Broken Wings Ch. 5: Molting

Well then, thanks to everyone for 180 followers and 130 favorites! Sad that RWBY volume 2 is over, but we're still going strong over here. This chapter will be original, so will every chapter from here on out. Let's do this.

The return back to Beacon with Blake had been the warmest silence Weiss had ever experienced. While no words were spoken, the comfort Blake seemed to feel around them now made the ride feel welcoming. It warmed Weiss' heart, even though she tried so hard to conceal it.

She knew that Blake had earned the trust Weiss was showing, but it didn't change the lie she had been fed.

It didn't change what Blake was.

It only meant that Blake deserved a chance.

The arrival back at Beacon was filled with questions for Blake, the rest of RWBY (minus Ruby herself) had been excused from the questioning. Weiss felt emotional exhaustion, priming her to go straight for her bed.

She simply wasn't accustomed to feeling so much in one day. It left her drained beyond belief, forcing her into a sleep. Her original hopes centered around her sleep being dreamless. That's all Weiss could ever ask for, a dreamless sleep. Blackness into images of real life.

But tonight, she had no such luck.

Weiss' Dream

Weiss found herself in the middle of the large amphitheater in the Schnee Palace. It was not an uncommon practice, especially after her father made her take up singing to entertain the guests. Soon it turned into just another way for her family to make money, but Weiss didn't mind. When she was making money on stage, her father was silent of any scolding. The silence was the best thing that Weiss could've asked for.

But now, she saw herself in the midst of the amphitheater with a full house. Her stomach began to turn slightly, her ear's buzzing. It wasn't something she was unused to, nerves always hit her. Weiss had more reason than most to feel afraid of being so exposed.

She heard the piano begin to play, beginning her count.

One, two, three, four, she whispered in her mind. One, two, three, four.

She hit that last number and opened up her throat to begin.

"Mirror, tell me something, tell me who's the loneliest, of all?"

The song itself was meant as an insult from Ritter to Weiss. It certainly served it's purpose, but what he didn't realize was how therapeutic this song had become for Weiss. A chance to say what she wanted, a chance to submit her plea for anyone, all without compromising her or anyone else. Of course, the words still hurt, but that was all secondary.

"Fear of, what's inside me? Tell me can a heart be turned, to stone?"

Weiss felt herself flinch. She didn't know why at first, but she did. Her back moved forward slightly, her breath slowly growing shaky. She took in a deep breath (nothing unusual for this spot in the song).

Weiss heard her next cue, forcing her to shake off the flinch. She allowed her voice enter into the high note that came next.

As soon as her voice reached full breath, she felt her beautiful tone be replaced with a hideous scream. Weiss dropped to her hands and knees, reaching for her back.

It took a moment for her to accurately pinpoint what caused these wails, but Weiss realized that it was pain. Her back was suddenly bearing the heat of every cut and burn that she ever put on it, all at the same time. Weiss instantly collapsed to the ground. She just couldn't stand it, she had to get her jacket off.

Weiss' hand hit her back, grabbing firmly onto the back of her jacket. She pulled it off of her as quickly as possible, slamming it to the ground. Weis , seeing that the jacket was completely fine. Her eyes widened at the shadow below her as it was quickly being replaced by the red.

Weiss reached behind her, swatting frantically at her back. Her hands felt nothing, but her back was burning. She could feel it, it was on fire. She wanted her hand to find it.

She remained there, reaching for the fire on her back, screaming, unable to do anything about how much agony she was in.

A mirror floated down in front of her, allowing Weiss to at least see what was wrong with her.

She could see the fire, finally. It was two brilliant pillars on either side of her. Both of them started as solid columns, but once the mirror floated down Weiss could see them beginning to spread. She watched as they widened, taking a shape ever so slowly. Her eyes filled with even more horror once she realized what shape they took.

It was a pair of burning wings.

The sight alone was horrid and painful, but the feeling embodied all of these memories. It only made her wails louder.

Soon, the glow vanished. Weiss rose up to her feet, looking shakily at the mirror. She could see that the fire had been replaced by the very things that they had created an image of.

Wings

A pair of white wings now rested in the place of the flames, both of them at (what Weiss imagined was) full length.

At first, Weiss wanted to vomit. She could physically feel her insides churning at the mere sight of those wings.

But it only took a few moments for that sickness to be replaced with wings were... Beautiful. They were everything that Weiss could've ever hoped for.

"Birdy back..." She whispered, her tone laced with joy. Weiss smiled at her reflection, unable to contain her childlike enthusiasm at her wings.

It was all taken away the moment she felt a cold blade come down across her back, invoking the loudest shriek that Weiss had ever done in her life.

Weiss fell back to the floor, hearing her body hit the floor a few moments before her wings followed. She struggled to lift her head up, only seeing a pair of white dress shoes.

"How disappointing," a deep voice said. Weiss' eyes barely lifted above the shoe, but she could see the tip of Myrtenaster with blood dripping from it. Weiss would recognize any small aspect of her father from anywhere.

"... Father..."

"You did persist with these horrid things after all these years," he continued, ignoring Weiss' nearly motionless form. "You ignored our wishes."

"... Father..."

"Now I do hope that you realize anything you say can only make your situation worse."

"... Father please..."

"I suppose you assume that I'd kill you here, but I am very pleased to inform you that you are incorrect. I will force you away from anyone or anything you've ever cared about."

"... Father..."

"I will be the one to personally separate your wings from you every single day."

"... I swear it, I-."

"No more words, Weiss. Your careless has identified you as the monster you are. All monsters will pay."

Weiss watched as the tip of the sword dragged away, her hand quivering as she reached out after him.

"... Father please... Don't... Birdy... Birdy back!" Weiss began to sob, curling up into a ball as she just kept repeating those words.

"Father please don't... Birdy back! Birdy back!"

Her dream soon melted into a puddle of blood, feathers and tears as she shot awake in her bed.

Weiss could feel the cold sweat on her forehead.

She could feel her whole body trembling.

But her wings were the thing that she felt the most.

Weiss hadn't cut them since she had arrived at Beacon, worried that removing them could get her caught.

The dream had to be a clear sign, Weiss thought, staring at the jacket sleeves on her arms. I have to... I've been careless... I can't...

Weiss shook herself free of those thoughts and looked around the room. She noticed that everyone was still asleep, which surprised her. Normally Blake would be up far earlier then Weiss, but she figured that the girl probably had a late night with Ozpin. She had been pulled into questioning, it must've taken her a long time to get back.

Well deserved, Weiss thought. Staring at her team for only another moment, Weiss reached underneath her bed to grab an empty bag. It looked like most of Weiss' other bags but it was function that really set it apart from the other bags. This bag had been specially made (per Rosanne's orders) to be completely fireproof. The idea was that Weiss would keep this one separate from everything else and use it strictly to hold her wings, burning them within the tight bag.

She had kept everything away from it, now she was going to put it to use for the first time. Weiss grabbed a few vials of Dust, a change of clothes and Myrtenaster before exiting the dorm.

Weiss didn't bother leaving a note, her team knew that she never changed in the dorm. They'd most likely assume that Weiss had left to change, but if she didn't return for a long period of time then they'd think that she went out on a walk. Weiss had been working in a steady diet of walks into her daily routine, allowing for her to be in a much better place to do something like this.

Weiss hurried into the girl's bathroom, throwing her change of clothes on a shower stall to claim it for herself. Weiss had always been impressed with how much privacy you could find in Beacon's bathroom, but she still had to work fast. While the privacy was enough to allow for her to shower and change without a concern, it wasn't enough to execute her whole return in secret if she wasn't alone.

Weiss stepped into the shower stall, stripping down and throwing her clothing over the shower stall's door. She stretched out her back, grabbing onto some of the wrap she used to hold her wings a little closer to her body. She pulled the wrap free and put it on the shower floor. Weiss felt her wings unfold themselves, already the muscles in them yelling at her for keeping them pent up for so long.

Weiss turned on the water, letting it run all over her body. She stepped out of the stream, stretching out her wings. She reached underneath the stall and grabbed ahold of Myrtenaster. Without missing a heartbeat, Weiss lined Myrtenaster up with her first wing.

All that could be heard was a single crunch as the blade of Myrtenaster sliced cleanly through the flesh.

Weiss didn't even flinch, switching her grip on Myrtenaster and immediately slicing through her second wing.

Weiss moved back under the water stream, having the luxury of being able to instantly go under the water.

Weiss let the heated water run over her body, watching as blood pooled into the drain. Weiss, for once, didn't stress over any kind of cleanup. Nobody would question blood in a Beacon shower.

She stepped out of the water stream, sliding her wings out of the way of the liquid. She grabbed onto the bag for the wings, quietly shuffling them into the bag. Weiss zipped up the bag before grabbing the flaming Dust and starting to sprinkle it over her back. She could hear the sizzle, her back forcing itself into an arch after the dream the prior night.

But nothing stopped her.

Weiss felt her back cauterize and she stopped pouring the Dust onto her. She got under the water stream one more time, closing her eyes and enjoying the tranquility.

After another minute, Weiss turned off the water and began to dry herself off. She bent down incredibly slowly, picked up her recently removed wings and gingerly set them in the bag.

The moment Weiss was done drying herself off, she got into her spare change of clothes, tossed her other clothes into the school hamper, picked up Myrtenaster, her bag and made a beeline for the exit.

Weiss walked through Beacon, holding her sword and bag at her side. The wings were reasonably heavy, but Weiss was a lot stronger then most people would assume. Carrying the wings was really of no huge issue for her.

Weiss got to the edges of the Emerald Forest, bringing her to a stop. She looked around to make sure there were no other students or teachers and then kneeled down to her bag. She pulled out a whole vial of fire Dust and uncorked it.

"Please work," Weiss whispered softly. She dumped the vial into her bag and sealed it. She felt the exterior of the bag heat up slightly, hearing the sound of the high heat Dust eat away at the wings.

She waited until the sounds could no longer be heard and then opened up the bag. Weiss closed her eyes, holding back tears.

The wings were nothing but ash.

Weiss closed up the bag, taking a few more steps out before dumping the ashes out into the wild. Weiss got down to the ground, sitting there and starting as the ashes scattered into the wind.

She closed her eyes, looking down into her lap at the same time.

Ashes of my past will scatter into the wind but the dreaded shadow of my future is still on my back, Weiss thought. She sighed, getting onto her feet. She dusted off her skirt, straightening her posture to look as formal as ever.

Weiss began to walk, taking careful strides through the edges of the Emerald Forest.

It didn't take too long for her to reach school campus again. The time that had passed since when she had first taken a shower was significant enough to where people were now out and about on campus, but nobody stopped Weiss. Most of them knew what cold touch awaited them if they ever made an attempt to speak with the Ice Queen. Weiss was happy with that. Dealing with people under her false image was difficult enough without having to maintain it through every lost student on campus.

Weiss masterfully navigated her way into her dorm, avoiding every student along the way. She let herself in to find that only Blake was inside. The girl was sitting in her bed with a book in her hands.

"Blake," Weiss said politely.

"Weiss," Blake replied, her voice keeping the same monotone quality that Weiss had come to know so well. Weiss' eyes drifted up to Blake's head, noticing the bow that still rested on top of it. Weiss cleared her throat, deciding not to acknowledge it for now.

"Where are Ruby and Yang?" She asked instead.

"Out doing something sisterly, I'm sure," Blake said, shrugging it off. "Your walk was-."

"Fine, Blake," Weiss said, cutting the girl off. Blake let a small smile show, returning to reading her book. Weiss walked over to her own bed, setting her now empty bag underneath it before sitting down slowly onto the surface.

"I see that you're still wearing your bow," Weiss finally remarked, looking studiously over Blake.

"You three knowing is one thing," Blake began instantly, seemingly having this pre-prepared. "But you know what others are like. I can't ri-."

"I understand your decision, Blake."

I admire you making the reveals that you have, Weiss thought.

"Just an observation." Blake looked up from her book, raising an eyebrow at Weiss. But the Faunus didn't push it any further, going back to reading her book.

The silence hung there for a little while longer. It was long enough for Weiss to pull out a book to begin studying.

"Thank you Weiss," Blake said suddenly. Weiss looked up from her book, eyebrow raised in a question.

"For?" She inquired.

"For... Accepting me. When I learned I was in the same team as you, I honestly feared the worst. Now I see I made the wrong judgement about you, for that I say I'm sorry. But Weiss, you have my gratitude." Weiss remained silent, returning her stare to her book.

"Some people deserve a chance, Blake," Weiss said, her voice barely reaching a whisper. "You are one of those people... And your judgement of me is accurate."

"Weiss... I just thought of you like a Schnee... Just some coldhearted hater of Faun-."

"There are exceptions to every rule of hate," Weiss said coldly, the familiar icy tone working it's way back into her voice. "You are one of them. Let there be no misunderstandings about my emotions towards the Faunus as a general group."

"Weiss, there are plenty like Sun and mys-."

"Sun is a thief!" Weiss didn't know how, but she was now standing just a little bit away from Blake's bed. "Sun steals, he has no place in my heart for exceptions. The Faunus of the White Fang made my life hell. The Faunus working for my father have become nothing but animals, he saw to that. And-." Weiss stopped herself, feeling her fists clench and throat close.

"...Blake," she said with a shaky breath. "There are exceptions to every rule. But I... For me it's just you." Weiss straightened herself out, sitting neatly back onto her bed. "I am aware that other Faunus are present at Beacon, including that senior, Velvet, but I reserve all judgement until I meet them. Getting to know a person is the only fair judgement."

"Then let me say that you're an exception," Blake countered. Weiss looked down into her book, taking in a deep breath.

Birdy!

"You don't know me."

Back!

"No one here knows me."

Birdy back!

Blake stared at Weiss, her expression slightly crestfallen. It was clear that the girl was frustrated over how little of Weiss she knew, but there was nothing she could do.

"I hope that you come to trust us like I trust you," Blake said before returning to her reading. Weiss buried her nose deeper into her textbook, blinking away a tear.

If only that's all it would take...

End: So I've opened myself up to writing commissions. Info is on my profile (if you're on mobile you can't view it) and my tumblr. Otherwise, that whole "5k per chapter" may have been a little too ambitious. Oh well, here's hoping. Questions, comments, follows, favorites and feedback is appreciated.