Chapter Text
The ceremony for the formation of the new first-year teams was incredible. The tour of the facilities was just as I had always dreamed it would be… though there was one small disappointment: they didn’t let me into the armory. I was *so* looking forward to it!
Everything had gone perfectly, with just one exception.
I’m the leader.
How did that happen? The newly formed Team RWBY would be led by me. I froze when Professor Ozpin announced it. If Yang hadn’t given me a little shove, I probably would’ve stayed standing there like a statue. I’ve never led anything in my life; in battles, it was always Yang who took the initiative. So… why me?
With those doubts swirling in my head, we walked toward the dorm room we’d been assigned, on one of the highest floors of the student tower.
Of course, Yang and Weiss were already arguing.
“You don’t have to complain so much,” Yang said casually, waving a hand like it was obvious. “Ruby’s gonna do fine. Ozpin must’ve seen something in her.”
“*Something?*” Weiss practically scoffed, placing her hands on her hips. “This is Beacon, Yang. Leadership is supposed to go to someone with discipline and experience! Not to someone who acts like a child!”
Yang raised an eyebrow, still smiling.
“Don’t underestimate my little sis. She may be young, but she’s got heart, and that’s worth more than any rule.”
“Heart doesn’t win battles,” Weiss shot back, turning her head away with disdain.
Meanwhile, Blake walked silently at my side, as if none of this surprised her in the slightest. I, on the other hand, could only feel the knot in my stomach tightening.
Suddenly, a firm female voice made us all stop in our tracks:
“Team RWBY.”
The four of us turned at once. Professor Glynda Goodwitch was approaching, her elegant heels clicking against the floor.
Weiss was the first to react, greeting her with a slight bow.
“Professor Goodwitch.”
Yang tilted her head and asked,
“Something wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Glynda replied in her usual serious, imposing tone. “I just need a moment with your leader.”
I instinctively pointed at myself.
“M-me?”
“Yes, Miss Rose. Have you already forgotten?” she said, raising an eyebrow.
My cheeks burned instantly.
“Oh… right. Of course. See you later, team.”
Glynda turned and began walking away. I hurried after her, still in disbelief.
Weiss watched us leave, visibly annoyed, arms crossed and brow furrowed. Blake, though intrigued, sighed wearily; all she wanted was to get to the room.
Yang, on the other hand, smirked and turned on her heel.
“Alright, team, let’s head to our room.”
“And *who* said you’re co-leader?” Weiss glared daggers at her.
“My sis is the leader. What’d you expect?” Yang replied nonchalantly.
Weiss let out a long sigh, half-defeated, and followed Blake down the hall. Still, Yang’s words kept echoing in her mind.
*Sisters?*
She looked at herself, then tried to recall Ruby’s face. They didn’t look alike at all. Not in personality, not in appearance, not in attitude. Something about it just didn’t add up…
———
Glynda opened the door to an empty, silent classroom, moving with the same elegance she always carried. Inside, there was only a desk, a few chairs, and a chalkboard at the far end. The professor walked straight to the desk, took a seat, and adjusted her glasses.
Ruby stepped inside hesitantly, her short, uncertain steps echoing in the quiet room. She froze for a moment, unsure what to do, then finally sat down across from Glynda, her restless hands fidgeting in her lap.
“Well then, Miss Rose,” Glynda began, her piercing gaze fixed on her. “We’ll start as soon as you remove the headband.”
Ruby froze. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
“T-take off… my headband?” she stammered, instinctively reaching up to touch it.
“That’s correct,” Glynda said calmly, though her gaze remained firm. “I understand it’s difficult for you… but that’s exactly why we’re here — to help you. So I ask that, at least in this space, you be yourself.”
Ruby lowered her gaze, biting her lip. Her heart pounded wildly, and a childish fear mixed with the weight of her shame. What if this was a trap? What if she regretted trusting her?
But then she remembered something: Glynda already knew. She had been there, back at the precinct. She had defended Ruby when others had pointed fingers.
There was nothing to fear.
Or at least… that’s what she tried to tell herself as she took a deep breath. Slowly, reluctantly, she raised her hands and slid the headband upward.
Her wolf-like ears popped free, twitching slightly as they adjusted to the open air, stretching faintly after being pressed down for so long.
Ruby shut her eyes, embarrassed.
Glynda, however, showed no surprise at all. She simply nodded with composure, resting her elbows on the desk.
“Much better.”
With a small wave of her hand, a set of books and documents behind her began to float, glowing softly with the faint light of her Semblance. With almost surgical precision, she placed them neatly on the desk in front of Ruby. The *thud* of the last tome made Ruby jump slightly in her seat.
“As you’ll recall,” Glynda said, adjusting her glasses, “you skipped two full years of Signal Academy. And while I don’t entirely approve of that decision, the fact remains: you are now my student. That means I will help you… but it also means you will have to work twice as hard. Which is why I’ve prepared all of this.”
Ruby blinked, leaning forward as if doing so would make the mountain of books look any smaller.
“A-all of this?”
Her gaze darted from manual to manual, trying to read the titles at lightning speed. She recognized a few: *Intermediate Grimm History*, *Advanced Modular Weapons*, *Squad Combat Tactics*, *Semblance Theory*… but many others were completely new to her.
“You need to make up for those lost two years,” Glynda continued, seemingly ignoring Ruby’s horrified expression. “It’ll be a heavy load, Miss Rose. Not only will I expect weekly progress reports on what you read, but you’ll also need to make good use of your weekends. As we agreed, you’ll have your first Saturday morning lessons with me.”
Ruby swallowed hard, slumping slightly against the backrest before timidly raising her hand.
“Isn’t… isn’t that a bit *much*?”
“You chose this path,” Glynda replied firmly. “And there’s no turning back.”
Ruby dropped her arms with a muffled groan, her ears drooping low as if they were protesting right along with her.
Glynda rose from her seat, her cape flowing elegantly behind her.
“You may take these with you, Miss Rose. I’ll see you in class.”
The professor left without so much as a backward glance.
Ruby sat in silence for a few seconds, staring at the mountain of paper and leather in front of her. Then she slumped forward onto the desk with a long sigh, pressing her cheek against an open tome.
“I’m… gonna die,” she muttered, poking one of the books weakly with her finger as if she could push it away.
After a moment, she sat bolt upright, shaking her head and slapping her cheeks with both hands.
“No, no, no, Ruby! You can do this! You’re the leader now!”
She fumbled clumsily with the headband, trapping her ears once more as she adjusted it into place, then walked around the desk. With a determined grunt, she scooped up the stack of books against her chest.
She took two shaky steps forward… and nearly tripped.
“Ouch! Okay, yeah, they’re way heavier than I thought!”
Taking a deep breath, she adjusted the pile under her chin and smiled, her silver eyes shining with determination.
“But I can do this. Yeah… I can do this.”
Wobbling slightly from side to side, she left the classroom and headed toward her dorm.
———
The next day started off more relaxed — even a little exciting. Ruby was the first to wake up. She silently thanked the fact that everyone else was still asleep; it gave her the chance to take a shower without anyone around. The hot water, the steam, and the quiet were the perfect way to start her morning — a rare, peaceful moment where she didn’t have to worry about hiding from curious stares.
When she came out, already dressed in her school uniform, she’d made a few small adjustments to feel more comfortable: long socks, her beloved cape and hood she refused to part with, and of course, the headband firmly secured in place.
Not long after, Yang and Blake began to stir, stretching and yawning, while Weiss was still deeply asleep in her bed. Ruby thought it might be a good time to propose her first activity as team leader — something to help bond the group…
But Yang had other plans.
“Rise and shine, princess!” she said cheerfully, shoving Weiss out of bed without an ounce of hesitation.
The scream that followed was loud enough to make Ruby flinch on the spot.
“WHAT do you think you’re doing, you barbarian?!” Weiss shot up, glaring daggers first at Yang, then at Ruby.
Ruby immediately covered her ears and turned her gaze away. She hated it when people yelled… she really, really hated it.
After a few minutes of bickering and scolding, the four of them finally focused on something more productive: organizing their room. The debate on *how* to do it was almost worse than Weiss’s awakening, but in the end, thanks to what Yang dubbed a “fair democracy” — though Weiss clearly disagreed — they improvised a pair of bunk beds with the room’s existing beds.
Yang and Ruby celebrated the extra space gained, while Weiss frowned deeply, arms crossed in defeat. To everyone’s surprise, Blake actually chuckled softly at the whole thing, which only made Yang grin wider.
The room was finally starting to take shape… until a loud, sharp sound broke the moment.
*Beep-beep-beep!*
Ruby immediately grabbed her Scroll.
“Ah! We’ve got five minutes until the first class starts!”
The four girls froze, staring at each other in silence… and then bolted out of the room in unison, rushing down the hallway while dodging students and nearly crashing into each other.
Coincidentally, Team JNPR was in the exact same situation.
And just like that, Team RWBY’s real morning had begun. And, as expected… it also came with their very first scolding.
———
Luckily for them, when they finally rushed into the classroom, Professor Port was so absorbed in one of his endless stories that he didn’t even notice Team RWBY’s late arrival. Ruby let out a quiet sigh of relief as she and the others quickly found seats.
Class began… or rather, Port began *another* one of his long, theatrical tales from his days as a full-time Huntsman. With exaggerated gestures and dramatic pauses, he described battles against Grimm as though he were performing on stage.
Ruby rested her cheek on her hand and sighed. Out of all the things she disliked, boring classes were at the very top of the list. Her dad and Yang used to joke that, being a “pup,” she could never sit still for long. And honestly… they weren’t wrong.
The subject itself sounded interesting — learning about Grimm always was — but with *this* professor, it was nearly impossible to stay focused.
So, while Port continued to ramble on, Ruby quietly pulled out one of the many books Glynda had given her the night before. *If I don’t take advantage of this time now, when will I?* she thought as she opened it carefully.
Before long, she was completely immersed in the pages, so much so that she didn’t even notice Yang glancing at her with a faintly amused smile.
A sudden elbow to her side jolted her out of her concentration. Ruby let out a small, startled “Ah!” and almost dropped the book. Yang subtly pointed toward the front of the room.
Ruby blinked, confused, and looked up… only to find Professor Port staring directly at her.
“Miss Rose,” he said in his deep, booming voice, though his smile carried a hint of paternal amusement. “I’m glad to see you’re finally paying attention. Since we have such a distinguished audience today, your teammate, Weiss Schnee, will have the honor of conducting a combat demonstration.”
Ruby froze, blinking rapidly.
“W-wait, huh?”
“And as team leader,” Port added proudly, puffing out his chest, “you’ll be directing her.”
Ruby’s entire body went rigid in her seat, her mind struggling to process what he’d just said. Beside her, Weiss rose gracefully, though the furrow in her brow and the icy glare she shot Ruby said everything: *this is your fault.*
Moments later, Weiss stood at the center of the training arena, now dressed in her pristine combat attire, Myrtenaster gleaming under the lights.
Ruby swallowed hard. Directing Weiss? *Me?!*
———
The roar of the juvenile Boarbatusk echoed through the training hall as the creature charged straight toward Weiss. Ruby sat in the stands with the rest of the team, leaning forward nervously, her hands gripping the edge of her seat. As team leader, she *knew* she was supposed to give instructions… but every time she tried, her voice came out shaky and unsure.
“Weiss! Its weak spot is on the belly!” she shouted reflexively.
Weiss shot her an annoyed glance, her concentration faltering.
“I *know* that! Stop distracting me!”
Ruby winced, unsure whether to stay silent or keep trying. But every sudden move the Grimm made had her on edge, her body practically twitching as though she wanted to jump into the fight herself.
“Wait — if you attack from the left, you’ll—”
“Don’t interrupt, Ruby!” Weiss’s sharp voice cut through the air like a blade.
Ruby shrank back slightly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her cape as her silver eyes followed every move in tense silence.
Yang and Blake, sitting beside her, clapped and cheered confidently, certain that Weiss would pull it off. Ruby, though, couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that every word she spoke only made things worse.
The Boarbatusk roared again and charged, kicking up a cloud of dust as it barreled forward. With flawless precision, Weiss sidestepped, her movements elegant and calculated. Myrtenaster flashed under the light as she drove the blade straight into the Grimm’s exposed belly.
The creature let out a shrill screech before dissolving into a cloud of dark smoke.
The classroom erupted in applause. Professor Port laughed heartily, clapping his hands.
“Excellent work, Miss Schnee! A demonstration truly worthy of praise!”
Ruby tried to smile, but couldn’t bring herself to. Weiss, breathing heavily, turned her head toward the stands. Her icy blue eyes locked on Ruby’s, filled with silent reproach. Without saying a single word, she collected her weapon and strode out of the training hall.
Ruby remained frozen in her seat, her hands clasped tightly together, her gaze fixed on the floor. The applause still echoed around her, but her thoughts drowned it out entirely:
*What did I do wrong…?*
———
Class eventually came to an end, and students began leaving the training hall, chatting excitedly about Weiss’s flawless performance.
Ruby, however, stayed in her seat, her head lowered slightly as she stared at her clasped hands. The murmurs around her blurred into background noise; all she could think about was every word she’d spoken during the fight — every attempt to lead Weiss that had backfired completely.
“Don’t sweat it, Rubes,” Yang said softly, placing a comforting hand on her little sister’s shoulder. “You tried to help. It’s not your fault the princess didn’t wanna listen.”
Ruby lowered her gaze even more, sighing quietly.
“I know… but I still feel like I did something wrong.”
Blake stood from her seat and walked over, her calm amber eyes meeting Ruby’s with a mix of seriousness and understanding.
“Weiss doesn’t approve of you as leader,” Blake said flatly, though her tone carried a faint edge of irritation… maybe even a hint of disdain. “That bothers her more than she admits.” She paused briefly, her voice softening ever so slightly. “You shouldn’t let what she says get to you.”
Ruby nodded slowly. She *knew* Blake was right — Weiss didn’t trust her as a leader. And for now, there wasn’t much she could do to change that.
“Forget her, Rubes,” Yang chimed in with a light, almost teasing smile. “The ice queen can keep pouting all she wants.”
Ruby inhaled deeply, trying to let their words soothe her. But instead of calming down, a spark of determination began to grow in her chest. She clenched her fists tightly, her silver eyes firm with resolve.
“No… I have to talk to her. I *have* to make things better… She’s my teammate.”
Without waiting for a reply, without even glancing back, Ruby stood abruptly and rushed out of the classroom. Her cape swirled behind her, the headband holding her ears in place as her boots clattered against the polished floor.
———
Ruby dashed through the hallways, weaving between students and muttering hurried apologies whenever she bumped into someone. Her cape fluttered wildly with each step, and her heart pounded faster with every stride until she finally spotted Weiss walking ahead, her posture stiff and regal as ever.
“Weiss!” Ruby called out, her voice breathless.
The white-haired girl seemed to hear her but didn’t slow down. Instead, she picked up her pace.
“Weiss, wait!”
Ruby ran up and gently grabbed Weiss by the shoulder to stop her. She wasn’t ready for what came next.
“WHAT DO YOU WANT?!” Weiss spun around sharply, jerking her shoulder free, her icy blue eyes blazing with fury.
Ruby froze on the spot, startled into silence, her lips parting but no words coming out.
“Not going to speak?” Weiss snapped, her voice cutting like glass. “Then why follow me in the first place?”
“I-I just… I thought we’d made up,” Ruby stammered, her voice small, her silver eyes lifting hesitantly toward Weiss’s. “I thought we were okay now…”
Weiss scoffed harshly, crossing her arms.
“As *teammates*, maybe,” she said, jabbing a finger into Ruby’s chest. “But not as a *leader!*”
Ruby blinked, confused and hurt.
“W-what? Why not?”
“*Why not?!*” Weiss practically shouted, taking a step forward that forced Ruby to instinctively step back.
“A leader needs to be someone reliable!” she snapped, her finger stabbing toward Ruby again.
“A leader needs to be able to guide others!” Another step closer.
“A leader needs proper training — preparation, *experience!*”
Ruby’s back hit the cold wall behind her, the icy surface making her shiver. Weiss loomed closer with every word, her presence as sharp and suffocating as a blade. Ruby’s lips trembled, but no sound came out.
Weiss stopped just inches away, her voice lowering to a venomous whisper.
“But you…” she hissed. “You’re nothing but a naïve little girl who got handed exactly what she wanted.”
Ruby bit her lip hard, tears beginning to well up despite her efforts to hold them back. She *wanted* to respond, to shout that it wasn’t true, that she’d worked just as hard as anyone else — but the words refused to leave her throat.
Memories flashed in her mind of Signal, of all the times she’d been underestimated, dismissed, belittled. This felt just like that… Except now it was a... different topic..
Weiss clenched her fists tightly, her voice still heavy with anger.
“I trained, I studied, I bled for this. I worked for every bit of progress I’ve made! And now someone with *no* discipline, *no* experience, gets the role I’ve been striving for?!”
Ruby felt smaller and smaller with every word, her silver eyes shimmering behind unshed tears.
“Anyone would be a better leader than you,” Weiss spat, her tone dropping slightly but no less cruel. “Your sister. Even Blake, for all her emotionless silence. Ozpin made a mistake choosing you.”
Ruby finally managed a faint, broken whisper.
“Weiss… I…”
But Weiss stepped closer still, cutting off her words completely. She loomed over Ruby, her icy gaze sharp enough to pierce through her.
“Even an *awful faunus* would make a better leader than you.”
Silence.
Weiss waited for Ruby to snap back, to protest, to act like the childish girl she thought she was. But instead, she was met with something unexpected.
A quiet sniffle.
Ruby’s head hung low, her body trembling.
“S-sniff…” The sound was barely audible, followed by another, sharper sob.
Weiss froze, wide-eyed, watching as Ruby slowly raised her face. Tear after tear streamed down her cheeks, her silver eyes glistening with pain.
“Sniff…”
For once, Weiss was speechless. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know what to do. And before she could react, Ruby gave her a gentle shove, slipping past her and sprinting down the hallway.
Her red cloak vanished around the corner, leaving Weiss standing there, stunned and… strangely unsettled by the knot tightening in her chest.
“Hm… that went worse than I expected,” came a calm, measured voice from behind Weiss.
She spun around instantly, startled, only to find Headmaster Ozpin standing there, leaning casually on his cane with his usual composed expression.
“P-Professor Ozpin!” Weiss stammered, her surprise breaking through her icy demeanor.
“Good morning, Miss Schnee.” Ozpin took a few unhurried steps toward her, his tone relaxed yet carrying a quiet weight. “I see you’ve been… experiencing certain difficulties with your team’s leader.”
Weiss’s brows furrowed, frustration flashing across her features.
“I’m only speaking the truth. And you *know* I’m right.”
Ozpin stopped just beside her, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye as he softly asked:
“And what truth is that, exactly?”
“That Ruby shouldn’t be the leader,” Weiss replied firmly, her chin lifting slightly with pride.
Ozpin hummed thoughtfully, adjusting his grip on his cane.
“She *shouldn’t* be the leader… or *you* believe *you* should be?”
Weiss blinked, her confidence faltering just for a moment.
“Well… yes,” she admitted reluctantly, still trying to keep her composure.
Ozpin’s faint hum deepened, contemplative yet tinged with curiosity.
“Tell me, Miss Schnee… is this the first time you’ve ever *not* gotten what you wanted?”
Weiss froze, her eyes widening in indignation.
“How dare you?” she hissed, crossing her arms tightly.
Ozpin, utterly unfazed, continued in his calm, even tone.
“Have you ever led a team before?”
Weiss hesitated, her proud posture weakening.
“No…” she admitted quietly.
“Have you ever followed the orders of a leader in battle?”
“…No,” she replied again, her voice lower this time.
Ozpin finally turned fully toward her, his green eyes sharper now, his voice carrying just a trace of authority.
“And tell me, Miss Schnee… have you given Miss Rose even a *single* chance to *be* your leader?”
Weiss opened her mouth to fire back… but stopped.
Ruby’s tear-streaked face flashed vividly in her mind — her trembling voice, her quiet sobs, the way she’d run away without a word. The memory silenced Weiss instantly.
Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly.
“…No,” she whispered.
Ozpin’s gaze softened, his voice gentler now, layered with understanding.
“Miss Ruby Rose, like every student here at Beacon, has proven that she deserves her place. It’s true she skipped two full years — an unprecedented feat — and because of that, she’ll need support. The support of her teammates. And most importantly, yours.”
Weiss bit her lip, discomfort flickering in her expression. After a moment, she asked quietly, almost reluctantly:
“Then… why give her this responsibility so soon?”
Ozpin smiled faintly, his voice steady and resolute.
“Because at Signal, she showed herself to be far above her peers. A true prodigy.” He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. “The best of the academy… without even being in the final year.”
Weiss stood in silence, processing his words. Ruby’s tears still lingered in her thoughts, stirring something unfamiliar in her chest — something she didn’t quite understand. Had she… gone too far?
“I’m not asking you to change overnight,” Ozpin continued, stepping past her with a slow, deliberate pace. “After all, I *could* be wrong about her… or I could be right. Believe me, Miss Schnee, I’ve made more mistakes than anyone else in this world.”
He stopped a few paces ahead, glancing back at her with a small, knowing smile.
“But choosing Ruby Rose as Team RWBY’s leader… is *not* one of them.”
“I…” Weiss started softly, her voice barely audible, but no more words followed.
Ozpin turned away once more, his tone polite yet firm as he offered a final remark:
“I hope this conversation has given you something to think about, Miss Schnee. Oh, and one last thing.”
He stopped, his expression becoming more serious as his eyes locked with hers.
“At this academy, anti-faunus remarks are grounds for disciplinary action. I’ll overlook it this time… but only this time.”
With that, he walked away, leaving Weiss alone in the hallway, surrounded by silence.
She stood there motionless, her thoughts tangled and heavy. The echo of Ruby’s quiet sobs still rang in her ears, mixing with Ozpin’s words in a way she couldn’t quite untangle… or ignore.
———
Yang and Blake walked down the halls, searching for Ruby and Weiss.
“I’m telling you, Blake… Weiss is grumpy with a capital *G*,” Yang said, arms crossed with an amused huff.
“That’s to be expected from a Schnee,” Blake replied flatly.
Yang raised an eyebrow.
“A Schnee?”
Blake stared at her in disbelief.
“You *seriously* don’t know who Weiss is? You literally called her ‘princess’ as a joke.”
“Well… she *does* look like a princess,” Yang said with a shrug, a sly grin tugging at her lips.
Blake sighed softly and looked away. Before she could respond, a faint murmur nearby caught her attention. Her ears twitched slightly, honing in on the sound.
“Wait,” she whispered, cutting Yang off.
“Huh? Where are you going? We still have time before the next class,” Yang asked as Blake walked ahead.
“Shh. Listen,” Blake ordered in a low, serious tone.
Yang tilted her head, curious now. Together, they leaned closer, overhearing a pair of students talking just around the corner.
“Did you see what happened in the open hallway?” one whispered.
“Oh, you mean when the heiress totally humiliated that girl?” the other replied.
“Yeah… man, I felt bad, but I’m *not* about to mess with a Schnee.”
“Too bad nobody heard what the headmaster said afterward… everyone scattered the moment he showed up.”
They didn’t get to say more.
In a blur, a strong hand grabbed the first student by the front of his shirt and *lifted* him clean off the ground. Yang held him effortlessly in the air, her lilac eyes glowing an angry, fiery red that instantly froze the atmosphere around them.
“What… did you just say?” Yang growled, leaning in close, her voice low and dangerous.
“W-what are you—” the boy stammered, terrified by the sheer strength in her grip.
Yang yanked him closer, her knuckles whitening as she tightened her fist.
“What you said just now. Explain it. *Now.*”
The other student tried to step in, his voice shaky.
“Y-you can’t just—”
Yang turned her burning gaze on him. Her glare was so sharp, so full of unspoken threat, that he froze on the spot… then bolted, abandoning his friend without another word.
Blake, who had been watching the scene unfold in silence, finally stepped forward and placed a hand firmly on Yang’s arm.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Getting information,” Yang said simply, still holding the boy in the air.
“By *threatening* them?” Blake shot back, her tone icy.
Yang’s lips curled into a half-smirk.
“Hey… it’s faster this way.”
“W-wait, wait! I’ll tell you!” the dangling boy cried out, panicked. “Just— just don’t hit me, please!”
Yang dropped him without warning. The boy hit the ground with a soft thud, gasping for breath as she loomed over him. Her fiery red eyes slowly faded back to violet, but the edge in her expression remained.
“Good,” Yang said, folding her arms across her chest with a dangerous smile. “Now… tell me exactly what you saw about the little princess.”
The student swallowed hard, trembling under the weight of her glare, realizing he had *no* choice but to talk.