Sitting on the edge of her bed, Weiss smiled at her phone and typed another wild, improbable guess - a flight to the moon. Hardly two seconds passed before the phone buzzed with an emphatic response of, "We should do that next time!" She chuckled at the half-dozen exclamation marks ending Ruby's message and gamely suggested she wouldn't know what to wear on such an expedition.
Picking an outfit this morning had already been a challenge without knowing the destination. Ultimately, she settled on comfortable-but-nice jeans and a blouse fancy enough that she wouldn't look out of place in an upper class setting. And heels, of course, if only because Ruby would notice. Her late night at work should have left her bedraggled at this early hour, but makeup masked the dark circles under her eyes and her hair mercifully held a perfect braid. Even the weather cooperated by sending out the sun and wiping away any hint of clouds.
As soon as an address arrived on her phone, anticipation jittered through her veins. She looked up the destination but, not recognizing anything in the vicinity, stuck her phone in her bag and left her room.
"Good morning," she told Whitley when she found him at the kitchen table.
"Morning…"
After grabbing her keys from the counter, she frowned at the way he pressed both hands to the sides of his head, fingers ruffling his short white hair while he pored over the papers in front of him. Dropping the keys in her bag, she walked over to him and glanced over his shoulder.
"What're you working on?" she asked, and he sighed, dropped his arms to the table, and pushed the papers over to her.
"Student loan stuff," he explained while she picked up the document. "Do they really think I can pay this much the second I graduate?"
"Unfortunately, yes." After skimming the eye-watering numbers and too-soon dates, she forced a teasing smile. "But that won't be an issue since you'll be making big bucks, right?"
Rather than respond with his typical bravado, his shoulders slumped and his gaze fell to the table.
"Don't worry," she quickly added, setting the loan summary aside and sitting beside him. "There are other options, like payment plans, but I don't think you'll need them."
Finally, he looked up, his brow furrowed but his blue eyes hopeful. "You don't?" he asked, and she shook her head.
"Of course not. Because you'll be working with Winter and me." As soon as he scoffed, she poked his cheek. "Doing everything we say."
"Getting bossed around by my sisters again?"
"That's your future. The sooner you accept it, the better."
Finally, he giggled - a small one, but just enough to loosen the vice around Weiss' heart. Then he glanced at the paperwork again, thoughtfully considering that future before smiling at her.
"Thanks, Weiss."
"You're welcome." After patting his arm, she stood up and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere more important to be."
"Another date?" he asked, spinning around as she walked to the door.
"You'll be lucky if you aren't the janitor," she shot back before shutting the door on his laughter. A smile crept onto her lips even as she shook her head, impressed and amused by his ability to flip from endearing to annoying at the drop of a hat.
By the time she made it outside, however, that lighthearted feeling had faded. The blocks separating her from her car offered plenty of time to worry about Whitley's loans and what would happen if the judge didn't rule in their favor. As unfair as it felt, life could potentially get even more difficult.
Fortunately, today offered a distraction from that reality, and those worries were soon replaced by navigating to the unknown address Ruby provided. Weiss glanced from one side of the street to the other while nearing their meeting place but found nothing of interest. Even after finding someplace to park and walking along the street, she couldn't imagine why Ruby picked this location. Then she spotted Ruby waiting on the sidewalk up ahead, and the unusual destination mattered very little.
A red hat covered signature brunette hair and sunglasses hid one-of-a-kind silver eyes, but Weiss would recognize that relaxed posture and lanky figure anywhere. Even Ruby's new style was familiar now - casual yet effortlessly put together.
As soon as Ruby noticed Weiss, she straightened away from the wall she'd been leaning against and pulled off her sunglasses. Now, anyone could see the way her gaze slid over Weiss' outfit, lingering on Weiss' heels, while her expression brightened.
"Like what you see?" Weiss teased, tilting her chin up to hold Ruby's gaze.
"Always have," Ruby said before glancing away and rubbing the back of her neck. "Uh, thanks for meeting me."
"Of course, Ruby. But...where are we, exactly?"
"A random street corner." Weiss' brow rose at the response, but Ruby laughed and nodded. "I knew you'd look it up, so I thought we'd meet here and walk over."
Weiss' mouth fell open at the admission, but Ruby shrugged one shoulder towards the intersection. "Follow me?" she asked, and Weiss playfully shook her head before falling into step by Ruby's side.
Weiss glanced around while they walked, hoping to spot Ruby's plan in advance. Her heart jumped several times when Ruby briefly slowed down only to ease when Ruby shot her a knowing grin. After the third or fourth time that happened, she silently swore that she wouldn't let it happen again - then she spotted a big, bright-blue sign up ahead, and Ruby turned down the wide pedestrian walkway leading toward it.
Weiss noticed Ruby's sidelong glance, but she couldn't take her eyes off of the massive structure sprawling in front of them. The main building had a domed roof and a beautiful, glass front entrance. Flag poles lined the front of the long drive, each fluttering flag a different shade of blue.
"The aquarium," Weiss said when it became clear this wasn't another fakeout. "I haven't been to the aquarium since…"
"Since today."
Ruby snuck another smile Weiss' way, but Weiss stared at the building that grew closer with each step. It wasn't until they reached the door that she suffered a dose of disappointment.
"Oh. They're closed," she said, pointing at the small paper sign announcing that the facility was closed for a private event.
"Don't worry about that."
Brow lifting, Weiss watched Ruby peer into the lobby and wave at one of the employees. The young man hurried over to the door and, after unlocking it, held it open for them. Weiss glanced at Ruby, who waggled her brow, then walked inside.
"Welcome to the Atlas Aquarium," the employee said while re-locking the door behind them. "Have you visited before?"
"Not since, like, middle school," Ruby answered while Weiss looked around the cavernous lobby.
"Then welcome back! There have been quite a few changes, so this map might be helpful." By the time Weiss turned back to the young man, Ruby had accepted the folded pamphlet he offered. "Or you can just follow the signs posted on the walls and see where you end up. If you have any questions, feel free to flag someone down; we're happy to help."
"Will do. Thank you!"
Weiss added a nod and grateful smile, and he grinned before heading towards the ticket counters on the far side of the lobby. Left in the gargantuan room by themselves, Weiss glanced around another time before turning to Ruby, who took off her hat and shook her hair back into its customary disheveled-yet-attractive state.
"You remembered…"
"Of course I did."
Ruby smiled as if that was the simplest, most obvious thing in the world, but Weiss couldn't find words to express her burgeoning feelings. "And I know how much you hate crowds," Ruby added while walking across the lobby, drawing Weiss along with her. "So I thought it'd be cool if we had the place to ourselves."
So many thoughts and feelings swam through Weiss' mind, but none of them translated into words. Instead, she pinned those emotions for later and followed Ruby further into the aquarium, marveling at everything around them.
Wide hallways built to accommodate busloads of tourists or schoolchildren were empty save for several employees going about their tasks. Tall ceilings swallowed all sounds except for distant air filters and bubbling water. On either side of them, giant tanks stretched from the floor to the ceiling several stories above. Fish of all sizes, shapes, and colors darted through seas of kelp, lazily swam through rock structures, or hid amongst swaying underwater grass.
The privacy must have cost a fortune, but that mattered far less than Ruby's thoughtfulness in choosing this place.
"Ruby…" Finally finding words, Weiss reached for Ruby's hand and smiled when silver eyes turned her way. "This is…the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me. I can't even…believe…"
Weiss trailed off and motioned around them as if that could encapsulate how she felt. Thankfully, she didn't need to say more. A sparkle had already leapt into Ruby's eyes, yet she didn't boast about how expensive this was or how difficult it had been to plan. Instead, she squeezed Weiss' hand and said, "Let's check out the tropical fish first!"
After pointing at a colorful sign on the wall, Ruby tugged Weiss into a beautiful exhibit hall stuffed with one vibrant tank after another. Ruby's boundless enthusiasm generated more happiness than the bright fish and intricate underwater scenery, but her quest to pronounce every scientific species name made Weiss laugh so hard that her sides hurt by the time they made it to the deep sea creatures.
With their fingers intertwined and the surreal fish swimming all around them, she could easily believe this was a dream. There were no outside troubles, no pressing worries, and no one interrupting for Ruby's autograph. It was just the two of them, tanks full of interesting fish, and near-endless laughter. She was having such a good time meandering through the halls that Ruby's insistence that they had somewhere to be dispelled the notion that they had all the time in the world.
"I promise it'll be worth it," Ruby said, pulling Weiss outside while Weiss mustered a half-hearted protest. She squinted while her eyes adjusted to the sunshine, but a black-and-white, whale-shaped carving soon made their next destination clear.
"They're still your favorite, right?" Ruby asked while Weiss stared at the sign posted under a large blue archway.
"They are," she admitted, glancing at the time to confirm the next show began in a few minutes. "Ruby…"
She looked up at Ruby, hoping Ruby might stop and explain what made her go through so much trouble, but Ruby just grinned and led her into the giant amphitheater featuring an even larger tank of water. The exhibit smelled like the ocean with a hint of bleach that had been used to clean the concrete bleachers. Large blue awnings offered shade from the sun's rays, as did the cool breeze brushing across the surface of the water. The plexiglass barrier holding back a small sea of clear, blue water had grown foggy over time but was still transparent enough to see the shadows of giant, black-and-white creatures swimming beyond.
"Look at that!"
Still holding Weiss' hand, Ruby rushed up to the glass and gasped when one of the orcas raced past. Another quickly followed, its powerful tail propelling it through the water like a sleek black torpedo. Weiss watched them disappear further into the tank before noticing one of the aquarium employees approaching them.
"Good morning!" Wearing a wetsuit, the young woman smiled and extended a hand to Ruby. "I'm Gabby, one of the orca keepers."
"Nice to meet you, Gabby," Ruby replied while Weiss shook the woman's hand next. "I'm Ruby, and this is Weiss."
Gabby's gaze, bearing the same subtle curiosity Weiss was growing accustomed to, stuck on Weiss for an extra second before returning to Ruby.
"I just have to say, I'm a super big fan."
"Oh. Thank you. I'm a big fan of your work, too!" Ruby smiled graciously before waving to the tank, and Gabby flashed a quicker smile before gesturing towards the bleachers.
"Feel free to sit wherever you'd like."
"Like it's even a choice," Ruby huffed. "We have to stand in the splash zone."
"No, we don't," Weiss argued. "Look at all the empty seats."
"But that's no way to watch a whale show, Weiss!"
Sighing at Ruby's persistence, and those ever-sparkling silver eyes, Weiss looked at Gabby for support. Gabby, unfortunately, chuckled and pulled herself onto a platform in the center of the plexiglass wall. "Choose wisely," was the only advice she provided before Ruby clasped her hands together and stuck out her bottom lip.
"Don't you dare pout at me."
Regardless of the order, Ruby's eyes started shimmering, and Weiss held out for all of two seconds before tilting her head back and sighing.
"Fine. Only because you have the most stupidly irresistible puppy dog eyes."
Ruby instantly lost the pout and celebrated, making Weiss shake her head as she was led to the square of concrete brightly labeled the 'splash zone.' Gabby smiled at their chosen viewing area before raising her arms above her head, and Weiss' attention quickly shifted to the two black shapes racing towards the center of the pool. It took the creatures mere seconds to get there, and when they did they effortlessly leapt from the water, soared through the air, and returned to the pool with a seamless splash.
Ruby gasped at the display, and Weiss smiled up at her before searching out the orcas again. Sometimes, they were nothing more than dark shapes in the distance. Other times, they swam so close that nothing but the barrier separated them from Weiss and Ruby.
Under Gabby's direction, they jumped in perfect arches and slipped back into the water with hardly a ripple. They flipped and turned in the air, landing with loud splashes that pushed waves higher on the wall. They were beautiful, powerful, and shockingly precise.
That last trait prompted Weiss to duck behind Ruby, burying her face against Ruby's back and clutching Ruby's shirt, when a large black tail slapped against the water right in front of them. Eyes closed, she heard a loud splash as water hit the ground all around her. Drops landed on her arms and shoulders, but she only understood the scope of the damage when she opened her eyes and let go of Ruby.
Water dripping from her hair, her arms, her nose - everywhere - Ruby slowly turned around.
"Did you just...use me as a shield?"
"I most certainly did." Biting back a laugh, Weiss gestured at the puddle forming at Ruby's feet. "That's quite the look."
"Think so?" Ruby swept a hand through her wet hair and shook her head, making Weiss hold up her hands as water flew everywhere. "You're missing out though," Ruby added before pulling Weiss into a hug.
"Ruby!" Feeling water seep through her clothes, Weiss squirmed but couldn't get out of Ruby's grasp. "You're all wet!"
"Whose fault is that, huh?"
"Yours!"
Weiss had a good argument planned, but they both froze when an even larger wave dumped over their heads like a swimming pool. Another quickly followed - the second orca having just belly-flopped its entire massive weight directly in front of them.
Suddenly, Weiss was also drenched from head to toe. Rather than feel upset, annoyed, or even embarrassed, she laughed at Ruby's shocked expression. Ruby soon joined in, wiping water from her brow while Weiss pushed her hair out of her eyes.
"Thank you!" Ruby told Gabby, who smiled and waved. The whales mimicked the motion, lifting one fin out of the water and waving while swimming away.
"I hope you enjoyed the show?" Gabby asked, hopping down from her perch and letting her gaze linger on Ruby for an answer.
"I definitely did," Ruby said before nudging Weiss. "What did you think?"
"Very entertaining," Weiss agreed while squeezing water from her braid. "Especially that last part."
Beaming at the response, Gabby pointed out two bags on the bleachers near the entrance. "We've got some towels and stuff for you over there. And I hope you'll both come back soon!"
"I'll probably have to drag her back," Ruby teased, giving Gabby a friendly smile and pulling Weiss over to the two white shopping bags. Weiss tried to look inside, but Ruby snatched them first.
"Pick one," Ruby said, holding both out in front of her. Weiss arched one brow but, when Ruby just grinned, said, "That one," and tapped the bag in Ruby's right hand. Ruby's grin widened, but she still didn't give Weiss the bag. Instead, she pulled Weiss into the nearby restroom and relinquished the bag while ushering Weiss into one of the empty stalls.
"Can't wait to see which one you picked," Ruby added before hurrying into the next stall. Weiss' brow rose at the comment, and she understood why as soon as she opened the bag and pulled out a brightly colored outfit with "The Atlas Aquarium" emblazoned everywhere.
"You're kidding me…" she muttered while flipping over a bright-teal hooded sweatshirt.
"I asked, but they don't sell heels," Ruby teased from the other stall. Weiss shushed her before inspecting the sky-blue sandals made of some type of rubber, a sea-foam green t-shirt that the sweatshirt would mercifully cover, miraculously plain black sweatpants, and a dark-green baseball cap.
Her nose wrinkled but, with Ruby already rustling in the other stall and her other option being to remain soaking wet, she changed into her new outfit. Ordinarily, she wouldn't be caught dead wearing something like this, but at least it was dry, warm, and surprisingly comfortable. Her braid posed the greatest conundrum, which she pondered for several moments before giving in and undoing her hard work.
"Ready?" Ruby called out a few minutes later, but Weiss looked down at herself and sighed.
"I suppose."
"Alright, let's see it!"
As soon as Weiss stepped out of the stall and saw Ruby decked out in sun visor and a fanny pack, she burst out laughing. "Ruby," she got out between giggles. "You look like - like a seventy-year-old tourist!"
"Your compliments are on point today," Ruby joked before her gaze wandered across Weiss' outfit, lingering on her hair. "Wow. Can't remember the last time I saw you with your hair down."
"Yeah, well…" Glancing down, Weiss curled her fingers through her wet hair. "I'd like it to dry sooner rather than later."
"You look really nice. And...cozy." Weiss tilted her head at the term, but Ruby chuckled. "I was kind of hoping you'd get this one though."
When Ruby straightened the visor, resituated the fanny pack, and planted both fists on her hips, Weiss laughed and said, "You're ridiculous." Ruby beamed at the remark, so Weiss chuckled again, grabbed her bag of wet clothes in one hand and Ruby's hand with the other, and said, "Let's see what other trouble we can get into," as they left the restroom.
"I swallowed so much whale water…" Ruby muttered while they passed the giant whale enclosure. Weiss searched for shadows in the water but, finding none, smirked at Ruby.
"They pee in there, you know."
"Ew! Weiss!"
"What? Where do you think they go to the bathroom?"
"I don't know! In another tank?"
While Ruby scraped her fingers across her tongue, Weiss nudged her shoulder.
"Keep your mouth closed next time."
"I'm ducking behind you next time is what I'm gonna do..."
Weiss laughed at Ruby's playful grumble, and Ruby was smiling along with her in no time, poking her side and playing with her hair while they explored the other exhibits outside. The penguins and sea otters in particular seemed to match Ruby's energy, making Weiss feel like she had a lively little critter jumping alongside her wherever she went.
By the time they ventured back inside, the sun had dried their hair enough to keep the cold blast of air conditioning at bay. Of course, Ruby's hair looked perfect again - an effortless combination of ruffled and styled. Weiss wasn't nearly as fortunate, but the giant kelp forest - a visual wonder towering several stories above them - drew such effusive comparisons to her own long waves that she almost felt proud.
Ruby had that effect on everyone, but Weiss trailed her fingers through her hair and embraced being the sole recipient of Ruby's attention. She shared with the many fish and beautiful exhibits, of course, but her overwhelmed heart welcomed the brief respites. That all changed when they walked into a tunnel surrounded by life on all sides.
"Wow…" she murmured, looking up as a shark swam above their heads. A school of glittering fish flitted off to their left, ducking in and out of the seaweed with remarkable coordination. Several more sharks lazily drifted past, their long, spiked fins hardly moving yet still propelling them through the water.
"Perfect."
When Ruby walked forward, Weiss finally noticed the giant, oversized pillow lying in the center of the tunnel. Ruby unceremoniously flopped down onto it and, after settling in, craned her head to look at Weiss and patted the space beside her. Weiss shook her head at Ruby's impish grin, but she lay on the pillow next to Ruby without complaint. Above them, water and wildlife took up their entire field of vision.
"I've always wanted one of these," Ruby said while wiggling further into the pillow.
"I'm sure they'd let you take it home," Weiss mused as another shark drifted past.
"I don't know if I'm that famous." Ruby chuckled until she saw Weiss' arched brow, then her own brow furrowed. "We're talking about the tank, right?"
Smiling and shaking her head, Weiss returned her gaze to the water and said, "Can you imagine packing this up?"
"Do you think they fill the plane with water, too?"
"And make the pilots wear scuba suits?" Weiss asked. "Why not just tow the tank behind a big ship? Maybe you'll pick up more fish on the way."
Weiss watched Ruby genuinely consider the option but started laughing before any response. Ruby soon joined in, chuckling to herself before the two of them eventually fell silent. Weiss glanced over several times but, finding Ruby's arms behind her head, eyes trained up and a small smile in place, focused on the exhibit instead.
As the peaceful quiet enveloped her, she sighed and settled further into the soft pillow. Fish of all shapes and sizes swam around them. Some darted swiftly from one point to the next. Others let invisible currents move them to and fro. In the midst of it all, she and Ruby just lay there, taking part in an environment vastly different from their own.
"You know…" she eventually said, keeping her voice to a whisper. "This is scarier than I imagined."
"Right? If the glass breaks, we'll get eaten by sharks."
"I'm more concerned about being crushed by a thousand tons of water, but yes. The sharks would definitely eat us."
"I can see the headline now…" Ruby mused, drawing one hand across the air above them. "Ruby Rose - eaten at the aquarium.' Pretty sure everyone'd just nod and say 'yup, makes sense.'"
"Quite the reputation you have."
"Carefully cultivated, mind you."
When Ruby giggled again, Weiss rolled onto one side to face her.
"Would you change it?" Weiss asked, but Ruby rolled towards her and smiled.
"Being known as an international klutz?" Ruby clarified before shaking her head. "Never. That's how we met."
"You walked face-first into my locker," Weiss said, laughing at the memory. "If you'd been paying any attention at all, you would've seen it."
"Yeah, well, glad I didn't."
When Ruby smiled, Weiss' heart warmed, and her smile returned soon after. Laying there felt like the first time in ages that she and Ruby got to just be together. No interruptions, no distractions. Just the two of them and their affection for each other. Those feelings hadn't faded during their time apart; if anything, they were stronger than Weiss remembered.
Ruby had always been cute with her adorably messy hair and gorgeous silver eyes. She hadn't lost that undeniable cuteness, but she'd gained a subtle allure that made Weiss' skin tingle.
Weiss had already started reaching out before she stopped herself, frozen with her hand halfway between them. When Ruby's intent expression didn't change, and didn't discourage, she closed the distance and ran her fingers through Ruby's hair.
"You have the softest hair…" she murmured, watching the short strands fall around her fingertips.
"You can have it if you want."
Laughing, Weiss trailed her hand down Ruby's cheek before pulling away. "You'd still be a heartthrob bald," she added, but her smile fell when Ruby only briefly returned it before looking down and playing with her hands.
"When I visited you in college…" Weiss' heart thumped when Ruby trailed off, but Ruby sighed and looked up. "Am I a bad kisser or something?"
"God, no, Ruby. Of course not."
"Then why'd you stop?"
Ruby's eyes searched Weiss' for an answer, but Weiss sighed and sat up. She felt Ruby sit up beside her, but she stared at her hands for several long seconds before looking over.
"Ruby…" she said, her heart racing at the expectation in silver eyes. "You're my best friend...I don't want to ruin that."
"What if it doesn't ruin anything?"
Another soft sigh slipped through Weiss' lips as she brushed her fingers across Ruby's cheek, her heart fluttering when Ruby leaned into the touch. She thought about it all the time - how easy it would have been to be with Ruby - but that was in the past; nothing in her life was easy anymore.
"Losing touch with you was the worst thing that ever happened to me," she whispered. "I don't want that to happen again."
Ruby opened her mouth to say something but glanced to the side when a pair of workers walked by the tunnel. Once they'd passed, she tried again, only to sigh when her phone rang. For a moment, it looked like she wouldn't answer, but then she pulled it out and brought it to her ear.
"Hey Yang. I'll just meet you there." After listening for several seconds, fiddling with the fanny pack's zipper all the while, she said, "I know, just tell them I'll be a little late, ok?" Another second, and she added, "Thank you," before hanging up and sighing again.
"You need to go?" Weiss asked. Frowning now, Ruby looked at the sharks swimming above them before nodding.
"Yeah...unfortunately."
Nodding once, Weiss stood up and offered a hand to pull Ruby to her feet. Ruby accepted the help but, once standing, stuck her hands in her pockets and lightly scuffed one foot across the floor.
"I can't believe you let me make you late," Weiss gently joked as they headed to the exit. "Is this payback for using you as a human shield?"
"Oh you'll know when that payback arrives, believe me."
Weiss' heart unclenched at Ruby's soft chuckle, but she cast frequent glances in Ruby's direction as they made their way out of the aquarium. After waving and offering their gratitude to the employees loitering in the lobby, they made it back out into the sun.
"Will you kill me if I grab a cab?" Ruby asked once they reached the main Atlas streets, where traffic flowed more densely than earlier that morning.
"Of course not. And I didn't park far from here, so don't worry." When Ruby nodded and glanced to the side, Weiss looked at the aquarium one more time and added, "Thank you, Ruby. This was...incredible. One of the best days I've ever had."
"I just wanted to do something special for you," Ruby mumbled, rubbing the back of her neck and offering a small smile.
"You don't have to do things like this to make me feel special. Spending time with you is more than enough."
The instant Ruby's eyes clouded, Weiss wanted the words back. Her chest tightened instead, and she searched for a topic change before ultimately rolling onto the balls of her feet and planting a quick kiss on Ruby's lips.
"And you're not a bad kisser," she teased, her voice soft and breathless as she lingered close enough to feel Ruby's warmth. "I'm sure several famous actresses agree with me," she added before glancing away and tucking her hair behind her ear. Wishing away the blush on her cheeks, she straightened Ruby's visor and smiled. "You should keep this," she said before backing away. "It's quite dashing on you."
Ruby searched Weiss' eyes for a long time before a slow grin spread across her lips.
"I knew you had a thing for seventy-year-old tourists," she teased before gaining a more neutral aura. "Oh, Yang and I are getting dinner tonight. Want to come with us?"
"I'd love to, but I have somewhere to be tonight…"
"Tomorrow morning then? Breakfast?"
Faced with Ruby's hopeful smile, Weiss nodded and said, "Breakfast sounds great." When Ruby's smile grew brighter, and Weiss' heart responded with several flutters, she waved toward the street. "Now don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Probably." Ruby laughed when Weiss lightly slapped her shoulder. "Ok, fine. Maybe," she admitted before hailing the first cab she saw. As it pulled over to the curb, she put her hand on the door but didn't open it without sending another smile Weiss' way. "First thing tomorrow morning, we're finding the best pancakes in Atlas."
"'First' thing?" Weiss protested while Ruby opened the cab door. "What happened to sleeping past ten?"
"What happened to waking up at seven?" Ruby teased in return while slipping into the cab. "I'll see you at the crack of dawn!" she added before waving and shutting the door, leaving Weiss smiling and shaking her head while the cab drove away.
Knowing they would see each other soon made her feel light and happy, but her heart stumbled over the realization that Ruby would be leaving soon. As wonderful as the past couple of weeks had been, their lives would eventually return to normal. She had to prepare to say goodbye, even if the thought hurt more than she could describe. Even worse, she had to prepare for the silence that might follow.
But that was a problem for later. For now, she would dread work that evening and look forward to tomorrow morning. 'First thing' tomorrow morning. She would be tired, but Ruby's presence would be worth it. Ruby's presence was always worth it.