CHAPTER 1 - 1 Year After
The sounds of an alarm ringing is heard when the alarm clock hits 6 o'clock. A woman who was sleeping and has her blanket over her, reaches out and turns the beeping off. Yawning, she proceeds to get up and sit on the side of her bed. Putting on her slippers, she proceeds to stand up and walks herself to her bathroom. She stops in front of the sink and lifts her head to look at herself from the mirror.
Weiss Schnee looks at herself from the mirror, seeing the long scar that is across her face, nearly connecting with the one she has on her left eye. Sighing, she proceeds to strip.
After her long shower, for which she takes her time in cleaning her body, Weiss looks back at the mirror. She now sees the scars that were on her right shoulder and also on her back as she turns around. After getting dressed and brushing her teeth, Weiss then quickly opens her cabinet and takes out a pill bottle. She stares at the 1 pill that she needs to take twice every day, she proceeds to swallow it before walking out.
In her kitchen, Weiss opens her refrigerator to take out a carton on milk. She pours a cup with the liquid, before throwing the empty carton away. Weiss then takes the cup of milk and proceeds to sit down. She waits a few seconds before someone places a plate full of eggs, bacon and toast in front of her. Weiss smiles at her mustached butler, who smiles back.
"Thank you, Klein." Weiss said.
"You are most welcome, Miss Schnee." Klein Sieben said, bowing. "Is there anything that you need at the moment."
"No." Weiss answered. "This is all I need for the morning."
Klein nods and proceeds to walk towards the living room. Weiss looks at her breakfast before sighing. As she takes a fork to eat, she hears a familiar "aww". She looks up and smiles at the girl sitting across from her. Wearing her red cape and a smile so sweet, Ruby Rose stares at Weiss.
"You forget about me, Weiss?"
Weiss smiles starts to fade into sadness, before she lowers her head and closes her eyes. Her foot starts to shake as her breathing increases. She clenches her fork tightly for a few seconds before all of it stops. Weiss opens her eyes and lifts her head. Ruby was no longer there, having been a figment of her imagination. And the fact that Ruby Rose had died, along with a quarter of Remnant, due to the Tragedy, as people call it. Sighing, she proceeds to eat her breakfast.
LATER - OFFICE
Outside an office, where she is answering a call from a client, Velvet Scarlatina sits at her desk. Acting bored, she just says "uh-huh" and "yes, sir." After a few seconds, she proceeds to hang up on her phone. Sighing, she lays her head on her desk, grumbling.
"Bad day?"
Velvet lifts her head and proceeds to look at Weiss, who is smiling and with her arms crossed.
"We just lost another client." Velvet answered as she stands up. "And given if was a small one, this shouldn't affect you or the company at all."
"And the good news?" Weiss asked.
"Very good. All employees exceeded their performances for this month. And they hope to do so for the rest of the year. You are a very good motivator, after all."
Weiss then proceeds to enter her office, with Velvet grabbing a tablet and following her.
"What's my day look like?" Weiss asked as she sits at her desk.
"You pretty much got nothing until about 2 o'clock, given the very recent departure of your client." Velvet answered as she looks at her tablet. "First thing today, is pretty much a board meeting. Then you will need to address a problem from one of our employees. She's already agreed to speak to you after the board meeting. And after that...that's it."
Weiss raises her eyebrows in surprise. "Huh. I guess that's...good...I guess."
Velvet's smile goes wider. She puts the tablet down, stands over Weiss and clears her throat. Weiss looks up and sees Velvet, who proceeds to lower her head until their lips meet. Their kiss would go on for a few seconds before Velvet separates. Weiss smiles as she blushes.
"Are you forgetting about our date tonight?" Velvet asked.
Weiss chuckles. "Of course I didn't. You know I wouldn't." She then proceeds to stand up. "Well since I have about a few hours to spare and I have nothing else to do, I think I'll just take a walk around the city."
"And I'll just sit here...all alone...answering stupid phone calls." Velvet said, annoyed.
"I'll make it up to you, tonight." Weiss said, giving Velvet a peck on her cheek. "I promise."
Velvet watches at Weiss exits her office. She smiles as she picks up the tablet and proceed to exit and sit at her desk.
VALE
In the city of Vale, where the civilians of the Kingdom are walking around like nothing's happened, Weiss is walking around. Her hands inside her pockets, she looks around. She sees a child holding hands with his mother and father, happily jumping while the parents laugh. Weiss smiles before turning back to walk more. But that's interrupted by someone bumping her.
"Sorry." The woman said as she kept walking.
Weiss stops, her eyes going wide. She suddenly turns around to look at the woman. "Yang?"
The blonde immediately stops, stares at her direction for a few seconds, before slowly turning around. Weiss looks surprised upon seeing her former teammate. Yang Xiao Long stares at Weiss, a stitched cut running from above her left eye, across his nose, and ends on her right cheek. Weiss also notices that circles are under her eyes, from lack of sleep.
"Hey, Weiss." Yang weakly said, staring at the ground.
Weiss moves closer Yang, who tries to back away. But she grabs her friend's arm to stop. Yang just stares at the ground. Weiss looks at Yang with worry, before proceeding to wrap her arms, hugging her friend. Yang's expression doesn't change nor she hugs Weiss back.
DINER
Weiss and Yang sit at a booth in a diner. Weiss looks at the menu, trying to think of what to eat. Yang stares outside the window, looking at the people passing by. The two of them hear a throat clearing and turn to see a waitress.
"Can I get you two anything?"
"Um...I'll have the today's special. And...coffee. Three sugars and creams." Weiss said.
"...Just a water, please." Yang said.
The waitress nods and prepares to leave.
"Uh, actually." Weiss said, making the waitress stop. "She'll have the 3-stack of waffles. Buttermilk."
The waitress adds this to the order and walks towards the kitchen.
Yang just smiles. "You do know what I like to eat at breakfast."
"Of course I do." Weiss said. "Were were roommates for months. We ate together a lot. I am familiar with what you eat."
"...Right." Yang said. "Those were the good o' days, I guess."
The same waitress comes back with a cup of coffee and a cup of water. She places them down, with Yang smiling to her.
"Thank you, Jenn."
Jenn smiles back. "Glad to know, you haven't forgotten my name."
As she walks away, Weiss raises her eyebrow. "So...you know her?"
Yang shrugs. "We've talk before. I often come here. Take my mind off things."
"Kinda surprised that I haven't seen you." Weiss said. "Where were you, Yang? You went dark on us for the last couple months. We were all worried."
"...Guess I needed time for myself."
"Please tell me, you at least see your therapist. Dr. Klaw is one of the best in Vale. Hence why I recommended him."
"I see him 4 times a week. He really does help me out, letting me get some emotions out. He even gave me some advice on keeping myself in shape. I wasn't going to make myself look like a skeleton, anymore."
Weiss nods. "You do look better than last time. You barely fit those clothes then."
"Thanks." Yang said. "...And...how are you?"
"Been good." Weiss answered. "Company is running smoothly. Less criminal activities on our shipments. The Faunus have better conditions, working equally with everyone. And...um...I...met someone."
Yang raises her eyebrows. "Really? Who? And how long?"
Weiss is about to answer, when her Scroll rings. When she takes it our and looks at the screen, Yang could see Velvet's picture on it, and is surprised. And seeing Weiss smile, Yang know who she's seeing. After a minute of answering messages, Weiss puts her Scroll down and notices Yang's surprised face. "What?"
"...Velvet?" Yang asked. "You're seeing Velvet?"
Weiss puts her hand behind her hand. "...Um...yeah. We've been together sometime after you went dark."
"...Huh." Yang said. "I'm surprised. How?"
Weiss hesitates to answer, knowing her answer involved the tragedy. So she does her best not to mention that day. "Well...she actually saved my life a few months back. I was being so stupid. So stupid, that I regret it to this day."
Yang looks at Weiss with worry. "What did you do?"
Weiss again tries to answer to her best ability. But eventually she sighs before she answers. "I...I tried to jump."
Yang's eyes go wide in shock, knowing what that meant.
"...I was depressed. And the added stress of leading the company made it much, much worse. I tried to my best to hide it...but Velvet was the one who noticed. I had given her a job as my receptionist after her old boss fired her. I tried my bets to dodge her questions. But I would eventually tell her why I was suffering. And that's when I ran to the roof of my company and stood at the edge of the roof."
Yang rests her hands on her head as she listens.
"I...I pushed forward. I wanted to end it all, right there. But Velvet was there. She pulled me away from the roof edge and begged. She begged me not to end my life. She didn't want to lose another friend."
Weiss wipes the tears from her eyes.
"She helped me, Yang. She was there when I had my breakdowns. When I needed emotional help." She chuckles. "She would often force me to get up for work. Often with threats of a water bucket." He smile goes wide. "And then one day...I asked if she wanted to go on a date. She was a bit shocked. But she would say yes. And needless to say...we've been together since."
Weiss would look at Yang and her smile would slowly fades upon seeing her friend shaking. "Yang?"
But their talk would be interrupted, when something outside explodes, causing the windows to shatter from the blast and sending everyone to the ground.
A minute later, Weiss groans as she lifts her head and sees the damage. The customers inside were either unconscious or running outside. She turns to look at Yang. Multiple cuts were visible on her face and body. Weiss quickly gets up and to grab Yang, but her friend suddenly screams as she wakes up. Yang pushes Weiss back and quickly crawls backwards until she hits the counter behind her. Shaking fast, Yang grabs her head and swings back and forth. Weiss slowly walks to Yang, who is starting to lightly then hears the sounds of a fight and quickly turns to look outside. Her eyes go wide upon seeing civilians being pushed aside or beaten down by several men in black masks. One of them notices Weiss and starts to run towards the diner. Weiss watches as the masked man enters and takes out a sword. Knowing that she no longer uses her weapon anymore, all Weiss can do is stand in front of Yang, grabbing a stool in an effort to protect herself and her friend.
The sounds of glass breaking is heard from behind Weiss, who turns around. Somebody had exited the kitchen. But it wasn't one of the black mask wearing bad guys. It was a woman, wearing a red and black outfit, complete with a red fabric over her head and eyes, as well as a device over her mouth.
"Get down." She said, her voice altered. She then takes out a set of daggers.
Weiss quickly gets down as the masked woman charges at the man. She and Yang watch the two fight, with the woman dodging every of the man's attacks.
The masked woman the delivers some slashes at the man, cutting him several times. She proceeds to grab him and throw the guy out of the diner. The sounds of sirens are starting to be heard. The masked woman turns to see Weiss helping Yang up. She would stare at the two of them for a few seconds before jumping out of one of the windows and running away.
"Who was that?" Yang asked.
Weiss nods. "I don't know. But she just saved our lives."
As she begins to move, Weiss would then suddenly feel strange, as if she's going to pass out. She then feels pain on her body. Weiss looks down and her eyes go wide. A big shard of glass had gone into her abdomen, blood pouring from her wound. Yang sees her friends wound and her eyes goes wide as well, before Weiss falls. Yang quickly grabs her friend and lay her on the ground. A paramedic quickly runs to the two and begins putting an oxygen mask around Weiss' mouth. Yang just sits back, shaking and not know what will happen next.
NIGHT - HOSPITAL
In a hospital room, Weiss is sleeping on her bed and Yang is sitting next to the bed, her leg tapping fast on the ground. She is shaking as well as worry is on her face. She then hears the sounds of groaning. Weiss slowly moves her head as she begins to opens her eyes. She stares at the ceiling for a few seconds before slowly sitting up, groaning in pain. Weiss would then see that her waist is wrapped in bandages. She sadly stares at her bandaged waist as Yang stands up.
"Hey. Don't try to move quickly."
Yang adjusts Weiss' pillow as the latter sadly looks at her injury.
"You're pretty lucky, you know." Yang said. "Doc said that the glass was half an inch from your organs. So not much surgery was needed. You should be out of here in a few days."
"...Great." Weiss sadly said. "How long was I out?"
"A few hours. And it's almost midnight, too. Velvet was here few minutes ago."
Weiss raises her head in surprise. "Is she still here?"
"Yeah. She just went to get some coffee. She should be back-"
The door to the hospital room opens. Yang and Weiss quickly turn to see Velvet, whose eyes go wide. Velvet quickly puts her coffee down and carefully gives Weiss a hug. Weiss groans in pain a bit, causing the rabbit girl to stop hugging.
"I'm sorry." Velvet said. "I didn't mean-"
"It's okay." Weiss said, before raising her arms. "Come here."
Velvet would follow and again, carefully hug Weiss, who gives her girlfriend a kiss on her cheek and hugging back. "I'm sorry for making you worried."
The door would be heard opening again, causing the three of them to turn to it. Their eyes go wide upon seeing him. Jaune Arc, now bearing a beard that matches his blonde hair, slightly smiles and crossing his arms. Yang suddenly runs across the room and roughly wraps her arms around Jaune, who had anticipated this and hugs her back. Yang buries her face onto Jaune's shoulder, shaking and shakily breathing. Jaune slowly strokes Yang's hair for a few seconds, while Weiss looks at the two in confusion. Yang quickly stops hugging and slowly backs away, staring at the ground. Jaune walks towards Weiss and Velvet, smiling again.
"Hey Snow Angel."
Weiss rolls her eyes in annoyance. "Really? That nickname again?" She crosses her arms. "Haven't heard from you in months. And now you're here? I want an explanation. Please."
Jaune turns to Yang, who is staring at the ground. "You didn't tell them?"
Yang nods. "I went dark, too. Today was the first time in months, that I've seen Weiss or anybody."
"Tell us what?" Weiss asked.
Jaune slowly sighs. He grabs a nearby chair and sits down on it before speaking. "The reason why I've been silent...why I haven't talked to any of you guys...is because something happened...and it was my fault."
"Jaune." Weiss said. "I'm sure whatever did happen, it probably wasn't-"
"It was!" Juane exclaims, surprising Weiss. "It was my fault, Weiss. Entirely. And because of my actions..."His breath is shaking as tears fall down his face."...I had to bury her." He begins to softly sob as he rests his hand on his head. "I had to bury her."
Upon hearing those words, at first, Weiss was in disbelief. But a few seconds later, her reaction is that of shock. Another friend that she cares about is gone. Like Ruby. She then clenches hard to the bars on her hospital bed, trying to take in the news. Jaune manages to calm himself down ans slowly stands up.
"I'm sorry that you didn't know." He said. "I really am."
"Was it?" Weiss asked, before turning to Jaune. "Was it really your fault? Is she dead, because of you?"
Jaune doesn't hesitate to nod. "Yes. I wouldn't lie about it."
Weiss turns away from Jaune and looks the opposite way. "Please leave."
Jaune nods and proceeds to turn to the door.
"No."
Jaune quickly turns back around, and looks at Yang, who said it.
"It's not his fault." Yang said. "He can blame all he want. But he's not directly responsible for what happened to her." She then sits down and rests herself on the wall. "I am."
Jaune looks at Yang with confusion.
"I'm the reason why Nora's dead."
END OF CHAPTER 1
Hey guys. So this is a new series that I'll be writing along with my other stories. And once that's very different from my stories. I don't plan to have many action scenes, like in my other stories. But mostly drama, but with some action. And it'll take time before Chapter 2 comes out. Until then...see you guys later.