Chapter Seven: Friendly Reminder
The next week couldn't come faster. Ruby was a lovesick mess. If her head wasn't in the clouds thinking about Weiss, she'd be glued to the time watching it pass like an inmate on death row. Her inability to focus got Yang and Penny on her case a few times too many. And during school, Ruby was so lost in thought she might as well have skipped her classes all together because everything her professors said went in one ear and out the other, not even her notes were safe from the Weiss madness afflicting her.
Ruby didn't know what to do with herself anymore. She couldn't stop reading into every little thing Weiss said or did in the hopes of finding some breadcrumbs to feed her yearning heart. One incident in particular had her extremely antsy and it wasn't even a big deal—there was just something in the way Weiss spoke last week. Ruby couldn't place it exactly, but Weiss had sounded off, like she was about to do something she'd regret—but that couldn't be because all she did was ask Ruby to save the day for her. It was an innocuous request, one that even Ruby could manage… if she didn't get so tongue-tied whenever Weiss set her pretty blue eyes upon her.
These were the thoughts that plagued Ruby, day in and day out, like a nagging nightmare she couldn't wake from. Though, innocent thoughts like "I want to see her" and "I wonder what she's doing?" were the most predominant, along with a silly little fantasy she had about meeting each other in another life. Weiss was a good girl gone bad and Ruby was the strict student body president trying to tame her. They needlessly clashed and Ruby was positive Weiss was a lost cause, but they still ended up falling in love somehow. Though, when Ruby woke up, she felt like she'd been donkey kicked in the gut because she realized she had erased Chrys from existence in her dream, something Weiss wouldn't be too happy about if she ever found out.
But impossible fantasies and torturous waiting aside, texting Weiss every day helped soothe some of the ache their distance caused. They talked about anything and everything with topics ranging from Chrys wanting a new pet to the asinine morons Ruby dealt with at school. Unfortunately, those messages were so few and far between they felt more like postcards from a beloved friend who lived abroad since every text read out like one. Some were even punctuated with a joking "I miss you." Okay, so maybe Ruby was the one who sent those texts, but Weiss still laughed or at least she told her she laughed and that was good enough in Ruby's book.
And then there was the phone call that proved to be Ruby's undoing.
Weiss had called her late last night to confirm their plans for today. The sound of Weiss' heavily accented voice tickled Ruby's ear like a feather, distracting her. She giggled a few times throughout the conversation at odd times leading Weiss to worry and ask if she'd said something wrong. Ruby told her "no," but Weiss kept pestering her until the conversation devolved completely. They ended up so off topic neither of them remembered why Weiss had called in the first place. Ruby didn't mind though, she could listen to Weiss talk in circles forever and never get bored.
But all good things must eventually come to an end, so Weiss said goodnight after a two-and-a-half hour long call. But, in her semi-conscious state, Weiss had said it in her native tongue—which was a billion times more sexy than it should have been. It's safe to say that Ruby didn't sleep with her hands above the covers that night.
When she woke up at 6:30a.m., Ruby was surprised to see she had seven new messages from her favourite person detailing today's "itinerary."
Ruby laughed as she messaged her back, confirming her understanding, but she also told Weiss to loosen up. They were friends now, and friends didn't need to be so formal. Weiss replied with a duck emoji followed by a snarky "Is that random enough for you?" It wasn't what Ruby expected, but it still made her laugh and feel all sorts of giddy. Whether it was a step in the right direction though still had to be determined.
Weiss was a mystery wrapped within a mystery with even more mystery layered on top. Yang jokingly called her a turducken during dinner a few days ago after listening to Ruby gush over the many ways Weiss blew her mind. They eventually got to a point where Yang couldn't take it anymore and unleashed every naughty food joke she could apply to Weiss in one fell swoop. She went on for a solid ten minutes without interruption, and Ruby patiently bided her time. She could deal with the innuendos no problem. She could even deal with Yang's obnoxious snorting laughter as she told each awful joke. But the thing that broke the camel's back was the fact that Ruby couldn't refute any of them. She definitely liked Weiss enough to say that she'd gobble her up no matter what she was served on, pu-pu or otherwise. But hearing Ruby say that broke something in Yang; she hadn't cracked a single joke since.
After her morning run and a quick breakfast with her barely cognisant sister, Ruby spent the rest of her morning scouring the internet on how to woo the ladies without being creepy. She hadn't told any of her friends about her little secret, so she couldn't turn to them for advice—especially Jaune. Ruby shuddered when she recalled the last time she caught him hitting on a girl. She didn't know who to feel more sorry for: the girl who clearly had no interest or Jaune who thought he was the cat's meow. Ruby didn't have any dating experience but even she could tell he was barking up the wrong tree.
Sighing, Ruby fell back into the couch and stared at the ceiling with a disgruntled pout. Her head was awash with ideas ranging from godawful to downright insane. She was beginning to regret not asking her friends for advice, but the only two she knew in a loving, stable relationship were childhood friends who grew up together in an orphanage.
Ruby looked away from the dirty, off-white ceiling and stared at her old, dinky laptop; a graduation gift from her favourite drunk uncle. It was 10:15a.m., forty-five minutes away from when she had to leave to catch her bus. She figured she could faff around for a few more minutes like a lump but decided against it when she realized she didn't know what she was going to wear.
Her closet didn't have anything nice or moderately corporate-y to wear, so Ruby hoped she didn't run into anyone important like the CEO or President on the way to Weiss' office. Were they the same? They sounded the same. Either way, Ruby didn't know or care enough to check what the actual difference was, but with her luck, she'd run into both and get Weiss fired for wasting her time with poverty stricken riffraff.
Noticing a red crumpled shirt in the back of the closet, Ruby reached for it and held it out for inspection. It was an old shirt from when she worked at a pizzeria back in high school. She hadn't seen it in years and, after a quick sniff, it smelled alright. Maybe she could pretend to be a delivery girl and lie her way through, like a spy infiltrating the… Ruby struggled to remember what the company was called, but it had the word "Noble" somewhere.
"Nah, that's dumb," Ruby muttered, tossing the shirt back in without a care.
She eventually settled on some boring unripped blue jeans, a black shirt, and her lucky red flannel button up. She looked about as good as she could get in Yang's old hand-me-downs and Sahara discount clothes, but the issue now was her hair. Ruby knew she needed to get it cut, but the stylist she liked going to was expensive and she already went half a year ago. Scrunching her nose, Ruby ruffled her hair and sighed. She could go again in another few months, maybe in the next year, or she could skip it completely and just grow her hair out like Yang. Either way, the money would be better spent on necessities.
Leaving her disaster of a room behind, Ruby plodded into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. And as she brushed, Ruby wet a comb and ran it through her hair to try and tame it. She hadn't realized how messy it was until she got a good look at herself in the mirror, but she was glad she did because woof—it was bad. She had bits sticking out and defying gravity in ways Ruby didn't think possible. The warm water and her favourite green clip helped temper her hair, but the moment it dried, Ruby doubted she could do anything to stop it.
After she freshened up, Ruby checked the time and decided to head out now in case the bus arrived early. She spent the next ten minutes walking to the stop and another ten worrying about being late when the bus didn't show up on time. And when it did, Ruby nearly cried in relief because thank god she wasn't going to miss her "date" with Weiss. Who knows what she'd do to Ruby if she was late.
Ruby arrived at the building Weiss worked in five minutes before noon, cutting it closer than she had initially anticipated. It would have been her fault entirely if she arrived late though. Ruby had spotted a flower shop on the way and got Weiss a little something with the change she had in her pocket. She couldn't afford much, but she could afford one. The moment she saw it in the display case amidst dozens of others, she knew it had to be Weiss'. The shape and curve of its closed delicate petals made Ruby think of their burgeoning friendship. It may never bloom into romance like Ruby hoped and dreamed of, but there was still something beautiful there, something Ruby would cherish forever.
But before she stepped inside, Ruby took a moment to stare up at the building and appreciate its size and architecture. She had passed by it dozens of times on her way to work, assuming it was a fancy telemarketing office and not the workplace of a goddess. Ruby couldn't help but giggle to herself when she thought of Weiss as a telemarketer. She'd be great at it. Her voice was commanding, clear, and…
"Bonne nuit, Ruby."
Ruby violently shook her head and said, "Nope. Not thinking about that!"
Taking a deep breath to purge her head of any lingering thoughts from last night, Ruby pushed on and entered the building with her phone and ID in hand.
The lobby was large and spacious with a ceiling so high Ruby had to strain her neck to stare at it. And she was glad she did because the light fixture situated in the centre, above the equally extravagant indoor pond, was the shiniest thing she'd ever seen. The chandelier was a sprawling spider of gold and silver with long metal bars hanging down at different levels to reflect the light. Ruby must've been staring at the chandelier for too long though because a smartly dressed young woman wearing a golden crosshair broach approached her with a friendly smile.
"Welcome to Nobility Incorporated," she said, bowing her head respectfully. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Oh, uh, y-yeah!" Ruby blurted out, desperately trying her best not to stare at the gorgeous red haired woman. "C-Could you show me where the security desk is? My friend told me to check in with them first."
The young woman smiled and gestured to a large desk off to the side. "Right over there," she said. "And don't worry about Yatsuhashi. I know he looks scary, but he's the nicest guy you'll ever meet."
"Alright, thanks," Ruby quickly read the pretty lady's name tag, "Octavia. Great name."
"Thank you," Octavia said, giggling at Ruby's forwardness. "Enjoy your visit."
"I will," Ruby grinned, waving Octavia goodbye. When she reached the desk, Ruby flashed the security guard her best smile and said, "Hey, hi, I was told to sign in here? My name's Ruby Rose, Weiss—er, oh my god, I just realized I don't know what her last name is… but she's suuuuper pretty with long white hair, blue eyes, and, uh, expecting me! For lunch. I think… I'm going to stop talking now."
The man, Yatsuhashi, looked at her unblinkingly and held his gigantic hand out. "ID, please." Ruby gulped and handed it to him. After a quick look, Yatsuhashi returned the ID and stood. "Follow me, please."
"Sure thing!"
He wordlessly led Ruby to the elevator and pushed the button going up. They waited a minute, both patiently watching the glowing numbers above drop down to one.
When all the people existed, Ruby went in, but Yatsuhashi didn't follow. He placed a hand on the door and pressed the top most floor.
He smiled at her and said, "Enjoy your visit, Ms. Rose. You made a good choice, by the way."
Ruby looked at the flower wrapped delicately in white and smiled back. "Thanks, I hope she likes it too."
"She will," he said with a knowing look. Yatsuhashi let the door go and bowed respectfully as it closed.
Now that she was alone, Ruby let out the breath she'd been holding. Her heart was going insane inside her chest. She knew Weiss was high up on the corporate ladder, but to be on the literal highest floor meant she must've been important like a manager or supervisor, maybe even the big boss' right hand.
Ruby gulped.
Everything she worried about when she got dressed today was coming true. She was going to see Weiss—which was great—but she'd be meeting her looking like a kid straight off the street. And then she'd meet her boss by accident and get Weiss fired for hanging around pheasants… Ruby didn't want to be a pheasant. She didn't have any feathers, she was just poor.
The elevator came to a gentle stop. Any second now the doors were going to open and—
"Well hello, tall, red, and absolutely gorgeous beyond belief!" Neptune exclaimed without a single shred of professionalism.
And just like that, any and all nervousness Ruby felt was swiftly kicked to the curb when she saw Neptune's beautiful face.
"Hi, Neptune. Hi, Ciel."
"Good afternoon, Ms. Rose," Ciel said, rolling her chair closer to Neptune to see her. "You're right on schedule."
Ruby walked up to her new friends and took the sights in. The twenty-seventh floor was little more than a spacious hallway with a few potted plants dotted around the corners, some unmarked doors, and a meeting room at the end with a view to die for. Though, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that the large double doors by Ciel's side of the desk was the main feature with its imposing dark lacquered wood and elaborate gold trim.
"Fancy," Ruby said, whistling in awe. "But what's with that dead plant behind you?"
Ciel looked over her shoulder and winced when a seemingly healthy leaf fell to the floor. "That's Freddy the Fugly Ficus. He's our mascot of sorts…"
"The company isn't dying is it?" Ruby whispered in case the boss suddenly appeared.
Neptune let out a loud snort, startling both Ruby and Ciel. "Mon dieu, Ruby, you are precious!" he shouted, holding his stomach as he threw his head back in laughter.
"I'm being serious here!" Ruby whined, worried for Weiss and her friends.
"He's our mascot because he's been like this since Coco bought him, what… eight years ago?" The question was directed at Neptune.
"Around there, yeah. He's been around for a long time, talk about a tenacious little ficus," Neptune said, wiping away a few tears. "He's as healthy as he can be. We even took him to a plant expert and everything to confirm it. Our boy Freddy is just ugly."
"Wow," Ruby chuckled.
"But enough about him. You're not here to see the tree or the help, you're here to see Weiss," he said, expertly shifting topics. Neptune leaned forward and rested his chin on his palm, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Good luck, gorgeous. I'm rooting for you."
"Thanks?"
Ciel gestured to the fancy door with an open palm and said, "Mrs. Adel will see you now. And Ruby?"
"Yeah?"
"Excellent choice."
Ruby put on her best smile as she reached for the door and steeled her nerves. It gave way with a simple push, surprising Ruby. She expected that a door this large would be heavy and difficult to open, but she slipped in, almost falling, without a problem.
"Bonjour, Ruby," Weiss said quietly from her perch on the corner of her desk.
"Hey, hi—you look," Ruby sucked in a breath, her eyes growing wide as she took everything that was Weiss in, "beautiful."
Weiss tucked some hair behind her ear and blushed, her lips curling up in a small, timid smile. "Thank you."
"It's entirely my pleasure," Ruby murmured with a dazed sigh.
Weiss looked absolutely stunning in her black and gold dress, a theme Ruby was beginning to notice about her friend. It was a good look on Weiss, regal and elegant, but a small part of Ruby wondered what Weiss would look like in red. The red lipstick she wore last week still haunted Ruby's thoughts and dreams.
"I'm glad you could make it," Weiss said after a few seconds of hesitation. She uncrossed her arms and pushed off the desk to greet Ruby, but stopped herself after a single step. "I…"
Ruby watched her curiously, taking note of the subtle way Weiss played with her wedding ring. She looked completely out of her element and so unlike her usual confident self that Ruby had to wonder if she walked into the wrong dimension.
"You didn't have any trouble getting here did you?" Weiss asked, smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles in her dress. Her voice was beautiful, as always, but her words sounded scripted, rehearsed, and read straight off of a teleprompter. She was nervous, that much was clear.
"Nah," Ruby shrugged. "The receptionist was super friendly, and that big guy at the security desk seemed pretty cool."
"Ah, so you've met Octavia," Weiss said. "She's a lovely girl."
"Yeah, she was really pretty."
"Oh, she is, isn't she?" Weiss said, biting her bottom lip.
It was faint, but did Ruby hear a hint of jealousy in Weiss' voice or was it Ruby's dumb, infatuated brain reaching for invisible threads? She strained her ears hoping to gear it again.
"Did she help you?" Weiss asked.
"Mhm, she was great. But jeez, Weiss, you weren't kidding about the leg room," Ruby said, sidestepping the topic entirely. Ruby didn't want to get her hopes up because of a subtle shift in vernacular. For all she knew, Weiss was just asking how a fellow employee greeted guests. Though, who was she kidding, Weiss was obviously the boss around here. A small time "desk jockey" wouldn't have an office this nice or two assistants waiting outside her door.
Weiss fiddled with her ring again and nodded. "Too much room if I'm being honest," she said demurely. "I could make do with a quarter of this and be happy."
Ruby scanned the lightly decorated room as she carefully approached Weiss. The furniture and decorations all looked new, tasteful, and probably worth a small fortune each. The lights were dim, save for the natural light, adding a sense of calm and serenity to the dark, earthy room. A few potted plants dotted the walls and shelves, giving it a splash of some much needed colour and vibrancy. The most curious feature, however, was a large sparsely decorated aquarium lying flush against the west wall. It was home to a two foot long fish with brilliant gold scales and large menacing eyes.
"That is a big fishy," Ruby said, amused by the languid sway of the fish's hulking body. "Real pretty though, does it have a name?"
"Chrys named him Monsieur Bulle, or Mr. Bubbles in Valese, when she was old enough to talk. But before that he was just 'Poisson,' which means 'fish,' " Weiss said, her nose crinkling at the silly name. "He's a rare golden Mistral arowana. One of Nicole's uncles gave him to us as a wedding gift… we were grateful, but he failed to warn us it would get this big… or live this long."
"So he's Chrys' big brother then?" Ruby joked.
"I suppose," Weiss laughed. "But I think she would've preferred a little sister. She does love him though."
"Cool." Ruby offered Weiss the flower she hid behind her back and said, "I hope you don't mind, but I got you a little something. It isn't much, but welcome to Vale."
Weiss stared at the rose and then at Ruby, her pale pink lips parting for words she didn't speak. She slowly reached for the flower and accepted it with timid, shaking hands. She brought it up to her nose, closed her eyes and took a breath.
Ruby was hopeful her gift made Weiss happy, but the colour drained from her face when a single tear slid down her angel's cheek.
"Weiss?" Ruby said, unconsciously reaching over to wipe the tear away. "I'm sorry, did I do something?"
"No, I love it," Weiss replied hoarsely, holding the rose close to her chest. "Thank you."
"Then why are you crying?" Ruby brushed another stray tear away. "I'm sorry, I'm dumb—what do I do to make things better?"
The tears kept spilling and Ruby kept wiping them away. She wanted to pull Weiss in and hold her tight, but she knew she was already pushing the boundaries by touching her without permission.
Weiss took in a shuddering breath as she pinched the bridge of her nose and asked, "Do you know what a single red rose means in the language of flowers?"
Ruby blinked. "Flowers can talk?"
"No," Weiss said in a much calmer tone, "but they do hold symbolism."
Ruby blushed like a fool caught in a lie and stepped back, giving Weiss some much needed room.
"My wife used to buy them for me," Weiss whispered nostalgically. "Just a single one, never a bouquet or an arrangement…"
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
Weiss shook her head. "You couldn't have known, but I am grateful. I never thought I'd enjoy holding a rose again."
"I'm sure you'll get more," Ruby said.
"From you?" Weiss asked.
"If you'll let me, yeah."
After a brief smile, Weiss' face took on a serious expression, though her eyes remained on the rose with a forlorn look. "Ruby," she said in that awful scripted tone, "I hope this rose doesn't carry an underlying message…"
"It doesn't," Ruby replied truthfully, her bright, toothy grin hiding the pain she felt deep within her chest. She knew this was inevitable. She'd been careless with her affection and now Weiss was going to hate her for it. "I promise you," she said, scrambling for words to salvage the relationship, "it's just a welcoming gift."
Weiss watched her for a moment, waiting for the friendly façade to crack and the lie to slip. The time between each second felt like an eternity and a half multiplied by oblivion. There didn't seem to be an end to this stringent silence.
"I believe you."
Ruby's face felt like it was going to fall off by the time she passed Weiss' test. She breathed a sigh of relief and graciously thanked her mother watching over her when Weiss carefully laid the rose on her desk, forever hers to keep.
"I'm sorry for putting you on the spot like that," Weiss said apologetically. "I have had many people offer me things with hidden intentions… and I see the way you look at me, it's flattering, but I don't want to… oh what's the phrase…?"
"Lead me on?"
Weiss snapped her fingers and said, "Yes, that. Thank you." Ruby forced another pained smile. "I really enjoy your company, Ruby. I don't want to cause any misunderstandings or unintentionally hurt you. And as you can plainly see, Neptune's joke from last week has been… weighing heavily on my mind."
"Ah, so that's what this is about." Ruby shook her head and chuckled as she stuffed her hands into her pockets, doing her best to look cool and casual. "And here I thought we were gunna talk about these swish digs."
"'Swish digs'? I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean," Weiss said, folding her hands over her stomach.
"Uh, sorry," Ruby blushed, her smile finally dropping. "I meant the office."
"Ah, yes," Weiss nodded. "That is exactly why I invited you up here actually… I didn't want to lie to you anymore."
"Lie to me?" Ruby cocked her head to the left. "About what?"
"About what I do and who I am," Weiss replied, stepping closer to Ruby.
The sound of her heels clicking loudly against the floor matched the steadily rising beat in Ruby's chest. Weiss was so close yet so far away. Ruby knew she didn't have a chance with her, she accepted that fully a long time ago, but to finally hear it out loud was excruciating.
"Everyone's entitled to their secrets, Weiss," Ruby said, thinking about the one tearing her apart at this moment. "I've got some too."
"Yes, but I want to be honest with you." Weiss reached up and gingerly touched Ruby's right cheek. "I haven't met anyone quite like you before," she continued, her hand drifting away to thread through the long lock of hair framing Ruby's face. "But you remind me of her sometimes…"
"Who?" Ruby asked, her breath hitching when she caught the forlorn look in Weiss' eyes.
"My wife…" Weiss whispered. "She had a similar hairstyle."
"Probably better kept though," Ruby said, forcing yet another laugh. She was doing that a lot today. "Forget split ends, I've got divorced ends."
Weiss smiled and chuckled. "A trim should fix that."
"Y-Yeah," Ruby gulped, "but haircuts are expensive."
"Neptune could do it," Weiss said.
"He knows how to cut hair?"
Weiss nodded as she stepped around Ruby and walked to the couch she had on the opposite end of the room. She motioned for Ruby to follow her and waited until she was seated to sit down herself.
"I thought he was your assistant?" Ruby asked, sitting down one cushion away from Weiss. She wanted to be close, but not so close that they'd be smooshed together—not that Ruby would mind.
"He was my personal stylist back in Atlas. But since I don't have to worry too much about interviews, press conferences, and commercials here in Vale, he's been relegated to being Ciel's assistant."
"Is she your assistant then?"
Weiss nodded. "The best one I've ever had."
"So your assistant has an assistant," Ruby hummed. "Neat! Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but you're the big boss, right?"
"Of this building, yes," Weiss said with a cute little blush on her even cuter face. "I'm the current acting president of Vale Nobility Incorporated. This is just a branch though, my mother-in-law is the CEO."
"So it's a family business kind of thing?" Weiss nodded. "That's super neat!" Ruby beamed. "What does this place do exactly? I've never been in an office building before."
"It started off as a small law firm, but now we're a conglomerate," Weiss said, shifting her body to sit more comfortably on the couch. "We have so many subsidiaries, I've honestly lost track."
"Name a big one then," Ruby said eagerly.
"Sahara," Weiss replied.
Ruby balked. "Whoa…"
"Mhm," Weiss hummed. "We own a few fashion outlets and magazines too, but I don't deal with those, I mainly do PR and logistics."
"That's, like, really important, right?"
"Yes, quite important," Weiss replied with a blush.
Ruby sat back and stared out the window wall, slowly digesting everything she'd learned this afternoon. Weiss was living the dream. She could literally be doing anything right now but instead she was spending the afternoon with a nobody she met by chance.
"Is it hard—doing all that, I mean?" Ruby asked in a daze.
"It is, but my hours are flexible, and I'm in a position where I can do some real good for the people working under me," Weiss said. "The president before me was a disgusting cockroach."
"Was he the issue from last week?"
Weiss groaned. "You have no idea," she sighed. "He literally broke into my office and started spouting nonsense about how I'd burn this company down to the ground with my 'gay agenda.' "
"What?!"
"Mhm! He even sat in my chair and rifled through my things hoping to find something incriminating," Weiss continued, her voice growing more frustrated by the second. "But the joke's on him. The only things I keep in my desk are Monsieur Bulle's pellets, Chrys' drawings, and office supplies." But after a moment of serious thought, Weiss cupped her chin and murmured, "Then again, he could spin it around and say I spend company hours drawing and eating fish food..."
"Why would he say that about you though?"
"Because I essentially destroyed everything he did to this company starting with my salary. It was the first thing I did actually," Weiss proudly said, brushing some hair behind her ear. "I won't tell you the exact number, but let's just that say that my employees are finally earning well above minimum wage. I've also started construction on an in-building daycare, and a better cafeteria. I've also implemented the benefits employees in Atlas get here, such as medical, dental, and insurance… these were all things Vale should have had from the start, but that insect wanted more money in his wallet."
"This kind of explains why you're so angry about me and Yang's work conditions," Ruby said with realization dawning on her face.
"Oh, I have so much to say about that!" Weiss huffed.
Ruby let out a nervous chuckle, "I bet you do."
"If I could hire you both, I would," Weiss said, her voice growing quiet. "I'm sorry for lying about what I do."
"We're back to this again?" Ruby sighed. She scooted closer to Weiss and laid a purely platonic hand on her knee. "Weiss," she said, "you didn't lie to me. You're an office lady with a really, really roomy office. And a killer view—"
"Oh god, please don't remind me of the view," Weiss groaned. "I hate it."
"What?! Why?! It's amazing! I'd kill for a view like this!"
"There are only two things you really need to know about me. One, I love my daughter more than life itself. And two, I am deathly afraid of heights," Weiss said. "Back in Atlas, I had a cozy little office with no windows near the main floor. So when I got this promotion, I asked for a similar space, but I was refused because 'it's unfitting for the president of the company to work in a box.' But I like boxes!" Ruby snickered. "I heard that."
"Sorry, sorry," Ruby said hastily. "Is that why your desk faces away from the window?"
"No, it's like that because it's supposedly a power move," Weiss answered, shooting her desk a nasty glare. "When you see me sitting there with the light on my back, it's supposed to remind you of how important I am. There's nothing up here but me and the sky."
"And the other skyscrapers," Ruby chuckled.
"That too, but they're supposed to be on my level so it's fine," Weiss said, laughing along with Ruby before losing her smile yet again. "I… hate this. People look at me like I got here through nepotism, and while I can't deny it had a small hand in my success, I still worked my way up. All that my connection to the Adel name amounts to is an open door, but people don't understand that. All they see is someone who's far too young to be sitting in that chair… I was just a part-time receptionist when I started."
"I don't think of you like that at all," Ruby said.
"I know, and that's why you're here…" Weiss said, looking up at Ruby with a sad, timid smile. "I'm hoping that my wealth and position doesn't change a thing between us."
Ruby pulled Weiss in for a hug, surprising the both of them. "Thank you for trusting me, Weiss."
"I…" Weiss paused, her hands hovering above Ruby's back.
"It's okay to hug me," Ruby said, hugging her even tighter. "Friends hug all the time. You don't have to be scared about me taking things the wrong way."
"You're right, I'm being silly and paranoid," Weiss sighed, finally resting her arms around Ruby. "Thank you."
When they pulled apart, Ruby looked at Weiss and then on the rose sitting on her desk. Weiss deserved to know the truth. It was only fair after everything she revealed about herself. Granted, Ruby hadn't revealed much at all since Weiss didn't pry, but this secret wasn't getting any lighter, and Ruby wasn't strong enough to hold it up forever. So she sucked in a breath and did what felt right.
"Weiss?"
"Yes, Ruby?"
Ruby was never going to get used to the way Weiss said her name. It sent the butterflies sleeping in her stomach into a frenzy, fluttering about like a swarm with no direction—just like the feelings she harboured.
"Can I say something you might not like? I-It isn't bad or anything—well, I hope it isn't bad—just something personal…" Ruby clasped her hands together and silently prayed to god that this was the right thing to do.
Weiss straightened her back and nodded. "Alright."
Ruby sucked in a breath and looked Weiss straight in the eye. She could do this. She had to or else she'd never move on. Weiss would never accept her feelings, but she'd at least understand and Ruby could work with that. All she needed to do was say it. No more hesitation. Be brave.
"I really like you, like… really like you," Ruby said, her voice trembling like a leaf caught in the wind. "I've liked you since the moment we met, and I've only grown to like you more… I—"
"Ruby…"
"It's okay, Weiss, j-just let me finish," Ruby said, swallowing the lump lodged deep within her throat. "You were honest with me, so I want to be honest with you. I know I don't have a chance, and I'm not forcing you to give me one either. I just… I just wanted to tell you because your friendship means so much to me. I don't want my feelings getting in the way of what we have; I can't keep lying to you."
"Then the rose?"
"Was just a gift because you said you liked them," Ruby said, reaffirming her promise. "I would have gotten you more, but one was all I could afford."
"You didn't have to," Weiss said with her brows furrowed together in consternation.
"I know, I know, but I did it anyways because I like seeing you smile… though, I guess it backfired since I made you cry instead, haha..." Ruby's laughter petered off into a sad sigh. "So yeah, that's the truth. I like you a lot, Weiss. But like I said, you don't have to worry about me wanting more than you can give. I'm happy with the way things are."
Weiss, for her part, sat still for a moment before gingerly taking Ruby's hands into her own. "Then it should only be fair for me to say that the feeling is… relatively mutual. There's something special about you, Ruby. And I am," she let out a long shuddering breath, "attracted to you as well. But I'm afraid that's where it stops for me. You're beautiful, Ruby, and so charming that you could make someone fall in love with you without even trying—but that person isn't me." She looked at their joined hands with a sad smile. "I'm not what you're looking for in a partner. I'm mean, bossy, and let's not forget much older than you with a child half your age. I also doubt we have much in common, aside from our love of roses."
"And good food," Ruby chuckled. "That's the important one."
"It is," Weiss laughed.
"So are we good? No awkwardness or tiptoeing around?" Ruby asked, holding Weiss' hands tighter.
"Yes, we're… 'good.' "
The conversation ended there and both were happy with the outcome. Weiss took the truth well, and Ruby was relieved to know she hadn't been reading the signs wrong. Her feelings were one-sided, yes, but the attraction wasn't and that was a massive ego boost.
Ruby had never taken much stock in her looks. No one really complimented her aside from her family, Penny, and Jaune that one time when he was drunk. Though, she supposed she should add Neptune to that list now, and Weiss too.
A smile broke out on Ruby's face as she flopped back onto the couch like a lazy starfish. "Maaaaan, I am so glad I got that off my chest!" she said feeling great now that the weight of the world was off her shoulders. "I was so scared you'd tell me to never see you again if I told you how I felt."
"Why would I do that?" Weiss asked, pulling her legs up on the couch.
"Because people usually think it's weird to hangout with someone who like-likes you."
Weiss tilted her head with a playful smirk on her face, "You mean like you and your friend Penny?"
Ruby bolted up in shock, her mouth hanging wide open. "You could tell?!" she screamed in horror. "Oh god, this is so embarrassing!"
"I'm sorry, it was hard not to notice," Weiss said, wincing from what Ruby could only assume was second-hand embarrassment. "She kept glaring at me like I'd stolen you."
"Well," Ruby said hesitantly, "you sorta did? By accident? I mean, I only agreed to one date with her that I immediately cancelled after meeting you, but—"
"Oh that poor girl!"
"Don't, don't, it's okay," Ruby said, patting Weiss' knee. "Things between me and Penny are fine. We're actually going to go see a movie later tonight after her shift—as friends. We talked things out and we agreed to stay friends. Also, did you know Ciel's been dropping by almost everyday?"
"I do," Weiss said, resting her hand over Ruby's. "She says it's because the coffee there is better than what we have here, and that if you make my coffee, I'm less of a tyrant throughout the day—which is the truth, by the way."
"That you're a tyrant or that my coffee's so good you ease up?" Ruby asked, scooting a little closer to Weiss.
"Both," Weiss laughed. "We have really high quality coffee up here, but things get so hectic sometimes we accidentally leave it in the pot for hours."
"Wooooof, gross," Ruby said, shaking her tongue out in disgust. "I'm not actually allowed to drink coffee, I can't even remember the last time I had some… but it makes me really sleepy."
"Riiight, you said you have ADHD. My wife was the same, but she still drank it like water—that is until our doctor told her to stop," Weiss said in understanding. "The look on her face when she got home that day was priceless. You'd think someone ran over her puppy with how devastated she looked. I wish I'd taken a picture…"
"Woof, that's rough," Ruby said. She was content with the topic ending there, but as Ruby was beginning to learn, she didn't know when to quit with Weiss. "So, if you don't mind me asking… what was she like? Neptune seemed to have a really high opinion of her. Same with Ciel."
Learning more about the woman Weiss loved was a morbid curiosity Ruby couldn't ignore. She'd spent more than a few sleepless nights thinking about her. Whenever Weiss or Neptune brought Coco up, Ruby pictured this gorgeous mountain of a woman that oozed sensuality and confidence. Ruby couldn't really match up to that, and the only thing she oozed was snot when she had a cold. But the waiting and wondering was going to end today because Weiss hadn't thrown her out for bringing up her wife.
"Oh, Nicole was…" Weiss paused and thought hard about what she was going to say next. Her face went through several expressions before settling on scripted neutral. "She was hard to read. She did so many things so effortlessly that she looked like she was coasting through life. When I first met her, that was exactly what I thought, but then I got to know her a little more and I learned how hard she studied. She was on her scroll a lot, so people thought she was texting or playing games, but in reality she was reading—haha, she was always reading. She said she had trouble concentrating on books because the print was too small and the words melded together."
"Dyslexia?"
"Mhm," Weiss nodded. "She was ashamed to admit it though, said it made her look stupid because she couldn't follow along during class… so she always read ahead and studied on her own." Weiss stopped and chuckled, her face lighting up as a good memory came to mind. "The first time she caught my eye was in the library early in my first year of high school. She had her floozies hanging around her like brainless cattle, but Nicole just sat there looking annoyed as she tried to study. She obviously had more patience than me though because I quickly got fed up with the noise and demanded they leave or else I'd call the librarian. Thankfully, that was all it took to get rid of them… but Nicole stayed behind and thanked me. I thought that was the end of it, but she followed me back to my table and asked what I was reading. Turns out she read the same book during her first year and saved her notes for it on her scroll… I got an A on my paper because of her."
"Then things went on from there?"
"Mhm, I couldn't get rid of her," Weiss said with a nostalgic sigh. "I wouldn't say it was love that brought us together though. We weren't the tragic star-crossed lovers in a romance novel… but she did understand me in a way no one else did. She saw how hard I worked, and instead of chastising me for it, she helped me. This is going to sound really cliché, but I didn't choose her for her looks."
"Was she pretty?" Ruby asked.
"She was."
"Got a picture? Because now I'm kinda curious what this super girl of yours looks like."
"Oh, one second." Weiss got up and walked to her desk. She chose one of the many frames sitting on it and brought it back for Ruby to see. "You can really tell who Chrys takes after."
Ruby looked at the photograph and smiled, pleased that her guess wasn't that far off the truth. A younger, chubbier Chrys was in the arms of a tall, gorgeous woman dressed in typical dad clothes: cargo shorts, button up, and a black snapback hat that read "Feather Friends Forever" in the centre. She reminded Ruby a lot of her own father, they even had the same beige shorts. All that was missing was a five o'clock shadow and the pungent smell of alcohol.
"That's… an interesting outfit she's got on," Ruby said, holding back her urge to laugh. "Points for the My Little Budgie gear though."
"We took that photo during a company picnic. I begged her not to go out looking like that, but she wanted to match the other dads so Chrys wouldn't feel left out," Weiss said with a wide, toothy smile. "Honestly, I think she did it just to embarrass me and her mother."
"Probably, but she actually looks kind of familiar," Ruby said, returning the picture frame back to Weiss.
"You've probably seen her on a magazine or some promotional posters," Weiss said, setting the photograph on the coffee table. "She used to model before… changing careers."
"Why'd she stop?"
"She wanted to set a better example for Chrys," Weiss explained, folding her hands over her lap. "As you can see, she was a bit of a chubby baby. Nicole was the same way—oh god, she's going to be a giant when she grows up…"
"Or a nice average medium," Ruby said, offering Weiss an unhelpful smile.
Weiss glowered at her. "I'm short, I get it."
"You said it, not me!" Ruby said in her defence.
"Ugh, this is the problem when I'm with you," Weiss huffed. "I'm always losing my train of thought, now where was I?"
"You were talking about Chrys."
"Right. So Chrys was at the age where children can be downright awful with the teasing… I can't begin to tell you how many times she came home crying because a little boy or girl called her fat—one even said she was adopted because," Weiss paused and wordlessly gestured to slim and tiny physique, "mm… it was a dark time. Nicole also had a shoot to prepare for so she was on a strict diet with food specifically catered for her. Chrys saw this and began asking if she should start eating less too, and, well, we all got cheese burgers and fries that night."
"Wow, Coco sounds really cool," Ruby said.
"Mhm," Weiss nodded. "I was lucky… really lucky."
"I wish I could'a met her, think she'd like me?"
"I think she'd love you," Weiss said. "Like I said before, you remind me of her."
"Er, hate to break it to ya, but I think you might need to get your eyes checked because there is no way in hell I can match up to that," Ruby said, pointing to the photograph. "I mean, aside from this dangly bit on the side of my head, we don't look anything alike."
"No, you dolt," Weiss said in a chastising tone, "I never said you looked like her!"
"Then hurry up and tell me how that"—Ruby pointed at the photograph again—"matches up with this?" She punctuated the end of her sentence by gesturing to her face. "C'mon, Weiss, be honest!"
"Oh my goodness, you are so strange!" Weiss exclaimed, burying her face in a hand. "But that sense of humour of yours is quite reminiscent of hers too."
"So you think I'm funny?"
"And sweet, and charming, and a whole host of other good things," Weiss said with a shy smile. "You are a special woman, Ruby Rose."
"And you, Weiss… Adel?"
"Yes."
"You're special too," Ruby said, returning Weiss' smile. "I haven't known you that long, but I already think the world of you."
"Ruby…"
"Anyway, how about we get some lunch? I don't know about you, but I'm starving!"
"I wouldn't say 'starving,' but I could go for a bite to eat," Weiss nodded in agreement. "Do you have a place in mind?"
"Hm, well, how do you feel about pizza?" Ruby asked.
"I love it," Weiss said with adoration.
"Great because I know this place one bus ride away that makes the best pepperoni and mushroom pizza ever."
"Can I just drive us there?" Weiss asked.
"Oh," Ruby blinked, "I guess you can, yeah."
"Then let's go—but before we do, do you like cars?"
"Yeah," Ruby answered. "Why? Got something super fancy tucked away in the parking lot?"
"You could say that," Weiss said as she got up and walked to her desk. She picked up her purse and the rose and gestured for Ruby to follow her out the door.
"Stepping out?" Ciel asked, looking up from her lunch, a familiar club sandwich and a steaming cup of coffee.
"Mhm." Weiss stepped up to her assistant and showed her the rose with great care. "Could you put this in some water for me?" she asked. "Something nice. I'm sure we have an empty vase somewhere."
"Right away, Mrs. Adel. Anything else?"
"No, enjoy your break."
Ruby waited for Weiss to step away before approaching Ciel with a knowing look and a matching grin. "Penny's coffee's are pretty good, huh?"
Ciel sputtered and bashfully looked away with a blush warming her cheeks. She huffed in annoyance and hid behind her stoic mask. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ms. Rose," she said stubbornly.
"If you say so," Ruby replied, stuffing her hands into her pockets. She had no problem letting Ciel escape, she'd get the dirt from Penny later. "I'll see you guys later."
"Goodbye, Ms. Rose."
"G'bye, gorgeous," Neptune said with a little wave and a wink. "Take care of my girl."
"I will," Ruby said as she followed Weiss into the elevator. After the doors closed behind them, Ruby moved to the back and said, "You know, I half expected you to have a private elevator."
"I had one back in Atlas," Weiss replied. "Well, it was really my mother-in-law's, but she let me use it… nowadays it feels like a royal procession every time I come into work."
"Ah, nepotism," Ruby said with a sagely nod.
"The one major perk, yes," Weiss said, laughing as she leaned back next to Ruby. She shyly looked up at her and nudged Ruby's hand with her pinky, "I'm really glad I told you, Ruby."
Ruby nudged her back and grinned, relishing the closeness between them. "I'm glad you did too."
"I was dreading the moment I had to tell you. And to be perfectly honest," Weiss sighed, her brows tensing like her back and shoulders, "a part of me considered never telling you."
"Why?"
"Because people treat you differently when you have all of this," Weiss said, looking at the ceiling. She sighed and gulped, her fingers nervously drumming against the elevator handrail. "I was scared things would change or you'd start seeing me as a dollar sign…"
"Has that happened before?" Ruby asked, her heart going out to Weiss.
Ruby had a friend who spoke of similar things once not long ago. Pyrrha wasn't rich by any means, but she was talented, beautiful, and so strong that she was put on a pedestal and worshipped like a goddess. Pyrrha was always smiling and she never cried or showed how lonely she was. Yang was there to support her, but Ruby was too young to really understand or do much to help when Pyrrha was at her lowest. But now that Ruby was older and faced with a similar problem, she knew she was going to do everything in her power to make it so Weiss would never feel alone again. She cared about this woman deeply, and the thought of her having no one to turn to hurt more than rejection.
"For as long as I can remember," Weiss replied, her voice just above a whisper. She looked at Ruby with sad, hopeful eyes and forced a smile that chipped away at the wall Ruby built to stop herself from falling. Weiss looked so small and demure, practically trembling in her expensive high heels as she waited with bated breath for Ruby's response.
"Well, you'll never have to worry about that with me," Ruby said, taking Weiss' hand with great care. "I like you for you, Weiss. No amount of money, fame, or fortune is going to change that. And as Sparkle Feather always says: 'The greatest magic is the one made from love and friendship.' "
"You are such a dork," Weiss giggled.
"Yeah, well, you chose me," Ruby said. "No take backs, we're feather friends forever."
Weiss blinked and slowly nodded. "I guess I did."
The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. Weiss smiled and shyly pulled away as she stepped through, leaving a befuddled Ruby behind. When Weiss noticed her tail wasn't following her, she looked over her shoulder, unconsciously taking Ruby's breath away for the thousandth time that day.
"Enjoying the view?" Weiss joked, snapping Ruby out of her thoughts. She quickly caught up to Weiss, narrowly dodging the closing doors on her way out. "Is everything alright?"
"Yup!" Ruby grinned. "Just peachy and super excited to see what you drive."
"Well," Weiss chuckled nervously, "I hope you like going fast."
"I like fast," Ruby said. "I really like fast."
Weiss' nervousness slowly washed away as a confident smirk tugged Weiss lips to the right, her pretty blue eyes lighting up with childish excitement.
Ruby's smile doubled in size, she'd never seen Weiss this excited before; it was beyond cute.
"Then I can't wait for you to meet Sweetie Belle."
"Sweetie Belle?" Ruby repeated, laughing at the overtly cutesy name.
"I don't spend my money on anything but Chrys," Weiss said, leading Ruby to the security desk. "But I do allow myself one selfish luxury."
Yatsuhashi stood from his chair and bowed, "Mrs. Adel. Ms. Rose."
"Yatsu, do me a favour and make sure Ruby has unfettered access to my office," Weiss said, smiling at him patiently. "Ciel and Neptune are already familiar with her, so that just leaves you and Fox out of the loop."
"Understood," he said. "I'll get to work on that visitor's badge."
"Thank you, Yatsu."
"Weiss, are you sure you want to do that?" Ruby asked with concern. "I mean, I'm honoured, but that's still a lot of trust to give someone you just met."
"I'm sure," Weiss said, turning that radiant smile towards Ruby. "And I hardly think of you as a stranger. Though, if it helps, you can think of it as a… friendly reminder of our chat today and your promise," she added, walking right up to Ruby and linking their arms together. "Now, let's go get that amazing pizza you told me about."
Ruby looked at Weiss and the hopeful look she had in her eyes. How could Ruby deny her anything she asked? It was impossible and a downright crime if it were to ever pass. Weiss deserved the world, and Ruby was prepared to give it to her.
"Lead the way to your chariot then, Mrs. Adel," Ruby grinned, forcing down the unwanted fluttering in her stomach.
These feelings of hers had to go, and they needed to go soon. Ruby was on the edge, about to fall with no way up; she could feel it in her bones.
Weiss frowned and crinkled her nose like she'd smelled something rancid. "Do me a favour and never call me 'Mrs. Adel' ever again," she said. "It sounds so weird coming from you. I hate it."
Ruby shrugged and laughed along, but in the safety of her mind she cried.
She was falling.