SXD+S: Stalking

Random Beacon Hallway

Weiss Schnee pressed herself against the stone corner, her pale fingers gripping the edge as she peeked around carefully. Her eyes narrowed. There they were, her older sister Winter and… him.

Winter stood tall and composed as always, but Weiss nearly gasped, the woman was smiling. Not just the faint, imperceptible curl of lips Winter sometimes allowed in private, but an actual, genuine smile. Worse, she had just… laughed. A soft, almost musical laugh that Weiss hadn’t heard since they were children.

And Issei Hyoudou was the one who caused it.

Weiss’s eyes narrowed to slits.

‘What in the world could he have possibly said? He’s not even funny! His jokes are juvenile, his timing is atrocious, and half the time his attempts at humor are just shameless comments about—.’

Her cheeks warmed as the thought trailed off. She shook her head rapidly. ‘No. No, I will not let this continue. Winter is supposed to be the pinnacle of composure, the symbol of everything I’m striving for… not—’ She clenched her fists ‘—not smiling like some flustered schoolgirl at him.’

Weiss adjusted her stance, heels clicking lightly against the marble as she leaned closer to eavesdrop. Her heart raced as Issei’s voice carried faintly through the air.

“…and then I said, ‘That wasn’t a Beowolf, that was Ruby after skipping breakfast!’”

Winter laughed again. A small, dignified laugh, but unmistakable.

Weiss glared daggers. ‘That wasn’t even clever! And it should be me laughing at his stupid jokes.’

She was so focused she didn’t notice the footsteps approaching from behind until a whisper broke the silence.

“…Uh, what’s Weiss doing?”

Ruby Rose tilted her head, standing only a few feet away with Blake and Yang at her side. All three had caught sight of Weiss hunched against the corner like a thief in broad daylight.

“Looks like she’s spying,” Yang said with an amused smirk.

“On her own sister and boyfriend.” Blake added flatly, as she noticed Issei and Winter, though the faintest twitch at the corner of her lips betrayed her amusement.

Ruby gasped softly. “Weiss! Are you spying on Winter?”

Weiss jumped, spinning around so fast her ponytail whipped over her shoulder. “Shhh!” she hissed, her face already tinged pink. “Be quiet, you dolts! Do you want them to hear you?”

The three girls soon joined Weiss. Crouching low, pressed against the cold stone wall just out of sight. From where they hid, Issei’s voice floated in, cheerful as ever, followed by the sound of Winter Schnee’s calm responses.

Ruby leaned closer to Weiss, whispering with exaggerated curiosity, “Sooo… what are we doing exactly?”

Weiss quickly hushed her, finger pressed to her lips. “Quiet! They’ll hear us!” she hissed. Her eyes darted back toward the corner, peeking again at the two figures beyond. Her heart pounded in a way she hated—fast, anxious, and unsettled.

Yang arched an eyebrow. “I still don’t get it. Why are we spying on your sister? She’s just talking to Issei.”

“I am observing!” Weiss corrected immediately, standing tall to salvage what dignity she could. “And I have every right to monitor what’s happening!”

Ruby blinked innocently. “Because…?”

Weiss flustered. “Because! That idiot is with my sister, and she isn’t acting like herself.

Blake’s golden eyes flicked past Weiss’s shoulder toward the pair, where Winter’s quiet chuckle drifted once again on the breeze. “In what way?”

Weiss glanced back around the corner again, watching Winter tilt her head slightly at something Issei said. And then—it happened. Another small, quiet giggle escaped Winter’s lips, carried gently on the breeze.

Weiss whipped back toward her teammates, pointing furiously. “See! Did you hear that?!” she whispered in a harsh panic.

Ruby blinked. “She laughed. So…?”

“So?!” Weiss’s voice cracked before she forced it lower. “Winter doesn’t laugh! Not like that. Not openly. She’s always so composed and guarded. She doesn’t allow herself to show emotion—not to anyone. And yet here she is, smiling and giggling at—at him!” Her face was flushed, her words tumbling out faster than she could control them. “It’s unnatural! It’s suspicious! It’s—”

Yang’s eyes widened slightly in realization, then she smirked. The kind of smirk Weiss dreaded. “Wait a sec. Are you saying…” She leaned closer, golden eyes glinting. “You think your super-strict, no-nonsense, military-perfect big sis might have… a little crush on Lover Boy over there?”

Weiss’s entire body stiffened. Her cheeks exploded with color. “Wh-Wh-What?! Absolutely not! Don’t be ridiculous, Yang!” She stammered, her voice squeaking in a way that betrayed her usual icy composure. “That’s—that’s absurd! Ludicrous! Impossible!”

Yang grinned wider. “So you don’t think she’s about to swoop in and steal your boyfriend?”

Weiss’s face practically steamed. “She would never—! And I—! This isn’t about me, it’s about her acting so differently, and—and—stop smirking at me, Yang!”

Ruby tilted her head again. “Then why are you glaring at them like you want to stab the air?”

Yang chuckled under her breath, clearly enjoying herself far too much.

Blake, leaning back against the wall with her arms crossed, finally spoke in her calm, matter-of-fact tone. “To be fair, Weiss…”

Weiss turned to her with exasperation. “What now?”

Blake met her gaze evenly. “You also act differently whenever you’re around Issei.”

Weiss froze, her mouth opening but no words forming. Her teammates waited. The silence stretched.

Finally, Weiss sputtered. “T-That is completely irrelevant!”

Ruby tilted her head, her silver eyes curious but innocent. “But she’s right. You do act differently. Nicer, sometimes. Nervous and… blushier.”

“Blushier?!” Weiss nearly shrieked before clamping her mouth shut, terrified Issei and Winter would overhear. She leaned closer to Ruby, whispering fiercely, “I do not get blushy!”

“Uh-huh,” Ruby said, unconvinced. “Sure.”

Weiss buried her face in her hands for a moment, groaning into her palms. ‘Why am I even letting them see this? Why am I even spying at all?!’

But when she peeked again around the corner—Winter smiling faintly, Issei rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, their conversation flowing with ease—her chest tightened once more.

‘No… it isn’t ridiculous,’ She admitted inwardly, teeth gritting. ‘Because if Winter, of all people, starts smiling at him like that… what if—’ She shook her head, scowling again. ‘No! Absolutely not. There is no way I am letting Yang be right about this.’

But then from around the corner came Issei’s voice again, bright and carefree. “You know, Weiss acts like she hates me sometimes, but she really doesn’t. She’s got a softer side she hides from everyone. I think that’s why I like her so much. Even when she’s scary, she’s still Weiss, you know?”

Winter’s quiet voice followed, unusually gentle. “…Yes. I know exactly what you mean.”

Weiss’s eyes widened. Her chest tightened, conflicted emotions warring inside her. She pressed closer to the wall, biting her lip.

Ruby, Blake, and Yang exchanged looks. For once, none of them teased.

Ruby whispered softly, “Weiss…”

Weiss refused to meet their eyes. Her face was warm, her heart unsettled, and yet she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the two figures framed by sunlight on the balcony.

‘Winter never lets anyone in. And Issei… you always barge right into people’s hearts without even trying.’

She scowled faintly, both jealous and relieved.

“…Idiot,” She whispered under her breath.

—----------------------------------------

High Above the Courtyard – Beacon Rooftops

Inside one of the various empty rooms inside of Beacon, Atlas’ elite task force, the Ace-Ops, were stationed at their observation posts, various cameras and scroll-linked scopes trained on Winter talking to Issei.

They had been sent with one mission: observe and assist Specialist Winter Schnee in the investigation of Issei Hyoudou, the anomaly General Ironwood had marked as a potential security risk. If the boy revealed himself to be dangerous, they were to act swiftly and decisively.

Except… what they were seeing wasn’t lining up with anything they’d been told.

“Uh…” Clover Ebi lowered eyes from the screen slightly, blinking. “Did… did she just laugh?”

From the other side of the cramped cabin, Harriet nearly choked on the protein bar she was chewing. “Laugh? You’re kidding. That’s Winter Schnee. She doesn’t laugh. She simply glares at you with disgust.”

Vine, calm as always, adjusted the screen. His brows furrowed slightly, the faintest hint of surprise breaking his usual serenity. “She is… smiling.”

Marrow leaned forward in his chair, ears twitching as he strained to listen through the faintly hissing comm feed. “Not only smiling. She’s giggling at his jokes.”

Harriet leaned back, snorting. “Are we sure we’ve got the right target?”

Elm nodded firmly, crossing her arms. “It’s him. The unusual energy readings released from him don’t lie.”

Clover rubbed his chin, still staring at the screen. Winter, the Ice Queen of Atlas, was leaning slightly toward the boy, her lips curved in a faint, natural smile. The boy said something—clumsy, awkward—and Winter let out the faintest laugh again.

“This is… not what I expected,” Clover muttered. “When General Ironwood briefed us, he made it sound like this kid was a walking hazard. But from the looks of it…”

“Now he’s making Winter Schnee blush,” Marrow cut in flatly, lowering his headset. “I repeat: blush.”

A beat of silence passed through the Ace-Ops.

“…Yeah, okay,” Harriet said finally, shaking her head in disbelief. “We’ve officially entered the Twilight Zone.”

Elm glanced around at the others, half in awe and half in confusion. “Is it just me, or is she… enjoying herself?”

Vine closed his eyes thoughtfully. “It would seem Specialist Schnee is… uncharacteristically at ease. Perhaps this anomaly possesses a unique skill… the ability to lower even the most disciplined of guards.”

“Yeah, it’s called being a dork,” Harriet muttered. “I don’t buy it.”

Clover finally lowered his binoculars, turning to the others with a baffled look. “Ironwood told us to watch for signs of danger. But right now? The only thing in danger… is Winter entering a relationship.”

Harriet snickered. “Now that I’d pay to see.”