I
"*Sigh*... This is quite more difficult than I expected it to be."
A woman complained to no one in particular.
Under the comforting light of the shattered moon, a lone woman walked through the streets in the early evening. She had a beautiful face that resembled that of a noblewoman or royalty. Her long hair collected in a off-center ponytail had the color of pristine snow. Her eyes were crystal blue and felt as if they were radiating cold like ice. Her clothes looked quite expensive and were mostly in the color of white matching her hair and pale skin. Overall, the woman was beautiful and elegant.
This woman was Weiss Schnee.
The former heiress to the SDC and a certified licensed huntress.
She wore a frown on her face as she weaved through her memories as she walked alone through the streets underneath the chilly evening.
A lot has happened to her.
During their final year in Beacon it was attacked by a combined force of Cinder's group, White Fang, and countless grimms. Despite all of their best efforts, they lost and Beacon was left to ruins as well as a large portion of Vale. They were forced to retreat and seek refuge in other kingdoms. Weiss and most of her team went to Atlas and studied their final year there in order to graduate.
Weiss couldn't help but let out a small chuckle and sad smile to cross her face as she went through her memories of the past. She had done a lot of things in the past. Most she can say she had done with pride. But there were some that she regretted.
She didn't really mind most of them since she knew that regrets were a part of life and there was no way to avoid them. The best she could do is admit her regrets and move on.
However, there was one regret that she couldn't just move on through. A regret that kept her up most nights. A regret that tore her heart open almost everyday.
That regret was what happened to her team member and partner; Ruby Rose.
Saying the name in her mind brought up happy memories that she had shared with the girl as well as sad memories. She bit her lip as she felt a tear roll down from crystal blue eyes. At first she didn't really like Ruby and found her to be extremely irritating and incredibly childish. Commenting that the girl was too young and immature to even think about attending Beacon. Despite not wanting to she became partners with the girl and just cursed her luck and tried to endure through her school life with her irritating partner. However as time passed one, Ruby Rose had grown on Weiss. Weiss felt the childish behavior of her partner to be heartwarming. The way she consumed sweets without any mind to a proper diet endearing. The way she put the safety of others above her own was attractive. Soon enough she found herself caring for her the girl more and more.
Yes, Weiss grew attracted to Ruby Rose.
Stating such a thing to herself caused her to finally start sobbing not even paying attention to random strangers that passed through the streets. This had been a constant action to her now. Thinking about her fond memories of her partner and then crying uncontrollably afterwards.
She felt disgusted to herself.
Because if she really did care about Ruby Rose then why didn't she trusted the girl when she needed it most? Why did she believe her partner when she was only telling the truth? Why did she say all those insulting words right at her face?
Weiss felt her body shiver though she was unsure if it was due to the chill brought by the evening air or the amount of guilt that filled both her heart and mind without halt. She brought up her hands to her face and quickly rubbed her the back of her hands to her eyes in order to wipe the tears falling endlessly from her eyes. Feeling her knees weaken, she looked for a spot to rest and soon found herself sitting on a wooden bench. After sitting on the bench she plopped her elbows on her knees and rested her head on her hands as she continued to sob. She didn't really want others to see her like this. She felt weak. But she couldn't really care.
"I-I'm so... s-sorry... We're all sorry..." Weiss cried out despite the fact that she knew that the sole person the words were directed for was nowhere near her. "I'm so sorry, Ruby. I'm sorry."
She didn't know how long she was crying for until a voice called out to her.
"Hey...um...big sis?" A soft voice called out to her. "Are you a-alright?"
Hearing the voice, Weiss opened her eyes after letting out a short chuckle. Without even looking who was speaking, she already knew that the voice belonged to a child.
"Are you hurt?" The child once again called.
It was sweet and warm. The childish tone reminded her of Ruby and Weiss couldn't help but reveal a small smile.
"It's quite alright." Weiss replied with her head still buried in her palms. "I assure you I'm not hurt in any-" Weiss' words were all cut as soon as she the appearance of the child looking right at her with a concerned expression on her face.
The child was an adorable girl that should be around five years of age or six. She had soft looking hair that reached down to her upper back in the color of black with red tips. Her eyes were big and cute with the beautiful and breathtaking color of silver. She wore a black shirt with red and black checkered long sleeves and a red skirt that reached just above her knees paired with black thigh-high socks that sunk into brown ankle-high boots.
The girl tilted her head to the side as she stared at Weiss with a concerned look.
"Big sis?"
Weiss felt her breath stop and felt as if her entire world had came into an abrupt halt. In just mere moments ago she was thinking about her memories of her partner and now here she was staring right at a girl who looked like the exact reflection of Ruby Rose.
Is the universe playing tricks on me? Or is my mind finally slipping its hold on sanity?
"Big sis?"
Hearing the girl call out to her again, Weiss finally managed to snap back to reality from her trance. She blinked several times before shaking her head gently as a gesture to cleanse her mind.
"Y-you're not okay?" The girl asked as she saw Weiss shake her head. Concern evident in her tone.
"N-no!" Weiss waved her hands as she replied hastily. "I-I'm quite alright."
I-I'm stuttering like a dolt. I'm really losing it now.
"A-are you s-sure?" The girl asked.
"Y-Yes..." Weiss once again stuttered as she replied. "I-I'm quite...alright."
Great. Keep stuttering like a dolt.
Weiss chastised herself feeling like her sanity slipping away bit by bit.
She looked at the girl once more and just couldn't help but have her breath get taken away. The girl was such a dead ringer of Ruby Rose. Up to her silky smooth black hair with red dyed tips and big adorable silver eyes. Even the shy demeanor was the same as Ruby during their early years in Beacon. Just by looking at her Weiss couldn't help but remember her bond with Ruby with made her both happy and sad.
Is that a rabbit?
Weiss noticed that the girl was holding a rabbit with fluffy black fur with the fur of the tips of its ears coming into a white color.
"Is that your friend?" Weiss asked with a small smile intending to strike a short conversation with the girl.
"Hm-mm!" The girl happily nodded her head up and down. "Her name's Skia. She's my friend! Say hello, Skia!" The girl grabbed a paw of the rabbit and gently waved it as a cute greeting.
"I see." Weiss smiled due to how adorable the girl was when she enthusiastically introduced the rabbit. "Nice to meet you Skia."
Weiss observed the girl along with her rabbit friend closely in silence for a few seconds before revealing a small smile.
"You know..." Weiss started which grabbed the girl's attention. "I know your friend's name but I'm afraid I haven't learned yours."
Hearing Weiss' words, the girl blinked a few times before blushing. "Oh!" The girl exclaimed. "I-I'm sorry...Um...I'm Vermillion."
This girl is just so cute.
"Vermillion huh?" Weiss had to keep herself for squealing due to how cute the girl was. "It's a beautiful name."
Hearing the compliment made Vermillion blush harder as she started to look down to the ground and kick the ground with her left foot as some sort of nervous tick of hers.
Okay. It should be illegal for this girl to be this cute!
Weiss let out a sad smile as she continued to look at Vermillion she just kept on being reminded of Ruby. Both of them are just so adorable that it should be a crime.
"Um...A-are you okay!?" Vermillion called out in a concerned tone.
It was at this point that Weiss realized that her tears were not gently falling from her eyes. Whenever she thinks of Ruby this happens. She knew what the reason was.
It was because of the guilt she was feeling as well as her loneliness. She wanted to be with Ruby but she knew she didn't deserve it. Not after all that she had done. What they had done to Ruby.
"I'm fine." Weiss let out a small sad chuckle. "I just remembered something."
"Ummmm..." Vermillion started. "...D-do... you.."
Weiss looked up at Vermillion and saw that she was fidgeting nervously.
"What is Vermillion?" Weiss asked in a soft tone in order to comfort the girl. "You can say whatever you want to say."
"D-do you... want to have... some coffee?" Vermillion shyly asked.
Weiss cocked an eyebrow amused at the cute girl.
"Why?"
"W-well... mommy told me when someone is sad sometimes a small gift can make a difference." Vermillion explained as she gently rocked Skia back and forth.
Weiss softly chuckled at this.
This girl is really cute. Very kind as well as warmhearted. I can't help but be reminded of Ruby.
Cute and kind.
Just like her.
"Are you sure?" Weiss asked amused. "I don't want you to spend any money on me."
Vermillion responded by nodding her head excitedly. "I'm not spending anything. M-mommy owns a cafe so I can ask her for some."
She is willing to go to her mother and treat me to some of their coffee just in order to cheer me up? This girl is really kind and soft-hearted.
"Will your mommy be okay with that?"
Once again Vermillion answered with a nod. "Yes. Mommy is really kind. I'm sure mommy will be happy to help someone who is sad."
Am I really going to accept the offer of this girl? While I'm not as rich as before I have more than enough money to buy a hefty amount of coffee. But I don't want to make this girl sad by rejecting her kind and innocent offer.
Weiss looked at Vermillion and saw the excited expression written all over her cute face.
"Alright." Weiss answered which made Vermillion smile widely. "I'll take a coffee."
"Yay!" Vermillion excitedly hopped once before turning away. "Please follow me, I'll show you where me and mommy lives."
Weiss stood up and quickly walked up to the side of Vermillion in order to walk beside her. She took a glance to her side and saw Vermillion happily humming a tune while gently rocking Skia side to side.
"By the way, Vermillion."
"Hm?"
"What are you doing out by yourself?" Weiss asked concerned. "While there are still people on the street due to it only being early evening, wouldn't your mommy be worried?"
"Yes. Mommy will be worried." Vermillion nodded. "But mommy allows me to walk Skia as long as I don't go too far."
"So that's what you're doing? Walking Skia?" Now that she had mentioned it, Weiss noticed the collar around the rabbit with a leash wrapped around Vermillion's wrist for it to be secured..
"Yes." Vermillion replied as she nuzzled into Skia's head. "She hates the heat so I can only walk with her during ealry evening. But now she is being lazy and had to be carried." Vermillion ended with a pout.
That is just so cute.
"So your mommy's cafe is near here?"
"Just around the corner now."
They only walked a short distance where they met so it was really quite near.
"So your mommy runs a cafe right?"
"Also a weapon store."
"A weapon store?"
"Yes. Mommy likes weapons and making them. She makes really cool weapons and sells them. She also 'maytens' and repairs customers'weapons."
Weiss hid a smile amused by how Vermillion couldn't properly say the word 'Maintain'.
"Your mommy is a hard worker."
Vermillion nodded happily in response. "She takes care of me really well and loves me reallly a lot!"
Weiss giggled.
"Then what does your father does?"
Weiss asked Vermillion. However as a few seconds passed by in complete silence, Weiss felt that there was something wrong. She looked at Vermillion and noticed that she now had a really sad expression written all over her face. It unnerved Weiss to see such an expression on the otherwise shy yet cheerful girl.
"Is something wrong?"
"I-I don't have one." The girl replied in a soft tone that was more of a whisper.
"I'm sorry?"
"I don't have a daddy." Vermillion answered in a weak voice so frail it seemed like she was about to cry.
"I-I see."
Wow. I feel guilty all of a sudden for asking that. I mean I know not all relationship ends happily. Many hits an end and some end up with an ugly conclusion.
"I'm sorry for asking such an insensitive question, Vermillion." Weiss apologized with a guilt stricken tone.
"It's okay." Vermillion sniffed. "I don't want my daddy anyway."
"Huh?" Weiss was quite surprised to her such a sudden statement from a young girl. "I-is there a reason why?"
"Auntie said that he hurt mommy really badly." Vermillion replied with a hint of anger now mixed within her sad tone. "I don't like people who hurt mommy."
The rest of the walk was in complete silence. Vermillion kept her silence as they continued walking while Weiss couldn't really think of what to say to cheer the girl since she hardly knew the girl and therefore couldn't really say anything personal. She knew how hard it is to be in a broken family. She experienced it first hand after all. Knowing that a girl her age knows what it feels like to be in a broken family just broke Weiss' heart further.
After a bit of walking, Vermillion stopped in her tracks and turned around in Weiss' direction. Weiss stopped as she saw the girl turn towards her. Vermillion took a deep breath before finally showing a smile.
Seeing the girl return back to her cheerful self made Weiss smile as well feeling happy that the girl had finally come out of her sadness earlier and smile.
"We're here!" Vermillion stated now with a happy tone.
Weiss turned to the side to see the establishment. It was a two-story building that looked so comfortable to live in. The exterior of the first floor's lower half was built with smooth cobblestone wall with the upper half that reached all the way up to the second floor was built with dark wood and smooth cream-colored concrete. The first floor had wide windows that are regularly seen on shops and the like. On the side of the building was a five-foot brick fence and a dark red metallic gate that seemed to be some sort of parking area for a motorbike.
All in all the two-story building felt 'homey' and warm.
Above the door to the store was a sign that with the name:
Strawberry and Rose.
A cute and warm name suited for a warm looking store.
"By the way... umm..." Vermillion started catching Weiss attention away from the two-story building in front of her. "I-I don't know your name yet... big sis."
"Oh!" Weiss was caught unaware. She had also forgotten to introduce herself to the girl due to the sudden shift in her atmosphere. From sad and gloomy to now quite happy due to the presence of Vermillion. "I apologize for not introducing myself earlier." Weiss started with an elegant bow. "My name is Weiss."
"Weiss?" Vermillion titled her head to the side as she repeated the name. "What a pretty name big sis!"
"Thank you." Weiss smiled at the honest compliment from the girl.
"It seems familiar."
"Hm?"
"I-I think I've heard the name from mommy?" Vermillion put on a curious expression as she cutely tilted her head to the side.
"How?"
Before Vermillion could even answer, the door to the store suddenly opened and a voice called out.
"Vermillion?" The voice called out which had the girl immediately form a big smile on her face as she look towards the direction where the voice originated from. "I'm about to close the store. There's not a lot of customers tonight, so I'm closing early. Can you help me?"
"Of course mommy!" Vermillion happily replied. "I will help mommy with everything!"
Weiss meanwhile was frozen shocked. She stood there completely still as soon as she heard the voice from within the store called out to Vermillion. Her world once again felt like as if it was frozen in time. She felt her body tremble slightly and her heart began to beat slightly faster.
Why?
She recognized the voice.
It was slightly different. It was quite lower now in terms of tone. But she was sure she could recognize the familiar voice. She had heard a lot of time during her early years in Beacon after all. It was the voice of someone very close and dear to her.
Within her person she honestly couldn't think of what to feel. She was excited to see if she was right. But she was also afraid to see if she was right. Her loneliness and guilt were mixing with her happiness and excitement. It was a weird and unique sensation within her.
"You brought a friend?" The voice asked finally noticing the presence of Weiss.
"Yes mommy!" Vermillion answered excitedly as she looked back at Weiss in order to have her introduced to her mother. "Her name is..."
Weiss looked up from the ground she was staring passively at then towards the door to the store in front of her. What she was made her take a short intake of breath and had her heart breath faster.
Standing next to Vermillion was a woman who could only be described as breathtakingly gorgeous. She had sleek and graceful figure to her. Her height was impressive as she looked to be as tall as Yang or perhaps even slightly taller than the blonde. She wore a dark red jacket over a hanging black tank top paired with form-fitting black jeans and dark brown knee-high dark brown boots. Her outfit was completed with a black choker around her neck.
But what caught Weiss completely at awe was the woman's face.
The woman's facial features were soft yet elegant. She had chin-length black hair with red tips that framed her face perfectly making her beautiful features more pronounced. Her eyes were sharp and had the striking color of silver which perfectly complimented her elegant features.
"...Weiss?"
Weiss named was called out yet she was certain that it didn't came from Vermillion. It came from the woman that Vermillion called 'Mommy'.
After what felt like an eternity, Weiss finally felt time for her to start flowing again. She stood there tremling with her eyes heating up as she could feel her tears slowly welling up.
She felt guilt and relief wash all over her.
"Ruby?"
To be Continued.
Afterword
Hey everyone!
This is a story that I wanted to do. I skipped the backstory for now so I can include in the next chapter if ever.
I'm really sorry for the lack of updates on my stories. I've suffered through a really terrible writing slump. I just felt like I couldn't write anything decent or satisfying and it was keeping me down. It also came along when there's a lot happening IRL and I just couldn't help but feel down and down. It came to the point where I was writing several times a day only to delete them before going to sleep.
But I tried and tried to work it out. I took a break. Tried to relax. And here we are. With this story written I could feel like I finally started to get over my slump.
Thank you all for having the patience!
Anyway tell me what you think of this story in a review! Have any recommendation? Please feel free to tell me all about them in a review or even in a message! Want more of this story? Want me to focus on drama or do you want some action mixed in as well? Tell me what you think!
Please leave a review as they are always helpful and I greatly appreciate them!
Thank for reading!