Ruby's phone rang and she snaked out an arm from beneath the covers to snag it from beside the bed, answering it before she was even fully awake. "Rose," she muttered propping herself up on an elbow. It was never a good sign when work called her at home. Wait, wasn't she on suspension?
"Who's this? Where's Blake?" The voice on the other end was gruff and held just a touch of annoyance.
Ruby gulped and looked at the phone. "Dammit," she whispered under her breath. Ruby put the call on mute and rolled over. "Blake, wake up," she said, shaking Blake's shoulder.
"Five more minutes," the other woman muttered, her face still buried in a pillow.
"No, now. My phone rang, and I answered it without thinking, only it wasn't mine, it was yours, and it was your dad, and I'm really, really sorry!" Ruby knew she was babbling, but she figured this might be an okay time for panic.
With a sigh, Blake rolled over on her side, blinking in the early morning sun as she reached out to take the phone from Ruby. "Morning, dad."
"Good morning, Blake. Who was it that answered your phone?" Her dad sounded amused. "Is there someone your mother and I should meet?"
"Someone who should have made sure of whose phone they were answering," Blake said, glaring at Ruby who had the decency to look embarrassed. "And no, I didn't forget about you coming into town today. How long until your train arrives?"
"About an hour. Blake, if you've got other plans, we can take a taxi to the hotel."
Blake paused, looking at Ruby and mouthing the word Today? Ruby just smiled and nodded, mentally going through the clothes she had stashed at Blake's place. "No, it's fine. There is someone I need to introduce you to."
"So why are we at the train station?"
Blake sighed. Most of the time, Ruby was pretty good at keeping herself together, but with the idea of meeting Blake's parents on top of yesterday's surprises, Ruby was fraying at the seams. "My dad doesn't like to fly. If he can avoid it, he'll drive or take the train." Her girlfriend nodded and straightened her jacket nervously. Blake just sighed and reminded herself to make it up to Ruby later. "Oh, here's their train."
Blake's parents stepped off the train, and she couldn't help but smile and wave. Blake hadn't seen them much in the last couple of years, but, well, her parents were very busy people and Blake had decided to put down roots in Vale after college. "Mom, dad, it's good to see you again," she said, her mother pulling her in for a hug.
"Blake, honey, it's been too long." Kali pulled back, looking her daughter over. The shadows in Blake's eyes were gone, replaced by a sparkle that put Kali's heart at ease. After what had happened with Adam, Kali had been very worried about her daughter. "You look better than the last time we saw you. And who's this?" she added, glancing at Ruby who stood a few steps behind Blake.
The moment of truth. "Mom, dad, this is Ruby," Blake said, reaching out and taking Ruby's hand, pulling her closer.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Ruby said with a quick nod.
Ghira raised an eyebrow. "You're the one that answered Blake's phone this morning."
"Heh, yeah, sorry about that."
"So, are you two…?" Kali's voice trailed off, not sure how to finish the sentence.
"Yes." Blake fought to keep her voice steady as she watched for her parents' reaction. "Ruby's my girlfriend." Strange how it got easier to say out loud, even as it seemed more real. She felt Ruby give her hand a squeeze and gave one in return.
Kali couldn't help but frown as she looked Ruby over. Combat boots, jeans, a dark red tank-top, messy hair dyed red at the tips, and a battered jacket that didn't quite hide the bulge under her right armpit. Something about this Ruby practically screamed 'thug,' and Kali wasn't sure she wanted her anywhere near Blake, much less dating her. "It's very nice to meet you," she said carefully. "Blake didn't tell us she was seeing anyone."
"That's my fault," Bake jumped in before Ruby could say anything. "I, uh, I wanted to keep things quiet, but yesterday… yesterday I decided I was ready to let people know about us."
"And what prompted this change of heart?" Ghira asked with a grunt.
"Long story," Ruby said, giving Blake a smile. "About which Blake was probably the most amazing girlfriend ever, and I don't know how I will ever repay her."
"That almost makes it sound like you dragged Blake into some sort of trouble," Kali said, raising an eyebrow at Blake.
"No, nothing like that," Blake said, trying to reassure her mother. "Just kind of weird and awkward and too long to stand around here telling you. Come on, let's get you checked in at your hotel, and we'll tell you the whole story over lunch."
Kali's eyes narrowed as she opened the door to Blake's SUV. "Blake, why is there a gun in your car?"
Blake winced. She'd forgotten how much her mother hated guns. "I got it after what happened with Adam, the second time. It helped me feel safer."
"She's a pretty good shot, too. Not as good as me, but she'll get there," Ruby added from where she was loading Kali and Ghira's luggage into the back.
"Ruby, they wanted to make you a sniper," Blake laughed. "There's no way I'll ever be that good."
Kali claimed the front passenger seat by some sort of maternal judo, leaving Ruby sitting behind Kali and Ghira sitting behind Blake. Ghira snuck a peek at his wife's expression as they stopped at a stoplight and decided to break the ice a little. "So, how did the two of you meet?"
"Ruby's the one that saved me from Adam when he got out of prison. She saw him hassling me and stepped in," Blake said, putting her foot on the gas as the light turned green.
"Nothing I wouldn't have done for anyone else," Ruby muttered, embarrassed.
"Bullshit." Blake slammed the brakes hard, cars honking as they swerved to avoid her SUV. "Ruby Rose," she said, turning to face Ruby, "you saved me from a man who put me in the fucking hospital last time we met. Never, ever, doubt how much that meant to me."
"Oh," was all Ruby could say. She'd known that Adam had gotten violent with Blake, but not how violent. A part of her mind she was trying to ignore started wondering if she could get away with killing or at least crippling him next time they met.
"But that's not why I love you, Ruby. It's a thousand little things, like hot tea on cold, rainy mornings, or putting up with anchovies on pizza when I know you hate them." Ruby blushed and looked out the window, not sure what to say. "I love you because of who you are, every part of you."
Ruby looked up now, a smile that reached her eyes fixed firmly on Blake. "I love you too, Blake." She knew Blake's parents were right there with them, but as far as Ruby was concerned, they could have been on the back side of the moon.
Another car honked as it swerved around them, shattering the moment. Blake blushed as she got them moving again. Ghira cleared his throat, giving his wife a look. "Correct me if I'm wrong," he rumbled, "but if Ruby's the one that saved you from Adam after he got out of jail, that means you two have been together abut a year now."
"Just about," Ruby answered, not wanting Blake distracted from getting them in motion again. "It took me a month after we met for me too work up the courage to ask her out."
"A month, I will add, of dropping by the coffee shop every day, just to talk to me," Blake said, smiling. "The look on your face when I turned you down the first time..."
"Meanie," Ruby said, mock-pouting.
"Oh come on, I asked you out three days later."
"Ah, so that first date was sort of a thank-you for her saving you, then." Kali settled in her seat, nodding her head.
"No." Blake's tone was emphatic. "After Adam, I promised myself never to feel I 'owed' anything like that to anyone, ever again. Ruby got that first date by not asking me out right away. She earned the second and everything since by being herself."
"Blake?" Ruby was craning her head, looking out the front windshield. "There's a roadblock up ahead. Find a parking space and I'll go see what's up."
Blake drummed her fingers on the steering wheel as she watched Ruby make her down the sidewalk. Her mother cleared her throat. "Blake, can I ask you something? Are you, are you sure about Ruby? She doesn't seem your type."
"Mother..."
"I'm just trying to make sure she's right for you, Blake."
"Mother." Blake was fighting to keep her temper in check. "May I remind you that the last person you thought was my 'type,'" Blake made air quotes just to drive the point home, "was Adam? And we all know how that worked out, don't we?"
"Blake-"
"She's right, Kali." Ghira didn't want to get between his daughter and his wife, but he couldn't let that go without comment. "As soon as Adam made his interest in Blake clear, you pretty much threw her at him. When she broke up with him, you pushed her to give him another chance. And I still remember how much you said you couldn't believe it when she called you—from the emergency room—to tell you what happened the night he attacked her.
"So I'm not going to assume anything about Ruby and let her show us who she is. I suggest you do the same." Ghira crossed his arms and closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat. As far as he was concerned, the conversation was over.
Kali opened her mouth to answer, then closed it, guilt clouding her mind. There was no denying how much she'd encouraged Adam's pursuit of Blake. They'd grown up together, after all, and they'd seemed like such a perfect match all through high school. And then, she hadn't been able to believe it when he'd attacked Blake. How could she have been so wrong, so blind as to miss that he'd crossed the line into obsession? "I'm sorry, Blake. I just, I just want what's best for you."
"No, mom, like a lot of parents, you want what you think is best for me." Blake watched as Ruby reached the barricade. She showed something to the patrolman there, who shook his head and pointed. Ruby disappeared from sight for a few minutes, and Blake sighed. "Mom, dad, Ruby may not be 'right' or perfect for me, but she makes me feel wonderful and safe. After what happened with Adam, the second time, I was having trouble sleeping. Ruby started hanging around the coffee shop when she wasn't at work, just to make me feel better. Then she took me to the dojo she uses, showed me some moves. And she waited, mom. After we'd been dating for a while, she said she wanted to ask me out that first day, but she knew it was too soon and she was scared of blowing it, because she knew she'd only get one shot with someone as amazing as I was. And that's when I knew I was really starting to fall for her." Blake stared out the window, a goofy grin on her face that would have annoyed her if you pointed it out to her. Her good mood vanished when Ruby reappeared on the sidewalk next to the car, her face grim. "Bad news, everyone. You said you were staying at the Vale Hilton, right? It, ah, it's currently on fire. Fire marshal said it looks like a kitchen fire that got out of hand. They're still working on getting it under control, and he's not sure how long it'll be. So we're going to have to find you another hotel."
Ghira grunted, but before he could speak, Kali asked, "Ruby, how did you get that cop to point you in the right direction."
"Professional courtesy. They'll say things to me they wouldn't say to you or Blake," Ruby said as she slid into the car.
"Professional courtesy?" Kali was puzzled. "I don't, I don't get it. I mean, with the way you're dressed, and that gun you're carrying, I imagined you were some sort of thug or criminal or something, but Blake trusts you, so I don't know what to think."
Ruby and Blake just stared at Kali, stunned. Blake had never seen her mother act like this before. Ruby just couldn't figure out where Kali got the idea that she was some sort of criminal. Then it hit her. "Blake? We never told your parents what I do for a living, did we?"
"No," Blake answered, comprehension dawning.
Ruby reached inside her jacket. "Then why don't I show your mother what I showed that cop over there, and maybe that will explain things." She pulled out a slim leather folder and handed it to Kali.
Puzzled, Kali opened the folder. "You work for the VBI?"
"Special agent Ruby Rose, at your service," Ruby said, putting on her best 'professional face' and making Blake snort.
Kali shook her head. "I still don't like the idea of you having a gun, Blake, but…" She paused, wanting to make sure she got this right. "Ruby, I'm sorry. I made a snap judgment about you, and I was wrong. You'd think that at my age, I'd know better than to jump to conclusions. I don't like guns, and I never have."
"Probably not a good idea to tell you I let Blake play with an SMG, then?" Ruby said with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
"No." Blake's mother grimaced. "Blake, I never told you about what happened to my mother. When I was twelve, she was shot and killed in a robbery."
Ruby winced. "Guess I really put my foot in that one, didn't I? Mrs. Belladonna, I was raised around firearms, and my mother made sure I had a healthy respect for them. And ma'am, if it helps, I made sure Blake took a firearms safety from a professional, certified instructor before she bought that weapon she has in the console. And it's smaller than she originally wanted."
"Please, call me Kali." She passed the badge back to Ruby. "I guess if you're a VBI agent, that explains how you were able to take down Adam. He's a lot bigger than you if I remember right."
"Ruby rode him like a bucking bronco and trussed him up like a turkey," Blake laughed. "Someone gave me security footage from the jeweler's across the street."
"Blaake," Ruby whined, and the others laughed. "Okay, now that that's sorted out, can we get back to the problem of where your parents are staying tonight? No offense, Blake, but your place is kinda small."
"Economical," Blake retorted.
"There's another problem," Ghira rumbled. I was supposed to be hosting a dinner in the Hilton's private dining room tomorrow night. I need to find somewhere else to have it."
"That's probably a little more solvable," Blake said, reaching for her phone.
"Weiss?" asked Ruby.
"Weiss," Blake confirmed as she typed out a message. "How many people, dad?"
"Twenty. And, um, are you sure this 'Weiss' can help us?"
"If she can't, she might know someone who can." Weiss, I need a favor. My dad's in town, and he needs somewhere to host a dinner for twenty people tomorrow night
The reply was quick and sharp. And you're coming to me with this now?
Blake: Their hotel's on fire and he was supposed to have the dinner there
Weiss: Very well. Meet us at the restaurant and I will see what I can do
Yang: Dammit, Blake, do you know how hard it is to get her to take a day off? Especially on the same day I have off?
Ruby: We're on suspension, sis. Right now every day is a day off
Yang: And I wanna spend it showing my wife how much I love her. You might consider doing the same with Blake
Blake: Oh, I've already let my assistant manager know An idea popped into Blake's head, and she looked back at Ruby. "Okay, we're going to run an errand on our way to meet Weiss. You two need to find a new hotel anyway, right Dad?" Ruby frowned at her, puzzled, then jumped when her phone buzzed. Ah, much became clear.
Kali was dozing lightly as Ghira worked out their new reservation. She jumped as someone knocked on her window. "Yes, what—oh, it's you, Ruby. I didn't recognize you"
Ruby raised an eyebrow. Blake's idea had been to swing by Ruby's place and have Ruby change into her normal working outfit. A three-piece suit complete with dark red button-down shirt and sunglasses made Ruby look a lot more formidable. "I understand, ma'am. I'm used to being underestimated." She climbed into the car, not quite able to keep a smirk off her face. "Oh, Blake, I brought your present with me. Figured I should give it to you before I forgot."
"Present-oh, last night was our anniversary, wasn't it? With everything going on, I totally forgot." Blake took the slim little package from Ruby, unwrapping it with a puzzled look on her face at the books within. "Ninjas of Love? Ruby, I already have the whole series."
"Open one of the covers."
"Oh my god, they're signed?!" Blake exclaimed, making her mother laugh. Blake had always been so calm and collected, seeing her lose it and fangirl out was a rarity. "How-when-?"
"Remember last month, when I got called in to work a weekend thing at the last minute? Turned out they wanted me to blend into the crowd at the Vale Comic Con. I do pretty good at looking like a harmless college girl when I need to. She was there as a guest of honor and I, uh, asked the con staff nicely if I could get a signature without having to wait in line," Ruby finished, embarrassed.
"'To Blake, courtesy of a young lady who knows how lucky she is,'" Blake read aloud. "Thank you, Ruby. Oh! I have yours in my purse." The cat-eared girl fished out a bright red envelope, handing it over.
Now it was Ruby's turn to look puzzled. "A gift certificate to… Vapor Geeks? Where's that?"
"It's a vape shop. They sell those 'e-cigarette' things. I, um, I thought it might help with the quitting smoking," Blake answered.
"You smoke, Ruby?" Kali asked, turning around to face Ruby.
"Heh, yeah, have since high school. Blake's making me quit."
"I'm not surprised," Ghira rumbled. "She's been after her mother to quit for years."
"Which makes it more surprising she'd take up with a smoker herself," Kali said, smiling at Blake. "I suppose it goes to show how much she cares about you."
Blake nodded, putting the car in reverse and pulling out into traffic. "Ruby's incredible, mom. I just, I just want you to get to know her, that's all."
Ghira stopped, reading the name outside Schnee's. "Blake, are you sure about this? Throwing a dinner party at a restaurant owned by Jacques Schnee? The people I'm meeting with, they might get the wrong impression."
"Trust me, dad," Blake said, shaking her head as she opened the door. "The owner likes Jacques Schnee about as much as you do. Maybe less. She's had more time to learn to loathe him."
Weiss was waiting for them in a dining room bigger than the one they'd eaten in the night before. "I hope this will meet your needs, Mister-" She stopped, her eyes growing narrow. "Blake, you didn't mention who your father was."
"I don't get it," Ruby said. "What's she talking about, Blake?"
Blake sighed. "Ruby, my dad's the head of what's probably one of the biggest whistle-blower groups out there. Last year, they got half the board of directors of Winchester Bank sent to prison. Most of the rest resigned in disgrace. Weiss' dad would probably dance a jig if he heard mine was dead."
Ghira frowned. "Then you are Weiss Schnee, younger daughter of Jacques Schnee?"
Weiss nodded. "Indeed, although I'd use the word 'hostile' to describe our relationship. When we have time, I'd be more than happy to walk you through my father's attempts to ruin my life." A satisfied smile spread across her face. "But first, let me say that it gives me no small pleasure to put Schnee's at the service of the Menagerie Group. Now, let's get down to brass tacks. This promises to be a challenge, and I do love a challenge..."