This will be short. I gotta be places. Thanks to everyone who reads and stuffs. The story passed 700 followers now. Never did I think I'd hit that milestone, but it's thanks to readers like you who pass it along. Also, Bakki threw up the new art and it is the best thing to do while baking. I love it. Anyways, read, follow/fav and review.
Weiss: Snow Angel With Broken Wings
The limo ride from the Schnee Estate had been nice and quiet, the drivers keeping to themselves and leaving the privacy window up. Weiss couldn't have been more delighted with the new year starting up, vacation losing a lot of its appeal as soon as her father would pop in and out of her day only to pester her with reminders of her state in the company. She shrugged it off, knowing the freedom of school would get her in a better mood.
The road back to Vale and Beacon was pleasant, but Weiss was buried in her scroll texting both Winter and Ruby, the heiress having to settle her girlfriend down as she would be in her presence within the hour. Trying to train the overzealous nature of Ruby, she focused more on her conversation with her sister, missing that she hadn't seen her in almost a year.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get time away from the company to come see you on break. With Dad on vacation, I was left with a lot of his duties. Most of those being morally ambiguous gray areas that kept me from getting sleep some days."
Weiss scowled, thinking back to the company's reputation only brought up ill feelings as she was driving back to the institution that would help rectify the behavior. She knew her sister was only trying to vent and apologize for her lack of presence, but she couldn't help and fume back. "So I have another reason to be angry at Father."
"Yeah... I guess, but you need to be a lot more passive aggressive to him. The company had a glorious backlash as he came to work beyond furious the first couple days. I had to take the brunt of it because I'm family as any other employee would have considered it workplace harassment."
The heiress felt sympathetic, knowing too well how her father's anger was a force to be feared. "Perhaps you're right. I was acting on impulse. I hope it wasn't too bad."
"It wasn't as bad when we were kids if that's what you're inferring. But don't let him get to you. You're doing a lot of good at Beacon and being a huntress. I couldn't be more proud of my sister."
Weiss choked a bit on the last part. Having had fire constantly breathed down her neck by her parents, it was a relief to hear such praising words from family. Weiss regret sulking in her room so much that she couldn't make time to see her in person. "Thanks Winter. I'll try less collateral damage to the city and making a mess over at the company with PR business."
"Do what you want. It's not my duty to handle the press. Just one more thing before I go. Don't forget to have fun. I can handle the company a little longer so you can figure out your place in it. I hear you have a girlfriend. I'm sure she would appreciate the attention."
Weiss rolled her eyes, wondering if her sister was psychic as there was two unread texts from Ruby in her inbox. She could only guess that at least one of them is 'Where are you? We're going to miss the opening ceremonies.' The heiress took a deep breath, heeding her sister's advice and concentrated on the present. Right now is a fresh start on a new year, no White Fang operations that are an immediate threat, and time for her to get closer with Ruby.
The heiress quickly opened the messages, one being almost on the dot to what she presumed and the other was a picture of Jaune and Pyrrha in the fountain basin. She could only imagine that the blonde boy wonder was trying to be romantic and serenade the red-headed warrior before school started, a bouquet of roses and his guitar aimlessly placed on the ground being his MO. Weiss always had to give props to Pyrrha as she seemed to enjoy Jaune's dopey charm as she was happily splashing water on him. Weiss was upset that she wasn't able to enjoy the revelry of friendship, but she wasn't to be rushed out of the house looking so unprofessional.
With a quick trip to the airship, the heiress was now on campus, the familiarity and security of the Beacon castle had her at peace. She ordered the help to figure out her new dorm situation as she took a small detour. The picture at the fountain had Weiss getting sentimental for the place she first met Ruby, Weiss delighted that there weren't too many students around for them to wonder why she was staring at a dark spot on the concrete so warmly.
Weiss rubbed the spot tenderly with her fingers, placing her face in her hand as she laughed at how mushy her heart had become for the hooded girl. "One year ago, she accidentally bumped into me and knocked over my special vials of dust. Since that explosive introduction, she has absolutely pulled a one-eighty. Yes, Ruby's a dolt, clumsy yet capable, and charming in her own socially weird way, but she's mine and I wouldn't change her. Well, maybe I'd change her morning milk breath. It's getting tiresome to wake up next to her with that seeping into my nostrils. That and she needs to learn how to walk in heels. It's always a fight with her whenever I take her out to a formal dinner and I mention the hint of dresses and heels. And maybe she could work on her diet. I know we're young and fit, but I'm afraid one day she'll come back with the beginning stages of diabetes. Ruby thinks she hates my nagging now, wait till I have to patrol her eating habits."
The heiress never caught herself systematically nitpicking the smaller points of her girlfriend, nor was she admitting that any one of those reasons are grounds for her perpetually growing love for Ruby. The help found the heiress and gave her the new details of her rooming situation, Weiss sending them off with a pleasant goodbye and shuffling her luggage on the carrier the school supplied. She wished she packed lighter, but unfortunately all the dust she utilizes had to come with her at some point. The dorms for the second years were different from their freshmen, which was refreshing, but also inconvenient as they were another floor higher. Trucking the load by herself was doable, but unwarranted.
Tired of getting the luggage up, she was happy to be pushing on level ground to her new room. She peered around and it seemed Team JNPR were hall mates again, the heiress giving a gentle wave and a warm smile to Ren who was taking in another box. As she reached for the doorknob, the entrance flew open, Weiss being drawn to the floor as she collided with a heavy mass. As she was massaging her head from the hard impact, she felt the eerie feeling of deja vu, Ruby on top top of her, rubbing her chin as she too was winching in pain.
"Ouch, Ruby," the heiress hotly complained. "We better not be making this a thing every beginning of the year." At the register of Weiss' shrill protest, the leader's eyes lit up, mood flipping as she realized her lover was beneath her.
Quickly Ruby embraced the slender woman, burying her face in the long ivory threads, Weiss struggling to breath with how hard she was being squeezed. "I'm sorry, Weiss. I was going to go grab some food from the cafeteria. Yang hinted that there was the cookie I really like down there so I wanted to make sure I get a few." As the leader had not received a loving reciprocation from her partner, she took a curious look at Weiss, a fierce scowl and arms crossed were all that was needed to convey how she was feeling towards her girlfriend. "Oh come on, Weiss. I haven't seen you in a month. I want a hug."
Weiss loved her puppy-dog playfulness, but not when it was dirtying her normal attire. "If you think I'm going to hug you when you essentially tackled me to the filthy floor, then in the past month you have forgotten who you're dating."
Ruby let out a nervous laugh, "Right, right. Let's get you up," the leader said, daintily lifting the heiress off the floor, dusting off and smoothing her skirt as Weiss was fixing her hair. When she felt like she was decent and not disheveled, she grabbed the scruff of Ruby's cloak, giving a quick peck before enveloping her in her arms.
"There's your hug. Now go get your cookies. We'll catch up when you get back," Weiss permitted, the leader not needing to be told twice as she burst down the hall, a trail of rose petals in her wake. The heiress entered the room, herself disappointed that all of the extra set of stairs gave her was a better view of the campus and an extra bookshelf. With the familiar room not needing a second rundown, she noticed on one of the twin beds Yang and Blake exchanging Lien credits. Wanting to greet her other two teammates was a good excuse to pry into the conversation.
"Hey girls. Why do I sense something unscrupulous was going on?"
Yang was already beaming a large smile, the heiress knowing whatever was happening was because of her. "Blake and I had a bet wondering how long would it take before you had a sour face and were glowering at one of us. I said that it would be before you stepped in the room and Blake took the over and look where that ended you," the blonde cheekily ribbed her girlfriend.
"I may be giving you ten Lien, but you sweating and scanning frantically for Weiss earlier was entertainment enough," Blake jested back, Weiss repeating her earlier expression with Ruby as she was annoyed that these two were betting on her usual mannerisms. "See, if Ruby hadn't collided with you, I would have won."
The heiress hadn't realized she was making the same face until the Faunus had pointed it out, the heiress huffing and rolling her eyes at her usual manner of operating being that predicable. Blake raised from her bed, bringing in Weiss with a comforting hug. "Don't get all mad. I missed you, scowl included. It's good to see you again, Weiss."
The heiress dismantled her high guard for a moment and took the Faunus' welcoming gesture. "I missed you too, Blake. And you too Ya...ahh."
The blonde swooped in and tightly embraced Weiss, the heiress not liking the strength behind Yang's physical expressions of affection. "Nice to see a softer side of you, Weiss, but I like that you didn't change. Keep the scowl."
"Not a problem when you're wringing the air out of my lungs," she strained to get out, Yang taking the plead out clue and released the heiress, but not letting her out of her orbit as she placed a her hands on either of the smaller girl's shoulders.
"How's it been going since then?" Yang bringing down the lighthearted air to ask a far more heavy question. Weiss knew what she was talking about having not seen her since the beach house incident.
"Umm... fine, I guess. It certainly got better. Being alone did a lot of good for me. As great as you all were when it happened, I needed to cool down and figure a lot of this out myself. Unfortunately, it started to backfire and the more I was thinking about the situation, it depressed me more. Luckily, your sister was kind enough to not only show me a good time, but stay with me as I was going through this transformative period of my life. Even if I didn't necessarily find the answer, Ruby was a great distraction that kept my mood afloat."
"I'm glad Ruby was performing her girlfriend duties, but it seems you liked avoiding talking about it with my sister. Not to discount Ruby, but Blake and I are always here if you want to have a more mature discussion. Blake's a smart cookie. I'm sure she could help out," Yang offered, Weiss appreciating the warmth of companionship that's culminated within the team.
"Thanks, but I'll have to take a rain check. All I really know at the moment is that I feel small in the grand scheme of figuring out how to dig the company out of this pit of dissenting reputation. Something that being a huntress might not be great enough to overcome," Weiss imparted to the duo, the heiress glad she could confide in her team about something that a year ago she wouldn't tell anyone.
"You carry way too much on your shoulders. I know Yang vouched for me, but you know Ruby would be at your side to help carry the load at a moments notice," Blake sympathized.
"Yeah and if you don't feel like chasing The White Fang because of an off day, we'll sub in Velvet for you," the blonde joked, Weiss always impressed with Yang's ability to shine an upbeat light on any subject.
"Thanks girls, but I think I'm going to still try and figure this one out on my own. No need to wrangle anyone for help just yet," Weiss reassured, taking in the cordial expressions from her friends. She surveyed her new living quarters, the bare room in need of a desperate makeover. "Isn't this the part where we band together and decorate the room."
"It is. Ruby went to go grab ropes along with some snacks. We had a long discussion and we figured having the beds the way they were was the best solution to solving the space problem. Ruby had a great idea of shoving them all up against the wall, but she didn't know until now, Yang and I have broken the frame a couple times last year. We'd rather inconvenience ourselves rather than you girls as well," Blake revealed, Weiss' face heating up at the possible rough routine that the sturdy frame had to go though for it to break.
"I love it when you're feisty. It's days like that I know I don't have to go to the gym because of the workout you give me," Yang reminiscing fondly as she placed her hand under her chin in deep thought, but the Faunus wouldn't let it last too long as she nudged the blonde with her elbow.
A crash at the door signaled Ruby entering with a few long ropes and an attitude ready for some quick renovations. She kicked the door closed, holding the braided strands high above her head. "It's time girls. Weiss, Blake, Yang, and their fearless leader Ruby to decorate. Banzai!"
"Banzai!" the loving couple chimed in, the rest of the team now focused on the heiress to join in on their merriment.
Weiss turned slightly pink and raised her fist in solidarity. "Banzai."
With all in agreement, the team got down to business. Weiss had a finer taste in decorating and placed professional art on the walls. Yang and Ruby were personalizing their own spaces with their own mementos, the blonde purposefully hanging her Achieve Men posters sideways to irritate the heiress. Blake was making the room seem far more intelligent by lining the bookshelves with novels, leaving out a certain few to balance Yang's bed atop of hers. It may have been a new room, but Weiss was happy to see it look similar to the old one. So much had changed in her life that the familiarity was comforting, her mind able to slow down and stop the processing of the bigger issues.
Weiss aided Ruby with hoisting her bed atop, she only agreeing to it because her partner would be sleeping in her bed permanently. "You have no idea how many times I woke up from a nightmare because your silly bunk bed idea crushed me."
"I thought you wanted bunk beds?" Ruby inquired, fastening the knot in triplicate to insure its stability.
"The bunk beds of my childhood dreams didn't have one precariously hanging from the ceiling," Weiss shot back, making sure her own knots were up to the most perfectionist ideals.
"It didn't fall last year and it won't fall this year. Especially since it won't have an added extra hundred pounds sleeping in it most nights," Ruby promised, jumping down from her ladder, the heiress joining her as she was making a canopy for her bottom bunk that the leader insisted on having. The short-haired girl closed the distance to Weiss, taking her voice lower so the other two wouldn't hear. "I know we've been sleeping in the same bed for awhile now, but it's kind of nice that we got to set this one up together. It doesn't feel like I moved into yours this time."
The heiress was enamored by the sentiment, Ruby likely getting the idea from Yang as Blake had moved into their home recently. Weiss decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and lightly pecked her lover's lips, both still trying to keep it discrete with Yang in the room. "Try not to kick me out of the bed too much if you slack off and need to study alone. It actually was peculiar to not have you next to me while I was falling asleep."
"Well, it might be hard not to upset you when the punishment is setting up a date," Ruby smirked back, the heiress forgetting that she had made the faux-penance as a ruse to have her girlfriend plan a date to switch it up. The leader ran to her suitcase, an envelope in hand as she presented it to Weiss. The snow-haired girl opened the present, floored to see what Ruby had obtained.
"Oh my gosh, Ruby. Are these really Vale Philharmonic Orchestra tickets?" the heiress awestruck at the pinpoint accuracy of her musical taste. "You didn't have to do this for me. I know how niche my favorite bands can be."
"You said I had to plan a date, so I sort of went an extra mile to make this one special. I know it isn't the one year anniversary of us dating, but it's the date that I first met you. I thought that would be worth celebrating more extravagantly. So I got reservations to that steakhouse in Vale you like and went shopping with Blake for a new dress," Ruby expounded, Weiss taken at the amount of effort her partner put into treating her to a mature evening that was catered to her.
The heiress took her girlfriend in her arms, appreciating how well Ruby had done. "You didn't have to do this, but thank you."
"I actually wanted to. You have always been avoiding taking me out to all of these lavish events, thinking that I would be bored of it all, and maybe I might, but I am curious about getting to know your world a little better," the leader asserted, Weiss hating that it would take the initiation of her girlfriend to get her to open up more. She took a look at the seats. They were nothing special, but the thought counted infinitely more as she knew Ruby couldn't afford the orchestra section of the theater. Still, she was curious to know how the rest of the date was paid for.
"Ruby, I love this, but I hope this doesn't end with you in servitude to Pyrrha again."
"No, it's me this time, but I was far more lenient as the amount wasn't as extreme as the necklace," Yang piped in, Weiss figuring it was hard to not eavesdrop when the blonde was feet away. "I lent her a stack of Lien and a promise that on the day of the date, neither of you would come back until after midnight. Since Ruby came back early from walking Zwei one day, she left me with some unfinished business that I need to attend to thoroughly." Yang's focus shifted from the girls to Blake's behind, her taunt tush bent over as she was making the bed. The blonde grew a wicked grin across her face, the smile juxtaposed with a frisky slap to the Faunus' butt. Blake reacted immediately, but withheld her tongue. She leaned in, giving Yang a dirty look as she whispered something equally as dirty in her ear. "Oh, I'm going to make you eat those words or rather, make you eat..."
"Yang!" Weiss and Ruby beseeching the blonde to not finish that flirtatious taunt, although both were familiar enough with sex to make the obvious conclusion. The heiress returned her focus to her girlfriend, steely blue eyes getting lazy as they were swimming in the stormy grays of Ruby. This normal occurrence felt off, Weiss unable to put her finger on it until she got a sinking feeling in her gut, her eyes popping wide as an epiphany struck her.
She was looking up at Ruby.
Weiss stepped away, scared as she was trying to play it off as a trick on her mind, seeing if the floor was at a slant or the leader standing on her tip toes. Ruby was perplexed to the sudden nervous actions of her girlfriend. "What's wrong, Weiss?"
She didn't want to answer, preferring to live in her denial than have it answered immediately. She asked, hoping it was a lift Ruby slipped in her boots. Weiss approached her partner, knowing she was walking into her trap as the leader hadn't shrunk. "Did you grow taller?"
Ruby was taken aback by the question, eyebrows furrowed from the sudden inquiry, but she raised her hand over her head, taking a quick measurement as her hand glided over the white hairs. "I... I think I did. Some of the dresses I was trying on for the date felt a little shorter."
"Only one way to settle this," Yang announced, taking one of Blake's books from the shelf and getting between the couple. "Boots off, the both of you. And I swear, Ruby, this isn't Dad measuring us against the wall. No tippy-toes."
"I won't, Yang," the leader annoyed with Yang bringing up her childlike antics. "This isn't as important as trying to beat you, even though around eight I gave up trying. You got Dad's height."
It may not have been important to Ruby, but Weiss had been dreading the day when her girlfriend would grow that extra inch to outpace her. With the leader's new height, the heiress was now the smallest on the team in every dimension. She wasn't as well-endowed as Yang, as fit as Blake, and now not as tall as Ruby. All of the inferiority hang-ups that her father had been slinging at her during the break were peaking into a complex as Yang ordered the two to stand back to back. The heiress stood as straight as she could, fearing she could strain a muscle as she tried to maximize her chances at being wrong.
Weiss held her breath as Yang placed the book over her head, the results obvious once it was done. "You weren't wrong, Ruby. You have a half to maybe a full inch on Weiss now," the blonde proclaimed.
The heiress exhaled, hating to throw away her denial, wishing she didn't notice and have this dreading feeling prolonged longer. After some playful ribbing to Ruby's new status, the day carried on as usual. The team got down to organizing their areas before a night of fun with Team JNPR, Sun and Neptune. The other girls kept a dialogue going, not noticing the quiet heiress as the crippling neurosis was creeping up on her. "I can't believe she's taller than me. She's gotten better at the flirting, now even I fall for her charms easier than usual. I never thought her attempts at being sexy by being as awkward as she is would have this effect on me, especially when she uses her puppy-dog eyes to get me under her spell. She's the leader of the team solely now that she's got the hang of it, she doesn't even need her best teammate anymore to pick up the slack. Maybe Father was right, that I'm getting weak because of my friends. I... I..." Weiss's tormented mind was at the limit. With so little going right in her life and her reigns in the relationship seemingly turning in Ruby's favor, she was desperate for an answer and did what she thought was necessary. "I will not be bested like this."
*-Ruby-*
Ruby was glad to be back at Beacon. She loved her island home, but could do without the ocean air clumping her hair with the natural salts in the air. Catching up with her dad was welcomed, but she was liking the semi-independence she was receiving by living away from home. Although she couldn't take him with her this time, she squished and kissed Zwei's fluffy face until their next meeting, hoping her dad would send him for a small vacation to the dorm room again. The one person who wasn't at their home, who she couldn't wait to see once back in Beacon was Weiss. At least that's what she thought.
At the surprise of her agenda of her planned date, the heiress was over the moon, the leader knowing she felt she did right with how ecstatic Weiss appeared. Since then, Ruby had been noticing her girlfriend become more assertive and not in a very polite manner. She discounted it as first week jitters as even Ruby would get nervous about meeting new professors or even having hold old ones with harder classes. What she was experiencing with Weiss was first year regression. Bossy was an understatement as the heiress dictated almost every moment the two were awake. Even in slumber, Weiss would rearrange Ruby's arms so they were more positioning under her breasts instead of the more comfortable spot of having them lay by Weiss' waist. The leader couldn't get a word in edgewise as the heiress would constantly bark orders, Ruby unable to even initiate 'girlfriend talk' to get a dialog going. The leader being shut down by the constant snubbing had her stewing in her resentment towards her girlfriend.
Ruby was freshening up in the shower, making an effort to not take too long washing up so she doesn't get another comment from Weiss about how her skin needs lotion because it's too dry. The short-haired girl felt fortunate about not having the length of hair as the rest of the team, hoping she could keep that time limit. As she was reaching for Weiss' vanilla shampoo, she stopped herself, consciously forgoing it for Yang's citrus and melon scent. Running her fingers through and lathering the follicles, Ruby vented with herself. "Every part of me wishes I had a stronger voice. I hate being this socially awkward. Any time a person that I care about or a stranger raises their voice, I duck and hide from the verbal assault. It's all Weiss has been dishing out this week and I think I'm starting to feel how Yang feels when her semblance triggers. I'm so frustrated with her, but I can't let it out now hours away from showtime. Also, if I were to blow up and cancel now, I'd systematically ruin Yang and Blake's night. It's no secret to what they've been planning with the room theirs for at least five hours. Just... just put on a smile and enjoy the night. At least the food should be good."
The leader closed the valves and stepped onto the tile, wrapping a towel around her and finishing up her drying in the bathroom. Upon exiting, she noticed a bright red object upon her bedspread. Her attention diverted from the drawers to examine the new article of clothing. Sleeved in a plastic protection, a red, single-shoulder strap gown had been pressed and laid out with a sticky note left on the outside reading 'Wear me.'
"What the... this isn't the dress I picked out with Blake. This is Weiss' handwriting. But I had picked out one that would have complimented the snowflake necklace better. I have to talk to her and see..." Ruby was already heading to Team JNPR's room, Weiss getting ready in their facilities, until the leader noticed the time on her alarm clock. There was barely time to start the conversation let alone argue why Weiss stepped over her head on this one. Ruby took a deep breath, compartmentalized the anger, and vowed to deal with it later.
As Ruby was fitting herself into the snug outfit, she was hoping that this was a mistake at it was actually Weiss' dress she was putting on. Unfortunately, it fit flawlessly, her bust fitting soundly in the couplets being the disappointing sign. As mad as she was, the fabric was of the highest quality, the velvety slimness hugging her curves. She hated wearing evening gloves as they were shackles that prevented her from eating anything messy like cookies. As she was taking a look in the mirror, Ruby hated admitting how good it looked on her, the two pleated treads flowing from her shoulder and down to her hems. Arranged on her waist and shoulder were a pair of roses in full bloom, irritating her more at the heiress' attention to detail.
Ruby was fastening her heels, although pondering on wearing her boots as the dress would hide them effectively. The pair Weiss had left felt too short as the leader was practicing walking in them, herself tripping over the length of the dress. "Alright... one more time. Casual steps. I need to get this down."
As she was painstakingly trying to get better at walking in these shoes of torture, a furious number of knocks came from the door, Ruby losing her focus and tripping face first onto the bed. As Ruby was groaning in defeat, the shrill voice of the heiress came from the entrance. "Oh my goodness, that better not be you napping when we're already slightly behind schedule."
Ruby quickly straightened up, her body trained too well to know when Weiss was annoyed. "I-I wasn't. I was practicing..."
"No time. Come on. The limo driver is already waiting," Weiss ordered, Ruby scampering towards the door, the heiress lending out her arm for her to latch onto. The leader did as she was supposed to, securing herself under Weiss' grasp. Ruby didn't talk much as every part of her brain was focusing on not tripping or spraining an ankle down the steps to the airship. With a moment to breathe, Ruby gazed at her girlfriend. In the moonlight, Weiss shined in a white strapless dress, the simplicity was its elegance as it tapered around her shins, a small train ending at her feet. The heiress was in higher heels than Ruby, which made the leader insanely jealous as the heiress seemed to be having no trouble walking in them. Any other night, Ruby would normally be in awe at the striking beauty that was in front of her. With all the frustration swimming in her mind, the image was tarnished, leaving the leader quiet as she was distracting herself from the sullied image of her girlfriend.
The limo drive wasn't as awkward as Ruby was dreading, Weiss mostly taking hold of the conversation, Ruby coming in-and-out of the exchange to give affirmatives to whatever Weiss was saying. The leader was in a state of swirling defeat and depression, her face confused to which one to express so a contented smile was plastered on her face, the heiress none the wiser as Ruby was keeping her cool and begging for this night to not test her patience further.
Ruby noticed an unusual amount of time spent in the car, knowing that it took no more than fifteen minutes at most to get to the restaurant from the airship. As she tried her best to peer out the tinted windows, she noticed they were a district over from where they needed to be. "Weiss, did your driver get the wrong directions? We are way past the steakhouse."
"Oh, that's because I made reservations at a different place. I felt some Atlas cuisine would better suit such an extravagant date. Your steakhouse was good, but I think this place should tease your taste buds in a frenzy," a snarky arrogance in her answer had Ruby wanting to speak out in protest. She had picked out the restaurant personally because Weiss had mentioned in conversation that their steak entrees were superb and secretly Ruby was drooling over the dessert menu when she scouted the place.
"Why would she... forget it. Atlas food is great. I haven't had much and opening my pallet to something different will be good for me. Weiss wouldn't pick anything less than ideal for us. Maybe the dessert menu has got some things I've never tried either. Yeah that's how... that's how I spin it to my friends." Ruby's fake smile fooled the heiress as they departed from the limo.
The feelings of inadequacy didn't hamper as she walked inside the restaurant. The walls were a blanched, eggshell white, bronzed, golden trim accenting the crevices with a regal appearance. The aged look highlighted by the mass of well-placed chandeliers that illuminated the room a peerless bleached style. All of the tables were round, draped unilaterally with a white tablecloth either seating four or a couple. As they were being led to a more secluded corner, the spotless sheen of the tiles floor made Ruby feel guilty that she was tarnishing it with her heels for a second. As they were seated, a small gray oiled lamp was lit by their waiter.
Ruby felt isolated as she took a gander at the rest of the clientele. She may have dressed like them, but she knew when she was an alien to a setting. Each of the people sitting she assumed was able to pay for their meal in the amount of time it took for them to be valeted. With all of the elegance surrounding her, the leader wasn't surprised when she saw the menu, the amount of money for even an entree to split was enough to bleed her wallet dry. Ruby knew what Weiss would have as a response, but she still tried to make it fair. "Is it alright with you if I just pay for my portion of the meal?"
"Don't worry about it, Ruby. I got it this time," Weiss answered, the leader still feeling the pain of inefficacy as her assumption proved true. Although sad at first, Ruby was finding it hard to find the logic in the pricing when her portions for her meal were so small that she was begging for her dessert to try and feel satisfied with her hunger. She did give credit where credit was due as the white raspberry chocolate mousse may have been better than any cookie that she's ever eaten. However, the five spoonfuls of the delectable custard treat was the only good part. Weiss was still being charming and well-mannered, but with the way she's been minimizing and overriding Ruby's efforts had her wishing she hadn't made that agreement with Yang so she could go back to the dorm and cry.
The car ride was mostly silent, the leader guessing Weiss needed to rest her vocal chords as she had been long-winded to say the least. Ruby held the heiress' hand on the way to the theater. She couldn't describe the feeling she had been having since she had to save face and act like she normally would as a girlfriend. It had been a long time since she felt this kind of coldness, this harsh barrier she thought she persuasively tore down since knowing Weiss that made her feel so distant.
As they were getting in line to enter the theater, Ruby pulled out the tickets that were tucked covertly in her cleavage, the leader now seeing how smart her sister has been for using her bra as a massive pocket. As they got closer to security, Ruby ready to hand off the paper for scanning, Weiss stepped in front of her to address the employee. "Yes, this is Weiss Schnee requesting the balcony seats I reserved."
"Identification please." The heiress pulled out her handbag and gave the man the requested information. "Excellent. Follow me, Ms. Schnee."
"Wait.. what? But-but my seats are on the third floor. How did you...?" the leader pleaded, Weiss interrupting her as they were ascending the stairs.
"The balcony seats are really only available for the wealthy so unless it's in extreme demand, there will always be at least one open. I saw the seats you got us and just had to upgrade as you haven't seen the Vale Philharmonic Orchestra and it should be in a perfect view with plush seats."
Ruby's heart sank as she felt the last piece of her date swept from beneath her feet. She couldn't reply if she wanted to, her mind snapping as the last straw broke the ursa's back. The leader was glad that the theater was dimly lit, the dark drapery and wood paneling of the majestic room hiding her displeasure. Ruby distracted herself from her emotions to take a look around, never having been at such an event. Thousands were seated, Ruby listening to the crowd, all in anticipation for seeing this band of eighty-four play for the next two and a half hours.
"I may be used to a four piece punk band and the Achieve Men, but this is supposed to be the greatest classically trained musicians all put into this one room. Music is always a great way to relax and I know my mind would appreciate some soothing sounds. Please... please let this be good," Ruby prayed, wanting at least one thing to go her way after what Weiss had done to her date.
The lights dimmed and the crowd silenced itself, the conductor taking a center spotlight as the band took their seats. With a few flicks of his wand, the orchestra built up to their booming opening. Ruby could appreciate the mastery, the music being played, and how perfectly each instrument was placed in junction with certain musical aspects. All that aside, the leader was officially defeated when she couldn't swallow this cup of tea. "I'm so bored!"
The sadness welled up in Ruby fused with the animosity she had towards Weiss. Now having to keep her head up by position her fist under her chin, she was at the point where she couldn't take one more second of the date. Ruby was never one to abandon, but she needed at least five minutes for herself, the crescendos not helping as the orchestra played on. "I'm going to pee out of boredom."
Ruby was proud that she sat through at least an hour and fifteen without falling asleep, but excused herself saying she needed to use the restroom. The leader was weirded out by the security that sat outside the balcony entrance, but they at least knew where the restroom was. As soon as she was out of sight, she took the tickets out of her cleavage, crumpled them up and threw it in the nearest receptacle. Ruby followed the hallway, but noticed the entrance to the roof adjacent to the bathroom. Seeing as fresh air would be better than whatever lemony scent they used to clean before curtain would be better, she stepped outside.
The leader noticed that the door was only unlocked from the inside, finding a cinder block nearby to keep the door propped open. Ruby stepped towards the edge of the building, happy to hear the cars and the occasional airship fly over instead of the music. "What am I to do? I've had Weiss mad at me, furious even, but I can't exactly leave. I didn't think I'd be on the other side of the argument this time, but unlike Weiss, I haven't been exactly prominent with how I'm feeling. Curse having her in the same dorm. Maybe I can kick her to Team JNPR's after midnight. Even so, the night is still young. We got plenty of time before I can even think about sleeping in... our bed."
Ruby buried her face in her palms, trying to center herself so she can act civil for the next few hours. Part of her didn't want to. She wanted to give Weiss a rant that was as fervent and raving as hers just so she could dose her with her own medicine. The other part knew she'd complicate the situation with no where to duck and hide if she were to blow up now, contemplating to keep quiet until tomorrow. But she didn't know how much more she could tolerate, especially if Weiss planned one more thing she would hate after this.
"Hey," a call came from behind, Ruby composing herself in proper as she heard the scolding voice behind her.
The leader turned to address the heiress, propping up the heavy door as she stood at the frame. Ruby hadn't realized she was lost that deep in thought until Weiss pointed it out. "How did you know I was here?"
"You were gone for fifteen minutes. I asked security and they said you went to the bathroom and didn't come back this way. I checked both bathrooms and followed the only way you could have gone. I almost had a heart attack when I saw you could have only been on the roof. The last time I left you alone on a roof, you were kidnapped. I'm glad to see you alright, but you didn't go to the bathroom, did you?"
"No... I didn't exactly tell the truth," Ruby sheepishly confessed, igniting the heiress to provoke further.
"I didn't get us balcony seating for it to go to waste like this. Now come on, the show is working its way to the climax," Weiss beckoned, Ruby matching the scowl planted on her girlfriend's face.
"I never asked for that seating!" Ruby raised her voice, peaking the heiress' attention as the leader was just getting started. "I didn't ask for this date. I didn't ask for that dinner and I certainly didn't ask for this dress which I wish I could take off, but I sort of don't have a change of clothes. I'm taking these heels off, though. I've almost tripped over them three times already," Ruby defiantly stated, happy to have her bare feet flat on the cold concrete.
"So that's how you see it. I didn't think you would be so ungrateful. I am..."
"Don't talk to me about being ungrateful!" Ruby yelled, the leader's tone instantly shutting the heiress up as she advanced towards Weiss. "I set up this date because you suggested it. I took the time and effort to organize everything because I wanted to make this day special. Coming to Beacon and meeting you a year ago changed everything. I wanted to spoil you today because I don't get to often and meeting you was one of the most precious memories I have of you, even though it was shaky at best. But you didn't get to let me have that. The second I got out of the shower and saw this on the bed should have been the omen to confront you like I am now." Ruby tugging at her dress as she was now looking up at the heiress. "You've been acting callous this entire week and I'm tired of it. I'm not requesting girlfriend talk, I'm telling you that if you don't tell me that something is up, I'm going... somewhere." Ruby hating that she stumbled over her final thought, but she remembered that she couldn't go back to the dorm.
As proud as she was to finally get that off she chest, it was slowly leaving her as Weiss' eyes began to water up. "You really want to know why? It's because I feel lost, Ruby," the heiress revealed, her voice shaking as she continued. "After that fight, it shook the very core of who I thought I was and what I had to do. I thought a year at Be-beacon had changed it, but I feel more cast away than ever. I thought I could stand up to my Father, but failed, Yang having to bail me out at the last minute. My si-sister, who was running the company in my Father's absence, was the one that was able to keep it together while he was rampaging through the offices. I couldn't best him as a huntress and was helpless in aiding my sister when it was trouble that I was responsible for. When I came back to Beacon, I knew that at least I had some co-control of something in my life, our relationship. But when I saw you grow taller, it made me reflect on how much you've grown as a person. In the past year, you've become a friendly face around the school, a skillful flirt, a thoughtful lo-lover, and you command this team so effortlessly that I didn't even notice until now that I had been shut out of any delineations. What have I done in the past year? Wh-what have I done to grow?"
Ruby stood stunned at the distressed heiress in front of her, the leader feeling crestfallen that she knew something was wrong and didn't think for a second that there could be an underlying problem this severely grim making her girlfriend melancholy. Ruby reached over hesitantly to comfort Weiss, the heiress shunning the loving touch until she took more of an initiative and placed her hand on the trembling girl's shoulder. As the leader advanced, Weiss embraced her actions, welcoming Ruby taking her in her arms. The rose frills on her strap soaked up the heiress' tears as she was silently trying to pull herself together.
The leader stroked her back, hoping the words needed wouldn't fumble out of her and fan the flames of dearth. "I forget at times that you have more on your plate than just being a student. At least dealing with The White Fang you have us and the army, but you battle a lot on your own. I heard what your father was shouting to you. It hurt to hear for me and none of those were directly attacking me. Whatever mind games your father has plagued you with, I assure you he's absolutely wrong. You are not weak, Weiss. You are the strongest person I have ever met. In the past year, you took part in many White Fang take downs, rescued me, and did it all without even losing a grade point. After you became less cold to people, you showed me how merciful you can be, sparing me so many times when I've screwed up something, how charitable you are with your time as you constantly give yourself to me or the school, and how honorable you are with trying to do more than just be a huntress by cleaning up your father's company. Me growing an inch changes nothing. As flattering as it is to think I've matured, I think you forgot that the first day of school I knocked you over to get a plate of cookies." Ruby lightening the mood with a joke, the leader feeling Weiss smile into her skin. "By the way, the only reason I have the confidence to be as flirtatious and loving is because you let me and I'm always leading by your example because I respect you so much as a girlfriend... as my lover. You're so much more than what you think, Weiss."
After a long window of silence, Ruby was relieved to feel Weiss' arm reciprocate her embrace. "Thanks, Ruby," she whispered against her skin. "I really needed to hear that."
Ruby didn't know how long they were holding each other, but she could tell that the show was coming to a close with how rhapsodic the music was playing. "Don't you want to see the rest of the show?"
"Yeah, but there will be other times." Weiss tightening the embrace as she came back to gaze into Ruby's eyes. The majestic blue orbs still stained red, but the heiress was content, the leader placing a kiss on her forehead.
The couple stood, Ruby wanting to sit, but would instantly dirty their dresses. She heard the crowd below giving a standing ovation and proceeding to leave the theater, Ruby and Weiss leaning over the edge and people watched as they let the concert hall empty. Not having to lie this time, Ruby went to use the restroom, the leader wanting to alternate the dress as using the toilet became an almost impossible task with the length. As she was washing her hands, a voice came over the speakers.
"Miss Ruby Rose, please report to the center of the orchestra section. That is all." Ruby hurriedly went downstairs while fitting her evening gloves on, a spotlight centered around a grand piano, Weiss setting up a stand with a microphone.
"Weiss, what are you doing?"
"I'm trying my best to try and say I'm sorry. My behavior was atrocious this week and I feel that's putting it lightly. You didn't like the concert and I don't blame you. Orchestras are only really appreciated when they're in a film score anyway. So, I asked the manager if the piano could be the last in storage while I attempt to serenade you. I really hope I remember how to play this," Weiss explained, Ruby completely enamored at the effort the heiress was putting into after what happened minutes ago.
"Weiss, you don't have to."
"Perhaps, but it's not often I get to display the creative part of me to impress you," Weiss said, unstrapping her heels as she oriented herself to the musical instrument. After a test of the keys, Weiss began to play. Maybe it was because it was her girlfriend playing, but the leader was captivated by the melody, Ruby amazed that her partner had this kind of skill with the piano. As adept as Weiss was at playing, Ruby's jaw dropped when she started singing.
Her voice was beyond this realm, a nearly ethereal sound that Ruby had only heard muffled in the shower almost seemed unreal. Chills were running through her as Weiss' voice would hit certain notes. As enchanted she was at her piano skills, Ruby was completely hypnotized as Weiss kept singing, wishing there were more lyrics to the song as Weiss was coming up from the breakdown bridge. The chorus changed, her voice not being challenged by the alteration in range.
As the key was strung, Ruby couldn't hold her gratitude back, standing up and making her hands hurt with how hard she was clapping. "Oh my goodness, Weiss! That was incredible! I never knew you had such an amazing voice or play the piano. What else do I not know about you?"
Weiss got up to address her partner. "There's a lot you don't know, but I want to change that. Because I wasn't forthright with all that was troubling me led us here. I know I told you I wouldn't bore you with all the technical aspects of the company, but I realized that I can't do this alone. I know that I'm way more than I choose to acknowledge, but I wouldn't have this clarity without you, Ruby." Weiss beckoned her girlfriend to join her on the stage, the leader taking her partner's hand as she was hoisted to the top. "I promise to be more open about this stuff. The power trip I went on I think we can agree is a roadblock not worth revisiting."
Out of any of the reasons Weiss had for a more mature Ruby, it was when the heiress would trust her with such intimate information are the times she felt validated to be called adult. She smiled down at her girlfriend, Weiss glowing as she was affectionately being gazed upon. "I'll do my best to help." The two stood in a comfortable silence, Ruby noticing a slight blush creeping on the heiress' face. "What's got you worked up?"
"I'm still getting used to looking up at you. Don't expect it to be too soon, but it's kind of... attractive to have my lover taller than me. I didn't get to lace my arms like this when you were shorter." Weiss loosely hung off of Ruby as she brought her in closer, the heiress arching into her as the leader seized Weiss' lips, capturing her by the hip as the other brushed her long length of ponytail back behind her.
It wasn't new for Ruby to take the lead, but it was new for Weiss choosing to be submissive, the leader adding a new mark of growth Weiss has chosen to ignore. The heiress took out her scroll, not pleased with the time. "We have a little less than an hour before we can return back to the dorm, but I want to give them more time. Wouldn't be surprised if they're stretching their time allotted to the limit as they haven't had sex since we returned for school."
Ruby's face soured as she was reminded of Yang's condition. "Yeah. That might be a good idea. What do we do till then?"
"I know it's no Myrtenaster, but I could give you a tutorial on the piano."
"Only if I get another opportunity to hear you sing."
"Deal," Weiss said taking a seat on the bench, offering Ruby a seat next to her.
As Weiss went over the notes, Ruby was still struck by the confidence the heiress had in her to make her a part of her goals. "I'm glad to help her carry this burden. I don't think I'd fair any better if I was in her shoes. I know she says we've grown and maybe we have, but we still have such a ways to go. With our worlds so intertwined, we'll be growing together."