Hello, here's chapter 22. Hope you folks enjoy it. Takes place the same day as last chapter, so Thursday of week 1. More time skips will happen going forward. It was originally a scene in the previous chapter, but then that got too long because I came up with more ideas. Fun fact: the initial size of the summer break arc was planned at 4 chapters. It'll be more than 3 times as long before I'm done.
I do not own RWBY and make no monetary gain from this. Writing is for entertainment purposes only.
Weiss sat in a wide clearing filled with soft grass and wildflowers. Below her, a checked-colored blanket was spread out and a picnic basket sat next to her. She leaned forward and took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of the blueberry pie wafting towards her, feeling how her mouth watered. All around her, the gentle breeze rustled the leaves, birdsong chimed in the trees, and the rays of the pleasant midday sun warmed her skin. Ruby had been right: the glade really was a treasure. She was glad they had been so lucky with the weather - scarcely a grey cloud had marred the sky so far during her stay.
She lay down on the blanket, shoes and socks discarded, and spread her arms out and stared up at the blue sky, taking note of the odd fluffy white cloud here and there. The day was perfect and the scenery was like something out of a fairytale romance. She felt happy and at peace.
Well, she had to concede, that wasn't entirely true – but not in a bad way. Her agreement with Ruby made her anxious, but also oddly upbeat from relief. She'd inadvertently placed herself in a position that made her have to talk with Ruby, and she was okay with that. She trusted Ruby unconditionally and knowing that she didn't have to deal with her feelings alone anymore had stripped away a layer of stress that had tormented her for months. The choice had been made for her, and now it was just a matter of sorting out a few more of her convoluted thoughts on that particular subject, before taking the plunge and having a proper discussion.
For not the first time, she cursed herself for being so stuck on the subject of physical intimacy. How her mind jumped between excitement, nervousness, reassurance and uncertainty didn't help in the least.
But I guess I'm doing the best I can. I've come a long way in a very short while already, and Ruby understands that. She'll let me take the time I need, and she'll be there for me. I'm so glad I have her.
Scarcely had her mind filed those musings away before another thought cropped up. There was only a bit over a week left until they had to go back to Beacon and everything that entailed, taking stock of the relationship between herself and her father included. Weiss didn't want to go back and leave these idyllic days on Patch behind, and she definitely didn't enjoy how the same sorrowful longing for her father to act like a dad was slowly creeping back in, now that her anger towards him had partially dissipated. Paradoxically enough, that caused her to feel angry again - but at herself this time.
Life's awfully complicated at times, isn't it? Why can't I just let go of that fantasy and learn to live in the moment!?
She forced her musings away, knowing it would do her no good, instead taking a few slow, deep breaths and counting to ten.
She relaxed again, now tallying up everything that was right with her life instead. There was a whole lot of good in it to treasure and nothing that she was immediately lacking, with one exception: knowledge of where Ruby was. It was beginning to become an urgent matter to her. A romantic picnic date didn't happen with only one person, after all.
Because as soon as she'd put the blanket down when they arrived, Ruby had run off, shouting something about how she'd be back had transpired twenty minutes ago, and it had been quite the anticlimactic moment. If Weiss was honest though, there was something very "Ruby" over that particular course of action, and she shook her head slowly over her girlfriend's antics. The impulsiveness was a cute trait. No doubt Ruby was up to something she'd realized at the last minute - the question was just what. And since when had her name turned into an adjective?
As if on cue, her girlfriend's shout rang out over the clearing. "Weiss, I'm back! Sorry for the wait! Close your eyes and don't open them until I say so!"
Weiss smiled and did as she was instructed. "Okay!" she replied loudly, sitting back up. The grass rustled softly for every step her girlfriend took, and Weiss had to resist the urge to steal a glance in the direction of the sound. Bereft of her vision, her hearing felt sharper than usual, and she could without a problem make out the sound of Ruby circling around the blanket, moving to the right and then stopping directly behind her.
"Sit still and keep your eyes closed." Ruby's voice dripped with barely contained enthusiasm. "I think it'll fit… " She was close enough for Weiss to make out those mumbled words to herself.
Puzzled, Weiss complied with the request and felt how something was carefully laid down on her head, sinking down a few inches to rest comfortably above her ears. The distinct sensation of plant life tickled her temples. Then she breathed in and noticed the slight difference in the air; the smell of flowers was stronger than the faint background scent before. She took another whiff of air.
A… flower crown?
Surprise grew in her, and she gingerly reached up with a hand to confirm her guess. Soft petals and stalks met her fingers. Did Ruby make it herself? What did it look like? And when had she learned that?
"Can I open my eyes yet?" Weiss asked, eagerness growing in her, despite how quintessentially a little girl thing it was. It was just that she hadn't worn a flower crown in so many years. She recalled one of her earliest memories, of the soft hands and the gentle voice of her mother asking her to sit still as she put one on her head. Weiss hadn't listened then, instead struggling fiercely against the unfamiliar feeling. A brief pang of sorrow swept through her.
"Not yet! Just a minute!" Ruby sounded slightly panicked, hands still fuzzing minutely around the top of her head. The suspected flower crown was pulling at her hair as Ruby worked.
And just like that, the negative emotions were whisked away, her girlfriend's effort and pampering filling her with reassurance that everything was right with the world. Or at least this particular corner of it. "Just remember that it's considered impolite to keep a lady waiting," Weiss teased, enjoying how Ruby let out a low growl of displeasure at something, almost immediately followed by a relieved sigh.
"There, had to fix a part of it. Okay, I'm almost done, just one more thing." The shuffling of her feet told Weiss that Ruby was moving in front of her. The fabric of Ruby's t-shirt and shorts rustled from the movement she was making, sending Weiss' thoughts towards salacious shores before she could stop that particular train of thought. Ruby was certainly not undressing in front of her. That thought made her instinctively feel disappointment, and a blush began to creep up her neck.
I never thought I'd reach a point where sex would be on my mind several times a day. It's certainly interesting, but very distracting.
Click. The distinct sound of a Scroll snapping a picture reached Weiss' ears, dispelling her momentarily less than wholesome imagination.
"You can open your eyes now," Ruby said happily.
Weiss slowly opened her eyes. Her girlfriend sat on her knees in front of her and held her Scroll up, a big grin on her face. Click. A faint flash in the sunlight followed instantly. Deciding to indulge Ruby, Weiss shot a smile at her and was rewarded with another picture taken. She had never really liked when people photographed her, but since it was Ruby she was willing to make an exception.
"How do I look?" she asked. That was the worst part of it - there was almost always some part of a picture of herself she didn't like. She was vain, eager to find flaws in photographs. Her past experiences had rendered having photos taken of her the opposite of enjoyable too. Family photo sessions at Schnee Manor had been an awful affair of putting on a false appearance, and the same discomfort had been present when she'd attended important events together with her father.
Ruby scooted closer and made herself comfortable next to her, handing her the Scroll and subtly leaning against her. One hand gently came to rest on her right shoulder. "Take a look."
Mindful of the flower crown on her head, Weiss looked at the picture. What struck her right away was her smile and the joy playing in her eyes. Weiss couldn't remember the last time she'd looked so genuinely happy in a photograph. The flower crown Ruby had woven for her framed her hair and stood in stark contrast to her pale visage. Among the mostly red and blue flowers, there were dots of orange, purple and pink.
Combined with the plain white dress she was wearing, she looked like any teenage girl out there. It felt… strange. Like she was looking at someone else, and yet she rationally knew it was her. A year ago, merely entertaining the idea of a moment like this would've been a pointless exercise in futility. Now though, it was her reality.
Tentatively, she reached up with her hand and touched the flowers again, amazed at Ruby's craftsmanship. Evidently, her girlfriend had a hidden talent. Perhaps not so strange after all, since she was so proficient in tinkering with Crescent Rose and its myriad of tiny pieces. The smile Weiss had donned for the past minutes grew wider.
"Weiss," Ruby said, making her turn her head and look into her girlfriend's eyes, which gleamed with affection.
She opened her mouth to speak, but Ruby beat her to the punch. "You're beautiful, Weiss. I know that I say that a lot, but I mean it every time."
In the next second, Ruby's lips were on her own in a gentle kiss. One soft peck replaced the next until Ruby decided to stray and simply pepper her nose and cheeks with kisses too. Weiss tried to sit still when Ruby's hair and lips tickled her. She eventually fended her off by ways of a huff of air against Ruby's ear, eliciting a shrill laugh from her girlfriend, who retreated a small distance.
"Yeah, definitely the most amazing girl ever," Ruby complimented with a slow, almost wonderlike quality to her tone. "Kind, hardworking, cute and so many other things. I love you." Face flush, her right hand came up and lovingly wound its way through Weiss' white tresses.
Weiss felt how her face grew warm from the glowing compliment, and she was sure the smile she was holding looked really silly. Most times, she didn't react so strongly to compliments anymore since she'd gotten partially used to them. But the way Ruby looked at her right now, and the conviction in her voice, was so much more intense than usual, like she was channeling every ounce of her being into those words. It was impossible to not be affected by it.
"I love you too, Ruby." Weiss leaned towards her and their lips met again. She cupped Ruby's smooth cheek to guide her to that that perfect angle she preferred. There was no better way than kisses to show her how much she appreciated her words.
Over the past week they'd probably kissed more than in the last few months combined, a fact that Weiss was very happy about. It was a lovely way to show affection, especially with how their respective moods made each time a unique experience.
While their lips brushed against each other tenderly, Ruby's arm came to rest on her shoulder, gently tugging her closer. Without once breaking their lip-lock, Weiss followed, twisting around for better purchase, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend. She dug her other hand into Ruby's hair, and Ruby tightened the hold she had on her in response. Their lips continued to meet without pause, deep but not desperate.
Weiss didn't keep track of time - not that it mattered. They had the entire day at their disposal, and they lost themselves in the emotions they shared and the feeling of holding each other close.
Ruby eventually began to nibble, biting carefully into her lower lip and tugging on it, alternating between that and increasingly wet and sloppy kisses from their mixed saliva. One hand slunk down to give Weiss' rear a brief pat before settling on her lower back.
A second later, Weiss felt how Ruby asked for entrance, and she smiled into the kiss, taking the cue and opening her mouth enough to let Ruby in. They never went for tongue right away, but always easing into it after their regular kisses had grown heated enough. Though, when their tongues did met, Weiss promptly forgot about that small insight and instead allowed a gasp of pleasure to escape, knowing that it would only spur Ruby on. She clung tighter to Ruby, digging her nails into her girlfriend's t-shirt.
It had the intended effect. Ruby deepened the kiss and Weiss felt how one of Ruby's hands came to rest on her thigh and gently began caressing back and forth where her dress had ridden up a few inches. The touch was burning hot, sending a pleasurable shiver up her spine.
Small gasps and low noises of approvals filled the clearing as the minutes ticked by.
They kept kissing, but they didn't escalate further, wordlessly deciding between them that this was the extent for now. Their pace slowed down soon, naturally concluding with a few chaste kisses, their lips lingering for an extra second each time they met, savouring the contact, until they broke off and simply held each other close. Ruby's hand lay still on her thigh.
Both girls were panting lightly, and Weiss felt a bit weak in the knees from the intimacy. She plopped down sideways in Ruby's lap, knowing full well how much Ruby loved it whenever she did that. What could best be described as a pleased purr left Ruby, making her smile. One hand came back to rest on her thigh again, the other wrapped securely around her. Weiss buried her nose in her girlfriend's hair, taking slow and measured breaths to stop her heart from racing. The faint trace of apple fragrance was familiar, helping her to come down from the pleasure-induced high she'd grown all too accustomed to.
"That was nice," Ruby murmured lazily against her throat.
Weiss felt every warm and shaky inhale and exhale of her breath against her skin. She hummed in agreement, kissing the top of Ruby's head. "It was. We haven't kissed much today." Ruby had been anxious with preparing for the date in the morning, so their still very fresh routine of cuddling together in bed had been cut short.
A not insubstantial part of Weiss wanted them to continue and to go even further. The need she had worked up over the course of their activities lingered, a potent reminder of what her body wanted. Increasingly often, a make-out session would leave her feeling bothered long after it had ended - the sensation being both a blessing and a curse. She knew Ruby wasn't unaffected either. For a moment, she entertained the notion that the hand on her thigh would begin to slide further up under her dress and tease her in a completely new way. But Ruby didn't do that, instead leaving her with a small sense of disappointment when she removed it.
Do I want her to escalate things? Maybe? This is so frustrating. Why do I have to be so hesitant over this subject? It would be so liberating to be able to let go of my hesitation and fully give in, and not have to be left in this state of unfulfilled need.
With a small sigh, she discarded the thought and did her best to ignore the slowly fading sensation of being worked up. She shouldn't rush this, instead stick to the plan and talk things over with Ruby. Hopefully, her mindset would change after that. "Thank you," she said instead, well-aware of of how red her face was.
Ruby, eyes showing she was just now coming out of her own pleasurable haze, tilted her head cutely to the side, clearly not following. "For what?"
Weiss moved in and quickly bumped their noses together, smiling to herself over the silly action. "For being you, for making me the happiest I've ever been each day, and for the flower crown. I had no idea you were so talented at it. It's a beautiful creation. Can you teach me how to make one?"
An embarrassed smile played across Ruby's lips from the praise. "Sure! I've had plenty of time to practice. When I was a kid I used to make them for dad and Yang," She paused for a moment, looking wryly amused, "and then I pretended to be a knight who saved them from monsters. I even had a small wooden sword and shield that dad made for me. Think they're still around somewhere."
Weiss let out a giggle at the mental image that conjured. "That's so cute. If you don't mind, I would love to see pictures of you when you were a child. Can we do that sometime?" Her anticipative gaze met Ruby's bashful one.
Ruby groaned, her face taking on a pained look that wasn't entirely serious, before she buried her head in the crook of Weiss' neck, hugging her tightly. "Weiss, that'll be super embarrassing for me!" she whined from her place of hiding.
"But super fun for me!" Weiss retorted in an exaggeratedly childish voice, earning a huff and what she suspected was a pout from Ruby. "You must've been, still are of course, absolutely adorable." She had a sneaking suspicion that such a treasure trove would be even cuter than Zwei.
It made her wonder about Ruby's never talked about much of either one's. Ruby had her eyes fixed firmly on the future, only sporadically bringing up Signal or childhood memories. Weiss knew there was a collection of less than pleasant memories there, what with the loss of her mom and from what Yang had told her. And as for herself, Weiss had any number of reasons to not delve into that topic.
I suppose there's still a lot of things we still don't know about each other. One day I should tell her more about my childhood, and the happy memories in particular.
"Alright... later," Ruby acquiesced and motioned for Weiss to move off of her.
"Just a few would do," Weiss clarified as she sat down next to Ruby, wanting to put the ball firmly in her court. It could be anything, just as long as Ruby was fine with it. Perhaps it was a little pushy and presumptuous of her, Weiss reasoned over her own request, but not overly so.
"You know, why don't we take a few pictures of the two of us right now?" Ruby asked, elaborating immediately, already full of excitement over the idea. "We don't have many at all, now that I think about it. I mean, Dad took a few pictures, but it's not the same."
That was true enough. They had almost no pictures of themselves as a couple, apart from the one Yang sent them and soon those that Taiyang shot.
Weiss tested the concept in her mind for a moment before deciding that she liked the idea. In a few years time, should things go as she was secretly hoping for, photos of their time together would be a source of important memories. "I'm not opposed to it," she said, adding, "as long as I get a say in what pictures we keep. I don't want us to save anything where I make ridiculous expressions or anything of the sort."
Ruby didn't object to that, and Weiss soon found herself in various poses she'd never until this day even dreamt of partaking in. It was thankfully a lot less embarrassing than when Taiyang snapped a few pictures earlier.
In one picture, their chins were pressed against one another as they stared into the Scroll. In another one, they laid down on the blanket, with Wess having her head on Ruby's chest. In a third, Ruby had donned the flower crown and Weiss rested her head on top of Ruby's. In the final one, her favorite, they managed to take a photo of themselves sharing a tender kiss.
Naturally, it was difficult to get it right and they had to retake it many times until they found that perfect one - not that either girl minded.
"That was fun!" Ruby exclaimed after they'd finished their impromptu photo shoot, sitting back down on the blanket once again.
Weiss nodded in agreement, happy with the end result. She would treasure those pictures dearly, but prayed fervently that they remained private despite how innocent they were. "As long as Yang doesn't come across them," she said, an icy feeling already growing in her stomach. She could by this point very well imagine what Yang would do if she found them.
Ruby laughed at her paranoia. "Nah, she's not going to rummage through my Scroll. Sister honor prevents that."
"She do have a habit of trying to make us want to sink through the floor - and then apologizing afterwards," Weiss noted dryly, making Ruby squeeze her eyes shut from recalling one instance or the other where the sister had amused herself on their expense. Still, she knew Yang cared deeply about them and wouldn't do something that would really upset them.
Though, upon mentioning Yang, an idea struck Weiss - a chance to 'mess with Ruby', as said girl's sister would've so eloquently put it. Ruby had left her alone on their date, good reason to or not, and Weiss realized she could use that fact to her advantage. There had to be some consequences for such a transgression, after all.
For her plan to work, it required a careful set of manoeuvers. It also required a minute to work up her courage since it would be a, for her, very bold move. And for precisely that reason, she decided to go through with it.
As they talked about whatever came to mind and enjoying the weather a bit more before lunch, Weiss struck.
First thing she did was to lean against Ruby. Then she guided Ruby's left arm around her waist. The gesture was well-received and accepted without fuss, with Ruby absentmindedly beginning to draw random patterns with her fingers over the white fabric hiding her stomach.
The next step of the plan was Weiss' favorite. She was awfully weak against nice legs and let her toes run along Ruby's calf, loving how it felt. If the way her girlfriend's breath hitched was any indication, it had the intended effect. Ruby most definitely took note of the unusual behavior, her cheeks holding a pinch of red in them, eyes glued to her legs.
A blush was creeping up Weiss' own neck rapidly, and she found it difficult to try and act innocent. She wasn't used to acting so flirty, sensual and sly - Ruby was much more experienced in that area- but it was fun and exhilarating.
She turned her head and ducked just low enough to plant a kiss on Ruby's throat, letting her lips linger for a few precious seconds, sucking on the smooth skin. Ruby abruptly stopped midway in what she was saying. Weiss knew her action would, in sufficient quantities, drive Ruby wild - a fact she realized she wanted to take full advantage of one day.
"Weiss?" Her girlfriend's voice had the tiniest wobble to it.
This is going well so far. Now for the final part.
Weiss let go of the patch of skin with a wet popping sound. Ruby gave her a bewildered look that was met with a secretive smile. Instead of replying, she moved closer, turning around and straddling Ruby's legs to sit down.
The distance separating their lips was almost nothing. "I'm still thinking about the pictures" she said and laid her hand on her girlfriends shin, stroking it tenderly and giving Ruby what she could only hope was an inviting and flirtatious look. They were a lot easier to pull off these days, and the small height advantage helped too. "I feel the last picture was the most enjoyable one to take." Her face red, she intentionally allowed her voice to grow a bit husky. She pressed herself closer to Ruby for emphasis.
Ruby looked startled, her eyes darting down to their position. She opened her mouth to speak but evidently decided against it at the last second. Instead, she took the bait and began to lean closer, one hand on the ground behind her for support, her eyes sliding shut.
She's so predictable, the little dunce.
Weiss concealed the smirk that threatened to spill forth and leaned in. The moment she could feel Ruby's hot breath on her skin, their lips just an inch apart, she pulled up her hand and placed a finger on Ruby's lips. With a smug look on her face, she pulled back. "No."
Her girlfriend's momentarily confused look spilling over into disappointment was priceless. "Weiss, why?"
Silver eyes stared at her imploringly, and Ruby's pout nearly made her falter. However, teasing her girlfriend proved to be too much fun to pass up on from time to time, and the pleading look she received didn't have the intended effect.
"I've been looking forward to this lunch date for a while now, and the first thing you did was to run off. I won't kiss you on the lips anymore until we've had food." To make her point, she leaned in and kissed a startled-looking Ruby on the tip of her nose, trying to not burst out laughing. "It's all your fault," she added in a low, teasing tone, smiling smugly at her girlfriend, all too pleased at for once not be on the receiving end of their everyday banter.
And it felt amazing to be so assertive and acting… sexy.
"Oh," Ruby said sheepishly, hugging her gently. "Yeah, that kinda wasn't the best thing ever, was it? Sorry."
"I was quite surprised, but at no point was I angry."
"That's good… but Weiss?"
"Yes?"
"What you just did was super hot. I wouldn't mind if you show off that side again sometime." Ruby shot her a grin, her confident expression only lessened by the small blush she was sporting.
Still straddling Ruby's thighs, Weiss was absolutely not ready for that compliment, eyes darting to the side from the embarrassment sweeping through her. "I-l will keep that in mind." At the same time, she felt very proud of her accomplishment. She'd sometimes been a little rash in the heat of the moment, but it wasn't often it happened deliberately.
Quickly gathering her bearings again, she found something to focus on: "You're not getting so much as a kiss until we've had lunch though." She sent Ruby her sweetest smile, eliciting a giggle from her.
"Then how about we get started on the food right away? You're hungry, right?" Ruby shot back playfully, though she didn't bother to hide the eager undertone.
Weiss chuckled at Ruby's enthusiasm and disentangled herself enough so she could sit down next to her instead. "Yes, I am. I think my body's becoming used to slightly larger portions. I eat more than at Beacon, and yet I feel hungry again quite soon."
"I told you you weren't eating enough to begin with. When we're back at Beacon, try to keep eating larger portions. You're not gaining weight anyway, right?" Ruby asked innocently, completely missing conventional wisdom on the subject of asking a woman about her weight.
Weiss shook her head, not offended in the least. She'd long ago come to terms with Ruby's blunt honesty. "No, I'm not. It seems I'm burning it off at a sufficient rate. "
"I wonder if I could carry you," Ruby mused. "You're so light whenever we cuddle or you sit in my lap, so I figure it wouldn't exactly be difficult."
Weiss suddenly found herself on the receiving end of a very calculating stare. "Ruby Rose, you will not carry me around, or even attempt to," she warned.
"Aw, but it'd be fun." Ruby's expression fell somewhat, and Weiss resigned herself to indulging her in the future. It was a very small price to pay to see her happy.
Weiss put her hand on top of Ruby's to console her. "I appreciate the compliment though." She took on a momentarily embarrassed expression. "I always fear it's not very comfortable for you when I'm sitting in your lap."
Ruby giggled. "Don't be silly, Weiss. You're light as a feather, and you've never complained when I sit in yours. I'm pretty sure I weigh a few extra pounds compared to you, so don't worry about it."
With their next activity already decided, Ruby began to unpack the food, laying out a fresh pasta salad, sandwiches and the object Weiss had anticipated the most out of the basket. Weiss' appetite had been teased for the better part of an hour by the thought of the pie and the knowledge that her girlfriend had gone through a lot of effort for her sake. That fact, that Ruby spent time and effort voluntarily because she wanted to surprise her and make her happy, sent a warm feeling throughout Weiss' body.
Ruby went out of her way for her, even going so far as picking the food for Weiss on a plate and filling her glass with orange-tinged water.
"Thank you. It looks delicious. We should have another picnic date sometime, before autumn," Weiss suggested. For the first time in her life, she would really miss when the season passed and it grew colder again. The summer season had suddenly become something to treasure; an opportunity for spending time with friends and girlfriend.
Ruby hummed in agreement and Weiss though back to their previous date in a forest. It was difficult to comprehend it was just over two months ago since that time; the moment she had told Ruby those three special words:
"I love you." Those words were well-worth repeating.
"I love you too, Weiss," Ruby replied, smiling at her and bumping her shoulder lightly.
They dug in after that, nibbling at the food on their respective plates. Both the pasta salad and sandwiches tasted great, and Weiss appreciated that the latter had both lettuce and cucumber to them. The mayonnaise was filling and mixed well with the other tastes, and while she normally didn't eat something with so much fat, she had taken an exception to the rule since it was, after all, a vacation.
In between bites, they talked about the joys and challenges of looking after Zwei, and the shenanigans he'd been up to. Weiss decided that she would own a dog in the future, after Beacon. Maybe a breed who wasn't as lively though. There was just something inherently wrong about a small dog who attacked beowolfs for the fun of it.
When it was time for the dessert, Ruby took out another plate for the pie, a chilled container full of whipped cream, a thermos full of coffee and a bottle of soda. Weiss tried to help but was shooed away, with Ruby electing to take care of everything herself and spoil her. She soon scooped up a slice of the delicious-looking, picture-perfect blueberry pie on a plate, added a spoonful whipped cream on top and then pinched a piece off and held it in front of Weiss' mouth. A steaming mug of coffee waited next to her.
Weiss' face flushed when she realized what Ruby was doing, but she opened her mouth and allowed her to feed her. Ruby looked very eager and Weiss wouldn't have dreamed of not playing her part.
In the next moment, Weiss chewed on what was a very delicious spoonful of blueberry pie.
Ruby gave her a nervous look. "How is it?"
Weiss swallowed the bite after chewing on it slowly to savour the taste. "It's very delicious, Ruby," she complimented, adding, "Just the right balance of sweet and sour, and the crust is thick enough to offer a satisfying resistance when I chew. Can you give me the spoon, please?"
Relief palpable, Ruby surrendered the spoon to her, and Weiss, pushing down that little inner voice who told her this was all terribly embarrassing, scooped up a piece of the pie and fed her. After the first bite, her girlfriend let out a pleased sigh. "Delicious! It turned out well, way better than I thought. Now give me the spoon; it's your turn again."
Weiss giggled at her eagerness, instantly more at ease from Ruby's enthusiasm. "Why don't you give me another spoon instead? This'll be cumbersome otherwise and you'll just grow impatient."
They took turns after that, giggling and laughing as their dessert turned into a game of light-hearted flirting that they both enjoyed equally. It reminded them of their library date in a way, but this time without the reward scheme Weiss had concocted that time.
Too soon though, most of the pie was gone and they both felt very full. What remained would no doubt serve as a late night snack for Ruby when they returned home.
Weiss felt as content as she could. She removed the flower crown and put it on the picnic basket after taking another impressed look at it. It was such a shame it would soon wither, but that was alright.
It's been lovely so far; the date surpassed all my expectations and is a lovely surprise. I can't say I was expecting to agree to reading my book with Ruby though, but it's probably not a bad thing, is it? No... it definitely isn't. I need her support.
She smiled wryly to herself. Ever since she'd come to known Ruby she'd lost control of her rigid daily schedules and strict plans, instead settling into an existence where she wasn't sure quite what tomorrow would bring. It was a lot better this way - despite how her inner control freak reared its head from time to time.
She laid down on the blanket and relaxed, going limp and just soaking in the sun's rays. The warm day and her full belly made resting on the spot very appealing.
Ruby joined in next to her once she had packed up their plates and leftovers, and Weiss grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers. This was bliss.
They'd done so many things over the past week and had formed so many memories together that Weiss had a hard time deciding which one she was the most fond of. Visiting the town, exploring the forest, taking a morning walk and exercising Zwei, sparring daily, Ruby teaching her to fish yesterday, cooking with everyone, and a multitude of smaller things like watching TV cuddled up together in the sofa, playing board or video games with everyone… but if she had to settle for one thing, it would be those quiet and tranquil moments when they just spent time together. Like now.
"Video games later?" Ruby's voice was hopeful.
"Yes, but go easy on me unlike yesterday, please. I'm still a complete amateur at it, and nothing compared to Tai." Weiss turned her head sideways to look at Ruby. Ruby had been so smug that she had beaten her, something she hoped she could turn around soon.
"Yeah," Ruby agreed with a pout as she stared up at the sky. "I can never win against him or Yang. But one day I will, and then we'll celebrate!"
"I'll buy you an extra large cookie when that happens." Weiss gently caressed the hand she was holding. Ruby could be so childish at certain times, but it was very endearing. Or maybe it was just her who had never learned properly to be a teenager. But she was trying her best.
"Thank you." Ruby yawned then, looking a bit tired like she always did when she'd eaten too much. "We'll help dad with the marinade later today, right?"
Weiss nodded, looking forward to that too. Like he'd said that Tuesday, Taiyang was planning to use the grill, and the meat would thus need time to soak. She still remembered most of his miniature lecture about the merits of a good marinade and which spices to combine and not to, all of which Ruby and her would put to good use later.
She decided to move away from video games and talk about Taiyang, since it had been on her mind since she arrived. Now that she'd gotten to know him to some degree, she felt it was time to reveal a small truth to Ruby she'd kept to herself.
"Speaking about Tai, I can't believe I was nervous over meeting him, Ruby. He's so nice he keeps surprising me with how friendly he is. For example, yesterday when he had all of sudden made cupcakes for all of us just because he wanted to. Or when he offered to prepare hot chocolate while we were watching that movie the other night."
Ruby nodded, her lips pulling upwards into a soft smile. "Yeah, he's the best dad there is. I figured you would be nervous no matter what I told you about him, and I was a bit worried about you working yourself up over it." She glanced over at her, seemingly amused at knowing exactly how Weiss would've reacted. "He wouldn't harm a fly as long as it isn't a Grimm fly...not that those exist. Wouldn't that be a terrifying thing?"
"I'm very glad oversized Grimm flies don't exist." Weiss shuddered in mock horror at the thought. "And my worry over meeting Tai lasted all of ten seconds until he gave me that hug in the harbour. He's like a big teddy bear, isn't he?" Ruby nodded, and Weiss continued her train of thought. "It feels good to know that he approves of me."
She hadn't spoken a lot with Taiyang yet, with the exception of when she'd helped him prepare the hot cocoa. It was the longest private exchange of words between the two of them so far. They'd traded pleasant small talk around the kitchen table a few times, and he had later inquired about how she was doing and if she needed anything, but otherwise he had left her in Ruby's hands. That was something Weiss knew she needed to correct. She definitely wanted to sit down with him and talk at length about her relationship with Ruby and her plans for the future. It was just a matter of finding the right time, which wasn't the easiest when she had an adorable, loving, and clingy girlfriend by her side.
Weiss still felt some surprise that it hadn't come up yet, but suspected that he probably didn't want to pressure her after what had happened with her father. Or perhaps her mentality was too old-fashioned in this regard. He was, after all, a very supportive dad, clearly thrilled that his daughter had a girlfriend. Perhaps he reasoned it was best to leave them be.
Weiss thought back to just an hour ago, and how his well-meaning attention had made Ruby want to sink through the floor. It was very cute how self-conscious she became whenever he tried to dote on her.
Not that she had fared much better herself. Receiving a short and supportive speech that it was perfectly fine for them to share a bed would forever be engraved in her mind, both for how ashamed she'd felt for going behind his back in his own home, for how much that moment spoke of the bond between father and daughter, and for how kind, almost unreasonably so, he was.
Taiyang had looked borderline panicked when she started apologizing and had cut her off fast. "Weiss, you've been together with my daughter for months now and spend every day with her. I'd honestly be worried if you didn't share a bed when you have a room for yourself. All it tells me is that you like each other a lot and that it's going well for you two, and that's reassuring." His words echoed in her mind, as did the feeling of the hug she'd received soon afterwards.
They had barely recovered from that mortifying conversation when Taiyang had asked the two of them to pose on the lawn with the picnic basket in hand. It had been plenty embarrassing but Weiss hadn't had the heart to refuse. The promise of a copy of the photos had negated some of the hesitation she had felt, and allowing him to commemorate their date had seemed like a reasonable repentance for their clandestine sleeping arrangements. A very supportive dad indeed.
"Ruby, can I ask you something rather personal?"
"Sure."
She squirmed a little over her next question, squeezing the hand she was holding. "Did you ever worry what he would think when you told him you were gay?"
Their eyes met and Ruby's gaze softened as she shook her head. "Not once. While Yang and I were growing up, he made sure to mention that he didn't care about the gender of whoever we would fall in love with, whenever LGBT issues was in the news."
Weiss smiled at her, genuinely happy for her sake. She's so lucky to have a parent who's so supportive and caring. I wish my father had been even a tenth as caring as Taiyang is. She felt a small bit of envy, but it didn't cloud how glad she was over that Ruby had gotten such support from her family. "What an amazing dad."
"Yeah, he is. I love him so much!" Ruby had a large smile on her face. "He'll be happy to have you here anytime you want to, you know. In his eyes, you're already family." Her thumb gently caressed the palm of Weiss' hand, and her eyes showed her absolute conviction.
Weiss couldn't stop her smile from growing wider. Hearing that made her so happy. "That means a lot to me. I'll have to thank him again properly."
No sooner had Weiss said that than Ruby laughed. "Weiss, you've thanked him enough times already. Just don't let it bother you. He's happy you're here and that he's getting to know you."
Weiss' features took on a sheepish expression. She maybe, just maybe, had thanked him enough already. At the same time, she solidified her decision to talk to Taiyang about her relationship with Ruby. She had to tell him how serious she was about concerning that.
She still had questions though, considering of what she knew about Ruby's family. "What about your uncle?"
"He's always been carefree and relaxed about that stuff, so no issues there. But you need to meet uncle Qrow too!" Ruby grinned at her, her adoration for her uncle clear as day. "He couldn't make it back here for the break. I haven't seen him since before I left for Beacon, so I had really hoped he'd drop by. His job keeps him busy a lot of the time so I don't know when he'll be around." She shrugged. "But when you meet him, keep in mind that he's very sweet, but his first impression may be a bit...rough."
Weiss saw Ruby wince at the last part. She had heard of their uncle before - apparently he was a huntsman of fearsome skill, and she was a bit nervous over the prospect of meeting him. However, if Taiyang approved of her it couldn't be that bad, could it?
"What do you mean?" she asked with some curiosity.
"Well, he's… very outspoken... and drinks a bit too much too often… but he's super sweet beneath the sarcastic facade." Ruby tried her best to downplay her mildly worrying observations.
Weiss felt awkward, unsure how to reply to that. That sales pitch left some things to be desired. "Well, I'm sure I will," she settled for. Her girlfriend's words didn't exactly help to abate her nervousness, but she'd have to make do.
"Don't worry about it, Weiss. Since we've been together for months, I think he'll just be curious how we're doing, and I'm sure Dad will call him and tell him all about how amazing you are. I can only see him being overprotective and intimidating if our relationship was new and we didn't know each other well."
"So he can be a bit like Yang?" Weiss asked.
Ruby nodded. "Yeah."
"I'll try not to worry, but I want to make a good impression and get along with him," she hedged.
"You will do just fine, don't worry. So, on a scale of one to me, how great was today's date?" Ruby asked, clearly fishing for praise.
"It's been a lovely date, Ruby, so I will have to give it full marks. Thank you." Weiss smirked, knowing just how to poke a bit of fun at her. "Just maybe don't run off the second we arrive next time. Lucky for you, the flower crown made up for that." She giggled at Ruby's repentant expression.
"Next time, I won't. And we can always do this as many times as you want to! You're mine and I'm not letting go." Ruby's words were cheeky, but her eyes held sincerity in them, again making a warm feeling swell in Weiss' chest and a smile pull at her lips.
"I know you won't," Weiss replied, unable to stop the blush creeping up her neck at those words. She very much enjoyed when Ruby was acting possessive. The implied idea of belonging to someone else was distinctly attractive and sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.
Conversation drifted off after that, both girls spending a few minutes in contented silence.
Somewhat unexpectedly, Weiss broke the silence first. "I wish we could stay like this forever. Don't you, Ruby?" she asked after a while.
"Here on the blanket?"
"Partially." Weiss rolled her eyes. "I was talking about when the next semester starts at Beacon. Going back will be nice in a way since we'll work towards becoming full-fledged huntresses, but I'll miss Patch. I've had so much fun here and being on vacation is something that's a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would ever be."
"Then how about coming over for winter break? Or even the short week of time off we have later in autumn? I haven't checked with Dad yet, but there's no way he'll say no to it. Blake will come along too." Ruby gave her a hopeful look as she waited for the answer.
"That sounds lovely. Of course I'll come over. I wouldn't want anything else," Weiss promised.
She had not intentions of going back to Schnee Manor any time soon, and after a moment of deliberation she found that she was fine with that. She would have to arrange a gift for Sebastian and something for Winter, who would as usual be too busy to travel there, but otherwise she felt only happiness over the fact that she for the first time in her life felt like there wasn't invisible chains dragging her back there against her will. She had a new place to spend her time at now. A place where she was accepted without reservations.
Now that she'd met Ruby's dad, it was time to extend an invitation of her own. It wasn't too early anymore, and she wanted Ruby to meet the only person with her name she considered family. "Would you like to meet my sister one day? I don't know when I'll see her since her job keeps her busy, but I'd love to introduce you."
Ruby nodded but laughed nervously. "Sure. It's a little scary since Winter seems a bit strict from what you've told me, but of course I want to meet your sister and get to know her. I have a small request though…"
Weiss raised an eyebrow at the hesitation she noted in both voice and demeanor. "Oh? What is it?"
Ruby let out a deep, weary, sigh. "I heard from Dad that she and uncle Qrow don't get along. Apparently, they did missions together when he was contracted by the Atlesian army, and, well.. it's uncle Qrow. Like I said, he doesn't really respect authority… so please leave that out until I've met her and she's had the chance to get to know me."
Weiss raised her eyebrows at Ruby. She hadn't known those two knew each other, but she could imagine quite easily that Winter would probably still stew over having to work with someone a bit … rougher around the edges. She wasn't a Specialist in the Atlesian army for nothing, always demanding strict discipline. "I won't."
Ruby seemed to deflate out of relief. "Thanks! Now I'm really nervous but I guess it'll be fine… or will it?"
The relief Ruby felt had only lasted a second, with her features growing tense again a moment later, causing Weiss to chuckle. "Now you know how I felt before I met your dad. You will do great. Once you get past her… reserved exterior, she can be really sweet, in her own admonishing sort of way." Ruby nodded, but not saying out loud the conclusion she must've drawn from that. Weiss knew exactly who else that description had fit perfectly a few months ago.
Similarities aside, Weiss was very happy she had finally asked Ruby that question. She obviously wanted her sister to meet her future … girlfriend? partner? fiancé? wife? Weiss blushed deeply at the last two options. She just hadn't thought in much detail that far ahead yet. There were so many problems, challenges and uncertainties to handle. She tilted her head enough to look at Ruby again, immediately feeling a wave of reassurance and safety wash over her.
Things would work themselves out, and deep down, she knew what she hoped for. Weiss vowed to herself to strive towards that. She knew Ruby felt the same way, her girlfriend clearly on the monogamy-for-life part of the chart, but neither girl had brought it up yet. It was too early to speak of in any great detail, what with their relationship only being a few months old.
However, she could voice her heartfelt wish at least. Ruby deserved to hear it from her lips and not be left to guess.
"Ruby?"
The girl next to her hummed. Weiss let her eyes drift up to the sky again. She sucked in air, feeling the weight of her decision on her shoulders. Nervousness coiled in her.
"I…" Weiss began, but hesitated for a moment, suddenly not sure how to vocalize what she meant. But in the next moment, the words spilled forth. "I hope we'll be together for a long time. I'd like that a lot." It was a clumsy confession, but that was also the beauty of it. It was raw, succinct, and honest.
She let her head roll to the side, meeting Ruby's gaze even as she blushed up a storm. It mirrored Ruby's skin colour nicely.
Then the girl she loved smiled broadly at her, sending a bolt of joy through her. "I'd like that too, Weiss."
Love filled Weiss' entire being. It was warm, kind, gentle, and so absolutely overpowering, that for a brief moment, she wasn't sure what to do. However, the indecision only lasted a moment. She pushed herself up and scooted close, hovering over Ruby. "Stay still."
Ruby just looked at her with those expressive eyes of hers that Weiss had come to love. There was a slight curiosity mixed with a whole lot of contentment and happiness in them at the moment.
Smitten by the visage, Weiss dipped her head down and pressed a feather-light kiss to Ruby's lips. Then another one. "Since lunch is over, I can kiss you again," she said softly, her lips curling into a smile.
Weiss ducked down again and planted a kiss on her nose for good measure, making the girl frown cutely over the ticklish sensation. Her hand found Ruby's, fingers interlacing in a well-practiced manner.
"What was that last one for?" Ruby asked.
Weiss laid down, cuddling into her girlfriend's side, resting her head on her shoulder. "Because I felt like it. You have a cute nose."
Ruby giggled. "That's a good reason."
Both girls stayed where they were, with no plans besides spending the rest of the afternoon together. Nothing else needed to be said, the promise between them rendering everything else trivial in comparison.
Weiss felt happy, truly happy.
I hope this chapter was enjoyable. Not too much happened here really, but I enjoy writing these two being cute together a lot, so I hope it's fine anyway. Besides Weiss' sudden realization that she's agreed to opening up to Ruby with regards to her sexuality and her increasing curiosity over sex, some tentative talk about the future for them as a couple shored it up - and wasn't that about time? It's a first step, with both girls well-aware of how fresh they still are a couple.
Reviews are appreciated, no matter how long or short they are.