Hello, here's chapter 16. Hope you folks enjoy it. It takes place the same day as during the previous two chapters and will conclude Weiss' first day at Patch! I think I outdid myself with the fluff here.
I do not own RWBY and make no monetary gain from this. Writing is for entertainment purposes only.
"And that concludes my victory!" Weiss cheered smugly, glancing around at her and houses lined the streets she had under her command, towering over the competition. Suffice to say, it was very satisfying to look at the business empire she had amassed.
Blake, who was situated on the opposite side of the dinner table in the living room, handed her the last of her money and sunk back into her chair, a wry smile on her lips. "I wouldn't have guessed real-life business skills could be so useful in Monopoly."
Weiss stuck her tongue out at her, still riding on the high of winning the game. She made a sudden move in the chair, causing Zwei to jump down from her lap and waddle out in the hall. She instantly missed petting the little ball of fur, but winning was more than enough to make up for it. "It's really just a risk vs reward assessment. I played it fairly safe, but that turned out favourably this time."
Since she'd never had many opportunities to play board games as a child, the Xiao Long-Rose household had turned out to be a real treat and had helped her rekindle her passion for them. Ruby and Yang hadn't joked when they had said that they had amassed a large collection over the years, and Weiss was looking forward to testing quite a few of them. She tried to school her expression into a more neutral one, not wanting to cross the line between happy and gloating. That would just be unbecoming.
Below the table, she felt Ruby rub her leg against her own, and she reciprocated by stealthily reaching out with her left hand and stroking Ruby's knee. She loved this form of rather innocent, relaxing flirting they could do without drawing much attention. A quick kiss every now and then was no longer a problem for her, but they had to show consideration for Yang and Blake, so anything more than the sporadic brief peck was out of the question.
"Well, princess, just wait until tomorrow when we play Remnant: The Board Game. I won't go down without a fight. Rubes and I have spent years playing it, so we're pros," Yang taunted with a smug smile and cracked her knuckles.
To her left, Ruby nodded enthusiastically. "Yep, you're in for a real fight. It's our favorite game!"
Bring it. I won't go down without a fight either.
Weiss smiled serenely at her chosen adversaries and made a mental note to read up on the rules first thing tomorrow. Victory would be sweet - because it'd be hers.
Ruby suddenly perked up. "Yang, let's bring it with us back to Beacon. I bet Jaune and the others would enjoy it."
"Good idea, sis! Weiss, remind us or we'll forget it."
Weiss rolled her eyes at Yang's forgetfulness. "Sure." She brought up her Scroll and added the item to her calendar.
Yang hid a yawn behind her hand then. "You guys tired too?"
Weiss looked at the grandfather clock on one of the walls and noted that it was close to midnight. A pang of disappointment went through her - she didn't want her first day on Patch to come to an end. The fact that there was almost two weeks until they went back to Beacon made up for it though.
And she was tired, the intense day having drained most of her stamina. Even if it hadn't been very physically exerting, there was still only so many new impressions she could take in without feeling the fatigue hit her.
"I agree," she said and stretched in the chair, raising her arm above her to alleviate some of the stiffness from sitting still for over an hour. "It's been a fun and eventful day, so I've worn myself out."
"Yeah, I can imagine," Yang agreed and looked at her kindly. "You took a big step forward today, and stuff like that has a way of draining you mentally, on top of Ruby dragging you around in Patch."
Ruby let out a puff of air at the playful accusation. "I didn't drag her around! It was a fun date, right, Weiss?"
"Yes it was, and you were lovely. I had a great time," Weiss confirmed sincerely, smiling at the memory of how they'd spent the day as a real couple. She punctuated her statement with giving Ruby a brief kiss on the lips, taking delight in how happy it made her.
"You two are really something else," Yang said with a shake of her head, smiling all the while. "Alright, let's hit the hay before the two of you start making out here and now."
They packed up the game and turned off the lights downstairs. Zwei had fallen asleep in his basket in the hallway, and Weiss scratched him slowly behind his ears a few times before following the rest of them up the stairs quietly, mindful to not disturb Taiyang who had come home and gone to bed right away an hour ago, since he had the room right next to the hallway.
After bidding Blake and Yang good night, Weiss went into Ruby's room with said girl in tow and set about preparing for bed.
"I'll use the bathroom downstairs to save some time," Ruby said and pulled out a fresh set out pyjama pants and a tank top. "Do you need anything?"
Weiss shook her head in equal parts to answer the question and to remove the flashbacks to the previous occasion - that same morning - when Ruby had worn a tank top.
"No, I have everything I need," she replied, making sure to keep her voice even.
"Okay, I'll be back in a few minutes." Just as she walked by, Ruby made a sudden dash towards her and trapped her in a quick hug before letting go and walking out of the room.
Weiss' mind began to wander as she arranged the pillow and connected the charging cable to her Scroll.
The memories of their heated make out session kept coming back to her, and no doubt being in the same room again helped her imagination along. They would be sleeping in separate beds now though, so that would stave off any temptations on her part due to the otherwise close proximity.
That thought, however, brought her mood down somewhat. Sleeping in the same bed had been lovely, but she knew it wouldn't be right to do so since she was a guest, even if Taiyang seemed to wholeheartedly approve of her. It was just... now that she had gotten another taste of sharing a bed with Ruby, sleeping in separate beds felt underwhelming and disappointing in comparison.
Weiss pushed her that thought away and retrieved her nightgown, her small collection of beauty products she'd purchased, as well as a new comb, and headed to the bathroom to prepare for bed. It was unoccupied, and she stepped in and locked the door behind her, settling into her familiar nightly routine.
She began washing her face and let her mind travel back to earlier in the day. Waking up in Ruby's arms, making out with her, going for a walk with Zwei, visiting the town of Patch and their date there… it had certainly been a very eventful day. Pizza might not have been her normally preferred kind of lunch, but since it was a vacation she hadn't minded making an exception. Perusing the local market vendors and buying various candies, cookies and fruits had been very enjoyable too. The only problem had been carrying the bags back, a quite cumbersome experience, but they'd relaxed in front of the TV after that, cuddled up together in one of the recliners. While Yang made dinner, she had studied company files and after dinner a thriller movie and Monopoly had taken up the rest of the evening for everyone.
Weiss realized it was the first day outside of Beacon she'd spent together with Ruby, marking an important milestone in their relationship. It was one thing to spend time together at the academy, but with no classes, exams, or studying, it was very different, allowing both of them a degree of freedom they hadn't even comprehended they were missing out on. So far it had gone very well, and she was looking forward to the coming days a lot.
She was also very proud of herself for being brave enough to be open with their relationship. Out of all their moments together over the course of the day, that instance when she took Ruby's hand in her own had yielded the biggest smile on her girlfriend's face by far. It was a memory for life for both of them, and with almost two weeks left until classes started, they would have the opportunity to create plenty of new memories together they could cherish for years to come.
While brushing her teeth, she reached for the comb, but then thought better of it. She had an excellent idea for her hair that she was sure her girlfriend would enjoy. When that was done, she applied a thin coat of the strawberry-tasting, sugar-free, lip balm she'd purchased, knowing that Ruby would like the flavor.
Stepping out in the hallway, clad in her nightgown, and humming a small tune to herself from the anticipation she now felt stirring in her, she came face to face with Blake. "Bathroom is all yours, milady" she said dramatically and curtsied. The puzzled look Blake shot her was hilarious.
"Thanks. You're in a good mood I see. Still happy about winning, or are you looking forward to being alone with Ruby in her room that much?" Blake's amber eyes twinkled with amusement, and her ears stood tall.
Weiss shrugged apologetically in an attempt to appear unfazed by the teasing, barely keeping the blush off of her face. "Both actually. I would be lying if I denied either."
"I would be disappointed in you if you weren't." Blake winked at her. "On that topic, I just want to say again that what you did today for Ruby was very brave. She really appreciates being able to show off her girlfriend in public a bit. Yang's very happy over it too."
"I noticed." A smile pulled at Weiss' lips when she again recalled how overjoyed her girlfriend had looked when she practically bragged to everyone about holding hands and even kissing in public after they got home, as well as the approving look Yang had sent her before pulling her into a hug. "It didn't feel right to hide it anymore, at least not here on Patch. I can't say the same about Beacon, but it's at least a step forward for me."
"And that's what matters," Blake agreed. She crossed her arms under her chest, a look of wistfulness coming over her. "I must admit I'm a little envious of you two. I realize more and more that I want something like what you have."
Weiss felt a bit awkward suddenly, unsure how to best respond. She eventually nodded. "I hope you'll find that special someone soon."
Blake smiled at her. "Yeah, I do too. We'll see what happens now that I've settled into Beacon a bit more."
Reassured that Blake wasn't feeling despondent, Weiss smiled back. "I can be your wing-woman when you're ready to make a move on someone...not that I'm too sure what that means." She accompanied the admission with an embarrassed grin. She figured Yang would be a lot better at being a wing-woman.
A giggle escaped Blake. "Thanks, Weiss. I'll take you up on that one day." Then Blake opened her arms and Weiss responded, stepping into the hug. "I'm glad you're my friend," she said softly.
"Same, Blake," Weiss replied earnestly, giving her friend a squeeze before stepping back, her smile widening. For not the first time, she thought of just how fond she's grown of Blake and Yang alike.
It's friendships that will last a lifetime... they're family.
She resolved in that moment to tell them just that one day when the occasion felt just right. They deserved to hear it from her.
"Anyway," Blake started, giving her an apologetic smile, "sorry for holding you up. Though, before I go," she leaned in and whispered, "These Feelings We All Must Endure has some suggestions for some... cuddling you could do. Maybe you should show them to Ruby?" Blake fled into the bathroom before Weiss could retort, heat rising to her cheeks as she for a moment was compelled to imagine what such a scenario could lead to. A muffled "Goodnight!" could be heard from the other end followed by laughter.
"Goodnight, Blake." Weiss sighed good-naturedly over her friend's antics. That was a suggestion that was not going to happen.
And with family comes teasing and embarrassing each other, doesn't it?
Her lips quirked upwards into a smile yet again. She wasn't the only one who was in an excellent mood today. Yang was, naturally enough, always cheerful and the break had certainly turned that up another notch. Ruby too, for a great number of reasons. Including me.
At times it was still odd to think that she made such an impact on someone else - that she mattered so much to another person - but each time it suffused her entire being with gratitude, and if she was to be a bit bold, pride. She mattered because of who she was, not what she was.
But if she was to see to her friends, it was with Blake she had noticed the greatest change. At Beacon, the girl had always been slightly reserved, no doubt thanks to her heritage and her past. Here though, she appeared to have managed to relax completely, and Weiss could swear she had never seen Blake smile as often, or look so genuinely happy, as she had today. The new laws in Vale certainly played a part, but not having any expectations on herself whatsoever for a few weeks was probably just what Blake needed.
We both really needed this visit to Patch, didn't we? I'm so lucky to have made such wonderful friends.
The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs brought Weiss out of her thoughts. Her girlfriend was holding a glass of cold water in each hand, but that wasn't what caught her attention.
Ruby was dressed in a pair of red and blue checkered pajama pants and a tight-fitting black tank top that sent Weiss' thoughts into disarray immediately. No doubt this was a planned move from the little minx.
"Are you ready?" Ruby asked innocently, her beautiful silver-colored eyes not betraying any ulterior motives. But Weiss knew better - Ruby had shown on plenty of occasions that she was seductive, shrewd and liked to take charge and tease her.
Weiss swallowed hard, but nodded, walking in after Ruby and closing the door behind them. Coincidentally, it allowed her a good look at Ruby's partially exposed back that showed plenty of muscles and made for a very appealing sight. The little extra sway in her hips wasn't bad either.
She's… sexy.
Admitting it to herself always felt like an odd thing, but she was growing used to the idea of seeing her girlfriend in that light. Looking and admiring Ruby was… fun and rewarding. Figuring out her thoughts on sex was something she was less sure of, but at least she now had a plan for that too. Hopefully she could continue reading her book tomorrow.
Tearing her eyes away from Ruby and disregarding the lewd thoughts popping up, she remembered her earlier idea. "Do you want to brush my hair?" She chuckled at the happy expression that sprung up on her girlfriend's face when she turned to her. It never ceased to surprise her how much Ruby liked her hair. "I'll take that as a yes, then."
"Yep, I've been wanting to do that for the longest time. Sit down!" Ruby answered with vigor, and patted a spot on the bed, after placing the glasses of water on the nightstand next to the lamp there.
Weiss sat down as instructed and handed her the brush. "You should've asked me earlier. I wouldn't have objected to it."
Ruby clambered up behind her and carefully began to run the comb through her hair. "I was thinking about it, but you always do it in the bathroom when you're getting ready for the day or before bed."
Weiss sighed in bliss from the sensation of the brush. "That's true. Then I know something that will change. This feels amazing and I should've asked you a long time ago. It was years ago since someone else brushed my hair last time - Winter or Sebastian did it occasionally when I was a child."
"I wouldn't mind helping you every now and then. Yang will tease us over it, but you know what, Weiss?"
"We can live with that?"
"Exactly!"
They let out a giggle in unison and then grew quiet as Weiss relaxed and continued to enjoy the ministrations. She regretted not having asked Ruby earlier. It had been a part of her morning and evening ritual for years, so the thought hadn't occurred to her to even ask Ruby until today.
On that note, she remembered she had promised Ruby to teach her the basics of using makeup, but they'd never gotten around to it. It was something she was looking forward to a lot, both because Ruby looked very attractive in it - more mature and seductive - but also because it would without a doubt look funny until she had the basics down.
"We should get started with your makeup lessons soon. We talked about it two weeks ago, but then the end of semester tests came between us and that."
"Not here," Ruby exclaimed with some fear in her voice, puzzling Weiss. The comb stopped. "Let's do that back at Beacon. Dad's already gushing enough as it is over how proud he is of 'his little girl growing up' just because I have a girlfriend and take care of my skin these days." She let out a groan and used Weiss' head as a resting place for her forehead. "It's so embarrassing!"
Weiss chuckled, finally comprehending. "I noticed. It's really cute how you get so shy whenever he compliments you. The bold and daring Ruby is very appealing, but I don't mind seeing the bashful side of you every now and then." She reached up with her hand and ran her fingers gently through red-tipped strands of hair, placing a few of them behind Ruby's ear.
"It's just...Yang and Blake I can kinda handle, but Dad just makes me… really, really, self-conscious," Ruby said, sounding embarrassed.
Weiss thought she could understand Ruby's plight, at least to a degree. No doubt introducing Ruby to her sister sometime in the future would conjure some of that same source of embarrassment regardless of Winter's stoic disposition. For a second she imagined Winter complimenting her in front of Ruby like that. A smile pulled at her lips at how uncharacteristic but cute it would be to see Winter so carefree, as mortifying as that would be to experience. She huffed in restrained laughter.
"What?" Ruby sat back up again properly.
"I'm imagining my sister acting like Taiyang. She's too composed for that, but it would be entertaining to see, even if it would be terribly embarrassing to experience I'd imagine."
Weiss just wished that her own father would've been like Taiyang, who from what she had seen and heard so far was an amazing dad. Had Jacques been even a fraction as supportive and caring as Taiyang, she would've proudly introduced Ruby to him. Instead, if she did, he'd only berate her or be downright furious. It saddened her that it would never happen and that she would never know what it was like to have a loving father. She didn't say it out loud though, not wanting to ruin the mood.
"That's when you're the cutest," Ruby smoothly replied, breaking her out of her thoughts.
A moment later, Weiss felt her girlfriend's lips on her cheek, making her immediately feel better. Her lips quirked upwards into a smile when Ruby added a few more kisses just because she could. Even without her girlfriend being aware of it herself, she always managed to cheer her up.
Well, let's not wish for something that wasn't meant to happen. I have Ruby, Winter, and all my friends. I can't get everything in life. On that note, I think it's high time I reassure Ruby again, just so she lets go of any worries she might hold onto. She's not showing it as much as before, but she's probably quite worried over how I'm doing still. I know I would if I were in her shoes.
"Ruby, I want you to know that I'm feeling fine." Weiss could feel how Ruby tensed the tiniest bit behind her over suddenly bringing it up without prior indication.
"Are… are you?" the hesitant reply came.
Weiss nearly chuckled at the sudden timidness. "Yes, I am. I have a plan for when we're back at Beacon, and until then I want to enjoy this break, just like I said last night in the kitchen. I love how you pay attention and pamper me, so please continue with that," Ruby gave an amused snort at that, "but you don't have to feel anxious over whether I'm coping or not. What my father tried to orchestrate for me hurt... a lot. It broke what little respect I had left for him and killed my dream to ever have a 'dad' in the proper sense of the word, but I don't want to let the past define me. I don't want to let him define me. I'm my own person, and I reaffirmed the decision both yesterday and today to keeping moving forward. To stand up for myself and take control of my own life."
Saying it out loud felt good. To Weiss, it was like an invisible weight was lifted off of her shoulders, making her feel at ease. Surprisingly, no negative thoughts or painful emotions reared their ugly heads. She was calm and content, happy with the moment she was sharing with Ruby. There was one more thing to say though.
"You give me the strength I need to move forward, Ruby. I love you."
She heard how Ruby's breath hitched behind her. "W-Weiss," she stammered out before clearing her throat. To Weiss' satisfaction, bashfulness practically oozed from her girlfriend. "I'm glad I can be there for you. And it's a relief to know that you're happy and not brooding over what happened. I didn't… want to ask and make you dredge up bad memories again."
A smile grew on Weiss' lips and she once again felt blessed over having been lucky enough to meet Ruby. The girl was always so considerate for her, making her feel spoiled at times. Ruby had moreover been there for her in one of the most tumultuous days of her life, regardless of how much stress she'd experienced herself.
"I assumed that was the case," Weiss replied. "You don't have to worry. I'm happy now, and I'm not going to let our time together be ruined by something in the past. I'm just sorry I've caused you and everyone else so much stress and worry."
"It's fine, don't worry over it. Things are better now, and there's a lot of fun to look forward to," Ruby assured her.
They grew quiet again and Ruby resumed brushing. Her girlfriend was meticulous and very careful to not apply too much force or make uneven motions, and Weiss felt herself become drowsy under the careful care as she relaxed the minutes ticked by. She lazily thought that she would ask Ruby to do this again tomorrow or perhaps every day from now on. She yawned and covered her mouth with her hand.
"Are you that tired?" Ruby asked, her hand moving the brush back and forth without interruption.
Weiss nodded, feeling more of the weariness set in under Ruby's care. "Yes, I need to sleep soon. Many things happened today. I haven't had this much fun in a while, but it certainly took its toll."
"Then let's go to bed, or do you want me to brush more?" Weiss shook her head in response, and Ruby brushed through her hair a few final times. As soon as the sensation stopped, Weiss felt Ruby envelop her in a hug from behind, her arms coming to rest along her collarbone. "I love you, Weiss."
"And I love you too," Weiss reaffirmed and brought one of Ruby's hand up to her lips, gently peppering the back of it with kisses. Then, with anticipation building in her, she leaned back into her girlfriend's embrace and craned her neck, tilting her head enough to allow Ruby access to her lips. She didn't have to wait long for Ruby to take the bait.
Tonight, Ruby tasted distinctly like spearmint from her toothpaste. Different than earlier in the day, but equally rewarding. Weiss definitely wanted to sample more, and she turned around and closed her eyes as she gave in to the pleasure. Their moist lips kept moving slowly in sync, and she felt how Ruby's arms tightened around her. Naturally, she melted into the embrace.
Neither she nor Ruby made any attempts to escalate beyond their tongues gently meeting though, both content with a slower, more measured pace before they turned in for the night. Tempered breaths, intermingled with quiet gasps, filled the room for a few minutes as they lost themselves in their languid affections. Eventually though, their kissing slowed down, ending in a series of feather-light pecks, affectionate smiles and playful giggles.
Weiss opened her eyes and met Ruby's silver-colored pair, taking pleasure in the love and care she saw reflected in them. Her girlfriend hugged her a little tighter, making her feel safe and happy, like nothing bad could happen as long as Ruby stayed so close to her. Like no challenge was too great to overcome. Like everything was possible. And perhaps it was.
"You were so brave today, Weiss. I know I'm repeating myself, but I love you so much I sometimes don't know what to do. I never want this feeling to stop." Ruby nuzzled her nose into her hair and tightened the hug a little bit more, like she was trying to get even closer to Weiss.
Weiss heart skipped a beat over Ruby's words. She knew exactly how that felt, because she was feeling those exact emotions in that moment. "I feel the same way, Ruby. I don't think I can even begin to adequately express how much of a difference you've made in my life and how much you mean to me."
"Neither can I," Ruby replied softly, holding her close for another few moments before letting go. "Come on, let's go to bed. There's a whole day tomorrow to look forward to."
Weiss nodded, and Ruby moved away from her and clambered down from her bed. A pang of longing went through Weiss then; the sight of Ruby adjusting the mattress on the floor did not feel right at all. After today and yesterday, Weiss didn't want to sleep alone anymore - she wanted to wake up in her girlfriend's arms.
But I'm a guest here and it wouldn't be proper… at the same time, I really want to share the bed with her...
Making up her mind, she decided to voice her concern at least - talking it over with Ruby couldn't hurt. They had been together for over three months by now, so it wouldn't be strange to ask, would it? And she really wanted it herself. It was a bold and maybe inappropriate move, but she had decided yesterday it was okay to be a bit selfish, hadn't she? She knew what she was doing was essentially to offload the final say on Ruby's shoulders, since she would hardly be against it, but it was the only way she could think of to perhaps make her wish a reality, not wanting to be presumptuous.
"Actually, I was hoping we could," she gulped as Ruby turned around to give her a questioning look, "share the bed again. It was… nice. Very nice, to be honest. I loved it."
Weiss felt her cheeks grow warm over the admission, but she held Ruby's gaze and shot her a small, embarrassed smile over admitting it. Her heart pounded in her chest from having asked, but the potential reward increasingly outweighed the concerns. Waking up next to Ruby, the girl she loved, was a precious feeling that she wanted more of, and indeed had wanted more of ever since they accidentally fell asleep together in the dorm room months ago.
"Oh, and why is that?" Ruby grinned at her.
Weiss felt a blush creep up her neck over the prospect of saying it out loud. "Dolt, you know why," she mumbled in embarrassment.
"Nu-uh ~" Ruby sing-sang, her mind apparently set on eliciting some flattering words from her.
Weiss rolled her eyes and decided to take the invite to inflate Ruby's ego. "You're an okay source of body heat, you are not too boney and you smell decently," she said with a smirk.
Ruby giggled at the unpolished compliment and grabbed her pillow, placing it besides the one Weiss was using. "I feel the same way about you, Weiss!'
Weiss stuck her tongue out at her silly girlfriend, and Ruby mimicked her immediately. They both broke down in a fit of giggles after a mere second.
There was just one problem, the one that had made her not voice her desire until now - and it was still unresolved. Remembering that was enough to make the smile on her lips droop somewhat. She was the guest here, and she barely knew her girlfriend's dad. There was Yang to consider too.
"Ruby, do you think Yang or Taiyang would be angry if we shared a bed?"
Weiss nervously played with the hem of her nightgown while she waited with some anxiety for the answer that would decide the rest of the night. She remembered how Yang had indicated she didn't want them to share a bed, but that had been well over two months ago, back before she had called them her friends and back before Yang had told her how good she was for Ruby. A lot had changed in a comparatively short span of time.
I don't think Yang would mind - no, she wouldn't anymore; she would only poke fun at us, but I can't say the same about Taiyang. I mean, he is her dad, after all. Isn't it customary for dads to be a bit protective of their daughters? Sure, Ruby's a huntress-in-training and he's very kind to me and seems to like me... but she's never been together with someone before. Not to mention that I'm older than her.
Their age difference wasn't something that had bothered Weiss after the first tumultuous day when she acclimated herself to Ruby's happy and energetic attitude. Ruby had earned her place at Beacon, and Weiss had forgotten about it the moment she saw her as an equal. When she fell in love, it had already slipped into the very back of her mind, feeling all the more unimportant the more time she spent with her crush.
Ruby's face took on a healthy blush, but she held a contemplative expression for a moment, a hopeful gleam in her eyes as she considered Weiss' question. After a few seconds, she shook her head. "Dad doesn't barge into my room, and Yang should be okay with it by now if she for some reason was to walk in here. Besides, I almost always wake up before everyone else anyway. It'll be fine, and if anyone asks we'll just say that it's very, uhm, cozy. It won't be a problem… but how about we don't even mention it? I think we both can imagine how Yang would tease us to no end."
To Weiss, that seemed like an excellent idea. Yang was a dear friend, but she had her moments when she was too much. "Yes, let's do that. However, would Tai be upset if he was to hypothetically walk in here?"
Ruby shrugged and smiled reassuringly at her, showing off her cute teeth. "I don't think so. He knows we've been together for a while, but it would be super embarrassing if he knew, so let's keep it to ourselves, even though it's not like we'll be undressed or anything." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively after saying the last words, then melted into a fit of giggles.
Weiss blushed heavily at the implication of that, her face growing very warm. "O-of course not."
"You're so fun to tease, Weiss."
Weiss only huffed in response.
Reassured enough to be willing to take the risk, Weiss climbed below the blanket and Ruby followed a moment later after shutting off the light and grabbing her pillow, laying down next to her.
Both girls laid on their backs, their arms and legs subtly touching since they were sharing a single bed, neither sure about what to say.
Weiss was acutely aware of every sound, every slight rustle of clothing and every soft inhale and exhale of air from Ruby, like the nervousness was amplifying her senses. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. This was real. They were sharing a bed. This was another step forward for both her and them. The fact that they were practically sneaking behind everyone's backs only made it all the more exciting. A wry smile found its way to her lips over her own sudden boldness.
What an eventful day it's been. Touching her chest, holding her hand in town and now this; I wasn't planning for any of this to happen when I woke up this morning. I have to admit I feel proud over myself right now. It's almost as if I took a great leap forward today, and not just a small step. It's hard to believe I've not been here for even a day and already so many things have happened.
Ruby eventually broke the silence though. "Yeeeeep, this is way better than sleeping alone." She sounded very pleased with the new bedding arrangements.
That broke the spell, and Weiss hummed an agreement, chuckling quietly at the assessment. "It feels right. Almost as if this is how it's supposed to be."
The subtle weight next to her, the extra warmth Ruby exuded, and the faintest hint of apple-scented shampoo all mixed together into a soothing comforting sense that this was where she belonged. Her girlfriend's presence made this many times better than sleeping alone.
"I had a lot of fun today. Goodnight, Ruby." A quick turn of her head and a brief kiss on her girlfriend's lips accompanied her wish.
"Me too. Goodnight, Weiss."
They lay there in silence for a few minutes, and Weiss soon began to drift off as she listened to Ruby's slow breathing next to her. Gradually, her eyes felt heavier and heavier and she began to slip in-
"Weiss?"
Weiss cracked open an eyelid. "Hmm?"
"You kicked butt at Monopoly, but don't expect it to go so smoothly tomorrow. Yang wasn't kidding when she said that she and I are very good at 'Remnant: The Board Game'."
"We'll see about that," Weiss replied smugly. Maybe she could team up with Ruby? Thought Yang and Blake would probably expect that and make a pact of their own. She would have to think more on it tomorrow. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
The room was blanketed in silence yet again, and Weiss slowly felt how she was beginning to fall into a restful slee-
"Weiss?"
Weiss began to giggle; it was so typical of Ruby. She just couldn't be upset at her, even if having sleep elude her like this was quite irritating. "Yes, what now?" she asked, amusement creeping into her voice.
She has me completely wrapped around her finger, doesn't she? Well, I can't say I mind.
"There's something I've always wanted to try ever since I met you…" Ruby trailed off, a tinge of embarrassment in her voice.
"Go on," Weiss managed to get out before she yawned.
"Can I be the big spoon?"
Weiss furrowed her brow in confusion and turned her head sideways to look at Ruby, training her eyes onto her. "The what?" Her mind came up blank. She'd never heard of it before. What did sleeping have to do with kitchen utensils?
With Weiss' lack of comprehension dawning on her, Ruby scrambled to explain, her temporary bashfulness turning into anticipation and excitement as she began to sell the idea to her. "It's a sleeping position called spooning. I read about it a while ago, and it sounded like a pretty great idea. Super comfortable and cuddly! One person is the big spoon and the other one is the little spoon."
"I still don't understand," Weiss admitted.
"It's probably easier if I show it to you," Ruby offered, sounding quite pleased with herself. "Can you roll on your side, with your back towards me?"
Not seeing any reason not to, Weiss did as instructed. She had to hand it to Ruby: the girl could be very smooth when it came to getting her way at times.
The next moment, Ruby literally latched onto her, enveloping her in a hug and forming a shape with her body not unlike a spoon… the name made an awful lot of sense, Weiss had to admit. It felt nice, very much so. Ruby was soft and warm, and the way Weiss found herself nestled in her arms was very pleasant. The way Ruby was pressed up towards her wasn't bad either - quite distracting, on the other hand. Weiss was sure she could get used to it.
However, a reversal of roles sounded just as appealing, because having Ruby in her arms was also a very appealing prospect. She could plant soft kisses on Ruby's ears, cheek and neck as much as she wanted. And if she felt up for some mischief, it would offer a very advantageous position for an impromptu tickle match.
It certainly merited consideration. She didn't often get the chance to do so, since Ruby liked to take charge and lead, subconsciously showing off that possessive trait Weiss had noticed in her. Not that Weiss minded; she had reconciled with herself the fact that when push came to shove, she had tendencies towards submissiveness in the more physical aspects of their relationship. She enjoyed that immensely, but sometimes a bit of variety wouldn't hurt.
"This is very cozy, but I want to be the big spoon too." With a growing sense of mischief, she awaited Ruby's protest. No way that the girl was going to let go of her catch after just a minute.
She didn't have to wait long.
Ruby tightened her grip around her, and Weiss felt how she affectionately nuzzled her nose against her ear. "Why don't we discuss that tomorrow?"
Sighing to herself in mock resignation and allowing Ruby to do as she pleased, Weiss closed her eyes again. She smiled. "Dolt."
"But you love me."
"Yes, I do."
"And I love you. Goodnight, Weiss."
"Goodnight."
They grew quiet after that, letting their breathing lull each other into sleep. Within minutes, both were out like lights.
And caaaan you feeeel the fluuuuff toniiiight?
Some of you may have noticed the obvious Spoon Equality reference. For those of you that don't know what it is, it's a fluffy collection of Pyrrha x Ruby by Jefardi. Well worth checking out.
P.S. Did you know that a group of bunnies is called 'a fluffle'? That makes me so happy.
Reviews are appreciated, no matter how long or short they are!
