A Kindness Given

Velvet was cold, freezing in fact. The crisp autumn air had begun giving away to the first ferocious bites of winter. Frost had begun to cover the ground and the trees relinquished what leaves they had left to the bitter wind. These leaves circled violently through the ashen sky as the wind began to pick up, causing a shiver to run up the spine of a solitary figure.

Nineteen-year-old Velvet Scarlatina let out yet another sigh of frustration, pulling her scarf ever tighter around her face and neck in an effort to negate some of the frigid air. The more she continued her march through the deserted park, the more she continually cursed herself for not having the presence of mind to grab a heavier jacket before leaving her apartment that morning.

I really need to stop believing every word that overweight slob of a weatherman spouts, she thought as she absentmindedly reached her hand up to make sure her stocking cap was secure and that her long brown rabbit-like ears were safe from the cold.

"You can't afford to get sick again, Velvet. Professor Ozpin will have your head if you miss work again because you got a case of the sniffles," she muttered to herself in her lilting accent. Being a full-time college student, as well as a part-time assistant, was taking its toll on Velvet. It was only midway through her first semester at Beacon University and she already felt like she was being crushed under the pressure. As a matter of fact, she knew that she was getting sick - she had woken up with an enormous headache and a running nose.

Why in Andraste's name I thought interning would be a good idea is beyond me. Must have been drunk or something when I applied. Maybe I should tell Mr. Ozpin it's interfering with my school work….Oh I can't lie to him, especially after he gave me this position despite my hectic school schedule. Besides Velvet, what would Mum and Dad have thought of their daughter quitting just because the going got tough?

It was then that she heard the crying, a sound that halted all thought and sent a wave of surprised panic flooding through her system. Velvet felt her heart stop as she jumped at the sudden sound. As her hands flew up to cover her mouth, a small frightened squeak escaped her. Velvet walked around a large tree that stood on the edge of the path and was stunned at what, or rather who, she found lying, curled into a ball against the tree.

It was a young woman who looked to be about Velvet's age. The girl was slender, of average height, and had a smooth pale complexion that was accentuated by the blackest hair that Velvet had ever seen. The most stunning thing about the girl had nothing to do with her looks, though. The raven-haired beauty was wearing clothing that would be far more suited to a sunny day in the middle of the summer. As it was here in the early throes of what was already proving to be one of the coldest winters on record, the shorts, stockings and blouse left the poor girl shivering in the snow.

"Um hello, miss? Are you alright?" Velvet said nervously, just loud enough for the girl to hear her. However no answer came - just another violent shiver as the girl clenched her eyes closed. It was then that Velvet noticed the tears; the source of the crying that she had heard moments before had in fact been the girl.

Velvet, upon seeing the state of the girl, reacted on pure instinct bred from years of upbringing by her saintly mother. She stepped forward towards the girl, undoing the clasp on her jacket as she kneeled down, and wrapped it around the bare shoulders of the raven-haired girl. The girl, not surprisingly, jumped at the sudden interaction, and her eyes flew up to make contact with Velvet's own. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as bright, tear-filled yellow eyes, swollen from crying, locked with hesitant golden brown.

Velvet felt a shiver go up her spine, although she wasn't entirely sure it was from the cold. The girl's eyes were full of a despair and sadness that she was not unaccustomed to seeing; such gloom was prevalent during her upbringing in one of the many Faunus ghettos, or as the government of Vale liked to call them, "Designated Housing". It was then that Velvet found her eyes drifting to the top of the raven girl's head and noticed the two small black-and-white cat ears that adorned her head.

Well, that may explain why she's out here in the middle of the park. Not many innkeepers in this city are known Fauna lovers, Velvet thought with a grimace as she began to rub the girl's arms through the jacket in an attempt to warm up her skin. The girl remained quiet, eyes still fixed on Velvet as she went about her ministrations. Velvet was worried about the girl; her skin was so cold and white that she must have been out in the snow for some time. She silently thanked the Goddess when she saw some flush start to return to the girl's face. She then looked up to meet her companion's piercing gaze once again.

"My name is Velvet Scarlatina, what's your name?" she asked trying to sound cheerful, despite the cold that was starting to bite at her own skin. Velvet tried desperately to keep the nervous throbbing of her heart in check - she had never been good with strangers. The girl was silent for several moments as her eyes searched Velvet's for something that she couldn't quite place, before answering in a small extremely hesitant voice that was as smooth and soft as Velvet's namesake.

"Blake…My name's Blake Belladonna."

Velvet gave her a large friendly smile that her mother used to say could brighten even a Grimm's day.

"Well, Miss Belladonna, it's a pleasure to meet you. Now as pleasant as it is out here, I can think of a hundred or so better places for two faunas to chat, can't you? Now do you have a hotel I can take you to…" she said trailing off. She had dropped the fact that she was a Fauna in hopes of getting the girl to open up to her a bit more….And yes, also as an attempt to convince her to get out of the cold. Blake stared at her, eyes still swollen but drying. Her ears had twitched at the mention of her being a fauna, and she swiftly leaned forward so that her nose was in the crook of Velvet's neck. She then began sniffing.

Velvet tried to remain absolutely still as the cat-eared girl took in her scent, the sudden closeness startling her but not surprising her; this was a common test that Faunas did in order to tell if someone was of their own kind. All Faunas have the unique ability to detect Aura through scent and thus can also detect whether or not the person they interact with is Fauna or a human in disguise. After several seconds, Blake seemed satisfied and leaned back against the tree, noticeably more relaxed.

"I…am afraid I am not staying anywhere at the moment."

Velvet visibly frowned and clucked her tongue as she reached forward and wrapped her arms around Blake, bringing her to her feet.

"Well, that simply won't do. C'mon, my apartment isn't that far from here. You can come stay with me until you have a alternative. " Velvet said this with such a confidence that she didn't even take a moment and think about the fact that she had just offered her home to a complete stranger.

Blake stared at her, far too stunned for words, as the rabbit-eared Fauna, at least that's what the scent of her Aura led her to believe, took her down the path of the park towards the student apartment complex. This kindness was not natural to her, especially since after her father's death and her friends and neighbors had shunned her as the daughter of a convicted killer. To find someone who was so willing to aid her…shifted something in her heart, and tears threatened to spill out again.

As Velvet walked with naught but a thin sweater and stocking cap to keep herself warm, she kept her own coat tight around Blake's shivering shoulders. Seeing such generosity, Blake whispered ever so quietly, far too quietly for the young woman beside her to hear…

"Th-Thank you."

Authors note. Wow I had a ton of fun writing this chapter! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and please leave me a review to let me know what you thought! Remember all reviews help me to make this story better and better and more enjoyable for you to read! Also I would like to thank Sakura Kissu for editing and giving story feedback. Well that's it for me again hope you all enjoyed and until next time Blessed Be!

~Crystal