"Alright, alright, ladies and gentlemen. Please give it up for the maid of honor, Yang Xiao Long!"

Applause erupted through the reception as I stood. I looked upon the tables of guests that were spread around the ballroom, each one looking at me expectantly, waiting for my big speech. I turned to look at the head of the table I was sat at, admiring the two gorgeous woman there.

My sister was sparkling in her wedding gown. Lace straps connected to the white dress she was wearing, covering her neck. The dress itself was lightly hugging her form as it extended out at her hip ever so slightly to make it a more rounded base. Roses and snowflakes patterned the dress, with small strips of red fabric that circled from her sides around it, creating a spiral look. Small fire dust crystals were woven into the texture to make it sparkle as bright as her crimson tipped hair. She always kept it short, but it allowed everyone to view the bright red earrings she had, causing her entire being to appear on fire. She sat patiently, yet looked excited for my toast as sat next to her bride.

Weiss was as dazzling and breathtaking as the first time I saw her, her brilliance outshining all but her partner next to her. Her pure white dress accentuated her hair, done up into a complex bun, a small tiara sitting on her head. Two straps wrapped around her shoulders to hold the dress up, lace covering her slender arms perfectly, ending at her wrists. Small snowflakes and roses decorated the lace design. The dress itself clung to Weiss' body, showing every curve she had to offer. Right at her hips, the dress extended out widely, the base widening to the length of her arms. Small strips of blue fabric encircled her dress, similar to my sister's, with small ice dust crystals woven in to accentuate the design. I sighed as I tried not to get lost in her eyes again; each time it was getting harder and harder.

"A toast to the lovely brides," I said, raising my glass of wine to the ballroom before me. They had all gathered here to witness the joining of these two in marriage, and I couldn't be happier. Yet no matter how happy I was for my sister, I couldn't help but wish I could be where she was now. Weiss Schnee, who I found to be the love of my life, was now officially married to Ruby. And I had only myself to blame.

"Love is a beautiful and powerful emotion, one that causes people to do some crazy things for the one they've fallen for. This powerful emotion, however, is something that is wide reaching. It doesn't discriminate against those with love in their hearts, or those without." My thoughts carried me to my mother, and the 'sacrifice' she had to make.

"But no matter who it happens to, or how we fall, love is something that can grow to be something beautiful. We laugh, and we cry. We break down, and we make some mistakes, but I know that there's a reason that you two are still by each other's sides," I say, facing the newlyweds again, "and I know that you can last through life. I wish you the best, from your sister, who will always be by your side. To your union, and the hope that you provide. May you always be satisfied."

I noticed Weiss' cheeks pull into a slight frown before covering it up with a smile again. It was the same as that night, what seems like so long ago.

I remember that night, though I just might regret what happened for the rest of my life.

It was a night not many could forget, the ball, thrown by the Schnee Dust Company, was the talk of Vale. I remember in the massive expanse of the ballroom several other boys tripping over themselves to win my praise. And the dust light that was cast through the room was mesmerizing, illuminating everything in a dream-like veil.

But Weiss, I never forgot the first time I saw your face. I was never the same. You had intelligent eyes and a wire-thin frame. And when I saw you through the crowds, your radiance outshining everything, my heart skipped a beat, then grew steadily faster.

I was laughing with my sister while we were dazzling the ballroom. She had on an adorable red dress. It had a black choker extending into a black mesh which connected with the fabric. Black lacing in the front kept the dress tight with a large black ribbon around her stomach with a perfectly tied bow off to the side.

My dress was simple and white with lace dangling off the straps to cover my shoulders. The corset stayed tight to my body, but kept enough cleavage showing to impress anyone looking. I shone brilliantly while I wore it, the outfit accentuating my golden hair. I knew I drew the attention of the room. I had always been the type to grab the spotlight, whether I wanted to or not. Either way, I knew how to take advantage of it.

That is, until I tried to use it on you.

The orchestra was playing beautifully, perfectly in time and with the right amount of diversity. Everyone was dancing, the ballroom was lively, and my sister grabbed my arm. I leaned over to hear what she wanted to whisper to me, but I lost focus once she pointed you out across the crowds.

I saw you and you were smiling, your white dress matching your complexion and hair; a pristine snowflake, a dazzling display of beauty. I then noticed your sister right behind you. She was tall and elegant, a stiff stance, but had a welcoming face. Her light blue dress matched her eyes perfectly.

My old friend Blake walked over to us then, though my attention was so completely locked on Weiss that I hardly realized she was next to me until she called out my name.

"Yang? Are you listening?" Blake looked at me with worry on her face.

I lightly shook my head as I recomposed myself. "Oh, sorry, I am now. What did you say?"

Blake drooped her head and sighed, "Well, Yang, I was asking if you'd seen the Schnee sisters yet, but since you can't take your eyes off them, I assume my question has already been answered."

Ruby next to me tried her best to stifle her giggling, though it only looked like she was trying not to cough up a lung. I gave her a quick glare before turning back to Blake. "Yeah, I saw them alright."

"You know, if you can't keep your eyes off of them, you might as well go try to talk to them. Who knows, they might satisfy you finally, though that may never happen." Blake gave a quick wink at me.

"Hey, I might as well, right? Who knows, I might be able to marry one." I looked back at the two sisters as they made their way around the ballroom to greet all who were in attendance.

"Ha," Blake scoffed, "if you can marry a Schnee sister, you'll be rich, Yang."

"Is it a question of if, Blake, or which one?"

"Sorry, but I am not getting involved with this one. I'll be over by the drinks when this all goes south, Yang." Blake said, making her way through the crowds.

"Yang, are you really going to try and marry one of them?" Ruby asked me, worry overtaking her features as her attention bounces between me and the other sister pair.

"That's the plan, Rubes," I say. "Wait here, and if I'm not back in ten minutes, go find Blake and make sure she takes you home safe. I'll either be in jail or have a date. Love you, sis."

And with a pat on her head, I made my way over to the pristine beauty and shining radiance of Weiss Schnee. I cautiously wove my way through the crowd, careful not to bring attention to myself, though she saw my blonde hair over the crowd from across the room.

As I walked up to her, she conveniently finished the conversation she was engaged in and turned to me, stopping me in my tracks.

"Hello." I had never heard anything as soft or sweet come from anyone's voice in my life. I was dazed, struck by the unbelievable beauty of it. It sounded so pure and radiant, like nothing I had ever heard before.

So awe struck, in fact, that I forgot to reply for a moment. Weiss gave me a quizzical look before I realized what had happened and spoke. "H-hey," I stuttered.

Luckily, she simply smiled at my terrible attempt at communication. "What brings you to this side of the ballroom?" she asked.

I breathed deeply to recompose myself, "Well, I was hoping to speak with you."

"Oh?" Weiss perked up, "and what, might I ask, would that be about?"

"You strike me as a woman who has never been satisfied." I said, a soft smile managing to grace my lips.

"Excuse me?" she said harshly, her arms crossing in front of her chest defensively. She immediately lessened her tone, not wanting to draw the attention of the crowds around her. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean, you forget yourself."

My smile grew wider, "You're just like me." Her eyebrow raised in a mix of curiosity and anger. "I'm never satisfied with the world."

Her anger seemed to melt a little as she took in what I said. "Is that right?"

"I may never be satisfied in life." I kept my smile, waiting patiently for her to respond to me.

Eventually, she extended her hand. "Weiss Schnee," she said, a small smile lighting up her face again.

"Yang Xiao Long," I replied, gripping the hand softly and shaking it courteously.

Weiss' smile dropped into a frown at the mention of my name, though quickly perked back up into a smile. "Xiao Long, an interesting name. Where's your family from?"

I tried my best to keep my cool on the outside, though I knew I failed. My fists gripped together tightly, and I tried to casually shift my weight to the other side, but I'm sure she noticed my apprehension to answer. "That's unimportant," I said after a pause, trying to glance off the question of social standing. "Just know that my life is not as exciting as I would like, but I hope to change all of that."

"Oh," Weiss almost looked shocked by the sudden change of subject, "Well, that certainly is a dream, Miss Xiao Long. How exactly do you mean to accomplish this?"

"However I can." I say.

I mentally took a step back to look at the situation before me. Weiss Schnee, a beautiful woman, daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Remnant, was sharing a conversation with me. This interaction, however, was a bit different from the normal flirtatious lead ons I normally tried. But she was still giving me a chance. That was the best I could hope for.

Because at the end of the day, I'm broke, and shouldn't even be at this party. It was only by sheer luck that Ruby and I were let in. But here I am, experiencing something I may never forget.

As we continued talking, I begin to really look at her. She's gorgeous, and boy does she know it, using every asset she had to her fullest to flaunt it. Her white dress had a corset in the front, and widened out in when it hit her hips. The sleeves hung down to her elbow, lace decorating the end of the fabric, and a small white bag with the Schnee emblem on it decorated with crystallized dust attached by string from her left wrist.

The conversation continued, and even though I tried to keep my focus on that, I couldn't help but notice the small things about her. From the delicate yet stern nature of her voice and her elegant swaying subconsciously to the music, to how she would embellish her tone when speaking, the melodic waves making it feel like she actually cared about what she said as opposed to a prepared response. Even her giggles after a joke ran through her whole body, making her seem like an ordinary girl from Vale. Though I knew she was anything but.

My heart hammered inside my chest and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. This moment with Weiss was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and I never wanted it to end. I wanted this feeling forever, to be closer to her and revel in the idea of 'us'.

Even the conversation we were having was so engaging. We seemed to click in almost every way, and I felt like I just… understood her. There was this unspoken connection between us that made me realize something. I had fallen for Weiss, and I wanted to make sure, after this night, I would see her again. No matter what.

The dust lamps shone around her, making her sparkle a brilliant hue of white and blue that the most talented artists could never recreate. I wanted to grab her, take her far away from this place, though when I turned and saw my sister's face, that thought was immediately dashed from my mind.

She was staring at us, silver eyes wide; a look I will never forget. A mixture of worry and panic, and I could only imagine a million different thoughts running through her head. She looked so helpless, standing in the crowd, seemingly out of place in between the black and white of the room.

It was then that I remembered what she whispered to me, and I realized three truths at the same time.

I had a duty to my sister. Her happiness had always been my first priority, and I couldn't change that now.

With reluctance, I extended my hand towards Weiss. "Come with me real quick."

She immediately looked concerned. "Where are you taking me?"

"Well, Weiss, I'm about to change your life." I said, trying to fake confidence with a smile on my face.

She scoffed, "If I had one lien for every time I was disappointed after someone promised me that, I would have enough to buy this ballroom without my father's money."

A huge grin appeared on my face as an excellent idea entered my mind. I reached into my dress pocket and pulled out a single lien, handing it to Weiss. "Well then, if you're disappointed, then you get to keep this. If not, then I expect that back sometime."

Weiss looked at it for a few seconds, pondering the opportunity presented before her. I couldn't help as I brought my free hand to stroke my hair over my shoulder. It was a nervous habit I could always play off as flirtatious, but now, it was what kept my mind at ease before she accepted the bill, tucking it away inside of her bag. "By all means, lead the way."

Number one: In my situation, my best option to live my life after what I have done is to marry rich. My father had no money, so I'm the one who had to work hard for it. Holding down two jobs to help support my dad and sister while fueling my search for my mother became a strain. Though I'm the oldest and have worked so hard, I have to look out for my sister. And even though we are penniless, well, that doesn't mean I don't want her to be happy.

"This is my sister, Ruby Rose," I say, leading Weiss to Ruby.

"I-It's a pleasure to meet you," she replied shakily, extending her hand politely as a small blush appeared on her cheeks.

"Rose?" Weiss questioned, gently accepting the hand and courteously shaking it. "I'm sure your lineage is a fascinating story."

Number two: She's a Schnee, arguably the most wealthy and powerful family in the world. I fell for her charm immediately, and the promise of money to help provide for my family persuaded me further towards marriage without a second thought. Looking back at the conversation we just had, I still know nothing about her, or if she even likes me. She responded to me kindly, though was that just because she was taught that from birth, or was it all genuine?

Either way, I can't take the chance that I might mess something up. If what my sister said to me was true, then I can be satisfied with the thought that I gave her a chance. Who knows, something good may come of this.

Ruby gently laughed off the implied question. "A story for another time, perhaps," Ruby said, taking her hand back and standing tall to seem more confident than I'm sure she felt.

"Well, thanks for coming to the ball," Weiss gestured around to the room with a small smile on her face.

"If it takes being bored to death in these stupid lady stilts to have met you, it will have been worth it." Ruby said, a goofy smile plastered on her face.

"You mean bored by the ball I helped plan?" The smile remained on Weiss face, though I could see a playful look in her eyes

Ruby froze in shock, not knowing what to say, looking to me for help.

I cleared my throat to gain her attention. "What she means is that she's normally used to a more... active life."

"Anything like yours?" Weiss said, the smile steadily growing as she seemed to enjoy toying with the both of us.

"Hehe, not quite, she's been a huntress in training for two years now, a privilege I never had access to." I say, motioning back to my sister, "I'll leave you with Ruby to talk about it."

Number three: I know my sister like I know my own mind, you will never find anyone as trusting or as kind. If I tell Ruby that I've fallen for Weiss she'd be silently resigned. She would step aside for me to pursue Weiss. Ruby would say that she was fine, though she'd be lying.

In the end, I suppose you found love with my sister.

The weeks went on from the ball, and you two were messaging on your scrolls nightly. Ruby's smile grew brighter with every message that you wrote to her. She kept laughing at me as I tried to pick on her, "I'm just saying, if you really love me you would share her."

A simple joke that held too much truth.

As time passed, I saw that you were so much more than some rich CEO's daughter. It showed in the small acts of love that you gave to my sister. Like the way you would caress Ruby's chin when you went for a kiss. Or how you would bring her a flower every time you came to see her, even if you had to leave early to catch an important meeting. Even how happy you looked when you talked about your future with her, the small, intricate details the two of you would agree on. I stood to the side, watching with a smile on my face while, on the inside, I withered away.

Almost a year later, Ruby was sitting in your living room stressing out. She had told me all about how she had asked for your father's blessing for marriage. She was staying silent as you tried to convince your father, though she confided in me that she was trying not to cry.

Your father, after finally coming to a decision, made his way across the room to my sister. As he approached, she got even more nervous, trying to keep herself from shaking as she stood up to meet him. He lifted his arm up to my sister with a smile on his face. As she took it, he said "be true to yourself." She noded quickly, turned back to you, and smiled.

Even at your wedding, six months after, she kept pacing back and forth, practicing her vows, rewording them and making them perfect for you. And once she was standing up there on that altar with you, it made it all worth it.

"Weiss, I don't have any lien to my name, an acre of land, a company to run, or a dollop of fame. All I have is my honor, a dream I will fight for, my huntsman license, and my top notch weapon. It's insane how your family has brought out a different side of me, and I have seen them in a way I never imagined. Winter confides in me about her life and stresses, and your father welcomed me with open arms. The more time I spent with you and your family, the more my love for you grew, and now it is never in doubt.

"I know that with your father's near limitless resources we could live anywhere, but I want to keep the promise I made to you. We'll get a little place in Vale, together, and then we'll figure it out from there.

"Now, I know that I've been living with mostly Yang as my family since I was a child. My mother died, and my father tried his best to care for us in her absence. It was hard, at times it felt like nothing we could do would help, but we persevered. So know as long as I'm alive, Weiss, you will do my best to make sure you never have to feel helpless.

"My life is shining bright now that you're here in it. I look into your eyes and the sky's the limit. Even if I'm down for the count, I will still be here fighting for you. I will always love you, Weiss. Until my dying breath."

"A toast to the lovely brides," I say, raising my glass of wine to the ballroom before me.

"To the brides!" The reception hall echoed back.

"From your sister who's always by your side. To your union, and the hope that you provide. May you always be satisfied."

But when I fantasize at night, it's Weiss' eyes I see as I romanticize what might have been if things had gone just a little differently.

At least my dear Ruby is her wife.

At least I keep her eyes in my life.

A/N: So this took a lot longer than I anticipated, but I'm glad I was able to force myself to work on this even more and make it as it is now.

Special thank you to Gorsouul for taking a look at this story and helping me refine it into what it is now. Looking back at the original saved in a separate document, I can't help but cringe, so thank you so much.

Also, I know I promised this out sooner than this, but I've been feeling really terrible and haven't been able to really write anything down that I've liked. Not coming up with ideas has destroyed my motivation, and there were a few days when I was physically repulsed to look at this story and try to write something down. That being said, I may unfortunately, at this time, be unable to come out with consistent updates.

That being said, I WILL still update. I will not abandon either this story or 'Can You Hear Me', so do not worry about that.

Thank you for reading and I hope you all enjoyed. Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review, they help keep me motivated to bring more chapters out faster.

-MM