They Lived...

Chapter 32 - A Final Evil

The next few days could only be considered perfect to Ruby. Not much seemed to change externally; she still spent her days in class and afternoons working for Cinder Fall. But there was no longer than underlying stress of it all. She had everything she wanted and more. Feeling the buzzing of her scroll on the couch, she reached over to look at another text from her friend.

From her girlfriend.

She was happy to be alone in her house for once so that Yang didn't hear her squeal of delight. It had been obvious to her sister and Blake that the two of them had started something. Of course, the blushes nor their entwined hands helped pretend otherwise. Luckily, it began with big hugs and shouts of "congratulations" from the two before the teasing started. Mostly from Yang, but Blake was slowly starting to learn the ways of Yang Xiao Long.

Texting back a quick reply to Weiss, ending it with a heart, she placed her scroll back down with a smile and went back to her television. Playing was the news, something Ruby rarely if ever watched. But the current broadcast was something quite important to her. And Weiss had told her to watch it, so there was no way she was going to miss it, loathe as she was to enjoy news reporters talking about things.

Television was for cartoons and comedies. Maybe the occasional romance movie when she was alone, and Yang wouldn't be home to catch her watching or crying to them. It was still the one big secret she kept from Yang. The teasing would no doubt be torturous. She smiled, thinking about how she would watch romances with Weiss, the two curled up next to each other. Possibly hand in hand, possibly her arm around her.

She wasn't quite sure when she became such romantic. It was totally Weiss's fault.

"-Schnee's search is finally over," came the announcer on the television. Immediately, her attention turned to the screen, eyes wide as a picture of Weiss decked out in her finest dress, a small tiara on her head, flickered across the TV set.

"More than a month ago, Weiss Schnee, heiress to the multi-billion lien valued Schnee business empire held a contest to build a weapon for her own personal use. Of the near hundred and fifteen in attendance to the event were some of the best in the weapon smithing business, including such prominent figures as Cardin Winchester, heir to the Winchester Weapons Corporation, as well as Sky Lark of the Lark Aircraft Corporation. Among those were also multiple fresh-faced commoners who managed to get their hands on some of the illusive tickets."

Ruby cocked her head. She hadn't realized that there were so many people at the competition. There were quite a few competitors, but she thought there must have been no more than a few dozen, not over a hundred.

"Wait, my tickets were illusive?" Her heart flickered as a blush engulfed her cheeks. She hadn't realized how lucky she was to attend. Maybe there was something like destiny bringing them together.

"After a long wait, the Schnee family has finally broken their silence. In just a few days time, the winner of said competition will be revealed to the world, winning not just glory after facing off against some of the best in the business, but also the ability to take the most eligible bachelorette in the country on a romantic date, all expenses paid by the Schnee family of course. And who might this winner be? Well, it seems like there was some trouble locating the mystery winner, with Weiss Schnee herself saying that she was happy with the winner, though she wished she allowed contestants to write their names on the weapons."

The image flashed to Weiss in front of plenty of cameras and microphones. "I had a winning weapon, but the person it was linked to had been lost. It took a little bit of time to match the weapon to the winner, but I can most assuredly say that I am so happy with the result. I can't wait for our date," Weiss finished with a wink to the camera as well as a glorious smile which ignited Ruby's insides.

It was beyond incredible to know that Weiss not only liked her, but liked her enough to tell th entire world. Well, maybe not tell the entire world her name, but it was enough to know that the wink was for her and only for her.

"So, who is Weiss's mystery man or lady?" The reporter said with her own flashing smile, "While we the public will find out in just a few days, it looks like miss Weiss Schnee is more than delighted by the results."

As the broadcast continued, running through some of the general history of the Schnee family, as well as Weiss's own personal pursuits, there was a knock at the front door.

"Yang, one second!" Ruby shouted, jumping up and over the couch, lowering the television's volume as she flew towards the front door where she was sure her sister was waiting for her.

She was so excited to see Yang, and not just to tell her about the news she had just watched. No, yang was bringing Blake over again because the two were on another date. As much as she hated to admit it, she liked hearing about their dates. Just because it was a great source of ideas for when she would eventually muster up the courage to officially ask Weiss on one. Not because she thought Blake and Yang together were an adorably cute and romantic pair. No way, indeed.

"Welcome back, Ya-" her cheers caught in her throat as she saw the wickedly smiling faces looking down at her.

The first and most recognizable to her was her landlady, Miss Fall. She was wearing her usual flaming red dress, the hints of orange around the hem looked to be swirling and swarming as if it was made of real fire, about to burn whatever it touched. The smile on Cinder Fall's face looked real, but her eyes were fierce and pointed like that of a cobra, about to strike at an unsuspecting target.

The next two were no new to her, but strange to see in such an unremarkable setting. It was obvious who they were, even without the news report she had just been watching. From Jacque's scowling eyes to Willow's high cheek bones, the two were most definitely Weiss's parents. They both looked angry and gleeful and so much more terrifying than Weiss did when she scowled like that.

"Y-yes?" Ruby finally let out, holding onto the doorframe to keep from falling over as she was stared down by those three powerful individuals.

Jacques Schnee held up a single piece of paper with a smug smile underneath his moustache. It was his wife that ended up talking. "Ruby Rose? This right here is a seize and desist letter. And this right here," she held up a second piece of paper, "is a court summons letter. You look like a fairly intelligent girl, for a peasant commoner, do you know what that means?"

"I-I do, what's this about?" Ruby didn't quite know what the seize and desist letter was, but she was pretty sure that they weren't going to stop and explain it to her if she asked.

"Well, it looks like the weapon you made for my dear daughter Weiss's little competition was a forgery. It was taken from a handful of designs created by Cardin Winchester of the Winchester Weapons Corporation. I'm sure you've heard of it? Not only did you steal a patented design, created by Mister Winchester, you also tried to pawn it off as an original. And for that, we, as noble friends to the Winchesters are going to ask you to stop weapon smithing, hand over all your stolen designs, as well as go to court and later prison for all the trouble you caused us. How does that sound?"

Ruby took a half step back, shock plastered all over her face. "I… I don't- What are you talking about?"

"You are going to prison, little lady," Jacques Schnee said, barely holing back his contentment. "And you will never see my daughter again. Let alone go on a date with her. She will marry our successor, just as she should have from the beginning."

"Oh, and one more thing, my dear little Ruby Rose," Cinder always had to have the last word. With her fierce grin, she held onto Ruby's chin, making sure that she was staring into her eyes. Cinder was ready to watch Ruby crumble. She wanted Ruby to see her victory.

"I've checked the official tenant agreement and I've finally found the loophole I needed to. Thanks to a little fluke with Patch tenant law and your little agreement, we finally found what I needed underneath all the rubbish of terms your terrible, dead parents created. I don't need to allow convicted felons to live in my peaceful and humble abode, now do I. I hope you've had a nice final day in your home, because you will never be allowed in it again."

Nearly there!

Read and stayed - Because of course I am going to add in just a little bit more hurt before I finish this thing! :D

Dragonqueen1993 - Soon!

Darknight2124 - There is nothing better than a good helping a cheese.

chinaluv - Lots to do, so little time to do it.