Snippet 37

Flashbacks and Flashforwards

Part 4 to the Cinder's Fall from Grace Series

Genre: Angst/Hurt and Comfort/Friendship/Tragedy

Pairs: Jaded (Emerald/Mercury), Arkos (Jaune/Pyrrha), Pink Lotus (Ren/Nora), Bitch and Bastard (Ozpin/Salem), former Iceberg (Weiss/Neptune), former Black Sun (Sun/Blake), former Green Knight (Emerald/Jaune)

New Pairs Added: Cold Colours (Whitley/Neon), one sided Silvery Ice (Weiss/Yuki), Wet Willows (Neptune/Willow Schnee), Silver Barrel Shotgun (Yang/Yuki), implied Birth Control (Yuki/Ivory), implied Dragon Tsunami (Yuki/Lapis)

Parody: RWBY/Ninja Dependence Vol 2.5 (Naruto Doujin)/Sonic For Hire

AU-Type: Canon-eqsue AU (Divergence-Fall from Grace!AU)

Tags: AccidentialHero!Ruby/Cinder, BadEnding!Cinder, MagnificentBastard!Ozpin, Deconstruction, Woobie!Cinder, Team YUKI's debut, Sympathetic!Whitley

Ever since RWBY's breakup, things had changed for Weiss. For one, she stood up to her father and forced him out of the family through threatening to expose the incident with the Usagi family. Whitley was terrified that she knew and had come to regret his own role in that mess for forcing himself on Kelly. He had sought to find her to amends, but she was believed dead. It came to become quite a shock to learn she was alive and well. Whitley had admitted his folly to Weiss but remarked that he wanted to make amends to Kelly. Weiss had arranged a video call. Despite the glares from all of Team YUKI, progress was made. Kelly never wanted to see his face again after, but she had forgiven him to move on. Whitley would move on in strides since then, but misfortune fell upon the Schnee family. Her relationship with Neptune was falling apart due to her focus on work which led to her finding him balls deep in her own mother just a few months later. Weiss had tossed Neptune out, but her mother left with him much to Weiss's disgust. This left only Weiss and Whitley in the family home as Jaccques had been long since exiled. As for Winter, she was away preferring to stay out of this mess…

(A week before Cinder Fall's release from prison)

Whitley stormed up to the Weiss's office and kicked the door boldly glaring her down. He had enough of her reclusive attitude.

"Weiss, this has to stop." Whitley said concerned. "Look at yourself, you're a mess!"

Weiss had not left that room for an entire week because of work….or in actuality, overworking. Her hair was a ragged mess, she only wore a bathrobe, there were bags under her eyes, her dainty hands had chipped nails, and there was a smell in the room that reminded Whitley of the time he walked in on an employee "earning" her raise from his father.

"Good Oum, it reeks in here!" Whitley said gagging on the smell. "I thought you broke up with Neptune!"

"I did." Weiss said. "That's probably my vibrator."

Whitley looked to see the still on device on the floor showing signs of recent use.

"That used to be mom's, Weiss!" Whitley said in faux horror.

"I washed it!" Weiss snapped.

"Never mind that! You need to get out of the house and do something. You clearly haven't left the room…" Whitley said as Klein came up into the room with a look of worry.

"I believe Whitley has your best interest at heart, Weiss. I understand you have to clean up your father's misdeeds, but you can't shoulder the responsibility yourself." Klein said as Weiss closed off her computer.

"I don't have a choice! Whitley can't take over and Winter refuses to get involved!" Weiss screamed out heaving from the stress.

Hearing that, his grumpy side took over as his eyes when red. He got out his scroll and immediately called up Winter.

"Klein, how good it is to hear from you?" Winter said warmly.

"Winter, your little sister is burning herself out trying to save the family business that your apart of! I understand your grudge, but I want you to put that aside, get your butt here, and take over long enough for Weiss to go on a long vacation. No ifs, ands, or buts about it, young lady. Because I will literally drag you here if you refuse." Klein said sternly.

Winter had reluctantly agreed to come if only because she knew Klein could actually and easily drag her back home. He had been the one to train Weiss and Winter in swordsmanship when their mother could not. Klein's eyes snapped back to normal as he told Winter she expected to see her by tomorrow.

"Well, that dealt with, please go take a bath and let me burn that robe." Klein said kindly.

Weiss got up and finally left that room tossing the robe into Klein's hands on the way out in her rush to the bathroom. With a shower, some light make-up, and fresh clothes, the dainty Weiss Schnee was back! The trio was in the dining hall as Klein had muffins for the siblings.

"I'm finally glad you're out of that room because we barely talk." Whitley said shoving another blueberry muffin towards her sister.

"We've barely talked for close to three years." Weiss said chowing down.

"Well, you basically shut me out." Whitley said crossing his arms. "I've been meaning to tell you that I've been courting a girl for two years now. I've been actually planning to marry her soon."

Weiss nearly choked on her muffin before laughing.

"You. Dating?! Considering your track record, I'm surprised any woman would want you." Weiss sniped.

"This coming from the cuckquean." Whitley sniped back as Weiss grew red-faced. "By the way, mom called yesterday. She and Neptune apparently got married last year, and they have a child. Congrats, you have a half-sister."

Weiss wanted to puke hearing that, but did not do so, only glaring at her brother asking who his girlfriend was. Weiss was surprised when Whitley showed her a photo on his scroll of him FIGHTING Grimm alongside a familiar cat faunus.

"Neon?! You're dating Neon! How?" Weiss asked.

"Well, it was a misunderstanding at first. I was trying to court her, and she that I was threatening her father's job if she didn't sleep with me. It was after we did the deed that I realized why she put out, and I had to explain that I wasn't threatening her dad's job. I asked her out and, while she was hesitant, she gave me a chance. And we got along well…." Whitley said with a thin blush thinking of her tail. "You can say I've got no issues with faunus at all."

"Well that's nice." Weiss said dryly while thinking that she needed a boyfriend of her own.

"Why don't you join a hunting party like Whitley?" Klein suggested. "You could reunite Team RWBY."

"No. I lost contact with Yang two years back and she was the only one I wanted to see again. Blake's probably in some gutter in Vale and Ruby's probably too busy snorting ice dust!" Weiss snapped.

"What about Team JPNR?" Klein asked.

"Pyrhha doesn't really want to see again after I…..may have trying hitting on Jaune before finding out he was married to her, and I was intoxicated." Weiss said sheepishly.

"Team CFVY?" Klein asked.

"No." Weiss said flatly.

"Wait, what about that team of rouges? The ones that aided in the capture of those villains after Ruby beat Cinder." Klein said holding his crew.

"Team motherfucking YUKI." Weiss said dryly. "I suppose I could ask them. Most of the people they got a grudge with are dead in the water."

Yuki Azure was a complicated man as he and his team were born of tragedy. Weiss and him did not really see eye to eye, but she did respect and fear him for his abilities. Unlike most teams, they were together for some time before coming to Beacon. Thus, they came more in-sync and tougher than the fresh teams. So, she made the call.

"Weiss, this is unexpected." Yuki said mildly amused. "Figured of all people from the rest of Team RWBY to call, it'd be Ruby."

"Please don't remind me of that, Azure, because I wanted to ask if I can join your team to fight some Grimm for a while. I need to get away from Atlas!" She said desperately.

Yuki could be heard laughing as his teammate, Kelly, tells him to say yes.

"All right, it's cool. I'll even come get you." Yuki said casually having a bluish-black portal form in front of her.

Yuki came out of it and he appeared the same as Weiss remembered, but a bit older. He had sign of a small beard and looked a bit more grizzled.

"I got my hands on Raven's semblance. Considering I have friends all over the world, my team and I can move anywhere real quick. As for you, you look great. You finally left the itty-bitty titty committee." Yuki said bluntly joking with her.

"Ha! I'm no Ivory, but I'm larger than Lapis now!" Weiss touted. "I'll get my things!"

That smile on her face was totally worth it to Klein even if it spawned from vulgar humor.

Cinder Fall woke up from her dream with a face of gloom. She had a dream where she had succeeded in her goal only to realize it was a dream. Part of her was glad she had failed as her dream led to her losing an arm and an eye before dying by Raven's hands. She felt hands around her waist and looked over to see Blake drooling in her sleep. It was bad enough they lived in a shitty warehouse, she was not in mood for sharing a bed. The former maiden pushed the faunus off the bed before kicking her face in to wake her up.

"What the hell, Cinder?!" Blake asked.

"I didn't say you could share this bed!" Cinder snapped. "Or cuddle me?! Do that again, and I'll roast you."

Cinder stormed off to shower and get dressed before joining the rest at breakfast. Breakfast was just as crappy as the warehouse's smell. Cinder hated tuna salad, but that was all Blake had. Emerald and Mercury were merely making the most of things, but Cinder got up to make a statement.

"We need to find ways to make money for living conditions and getting some quality food." Cinder said glaring at the remnants of tuna on her plate.

"Why I'm glad you said that!" Roman said slow clapping as he and Neo entered the room scaring Blake.

"Please don't kick us out." Emerald said trying not to sound desperate.

"I'm not here for that, but to give you a job that you're in no position to refuse." Roman said cheerfully.

"I hate you so much, Roman!" Cinder snapped.

"Don't worry, you'll hate this job more than me!" Roman said as Neo threw their new uniforms for this task. "Besides, you'll get an actual TV instead of staring at a Peter Port poster. Yeah….a Port poster."

"It's Blake's." Cinder said wanting to torch it.

"Fuck off, I love that poster!" Blake said defending it. "Either way, what's the job? Adult film star, cosplay, modeling, cage fighting, voice acting… I don't even care, I'll do anything."

"Good to know." Roman said with a devious grin.

Cinder let loose a whimper. Cinder Fall was a monster, and she found herself….delivering newspapers by bicycle through the streets of Vale. On the front cover, "Washed up Failures Deliver Papers".

[Cues: Paperboy (NES) Music - Game Theme]

"This is bullshit!" Cinder cried out as she pedaled through the streets.

"At least we're getting some exercise. I've been wanting to lose some weight." Emerald said trying to be optimistic. "Get back in fighting shape."

"I hate your optimism." Cinder said throwing a paper into someone's mailbox.

"Stupid break-dancers!" Mercury said nearly running over a kid who was dancing on the road.

"Get the hell out of my way!" Blake screamed weaving through cars in the streets trying to deliver papers. "Man, fuck this!"

Blake pulls up on the curb and jumps off her bike. She had enough of the laughter and lost her temper. Using the newspaper, she throws it hard enough to break a house's window before speeding off on the bike.

"EXTRA! EXTRA! PAPERGIRL GOES MAD! HERE'S SOME ASSIFIEDS! HERE YOU GO DAILY DOUCHEBAG!" Blake roared throwing newspapers hard enough to break windows as she rode down the street. "10% OFF YOUR NEXT PURCHASE OF FUCK YOU! CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF ASS KICKIN'! Dear Kerry! MAKE HIM EAT SHIT! CROSSWORDS, YOU KNOW HOW TO SPELL "CUNT"?! HOROSCOPES! YOU WILL ACHIEVE GREATNESS! IN HELL!"

The upcoming house happened to belong to team JPNR who were not at home. Which for Blake's sake was a good thing as she went up smashing their windows with papers. Blake came to a stop panting as Cinder had no words. She just wanted to get paid and go home. Too bad, the cops were coming after them.

"Oh shit, pedal!" Blake said pedaling away.

[Cues: J Dilla - Get Dis Money Instrumental]

Not too far from Vale, in the ruins of Crossroad Village, laid the base for Team YUKI. This team had a complicated history as they were anything but ordinary. Even with the village bearing its scars; the Azure family home was mostly repaired. Inside, Team YUKI was relaxing after a mission. The leader of the mostly all-girl team was a dark-skinned silver-eyed warrior. He had a bit of heterochromia and had a lone ocean blue eye on the left and a silver one on the right. He no longer wore his hair in a way to hide his silver eye once Salem was "defeated". He laughed at the idea of Salem and Ozpin being virtually "domesticated". He looked over at his teammates, the graceful waterlily Lapis Kristal, the tomboyish animal-lover Kelly Usagi, and the vigorous busty warrior Ivory Viridian. They were friends forged in fire, and Yuki would not have it any other way. The group were all on their off-duty wear enjoying a drink after completing a mission with extra help.

"You have no idea how good it felt to be killing Grimm once again." Weiss said accepting a can of Carolina from Ivory.

"It must be. I can never see myself working in an office from 9 to 5. Not with my…upbringing." Lapis said downing some of her drink. "I'd go stir crazy."

"That's why I work from wherever has an internet connection. Easiest way for me to run my company." Kelly said swishing her martini glass. "Thanks to finally putting a bullet in my father's brains."

"Don't you have your old servant, Puce, running your company? And how did you even get to kill your father? I thought you swore never to go back to Atlas." Weiss asked.

"I did. I merely had Yuki form a portal to Puce who was nearby my father. I had Puce and Yuki step aside, and I "borrowed" Suki from Ivory and made a headshot." Kelly said with a grin.

"You shouldn't have made it so instant. You should have made him suffer in agony before putting him out." Lapis said rolling his eyes.

"Lapis, I'm a lady. I'm not a vulgar savage." Kelly joked.

If it were anyone else, Weiss would have been terrified, but she was more concerned for Kelly.

"Kelly, I knew you killed your mother by accident, but how were you able to do on purpose on your father?" Weiss asked.

Kelly took a swig and gave Weiss a serious look.

"Simple, he wasn't any father of mine. His sperm may have made me, but he did not raise me. All he did was shove money in my face and let the servants do the work. I think of what he did to me, how he conspired with your father, how he pushed Whitley when I said no, and I think of what he did for the sake of the lien." Kelly said in a cold tone. "After that, it was easy."

Weiss always thought that Ice Princess was a laughable nickname she got in her Beacon days, but Kelly made herself the Ice Empress and it frightened her.

"I see." Weiss said with a weak smile. "I hope that doesn't become a habit. I mean, I know Lapis killed her mother, but then was a bit more reasonable."

Lapis rolled her eyes and Ivory moved to change the subject not wanting to think about her own parents. She also did it for Yuki's sake as he did not want to remember old trauma.

"So, Weiss? How things with Neptune?" Ivory asked as Weiss's face turned dark.

"We've been broken up for close to two years. The bastard cheated on with my mother." Weiss said heatedly.

"Knew it." Yuki said bluntly. "Total horndog."

What surprised Yuki was the fact that Weiss said that her mother married him and even had a kid with him.

"Well shit, that's horrible. Your ex-boyfriend has become your step-dad. That's all shades of gross." Ivory said with disgust. "I may be a pervert, but I'd never go like that."

"Considering you, I'd figure you'd try to find another." Kelly remarked.

"I haven't because I was too busy with work. To be honest, I regret not taking other offers for dating." Weiss said taking a swig. "I mean Yuki has plenty to pick from."

Kelly snickered as Weiss said, "Maybe I should consider you if your girls don't mind."

"Well I'm not involved in Yuki aside from being my leader. You'll have to talk to Ivory." Kelly said finishing her drink. "I'm still single for now."

"What about you, Lapis? I thought you and Yuki were close." Weiss said with raised eyebrow.

"It's complicated. I'm not really ready for a relationship. I just want to figure myself out. While I am intimate with Yuki, it was more physical, and it was in the past." Lapis admitted. "Even then, Ivory and I aren't his girlfriend."

Weiss raised an eyebrow as Yuki spoke up.

"You're not the first of Team RWBY to join us." Yuki admitted. "Yang joined us right after your team broke apart."

That caught Weiss off-guard as Yuki continued, "She pretty much had a breakdown. The breakup and words she and Ruby had messed her up. We took her in…and…we got close."

"How so?" Weiss asked.

"She was pretty much his girlfriend." Ivory said tossing her a frame with a photo of Yang and Yuki together on Bumblebee. "A shame they hadn't married yet, especially with their son."

That was the reminder of just how much time passed for Weiss. Yuki got up another frame with an old photo with him and Yang holding their infant bundle of joy.

"His name is Ryu Xiao Long-Azure, and he's two now." Yuki said warmly.

"But wait, where's Yang and your son?" Weiss asked.

"Yang had gone off to go after her mother a few months ago. As for Ryu, he's staying with his grandfather on Patch. I was actually supposed to pick him up today." Yuki said putting the frame on the nightstand.

Weiss looked out of the window. How ironic that the guy she was growing attracted to was involved with one of her former teammates.

"Yang…I wonder how's she's change." Weiss thought.

[Cues: pxzvc - in luv w u(Bad Idea) (feat. shiloh dynasty)]

Cinder was in a good mood for the simple fact that they no longer had to stay at the warehouse. Sure, the apartment was lousy with the walls being cracked and the state of the place being poor, but it had hot water. Cinder sat on the slightly dented black leather couch just glad for the new space. The furnishings were few and slightly used, but just enough for a start. Blake plopped on the couch next to her and asked Cinder if she wanted to hang out.

"Fuck off. I don't even want to be seen with you anymore than needed." Cinder said coldly. "I already have a shitty reputation in Remnant, and I don't the Faunus to have ANY more reason to want me dead."

Blake groaned as Cinder rolled her eyes as she flipped through channels on TV. Emerald came out from the kitchen with an apron on top of her clothes saying lunch was ready. Cinder tossed the remote as everyone gathered in the kitchen for lunch.

"At least it's not fish." Cinder remarked looking down on the plate of hot dogs and macaroni salad.

"Let's just hope Roman has another job for us." Mercury said with a sigh. "Maybe something involving assassination."

"I fucking wish." Cinder mumbled.

[Cues: J Dilla - Thought U Wuz Nice [Instrumental]]

The broken moon illumined over the night sky of Remnant as a motorcycle roared down the roads within the outskirts of Vale. A blond streak could be seen as she arrived at the lost village of Crossroad. She parked her bike on the aged rack as she got off of it. Yang Xiao Long would have wanted to see her father first, but she figured Yuki could make a portal to her. Now 20, the blonde brawler had matured over the split. Her blonde hair was still long and lush, and her lilac eyes could blaze red on a dime. She now wore a yellow-orange belly baring tank top, an unzipped black leather jacket with yellow lining and silver edging having zips on the sides and sleeves, black pants held with a brown belt having a gold buckle of her insignia, knee high biker boots with gold caps on the heel and toe, fingerless gloves, and an azure bandana tied around her neck. She carried a bit of a more muscular appearance having visible abs like Sun still had to this day. She also still wielded Ember Celica along with another weapon…Wilt and Blush. She strode up to the door nervously feeling guilty for being away for nearly three months. However, Yang swallowed her fear and entered the Azure family home.

[Music Ends]

"Guess who's back to give some bang back in Team YU…ki…." Yang said losing the words in her throat seeing Weiss there.

Awkward could not begin to describe the moment as Yang had to apologize for not calling. Weiss could have been mad but choose to punch her in the shoulder before tightly hugging her letting the tears spill.

(A/N: Normally in my work, I'd give some descriptions for all new characters introduced. I've decided not to in this case seeing this is a part of my collection where their descriptions are on their biographies. So, Team YUKI has been made their appearance and I had to quickly set up the dynamic for them. The Yang/Yuki was something I was mulling for a while actually. I found it fitting that out of the team, Yang would be first to have a kid. Weiss was re-introduced and Whitley is given some sun. The Whitley/Neon idea is actually from a fanfic that paired those two well together through similar means. This one was a bit long but satisfying. Consider it an early birthday present that I want to share (considering my special birthday is the 11th of September). A bit of backstory of Yang will be next up and Cinder gets another job from Roman. What will it be? Find out next time!)