Work Text:
Weiss leaving the house for good was a change long coming. So was her joining back up with her team. Maybe even her coming back to Atlas. And her father's arrest was certainly a long needed change.
There were a lot of changes in her life. Not a lot of them were up to her, but the ones that were mattered so much more because of that.
They reminded her that she had a choice. That her cold, fragile, practiced voice actually did something that mattered.
She spent a long period of her life making sure that her words, actions, and even her own face wouldn't show the image of anything but a beautiful and happy young lady to the public and her father. The reputation of the family mattered more than her after all.
These changes helped her become free of his control, right? She's free to be herself now, to show the world how she genuinely is.
So why is it so hard? Why does it hurt?
~
Weiss could tell that Winter had been thinking along a similar line of thought. It made sense, as they had both grown up in the same freezing halls the Schnee family called a home.
Winter had clearly had a long time of professional training however. As any time that Weiss began to see the thoughts so similar to her own in her sister's eyes, they were blinked away to the background again.
She was never able to catch her at a time she could talk about it, until now.
They were having lunch, talking as just sisters for once. All of the military pretense was a bit too much after a while, and honestly, they missed eachother.
They somehow got onto the topic of their family, mainly their father, and Weiss saw the familiar look in Winter's eyes again. Something had to be done about it.
"Being a Schnee in itself already calls for such an... infuriatingly false air of sophistication," Winter paused at Weiss' sudden change, listening carefully, "But being a daughter of that man only makes getting rid of it all the more difficult."
Winter was shocked. Not at the obvious distate and anger in Weiss' voice, but at the fact that she found out instantly what she'd hidden from even herself. Weiss rolled her eyes at her expression, then put on a sad smile.
“Honestly, sometimes I’m terrified I’m still that stupid little girl who believed that her family name meant more than her own existance. That I’m still just like all those rich fools in Atlas who only truly care about what statement will give them the most money.” Weiss continued despte the self control so heavily programmed into her head screaming at her to shut up. That Winter wouldn’t care. But with all her power she reminded herself of why she even brought this up. The look in Winter’s eyes all too similar to hers.
"Also, It's not like it's hard to notice how someone else is feeling when you're feeling the same thing." Her eyes were aimed at the table, keeping her gaze as far away from the elder as possible. She couldn't see Winter's face, but she saw a drop hit the table.
She shot her head up, rushing out panicked apologies as though she'd said the worst possible thing in existance. What if she was wrong and Winter didn’t feel that way at all? What if she just thought Weiss sounded spoiled and-
She was cut of by warmth. A hug. Her sister was hugging her.
Just how long had it been since she'd been held by her family?
That was a sad thought she was fairly sure she didn’t want the answer to.
She surely wasn’t letting a moment like this pass awkwardly.
"You have changed, Weiss." Winter's grip on the younger slightly tightening as Weiss hugged her back, "You're nothing at all like that, and you're certainly not like him. I am so proud to have you as my little sister."
Ok so, maybe Weiss cried a little bit. What's the big deal?
A little bit turned into a lot, and the sisters let go of eachother with red eyes and tears staining their cheeks. Weiss had to laugh at how stupid she felt right now. A huntress who fought at the fall of Beacon, fought against the White Fang and Salem’s forces, almost sobbing because her sister hugged her and said she's proud of her.
It felt real. She felt safe.
~
Something changed after that lunch with Winter. Everyone noticed it in both of the sisters, but no one knew what happened to cause it.
It started through Weiss and Winter's more casual and friendly banter. Sharing talks before missions or during briefings. Even going on a few missions together.
Then came the massive shock to the Ace Ops and Ironwood that was Winter laughing at a simple sarcastic remark made by Harriet. They all thought they would have to call a medical transport. But Marrow actually voicing the concern caused Winter to laugh more.
"You all act as if you've never seen a Schnee laugh before." She joked back at the room, wiping her watering eyes from calming her laughing.
"Okay... I think I'll go call in a doctor real quick then-" Clover said as he pulled out his scroll, the rest of the room nodding in agreement despite Winter assuring them all through her laughter that she's fine.
Had they actually called in a doctor?
Absolutely.
~
The next major flag that something had changed was when Winter and team RWBY were placed on a mission together.
It was a simple mission really, but since it related to inspecting one of Jacques old, possibly illegal, dust mines, a Schnee or two had to be present to convince the overseer that this wasn't a malicious attempt at his reputation.
It was highly malicious. They planned to take down this mine and all the others under the same operation system. But what would get accomplished if they said that?
Ruby, Blake, and Yang sat back and watched the argument between the Schnees and the mine manager.
"I can assure you this mine is in perfect condition Ms. Schnee," He bent his head slightly to appear humble, yet continued his sad attempt of steering them away, "Even if your father had done some awful things, you must not let that impact the rest of the company!"
After hearing the comment about the sisters father, the others froze. What a low point to stoop to. Before they could instinctively grab their weapons however, Weiss simply laughed.
"You must remember that much of the work in this company was ordered by my father, correct?" She smiled at the confused, nodding man, "Then I'm sure you're just as aware as I am that he's done more 'awful things' than are currently in the public view."
"And might I add," Winter added in with a smile, "We have access to all of his personal records and messages."
That did it for the man. He sputtered out a politely worded invitation for them to come inside before running off the other way to his heated office.
The girls watching were stunned. Weiss looked at them with a victorious smile on her face, Winter's expression only a lighter version of hers in the moment.
"Well, we should begin our inspection." Weiss turned to the entrance and began walking with her sister. Leaving the confused huntresses to stare in disbelief before starting to follow behind.
~
Yeah, things changed a lot.
Weiss had more confidence in herself, and Winter had learned more about how to enjoy her daily life.
But there was still something nagging at her.
The next time the sisters had lunch, Weiss brought up her thoughts.
"I have... a bit of a personal question." Weiss hesitantly asked, scanning the older's face for any sign of denial.
"What's bothering you, Weiss?" Winter asked with a kind smile. If she'd been told before Beacon that she'd see that expression aimed at her ever again, she wouldn't believe it.
She inhaled sharply, "Does it ever get any easier? Being yourself after so long?"
She knew Winter wouldn't have the answer to that, but it was worth a shot to bring up.
"Does the aching fear that one day they'll just... stop loving you..." Weiss caught herself starting to cry and finished off with a shaky voice, "Does it go away?"
She hated being vulnerable. She hated crying. Her father hated her crying, so she never cried around him.
Winter let her cry. She grabbed her little sister's hand and let her vent her emotions to someone who wouldn't scold her for feeling them.
At least that hasn't changed.
Winter was holding her hand, reassuring and warm. The older's face already gave away that she couldn't give an answer, but Weiss was content with the company she had right now.
"I'm honestly not sure, Weiss." Winter whispered after the girl calmed down a bit, "But just know that I will never give up on you."
Weiss' tears returned, for a very different reason than before.
"Thank you, Winter." Weiss spoke through her shaky, teary voice.
"I love you, Weiss."
"I love you too, Winter."
A lot of things change. Change is needed for people to improve. Change is always inevitable.
But not everything changes. The most important things will always stay the same.