Ch1: The Prologue
This Fanfic will focus on my OC, Devin Cross, who played a big role later in "Broken Body & Mind (Which recently broke 20,000 Views)". It will skip around from different key events in his life from being a protector and close friend to Weiss, to being a mercenary, and finally as a part of faction that is fighting against the White Fang (WF). Don't expect this to be as long as "Broken Body & Mind" since this is sort of a spin off, and a side project to my Volume 2 Canon Fanfic. But without any more delays here is the Prologue.
*This First Chapter is through Weiss's perspective, SPOILER Devin doesn't exactly survive the events of "Broken Body & Mind" but the ending isn't the point of this story, it's the journey and struggles Devin encounters as he progresses as a character.
"Devin Cross, was a skilled fighter and truly someone to look up to. He saved my life countless times and I owe him this eulogy." Mako stands at a podium, with a picture of Devin, and his coffin to his left. "We all owe him this. Like the others who were taken from us during our struggle with the WF, Devin was just reaching his full potential." I begin to tear up as Mako Scatterfall continues his speech about my protector, my friend, my lover.
"I, unfortunately, didn't have the honor to know him that long; however, this didn't keep him from having a huge impact on my life. I only wish that he was here, I can imagine we all wish he was here." I glance around the large room, looking at the faces of my friends who were all here. Yang, Ruby, Blake, Nora, and even Pyrrha, who was still recovering from her wounds from before, was here. Pyrrha went through a lot as well. Jaune's funeral was yesterday, and I can't believe she was in the emotional state to even be here.
"As Weiss informed me, after I first met Devin, I began to learn of his past, which has its many twists and turns. He started off as one of the heads of her security detail, he was only 18 when he was first tasked to protect the 14 year old heiress. He kept her safe from the WF and their assailants." Mako looks down at the cherry wood coffin and sighs. "He grew very close to Weiss during his first year protecting her. Some would say a little too close from a professional perspective. And sure enough right before Weiss turned 16, her father sent him away, firing him, fearing his daughter was becoming too attached to a mercenary. So Devin continued doing what he did best, he became a soldier of fortune, which he enjoyed for many years until he was pulled into our conflict against the WF by Professor Peter Port, and well you all know the rest." Mako pauses, attempting to fight back any emotions he was feeling.
He begins to tap his left prosthetic arm, one of the many injuries he had obtained from all the fighting he had taken part in. He is attempting to keep his mind off of his memories with Devin.
"I just miss him. He was a great guy that everyone should have known. He cared for Weiss and was always ready to give his life up for her. Such selflessness shouldn't go unrecognized. So I'm asking for a moment of silence for Devin, in his memory." Mako closes his eyes as everyone in the room remains silent.
I begin to think about Devin, and about the first time I met him. His unique snow white hair, which I thought only I had, for the longest time. The burning passion and want for justice that he always thought everyone deserved. Why did fate have to take you from me? Why so soon?
- Many Years Ago, at the Schnee Family Residence-
*Now from Devin's perspective*
Damn, this a big house. I thought to myself as a butler guided me through the Schnee family's home, high in the mountains above Vale. I took in my surroundings as we walked down a corridor lit by diamond ornate chandlers, their soft light casting unique shadows on the walls.
Eventually arriving at two heavy brown doors, the butler stopped and turned around to address me.
"Right through this door Mr. Cross. Mr. Schnee wants you to meet who you will be protecting while you work for us." He opens the door, leading to a very open bedroom. "My Heiress, the new member of your security detail is her, your father wants you to meet him." The rabbit Faunus begins to say as he makes his way back out the door.
"Thank you Eli, go help yourself to some dinner. I imagine you are hungry after guiding all of those guests through our home this morning." A voice says from behind a curtain from what I guess was a balcony.
The butler, Eli, smiles and shuts the door behind him. Nice guy, didn't really talk much. The curtain is pushed aside as a young girl, probably no older than 13 or 14 walks into view. Her snow, white hair is in a tight ponytail behind her back as she strides with grace, almost angelic, over to me as I stand straight and proud. Got to look professional Devin, got to make a good impression.
"Aren't you a little too young to be a part of my security detail?" She asks with her hands on her hips. Guess the heiress has a little attitude.
"My Lady, I can inform you that I am more than qualified to protect you." I reply with a slight smirk on my face.
"Why is that? Have all of the other experienced mercenaries been killed by the White Fang?" Damn she really does have an attitude.
"Yes that, and it doesn't hurt that I went to Vale's military academy for middle school and high school." I respond hastily, attempting to save any hopes of a good first impression.
"Is that so? What exactly did you specialize while attending such a school?" She is obviously trying to figure out personally if I am the real deal.
"VIP protection and infiltration, I like to do things on my own, alone at times." I respond as I remain in a straight posture.
"I hope you don't do any of that lone wolf stuff while you work for us, you will be in a team protecting me. Also, what is your name Mercenary?" She walks over to her bed, practically throwing herself on top of it.
"Devin Cross my Heiress, and trust me I will do everything in my nature to keep you safe." I turn around and begin to walk towards the door.
"Did I say you could leave Mr. Cross?" She asks with what I can guess a hint of frustration. I quickly turn around and address her, my arms to my side.
"Sorry for that my Heiress." Great job Devin, already getting yelled at, and you haven't even been here for a day.
"For starters, NEVER walk away from me when I'm talking. On a lighter note, please just call me Weiss, the whole heiress thing becomes quite boring after a while." She motions for me to leave.
"Sure thing my Heir-. I mean sure thing Weiss." I walk out of the door embarrassed for what I had just said and drive my palm of my hand into my forehead. Good grief Devin. Listen, listen god dammit.
Another butler, or was she technically a maid? Guides me to the quarters for security and staff beneath the home. I was surprised to find the living area almost as nice as that above us. Wow, they treat us well down here. "Your room is right here, room number 636." The maid or butler tells me and walks away.
I reach for the round, polished door knob and open the door. "So you are Caleb's replacement" A voice says as I walk into the room.
Looking to the left, I catch a glance of a member of Weiss's security detail, his snow white armor gave it away. Guess he is my roommate.
"Who was Caleb?" I ask as a black haired young man, probably in his late 20's, jumps off of his bed in front of me.
"Just another mercenary, didn't ever wear a helmet when we told him to. He surely paid for that mistake." He said as he began to look at me up and down, probably trying to size me up to see if I would give him any trouble.
"What do you mean by "paid for that"?" I ask, curious about what happened to this Caleb guy.
"Some sketchy guy from the White Fang cut his head off with, honestly, a pretty bad ass looking sword. The helmet in reality probably wouldn't have helped." The guy shrugs as he finishes explaining this to me. "So you are our F.N.G.?"
"Pardon me?" I ask, wondering what it stood for.
"Our Fucking New Guy, have you never heard that before? Do you live beneath a rock? You went to a military academy right? Learn the slangs you dumbass!" He begins to raise his voice as it drums on with other obscenities.
"I'm sorry, I attended a military academy, and yes I am the new guy." I look down, for the third time embarrassed, as he began to laugh.
"Chill out, I'm just messing with you. We all mess with the new guys for a little bit. Names Bryan, Bryan Crowe. Now what's yours?" He asks extending his hand towards mine.
"Devin Cross." I take him up on the handshake as we both begin to laugh.
"Cool name kid. How old are you? Looks like you barely started shaving." He strokes his well-kept beard as he says this.
"18, fresh out of Vale military academy." I say with pride.
"Wow you must be pretty good for the Schnee Dust Company (SDC) to want to hire you." He says, obviously a little surprised by my age.
"Let's just say I am not bad at what I do." Bryan walks over to his bed and relaxes on it, letting out a sigh.
"You will probably need to be better than "not bad" if you want to survive and make a livin' off this job. Turns out a bunch of people want that girl up stairs dead. Now get some sleep, we have our first contract tomorrow. Apparently the "beautiful, smart and gifted" Heiress wants to go shopping tomorrow. You and I, along with two other guys from next door, are going to watch over her while she does whatever teenagers do at stores." He closes his eyes and motions for me to turn out the lights and go to bed.
Which I do, glad to finally be attempting to settle in. What a first day, hope I'm good enough to keep this job, the SDC pays really well.
*In Retrospective
At first the money was all I cared about, yet over time I grew close to the guys I worked with and it really turned into keeping not just the heiress safe, but also in turn keeping my brothers safe. And that is what I was: a protector, a guardian for the heiress to the Schnee Dust Corporation.
It wouldn't take long for me to get my nickname; however, far before I began to care for those around me. And when I got it, The Spirit was born.
Hope you all like the prologue. This story will be updated every couple of days (Weekly at the latest), some chapter will be long, others will be short. But the content and context for which it was written for will always be the same, in other words I will attempt to give you all a complete, fulfilling chapter with each update.
This fanfic however will not take priority over my other V2 Canon Fanfic, this will be a much smaller project than the latter. Can't wait to show you all that story and the adventures of Devin Cross. And always huge shoutout to GeekySarcasm, she will now have been my editor for two fanfics, and hopefully the another, being the V2 Canon Fanfic