4

When Yang and Ruby finished their pillow fight, the subject went back to more serious topics.

"So, what are we going to do about Jack?" Yang said with a growl. "That post of his was way out of line."

Ruby looked worried. "Maybe he was just curious?"

Blake frowned. "Maybe. But he could have just asked me. It feels like a deliberate attempt to out me to the school."

"Jack wouldn't do that!" Ruby defended. "Would he?"

Pyrrha looked troubled. "I wouldn't have thought so, but we really don't know how he feels about the faunus. Perhaps he figured out Blake's secret on his own and felt betrayed?"

Yang looked at Ruby. "You and Blake and Jack have been spending a lot of time together. I bet he had a crush on Blake or something. That would explain why he'd do something so mean after figuring out..."

Blake grimaced. "After figuring out that he had a crush on an animal?"

Yang winced. "I'd never use that word, but yeah. I mean, not every racist is loud and obnoxious about it. I mean, Weiss obviously doesn't like the faunus very much, but she's too icy to go around yelling racial slurs."

Blake sighed. "Well, what's done is done. There's nothing we can do about it now."

Yang smacked one fist into her palm. "We can kick the little jackass's butt."

Blake shook her head. "You can't just beat up every racist you meet, Yang, as much as I appreciate the thought. That won't change anything."

Yang shrugged. "It'd make me feel better."

Blake chuckled. "Me too, a little. But it's the wrong thing to do, and we need to be better than that."

Pyrrha sighed. "Well, if that's what you want, Blake, we'll support you."

Yang sniffed angrily, but nodded her agreement. "We've got your back, partner. Don't worry about that."

Blake smiled gratefully. "That helps. It helps a lot to know my team is on my side." She hesitated, raising one hand to her bow. "If everyone hasn't figured out that I'm a faunus by now, they will soon enough when enough people put two and two together." She slowly pulled at the bow, causing it to unravel, slowly revealing her cat ears. She twitched them, sighing. "It's been uncomfortable keeping them tied up all this time anyway, so if everyone knows, I don't see why I should bother anymore."

Ruby grinned, while Yang and Pyrrha looked at Blake's revealed feline appendages with curiosity.

Yang whistled. "Wow... those are... really cute."

Pyrrha smiled slightly. "They are most attractive, Blake. It's a shame you had to hide them all this time."

Blake blushed. "Don't make a big thing about them. They're just my ears."

Pyrrha blushed immediately. "Oh! I'm so sorry. I'm afraid I don't really know the proper etiquette involving... er..."

Blake chuckled. "I don't think there is any special etiquette involved in my having cat ears, Pyrrha. Just... they're ears. Just treat them like you would anyone else's ears."

Pyrrha nodded sagely. "Of course. Paying them special attention would be like mentioning that Yang has... er..."

Yang glanced down at her chest, then grinned evily. "Like Yang has what?"

"Very long hair." Pyrrha said carefully.

"Nice save." Yang said, chuckling.

Yang turned back to Blake. "Well, it's kind of a shame not to say anything, because... well, I've got to be honest. Those ears are fricking adorable."

Blake turned to the blond brawler and grinned. "And your boobs are huge."

Yang laughed. "Hell yeah they are."

Ruby groaned. "Blake!" She turned towards her older sister. "Yang! Don't corrupt Blake!"

Yang laughed harder. "Too late, little sister. Our little kitten here has a dirty mind, it seems."

Blake blinked. "Little kitten?"

Yang hesitated. "Is that OK? I mean, if you don't like it, I'll come up with a different nickname."

Blake considered it. "My mom used to call me her little kitten, so it doesn't really bother me, I guess."

Yang shrugged. "Hey, with me, everyone gets a nickname."

Blake raised an eyebrow. "What's Pyrrha's?"

Yang grinned. "P-money. Like it?" she glanced at Pyrrha, who mouthed the word in confusion. Yang shrugged. "Eh, it's a work in progress."

Blake sighed. "Class tomorrow is going to suck."

Ruby patted her back softly. "We'll be right there with you the whole time. I promise."

Blake took a deep breath. "I know that. It's still not going to be fun."

Yang growled. "Seriously, the next time I see that stinking Jack Spriggin, I'm going to put him through a wall..."

Blake rolled her eyes. "Yang, stop. I really do appreciate it, but violence isn't the right answer. I'll talk with Jack, but we're not going to hurt him."

Yang looked astonished. "You're going to just talk with that creep? Why even give him the time of day?"

Blake frowned. "Because I want him to tell me to my face why he did what he did. And maybe I can convince him to let things drop. We don't need a war with team Winter."

Pyrrha grimaced. "Do you really think it could come to that?"

Blake shrugged. "Weiss obviously isn't fond of the faunus, and between her and Jack..."

"Ren and Nora aren't like that though." Yang pointed out. "Or at least, they've never said anything..."

Blake nodded. "Which is why I'm going to try talking to them. Our teams have been pretty close since initiation. It'd be a shame to just throw that away because I'm a faunus."

"It wouldn't be because you're a faunus, it's because they're racist Jackasses." Yang grinned momentarily. "Get it? Jack... ass?" Her eyes twinkled. "In fact, I think that's going to be his new nickname. Weiss is Ice Queen, of course, but Jack is now our resident Jackass."

Blake sighed. "Honestly, calling them names isn't going to help."

"I agree. I'm sure Weiss will listen to reason, and we will... reason, with Jack Spriggin as well." Pyrrha said softly, although there was more than a little steel in her voice.

Ruby sighed. "I just can't believe Jack would do this. And I had no idea he had a crush on Blake."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "Um... are you blind? It's obvious the guy has had the hots for her for awhile now. Although I think he likes you too, sis."

Ruby flushed pink. "Me? No way!"

Yang shrugged. "I figured he'd make a move sooner or later. I think he'd probably have said something earlier, but he is pretty shy."

Blake just sighed. "I never really thought about him that way. Not that it matters now."

Yang rolled her eyes. "Anyone who wouldn't want to date you because of a pair of ears... really cute ears, by the way, is stupid, and deserves to die alone. Or marry Weiss and be miserable for the rest of their life."

Blake laughed out loud at that, and Ruby had to stifle a giggle. Yang really was the best sometimes, even if Weiss really wasn't all that bad. Ruby had to admit that the heiress did give off the impression of a cold, icy exterior very well, but Ruby knew that she was really very sweet and loving if you gave her half a chance. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure if Weiss would get that chance, thanks to everything that had just happened. Still, Ruby was determined to make the best of the situation.

"I've been meaning to talk to Weiss anyway." She said firmly. "I think growing up as the SDC heiress has a lot more to do with Weiss not liking faunus, or more specifically, the White Fang, than anything else. Her dad doesn't seem to be a nice person, but not everyone takes after their parents. I think Weiss could get over her prejudice if she had the chance to get to know some faunus in person."

Blake pointed to herself. "You're talking about me, right?"

Ruby shrugged. "Maybe? I mean, if you'd be willing to give her the chance?"

Blake sighed. "I'll try. I'll give it a try for your sake, Ruby, since you believe in Weiss so strongly."

Pyrrha smiled softly. "I think that is an excellent idea. Perhaps the attempt will not be successful, but talking out our differences, learning to understand each other, those are worthwhile things to try."

Blake chuckled. "My father would agree with you in a heartbeat, Pyrrha. He used to say a lot of the same things."

Pyrrha looked interested. "You've never talked about your father. Are you close?"

Blake sighed. "I haven't seen my father in five years, actually. I ran away from home when I was twelve."

Pyrrha looked stunned. "Oh! Oh my! I... I'm so sorry, Blake! I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."

Blake took a deep breath. "Actually, I think I have a few more... painful memories that I'd like to share, if that's OK?" She glanced at Ruby, who nodded encouragingly, and continued. "My father's name is Ghira. Ghira Belladona. My father founded the White Fang, actually. I grew up as a member."

Pyrrha blinked, looking stunned. "Your father... what?"

Yang's eyes were wide. "Whoa."

Blake took a deep breath. "Not everyone knows this, but the White Fang wasn't always a terrorist organization. They were a peaceful protest group until, well, until five years ago. When the movement started to change into more violent protest, my father stepped down as leader. I... disagreed with my father's decision at the time."

Pyrrha cocked her head to one side, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I see."

Blake took a long breath, then continued. "I thought that not enough was being done for faunus rights. Stepping down seemed cowardly to me. Now I wish I'd followed in my father's footsteps."

It was Yang who spoke. "But you didn't."

Blake shook her head. "No. I was part of the new, more violent White Fang. I thought we were making a difference. Worse... we WERE making a difference. Except people weren't treating the faunus better because of respect or trust, but because of fear."

Pyrrha sighed. "And fear only makes things worse in the long run."

Blake lowered her head. "I think I realize that now. But it took too long for me to figure out that what we were doing was wrong." Ruby put a hand on her back, encouraging the cat faunus to continue. "I decided I no longer wanted to use my skills to aid in their violence. Instead, I dedicated my life to becoming a Huntress, to protect the people."

Pyrrha nodded. "A noble sentiment. But why are you telling us all this?"

Blake hesitated. "Because... because it's the truth, and I've lied to you for long enough. Maybe I didn't lie directly, but I did hide who I was from you. I don't want to keep such secrets from my team anymore. That is, if you'll still accept me as part of your team, now that you know the truth?"

Yang stepped closer to put a hand on Blake's shoulder. "Of course we'll accept you. You're here for the right reasons. What you did when you were a kid shouldn't matter. You were what, twelve when the White Fang changed? I think it's amazing that you managed to become as awesome a partner as you have. It's obvious you don't hate humans, or want to hurt people, so why would I reject you?"

Pyrrha nodded. "I agree. I believe your motivations were honest ones, and I certainly can't blame a twelve year old child for making a few bad decisions along the way. The fact that you are here now, and that you've chosen to do the right thing speaks volumes about your true convictions. I am honored to count you among my friends."

Blake hung her head. "I haven't earned any honor. I have a lot to make up for."

Ruby spoke up. "If you feel that way, let your team help you do that. We can do a whole lot of good as huntresses, as a team. So let's be the best team Beacon has ever seen."

Yang grinned and threw up a hand. "Yeah! You tell her, Ruby!"

Blake looked from one to another of her teammates. "Thank you. Thank you so much for... for accepting me for who I am."

Pyrrha simply nodded. "Of course."

The room went silent for a long time, before Yang spoke up again. "Hey, Blake? Have you really been avoiding your folks for the last five years?"

Blake didn't answer right away, but eventually she nodded. "I... at first it was because I was angry at them for giving up the fight. I thought they were abandoning the cause, betraying their people. I thought they were cowards." There was another long pause. "I was wrong. I realize that now. But by the time I realized how I wronged my parents, my father... I'd already done so much. I'd made so many mistakes. I... I couldn't stand to face him after all that."

Yang was quiet for a very long time in response, but Ruby could feel the tension in the room, and she knew her older sister thinking hard.

"I guess that makes sense." Yang finally said quietly. "But I envy you."

Blake looked at the tall blond brawler. "You envy me?"

"My mother left me when I was a baby. She never came back, and I never found out why." Yang said quietly. "I'd give anything to see her again, to find out why she left me... but I don't know if I'll ever get that chance." Yang met Blake's gaze. "All you have to do is go to the CCT and give your father a call. You know right where he is. Your father, your mother. I'm sure they miss you a lot."

Blake looked away. "I... it's more than my being ashamed. I didn't leave the White Fang under good terms. The day I left, I betrayed my partner, the leader of our chapter of the White Fang, Adam. He was going to kill a bunch of civilians on a SDC dust train. I separated the train cars, left him behind, saved the civilian workers... and ran for my life. Adam... he doesn't take betrayal well. If I went back to my parents, he'd find me. He might hurt them. But he has no reason to search for me here... and this is Beacon. Adam would have to be insane to attack a school full of hunters."

Yang blinked. "OK... wow. That's a better reason for not talking to your parents than I expected."

Pyrrha's eyes were wide. "That's... that's incredible, Blake. Saving those people was a wonderful thing to do, especially at the cost you paid to do it. I can't imagine having that kind of courage."

Blake laughed wryly. "You do realize that I was perfectly fine stealing a train full of dust from the SDC, right? It was just killing those people that was a line I couldn't cross."

Pyrrha hesitated before answering. "Blake... I think we have already established that you made some bad choices. But telling us this does not make me think we're wrong about you. You really are a good person. I don't think you're going to change my mind about that."

Yang shrugged easily. "Yeah, fighting for equality and stuff, I'm not going to give you any grief about that. Putting your foot down and risking your own life to save people? That's sounds like my partner to me. You were a hero, Blake." She winced. "I mean, I wouldn't want to mention any of that stuff to any cops... but you're aces in my book, Blake." She wrinkled her nose. "And maybe we don't mention that part to Weiss either. Or anybody else?"

Pyrrha nodded. "Perhaps that is for the best."

Ruby spoke up. "I bet your parents would still really like to hear from you. You're safe here at Beacon, but they don't know that. Don't you think they'd like to know that you're alright?"

Blake sighed. "I'm sure they do... but..."

Ruby raised a finger to Blake's lips. "No buts. You should at least let them know you aren't dead or something."

Blake took a deep breath. "I... I will. You're right. It's wrong of me to keep them in suspense. At the least, I can give them that much." She sighed. "They're going to be so angry though."

Ruby laughed softly. "Yeah. But they'll be angry with you because they love you, right?"

Blake sighed. "I hope you're right, Ruby. It's going to be hard. I... I don't know what to say to them."

Ruby smiled. "Just tell them you're sorry. That you love them. Tell them the truth. They're your parents. They'll forgive you."

Blake raise an eyebrow. "You think so?"

Ruby nodded. "I'm sure of it."

The four girls quieted down at that point, each lost in their own thoughts. By general consensus, they went about regular stuff. Homework, reading, Yang was playing a game on her scroll. Combat Class had been the last class of the day, so there was no need to head out again, and none of them especially wanted to.

It was just over an hour after classes ended that Ruby's scroll buzzed. Curious, she checked it, seeing a message from Weiss. She opened it, and her eyes went wide.

"Huh. Speaking of talking to team Winter... it looks like they want to talk to us as well. Weiss has asked us to meet them in their dorm room. As soon as we're available."

Yang frowned. "What does she want?"

Ruby shook her head. "I don't know, but Weiss's message says they'd like to talk to all of us, as a group."

Yang looked thoughtful. "Well, that doesn't sound so bad. If she was going to yell at Blake, she probably wouldn't ask for all of us to come."

Pyrrha frowned. "I wonder. Perhaps this has something to do with Mister Spriggin?"

Blake shook her head. "There's no way to know till they tell us. We wanted to talk things out with them anyway, right?"

Ruby rose to her feet, heading for their door, but stopped just in front of it, turning around to face her team. "OK, we're going to be calm, right? Everyone is going to take it easy and talk like adults, right?"

Yang chuckled. "That's kind of funny coming from the youngest person in Beacon, sis."

"Yang..." Ruby whined. "I'm trying to be a good team leader here."

"And you're doing an excellent job." Pyrrha said supportively. "I'm sure we'll all be on our best behavior."

Yang shrugged. "I won't start anything if they don't."

Blake nodded firmly. "We'll talk things out. Calmly. I'm... I'm sure things will be fine." She didn't sound all that sure, but Ruby let it go. So long as her team was all on board to TRY to behave, that was all that mattered.

Blake rose to her feet as well, then glanced at the chair where she'd laid down her bow. "Maybe I should wear this at first? Just... ease into things?"

Yang put a hand on her partner's shoulder. "Whatever makes it easier, Kitten. We're behind you."

Blake took a deep breath, then shook her head. "No. I've lied long enough. I'll go in as I am. If they get upset because I walk in with my ears exposed, a conversation probably wouldn't help things anyway."

Ruby winced, but shrugged. "It's your call. On the bow, I mean. I'm never going to tell you that you can't wear it, or that you have to wear it. That'd be dumb. Just... remember that people can be angry without being bad people, and keep your cool, OK? Especially you, Yang."

Yang opened her eyes wide, innocently. "Me? Lose my temper?"

Ruby rolled her eyes and turned to open the door. "Right. Let's go."

As a group, the four girls marched over to team Winter's dorm room, which was, conveniently enough, directly across the hall. Ruby glanced around her for reassurance, then knocked firmly three times.

The door was opened almost immediately by Nora, who, upon seeing Blake's revealed ears, gave an ear-piercing squeal. "Oh my gosh! Those are so CUTE!" She practically screamed. "Oh! Can I touch them? They look so soft! Are they soft?"

Behind her, Weiss had her hand firmly over her face, looking appalled, but she let her hand fall with a long suffering sigh, and gestured to them to come inside. "Please, come in. I think we have a number of matters to discuss."

Yang barged forward, putting an arm around Nora's shoulders and dragging her out of the doorway to let the rest of her team enter. "No touching, Nora, not unless Blake says it's OK. You wouldn't want everyone just groping you all over, would you?" Nora grimaced at the comparison, but allowed Yang to move her without arguement.

The three other members of team RPBY entered team Winter's dorm with a bit more decorum, Pyrrha closing the door behind them once they were all inside. All the members of team Winter were there. Weiss stood at the center of the room, stepping back slightly to give team RPBY room, but seeming to want their attention. Ren sat on his bed, his expression calm. Jack Spriggin sat on a bed in one corner of the room, his back hunched and looking away from everyone else.

Yang glared at him. "OK, Jack Ass, care to explain that text?"

Jack winced, and looked up, and it was obvious at once that his face was a mess. He had a black eye, as well as several other obvious bruises and contusions on his face, as well as several bandages. "It wasn't me." He looked earnestly at Blake. "Blake, I swear it wasn't me!" His eyes widened slightly as he took a good look at the cat faunus. "Er... wow. You really are a faunus..." He said quietly. "But I don't care about that. I mean... I never cared about if someone was a faunus or not. Some of my bests friends growing up were faunus..." He trailed off. "OK, that sounded a lot better in my head, but it's true. We're all people. It's actions that matter."

Blake raised an eyebrow. "What happened to you, Jack?" She asked him, her voice kind.

Ruby gasped. "Oh my gosh! Someone beat you up and took your scroll!"

Jack sighed. "Pretty much that. Cardin and his team jumped me in the men's locker room. I was fighting today, so I was changing in there, but when the last person left, aside from Cardin and his team, they rushed over and grabbed me. Cardin and two of the others... Dove and Sky, I think, held me down while Russel downloaded that photo onto my scroll, and sent that message to everyone."

He shook his head. "I... I couldn't stop them. Dove and Sky tried grabbing my legs after Cardin got me in a head lock, and I managed to throw them off for a while, but I couldn't get loose of Cardin. He may be slow, but he's not weak. And once they figured out not to try grabbing my legs, Dove and Sky managed to join back in, and they took me down pretty quickly. Then they left. I would have followed them, but I knew I couldn't handle their whole team by myself."

Yang's eyes had gone crimson, and her hair started to glow. "Those bastards... those utter bastards. I'll kill them! Forget breaking legs, I'll break every bone in their stinking bodies!"

Weiss cleared her throat. "Well, you'd have to get them from out of Miss Goodwitch's office to do so, so I'd recommend waiting till after she is finished with them."

Pyrrha looked pleased. "So you informed Miss Goodwitch?"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Not... exactly."

Nora chuckled. "I broke their door down."

Ruby blinked. "What?"

Ren shrugged, taking up the story. "Well, Jack came to us as soon as he got out of the locker room, and told us everything, so as soon as class let out we all went to their dorm room to confront them and ask..."

"Demand." Weiss corrected.

"Demand," Ren agreed. "For Jack's scroll to be returned. Naturally they refused. That's when Nora broke their door down. Things were getting heated..."

"I was kicking their asses!" Nora chimed in.

"When Miss Goodwitch arrived." Ren explained. "She broke up the fight immediately..."

"Which I was totally winning!" Nora yelled happily.

"And at that point, she asked us what we were doing."

"I think her words were, 'What on Remnant do you think you are doing?'" Weiss interjected. "At which point I explained that we'd come to request the return of our teammate's scroll when things got... out of hand."

"And then Ren did the coolest thing!" Nora gleefully exclaimed.

"I dialed Jack's scroll from my own." Ren explained modestly.

"The fools neglected to turn off Jack's scroll." Weiss explained a bit viciously. "Naturally Miss Goodwitch took them into custody immediately." She gestured to Nora. "Nora did receive a detention for destruction of school property..."

"Totally worth it!" Nora yelled.

"... but after we had explained the full circumstances, we were free to go." Weiss finished. "At which point I felt it necessary to call this meeting."

Blake sighed. "I'm really sorry that happened to you, Jack. I feel like this is my fault somehow."

Jack shook his head. "No way. Cardin's been on my case since day one. This isn't on you."

Weiss sniffed. "I agree, although I am not pleased that you were hiding your..." she hesitated, then spoke more quietly. "That you were hiding such a large secret from us."

Blake took a deep breath. "I AM sorry about lying... even if only by omission. I just... I wanted my stay here at Beacon to be about who I am as a person, rather than about being a faunus."

Weiss sighed, then nodded. "Your apology is accepted." Her face still held a frown, but it was a one of frustration, rather than anger. "I feel I must apologize as well, for any difficulty this... event may cause you."

Blake raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to apologize, Weiss. Not for this."

Weiss nodded. "Perhaps, but I feel as if I do hold some responsibility, if only for not anticipating some sort of retaliation by Cardin. Looking out for my team is my responsibility."

Weiss looked at Blake's ears with something approaching curiosity. "Should I take it that you have decided to... come out of the closet entirely? If that's the proper term?"

Blake sighed. "There doesn't seem much point to hiding my ears anymore. If the whole school hasn't figured out that I'm a faunus by now, they certainly will in a day or so."

Weiss nodded. "Well, on behalf of my team, I believe I can safely say you have our support. I won't tolerate any bullying."

Blake nodded quickly. "I appreciate that Weiss. That's generous of you."

Weiss went silent at that, just looking at Blake as if she'd never really seen her before. Blake's ears twitched, causing Weiss to jolt slightly.

Weiss closed her eyes. "I apologize for staring. I don't mean to be rude."

Blake smiled slightly. "It's alright. I suppose you've never been friends with a faunus before."

Weiss winced. "Not as such, no..." She looked at Blake with a mixed expression, part confusion, part concern. "Are we friends, Blake?"

Blake didn't speak up right away, appearing to think about it. "That depends on you, Weiss. I'd like to be, if you aren't against the idea."

Weiss nodded quickly, then closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she nodded more firmly. "Then we are friends. I... I like you, Blake." She looked frustrated, almost angry. "I truly hate to admit it, but perhaps your bow served a useful purpose in the long run after all."

Blake looked curious. "What was that?"

Weiss sighed. "I don't think I would have made as much of an effort to get to know you if I had known you were a faunus." She raised a hand. "I'm not saying I would have shunned you or anything, just... that I would have almost certainly kept myself at more a distance if I'd known you were a faunus from the day we first met." She shrugged. "I think I understand why you were standoffish with me at first." She sighed. "No, I fully understand why. My family does not have the most... stellar reputation among the faunus, and it's not entirely undeserved. I didn't know why you disliked me, but I... I found I wanted you to like me. I found you to be a worthy person, Blake. You are an excellent fighter, your scholastic skills are to be admired, and I do appreciate your taste in literature. Well, some of it, anyway." She shot the cat faunus a little grin. "I hoped, with time, we would become allies, even friends."

Blake raised an eyebrow. "And now?"

Weiss straightened her back a little. "We are friends, I hope. I'm just ashamed to say I cannot be certain we would have become so if I had judged you first by your race, rather than your character. In that, at least, your bow served it's purpose. I got to know you as a person, and I... I find that I am grateful for that."

Yang grinned at her. "Seems like our Weiss Cream has melted a little." Her grin softened slightly. "Seriously though, that's pretty big of you. Any friend of my partner is a friend of mine though. That's for sure." She approached Weiss and held out a hand. Weiss blinked, not sure whether or not to be offended, and finally settled for taking Yang's hand, and not wincing too badly at Yang shaking it vigorously.

Pyrrha smiled warmly at the heiress. "That is most brave of you to admit, Weiss, and quite honorable." Weiss found her smile, nodding to the championship fighter, looking pleased.

Ruby cheered. "Oh yeah! Team Ruby and team Winter are back together!"

Nora cheered as well. "Friends for life, baby!"

Yang grinned and threw up a fist in solidarity with the other two excitable girls.

Ren nodded. "I'd like to state it clearly. If you undergo any difficulties due to this revelation, you may count on our assistance at any time."

Weiss nodded firmly. "My intentions exactly. Thank you Ren."

Jack stood up, nodding quickly. "I... this was all my fault, so anything you need. Anything at all, you just have to ask, Blake."

Blake looked genuinely touched. "Thanks. Thank you all." She moved closer to Weiss, bending down slightly to look directly in the heiress's eyes. "Thank you in particular, Weiss. I really appreciate how hard it can be, coming from a place..." she paused. "From a place where one particular set of ideas can dominate your thinking. Recognizing your own faults and working to fix them is truly admirable."

Weiss looked hesitant. "Do you think I've done that?"

Blake shrugged. "What do you think?"

Weiss sighed. "That I still have much to do." She raised a finger. "That does not mean I condone the actions of the White Fang."

Blake shook her head. "I wouldn't ask you to do that. The White Fang, at least in the last few years, have... have not acted honorably."

Ruby burst in. "You know, they were all peaceful and stuff at first, Weiss! They weren't always hurting people."

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that, Ruby?"

Ruby cleared her throat. "I do read, you know. The White Fang was a non-violent origination till their original leader stepped down, five years ago."

Weiss blinked. "You read all that?"

Ruby nodded eagerly. "There's a book in the Library that explains all about it. Oh! And Blake's parents are in a picture!"

Weiss blinked a second time. "Blake's parents?"

Blake coughed, looking embarrassed. "The White Fang was founded by my father. Ghira Belladona. When the group turned to more radical means, he stepped down as leader, and became chieftain of the island of Menagerie, instead."

Nora's eyes were wide. "Does that mean you're a princess?"

Blake looked confused. "No... it doesn't work like that."

Nora nodded. "Oh... what do they call it then? Chieftess? No, I guess that's your mom? Are you going grow up to rule Menagerie?"

Blake opened her mouth, closed it, then shook her head. "Chieftain is an elected position, so probably not. I fully intend to be a huntress, in any event. I doubt I'd have time for ruling a nation.

Weiss pointed at Blake, looking flabbergasted. "Your father actually started the White Fang?"

Blake sighed and nodded. "Yes. Although, as I said, while my father ran the White Fang, they had a strict policy of non-violence. I was actually a member of the White Fang myself. Almost from birth."

Weiss colored, then grimaced. "But you're not a member anymore?"

Blake shook her head. "I don't agree with their violent tactics. I don't think that hurting people is acceptable, even if it's for a good cause. I came to Beacon to become a Huntress so I could use my skills to protect people, not to harm them."

Weiss sighed. "I see. Well, I suppose I have to apologize. I honestly don't have any issue with peaceful protest. Not even against my family's company, and I'm sure my comments about the White Fang were... painful for you to hear."

Blake smiled. "That is generous of you to say."

Weiss sighed. "Come now. We both know that the SDC does not have the best track record of relations with the faunus. My father... he has taken the company in directions that I think my Grandfather would never have approved of. Certainly I do not agree with most of those decisions."

Blake looked interested. "Do you think you'll ever be able to change things with the SDC?"

Weiss shook her head. "I don't know. I wish to, of course, and at the moment, I AM the heiress to the SDC, so there is a real possibility that I might. But I won't be able to do anything till my father steps down from his position... which may not be for many years."

Blake sighed. "Well, you can only do as much as you can do. I certainly can't blame you for your ambition. I hope you do take over from your father though. I think you'd make a much better leader."

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "You can't know that for certain."

Blake snorted. "No offense, but you could hardly do worse." Weiss frowned, and Blake backpedaled. "I apologize. That was uncalled for. I don't know your father, outside of his reputation." She looked at Weiss calmly. "I stand by what I say, however. You at least seem open minded. Your father has not shown any signs of being reasonable towards the faunus. Not from everything I know of him."

Weiss sighed. "You're not wrong. And thank you for the complement. I don't like to badmouth my father, or hear others do so, but I won't take offense. Although..."

Blake nodded softly. "I won't insult your family in your presence, Weiss. That truly IS insensitive of me."

Weiss raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "That is sufficient."

Blake smiled at her slightly, looking curious. "Are we still friends then?"

Weiss nodded firmly. "Of course. Perhaps we can talk about... these more difficult topics some other time."

Blake smiled. "I'd like to have a civilized conversation with you. About the White Fang, and about the faunus right to equality. But perhaps another time?"

Weiss nodded. "I'd like that as well, I believe. Another time."

/-/

Later, back in their dorm room, Yang was grinning at Blake like the cat that had eaten the canary.

Blake ignored it for as long as she could, then sighed. "What?"

Yang grinned wider. "Well, I think I can safely say that Jack does NOT mind the kitty ears. Did you see the way he was staring at you?"

Blake blushed. "No! What? No. You're kidding right?"

Yang shook her head, looking immensely pleased with herself. "The boy is crushing HARD, kitten. He has NO problems at all with you having cute fuzzy ears on top of your head."

Blake groaned. "Yang... I am not looking to hook up with anyone right now. Besides, he's..." she trailed off, blushing slightly.

"Short?" Yang teased. "Scrawny? Too much into catgirls?" Blake actually hissed a little, and Yang held up her hands. "OK, OK, I'll tone it down."

Blake laid down on her bed and sighed. "Maybe it's a bit insensitive on MY part, but I'm really not all that into him. And yes, maybe part of it is because he's small... and shy. He seems like a nice boy, but there isn't any... chemistry there."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "So it's not about him having a catgirl fetish?"

Blake turned on her side to give Yang an unfriendly glare. "Even if that is a thing..."

Yang grinned. "It SO is."

Blake grunted. "Even if it is a thing, if he'd been attracted to me before he found out I was a faunus, I wouldn't mind him liking me a bit more because he may or may not..."

Yang chuckled. "Have a thing for cute kitty ears?"

Blake shrugged. "People like what they like? I don't know. Don't kink shame, Yang."

Yang blinked. "Wow. Pretty progressive there, Blake. OK. Any fetishes of yours you want to share with the class?"

Blake shook her head, laughing quietly. "You are completely shameless, do you know that?"

Yang chuckled. "I did know that, thank you."

Pyrrha spoke up quietly. "Many people do like cats. And dogs, I suppose. Having traits in common with animals that people like is probably a plus for some people, I suppose?" The Mistralian champion said, fighting a small blush. "It is also probably completely inappropriate to make such comparisons, however."

Blake chuckled. "A little, yeah. I know you don't mean anything bad by it though. I mean, if someone was to say something about Velvet for having rabbit traits, and it wasn't, say, that she probably has really good hearing, I would probably get pretty annoyed."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "You mean the one about rabbits... er... breeding like rabbits?"

Blake rolled her eyes. "That is SUCH a stereotype."

Yang held up her hands. "Hey, I know where to draw the line. I wouldn't say something like that. I mean, I get it. People say a lot of things about blonds. Especially ones who... er..."

Blake grinned. "Who have enormous boobs?"

Yang laughed. "Exactly. People assume that I'm some mindless bimbo. I mean, I play into it sometimes, right before I punch someone in the face for it, anyway."

Blake chuckled. "Well, I have never assumed that you are mindless, Yang."

Yang smiled. "Thanks..." she blinked. "Hey!"

Pyrrha chuckled. "That was pretty funny."

Blake put up a hand in apology. "Obviously I'm kidding, Yang. I haven't seen you with anyone, romantically, anyway. You like to flirt a bit... but..."

Yang grinned, putting her hands behind her head. "Hey, flirting is fun. And harmless, so long as everyone knows it's just for fun."

Blake nodded. "I do understand that much about you, Yang. You're not any kind of bimbo. You're a good big sister to Ruby, and a good partner to me."

Yang smiled warmly. "Aww... I like you too, partner." She grinned, glancing at Pyrrha. "So, Pyrrha, any fetishes of yours you'd like to share with the class?"

Pyrrha groaned and laid back on her own bed. "You really are incorrigible, Yang."

Yang grinned widely. "But you love me anyway, right?"

Pyrrha chuckled. "Perhaps."

Ruby, who'd climbed into her bunk almost as soon as they'd gotten back to their dorm, had been listening to the conversation but not participating, being by stages too embarrassed to chip in and too interested in the conversation to interrupt. Despite her big sister's teasing nature, Yang DID tend to leave her out of the more... adult conversations most of the time, and this was almost the most risque conversation Ruby had ever managed to listen in on. She had great deal of difficulty not giggling at parts, but she really didn't want them to stop talking... or focus on her.

It was odd. In her previous timeline, team RWBY hadn't had nearly so many... interesting conversations as her current team had, especially not so early in the semester. It had probably been Weiss's influence, Ruby was forced to admit. The Schnee heiress was a very nice girl, but she tended to create a sense of... propriety around her. Blake, on the other hand, had always had a wry wit that could rival Yang's sense of humor, but both of them had been rather more subdued while sharing a dorm with Weiss. Pyrrha, on the other hand, did nothing to rein Yang's more boisterous tendencies in, and, in fact, her shy demeanor seemed to egg Yang on. Ruby knew how much Yang loved to make people blush if she could get away with it. She'd been one of her sister's more frequent targets, but Pyrrha seemed to be filling that roll as well.

Pyrrha didn't really seem to mind. Ruby had never seen Pyrrha laugh so much, or be so animated and happy seeming before. During the previous time line, she'd seemed happy enough most of the time, but rarely as cheerful as she seemed now.

"We've got a really great team." Ruby said out loud.

"Well, duh." Yang responded. "Did you just now realize that?"

Ruby leaned over the side of her bed to look over at her sister. "Well, I KNEW we had a great team from the start. I just... I really like this team. Today was rough, but... we came through it. And I'm really happy we're alright."

"Me too." Blake said quietly. "I'm really glad I got on this team with you three. I don't know if I'd have felt as welcomed in any other group."

"I agree." Pyrrha said with a quiet reverence in her voice. "I must admit, I wasn't certain at first." Her voice grew serious. "Ruby... it seemed obvious to me that you knew who I was from the first moment you saw me. I was wary of... well, of what I thought must be another fan, only wanting to get close to me because of my fame."

Ruby winced. "I don't see you like that, Pyrrha, I..."

"I know that now." Pyrrha interrupted firmly. "And I'm very glad you chose me to be your partner. I'm still not quite sure why you did. Perhaps I don't wish to know. I do know that it certainly seems to have worked out for the best."

Ruby sighed. She couldn't tell Pyrrha the truth. Telling her that she'd only sought out Pyrrha to become her partner because she'd wanted to protect her from being killed was too far fetched to be believed... and kind of crazy stalkerish if taken out of context.

She decided to go with a deflection. "I think Weiss would have been a good partner for you, Pyrrha. There is more to Weiss than a girl who just wants fame and power. As for me? Sure, I recognized you. I was pretty surprised to see someone who's face I'd seen on cereal boxes. But I approached you because you looked lonely. After that, I decided to become partners with you because I liked you right away when we met. That's the truth. If you'd been all polite and distant... or mean, or someone I didn't like right away, I'd have looked for someone else. I wouldn't have chosen you if I didn't like you for you, Pyrrha."

Pyrrha smiled, although Ruby couldn't see it, she could hear the smile in her voice. "I know that, Ruby. That's the sort of person you are. I've figured that much out for myself. I was actually really impressed when you tracked me down during initiation. You came right to me after being launched off a catapult. Your skill at aerial maneuvering is really quite remarkable. I am not nearly so accomplished at that kind of technique."

Ruby shrugged. "It's my semblance... and Crescent Rose, of course. Milo doesn't have anywhere near the recoil, you really couldn't do tricks like I do without similar gear."

Pyrrha glanced over at Yang. "I noticed you also have a very mobile style of fighting. You use your gauntlets for movement just like Ruby does with her weapon."

Yang grinned. "Yeah. I could have made them with less of a kick, but using the recoil to maneuver works great, especially now that I've gotten practiced at it." She leaned over the top of her bunk bed to peer down at Blake. "What about you, Blakey? Did you use your super ninja powers to track me down that first day?"

Blake shook her head. "I'm afraid not. I simply was rushing toward where I expected the relics to be located as fast as I could. You were just the first person I saw. I DID see you sail by overhead. I think you probably got the most distance off that initial launch."

Yang grinned. "Yeah, I decided to go for distance. I've always liked going fast. That's why I built Bumblebee."

Blake blinked. "Bumblebee?"

Yang's grin widened. "My motorcycle. You can catch a ride with me into town sometime if you like. But be warned, I like to drive FAST."

Blake smiled. "Sounds good to me."

Pyrrha sounded interested. "Oh my! I've never ridden on a motorcycle before. And you say you built it yourself?"

Yang shrugged. "Well, rebuilt. Got her from a junkyard. Rubes helped a lot. She's a lean mean driving machine now though."

"Working on Bumblebee was fun." Ruby mentioned, breaking out with a yawn a moment later. "I like working with machines..."

"Sounds like it's getting about time to call it a night." Yang said, laying back herself and stretching.

"It has been a very eventful evening..." Pyrrha agreed.

"Stressful too." Blake said with a sigh. "It's been a rollercoaster."

"Tomorrow will be better." Ruby said reassuringly.

Blake grunted. "I doubt it."

Ruby peeked down over the side of her bed, looking worried. "Do you think it'll be really bad tomorrow?"

Blake sighed, then shrugged. "I'll live, I think, but that's not what I meant. Sure, tomorrow will be rough. Everyone is going to be staring at me, even if no one says or does anything. But it won't be as good as today." She smiled. "Today was pretty great. Sure, I got outed as a faunus. But you know what? I'm really glad I did! I don't have to hide who I am anymore, and I learned how much my team cares about me. I even made friends with Weiss Schnee!"'

Ruby giggled, and laid back again. "I guess, when you put it that way, it kind of was a pretty good day."

Yang chuckled. "Yup. I mean, not for Jack. Poor guy got wrung through the wringer."

Blake chuckled. "Not a great day for Cardin and his team, either, I'd think."

Pyrrha laughed lightly. "No, I don't suppose it was."

Ruby giggled. "Goodnight Blake. Goodnight Pyrrha. Goodnight Yang."

Pyrrha took a deep, contented breath. "Good night Ruby. Goodnight Blake. Goodnight Yang."

Blake put her hands behind her head. "Goodnight Ruby. Goodnight Pyrrha. And goodnight to you too, Yang."

Yang chuckled. "Goodnight Rubes. Night P-money! Goodnight my feisty catgirl fetish model!"

Three pillows hit Yang in rapid succession.