Iron bars clattered and antagonistic screaming incoherently melded into a chorus of rage and misery. She held a pen to paper as the uncomfortably cool air of her new home swindled around her fresh haircut. She could barely focus, and it wasn't the noise nor the temperature or her hair that made putting her thoughts into writing nearly impossible... it was the tears that blurred her vision, and the pain that burned and gnawed at her broken heart.
The past year... no, far longer than that, flashes of memories snapped painfully through her mind like cracks of lightning searing her chest and driving her tears to drop onto the bolted down metal desk in her tiny cell. Her hand shook so hard that her writing was barely legible, only made worse and ink bled in with her tears that stained the parchment…
"Dear Ruby..." Her pencil stopped at the very start. Month after month she has been here. Sending letters every day with no return. She started to doubt they were even being sent to the correct address at this point. Who could she blame though, she had put herself in this situation.
"Ms. Xiao Long." A voice echoed from down the hall. Approaching footsteps could be heard from outside of her room. Standing up she went to the window of the door. Looking out she could see a tall man in a grey suit.
"Warden." She replied quietly while stepping back.
The sound of the doors lock could be heard coming undone. Once inside the Warden sat down on her bunk. "Good morning Ms. Xiao Long." He said with a soft smile as he pulled out a piece of paper. "It seems that your parole hearing is coming up soon." He gave her a soft smile. "I do hope it goes well. You are not the kind of person I believe should be here."
"As nice as that is, I broke the law by choice." Sitting cross legged on the ground Yang ran a hand through what was left of her hair. Eyes downcast staring at the ground she sighed. "I deserve to be here."
"Is that so?" The Warden said standing up from Yangs bunk and straightening his jacket. Sighing, light blue eyes met lilac. "Well Ms. Xiao Long, I should go, but I'd be remiss if I did not warn you to stay out of trouble. You have a real chance of getting out of here...don't ruin it."
He bid Yang farewell. The sound of the metal door slamming closed and locked echoed in the silent room. Yang was left alone again with her thoughts.
"I want to go home." She whispered as she pulled her knees up to her chin.
Downtown Vale
The apartment was quiet as per the usual in the mornings. Sitting up in bed Weiss stretched before glancing down at her wife. Ruby Rose, the adorable little redhead who stole her heart. Her first impression was Ruby running into her on the first day of school.
The memory elicited a chuckle from Weiss as she slipped out of bed. Wrapping herself in her robe as she headed to the kitchen to start the coffee and breakfast.
Walking past the front door she noticed that todays mail had already been posted through the slot. Diverting to the door she bent down and picked up the stack of envelopes, picking them up and flipping through them as she stopped at the kitchen table. Her eyes landed on one particular letter. It was addressed to Ruby and it was sent from….prison?
Weiss felt a weight drop in her chest as she quickly eyed the room and listened to hear if Ruby was still asleep. This is the first letter she has seen that Ruby had not thrown away yet.
Quietly, she opened the letter, making sure not to rip it. She pulled the small piece of parchment out and unfolded it, scanning it over she read it.
Hey Rubes,
Its Yang...heh, I guess you already knew that though. So I have some good news, my parole board is coming up, and since I have been good, there is a chance for an early release. Things have been hard but your big sister is tough.
Weiss noticed a bit of discoloration on the paper in the form of small circles. Presuming it was teardrops she continued the letter...
...I miss you, you know? I miss how things were before I fucked everything up. I want to make things up when I get out. It's hard not hearing from you for long periods of time. I'm actually beginning to think I am sending these to a random address now. Haha. I'm running out of room on the paper now so I guess it's time to end the note. I love you, Ruby, I have never deserved a sister like you. Please take care and tell Weiss I said hello.
-Sincerely, Yang X.L.
Weiss found herself dabbing the corners of her eyes as she set the letter down on the table. How many of these letters has Yang sent? How many has Ruby thrown away? She shook those thoughts from her head as she put the letter back in the envelope. Shoving it to the bottom of the stack she made her way to the kitchen to start the coffee and breakfast.
The smell of cooking bacon soon filled the air. Weiss sipped her coffee as she read the morning paper, the front showing her older sister, Winter, shaking hands with the current Faunus Rights Leader of Atlas. She smiled as she remembered the day Winter finally left the military, her homecoming was something she had dreamed of for many, many years. Winter taking over as succeeding CEO of the SDC made it possible for Weiss to settle down with her family. It was a tough choice of where to live but they eventually settled on Vale. The move was eventful at best, Ruby was focused on what bakeries to visit after they finished moving.
A soft yawn drew her attention away from the paper and over to the hallway where a still very tired Ruby stood. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, Ruby made her way to the kitchen and sat down at the table. Leaning her head on the oak furniture she cracked open her eyes.
"Wei~ss, coffee.." she droned out in a half hearted whine.
Giggling at her wifes antics she set a cup down in front of her. "Milk and ungodly amounts of sugar, like usual." She said with a teasing sneer.
Ruby slowly reached her fingers around the mug and took a long sip. The sleep fading from her face as she woke up. She found herself staring at Weiss as she cooked breakfast. To this day she cannot figure out how she got so lucky.
Picking up the newspaper on the table she noticed the stack of envelopes. What caught her attention though was one on the bottom that seemed to have been opened already. Pulling it out she looked to see who it was from. Ruby's eyes widened as she read the address.
"Ruby how many pieces of-" Weiss' words were cut short as she looked at Ruby holding the letter. Dropping the spatula on the counter her voice wavered. "Ruby I can explain."
Standing up, Ruby took off to the bathroom. Closing the door she quickly locked it barring Weiss from entering. Holding the letter she was about to tear it when something compelled her to stop. Sliding down to the floor she slowly opened the piece of paper. Her eyes slowly read over the words, tears pricking at the corner of her eyes.
RIIIP!
The sound of paper being ripped into pieces echoed in the near deafening silence...only to ebb away as quickly as it came, leaving not a sound, none but Weiss' soft breathing and the subtle, heartbroken sobs from behind the shut door.
Weiss sighed to herself as she felt a wave of relief wash over her. After so long Ruby finally laid eyes on words from her big sister.
Vale Central Penitentiary
Yang sat outside the room where her parole hearing will be taking place. Her nerves were out of control at this point. She kept fidgeting in her chair, shaking her legs and playing with her hair.
Other inmates kept coming by to bid her luck. Yang thanked them quietly with just a head nod. Her thoughts right now were on another track. What was she going to do if she is released? Ruby has never replied to her letters nor come to see her. With that out as an option...where could she go? Her uncle would offer up his couch but she does not want to be an intrusion into his already hectic schedule.
No matter how hard she tried her mind kept going back to her little sister. She desperately wanted to go see her again. With her luck though she would be arrested for trespassing. It would be nice to see Weiss and their daughter again.
The thought that she has not seen or heard about her niece since her birth sent a pang through her heart. Ruby had reluctantly allowed Yang to visit her at the hospital, at the time she was doing anger management and rehab. She wanted to get her life straight so she could be there more.
"Xiao Long!" A voice boomed through the door. Standing up Yang positioned herself in front of it. A guard next to her reached over and opened it. Walking into the room a single chair sat in front of a long table.
In the middle of the table was the Hearing Examiner. Next to him on his right sat the Warden who just looked at her with pitiful eyes. Next to the Warden sat what appeared to be a secretary, maybe the Parole Commissioner. Looking over to the left of the Warden sat the Captain of the guards, Yang felt a weight drop in her chest as she laid eyes on him, his presence was strangely the most unsettling. To the right of the Captain sat a lawyer, one she has not seen before. She could only imagine why he was here. Hopefully, it meant she was getting out of here. Taking a seat the Warden set some papers down in front of the Examiner. The Examiner took the file on top and looked at it.
"Yang Xiao Long; prisoner number 601545. This hearing, to determine if your appeal for parole will be granted, will now commence." The Examiner said both softly and sternly. "Ms. Xiao Long, would you please tell the board why you are here?" He set the paper down and crossed his hands as he waited for her to answer.
Yang looked up at the board of members in front of her. Her eyes dull and tired, straining under the bright lights that were shining in her face from above. The eyes in front of her, except for the Warden himself, were looking down on her…judging her before they even knew her story. The smallest spark of anger flickered as quickly as it died in her chest, and with a long, drawn out breath, she succumbed to the reality of her life. She spared one quick glance at the guard standing stoic beside her, before turning her shimmering gaze up to the Warden.
With one more deep breath she calmed her aching, pounding heart. She licked her dry, cracked lips and swallowed to soothe her parched throat that was tight with held back tears.
Then… she began.
"I-I've...made a lot of mistakes…"
