Chapter 21

Ruby was finally getting used to the routine. Wake up, shower, hug Blake, ignore random pains on the way to work, friendly greeting with Penny, new desk in Weiss' lobby...new desk in Weiss' lobby? "For the use of Ms. Schnee's personal security." Penny explained upon prompting. Her avatar's lip synching had improved greatly.

"Oh yeah." Ruby recalled as she circled her desk, dropping her purse underneath.

"How was your dinner with Ms. Nikos and Mr. Ren?" Penny asked.

"Really good, they're great cooks." Ruby admired. "Blake liked it there, Sun behaved, and their friends Jaune and Nora were really nice."

"Sensational!" Penny cheered. "I am happy you enjoyed your weekend."

"What about yours Penny?" Ruby inquired, logging into her station.

"Oh, it was nothing special." Penny hitched, her avatar covering its mouth before giggling. "I monitored critical aspects of my existence. I am considering an important advancement. The wisdom of this advancement, however, is a matter of debate, potentially risking my system integrity."

"What's the risk?" Ruby inquired.

"It's...classified, but I can tell you it could potentially alter my existence for the better, depending on the results." Penny explained.

"Hmm...well no matter what happens, you have my support Penny." Ruby offered.

"Thank you Ruby, that means a great deal." Penny smiled. "Ah, the new guard has arrived."

"Oh, right, and Weiss?" Ruby asked.

"Running a tad late it seems, but I will keep you posted!" Penny saluted.

The elevator arrived with a chime and the doors slid open to reveal...Jaune? "Oh, wasn't expecting to see you here." Ruby managed.

"I wasn't expecting to be up here." Jaune admitted with a nervous chuckle. "They just told me I'd be working full time, not what I'd be doing. Personal security for the CEO...I thought I was just gonna' be checking bags at the checkpoint like usual."

"That is kinda' odd." Ruby nodded. "Why would they post the new guy here?"

Jaune shrugged, taking a seat at his desk. It was smaller than Ruby's but still held a computer, this one displaying security camera views of the stairway and elevator approaches to the floor. "I'm just grateful to have a real full time job."

"Good morning Mr. Arc, would you like a tutorial on controlling the cameras?" Penny spoke up.

"No thank you, I know how to work them." Jaune replied.

"How was your weekend Mr. Arc?" Penny inquired.

"My weekend...pretty good." Jaune answered. "Uh...Ruby?"

"What's up?" Ruby quirked her brow.

"Is it normal for Penny to ask that?" Jaune asked.

"Yep." Ruby confirmed. "It'll be cool for both of us to have another person to talk to."

"I look forward to getting to know you better...but Ms. Schnee has arrived." Penny warned. "She does not look happy."

Ruby and Jaune looked at one another before doing their best to appear professional. When Weiss reached the floor she did not look great. Dark, heavy bags ringed her eyes, her hair was not quite as perfect as usual, and she was most definitely not happy, a far cry from her usual Monday morning mood. Ruby found the change concerning, but Jaune just looked intimidated. His apparent nervousness only intensified when Weiss approached, sizing up her new guard. "I suppose you'll do." She commented.

"Oh, um...nice to meet you Ms. Schnee." Jaune managed. "Ren and Pyrrha speak very highly of you."

"And they gave you a glowing recommendation." Weiss noted. She paused for a moment. "Good morning Ruby." Without waiting for a reply, she slipped into her office, the heavy door closing and locking behind her.

"Well, that explains the position." Jaune shrugged. "Is she always so...intimidating?"

"Sometimes...usually not…" Ruby replied, as diplomatically as she could.

"I guess I don't make a very impressive guard." Jaune sighed. "They didn't even give me a gun, just a taser."

"It's not you." Ruby shook her head. "She hasn't been herself since...well, you know."

"Yeah...I know." Jaune nodded.

"I'm sure she'll warm up to you." Ruby encouraged. "Right Penny?"

Penny hesitated. "Yes, of course!" The AI cheered before hitching.

Ruby and Jaune spent the morning learning about one another. As it happened, they had both faced great hardships and overcome them to end up at the SDC. Ruby had her injury and Jaune had a story of his own that gave some insight about Nora too. The pair had met when both were working at a less than reputable restaurant in a run down part of Atlas. Jaune had been living in his car at the time, having moved to Atlas with almost nothing. Nora was living in a decrepit apartment in a crime-ridden neighborhood. When Jaune got his part time job at the SDC, it brought in enough money for them to afford a new apartment. It was small but safe, cozy as he described it.

The morning seemed to fly by. After just observing for a time, Penny joined in the conversation a bit. Weiss however remained aloof, locked in her office. She did not even send Ruby on any deliveries or pickups. Ruby had anticipated a busy day, but it was proving to be anything but. She worried Weiss was overworking herself, taking on all responsibilities without letting those around her help. Ruby contemplated knocking on Weiss' door or calling her on the intercom to check on her, but decided against it. Surely Weiss knew what she was doing. She was tough, she would be fine.

As lunchtime approached, Ruby got ready to head down to the cafeteria to pick up Weiss' lunch. She stretched her leg, working out a subtle ache. "I'm heading down to the cafeteria. Want me to get you anything?"

"Oh uh...yeah." Jaune agreed. "I'm not allowed to leave the floor as long as Weiss is here."

"You should have brought something with you." Ruby advised.

"I was planning to, just forgot." Jaune explained. Motion on one of the security monitors drew his attention. "Oh gods no…"

"What is it?" Ruby asked.

"Nora's here with the lunch I forgot." Jaune replied.

"That's not so bad." Ruby shrugged.

"Cardin's with her." Jaune added.

"Okay, that's pretty bad." Ruby allowed.

Soon the elevator chimed, the door sliding open to reveal Nora - clad in sweatpants and a t-shirt - and her smirking escort. Nora smiled brightly, holding a brown paper bag. "Hey Jaune!" She cheered. "Hey Ruby!"

"So you do have a girlfriend after all." Cardin grinned. "I didn't think you had it in you."

"Nora, you didn't have to come all the way here just to bring my lunch." Jaune noted, doing his best to ignore his boss. "Ruby was just gonna' pick up something for me from the cafeteria."

"Aw...but I made it for you special." Nora pouted. "How did you forget it?"

"Sorry, I was just nervous about my first day." Jaune apologized. Cardin looked like he was about to burst into laughter.

"How's your day going?" Nora asked. "Getting along with everyone?"

"It's been alright Nora." Jaune replied. "It's just been me and Ruby so far, we were just getting to know each other."

"Miss me?" Nora leaned in.

"Of course." Jaune nodded. He could see Cardin mocking him over Nora's shoulder.

"Well, I guess I should let you get back to work." Nora noted. She leaned in and kissed Jaune on the cheek. "Love you."

"I...uh...love you too Nora." Jaune responded as Cardin made kissy faces.

"Ruby I…" Weiss started as she emerged from her office, finding the crowd filling her lobby. "What's…"

"I'll head back down." Cardin cut in. He avoided Weiss as much as physically possible, hating her almost as much as she loathed him. He quickly pushed his way into the stairwell so he would not have to wait for the elevator.

"My girlfriend brought me lunch." Jaune explained.

"That's…" Weiss trailed off as she and Nora locked eyes. What little color remained in Weiss' complexion drained away as her eyes widened.

"Oh...hey Ca-Ms. Schnee." Nora greeted with a hesitant wave. "I'm Nora, Jaune's girlfriend." Though she tried her best to play it off, her acting skills were lacking. There was familiarity in both their gazes.

"Nora...well...I um…" Weiss fumbled. Ruby had never seen her so tongue tied. The CEO took a deep breath and schooled her posture and facial expression. "You're a friend of Pyrrha and Ren as well?" Nora nodded in confirmation. "Lovely...would you mind talking to me in my office?"

"Of course." Nora agreed. She followed Weiss inside, the door shutting and locking behind her.

"What was that about?" Ruby asked.

"I have no idea." Jaune replied. The knowing look on his face gave away his lie, but Ruby was not about to press the issue.

As the door closed, Nora found herself frozen by Weiss' gaze. Shock and fear ruled her features. Her mouth twitched open as if to speak first but closed instead, the CEO swallowing nervously. "I didn't think you wanted to see me again." Nora began, shrugging.

Weiss' mouth bobbed open as if to snap a response, but she took a deep breath first. "I didn't mean to give that impression. It's just...a lot happened."

"I saw." Nora nodded. "Kinda' hard to miss the big bad falling down some stairs. Couldn't walk five feet without someone mentioning it."

Weiss' mouth twitched upward a fraction as she shook her head. "It took two years for stair jokes to go away."

"I've kept them running." Nora teased. "The Faunus never got tired of them."

Weiss' brow furrowed and she bit her lip briefly. "You don't still-"

"No, no not for a while now...I've...Jaune helped me leave it behind." Nora cut in.

"I'm sorry Nora." Weiss sighed shakily. "I tried to find you and I couldn't...a-and I feared the worst until…" Her breath hitched, Nora stepped forward, and Weiss melted into her arms, sniffling as they clung to one another.

"It's okay!" Nora soothed. "It's not like I blame you. I mean, yeah it was fun and we enjoyed it, but it was just business."

"I didn't want to leave you thinking it didn't mean more than that." Weiss insisted.

"I know, I know, and I did mean more but…" Nora pulled back slightly, Weiss reluctantly withdrawing, moving her hands to take Nora's own. The ginger smiled sadly at the contact. "You were you, and I was…a random prostitute."

"Escort." Weiss emphasized.

"Yeah, yeah, my pimp was corporate." Nora rolled her eyes. "Doesn't change the fact that I was all the way down there and you were all the way up here a few months later."

Weiss huffed, frowning. "I don't care about that, I never cared about that. I was just afraid of Father finding out and...then things got busy, and stressful, and what little time I did spend to search for you...you'd vanished."

"Pyrrha and Ren never told you about me?" Nora asked.

"That was just it!" Weiss exclaimed. "They told me about you often, and at first I thought it was just coincidence, but then pictures started coming up and...I wasn't sure if it really was you. You grew out your hair and gained some weight-not that that's a bad thing!" She hurriedly assured.

Nora giggled. "Oh trust me, I know, Jaune makes sure of it." Nora winked, then laughed at Weiss' blank grimace. "What's the matter? Jauney stick his foot in his mouth already?"

"No...he's just...surprisingly average for a guard and...I'm sorry, I don't mean to be too judgemental." Weiss struggled.

"Oh don't worry about it." Nora waved her off. "I know he seems a little dull, but he cleans up very nice. If it weren't for him I'd probably still be hanging around clubs doing first timer specials for kicks."

"Was he a first timer?" Weiss asked.

Nora shook her head. "Nope, I actually met him after seeing a client. He was working at this shitty diner, and it wasn't busy, we got to talking and...well I kept coming back."

"And you've been safe since?" Weiss pressed.

"Well...as safe as I could be." Nora shrugged.

"Nora…" Weiss sighed.

"I didn't get out of my career for kicks Weiss...can we sit down?" Nora requested. "I walked most of the way here and my feet are killing me."

"Oh of course." Weiss led Nora over to the comfortable armchairs before her desk, turning them around to face one another before taking a seat. A part of her missed the physical contact, but given the circumstances, any longer may have given the wrong impression.

"It's a fancy office you've got here, bet the desk saw some action." Nora smirked, winking.

Weiss rolled her eyes. "I keep my trysts private Nora. You do realize how many Faunus work here?"

"So you do get some?" Nora teased. "I was worried those tricks I taught you might have gone to waste."

"As if you haven't grilled Pyrrha and Ren about it." Weiss accused.

"Oh, subtly-" Nora started.

"You, subtle?" Weiss scoffed.

"Hey, I can be subtle!" Nora protested. "I just don't want to. Besides, didn't wanna' arouse suspicion. Heh...arouse."

"Focus Nora...or sorry, Freyja." Weiss leered.

Nora snorted. "Yes Carmine. At least my name fits my heritage. The only thing carmine about you was your-"

"Ah, stop!" Weiss cut in. "No sex talk in the office."

"Oh boring." Nora complained. "Come on, rules are dumb. You should break a few." She waved toward the door. "You've got a cute receptionist out there, use your sexy CEO routine to seduce her!"

"I'm not going to seduce my assistant." Weiss groaned, smiling regardless. "Ruby is a newfound friend...I wish to cherish that."

"Naw." Nora mocked.

"Shush you, and regardless, I have partners." Weiss noted. "I just don't make them public."

"Well why not?" Nora challenged. "Love should be celebrated!"

"For many reasons Nora, the most important of which is safety." Weiss huffed. "Now more than ever."

Nora seemed to deflate a little at the sudden change in tone, but smiled through it all the same. She reached forward and took Weiss' hands into her own. "Are you okay?"

Weiss chuckled, devoid of mirth as she shook her head. "I'm trying to be." Taking a deep and weary breath, Weiss managed to smile. "One day at a time, until this madness ends...if it ever ends."

"If there's anything I can do to help...I uh...I don't have work until late today." Nora fumbled.

"Where do you work?" Weiss inquired.

"Ya' know that shitty diner I mentioned?" Nora responded.

"Ah." Weiss nodded.

"Not much I'm qualified for sadly, but it pays, and now Jaune's got a raise!" Nora cheered. "I won't have to work so late anymore."

"I could find you better work." Weiss offered. "It's the least I can do after all this time. It's actually why I wanted to find you…"

"Aw Weiss you...you don't…" Nora swallowed the lump in her throat. "Isn't there a word for that? Nepotism?"

"Nepotism implies favoritism based on family connection." Weiss corrected. "This is...repaying a kindness, and the years have accrued interest."

"A kindness you paid for." Nora countered.

"I paid for your time...but it was your words I cherished." Weiss declared.

"But not the sex?" Nora pouted.

"Yes Nora, the sex too." Weiss chuckled.

"Hey, gotta' take pride in somethin'." Nora shrugged. "Glad I left a good impression."

"Oh you left more than that Nora...but enough about that." Weiss changed the subject. "Tell me more about your life. I want to know everything I missed."

"Well...you missed the time I got held up at the diner." Nora replied. The look of horror on Weiss' face was too much for Nora. "I'm kidding!" She burst into laughter. Weiss' look of outrage was even better.

Jaune tapped his fork against the desk, the rebagged remains of Nora's homemade lunch sitting by his keyboard as he stared at the monitor before him. Weiss' office did not have a camera, or if it did he was not privy to it. To be honest, part of him was relieved by that. It never really sat well with him, spying on others, even if it was part of his job, but right now a camera would at least shed some light as to what was going on between his girlfriend and his boss. It was not that he suspected anything nefarious - he was not that insecure...all the time - and Nora's past did not bother him, past the pains she suffered. It was never easy seeing the woman he loved crying in her sleep.

But Weiss? That was a shock, for many reasons. Weiss seemed too proper and professional. Everything he had heard about her from Pyrrha and Ren implied she would never be the sort to hire an escort. Maybe the circumstances were unique, maybe it was something different altogether. Nora did not speak in specifics often, and Jaune did not press her. He just considered himself lucky that she had ever given him the time of day.

Ruby had hurried off to get her lunch and Weiss', and seemed to be taking her time. Penny had assured him that everything was fine, everyone was fine, including inside Weiss' office, though she did not provide any specifics. That at least placated him for the time being, even if he did feel a bit useless. What the hell was he supposed to do anyway? If an intruder got this far into the building, Jaune Arc was not going to be able to do anything to stop them. Well, heroic sacrifice maybe, but then Nora would be devastated, and that was unacceptable.

The elevator chimed and a quick glance at the camera showed Ruby was inside along with Pyrrha and Ren. She had probably mentioned what happened, and it rang the same alarm bells. Nora was not secretive about her career with them. In fact, many occasions spent with them had involved her talking about memorable clients and situations in which she had been caught. They would know and they would be curious.

"Hey Jaune, I got you some soda." Ruby held the stack of to-go boxes forward.

"Thanks Ruby." Jaune took the can balanced on top. "Hey Pyrrha, Ren."

"Jaune, how are you faring?" Pyrrha inquired.

"Apart from the boredom?" Jaune joked. "Not bad...you uh, here to see the boss?"

"We heard she met a new friend." Ren explained.

"Or an old one." Jaune shrugged.

"Strange, Weiss never mentioned Nora to us." Pyrrha noted.

"Maybe they ended on bad terms?" Jaune suggested.

"Then why would Nora keep it a secret?" Ren asked.

"Respect for her privacy perhaps." Pyrrha surmised.

"For Weiss in particular?" Jaune questioned.

"It seems she left an impression." Ren observed.

"Uh, has this happened before or something?" Ruby asked.

"Nora is...outgoing." Pyrrha chose her words carefully.

"I kinda' figured." Ruby said.

"She was probably friends with Weiss once, but she's moved around a lot so…" Jaune trailed off.

"It seems Ms. Schnee and Ms. Valkyrie are about to leave." Penny informed.

Nora exited the office first, a cheerful smile on her face that was replaced with brief surprise as she caught sight of the newcomers. "Pyrrha, Renny!" She burst, beaming. "The whole family's here!" As Nora rushed over to hug her friends, Weiss lingered by the door, a small smile tight across her face.

"We heard you were visiting and came to say hello." Pyrrha explained as she endured the tight embrace.

"Oh yeah?" Nora smirked. "Didn't hear nothin' about my super secret meeting with the Big W?"

Ruby snorted, only to bite her tongue upon seeing Weiss' glare. "And what's so amusing Ms. Rose?" Weiss pressed.

"Nothing!" Ruby exclaimed. "Just remembered a joke my sister sent me…"

"Weiss…you never mentioned knowing Nora." Pyrrha chastised.

"Briefly, I didn't think she would remember me." Weiss replied.

"How could I ever forget that scowl!" Nora teased.

Weiss scowled. "I'm going to lunch. Try not to break anything while I am gone."

"Uh...I have your lunch right here." Ruby reminded her boss. Weiss froze, mouth opening as if to speak, but she found no words.

"Are you well Ms. Schnee?" Penny asked, her screen facing Jaune's desk for conversation.

"Yes Penny, I'm fine." Weiss recovered. "It was good meeting you again Nora. Please take care, Pyrrha, Ren, Ruby...Jaune." Weiss bid as she picked up her box. She returned to her office and let the door click shut.

"Is that normal?" Nora inquired.

"Typically!" Penny cheered.

"Not entirely typical…" Pyrrha frowned. "Ruby."

"Yes Pyrrha?" Ruby questioned.

"If anything out of the ordinary happens with Weiss, please let us know." Pyrrha requested.

"Oh, sure." Ruby agreed.

"Thank you." Pyrrha smiled. "Nora, are you staying longer?"

"Oh no, I gotta' get going." Nora shook her head. "Gonna' clean the kitchen...I made a mess again."

"Then I can escort you down." Pyrrha offered. "Ren has a project to discuss with Weiss." She looked to Ren, glancing between him and the door.

Ren nodded. "I do. Penny?"

"I'll buzz you in." Penny acknowledged. "It was a pleasure meeting you Ms. Valkyrie." She bid as she unlocked the door to Weiss' office. Ren slipped inside.

"Aw, you too Penny, and you…" Nora swooped down onto Jaune, pulling him into an overindulgent kiss. Ruby averted her gaze. "I love you."

"I love you too Nora...I'll see you tomorrow?" Jaune responded.

"Yeah you will." Nora smirked, turning around. "Come on now, escort me." She snickered, linking her arm with Pyrrha's. "Bye Ruby, stay cute!" She yelled, winking over her shoulder as they entered the elevator, which chimed as the door shut. Their descent soon began with a hum.

"You're a lucky guy Jaune." Ruby sighed, slumping down into her chair.

Jaune chuckled. "You're telling me."