October 4th, 2033
"I need to think about it."
That was Whitley's response to Asher's offer. In return, Asher didn't press further. Patience was one of his strongest traits, after all. Besides, Whitley was still young, only recently beginning to step out of the cage his father—and the Schnee name as a whole—had carefully constructed around him.
The fact that Whitley was even considering the offer spoke volumes about how much influence Asher had already gained over him.
It's hard to believe that even now, I've barely scratched the surface—less than twenty percent of what there is to know about the Schnee siblings has been assimilated. Then again, I suppose that's only natural. Understanding someone's motivations, what drives them, and their goals only goes so far. The rest takes time. The same goes for Liv, I suppose. Some things—like their favorite childhood meal or what color they like—can't be uncovered all at once.
Stretching out on his bed, Asher let his thoughts wander. Sunlight spilled into the room through the large balcony doors and uncovered windows, casting a warm glow over the muted tones of his sparsely decorated space.
People aside, there was something Asher was far more excited about: his knowledge percentage on Frostvale Enterprises. True to his word, he had spent his free time delving into everything he could about his parents' company, pushing the percentage to fifty. From there, the Nexus Space had taken over, simulating the remaining knowledge.
It was already nearing a hundred percent. Once it reached completion, Asher would finally see what predicting the future of an entire corporation entailed—and more importantly, how he could manipulate or reshape that future to his advantage.
If I can do it with my parents' company, there's no reason I can't do the same for the one I plan to build. A guaranteed path to success. Depending on how accurate and far-reaching the Nexus Space's predictions are, it might even help me pinpoint when the catastrophe will strike—or at least give me a heads-up.
It was the one uncertainty that loomed over everything else. He had no idea when disaster would hit. If it was years away, he'd have time to prepare. But if it came sooner, his only option would be to do what he could to help Atlas endure—and salvage what remained of the world.
Still... I better start working on a contingency plan. No point in leaving it to chance.
As that thought crossed his mind, a knock at the door broke the silence that had settled over the past few hours.
"Hmm? Who is it?" Asher called out, opening his eyes and glancing toward the door.
"It's me," came Weiss's familiar voice. Asher's eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise before he responded.
"Come in." After a brief pause, the door clicked open, and Weiss slipped inside, shutting it softly behind her. Sitting up on the bed, Asher gave her a gentle smile.
"Hey, I wasn't expecting to see you today." Weiss placed her hands behind her back in a playful yet slightly awkward manner, letting out a small laugh.
"Yeah, sorry I didn't text you. My father made me attend this really odd tea-tasting event. On the way back, I realized I was nearby, so I decided to stop by."
"Ah, that explains the outfit," Asher said, gesturing toward her attire with a faint grin.
Weiss sighed lightly, glancing down at herself.
"The event had a dress code. I must look ridiculous." Asher shook his head immediately.
"Not at all. It looks nice. No combat skirt, of course, but if I'm being honest, almost anything suits you." His words caused a faint blush to bloom across Weiss's cheeks. Her smile softened into something more genuine as she grasped the edges of her flared skirt and held it out slightly, showing it off.
"Always teasing," she said with a mock huff, though her tone was light.
"But... you really think so?" Asher took a moment to look her over again.
The outfit followed Weiss's usual white and gray color scheme but leaned far more formal than her typical attire.
It had a distinct Victorian-inspired design—a high collar that covered part of her neck, adorned with a large black bow at the front. The puffed sleeves, paired with a fitted button-up corset, showed just how slim she was, a testament to the training she subjected herself to in her goal of becoming a Huntress.
"You really do pull it off," he replied honestly.
"It's always fun seeing you dressed in something different from your usual style." He glanced down at himself and chuckled.
"Sadly, I'm not wearing anything nearly as interesting."
Weiss's eyes drifted from Asher's face to his slightly loose-fitting white button-up shirt. Her gaze lingered on the top few buttons, which had either been left undone or had come undone without him noticing. Either way, he wasn't wearing anything underneath, giving her an unobstructed view of his chest.
Asher didn't go out of his way to work out beyond his usual weekly routine, but between his frequent duels with Weiss, private weapon practice, and the hands-on work he did in his workshop, his body had become noticeably defined as of late.
It wasn't something Weiss missed as she stood there in silence for a moment too long, her eyes tracing the faint lines of his form.
"So, are you going to just stand there staring at me, or are you in some kind of rush?" Asher teased, breaking the quiet.
Weiss startled slightly, her eyes snapping back to his face. His smile hadn't wavered, but there was a subtle gleam in his eyes that made it impossible to tell if he'd caught her staring. Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as she quickly shook her head.
"N- No, I'm not in a rush. I mean, I have to leave eventually, but I can stay for a while." She moved toward his bed, brushing down her skirt before sitting on the edge beside him. Asher shifted, lying back against a pillow that propped him up slightly, one arm resting casually across her waist. His fingers grazed the edge of her corset, subtle enough that she didn't seem to mind.
Weiss started talking, perhaps to cover the faint tension in the air.
"By the way, sorry if I interrupted any critical thinking or something. Whitley keeps telling me that whenever you go quiet and start staring off into the distance, you're always planning something." Her tone was playful but carried a grain of truth.
Asher tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk pulling at his lips.
"I wouldn't call it planning. More like going over things in my head. But it's not always critical thinking, that makes me stare," he replied, his voice light but deliberate. Weiss raised a brow, intrigued.
"Oh? Then what else is there?" She asked, but Asher didn't answer. The silence stretched between them as he simply looked at her, his ever-passive smile lingering on his face. Weiss blinked, her brows furrowing slightly as realization crept in.
She let out a small sigh instead of flushing, shaking her head.
"You know, I'm starting to think you've been in a relationship before. I don't think I've ever seen you embarrassed—or even nervous. Not even when I confessed to you."
"So, you want to see me blush?" Asher asked with a curious lilt in his tone. The hand resting on her waist began to trail upward, its slow movement subtly guiding her to lean closer to him.
"That's not what I meant," she replied, her voice quieter now. Her hands found their way to either side of him on the bed as he lay there, gazing up at her. His touch continued its gradual ascent, and with every inch, Weiss's body tensed ever so slightly, her breaths hitching. When his hand finally reached her face, he cupped her cheek gently, his thumb brushing against her lips.
Asher's eyes never left hers, even as her expression softened and her breaths grew warmer, trembling faintly against his skin. Her gaze turned slightly hazy as she hovered over him.
"Well," Asher began, his voice low, "you'll be happy to know you were the first person to kiss these lips."
His hand moved to the back of her head, his fingers threading gently through her styled hair as he pulled her closer.
Their kiss was unhurried at first, the room falling into a heated silence. The only sounds were the soft movements of their mouths, a steady rhythm that drew them closer. Weiss shifted, moving from her initial position of leaning down beside him to pressing herself fully against him.
The kiss deepened, growing more fervent with every passing second. Asher's free hand slid down her side, eventually circling her waist to hold her firmly against him. Their breaths mingled, hot and heavy. When they finally broke apart, Weiss remained close, her forehead nearly brushing his as she struggled to catch her breath.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she murmured, her voice slightly uneven, "Liar... Why are you so good at this, then?"
For a brief moment, Asher's expression stilled, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. Then he replied, his voice calm but deliberate, both hands now resting firmly on her waist.
"Past life experience, I suppose," Asher answered with a slight shrug.
Weiss rolled her eyes, a soft huff escaping her lips.
"Yeah, sure."
Before she could add anything else, Asher's eyes narrowed playfully. Without much effort, he shifted their positions. The bed dipped under their weight as he pulled her to the side. Weiss let out a startled yelp as he flipped her onto her back, switching their roles so he now hovered over her.
"Asher, I'm still wearing my shoes," she muttered in a low, breathless voice, her usual energy from their sparring sessions now absent.
"It's fine," he replied casually.
"My sheets are scheduled to be changed today anyway. What I'm more concerned about is how you don't seem to believe me." Her face flushed slightly as she fumbled for a response.
"It's not that I don't believe you, I just... It's hard to believe you're naturally good at all this, while I'm all..." Her words faltered as Asher leaned closer, his gaze steady.
"Weiss," he said softly, "I promise you, you're the only girl who's ever kissed me in this life."
He paused, his tone turning more thoughtful.
"Well... at least like this. My father once told me my mother went through a bit of a really loving phase when I was first born." Weiss stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter.
"I'm having a hard time imagining that," she managed between chuckles.
"Hmm?" Asher tilted his head, feigning offense.
"Are you saying I don't have a kissable face?" She shook her head, her laughter softening as she raised her arms and hooked them around his neck.
"No..." she murmured, her voice quieter now, her eyes soft yet carrying an unmistakable invitation.
"You have a very kissable face." Before either could say more, their lips met again. This time, Weiss pulled him closer by the neck as Asher leaned down, pressing against her. The kiss was deeper, more heated, and she felt not only his breath but the unexpected sensation of his tongue brushing against hers.
Her eyes snapped open in surprise, meeting his steady gaze. For a moment, they both froze. But after a few seconds, Weiss's body relaxed, and she began to kiss him back. Slowly, Asher's tongue coaxed a response from her, and a soft, muffled whimper escaped her lips.
One of his hands stayed on her waist, steady and firm, while the other drifted to her stomach. He began undoing the buttons of her corset with deliberate, careful movements.
Asher pulled back slightly, pausing when he heard her murmur, "Asher..."
His hands stilled, his gaze meeting hers.
His voice was gentle but direct as he asked, "Do you want me to stop here?"
Weiss shook her head as she spoke softly, "No, it's not that. I just wanted to ask you something. Do you... want to go on a date? Sometime this month, I mean, if you're not too busy."
Asher blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the question. But his surprise quickly melted into a warm smile as he nodded.
"Sure, of course. Now that I think about it, we did skip a few steps, didn't we? I feel bad that you had to ask—I should've taken you out sooner." Weiss returned his smile, lightly shaking her head.
"No, I like how we met... and how we got close. Sparring with you, visiting you, or having you visit us—that's the highlight of my week, trust me." Her voice softened as she continued, fumbling slightly to find the right words.
"Even if it wasn't official, I counted those moments as... well, something like dates in my head. But Whitley's always around too, and I wanted us to do something. Just the two of us." Asher listened intently, nodding in understanding.
"Yeah, that sounds like fun. I've got a few things to take care of this week and part of next week, and the end of the month is going to be pretty busy for me too. So... how about Friday, the seventeenth? Does that work for you?" Weiss's eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded without hesitation.
"Yeah!" Her excitement was unmistakable—not just in the shift of her voice but in the way she immediately pulled Asher back into their kiss. The warmth between them quickly returned, enveloping the room as their lips met again.
Asher's hand, which had been resting on her corset, resumed its work. With practiced ease, he finished undoing the buttons, slipping the garment off her and tossing it aside.
Weiss let out a soft breath of relief. While the corset hadn't been too tight, it was still constricting. That relief, however, quickly gave way to something else entirely. Asher's hand, the same one that had unfastened her corset, gently slid across her stomach, the warmth of his touch leaving her breath hitching once more.
"Asher... I don't think I-" Weiss started, pulling her head back slightly.
But Asher leaned in, cutting her off with another kiss as he murmured softly, "Don't worry, I won't take anything else off."
Hearing that, Weiss gave the faintest nod, allowing herself to relax and sink back into the sensations he was giving her. True to his word, while his hand trailed lower to her thighs, touching them lightly through her skirt, he didn't push any further.
Meanwhile, Weiss's thoughts were quickly unraveling, scattered and hazy, much like her uneven breaths.
I can't even think straight right now... but part of me really...
Her internal dialogue faded into nothingness as Asher's kisses shifted. He moved from her lips to her face, his mouth trailing along her jaw and down to the delicate skin of her neck just above her collar.
"Your skin is really soft, you know that?" Asher murmured, his voice low and intimate, the vibrations of his words against her neck sending a shiver through her body. Weiss let out a breathy moan, the sound surprising even her. Her cheeks flushed deeper as she felt his lips close around the sensitive skin of her neck, teasing and deliberate.
But just as the moment deepened, a knock at the door shattered the atmosphere.
Asher froze, pulling back slightly as his gaze flicked toward the door. Weiss, practically panting, glanced in the same direction, her anxiety mixing with a fleeting hint of disappointment. Her arms slid away from around his neck as Asher sat up, another knock sounding from the door.
"Who is it?" Asher asked, his tone somehow perfectly neutral, as though the last few minutes hadn't just happened.
"It's me, Asher. I brought the documents and papers you need to sign," came Liv's familiar voice. Recognizing her immediately, Asher stood up and straightened his shirt with a practiced ease that contrasted with the heated moment that had just been interrupted.
His voice shifted to a friendlier tone as he called back, "Oh, alright. Just give me a second."
He turned to Weiss, his expression softening with a slightly apologetic look.
"Sorry, that's my attorney. I asked her to come by today because I need to handle something, but I must have lost track of time."
"It- It's fine, I, um... I should probably get going anyway," Weiss stammered, her voice still carrying traces of breathlessness. Her face remained flushed, though now part of the heat stemmed from embarrassment.
She quickly began straightening her dress, her hands fumbling slightly as Asher gave her a moment. Then, with his usual composure, he walked to the door, pulling it open with the same calm smile he always wore.
"Sorry about that," Asher said as he opened the door, finding Liv standing there with a folder of papers tucked under her arm.
"It's fine. Sorry if I woke you up or-" Liv's words cut off abruptly as her eyes landed on Weiss.
She stood near Asher's bed, her posture stiff and awkward, the flush on her face still lingering.
Turning toward Weiss, Asher spoke casually, "No, you didn't wake me. I was just entertaining someone."
He paused, then added with a small smile, "By the way, Weiss, your corset's misaligned."
Weiss's eyes widened as she glanced down at herself. Hastily, she began adjusting the buttons, making sure everything was properly aligned. Once finished, she walked stiffly toward the door, her movements awkward but purposeful.
"Hello," she said, addressing Liv.
"It's nice to meet you. My name is Weiss Schnee." There was an attempt at formality in her tone, though it came off uneven, her usual poise faltering. Liv, however, simply returned a warm smile.
"It's nice to meet you too. I'm Liv Melone, but you can just call me Liv."
"I see. Well, I'll be taking my leave now, Liv. Goodbye." With a slight bow, Weiss quickly squeezed past Asher and out into the hallway. As Liv stepped into the room, Asher leaned out the door slightly.
"Weiss," he called after her. She stopped and turned around, her eyes meeting his. Asher tapped his neck in a small gesture. It took Weiss a moment to register before her eyes widened, and her face, which had been trying to cool down, flushed bright red once more.
While he hadn't left a mark, her pale skin made the faint red bruising on her neck unmistakable. Her hand shot up to cover it as she glared at him, a mix of embarrassment and frustration flashing in her expression before she hurried down the hallway at double speed.
Asher stepped back inside, closing the door behind him.
"I never thought I'd see you teasing someone like that," Liv remarked, already seated at his desk with a slight grin.
"That poor girl looked like she was about to explode."
"Believe it or not, she's usually quite composed," Asher replied as he walked toward the desk.
"Though she is a bit competitive."
"I'll take your word for it," Liv said, chuckling softly. Then her expression turned a little sheepish, her gaze darting to the side.
"Oh, and sorry if I... interrupted something." Asher shrugged, his tone calm.
"It's fine. Let's see what I have to sign, shall we?"