The buzzer rang, its grating sound penetrating those around it; specifically the occupants of the visiting room. A blonde girl stepped in, surveying the scene with distaste. She zeroed in on a woman with black hair and red eyes and stalked towards her.
Tension hung in the atmosphere around the two women. It brimmed with hurt, anger, and things left unsaid. If looks could kill, Raven Branwen would be dead on the linoleum floor, six bullets in her brain, and Yang Xiao Long would be holding a smoking gun.
"Yang." Raven greeted.
"Raven."
"I didn't think you'd come."
"I didn't think I would either." The blonde's face fixed in a scowl, staring at her mother with the same blood-red eyes.
"Look, Yang-"
"You let me think you were my aunt for six years, you disappear, and now you think you can just waltz back into my life!" The red faded from Yang's lilac orbs for a second, then came back in full force. "How could you?!"
"Qrow told you, didn't he?"
"What's it to you?"
"He told you about happened with me and Summer. You know what I meant." Raven's mouth folded into a grim smile, one devoid of joy or amusement. "Why are you here?"
"I have to give you this. Dad can't even look at that photo of Mom, you and Qrow he keeps on the mantle, so I have to deliver this." She slid a black envelope across the gray table with flowing cursive on the flap.
Taiyang, Ruby and Yang Rose-Xiao Long regret to inform you of the passing of Summer Marguerite Rose, on the date of January 27th, cycle 690. Please join us for a memorial service on July 14th, cycle 701.
"Bit too late, don't you think?" The black-haired woman sighed.
"How dare you-"
"I dare because she's gone, okay? What, did you believe I killed her?" She asked, eyes flashing with anger. A guard got up from his chair and his eye travelled over to the pair. She took a deep breath, evidently restraining herself from screaming at Yang.
"Evidence isn't holding up great for you." Yang shot back.
"Worse for Pyrrha Nikos. My lawyer says I'll be acquitted." Raven sighed. "But why are you really here? Yang, I know you." She looked at her, praying to whatever god existed that Yang would be honest with her.
"My mother knows me. Summer Rose is my mother, the one who raised me. You left me when I was six, all while telling me you were my aunt." Yang clenched her hands into fists. "So no, Raven, you don't own me."
"Tai and Summer helped." Raven replied.
"I know that. But you lied. I still love you, you know that?"
"I know. I love you too, Firecracker. But you really think I did it?" Raven reached across the table, resting her hand on Yang's prosthetic.
"No, I just- I don't know, It's hard, okay?!" The blonde threw her arms up into the air and let them fall down to her sides.
"I get what you mean." Yang's phone beeped, and she picked it up, pressing the green answer button. "Yeah? Hi Weiss. Now? Are you sure?" She paused, waiting for Weiss to respond. "No, no, it's fine. Yes, I'll be there in time for the meeting. Yeah, I know. Pick up some donuts, will you? Okay, okay. Bye."
"You have to go?" The red-eyed woman asked.
Yang sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Unfortunately." She stood up, placing her phone in her back pocket. "I'll… see you around?"
"See you around, Firecracker. Burn bright."
~Skeletons in the Closet~
"Okay, guys, so do we all know why we're here?" Ruby clapped her hands, addressing the population of the room. Thirteen pairs of eyes stared directly at her and nodded.
"Perfect! So before we begin, I'd like to congratulate Velvet and Coco on their engagement. Good luck!" The room applauded the happy couple, who were sitting across from each other, smiling brightly. "Now that we've done that, I'd like to ask Sergeant Belladonna to give us the low-down on this case. Blake?" The cat Faunus strode up to the front of the boardroom.
"Thanks Ruby. As you all probably know, this particular case has two suspects. Suspect number one, Pyrrha Nikos. Ms. Nikos was found that night with drugs in her system. She had a clean weapon, like Branwen, and was shot in the left foot, either by Branwen or the victim. We don't know who. During her trial, a witness stated she enjoyed criminal actions and actively participated in them. Ms. Nikos did not however, have a criminal record." The meeting room was filled with the sound of pens scratching on paper. "Now, suspect number two. Raven Branwen. Five offenses. Clean weapon, drugged. Noted as unstable. Although, her trial hasn't started yet, so there's only evidence from the last case. Anyone who wants to look into that can ask me later. That clear? Good."
All of a sudden, Yang burst into the room with a box of donuts and a tray of coffees. "Sorry I'm late! Weiss didn't get the food, so I got them, and…"
Ruby pinched her nose and sighed. "Yang, it's fine. Thank the two gods you got the coffee." She grabbed one and downed half of it in a gulp. "Blake just finished briefing them anyway. So, uh, we're just meeting on which one gets charges dropped. We've called the DA, they said it was in our hands. Oz said to vote, so here we are. It needs to be at least sixty percent of us to decide. You ready?" She asked.
"Uh, okay." Yang sat down, and Ruby followed suit. Blake paced around the front of the room.
"All in favour of dropping charges against just Pyrrha Nikos?" No hands were raised.
"All in favour of dropping charges against only Raven Branwen?" Ten hands went up.
"All in favour of dropping charges against both?" No hands went up. "Okay, how about continuing to prosecute?" Three people raised their hands.
"Okay, so Branwen it is. Anyone want to challenge that?" No one spoke up. "So that's that. Decision made. Thanks for coming, and Nebula, we need that statement by Thursday at most. See you at the staff party next week." Blake left the room swiftly and trotted into the hall, followed by Ruby, Weiss and Yang.
"That easy, huh?" Ruby asked.
"Seems so."
I didn't get this out late at all. What are you talking about. Yeah, it's late. If there are any inconsistencies here, feel free to tell me in a review. That little button down there. Press it, it doesn't bite. As always, thank you for reading