A/N: This is a Freezerburn AU that takes place after the events of Volume 2 (and after the tournament), and Weiss's family will be based around her history in mine and Slayer_ONE's Schnee AU "Snow Days".

Weiss Schnee sat in her team's dorm room, alone, chewing on the end of her pen cap as she stared at the black-and-white pages of the thick textbook splayed out in front of her. She had been rereading the same paragraph on trapping and killing a Boarbatusk for almost a half-hour, now, unable to focus as her mind kept wandering back to that night. It had been almost a month since Team RWBY had taken a field trip to Mountain Glenn on their first mission, and everything was just starting to finally get back to normal. But it wasn't the debacle with Torchwick and the White Fang, or even the large invasion of Grimm, that kept Weiss up most nights; no, it was the night before all of that happened, when she, Blake, and Yang had laid around the warm fire, talking about what it was that drove each of them to Beacon in pursuit of fighting for the greater good.

It was the first time she had ever opened up to anyone about her feelings on the corruption of her family's company. Of course, Blake had tried to just brush aside Weiss's thoughts as ignorance, as always, but Yang had continued to encourage each of them regardless, neither pushing her teammates out of their comfort zones, nor denying the troubles that both Blake and Weiss had had to face. It wasn't like her father was even a terrible person, because he was far from that; but in the years of taking over the Schnee Dust Company, her father had become absorbed in the business, and hardened by the attacks the White Fang had been initiating against the company for almost half a decade. He only did the things he did because they were what he truly thought were right, and Weiss hoped that someday, she would be able to help him see the error in his ways, and somehow make peace with all of the things he was so deathly afraid of.

She understood why Blake hated the Schnee family so much, and it would be a lie if Weiss said that she didn't hate certain aspects of her name, as well. But no matter how hard she tried to become her own person, all her teammate saw at the end of the day was the spoiled, rich heiress that everyone else thought her to be. The truth was, all Weiss wanted was to make a name for herself, one that made people see Weiss as just Weiss, and not the perfection-obsessed Schnee. She owed her life to Blake for saving her that night on the train, but she didn't want the girl to see her as just some privileged princess who could barely fend for herself. While Ruby and Yang were finally starting to get that, Blake, for whatever reasons, just couldn't seem to look the other way.

It was why she had tried so hard that semester to become more like Yang. Unlike Blake, the blonde wasn't afraid to tell Weiss what was on her mind, and she put herself out there, even if it meant doing or saying something stupid that would ultimately get her laughed-at. Of course, it was probably easy for someone as beautiful and intimidating as Yang to get what she wanted. She didn't have any kind of social status to protect, so she could say whatever and get away with it, and she was strong enough to take on just about any other person in the kingdom, so she never had to worry about anyone else standing in her way. Yet, somehow, despite all of that, she still surpassed all of those dumb, brutish stereotypes that others liked to associate with someone like Yang. She wasn't just a pretty girl, or just a strong fighter, but she was an older sister, a pretty good one as far as Weiss could tell, and although she made Weiss furious more often than not, the heiress knew that there was much more to Yang than met the eye.

The sudden sound of the bedroom door opening lulled Weiss from her thoughts, and she lifted her gaze from her textbook to see her tall, blonde teammate walking in, her arms stretched high above her head.

"Oh, hey, Weiss," she said with a friendly tone as she walked over to the paler girl's bed. "I thought you went out with Ruby and Blake."

Weiss lowered the pen from her mouth, slightly disgusted by the sight of her own teeth marks as she recapped the writing utensil, and set it aside. "I decided to stay here and study instead... I really want to finish this chapter before class tomorrow."

Her teammate nodded, glancing at the cover of the book. "Aren't you already, like, three chapters ahead of everybody else in Grimm Studies?"

"It's not like I have anything better to do." She turned her gaze back to that same, dragging paragraph. "Besides, there's never any harm in staying ahead."

Yang frowned. "But that's so boring... Why don't you try doing something, you know, fun for once? You're always studying for this or that."

Weiss slowly sat up, and closed her book, realizing she wasn't going to get anywhere with the reading, especially now that Yang was there to further provide for distraction. "For your information, I actually like to study... You never know when this kind of stuff is going to come up in the real world."

"The only thing you need to know about Grimm is that they'll kill you if you don't kill them first," the blonde chided. "I don't see why you have to study, anyway. You've already got straight A's in all of your classes."

She smirked. "What's wrong with having straight A's? My father always told me if you're proud of something, you let it show."

The other girl just crossed her arms. "Yeah, because he should be so proud of the way he treats his Faunus workers..."

"Now you're starting to sound like Blake."

Yang sighed. "I was just saying." She gave Weiss a small smile before walking over to her desk on the other side of the room, and opening the drawer just underneath the desktop. She pulled out a thin, familiar-looking square case, and brought it back to the bed. "If anything, your dad should be proud of this."

Weiss furrowed her eyebrows at the case, and took it from Yang. The cover was light blue, and had the white Schnee logo in the center, a little music note icon in the top right corner. She opened the case, and pulled out a small music chip with five words labeled on the outside edge: "Mirror, Mirror" by Weiss Schnee.

"Jaune went on a rant one day a while back about how you could sing, and I guess I thought he was bluffing, so he told me about this song, and I went to the store to pick it up."

The heiress suddenly felt her face flush as she turned to look up at Yang. "That song is, uh, well... don't pay attention to any of the lyrics."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to try to psychoanalyze you or anything." She took the case back, and tapped it lightly against her hip. "I do want to hear you sing something, though."

"Uh, no," Weiss said. "I don't do personal concerts."

Yang huffed. "Oh, come on! I'm your teammate!"

She rolled her eyes. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I helped you in Remnant: The Game that one time. You owe me."

"And then you destroyed me right after that!"

The blonde let out a light hum. "Oh yeah... Well! How about this?" She walked back over to her desk, and put the case away. She then came back over to the bed, and sat down at the foot of the mattress. "If I sing for you, will you sing for me?"

Weiss raised an eyebrow at the taller girl. "You sing?"

She grinned. "You bet I do."

"I never would have thought." The heiress sucked in her bottom lip, and quickly weighed her options. If she didn't sing for the girl, then Yang would never go away, and Weiss wouldn't be able to finish her work. But if she did, then her teammate would probably start expecting more from her. She sighed. "If I sing for you, Yang, then you have to promise not to tell anyone... As I've said before, I don't really put on personal concerts, and I don't want anyone getting the idea that you're somehow special to me."

Yang smirked. "I won't tell a soul or any Grimm."

Weiss shook her head. Classic Yang. She pushed herself back against her pillow, and set her Grimm Studies book to the side of the bed. "Since it was your idea, you can go first."

Her friend just shrugged. "Sure. I don't see why not."

She adjusted her position on the bed, and straightened her back as she turned away from Weiss. She drew in a deep breath, her violet eyes closing, and started slowly rocking her body to an unheard rhythm. She hummed a couple of quiet, upbeat notes before smiling to herself, and opening her mouth to sing.

"Dream of anything; I'll make it all come true. Everything you need is all I'll have for you..."

She continued the rest of the song flawlessly, the lyrics of a peaceful, promising lullaby that reminded Weiss so much of a song her parents had sang to her when she was little. This song, though, felt much more personal to Yang, and as she sang, there was a certain kind of sadness in her voice, despite being all smiles throughout the piece. It shed a different-colored light on the girl than Weiss was used to, this version of her teammate much more mature and composed than that wild, carefree woman she always made herself out to be.

"I... That was..." Weiss gave her an appreciative smile. "I had no idea you could actually sing."

"I'll take that as a compliment, I guess," her friend said.

The young Schnee cleared her throat. "Now, I suppose you would like me to return the favor?"

"Nah, it's fine." Yang flopped back on the other girl's bed, a content smile on her face as she turned her gaze to the deathtrap that hung above them. "I'll take you up on that offer another time."

Weiss rolled her eyes at the blonde's sudden shift in character, reminding herself that this was still just the same old Yang. "Well, thank you for that. You're not bad." Who am I kidding? She was incredible... But I would never tell the dolt that—her ego is inflated enough as it is. "Makes me wonder what other hidden talents you've got up those puffy sleeves of yours."

"Eh, not much, considering how short they are," she said jokingly. "I usually only ever sing to Ruby, anyway... I haven't in a while, though, now that she's growing up and doesn't need me as much."

"So that lullaby—?"

"I used to sing it to her when she was little and couldn't fall asleep..." Yang sat up slowly, a small, but sad, smile painting her face. "She'll kill me if I told you, so this is just between the two of us, but Ruby used to have nightmares all the time after our mom died, and singing to her was the only way to get her to sleep."

Aww... Weiss frowned as her teammate's eyes became clouded by the memory, and the taller girl instinctively turned away. "That must've been tough."

Yang let out a long, heavy breath. "Yeah, well, I got used to it... I mean, Ruby's fine, now, so who am I to complain?"

She gave the blonde a tentative look. "But... how are you?"

The brawler sank back into the mattress, her expression hardening as she seemed to contemplate whether or not to tell Weiss what was really on her mind. "I... I'm okay, considering... It's just..." She looked up at Weiss, conflict in her wide, violet eyes, and after what seemed like a lifetime of silence, she just shook her head. "You know what? I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."

Weiss's frown deepened. She doesn't trust me... In an attempt to console the other girl, or at least encourage her not to shrink away, she shifted just a few inches toward Yang. "Contrary to your belief, I'm not going to judge you, Yang... Honestly, I feel as though I can possibly relate."

Yang bit her lip uncertainly, something Weiss had never seen the girl do before. It was definitely different seeing this side of Yang, the more cautious and reserved one who wasn't sure of herself or her words. "Alright... Enlighten me."

She nodded, and drew in a deep breath. "I... lost a parent, too, when I was seven... My father was always so consumed in his work that he didn't really make time for me or my sister after that, and I had to depend on my sister to be there for me constantly... I know it's not the same, but I know I made things difficult for her, especially since she was just eleven at the time, and nowhere near ready to take on the responsibilities she was forced to when our other parent died..."

Her teammate's eyes widened. "Wow... I had no idea."

Weiss just shrugged. "It's amazing what you learn about each other when you're actually willing to let someone in, isn't it?" She let out a long sigh. "Honestly, Yang, I've wanted to talk to you about this for a while, now... I tried to, back in Mountain Glenn, but I couldn't work up the nerve, then... I wasn't sure any of you would understand, or even care, really..."

"Of course we would care." Yang gave her a small smile. "Or, well, I know I care. You're my teammate, so, as frustrating as you can be sometimes, I've still got to have your back."

The heiress smirked. "I'm sure there was a compliment in there somewhere."

She winked. "I wouldn't be me if I didn't tease you every once in a while." She chuckled to herself as she laid back down, and folded her arms behind her head. "Thanks for sharing, though, Weiss... You're right, it wasn't exactly easy taking on all of that responsibility when I was younger. But I wouldn't change a thing about it. I think Ruby and I both turned out alright regardless."

Weiss rolled her eyes. "You're both fine... Just, please, don't tell them what I told you about my sister and my parents... I don't need Ruby's pity or Blake's judgment, and I'd rather we keep this between the two of us."

Yang raised a thin, yellow eyebrow. "What's wrong? Afraid they'll think you've gone soft on me?"

The smaller girl gave her a challenging look. "Is that so hard to believe?"

Yang returned her gaze, vibrant eyes twinkling with a hint of deviousness. "Ha! Yeah, right. The Ice Queen, being nice to me? Just admit it, Weiss, even if you wanted to be nice to me and no one else, you wouldn't be able to handle it."

Weiss suddenly felt her smile turn into a frown, and she glanced up at the girl, a tiny pang of hurt welling in her chest from the blonde's brutal brand of humor. "You really don't think I could be nice...? That's... Well, that's very close-minded of you."

"What?" The blonde looked over at Weiss, seemingly shocked by the other girl's less-than-enthusiastic reaction. "No, no, no... That's not what I meant at all! I was, uh..."

She bit her lip, and her face flushed as she turned away. Weiss narrowed her azure eyes, curious as to what her teammate had to say. "Yang? You were what?"

"Well... I was uh... trying to get you to prove me wrong... by saying something nice..." She gave Weiss a bashful smile.

Weiss felt her cheeks start to burn. That's not how you get someone to be nice... But if proof is what you want... She sighed. "Um, well... you fight good?"

"Uh... thanks." Yang grunted at the heiress's feeble attempt of encouragement. She looked over at Weiss again, this time staring a little longer than necessary, and Weiss shifted her position on the bed, beginning to feel a little uncomfortable by the silence.

What's wrong with her? she thought to herself, her heart beginning to race inexplicably as she met the other girl's bright, angst-ridden, violet eyes. Was my compliment not good enough? No... it was pretty bad.

After it seemed like a lifetime of silence had passed, Weiss swallowed, and tried one more time to pay Yang a nice compliment.

"You know... you're really one of a kind. And I mean that in a good way." She smiled. "I haven't said it enough, but I'm grateful to have you as a teammate."

Yang's eyes widened, seemingly taken off-guard. "I... thanks... That means a lot to me." She returned Weiss's smile, and seemed to perk up a little as she rolled over onto her side to get a better view of the ice-themed girl. "And you're the best teammate I could ask for. Blake's my partner, but... she's not exactly the most social of people, and Ruby's my sister, but I can't talk to her about that stuff I just told you... Thanks for listening, Weiss."

The heiress grinned, touched by the other girl's encouraging words. It was probably the first time anyone other than Ruby had actually made her feel like she belonged on the team, that she wasn't just a nuisance who got in the way every time she accidentally slipped up. "Thank you... That also means a lot to me."

She turned to face the Grimm Studies book that was still lying closed on her pillow, and she let out a content sigh. "Hey, Yang? Do you mind if we keep this conversation between us? I... I want people to know that I'm glad you're my teammate, but but this other stuff, about my family, and about yours, I kind of just want to keep to myself... and you, of course."

"I... yeah, of course." Yang turned her gaze back toward the hanging bunk above them. "I won't say a word."

Weiss could feel the girl's heat next to her now as she scooted ever-closer to her on the bed, and her stomach began to flutter in a way she wasn't used to as she thought about how close the two were to touching. Instead of turning to look at her, though, Weiss just listened to Yang's slow, steady breathing beside her. "So..." she finally whispered after a few moments of silence, her voice noticeably thinner than usual. "Any idea when Ruby and Blake will be back?"

"Nope. No clue."

"Well... what should we do until they get back?"

"Does it matter?" Yang asked lazily. "Blake won't say anything, and Ruby will just try to tease us as if we're together... which we're not!"

The paler girl let out a hesitant laugh. She couldn't tell by Yang's comment if she was seriously entertaining the idea or not, but for some reason, it didn't bother her as much as it should have. After all, Yang made jokes like that all of the time. "We can't just lay here like this forever, though, can we? I mean, unless you want to, but it's not exactly something I'd imagine you'd consider fun..."

Yang let her gaze wander over to Weiss. "No we can't." A small frown etched across Weiss's face, and Yang immediately mirrored the hurt in the other girl's eyes. "But if we could, then I'd be fine with it. Exciting? Nope... But it's nice."

At that, the heiress smiled, but for some reason, it felt forced. She knew they couldn't stay there forever, even though it would make things so much easier, and so much more bearable. With Yang, Weiss didn't feel like she had to be perfect. She was just Weiss, and she was there, at Beacon Academy, lying next to someone who made all of the trials she had to go through in order to be accepted into that school actually seem worthwhile. "Five more minutes..." she told Yang. "Then we should really consider doing something productive."

"You mean this isn't productive?" the blonde joked. She paused for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. "It's... uh... building... bonds... er... between teammates?"

Weiss smirked at her half-assed excuse. "We're Huntresses-in-Training, though. We should at least be studying or surveying the forests, or doing something less... lazy... than this. But like I said, five more minutes."

"...Ten?"

She just rolled eyes. "...Fine. But that's it." She lifted her arms back underneath her head, and turned her gaze to the bunk hanging dangerously above her head, wondering how she could possibly entertain Yang's interest for another ten minutes. It was a miracle they had even made it that long without some kind of stupid argument.

After a few moments of silence, Weiss felt the girl shift a little closer. She turned to face her, wondering what was on her mind, but too afraid to ask, she just watched her for a while longer, hoping Yang didn't think it was weird. The blonde's eyelids began to droop in relaxation, and Weiss smiled at the serene expression that painted her face. The last time she and Yang were even remotely that close was back in Mountain Glenn, when she, Blake, and Yang stayed up late, laying around a warm fire, and the conversations they'd had that night were ones that would stick with Weiss forever.

You're supposed to stay awake... for me...

"...Hey, Weiss? I'm really glad you let me in... It was totally worth it." The brawler let out a small yawn as she made one final shift, and their bodies were suddenly touching.

Weiss's breath caught in her throat as Yang's long, smooth legs brushed against her petite, fragile frame. She rolled over to fully face the girl, and let out a content sigh. If it were anyone else, Weiss would be shaking like a leaf right then, but with Yang, something about their position, calm and pressed gently together, felt right.

"I'm glad, too," she said after a moment, leaning her head into the crook of Yang's neck. She closed her eyes, and listened to the sound of her teammate's rhythmic breathing. Yang exhaled slowly, and rested her chin gently atop Weiss's soft, white hair.

"Fifteen more minutes..."