Chapter Thirty-one: In Our Bones
Ruby bolted out of her seat the second class ended, leaving her university friends behind without a second thought. Weiss was picking her up from school today. And after a quick bite at Kim's, they'd head back to Ruby's and get ready for open mic night at the Crow Bar.
"Ruby!" Jaune called out down the hall. "Hey, Ruby, slow down will ya!"
Ruby groaned out loud but slowed down her pace. She turned to face Jaune and gave him a weak "hey."
"Hey yourself, stranger," he said with an awkward chuckle. "Haven't seen you around in ages."
"Yeah, I've been busy," Ruby replied, adjusting her backpack.
"With wha?"
"I'm thinking of switching majors," Ruby answered.
"Neat!" Jaune grinned.
"Look, I wish I could chat longer, but I really gotta get going," Ruby said.
"No problem, mind if I walk with you?"
Ruby nodded and started walking again, silently praying Jaune would leave before Weiss caught them together.
"So what made you reconsider your career path?" Jaune asked. "You've wanted to be a cop since you were a kid."
"People change," Ruby said with a shrug, not wanting to give away her true reasons.
"Any idea what you're gunna switch to?"
Ruby pushed open the doors that led to the parking lot and scanned the area for a familiar SUV.
"I mean, no pressure to answer," Jaune quickly added when Ruby didn't immediately respond. "I was just curious."
"I really don't know, Jaune," Ruby said as she pulled out her scroll and texted Weiss.
"Oh… kay," Jaune nodded. "So, um, what are your plans tonight?"
Ruby looked up from her scroll and scanned the parking lot again. This time, she found Weiss a little ways away next to a taxi.
"Open mic night with the girls," Ruby said. "Weiss is here to get me so I'll catch you later."
"Aw, okay… um, can I walk you there?" Jaune asked with a hopeful look in his eyes. Ruby shifted awkwardly on her feet, glancing between her friend and Weiss. "I still gotta apologize for the way I acted. Please?"
"I'll be real with you, Jaune, I don't like that idea at all," Ruby said bluntly, crossing her arms.
"Why?" Jaune asked, looking like a kicked puppy. "I just wanna make things right. I'm tryin' here, Ruby. I really am."
Ruby let out a long sigh and, against her better judgement, nodded her head. She hated hurting her friends, and Jaune, despite all that's happened, was still her childhood friend.
"Thanks," Jaune said.
"Just don't mess this up, Jaune," Ruby warned. "Weiss means everything to me. If you upset her again, we're done. No more second chances. Got it?"
Jaune quickly nodded his head and followed after Ruby, nearly slipping on the steps in the process. He started talking about what he'd been up to and the many interesting things he learned that week. It was nice hearing Jaune talk so earnestly about his studies. He sounded so sure. So confident. Ruby was the same once, but after meeting Weiss and Chrys… her plans went out the window and now she wished she had a little bit of that confidence back.
"Man, if I had known being a nurse was so hard, I think I shoulda gone pre-med instead," Jaune joked.
"You'd be in school like a nerd for ten years then," Ruby laughed.
Jaune shrugged and said, "Nerds are the future, you dumb jock."
"I'm fine with that. Weiss usually has the brain cell anyway—hey, baby!" Ruby ditched Jaune and ran the rest of the way to hug Weiss, squeezing her tight and kissing her cheek. "Wut'cha got there, baby?" Ruby asked, cheekily eyeing the familiar plastic pouch Weiss was drinking from.
"Someone got Chrys addicted to this juice pouches," Weiss replied, taking a sip. "Here," she handed Ruby the second one in her hand, "she said you like the orange one the best."
"Aw hell ya!" Ruby eagerly ripped the straw out of its wrapper and punctured the pouch. "Best day ever!"
"Because of juice?" Weiss said with a smile, but it quickly turned into a frown when Jaune cautiously approached her. "Can I help you with something?" she asked without a hint of warmth in her tone.
"Uh, yeah… hi," Jaune replied meekly. He looked to Ruby for assistance, but she suddenly found herself preoccupied with her hair. "Great. Thanks, Ruby," Jaune muttered under his breath.
"If you have something to say, say it properly," Weiss snapped, taking her sunglasses off to glare at Jaune properly.
"I, uh… I just wanted to apologize for what I did!" Jaune yelped, his face growing paler by the second under Weiss' terrifying gaze.
"Er," Weiss blinked in confusion, "what?"
"Back at Ruby's birthday party… I acted out of line and embarrassed you in front of all our friends," Jaune explained. "I want to properly apologize."
"Oh! That," Weiss laughed. "It's fine."
"Really?" Jaune said, looking extremely hopeful.
"Yes, John, it's fine," Weiss said. "It happened so long ago I don't even remember your face. You're a total stranger to me."
"It's Jaune, actually," Jaune muttered with his head hung low and his spirit crushed. Ruby winced and patted her friend's shoulder, but that did little to help the situation. "Well, uh… I'm glad there aren't any hard feelings. I hope we can move past this."
"By all means," Weiss nodded.
"Great! So, uh… where are you guys heading off to?" Jaune asked.
"Late lunch date," Weiss said, wrapping an arm around Ruby's waist. "Anyway, the meter is running. Mon amour, let's get going."
"R-Right!" Ruby blushed, still adjusting to the new pet name. She had no idea what it meant, but she liked the sound of it. "I'll catch you later, Jaune."
"Y-Yeah… later," he replied weakly.
Once they were inside the cab, Weiss told the driver where their next destination was and snuggled up against Ruby. The driver gave a cheerful affirmative, eager to take Weiss wherever she wanted. Ruby couldn't blame the guy. Based on the numbers on his meter, Weiss had him driving her around all across town.
"So are we gunna talk about how shady you were being just now?" Ruby asked, playing with a lock of Weiss' hair.
"What do you mean?"
Ruby rolled her eyes and glanced behind her through the rear window looking for Jaune. She found him walking away with his head hung low, heartbroken and alone. Ruby groaned out loud and rested her head against Weiss'.
"He still has feelings for you, mon amour," Weiss said, intertwining their fingers.
"I only love you, Weiss," Ruby said with a frown. "You don't have to worry."
"You love a lot of people, mon amour, not just me," Weiss said wisely. "And I'm not worried in the slightest."
"Weiss…"
"Really, I'm not," Weiss chuckled. "You come home to me. I don't care who you choose to spend time with… but what I do care about is how much his 'affections' upset you."
"Ughhhh…" Ruby groaned, resting her head back on the seat. "It's so grooooossss!"
"You've set your boundaries, mon amour. If he was truly your friend, he'd respect them… and from what I've seen, he does," Weiss said. "It took a lot of courage coming up to me like that."
"You are kind of scary…" Ruby reluctantly grumbled.
"Just give him some time, mon amour," Weiss said, kissing Ruby's cheek.
"I hate how mature you're being right now," Ruby pouted, her nose crinkled slightly. "Other girlfriends would've been hella jealous."
"Do you want me to be jealous?" Weiss raised an eyebrow.
"No…"
"Because if you do, you're going to have to find someone else."
"What?! No! Weiss, I only want you!" Ruby shouted in a panic.
"No, no, not like that!" Weiss laughed. "I meant you'd need to find someone better than that scraggly boy to make me jealous."
"Ohh, yup, shady Weiss!" Ruby giggled.
"Honestly, he is nothing compared to me," Weiss continued with a deep frown. "The sheer audacity he had to even try taking you away from me—"
"Wow, I knew you were secretly still upset," Ruby grinned. "Admit it, Weiss, you were showing off back there."
"I will not confirm or deny these allegations directed towards me," Weiss said in her polished business tone.
"You were practically staking your claim over me," Ruby teased.
"I do not own you, Ruby."
"Yeah, but I'm yours anyway," Ruby laughed, pulling Weiss into a tight hug.
They spent the rest of the car ride to Kim's laughing and teasing, even through their late lunch date. Weiss didn't know it, but Ruby fell a little more in love with her that afternoon. Seeing her so happy and carefree made the decision Ruby had to make even easier. She was going to find a new path to protect this joy. She was going to do whatever it took to make sure Weiss and Chrys never felt the anxiety Coco gave them each time she walked out the door for work.
"Hey, are you okay?" Weiss said as she ran her fingers through Ruby's hair. Ruby blinked and nodded her head, mind still elsewhere. They were back at her apartment, in Ruby's bedroom specifically—a place Weiss had never been in before. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, baby," Ruby smiled. "I'm just... I don't know… it feels weird having you in my room like this."
"Why?" Weiss asked, walking away from Ruby's closet to sit down next to her on the bed.
"Well," Ruby gestured to the clothes she changed into, "you've never seen me dress like this before."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Y'know… kinda girly? You've never seen me in a skirt or anything like this." Ruby was talking about her not-so-secret propensity towards gothic clothing, a strange sight compared to her business casual clad girlfriend. "I'm worried about what you think."
"Ruby, what I think about the way you dress shouldn't matter," Weiss said. "You dress how you want to dress. And if I have a problem with that, then I shouldn't be your girlfriend."
"Sorry… I guess I'm worried about nothing," Ruby replied, her head hung low in shame.
Weiss shook her head. "Mon amour, these feelings you have are as real as you and me. You don't need to apologize."
"But it must be so annoying hearing me worry about every little thing," Ruby said, looking up at Weiss. "I wish I was more confident like you, maybe then we'd be more of a match."
"I am not as confident as you think I am," Weiss chuckled. "I pay my gay best friend to dress me most of the time. This outfit? His choice. And if it makes you feel better, I worry about how you think I dress too."
"Really?"
"Oh absolutely!"
"How?"
"Easy," Weiss smiled. "My clothes aren't hip or trendy. Every outfit I have, even the ones for home, are presentable enough for me to walk into a meeting… have you ever noticed that?"
Ruby blinked and thought back to all the times she'd seen Weiss in home clothes and gasped. "Oh my god, did you go to work in your pyjamas?"
"It's a trick I learned from Amélia," Weiss blushed. "Sometimes I get told to head to the office immediately, and it takes a lot of time to look as great as I normally do."
"Yeah," Ruby snorted. "I think I fell asleep waiting for you once."
"That you did," Weiss replied, tapping Ruby's nose. "Look, if you're worried about looking odd beside me, why don't you go back into that closet and get me something to wear."
"What?"
"You heard me, mon amour," Weiss grinned.
Ruby nervously glanced between her messy closet and her perfect girlfriend trying to decide what the best course of action was. She loved seeing Weiss in her clothes, but she'd only worn them at home. They'd be going out in public where. People can see them together, staring and judging. Ruby was about to say no when a little voice in her head whispered what her heart truly desired. Weiss Adel, the primmest most proper person Ruby knew, in a pair of ripped skinny jeans and a graphic shirt.
"Are you sure, Weiss?" Ruby asked.
"I'm sure," Weiss said. "I'm honestly a little excited. I never got to wear any of Nicole's clothes other than her shirts and sweaters that I practically drowned in."
"I think you look cute in them," Ruby smiled. "But, uh, are you really, really sure?"
"Positive."
"Okay!" Ruby kissed Weiss cheek and practically ran towards her closet, eager to get Weiss in her most punk rock outfit.
Ruby began pulling clothes out and tossing them away, not caring where they landed. They weren't good enough for Weiss. Too old. Too baggy. Too visually loud.
"Ruby, isn't this a little much?" Weiss asked as she systematically picked up Ruby's clothes and put them back in the closet. "You're thinking way too hard about this, mon amour. Just pick what you'd normally wear to the bar."
"But I want it to look good on you," Ruby pouted, pulling a red and black shirt out of the closet. She held it up to Weiss to see if it would look good, but the colours weren't right. It was also wrinkled and had a slight smell caused by its time stuffed away in the deepest part of Ruby's closet.
"This looks nice though," Weiss said.
"Yeah, no." Ruby was about to throw it away, but Weiss stopped her dead in her tracks with a single raised eyebrow. "Sorry."
"Ruby, you're going to have to pick something eventually," Weiss said as she took the shirt. "I actually like this one." She turned it around to see the back and nodded. "Yes, this one will do."
"But…"
"No buts," Weiss said. "I like this one."
"You sure?"
"Positive," Weiss nodded. "Now find me something else that goes with this."
"Okay," Ruby smiled. "I've always wanted to see you in jeans."
"I don't think I've ever worn any," Weiss laughed. "And, Ruby?"
"Yes, baby?" Ruby replied, her head already back in the closet. She heard some rustling beside her but didn't pay it any mind.
"Is getting me out of my clothes the only thing you want to do?"
"Wha—" Ruby's jaw dropped. The rustling she had heard earlier was the sound of Weiss' jacket and shirt hitting the floor.
"Well?" Weiss smirked with her hip cocked to the left and a sexy eyebrow raised.
"Best. Girlfriend. Ever."
They ended up being thirty minutes late to the bar. Yang was the first one to greet them and, as expected, the first to tease as well. She didn't hold back any punches and went straight for the kill, insinuating the adult nature of their delay. But what Yang didn't expect was for Weiss to unabashedly say yes. Ruby watched her sister turn a full shade of red and stood beside Weiss proudly. Yang stopped her teasing then andthere in fear of the possibility that Weiss might be comfortable enough to tell her the exact details of why they were late.
"Anyways, glad you could come—I mean… you know what, fuck it!" Yang huffed, pulling Weiss into her signature bear hug. "Glad you guys are here."
"Likewise, Yang," Weiss said, hugging Yang back.
It warmed Ruby's heart to see the two most important people in her life get along so well. Yang and Weiss were practically in their own world leaving Ruby trail behind them quietly. She didn't mind though. After all the things that happened to them in the past few months, Ruby was comfortable sharing Weiss' attention for this brief moment.
"Looks like the gang's all here!" Yang boisterously announced, throwing an arm around Weiss' shoulders as she led them to their table where Nora, Ren, and Reese waited. "But you'll never guess who else."
"Who?" Weiss asked.
"Alright, pack it up lesbians, we've officially lost!" Neptune huffed from the next table. He was sitting with Ciel, Octavia, and a few others Ruby couldn't recognize but assumed were from Nobility Inc. as well.
"What are you all doing here?" Weiss asked with an amused smile, going over to hug Neptune.
"Octavia's birthday," Ciel said, lifting her beer up to greet Weiss. "We invited you, but you said you were busy tonight. This is a nice coincidence."
"That it is," Weiss nodded. She looked over to Octavia and wished her a happy birthday.
"Thank you, Mrs. Adel," Octavia blushed.
The blonde woman sitting beside Octavia, eyed Weiss skeptically, her arm thrown casually over Octavia's backrest. "Wait, isn't that your boss' name?" she asked rather brusquely. Octavia nodded her head. "Wow, no offence, but I expected someone much older and… more into pantsuits."
"And you'd be right," Weiss laughed as she wrapped her arms around Ruby's waist. "This one was feeling antsy about her outfit tonight so I offered to dress the same. I'll be honest, I think I can get used to wearing jeans. I never knew they could be so comfortable."
"Ruby, why would you be nervous? You look amazing, darling. Absolutely amazing!" Neptune exclaimed like he'd been personally offended. "And I am eternally grateful to you for getting my main bitch out of her stuffy suits. Look at her, she looks like she can finally breathe!"
"Excuse me, but you're the one that buys me those 'stuffy' suits," Weiss said.
"At your behest," Neptune expertly countered."Ugh," Weiss groaned. "Look, Octavia?"
"Yes, ma'am?" Octavia replied dutifully.
"None of that ma'am stuff tonight; we're all here to have fun. And because it's your birthday—Neptune?"
"Oui?" Neptune chirped.
"I'm assuming you're in charge of this party."
"That I am!" he said proudly.
"The night's on me," Weiss said without mincing any words. "Don't worry about the costs, just make it memorable."
"Oh no, Mrs. Adel, I couldn't!" Octavia gasped.
"Please, I insist," Weiss smiled. "And call me 'Weiss' since we're not in the office."
"But…"
"Just accept it," Ciel cut in. Octavia blushed and shyly nodded her head, accepting the gracious gift. "Great! Now that that's all settled… Neptune, get the menu. We're breaking Weiss' bank."
"Oh, fun Ciel's out to party!" Neptune cheered, flipping his menu open.
"Where's Penny?" Ruby asked, finally joining the conversation.
"She said she had some work to catch up and hasn't picked up her scroll since," Ciel answered, her true mood showing through.
"When was that?" Ruby asked, fearing the worst.
"Last week," Ciel grumbled. "Any word from her?" Ruby shook her head. "So it's not just me then."
"I wouldn't take it personally," Nora said. "Penny gets really into her studies sometimes. We usually do a wellness check on her when this happens to make sure she's not dead."
"Oh man, fuck!" Reese laughed, slapping the table. "You remember that one time she disappeared on us for, like, two weeks?"
"Wasn't that the time we found her in a blanket fort made with books?" Ruby said.
Reese snapped her fingers and laughed even harder. "Shit, yeah! I think the reason was some new design with a bunch of sciencey gobblety-gook. My smooth brain couldn't take it."
"So… this is normal behaviour then?" Ciel tentatively asked.
"Yup," Reese nodded.
"Alright… I'll take your word for it then," Ciel said, looking pensive but relieved.
"Ruby, let's go check out the bar," Weiss said, tugging on the hem of Ruby's shirt.
"Yeah, sure," Ruby nodded, content with following Weiss wherever the wind took her. "Lead the way, baby."
Weiss led Ruby to the bar by the hand and struck up a conversation with the bartender, asking about what food and drinks they'd recommend. And while Weiss did her thing, Ruby sent a quick message to Penny, asking if she was okay. It didn't hit Ruby until Ciel mentioned it, but it had actually been weeks since she'd last spoken to her best friend. Weiss, Chrys, and playing gopher for Yang had eaten up most of Ruby's time and she really didn't have much to begin with.
"Ruby?" Weiss said.
"Hm?"
"What do you want to drink?"
"Something fruity and sweet enough to make you jealous," Ruby replied without looking up from her scroll.
Weiss huffed in annoyance but kissed Ruby's cheek before turning her attention back to the bartender.
Penny had started replying to Ruby's messages shortly after she sent the first one, which was a miracle in and of itself. Penny apologized profusely about suddenly dropping contact and for forgetting open mic night. She explained that she'd been busy working on something important and that if Ruby was feeling nosy enough, she could ask Weiss. That caused Ruby to raise an eyebrow.
"Hey, Weiss, do you know why Penny's been so busy lately?"
"Hm?" Weiss blinked, taking a second to think. "Oh! Yes, I do."
"Care to explain?"
"It's for Yang's new prosthetic," Weiss answered with a glint in her eye. "I had a meeting with Penny earlier this month—she was the one who booked it actually."
"Wow," Ruby said with surprise written all over her face.
"Penny is…" Weiss tapped the table twice, "absolutely brilliant. I assume she saw my offer when she read over Yang's contract, but I never expected her to contact me first."
"Why?" Ruby asked.
"I assume it because of our relationship," Weiss surmised.
The bartender chose that moment to slide two drinks towards them. "One whisky and one 'something fruity and sweeter than you,' " he said with a wink. "Enjoy, ladies."
"Thank you," Weiss said as she took her plain whisky and the drink Ruby swore glowed under the pale bar light. She nodded towards their table and started walking away.
"You got one hell of a girl there," the bartender said with a hearty chuckle. "I wish my girlfriend paid as much attention to the things I liked like yours does."
"Weiss is something else alright," Ruby blushed.
"Better catch up with her before someone thinks she's here alone and tries their luck."
"Oh!" Ruby snorted. "I'd legit pay to see that happen."
"Not worried at all?" the bartender asked with a smile, amused by Ruby's confidence.
"Not at all," Ruby grinned. "Weiss doesn't need me to play bodyguard. She's perfectly capable of—oh, we got a fish!"
A well-built guy with a crew cut and clothes that looked straight out of an ad approached Weiss, strutting about like he was the best thing inside the bar. He introduced himself casually to her based on his body language and tried to invite Weiss back to his table with his friends, but Weiss raised her left hand and did the one thing a young bachelor dreaded more than striking out: she pointed to her wedding ring. The guy slinked back to his table alone and dejected to the sound of his peers' roaring laughter.
"Damn, that was fast!" the bartender whistled. "You lucky dog, gratz."
"Thanks," Ruby said, not wanting to explain Weiss' situation to a stranger. "Anyway, better catch up with her. Nice chatting with you."
"Likewise!" the bartender grinned.
By the time Ruby got back to the table and took her seat next to Weiss, the others had already started perusing through the menu. Weiss had hers open and tilted it towards Ruby, pointing to the onion rings Ruby spent the entire taxi ride hyping up.
After ordering their food and a few more drinks, the conversation at the table shifted from Weiss offering to foot the bill to Yang's exciting love life.
"Ooh, yeah! I wanna know too," Reese grinned.
"What?! No!" Yang huffed. "Why me? Why not you?"
"Well, I'm still single," Reese admitted, her face scrunched up in disgust. "And the last time I hooked up with someone, Ruby was still sweet and innocent."
"Hey!" Ruby shrieked in embarrassment.
"Where's the lie though?" Reese snorted.
"She has you there!" Nora cackled.
Ruby pouted and crossed her arms. "You guys are jerks."
"But you love us," Reese chimed in, batting her eyes at Ruby. But her attention quickly shifted back to Yang and the grilling recommenced. "So spill it, girl!"
"What's there to spill?" Yang shot back, taking a swig of her beer. "Blake's still trying to 'figure herself out,' and Winter's just a friend."
"Have you two discussed the possibility of something more?" Weiss asked.
"We did, but we both decided it wasn't for us," Yang said morosely. "We get along great. And honestly, if she was around more, I think I'd be game… but our lives are way too different, and I don't think I'd handle a long distance thing well."
"Interesting," Weiss said. "So how's Blake?"
"She's okay, I guess?" Yang shrugged. "Her and Sun are still trying things out… and I guess I'm kind of frustrated that she led me on?"
"Sounds messy," Nora said. "Have you guys actually discussed the mushy feelings?"
"She said she liked me, but she was scared because she'd only ever been with guys before," Yang said, absentmindedly tapping the bottom of her beer on the table. "Like, I get it. Realizing you might not be as straight as you thought you were is hella scary, I'm not angry about that. She's also got some serious baggage she has told me yet… but the way she talks to me, it just—"
"Sorry to interrupt, but food's here!" announced the cheerful waitress that took their order.
"Awesome!" Reese cheered. "Wait, how many orders of onion rings did we get?"
"I think everyone ordered their own serving," Weiss chuckled. "Ruby, you better share."
"You should have ordered your own," Ruby teased.
"I will remember this, Ruby Rose," Weiss said with her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Their table was quickly filled with baskets of onion rings, chicken wings, and two pitchers of beer. Yang had commandeered one pitcher while Nora claimed the other, leaving Reese with nothing but an empty glass. Ruby had gone back to the bar together another drink.
"Back again I see!" the bartender bellowed. "What'll you have?"
"Same as last time and another whisky for my lady, if you don't mind," Ruby said as she pulled her wallet up.
"No need for the wallet, your girl set up a tab for your table and the table beside it."
"God damn it, Weiss," Ruby grumbled, putting her wallet away.
"So you guys here for open mic night?"
"Yep!" Ruby said. "Here every month for it with some of my friends."
"Ah, so you're kinda regulars, got'cha," the bartender said. He poured Weiss' drink first and quickly got to work on Ruby's. "I just started this month."
"Neat," Ruby said. "How are you liking the place so far?"
"It's pretty good, kinda wish people were better singers though," the bartender said, sliding Ruby's drink towards her. "There ya go!"
"Thanks… hey, I never got your name," Ruby said. "Mine's Ruby."
"Dove. Like the bird," Dove laughed. "It's nice to meet you, Ruby."
"Nice," Ruby grinned. "Well, regarding the awful singers bit, you're in luck today!"
"Oh? You got a set of sick pipes on ya?"
"Perhaps, but I'm nothing compared to my girlfriend," Ruby boasted. "She can sing like an angel."
"Looking forward to it then," Dove said, tossing his bar rag over his shoulder. "Mics should be open in another thirty minutes."
"Thanks for the heads up," Ruby said, waving Dove goodbye.
When Ruby got back to the table, she found her onion ring basket empty and the last one hanging adorably from Weiss' lips.
"Did you have fun flirting with the bartender?" Weiss teased.
"You're lucky you're cute, otherwise I'd steal that ring back," Ruby grumbled as she placed Weiss' whisky in front of her and kissed the top of her head. "Can we order more?"
"Already did—and some nachos. Yang said they were amazing and I'd like to see how they'd compare to what we'll sell at the restaurant," Weiss said.
"You crafty, bitch," Yang snorted.
"It's just business," Weiss smirked, lifting her whisky up.
Thirty minutes flew by in seconds. Between the great food and even better company, Ruby nearly forgot why they were there in the first place. Thankfully, two loud taps on a microphone followed by a painful screech reminded her and everyone else as well."
"Whoops! Sorry," the MC, a long time waitress Ruby recognized, said as she adjusted the microphone. "I think that got everyone's attention." A wave of laughter spread throughout the bar goers and staff, along with some wolf whistles and howls. "Save some of that energy for the stage folks!"
"Sing us a song!" a man shouted.
"If you want your ears to start bleeding and for all the glass in the room to shatter, then sure!" the MC laughed. "Anyway, if you're here to participate in open mic night, raise your hand."
Ruby looked around the bar and saw a good number of people raising their hands. Neptune was the only one in his table, while everyone at Ruby's all raised their hands.
"Whoa, we got more than usual and—oh, good luck you guys," the MC said. "Ruby's in the house and she looks like she's here for first prize. Again. You gunna let someone else win this time?"
Ruby let out a loud laugh and pointed to Weiss. "My girlfriend's gunna kick my ass!" she shouted, pointing to Weiss proudly.
"Ruby!" Weiss hissed in embarrassment, pulling Ruby's hands down. "Why didn't you tell me you won the contest here?"
"It's not a big deal," Ruby chuckled. "The only thing you win here is a paper crown and some cash."
"You still won," Weiss insisted.
"Yeah… competition isn't too stiff," Ruby murmured, pointing back to the stage.
A middle-aged man hobbled up on stage and fiddled with the karaoke machine. He picked a song and firmly grasped the mic. "This song's dedicated to my friend John," he said, bobbing his head along to the intro. "You're an asshole, buddy. You know I can't sing."
"You can do it, Horace!" a man, presumably John, screamed from somewhere in the audience.
Horace began singing his song, though it was more quiet mumbling than passionate ballad. The poor man looked so nervous on stage his knees were shaking, but his friend kept cheering him on. Horace eventually gained more confidence and sang a little louder. Unfortunately, the song ended just as he hit his peak.
The MC congratulated Horace on overcoming his fears and picked out the next singer. The trend carried on for three more contestants before someone from Ruby's table got called. Reese jumped out of her chair and raced up to the stage, eager to get some action.
"Can Reese sing?" Weiss asked as she snuggled up against Ruby to better see the stage.
"She was in show choir with me," Ruby answered, wrapping an arm around Weiss. "She's pretty great actually."
The compliment paled in comparison to the truth. Reese was a fantastic singer with a flare for the stage. The song she chose was a little risqué, but it was up beat and whimsical, earning Reese a lot of cheers. She was honestly the first good singer up there and when someone with talent showed up, those with less confidence usually backed away. The competition was probably cut in half thanks to Reese's song.
"Okay, why didn't anyone tell me the little green gremlin can sing!?" Neptune asked, throwing a crumpled tissue at Weiss' head.
"This is the first I'm learning of this," Weiss answered, swatting the tissue away just in time.
"She's talented," Ciel added, her cheeks mildly flushed.
"I'm gunna kick her butt," Ruby announced. "I always do."
"Since you've won before, I assume she's competed as well?" Weiss said.
"She got second place last time," Ruby replied. "She almost won… but not this time! I have a secret weapon and her name is Weiss Adel."
"Oh, so you're okay with third place?" Neptune teased.
"Thir—wha? No. I'm gunna be second!" Ruby huffed.
"Nope, second place is mine!" Neptune argued.
Octavia raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you guys arguing over who gets second place?"
"Yup," Ruby and Neptune said in unison.
Octavia scratched her head and asked, "Why not first?"
"Weiss was supposed to go pro before she got knocked up," Ciel explained.
"Can you say that a little more delicately next time, Ms. Soleil?" Weiss hissed.
"Nope."
"Whoa what?!" the blonde next to Octavia exclaimed, rattling the table. "I think I just heard something I credibly heavy just now."
"Dew, behave," Octavia said.
"But—"
"She's still my boss. Behave."
"Fine." Dew crossed her arms and pouted. "I sincerely apologize if my question offended you."
"Wow, you are whipped, gurl," Neptune snorted.
After Reese finished her song and the next contestant was called up, she bounded off stage and rushed back to the table like an eager dog that caught the stick. She was greeted by a hearty round of applause and a fresh drink that Yang poured for her.
"So what did you guys think?" Reese asked, wiping the sweat off her brow.
"You were great, bro," Ruby said.
"You were certainly invested in the number," Weiss said. "How did you not fall off the stage strutting about like that?"
"Practice," Reese replied. "I've fallen off the stage way too many times back in high school and Ruby always laughed at me for it."
"No permanent damage?" Ciel asked.
"None. My pride bounced back pretty easily too," Reese grinned.
"You got a concussion that one time," Yang pointed out by knocking on Reese's head. "Didn't you also have to get stitches?"
"When did that happen?" Reese asked, looking extremely confused.
"And short-term memory loss as well, it seems," Ciel chuckled. "Well, I'm glad you're okay."
"Thanks, Chief!" Reese beamed.
Another contestant was called up before Ruby got her chance to shine. And when she got up on stage, all eyes were on her.
"I'm dedicating this song to my amazing girlfriend—the pretty lady with the white hair glaring daggers at me. Hi, honey, am I embarrassing you?" Ruby playfully asked, waving at Weiss. "I can see her mouthing something. Five bucks says she's swearing bloody murder."
"Show us what you got, champ!" someone shouted.
"Patience," the MC said, reprimanding the heckler.
Ruby wordlessly thanked the MC for her swift intervention and picked her song. "Song is queued and…"
Ruby took a deep breath to clear her head and settle her nerves. She had years of experience standing in front of a crowd and the fear of failure was always near crippling, but tonight made her time in front of judges feel a cakewalk. Ruby chose a song she was extremely familiar with to avoid flubbing the lines and really embarrassing herself in front of Weiss.
When the intro began playing, Ruby's eyes snapped forward, determined to give the crowd her best performance ever. Weiss' eyes were glued to the stage, mesmerized. There had been many points in their relationship where Ruby had managed to impress Weiss, but this felt like they'd finally found a place where they were on even ground.
"And this is why she's the champ," the MC announced after Ruby's song ended. She had Ruby stay up on stage and dared the would-be contestants to try and take on the champ.
Neptune raised his hand and shouted, "Are duets allowed?"
"Duets are allowed," the MC replied. "But are you brave enough to take the champ on?"
"Please, my girl here eats the champ for breakfast!" Neptune shouted as he dragged out of her chair and nudged her with his hip.
"Good luck then," the MC laughed.
Ruby high-fived Neptune on her way down and stole a quick kiss from Weiss. When Ruby got back to the table, the new baskets of onion rings had arrived along with a fresh drink on the house from Dove. And while she was eating, Ruby curiously watched Neptune and Weiss deliberate their song. They were on the same page though and picked fairly quickly, but the song they chose had Ruby and everyone else floored.
The song started slow with Neptune starting off softly. They alternated on the lyrics and harmonized together seamlessly like they'd practiced it a million times. But what really surprised the audience was when the song picked up and the unlikely duo exploded with energy. Neptune was belting out some seriously high notes while Weiss provided the power and weight. They also used the stage space as best as they could turning their performance into a performance. There wasn't a single person in the bar that could keep their eyes off the stage. And then Weiss let loose.
"You okay there, Rubyn?" Yang quietly asked when she noticed Ruby sitting rather stiffly.
"Yup. Perfectly fine," Ruby replied in a clipped tone.
Yang raised an eyebrow and snorted. "On a scale of one to ten, how turned on are you?"
"I'm off the scale, bro," Ruby squeaked out. "She's so hot, what the fuck!?"
"Regret wearing the skirt yet?" Reese asked.
"I might never wear one around Weiss ever again," Ruby groaned, slamming her forehead down on the table. "She's a hazard to my health, Yang!"
"Ey, look on the bright side, song's almost over," Yang said, patting Ruby's back.
"I don't want it to be over," Ruby whined. "Please tell me someone was smart enough to record this?"
"Ciel is," Yang answered. "But I think it might be used for blackmail."
"Probably," Ruby whimpered.
Weiss and Neptune's duet ended with a roar of applause that shook the bar to its core. Ruby unfortunately couldn't participate in the clapping, but when shouts for an encore started, Ruby mustered the strength to throw her voice in. Neptune unfortunately declined, but Weiss agreed, earning her even more applause. And being the best assistant ever, Ciel ran to the bar to get some water for Weiss.
"You were amazing up there," Ruby said to Neptune.
"Why thank you, darling," Neptune replied with a big smile. "It felt good being up on stage again."
"I am really surprised," Octavia added. "I knew you could sing, but Weiss? Wow."
"Our boss has a lot of talent," Neptune said proudly. "She usually only gets to sing at our charity events as a showcase. Kind of sad actually because Weiss loves singing…"
"Can't we bring her to these open mic things more?" Octavia suggested.
"It was a legit miracle she could join us today," Ruby said, careful of the phrasing she used. "I've invited her every month since I met her, but tonight's been the–whoa..."
Weiss had started her next song and it was one Ruby had recommended in passing when Weiss was fretting over song choices in the cab. It was cute seeing her so nervous, but now that she was on stage, it was hard to imagine Weiss being nervous at all. She belonged on stage just like Yang belonged in the kitchen and Penny in a lab. The only place Ruby felt like she belonged was beside Weiss. And just like the song Weiss was singing, Ruby felt like she was chasing pavements too.
"She is… wow," Octavia murmured, unable to think of any other words. "Just wow."
"Mhm," Ruby replied somberly.
When the song neared it's halfway point, Ruby went to the bar to get Weiss another drink and to thank Dove for the one he gave her. She had to call her new friend a few times before she got his attention though.
"Sorry, I was just… wow," Dove said, his eyes flitting between Ruby and the stage. "You weren't kidding, man."
"Told ya," Ruby chuckled.
Dove quickly poured Ruby a whisky and some water with no ice. "I dunno who to vote for," Dove said while Ruby drank her water. "You and your girl are hella talented. And that guy she was singing with… ugh, why are choices so hard?"
"I know right?" Ruby chuckled. "I think I might have to give up my crown tonight."
"Looks like her song's just about done," Dove said. "Catch ya later."
"Yeah, see ya!" Ruby waved dove goodbye and rushed to the stage. Unfortunately, other people had the same idea and crowded the area. Ruby had to squeeze and shove her way to get to Weiss. But when she did manage to reach her, Ruby wished she'd pushed and shoved harder.
"I'm not interested," Weiss said, swatting a guy's hand off her shoulder.
"Aw, c'mon, just a drink," the guy insisted.
"Hey, hey! Buddy, she said no!" Ruby shouted angrily, putting herself between Weiss and the dumbass that couldn't take a no.
"Whoa, chill, Champ," the guy laughed.
"No crowds by the stage, please!" the MC said over the microphone. "If you guys don't disperse soon, I'll call security."
Ruby held Weiss tight until the crowd dispersed. And there may or may not have been growling when one more schmuck tried his luck with Weiss.
"Someone's feeling possessive," Weiss teased as they walked back to their table and friends.
"I will not confirm or deny these allegations," Ruby said, kissing the top of Weiss' head.
"I'm okay with it," Weiss said, tightening her hold around Ruby's waist. "It's kind of sexy," she whispered in Ruby's ear.
"W-Weiss…" Ruby blushed, her head sinking into her shoulders.
"I love how forceful and protective you were," Weiss continued with a smirk.
"He touched you without permission," Ruby muttered with a pout.
"My hero."
"Nu-uh," Ruby giggled.
"Well, super girl, if you weren't already coming home with me, I certainly would've asked you now," Weiss teased. "And since we have the apartment to ourselves…"
"Bottom drawer things?" Ruby asked, her mouth suddenly dry. She snatched Weiss' whisky out of her hand and took a sip—a sip she immediately regretted because, wow, did it burn going down. "How do you drink this crap?!" Ruby shuddered, handing the drink back to Weiss. "That was awful!"
"It's an acquired taste," Weiss chuckled, finishing the glass off just as they reached their table.
"Guys!" Ruby gasped, grabbing for the first glass of water she could find. "Weiss drinks like an old man! Whisky is awful!"
"Higher quality whisky tastes much better," Weiss argued.
"That's what our old ass uncle says," Yang snorted. She finished off the last of her beer and lumbered out of her chair, stumbling a bit. "I'm about to rock that stage so hard!"
"Have fun!" Ruby cheered. "Just don't pick a sad song!"
"No promises!" Yang shouted.
Weiss ordered another round of drinks for their table and Octavia's. But part way through Yang's sad breakup song, Weiss got a call that had her bolting out of her seat and running to a quieter place in the bar.
"Weiss!" Ruby shouted as she chased after Weiss. She eventually caught up to her near the front door and overheard a bit of the conversation.
"No, no, it's no problem," Weiss said, clutching her scroll tight as she tapped her foot impatiently. "Is she okay? Okay… okay… good, thank you."
"Weiss?" Ruby said, gently laying her hands on Weiss' shoulders. "What's going on?"
"It's Chrys… s-she had one of her nightmares," Weiss said as she turned to Ruby for comfort.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Ruby said, hugging Weiss tight and kissing her forehead. "I'll get our stuff and call for a taxi. Just wait here okay?"
"Ruby, no," Weiss said, shaking her head. "You've been waiting all month for this. Your friends are all here."
"Doesn't matter." Ruby cupped Weiss' face and smiled. "We gotta get our girl."
Weiss numbly nodded and turned away to focus on her call, but she suddenly pulled Ruby back and kissed her hard.
"I love you," Weiss said breathlessly when they broke apart for air.
Ruby was speechless. Of all the times for her dumb brain to malfunction why did it have to be now? She had been waiting for this moment for months, and now that it was finally here—she choked.
"I should have said it sooner, I'm sorry," Weiss said, fumbling nervously over her words. "That probably surprised you. Um… I really don't know what to—umph!"
Ruby pulled Weiss in tight, her lips still sealed shut.
"Okay, I get it," Weiss chuckled with relief. "Go get our things."
Ruby rushed back to the table and explained the situation as best as she could to their worried friends. She apologized for bailing so early and to tell Yang where she was going. It must've been clear how flustered Ruby was getting because Octavia hugged Ruby goodbye and promised to relay the message to Yang who was already curiously watching the situation from the stage.
By the time Ruby got back to Weiss, she could hear her talking to Chrys in Atlesian. Not wanting to interrupt, Ruby draped Weiss' borrowed jacket on her shoulders and got to calling the taxi. Weiss mouthed a grateful "thank you" during a pause in her conversation.
"The cab'll be here in ten minutes, do you want to wait outside where it's quieter?" Ruby asked. Weiss nodded and followed Ruby outside. "How's holding up—and here, I got a mint."
"What for?" Weiss asked but took the mint anyway.
"Whisky breath," Ruby chuckled, tapping Weiss' nose playfully.
"Right…"
Ruby kept an eye out for the cab while Weiss kept talking to Chrys, but the wait was agonizing. Ruby felt so antsy she could barely stand still.
"Ruby? Yes, she's here," Weiss said in Valese. "Do you want to talk to her? Okay, just a second." Weiss tugged on Ruby's sleeve and held her scroll out. "She wants to talk to you?"
"Really?" Ruby was shocked at first but quickly took the scroll and answered Chrys' call. "Hey, kiddo, we're on our way. You holding up okay?"
Chrys answered with quiet murmurs, grunts, and the odd giggle when Ruby got her to laugh. It was a difficult conversation to hold, but Ruby managed to power through until she saw the cab pull up on the curb.
"Cab's here, I'll pass you back to your mom, okay?"
"Are you coming to get me too?" Chrys asked with a sniffle.
"Of course, buddy," Ruby said, taking Weiss' hand as they got into the car. Weiss told the driver where to go and promised the driver a hefty tip if he got them there fast. "Your mom just bribed the taxi driver."
"She does that," Chrys giggled.
"I'm going to hand you back to her now, okay?" Ruby said, squeezing Weiss' hand to get her attention.
The switch was seamless and Ruby spent the entire car ride mulling over Weiss' sudden confession and the incomprehensible feeling she herself was feeling. Maybe it was all the alcohol and onion rings, but Ruby felt a strange bubbling in her stomach that made her feel warm and tingly—a good tingly—the kind that made you smile from ear to ear.
Weiss said she loved her.
Ruby buried her face in a hand and suppressed the giddy squeal she wanted to let out. Weiss loved her. Weiss really, really loved her. Boring ol' normal knees Ruby Rose. How was this possible? How did she get so lucky?
Wait.
How long was Weiss sitting on this bombshell? Did it just hit her in that moment like a bus, or had she been waiting for the perfect moment?
The cab ride unfortunately came to an end before Ruby could find her answer.
"Just wait here okay?" Weiss told the driver who gave her a thumbs up. "Thank you so much."
Ruby opened the door for Weiss and watched her practically fly towards the front door. She rang the doorbell once (Ruby had to stop her from ringing a second time) and anxiously tapped her foot, waiting for whoever lived inside to open up.
"You doing okay, baby?" Ruby put a supportive hand on Weiss' shoulder and squeezed it.
"I'm okay. I just want to get her home," Weiss said, holding the hand Ruby had on her shoulder. "Thank you for coming with me."
"Any time," Ruby said, kissing Weiss' temple.
The door opened a few seconds later and before Weiss could even greet the adult on the other side, Chrys ran out and tackled her mother, hugging her like her life depended on it.
"Oh, mon coeur, we got here as fast as we could," Weiss said, dropping her knees to embrace Chrys. "Are the other girls okay?" Weiss asked the woman holding the door open.
"They're a little startled, but I think they're more worried about Chrys than anything else," the woman replied. "I hope you don't mind, but I offered her some hot chocolate to try and help calm her down."
"Thank you," Weiss said, quickly wiping away her tears of relief. "Thank you for staying up with her."
"It's no problem at all."
Ruby knelt down beside Chrys and rubbed her back. "The car's waiting to take us home. Do you want me to carry you?" Chrys nodded and turned to face Ruby, arms held out.
"Ruby, are you sure?" Weiss asked.
"Light as a feather," Ruby said as she easily hoisted Chrys up into her arms. "You got her things?"
"Yes," Weiss said, going back to the woman by the door. They exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways.
"You're going home soon, okay?" Ruby said as she followed Weiss to the car. She unfortunately had to let Chrys down to get in but promised to carry her home.
It was a little past midnight, but the streets were still quite lively. Thankfully, the driver they had was a kind soul and got them home as quickly and as safely as they could without a complaint. Weiss paid him handsomely and wished him well. And while she did that, Ruby kept Chrys warm and safe, rocking her gently.
"I hate this elevator," Weiss muttered impatiently as she divided her attention between Chrys and the floor they were on.
"Maybe you shouldn't live in a penthouse next time," Ruby teased.
"But it's so close to work," Weiss pouted.
Ruby shrugged and asked Chrys how she was holding up. Chrys replied by hugging Ruby tighter and burying her face deeper into Ruby's shoulder.
"Not good, got it," Ruby winced. "How was the hot chocolate the lady gave you, was it any good?"
"Not really," Chrys murmured. "I like yours better."
"Weiss, mind if I make her a cup while you get her cleaned up and ready for bed?" Ruby asked, not wanting to overstep her boundaries.
"Please, anything to help her," Weiss pleaded, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
"I promise I won't make too much," Ruby said, kissing Weiss' forehead.
When the world's longest elevator ride was finally over, Weiss practically pushed Ruby and Chrys into the apartment and into her bedroom, not caring that they were still wearing their shoes.
"Bring her to the bathroom, Ruby," Weiss commanded as she messily dug through Chrys' backpack for a fresh change of clothes.
"Aye aye, Captain!" Ruby said.
"Don't go, Ruby," Chrys begged when Ruby sat her down on the edge of the bathtub.
"Pretty sure you're getting a quick bath before bed," Ruby chuckled.
"I don't wanna take a bath," Chrys pouted.
"I think it might help," Ruby said, pushing Chrys' bangs back to see her face clearly. "You're all teary 'n stuff. A nice bath'll be refreshing. And when you get out, I'll have your hot chocolate ready."
"Really?"
"Really." Ruby held her right pinky up and said, "I promise it'll be waaaay better than what you got at the sleepover. Do you want anything else? Peanut butter sandwich maybe?"
"Chocolate hazelnut spread on toast would be nice…"
"Heey, moooom?!" Ruby shouted.
Weiss rushed in carrying a set of fresh clothes and Sharkington. "What?" she huffed, sounding stressed and frazzled like she'd just turned her whole house upside down looking for clothes. "What do you need?"
"Chryssie wants a sammich. Can I make her a sammich?" Ruby asked.
"One slice folded in half, light on the spread. Deal?"
Ruby looked to Chrys, waiting for a nod of approval.
"If I can get marshmallows in my hot chocolate, deal," Chrys said, holding her hand out to Weiss.
"No more than two," Weiss said.
"Three and I promise to behave and not get any crumbs on the bed."
Weiss mulled over the offer carefully before shaking Chrys hand. But unbeknownst to Chrys, Weiss had signaled four marshmallows to Ruby.
"And that's my cue to leave," Ruby announced.
She quickly left the bathroom and headed towards the kitchen, mapping out her plan for the hot chocolate.
Slowly heat up the milk, pour in the plain chocolate powder, and add just enough sugar to enhance the warm milk's sweetness. And to top it off, four marshmallows on the side so they didn't melt. The toast was going have to wait until Chrys was finished with her bath, but—
"Ruby?" Weiss called out from the foot of the hallway.
"Yeah, baby?" Ruby replied, looking up from her pot of steaming milk.
Weiss had changed out of Ruby's clothes and into something more comfortable—Ruby's sweatpants and Spectrum Bolt shirt.
"I just wanted to say thank you again." Weiss walked up to Ruby and wrapped her arms around her from behind, placing a kiss on the nape of her neck. "You've been so solid through this… I think I would've broken down by now if I didn't have you with me."
"Has she had these nightmares during sleepovers before?" Ruby carefully asked.
"No, but I always make sure to warn the parents hosting… Chrys feels awful," Weiss confessed. "She scared her friends and now she's worried they won't like her anymore."
"The lady said they were all worried about her, so I think things'll work out," Ruby said optimistically.
"I hope so…" Weiss murmured.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"I will be once she's in bed and sleeping," Weiss replied tiredly, her forehead resting on Ruby's back. "I am so tired, mon amour."
"Same here," Ruby chuckled. "And, hey, I'll sleep on the couch tonight."
"What? Ruby, no," Weiss said, but there was clear hesitation in her voice.
"She needs you, Weiss," Ruby said as she poured in the carefully measured chocolate powder into the milk and stirred it. "And I know you, baby. Don't hesitate on my accord."
"You're right… I'm being silly," Weiss said, sighing hard.
"And, Weiss?"
"Yes?"
"I love you too," Ruby said, knowing full well that Weiss could hear her racing heart.
A soft chuckle tickled Ruby's ears followed by the three words Ruby would never get tired of hearing.
"You're so silly," Weiss said, rubbing her face deep into Ruby's back. "Ugh, why are you so cute!"
"Ack, hey! Lady, I am cookin' here!" Ruby whelped when she accidentally nudged the pot off the element and slipped a bit of milk.
"Sorry, sorry!" Weiss laughed. "I'll clean it up tomorrow."
"No, I'll do it," Ruby pouted. She tasted the hot chocolate and gave a bit to Weiss. "Verdict?"
"I love you," Weiss said, letting the words roll off her tongue like warm honey. "She's going to love this."
"Then it's perfect!" Ruby cheered victoriously. "I'll get started on that toast now. It should finish by the time she's out."
"Perfect."
"No, you are," Ruby winked.
"Ugh… you are just…" Weiss cupped Ruby's face and pulled her down for a kiss. "You're everything I could have hoped for."
"That's a lot of praise."
"You deserve it."
"Does this feel right?" Ruby asked, her forehead resting comfortably on Weiss'.
Weiss nodded, a single tear sliding down her cheek.