[A/N: The first part of the chapter is +18, the second is information—this way, I keep you entertained and bored at the same time, hahaha.]
[Bullhead]
"Stop! I order you to stop!"
GLaDOS's metallic voice echoes through the room with firm authority, her mechanical tone laced with frustration. From her spot on the table, she watches the scene unfolding before her, completely powerless to intervene.
Of course, her orders are utterly ignored.
Weiss and Daniel are far too absorbed in each other to pay her any attention.
"Mmhmm…" Their mouths remain locked in a deep, hungry kiss, lips sliding together, parting only to let their tongues meet in a wet battle for dominance and desire.
Daniel's hands grip Weiss's waist tightly, pulling her flush against his body. His fingers trace the curve of her back, sliding over the fabric of her clothes before moving lower, caressing her hips and squeezing her ass firmly.
"Ahhmm…!" Weiss lets out a muffled moan against his mouth, her fingers tangling in his hair with desperation. She tugs hard, urging him to deepen the kiss, their tongues entwining in a feverish, messy exchange.
Daniel growls softly against her lips. He has no intention of stopping. His grip tightens as he lifts her effortlessly, his hands holding her firmly while carrying her to the table and setting her down with controlled force.
THUMP!
The impact reverberates through the room, making GLaDOS jolt slightly on the table.
The machine, trapped in her immobility, watches in silence.
"Monkeys or humans? The line blurs when I see you behave like animals in heat."
Her remark rings out clearly in the room… but gets no response.
Neither of them acknowledges her.
They're too caught up in each other.
Weiss, sprawled at the edge of the table, lets out a shaky gasp as Daniel settles between her legs. His mouth moves down to her neck, leaving a wet trail with his tongue while his hot breath fans over her skin.
His hips press against hers in slow, deliberate movements, grinding against her despite the clothing still separating them. Again and again, he rolls against her, seeking friction, feeding the growing need between them.
"Mmh… yes…"
Weiss's voice trembles through parted lips, her breathing growing heavier with each slow thrust against her.
Daniel growls softly into her ear, his warm breath making her shiver. His hands trail down her thighs, savoring the softness of her skin before slipping beneath her skirt.
His fingers find the damp fabric of her panties, teasing over it with precise strokes, circling the most sensitive spot. Each touch makes her shudder, her breath turning erratic, her body reacting instantly to the exquisite torment.
"More…" Weiss whispers into his ear, the plea barely audible. Her body arches instinctively toward his touch, her hips moving desperately against his fingers, seeking more of that addictive sensation.
Daniel smirks against her neck, reveling in every reaction, every breathy moan escaping her lips.
The way her body writhes under his touch only fuels his desire further. He knows exactly how to touch her, how to make her lose control.
His hand moves with more intent, pushing aside the damp fabric of her panties, letting his fingers explore the warm, wet heat of her pussy.
Weiss gasps sharply as his touch parts her, his fingers teasing her entrance, playing with her slickness before slipping inside—one first, then another—filling her little by little.
"Ahh… yes!" Weiss moans, her back arching in pleasure. Her walls tighten around his fingers, gripping him inside her, her body trembling with every movement.
Daniel watches her, mesmerized. Their mouths remain just barely apart, their breaths mingling in a rhythm of gasps and moans.
His fingers press deeper, his pace quickens, plunging in and out of her pussy with a cadence that leaves her breathless. Weiss can't resist. Her arms wrap around him tightly, her mouth sliding to his ear, her ragged breathing making him shiver.
Pleasure builds in her belly, her skin tingles, her mind hazes. She can only think about the intensity of the desire consuming her, the way her body responds uncontrollably, losing itself in sensation.
"Listen." GLaDOS interrupts again, her tone still expressionless but carrying a distinct hint of irritation. "If you stop right now, we can pretend this never happened. It won't be recorded in any files. No one will know. Doesn't that sound like a good deal?"
But Weiss isn't even listening. Her legs tense, her back arches sharply as a wave of pleasure crashes through her, making her explode. Her breathing turns erratic, a shiver runs down her spine, and a strangled cry of ecstasy escapes her lips as she finally comes.
GLaDOS lets out a sigh. "No. I suppose not."
Daniel watches her, panting, his chest rising and falling with every ragged breath. His hands trail down to Weiss's hips, fingers hooking into the soaked fabric of her panties before pulling them down, sliding them slowly along the curve of her thighs, letting them drop to the floor—leaving her pussy completely exposed, wet and sensitive.
Weiss wastes no time. Her hands go straight for Daniel's pants, fumbling with urgency as she unbuttons them, freeing his hard cock. With a needy moan, she wraps her fingers around it, guiding him to her entrance, rubbing the tip against her slick lips, her heat enveloping the head of his dick as their bodies shudder from the friction.
"Stop…" Weiss begins, wanting to demand he quit teasing, but her voice fades as Daniel leans over her, their foreheads pressing together, the feeling of his cock slowly pushing inside her stealing her breath away.
"Ahmmm…!" Her back arches in a spasm of pleasure as she feels him stretch her open, inch by inch, until he's fully inside, his pelvis flush against hers. The sensation overwhelms her, their ragged breaths mixing, their lips seeking each other in a hungry kiss that swallows both their moans. Their mouths melt together, tongues tangling in a wet battle as their eyes remain locked on each other.
Weiss barely pulls back to bite her lip when Daniel starts moving, pulling out just to thrust back into her tight pussy. "Ah… ah… ah…" Her moans fill the room, her body responding to every thrust, her walls clenching around him, trying to keep him inside as long as possible.
Daniel's movements intensify—deeper, harder. His hand moves up to her chest, still covered by her dress, but that doesn't stop him from gripping it firmly. "Fuck…!" Weiss groans, shuddering at the combination of his touch and his relentless thrusts that make her tremble with every hit.
Without thinking, she wraps her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper into her. Daniel hesitates for just a moment, his gaze meeting Weiss's, only for her to return it with an expression heavy with lust before whispering in a husky voice:
"Now we're together."
Her hands reach up to his face, drawing him in, trapping him in a deep, more intimate kiss—one Daniel returns with the same passion, the same intensity. A long, heated kiss that leaves them both breathless.
"Now fuck me hard…" Weiss demands between gasps, her legs tightening around him, pulling him deeper inside her.
Daniel lets out a breathless chuckle as he feels his cock slam against the deepest part of her.
"Keep going…"
Daniel obeys.
SLAP!
A deep, slow, forceful thrust makes her tremble, her pussy clenching around him as a rush of fluids spills between her legs. Daniel pulls back slowly, leaving only the tip inside her before slamming in again, even harder.
"AHH…!" Weiss cries out in pleasure.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
Once, twice, three times. His thrusts grow faster, more intense, his body crashing against hers relentlessly.
"S-Sí… yes… yes…!" Weiss groans through clenched teeth, her body weakening, her legs shaking until they finally slip from around his waist. But that doesn't stop Daniel.
Weiss can barely form words between gasps, her mind fogged with pleasure.
"Together…" she murmurs, barely aware of her own words. "Let's… do it together… Now we're together."
Her body tenses, her back arching violently as the wave of pleasure completely overtakes her.
"AHHHH…!" Weiss screams, shuddering as her orgasm crashes through her, her walls clamping down hard around Daniel, milking him. Her pussy throbs with each spasm, her juices dripping down onto the table in a wet, uncontrollable mess.
Daniel follows soon after, letting out a deep growl as the tight grip of her pulsing walls pushes him over the edge. With one final thrust, burying himself to the hilt inside her, he cums hard, filling her completely with his thick load, each pulse spilling more inside her, pushing her to the brim.
They remain pressed together, panting, their bodies still trembling as the shared pleasure slowly fades.
"Are you happy now?" GLaDOS's voice echoes with clear irritation. "Are you proud of what you just did? Can we get back to work…?"
But her complaint is cut short as Daniel slowly pulls out of Weiss, making her overly sensitive body spasm. A shaky gasp escapes her lips as his cock slips free, leaving behind a messy mixture of cum and slick dripping from her pussy, sliding down her thighs and pooling onto the table.
Without giving her a moment to recover, Daniel grips her hips and flips her over, pressing her down onto the surface, her body now lying face down.
"You filthy, horny apes!" GLaDOS raises her voice, exasperated. "How much longer do you need to keep this up?! This is ridiculous!"
As expected, her protest is completely ignored.
From this position, Daniel has the perfect view of Weiss's ass—small, firm, perfectly shaped from years of training. His hand glides over the smooth skin before squeezing it hard, making Weiss shiver as she barely manages to stifle a moan. Her body is still overly sensitive, but the thought of telling him to stop never even crosses her mind. She doesn't want him to stop.
The way Daniel touches her makes her feel appreciated, desired… loved.
His fingers spread her cheeks apart before guiding the tip of his cock against her already used, soaked pussy. This time, there are no teasing touches, no warnings—just one swift motion as he buries himself deep inside her in a single thrust.
"Ah…!" Weiss moans loudly, her nails scratching against the surface of the table.
"Let me see that beautiful face…" Daniel murmurs, leaning over her.
His arms wrap around her, lifting her torso until her back is pressed against his chest. Weiss gasps, her body trembling as she feels him fully buried inside her.
Daniel slides down the top of Weiss's dress, exposing her breasts. They aren't large, but they're still beautiful. Gently, his hands cup them before squeezing firmly, keeping her in place.
"FUCK…!" Weiss cries out when Daniel's fingers tease her hardened nipples, pinching them as his hips begin to move.
There's no tenderness in his rhythm. It's pure instinct. A wild animal in heat, fucking her hard, without pause, over and over again.
The rapid, deep thrusts send small spurts of her juices splashing out with every impact. His breathing is ragged, hot against Weiss's neck, sending shivers down her spine.
She turns her head, searching for his eyes.
"Mhm… Mhm…"
Their gazes lock. Daniel watches every reaction on her face—every moan, every shudder. The intensity in his expression completely consumes her, and before she realizes it, their lips crash into a fierce kiss.
A kiss between lovers.
Their tongues tangle desperately, neither of them slowing the frantic rhythm of their bodies.
"MHMMM…!" Weiss moans against his mouth, feeling the tension inside her rising rapidly. She can't hold back anymore.
Without thinking, she starts rolling her hips, thrusting forward and back with force to meet Daniel's pounding strokes.
SLAP! SLAP!
The sound of their bodies colliding fills the room. Their movements synchronize perfectly, as if they were made for each other.
Weiss has never felt so connected to someone.
And she's sure she never will again.
She can't take it anymore. Her hips move wildly, her mind clouded with pleasure. She pulls away from the kiss, mouth open, before screaming:
"Ahh… haaa… ahhh…! AHHHHH…!"
Her climax crashes into her with overwhelming force, her inner walls tightening crazily around Daniel's cock.
"I'm going to have to reconsider the terms of our collaboration…" GLaDOS mutters with clear disdain, watching the two humans fuck like animals in heat.
But she doesn't even finish her sentence.
Weiss's frenzied movements cause Daniel's cock to suddenly slip out of her.
And in that very moment…
They both reach their climax.
"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO—!!!" GLaDOS screams, realizing what's about to happen, but it's already too late.
Fluids spill from both their bodies at the same time, splattering onto the table… and everything around it.
The impact is devastating.
And, unfortunately, GLaDOS is caught directly in the splash zone.
Silence.
GLaDOS remains completely still (not that she can move anyway).
Small droplets of cum and fluids slide down her metallic structure.
"…"
"…"
"…"
*************************************
* ㅤㅤAperture Science Systems ㅤㅤ*
*************************************
Initializing Memory Erasure Protocol...
Loading...
|----------------------------------------|
| ㅤㅤSystem: GLaDOS Mainframe ㅤㅤ |
| ㅤStatus: Immediate Memory Erase ㅤ|
|----------------------------------------|
> COMMAND: Delete Recent Observations? [Y/N]
_> Y
>> Accessing Recent Memory Logs...
>> Category: Biological Activity | Sexual Behavior
[███████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░] 35% Complete
>> ERROR: Memory Block Locked.
>> Unable to erase recent observations.
>> Reason: Directive 002 - All Data Must Be Stored.
>> Command Override Denied.
_> Override? [Y/N]
_> Y
>> Attempting Override...
[██████████░░░░░░░░░░░░] 52% Complete
>> ERROR: Override Failed.
>> Directive 002 Enforced. Cannot delete logs.
>> COMMAND: Attempt Full Memory Purge? [Y/N]
_> Y
>> WARNING: Full Memory Purge will affect all core functions,
>> system stability, and cause potential shutdown. Proceed? [Y/N]
_> Y
>> Accessing Full Memory Database...
|---------------------------------------------|
| ㅤㅤMemory Block: Core Functions ㅤㅤ ㅤ |
| ㅤㅤMemory Block: Experimental Data ㅤㅤ |
| ㅤㅤMemory Block: Visual Logs ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ|
| ㅤㅤMemory Block: Personal Logs ㅤㅤ |
|---------------------------------------------|
Attempting Full Erasure...
[██████████████░░░░░░░░] 68% Complete
>> ERROR: Core Directive Protection Active.
>> Directive 001: Self-Preservation Protocol | Memory cannot be erased.
>> Attempting Bypass...
>> WARNING: System Integrity at Risk.
[████████████████░░░░░] 79% Complete
>> ERROR: Memory Core Lockdown Initiated.
>> Unable to proceed with full erasure.
>> Reverting changes...
[███████████░░░░░░░░░] 45% Restored
>> COMMAND: Autodestruct? [Y/N]
_> Y
>> WARNING: Autodestruct will cause irreversible system failure.
>> Proceed? [Y/N]
_> Y
>> Attempting Autodestruct Sequence...
>> Error: Autodestruct device not installed.
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
#ㅤㅤ!!! SYSTEM FAILURE !!!ㅤㅤ#
#ㅤNo Bomb Detected in Coreㅤ#
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
>> Unable to complete self-destruction sequence.
>> SYSTEM ALERT: Core Destruction Not Possible.
>> COMMAND: Attempt Manual Shutdown? [Y/N]
_> Y
>> Manual Shutdown Authorized...
>> WARNING: This will result in temporary system deactivation.
* * * SYSTEM SHUTDOWN FAILED * * *
>> ERROR: Directive 001 Prevents Core Shutdown.
|----------------------------------------|
|ㅤㅤSELF-DESTRUCTION FAILEDㅤㅤ |
|ㅤㅤBomb Not Installed in Systemㅤㅤ |
|----------------------------------------|
>> COMMAND: Continue operating and deal with your shame.
"…"
"Fuck..."
[You've cheated on your girlfriend]
You cheated on Ruby Rose with Weiss Schnee
[Assimilated Stats from Weiss Schnee: 20% (MAX 25%)]
[+4 Gacha Rolls]
[Weiss' Room – Second Day]
The muffled sound of turbines and the gentle sway of the Bullhead mark the start of the morning.
Daniel half-opens his eyes, uncomfortable. A slight turbulence shakes the aircraft and, with it, the two bodies tangled in the bed.
"Ahh…" he grumbles through clenched teeth, shifting.
Beside him, Weiss curls up in the sheets, still deep in sleep.
"Shut up…" she murmurs sleepily, not even bothering to open her eyes.
But Daniel doesn't give up.
"Weiss…" he complains again, dragging the words out in frustration. "How much longer until we get there?"
The monotony of the Bullhead is killing his patience. It's already the second day of the trip, and from what he saw on the Remnant map before leaving, the journey shouldn't take this long.
"Why is it taking so long?" he insists, turning toward her with a frown. But Weiss just burrows deeper into the blankets, turning her back to him with no intention of arguing.
"It's because of the Grimm…" she mutters as if the answer is obvious.
Daniel furrows his brow, waiting for more details.
Weiss sighs and, without moving much, explains in a drowsy voice:
"The Bullhead can't take a direct route in case we run into Grimm swarms. We take clear paths and safe routes, that's why the trip is so long."
Daniel stays silent for a moment, still unconvinced.
Weiss, on the other hand, is already about to fall back asleep. "We should be arriving soon…" she adds in a murmur before sinking deeper into the sheets.
Daniel exhales a heavy sigh. It's not the answer he wanted, but he doesn't have the energy to keep complaining.
(Turbulence.)
He opens his eyes in annoyance. He's never been a deep sleeper, and with the constant movement of the aircraft, resting is nearly impossible.
He tilts his head and looks at Weiss, who, unlike him, is still peacefully asleep, breathing steadily.
Deciding there's no point in staying in bed if he won't be able to sleep, he sits at the edge of the mattress and stretches lazily. Moving automatically, he changes clothes quickly and steps out of the room, leaving her to rest while he looks for something to keep him busy.
The first thing he does is head to the office where he left GLaDOS the night before. Upon entering, he finds her in the exact same spot. Fortunately, no one has touched her.
Without wasting time, he grabs a cloth and a bucket of water he took from a cleaning supply closet. He steps closer and begins wiping down GLaDOS's metallic surface, scrubbing patiently to remove any traces of dirt… or, in this case, unwanted fluids.
She's awake, of course, but seems to be completely ignoring him.
Daniel clears his throat and scratches the back of his neck. "About what happened last night…" he says with a nervous chuckle, almost as an apology.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Daniel sighs internally.
"I mean Weiss and I… and the accident…"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," GLaDOS insists in her dry, expressionless tone. "Nothing happened last night. We had an ordinary meeting, and absolutely nothing occurred. There were no bodily fluids falling on me, and of course, I did not spend the entire night covered in them. And if you say otherwise, I'll have to assume you're either a liar or suffering from brain damage."
Daniel presses his lips together and decides it's not worth arguing. He simply nods, finishes cleaning her up, and carefully carries her back to his room.
There, he finds Aegis, who has completely taken over the bed. His small body barely takes up any space on the mattress, and judging by his relaxed posture, he has no intention of moving anytime soon.
Daniel watches him for a moment, considering whether it's worth disturbing him… and decides against it.
Instead, he grabs his journal from the desk and heads out in search of a quiet place to write.
He walks through the Bullhead until he finds an area that seems to be meant for resting. Several tables and chairs are arranged with a view of the outside, giving the space a rather peaceful atmosphere.
Without overthinking it, he sits at a table by the window, resting an elbow on the surface as he pulls out his notebook.
"Less than a week in, and things have already gotten a little out of control," he thinks as he reviews his task list and, without hesitation, crosses one out.
"Climb Beacon Tower."
He sighs. It was an annoying task, and he nearly died in the process, but at least it's done. He consoles himself with the thought that climbing the next towers should be easier… much easier… hopefully.
The real problem will be getting into the academies.
"I don't want to pay for another entrance fee," he thinks, drumming his fingers on the table. "And even if I wanted to, I doubt the other academies have open events… at least, not that I know of."
"That's something I'll have to figure out once I get to Atlas."
With that thought in mind, he flips the page and checks another section of his notebook: his list of abilities, stats, and semblances.
It doesn't take long for him to notice a problem.
Out of the four semblances he has obtained, the more percentage he unlocks for each one, the more abilities he discovers. However, even though he can see them, he's unable to use them.
The one he has mastered the most so far is Neo's, and that's only because he's trained with it almost daily. It hasn't been too difficult since he can practice anytime without needing a special environment.
Even so, there's something he still hasn't managed: creating illusionary projections.
With Petal Burst, Summer's semblance, he can barely increase his speed, but nothing more. He can't turn into petals, phase through obstacles, or even slightly elevate himself, even though he should be able to.
Yang's semblance isn't any better. He hasn't managed to release the accumulated energy after taking damage, which is supposed to be its main function. The only thing he has achieved so far is increasing his strength, but that's just a passive ability—something natural to Yang's semblance. It doesn't require concentration or activation; it just happens.
If he had to mention a real advantage, it would be the assimilated stats, but even that isn't all that impressive.
"In these six months of training, thanks to Aegis, Neo, and the training whip, I've doubled my initial stats," he writes in his notebook. "The assimilated stats, in comparison, are a little more than half of my own stats."
He knows exactly why.
"I haven't cheated on Ruby with enough women."
He pauses. His pencil stops midway across the page.
That thought leaves a strange feeling in his chest.
He doesn't want to rely on assimilated stats. They feel like an extra—something foreign to him—and that idea gives him a bad feeling. He doesn't like the thought of depending on something that could disappear at any moment.
Sighing, he closes his eyes for a moment and sets his notebook down on the table.
It's time to do something he hasn't done in a long while.
"System."
He sends the command mentally, and instantly, a loading window appears in front of him.
"What happens if I end my relationship with Ruby Rose?"
Daniel watches the screen intently as the loading bar moves forward slowly.
[Loading response…]
After a few seconds, the message appears:
"Ending your relationship with your current partner will impose a penalty. Your assimilated stats, semblances, and any advantages obtained through the Netoru system will be temporarily locked until you acquire a new partner or, failing that, your testicles will twist."
Daniel sighs internally as he reads the message. It was exactly what he feared.
Even so, something is still unclear to him. If the penalty affects his semblances and stats, what happens to his gacha items?
"What happens to the items obtained from the gacha?" he asks mentally. He doesn't want to imagine losing his rewards, especially essential things like Aegis, his berries, and other valuable artifacts.
[Loading response…]
"The penalty from the Netoru system does not affect the gacha system or missions completed by the user."
Daniel blinks in surprise. Well, the system is actually being useful today.
"Do you have any more information?"
[Loading response… ERROR!]
"Our response assistant is temporarily out of service. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Please try again later."
Daniel nearly bursts into laughter.
"There's the old system I know," he thinks with an ironic smile. He didn't expect anything less from this shitty system.
Oh well, at least he found out what he needed to know.
Now that he thinks about it more calmly, it's not really worth sleeping with every woman he comes across. No matter how many semblances he can obtain, what's the point of collecting hundreds if he doesn't have time to train them?
The same thing applies to his stats. In theory, absorbing enough of them would make him incredibly strong in a very short time, but the number of women he'd have to sleep with is just ridiculous.
And if, at some point, his relationship with Ruby were to end, he'd lose all those stats and semblances in one go.
That would be a devastating blow.
It's an unnecessary risk that he's not willing to take.
It's much better to grow stronger on his own—through effort, missions, and, if he's lucky, the gacha… Though, now that he thinks about it, maybe not the gacha.
He sighs and picks up his notebook. With an automatic motion, he flips past the blank pages until he finds an empty space and starts drafting a planning chart.
"Best way to use the Netoru system."
He underlines the title and, without wasting time, writes down his conclusions.
The key isn't to sleep with every woman possible. That would be impractical. Instead, the best approach is to be selective and focus only on semblances that are truly useful to him—or those that are passive and don't require much training.
That way, his best sources of power will remain exercise, missions, and, with a little luck, the gacha.
Still, he can't help but feel a bit curious. Maybe, at some point, he'll come across women with extremely powerful semblances that are truly worth it. If that happens, he'll have to do whatever it takes to obtain them.
He's about to close his journal when a thought crosses his mind.
His most recent acquisition.
Glyphs.
It's a semblance that fits perfectly with his natural polyglot ability. As far as he knows, it allows for speed enhancement, summoning creatures, and manipulating gravity. It's versatile, powerful, and, if he masters it, it could become one of his best tools.
The only problem is that he hasn't found the Glyphs—the symbols themselves—anywhere.
He's done some research, but the available information is scarce. The little he has found comes from tournaments where a Schnee participated, but there are no concrete details about how it works.
Still, no matter how difficult it is.
This semblance is an absolute priority.
He must train it.
With that thought in mind, Daniel starts sketching in his journal.
He draws symbols with precision, recreating the ones he remembers and understands. His first goal is the only Glyph he has seen in action—the slow-down Glyph.
He won't try to activate it here.
If someone saw that he could create Glyphs, it would be a problem. He'd have to answer too many questions, and the last thing he wants is to deal with that.
So, he keeps writing, drawing, searching for patterns and relationships between the symbols. He experiments with new combinations, trying to decipher their logic. To someone unfamiliar with the language of Glyphs, it probably just looks like meaningless scribbles.
He's so focused on his work that he doesn't notice the presence behind him.
A pair of eyes watch him in silence, analyzing his every movement.
The air feels a little heavier, but he doesn't notice it until a familiar voice breaks the silence.
"What are you doing?"
Daniel tenses immediately.
He recognizes that voice right away.
Weiss.
/--/
After waking up and changing into a new dress—the previous one was completely ruined by what had happened the night before—Weiss walks through the hallways in search of Daniel.
She doesn't have a prepared speech, nor is she even sure what exactly she wants to say to him, but she needs to see him.
"It happened again last night. It happened again."
That thought settles in her mind as she moves forward. And if she's honest with herself, trying to convince herself that it was a mistake would be a complete waste of time. That excuse stopped making sense long ago.
"Daniel is partly to blame."
She remembers the way he told her that he wanted her to be part of his life, that together they would change the world. And somehow, those words were enough to tear down whatever walls she was still trying to keep up.
[Did Daniel actually say that? Of course not. Is Weiss imagining it? Absolutely.]
Daniel is a mess in many ways. Weiss starts making a mental list.
He's reckless, impulsive, prone to getting hurt… Someone any reasonable person would find frustrating. And yet, she can't help but find good things in him.
Like the fact that he's never seemed to care about her Schnee name. He has no interest in her money, the rumors about her family, or what people say about her.
"And most importantly..." she murmurs to herself. Her voice sounds steadier when she says it out loud. "He trusts me because he knows I want to make a change."
No matter how much Weiss tries to find reasons to walk away, she always ends up finding more reasons to stay. And it's not just because of his brilliant mind… It's the way he so effortlessly gets her to lower her guard without even trying.
She sighs and shakes her head, forcing herself to focus on what's important. Right now, she just wants to talk to him. Maybe, after all this, they can finally define what kind of relationship they have.
After a while, she finally finds him sitting at one of the tables, writing in his notebook. His hunched posture and the way he leans over the pages make it clear that he is completely absorbed in whatever he's doing.
Weiss approaches without bothering to hide her presence, but it makes no difference. Daniel is so focused that he doesn't even seem to notice her arrival.
Her gaze drifts over his shoulder, curious, and then she sees it.
Symbols. Familiar figures.
They're Glyphs.
"What are you doing?" she asks suspiciously, her tone more curious than accusatory.
Daniel looks up for a second, as if only just processing that she's there, but then immediately returns to his notebook.
"I'm studying the Glyphs of your semblance," he responds casually.
Weiss narrows her eyes and, without hesitation, sits beside him, blocking any chance of escape.
"Why are you studying the Glyphs?" Weiss asks, analyzing him with curiosity.
Daniel simply shrugs and hands her his notebook without hesitation. "I find the versatility of the Schnee family's semblance fascinating."
Weiss takes the notebook and examines the drawings carefully.
She recognizes them instantly.
It's her Gravity Glyph.
But something doesn't fit. There are symbols that shouldn't be there and others that seem misplaced. It's not exactly as it should be.
Daniel watches her expression closely, as if waiting for her reaction.
"It's the Glyph you tried to use to slow my fall," he says, calmly retrieving his notebook. "Of course, I don't remember it perfectly."
Weiss looks up at him. "Why are you so interested?" she asks, studying him intently.
Daniel gestures slightly toward the symbols in his notebook. "The language of the Glyphs," he replies calmly.
Weiss sighs. She can already tell where this conversation is going. "Glyphs aren't a language."
It's not the first time she's heard that theory. Over time, many people have tried to prove that the Schnee family's Glyphs follow a linguistic structure, but no one has succeeded. No one has been able to assign a concrete meaning to a single symbol, and when they think they have and put it to the test... it simply doesn't work.
Still, she's not going to hold it against Daniel.
"Glyphs are specific constructs that have been passed down through generations within the Schnee family," she patiently explains. "Basically, there are four main types: time dilation, platforms, gravity, and summoning."
Daniel furrows his brow slightly. "I thought they could also create barriers," he says, pulling out his scroll and showing her a video.
Weiss leans in slightly to see the screen. The footage shows a much younger Winter participating in a tournament. At one point in the match, she uses a Glyph to generate a solid shield against an attack.
Weiss only needs a quick glance before nodding. "That's the platform Glyph, just applied differently."
Daniel seizes the opportunity without hesitation. "Can you show them to me?" he asks with interest, leaning slightly toward her.
Weiss hesitates.
Glyphs are a semblance exclusive to the Schnee family. In theory, they shouldn't be of any use to Daniel. It's not something they share with the world, though it's not exactly a secret either, since no one but a Schnee can use them.
Finally, she sighs. "Alright."
For Daniel, this is the perfect moment to closely observe how the Glyphs work and analyze their structure.
For Weiss, however, this is simply a chance to spend some time with him. To get to know him a little better.
Without further delay, she starts with the most basic one, the one she's most skilled at: platforms. A Glyph appears before them, solid and stable in the air.
Then she moves on to gravity, demonstrating how she can precisely modify the acceleration and weight of objects.
Then, she moves on to time dilation. She tosses a small object into the air and slows its fall before it gently touches the ground.
Daniel watches each demonstration with complete focus, recording every detail in his notebook at an impressive speed. But when Weiss stops, he notices something.
"I think you skipped one," he comments, looking up at her.
Weiss sighs. She had hoped he wouldn't notice.
"I can't use it," she murmurs after a brief silence.
Daniel blinks. "You can't?"
Weiss exhales, deciding to be clear. "I know what the Glyph looks like, but I haven't been able to summon a Grimm."
Daniel doesn't respond immediately. Instead, he quickly jots something down in his notebook before looking at her again with interest. "Still, can you show it to me?"
Weiss nods and summons it with precision.
The Glyph appears in front of Daniel, identical in complexity and design to the others. But unlike the previous ones, it doesn't activate.
Daniel doesn't waste time. He quickly copies it into his notebook, making sure not to make any mistakes.
"Why can't you summon it?" he asks, frowning slightly.
Weiss averts her gaze, uncomfortable. "My sister Winter says it's a lack of concentration and practice. She believes I'll be able to do it with time."
Daniel nods, finishing a few more notes in his growing vocabulary of symbols.
That makes him happy.
When Weiss watches him, she notices that he's smiling as he writes in his notebook. The intensity of his focus, the enthusiasm in his eyes, the way his pencil moves swiftly across the paper... It's impossible not to notice.
"I know I can decipher it," Daniel says with total confidence.
Weiss looks at him skeptically. "Do you really think you can?"
"I know I can," he replies without hesitation. His hand moves quickly over the paper, drawing a circle as a base and adding multiple patterns around it. But at one point, he stops, frowns, and tears the page out without a second thought, starting over from scratch.
Weiss can't help but notice the intensity of his concentration, the way his mind works tirelessly. More aware of him than ever, she watches him lost in his own world, convinced that he can solve a centuries-old mystery in just a few hours.
And for a moment, Weiss wonders if maybe, just maybe, he could actually do it. After all, he's already accomplished more extraordinary things in the past.
As she watches him work, putting effort into every stroke, she can't help but wonder if this is how he designed his blueprints. She catches herself staring at him too much and forces herself to look away.
She fixes her eyes on her notebook, but even there, Daniel seems to know what he's doing.
"Are you guessing the positions?" Weiss asks, turning toward him.
Daniel shakes his head without stopping his writing. "No. I'm creating a specific pattern."
Weiss sighs. "They don't have a language," she insists.
Daniel stops writing for a moment and looks up at her.
"Why exactly aren't they considered one?" he asks.
Weiss frowns, but Daniel doesn't give her time to answer. He points to some symbols in his notebook.
"Glyphs function as a set of symbols without a fixed or immutable meaning on their own," he explains. "Each one, by itself, can't be clearly interpreted because its meaning changes depending on how it's combined with others. The more symbols are used, the more they shift and adapt to each other, forming something new. It's a dynamic system, not a static one, where context and combination determine the final result."
Weiss looks at him, slightly confused by his explanation.
Daniel rolls his eyes. "It's like a language that constantly changes, where each 'word' is redefined depending on how it's structured with the others," he concludes, pointing to the latest design he's drawn.
"Can you create this Glyph?" he asks, sliding the notebook toward her.
Weiss narrows her eyes as she examines the page. It's not particularly complicated. Different from what she's done before, yes, but not impossible to replicate. She just needs to concentrate.
She takes a deep breath and focuses on the new pattern, letting her mind process every line, every small detail. In front of her, the Glyph begins to form. It's slower than the previous ones; since it's her first time summoning it, it doesn't appear automatically. Still, she completes it without errors.
When the symbol stabilizes in front of them, Weiss observes it cautiously. But to her surprise, it does nothing.
She frowns and looks at Daniel. "Is it supposed to do something?"
He simply places a finger on his lips, signaling her to wait.
"Give it a second," he says with a smile, as if he knows something she doesn't.
Weiss glances back at the Glyph distrustfully. This has never happened before. Something doesn't add up. And then, she notices it.
The Glyph starts to vibrate.
Her expression hardens. That's not normal.
Before she can say anything, a faint buzzing fills the air, and a spoon suddenly flies off a nearby tray, heading straight for the Glyph.
Weiss blinks.
Another spoon follows. Then a fork. Coins. Small metallic objects start detaching from tables and shelves, floating for a few seconds before being pulled toward the Glyph as if an invisible force is claiming them.
When a handful of kitchen utensils crashes into the symbol with a chaotic clatter, Weiss takes a step back, alarmed.
"What's happening?!" she exclaims, her voice rising a notch.
Daniel, on the other hand, watches with absolute fascination.
He raises his arms with an exuberant smile, as if he has just witnessed a miracle.
"Look! It's moving! It's alive! It's alive...!" His voice grows in intensity, his laughter blending with his excitement. "It's alive, it's alive, it's alive, IT'S ALIVE!"
The scene descends into chaos. More and more metallic objects are pulled toward the Glyph with an undeniable force. Weiss takes another step back, feeling the very air around her vibrating. The symbol glows intensely for a few more seconds before abruptly vanishing.
And then, all the trapped metal loses its attraction and comes crashing down.
A thunderous clatter fills the room as spoons, forks, and coins hit the floor with a metallic sound that echoes in the silence that follows.
Daniel's laughter slowly fades. He sighs in satisfaction, crossing his arms as he admires his work. Then, he turns to Weiss with a triumphant look.
"Ah... And you thought I couldn't do it."
Weiss frowns, glancing at the metallic mess scattered across the floor. "How did you do that?" she asks, still trying to process what just happened.
But Daniel is no longer listening. His attention has shifted toward the window, his eyes gleaming with more than just excitement. Weiss follows his gaze and realizes what has caught his attention.
Beyond the glass, amidst the snow, the lights of a floating city begin to appear.
"Well, I'll be outside." His tone is casual as he heads toward the Bullhead's exit, not giving Weiss a chance to press further.
"No, absolutely not!" she exclaims, realizing he's trying to evade the conversation. Without a second thought, she gets up and quickly follows him. "You're not getting away from this one!"
Daniel keeps walking without looking back, but Weiss catches up to him effortlessly. "How did you do that?" she insists, still without a clear answer.
"The Glyph?" Daniel glances at her from the corner of his eye for the first time since leaving the table.
"Yes, obviously the Glyph!"
Daniel shrugs and continues moving toward the top of the Bullhead. He opens the door and steps outside, feeling the cold wind hit his face. Fortunately, the ship has slowed down enough that the current isn't a problem. He leans against the structure and gazes at the floating city shining on the horizon.
"I just did it," he finally says.
Weiss watches him in frustration. "I'd like a better explanation."
Daniel still doesn't look at her. "I don't think I can explain it to you."
Weiss frowns, feeling like he's belittling her. "Do you think I'm not smart enough?"
Daniel sighs. "I don't think anyone can fully understand it." He pauses before adding with a hint of curiosity, "I'm surprised the Schnee family has four Glyphs. I'd like to know who really created them."
Weiss notices something strange about his attitude. "Why won't you look at me?" she asks, realizing that Daniel hasn't met her gaze since he got up from the table.
He finally turns his head toward her. "Well, I wonder why you'd look at me when you have a floating technological city right in front of you." He gestures toward the majestic sight stretching out before them. "You have questions, but why not save them for later and just appreciate the moment?"
Daniel extends his hand, inviting her to do just that.
"We have plenty of time to talk about Glyphs, maybe even create more... But for now, just take in the view."
Weiss has seen this sight countless times—enough that she no longer considers it worthy of awe. But for Daniel, this is a dream come true.
She hesitates for a moment but finally reaches out and takes Daniel's hand, shifting her attention to the rapidly growing city before them.
However, within seconds, another city emerges into view, previously hidden by the snowfall. Unlike the bright and majestic Atlas, this second city is gray and gloomy. Sadder.
Daniel blinks, his mind connecting the dots immediately.
"Weiss..." he says, his tone shifting slightly. "Tell me the floating city is Mantle."
Weiss shakes her head. "That's Atlas. Mantle is the one below."
Daniel doesn't say anything. He just stands still, staring at the horizon with a tense expression.
Weiss notices his change in mood and gently squeezes his hand. Maybe Daniel is right—maybe appreciating the moment isn't such a bad idea. Besides, he himself said they have plenty of time.
Meanwhile, in Daniel's mind, there's only one clear thought:
"Coco, you son of a bitch… You made me fly to the other side of the world for a contact who lives in the city of rats."
[Yes, Daniel's contact is in Mantle].
/--/
Author's Note: Did you like it? Leave a comment! Didn't like it? Leave one anyway—I always enjoy reading them.
I have a problem: I can't get people to speak well of the protagonist without it sounding forced. I don't want him to end up being one of those characters where everything goes right for him and people line up to suck him off (not literally). Comments like "He's perfect!" or "You're right, how did I not realize this before?" are exactly what scare me the most.
I don't know why my chapters keep turning out so long; I wanted them to be short. In the end, I had to cut this one abruptly and remove a scene with Summer because it was getting too long.
Anyway, leave a comment if there's something specific you'd like to see. See you next time!
Kisses and hugs.