Chapter Text
A seven year old Weiss Schnee giggled as she turned the corner into the park. They wouldn’t find her here! Maybe she could play here for a little while away from all those boring things she was supposed to do. In her haste, she wasn’t watching where she was going, and smacking into someone else, hit the ground hard.
“Watch where you’re going!” She huffed as she got to her feet.
“Why don’t you?” The voice retorted, and Weiss looked to see who would speak that way to her. She was a girl about her age, but Weiss was distracted from further observation when the red splotched across her face settled to a dark brown, and her similarly red eyes shifted to gray.
“How did you do that?” Weiss demanded excitedly. Was it her Semblance? It wasn’t as impressive as Weiss’ glyphs, but it was pretty!
The girl’s face was suddenly mottled with pink, but she looked proud. “I’m a Faunus!” she beamed. “I can change color!”
“What? But Faunus are dirty and scary!” Weiss said, thinking of all she had heard Father say about them. This girl didn’t look dirty, and she didn’t seem scary. The girl frowned at her.
“No we’re not!” she said with a roll of her eyes, “Humans just say that!”
“Oh…” Weiss said, unsure of what to do with this new information. She would have to ask Winter, she decided. Winter knew everything, and she would tell her the truth.
“Let me show you!” The girl declared excitedly. She frowned in concentration, looking at her hand, which started to turn black, and grinned. “See!” she declared, holding up to Weiss who stared in fascinated horror. The coloring receded, but her smile remained. “I can’t make it colors on purpose for long yet but I’m working on it!”
“Want to see what I can do?” Weiss asked, eager to show off her own skills to the girl, who nodded curiously. Holding out her hand, she concentrated hard, remembering what Mom and Winter had said. Just feel it, feel the power, you can do it. Taking a breath, she looked again at her palm, and sure enough an elaborate white glyph hovered over her palm.
“Ooh!” The girl exclaimed, suitably impressed. “Does it… do anything?” With that, the glyph flickered out, and Weiss looked down.
“No.” she admitted moodily, “My mom and sister can make bigger ones that have cool powers, but I can’t.” Then she jutted her chin defiantly. “But I will! Someday, I’ll be as strong as them!” The girl grinned at her enthusiasm.
“What else do you do?” she asked.
“I can sing! Everyone says they love my singing.” Weiss said with pride. “What about you?”
“I don’t know. But, I’m going to school here! Soon!” The girl said, bouncing excitedly. “A real prep school, here in the city!”
“Oh? I have tutors.” Weiss said smugly. She didn’t say they were stuffy and boring, because tutors are something important people have, and she wanted to show off.
“Really?” The girl asked skeptically. “Are you someone special?”
“Of course!” Weiss scoffed, “I’m Weiss Schnee!”
“You’re a Schnee?” The girl’s eyes widened. “Wow! Well, I’m Ilia Amitola!”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Amitola.” Weiss replied with a graceful curtsy, but Ilia had the audacity to laugh at her efforts.
“You don’t have to act all proper, Miss Schnee,” she replied with an exaggerated air, "unless you like being an Atlas snob." When she saw how affronted Weiss looked, she laughed again, and this time Weiss laughed too.
It was fun not to have to mind her manners and stand up straight and don't speak unless spoken to, mind your dress, sweetheart, you'll get dirty. Maybe she could play here with Ilia for a little while, instead of going to Father's boring speech. It would be much more fun.
"Weiss!" a voice barked, and Weiss swung around to face a very annoyed looking Winter, with their mother following close behind.
"Oh no!" She groaned. Winter would get annoyed at her for running off, even though Weiss knew she hated listening to Father's speeches just as much.
"Weiss, dear, are you alright?" Willow asked, looking concerned.
"Oh, yes, Mom! I'm sorry I ran off and caused you worry," Weiss said, looking properly ashamed before smiling. "But I made a friend! Her name is Ilia!" she informed them, gesturing to where the other girl, who suddenly looked a bit more bashful, stood. They looked at Ilia, who gave them a small wave, before turning back to Weiss.
"Well I'm afraid you will have to see her another time Weiss, your father wants us at the speech." Willow told her.
"He's very annoyed." Winter scolded her, before sighing and turning to her with a gentler expression. "So just come with us, alright?"
Weiss lowered her head and nodded, walking towards them.
"Bye, Ilia. I hope we meet again!" She called, turning back to where Ilia stood watching with a sad expression.
"Me too!" She replied, waving to Weiss as she left, "It was nice meeting you!"
It would be eleven years before the two met again, at Haven Academy, trying to figure out how to put their pasts filled pain and anger and other ugly things behind them.