Hello, here's chapter 21. Hope you folks enjoy it. Takes place the day after last chapter, so Thursday of week 1.
Beta reader: LawsonHawk
I do not own RWBY and make no monetary gain from this. Writing is for entertainment purposes only.
Ruby hummed a tune to herself she'd heard on the radio a few days ago, grabbing another few pieces of salad, sliced tomatoes, and cucumber and putting them on the sandwiches she was busy preparing. Then she applied a generous amount of mayonnaise to make it edible again. She couldn't fathom why Weiss insisted on putting vegetables on sandwiches of all things; it made no sense! It wasn't bad; no, Ruby could admit to herself that it was alright, but it was the idea of combining deliciously soft bread with veggies that felt offensive in itself. Still, some sacrifices had to be made for her girlfriend, right?
And some compromises, hence the mayonnaise. That should do it.
Critically examining her creation, she was pretty happy with the end result. While it wasn't a masterpiece worthy of a catering company, it looked appetizing enough. Furthermore, it felt very satisfying to stack them on top of one another and push a toothpick into the bread for added stability.
"You forgot the cheese," Taiyang reminded her, making Ruby want to smack herself. Shaking her head at her forgetfulness, Ruby careful undid the last minute of labor and added the missing ingredient before stacking them all over again.
"Whoops. Thanks, Dad. Does it look good enough?" It sounded a bit nervous even to herself, but she couldn't really stop worrying, even if she knew that Weiss wouldn't hold it against her.
"Yeah, don't worry. It looks great; you're getting the hang of the presentation aspect too. No need to be so nervous about it. Weiss will love it."
That was reassuring. Ruby just wanted to make sure everything was perfect; going on dates was still a novel experience, and Weiss deserved making an effort for.
"Are you looking forward to going back to Beacon?"
"Sort of. It's exhausting, but fun. If the break was another two weeks I wouldn't mind however..." While she talked, she kept an eye on the next sandwich she was making, mindful to not mess this one up too.
Taiyang let out a laugh at that. "I know just what you mean. Felt the same way when I studied there, and things will only pick up the pace from now on. Second semester is closing in and that means missions on top of the course work."
Ruby lightly bounced on the ball of her feet from the anticipation of that. She looked forward to leading her team and kicking Grimm butt, even if she was a bit nervous over the responsibilities that came with it.
"I just hope it's better than our first mission," he added.
"Were it rained all day and you didn't find a single Grimm?"
He chuckled. "Yeah. We got back three days later, freezing and shivering." However, from how his eyes seemed to stare into the distance, she knew that more was on his mind. That was always the case. He still grieved, and would probably do so for the rest of his life. Losing two wives wasn't something most people had to deal with, and he had not wanted to find someone to spend his time with after that.
She couldn't fault him for it. The second time had hit him a lot harder, and she could still see the effect so many years later. For her part, there was always a small tightness in her chest when the past was broached. That would probably never go away, no matter how old she got. It was just melancholic to think of what had been but no longer was. Ruby figured she'd probably feel this way for the rest of her life too.
Then he broke out in a genuine laugh, already back to his normal self. "Everyone except Qrow came down with a cold too. He spent the following week telling us how weak we were. When he fell ill the next week, he got it back tenfold. I still give him crap for it every now and then."
While she reached for another toothpick, she smiled at the story, imagining how her uncle must've irritated everyone else to the edge of insanity. It was fun to listen to it, since he didn't often speak of the past.
"Speaking about Beacon, Taiyang continued, "it'll be fun to test your skills this weekend. From the report card, you're doing great in combat class already, but maybe an old man like me can teach you guys a few tricks or two."
Ruby discarded her musing and gave an exaggerated laugh, crossing her arms under her chest and taking on a confident pose, raising herself on her tiptoes for gain height. "Watch out, old man, or you'll lose."
"Like I do whenever we play video games?" He raised a mocking eyebrow at her, and Ruby knew she had already lost the argument. Her dad was the better fighter, both in real life and virtual life.
"Not if Weiss and I team up. I think it's only fair. Two huntresses-in-training should equal one experienced hunter, right?"
He laughed at that. "I'm waiting. What's Weiss up to while she's waiting for you? I hope she's not bored."
"Probably a bit bored. She's studying company business, since she figured she might as well get it over with while she's confined to upstairs."
Ruby giggled to herself over how she had bossed Weiss around. Some persuasion had been needed, more so for the fact that Weiss had caught on and had demanded compensation or else ignore her polite order to not go down the stairs. They'd quickly found a middle-ground both had been very happy with.
Taiyang hummed as he poured the pasta salad he'd been mixing into two lunch boxes for them. "Can't be easy for her. Poor girl, she should be able to live life like the teenager she is." His face lost some of the cheerfulness he had held previously.
"Yeah, but she wants to take over the business and she's willing to work hard to make that happen." Ruby grabbed the plastic wrapping and carefully began to fold it around the sandwiches.
Yeah, Weiss shouldn't have to deal with this. But the world isn't perfect, so we'll have to make the best of it. And we're going on a date so it's as great as it can get for the moment!
"How do you feel about that?" Taiyang's voice held uncertainty, like he wasn't sure if it had been a good question or not to ask.
Ruby looked out the kitchen window, taking in the view of the warm sun that gave the lawn and forest their shine while she tried to find the right way to express herself. A common brimstone butterfly was whimsically turning and diving in the air, seemingly without any pattern or plan.
"I support her and try to make sure that she strikes a good balance between work and fun. She's a lot better at it these days. You should've seen her early on at Beacon. All she did was study, and she was as grumpy as an old house cat since she never relaxed." Ruby snorted in amusement at her own comparison. She was glad Weiss couldn't hear her right now. No doubt she would've taken offense with the comparison. "Don't tell her I said that!"
Taiyang let out a hearty laugh. "I won't, promise. I remember some of the texts you sent me about her. She's changed a lot from what little I can tell, and no doubt thanks to you."
"Mm… befriending her and helping her relax and mellow out wasn't the easiest but… it got us to where we are now, so I think I did a pretty good job." She grinned, wanting to pat her own shoulder for the job well done.
"That you did, sweetie. What was I going to ask you?" He pursed his lips for a moment in thought, before squinting his eyes slightly. "Right, what about long term plans? With her being an heiress and all."
Ruby furrowed her brow and sucked on her chin as she thought. In truth, she had put that conversation off deliberately, not wanting to assume things so early in their relationship. Thankfully, since she had spilled the beans to Yang two days ago she'd felt a lot better about the insecurities and fears that had been plaguing her. The worry she'd endured from time to time had finally been put into perspective. In hindsight, she was really glad Yang had pushed her enough to talk.
That didn't meant that she was fully over it though. Ruby had acknowledged that it would be in the back of her mind for the foreseeable future. What would happen between Weiss and her father was up in the air, they'd only been together for a few month, it was her first relationship, and what they'd do after Beacon was so far into the future it was difficult to imagine.
The difference compared to before was that she now had the tools to handle it. She knew why she felt this way and that it was perfectly normal to feel a little insecure from time to time. Yang had felt the same thing before, and, now that she thought about it, she realized Weiss had felt really insecure early on when they began dating.
I mean, I knew that, but I was pretty naive then and didn't understand her as well. It was probably a lot more nerve-wracking to her than what she let show. But things are better now. A lot better.
And as for herself, what she had to remember was that they loved each other, and as long as they did that, everything would be fine. It was an encouraging thought that always sent a warm feeling spreading throughout her chest whenever she thought of it. It allowed her to confidently answer Taiyang's question.
"We haven't talked about how it'll affect us in the future. It's too early for that; we've only been together for a few months." He nodded in understanding. "I mean, she wants to be a huntress too, so… I don't know, Dad, but I'm sure there's a way, and I'm not going to..." She blushed and idly scratched at her neck where her hair tickled her, her previous concern gone at the optimistic prospect of a future together with Weiss, "I want to be with her for a long time. Forever, even." Her face only got redder from the admission, and she couldn't stop herself from making a dopey smile even if she had wanted to.
He grinned at her. "How the little girl I once could hold with one arm has grown up. You make me so proud every single day. Chasing after your dream at Beacon, finding yourself a lovely partner… Go see your girlfriend; I'll finish up here." He reached out with his hand and ruffled her hair before she could duck out of the way.
Ruby really didn't mind, but it wouldn't be fun to give in without any struggle. They'd played this game for so long now that he expected her to protest. As usual, her protests had no effect at all and she resigned herself to what had now turned into a daily occurrence as he laughed and pulled her into a hug simultaneously.
"Summer is proud of you too, Ruby. I wish she was still here, but I just know that she's watching over your from somewhere. She would have wholeheartedly approved of Weiss too," he said quietly. Then her chuckled, probably from recalling something. "And dote on her something fierce, I bet."
Ruby said nothing at first, only tightening the hug. It was reassuring to hear him say that, confirming what she herself figured. Her chest felt tight again, but she didn't feel sad. It was more nuanced than that; a slight longing, a pinch of regret, gratitude for the few memories she had of her mom, and a spoonful of acceptance that the past couldn't be changed.
"Thanks, Dad. I love you," she replied softly.
"I love you too, Ruby." The words were accompanied by another affectionate pass on her hair.
When Taiyang let her go a few seconds later, the tightness in her chest was already gone, and Ruby eyed the dessert in the oven with apprehension as she tried to ruffle her hair into some semblance of order.
"Dad, will the blueberry pie really turn out well?" It was the first time she'd ever made a pie, and she couldn't help but vent her worry again, despite having had her dad supervise her during the entire process. With Weiss' love for anything with blueberries, she wanted to get it just perfect.
"Don't worry, I won't let it burn. I'll pack everything up for you and put the food in the picnic basket when the pie's cooled enough. Should be done in about thirty minutes and you can go on your merry way with Weiss to your picnic date. Speaking about that, can I take a picture of the two of you before you head out? I haven't added any new pictures to my photo album for too long already."
"Daaaaad!" Ruby whined.
"Alright, alright, no need to pout like that at me. It was just a request. I suppose," he drawled, "I can ask Weiss instead. She can probably make you agree to it." He looked absurdly pleased with the idea, and Ruby feared he would go through with it.
Anything but that!
"I'll think about it," she grumbled in an attempt to stall, knowing that he had already won this match. It wasn't the picture itself that was embarrassing though. Ruby wouldn't mind having a few more pictures of her and Weiss. It was just that he was so eager and happy over the fact that she had a girlfriend, and it had become quite noticeable when things had calmed down after Wess' arrival. He was so proud of her and it was mortifying to experience.
Maybe she was just ungrateful - after all, many parents weren't as open to the idea of a gay daughter, but it made her feel really self-conscious and embarrassed, like when he had loudly complimented one of her poor drawings in art class one day when she was in elementary school.
She wondered if all teenagers felt this conflict within them. Like she was still not grown up, which she really wasn't if she was to be honest with herself, and needed a doting parent who looked after her from a few feet away and cheered her on. Still, Ruby knew he meant only well and only acted the way he did because he loved her and was happy for her sake, and that made her really happy at the same time. She guessed she would just have to endure, give some ground to make him happy and try to get used to it. There was no way this would stop anytime soon, after all.
"Okay, you can take a few pictures. It would be a good memory for us to look back on," she acquiesced when she felt a bit guilty over her earlier refusal, noting how happy her agreeing made him. Quickly, she gave him another hug. "Thanks."
"No problem, Ruby. Love you," he replied and let go of her.
Ruby was about to step out from the kitchen when he called her back. "By the way, sweetie…"
She stopped and turned around. Taiyang scratched at the stubble on his throat, a trait she'd realized he did when he was a bit uncertain over something. "I don't think there's a way to say this that won't embarrass you, and I've been thinking on how to say it for a few days without luck, so I'm just going to get straight to the point..."
Ruby held her breath as she met his eyes, an anxious feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. Had he seen them make out too!?
He took a deep breath, apparently steeling himself for what he was about to say. "You and Weiss don't need to pretend that you're not sharing a bed," he continued, unable to contain the mischievous Yang-like grin spreading over his face. "It's fine, I don't mind, and I'm sure Yang don't either."
Ruby went stiff as as a board and made a very unladylike sound in the back of her throat from the pure shock of having been called out on it. It felt like the floor disappeared under her and she was free-falling. Taiyang began to laugh, and it only made her face feel like it was on fire. How had he figured it out?
Both Weiss and her had unanimously decided it was something they should keep to themselves, but now that he had reassured her it was fine, she felt stupid for having kept it a secret in the first place and shame for the very same reason.
"Sorry, Dad. It was just… I don't know how to say. It was..." her futile struggle for words to express herself ended in silence and she let her arms fall limply to her side. Ruby hadn't lied to him, but she had gone a pretty long way to obfuscate the truth, and that was equally bad in her mind. It would've just been really embarrassing to bring it up! She didn't even know or want to know how to start such a conversation.
"I would've done the same thing your age, Ruby," Taiyang reassured her. "I'm not angry or disappointed; I just want you to know that there's no need for the two of you to hide it. It's clear as day you love each other, so it's natural for you two to want to be together. No need to leave the spare mattress in a messy state anymore. Just put it back in the storage room." He gave her a kind smile, letting her know there wasn't anything to ask forgiveness for.
Feeling better already, she nodded. "Okay, I will. Dad… thanks."
Now there was only the matter of breaking the news to Weiss gently.
Good luck, Ruby Rose. She's going to faint on the spot from mortification.
He waved her away, and she stepped into the hallway, already considering various ways to broach the subject. In the common room she could make out Yang and Blake watching some random soap opera. Predictable enough, her sister was splayed out over the sofa, if Ruby was to guess based on the feet poking out at the end of it. She turned her attention to the hallway mirror when she caught her own reflection and vainly tried to fix the mess that was now her hair.
While she did so, the realization hit her that they'd just had a father-daughter talk about a relationship she was in. Even if it was embarrassing how enthusiastic and happy Taiyang could get over that fact, Ruby could only feel gratitude towards him for not treating it like a casual fling. He understood how much Weiss meant to her, and so had taken it seriously when it mattered.
In the mirror she could see him continuing the preparations, and it made a broad smile pull at her lips. He was the best dad anyone could ever ask for, and she loved him so much. How excited and happy he was that they were visiting spoke volumes, so the knowledge that she'd have to go back to Beacon made her a bit sad. At least they kept in touch frequently through their Scrolls, and she knew he was doing well these days.
Mostly successful at the task of fixing her hair, Ruby was about to put her foot down on the first step of the stairs when an idea struck her. She wondered if she could scare Weiss if she crept up on her quietly. Maybe it wasn't the best idea in the world, but she had to try sometime, right? She figured Weiss wouldn't even bat an eyelash, but who knew? And if Weiss took it badly she still had the surprise date to smooth things over with. Now that the idea was stuck in her head, she couldn't not do it - it had been far too long since she had scared anyone. Her last victim had been Yang on Halloween last year. She snickered at the memory of Yang jumping so high she hit her head on the ceiling.
Carefully, she began to make her way up the stairs like some sort of ninja. Each step was agonizingly slow to traverse as quietly as possible, and the anticipation building in her wore her patience thin. After nearly a minute though, she found herself on the upper floor and began sneaking towards her room.
Her heart was beating loudly in her chest from the anticipation, and she stilled her breathing like some kind of predator closing in on its prey as she looked into her room. Weiss was there, but not at the desk like Ruby had come to expect from whenever she was studying. Instead, she was lying on her stomach in their bed, head propped up with an arm, and her nose deep in a book.
Ruby just stood there for a few moments and admired her girlfriend in silence. The white dress Weiss was wearing fit her perfectly, showing off her shoulder blades where her loose hair didn't hide them. It ended just above her knees, and Ruby's eyes greedily drank in the sight of her smooth thighs and the cute rear she could make out.
Her thoughts drifted back to two days ago. Ruby was pretty sure she'd never forget the sight of Weiss in a bikini, looking so absolutely stunning and gorgeous she'd almost not known what to do.
And then Weiss had suggested they'd help each other with the sunscreen to a degree Ruby hadn't realistically dreamed of, even if she had entertained the idea as a fantasy that could maybe happen in the far future.
The reminiscence made a wave of heat creep up her cheeks as her thoughts drifted to more carnal desires. When it came to intimacy, things had changed between them after their excursion in a way that made her mind increasingly drift towards that particular avenue… more than usual.
Maybe I should ask her if we can go swimming again… just the two of us. Make it a date next week?
The motivation was partially driven by impure thoughts, but she genuinely wanted to go swimming again, and Weiss had obviously enjoyed herself a lot in the water. And if they just so happened to get a little touchy… well, a girl could always hope, right?
But she couldn't stay there and look at Weiss forever. Focusing back on the task at hand, she tiptoed into the room and slowly moved towards the bed.
Suddenly, a small high-pitched cry of...something, slipped out from Weiss. From her angle, Ruby could just barely make out that Weiss' ears were flaming red.
That was odd. Weiss looked, based on how she was squirming around, embarrassed. Very embarrassed. It was a mystery that merited an unraveling - after she'd scared Weiss. Not wanting to waste any more time, she crept closer… and closer…and took a deep breath.
"Weiss!"
To her credit, Weiss didn't scream, though she made what could best be described as a small squeak, and practically flew up from the bed, book in hand. "Ruby! Don't scare me like that!" Her face was red and her eyes slightly wild, one hand coming to rest over her chest.
Ruby burst out laughing, clutching her stomach as she utterly failed to restrain her amusement. Looking up at Weiss only made her laugh all the harder. Now that Weiss had composed herself again, her arms were crossed under her chest and she had a stern look on her face, eyebrows arched, as if daring her to continue.
Wiping moisture from her eyes, Ruby took a few deep breaths to calm herself enough to be able to talk; apologies had to be made, no matter how fun that had been.
So worth it!
"Sorry, I only wanted to know if you got scared easily." She let out an anxious laugh under Weiss' unamused glare that remained firm. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
Weiss sighed and rolled her eyes, the bite disappearing from her gaze. "Well, I suppose it was worth it if it made you laugh that hard, dolt. Just please don't do it again; I really don't enjoy surprises of that kind." She dropped her other hand to the side, thereby exposing the book. A small smile played on her lips, which gave Ruby some peace of mind. She had already been forgiven.
Ruby focused her attention on the object Weiss was holding and tilted her head to get a better look at the title. "Under the Pale Moonlight. I've never heard of it before. What's it about?"
Weiss' eyes widened almost comically, and her face took on a much darker shade of red than before. She visibly stiffened. "I-It's...a book," Weiss explained lamely, tucking the article under her arm in an attempt to hide it.
Something wasn't right here. Ruby could smell a buried owl from a mile away, at least when it came to Weiss trying to play inconspicuous. If it was just any book, or a company report, she wouldn't have had that cute stutter to her voice, nor would her demeanor be so coy.
There was always a fine balance to be struck between giving your partner space, and being invested into what they were doing, but Ruby figured she could afford to prod a bit further. If Weiss really didn't want her to know she would leave it at that. However, before she could say anything else, Weiss spoke up.
"Well… it's just that…" Weiss trailed off. For a moment, it looked like she was debating with herself. She pursed her lips in thought, then the hesitation Ruby saw in her gaze gave way to determination and she slowly pulled out the book again, giving it to Ruby. The next second, Weiss broke the eye contact and stared at the wall instead, visibly uncomfortable.
"Weiss, what's wrong?" Ruby asked softly. Her girlfriend's behaviour was both uncharacteristic and bewildering. Preemptively, she walked over to the door and closed it before returning to Weiss. The conversation ahead looked like it required some privacy.
"Just... read the synopsis. I think it will explain it sufficiently," Weiss explained in a meek tone of voice, her eyes briefly flickering to Ruby's before averting again.
Somewhat puzzled, but doing as she was told, Ruby took a good look at the book in her hand, stroking her thumb over the glossy protective cover that was slightly worn at the edges. It wasn't very thick, probably no more than 300 pages. Ruby turned it around to read the back cover, and her eyes widened as she scanned the text. The 18+ recommendation at the bottom, and the fact that it was published by the same company as Blake's book, made it abundantly clear what the contents would be if she were to take a peek inside.
Ruby mind raced as she went over the implications. Weiss was secretly reading erotic literature! "This is similar to Ninjas of Love, isn't it?" she blurted it out within thinking, and she instantly clamped a hand over her mouth, cursing herself for her tendency to run it without thinking.
Weiss' gaped at her. Her disbelief would've made Ruby laugh had the situation been different. "You've read it too?!"
"Too, Weiss?" Things were happening too quickly for her, with one surprising revelation after another.
Weiss nodded absentmindedly, then jolted as her own mind caught with her admission and winched. "Yes, but I've only read a small part of it. When did you read it?"
Ruby laughed nervously and scratched at the floor with her toes, "Please don't tell Blake this, but I saw it poking out from under her blanket one day and got curious. It's, uhm, good... if you know what I mean." She glanced at the book in her hand again. "Which I'm preeeeetty sure you do."
Weiss began to chuckle, only for it to transform into full on laughter. She stepped close to Ruby and leaned against her, looping her arms behind her back and squeezing her tightly against her. Ruby wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but she didn't mind and hugged back. Weiss buried her face in the crook of her neck, something Ruby absolutely loved. Her girlfriend's chipped breathing felt warm against her skin as Weiss continued to shake with laughter.
"We're an amazing couple, aren't we?" Weiss eventually managed to get out once she'd caught her breath.
Ruby chuckled knowingly, comprehension dawning on her. Weiss was spot on. So they had both been reading that kind of books secretly. "Well, yeah, it's the two of us. We're awesome!"
"Like you say, it's… good." Weiss cleared her throat and Ruby felt how she played with a wrinkle on the back of the t-shirt she was wearing. "Do you remember the talk we had when things… turned very exciting between us in the dorm room a little over a week ago?"
Ruby certainly recalled that day. Those memories were sweet to her, sending her heart racing instantly. She became acutely aware of her girlfriend's lavender fragrance and warm body pressed against her, and her throat all of sudden felt very dry. "Yes," she somehow managed to say without a tremble, though none the wiser about where Weiss was going with this.
"I had actually purchased this book earlier the same day… to think things over." Weiss continued her explanation while disentangling herself just enough so they stood in front of one another and their eyes met, her arms still around Ruby's lower back. Weiss' beautiful eyes showcased conflicting emotions, just like her manners. It was so cute.
The revelation was the last piece Ruby needed to connect it all in her mind. It all made sense now. Weiss was struggling with her discomfort when it came to sex and was evidently exposing herself to the idea, trying to figure things out.
It also explained the escalating sexual tension between them over the last few days, which had thrown Ruby off her game. Thinking back on the past week, It had really started on the morning after Weiss had arrived, but she had then chalked that up to Weiss' feelings still being in turmoil. However, over the following days, in particular after they'd gone swimming, there had been a noticeable change in Weiss' behaviour.
Weiss had become a lot more aggressive in her affections after that, which maybe wasn't that surprising considering the lust she'd seen in those brilliant blue eyes when they helped each other with the sunscreen protection.
It certainly gave making out in her bed a bit more spice, with the way Weiss' hands would roam over her clothes now, and to experience her girlfriend taking their intimacy further than before, actually groping her over the clothes as they kissed. For the same reasons, it was very frustrating. Ruby had until she met Weiss never reflected on the term 'sexual frustration' and hadn't anticipated having to deal with it, but over the last month in particular she begrudgingly had to acknowledge that she knew all about it. She wished that wasn't the case.
Their conversation from back in the dorm room was one she'd kept in mind ever since though, and she hadn't dared to escalate things further for fear of making Weiss uncomfortable or being pushy. So she had simply let Weiss set the pace, keeping her own hands over the clothes too. It was the new norm in their relationship, and as much difficulty it brought her, she wouldn't want to go back to before.
I just hope nobody figures out why I'm in the shower longer than usual...
But if Weiss was reading a book like that and evidently thinking on the subject, then she was a lot more open to the idea of taking the next step than Ruby had guessed. She needed to confirm it though, just to be sure. And she reminded herself to do so for the right reasons - something her own sexual frustration wasn't a part of.
"Is that why you've been so affectionate lately? Don't get me wrong, I like it a lot," Ruby tried to keep the grin off of her face as she said that but failed miserably, "and I don't want you to stop, but I was curious about what changed."
Weiss looked quite sheepish at having been asked so directly, but Ruby didn't fail to notice how her girlfriend puffed up unconsciously over the praise she'd given. It was very cute to see.
"You could say that. It's also because I'm here together with you, because I love you, and… because you looked really good in the bikini."
Ruby, mirroring Weiss shade of red perfectly, only managed a shy reply. "Thanks."
A very awkward silence crept up between them. Ruby was about to open her mouth when Weiss beat her to it.
"I know you want to move things forward, and so do I, which I'm sure you've noticed." They smiled awkwardly at each other. "I'm still not ready though... it's not that I don't want to... but it's…It just makes me very nervous."
Weiss bit her lip in thought, then added, "That's why I bought it, to expose myself to the idea and help with ridding myself of the insecurities I feel. I know how much you've done for me and how much you love me, and I'm sorry I can't seem to make up my mind about what should be a natural thing for a couple and something that I want to experience myself."
Ruby lay the book down on their bed and intertwined their fingers instead, gazing into Weiss' eyes. Hearing Weiss actually apologize for her hesitation didn't sit right with her at all. She leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss, one that Weiss reciprocated tenderly.
Then she pulled back, keeping their eyes locked. "Weiss, never ever apologize for that. We'll go at your pace, and I won't do something you don't want to. I admit that… sex," a blush bloomed all over her face at saying it, "is on my mind, but it's only a small part of our relationship. We're so much more than that, so I'll wait."
Her girlfriend's eyes were calm again, the hesitation she'd seen now gone. An idea struck her then. Maybe she could help Weiss, after all. Maybe her girlfriend didn't have to deal with this alone.
I want to help her. It's really sad that she doesn't have anyone else to talk to. I should be there for her.
It was a pretty heartbreaking realization she Weiss didn't have anyone to turn. She resolved herself to what she was about to suggest.
"Maybe you're going about it wrong, though." Weiss cocked her head questioningly and Ruby hurried to explain the rest. "Since it's about us, how about we read it together, and figure it out together?"
As soon as she'd said it, doubt filled her mind. She waited with bated breath for Weiss to respond. Besides the second-guessing, Ruby felt a bit guilty for even suggesting it. The idea was good and she knew her real motivation was to make Weiss comfortable with the topic, but the more primal part of the brain had seized the opportunity too. She tried somewhat unsuccessfully to not imagine what a scenario like that, with the two of them in bed, reading what was essentially erotica, could lead to.
But maybe it was wrong to even think like that - wouldn't anyone else have felt the same? Weiss probably did too, else why would she have shown it to her in the first place? Ruby guessed they'd just have to do what they did best: be an awesome couple and figure it out together.
Weiss stirred it over, her eyes unfocused and lip pursed as she no doubt weighed the pros and cons of it.
"But how would it help? I just… want to face my anxiety and overcome it. Somehow." Frustration could clearly be heard in her voice.
"Then why don't we start reading and take it from there? And maybe talk about how we think of… sex and if there's," Ruby cleared her throat awkwardly, blushing profusely, "anything in particular we want to… you know… do. I think it'll come up naturally as we read. The point of us reading together is so we kinda have to talk about it. "
"Oh." Weiss was quiet for a moment as she took it in."Yes, we can do that.' It sounded uncertain, but Ruby was pretty sure that there was no way to get around that.
"Could be fun too; I'm sure it's a good read," Ruby added in an attempt at humor, though it came out slightly shrill.
"I haven't gotten very far in it yet, so...we could do that," her girlfriend's reply came, sounding a bit cheerful despite the undertone of embarrassment, and it allowed Ruby to dispel her doubt.
She didn't fully understand Weiss' hesitation. Her girlfriend had told her last week that she didn't feel ready, but Ruby didn't quite get the rest. She could hazard a guess that it had to do with Weiss' fears over coming out and her childhood, but beyond that she didn't have a clue. She could at times easily see the raw desire in her girlfriend's eyes, and the way their kissing had progressed lately offered more proof, so it wasn't like Weiss didn't want to. She was either repressing it, or some insecurity was holding her back. Talking it over would help her understand and maybe help Weiss feel better about physical intimacy.
Weiss shouldn't have to feel this way. She deserves to be fully comfortable with who she is. And since we're a fantastic couple we'll figure it out!
Ruby decided to change the topic, and get back on track with what she had planned for the day. "Just tell me when you want us to start on it."
Weiss nodded, shooting her a small smile. "I will when I feel ready."
"You're done with the business stuff right?" Ruby asked then, seeking to turn the conversation towards her great plan of spoiling Weiss with another date.
"Yes, and for tomorrow too, actually. Some of it was easier to grasp than I had anticipated."
"Okay, that's great! Because I, Ruby Rose, your beautiful girlfriend and best friend forever, have a surprise for you." How she had longed to reveal this to Weiss! Surprising her girlfriend was so much fun, but keeping it secret until all was ready hadn't been the easiest for her. Scouting out the location, asking Taiyang to buy the ingredients and then preparing all of it while keeping quiet about it had been agonizing.
If any of my old classmates could see me with Weiss, they would be green with envy. She's so pretty!
Weiss lips quirked upwards into a smile as she waited for the big reveal. "Oh, and what, pray tell, would that be? Does it have anything to do with why you said, and I quote, 'Weiss, you aren't allowed to go downstairs no matter what until I say so'? I've noticed a really delicious scent coming up the stairs for the last few minutes."
"Yep!" Ruby exclaimed enthusiastically. Just like that, things were back to normal between them. "But it's more than food. A lunch date. It'll be like our date outside of Beacon, but even better! Dad helped me make the food, which doesn't sound as impressive as I would've liked it to," Ruby shot Weiss a sheepish look, "but means that it'll taste a whole lot better than if I did it myself. And there's dessert too - blueberry pie."
Weiss' eyes lit up at that. "That sounds lovely. It would be a shame to spend the entire day indoors, wouldn't it?" Their eyes drifted to the window and the blue sky visible outside.
You're so smooth, Ruby Rose.
A realization entered her mind then. There was some bad news on the horizon, and she had to break it to Weiss before they stepped downstairs. "Weiss, there's two things I have to tell you first though…"
"Yes?"
She figured she may as well get it over with quickly to not protract the pain. She took a deep breath and steeled herself. "One: Dad wants to take a picture of us before we head out, and two: he knows we're sleeping in the same bed."
Weiss' eyes widened comically.
I hope this chapter was enjoyable! I've been wanting to show Ruby spending time with Taiyang for the longest time, and it was really fun to have her walk in on Weiss reading questionable literature.
Reviews are appreciated, no matter how long or short they are.