Disclaimer: Don't own either Rwby or Type Moon. So enjoy or don't
Chapter 63: Reunions and Reflections
Disembarking from the airship, Weiss Schnee traversed the frostbitten expanse of Atlas Academy's courtyard, her week at the Schnee mansion lingering like a ghost in her thoughts. The crystalline sunlight, reflected off the snow-draped surroundings, offered a serene counterpoint to her emotional turmoil. Each step crunched against the snow beneath her heels, a rhythmic reminder of her return to a place she had come to see as home, yet now approached with an air of hesitation. Clutching her luggage, she straightened her posture, a visible act of composure, and made her way toward the dormitory she shared with Team RWBY and JNPR.
Standing at the threshold of the dormitory, Weiss hesitated. The doorknob felt cold beneath her fingers, a stark contrast to the warmth of her gloves, as she inhaled deeply, bracing herself for the energy of her teammates. Her mind replayed imagined scenarios—excited greetings, exasperated quips, or perhaps pointed inquiries about her time away. Yet, upon entering, she was met with a tranquil scene that dissolved her preconceptions in an instant. Blake sat cross-legged on her bed, immersed in a novel, her ebony hair spilling across her shoulders in soft waves that caught the light streaming through the window.
Blake glanced up at the sound of the door. Her amber gaze softened as she closed her book with deliberate grace, her posture shifting as if in anticipation of Weiss's words. "Welcome back, Weiss," she said, her voice carrying a warmth that was understated yet sincere.
Setting her bags by her bed, Weiss exhaled, the sigh laden with equal parts exhaustion and relief. "It's good to be back… I think." Her voice trailed off, the uncertainty of her statement belying the undercurrent of emotions she had yet to process.
Placing her book aside, Blake regarded Weiss with quiet curiosity, her expression an invitation rather than a demand. "How was your week?" she inquired, her tone measured and patient.
Weiss hesitated, her gloved hands resting on her lap, fingers intertwining as if to anchor herself. "It was… complex," she admitted, her voice tinged with an uncharacteristic vulnerability. She lowered herself onto her bed, her poise momentarily giving way to the weight of her experiences. "Father has been trying to mend things. Genuinely, it seems. It's… unsettling."
Blake nodded encouragingly, her silence a conduit for Weiss's reflections, allowing her teammate the space to unravel her thoughts without the burden of expectation.
"I saw a side of him I didn't think existed," Weiss admitted, her voice tinged with disbelief. "He's trying, but trust doesn't come easily. Mother, though—she's stronger than I ever imagined. And Whitley surprised me. He's stepping into a role I never expected of him." A pause, heavy with emotion, followed as Weiss's hands tightened in her lap. "It was painful but necessary," she added, her voice softer now, as though the words themselves carried a weight she had only just begun to shoulder.
Blake listened with rapt attention, her expression contemplative. "That must have taken immense courage," she said softly. "To confront all of that."
Weiss looked up, surprise flickering across her face as her gaze met Blake's. "It wasn't easy," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "But it was a step I needed to take."
She hesitated before continuing, a small, almost amused smile playing at the corners of her lips. "One of the strangest moments of the week was seeing Father teaching Whitley how to change a tire."
Blake blinked. "Jacques Schnee? Changing a tire?"
Weiss nodded, a soft chuckle escaping her. "I know, it sounds absurd. But there he was, sleeves rolled up, actually showing Whitley how to do something practical. I stood there, watching them argue over the best way to use a wrench, and for a moment, they weren't the Schnees with all their expectations and power struggles. They were just… a father and a son, doing something normal."
Blake's lips quirked in amusement. "Did Whitley manage it?"
"Oh, eventually," Weiss said, shaking her head. "Though not without getting grease all over his coat and complaining that this was beneath him. But he still tried. That's what surprised me the most—he actually put in the effort. And Father was… patient. It was strange, but also oddly reassuring."
Blake's expression softened. "That sounds like progress."
Weiss exhaled, her earlier tension giving way to something lighter. "Maybe it is."
A faint smile graced Weiss's lips, her earlier hesitance softening in the face of Blake's quiet understanding. "Thank you, Blake. That means a great deal." She studied her teammate for a moment, her gaze reflecting a mix of gratitude and newfound perspective. "You're right—understanding sometimes comes from the most unexpected places."
Blake returned the smile, the corners of her lips lifting with an unspoken acknowledgment. A quiet accord settled between them as they acknowledged their shared experiences of familial strife and reconciliation. The moment lingered, suspended in the quiet intimacy of their shared space, before the aroma of a meal in preparation drew their attention toward the common area.
Exchanging a glance, Weiss and Blake moved toward the common area, their footsteps falling into an easy rhythm. Shirou stood at the counter, sleeves rolled up, his apron bearing traces of flour and the evidence of a culinary endeavor well underway. The warm, inviting smell of spices and freshly baked bread enveloped the room, a stark contrast to the frostbitten chill of the world outside.
He looked up as they approached, his warm smile a stark contrast to Weiss's recent tribulations. "Welcome back, Weiss," he greeted, his tone light yet sincere. "How was your week?"
Weiss offered a small but genuine smile. "Eventful," she replied succinctly, her tone carrying a hint of guarded optimism. "I'll explain over dinner."
Blake stepped forward, tying her hair back with practiced ease as she surveyed the organized chaos of the kitchen. "Need any help?" she asked, her tone steady but curious.
To everyone's surprise, Weiss hesitated before volunteering. "I… suppose I could assist as well," she said, her words carrying an edge of self-consciousness.
Shirou's amusement glimmered in his eyes, though he refrained from commenting. "Let's see what you can do," he replied, handing her a cutting board and a knife.
As the meal neared completion, the dormitory filled with laughter and conversation. Members of Team RWBY, JNPR, and Penny gradually assembled, their animated chatter a testament to the bonds they had forged. The table was set with care, the array of dishes reflecting the combined efforts of those who had contributed. Nora, predictably, seized the opportunity to tease Weiss.
"Did the Ice Queen really help in the kitchen?" she asked, grinning impishly as she nudged Ren.
Weiss rolled her eyes, though a faint smile betrayed her amusement. "Even I am capable of basic culinary tasks, Nora," she retorted, her tone carrying a hint of playful exasperation.
Ruby raised her glass, her silver eyes gleaming with fondness. "Here's to Weiss's return," she proclaimed, her voice carrying the warmth of genuine affection. "It's good to have our Ice Queen back."
Weiss sighed, exasperation mingling with warmth, as the toast concluded amidst laughter and lighthearted ribbing. For all their eccentricities, these people were her family—a family she had come to cherish in ways she had never anticipated.
Later, Weiss sat on her bed, a small photo frame cradled in her hands. Inside was an image of her family, captured during her week at the Schnee mansion. She studied it for a moment, her fingers tracing the edges of the frame as her thoughts drifted. Setting it on her bedside table, she placed it beside a photograph of Team RWBY from one of their early adventures, the juxtaposition of the two images a reflection of the duality of her world.
For the first time in years, a sense of equilibrium settled over her. As she turned off the light and reclined in bed, a quiet determination tempered her thoughts. Though challenges lay ahead, tonight, she found solace in the balance she had begun to achieve, and in the knowledge that she was not alone in her journey.