Chapter Text
The “I Want Universe” Complete Saga
Chapter 1: The Kitten
“Goodwitch is going to kill us…”
“Nah, she can’t do that. Maim us maybe, but not kill us.”
“Is there even really a difference?”
“What’s wrong, Blake? It’s just a little tiny kitten.”
“A little tiny kitten that fragrantly disregards the school rules.” Blake finally said, one hand slapping forcefully into the other. She glared down at the tiniest ball of fluff she had ever seen. That the creature was nibbling her last can of chicken only added another log to the fire of her annoyance. She was just lucky they hadn’t attempted to give it the tuna, which wasn’t exactly the best for cats, particularly young ones. Really, they needed some kitten kibble and good wet food made for them. “You know the Beacon policy. No pets!”
“No pets, but huntsman’s animals aren’t pets. They’re tools of the trade, and they’re allowed under the guidance of the student handbook.” Ruby said having memorized that line. She used it on multiple occasions whenever their dog inhabited the dormitory. He was a certified huntsman’s pup, licensed under the command of their father. It was only partially breaking the rules, because their beloved family pet hadn’t been approved by the Beacon Faculty first. An oversight maybe, but one that could be permissible. If the faculty cared, they never complained about Zwei. “So, meet our new huntsman’s kitten-in-training. Isn't he adorable?”
“It’s a stray that Yang plucked off the street…” Blake muttered dryly. Her partner had in fact done strictly that. She had plucked a tiny stray kitten, sopping wet and terrified out of a rainstorm. Then she carried it back to Beacon Academy in her jacket.
“Well, he's not a stray, not anymore.” Weiss said, her hand running along the back of the small creature, causing him to flee from the paper plate. The tiny animal was still just a little skittish. Hunger finally won over fear. Carefully, he edged back to the plate to continue eating. Weiss continued to pet him. Timidly he allowed it as he nibbled at his meal. She smiled down at him, her words soft. “He’s ours now, and what a cute little kitty he is.”
“Isn’t it amazing how one small creature can cause one of the smartest people I know to lose brain cells…” Blake snapped dryly. “We are not keeping it, there’s no way that we're keeping that cat.”
“Yes way.” Yang grinned. “I’m his owner now, and I already filled out the starter form... we just need the team training form and we're good to go.”
“There’s no way they’ll approve this.” Blake sighed. “Besides, cats aren’t like dogs. They’re harder to train, and I have no idea how in the world you’d even use them for combat. There’s no way they’d let us train a cat.”
“You don’t just use huntsman’s animals in combat. They’re useful for all sorts of things, but you have to train them to know how. Yang will have to take a special class for it, but he’s super cute, isn’t he?” Ruby looked to Blake then with big, sad eyes. “You’re not really going to make us get rid of him, are you Blake?”
“I really don’t like animals…” Blake replied uneasily. “Not even cats…”
“But just look at him. He’s so happy now.” Ruby begged.
“Any cat would be happy with my canned chicken and tuna, it's premium. That's for my sandwiches, not for pets.” Blake groused, trying to ignore the pleading in Ruby’s eyes. It was a very difficult thing to do.
“We won’t do that again, I promise, but it was an emergency. He was so hungry, we had to feed him something.” Ruby said then, sitting crossed-legged on the floor. “And when we found him, he was so cold and alone. It was raining, we couldn't just leave him out there sopping wet... we can't just put him back outside..."
“I really don’t know about this, Ruby…” Blake said, squirming uncomfortably.
It was then that Ruby’s eyes began to water. Beacon Academy bylaw demanded that entire team had to agree. Failing that, the one submitting the request needed to have a very good reason not to be refused. Reasons either regarding semblance, or other related factors. Keeping the kitten needed not only on the headmaster’s approval, but Blake’s agreement on the request form.
As Yang’s partner, she had to agree to be willing to train with it, and the team had to live with it in the room.
"We can discuss the complexities later." Weiss began. “Ruby, why don’t you and Yang go pick him up a few things? He’ll need some food, toys, and a litter box at least. We can decide on the rest after we know what we're doing.” Weiss said, handing them some money. “Even if we can’t keep him forever, it wouldn’t be right to let him stay without the important things.”
“But Weiss-”
“Come on sis, shopping time.” Yang said understanding the implication. Clutching the money, the blond practically hauled Ruby out the dorm, leaving Weiss, Blake and the kitten behind.
“Don’t tell me that you’re about to start guilt tripping me too.” Blake said edgily.
Weiss shook her head as she gently picked up the kitten and sat on Blake’s bed with him. Softly scratching him behind the ears, she listened to the small animal purr. She wanted Blake to like him. “I’m not going to guilt you into it. You don't have to agree to anything you don’t want to do."
"I'm sensing a 'but' in there someplace..."
"However, if we intend to keep him, we need your blessing. We won’t even make it passed the request form if you don’t say yes. They’ve already gotten attached to him, and it would be awful to make Ruby cry, wouldn’t it?”
“You’re doing worse than guilt tripping me.” Blake replied, failing to see how anyone could attach to a kitten in less than a few hours. “You’re being rational…”
“Is it working?” Weiss asked, because she wanted to keep the kitten too. “It would make your team very happy if you said yes, you know.”
“Why do I have to be the bad guy here?” Blake asked her as she sat down and glared at the kitten. “Why don’t you back me up this time? He’s such a little thing, anyway. I don’t even think you could start training him for another week or two. Maybe not even at all. We don’t even know if he came from the right pedigree to have enough aura. He may not even qualify. What are you going to do then?”
The kitten wanted to get away, and Weiss placed the small creature onto the floor before he could pounce off her lap haphazardly and hurt himself. He immediately went darting after Yang’s crumpled up notes, batting the paper ball across the floor. As Weiss watched him, she knew Blake could be right.
“It might not work out, and those are things we’d come to find out eventually. Yang and I would be a little disappointed if you ultimately said no, but I think it would be good for Ruby to have a pet around. It’ll give her something to do with all that restless energy."
"Damn it..."
"We both know she’s much calmer with animals nearby. Her demeanor changes, she’s more grounded. She doesn’t mope by the window nearly as often. Need I continue?”
“I hate it when you’re right.”
“Honestly? I hate being right about this too, but that is exactly my point... Ruby could do fine without a pet around, but we both know she’s better off having one. It’s probably an emotional stability somehow, though I wouldn’t even try to guess the details.”
“I didn’t think she would actually spend so much time studying with the mongrel around, and she’s doesn’t bounce around the room half as much either…” Blake muttered, refusing to think about the slobbering beast of a dog at length. "Cats aren't the same, though."
“It has value for Yang as well. We both know it will help her. She’ll be forced to bring up her grades. Don’t forget, Yang will have to train the kitten too. She’ll be out of your hair more often.” Weiss added, appealing to Blake's desire for solitude. They didn't get much in the way of privacy. “You’ll have more time to read, since I’m sure Ruby will insist on helping. I know that I will as well, which would give you the dorm room to yourself on a daily basis…”
“You’re really set on this…” Blake sighed, knowing that Weiss was going to grasp desperately at every possible straw. “I get it. You win. I’ll sign the request.”
“This is perfect!” Weiss said, manifesting the paper far more quickly than Blake ever thought possible. “I just so happen to have the document in question right here.” The clicking of a ball point pen followed as Weiss presented them to her. “All you have to do is sign this.”
“You knew you were going to get me to give in on this, didn't you…”
Weiss merely patted her thigh pleasantly. “You’re a good friend and a wonderful teammate, Blake Belladonna.”
They had to be more than friends, something was between them. Blake noticed it in passing every now and then. Weiss knew just the right things to say. How to coax an agreement, or placate agitation. Weiss was good at that, had a way about her that Blake just couldn’t put her finger on. Weiss was not prone to touch by nature. She didn't tend to seek such physical affection, keeping her hands to herself. Among her team, that rule loosened up quite a bit, but Blake knew that what they shared was a little bit more.
It wasn't overtly obvious, but it was there... that almost deeper bond.
Weiss occasionally sat just a little closer to share a textbook, closer than she would with Yang. She was always just a little more relaxed when they shared notes, laying atop beds with their books on their laps and pencils at their fingertips. She was more relaxed at least, at peace more commonly than when she studied with Ruby. When their rambunctious teammates could occasionally grate on their nerves, they often sought refuge together in quiet corners.
There was just something about their friendship. It went a little smidgen deeper. It continued going on that way, intractable as it could be.
Hard hitting conversations were kept to the confines of the sparring room, and they’d had plenty of fights over the years. That was different too. Hot tempered, acidic words didn’t tend to seep beyond the arena floor these days. It could get pretty nasty still, but it stayed confined and controlled now. After heated warfare, calmer words tended to follow. They didn't let it weigh them down.
There were plenty of times they didn't agree on matters, and knew they never would. However, there were plenty more times when they did eventually find a common ground to stand on... for a Faunus and a Schnee, it was probably the best either of them could really hope for.
Even now as Weiss lazily dozed with a textbook in hand, the heiress was getting away with murder. That damned kitten was sleeping curled up in her lap, and Blake didn’t have the heart to remove it. She wanted to. It was on her bed. Her property, the one place the creature never ought to be.
They were allowed to keep the kitten, much to Blake’s dismay.
She had been hoping the faculty would refuse, but by default the kitten was permitted. Yang came from a family that used animals in the trade, and therefore, she was permitted to request one as well. His aura was too low to ever apply for combat classes, but he could be trained for other things such as tracking, recon, and information correspondence.
Cats were nimble. With agile bodies, they were perfect for following hunters into places a dog simply couldn’t climb. They could easily cling to their hunter during a fight, making them a solid second choice. As such, while far more rare a choice than dogs or birds of prey, cats were readily permitted.
Now that the small creature had an identification chip placed, it was official. He had a little Beacon Academy vest to wear when he went out, signifying his position in training. Yang and the kitten attended basic obedience classes every morning, and her assignments now included his care and upkeep. She had six months to get him to listen to basic commands. If he passed them he would be permitted to follow her around everywhere, every day for the rest of her time at the academy.
The kitten stretched and yawned, looking up to Blake before snuggling back down. Blake couldn’t help it, she was jealous of that little ball of fur.