Officer Schnee sighed as she pulled her police cruiser in behind the red car. She recognized the car, and knew the driver well. The old lake road was a popular spot for joyriding teenagers, but thankfully, this driver wasn't one of them. "Okay, I know you're not late for work this time, you're pointed in the wrong direction, so what's the story?"
Ruby slumped back in her seat, exhaustion etching deep lines in her face. "Sorry, Officer Schnee. Really, really rough night at work. Just trying to drive it out before I collapse at home."
Schnee's lips compressed to a thin, tight line, then she tucked her clipboard under her arm and leaned back against Ruby's car, staring out at Qrow Lake. "How bad was it?"
"Bad-bad. Big accident on the interstate, six-car pileup, plus a rig flipped over." Ruby let out a noise that was somewhere between a sigh and a moan. "Three hours past the end of my shift, and it wasn't a quiet night before that came in."
The officer nodded. "Got it. I heard about that accident; it sounded pretty bad. So they ended up in your ER?"
Ruby nodded weakly. She was a trauma nurse in the ER at Vale General, and this was far from the first time Schnee had caught her speeding to or from work. "We were closest by about half a mile. Had to stop myself from punching out a paramedic; apparently their ambulance company's got some sort of shady sweetheart deal with another hospital and gets a little something for bringing people to them. Didn't want to get sent home for it, though, so I just gritted my teeth and reported the fucker. Cherry on the sundae, right?"
They sat in silence for a while, listening to the wind through the trees, owls hooting in the darkness to one another, insects chirping, the song of a forest undisturbed at night. Finally Schnee sighed. "Alright, let's get you home. Come on, I'll give you a police escort."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because," Shchnee sighed, then continued. "Because, despite your tendency to exceed the speed limit, you're a good person, Ruby Rose. You do good work. And I don't want to give a ticket to someone who just spent hours saving lives. I will give you one, and only one, free pass tonight. But please, no more speeding?"
When they pulled up to the apartment complex where Ruby shared a place with her sister, Yang, Ruby opened her car door and swung her feet out, then stopped, head hanging over her knees. Schnee got out of the cruiser and stepped over. "You okay? Need a hand?"
"Just... just ran out of gas. Give me a minute."
"Dolt. Come here." Schnee pulled Ruby to her feet and slung Ruby's arm across her shoulders, helping her toward the stairs up to her apartment. "I think I'd better help you in before you pass out in the car."
"Officer Schnee?" Ruby muttered sleepily.
"Yes, Miss Rose?"
"What's your name?"
"Officer Schnee, ma'am."
"No, I mean your real name."
Schnee blinked. "It's Weiss, Weiss Schnee."
"Why are you a cop? You're too pretty and nice to be a cop."
"I chose a life of service to piss of my father. He thinks our family is above such things. I disagree; I feel that the wealth and power my family holds gives us a greater obligation. I answered yours, you answer mine: Why are you a nurse?"
"I want to help people. Hey, Weiss, would you go out with me some time?"
Wiess froze. "Like on a date? A date-date?"
"Yeah."
"I see. I will consider it. But"— they reached the front door, and Ruby started fumbling for her keys, only to have Yang open it with a worried expression— "no speeding for at least a month first."
"Awww..."
"I'm serious. Try leaving for work fifteen minutes early or setting an alarm or something, okay?"
"Fiiine."
As she turned to leave, Weiss could hear Ruby and Yang talking inside the apartment. "What was that about, Ruby? And why are you home so late?"
"I asked her out. And it was a long night at work; I'll tell you about it when I wake up."
"You asked out that cop who's always catching you speeding? What were you thinking? Were you even thinking? My god, Ruby!" Weiss giggled and there was a bit of a spring in her step as she sauntered back to her cruiser.
Ruby was sitting on her couch, fidgeting as she waited for Weiss to pick her up. It'd been over a month since that night, and she'd started to think that Weiss had either forgotten or blown it off, thinking Ruby had been exhausted and hadn't really meant to ask her out.
But a week ago, Weiss had pulled her over (for a broken taillight, not speeding), and asked Ruby if she still wanted to go out. Ruby had stammered a yes, and they'd sorted out the details while Weiss wrote her up for the taillight.
Ruby grinned; that was just like Weiss, making sure the paperwork was done even as she set up her date with Ruby. Then she frowned as she realized just how little she knew about Weiss. Sure, Weiss was pretty, and she seemed nice, and she said her family was rich, but that was about it. What was Weiss really like? Well, she'd would have to find out, wouldn't she, Ruby thought to herself wistfully while she waited.
Someone knocked at the door, almost making Ruby jump out of her skin. She smoothed out her skirt and and checked herself in the mirror before answering the door. Weiss stood there, looking absolutely gorgeous in blue jeans, a tank top, and a jean jacket, sunglasses hanging on the front of her shirt, her hair in a sidetail instead of the bun she wore on duty. "Y-You look amazing!" Ruby gaped.
Weiss giggled—Ruby hadn't thought the normally oh-so-serious Officer Schnee could giggle—looking Ruby up and down. "Thanks, so do you." Not sure what Weiss had in mind for their date, Ruby had gone with a black long-sleeved button-up shirt, black skirt with red trim, and black leggings in case they were out late.
"Hey." Yang stood behind Ruby, arms crossed and glaring at Weiss. "You be nice to my baby sister, got it?"
"I'm only two years younger than you are, Yang! Give me a break!" Ruby protested, making Weiss laugh out loud. "Don't worry, I've got an older sister too. And I promise I will bring your sister back unharmed."
"'Unharmed,' is it?" Ruby smirked as they walked down the stairs, stopping dead when she saw the car Weiss was leading her towards. Ruby had to admit she didn't know much about cars, but she knew an old 'muscle car' when she saw it. "Nice car" she whispered, not knowing what else to say.
"Thanks, it was a gift from my father when I graduated the police academy." Weiss started the car after they'd climbed in, and Ruby could positively feel the engine purring.
"He must love you to give you a car like this."
"You'd think so, but no. It was his last try at convincing me to quit the force and come work for him. It didn't work." Weiss pulled out of the parking lot, turning on the headlights against the growing dusk. "Every year for my birthday, he buys another car, promising them to me if I come work for him. So far, we're at six cars and counting, each one a six-figure sports car more expensive than the last."
Ruby stared at Weiss in shock. "And you're still a cop? That's... I don't have the words."
"It's the life I chose."
Ruby gazed out the window, her mind full of questions she was afraid to ask. She knew Weiss had told her things she didn't normally tell people, the kind of thing you might not even tell your best friend, and here Weiss was, confiding in Ruby who was the next best thing to a stranger. "Sooo... where are we going? You were kind of vague about the whole thing."
"Somewhere special."
They were driving down the Old Lake Road now, the woods passing by on both sides. Eventually Weiss turned off onto a dirt road that was barely wide enough for the car. "Weiss..."
"Relax. I said unharmed, and I meant it." They turned a corner, and Qrow Lake came into view. Weiss shut off the car and got out, taking a seat on the hood and leaning back. Not sure what else to do, Ruby did the same.
They sat staring at the lake in silence, the city of Vale visible in the distance. Finally, Weiss spoke. "Do you know why we're here, Ruby?"
"Nope," Ruby replied, popping the 'p.'
"Because from here, you can see both of my worlds. Look over to the right, what do you see on that island?"
"Big fancy house."
"I grew up there. It sucks. Nothing's real, you know? No friends, just people trying to get one over on each other, or impress each other with how rich and powerful they are." Weiss sighed. "I... did something stupid in high school. Got sentenced to community service for it, ended up working with what they like to call 'at-risk teens,' kids they figured were probably going to end up on drugs, in trouble, were being abused, that sort of thing. It was the first time I'd spent any amount of time helping people, and it felt... good. I stuck with it after I was done with my community service. They wanted me to be a social worker, but I decided to join the police force instead."
"Why?"
"Honestly?" Weiss chuckled. "I'm not precisely sure. It seemed like the natural progression at the time. Anyway, on the other hand, we have the city of Vale. Full of people who are living their lives, day by day."
"'Real' people, in other words."
"Right. Not that there's anything noble in not being rich, I'm not delusional enough to think there's some sort of inherent nobility having less money, any more than being rich makes you 'better' than someone who's not. But... listen, a few nights before you asked me out, I pulled over a woman in a sportscar. Her taillight was out, and I just wanted to let her know. But the minute I walked into view, she start screaming about police brutality. She freaking pepper-sprayed me over a broken taillight! I backed off and called it in; she's now facing charges for assaulting a police officer. But I pull you or most people over for the same thing, and you thank me and get it fixed."
Silence reigned for a while. Ruby could make out a lot of movement at the house Weiss had grown up in. Was there a party tonight? Every night? "Weiss... why did you say yes when I asked you out? I mean, we barely know each other."
"Because I'd been working up the courage to ask you out?" They shared a laugh, then Weiss shook her head. "No, really. You were pretty, you seemed nice, and I I knew you were a nurse, so I figured you were reasonably stable. Maybe, maybe this wasn't a good idea for a first date, bringing you out here and unloading my baggage on you."
"Beats dinner and a movie." Ruby sighed. "The reason I'm a nurse is because my mom was one. One night, someone came into the ER with a gun, looking to shoot one of the patients. She put herself between the gunman and the patient, saying, 'He came here for help. I'm not letting you kill him. You'll have to shoot me first.' My mom, smaller than me, facing down this huge guy with a shotgun. He caved."
"Sounds like an incredible woman. I'd like to meet her."
"She died when I was twelve. Cancer."
"Sorry. Beats my mom, she's a drunk."
"Sooo... what do you want to do for a second date?"
Weiss busted out laughing, Ruby following a moment later. "Second date? So this isn't a disaster?"
"Nah. I've had worse. No cops or snakes this time."
"I ama police officer, you know. And, snakes? What's the story there?"
"Uh-uh. We have yet to move into 'embarrassing personal stories' territory yet. But you do get this." Ruby leaned over and gave Weiss a kiss, lingering just long enough.
Weiss moaned, a shiver running down her spine, the scent of Ruby's perfume still filling her nostrils. "I could get used to that..." she murmured, looking up at Ruby.
Ruby's stomach growled, throwing them both into a fit of giggles. "Fooood, before you end up on the menu," Ruby said as she rolled off the hood of the car."
"I know a good barbecue place nearby."
"It's a date."
