Chapter 77

(A/N: sorry for the long break. Work's been keeping me busy asf. And I've been trying to think of some inspiration. Anyway, I'm back, again. Hope you all enjoy)

Liam

A week has gone by since Atlas, and Liam's injuries, thanks to his aura, have all been healed. However, scars still remained.

Staring at himself in the mirror of the room he was currently staying in, Liam looked his Silver eye over. It was fine, no permanent damage or anything like that.

"Mm. Up already?" Came Weiss' groggy voice as she sat up.

"Sorry." Liam apologized as he grabbed his red shirt and pulled it on. "Didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't." Weiss assured him.

The pair fell silent as Liam shifted his gaze to the floor.

"Couldn't sleep?"

Liam shook his head.

"Same dream?"

He nodded in reply.

"I can't stop thinking about it." Liam said softly as he leaned against the dresser. "I should've saved them. I tried to save them. I just... I wasn't good enough."

"You can't think like that." Weiss said as she got out of bed to approach Liam. "I'm sure you did everything you could."

Liam shook his head as he shrugged.

"It wasn't enough." He pursed his lips.

"Hey." Weiss placed her left hand on his cheek. "Their deaths are not. On. You." She stared into his eyes.

Liam gently removed Wiess' hand from his cheek.

"I wish I could believe that."

Weiss' eyes softened as Liam looked away.

"Breakfast!" Maya shouted from downstairs.

Weiss continued to stare at Liam. After a brief moment, Liam approached the doorway. Pausing, he glanced back at Weiss.

He was going to say something else to her but stopped himself. Instead, he just began heading downstairs. Left alone, Weiss' heart ached in her chest.

Reaching the bottom of the steps, Maya gave Liam a smile, but he ignored it as he headed outside.

Marek

Outside the city, Marek, Winter, Emerald and Mist fought the Grimm that tried to get inside the walls.

Defeating yet another wave, Marek absorbed the dust from the creatures.

"Another one down." Emerald said while wiping her brow. "Anyone else find this easy?"

"They are just Grimm." Marek told her. "Not like they've ever really posed that much of a threat to us before. Well, at least the groups this size."

"I'm with Em." Mist spoke up. "I'd prefer-"

"Quiet down and focus." Winter ordered.

"Sorry." Mist apologized.

Winter suddenly stopped and turned to face Mist, glaring daggers at her.

"Let me make something clear, Mist." Winter stepped toward Mist, her weapon held by her waist. "We are not friends. Your people have killed countless civilians and Huntsmen. Including my brother." Winter got in Mist's face, anger in her eyes. "The only reason I don't kill you is because you might hold some use if Salem tries to destroy another Kingdom. You are not an ally. You're just a means to an end."

Mist lowered her head as her wings folded behind her back.

"That seems a little uncalled for, Winter." Marek stepped up. "You're giving both Emerald and I a chance."

Winter glanced back at Marek.

"You've both earned it." Winter pointed the tip of her weapon at Mist. "She has not."

"Still-"

"She's right." Mist said softly. "I've done unforgivable things I may never make up for. Everyone of you have a reason to despise me."

Winter scoffed before moving along.

An hour later

Having ventured further out into the desert, the four of them came across an abandoned mine. Activating the flashlights on their scrolls, they each scanned the entrance.

"Are we going inside?" Emerald asked.

Winter was silent as she took a moment to think it over.

"Marek, you and Emerald will head inside to make sure this isn't a Grimm nest." Winter ordered. "Mist and myself will keep guard out here to make sure you two won't get ambushed."

Marek nodded before turning to Emerald.

"C'mon."

Cautiously entering the mine, Emerald and Marek kept scanning the darkness as they ventured deeper within. Soon enough, the entrance disappeared in a wave of black behind them.

The silence of the mine was unbearable. The only sounds were the echoes of their footsteps.

"Do you think Jaune, Chrome and the others are really gone?" Emerald asked, breaking the silence.

Marek took a slow breath.

"Of course they are." Marek stated.

His face corted with anger as the two walked.

"Maybe-"

Emerald suddenly fell, hitting the ground and knocking up dust.

"Em?" Marek stopped and shined his light on her.

"Sorry." Emerald apologized as she got to her feet. "Tripped."

Moving his light over her feet, Marek's eyebrows raised as he saw what she had tripped over.

"What the..?" He said softly as he knelt down.

"What is it?" Emerald asked as she moved over to get a look.

Raising up a brick of C4, Emerald was just as curious as Marek.

"The hell is C4 doing in some random ass mine?"

"No idea." Emerald replied. "But, I can tell you this, it's gonna come in handy." Picking up the crate, Emerald looked to Marek. "Let's get outta here. It seems this is the only thing of note in this mine."

Some time later

Inside the Redwood residence, everyone, including Mist and Maya, gathered around the table to see what Winter's team brought.

"C4?" Weiss said softly as she inspected a brick. "Made in Atlas."

"If it's made in Atlas, then they'll be pretty explosive, yeah?" Liam asked.

"That's an understatement." Maya said as she picked up one of the bricks. "I've seen first hand what these things can do. Here in Vacuo, they fetch a mighty nice price. Most things from Atlas do."

Liam fell silent as he stared at the C4.

"Do they come with a detonator?" Liam asked.

"Got it right here." Winter held it up.

"Hm." Liam continued to think.

Noticing his silence, Weiss gently placed a hand on his arm.

"What're you thinkin'?"

Liam didn't answer, still lost in his thoughts.

"Liam?"

Snapping out of it, he looked to Weiss.

"Sorry. Sorry. What's up?"

"What's-"

"I think that's enough for one night." Winter said as she grabbed the crate. "I'm going to put these somewhere safe."

As Winter left with the crate, everyone else, except for Liam and Weiss, took their leave as well.

Staring at the table, Liam couldn't help but let himself fall deep into his own thoughts.

"Liam?"

"Yeah?" Liam turned his attention to Weiss.

"Seriously, what's on your mind?" She asked.

"Nothing." Liam said as he turned around. "Just... thinking."

"Uh-huh..." Weiss watched as Liam left.

"Don't worry." Liam glanced at her one more time before heading back to their shared room. "If I plan on doing something reckless, I'll let you know."

With that, Liam left the room.

End of chapter 77