Team WRPP (The Elites Volume One) - #RWBYverseAwards

In Memoriam

Weiss couldn't sleep. She had no idea why, but it just evaded her for no reason. Maybe it was because she had a lot on her mind recently. Maybe it was because she was still getting used to the beds at Beacon, being used to the more pampered lifestyle she had in Atlas, at home. Or maybe it was because Yang's incessant snoring would just keep getting louder the later it got into the night. Regardless, she had had enough and got out of bed, quickly changing and exiting the dormroom.

She decided some fresh air wouldn't be too bad for her. Leaving the main building, she began to stroll around the inky blackness of the courtyard, the only thing keeping the dark at bay being the lights from the small lamps that littered the walkway.

It felt like at least an hour until she noticed someone else in the courtyard. But they seemed to have a bit of a more... predetermined destination, for the figure made a direct beeline for the exit to the school, clearly trying to stay as incognito as possible.

Weiss watched the person leave, disappearing behind the walls of the school's entrance. Disobeying her better judgement, she followed curiously, wondering who the person was and what they were doing out so late.

Down dead alleyways and side streets she followed the silhouette of the person, being sure to keep her distance and be as quiet as possible, keeping one hand poised on Myrtenaster just in case she encountered some sort of problem.

They twisted and turned through the darkness of the very early morning, Weiss having followed the person for at least another forty-five minutes. She was getting tired at this point, and was considering just giving up and going back to Beacon. That was when the figure crouched down just outside an old, run down factory. It used to be an old Dust Refinery, she remembered. Her father ran many of the operations personally. Then, after a riot about some sort of Faunus rights movement, he just shut the whole operation down. No warning, nothing. The place had been in disrepair ever since.

The figure, clad in a long black overcoat, removed the hood covering the back of his head and shook out his spiky, unkempt combination of white and black hair. Weiss raised an eyebrow, wondering what Wraith was doing there. It's not like he had any real connection to the place or anything. In fact, he often expressed his deep hatred for any large corporation; not directly implicating the Schnee Dust Company, but basicalyl anyone with a lot of money obtained through business ventures.

She crouched down a short ways away from him, peeking out from behind a building, hugging it as if it would shield her from sight. She was just close enough to the boy to hear what he was saying, but not close enough so that she would be noticed if she made any noise.

Wraith sighed and reached into his jacket, taking out... some flowers. Weiss tilted her head at that, not really understanding. He then began mumbling to himself, and she strained to make it out.

"Hey Mom. Hi Dad. Sorry I haven't been able to come for the past little while. I've been... a little caught up, I guess." He chuckled quietly.

"Hell, life's been... interesting for the past couple of months. I'm actually doing something with my life now. Rather than... whatever the hell it was I was doing before. But still. It's better. You'd be happy to know I'm back in school. Sure, it's not exactly the sort of stuff you guys would have wanted, but it's something, isn't it?"

He then placed his hand on the ground and lightly brushed some leaves and garbage off of the spot he was looking at.

"Sorry it was so short, but I should get going. I have some places to be. I'll stop by more often now. Promise." His voice got quiet and he started sniffling a bit as he got up to leave, setting the flowers down on the ground before hesitantly walking away.

Once Weiss was sure he had left, she got up and strode quietly towards the spot he had been crouching next to. She looked down at the flowers; a beautiful bouquet of roses, orchids and tulips, the different colors melding together almost seemlessly into a breathtaking display. Weiss leaned down for a better look and noticed a small stain on the ground, like rust. She gently moved aside the flowers to uncover what looked like a bloodstain. It looked... almost like something she had seen before. Like a spider, six legs splayed out in different directions. It looked like an odd painting of a shuriken or some other weapon.

And then it hit her. The tattoo on his chest. It was the same. A rough recreation, but there was no doubt that this is what it was supposed to represent.

Weiss frowned, immediately feeling sorry for Wraith. Despite all his shortcomings and his... odd disposition, he was broken. She didn't know how long he had been like this, but she could tell he had been grieving for a long time.

Weiss got up, feeling like she was defiling something that the other boy held dear, and began to stroll away.

As she walked the streets heading back to Beacon, she was barely paying attention, lost in her own thoughts from what she had heard earlier. The only thing that jarred her back to the present was when a hand shot out from behind the next building and pulled her aside. She yelped quietly before being pushed against the brick wall of the building.

Wraith pressed her roughly against the wall and put a finger to her lips, his eyes staring into hers, the blood-red irises glowing like embers in the night.

"We're being followed. Stay quiet and keep close to me. Nod twice if you get it." He said gruffly.

She did as she was told and Wraith slowly slid his finger from her lips. She rubbed the spot as if in a dream, the reached for Myrtenaster on instinct.

Wraith grabbed her hand and looked at her again, not angry, but concerned. He shook his head and motioned for them to leave the alleyway opposite the direction they had come. She nodded, and allowed herself to be pulled along down the narrow path.

Wraith led her along side streets and occasionally just dragged her along the darkened sidewalks, until they arrived back at Beacon, not having seen anyone or encountered any resistance.

Wraith let go of her hand and took one last look around before turning to her. Again, he didn't seem angry.

"Why were you following me?" He asked quietly.

Weiss opened her mouth to respond, but found herself lacking any explanation.

"I'm sorry." She mustered.

Wraith was quiet for a few minutes, then looked at the ground like a scolded child. "Just... just don't tell anyone alright? I didn't ask for sympathy, and I don't want people to walk on eggshells around me. This stays between you and me."

Weiss nodded quickly, and, satsified, Wraith grunted and turned away, heading back into the building just as the sun began to peek over the rooftops.

Weiss smiled softly to herself as she headed back inside.

"Your secret's safe with me."

A/N: Yeah. I'm trying to get to a specific point here so that I don't exactly have to deal with this writer's block anymore. it would be nice to actually get to what I've been planning since the beginning.

But hey, I don't wanna rush it.

Anywho, thanks for sticking with me through all these random ass filler chapters.

Remember to leave me a comment on how it is. Always like your feedback.

Until next time folks!

Peace!