Give her a warm welcome

The journey back to Menagerie is shorter than Kali expected. There was not much conversation even when Blake caught her breath. Weiss did not talk about how she was captured or what happened between the fall of Beacon and the present. She just wanted to sleep. The airship landed in Menagerie during twilight hours.

Kali showed Weiss to a spare room in her house, asking her if she needed anything. Weiss said she was fine unconvincingly. Kali knew it was best to give Weiss some space and took a shower before catching up on her sleep. Kali woke up early to prepare a hearty breakfast. She left a change of clothes in Weiss' room picked out from Blake's wardrobe as the clothes they found her in were dirty. Weiss awoke to the smell of bacon, fish and eggs as warm daylight sunshine entered her window. There is a sense of peace in Kali's home. Only the sound of seagulls and the breeze fill her airspace.

Weiss follows the scent of breakfast to the kitchen where she finds Kali cooking in a dressing gown.

“Good morning Weiss. Are you hungry?" Kali welcomes.

Weiss asks "Can you show me where the bathroom is?" while holding the clothes left for her.

"Of course honey," Kali replies. She turns down the stove and directs her towards the bathroom.

Before Kali let's Weiss inside, she tells her "If there is anything you want, just let me know." Weiss nods and proceeds to shower. The clothes Kali handed her fit loosely.

One by one, the residents of Kali’s pour out of their rooms, greeted by the scent of breakfast. They sit around the table Kali prepares. Sun tries to take some fish but Kali slaps his hand, telling him to wait.

Weiss walks down the stairs to see Kali, Blake, Ghira and Sun waiting for her anxiously- partly because they want to eat already but mostly because they are not sure where Weiss' head is at. She approaches the table shyly. Kali's smile puts a warm glow in her heart.

"My family doesn't eat dinner like this. Let alone breakfast!” Weiss comments before taking a seat between Blake and Kali.

"My house is your house. Everything you see is yours," Kali responds.

"So... Can we eat?" Sun asks excitedly.

"Of course," Ghira answers irritably at Sun for being so eager to stuff his face.

They pass around plates holding the food and scoff down breakfast quickly. Though Weiss remains noticeably anxious. She hardly makes eye contact with anyone at the table and stares down at her plate once she is finished.

"Is something wrong Weiss?" Kali asks.

"I was so scared..." Weiss squeaks. Her hands shake as she draws breath sharply. Everyone had been hesitant to ask Weiss what happened to her but now there is no way around. There is a heaviness at the table as she readies to unload herself.

"How did you end up at the Branwen camp?" Blake asks softly.

"I ran away from home. I couldn’t take it... I felt trapped! Like I was going to be stuck forever in my family’s legacy. Or at least my father’s vision of it. And the worst part was, I genuinely believed that I was never going to see any of my friends from Beacon again!" Weiss exclaims.

Weiss bursts out into tears spontaneously but Kali takes Weiss into her arms to comfort her. And not a Hollywood cry mind you- a raw, ugly cry that comes with heartbreak and loss. Weiss felt like a part of her died in the months she adjusted to life back in Atlas. She is hit with the sudden realisation of how much of her life was missing.

Kali wipes away her tears with a tissue. Weiss' breath becomes strained as she tries to get all her emotions out.

“This is the first time in months where I feel like I can actually breathe! And I feel like I don't deserve this..." Weiss sobs.

"What do you mean?" Kali questions.

"After what my family has done! We worked the Faunus to ****! Made profits at their expense! We are in part to blame for the White Fang! For Beacon!" Weiss shouts through her crying. She had been harboring guilt over the radicalisation of the White Fang. At first, Weiss thought of herself as a victim. But upon further reflection, she viewed her family as the perpetrators of injustices which were met in response with radicalism.

"Oh nonsense! Nonsense! You look at me honey. As far as I see it, you are part of my family. You cannot take the blame for the actions of the SDC," Kali snaps.

"But you still didn't answer how did you get to the Branwen camp?" Sun asks somewhat insensitively.

"My airship crashed... my pilot died... we were attacked by Grimm..." Weiss explains. "Now that my life is in my own hands, I have no idea what to do with it," she adds.

"You can stay here in Menagerie till you find your feet. Things are going to be okay," Blake assures while placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Do you think the locals will actually welcome me here? Being a Shnee and all..." Weiss asks.

"Yes Weiss. Not everyone is like the snobs in Atlas," Kali retorts.

"I hate being so emotional!" Weiss moans.

Kali lifts up Weiss’ head to look her in the eyes.

“Passion is what drives us to live. Don’t hide what you feel, share it,” she says. Weiss gazes into Kali's piercing yellow eyes- they capture her heart in an instant.

Weiss knew she had a crush on Blake’s mom. How could she not be taken in by such an exotic beauty? Hot blood surges to her unmentionables as the ice queen melts. A sharp erection kicks up in her pants.

She breaks eye contact and rotates her body away from her. Ashamed, Weiss tries to hide her throbbing ice pick under the table as she pulls herself together.

"I think it is best we show you around. Some fresh air ought to do you some good," Kali encourages.

"Thank you Mrs Belladonna," Weiss says with a small blush.

"Please, call me Kali," she answers.