Jaune took a cautious step back, his hands raised defensively, palms outward. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Weiss, let's talk about this!"

"There's nothing to talk about!" she snapped, her stance flawless as she angled her rapier. "I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget, you shameless man! I believed in you! I turns out you're just another leech!"

"This is a huge misunderstanding!" Jaune shouted, dodging left just as Weiss lunged at him. Her rapier missed his side by inches, and he stumbled back with a yelp. "Would you let me explain for the Brother's sake!?"

"You dare sully the name of Schnee with your audacious request?" Weiss's voice dripped with aristocratic indignation, her strikes growing faster and more precise with each word.

"I just need it to pay someone off!" Jaune blurted, dropping into a haphazard defensive crouch.

Weiss froze mid-thrust, her eyes widening in alarm. "Pay someone off?! Have you been gambling, Jaune?! Gosh, you're even worse than I thought!"

"No!" Jaune shouted, throwing up his hands. "It's not like that at all!"

"Then explain yourself, Arc!" Weiss demanded, her voice sharp, though she lowered Myrtenaster slightly, keeping it poised for another strike if needed.

Jaune sagged, exhaling as if he'd just run a marathon. "It's… for a smuggler," he admitted. "To get to Menagerie."

Weiss blinked, her fury dissipating into confusion and finally the loose gears. "A smuggler? Why would you need—" Her words faltered as realization dawned. "You're trying to help Yang and Blake."

Jaune nodded slowly. "Yeah. I know it's dangerous, and it might not even work, but it's the only lead I have. And… I didn't know who else to ask."

For a long moment, Weiss stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, she sheathed Myrtenaster with a soft click, exhaling sharply.

"You're an idiot," she said flatly.

"Probably," Jaune admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

Weiss closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, visibly collecting herself. When she finally spoke, her voice carried an exasperated edge. "WHY DIDN'T YOU START WITH THAT?"

Jaune winced. "Uh… fair point?"

Weiss's hand twitched toward her weapon again, making Jaune flinch reflexively. "You insufferable fool!" she scolded. "You come to me, of all people, asking for money, and you can't even explain why?"

"I kinda was no thinking, okay?" Jaune raised his hands defensively. "I got this bright idea and thought to act on it."

Weiss snorted, folding her arms. "Jaune Arc, you have truly redefined the art of idiocy. Do you usually go around asking the heiress of a global conglomerate for loans?"

Her tone was sharp, but beneath it, there was a trace of sadness, barely perceptible.

She looked away, her arms tightening across her chest. "Is that all I am to people? My money?"

Jaune blinked, her words catching him off guard. "Wait, what? No! Weiss, how could you even think that?"

Weiss huffed, avoiding his gaze. "You're hardly the first person to come to me with their hand outstretched. The difference is you're too clumsy to even disguise your intentions."

"That's not what this is!" Jaune said, stepping closer, his tone urgent. "Weiss, I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked like that. I messed up."

Weiss glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her lips pursing. "Hmph. You're not wrong about that."

Jaune stepped closer still, meeting her gaze with uncharacteristic seriousness. "You're more than your family's name or their money, Weiss. I know that. You're smart, brave, and, yeah, maybe a little prickly sometimes…" He trailed off, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

Weiss raised an eyebrow, her composure slipping just enough to reveal a hint of curiosity.

"…But deep down, you're a softie," Jaune finished, his grin widening.

Weiss scoffed, trying to mask the faint blush rising to her cheeks. "If you're trying to butter me up, it's not working."

"Maybe a little," Jaune admitted, his grin turning sheepish. "But seriously, Weiss, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have put you on the spot like this."

Weiss studied him for a moment, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. Then, she smirked, a mischievous glint flashing in her gaze. "If you're truly sorry, then prove it."

Jaune tilted his head. "Uh… how?"

"Get down on one knee and apologize properly," Weiss said, her tone imperious as she lifted her chin.

Jaune hesitated for only a moment before he knelt, bowing his head dramatically. "I'm sorry, oh gracious and benevolent Weiss Schnee. Please forgive this humble fool for his thoughtless behavior."

Weiss's eyes widened in surprise, a mix of embarrassment and amusement flooding her features. "I didn't think you'd actually do it," she muttered, her cheeks tinged pink.

"Too late now," Jaune said, looking up at her with a lopsided grin.

Weiss sighed heavily, extending a hand to help him up. "Get up, you oaf."

As Jaune rose to his feet, Weiss reached out and lightly knocked her knuckles against his forehead. "You're exhausting, you know that?"

Jaune chuckled, rubbing his forehead. "Yeah, I get that a lot. My master said that for better or worse, my defining quality is that I don't know how to give up"

"That so?" Weiss replied, folding her arms again. "Now, let's talk about this smuggling business. Assuming I do decide to help you, what exactly is your plan?"

Jaune hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "Well… trust me, I've got a way."

Weiss stared at him, her expression deadpan. "Coming from the same person who just begged me for money, that's hardly reassuring."

Jaune laughed nervously. "Fair point."

Weiss shook her head, letting out a resigned sigh. "You're impossible, Jaune Arc. Absolutely impossible."

As Jaune scratched his neck, Weiss turned away, her thoughts churning. She'd been furious at first—insulted, even. But now, as she looked at the dorky, grinning boy in front of her, she felt a strange mix of fondness and exasperation.

"Idiot," she muttered under her breath, though the corners of her lips curved upward ever so slightly.

The rooftop basked in the golden glow of late afternoon, the sky painted in hues of amber and lavender. Jaune stood with his back to Weiss, his gaze cast over Beacon's sprawling campus and the distant outline of Vale's skyline. The wind ruffled his blonde hair, the white streaks catching the sunlight and making them gleam like threads of silver.

Weiss folded her arms, her expression one of thinly veiled exasperation. She tapped her foot lightly against the roof, the click of her heeled boot echoing faintly. "So," she began, breaking the silence, "are you finally going to tell me your brilliant plan, or did you bring me up here just to admire the view?"

Jaune turned his head slightly, his profile illuminated by the warm light. "The plan's simple," he said, his tone serious. "I'm going to take the team to Menagerie. We'll find a way to help Blake and Yang."

Weiss's eyes narrowed. "And you've thought this through?"

Jaune met her gaze, his expression uncharacteristically grave. "As much as I can. That's why I need to know—are you coming?"

Her breath hitched at the directness of his question, but she quickly recovered, masking her momentary surprise with a haughty tilt of her chin. "Why would you even ask that? Of course, I'm coming. They're my teammates too. So are you going to take money, then just leave without me?"

"You're a Schnee," Jaune said bluntly, turning fully to face her now. His blue eyes were piercing, their usual warmth replaced by a calculating sharpness that made Weiss falter. "Do you understand what that means?"

Weiss stiffened, her pride stung. "I'm well aware," she snapped. "Do you think I'm blind to how much the Faunus resent my family? I know better than anyone what that name carries."

Jaune remained silent, his gaze unwavering. He let her words hang in the air, and in the quiet that followed, Weiss's anger began to ebb.

She sighed, her arms dropping to her sides. "But that doesn't mean I can just stand by. Yang and Blake are in trouble, and I…" She hesitated, her voice softening. "I have to do something."

Jaune turned his gaze back to the horizon, his voice low. "What do you think will happen when an heiress of the Schnee Dust Company sets foot in Menagerie?"

Weiss frowned. "I'll deal with it. Whatever happens, I'll face it."

Jaune's head tilted slightly, his posture tense. When he spoke again, his tone was sharper, cutting through the warm air like a blade. "What about the people who might get caught in the crossfire?"

Weiss blinked, startled by the weight of his words.

"It's easy to say you'll take responsibility," Jaune continued, his eyes narrowing. "But this isn't just about you. There are lives at stake—innocent lives. If things go wrong, it's not just your reputation that suffers. It's their safety, their homes, their lives."

For a moment, Weiss didn't respond. The seriousness in his voice, the way he carried himself—it reminded her of someone far removed from the bumbling, dorky boy she'd once dismissed.

"I know that," she said finally, her voice firm but quieter now. "But that doesn't mean I can ignore my teammates. I won't abandon them."

Jaune studied her for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Fair enough."

Weiss exhaled, relief mingling with frustration. She glanced at the horizon, her thoughts swirling. "Besides," she added, her voice tinged with determination, "my presence might force some hands."

Jaune turned his attention back to her, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Weiss's gaze was steady. "Think about it. What do you think the world will do if they find out the Schnee heiress is in Menagerie? It might shift the narrative, force the White Fang and their supporters into a difficult position."

Jaune's eyes darkened, his demeanor shifting. The student she knew seemed to vanish, replaced by something colder, more calculating. "And if it puts innocent people in harm's way?" he asked, his voice a quiet but firm challenge.

Weiss flinched slightly but didn't look away. She was glad he understood the stakes, even if it made her uneasy. "I've thought about that too," she admitted. "But it doesn't change the fact that Blake and Yang need us."

Jaune sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This isn't a game, Weiss. People could die."

"I know," she said, her tone softening. "But I have my reasons, Jaune. It's not just about them."

Jaune raised an eyebrow. "What reasons?"

Weiss hesitated, her gaze drifting. "Menagerie is a vast land. Most of its population lives along the coasts, but the interior is largely untamed."

"And?"

"The SDC has an interest in those lands," Weiss admitted, her voice careful. "There's potential there—resources, opportunities. I've seen glimpses of the discussions, even if I'm not privy to all the details."

Jaune's lips pressed into a thin line. "So, this is about your family?"

"Not entirely," Weiss said quickly. "It's… complicated. But if I'm going, I want to understand the bigger picture. Maybe it's naïve, but I want to see it for myself."

Jaune's expression softened slightly, his posture relaxing. "Alright. It's your choice."

Weiss let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Thank you."

There was a brief silence before Weiss's curiosity got the better of her. "Now," she said, folding her arms again, "how exactly do you plan to smuggle us into Menagerie?"

Jaune's face lit up with an uncharacteristically confident grin. "Simple," he declared. "I'll stuff you all into a bag."

Weiss stared at him, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to process his 'plan'.