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Chapter Text

Gambol Shroud felt foreign in Weiss’ hand– alien, strange. As Ruby said; weapons were an extension of oneself, so using someone else’s was supposed to feel a bit weird. She pushed through it, wielding Blake’s weapon alongside Myrtenaster. She wasn’t used to dual wielding, Weiss had tried when she was younger, inspired by Winter’s weapons. She’d given it up in place of Myrtenaster, which felt like an extension of Weiss’ very soul. But it didn’t help soothe the pit that had grown in her stomach. Still, as the last living member of Team RWBY, Weiss trudged onwards, deflecting Cinder’s claws with Gambol Shroud. 

Weiss’ eyes burned with tears that she refused to let fall, not in front of Cinder, and certainly not while Penny lay dying on the floor just a few feet away. Cinder formed two flaming swords made out of strong glass, and swung. Weiss took a quick backstep, and used Myrtenaster to parry the blade that came too close while the other passed by,  air whistling off the blade. 

She took a stepped, swinging Gambol Shroud in an attempt to part Cinder’s neck, but the corrupt Maiden met Blake’s weapon with her own and continued her offense.

The white haired girl was slowing down. Energy sapped from the constant fighting and regenerating her depleting Aura. Cinder swung again and again with a sadistic grin plastered on her scarred face. 

Weiss struggled to parry each strike., Her grip on Gambol Shroud loosening as fatigue sat in.

“No!” Weiss’ eyes widened in horror as she felt Blake’s weapon fall from her hand and over the bridge they stood on. She attempted to summon a glyph, to save the only piece of Blake left, but her overtaxed aura failed her.  As she used Myrtenaster to block both of Cinder’s swords at once, below her, Gambol Shroud fell haplessly into the whipping void, never to be seen again.

A strike slipped past Weiss’ defense and smashed into the heiress's head with the pommel.. She crashed into the ground, vision blurring and head ringing. Nauseous. 

Weiss stumbled onto her feet, gripping Myrtenaster tighter.  She spotted Cinder’s blurred form take a few casual steps towards her, savoring her imminent victory. 

A pained scream came from Jaune’s direction. Jaune had been taking care of a downed Penny after Cinder had wounded her. Weiss turned her head, her braided hair whipping around, and saw the blond boy standing over the orange haired girl. Blood dripped from Crocea Mors.

Penny’s blood. 

Penny's body lay motionless beside Jaune who had tears falling into the pooling blood beneath him. Weiss felt her own tears slide along her face. Another friend, gone. Because of Cinder. 

Because of Jaune.

Cinder screamed and launched herself toward Jaune, evidently keen on what exactly? Revenge for her kill being stolen? Because Jaune prevented her from stealing the Winter Maiden’s power? It made sense, and Weiss wished she could have taken advantage of the moment, but she was too damn exhausted. 

The metal of Jaune's shield absorbed Cinder's attack, before throwing her off. Cinder flipped in the air landing into a crouch as she summoned another of her glass swords. 

She charged– a deep snarl on her face that reminded Weiss of a hungry Beowolf. 

Despite using Myrtensaster to stand, her legs gave out underneath her. Her vision dimmed.

“Where did it go?!” Cinder screamed. Weiss thought there was a hint of fear in there. Still, the noise was enough for her sight to return slightly. Her eyes opened to the sight of the Maiden jerking around. Their eyes met.

Cinder looked away and Weiss couldn't help but feel insulted at the ease of which Cinder rejected her. A beam of blue energy slammed itself into the dark haired woman, crushing her back onto the bridge. 

“Winter!” Weiss’ cheered. Her sister was here! And she had the power of the Winter Maiden! Winter flew through the air, her blue aura shimmering around her as she glared at Cinder.  

Weiss closed her eyes, a deep breath in. Then out. She could feel the combat rumble along the bridge. She planted her hands on the ground and pushed upward, her shaky legs struggling to stay under her, but the third try with Myrtensaster was enough to get her on her feet.

She ignored the fight high above and stumbled toward Jaune, who stared listlessly at Penny's remains.

Weiss placed a shaky hand on Jaune's shoulder. “We need to leave, now,.” Weiss said in her Ruby-termed ‘Heiress Voice'. With Cinder distracted by Winter, they could escape with Winter behind them, hopefully leaving Cinder trapped.Jaune nodded stone faced and tear stained. They each gave Penny’s fallen body a final look before Jaune helped Weiss trudged toward the hopeful exit.

They could see the Vacuoan desert on the other side of the nearest portal. “Just a few more feet, Jaune. And than–”

Weiss let go of Jaune as she looked behind at the growing whirring noise, heat, and light. Weiss stumbled behind Jaune who threw up his shield. The ball of fire exploded on contact. Weiss fell onto her back as the heat burned what was left of her aura. 

A crack rang in her ears.

She turned her head. A chunk of white and yellow metal had slammed into the bridge underneath her. Steam from the metal clouded her vision.

Light illuminated underneath her, and despite the smoke in her eyes, she couldn't help but widen them as another crack rang out. One she felt.

“Weiss!” 

She heard her name screamed by two different voices over the ringing in her head. She rolled over onto her knees, ignored the growing cracks, and looked up. Behind the smoke she could make out another of Cinder’s fireballs.

Weiss scrambled back. Too slow. Too late. She felt the heat slam into the ground and envelope her feet and legs as the force sent her careening through the air. 

“Weiss!” 

She looked up, and saw her sister flying towards her. Dodging glass swords and fire balls launched her way. 

“Weiss!” Her sister screamed as she came to an abrupt stop.

Winter’s beautiful, glowing, ice blue eyes and tear stricken face were the final things she saw as the darkness of the void swallowed her whole.

Weiss groaned softly, her entire body hurt and she felt similar to when her ride into Mistral had crashed. Either way, pain meant she was still alive, somehow.  Weiss’ eyes fluttered open,  blinding herself by the lights some idiot had left on. She sat up and winced as a groan escaped at the remembrance of her final moments. And the pain.

Still, she was alive! She had fallen into the starry fissure beneath the bridge. Weiss’ glanced around her and found the bandages that covered her right arm. 

It was a hospital room. Inexpensive and fairly old with cracked tiles in the ceiling and what she hoped were coffee stains on the floor. The curtains that separated her from other potential patients were ragged, faded, and desperately needed a cleaning. Still, it gave her much needed privacy to catch her breathes and thoughts- even if she couldn't see around her at least others couldn't see her. Still, what has happened after she fell? Weiss placed her hands on her head and closed her eyes. She couldn’t have been in Atlas, it was a bit on fire, and the weather certainly didn’t feel like Menagerie, maybe it’s Vacuo? They were going that way, maybe she wound up here because of the portals? But she fell into the void, so that didn’t work either. 

Yang had fallen first  into the void, sent flying by a blast from Cinder, followed by Ruby and Blake. Weiss felt her eyes moisten, and used her hands to wipe them away. She didn’t want whoever found her to see her crying, that would be embarrassing–

Wait a minute.  

Weiss was alive! And if she was alive, then the others were as well! She wiped the rest of her tears on the ugly hospital gown’s sleeve she wore. She paused and frowned. This was a hospital right? She spared a quick glance around the room again. Even if it looked more like a funeral hall. Still her friends should also be here, somewhere. And maybe they were laying on the other cots! Pulling the tubes that were attached to her arm, Weiss' grimace was all she needed to know that her aura still hadn’t returned. 

“Well, that’s going to be annoying,” Weiss grumbled. She couldn't use her glyphs if her aura was depleted. Not to mention her vulnerability on top of everything else. Ignoring the beeping sounds that the medical machine she was attached to started to make, Weiss took her first step out of the bed. 

And nearly fell right on her face. Evidently she needed a bit more recovery than she had expected, given she thought her legs were actually longer than they were. Granted, the headache that felt like a drumline inside her skull also wasn’t helping. 

Rubbing her forehead with her left hand, she noticed a strange plastic piece attached to her index finger. Weiss finally managed to stand up, using the bed frame to prevent fall, her legs shaky. The battle had taken a lot out of her. Yang was totally going to make fun of her if she saw Weiss like this. 

The cold floor sent a shiver through her bare feet and up her spine. This entire scenario made her nervous. What if her friends weren’t here? What if she was all alone? Did Cinder manage to capture her? Or one of General Ironwood’s loyalists? Where even was she? 

Weiss took a deep breath. First, she needed to get a weapon and some clothes, then she could address her situation properly. Weiss was finally ready to stand on her own, without the assistance of the bed frame, when she heard someone pulling her privacy curtains to the side. The plastic rings made a soft ring as they slid on the metal pole, and the fabric rustled in the process. She tilted her head to get a better look at who was intruding, expecting it to be a nurse or a doctor, just to find some old guy looking at her with a confused expression on his face. 

His hairline had receded considerably. And what few strands of hair he did have, matched the color of the bags underneath his eyes. The large ugly glasses that he wore did their best to hide his green eyes, but they failed. He looked kind and in desperate need of sleep. Probably some coffee as well. His clothes were well worn, with an unironed button up shirt with the ugliest pattern Weiss had ever seen, and a pair of old jeans. 

“Taylor?” He croaked. Weiss raised an eyebrow. She didn’t know anyone named Taylor, so he must’ve confused her with someone else, which was weird. All Schnee’s were known to have white hair, pale skin, and blue eyes, it wasn’t exactly a common combination. Her family always stood out, even on Remnant, and certainly made sneaking around at times difficult. 

“I think you got the wrong person.” A voice that wasn’t Weiss’ said, which caused her eyes to widen. Her voice was the one part of her she knew intimately, years of vocal lessons meant she knew every decibel her vocal chords could generate, and that wasn’t any of them. She felt her lips move, but a different voice was coming out! Her left hand immediately went to her throat. What the hell was that? 

“Taylor, I’m so glad you’re awake.” The old guy said, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. 

This was rapidly turning into a problem, either he was delusional, or this was a dream, or something worse. She scanned his face, seeing not a hint of deception, or deceit, or any falsehoods. She didn’t find any. 

“I told you, sir, I think you got the wrong person.” Weiss rolled her eyes at him, but they widened once again. The foreign voice returned again, clearly coming out of her lips. It was huskier than Weiss’ own, and sounded younger. 

The old man paused midstep, his arms frozen by his side. He looked more shocked now, rather than confused. She felt a bit bad knowing she was dashing his dreams, but she had to assert herself.

“T-Taylor, what’s wrong?” The old guy looked like he was about to faint. “You don’t remember? Any of it?” 

How many times was Weiss going to have to tell him that her name wasn’t Taylor? She liked to think that she was a lot nicer now, but he was starting to get on her nerves. Though she was starting to notice a few abnormalities, her voice, her sudden increase in height, her muscles not feeling quite the same as she was used to, everything felt strange. 

“I’m not sure how many times I’ll have to tell you to get it through your thick skull, but my name isn’t Taylor-” The strange voice died in Weiss' throat as she finally got a glimpse of her hair, the strands flying past her eyes as she spoke. It was black and curly, not white and straight like it was supposed to be. T-This wasn’t her hair, this wasn’t her voice. Weiss' eyes darted around her makeshift room, looking for something to confirm her fears, finding an empty metal tray on her bedside table and holding it in front of her face. 

An unfamiliar face with Weiss’ sapphire blue eyes stared back at her, which caused her headache to intensify. Oh great, either she had finally gone crazy or– 

The ground rushed up to meet her. 

A/N

Welcome to my newest Weissikai. If I had a penny for everytime I isekaied Weiss in Brockton Bay, I’d have two, which is weird. 

Except Weiss is now in Taylor’s body, which should be different enough. 

This was written with the help of Night_stalker and by BluexXHorizon (who came up with the idea and is the editor)

Chapter Text

Daniel Hebert was a broken man. Sure he might not have been the best of fathers, especially after Annette passed, but to see his daughter stare at him like a stranger only made him feel even worse. Danny sighed, and grabbed his glasses, cleaning them with his sleeve. Taylor was back on her hospital cot, her eyes closed shut as her chest rose and fell with every breath. She was alive, and that was all that mattered. 

“Did you notice any changes before she passed out?” Doctor Patterson, who was checking Taylor’s vitals, asked. He wore a white lab coat, with his hair thick and slicked back with what looked like an obscene amount of gel. His face looked indifferent. 

“S-She didn’t recognize me.” Danny answered. The image of Taylor’s confused eyes, which stared at him with such indifference, was burned into his mind. “And it looked like her eyes changed color.” That had scared Daniel, Taylor’s brown eyes were gone, replaced by an ice blue shade. For a second, he thought she had gone blind, until she started speaking and looking at him directly. 

“Interesting.” Doctor Patterson said boredly. He moved away from the beeping machines and drew closer to Taylor’s cot. The makeshift room was cramped, so it didn’t take much effort. He slid on a pair of gloves, and gently parted her eyelid to get a better look. “Luckily, Panacea’s scheduled to give Brockton General a visit today.” 

“Really?” Danny’s heart felt lighter. Panacea, the famed healer, was here? Taylor would be back to normal before he knew it! 

“Yeah.” Doctor Patterson threw his gloves in a nearby trash can. “But if this is an issue with Taylor’s memory, and her brain, there isn’t much Panacea will be able to do. She doesn’t do brains.” 

“It’s worth a shot.” Danny said steely. If it meant that Taylor would get better, he would do anything. 

“I’ll see if she has time in between patients, Panacea’s very busy as you can guess.” Doctor Patterson started walking towards the curtains to leave. “There are other life threatening cases that require her attention.” 

“I understand.” Danny turned his attention back towards his unconscious daughter. She looked more like Annette with each day that passed. If something happened to her, Danny didn’t know what he was going to do. He held Taylor’s cold hand and closed his eyes. 

Danny really was a horrible father. 

Taylor’s head was killing her, it felt like a bunch of zoo animals were rampaging in her brain. Twisting her head side to side with a soft groan, her eyes shot open. Someone was holding her hand. 

“Well, you look better now.” An unfamiliar voice said, Taylor’s eyes drifted towards her right. A mouse-like girl with a white robe sat beside her hospital bed, with a splattering of freckles on her tan skin. She didn’t let go of Taylor’s hand, and leaned in slowly. “Weird, your eyes aren’t changing back.” 

Panacea, the world's most famous healer, was holding onto Taylor’s hand with a confused look etched onto her face. She moved her hand to Taylor’s wrist, whose words died in her throat. What was going on here? Why was Panacea here? What was she talking about? Her brow furrowed together. 

She didn’t remember anything after the janitor found her in the locker. 

“W-What?” Taylor’s voice sounded rough and coarse. How long has she been asleep for? She needed a sip of water. 

Panacea’s expression hardened, and she moved her hand to Taylor’s forehead. It felt weird. 

“That’s strange.” Panacea murmured to herself, removing her hand from Taylor’s reddening face. She wasn’t used to people touching her in any way. “You have the recessive gene for green eyes, not blue.” 

“E-Excuse me.” Taylor said, after she swallowed her saliva to ease her sore throat. “What are you talking about?” 

Panacea’s eyes met her own. She sighed and took a few steps from Taylor’s cot. “You haven’t looked in the mirror recently, have you?” 

It took all of Taylor’s willpower to not respond with something sarcastic, she had been stuck in a locker filled with so many disgusting things that she didn’t even want to think about it. Messing with a healer that could manipulate her body at will would be a bad idea. 

“Not really.” Taylor admitted. Her headache was still doing its best to murder her. Panacea raised an eyebrow, but still made her way towards the curtains of Taylor’s makeshift room. 

“Don’t be too surprised when you do.” Panacea said. Her confusion was replaced by boredom. She parted the curtains and looked over her shoulder. “They’re a nice shade.” 

“Uh, thanks?” This was one of the weirdest conversations Taylor has ever had in her entire lifeaugh. She couldn’t even appreciate that she was talking to a freaking superhero of all people! And judging by the smooth skin on her right hand, which Taylor had accidently sliced open while trying to escape from the locker, Panacea must’ve healed her. 

How did Dad manage to get that to happen? Panacea was one of the busiest capes in Brockton Bay, always visiting hospitals to treat serious injuries and diseases. Taylor’s, while traumatizing, weren’t exactly life threatening enough to earn the attention of the World’s Greatest healer. She wasn’t important in the grand scheme of things. 

“You can go in now, but I’m afraid there isn’t anything I can do about her eyes.” Panacea’s voice sounded low as she spoke to someone just behind the curtains. The curtains parted once again as Panacea’s footsteps drew farther away. Dad’s worried face appeared through the curtains. 

“Dad?” Taylor croaked. Her Father’s eyes immediately lit up, he practically ran towards her side and touched her cheek gently with one of his rough hands. 

Dad’s eyes started to water, and he licked his dry lips a few times before speaking. “Y-You remember?” 

Did something happen while she was out? 

“Of course I do.” Taylor winced. Her headache got worse whenever she talked. She forced herself into a sitting position, with some help from Dad. At least she wasn’t feeling any physical pain anymore. 

Dad pressed his lips together in a thin line and closed his eyes in an attempt to stop any tears. He failed as a few of them fell onto Taylor’s hospital sheets. “Let’s take you home. Doctor Patterson wants to do a few more tests before he discharges you.” 

Taylor nodded slowly and met Dad’s green eyes. He looked uncomfortable now, but relieved. “What was Panacea talking about? Something about my eyes?” 

Dad looked away, but he held one of her hands. “J-Just don't be too surprised when you look in the mirror.”

What? 

She had blue eyes, Taylor had ice, sapphire blue eyes. They looked unnatural. They weren’t her eyes, that much was obvious. Hers were brown, boring, common and average. These reminded Taylor of Emma, who liked to wear colored contacts on a daily basis.  

“We’re almost home.” Dad said awkwardly as Taylor rested her head on the ice cold window, the glass pressing against her cheek. She stared at herself in the side mirror of Dad’s old truck, her foreign blue eyes staring back at her. “Want me to order in some Chinese food so you can rest?” 

Doctor Patterson didn’t have an explanation regarding her eyes, and neither did Panacea. Any questions wouldn’t give her any answers. How could no one give her a straight answer for this change? 

“Sure.” Taylor mumbled. She felt bad. They didn’t have enough money to afford a hospital bill, but Dad said that the school had offered to cover it in exchange for not being sued. He had made the best of a bad situation while she was asleep. She didn’t blame him. 

Taylor lost track of time, and before she knew it, they were already pulling into the driveway. Dad hurried off the truck and opened the door for her, even though she was physically fine now. 

“Go take a nap, I’ll let you know when the food is here.” Dad said as he helped her up the steps and into their home. She felt like throwing up. 

“Okay.” Taylor made her way towards the stairs. That sounded like a good idea, it felt like someone was making a mess in her head. 

Some rest would be for the best. 

A/N

Co Written and edited by BluexXHorizon. 

The mystery continues! Answers shall be revealed slowly as needed. 

Chapter Text

Weiss felt like she got run over by a bullhead going at full speed, it was almost as bad as surviving an air crash, except the pain was mostly stuck in her head, which made her feel worse. With a light groan, Weiss opened her blurring eyes and forced herself into a sitting position. Whatever she was laying in, was much more comfortable than the hospital cot she was on before. Was that all just a dream? 

She grabbed her head and winced. “I swear if this is one of Yang’s pranks, I’m going to kill her, or at least poke her in the eyes.” Touching Yang’s hair was forbidden, for the safety of everyone around her. 

The strange voice returned, causing Weiss’ eyes to widen as they finally started to focus. No! It wasn’t a dream?! What was going on here?! She was in an unfamiliar room. It looked neat, with a small desk and a ugly box that looked like a computer, but the room also smelled old. 

“Where am I?” Weiss murmured to herself. The weird voice escaped her throat. Now that was starting to get on her nerves. 

Sliding the bed sheets off of her, Weiss took an unsteady step. It wasn’t as bad as earlier, but she was still off balance. Being in a completely different body for some reason, would do that to anybody. What was going with her? Was this a side effect of falling into the void? 

How did she end up in this room? Did that old guy kidnap her while she was asleep, or was there something else at play? Her right hand drifted towards her hair, grabbing a long lock. Yup, still curly and black, not the silky straight, white that it should be. Weiss needed to find a mirror, to get a better look at herself. 

And judging by how she struggled to take even just one step, their height’s must’ve been different. As much as she hated to admit it, Weiss was the shortest member of Team RWBY, having to use expensive heels and boots to not appear like a dwarf whenever she stood next to her teammates. And despite her short stature, she did have some pretty long legs, which she always made sure to focus on whenever she exercised. Aside from her height, Weiss’ body was perfect for her needs, and attractive if she did say so herself, Ruby’s blushes always did make her feel better. 

This body, on the other hand, appeared to be taller and skinnier. She was wearing a dark hoodie, and old jeans that looked like they belonged to Jaune rather than Weiss’ personal wardrobe. She prefered skirts and dresses, but she was willing to wear pants that weren’t jeans on occasion. 

Her eyes scanned the room, until they landed on a shelf that had a picture frame face down. That could be a mirror, right? Puffing her cheeks full of air and biting her bottom lip, Weiss carefully made her way towards the shelf. It took longer than she expected, her head was still spinning, but Weiss made it, placing both her hands on the shelf to steady herself. She took several deep breaths and briefly closed her eyes. 

“Yeah, that’s going to take some getting used to.” Weiss grumbled. She waited a few seconds until her headache calmed. Opening her eyes, Weiss lifted the picture frame. 

She shouldn’t have been surprised that it was an actual picture, and not a mirror. It looked old, judging by how faded it looked. The old guy from the hospital was there, younger with a head full of hair and bright green eyes, along with a plain woman and a little girl. The woman had long, curly hair with thin lips that was stretched into a large smile that matched the one the little girl had on her face. The little girl had the same hair as the older woman, the very hair that now covered Weiss’ head. 

“So that’s why he called me Taylor.” Weiss murmured, staring at the picture intently. The man called her Taylor because Weiss was in his daughter’s body. That made sense she supposed, but what was Weiss doing here? Why was Weiss stuck in this girl’s body? 

Speaking of the girl, Taylor, where was she? Was she in Weiss’ body? Weiss bit the inside of her cheek as her brain started working overtime. Falling into the void definitely did this, but why? Where was Taylor? 

Weiss’ head was starting to hurt, causing her to wince. Revealing to Taylor’s Father that she wasn’t his daughter would cause too many issues, Weiss didn’t need to end up in a mental asylum. As rude and insensitive as it was, Weiss was going to have to play along for now, until she gathered more information. 

Survival was going to be Weiss’ top priority, until she managed to make contact with the rest of her team. Her view of the family photo blurred as her cheeks were moistened by the tears that fell without Weiss noticing. She missed her friends, family and home. Ruby, Yang, Blake, Winter, and so many others, she missed all of them. Even if Atlas was destroyed, Weiss was going to do whatever it took to find her team, and kick their ass’ for leaving her all alone. 

It was the Schnee way after all. 

She wiped her cheeks with the sleeves of her hoodie. It’d be awkward if Taylor’s Dad found her crying without an excuse. He already looked depressed enough, he didn’t need to know that Weiss was here and not Taylor. With a small sigh, she placed the picture back in its spot. Now all she needed to do was find the restroom, they had to have a mirror in there. 

Afterwards she could find something to eat and do more investigating. If Weiss was in someone else's body, then where were the others? They fell before she did, so they must’ve been going through the same thing as she was! Except Weiss had no idea where she was. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of gurgling coming from her stomach. At least no one was around to hear her, that would’ve been embarrassing. Maybe she should find something to eat first, then go looking for the restroom? Then again, Weisshad no idea what she currently looked like. First restroom, then find something to eat. Yeah, now that sounded like a plan. 

Now all she had to do was pretend to be Taylor. 

How hard could it be? 

Weiss had never been the type to sneak around, that was Blake’s job. Her white hair and pale skin drew too much attention back home, everyone knew what a Schnee looked like, but this wasn’t her home, and her features were gone. She left Taylor’s room silently, closing the door behind her without making too much noise. 

Taylor’s room was at the end of a short hallway, with a few doors in between the passageway before it veered off to the left. Hopefully Weiss would be able to find the restroom without drawing the attention of Taylor’s Dad. She still needed time to prepare herself. 

Taking a small step as quietly as she could, Weiss kept her gaze aimed forward, keeping an eye on the various doors and the hallway up ahead. She made it to the first door without too much difficulty, she was slowly starting to get used to walking in another body. Weiss bit her bottom lip and twisted the doorknob slowly, cracking the door just slightly open. 

It was the laundry room, with two old block shaped machines sitting next to each other. Well, that was disappointing. She closed the door and moved onto the next one, with one hand against the wall to help her balance. The next door was only a few feet away, so it wasn’t too far, but the door after that one was past the intersecting hallway. 

Weiss reached the next door in a few steps and took a deep breath. Cracking the door open just enough, she sighed out of relief. She finally found the bathroom! Weiss quickly entered and closed the door behind her, flicking the lightswitch. The bathroom looked as old as Taylor’s room, but it was clean. 

“Let’s see what I have to work with.” Weiss said under her breath, taking a look in the mirror. She looked like an older version of the little girl from the picture, albeit with some differences. Taylor’s brown eyes were replaced by Weiss’ own ice blue, which was weird. 

Weiss was taller now, well Taylor was, judging by how high the sink was compared to her body. She was flatter than before, with her former curves replaced by a slim lankiness that was going to take some getting used to. It didn’t look like Taylor exercised much, but that was going to change once Weiss was more comfortable. Her new hair was just as long as her old body, just curlier and black instead of white and straight. 

She flashed a practiced smile, stretching her thin lips. Taylor’s face was rather plain, but far from ugly aside from a few imperfections, such as the fading pimples that were on her cheek and close to her lips. Her features would sharpen and change once Weiss’ aura was back. Her aura! 

Weiss’ smile turned into a frown as she held her left hand out and closed her eyes. Aura was the physical manifestation of one's soul, their very being. Even if this wasn’t Weiss’ body, she should still have her aura, right? Another headache tore at her brain, causing her to wince, but Weiss pushed forward. It made sense, this wasn’t her body after all. 

“I am a Schnee, failure is not an option.” Weiss chanted softly. She didn’t know much about aura theory aside from what she learned in her classes, but aura was unlocked with a chant, maybe it could help strengthen it too? “I am the granddaughter of the hero, and the child of a villain.” She tugged at her aura, attempting to will a glyph to life. 

It was harder than it should’ve been. 

“I am the citizen of a fallen kingdom, and heir to nothing.” This body was weak, Weiss could barely sense her aura, but it was there. “I will not be defined by my name, because I will be the one to define it.” 

Weiss gritted her teeth as she felt tears start to leak out of the corner of her eyes. It felt like something was trying to fight back until it finally broke. 

“I am Weiss Schnee, and I am a huntress.” Weiss finally opened her eyes. She was definitely going to regret pushing so hard later, yet her worries disappeared in an instant. 

A snowflake, the size of a small coin sat in the palm of her hands, rotating clockwise. Weiss’ smile immediately returned until the small glyph disappeared, dissipating into thin air. Any cause for celebration was cut short by the sharp pain that came from her stomach. She was starving. 

“Maybe that wasn’t the best idea.” Weiss groaned as she leaned against the sink. It was time to go find something to eat, preferably without running into Taylor’s Dad. Knowing Weiss’ luck, that’s exactly what was going to happen the moment she left the bathroom. 

Great…

A/N

Chapter is slightly longer than usual thanks to BluexXHorizon who convinced me to write more. 

This has been pretty fun to write so far, it’s different yet similar to my normal Weissikais, so I hope it’s been enjoyable so far.

Chapter Text

The house was silent, which worked against Weiss’ chosen strategy of sneaking around without being noticed. Closing the restroom door behind her carefully, the silence made the creaking from the rusted hinges sound even louder, in Weiss’ opinion at least. From here she would have to head downstairs and hopefully find the kitchen to get something to eat. Her aura was weak, a small ember that felt like it was on the verge of dying out, but that could change. That same ember could light an entire forest on fire, it just needed to be fed and trained. 

Weiss’ new thin lips pressed together tightly as she made her way towards the stairs. Aura was the representation, it being so weak meant that something else was at play here. Was it because of her new body? Did it recognize that Weiss didn’t belong here? Her brain started working overtime. What happened while she was asleep?

Weiss took a small step down the stairs, her eyes focused on the railing where she could catch anyone's shadow. She was stuck in Taylor’s home after passing out at the hospital, and woke up in bed with clean clothes. Did Taylor’s Father change her and carry Weiss’ unconscious body up the stairs and into her room? 

Hm, definitely not with those skinny arms of his. He may have been able to pick up Weiss’ original body, which was small and petite, but Taylor’s was much taller and heavier. No offense to the mysterious girl who Weiss had never met or seen in her life before today, but it was the truth. Weiss weighed very little back on Remnant. Was Taylor still somewhere in this body? That would explain why her aura was so weak, having to fend off another soul. 

Or, Weiss was the parasite here, stealing the poor girl’s body, with her soul in a fight against Weiss’, like in that book Blake liked to read. Now that made her feel guilty, even if it was a half thought out theory. 

Her inner rambling was interrupted by the sound of someone knocking on the front door loudly, which just so happened to be right by the stairs at the entrance. A shadow and footsteps soon appeared once Weiss was halfway down the stairs. Taylor’s Father headed straight towards the door, he didn’t seem to have noticed her. 

Weiss remained silent as he opened the door, wincing as she took another step. She was going to have to face him earlier than she expected. Lying and pretending to be Taylor made Weiss feel even more guilt, which made her stomach churn. She’d love to tell him the truth, that she wasn’t his daughter, but Weiss had no idea how he was going to react. 

“Thank you.” Taylor’s Dad said to whoever was outside, closing the door, now with a brown bag inside of a plastic bag. He didn’t change out of his clothes, and the bags beneath his eyes looked darker, but relieved. He had his head down, staring at the contents in the bag for a few seconds before he finally looked up, finally noticing Weiss’ presence. 

He flinched when their eyes met. 

“Taylor, you’re awake.” Taylor’s Father’s voice sounded meek. He looked smaller than he actually was. “The food just got here, I ordered your favorite.” He held up the bag awkwardly. 

So that’s what it was like to have a Father that actually cared about his children. Weiss’ family was just a mess, but at least she had managed to save Mother and Whitley before she fell into the void. Hopefully they were safe in Vacuo. 

“Thank you.” Weiss formed a small smile. She didn’t know how Taylor’s relationship with her Dad was, but being polite was always a good idea. He returned her smile with a sad one. Her eyes must’ve made him uncomfortable. 

Weiss’ guilt wasn’t going to go away anytime soon. 

Chinese food looked a lot like Mistralian cuisine, at first smell at the very least. Weiss’ nose picked up on plenty of spices the moment Taylor’s Father opened one of the plastic containers that held what looked like some type of chicken and vegetables drowned in sauce. Taylor’s Father didn’t let Weiss do anything to help, having her stay in her seat at the table while he grabbed plates and utensils from the cabinets. 

He sat across from her after placing a plate and fork in front of her silently. An awkward silence filled the air in between them, but not in the way Weiss’ family dinners had been. Her family’s meals were awkward because of Father’s attitude, and her Mother’s drinking habit. Weiss couldn’t remember the last time her entire family sat down to have a meal, happy and without a care in the world. 

That was never going to happen now. 

This awkwardness was between two people who didn’t know how to speak to each other, or rather, between a tired Father, and someone who was stuck in the body of his daughter. Neither looked each other in the eye as they silently ate, which worked in Weiss’ favor. Her metal fork stabbed a piece of thinly sliced chicken and stabbed a green vegetable that was covered in the same sauce. 

It took all of Weiss’ self control to not gorge on the meal, and empty whatever else was in the pantry. Maintaining and increasing her aura levels would take a lot of calories. Silently chewing on what Taylor’s Dad had called ‘Kung Pao Chicken’, Weiss was thankful that it tasted like it smelled. Mistralian food wasn’t her favorite, but it was better than whatever Vacuo called a cuisine.

Weiss stabbed another bell pepper and was about to stuff it in her mouth, when she felt someone staring at her. She looked up from her plate full of fried rice. Taylor’s Father was looking at her, with guilty, watery eyes. He looked like he had aged ten years since she saw him in the hospital, but there was something else there. 

“I remember when you used to pick out the chicken and leave the vegetables for me.” He said with a small chuckle. Weiss’ gave drifted towards the bright red vegetable that sat on her fork.  Shoot! She should’ve been more careful! She had no idea what Taylor’s habits were. 

Weiss released a practiced laugh, from her days as the Schnee heiress. “They taste good now.” 

Lying to him made the food Weiss ate sit like a rock in her stomach. He deserved to know the truth. Taylor’s Dad gave her a smile and turned his attention back towards his own meal of sliced pork. The silence returned and was bearable. 

Too bad the delicious food suddenly started tasting like ash in her mouth. 

After eating her portion of the food, Weiss retreated back to Taylor’s room, giving her Father an excuse about still being tired. She didn’t want to engage in a long conversation that would expose her. Still, her hunger was sated for now, even if she did want to eat more. Once Taylor’s Father went to sleep, she’d go down to find a snack. 

“I want to go home.” Weiss murmured under her breath as she closed the door. The former heiress didn’t have a home anymore, Atlas was gone, and her team was missing. Still, she would do her best to survive and find her friends, wherever they were. 

First off, Weiss needed to find information about this world. She wasn’t like Ruby or Yang who liked to jump before they looked, Weiss would need to come up with a plan. If only she had her scroll, that would’ve solved most of her issues. She spotted a television when she was downstairs, but that would likely expose her to more conversations with Taylor’s Father, which was the last thing she wanted. 

Weiss gave the room another scan until they landed on the box with a screen that sat on a desk in the corner. That looked like a computer right? An ancient, clunky looking computer that looked older than Jaune’s sword from the Great War. 

“Well, it’s better than nothing.” Weiss slid into the desk chair without too much difficulty. She was starting to get used to walking around in Taylor’s body, but it was going to take some getting used to. 

A mechanical keyboard that matched the color of the computer’s frame sat in front, along with a smaller device that was connected by a wire to the computer’s back. Weiss allowed a sigh to escape her lips. “I hate analog.” 

This looked like it belonged in a museum. 

She gently pressed the button that sat to the bottom right of the computer, just below its screen. It took a few seconds, but eventually a strange noise started coming from the machine, until some strange logo appeared on the dark screen. 

Good, it was working. Weiss formed a triumphant grin which disappeared after a minute of staring at the screen. Why was this taking so long to load? She gave the top of the computer a light slap, causing the screen to update. Weiss didn’t like what she saw, not one bit. 

Loading: One Percent . 

Weiss groaned loudly, throwing her head back as she grabbed her head. This was going to take forever! No scroll, no Dust, no Myrtenaster, she truly had nothing here! A sound came from the computer, causing her to quickly sit up straight. 

Loading: Two Percent. 

This computer was lucky Weiss didn’t have any anger issues like Yang, who would’ve smashed the screen in an instant. The now brown haired girl was going to have to find another way to entertain herself while the computer loaded. She spun in her chair, until her eyes landed on the bookshelves that sat next to Taylor’s dresser. 

Books! Weiss was saved! She always enjoyed reading, the longer a novel or encyclopedia the better. Taylor’s room was covered in books, this was perfect. And if this was going to be her new home, until Taylor’s Dad kicked her out at least Weiss was going to have to familiarize herself with the new room. Weiss' grin soon returned. Hopefully Taylor doesn’t have anything weird under her bed, that’d be embarrassing for the both of them. 

Weiss couldn’t look Blake in the eyes for a week after accidentally finding out what kind of literature her teammate liked to read in her spare time. Her grin turned into a sad smile. “Now that’s a katana.” She whispered. 

Weiss was going to find her friends no matter what stood in her way. 

A/N

These chapters really are coming out longer than usual, that’s weird. 

Much thanks to BluexXHorizon for helping out with the story. This would never have been published if it wasnt for them.

Chapter Text

Taylor felt like throwing up, which woke her from her much needed nap. Rolling herself onto her stomach, she dry heaved for at least half a minute until her body calmed down. It felt like an eternity, Taylor felt like she couldn’t breathe. Thankfully, nothing came out, but she still wiped her mouth just in case. She forced herself into a sitting position with a soft groan. Scratching the back of her head with a yawn, Taylor paused mid scratch. 

Why were her journals all over her bed? And why was her room such a mess? Her normally organized bookshelf was half empty, with its contents spread all over her room. Even her old computer was on, stuck on some search engine for some topics on Brockton Bay. An old map of town covered her keyboard. 

“What the-,” Taylor looked down at her lap, just to find a half dozen of her journals, the ones that detailed what Emma and her friends were doing to her at school. Did Dad go through her belongings? No, that didn’t seem right, he wouldn’t have made such a big mess. Something else must’ve happened. This was weird. Taylor didn’t have any friends, which left Dad as her only suspect. 

T-That meant that he knew the true extent of everything that had happened to her because of Emma. She took a deep breath, first things first, Taylor needed to clean up her room, and putting all of her books back on their shelves was going to take a while. Then she could investigate what happened while she was asleep after she got something to eat. Dad did say he would wake her up when the Chinese food arrived. 

Her bed was covered in journals and other books, so that would have to be fixed first. Whoever had messed with their journals had also messed with her collection of fairy tales and history books. Taylor frowned as she grabbed the first one that looked like it had been thrown on her bed. 

“Little Red Riding Hood.” Taylor murmured, eyeing the old codger of the eponymous girl. It was the version by the Brothers Grimm, Mom liked to collect and compare ones done by other writers. They made for good bedtime stories, back when Mom would read a different fairy tale before Taylor went to sleep. She ran her thumb over the cover of the old book, with Little Red Riding Hood’s silver eyes smiling as she walked into the dangerous forest without a care in the world. Her red hood hid the color of her hair, only revealing her pale pretty face. 

Why did she look so familiar? 

Taylor lost track of time, it felt like it had taken hours by the time she had placed the last book in its spot on her bookshelf. All she had to do now was turn off her computer and find something to eat. She was starving. Her eyes drifted towards the corner of the screen, where the off button was next to the date and time. Moving the cursor with her mouse, Taylor paused, her mouth suddenly feeling dry. 

Why was it the next day? She hadn’t been asleep that long had she? Taylor leaned back in her chair, covering her face with her hands. This was weird. She needed to find out what had happened while she was asleep. If the time on the clock was accurate, Dad must’ve been at work by now. Taylor had a few hours to investigate as much as possible before confronting him when he returned home. She bit the inside of her cheek, her brain swarmed with dozens of thoughts. Her stomach started to feel like an empty pit, as if all of the books that were thrown around her room were piled in a small corner, doing its best to drag her down. Yet, despite all of that, there was only one thinh she could do. 

Taylor needed to investigate more.

The rest of the house was silent, and the kitchen was surprisingly spotless. Usually there was a dirty plate sitting in the sink, or an empty bottle of soda sitting on the table. Dad must’ve been the one who cleaned up, since Taylor had been asleep since she got home, and she was starving. 

“Fridge.” Taylor mumbled under her breath. Unless Dad ate her food, she was pretty sure he put it in the fridge instead of the microwave, preserving the food and not allowing it to spoil overnight. 

Licking her drip lips, Taylor swung the refrigerator door wide open. Her new blue eyes, which didn’t need to use glasses anymore, scanned each part of the fridge. They landed on a black plastic container that was wrapped in a clear bag. Bingo. Her mouth was already starting to water just at the thought of her unconventional breakfast. 

Quickly unwrapping the bag and popping the containers top off, Taylor’s stomach growled at the smell of the cold Chinese sauce. She formed a small frown. Someone had eaten all of the chicken and most of the vegetables, leaving just a few pieces of bell pepper and onion drowned in the reddish sauce. 

There was no way Dad had eaten all of that food! Plus, he hated this particular dish, and always refused to eat it if he had a choice. Her blue eyes turned into daggers. This only confirmed her suspicions. There was something weird going on here, and Taylor wasn’t going to stop until she found out what it was. 

Her stomach growled again, causing her to wince. She was starving, it felt like she hadn’t eaten in weeks. 

“I’ll start after breakfast.” Taylor groaned. At least their pantry was full of pancake mix, even if she wasn’t in the mood to do any cooking. Hmm, maybe she could throw the leftovers in a pan with some eggs to change things up. 

Yeah, that sounded like a good idea. 

A/N

Sorry this is late, this chapter gave me writer's block, and it was hard to finish it, so I’m sorry if the quality dipped. I'm more used to writing Weiss than Taylor. 

Blue’s final edit will come soon, so don't be surprised if you see any changes.

Chapter Text

After her rather large breakfast, which included bacon dipped in pancake batter and fried on the griddle and a gallon of lemonade, easily Taylor’s biggest meal ever, she felt satisfied. It was weird, eating and gorging herself on food, yet not even a half dozen regular pancakes could satisfy the dark haired girl. Taylor still felt like eating eight dozen eggs, all cooked in different ways. With a barely audible sigh, Taylor patted her stomach, soft and pudgy. If she wanted to change the way she looked, it looked like a lot of exercise was going to be in her future. 

Sitting in her Father’s recliner with a much louder sigh, Taylor closed her now blue eyes for a few seconds. Eating that much food should’ve been impossible, yet she somehow managed to down all of it without a second thought, and her stomach wasn’t even hurting yet! She should’ve been vomiting about now, hurling into a toilet or sink with an intense stomach ache, but Taylor didn’t feel any pain, she felt great even. Was this a side effect from being healed by Panacea? Or did it have to do with her new eye color? Taylor bit her bottom lip as she focused her thoughts. 

Maybe she was just hungry? Panacea would’ve been able to figure out she was a parahuman right? Taylor wasn’t entirely sure, while she was a big cape fan, Panacea wasn’t one she had ever planned on meeting. 

“I need to work out.” Taylor groaned, grabbing the remote to the television and flicking on some old cartoon. She was never the most athletic of people, preferring to stay at home and read a book instead of going out to play sports or exercise. Eating all of that food and still kinda wanting more made Taylor feel guilty. Maybe a walk could help to curb that guilt? 

Yeah, that sounded like a good idea. 

The weather outside was nice, by Brockton Bay’s standards at least. It wasn’t raining or too windy, with the sun out doing its best to warm the city blocks. The Boardwalk was empty, since it was still a school day, not that Taylor was expected back anytime soon after what had happened with her. She was being given a few days to recuperate, even if Panacea ended up healing her injuries. It gave her time to prepare for all of the backhanded comments Taylor knew she was going to get about her new blue eyes. That was going to be pretty annoying, especially once Emma, Sophia and Madison realized they had new ammunition to use. 

Taylor shook her head slightly, shaking those thoughts out of her head even if it was just for a moment. She should enjoy her free days without having to think about her tormentors at school. Taking a deep breath, Taylor allowed her eyes to wander as she took a seat at a nearby bench, eager to rest her legs. They were aching since she walked most of the way here, only using the bus to avoid the more dangerous parts of Brockton Bay. She was a chubby beanpole, not insane. 

“I already want to go home.” Taylor spoke to no one in particular, taking several deep breaths. The air smelled nice, like cotton candy, salted peanuts, and overpriced coffee instead of the normal smelly water of the Docks. Despite her wish, Taylor did nothing to leave, remaining on the bench, though she did pull her hood up. 

It felt peaceful, like her senses had been enhanced, being able to hear the chatter of random people which sounded like white noise, and the smell of the foods and drinks. That last one only made her stomach growl and made Taylor feel hungry, despite the enormous breakfast she had eaten earlier that morning. 

Food at the Boardwalk was expensive, and Taylor was feeling quantity over quality at the moment. She had only brought a couple dollars, which should be more than enough for the vending machines. Yeah, that would be the smartest decision, even if Taylor wasn’t really in the mood for stale chips and chocolate that had been sitting out in the heat. 

“Nnnnghh.” Taylor stood up with a light groan, surprisingly, her legs weren’t aching, not anymore. She licked her dry lips, tasting the salt in the air. If she remembered correctly, there should be a vending machine next to the coffee shop just around the corner from the bench, right before the shops filled with clothes so expensive they were probably worth more than her house. 

Her long legs made the short trip, less than five minutes, feel much shorter than it already was. Taylor’s eyes drifted towards the coffee shop, the smell of freshly roasted beans and warm croissants doing their best to tempt her into spending more money than she actually had, but she had to remain firm. That and she preferred tea to coffee, even if the black gold did sound tempting in the cold. She shook her head softly, and aimed her feet in the direction of the vending machine. 

A short girl with long blonde hair was in front of her, hopping as she tried to hit one of the keycodes that was just out of her reach. She looked like she was twelve, or even younger from behind. The blonde kept slamming her hand against the vending machine. 

“Damn it!” She yelled in frustration. “This is so fucking annoying! Don’t make me kick your ass, vending machine!” 

It sounded like someone needed anger management class, in Taylor’s opinion at least. Maybe she should find another machine, one that wasn’t about to be assaulted by a delinquent? She was about to step away when the blonde girl spun on her heel dramatically, and pointed her index finger in Taylor’s direction. 

“You! Random bystander with pretty eyes!” The blonde girl gave Taylor a glare for a few seconds before pressing her hands together and causing the corner of her lilac eyes to moisten with small teardrops. “Could you pleaaaaaseee help me get A-1?” 

Taylor tried avoiding her gaze, rubbing her left arm awkwardly. “Uhhhh…” 

“PLEASE!” The blonde girl fell onto her knees with puppy eyes. “I’ll buy you a snack in return!” 

“Deal.” Taylor instantly answered, her stomach growling once more. She was probably going to regret this soon, Mom and Dad had always told her not to accept food from strangers. 

The blonde girl formed a large grin, and grabbed Taylor's hand with wide eyes. She started dragging Taylor to the vending machine, her grip surprisingly strong for a little girl. Taylor felt a frown form on her face as the little girl cheered.“My hero!” 

Mom and Dad were always right. 

A/N

Updates should be able to come out a little faster, even if they’re slightly on the shorter side.  

Chapter Text

Taylor helped the blonde retrieve the snack from where it had landed, but as she handed it over, she noticed something odd about the girl. Her lilac eyes gleamed with a sharpness that didn’t match her youthful appearance, seeming to carry years of life in their depths. There was an air of confidence, even arrogance, even as the girl tore into the cheap honeybun. The two sat on a nearby bench as Taylor slowly unwrapped her own snack, which the blonde girl had gifted her as a thanks for helping with the higher up buttons. It tasted stale, with the sweet glaze helping make the unhealthy treat tolerable. 

“You’re nice.” The Blonde said, nibbling on her third honeybun, delicately, unlike her last two which she had all but inhaled. “You won’t believe how many people just ignored me when I asked for help.” 

Taylor formed a grimace as she silently chewed on her honeybun. She was almost one of those people. It wasn’t the Blonde’s fault! Taylor just wasn’t used to talking to people, much less helping anyone. Granted, that was because she needed to be helped, more often then not.

The blonde girl caught Taylor's grimace and let out a light laugh. A light, melodic sound, that lifted her spirits somewhat. “What’s with the face, Pretty Eyes? You look like someone just told you your favorite show got canceled.”  

Taylor blinked, startled at the comment. “It’s nothing,” she mumbled, taking another small bite of the stale snack to avoid having to say more. She was going to need to jog more to burn those calories she just ate. 

“Uh-huh.” The blonde smirked, clearly not buying the attempt to deflect attention. She tilted her head, studying Taylor with an intensity that nearly made her squirm. “You don’t talk much, do you?”  

“I-I guess not,” Taylor admitted with a slight stutter. How was a girl smaller than she was managing to fluster her so much?

“Well, that’s fine. I can talk enough for the both of us,” the blonde said with a grin that reminded Taylor of a shark’s. She extended a hand, sticky from the honeybun. “Name’s Yaaa-uh, Missy.”  

Taylor hesitated, eyeing the outstretched hand as if it was a deadly weapon, before shaking it reluctantly. “Taylor. Taylor Hebert.”  

Missy’s grin widened as she leaned back on the bench, resting her hands behind her head. For some reason, it reminded Taylor of a character from a sitcom. “Nice to meet you, Taylor. You seem cool.”  

Taylor raised an eyebrow in response. “Cool? We just met.” Nobody ever called her cool. Not that she really knew anyone who would call her cool, in any event.

“Exactly,” Missy said, as if that explained everything, which, it didn’t. “Most people wouldn’t stop to help a stranger, especially one as loud and obnoxious as me. So yeah, you’re cool.”  

Taylor wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so she settled for silence, finishing the last of her honeybun. She crumpled up the wrapper in her hand, the crinkling of the plastic filling the silence for a second. 

The two sat in silence for a moment, the sounds of the Boardwalk filling the space between them. Taylor’s thoughts drifted as she gave Missy another, more in depth glance. There was something off about her, something that didn’t quite fit. She didn’t act like a kid, despite looking young. The way she carried herself, the confidence in her voice—it all felt out of place.  

Missy broke the silence first with a cough, before she started speaking. “So, Taylor, what’s your deal? You from around here?”  

Taylor hesitated, reluctant to share her neighborhood with a stranger. “Yeah, I live near the Docks.”  

Missy’s expression shifted slightly, her grin dimming in response to the news. “Rough part of town. You okay out there?”  

Taylor shrugged, because really, what else could she do? “It’s home.”  

Missy nodded slowly, her lilac eyes narrowing slightly as she seemed to weigh her next words carefully. “You don’t seem like the type to hang out on the Boardwalk during school hours. What’s the story there?”  

Taylor stiffened, a nervous feeling settling deep in her gut. “I’m taking a few days off.” She wasn’t going to tell a stranger what had happened to her. 

“Ah,” Missy said, her tone light but her gaze sharp, and oddly perceptive. “Trouble at school? Bored?”   

Taylor’s jaw tightened, and she looked away from Missy, gazing out at the Rig nestled in the Bay. “Something like that.”  

Missy didn’t press further, instead leaning forward with a sudden grin. “Well, whatever it is, it’s their loss. I mean, you’re nice, and you’ve got those killer blue eyes. They should be worshiping you, not giving you grief.”  

Taylor blinked, caught off guard at the odd words. “Killer blue eyes?” She didn’t have blue eyes, she’d never had blue eyes. Was this a joke or something? She still had to get used to them. 

Missy smirked in response, reminding her of one of those cat memes. “Yeah. They stand out. Kinda like you.”  

Taylor frowned, unsure how to take the compliment—or if it even was one.  

Before she could respond to the weird statement, Missy hopped to her feet, brushing crumbs off her hands. She gave Taylor a curt salute that looked oddly adorable on her. “Anyway, thanks for the assist, Taylor. I owe you one.”  

“You already bought me a snack,” Taylor pointed out the obvious flaw in that statement.  

“Nah, that was just a warm-up,” Missy said with a wink. “Let’s call it even when I save your butt someday.”  

Taylor stared after her as Missy turned and started walking away, heading deeper into the Boardwalk, her stride confident and carefree. It felt weird, seeing someone so young and small walking with the kind of swagger she’d expect to see on a heroine. 

Something about the encounter left Taylor feeling unsettled. Missy had been friendly enough, but the entire situation felt off, in some way, her subconscious screaming at her about something. Taylor shook her head and stood up from the bench. 

She really needed a nap, even when she slept, Taylor woke up exhausted. It was if she was sleepwalking, but that was impossible. Taylor’s new sapphire blue eyes turned to look at the crowd where Missy had disappeared into. She had never seen the girl before today, but for some reason, Missy felt familiar to her. 

What a strange feeling. 

A/N

Sorry this took so long.