This is the final chapter for my Fairytale AU, and it admittedly gave me the most trouble to write. For the most part, it doesn't have many things relating to Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, but you'll see a few things hinted at here and there.

This is the "summer" chapter.

Warnings for implied sexual harassment.

Thank you to astaroverhead!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

Chapter 4.

The Runaway And The Aristocrat

She thought it'd be easy – landing a job, that is.

After all, with her looks, who in their right mind wouldn't hire Yang Xiao Long?

She was infamous around the village for her impossibly good looks - a sunflower among dandelions, they called her.

Her hair was a thick stream of wavy gold, an uncommon hair color in these times. Her eyes were captivating pools of lavender, her scent was of citrus, summer, and celebration.

And she was eighteen now, so she was encouraged to get a job.

She thought it'd be easy. Many of the village girls told her to try out seeking work at one of the local taverns.

The first night she was able to, Yang walked to the one nearest to her home.

Upon entering, she'd loved the vibe she got from it all. The air was alive and crackling with energy, and despite the thick scent of alcohol, she felt she could get used to it quickly.

The patrons were mostly older men, and they sat at the wooden tables with large jugs of overflowing beer, betting on who could down their mug faster. Waitresses wore simple dresses and aprons, smiling all the while as they scurried to each table to bring meat and beer to the men.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Yang was on the hunt for the boss, someone to talk to about discussing a potential job opportunity. So for now, she tried to avoid the action, as there was a section of open floor where people were dancing tipsily.

But even dressed in the unrevealing dress she adorned, Yang wasn't someone people could just ignore.

She couldn't even make it five feet into the tavern without being whistled at, and blatantly groped.

She tried her best to play it all off, to respond with winks and shakes of her head despite the awful chills that ran up her spine.

At last, she caught the eye of one of the other waitresses, but even that girl eyed her as though she were a threat to her job.

"I wanna talk to the boss," Yang told her.

"I think you're a little young for this place," the waitress said.

"I'm not!" Yang said. "You can ask my father if you'd like. I just turned of-age a few days ago!"

The waitress grimaced and rolled her eyes.

"You want me to get fired so you can get a position here?" she accused.

Yang frowned, taken aback.

"I didn't say that. Since when am I after your job?"

Before the girl could reply, a door in the far wall opened and a man emerged. He wore good clothing that suggested his position, unlike the patrons who wore mostly rags and tattered pants. He caught sight of Yang instantly, and she could sense that this was the man she was seeking.

Their eyes met, and they came to a mutual understanding as he beckoned her over.

He brought her into a quieter private office of sorts, all sound from the bar blocked off entirely. She told him her name as he sat her in a chair and offered her a drink, but not water – he offered her hard liquor.

Yang politely declined despite his insistence, until at last he relented.

"So," he said, walking slowly about the room. "Why would you like to work at my tavern?"

Yang shrugged.

"Everyone told me I'd be perfect for it!"

"I think you certainly would be," he agreed. "What with your beautiful hair, those eyes... and that smile."

He crossed the room and laid a hand on her shoulder, one she would've smacked away if this man hadn't been her future boss. She looked up at him, trying not to let it become a warning glare.

He smiled.

"You're hired, Miss Yang."

She'd been too excited to be cautious; this was her first real job, after all.

Even when he gave her the dress that was the uniform here with the extremely low-cut collar – significantly lower than she'd seen on the other girls – Yang didn't ask questions.

She ran home to her father and sister that night in their humble little cottage near the edge of the village. She told them the good news and they smiled and embraced her.

Yang was delighted to get this job now that she had finished with her school lessons.

Her father slaved away his days as a blacksmith, and when Ruby wasn't at her lessons, she was watching him, learning the ways to forge swords and weapons.

Yang had never been too interested in that profession, so she was glad that now she could finally help bring home some money.

And she did, but not because her eyes and hair and smile were what the people wanted from her at the tavern.

On only her first night working, the tables she served were entirely of men.

She wasn't naïve, but she also wasn't foolish enough to refuse the men who were ordering drinks and food from the person who was paying her at the end of the week. Besides, they always tipped her extra, and she couldn't afford to refuse the money.

So she endured it when they reached out a rough hand to touch her hip, said nothing when they eyed her chest like ravenous wolves.

Perhaps she'd get used to it.

Perhaps after the first few nights, the men would get bored of her and leave her be...

But they never got bored of her.

Before very long, the patrons started specifically requesting Yang be the girl to serve their tables, and while it earned her a good amount of extra cash to take home in her pocket, it also earned her the ire of every woman working alongside her.

Soon they were all against her, blindly turning the other way whenever Yang was touched by the men.

"They never touch us like that," they'd say. "You should be flattered."

But flattered was the exact opposite of what she felt. It was more like revolted, disgusted, and utterly violated.

But every night, she walked home with heavy pockets full of coins and cash, forcing a smile as she pushed through the door to the cottage.

Home was the only good thing about those days.

The money she brought in allowed her family to have a decent meal every night, and it alleviated so much pressure from her father's shoulders.

Yang's first payment day at the tavern almost had her sobbing; because of her presence, the business had increased, and the boss gave her a handsome bonus. She gave it all to her father, and he embraced both of his daughters and wept with joy.

But the mistreatment Yang received from her patrons at the tavern didn't stop after the first week, or the second. The other girls hated her and refused to offer a helping hand whenever she was being hassled.

Yang defended herself only when it got bad, but otherwise let them do as they pleased, especially when her boss emerged to observe her.

It was torment, having to endure that every day, and yet she couldn't get out because of the money it was bringing her family.

As she walked home every night through the streets bathed in twilight, Yang could only shiver, still able to feel the hands all over her body. There was only so much cleansing a nightly shower could do for her.

It soon got to the point where she jolted if her father embraced her, and she pushed Ruby away for doing the same.

She felt so tainted, so impure. She didn't want it to rub off on her little sister.

Yang mulled through the days, praying for every evening to come faster, and dreading each morning to come.

Before long, she took home her third paycheck on top of the tips she'd earned every night, and Ruby hugged her again.

"Yang! You're so incredible!" she cheered.

But the blonde couldn't even manage to return the hug. She only pried Ruby away before retreating to their shared bedroom to shed her filthy waitress dress and slip on a nightgown before crawling into bed.

Not long afterward, she felt Ruby slip in beside her rather than go to her own bunk. Yang wanted to tell her to get out for fear of somehow staining her innocent soul, but Ruby was already fast asleep at her side.

That night, Yang curled an arm around her little sister, tucked Ruby into her chest, and sobbed softly.

She knew she couldn't keep this up much longer, but she dreaded to tell her family as much.

. . .

The next day, Yang held herself as proudly as she could as she ventured to the tavern.

As per usual, the men erupted in cheers and whooping sounds, all begging her to serve their table first.

She went through the usual motions like clockwork, taking orders, refusing to drink with them, holding still as their eyes traveled her.

She made it through most of the night, collecting her tips as she went, until a particularly vile man wouldn't take no for an answer. He all but dragged her down into one of the chairs before climbing on top of her lap, hands sliding all along her front.

Yang shrieked and lost her temper for the first time. She threw a powerful punch to his face, one that sent him reeling and collapsing onto the floor, his nose gushing blood.

While the waitresses shouted at her and called her a lunatic, some of the men were laughing and telling her they wanted to be next.

But Yang was finished with the abuse; she wanted out.

She snarled, sending glares at each and every one of them, and they all shrunk away until at last her eyes found her boss. She stormed up to him, furious and humiliated, but she held back the tears despite the redness of her face.

"What the hell kind of monster are you?" she snapped. "You're not running a brothel or a whore house! Defend your workers, you pig!"

But he, too, merely shrugged and laughed.

"This might not be a whore house," he said. "But you're definitely a whore, honey."

Outraged and embarrassed beyond words, Yang shoved him and sent him crashing into the wall. She tore off and fled the tavern – for good this time.

But... she didn't want to go back home.

Not after that.

Her family was too good for her.

As she limped through the streets, she came to a decision.

She'd go home, but only for a moment.

She waited until it was dark out, when she knew Ruby and her father would be asleep. Yang had come home late often enough for them to know they could retire without waiting for her.

She slipped inside the house, and the darkness suggested her assumptions were correct.

Yang treaded quietly over to the small table in the kitchen. She located a match to light the candle on the table with, and gathered a pen and paper before beginning to write:

Dear dad and Ruby,

I'm really sorry this is so sudden, but something came up. Don't worry though, I'm fine-

She had to wipe her eyes so none of the tears would seep into the paper. She swallowed a sob and continued:

I'm fine. But I quit my job at the tavern. I'm going to look for another job, but I won't be back for a week or so. Sorry I couldn't tell you in person. I'm leaving tonight's pay with you guys. Take care.

Love, Yang.

She emptied her pockets and left the money on the table beside the letter. She only took a few coins for herself, just to be safe.

Then, Yang tip-toed up the stairs to hers and Ruby's room. She found her little sister in the bottom bed – Yang's – and wasn't all that surprised. Ruby had probably been waiting for her all evening.

"Sorry, sis," Yang murmured, bending down to kiss her forehead. "I'll be back before you know it, 'kay? Promise."

Yang shed her tavern dress for the final time and tossed it somewhere unimportant; she vowed to fuel the fireplace with it once she returned.

She slipped into a clean dress, one of her own that didn't reveal so much skin, one that was softer and held fonder memories.

She grabbed a small bag and stuffed a blanket inside. She knelt to retie her boots, and then slipped the coins into her dress pocket.

When she stood in the doorway, she glanced back over her shoulder at her sleeping sister, a tiny, sad smile on her lips.

"Sorry, Ruby. I just... need some time away. Alone. I'll come home soon."

She knew Ruby's mother had failed to keep a similar promise, but Yang vowed she wouldn't do the same.

She blew Ruby one final kiss before closing the bedroom door and descending the stairs.

From there, she went to the door and slipped outside into the warm summer night.

She wasn't sure where she'd go or what she'd do, but at the very least she knew she'd return home, if only to keep her promise to Ruby.

When her father told Weiss and Winter they could have whatever they wanted on their eighteenth birthdays, he took it very seriously.

As the eldest sister, Weiss had planned her request weeks in advance, asking him if it was acceptable or not. He'd proudly told her that it was.

The Schnees were one of the richest families in the village of Vale. Their large three-story house could only be described as a mansion in these times, bigger and more extravagant than any others in the wealthiest part of town.

They had hired workers and guards whom they paid fairly, and that was part of the reason why the family never got robbed by petty thieves.

Schnee's daughters were often called snobs or spoiled brats – any variation of the words, they'd heard a million times before by jealous neighbors.

But Weiss and Winter often partook in kind little deeds when others weren't looking.

Weiss was known to take walks around this part of the village, and she always had a few lien to spare for the homeless. And she was never condescending about it, but rather caring.

Still, however, her main image was that of a wealthy man's daughter, and there were times when she was, in fact, very spoiled.

They had a second house, a very small, two-story cottage in the forest near the edge of town, not far from the wide lake. The family of three would take small vacations there from time to time, to escape the village for a time and indulge in simpler things. Save from its location in the woods, that cottage was no different from that of a family's who received the usual, lower income.

Well-off as they may have been, Mr. Schnee had earned his wealth through hard work rather than luck. His family had had troubles of their own and often liked to escape from them at least once every season.

But for her birthday wish, Weiss had made a special request:

"I want to go away to the forest cottage alone."

Of course she loved the small vacations they took as a family, but she'd always wondered what it would be like to live alone for once, if only for a few days.

She was an adult now, and a curious one at that.

She insisted that no guards or maids accompany her, and though he was nervous about it all, her father agreed to her terms, telling Weiss it would be a good opportunity for her to learn responsibilities. He didn't fancy the thought of having to send his daughters off to be married some day, but he knew it was likely an inevitable path he'd have to travel, so this would be a good place to start for both himself and his eldest daughter.

She was the heiress to his fortune, after all, and he knew she would experience hardships in the future - things she couldn't come to him or her sister asking for help about.

So he would trust her with this freedom for her birthday.

The morning her trip was set to begin, Weiss woke early, changed into one of her dresses, and tied her hair quickly before going down to breakfast. She and Winter ate quickly before Weiss scurried back to her room excitedly, gathering sleepwear and leisure clothing - none of the formal stuff. Winter was excited too, and she went to her sister's room to help her pack.

The Schnees were one of few families in Vale to own a horse, and their father had presently secured him from the stable.

Weiss and Winter met their father at the front of the mansion, and the eldest loaded her single bag onto the saddle. Her father had packed her a bag as well, one full of various vegetables and other food items.

The cottage was a half an hour's walk, and only Weiss, her father, and a guard would be going. Therefore, Weiss embraced her sister briefly before she departed.

"Be safe," Winter murmured.

"Behave," Weiss chuckled, kissing her forehead.

Her father motioned for her to mount the horse – this was her birthday gift, after all – and he helped her get her feet into the stirrups before making sure she was settled. Weiss waved farewell to her sister as they set off, her father and the guard on foot and leading the horse at a slow pace.

The summer sunshine was bright and warm, making every cottage they passed seem happy for Weiss. The people they encountered smiled kindly, some because they were intimidated by the Schnees, but others because they knew what kind people they truly were.

Weiss liked the smiles of the latter group much more.

It was noon by the time she could see the forest, and the bustle of the town died away behind them. Another five-minute walk into the trees, and the cottage was in sight.

It sat atop a very small hill, and about a minute's walk away sat a large, freshwater lake. It was fairly close to the village, so people often came there to cool off, and children swam; Weiss was excited to be able to venture down to the water's edge and relax for an entire day.

But for now, she focused on the tasks at hand.

They reached the cottage, and her father supported her as she dismounted. The other man took her bag from the saddle, and her father handed her the key to the house.

"Make sure you lock the doors every night."

"I will, Daddy." She accepted the key and hugged him softly.

"And be safe," he went on, patting her back. "If you need anything, go to town and send word to me. I'll do whatever I have to."

"I know you will, Daddy." She strained up to kiss his cheek. "Try not to worry so much, okay? I'll be just fine."

He gave her one last squeeze before letting her go.

"I'll be back for you in a week. Happy birthday." He kissed the top of her head.

With that, he stayed put beside his horse and his guard, watching Weiss grab her bags and hurry to the familiar cottage. She put the key to the lock in the door and waved to him one final time before slipping inside.

She was certain to lock the door behind herself right away, and then place her bags down onto the stone floor of the entranceway.

She darted into the living room, her shoes sliding lightly along the wooden floors there. She went to the windows to peer outside into the forest, and she knew from the second floor she'd be able to see the vast expanse of the sparkling lake.

She ran back to her bags, taking the one full of food to the small kitchen area that was complete with a working stove and sink. Weiss hummed to herself as she laid out the various vegetables and a few slabs of steak her father had wrapped up for her.

She was still bursting with excitement, even after she'd hurried to the second floor and unpacked her clothes.

There were three rooms on the second level, one being a bathroom and the others being bedrooms. One was for her father, and the other was shared between Winter and herself.

But now it was all Weiss'.

The two beds sat beside one another on the floor, freshly-changed covers on them both; she recalled her father had sent a few maids here several days perviously to tidy up the place for Weiss' arrival in order to give her a bit of a break on the cleaning, being she was alone.

She all but dove onto her bed, giggling softly before sitting up to peer out the window. She could see the lake clearly from here, and she vowed that tomorrow she would go there.

But for now, she enjoyed having the cottage to herself, and spent her evening singing, preparing food, bathing, and ultimately curling up on her bed with a book under the candlelight, eager for a new day.

Yang didn't want to risk sticking to the streets and being discovered by other villagers, but the danger of the forest surrounding the town was even more unpredictable.

There was only one place she could think to go.

She trudged toward the treeline, knowing it wouldn't be a very far walk from where she already was.

She was cautious and made sure to listen to the sounds of the forest, aware of the increase of predators typically active at night.

But all seemed quiet, a welcomed change in the atmosphere after the hectic night at the tavern.

And then, she could finally hear it, the lapping of the waves against the shore.

Brushing through one last bushel of brambles, she emerged onto an open hillside that gradually sloped down and flattened out. The grass turned to sand, and that extended for only six or so feet before ultimately merging with water.

At least at night no one was around, and the openness of this part of the forest allowed sounds to echo, making it easy for her to hear signs of approaching trouble.

But there were no such things tonight.

Yang dropped her bag onto the ground in the spot just before the grass melted into sand. She dug around through the pockets until she'd located the blanket she'd taken from her room, and she spread it out over the grass.

After lying herself down, she took one end of the fabrics and curled it over herself; had it been any other season than summer, she would never have been blessed with such luck for a warm night.

Her gaze went to the stars above for a time, watching, counting, connecting them, as though she were searching for answers in them, waiting for them to show her something or tell her their secrets.

They never spoke to her or showed her anything, but at the very least they took her mind off the troubling thoughts and memories that kept threatening to resurface.

It was a quiet night, despite where she was, but she found herself missing the sounds of Ruby's little snores, the creaking of her old house when the wind blew against it...

And she was chilled, but she couldn't crawl up into Ruby's bunk or whisper for her to come down into hers.

Not tonight.

She wanted to go back, and yet she wanted to stay away, at least until she felt a bit better about everything.

A shudder ran through her, a mixture of chills from the air and from the memories of where she'd been touched by those men for the past several weeks.

She turned over again and closed her eyes, shutting out the world and her conscious with it.

When she woke, Yang felt as though she'd slept well, considering she'd been curled up in the middle of the forest.

She pushed herself up and shook out her hair, cursing when she realized she'd neglected to bring a brush along.

At least she'd remembered to grab a bit of food from the kitchen, just a few fruits. She dug one out now, not even bothering to care which kind it was before sinking her teeth in to satiate her growling stomach.

The lapping of the lake water was a tempting sound, and once she'd finished the fruit and tossed away the core of it, she ventured down to the water's edge.

The sun was just beginning to rise, pale yellow light cutting through the tree trunks and skimming over the sparkling surface of the water. There was a mist about the forest, thick grey clouds in the sky, and a familiar dampness in the air that could suggest only one thing; rain.

Yang groaned to herself as she knelt down and cupped water in her hands, bringing it to her chin to drink her fill and then splashing some onto her face to wash off the grime and sweat that had beaded over her skin in the night.

Once finished, she returned to her bag and blanket and simply laid down on her back to gaze up at the sky. It was only visible between patches of clouds, and the sunlight was more often than not covered by them as well. Darker ones lingered in the distance, but for now the ones overhead were grey.

Yang simply folded her arms behind her head and closed her eyes.

When other villagers started to arrive, they kept a good distance between her and themselves. The children swam and played in the lake while others filled jugs of water in it.

All in all, there were fewer than a dozen people who stuck around, likely because they, too, could sense the oncoming storm. It was a humid day, and very wet, the kind that made anyone grimace and groan.

Yang – with her dress she hadn't changes since she'd left home, and her mane of thick, tangled hair – was no exception.

She simply settled for napping, closing her eyes as though some answer to her whole predicament would present itself to her upon opening them again.

It must've been a few hours before she woke again, finding the sky darkening, the wind changing. The other people began to leave the beach, parents urging their children to hurry so they could make it home before the rain started.

But other than herself, there was one more person who didn't seem in a hurry to leave.

She was a bit to Yang's right side, also sitting on a blanket as she filed her nails. Yang noticed a lot of things about her right from the start.

First of all was her appearance, naturally. She wore a long blue skirt and a simple white shirt, a set of clothing not too out of the ordinary for a village girl.

But the colors were unusual, as white was hard to come by – most white shirts turned brown or grey before long, but there wasn't a single stain on this girl anywhere. The materials of her clothes were also very well-sewed and looked sturdier than the clothes most people adorned.

Then there was her alabaster hair, an extremely unusual color in any part of the world. It was as long as Yang's own and very well-kept, suggesting her status; Yang knew personally that having long hair was a hassle to maintain and expensive if it was to look as nice as this girl's did.

Most others – Ruby included – tended to chop it all off before long. Yang had only kept hers because she liked it, though she did realize she'd been neglecting it quite a bit lately.

The nail file the girl was using was another factor to suggest her higher-ranking status in life, as were the two books stacked at her side.

This girl was nothing short of gorgeous, and Yang had to wonder what she was doing here alone.

She must've been gawking, because the girl looked up at her.

That was when Yang noticed the scar over her eye, but even more alluring were her eyes - the most beautiful blue Yang had ever had the pleasure of viewing.

She felt a smile coming on, just from how much she loved that color.

However, the other girl spoke in an unamused, rather defensive tone.

"Can I help you?"

Yang blinked rapidly several times before shaking her head.

"Uhh... no, not really. Sorry." It'd been the first time she's spoken since the tavern, she realized. Perhaps this girl could help her after all, by humoring her if nothing else. "Um... what are you doing out here?"

The second she asked, she felt dumb for doing so.

The other girl glared at her.

"I could ask the same of you! You've been lying there for hours, and you were here even before I was! Your clothes and hair look positively grungy. Did you forage for berries this morning?"

Her tone sounded almost accusing, and Yang was about to be offended by it.

But when she looked close enough, she could see the girl's expression was less out of outrage and more out of... concern? And she was only yelling because of the distance between them.

Yang took a breath and composed herself before replying.

"I'm on a vacation... sort of..." she said simply.

The white-haired girl gave her a puzzled look as though Yang had sprouted a tail.

"Well then, I hope you're thinking of packing up soon," she said. "There's going to be a storm, in case you haven't noticed." As she spoke, the white-haired girl lifted herself onto her knees and began packing her books and supplies away, folding her blanket up before stuffing it into a basket. "I'm assuming you're taking your sweet time because you live nearby and can make it home before the rain starts, right?"

But Yang made no move to pack up her things, and simply shrugged.

"Nah. I'm not going home yet. Not for a few more days at least..."

The girl turned to her sharply, her knees sending a bit of sand up into the air.

"What do you mean you're not going home?" she snapped, and again, it was more flustered than anything.

"What do you care?" Yang growled.

"Can't I? Am I not allowed to?" the girl snapped.

Yang was taken aback by her vehemence, and spoke cautiously from there.

"I mean... what do you get out of it? Worrying about others, I mean."

That was the first time Yang saw an ounce of anger from the other girl, but she also flinched as though she'd been stricken.

"Why do people assume I must gain something from everything I do? Is it because I'm a Schnee? We may have a lot of money, but that doesn't mean we're heartless, you know!"

Yang wasn't even put off by the girl's scream – she was too focused on what she'd said first.

White hair, clean clothes, books... Of course this girl was a Schnee.

And Yang had just made her unhappy, it seemed.

"Hey, I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I didn't mean to suggest-"

"What? Speak up! You're mumbling! No, you know what? Don't speak. You're coming back to my cottage with me so you can explain things properly."

The white-haired girl slid her basket onto her forearm and stood.

Yang could tell quickly that this girl was only as tall as Ruby was, even though Schnee's daughters were closer to Yang's age.

She was flustered to find this girl was being serious though, because she made her way over to Yang wearing a glare all the while. She paused a foot or so away from her and offered her palm.

"Give me your hand."

"What?" Yang almost laughed. "You're not being serious, are you? Why would you do this?"

"You idiot! Are you really going to make me say it?"

"That'd be helpful, yeah."

"Ugh!" The white-haired girl stomped a shoe in the sand and threw her head back in frustration. "Fine! Unless you'd rather catch your death out here in the bear-infested woods in the middle of a thunderstorm, you're coming with me!"

Yang's eyes went wide as she looked up at the girl still offering her hand. She didn't know what to say.

"You're... you mean it?"

The girl snorted and turned icy blue eyes on her again.

"If I didn't mean it would I be saying it to you right now?"

Yang had no response to that.

She didn't see any options available other than two: to refuse the girl and retreat back into the forest to brave a thunderstorm without shelter, or to accept her offer and hope for the best.

Yang might've been an idiot, but she wasn't dumb.

She'd seen the concern in this girl's eyes earlier, concern for her. Yang hadn't met people outside of her own family who would care for her wellbeing until now.

And this girl was still holding her hand out – albeit a bit impatiently now as Yang pondered her decision.

But the point was, she hadn't grabbed Yang and forced her onto her feet and dragged her away. She'd made absolutely certain not to make contact with Yang unless Yang herself wanted to.

That was a sign of respect she couldn't ever remember being shown in the past.

Rain started drizzling down, but still the Schnee girl didn't leave. Something told Yang she'd wait even after the storm began if it meant Yang might accept her offer.

There was no point in making her wait any longer, though.

Yang heaved a sigh and reached up, sliding her hand into the much smaller one.

"Alright," she grumbled. "I don't know... what you want from me, but do your worst."

She felt the girl give a tug, helping Yang to her feet. The blonde swayed a bit, but there was a hand on her back instantly to support her.

"When did I ever say I wanted something from you in return?" the girl huffed. "There you go again, assuming I have some ulterior motive up my sleeve. That's all anyone ever thinks about with my family. Why can't we just be nice? I know you probably don't expect us to be, but..." She trailed off with a sigh, clearly deciding this would be better addressed later, somewhere safe.

Instead, the girl knelt down and folded Yang's blanket for her, put it into her bag, and handed it to her.

"There. Now follow me. We can make it back without being drenched if we run." She took off without another word, surprisingly faster than Yang expected. The girl looked over her shoulder and called back to the blonde. "Hurry up!" But then, she seemed to have thought of something and quickly made her way back to Yang. "Are you injured somewhere?"

Yang blinked.

"No..." Why would this girl even care so much to think that?

Yang might've smiled a tiny bit.

"Good," the smaller girl said. "Then let's go."

Once more, she held out her hand for Yang to take. When she finally did, they were both off, Yang keeping pace with the girl as she weaved through the trees.

They climbed a bit of a hill, the grass slick with rain now. Yang cursed as her shoe slipped, and she very nearly dragged the both of them down into the mud.

But her guide reacted quickly, grabbing hold of a nearby tree with her free hand and tightening her grip on Yang with the other, which prevented the blonde from falling. With a grunt, Schnee's daughter hauled Yang back to her feet, and though she was panting, the first words out of her mouth were concern.

"Are you alright?"

Yang nodded.

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Come on."

They hurried on through the forest until Yang could see a small cottage up ahead. She followed the girl to the door where they paused as the key was fumbled for and put into place.

At long last, they pushed inside and closed the door behind them, just as the wind began to pick up outside.

Both girls took a moment to catch their breaths, only slightly wet. Yang knew that if she'd answered the girl quicker back on the beach, they might not have gotten wet at all. She felt guilty when her companion sneezed, and Yang met her eyes.

"Thank you," she murmured.

Their hands were still together, and they only came apart so they could each deposit their things onto the floor.

"It's fine," the other girl muttered.

"You're really somethin' else," Yang went on. "Inviting a total stranger into your house, and when you say you have nothing to gain from it, too."

"Oh please." A small white hand ran through even whiter hair as she scoffed. "First of all, this is only a vacation home, hence why I'm here alone. And secondly-" Her blue eyes traveled over Yang's person until they found lavender. "I can tell you're not a threat. Forgive my saying it, but you're like me, in a way."

"Why would I have to forgive you for saying that?" Yang wondered.

The girl blinked up at her.

"Because I'm a Schnee. Because people don't like it when I compare myself to them. Because I'm not allowed to have problems, evidently..." Her blue eyes looked away, and Yang frowned, wanting them back.

"That's stupid. Everyone has their own problems. You're allowed to have them too, you know. I mean, why else would you be taking this vacation away from the rest of your family?"

She smiled a little when those blue eyes met hers again. It was as if this was the first time anyone had ever said such a thing to this girl.

For once, she didn't respond to Yang, but merely dipped her head a little before changing the subject.

"I'm Weiss, by the way," she mumbled.

"Yang."

Weiss nodded, and Yang felt she might've seen a bit of a smile on her lips for a split second, but she couldn't be certain. Weiss turned away and picked up her basket.

"Well, come on then. You're staying the night, so I'll fix you something to eat." She headed off toward the kitchen area before pausing and looking back over her shoulder. "You haven't really been foraging for berries this entire time, have you?"

Yang laughed as she picked up her bag and followed after her.

"Not yet. But I probably would have ended up that way in a couple of days."

"What a fool..." Weiss muttered, leading her into the kitchen.

She motioned for Yang to sit down at the small table there as she herself went to the stove and began gathering an assortment of food on the counter that admittedly made Yang's mouth water. She quickly snapped herself out of it and closed her mouth as Weiss addressed her again.

"Now, you don't have to answer me if you don't want to, but I've got to ask for curiosity's sake. You said you were... on a vacation of sorts as well? Out here in the woods, of all places?"

Yang's shoulders slumped a little.

"Yeah. Kind of..." she mumbled. "Can I tell you about it later?"

Weiss nodded instantly.

"Of course."

For a few minutes, the only sounds were those of the rain pattering against the windows and the howling of the wind.

But the scent in the air was to die for.

Weiss was cooking meat, and Yang could smell seasonings in the mix as well.

When the food was done, a plate was placed before her, and Yang almost sobbed at the sight of the steak. She couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten such expensive meat; her family usually settled for cheap rabbit or chicken.

"Go ahead," Weiss said. "You'd better eat it all, or else it'll go to waste." She'd already started cutting into her own food.

Yang realized a fork and knife had been laid out for her, and she picked them up with shaking hands. The second the meat hit her tongue, she made the sound of one who had ascended to heaven.

"Oh my god, it's so good-"

"Hey! Don't talk with your mouth full."

"Shorry!"

Weiss tossed her a napkin, but couldn't help but smile.

They ate together as though they'd known one another for years, and it was almost frightening to Yang how easy it was for the both of them, how natural this felt.

Every time she met Weiss' eyes, she saw a bit of concern, worry Yang had never before seen from someone unrelated to her by blood.

It was flattering, in a way.

She'd always been the big sister, since day one. Even when Ruby worried about her, it wasn't the same as what Weiss was doing for her now. Ruby worried because she loved Yang, but what did this girl have?

Yang entertained these thoughts as she finished eating, thanking Weiss profusely for serving her.

"I... heh. I really don't know what I'd've done if we hadn't found each other," she confessed. "I really did plan to just kinda... live out in the woods for a time. Y'see I left home for a bit because-"

"Ah-pup-pup-pup-pup!" Weiss tutted and held up a hand to stop her. "You can tell me all about it later. For now, no guest of mine shall be spending the night looking like that."

Yang looked down at herself and blushed, only now realizing the unkempt state of her dress and shoes.

"Ah, sorry. I didn't realize-"

"Hush now and give me your plate." Weiss demanded. She took the dishes and put them into the sink. "I'll run a bath for you, alright? Did you bring clothes along with you?"

"Um, yeah. A few."

"Good. Get those ready and wait for me."

With that, Weiss left the kitchen and headed upstairs to the second floor. Yang listened to her footsteps receding before she stood from her chair.

It took all of five seconds to dig out her change of clothes - an off-yellow dress not terribly different from the one she was wearing now.

After that, however, she felt entirely useless, loitering around as Weiss prepared to do more for her than she already had. So Yang set to work on cleaning the dishes, something she knew how to do quite well.

By the time she'd finished and placed them in the small drying rack, Weiss had returned. Her eyes were wide and voice impressed.

"Well that was kind of you," she said.

"You kiddin'? It's the least I can do to say thanks for all of this hospitality."

She grabbed her clothes and followed Weiss up the stairs. Again, it was almost unsettling just how much trust she'd already put into Weiss.

But the girl was a kindred soul – Yang could tell – and she was intent to learn more about her before very long.

Yang followed her to the bathroom, complete with a tub full of warm water. Weiss stepped outside into the hallway as Yang made quick work of removing her dress. She submerged herself, savoring the warm water against her chilled, wet skin. She couldn't stop a blissful "mmmm~" from slipping past her lips.

She was about to call out her gratitude to Weiss, but the other girl spoke first.

"Would you like me to wash your hair for you?" she wondered. "You've got plenty of it."

Yang looked to the door and met her eyes, chuckling as Weiss blushed faintly.

"Sure," she grinned. "I'd like that a lot."

She listened as Weiss stepped into the room, pulling a small stool over and sitting just behind Yang. She could smell the shampoo as Weiss dabbed some into her hands.

And then, small, gentle fingers made contact with her scalp, massaging softly, as not to tug a single strand of golden locks. Yang hummed again and slouched a little deeper into the water.

Again, she was lost in the sensations and thoughts that she'd been doing this with Weiss all their lives, and it was a shock to remember she'd only just met this girl an hour ago.

Yang stiffened slightly as she was brought back to reality, but Weiss' fingers were still careful and soft.

"S-So, um..." Yang cleared her throat. "Why... are you doing all of this, exactly? For someone you just met?"

She heard Weiss huff behind her.

"Didn't I already tell you? I'm just..." There was a little sigh, and Yang could only describe it as tired. "I'm just... trying to be a good person..."

Yang waited for a beat as the hands in her hair stopped moving.

"What do you mean? You're just helping me so you can get some good credit next to your name?"

"No!" Weiss' voice wasn't angry or exasperated, but rather it was scared. "I don't want that! I don't want any of that! I just wanted to help you if I could. I don't want a reward for it! I simply..." She trailed off, obviously upset, her fingers curling.

Yang softened her voice. "Hey, I'm sorry," she said, looking back over her shoulder. "I could tell from the start that you only did this because you were worried about me – someone you didn't even know.

"And I guess I just... I couldn't believe someone would got outta their way for me. Especially a stranger who didn't have to spare me a second glance, y'know?" She paused for a moment, until Weiss' eyes found hers again, weary but willing to listen to her. "I'm sorry for judging you. I, of all people, should know how wrong that is."

Weiss held her gaze for a moment before Yang felt the girl's hands begin lathering her hair once more. "It's fine," she mumbled. "I always used to judge others. It was a difficult habit to grow out of."

"I'm sure you've been on the receiving end more times than you deserve," Yang said quietly.

"I'd assume the same for you."

A fragile silence fell between the two of them, and Weiss cupped water in her hands before pouring it into Yang's soapy tresses to begin rinsing it out.

"You've got such lovely hair," she said. "You should take care of it better."

"I know..."

Yang could feel the tiny handfuls of water being poured over her head, but she knew it would take forever at this rate.

So she sped the process along by gulping in a breath and pulling herself entirely underwater, dragging the majority of her hair down as well. When she burst back up to break the surface, she heard Weiss yelp and topple over her stool.

"You idiot!" she shrieked. "You nearly gave me a heart-attack! I thought you'd collapsed and were about to drown!"

"Aw geez, you're too cute!" Yang chuckled, speaking without really thinking the words through first.

That was a bad habit she had yet to break.

She looked to Weiss and her smile fell, worried she'd said something she shouldn't have.

But luckily, the girl on the floor didn't seem angry by the words, but rather the actions.

"Goodness," she huffed. "Alright, out of the tub with you! Put some clothes on and I'll show you to the bedroom." She tossed Yang a towel and scrambled to her feet before promptly turning away.

Yang did as she was ordered and wrapped the towel around herself as she stepped out, padding it all around her body and through her hair before slipping into her undergarments and clean dress.

It was odd, but this was the first bath in weeks that she'd stepped out of feeling truly clean. Weiss' kindness and her innocence seemed to have washed off the imprints of dirty hands all over Yang's body, even though she'd only touched the blonde's hair.

But ever since she'd been with Weiss, Yang felt better - about everything she never thought she could get over.

She felt healed, like she'd been forgiven somehow.

She couldn't really describe it.

Weiss turned back to her when Yang was finished changing, but before she could lead Yang away, the blonde spoke up.

"How about you clean off, too? Not that you need to," she said quickly. "But... I wanna return the favor."

Weiss paused, considering her options for a second. Yang smiled when she heaved a sigh and gave in.

"Fine..."

They switched roles, Yang stepping out into the hallway as Weiss drained the bath and refilled it for herself. She scurried out and disappeared into one of the bedrooms, emerging with a clean nightgown to change into later.

Yang waited as the girl undressed and entered the bath, the steamy water reaching up to her chin where it had only reached Yang's shoulders.

Yang righted the stool and sat behind Weiss in a similar fashion, but paused before she could touch her hair.

"Is it alright?" she asked.

"Yes," Weiss mumbled. "Just please... be gentle, if you would?"

There was a faint hint of nervousness in her tone, and Yang was sure to gather the silver locks floating atop the water's surface with care.

"Sure thing," she said. "But just stop me at any time if I'm hurting you, 'kay?"

Weiss nodded, and Yang reached for the shampoo, rubbing it between her palms before running her hands slowly through Weiss' hair. She could see the girl's slender shoulders quivering slightly, and Yang made an effort to ease the tension with conversation.

"Y'know, you were the first person I like to touch my hair, save from my little sister. It's my pride and joy." She cupped a warm handful of water into Weiss' hair, using her nails a little to rub in the soap.

Weiss was silent for a moment before forming a response.

"You too," she said. "I mean you're the first person to really ever touch my hair aside from my little sister. But..." She paused, and Yang inclined her head to listen better. "You... you said... I was only the second person who touched your hair... who you liked...?"

Yang froze and sucked in a quick breath.

"Uh, ahaha, yeah. Well... I mean you've been really nice to mean after only just meeting me. And I don't know much about you, but I... I do like you... a bit... I guess..."

A squeak from Weiss had Yang blushing.

"That's-! That's not what I meant!" she stammered. "I mean I... must admit I don't dislike you but that isn't what I meant at all." She took a deep breath, and Yang watched her shoulders rise and fall. "I meant... who didn't you like that touched you?"

"Um... well..." Yang wasn't sure how to reply. She was silent for a minute, hands fumbling through Weiss' hair. She must've tugged a strand, because the girl yelped. "Sorry!" Yang gasped. "I'm sorry! Are you okay?" Again, she acted without thinking, leaning forward to kiss the back of the girl's head, lips pressing through soft hair.

"I-I..." Weiss stammered. "Yes, I'm fine... It's fine. Don't... worry about it..."

Yang sighed in relief. "Oh good. I'm glad. Sorry." She returned to her task of washing Weiss' hair, taking extra care from here on out. "But um... I'll tell you after this, okay? You've told me about yourself, so it's only fair I do the same."

"No, you don't have to," Weiss said. "Not if you don't want to."

Yang felt herself smile as she trailed a hand down into the water, sprinkling it over Weiss' hair.

"Nah, it's fine," she murmured. "I want to."

She continued rinsing out Weiss' silken hair until at last all the bubbles had been cleared out.

At that time, Yang excused herself from the bathroom and went back to the hallway, waiting a few moments until Weiss had emerged, dressed in a light blue nightgown.

"Come with me," the white-haired girl said. She offered her hand to Yang as she passed her, waiting expectantly for her to take it.

Yang smiled and did just that, following her into the larger of the two bedrooms. There were two beds inside, side by side unlike hers and Ruby's bunk beds back at home.

Weiss turned on the main light and pulled her over to one of the beds, having her sit down.

"Hold still," she mumbled.

Yang did as she was told, her eyes wandering to the windows. It was black outside, probably about sunset by now, but the storm hadn't let up at all. The rain was still hissing and there was a distant rumble of thunder in the distance.

She was pulled from her slight reverie when she felt hands caressing her hair all down her back, a familiar prickling sensation running through her hair.

She hadn't realized when Weiss had grabbed a hair brush, but Yang couldn't remember the last time she'd used one on herself, let alone let someone else brush it for her. She sighed almost too quickly, posture slumping as she leaned back.

She didn't miss the small chuckle from Weiss.

"Does it feel good?"

"It feels fantastic..." she mumbled.

"I'm glad. Someone's got to take care of all this hair if you won't."

Yang chuckled again.

Weiss continued combing through her hair, pausing every time she encountered a knot, making sure to untangle rather than rip.

It was all too good. If anyone had told Yang a week ago that she'd be in this cottage in the middle of the woods with one of Schnee's daughter tonight, she'd have laughed herself into a coma.

It was like a cancellation of the previous two weeks at the tavern, as though tonight alone had cleansed her of those nights, given her a second chance.

She felt she could return home to Ruby and her father with her head held high and start hunting for a new job.

But... it wouldn't hurt to stay with Weiss until tomorrow, especially after all of this. She could feel herself slipping – in more ways than one, apparently.

She was only snapped back into the world of the waking when her weight shifted backward. Weiss yelped, struggling to catch her and push her upright once more. Yang opened her eyes and quickly righted herself before she could crush the smaller girl.

"Sorry!" She turned around and pulled Weiss back up from the bed. "Sorry, it just... felt really nice."

"Goodness..." Weiss muttered. "This is the second time within the few hours I've known you that you've given me such a start!"

"Sorry!" Yang repeated. "Here, lemme make it up to you. Gimme your brush and slide over here."

Weiss grumbled something under her breath, but ultimately did as she suggested.

Yang started combing the girl's damp hair for her, smiling when Weiss eventually sighed and relaxed. Minutes passed, and Yang brushed through Weiss' hair until it was smooth and almost dry.

The rain had become background noise they'd both gotten used to by now, but it was when a rumble of thunder sounded when Weiss pulled away.

"Thank you," she said quickly. "That's fine, Yang. We should rest now. You take this bed, alright?"

"W-Wait, are you serious?" Yang's jaw gaped as Weiss plucked the hair brush from her grasp and put it aside on a small dresser. "You're really gonna... let me stay the night? In a bed?"

Weiss had crossed the room to turn off the lamp, but just before she could, she whipped back around.

"You're really an idiot, aren't you? Did you honestly think I'd invite you into my vacation cottage, make you dinner, bathe you, and bring you into a bedroom only to tell you that you can't sleep here?"

Every word out of her mouth had Yang's cheeks turning warmer, and she realized Weiss' were pink as well. She couldn't help but say it aloud.

"Wow. We kinda sound like a married couple, huh?"

Weiss shut off the lamp before Yang could see her reaction, shrouding the room in darkness.

"Quiet. Just go to bed. I'll have you know I'm only staying here for a week, so that's as long as you're allowed to stay."

Weiss stomped over to the other bed and sat down, pulling the covers over herself. Yang watched her in the faint lighting.

"You're... offering to let me stay an entire week...?"

Another huff, but Yang knew what the girl was trying to convey; if Weiss hadn't meant it, she wouldn't have said it in the first place.

Yang didn't think she deserved to take her up on the offer, but... but she really did like Weiss, in more ways than one, and she'd only known her for several hours today.

Who knew what else she'd find to like after a few more days?

Yang shifted a bit where she sat on the bed.

"Well... we'll see, I guess."

"I guess we will," Weiss agreed. "Now get some rest."

"Got it."

Yang stretched herself out on the bed, crawling beneath the blankets.

The mattress was much sturdier than her humble one back home, and an unfamiliar scent clung to the pillow. When she thought on it for a few moments, she realized it was Weiss' scent; this must've been her bed, rather than her sister's.

Thunder growled outside, shattering the sky, and she needed to admit Weiss might just have saved her life by allowing her to spend the night indoors.

As she lie there, a melancholy exhaustion overcame her, dragging at her conscious like a tide, returning with a bit more fervor each time. So many thoughts were swarming her mind, thoughts of where she'd been a day ago, and of where she was now, thoughts of Ruby and their father, and thoughts of-

Yang opened her eyes once more.

There'd been a particularly loud crash of thunder, one to jolt even a heavy sleeper like her awake.

But it wasn't the thunder that had bothered her – it was a much more troubling sound.

Weiss had stifled a cry into her pillow.

Yang wasn't a stranger to night terrors, especially someone else's. Her instincts as an elder sister simply couldn't be ignored, and she wasted no time in slipping out from beneath the blankets, her feet padding softly across the floor to the other bed.

She could make out Weiss' form through a flashes of lightning, curled up and shivering. Yang's heart went out to her, and she made sure not to startle her.

"Weiss...?"

The girl turned over slowly to face her, sending a glare up in the darkness.

"What do you need?"

"I think we both know I'm not the one who needs something right now."

"I haven't the slightest idea what you're-"

"Scooch over, yeah?"

"E-Excuse me?"

"C'mon."

Yang sat herself on the bed, eyes traveling down to Weiss. She reached out a hand to lightly brush against her ear, tucking loose hair behind it. She both felt and heard Weiss' quivering breath as the white-haired girl relented and made room for her.

Yang laid herself down softly, moving beneath the blankets; the fact that Weiss hadn't refused her company was well-received for several reasons.

Even still, Yang made sure to keep a bit of distance between them, at least for now – she wasn't sure how long she could hold herself back with Weiss trembling like she was.

Yang faced her, eyes patient and worried as she kept her voice low.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Weiss clutched the blankets tighter to herself.

"Nothing's wrong."

"Don't like the thunder, huh?"

"Wh-What-"

"My little sister's the same way," Yang said. "Unless she's already asleep by the time the storm rolls around. She's probably read my note by now and knows I'm gone, but I doubt she's sleeping well tonight without me..." Her voice took on a note of guilt, but before the feeling could start to eat away at her, something else pushed it away.

Weiss slid closer to her, unsure of what to do with herself, her hands hovering, but intentions clear.

Yang smiled softly.

"It's alright. Go ahead."

She waited, holding Weiss' blue gaze for another moment, until the next crash of thunder sounded. Weiss yelped and clung to her tightly, and the speed and firmness with which Yang embraced her in return was second-nature.

This wouldn't be the first time she'd held a frightened girl in her arms – far from it.

She rubbed her hands up and down Weiss' back and through her soft hair, unable to distinguish if the girl was truly crying or not. But the shaking told her enough, and Yang held as tightly as she felt was appropriate for such a slender girl.

She could detect a dull yet quickened beat from Weiss' chest, and couldn't stop herself from dipping her head to kiss the girl's temple.

Again, she realized what could've been a mistake, too late.

"Sorry..." she murmured. "Are you-"

"It's fine..." Weiss mumbled. "It's fine... please..."

She didn't need to finish out loud for Yang to be able to interpret what she wanted to say:

Please just don't let me go.

Good thing too, because Yang hadn't intended to unless Weiss had specifically asked her to.

Yang did what she knew how to best, providing comfort by means of warm hands and a gentle hum, along with the occasional kiss, especially when the thunder crashed. She could feel Weiss' arms locked around her to demonstrate just how terrified the girl was, but Yang didn't mind.

The only thing she did mind was the trembling, and she was sure to keep up her efforts until it began to die down.

She didn't know how long it took, but she hardly cared.

Eventually, Weiss' grip slackened a bit, but Yang kept her secure in her arms, resting her chin on the girl's head, covering her protectively. She'd done it a million times.

And yet, Weiss was entirely different from Ruby somehow, but she didn't have the time to consider why right now.

Weiss had pulled away slightly, leaving a lingering warmth on the blonde's collar as she sighed. Yang petted down her back slowly.

"You silly girl," she mumbled. "Did you really think you'd be okay out here all alone for a week? Didn't you ever think it could rain?"

Weiss didn't miss a beat.

"I could ask you the same thing."

Yang winced; Weiss had her there.

But the lightness that speaking had brought to the atmosphere couldn't be ignored, and Yang wanted to maintain it for a while longer, so she thought of more to say.

"My little sister's scared of thunder, too," she said.

"So is mine," Weiss murmured. "We both are. So whenever it happens, we both just find one another and huddle together in whomever's bed is closest. I hope she's okay tonight."

"I bet she's worried about you."

"I bet yours is, too."

The topic naturally dropped, but Yang wanted to keep talking. She decided to bring up something that had been on her mind since the beach; she'd promised Weiss she'd tell her, after all.

She cleared her throat to indicate she was about to speak, then did so in a soft tone.

"Hey, um..."

She felt Weiss pull away a little more, until she could see her eyes. Yang knew Weiss had given her full attention to listen. The blonde inhaled and went on.

"Thanks for um... well not only for lettin' me stay here and for taking care of me and all that. But... you never... touched me without my say-so, either. Not even with holding my hand back on the beach, not even just now. And I just wanted to say thanks for that."

Her words were followed by a brief silence, and even when more thunder crashed, Weiss hardly flinched.

Yang knew the girl was entirely focused on her now. She felt Weiss' hands curling against her back as she chose her words carefully.

"You don't need to thank me. It's only natural to ask for one's consent before making contact."

Yang's response was a dry laugh.

"You're the first person I've met in weeks who seems to believe that."

She could see the dismay in Weiss' eyes, traces of pain present as well, but overall what she saw in those blue pools were openness and concern.

She wanted to listen if Yang was willing to tell.

The blonde took another breath; Weiss had told her about herself, and she'd promised to do the same.

So she did.

She talked about her work at the tavern, and how she'd been mistreated on a nightly basis, but couldn't stop because of the money she'd been bringing home.

Weiss stayed silent all the while, though there were several times Yang could tell she was biting her lip to hold back an outburst.

She told Weiss how she'd wound up in the woods, how she'd left Ruby and her father just to get away from it all. She hadn't realized how jumbled her voice had gotten as it spilled out between clipped breaths.

"I-I just... I felt so filthy. Those men just kept touching me whenever they felt like it, like I was some kinda doll on display. And the boss he... he called me a whore when I've never even been in love. I-I can still remember everywhere their hands have been and I... I couldn't go home to Ruby like that... I couldn't let her touch me..."

Only then did she realize she was crying, sniffling pitifully as she hid her face in the pillow. But not for more than a few seconds.

Weiss pulled her in gently, reversing their previous positions and tucking Yang's head into her chest, tracing slow circles over her shoulder blades as she hushed her.

Yang remembered Weiss was a big sister, too, and even when the girl was scared by the thunder on nights like these, Yang could tell she was always the one shielding her little sister. It was just how big sisters were.

But even they needed a bit of shelter from things sometimes.

Yang had provided that for Weiss, and now it was her turn to receive.

She didn't mind, either.

She listened to Weiss' voice - quiet, but laced with a cold fury for the people who had hurt Yang.

"I'm sorry..." she murmured. "That's awful. I can't even imagine it. If at any time I do something you don't like, tell me right away. Push me – I don't care. Alright?"

Yang sniffed again, tightening her embrace around the smaller girl's waist.

"That won't happen," she murmured. "Just... for whatever reason... just being with you for only this long... I feel like I've been healed or... forgiven for all of that stuff."

"Yang..."

There was something about the way Weiss said her name in that moment, so tenderly...

It made her start to cry again.

Weiss kissed her temple and went on.

"Yang... you've committed no crimes. You don't need to be forgiven. You've always been fine – just fine. You've endured so much when... all I've ever done was sit at home and take lessons... I should be thanking you."

There was a pause as Yang caught her breath.

"Why... would you say that?"

Weiss adjusted her arms slightly, letting Yang nestle into her collar.

"There are plenty of rumors around the village, of how 'if she looks at you, she'll steal all your money somehow!' Or, 'if she touches you, you'll lose all you have!' Some people... they make things up as excuses not to be near me.

"My father forbade me from touching others, even the homeless people we give our money to. I was taught to always ask for their consent first, but even then, I could see they believed the rumors...

"But not you. You were the first person who didn't flinch when I touched you, and I'll apologize for admitting I expected you to. But... if you think about it... it's almost as though we were meant to encounter one another... don't you think?"

The rain hissed on outside as Yang processed everything Weiss had just said to her. She'd never given anyone permission to touch her before Weiss, and Yang was the first person Weiss could make contact with comfortably – and Yang hadn't minded, either.

For Yang, all anyone had ever seen was the outside, never the inner strength.

For Weiss, they'd only ever seen her status and money, never her true character.

They were both the big sisters, guilty of leaving their siblings behind for a time, but both in need of space themselves.

And yet, here they were now, clinging to strangers.

Neither had ever been held by another until tonight.

And they could both feel that it was... different from the embrace of a sister or friend, but it was far from desperation.

It just felt, natural, comfortable, right.

Yang was silent for a moment as her tears came to a stop, listening to the pulse beneath her ear as Weiss combed gingerly through her hair with small fingers.

For a while, neither moved or spoke. They simply breathed together, circling warm palms over backs.

The thunder had faded, as had the shaking on both their parts. Along with the stillness came a silent surety - a promise that anything done from this point onward wasn't just a result of thoughts the night brought, or a need for physical contact in the wake of fear.

There was a calmness, a confidence that whatever came next was fully accepted with every beat of their hearts.

Yang pulled away, revealing a face wet with trails of tears.

Weiss brushed them away with her thumb, whispering that she was alright.

It was both a reminder and a promise.

Yang nodded and told her the same.

Neither initiated it, and neither refused.

Lips that had previously pressed to cheeks and temples now met together softly.

It was a first for them both – the night had been a lot of firsts, but they didn't mind sharing.

Their chests pressed close together and lips closer still, heartbeats thick as they pounded together as one pulse.

There was a mutual sigh as they broke apart, unwilling to question whatever it was that had just happened between them.

They each accepted it in that moment, no matter the consequences.

Neither girl reopened her eyes before falling asleep, before worries of tomorrow could burden her mind.

Weiss felt warmth encompass her as the world came back to her the next morning.

The sunlight peeking through the windows provided the warmth on her face, but as for the rest – at her chest and shoulders and stomach – those hailed from a different source.

She and Yang were still wrapped in a loose embrace from last night, their faces level on the pillow. It served to remind Weiss of everything that had transpired.

She lay there for a moment, trying to control her breathing, still savoring that warmth. She recognized it as nervousness, but it was strange. There was no factor of uncertainty about it.

It was only... excitement.

Joy.

They'd kissed, without knowing why and simultaneously knowing exactly why.

All Weiss knew was that it felt good to wake up without a single regret, and she hoped Yang would, too.

She watched the blonde for a few moments, wondering if she'd ever looked so peaceful when she'd rested knowing she'd have to wake up and attended work at a tavern full of lechers.

Weiss couldn't help herself. She leaned in and kissed Yang's cheek softly.

"But all of that's over now," she whispered.

Carefully, she slipped from Yang's arms without waking her. She just needed a bit of time to herself, some fresh air to breathe as she sorted out her emotions and tried to control the bubbling sensation in her chest.

Weiss padded quietly down the stairs, slipping into her shoes from yesterday that had dried of rain and mud by now. She pulled a small blue coat on over her nightgown and went to the door, leaving it unlocked from the inside before stepping outside.

The morning was still and quiet, every leaf and blade of grass brightened by droplets of water that shone in the sunlight.

Weiss walked out into the trees, listening to the birdsong. Her heart was still fluttering with thoughts of Yang, how impossibly fast they'd fallen for one another. She longed to both stay outside a while longer to settle down, and return to the cottage so Yang wouldn't have to wake up alone.

It was strange how perfect the world felt that morning, how safe and unthreatening.

How nothing could go wrong.

But Weiss soon came to realize that just because she was in love didn't necessarily mean the world was going to care.

There was a rustling from behind her, and she turned swiftly, squinting into the bushes. She was able to make out a brown shape, about two feet high, trouncing through the undergrowth.

Weiss felt ice fill her veins.

It was a bear cub.

She took a step backward with painstaking slowness, keeping her eyes and ears alert.

But she hadn't managed five steps before she heard sounds of a much larger animal lumbering about.

Weiss swallowed down every shaking breath as a large brown bear emerged, snorting and shaking its head at her. There was nothing more dangerous in these woods than a mother bear who saw a threat to her cub.

Weiss could only back away as the bear advanced slowly, keeping her gaze to the grass – anywhere but those beady black eyes.

But it seemed she'd ventured too close to the cub for comfort.

With a throaty roar, the mother charged, and Weiss could do nothing but run for her life.

Yang knew she'd been reliving the events of last night on repeat, even in her sleep.

When she woke, she could feel herself smiling, expecting to find the other girl beside her.

But that smile faded when she opened her eyes to no sign of Weiss. She reached out a hand to find the space beside her was cold.

The way the giddy feeling melted away told her it wasn't just because Weiss was a morning person.

Something wasn't right - big sister instincts said as much.

She threw the blankets off of herself and hurried down the stairs.

"Weiss?"

No response.

Yang noticed the girl's shoes were gone, and the door had been left so someone could enter from the outside.

She didn't like this feeling that was creeping over her.

Yang stuffed her feet into her boots and rushed out the door, voice rising in panic.

"Weiss?"

But still there was no response of any kind.

A glance to the ground showed small footprints in the mud leading away into the woods. Yang didn't waste a second as she followed them, hurrying as to abide by the sinking feeling in her stomach.

She hoped she was overreacting, that her instincts were off and she'd find Weiss unharmed and laugh at herself for having worried so much.

She wished she were jumping to conclusions, and she'd blame her excessive concern on their newfound love, the butterflies Weiss had given her last night...

A commotion up ahead had Yang running now.

There was a roar.

A scream.

Yang burst through a thick bramble, ignoring the thorns that scored her arms as she caught sight of the massive bear. It hovered over Weiss who'd crumpled on the ground, clearly in pain from a fall.

Yang didn't think. She rarely ever did, especially in times of peril, and this was the apex of such a situation.

Her body just moved on its own, her legs carrying her to Weiss to stand above her, blocking her from the beast's sight.

A mighty paw full of knife-like claws was raised to strike, but Yang was faster.

She'd always been strongly-built, but people failed to see that past her generous body.

She could feel the bear's breath on her face, feel the rush of air as the paw swung-

She made a fist - the tightest she'd ever clenched before - and threw her arm out. Her knuckles collided with the side of the bear's open mouth, and she felt her knuckles split open on sharp teeth.

The animal staggered and fell back onto all fours; the punch had stunned it, but no doubt made it angrier.

They didn't have much time.

Yang turned and bent down to scoop Weiss up into her arms, tearing off through the trees without a second thought. She heard Weiss whimpering her name, but she didn't look down or back – only ahead.

She didn't stop running until she'd crashed through the cottage door and slammed it shut behind her, slumping against it before sliding down to the floor with Weiss in her arms. She panted heavily, heart still hammering, and she could feel Weiss' doing the same.

Yang looked down to her and gave a crooked grin.

"Hey..." she wheezed. "Mornin'."

Weiss' eyes were still wide and scared, but that was soon overridden by sheer disbelief.

Yang waited for the praise, for the embrace and the sob of relief.

But instead what she got was a flick to the forehead and a stinging tone.

"You idiot!" Weiss shrieked. "You just punched a bear!"

"Ow..." The blonde rubbed her forehead. "Uh, yeah, I know. I saved your-"

"Never mind that! Come here!"

Weiss scrambled out of her lap and pulled Yang to her feet alongside her before dragging her over to a small closet. Weiss dug around for a second until she pulled out a small kit of bandage wrap and a bottle of disinfectant. She grabbed a rag and pressed it to Yang's bloody knuckles, dabbing away the blood before opening the bottle.

"Hey, calm down," Yang chuckled. "It's not that- Oh-!" She slapped her free palm to her mouth to stifle a colorful curse as Weiss ruthlessly poured disinfectant over the wound. It stung like a swarm of wasps, and Yang stomped her foot to channel some of the pain. "Ahh geez, that's powerful stuff!"

"Quiet!" Weiss scolded her. She worked quickly to dab away more of the blood before wrapping the bandage around Yang's hand.

Once she was satisfied with covering the wound, Weiss nipped the strip with her teeth to cut it, slipping the loose end beneath some of the folds to secure it.

"There," she huffed. "Now."

Another flick between the eyes had Yang yelping.

"H-Hey! What was that f-"

"Never-!" Weiss cut her off. "Never before in all my life have I ever met such a reckless brute of an idiot!"

Yang was dumbfounded by the sudden shouting, but before she could retaliate or come up with any kind of response, Weiss had thrown her arms around her.

"What an idiot you are," she mumbled into Yang's shoulder. "You could've died because me..."

Yang took a breath, smiling softly as she returned the embrace.

"It would've been worth it."

Weiss stepped on her foot.

"Don't you dare say something like that! After I've only known you for one day, after I've only loved you for one day!"

She stopped with a gasp, and Yang knew she hadn't meant to say such meaningful words aloud. They'd both felt it, they'd both known what it was, but why was saying it so different from feeling?

It was obvious Weiss was scared about what she'd just confessed. She took a step back, letting go of the blonde.

"Sorry. I didn't-"

"Hey..." Yang kept her arms around the smaller girl's waist. "It's okay. I'm... really glad you said it because... well I wasn't sure, y'know? I mean, I was sure how I felt, but I wasn't sure about you... But now I know you feel the same." She reached her injured hand up to Weiss' scar, rubbing gently. "I... I love you, too, Weiss."

The white-haired girl sucked in a breath as Yang returned the confession. Slowly, she reached both hands up to hold onto Yang's injured one. Weiss guided it to her lips and kissed the bandages softly.

"Last night..." she whispered. "Was it... was it even real?"

Yang searched her eyes, but only found confusion.

"What d'you mean?"

"I mean..." Weiss sighed, and when she blinked next, Yang saw tears. "I mean... it happened so quickly. Us. I mean I... I felt it too, and I'm still feeling it. I know what it is, and it's only for you, Yang. I don't have any regrets about anything, but... I'm scared. I don't want to lose it. Can... Can love really happen so quickly?"

She brought Yang's bandaged hand to her chest and held it tightly, but Yang could feel her trembling. There was a hard thumping beneath her palm, silent, and yet speaking volumes for Weiss' conflicting emotions.

Yang brought her free hand to Weiss' cheek, and the girl leaned into her palm with a sigh. Yang spoke softly.

"Well... sometimes love is strange. But just because it happens quickly doesn't mean it's not real or true." She fully believed in everything she was saying, and the water in Weiss' eyes told Yang she knew as much.

The blonde offered a wobbly smile before continuing. "Like I said, Weiss. I feel the same. I mean I can't deny any of it. There aren't too many people I'd punch a bear for," she chuckled. "But I... last night I really... and even now, I can feel it. No one's ever accepted me like you have. No one's ever loved me this way."

She was crying now, and Weiss was too. "And I know for sure... that I've never been in love until now. I fell for you hard, Weiss. You're so... caring and warm, so sweet. Even when you yell, I know it's just because you care. You're perfect, Weiss. You make me feel safe and just... so happy."

Weiss was struggling to keep her eyes open past the free-falling tears now, and when Yang finished speaking, she finally bowed her head and sobbed.

Yang could tell Weiss had never been told such things before – in fact, she'd likely heard the antonyms more than anything.

It took her a moment to compose herself enough to meet Yang's eyes again.

"Y-You..." she gasped. "You plan to just... s-say all of that without kissing me?"

Yang blinked away more tears, then smiled as she cleared some of Weiss' away.

She kissed her softly, feeling Weiss do the same, pouring everything she failed to say into the contact. Weiss didn't need to say anything, because Yang could feel it - feel that unbridled acceptance for her alone - and she knew she'd never feel it again from anyone else for as long as she lived.

They held the kiss for as long as their lungs could afford to allow.

When they parted, each of them was breathless, and Yang brought them gently to the floor to kneel in each other's embraces. The pain in her hand was long gone, overpowered by the elation in her heart.

Moments passed before Weiss found her voice again.

"So... what's after this...?" she wondered.

Yang tensed.

"Um... y-your father... h-he wouldn't-?"

Weiss seemed to understand what she was getting at and quickly quelled her fears.

"Oh, no! He told me since I was a child I may... see whomever I please, regardless of orientation or status. I'll simply tell him I met you on my vacation and was smitten with you. It won't be a lie, either." She smiled and kissed Yang's cheek. "But it won't be an issue, I can assure you. In fact, I know he'll be happy I've found someone I can confide in and be closer to than anyone else." She paused for a moment. "What... what about you?"

Yang showed her teeth with the smile this time.

"You kiddin'? My dad and sis'll be thrilled to see me come home, but they'll fall over when I tell them I got a girl! I'll have to introduce you."

"And I you," Weiss giggled. "But we'll save that for when our week is up. Until then... I want to know more about you, be with you more. Of course, I'll tell you about myself as well."

Yang nuzzled into her neck affectionately.

"I'd like that," she murmured. "I'd love that." She pulled Weiss into her lap and sighed, kissing her hair. "You must've been a blessing for me, Weiss. The first part of my life, it was just... my dad took care of me, and I lived in bliss. It was just... too easy."

Weiss hummed, leaning her head against the blonde's shoulder.

"I can imagine."

Yang found her next string of words and went on.

"And then, the past few weeks of my life – working at that awful place, being treated like dirt, then running away to come live in the woods... it was just... too difficult."

Weiss' voice was quieter this time as she cupped Yang's cheek and kissed her neck.

"I can imagine..."

Yang closed her eyes for a moment, hugging her closer.

"But now," she went on. "Now, being here with you, feeling so warm and alive and happy and... and loved..." She pulled back to look into Weiss' shimmering blue eyes and dipped her head to kiss her smile. "It's just right," she murmured.

Weiss returned the kiss, laughing softly against her lips.

"I can agree to that."

A moment later, Weiss got to her feet, helping Yang along as well.

"Now what say you to some breakfast?"

Yang grinned, keeping hold of her hand with her healing one.

"Sounds perfect."

Despite the past hardships and misunderstandings, by some miracle, they'd found one another.

And they would be okay.

That much was for certain.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the little allusions to Yang's fairytale. You can be sure they'll both go home to their families soon and all will be well!

And that concludes my Fairytale AU! I do hope you all enjoyed!

My is Kiria Alice if you're interested in supporting me!

Please review!