Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Weiss Schnee was cold- with a frozen heart, a piercing gaze, and an entitled attitude, she was the very embodiment of a ruthless ice queen. At least, that was how she was characterized by the majority of her classmates. They weren't wrong, exactly; she did exemplify most of those qualities, but it wasn't by choice. No one would likely believe her- who would choose to keep everyone around them at arms' length, constantly flaunting an undeserved superiority complex?- but it was true nonetheless. To be a Schnee meant being the best of the best, and making sure everyone knew it, in any manner possible. It's how she was raised.

It wasn't until she was twelve and witnessing firsthand how miserable it made her elder sister that Weiss even thought to question it. Winter had just entered college- a private university, of course- but it was far enough away from their father's iron grip for her to experience the world through a different lense. Whatever she encountered, when she reached her breaking point and enlisted in the military service, Weiss wondered what could possibly be so motivating that it would give her sister the strength to incur their father's ire, terrifying as it was. 

So, she worded her request carefully, framing it specifically to seem like a move born purely out of an interest in the day-to-day use and appeal of dust to the average family, and ways to exploit it from a marketing standpoint. Her father wasn't exactly pleased with the avenue she'd chosen to gain such information- attending a public school was nearly unheard of at this point in their family's legacy- but he saw enough potential to allow her to begin attending when she was fourteen and a sophomore in high school, provided she also add private tutoring to her schoolwork as a supplement.

Suddenly, she understood what had pushed her sister to such extremes as potentially alienating herself from their relatives. 

Years of conditioning had made her a prime target for every nasty rumor about her family to be proven true in the eyes of her classmates in a matter of weeks, if that. She found herself repeating the same phrases her father would use and being looked at like a monster for it, this creature devoid of any hint of warmth or kindness. It wasn't her intention... it wasn't her . That realization must've been the same as her sister's, the desire to distance herself from a person she didn't even recognize when she looked in the mirror. 

She didn't want to be the type of person who thought of others as beneath her; in her sophomore year, she was partnered with an energetic young woman named Ruby, who was much smarter and younger than the heiress herself, and needed absolutely no one to know that in order to be assured of her own abilities. She didn't want to be the type of person that others felt they couldn't approach; she'd watch countless times as Yang, Ruby's sister and a basetball star for their high school, floated from table to table, engaging anyone and everyone in a conversation, always smiling and joking and being loud. She didn't want to be them, of course, but... she didn't want to be just a Schnee either.

She wanted to be Weiss . Just Weiss.

But, where her sister had courage, the younger sibling found hers lacking. She couldn't very well run away anywhere, being underage, and any sort of attempt to engage in the same mannerisms as her classmates was just as likely to have her removed from their presence entirely once her father caught on. To be honest, she wasn't even sure if she could . Would anyone believe she was being sincere if she offered them a smile? Would anyone laugh if she tried telling a joke?

It was safer to play the part. Be the good daughter her father expected, at the expense of connecting with her peers. Perhaps at college, she could seek the same freedom Winter had found. That was years away, though, so she spent her years acting out the role already placed upon her.

That didn't mean she didn't try to step outside those invisible boundaries, however. Her father saw her volunteering to manage events for the school as bullets for her college applications; she saw it as a way to ensure her classmates were treated to the very best her father's money could offer, and to pick up any slack that may come from them actually enjoying their teenage experiences. As long as she wasn't too obvious, any attempt to aid her classmates whenever a teacher was around never made its way to her father's ears. It did nothing to improve her character in their eyes but she felt better knowing they wouldn't be getting a lecture thanks to a well timed coughing fit.

There was one thing she did, though, that filled her with as much terror as it did joy. She, Weiss Schnee, the ice queen heiress, developed a crush. 

It was a patently awful idea. If her father even suspected she'd considered dating someone from a 'lower social standing', he'd have pitched a fit large enough to cause an earthquake and make it his personal mission to ruin that person's life. To make matters more dire, she couldn't have chosen a worse person to fall for, even if she tried. And by 'worse' she meant 'better' because there was absolutely nothing wrong with Blake Belladonna. 

A Faunus girl in her own grade, Blake was an individual in every sense of the word. Others tried to chase trends or feigned disdain for them but she was wondrously oblivious, paying the fads no mind in favor of her books- always a title not on any recommended reading list, making the pastime purely for enjoyment rather than for educational gain. She was shy without being timid, fully capable of speaking her mind and defending her opinions but more content to remain in the back of the class, away from the spotlight. Her amber eyes, always shining with interest or mirth, were absolutely mesmerizing, and while her Faunus classmates were far and few between, Weiss noticed none of them had the particular trait of cat ears atop their head, the black fur blending seamlessly in to her raven locks. She had loud, energetic friends, but their interactions rarely seemed like they annoyed their more subdued companion. In fact, Blake seemed to enjoy their antics more often than not, even if she was never very vocal about her amusement. Just a peculiar quirk to her lips, an extra shine in her eyes was all it took to convey her emotions, and Weiss envied how someone could be so expressive without coming off as obnoxious about it.

Blake was hands down a wonderful person in her eyes... but she represented everything her father despised.

Being born a Faunus was probably her biggest sin to him, even if it was something she had no control over and impacted the strength of her character in no specific way. Next to that, being 'lower bred' wouldn't win any points with him. That she was a girl as well seemed almost a cliffnote, even if he would still consider it a glaring personal flaw. The way she stuck by her opinions would probably rank higher, even if her typical quietness would be considered a boon.

Her father had always called his point of view 'traditional'; 'narrow minded' was the descriptor Weiss assigned privately.

She wondered, more than once, if Blake caught her attention so thoroughly because she so starkly represented everything she craved to embrace about the world around her. Perhaps there was some truth in that... but it probably also helped that the Faunus seemed like such a genuine individual, when she opted to step away from the shadows and allow herself to be seen. What sort of strength it must take to be exactly who she wanted to be without fearing others' opinions... Weiss couldn't help but admire that.

In the end, though, the reasons for her crush were irrelevant. Whenever she managed to sneak a glance over Blake's way, her heart stuttered in her chest and her impassive facade threatened to break in favor of an undignified, goofy grin. Her spare moments were spent entertaining impossible fantasies about the two of them dating and enjoying the simple cliches of teen romance movies- sharing a shake at a restaurant, going to the movie theatre, watching the rising moon from the hood of a car, sharing a dance at the senior prom. They were unrealistic and impossible but they made her happy, even if they also made her more acutely aware of how much she hated being the ice queen as she walked through the school halls, hated being a Schnee.

And then, in their senior year, the unthinkable happened. One day, after classes had let out and she wrapped up one of the prom planning meetings, Blake came walking up to her in the hall. Instantly, she recognized the telltale signs of nervousness- the way her ears swivelled and twitched, how her gaze seemed intentionally focused, her gait losing its effortless cadance in favor of a more unsteady beat- and braced herself for something potentially awful. More than once, the Faunus had made comments about the discrimination some of her people still faced in the modern world, and some part of the heiress always feared that she was viewed as not only complicit but supportive of such discrimination.

"Weiss?" Just hearing her name falling from Blake's lips brought her heart to a standstill. They shared classes and spoke to each other on occasion throughout the years, true, but that was in the presence of others, not alone in a school hallway after hours. "C-could I..." She faltered, but pressed on, determination flashing in those beautiful amber eyes. "I mean, I was wondering if you'd like to go to the Prom as my date?"

There was no hiding her shock as her heart soared, a thousand silly fantasies realized in that one moment. Blake- quiet, confident, shy, wonderful Blake- was asking her to the prom. The word 'yes' instantly leapt to the tip of her tongue, but it never left as she clamped down on her reaction, trying to calm the traitorous organ in her chest. There was a reason she'd never acted on her own crush for the Faunus; what her father would do in retaliation towards her would be orders of magnitude kinder than what he would do to Blake.

No matter what answer she wanted to give, she had to remember this wasn't a teen romance movie. There wouldn't be a happy ending to erase the pain of conflict if she were to try. The very chance of such was too remote, too removed from her understanding of reality. She couldn't subject Blake to that, no matter the short term bliss it would bring.

"No." The single word fell from her lips with the same blunt force as most of her responses, the conditioning of her family once again shining through. She turned away, unable to bear witness to how her answer was going to affect the Faunus. But she couldn't leave it at that; hope was a stubborn thing and teen crushes could survive a simple rejection. She had only one recourse. "Truthfully, one of us deserves better than the other."

It was exactly the type of thing one would expect from the heiress. And, it was the truth . Blake deserved someone who could be honest and open and supportive and unafraid. Weiss was none of those things. Her stolen moments lost in daydreams were more than she deserved, and she took them greedily, but the reality was beyond her reach. If there was one thing she could do to help her crush, it would be to turn whatever positive feelings she may hold into fury, rage, and hate. The Faunus would get over her, in time, and the sting of embarrassment would be lessened by the righteous indignation at being dismissed so unjustly.

At least, that's what she hoped as she allowed her body to mechanically carry her away, maintaining her composure all the way to the nearest stairwell. Once safely inside, Weiss leaned back against the door and slid down to the floor, allowing her book bag to drop beside her as she pulled her knees to her chest. She bowed her head, fighting back the tears building in her eyes. Blake had to hate her for saying that, had to be furious- she certainly was, her gut wrenching violently as her own words echoed in her mind.

"I'm sorry." Weiss whispered the words aloud and promised herself to bury that sorrow as deeply as she could.

For Blake's sake, she had to; it was better this way.

The Prom turned out beautiful, though Weiss found she couldn't begin to appreciate it. The colors were dull, the music muted, the joy permeating the air bordering on sickening as the heiress went about tending to last minute details and the occasional crisis. This was exactly why she volunteered for these sort of things, allowing her classmates to enjoy the festivities while being none the wiser as to the background machinations. Even if she found the party to be a drain, Weiss played the part of gracious hostess rather well, having attended the Prom with no date herself. A few boys had asked; she'd rejected them on principle. Why have a date she didn't want after denying the one she did? It was better for her to be alone, not that it helped her reputation any.

Suddenly, everything brightened when she swept her gaze across the room and spotted Blake at the far end of the dance floor, beside Yang and Sun, her two closest friends. They were all dressed well but the cat Faunus' dress hugged her form, the purple bringing out those burning amber eyes, looking more like a starlet on a red carpet somewhere than a high school senior at Prom. Truth be told, Weiss lost all track of what she was doing when she saw her crush laughing and shaking her head at something Yang had said, the blonde waving the cast encasing her right arm around in some sort of imitation. It didn't matter; Blake was there and she looked gorgeous .

But then the cat Faunus must've spotted her out of the corner of her eye, turning her head and body away, repositioning herself so that Weiss couldn't see her face. Or, more likely, so Blake couldn't see her . That crushing blow landed harder than the heiress could've imagined, any sort of entertainment or pride she might've felt at the night's events evaporating into thin air. She remained out of obligation, attending to the details, but she never missed how Blake angled her body away, not necessarily being obvious about it while managing to ignore Weiss' presence entirely. It was... difficult, but not nearly as painful as when Yang dragged her friend onto the dance floor, the two swaying to the beat of a slow love song while laughing and joking.

The heiress reminded herself that this was fine. It was better this way. Blake would be spared her father's cruelty. It didn't matter how much she envied Yang at that moment, how much it hurt seeing her fantasy come to life for someone else, even if it was strictly platonic.

It didn't matter. Blake deserved someone who wouldn't hurt her, and Weiss had already failed that.

It was better this way.

It was better this way. The phrase became her mantra as the weeks drug by and Blake's avoidance wore her down. She should've seen it coming. If the Faunus had no interest in acknowledging her presence at the Prom, why would she deign to do so in class? Or anywhere else, for that matter? Weiss was well accustomed to being alone by this point in her life, isolated from her peers and held at a certain distance by her own family, but never did she truly understand loneliness until then. But it was better this way.

At least she'd accomplished her initial goal: her crush hated her. If only it didn't hurt so badly , like a knife in her heart twisting deeper with every inhale. It almost made her regret her decision, made her feel like she could stand up to her father if he dared question her choice to take Blake to the movies on a date, if only to apologize for her previous rejection.

Almost.

She couldn't do that, though. What her father would do, how he would react... just the thought scared her, shook her to her core, so she bit her tongue and reminded herself. It was better this way.

Her attention span was thoroughly shot as she mentally reeled from the constant ache in her chest. Thankfully, classes quickly dissolved into social festivities as graduation drew nearer, no new material forthcoming as their finals loomed in the future. At present, though, everyone was more concerned with exchanging yearbooks, writing messages to one another to encourage or tease or make promises that would last beyond high school.

Unsurprisingly, no one approached her for such a missive. Well, except for Ruby, who was simply too friendly a person to not . But she refused, keeping her own copy on her desk, where it belonged. She feared if she let the thing out of her sight, out of her hands, even once, she would somehow find an excuse to talk to Blake. Half a dozen ideas popped into her head as to how she would go about it, like feigning that she let someone pass it around and thought it might've found its way into the Faunus' hands, so she avoided the possibility altogether. Yet, she couldn't deny the appeal of the practice itself, so she amended the principle to suit her needs, uncapping her pen the moment Ruby slunk away to write out the message she would've left beside the young woman's portrait. There were a few others she gave the same treatment, like Coco, who volunteered for anything that would allow her to express the creativity hiding behind her shades. The words she left on her pages, though, seemed to lack the emotion she could glimpse being inscribed elsewhere. Formal. Soulless.

Perhaps she'd pretended to be made of ice for so long, it was actually becoming true.

At any rate, it was only a matter of time before she found herself staring at the page containing her classmates whose surname began with the letter 'B', Blake's own picture the center of her focus. Against her better judgment, her gaze lifted until she could see the real Faunus sitting a few desks away, her attention absorbed by the book in her hands. 

If she could speak to Blake just once without her fear to muzzle her, what would she say?

All too suddenly, the Faunus looked up, scanning the room briefly before their gazes locked. Weiss did her best to hide everything, shoving down her own anguish and pain so she could appear to be as frosty as her classmates claimed. The even, stoic expression reflected back at her was both a victory and a defeat; perhaps her crush was already moving on, resolving that the ice queen heiress wasn't worthy of her time. For Blake's sake, she was happy... but accepting that she'd already lost perhaps the only person to see past her facade made her avert her gaze.

It was better this way, she reminded herself dully, eyes once again falling on the page as the whirlwind of thoughts swirling about her mind coalesced into three short sentences.

Blake- You deserve far better than I will ever be. I wish I could be that for you. I'm so sorry.

Her greatest shame. Her biggest regret. Her crushing guilt. 

When it came to her first crush, those were the only three things she had. Out of some self destructive impulse, her pen refused to stop there, instead going on to draw a small heart beside Blake's portrait. It looked odd, though. She knew she had the organ- it was aching in her chest as her eyes traced over her message once more, caving in on itself, breaking-

Ah. That was it.

She added jagged lines throughout the little heart until it was a more accurate representation and reminded herself, once again: it was better this way.

A Schnee was meant to be many things. Above petty things like emotional grudges was one of those, though her father always seemed to find a way to circumvent his own rules. Still, when Winter returned home to attend Weiss' graduation, he was at least cordial with his eldest daughter. Truth be told, he was more concerned with stressing to his youngest the power of words and the importance of being a capable orator in the business world to spend too much time chastising Winter's life choices. It probably helped that she expressed a renewed interest in the company over their first dinner as a 'family' in several years.

Weiss let all of that fall to the background, though, focusing instead of satisfying her father's expectations while trying to be genuine and honest with her words. As valedictorian, she was required to give a speech, one she hoped would show her classmates that she wasn't entirely made of ice and thinking herself above them. It would be too little, too late, of course, and she understood that... but she hoped.

Her father wasn't pleased- too much emotion, too much positivity- he would prefer something more rudimentary. Less personal. She didn't need to hear his lecture to see that, even from where she stood on stage. Just like she didn't need to actually listen to hear the jeering comments being directed at her from her peers. In the end, the speech seemed to be more for her benefit- or detriment, depending on one's outlook- than anything else, and she was glad to be done with it as she tossed her own cap into the air. It was distinctive thanks to her position as valedictorian, allowing her to locate it easily once it sailed back down to the ground, but her attention was abruptly pulled away from her own cap when another sliced through the air in front of her, nearly knocking her in the nose. She knelt down to pick it up, rising just in time to catch Blake's form pushing through a throng of their classmates cheering around them.

Once again, their eyes met, but it was the Faunus who broke eye contact first, quickly escaping into the press of newly graduated students, the black of their robes enveloping her. Weiss clutched the cap in her hands, tilting it just enough to see a small, purple sticker within. It must've been Blake's, something she wished to keep... but it wasn't worth actually interacting with the heiress again, apparently.

She almost preferred when she was being ignored.

"Weiss." Her father's voice, dripping with carefully concealed displeasure, jolted her out of her inspection of the cap. Winter was a step behind him, one arm behind her back while the other remained at her side. "Come. We've a schedule to keep."

"Of course, Father," she replied, never letting go of the fabric within her hands as she followed him towards the backstage exit. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something black just behind her sister's back, turning her head enough to see that it was her own cap in Winter's hand.

She raised her gaze enough to see blue eyes- so much like her own- fixated on the one in her hands, one black eyebrow arched in question. Weiss' only response was to hold the cap tighter to her chest.

Winter gave the barest of nods, concealing the one she held from their father until it could be rightfully returned. When their father insisted on a picture- for the company newsletter, of course- Weiss wore Blake's cap instead and he didn't even seem to notice. It didn't fit the same... but it was the happiest the heiress had been in months.

Finally, Weiss made it to university- but it wasn't the safe haven she'd hoped for in the previous years. Unfortunately, it was a private, exclusive one, decked out specifically to cater to the children of those rich and powerful players on the world stage, not too far from her childhood home. So displeased with her display at graduation, her father had ensured there would be no more dallying in the public school system for her, which was painful enough on its own. Her first semester was an absolute nightmare, though, making her writhe internally with disgust as she listened to the drivel her classmates uttered. Being shown the mindless, pathetic monster she so nearly became made her even more resentful of her family's legacy.

During her winter break, Weiss went home and pretended like everything was fine. Her father allowed the lie to continue unchallenged but her sister cornered her one night while their father worked late, using the authority she'd learned in the military to demand answers. She could hide many things from many people, but hiding her feelings from Winter- who had to understand- was beyond what she was willing to conceal. She needed someone to talk to, someone to listen, and so she aired her every grievance with the collegiate classmates over a cup of coffee. She even went so far as to complain about their family's image, the legacy placed on them, the backwards thinking drilled into them...

But in the back of her mind, she was still scared. What if Winter had changed her mind? What if she told their father?

So Weiss withheld any mention of Blake. The topic was broached once, the day after her graduation, when she put the Faunus' cap on display and hid her own. Her sister asked but she remained silent, too scared to reveal the owner. There was no point in trying to lie.

Winter wasn't stupid, but she was genuine about her change of heart. She helped her little sister come up with an alternative: while she wasn't exactly rich on her own, Winter got paid a fair amount for her military service. The community college near the private university offered cheap undergrad classes. All Weiss had to do was 'encourage' her university professors to mark her present, accomplish the required coursework, and spend her time at the college instead. It wasn't a perfect solution but it was a blessed reprieve from the stuffy, empty headed clones she was forced to call classmates at the university. This way, she could once again interact with people .

A fake ID and a convincing argument got her a spot in the spring semester, just a few classes to start. Most were professors trying to keep their programs running, filling the seats however they could, so Weiss gained a wide array of new hobbies and insight. The liberation was sweet and, while she was recognized by a few, her presence at such a place did a fair amount of work to convince her new classmates to hear her out. She couldn't be entirely honest, of course, but she often admitted that she wanted to broaden her horizons by interacting with people outside the social elite, to better understand them. Many took this as an opportunity to rant about their individual issues with her family's practices and views- which she took with a grain of salt, because they weren't bringing up anything that hadn't already occurred to her- but the occasional few looked beyond that, one of whom became her best friend.

Velvet Scarletina- a rabbit Faunus studying photography- reminded her of Blake so much that it sometimes hurt. Once she was comfortable with people, Velvet could be just as committed to expressing herself as the cat Faunus, but often remained quiet, speaking through her pictures rather than with words. It was easy to accept that Velvet was soft spoken and energetic, always chasing down the perfect shot. It was much harder to be around the rabbit Faunus whenever she was examining her photographs for submission, though. The way she studied the pictures, so engrossed in her work that she ignored the world around her, brought to mind when Blake would read during class.

Eventually, Velvet picked up on her moments of painful remembrance and subsequently became the first person who knew about Weiss' crush besides the heiress herself. Chocolate brown eyes filled with sympathy as she pulled the heiress into a hug, comforting her.

That was the first time she allowed herself to cry in front of someone else. It was strangely cathartic, even if she felt a tad embarrassed afterwards.

"There's no need," Velvet said, softly smiling. "It's okay to be sad about the one that got away."

But she just shook her head, retreating back into her typical composure even as she dried her eyes. "No... it's better this way. I have no right to be upset about it."

The Faunus didn't seem to like that response, but Weiss refused to listen, redirecting their attention back to the project their professor had assigned.

The following spring, the heiress had settled into her routine comfortably. She spent most of her time either at the community college campus or with Velvet, simply hanging out at one apartment or the other. They had a few friends who were more the Faunus' than Weiss', but that was alright. She was absolutely okay with the lack of popularity, seeing as there was also a distinct lack of notoriety surrounding her as well. Freshmen who recognized her were discouraged from making negative comments by a burly junior named Yatsuhashi, who looked after her and Velvet with a seriousness that made both of them feel like he was their long lost elder brother more than a young man they'd known about a year. She'd taken to putting forth the bare minimum effort to maintain her grades at the university, not even bothering to show up at the site if it wasn't absolutely required.

That was a mistake.

Weiss was leaving one of her classes with Velvet, chatting about the Faunus' next photography project, when her father showed up. She hadn't thought to cover her tracks perfectly; he'd hardly paid her much mind throughout her life thus far, why start now? Yet, there he was, sneering at Velvet and demanding Weiss return home with him immediately, to accept her punishment for daring to defy him.

What happened next was... predictable, albeit terrifying all the same. She'd gone through such lengths to experience the world beyond her father's limited view that the very implication of being shackled within her childhood home was enough to motivate her. Weiss gathered her courage, refused- her father, his views, the pretty world he painted over the pain of those less fortunate, everything- and stood her ground. When he accused the Faunus- shy, sweet, scared Velvet- of playing the part of demented defiler, she defended her friend, physically stepping between them even as she verbally let her father have it for daring to be so blinded by his own prejudices. Every ounce of anger, of self loathing, of pain she'd endured for the past several years fueled her, pushed her to call him out on his every fault, to his face . 

It was a wonderful feeling, while it lasted.

But she'd always feared her father's anger- and for good reason, she remembered far too late. It came as a shock when he grabbed her by the lapels of her coat and swung her, using his superior size to take her feet out from under her. Weiss tried to break her fall, and she was mostly successful... but she wasn't able to prevent her head from impacting the sharp edge of a bench next to the sidewalk. On her hands and knees, she watched as blood dripped from her face onto the concrete below, the physical agony a sharp contrast to anything she'd felt before.

That was when Velvet's fear slid away and Yatsuhashi arrived, the two of them forcing her father to retreat. Some part of her resented the inability to repay the man in kind for the pain he caused but she was mostly relieved when he left, making it very clear that she'd never see him again. She was dead to her family.

After years of wanting to be rid of the legacy she was born into, Weiss was a Schnee in name only. It was the second best thing to come out of the whole debacle. The top spot was when Velvet helped her to the Faunus' apartment, allowing her to glimpse the damage done to her visage in a mirror. The wound was ugly, raw and still oozing blood, but she saw it as a confirmation. 

If it was two years ago and her father had caught Weiss with Blake, there was little doubt the cat Faunus would rouse his anger, but the now disowned heiress didn't believe she would've had the strength to oppose him back then. It would likely be her crush with a bruised and bloodied face instead of her, here and now. Just like she'd always thought.

It was better this way.

Life became a blur after that for Weiss. Without her father's money or support, she'd broken off contact with Winter. Even if her elder sister was on her side and absolutely furious about what had happened, Weiss didn't want to endanger the other's position. Winter was still part of the family; any association between them put that at risk, and she'd done enough damage to the lives of others as it was.

Of course, she wasn't entirely alone. Velvet absolutely refused to let her live anywhere else, becoming surprisingly intimidating when motivated. There simply wasn't a way to tell the Faunus 'no', so she eventually relented, and they became roommates, for a time. Weiss picked up a job waiting tables at a diner near the community college; it didn't pay very well, but her skills were markedly little. It paid her half of the bills, at any rate, and whatever was left over soon found a purpose: she started donating the majority of her income to a homeless shelter that was in danger of being closed down. It wasn't much but it bought them about six months before the doors were shut for good. After that, Weiss found a new shelter closer to downtown to donate her money, and even began volunteering when she could, becoming friends with the manager, a cheery redhead named Pyrrha.

Years passed in the blink of an eye. Velvet graduated and, after a long and drawn out argument, finally agreed to pursue her passions wherever the wind took her, and Weiss lost her roommate. Even if it meant finding a second job- part of a cleaning crew for businesses downtown, which made her more than a little amused at the irony of it all- and a new apartment, she couldn't have been happier seeing the Faunus off at the terminal as she left the country.

They talked, whenever Velvet could find the internet connection to do so, and Weiss pretended that everything was fine. Really, she had a busy schedule that kept most of her emotions at bay: she worked three days down at the diner, which was now on the other side of town from where she lived, and four days cleaning buildings. Working over seventy hours a week wasn't easy, but she came home to her dingy home so exhausted that she didn't dream most days, which was all that mattered. Living alone for the first time in her life had introduced a kind of solitude that coaxed her walls into falling, leaving her a depressed mess whenever her time wasn't filled with work. The only time she took days off from either job was when Pyrrha requested help down at the shelter or to assist a charity drive here and there.

It wasn't a glamorous life. It wasn't even one she'd ever imagined living, but that didn't matter. Not much mattered to her, anymore. She had her routine and it kept her moving forward in life. She'd never be able to tip the scales of karma into her favor; she'd accepted that long ago. But, at least she could sleep at night knowing she'd taken another few loaves of bread to the shelter or signed up for the next event. 

Weiss was trying to do better than her father, who had become even more sour as his health began to decline. Every now and then, she'd see a headline reporting on another hospital visit or how the higher echelons in the family business weren't comfortable with his poor constitution. It was only a matter of time until Winter was named the new CEO, usurping their father for control of the company. Weiss almost wished she was still at home, just so she could see the look on his face when his eldest daughter starting striking down some of his more ethically questionable business practices with military precision, driving the family business towards the future.

However, that was what she viewed as another life now, one where she was given more than she would ever deserve. Anything material she could ever ask for, power most would kill to have, and the affections of someone far too good for her- she almost couldn't believe how close she came to taking it all for granted. But she'd learned and changed; she was an entirely new woman now. 

Weiss Schnee the heiress was long dead; Weiss the waitress and Weiss the maid had only what she needed to survive. It was what she deserved and, really, it was better this way.

After yet another long, tortuous shift down at the diner, Weiss stepped into Ren's bakery with a barely contained sigh of relief. Even if the shop was smaller than the chain stores doting downtown, the quaint and straightforward nature of the owner and his store had always set her at ease. She'd found the place a year ago and stopped by whenever the buses weren't running late to pick up whatever bread was left from the lunch rush before the doors closed, taking them down to Pyrrha for the midday meal. It was a bit out of her way, from a strictly pragmatic sense, but worth it every trip.

"Good afternoon, Miss Weiss." Ren greeted her with his usual quiet smile, hands folded atop the counter as she approached. "The usual?"

"Yes, please." She smiled, digging into her purse to find enough lein. "How many loaves today?"

"Only six," he replied with a shrug. "They sold rather well today."

That brought a pinch of worry to her expression. Usually, she got at least ten, which was honestly a bit awkward to carry. However, a little bit of inconvenience was the least of her worries. "I'm not sure if that's going to be enough-"

He held up a hand to stop her. "I already called down to Pyrrha. She told me very explicitly not to let you buy anything else to supplement." His lips quirked a little wider. "Personal consumption only."

Of course they'd have already worked something out between them. It was almost like they didn't want her help, even if she full well knew they were merely concerned about her going overboard. Apparently, while her commitment was appreciated, both of the owners didn't think she should dedicate as much of her personal time and money as she did, often suggesting she invest in items for herself. They were blissfully unaware of her motives, of course, so she politely ignored their opinions on the matter.

Still, she knew when she was beat. "Very well. I suppose there's no way I can convince you to allow me to pay full price, is there?" Ren was already ringing her up at half price, ignoring the question completely. "Fine. Would it be possible to ask for more bread to be made tomorrow, to compensate?"

"While I appreciate the reason you ask, I can't do that." He handed her back her change, shaking his head slightly as she immediately placed everything in the tip jar on the counter. "I don't feel right adjusting my projections higher just so you can spend more money."

"It's not about-"

He cut off her objection with a raise in his brows, speaking only marginally louder to accentuate his point. "You do enough as is. One day of a little less doesn't diminish that."

She immediately bit down on the impulse to correct him and instead changed tracks. The baker was a good man but had a stubborn streak of his own that could rival hers, especially when she was the one being stubborn first. "How's Nora?"

"Doing well. She told me to thank you for your help the other day." His bright pink eyes shined slightly at the mention of his girlfriend. "Something about buying a car?"

"Ah, just... providing some assistance for a good cause." She smiled, leaving out the details. If the pink haired woman hadn't shared the exact nature of her 'smash a car for charity' event, Weiss saw no reason to do so either. Plus, she didn't want to delve into how much overtime she'd worked to be able to afford the four junk cars they'd found being sold relatively cheap around the city, nor the shenanigans involved in getting them to the event location. "I hope it goes well for her."

"She seems reasonably confident it will." He gave a quiet chuckle while sliding the loaves into bags, three apiece. "And very excited."

"That's good to hear. Remind her that I can free up my schedule if she needs any assistance, would you?" Sliding her purse a little higher on her shoulder, she took one bag into each arm, ensuring she had a good grip before turning towards the door. "Have a good evening, Ren."

"You too."

Although she wasn't exactly pleased leaving with less than her usual load, Weiss was quickly running through her head the location of every bakery between Ren's and the shelter. Surely she could grab a few more loaves on the way, even if it meant spending her money at one of those chain places that made far too much anyway. All the locally owned bakeries were on the outskirts of the downtown area, preferring to cater to the commuters than those who lived in the heart of the city. It would put her a little behind schedule and, seeing as she relied on public transportation, she wasn't sure if the delay would be ultimately conducive to her overall goal. It was already getting close to lunch, when the loaves would be needed.

Shouldering her way out of the shop's door, the woman was so engrossed in her train of thought, she hardly noticed the solid frame on a collision course with hers until it was too late.

"Whoa!"

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Weiss immediately apologized, regardless if she was the one at fault or not. Truthfully, she was more concerned with not losing her bags than being upset over who was in the wrong; she couldn't very well show up to the shelter empty handed.

"Weiss?" The startled utterance of her name caught her attention, turning her gaze towards the stranger she'd bumped into... however, this was no stranger standing before her. 

This was Blake Belladonna.

Despite the passage of years, there was no doubt in her mind that this was the same Faunus she'd held in the deepest part of her heart since high school, though the time had certainly been kind to her. Weiss couldn't help but notice how she'd matured in the intervening years as her gaze briefly roved over her long lost crush's form; she was well dressed in a smart pants suit that flatteringly hugged her hips and accented her bust, the purple undershirt and complimenting eye shadow making those amber orbs positively gleam, and her raven mane flowed freely over her shoulders, framing her features perfectly. 

In a word: gorgeous. The quiet cat Faunus who asked her to prom had grown into a drop dead gorgeous adult who exuded confidence.

"Blake!" For a moment, she entertained the silly notion she'd kept buried in the back of her mind all this time, that she could explain everything and be forgiven for her harsh words, her rejection, her cowardice- that her crush would understand... but she couldn't ignore the way Blake's gaze travelled over her form, lingering on the scar that marred her eye. The Faunus obviously had no idea about anything that had happened in her life, about her real motivations for her actions, so it was impossible. How could she allow herself that stupid fantasy? Blake likely still hated her, and she had every right. "I'm very sorry about that I should watch where I'm going."

Some part of her was urging her to run. The part that delighted in reminding her how unworthy she was of ever being the target of Blake's affections was quietly whispering in the back of her mind that she didn't even deserve to see the Faunus again. Here she was, after her shift at the diner, looking an absolute mess with her arms full, and there was Blake, dressed to kill and obviously doing rather well for herself. She should go.

But she hesitated. Hope was a stubborn thing, after all.

"I-it's alright." A hand reached up, tucking an errant raven lock behind a human ear, and just like that, it was like they were back in high school. One of them was the school's resident ice queen and the other a quiet, shy bookworm, the confidence from before evaporating in the blink of an eye. "I... haven't seen you in years. How is everything?"

There was no helping it; she averted her gaze. She wanted to be honest with Blake and tell her everything- her trials, her failures, her fears, her regrets- but it wasn't her place to lay that burden upon the Faunus' shoulders. Her father disowning her was front page news, after all. If Blake didn't already know, it was because she was actively avoiding any mention of the woman at the time and hadn't bothered to look for her in, what, eight years? The Faunus was just being polite.

"Alright, I suppose." The lie came easily, even if it was more true than not. Things weren't good, but neither were they bad. Her existence was one of penance, and she still had that debt to pay, so she gave a shrug before allowing herself at least a few more guilty pleasures. "And you?" Weiss allowed herself another stolen glance at her high school crush, gesturing as best she could with her arms full. "You look..." Gorgeous. Amazing. Perfect. "... like you're doing well."

Be polite, she reminded herself, but not forward. Blake was better off without her, obviously, and there was no reason to go rousing ancient history for the sake of a fleeting fantasy.

"That's one way to put it." Weiss watched as the Fanus' lips curled into a soft smile, the fond expression so much like when she'd talk to Yang or Sun. Friendly, almost. "I'm a security analyst for Cerberus. I just wrapped up a meeting."

"Do you like the job?" It was wrong of her to want to know more about Blake's life. Wrong of her to ask questions of one she'd hurt so badly, but she couldn't help herself. All this time, Weiss had hoped she'd spared her crush from the pain of being associated with the Schnee name. The little bit of confirmation that the Faunus was doing well for herself... maybe that would help ease the ache she could feel in her chest looking up into those amber eyes.

"More than I thought I would, honestly." That was good to hear- great, even. She couldn't have hoped for better. However, Blake then tilted her head, curiosity shining in her eyes. "What do you do?"

Oh no. No, she had to go. Weiss was many things, but a fool wasn't one of them; if the Faunus was asking her a question with that genuine interest lighting up her expression, it was because she cared about the response.

Her scar was enough of a reminder that Blake shouldn't care about her. It was better this way.

"Whatever pays the bills." It was bittersweet, recognizing that she needed to end the conversation now. Her heart was already starting to hurt from holding in all the words she'd whispered to the Faunus' portrait over the years- her apologies and pleas- and it wasn't a battle she was likely to win, in the long run. For Blake's sake, she needed to go, no matter how much it hurt to walk away. She'd done it before and she hoped she would never have to again, but that was no excuse for her to continue this indulgence any further. Summoning every ounce of her strength, she did the hardest thing she ever had to do all over again, trying to be the ice queen she was before. "Speaking of which, I'm afraid I must be going." A quick dismissal followed by her turning away, not bothering to give Blake the chance to respond. She couldn't risk it; any more time in the Faunus' presence and her resolve would shatter like a mirror against a brick wall. However, she wasn't as strong as she'd hoped to be, and she allowed herself one last moment of honesty. "I'm glad you're doing well, Blake. Please, take care of yourself."

With every step away, the dreamer within her- that fool who daydreamed about dates and dances- hoped that the Faunus would run after her, grab her arm, stop her. Like in those silly movies.

So she walked faster, ducking into the nearest crowd and weaving through them with ease born from travelling this specific route for years, her head down. Maybe now she could finally let go of her lingering feelings for the Faunus. It was obvious that Blake simply had too good a heart to hate Weiss like she absolutely should, but the stolen moments in her crush's company were more than she deserved. There was a bright future ahead of her, at a company that was growing and doing well, and it was something she enjoyed; someone like Weiss would only drag her down, make things more difficult. She'd done enough of that already.

Because of her quickened pace, the walk to the shelter took much less time than usual, which roughly made up for her surprise reunion. Unfortunately, she was so distracted by trying to beat down the heartache threatening to coax tears from her eyes that she didn't remember to stop buy and get the extra loaves, something Pyrrha noticed the moment the redhead saw her.

"Oh, splendid!" The redhead laughed, taking the bags from Weiss' weak grip. "You know, I was worried you might stop and buy some more. While we appreciate your dedication, you shouldn't feel obligated to carry the full weight of others' needs alone."

"I'm not so sure of that," Weiss replied, trying to reclaim some manner of control over herself. "Some people owe a little more than others."

Pyrrha frowned slightly, setting the bags down on the counter and motioning for another volunteer to see to the loaves. "Miss Weiss? Is something the matter?"

Internally, she winced. Although the shelter manager was perhaps the most fit individual she knew, the redhead thoroughly embraced the concept of 'kill them with kindness', making it nearly impossible to escape a conversation unscathed once she started using any sort of formal address.

"I just... ran into someone I knew in high school." Part of the truth was her only option, though she tried to wave her hand dismissively to strengthen her answer. "I was caught off guard."

That sparked Pyrrha's interest; it wasn't often she made any reference to her past. "A friend?"

"No." She'd fully intended the word to be somewhat flippant or at least strong enough to be mistaken for absent-minded. Instead, the single syllable sounded weak and broken even to her own ears. Weiss immediately cleared her throat, gathering up her purse and making to leave. "I'm sorry; I should go."

"Wait!" The other woman called out, trying to implore her to stay and talk, but once again the former heiress made her escape with ease, simply not allowing herself to look behind her as she brushed past the door. The next time she came, Weiss would be more composed, be able to construct a suitable lie to satisfy the redhead's curiosity, or enough of the truth to make it easier to accept. 

But not right now, with the pain in her chest freshly ripped open. She needed solitude to tend to her broken heart and berate herself for the selfishness in the first place.

How dare she hold on to those silly notions after all these years? She was the one who turned Blake away, who broke the Faunus' heart back then, what right did she have to feel bad at how everything turned out? This was the best outcome possible for both of them; what use was there in wishing it could be changed? 

It was better this way .

That didn't stop her from ducking into the nearest liquor store and splurging on a box of wine- the cheapest, given the quantity- before heading back to her run down home, ready to indulge in a ritual she'd completed untold times since she'd turned twenty-one. Exchanging her work clothes for a nearly threadbare nightgown, Weiss sat herself down on the loveseat in her living room and pulled her high school yearbook into her lap, the box of wine sitting on the table ready to refresh her glass. Only then did she allow her selfish tears to fall, shoving aside her guilt over the feelings to let the pain take over.

Carefully, she turned the pages, having memorized them long ago, flipping from one photograph of Blake to the next without even consciously thinking about it. 

She was on the yearbook committee, of course, and one of the things she'd done that had earned her the bewildered annoyance of her classmates was reject certain proposed pictures in favor of others with seemingly no rhyme or reason. What they didn't know was that Weiss had always approved any photo taken that contained her crush, regardless if the Faunus was in the foreground or the background. Even back then, some part of her knew this yearbook would eventually be all she would have left of Blake, so she cautiously but selfishly ensured it was the best it could be.

Flipping to a page that had a subdued black-and-white picture of a graduation cap as part of the page decorations, blue eyes automatically raised to see the Faunus' cap. Just as always, it sat on the shelf of her crappy bookcase, on display beside the copies of what few titles she could remember Blake reading during their high school years. Weiss had read each one at least six times, a bit amused that the Faunus seemed to exclusively read romance novels with intense action plots, and that more than a few were more... detailed than was entirely appropriate for high school. A wet chuckle passed her lips as she mentally commended her crush for keeping a straight face without so much as blushing while reading those passages in the middle of school.

However, as always, when she was about halfway through the box of wine, she turned to Blake's portrait and the little message she'd written back then.

Part of her was proud. Despite the pain she'd inflicted, the Faunus had risen above and gone on to achieve so much at such a young age, and there was still so much left to life for her. The woman had no doubt Blake would continue to succeed, that quiet determination having only grown in the intervening years.

Part of her was sad. Weiss had made her own strides to improve as a person, but they would never be enough. Repenting for her own cowardice, her own shortcomings, was daunting enough without piling on the added tab of her family name. It was an impossible feat, and the futility of trying to be worthy wasn't lost on her.

The majority of her was angry- at the circumstances, at herself, at the cosmic unfairness of it all. Had she been born to any other family legacy... it was the kind of impotent anger that served no purpose but to eat away at her soul, yet there was no stemming it. It pressed down on her, starting out directed outwards before eventually curling in, metaphorically beating her over the head with her own faults.

As usual, the combination of overwhelming emotions and alcohol broke the chains she'd worked so hard to keep welded in place, freeing the one phrase she had tried so very hard to keep locked away in the deepest part of her heart.

"I love you, Blake." After all this time, her feelings never wavered. Selfish as it was, she still yearned for some way to turn back time, to experience what could have been, even if it was always destined to end poorly. At least she'd have the chance to say those words to the one person she wanted to hear them. She could've said them that day... but it would've been all for naught. In a week, the Faunus would forget about their sudden reunion and move on with her life while Weiss couldn't, destined to remain bound by the events of her past even as she looked to the future, still too weak and unworthy to even have a right to the memories in the first place. That made her sob all the harder. "I'm so sorry." 

She hugged the yearbook to her chest as the tears continued to fall. It was stupid, how she continued doing this to herself, unable to do more than submit to the heartache once she'd gotten to this point. Though she had the strength to defy her father, she lacked enough to push aside her regret and pain- make peace with her own shortcomings, her own mistakes. All she could do was remove herself from Blake's presence, from her life, and spare her any further heartache. That's all Weiss had to offer anyone anymore: the agony of dealing with someone so broken, there weren't even enough pieces to make her whole again.

The remainder of the wine was finished in short order before she curled up on the loveseat, the yearbook still clutched in her hands, and cried herself to sleep. Tomorrow, she would wake with a hangover and a fair amount of shame for succumbing to her own emotions yet again but would muster herself and continue along her daily grind. 

She didn't deserve pity, least of all from herself.

By the time she trudged away from the bus stop the following day, Weiss felt as if she’d aged an extra two years in the past twenty four hours. The hangover was miserable, starting her off on the absolute wrong foot at work, but the shift itself was also busy and long, with a few of the early morning customers being lecherous truckers with no manners. Add to that the stiffness in her back from sleeping on the broken loveseat and it was a wonder she’d even survived the twelve hour block of torture, compounded by the extra four hours she’d had to work to cover down on a sick coworker. It meant overtime but, given how worn out she was already, it might not have been the best idea.

Regardless, the woman made her way to her apartment, ignoring the protests of her body as she reminded herself that it was all her own doing, anyway. Hard to be upset or complain about something she did to herself, after all. What was the point?

Finally, Weiss arrived at the bottom of the stairs heading to her front door, and it was almost too cruel what she found waiting for her there.

It was none other than Blake. Gone was the sharp pantsuit, replaced by faded jeans and a white tank top, both garments showcasing the Faunus’ figure just as well as her other ensemble. She was staring intently at the door to Weiss’ apartment, caught in a moment of indecision. Even without the make-up and the tailored clothes, though, there was still a moment when the woman’s heart stopped, breath catching in her throat to be faced with her crush two days in a row, looking every bit as beautiful as she remembered.

Although there was no telling why the Faunus went through the trouble of tracking her down, one thing was for certain: she couldn’t walk away this time. Whatever was going to happen, she had to gather her courage and accept it. It was the least she could do.

“Blake?” She started up the stairs, determined to bear whatever retribution was deemed fit by the one she’d hurt so badly before. Maybe it was a long time coming, maybe she was just too tired to think of a way out of the situation this time, but it didn’t matter either way. The moment those amber eyes were on her, Weiss was certain she was done making excuses and pretending to make amends.

This was where their story- or lack of one- ended.

“Weiss. May I come in?”

Cordial, polite, but the woman expected nothing less. Between the two of them, Blake was always the better one.

“I’m afraid I don’t have much time.” That was true; she was tired, physically and mentally worn out, still recovering from her complete and utter breakdown the night before. However, she owed the Faunus this, at the very least. Even if it amounted to nothing more than a verbal barrage of all her faults, she had to take it. “But if you’ll excuse the mess, of course.” They entered her home in silence; there was no reason to attempt an apology for the state of her living arrangements. “Would you like something to drink? All I have is water-”

“That would be great.” Blake graced her with a smile that she returned on reflex, trying to tramp down on the way her heart fluttered. It was just politeness, nothing more- the Faunus had little reason to be that kind, nevermind beyond. If she allowed her hopes to rise, the inevitable pain would just be much, much worse. On any other day, she might be able to take it, but not so soon after having another one of her night long pity parties.

Leaving her guest to make herself comfortable- well, as mush as one could, all things considered- Weiss went to retrieve the only two glasses she bothered owning. She never had any intention of entertaining guests but, sometimes, found herself too tired to bother with dishes immediately after using them. It took a moment to rinse out the one she’d used for her wine the night before, having unceremoniously dumped it in the sink that morning before rushing off to work. At least the empty box was in the trash, away from where it could be seen.

She took a moment to gather herself, slowly fixing their waters to buy herself time. Realistically speaking, there was only one outcome of this visit: Blake was there to finally have her say. Anger would probably make an appearance at some point- with as much as she kept bottled up within her own heart directed at herself, there was no point in deluding herself otherwise- and probably a dose of resentment. Her own words echoed in her mind, condescending and harsh, never meant to be directed at the Faunus but taken that way all the same.

All Weiss could do was remind herself: it was better this way. Nothing good would’ve come from Blake associating herself with the woman she’d been, the heiress under her father’s thumb and too weak to escape. The sooner she accepted the verbal lashing heading her way, the quicker they would part ways, allowing the Faunus to return to her life of success.

Steeling herself, she grabbed the glasses and went back into the living room, only stopping short when she saw Blake carefully turning over the graduation cap. It suddenly struck Weiss how strange it would be to relinquish the memento to its rightful owner- it had become such a fixture in her life, a constant reminder of her own faults.

Well… at least she still had her scar.

“I’ve… been meaning to return that to you.” Before Blake’s gaze could land on her, she averted her own. Maybe she still was just a coward, unable to face the consequences of her own actions head on like she should. Through sheer force of will, she approached the Faunus, trying to make amends as much as she could. It wouldn’t do much in the end but, after years of speaking to a portrait, she owed the Faunus that much. “I apologize for the delay in doing so.”

“You’ve kept it in excellent condition.” The words were genuine, without a detectable trace of resentment. “Thank you.”

“You… you’re welcome.” A lot of things she’d prepared for- rage, resentment, disgust- but earnest gratitude wasn’t one of them. She didn’t deserve it, and every moment spent basking in the presence of the things she hadn’t expected just made that stubborn hope in the deep recesses of her heart grow stronger. This had to stop. “Like I said, I don’t have much time; I tend to catch a nap between my morning and evening shifts.”

“When do you usually sleep?” Interest and concern- more emotions too positive for her to take.

“Between four and ten,” she replied, sitting down on the loveseat beside the Faunus. Guiltily, she felt a thrill of enjoyment at their proximity, the closest they’d been since that fateful day in the hall of their high school. It would’ve been rude to expect Blake to stand throughout her visit but… she truly didn’t deserve this much, the guilt beginning to settle on her shoulders heavily. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, was almost more than she could bear. “The last bus leaves at ten-forty-five, so I don’t have a lot of spare time.”

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

Yes. 

No. 

Could it be both? 

“No, it’s just… you must be very angry with me, Blake, and you have every right to be.” Weiss’ mind reeled for a moment as she tried reaching for a suitable explanation; she didn’t want to upset or offend the Faunus, not again. Really, there was only one path left open to her, the woman realized, at once thankful and disappointed that she could bring this impromptu reunion to a close. Even if she would cherish the memory like all the others, she had no right to steal any more of Blake’s time. “So, I would appreciate it if you said whatever it is you came here to say and be done with it.”

There was a moment of thoughtful silence on the Faunus’ part, obviously taking care to choose her words. 

“What made you think one of us deserved better than the other?”

For a long moment, she didn’t move as a thousand thoughts ricocheted through her mind, the different responses she could give, the words she’d locked tightly within her heart for years. Ultimately, words couldn’t do it justice, and she set her glass down to take the yearbook into her hands. She flipped to a specific page, one of her favorite pictures, and passed it to Blake.

“Because one of us had the courage to be exactly who she wanted to be… and the other didn’t,” she said, her voice soft.

She couldn’t begin to imagine what others saw when they looked at the photo- a still snapshot of exuberance, a pep rally in full swing. Perhaps they saw the jovial nature of youth or a testament to how priorities had shifted, away from something as temporary as a high school football season to more important things. Weiss couldn’t say.

But what she saw? She saw Blake Belladonna, who always loved reading, and wouldn’t sacrifice her time for anything less than what she wanted to do. She saw something who looked at the world as a challenge to overcome, but one she could face on her terms, and she’d move mountains to make that happen. She saw vulnerability and shyness but strength and ferocity, too. 

“You were and always will be Blake Belladonna- determined, brave, quiet. Paying attention in class and reading with whatever stolen moment you can find.” A sigh slipped past her lips as she reached up, touching her scar. “I was whoever my father wanted me to be and too scared to be anyone else. Now… I don’t even know who I am.”

“You’re Weiss Schnee.” Surprised by the rejoiner, she looked up into amber eyes that shone brightly with conviction. “You’re assertive and smart. You protect yourself by hiding behind a cold persona but, underneath it, you’re warm and ceaselessly kind.”

It had to be some manner of joke- of a cruel sort, and she chuckled at it while shaking her head. “Of all the people in the world, I’d expect you to be the last in line to believe that.”

“I’m the one who knew it back then,” Blake said, setting aside the yearbook and turning her body, facing Weiss. Slowly, her hand moved, and for a split second she feared a strike- irrational, instant, but present nonetheless- and only by the barest threads did she retain her grip on her composure. Then, the Faunus’ hand landed on her cheek, touching her so tenderly as Blake in and- as surreal as it felt to be doing so, Weiss fell into the moment, lost herself in it, closing her eyes and allowing their lips to meet. In that moment, she felt she could cry- because it had to be a dream, or an illusion, or something other than reality that after all this time, something she wanted so desperately had finally happened. Yet, when Blake pulled back, her lips quirked into a shy smile. “I’ve been wanting to do that for almost ten years.”

Was it really that simple?

No. Nothing in life had ever been simple; why would it be now?

“Blake, you-” She bit her lip and turned away, hating herself for denying her heart’s desire but in the back of her mind, she still believed it was for the best that the Faunus didn’t waste her time with someone like Weiss. “You deserve-”

“Would it be possible to let me decide what I deserve for a change?” The hand on her cheek hadn’t left, and with a gentle sort of insistence, Blake coaxed her into meeting those amber eyes, scooting closer on the loveseat. “I know you hate being wrong but, in this particular case, I think I have the stronger argument.”

“You- you don’t-” Part of her wanted to give in, to fall into whatever fantasy had hold of her, because it would be so easy to fall into those eyes, like pools of liquid honey. 

But then her sense took hold and forced her to remember- the words she said, walking away, and how Blake avoided her after. She’d hurt the Faunus and she’d done it intentionally- how could she possibly think she was fit to be anything more than a bad memory? 

Weiss got to her feet and turned away, summoning the ice that had once ran through her veins to harden her heart against the words she had to say. “You have a good job, Blake, and so much potential. I’m just… fighting to survive.”

“I don’t see what any of those things have to do with the others.” She could hear Blake getting to her feet but she didn’t dare turn around, afraid of what she might find. “And I definitely don’t see what they have to do with how either of us feel.” All too quickly, the Faunus stood before her, apparently adamant about barreling through, no matter what she had to say. “You were right about me- I was angry with you before, but only because I wanted you to see me the same way I see you: as someone worthy of being given a chance.”

“I don’t believe I deserve that,” she replied, shaking her head to try and discourage the tears forming in her eyes.

“But I do.” And then she saw a hand outstretched towards her, looking up to find a soft expression directed her way. “Weiss… Listen to me for just a minute and be honest. If prom was next week, would you like to go as my date?”

Her heart ached in her chest, demanding that she give in just this once. 

Slowly, she slipped her hand into Blake’s, an action she’d taken only in the privacy of her imagination, and it somehow lived up to every expectation. “I would love to, Blake.”

And then- in an act so poetically romantic, she really should’ve expected it from the Faunus- Blake raised her hand and kissed her knuckles tenderly, a smile on her lips. “Then what else matters?”

When she was coaxed forward, Weiss stopped fighting, folding into a gentle embrace that soothed a soul deep agony that had haunted her for years.

“I should’ve said yes the first time,” she said, returning the embrace and wondering- briefly- how things might’ve been different if she’d had the courage back then.

“It’s too late to change that... but we can start making up for it.” Blake pulled away slightly, just enough to reach over and pluck a book from her shelf. “May I read to you? Just for a little while.”

It seemed like such a silly thing to get emotional over but… that really was the exact thing she’d expect from the Faunus. Reading a book. The simplicity of the suggestion broke down the last vestiges of her resolve and she nodded her assent while tears spilled over her cheeks. It didn’t even matter that she still had her evening shift or that she was so tired, she couldn’t imagine doing anything else just then aside from curling up with Blake on her dirty, worn out loveseat and listening to the words rolling off her tongue. The arm around her shoulders, the gentle cadence of Blake’s voice, the familiar story- all of it lulled her into a content sensation she thought would forever be beyond her grasp.

“Weiss, wake up.”

Soft words pulled her from a deep sleep, her mind fuzzy as she sluggishly returned to her senses. Blake was smiling down at her softly, the living room dark as the sun had long ago set-

Wait .

“What-” Weiss sat up, suddenly alert. “What time is it?”

“About an hour before your shift,” the Faunus replied with a gentle smile. “Go get cleaned up and I’ll give you a ride.”

Her brows rose, shocked by the fact she’d slept for so long and even moreso by the fact that Blake had acted as her pillow throughout.

As her mind raced, fingers gently slid beneath her chin, and every thought ground to a halt as she met amber eyes.

“Blake-”

“Considering it took almost a decade for you to say yes, I hope you don’t mind me being blunt going forward.” The Faunus cut her off, a sweet smile on her lips and amusement in her voice. “I’m not going to just walk away, Weiss; I’m not letting you get away a second time. So, go get ready and I’ll drop you off at work. Tomorrow, we’ll schedule our first date.”

She blinked, the gears of her mind slowly beginning to turn again. “This… this is real?”

“Yes.” Then, Blake gave her a soft kiss that lingered and left her buzzing, pulling just far enough away to speak. “Now, do I have to wait another eight years before we’re on the same page again?”

“No,” she replied, setting aside every guilty thought, every regret, every little scrap of the person she used to be. “I want to see where our story goes.”

“So do I.”

Weiss got to her feet, thankful she’d streamlined her routine by this point. They might even have enough time to sit in the car and talk before she actually had to go to work.

She paused at the doorway, looking back to see Blake on the couch, thumbing through the yearbook while she waited. Her ears flicked, brow furrowing as she looked around and then at Weiss.

“Something wrong?”

“Do you have a pen?” 

Weiss raised a brow, surprised by the request but complying all the same; she always had a few in her apron and even more scattered throughout her apartment. “Do you need paper?”

“No.” Amber eyes glanced down at the yearbook. “I have plenty of that.”

Although tempted to ask, she decided to instead allow the Faunus to do as she pleased and left to get ready for her shift. By the time she returned to the living room, Blake was proudly flipping through the pages with a wide smile, opening to the senior section when Weiss entered the room.

On the “S” page, in flowing purple ink surrounding her own portrait, Weiss found that Blake had become the first person other than herself to write in her yearbook.

Weiss- You’re the only book I will never put down.

A little purple heart accompanied Blake’s signature and fresh tears sprung to her eyes as she threw her arms around the Faunus.

She couldn’t begin to guess what the future held or what other curveballs life might throw her way but she knew one thing for absolute certain: it was better this way.