Weiss smirked as she cut her off, relishing in the flicker of irritation that flashed across Blakes brow. "So why don't we cut to the chase. You want to know something so just-"
"I want to know if I can trust you."
Weiss cocked an eyebrow at her as she slowly closed the history text and turned to face her completely. "We have slept in the same room for the past week Blake."
"I know," Blake said as she shifted uneasily back and forth. "And I know I can trust Ruby and Yang. They are everything I hoped to find here and more. But you? Your..."
"Let me guess. A Schnee?" Weiss huffed, rolling her eyes yet again as she prepared to turn back to her text book.
"Different."
"Yes. And?" Weiss shrugged as she fully turned back to her text. "We are here to learn how to fight Grimm, monsters of darkness-"
"Together." Blake cut her off as she stood. "We are here to learn how to fight Grimm together. As a team."
"Yes?" Weiss furrowed her brow as she glanced back at her teammate, watching how she nervously messaging her palm, glancing back and forth between the floor and her. "That is generally what team means."
"And you're part of this team Weiss."
"That's what Opzin said at the ceremony." Weiss shook her head as she watched Blake continue to speak, her mannerisms all screamed she was preparing to say something and yet she just never seemed to build up the courage. "Honestly you're sounding like Ruby…"
"Because she's right!" Blake spun on her words harsh and full of emotions she couldn't fully comprehend. "We are risking our lives Weiss! I need to know I can trust you to be there! To have my back!"
The words cut through any confusion with icy efficiency, eliciting a tight grimace from Weiss as she leaned back in her seat with a bitter sigh. She should have known her father wouldn't be the only one who noticed…
"I know," She watched Blakes tense shoulders relax as she listened. "I've been struggling, but you don't have to worry. I'll do better. I won't slow you three down- This first week has just been a bit of a jarring transition-"
"That's not-!" Blake cut her off with an exasperated growl as she clenched her hands together and took a step towards her. "I'm not worried about your abilities Weiss! Your family has enough Lien to afford the best!"
Weiss blinked, confusion muddying her thoughts as she tried to put the pieces together in her mind. "Then what-?"
Blake let out a deep breath before looking her directly in the eyes.
"What do you think about the Faunus?"
All at once she was back in the manor, Whitley watching intently at her as he asked the same question. Her wings flaring at the surge of emotion that coursed through her, a pained hiss failing to escape her… she had at least learned how to hide that over the years…
"Why? Was our little chat at dinner not enough?" Weiss bitterly spat as she glared over at her teammate. Blake however didn't rise to the bait, her gaze steady as she waited for a proper response.
"Fine. I have no strong feelings towards them so long as they follow the same rules and jump through the same hoops as the rest of us." The well rehearsed statement fell from her lips with ease, but Blake remained rooted in front of her, eyes flashing in the lamp light as she reached up to grip her arm once more. "Was that not the answer you were hoping for?"
"It was quite… pragmatic…"
"Well what did you expect? We have talked maybe three times since initiation. We know practically nothing about each other…" A quiet huff escaped Weiss as she rolled her eyes. "This isn't like your book's Blake. Trust goes both ways."
The words seemed to steel some measure of resolve in Blake as she nodded at her, the clipped motion elicited a feeling of inevitability as she took a step back from her and reached up to her hair. Gently untying the bow that had been a permanent part of her outfit since Weiss had first met her. Pulling the silken band until it came free and slowly floated to the ground. "Alright. This is me trusting you Weiss."
Blake's eyes locked to the floor boards as she gripped her own arm tightly, silence blanketing the room in a heavy, almost oppressive hold as from her hair slowly poked up two small fuzzy appendages.
A low buzzing filled Weiss' ears as she sat stock still, wetting her lips as she took in fully the two small cat ears that sat twitching on her teammates head. Her faunus teammates head.
Neither of them said a word. Blake opened and closed her mouth several times as she seemed to try and find the right words, but eventually just gave up and bowed her head, her ears flattening as well.
Weiss could scarcely breathe let alone speak, her eyes darting between the door and the two small ears, a chill rushing up her spine, her heart rate spiked with each passing second, the dorm room walls slowly creeping closer and closer as the silence of the room suffocated the two of them, dragging them deeper and deeper-
She clenched her hand and drove her nails into her palm. Hard. Hot familiar pain seared through her a moment later, tearing her eyes from Blake's ears- the breath she had been holding let out with a small gasp, the walls creeping closer no more.
Blakes eyes flicked up to her's, a mixture of curiosity and worry mingled with the millions of other emotions that swirled in her opal irises, watching intently as she walked towards her, and gently picked up the bow from the ground.
The silk band was impossibly light in her hand. The single piece of cloth, all it took to hide Blake away from the world… Her hand tightened around the silk, hot anger cutting past the shock and fear that had kept her silent.
"A dramatic reveal..." Weiss shook her head, anger nipping at her words. "Now remind me, is this the part where I throw myself to the floor, and beg for your forgiveness? Or should I wait for you to further reveal yourself as an assassin coming to kill me?"
"An assassin?" A bitter, barked laugh left Blake as she shook her head, disbelief clinging to every movement. "Of course I'm suddenly a villain. You're a Schnee, I-I don't know why I expected anything different."
"That's not-!"
"No!" Blake cut her off, taking an angry step towards her. "This is exactly why I was so reluctant to show you! For weeks we have been sleeping in the same room, going to the same classes, and yet the instant you saw my ears you panicked. I saw you looking for an escape, looking at me like- like I'm suddenly a threat!"
"Well excuse me for taking my own safety seriously-!"
"Your safety?! We're in a school of trained huntsmen and huntresses Weiss! What about mine?! What about Velvets?! Are we just supposed to hide like one of your servants to feel safe?! Or do we not count as people?!"
"That's not what I said!"
Blake took another step towards her, fists clenched at her sides as she did. "You didn't need to! Why do you think the White Fang even exists Weiss?! It's because of people like Cardin and Russo! People like your father… people like you!"
"I am nothing like my father-!"
Blake took a final step forwards, the two of them barely a foot apart forcing Weiss to crane her neck to meet the angry glare of her taller teammate as she spoke. "The only difference between you two, is you at least had the decency to try and hide your views when we first met!"
Anger swept through her as Blake bore down on her, hot blood pounding in her ears as every part of her screamed out to lash out, her mind already picking apart every syllable Blake had spoken, tearing it down to the bone-
The two small tufts perked up, Weiss' gaze drawn instantly to the movement as the appendages turned towards the doorway, Blakes anger replaced by worry as she glanced down at the ribbon still gripped tightly in Weiss' hand.
A part of her wanted to keep it. To watch her panic and squirm…Like her father had done so many times to her…
Weiss held out the ribbon towards her, their eyes locking for a fraction of a second before Blake took it, retying the bow around her ears with quick deft movements. A loud laugh outside the doorway echoed out a moment later, both of them turned just in time to see the dorm room door slide open, and the dorm lights flick on-
Yang and Ruby stopped instantly in the doorway, a number of voices behind them echoing out- likely Pyrrha, or Nora asking why they stopped as the two of them locked eyes with Weiss, then glanced over to Blake before flicking back to Weiss. The tension, almost palpable in the room…
"Oh!" Ruby squeaked out before she and Yang both shoved everyone back and slid the door shut. Her muffled yell came through a moment later "Sorry! Didn't know you two were- uh…"
Weiss hesitated for a fraction of a second before she pushed past Blake, bowing her head politely, hands clasped in front of her as she gestured for everyone to enter. "It's quite alright, we were simply talking."
"Oh no, it is no issue at all Weiss," Pyrrha smiled as glanced at the rest of her teammates. "We should really get back to our dorm anyways. It's getting a bit late."
"Huh? I thought you and Ruby-'' Jaune asked as glanced between them all before finally seeming to catch onto what was going on and scrambling to nod along. "I mean… Oh right! Yah! Totally. Really late. Classes tomorrow. All that."
"Oh yah! Toooootally lost track of time there. Sorry for bargaining in Blakie!" Nora yelled into the open doorway as she spun and marched away from the group, dragging Ren with her.
"Have a lovely evening then." Weiss stepped back from the doorway with a small bow of her head as the rest of JNPR shared a few choice looks amongst themselves before they all turned and zipped across the hall to their dorm room, the door hastily closing a moment later.
"Sooo," Yang's awkward drawl had Weiss closing their own door and turning to the rest of her teammates, the awkward tension from earlier, still very much present. "I guess you could say… the cats out of the-"
"Yang!" Ruby's wide eyed horror as she slammed a hand over Yang's mouth frantically glancing between Blake and her with an awkward laugh. "She uh… what my dear sister meant is- it kinda sorta seems like you know that Blake doesn't actually have a bow? She has little kitty ears and they're actually kind of cute…"
Ruby's voice petered off as Weiss crossed her arms and stared the three of them down, waiting patiently for her partner's senseless babbling to cease before she finally stepped further into the room, ignoring the sisters and locking her eyes on Blake.
"You're keeping this a secret from JNPR?"
The question seemed to catch the Faunus off guard, as she frantically blinked and shook her head before replying. "I would like to."
"Very well." Weiss cut her off with a wave, walking briskly back to her desk and grabbing her textbook, poignant ensuring her eyes remained glued to the task. "Then there is nothing more to discuss."
"Wait… You don't care that she's a Faunus?" Yang's voice this time. Confusion and disbelief all to clear in her tone… Of course. Blake had probably told them all about her family and company. Why would they ever believe her?
"I never said that," Weiss replied hotly, pushing the book into her bag, not daring to look at any of them as she did. "I said there is nothing more to discuss."
"But your- You…"
Weiss snapped up and turned towards all three of them, her eyes drilling into Blake. "You intend to keep them covered?"
She stood with her bag, watching Blake as the brief flash of anger at the question gave way to a reluctant nod. "Other than in the room- keeping them tied down is really uncomfortable-"
"And risk someone walking in?" Weiss cut in as she glanced towards Blake, watching the bow twitch as she spoke. How had she been so blind...
"We can just make sure to lock the door," Yang said with a small shrug. "It's not that big of a deal right?"
"Right." Ruby nodded beside her.
Weiss remained silent, her eyes fixed on the bow, watching each wayward movement, each errant twitch as the silence stretched on and on.
A hand waved in front of her eyes, dragging her gaze towards the sisters, Ruby looking at her with an indiscernible expression as she slowly brought her hand down and spoke. "Right Weiss?"
How many times had she petitioned her father… how long had it been since she had been forbidden to even remove her bindings in her own room? The bathroom, the only place she could ever remove them without fear, and only because she needed to keep them clean.
"Weiss…" Yang narrowed her gaze at her as she spoke. "Do you want her to keep them hidden?"
"I…" Weiss let out a small breath as she turned away from her three teammates, knowing full well the response she was about to receive, a low buzz filling her mind once more. "Yes."
"Weiss!" Ruby's shocked gasp was jarring. The subsequent gasps and reactions she could hear from Yang just as much… No doubt both sisters would be looking at her with the same animosity Blake had. Seeing her as the monster the media portrayed them as, nothing but the embroidered symbol of her family on her jacket staring back at them.
"What the hell Weiss!"
"You asked."
"I waited to judge you…"
"No. You didn't."
"What is wrong with you!?"
"Nothing."
"Weiss…"
The angry words drowned out the heavy buzzing that slowly filled her head. Her wings pushed back endlessly against the bindings as she waited for their anger to taper off. Restlessness seeped into her bones as she waited for her teammates to have their fill.
No one had the energy to attack forever. Her father had taught her that. He had taught her a lot of things now that she thought about it. A decade of training, and reminders, drilled into her to the point she didn't even need to think. She could sit back and watch from over her own shoulder. Let her mind wander. Her training would take care of her. It always did…
Perhaps that was why she had been failing so much. She had been ignoring her training, ignoring who she was. Who she really was. She was Weiss Schnee. She was above all this. She didn't need to explain herself. Didn't need to justify things that were beyond those three's-
The world snapped back into focus as her bag impacted the floor with a muffled thud, the hard tiled floor of the locker room echoing each step she took. Her hands gripped the edge of one of the sinks, her knuckles white and nails bending, but she held on all the same. Dragging herself back into her own head and pushing back against the noise.
It took longer than usual, but eventually the incessant buzz in her ear subsided, and her eyes were dragged up to her own reflection, with a scoff. She refused to accept the mess of a woman looking back at her. No tears, those were far beyond her, but exhaustion could be seen clinging to her eyes. Flyaways a plenty, even her bun slightly off center. A pained grimace on her lips as her wings continued to press against the harness. It had been weeks since she had given them any attention aside from washing and plucking. The appendages kept constantly bound at all other times…
A tired sigh echoed off the locker room walls as she walked over to the door and locked it. No one would be coming in, not at this hour anyways, but then when had doing the bare minimum ever got her anywhere? Besides, it wasn't like she could simply remove a bow and be done with it. She didn't have that sort of luxury like Blake or Velvet…
Her heavy jacket peeled off and folded, the embroidered symbol preserved. The glasses next, placed carefully beside it on the change bench. Her blouse and over shirt, and finally her harness. First loosened, then methodically removed, and laid over the bench with the rest of her folded uniform as her wings slowly unfolded from their bound state, blood rushing into them as she stood and looked towards the locker room mirrors once more.
Her pale skin displayed in excruciating detail the mess of red lines that littered her shoulders and chest from the harness. Her aura would heal those over night, but her wings… they were worse than ever. The new harness pinned them down like nothing she had worn before, cutting off circulation, so many of the delicate joints she could barely even move despite being unbound.
Weiss rolled her arm slowly, trying to help bring some feeling back into the tips. Normally the warm water of a shower helped to loosen them enough that it wasn't a problem-
A pained hiss filled the locker room as a cramp seized her entire shoulder, driving the breath from her as she collapsed onto the change bench, knocking aside the harness. The muscles on her back felt like they were tearing themselves apart as she reached up to grip her shoulder and squeezed, digging her fingers deep into the knotted mass, seeking some measure of relief.
A chuckle almost escaped her, cut off as the cramp forced the chuckle into a pained whine.
It had been expected that no one in the manor would care about her. So many of the servants were driven away by the crushing cold and loneliness that ever the very place itself exuded. Now though, she was in a new school, surrounded by hundreds of students and faculty members who knew almost nothing about her… So much had changed, and yet, here she was. Still hidden away in the bathroom, feeling more alone than ever.
It was ironic. Cruel, but ironic.
Much like the little black bow that sat atop Blakes head. A now constant reminder of everything she could never be. Everything she dreamed of-
Weiss gripped her shoulder even tighter, her nails biting into her skin. Pain silencing the foolish thoughts.
There was nothing to dream of. Nothing to think about. She would cut off her wings come winter break, and remove the final obstacle between her and her future. Becoming the perfect heiress. Taking over the SDC. Just like her fath… she… wanted.
And no one would be the wiser.