Stiofan Ua Binn
-----
After taking the dropship to an outpost in the frigid landscapes of Solitas, Stiofan made himself comfortable at the temporary campground.
The military built these bunkers many years ago, but for reasons unknown, they were abandoned and left to waste in the snow all over the continent. Not only did these outposts double as well insulated shelters, they also provided great vantage points of the surrounding area, perfect for a hunter such as himself.
As soon as Stiofan hung his coat on the wall, the chilly fingers of the tundra sewed the frost into his skin and weaved his breath full of icy threads.
"Whew!" Viola entered with a fervour out of place in the frozen desert. "It's been too long."
"Too long, indeed." Stiofan chuckled and nestled dry sticks into the furnace. "Being captain doesn't offer vacation days, I suppose."
"They do, actually." She draped her coat on a dusty, old chair. "I just never had any reason to cash them in until now."
"That's very kind of you." He used fire Dust to ignite the wood. "A waste but a generous waste."
"You mean like when I took you in as my apprentice?"
Viola took much satisfaction in Stiofan's silence.
Moving closer to the furnace and putting their hands outs, the heat from the soothing flames thawed their icicles for bones.
"Get as warm as you can now, Stiofan." Viola rubbed her hands and breathed into them. "Because once we leave here, our Aura won't."
It may seem foolish, but in such dangerous conditions, Aura had to be shut off and saved for emergency situations. There are other alternatives to handle the terrible climate. The same could not be said when being ambushed by Grimm or a wild animal.
Viola waved at her shadow, expelling several bags and a cooler out onto the floor, and set a frying pan on the furnace to cook up bacon and eggs along with some slices of toast.
"Let's get cozy for now." She leaned against the bunk beds. "We won't be going anywhere until the afternoon."
"It would be ideal to go when it's warmest." Stiofan arranged the plates and mugs on the small dining table. "When the game is most active."
"An elk and a few hares." Anticipation bounced about in her eyes. "We're on the hunt again. This is going to be fun, Stio."
Indeed, it would.
"Here." She passed the kettle. "Get some snow for the tea."
Stiofan did as told, but before that, an important task needed to be tested first.
Taking his duffel bag out to the landing pad, cleared of snow by the hot and powerful turbines of their dropship, he slowly zipped it open and withdrew his weapons.
Red Fury and Yellow Fury.
They were currently in their sword forms, still attractive and pristine even though they were left to suffer in the bitter cold for far too long. The hilts were familiar to his grasp, moulded exactly to the shape of his fingers, and they were weightless, no different from putting pen to paper.
How strange.
Not too long ago, the simple notion of just touching them was impossible. He had no reason to nor did he have any interest in doing so either.
Now, however, all he wanted to do was spend time with his old friends.
A flare of Aura activated the Dust crystals fixed to the swords, coating the blades in their respective elements.
The lightning from Yellow Fury raised the hair on his arms, zapping an exciting notion into his nerves, and the fires of Red Fury blasted heat in his face like putting food inside a hot oven, thawing the ice holding him back.
Stiofan gave them a swing, simple and easy yet unbelievably exhilarating.
With growing glee pulling his smile ear to ear, he had his fill of slicing the wind, swords crackling and roaring all around him, and he seamlessly transformed them to spears, spinning, slashing, and thrusting as if he hadn't missed a day.
The delight chirping from his core warmed him better than the furnace.
Graceful yet deadly. . . To think he forgot such a sweet treat.
Viola applauded from the outpost entrance, where she stood prouder than ever. It snapped him from his gluttony eating the morning away, and he was insatiable.
"About time, Stio," she said and tapped her wrist. "Remember to pray before we go."
Sionnach, the goddess of winter and prosperity.
If not for her protection and guidance, living off the land would've been lost to Stiofan and Viola, and they would've fallen victim to starvation long ago or worse: the cold.
Stiofan made sure to pray extra well today.
-----
The hunt was on.
They hiked the winding trail of crunching snow deeper in the tall woods painted white.
It wasn't as cold compared to earlier this morning now that the sun's out, yet the rise in temperature was only slight. Their thick clothing and gear should provide ample heat, enough to last them until the sun set, but it shouldn't be relied upon entirely, especially since nature's mercy could only extend for so long.
Fetters fashioned from the arctic powder snagged their feet, the slick ice slipped their stride, and the tangled web of long twigs and foliage did nothing to help lessen their plight.
However, Stiofan failed to find it in him to dislike such a hindrance.
Shifting white sands whispered a ghostly hymn in tune to the wind. The tundra sang. Hauntingly beautiful yet a gentle omen for any weary traveller to refrain from listening for too long.
Hopping on a large outcropping, Stiofan surveyed the lands.
"There." He pointed ahead. "That place over there appears to have less snow; I can see grass."
They went to examine the area.
Viola yawned and leaned against a tree. "See anything?"
The grass here was uneven and roughly shaved down while the longer blades of grass were bent by the fleeting steps of an animal.
"There are signs of grazing here." He kept close to the ground and spotted a pile of tiny, black orbs. "And these are hare droppings."
"Good eye," Viola said with a laugh.
Stiofan chuckled and kicked aside some snow to clear a spot for the traps.
Using her Semblance, she expelled flattened cages and popped them open.
As they set their traps and the bait, Stiofan came across a scarred tree covered in tufts of fur on the bark, and the shape of the fresh hoof marks in the snow told him the entire story.
"We found our elk." Stiofan searched for tracks. "If we're lucky, I'm sure we can catch it before sundown."
The thrill of catching it boosted Viola faster than a sled.
Their trek continued deeper into the more remote and rougher parts of the woods, demanding more muscle and sweat than usual. However, the rising aches and risk of freezing their lungs after every laboured breath was worth it.
After a short hour, they reached the heavy set brown elk in an open glade, drinking from a fast flowing creek that had yet to freeze over.
Stiofan and Viola laid flat on their bellies and kept the elk in their sights from behind a tall hill.
"That's the one alright," Viola said in a low voice. "So, will you do it or should I let Fianna do the honours?"
"Go ahead." Stiofan motioned to take the shot. "It's all yours."
Viola pushed up to her knees, rearing the spear back like an arrow on a bow.
As if there was an imaginary light indicating where she aimed to hit, the bullseye was impossible to miss.
Behind and slightly below the front shoulder of the elk were the heart and lungs. A perfect shot would take it down instantly, and since Viola was going for the kill, the firepower stored in her arm could be mistaken for a cannon.
The elk had no chance.
"Stio," her soft eyes never left the target, "say the words."
Here came the hardest part, and it never got easier.
"You have our eternal gratitude," Stiofan said in a sincere whisper to the elk. "Rest and find peace."
Calming down and steadying her spear, Viola honed her aim, and after a slow exhale, she launched the spear.
The strike was powerful, clean, and precise. All traces of life left the elk by the time they reached the creek, a good sign to know it suffered very little in its final moments.
Viola inspected the elk, nodding in satisfaction at its condition, and deposited the bounty into her shadow.
"Alright." Viola clapped her hands clean and released a tiresome breath. "Time to head back. We'll leave the traps for tomorrow and then take it all back home."
No argument here.
A shriek set off Stiofan's alarms, and Viola raised her spear at the ready.
Further ahead, at the top of a hill, a Grimm that made the elk appear like an infant trampled towards them, rushing head first with those gargantuan pair of tusks.
A Boarbatusk.
The hammering of Stiofan's heart against his sternum thundered throughout his entire body. It was hard to breathe. Sweat drenched his face. His muscles grew weak and stiff, and he slipped off the snow, legs more frozen than the ice all around them.
His right eye burned, and the scars on his abdomen ached.
Scrambling over, desperation and worry etched on Viola's face, she shook Stiofan, shouting something that his ears couldn't catch, and then dragged him out of the way.
Viola went on to battle the Grimm, ducking and shooting behind trees, only to run away after the Boarbatusk uprooted her cover.
The thick snow was a ball and chain for Viola. She could barely evade the boar's sweeping tusks, let alone maneuver around to strike its unarmored flanks.
Stiofan choked on the gravel grinding his throat.
Viola spears tangled with the tusks. The boar twisted to rip away the spear. It bashed her hard and sent her rocketing into a tree, rebounding into a deep pocket of snow swallowing her whole.
The Boarbatusk shook its head several times to dislodge Fianna from its tusks and stared down Stiofan.
One of the first lessons Viola ever taught him rang in his head.
Victory falls to those who control the battlefield.
'Do what you must to take control,' Stiofan thought. He forced his body to obey through gritted teeth and fists balled tight. 'Protect everyone you hold dear. Keep them safe. This is your duty.'
The world went quiet.
Still was the wind, and the bitter bite of the cold vanished. The clarity of the newfound objective cleared the clutter packing his mind clean in a single sweep. A newfound strength reinforced his resolve and lightened the burden on body. Ironic considering how the molten steel coursing through his veins fueled him now, that and the glass of wine he sipped with every breath, refreshing—addicting.
Drawing his Red Fury and Yellow Fury from his back, Stiofan understood what he was born to do.
Like a magnet, the Boarbatusk charged. He threw himself out the way, letting it stumble deep into the creek, and readied his spears.
The water served him a valuable idea.
Electricity crackled at the tip of Yellow Fury. He discharged a stream of lightning into the creek, shocking the boar to become a twitching statue, yet it still managed to find the strength to resist.
The Boarbatusk staggered back towards Stiofan.
Clearly, the lightning wasn't enough. Fire wouldn't work since its fur was soaked all over. He needed to strike the underbelly directly, but it was hidden beneath the water. Throwing his spear without a clean shot would be a waste and getting into the freezing water was out of the question.
Stiofan's breath caught at a ludicrous idea that would make Roderick proud.
Ending the lightning, Stiofan stabbed the short spear into the edge of the creek, stepped back, and firmly grasped Red Fury in his hands.
Stiofan surged forward and launched off the butt end of Yellow Fury.
Like a missile, he flew through the air and used all his might to slam into the beast. It fell onto its side. The vulnerable underbelly was exposed, and he was literally right on top of it.
The thrust Stiofan gave was the best he's ever done.
Red Fury punched through the Boarbatusk easier than poking a hole into a bank of snow.
All the boar could do was erupt in a guttural, ear shaking shrill and go limp, rendering it a carcass of black smoke dead in the water. Stiofan watched his kill for several more seconds to make sure it was actually dead before leaping back to dry land.
The adrenaline soon faded, a rational embrace returned to him, but he was not done yet.
"Nice work, Stio." Viola approached while brushing the snow from her clothes. "Glad to see you back in the fight."
Stiofan faced the direction where the kingdom should've been. "I have a request."
"A request?" She raised an eyebrow. "This better be good."
He touched his eyepatch.
"When we return, I'd appreciate it if you could pass my gratitude and apologies to Pietro," he said. "I don't believe I will be requiring the prosthesis anymore."
Viola's mouth fell agape, eyes shooting wide open.
"That's a really big deal." She scoffed and put her hands on her hips. "Are you certain about this?"
"Very much so." A weight lifted from his chest. "I can see just fine."
What was it she said again?
Ah, yes.
"And a certain someone offered to train me on how to 'feel the world,' " he said. "I hope the offer still stands."
The understanding flashed across her face, and she beamed.
"You better be ready, then." She brandished a fist. "I'm not going easy on you like before."
Stiofan prepared himself for the torture and gladly marched towards it. "I expect no less."
"Alright, then." She stretched out her body. "Guess we should head back now that we're pretty much done here."
"Actually," he held up a finger at the remembrance of a very important task they still had to do, "there's one more thing we need to catch."
Viola tilted her head and hummed.
-----
Weiss Schnee
-----
Sitting by her window, Weiss sighed at the distant city of Atlas painting the glass, and she convinced herself many times over not to smash her head into it.
She was utterly bored out of her mind.
All she did, other than train and wait for her next meal to be delivered, was sit around, watching the window or reading the letter for days on end until she went insane.
Father could've at least left her scroll behind before locking the door and throwing away the key.
Not getting a monitor installed in her room was a painful oversight.
Ugh.
What was she supposed to do?
A knock on the door nearly jolted her out of the chair.
That's strange. She finished eating dinner. The servants shouldn't be disturbing her for any reason other than that.
"Who's there?" Weiss said.
"Captain MacCool, milady." Her commanding voice reverberated throughout the room. "I have come to deliver another gift for you."
Weiss jumped. "Come in!"
Another letter from Stiofan? How wonderful, fantastic, magnificent, and amazingly delightful. What glorious news did he wish to bring her today?
Oh, she couldn't wait to get her hands on that letter.
The door opened, and Weiss flew across the room.
"Captain, what did you bring me this time—"
Weiss slammed her brakes and skidded to a stop in front of Stiofan standing at the threshold.
The life in her flew away.
A vacuum emptied the bedroom of air. Sound vanished, save for the intense drum pounding inside her chest and the door creaking closed behind him.
That single teal eye was soft and bright like a lonely boy who dearly missed his friend.
Weiss would've melted right then and there if it wasn't for the eyepatch. News of what happened to Stiofan reached her long ago, but there was a big difference between hearing about it and seeing it in person.
It was so much worse.
Stiofan noticed her lingering gaze and turned his head slightly; Weiss wanted to punch herself for being inconsiderate.
They continued standing and looking at each other in silence.
A million opening lines raced through her mind, yet she couldn't decide on what to say without fumbling her words into a jumbled mess until she just blurted it right out.
"H-hey," she said. "It's been a while."
Somebody kill her.
A long second passed.
"Ditto," he said with an awkward grin.
If she could, Weiss would've thrown herself out the window.
"Apologies for appearing unannounced." He cleared his throat. "I asked Viola to bring me here last minute."
"N-no, it's fine." She quickly fixed her appearance and improved her posture, both hands folded over her stomach. "It's a lovely surprise, actually, so I don't really mind."
"Then," he bowed his head and pressed his palm against his chest, "I'll be in your care for this fine evening."
Weiss giggled and shook her head.
Same old Stiofan.
"Come." She went to her window and pulled up another chair. "Join me."
They showered in the moonlight rain, the revealing streaks of silvery-white enhanced the delicate features gracing Stiofan's face, and Weiss did her best to avoid staring for too long.
"So," she wrung this rare form of entertainment for everything it was worth, "what brings you here today?"
"Is it that suspicious of me to visit my favourite Schnee?"
Weiss appreciated the flattery, but that wasn't going to work this time.
"Tell me something I don't know, mister." She scoffed. "We have all night to catch up."
Sighing, he raised his hands in surrender.
"You caught me red handed." Stiofan chuckled. "As a matter of fact, I did not come here just to visit. There's something very important I must ask of you, Weiss."
A bullet pierced her ears.
"What'd you call me?" Weiss said.
Stiofan wrinkled his brow. "I didn't call you anything, Weiss."
"There it is. You said it again." She grabbed a fistful of his sweater. "How dare you call me that?!"
Terror and bewilderment ravaged his teal eye.
"Weiss," he tried to stand but she pushed him back down, "what did I say?"
Weiss fumed and got right in his face.
"Lady."
"Pardon me?"
"Call me 'Lady,' you dolt." She glared and huffed. "I don't want to hear otherwise, okay?"
His face slacked.
Who could've imagined, after all that time spent trying to make him stop, she would end up demanding him to keep using the title once he finally did?
Being addressed by Stiofan in any other way was gross, and she hate, hate, hated it. No matter what happens between now and whenever, she will always be his Lady.
Stiofan slowly rose while holding Weiss close. "What an odd request."
Brushing away strands of her hair, he held her cheek.
Weiss shuddered.
"That is very unlike you." Stiofan served his most mischievous smile. "What happened? I thought you disliked the formality."
The soft hold he had on her may as well be a leash keeping her from running off in shame.
"I don't work for you anymore." His thumb caressed the scar in the corner of her left eye. "That means I'm no longer obligated to call you that."
Ah!
Why does this feel so amazing?!
"I don't care." Her knees trembled, so she clung to him. "Stiofan, I missed you so much."
They were so close that his minty fresh breath cooled her sweltering skin. He lifted her hand, a chivalrous gesture of devotion to their unshakeable bond, and brushed his pillowy lips across her knuckles.
"I missed you, too," he placed a tender kiss on her fingers, "my lady."
A loose tear fell free, running all the way to her quivering chin.
Never could she have ever hoped to find a man, beyond her wildest imaginations, to bring her so much happiness.
"Viola told me how miserable you've been ever since your return home." Stiofan kept a hold on her hand and moved away slightly. "And now, it only seems as though it's become unbearable."
Weiss cranked her mental gears overtime to figure him out.
"How would you feel if I told you I can change all that?"
Weiss' breath caught.
"It's the reason why I came here tonight." He flourished a smile brighter than any shooting star. "Just say the word, and I will take you away, to anyplace you can dream of."
Did he really mean it?
Long before he even arrived, she already made her choice and nothing on Remnant could change that decision.
What she wanted was more than anything the SDC could buy.
"You're saying such wonderful things that I can't take it anymore. My heart's pounding so hard right now, it's definitely going to explode. So, please." Weiss dove into his arms and hugged him so tight he could never leave her again. "Get me out of here. Make me feel this way forever!"
The entire SDC would turn over every piece of furniture in the manor to find Weiss, and the only regret she had would be missing the enraged look on Father's face once he found out in the morning.
Stiofan stroked her back. "As you wish, milady."
Gliding to the door with the grace of a king escorting his queen to their thrones, every step made was a waltz full of passion and mirth, and Viola, who waited this entire time, used her Semblance to hide them in her shadow and aided in a flawless escape.
Whatever happened next, Weiss would gladly take it head on, because no matter what anybody had to say, Stiofan was her family and family was where her home would always be.