Weiss dreamed of a maze. Lined with hedges of rose, twenty feet tall. Orange torches ran their length. Underfoot, a blue brick path set with sapphires and caulked with frosting. Overhead, silver bells that chimed in the breeze and shined like stars. A sugar cube hung where the moon should be, glittering in the night.
Weiss was running down the path, heels sticking to the brick. She twisted and wound about the maze. Looking, looking for-
She stopped. Before her, the shore to a long river, filled to the brim with coffee. Bathtub sized coffee mugs floated downstream.
The brick turned to grounds, and she slid into the coffee. Cream. Sugar. She went under. Nothing but milky brown.
A soft hand grasped her wrist. She felt a tug, and Weiss was pulled out of the coffee and into a mug. Ruby? Dressed in a strapless cocktail and bows in shoulder length hair. Lips full and red. Smiling. Weiss laughed, and threw her arms around Ruby.
A swell, and the river plunged into the gash of a glacier. Ruby's smile froze on her face. Weiss' arms stuck to Ruby, and she yanked them off. She fell off the mug into an icy ocean, the salt biting her tongue. A hypercane twisted above, writhing with the stems of dead roses. The thorns grew, longer and blacker, tearing deep shreds from the sky. It bled blue. The blood filled Weiss' mouth like wine.
Her father appeared before her, unconcerned by the growing storm around him. Weiss slapped at the water, trying to reach him. She reached out. Her hand passed through him.
His smile was all teeth. He reached to the side, and pulled Ruby from nowhere. From the other side, he snatched Weiss' chef knife from nothing.
His face twisted with glee. He pulled the knife, and petals floated, down to the ground. Weiss collapsed. Saltwater dripped from her eyes. Her hands and knees, they were covered with red.
Weiss woke up.
She was immediately assaulted by the consequences of her choices. One, a blinding hangover, worse than the bender six months ago. Two, her body, aching from processing alcohol, and sleeping on her living room couch. Three. The night before. The battery. Death. Gin. Chocolate, smiles, laughs, flirting. . . Gin.
Fuck.
Weiss opened her eyes. She shut them immediately. Fuck that sun stung. She groaned, pressing her head into the pillow. The sweet, soft embrace of the pillow.
Her ears pricked. The slap of pans, the sizzle. She sniffed. Meat, onion, garlic, tomato. Coffee. Unconsciously, slowly, Weiss rose. Her feet shuffled to the kitchen doorway. She peeked around the corner.
Ruby. Dancing barefoot, humming. Cooking a red sauce, a hash, brewing a press of coffee. All dressed in a white tank top, white sweats, and a white cooking apron. Weiss felt the blood rush to her cheeks. Her tank top, her sweats, her apron and no bra.
Weiss jumped away from the doorway, back pressed against the wall. Why was Ruby wearing her clothes? Didn't Ruby have her own? Did Weiss give them to Ruby for bed? Weiss took a deep breath. Exhale. She squared her shoulders and rounded the entryway of the kitchen.
Ruby caught Weiss out the corner of her eye. "Good morning!" She greeted, waving a tomato-coated wooden spoon. One strap of the tank top slid down her shoulder ever. So. Slightly.
Weiss felt her face flush. Fuck, Ruby looked good in white. She blinked, her lips set in a scowl. "Don't 'good morning' me, you're wearing my clothes!" Weiss accused, pointing a finger at Ruby.
Ruby looked at herself. "Well, I don't want to cook in my skirt, or the pajamas you lent me. So I grabbed this." Ruby gestured to the sweats.
Weiss stomped her foot. "You went through my things!?" She snapped.
Ruby giggled. "You're not a morning person, are you?" Ruby asked.
Weiss' jaw dropped. "What do you mean by that!?" Her head was pounding.
Ruby shrugged. "You are suuuuuuper cranky." She mused.
Weiss rubbed her head. "I'm not cranky, I'm hungover with someone in my house, cooking my food and wearing my clothes." She snapped.
Ruby shrugged. "You're in your house with someone wearing your clothes and cooking you breakfast." She tapped the spoon against the rim of the pot. "Someone you practically threw into your bed, let use your shower, and borrow your pajamas." Ruby shook her head slowly. "Weiss, Weiss, don't tell me it's one step forward, two steps back with you, is it?" She asked, rubbing her head.
Weiss crossed her arms. A heavy frown settled on her lips. "No." Shit. Shit shit shit. "I. . ." She gulped. "Did we really talk about. . . All that? Last night."
Ruby faced Weiss fully. "We did." She said, crossing her arms.
Weiss nodded. "And. . . You remember?" She asked.
Ruby nodded.
"Fuck." Weiss ran her fingers through her scalp. "I didn't mean to drop all that on you. I didn't want to drop all that on you, I don't just tell people that shit, you know?" Weiss said.
Ruby looked at the floor. "I know." She said softly. She looked at the clock. Her hands went to the press, and she started pushing the coffee down. "I don't go spilling all my shit like that either." She whispered.
Weiss looked at the counter. Two mugs, right next to the press. Full of hot water. "Yeah, not just to anyone." Weiss whispered. "Neptune knows. Sun knows. They've been getting drunk with me for a year now, it was gonna come out." Weiss pinched her nose. "But it took me six months to tell them. Not. . ."
"A week?" Ruby said, dumping the water out of the mugs. She filled both cups with coffee, then poured the excess into a mason jar. She set the press aside, and poured cream into both mugs. She handed one to Weiss.
Weiss took the mug, nodding. "Yeah. I mean, I barely know you, no offense, and I'm telling you about my daddy issues?" Weiss took a sip. "Honestly, I'm a little freaked out."
Ruby poured sugar into her own mug. "Me too. But. . ."
Weiss cocked her head. "But what?"
"I don't regret it." Ruby said softly, staring into her mug. "I don't think you're gonna use this to hurt me, or share it with anyone." Ruby gave Weiss the side eye. "Are you?"
Weiss shook her head. "N-no. I will not."
Ruby shrugged. "Then I trust you." She said simply, sipping her coffee.
Weiss blinked. "Just like that?"
Ruby nodded. "Just like that."
Weiss shook her head. "But I dug into your past, I found the obituary-"
"And you wouldn't do it again." Ruby said.
Weiss almost spilled her coffee. "Of course I wouldn't do it again! But I did it in the first place!" Never again!
Ruby sighed. "How would you have known I didn't want you digging around in the first place? You didn't. Then you found out, and now you won't do it again." Ruby smirked. "Easy peas."
Weiss cocked a brow. "Easy peas?" She asked.
Ruby turned to the stove. "Something my uncle used to say. Only when I was around. He didn't want his crew knowing he's a big softie." She put a finger to her lips. "Don't tell anyone." She said, winking.
Weiss frowned. "I'm not sure I'm a person you can trust." She mumbled.
Ruby grinned. "I'll find that out for myself." She tossed the hash. "Breakfast is done." She said.
Weiss watched as Ruby spooned the hash onto two plates, and drenched both in a rich red tomato sauce. She handed Weiss a plate and a fork. "Bon Appétit!"
"How do you do it?" Weiss asked, accepting the plate. "How do you trust like that?"
Ruby paused. "I dunno." She said. "Yang says I bring out the good in people." She shrugged.
Weiss smirked. "Yeah? Could you bring out the good in Perry?" She asked.
Ruby chuckled, holding her fork to her lips, the tines squeezing the flesh betwixt them. "I did. His good is all in his head." She hid her lips with her hand. "And his head is up his ass."
Weiss burst out laughing. "H-holy shit! You swore!" She said.
Ruby cocked her head. "I swear. I swore last night!" She sipped
Weiss shook her head, still laughing. "No, noooooo, you didn't! I would've noticed!" She choked out. "You've got the cleanest mouth of anyone I've met!"
Ruby smirked into her mug. "Just wait until you get to know me~"
Weiss flushed. She coughed. "So, um. . . Do you also remember our promise?" She asked, changing the subject.
Ruby nodded. "We're cooking a special menu together this weekend. How could I forget?" She said.
Weiss nodded. "Yeah, um. . ."
"Are you having second thoughts?" Ruby asked, frowning.
Weiss stabbed a piece of hash and put it into her mouth. Fuck, it's delicious. The eggs were cooked perfectly, the bacon crispy, the tomato sauce spiced with cayenne. She felt the hash invigorate her.
It also gave her the perfect excuse to stall.
Weiss chewed. She thought back to her dream. Her father. Her knife. A storm of rose petals.
Weiss swallowed. "It's a good idea. But even if we gave my father credit, he would still be furious. He could fire you, or. . ." Or worse.
Ruby rolled her hand. "Or?" She pressed.
Weiss bit her tongue. "He is not a nice man, Ruby."
Ruby held her hands to her face in mock surprise. "No! Surely not! I thought he was a Saint!"
Weiss rolled her eyes. "Sarcasm does not suit you, Rose." She said.
Ruby held her hands up, palms forward. "Fine, fine. He's a bad guy, I get it." She pinched her chin. "What if we roll out the menu when he isn't around? Does he go out for business stuff?"
Weiss nodded. "He does, and with some regularity." She admitted.
Ruby clapped her hands together. "Then we wait until he's gone! And when he comes back, his restaurant will be busier than ever!"
Weiss frowned. Her father was a petty, cruel man, with an ego as large as the Hindenburg and twice as flammable. Even if they broke the quarterly record, he still might retaliate. He still might hurt Ruby. . .
Weiss shook her head. "No. No, it's too risky."
Ruby's shoulders fell. "But Weiss, the food! It sucks!"
Weiss' lips set in a thin line. She held up one hand. "The answer is no, Ruby. I'm not risking his wrath."
Ruby crossed her arms. "What will he do, fire me?" She said.
Weiss scowled. "He will fire you, blacklist you from every fine dining establishment in the country, slander you without repercussion, and assassinate your character. You'll have the same power and respect as an ex-convict when he's done with you." Weiss hissed.
Ruby grinned. "So nothing will change?" She said.
Weiss pounded her fist against the cabinet. "Damn it Ruby! He is not a man you fucking play with!"
Ruby's lips set in a thin line. "I'm not playing, Weiss. You-" Ruby looked away. "You're scared of him. I get that. I don't know what he's capable of. I get that." Ruby rubbed her arm. "But at a certain point, you need to choose what drives you. And Weiss?" Ruby met Weiss' eyes. "You're driven by fear. You're balanced on a tightrope and your dad's the ringmaster." Ruby held out her arms. "You've got passion, Weiss. I've seen it every second you're in the kitchen, and it's being choked by your fear."
Ruby stepped forward, and wrapped her arms around Weiss. She felt Ruby's scarred flesh against her shoulders. "We don't have to roll out a special menu." Ruby whispered. "But, would you still cook with me? Please?" Ruby whispered. "I want to cook with you."
Weiss felt her stomach coil in knots of anxiety and bliss. Her heart was beating fast and her eyes were wet with tears. She slid her hands up Ruby's back and pulled her in close, squeezing tight.
"Okay." Weiss whispered. "Okay. Let's cook."
Ruby pulled away. "That's the spirit!" She said, grinning.
Weiss chuckled. "Fuck Ruby, how are you so damn cheerful?" She asked.
Ruby shrugged. "It's who I am." She said. She turned to the stove. "You got any cambros or tupperware or something?" Ruby asked.
Weiss nodded. "It's right up here." She said, pulling open a cabinet. She stretched up, and grabbed two square containers and lids. She handed them to Ruby, who was completely red in the face. "Something wrong?" Weiss asked.
Ruby shook her head. "No! Nope. I'm good." She started scooping the hash into one container and the sauce into another.
Weiss frowned, but saw no cause to press the issue. She grabbed the empty pans and put them in the sink, filling them up with soapy hot water. She turned back to Ruby. "For the cook this weekend. What do you say to one entree and one dessert each?" She asked.
Ruby cocked her head. "No apps?" She asked, snapping the lids onto the containers.
Weiss shrugged. "I'm not against them, but I prefer we keep it simple. To start." She said, flashing a small smile.
Ruby nodded. "Okay. I'm good with that." She pushed her bare toe into the kitchen tile. "So. . ."
Weiss tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So. . ."
Ruby clapped her hands together. "I guess I'll be going."
Weiss felt a flare of disappointment well up in her belly. She blinked. Of course Ruby needs to go. But before that happens. . . "I'll be wanting my clothes back." Weiss said, gesturing to Ruby.
Ruby looked down at what she was wearing, then at Weiss. "Yeah, you need these." She said, smirking.
Weiss held out her hand. "Give em up Rose." She said, adding a suggestive lilt to her voice.
Ruby's brow shot up. "Oh? Right here?" She hooked her thumb into the sweats. A line of black panties peeked out.
Weiss grabbed Ruby by her soft shoulders, and pushed her out of the kitchen. "Get changed and get outta here!" Weiss yelled, her face red, smiling.
"Alright, alright!" Ruby laughed, heading to Weiss room.
Weiss, shaking her head, went to wash the dishes. She took a sponge to her fry pan. The yellow and gold of egg and potato slipped down the drain. She smiled, feeling the warmth of the hash in her belly.
Weiss grabbed her saucepan. The suds were coloured red as she wiped the pan out. The suds settled in the drain, stained her fingers. She stared.
Weiss blinked, and ran the water. The pan was rinsed, her hands were clean, and the sink stared back at her, a wet silver gleam.
"Hey Weiss." Ruby greeted at the kitchen doorway, dressed up in her outfit from the night before. "I'll see you soon?"
Weiss dried her hands, smiling. "At work today."
Ruby nodded. "Work, and then the weekend." She said, grinning.
Weiss set the towel down. "And then the weekend." She echoed.
Ruby saluted. "Don't forget!" She said, skipping to the door. "Bye Weiss!"
"Goodbye Ruby." Weiss said. The door slammed shut. She sighed, and leaned against the counter, staring at the floor.
She was going to cook. With Ruby. In the same kitchen. Taste her food. Watch her move. Feel her breath, smell her, feel her lip-
Weiss shook her head. Fuck. She didn't have time, she didn't have time. She went to her bathroom and grabbed her toothbrush. The day wasn't going to start itself.
She started brushing her teeth, staring herself down. Weiss Schnee, you are a chef. You are professional. You will not fuck your sous chef. No matter how competent, compassionate, or good she is. She deserves better than you, she-
Weiss washed out her mouth. She spat into the sink. Time for a shower. A cold shower. She pulled off her tank top, and went to undo the blanket from around her waist. She froze.
She forgot to put the blanket on this morning.
She'd been standing in her own kitchen, in nothing but a tank top and panties. In front of Ruby. Who hugged her. Who stared at her when she grabbed the tupperware.
A deep mortification set in Weiss. She crossed her arms across her belly, trying to choke the embarrassment in her. Her toes dug into the bathroom tile. Her blood felt like she'd been standing on the line for hours.
Fuck.
~0~
As soon as Ruby got home, she changed out of her skirt, blouse and stockings into sweats and a t-shirt. She settled on her couch, blanket over her legs, a notepad and pen in hand.
She tapped the pen against her cheek. What was she going to cook for Weiss? Ruby thought back to the benedict. Salmon? No, too predictable. But fish makes a good meal. With light seasonings. Coriander, cardamom, marjoram, and a citrus zest.
What if she did a catfish with coriander, lime zest, roasted with some cinnamon? Could complement the richer flavor of the catfish. Ruby wrote it down.
Swordfish had a beefy texture. More like steak than fish. Ruby had only eaten it once, and the chef making it wasn't exactly Ramms. Table the idea until she could get her mouth around it.
Mackerel has an oily, fatty texture when eaten raw, and has a rich, light flesh when cooked. Spritz with an acid, like lemon juice or sherry vinegar, and it would make a nice plate with-
Ruby's scroll buzzed. She grabbed it. Yang. She swiped right. "Yang! Good morning!" She greeted, setting her notepad aside.
"Ruuuuuby!" Yang greeted, her voice even. "Blake is torturing me. Can you help me out?"
"How is it torture that the pancakes aren't ready?" Blake's voice filtered through.
"Because they're so delicious!" Yang retorted.
Blake sighed. "Good morning Ruby. You're on speaker."
Ruby grinned. "Good morning Blake!" She said, ignoring her sister. "How are you? How's work?"
Blake sighed. "I'm doing well. Work, on the other hand, has a few hiccups. I'm working a big case. Think career defining case. And one of my undercover guys was compromised recently." Ruby heard the scrape of a spatula on a pan. "Can't give you more than that, I'm afraid."
Ruby pursed her lips. "That sucks. Is your guy okay?"
"Oh, he wasn't hurt or anything." Blake said. "And his cover wasn't blown. It just puts a dent in the investigation." Ruby heard a wet slap. "Yang, wait until they're done." Blake chided.
"Cook them faster Blaaake." Yang whined.
Blake sighed. "Ruby, you're the chef here. Please tell your sister I can't break physics." She said.
Yang scoffed. "You would if you loved me." She said in mock derision.
Blake chuckled. "Oh, so I don't love you?" She asked. "I guess I can return that skirt you like so much. The one with the lace~"
Yang gasped. "You wouldn't!"
"I would." Blake answered.
"I'm hanging up." Ruby deadpanned.
Yang scrambled. "No, don't go Rubes! We haven't talked in a week! What's going on with you?"
Ruby thought about it. The move to Atlas. Job hunting. The Gele Gloxinia. Weiss demanding the best. Weiss watching her cook. Weiss drinking. Weiss singing. White panties and a tank top. . .
Ruby blushed. "Nothing special Yang. The move was good, nothing was damaged, no problems moving anything. Job hunting was good, I'm working at a fine dining place."
"Tell me everything." Yang demanded.
Ruby scratched her head. "It's, uh, it's nice? The food sucks, a lot of the cooks there don't really know what they're doing. . ."
Yang huffed. "That sounds the opposite of nice. Un-nice." She declared.
"I agree." Blake chimed in. "Here's your pancake, love." She said. Yang cried out with joy, and excitedly dug in.
Ruby rubbed her ankles together. "Well, see, it's not so bad. The head chef is super cool. She's really good at cooking, and making the best of what she's got."
Yang hmphed, chewing. "So why doesn't she cook better food?" She asked around her food.
Ruby sighed. "She's not in charge of the menu. Her dad is. And he doesn't know how to cook. Or run a restaurant. She's there trying to hold it all together."
Yang swallowed. "Huh. Does she want to be there?" She asked.
Ruby knocked her head against her knee. "Noooo, she doesn't. Her dad's super possessive. She tried to get hired at other places, but he basically muscled them into saying no. Weiss doesn't want to be at-"
"Weiss." Blake cut in. "As in Weiss Schnee, at the Gele Gloxinia? That's your chef?"
Ruby blinked, taken aback. "Y-yes. How did you know?" She asked.
Blake cleared her throat. "I, uh, I have a few coworkers who talked about the place. It's very prestigious. I hear they have sapphires in the wall."
Ruby rolled her eyes. "I'm not surprised you've heard of decorating is bad. Very, very bad. It has no theme, just a bunch of dumb stuff thrown into a room. I mean, bullhorn champagne flutes? Why?" Ruby pinched her nose. "It's a rough kitchen."
"So why are you staying?" Yang asked. "It doesn't sound like a good fit for you."
Ruby shrugged. "I'm learning a lot. Working with Qrow, I saw how things worked when the kitchen was running smoothly. But not all kitchens are like that. Some suck. The Gele sucks. And Weiss is keeping it together, and I want to help her." She said quietly.
Yang hummed. "She's hot, isn't she?" She asked.
Ruby flushed. "Yang!"
"I can confirm, she is hot." Blake cut in. "Check the internet, there's pictures."
"How do you spell it?" Yang asked.
Blake started. "Double-U, ee, ay, ess ess-"
"Do not check the internet!" Ruby yelled.
"Wow. She pops right up." Yang whistled. "You weren't kidding. She was a singer? Damn, she rocks blue! And this is your chef? Ruby, snatch this one up. Quick." She said.
Ruby wanted to die. "Yaaaaaaang, it's not like that." She whined.
"It's not like that yet." Yang said.
Ruby folded in on herself. "Shut uuuuuup. It's not like that period!" She groaned. "Weiss doesn't need a crush right now, she needs a friend. I'm her friend, her friend!" She said adamantly.
"Well, if you say so." Yang said.
Ruby nodded. "I do say so!" She said. "I do!"
"So, tell me about your friend." Yang said, her voice dropping an octave. "What's she like."
Ruby pursed her lips. "Weiss is. . . She's very precise. And attentive. When something has her attention, she really listens, you know?" Ruby rubbed the back of her head. "She learned a lot from a bunch of different chefs, and she's taught me a few things already." Ruby held a hand to her mouth. "She swears a lot."
"How much?" Yang asked.
Ruby giggled. "Almost as much as Uncle Qrow."
Yang whistled. "Damn."
Ruby nodded. "I know, I know. And, it's pretty entertaining. And scary." She whispered.
"Well, I hope things work out for you two." Blake said. "Whatever that looks like."
Ruby smiled. "Thanks Blake. Right now, I'm trying to help her enjoy cooking again. We're making a meal for each other this weekend."
"Oh?" Yang said. "Do tell."
Ruby rolled her eyes. "Not like that Yang, geez. I want to roll out a special menu for the restaurant. Weiss said no, but I'm gonna try and change her mind."
"Aaaah." Yang said. "With your wily charms." She said.
Ruby sighed. "With some decent food, Yang. Decent food."
Blake perked up. "If you do roll out a special menu, would you invite us?" She asked.
Ruby blinked. "Uh, yeah! I could do that, totally. I mean. . ." She tapped her knee. "The owner is pretty racist, so it might be hard to get you in. . .'
"I'll wear a bow." Blake said simply.
"Oh no, not again. That's not happening." Yang said, voice steeled. "You're not hiding yourself again."
"Yang, it's fine. I promise." Blake said, her voice stern. "Ruby, let me know if you do, and we'll come down."
"Okay. . ." Ruby said. A smile broke across her face. "You'll get to meet Weiss! Oh that'll be so cool!"
"It will be." Blake said. "Listen, I need to head to work soon. I'll catch you later, okay Ruby?"
Ruby smiled. "Okay Blake. I'll see you soon!" She said.
"Rubes." Yang said. "You promise everything is going okay?"
Ruby nodded. "Yes Yang. Everything is fine. I'm well."
"Good." Yang paused. "If you need anything, you call, and I'm there. You got that?" She said.
Ruby smiled. "I got it, Yang."
"I'll call you soon Rubes, okay?" Yang promised. "I need to go. I want to talk to Blake before she heads out."
Ruby frowned. "Yeah. Don't get hit too much in your next match!" She said.
"And quit burning yourself, klutz." Yang ribbed.
Ruby blew a raspberry into the phone. "Never."
Yang laughed. "Bye Rubes." She said.
Ruby offered an unseen wave. "Bye sis."
The scroll went silent.
Ruby pulled the blanket tight around her. A soft sigh slipped from her lips. Yang's teasing rattled around in her brain, her weak denial chasing those thoughts down.
In her mind's eye was an off-center ponytail, bare shoulders, and long, graceful legs. . .
~0~
The next two days of work were the hardest Weiss had ever experienced. Going into work that day, she steeled her spirit, tightened her resolve. She was indomitable. Unflappable. She was a mountain against the fucking tide.
Then she caught Ruby's eyes, and the mountain crumbled. Weiss watched Ruby's lips stretch into a wide grin. Watched her practically bounce over to greet Weiss. Earnest, genuine. Swee-
Weiss offered a curt hello. Stumbled over her words and her feet. Don't think about it, work. Flat tops on, line stocked. Prep not too terrible.
"Weiss, what do you need me to do?" Ruby asked.
Throw her over the prep table, rip off her chef's coat and-
Weiss pointed at a soup and chicken carcasses. Get the stock going. Throw fennel in the mirepoix. Make sure Perry cuts pole to pole for the salad onions. Trash whatever he doesn't do right.
And off she went. Ruby's hands and mind faster than Weiss could comprehend. Her comfort in the kitchen was second nature in a week. The respect she commanded from the crew rivalled Neptune.
And why wouldn't it? If one wanted to bottle inspiration, they only needed find Ruby Rose. She didn't just do everything better, she taught those around her how to rise to it. Weiss watched Ruby empower the crew - her crew, with a carefree ease.
And Weiss' voice shriveled at the sight. She stopped berating, almost all together, as Ruby whipped the crew into something greater than themselves. Like egg whites.
The food was still terrible. But the ticket times, the presentation, the arrangement, the prep, it all soared. Weiss couldn't fathom it. Ruby hadn't even stepped on the line. She was on prep, almost exclusively, and her energy ricocheted through the crew like a bullet in a tank.
Ruby came bounding up to Weiss as soon as close was done. "Hey Weiss, wanna go grab some drinks?" She asked, latching onto Weiss' arm, eyes wide and pleading.
Weiss stammered out a no, and Ruby wasn't discouraged in the slightest. Weiss slept fitfully that night, her dreams filled with red ruffled skirts and bells of laughter.
The next day went much the same for Weiss. Only she took to the line immediately. KIcked Dusk to prep and focused on tickets the whole shift. Almost no opportunity to talk to Ruby. To watch her. Every ticket printed moved her body and stilled her mind. Calm. Center. Fire the steak, dot the plate, rest, slice, serve. Fire chicken, risotto, plate, garnish, serve.
The day flew by, and Weiss wiped her brow.
"Heya Chef!" Ruby said, startling Weiss.
"H-hello Ruby." Weiss stammered out.
Ruby rocked her shoulders back and forth, hands behind her back. "We're on for tomorrow, right?"
Tomorrow? Right, cooking. Alone, with Ruby. Here. "Y-yes." Weiss choked out.
Ruby cocked her head. "Are you okay Weiss?" She asked. "You look tired."
Weiss' eyes drifted down. Lazily. "I'm fine, Ruby. Just a little under the weather." She said, trailing the hem of Ruby's jacket.
Ruby beamed. "Well, take care of yourself. Get some tea and some rest! I'm not missing one of your meals, got it?" Ruby said, and she skipped home.
Weiss made some tea. She took a bath. She double checked her prep for tomorrow, the roast marinating in the fridge, bags of veggies on her counter. She brushed her teeth, rinsed, spat, changed into pajamas, and got into bed.
She stared at the ceiling. Trying to think of nothing. Nothing at all. The roast was going to be delicious. Ruby would love wrapping her lips aro-
Weiss looked at the clock. Midnight. Weiss settled back into her pillow. She stared at the ceiling. Tomorrow she'd get up early. Tomorrow she'd wake up, and have a muffin for breakfast. One of those blueberry muffins, from her favorite cafe. With a strawberry cream cheese. Strawberries. Strawberries are red. Does Ruby taste like strawberr-
Weiss looked at the clock. 2 AM. She stared at the ceiling. . . Back to the clock. 2:15.
Weiss took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Her hand slowly, reluctantly, slid under the covers. She closed her eyes, and thought of Ruby. Her hands, gracing Weiss' skin. Her mouth. Soft, eager. Tasting like honey-rose.
She grew hotter. Ruby's advances pushed on, hair sweeping across Weiss' chest, hands holding firm, mouth trailing lower. The slip of tongue. Hot breath on her core. A grateful moan. Wet fingers coursing in and out, faster, faste-
Weiss crested, a fuzzy haze wrapping her brain and torquing every tendon she had. She fell back with heavy breath, sweat soaking the sheets. Every muscle in her body pulsed with fatigue. She looked at the clock. 2:18.
By 2:20, Weiss was fast asleep.
~0~
Ruby bounced into the Gele Gloxinia at 11 AM. Her senses were embraced by the sizzling sweet scent of meat, and spices. She breathed deep. Cumin, rosemary, coriander, peppercorn. A shiver of delight ran up her spine.
Ruby set her food and knives on the prep table. "Heya Weiss!" She called out. Out the corner of her eye, she spied a pot of white sauce on the range.
Weiss rounded the corner from the bar, a mug of coffee in hand. "Hello Ruby." She greeted.
Ruby took Weiss in. "Looks like you got some sleep last night!" She said. The bags around Weiss' eyes had receded, and her face was brighter, alert.
Weiss' went red. "Yes, I did. I-I slept very good last night." She held up her mug. "Coffee?"
Ruby cocked her head. Very good? "I'd love some coffee." She said slowly.
Weiss immediately disappeared to the front.
Ruby stared after her, then shrugged. She's had nights where she slept well, then was a total brainwreck in the morning. And it was a day off, after all. Still. . .
Ruby pulled out her entree and dessert prep. A salted fillet of rainbow trout with coriander, turmeric, and lemon zest. Paired with pickled carrot, boiled broccoli, and a cilantro garnish.
Ruby smiled wide at her food. She filled a pot with water and set it on a high flame. She grabbed a pan, some oil, and turned on the flame, medium high.
As the oil warmed, Ruby snatched a pie she had made the previous night and left to cool. Eight whole hours. Strawberries, cherries, and basil. She turned the oven to 200, just enough to get it warm, and popped it in.
"Here's your coffee." Weiss said, her voice shaky. She set a mug down to the side of Ruby's set up.
Ruby took the mug. "Thank you." She took a sip. "What's on the stove?"
Weiss blinked. "Oh. Um. White gravy." She said.
"Nice." Ruby looked down. "How much coffee have you had today?"
Weiss followed Ruby's eyes. "Two cups. Why?"
Ruby nodded at Weiss' hand. "You're shaking." She said.
Weiss looked down. "Jitters." She said. "Just jitters. . ."
Ruby pursed her lips. "From. . .?" She pressed, tossing her broccoli into the now boiling water.
Weiss looked at the oven next to the one with the pie. It was set to 280. The source of the delicious smells. "I haven't really cooked like this in. . . Fuck. Years. It's been years, Ruby. And. . ." She bit her lip. "I want you to like it." She said softly.
Ruby grinned. "It smells amazing already, Weiss!" She clapped her hands together. "I can't wait to eat your meat!"
Weiss choked on her coffee. She started coughing, and set the mug down, her mouth buried in the crook of her elbow.
Ruby, laughing, smacked Weiss on the back. "Come on Weiss, it's a staple pun in the kitchen! You know I had to." She said, rubbing Weiss' back.
Weiss nodded. "No, no, I understand. I would've done the same thing." She said, coughing hard.
Ruby frowned. "Are you good?" She asked.
Weiss nodded. "I'm good. I'm good." She said, her coughs finally subsiding. She met Ruby's eyes.
Ruby smiled, a shot of relief running through her. "Good. Good."
A silence fell between them. Ruby realized she was still rubbing Weiss' back, and pulled away. Weiss did the same, looking away from Ruby. Her eyes widened. "Your oil is smoking." She said, pointing behind Ruby.
Ruby blinked. "What?" She turned around. "Aaaaagh!" Ruby grabbed a dry towel and lunged for the saute pan. She pulled it from the heat, wiped the smoking oil out with another towel, hit the pan with some water, dumped it, added new oil and dropped her fish, skin side up. It hit the pan with a satisfying sizzle. She smacked the pan back onto the burner, turned to Weiss and folded her arms. "Good as new!" Ruby declared.
Weiss, shaking her head, slipped past Ruby. "Is that supposed to impress me?" She asked.
Ruby shrugged. "Depends. Did it?"
Weiss knelt down. She peeked into her oven. The roast inside swept Ruby's nose into singular heaven. She breathed deep.
"I am impressed." Weiss said. "You start your second day on line with a fire." She shut the oven door and stood up.
Ruby blinked. "Heeeey, wait a minute! This isn't the line!" Ruby gestured to the whole back of house. "There's no tickets, no heards, no behinds, no cutting, no slicing, no prepping, no running, nothing 86'd and no insanity." Ruby pointed at the sizzling fish. "And, and, and! The pan was not on fire!"
Weiss shrugged . "No need to be embarrassed Ruby." Weiss said, crossing her arms. "We all run a little hot now and again." A glint flashed in her eye.
Ruby grabbed the pan and flipped the fish. A nice gold crust had formed on the flesh. The skin landed in the pan, sparking a choir of sizzles. "I did not run hot." Ruby declared. "I ran long."
"Can't run too long, might risk burnout." Weiss shot.
"Endurance is a virtue. One you could look for instead of avoiding."
"I lasted this long, didn't I?"
"I've had instant oatmeal last longer than you."
"You don't eat oatmeal for breakfast."
"I do too!"
"If you did, it would be a spoonful of oats in a sea of sugar."
"It's why I'm so sweet."
"It's why you're so fast. Tell me, do you eat the coke separately or is it mixed in?"
"I dunno, I get mine from your stash."
"That's heroin."
"What, you can't afford the black tar? I'm disappointed Weiss."
"I'm disappointed too."
"Really? Why's that?"
"Your fish is burning."
"WHAT!" Ruby twisted around. The fish was fine. Completely fine. She turned back.
Weiss had a hand to her mouth. "Made you look." She squeaked out, trying to hold in her laughter.
Ruby's mouth dropped open. Trickery! "Oh. Oh you diabolical. . . You!"
Weiss laughed. "It was too easy! You're thinking so hard I-" She started laughing again. "I thought I smelled something burning!"
Ruby's lips pursed in a flat line. Weiss kept on laughing. Ruby shook her head, and checked her fish. Flesh cooked, skin crisp. Ruby pulled a plate and slid the fish onto it. She twisted and zested some lemon over the filet. Finished. She checked the broccoli. Done. She strained it and served a portion onto the plate with pickled carrot. The cilantro fell onto the plate like leaves. A bit of pink salt on the broccoli, and the plate was done.
Ruby turned to a giggling Weiss, and cleared her throat. "You done now?" Ruby asked. "'Cause I can eat this all by myself if I have to."
Weiss shot up, composing herself immediately. "No, no. That won't be necessary."
Ruby proffered the plate. "It's getting coooold~" She sang.
Weiss snatched the food from Ruby, a wild hunger in her eye. She walked over to the servers station, grabbed a set of silverware, tore off the napkin and dug in.
Ruby watched Weiss take the first bite. A shiver of delight ran through Weiss. Ruby turned away, her face hot. "How is it?" She asked.
"Fuck me Ruby, this is wonderful." She said, her mouth full. Her fork clinked against the plate. "The trout, this is rainbow trout, right? It's moist, well seasoned, beautiful color. And the pickled carrot, was it made with cayenne?"
Ruby nodded. "Cayenne and some chili powder. Gives the plate a bit more oomph." She slapped her fist against her palm.
"And the broccoli balances both elements out with some simplicity. Great. Fucking great. Although, it feels like it needs a starch. Some rice or something."
Ruby shrugged. "I don't disagree. A bed of rice, made with beet juice and coriander, would look and taste really good." She bit her lip. "I feel that, if you added rice, you'd want to take out one of the veggies. And I like both on the plate."
"For good reason." Weiss took another bite. "Fuck yes." She shivered. "So good."
Ruby put all her dishes into a bus bin, and went to Weiss, who had already cleaned her plate. Weiss sheepishly put her dishes into the bin. "Thank you Ruby." Weiss said.
Ruby bowed her head. "You're welcome Weiss." She went to the dishpit and filled the machine with water. She loaded a rack with dishes and sent it through. She washed her hands and returned to the line. "Ready for dessert?" Ruby asked.
Weiss licked her lips. "Yes please."
Ruby popped open the oven and checked the pie. Warm. She pulled it out. "I present strawberry-cherry with basil pie!" She held the pie in front of Weiss' nose.
Weiss' eyes were wide. Hungry. She breathed in deep. The tip of her tongue flicked out, sliding across her upper lip. Weiss met Ruby's eyes. "Well?"
Ruby set the pie down, and cut two thin slices. The chunks of cherry and strawberry held up perfectly. Ruby plated both slices. A thick red syrup oozed from the sides. Weiss ran to grab silverware, and snatched her plate from Ruby. Her fork stabbed into the pie, popped the piece into her mouth and Weiss moaned.
Ruby flushed, a sliver of heat worming through her gut. She took a bite of pie to distract herself. Wow. "Wow, I really outdid myself."
Weiss nodded, taking another bite. "Not to inflate your massive ego, but you really did." She said, sighing through another mouthful. "Did you use a recipe?"
Ruby shook her head. "Not for the filling. The pie crust on the other hand . ." She shrugged. "Baking is not my thing. Too much measuring. Get one thing off, and. . ." She took another bite. "Everything's completely screwed."
Weiss held her wrist to her mouth. "Makes sense." She said through a mouthful. "I haven't tried baking all that much."
Ruby blinked. "Really? I figured you of all people-"
"Me of all people?" Weiss interjected.
Ruby blinked. "Yes. You're all. . . Precise. By the numbers and everything." She poked at her pie. "If I knew just that, I'd say you'd make an amazing pastry chef."
Weiss blushed. "Oh. Thank you."
A timer went off.
Weiss almost dropped her plate. "T-t-t-that's for the roast." She walked, very purposefully, to the oven and pressed a button on a thermometer. The alarm went off. "143 degrees fahrenheit." Weiss' face was crimson.
Ruby held a hand to her mouth. "It covers carryover." She said through a smile.
Weiss nodded. She grabbed a pair of black oven mitts and pulled the roast from the oven.
The roast. A perfect brown-gold crust. The soft sizzle of vegetables. Stark white bones cradling the meat. That smell. Ruby drank it in.
Weiss smiled. "And now it rests." She said, setting it on the counter.
Ruby watched as Weiss covered it in foil. "I'll get plates and knives." She said, dashing off.
Ruby returned to Weiss, dumping roasted vegetables into the pot of gravy. Roasted carrot, onion, garlic. She poured pan drippings into the gravy. A stick blender was resting behind Weiss.
Ruby set the plates and silverware down. "Are you pulverizing all that into the gravy?"
Weiss grabbed the stick blender. "Yes. To season and flavor the gravy."
Ruby grinned. "Wanna throw in some of my broccoli?"
Weiss looked over. "It'll add green flecks to the gravy. . ." She mused.
Ruby went over, grabbed the broccoli, and tossed it in.
Weiss smacked her hand away. "Hey!" She snapped.
Ruby shrugged. "I guess we'll have to see what it looks like." She said, sticking her tongue out.
Weiss looked at her gravy. Then Ruby. Then the gravy. "I can strain it out." She said.
"Noooooooooo!" Ruby shot forward, grabbing Weiss' arm. "See what happens!" She said. "Look, you're already gonna have orange in there, right? Bits of carrot. Just don't puree!"
Weiss stared deep into Ruby's eyes. Ruby threw a little pout in there, and Weiss caved. "Fine." The stick blender buzzzed on.
Ruby jumped with joy. "Yay!"
Weiss ran the blender until the veggies in the gravy became tiny specks of colour in a vibrant white. She stopped. She dipped her spoon into the gravy and brought it to her eye.
Ruby peeked over. She sniffed. "Smells nice."
Weiss smirked. "Want a taste?" She asked.
Ruby nodded. She went for her spoon. It was just tucked in her coat pocket, no big problem the-
Ruby froze. Weiss was slowly moving her spoon to Ruby's mouth. Blue eyes drilled into silver. The spoon inched closer. Closer. Her lips slid open. She took the spoon into her mouth. It tasted rich. Browned fat and meat. Warm. Comforting.
The spoon slid from Ruby. The tip grabbed at her upper lip before it popped from her mouth. Her eyes didn't leave Weiss'.
"How's it taste?" Weiss' voice was quiet.
Ruby licked her lips. "It's good." She breathed. "Needs some salt."
Weiss dipped her spoon in. She brought it to her mouth. Her tongue slipped from her mouth and licked the back of the spoon. One long, quick, stroke.
Ruby swallowed.
Weiss slipped the rest of the spoon into her mouth. She nodded. "You're right." She added a dash of salt, whisked the gravy, and tasted again. "This works." Weiss grabbed a ladle and spooned two perfect circles of gravy onto the plates.
Weiss turned to the roast. "This has rested long enough." She grabbed her carving knife, pulled the foil of the roast, and started slicing a piece. The knife revealed a pink red flesh hidden beneath. She grabbed the bone and pulled the slice from the pan, setting it onto the pool of gravy. A second slice followed onto the second plate.
Weiss proffered her dish. "Chuck roast with gravy." She said. "I-I know it needs a veggie, and some starch."
Ruby bowed her head, accepting the plate. "Thank you for the food." She grabbed her fork and knife, and cut out a bite. A little dab of gravy, and Ruby placed the fork in her mouth.
"Well? What do you think?" Weiss wrung her hands together.
Tender. Juicy. Creamy. Perfectly seasoned. The gravy paired well with the rich meat. Fuck, chewing it was a heaven all to its own. "It's delicious Weiss." She dug right in.
Weiss smiled. Her shoulders relaxed. "Good. Good." She took a few bites of her own plate. "Not too salty?" She asked.
"No, it's perfect." Unbelievably perfect. "I haven't had a roast this good since my uncle was in charge of christmas dinner." She said.
Weiss beamed. "Oh. Well, thank you." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll, uh, I'll wrap this up."
Ruby frowned. "You did bring dessert, right?"
Weiss snapped her fingers. "I did!"
Ruby took another bite. "Well, what is it?"
Weiss smirked. "Let me put this away, and I'll go get it."
Ruby nodded, and continued to eat. She watched Weiss slice up the rest of the meat, grab some cambros from the back, and put the meat inside. Lid off, of course. She took the dishes to the back, and a few moments later the dishwasher ran its cycle.
Weiss rounded the corner. "I'll be right back." She went straight to the back. Ruby heard the freezer door open. A clatter of bowls. A heavy thunk. A moment later, Weiss came round the corner, two bowls, two spoons, two scoops of blue ice cream.
Weiss handed one bowl to Ruby. "Blueberry gelato with vanilla bean." She said.
Ruby scooped a bite into her spoon. She brought it to her eye. No sign of crystallization, the cream was smooth, with little black dots of vanilla peppering the surface. She took it into her mouth.
Blueberry bliss.
Ruby started tearing at her gelato. Mouthful after mouthful after mouthful after-
"Aaaaagh!" Ruby cried, holding her head. "Brain freeze!"
Weiss smacked Ruby on the shoulder. "Slow down and appreciate the food, damn it! Then this won't happen!" She took a bite of her dessert. "Stick your tongue against the roof of your mouth." She ordered. "It'll help."
Ruby did so, and her headache started to go away. "Wow. That really works."
Weiss rolled her eyes. "You never heard of that before?"
Ruby shook her head. "Nope!" Her headache was almost completely gone.
Weiss smirked. "Well now you know."
They ate in silence. Ruby finished her Gelato, and set it aside. Her belly was warm and full. Her brain was buzzing. Her body felt at once light, rejuvenated, and weighed down by a tick of anxiety.
Friends. Friendship. Friendly. Friendliness. Friends can feed each other. Platonically. Can look at each other eyes. Platonically. Can stare at the other's tongue wrapping around the spoon. Like a lollipop or a finger-
Ruby shook out the thoughts. Focus! Dessert! Pie. Gelato. Pie. Gelato. Strawberries. Cherries. Blueberries. Berries. A lightbulb went off. "Weiss, is there more gelato in the back?" Ruby asked.
"Yes. Why?"
Ruby went to the freezer and pulled the cambro of blue cream. She took it straight to the line, sliced a piece of pie and dolloped some gelato right onto the slice. She stepped back.
"Oh." Weiss breathed. "Oh that looks. . ."
"Fucking tasty." Ruby whispered. The red of the pie filling, the sliver of steam wrapping around the scoop of gelato, the blue oozing down the sides.
Ruby stabbed her fork into the confection, scooping both cream and pastry. She put it into her mouth.
The pie crust flaked in her mouth, wet with cream and berries. The vanilla and blueberry danced with the strawberry and contrasted the cherry's tart bite. Hot, and cold. Ruby let out a low moan, and stabbed her fork into the pie.
"How's it taste?" Weiss asked, her fork poised.
Ruby looked at Weiss. She looked at her fork. She swallowed. "Wanna try?" She asked, holding her fork up to Weiss' mouth.
Weiss went beet red. She cleared her throat, and nodded. Slowly, Ruby slipped the dessert into Weiss' mouth. As soon as the pie hit her tongue, Weiss' eyes rolled up. Her shoulders sagged, surrendering to the experience. She practically purred, so low and deep it was almost a growl.
The sound plucked at Ruby's core, and she pulled the fork away. "Th-they work well together, huh?" She asked.
Weiss nodded, chewing. Her eyes slid open, finding Ruby's. "They work together perfectly." She said, as if in a daze.
Ruby nodded, her hand shaking. "Y-y-yeah." Images flashed in her mind. Her and Weiss, cooking. Weiss behind her. Hand on her hand, helping her stir. Whispering in her ear. "Uh, um, I need to go." Ruby said, setting the plate down.
Weiss cocked her head. "Oh?" She asked.
Ruby grabbed her knife bag. "Yeah, I, uh. . ." No excuse came to mind. Just Weiss' hair, tangled in her fingers, breath hot on her chin. Her neck. "I need to go." She said lamely, and bolted.
"But what about the leftovers!?" Weiss called out.
"Put em in the fridge, I'll grab em tomorrow!" Ruby called back, and bolted out the door. She ran straight past the building, rounded a corner, and pressed herself against the wall. Her breath was quick, heart racing. Her core was on fire. Weiss' smell, her taste, her food, her breath, fuel for the heat in Ruby.
Ruby bit her lip. "I like Weiss." She whispered. "I like Weiss. Fuck."
~0~
Weiss.
Yes?
Why haven't you called me?
. . . I've been busy.
Doing what?
Paperwork. Some cooking. I hung out with Ruby yesterday.
How was that? Fun? ;)
Yes?
I'm at The Mineshaft! Get down here! I'll buy you lunch.
Okay. . .
The Mineshaft is local eats that dealt in pub burgers, craft beer, and the occasional steak special. Pencil fries seasoned with ground mustard seed, salt, and cilantro. In-house pickles cut a ¼ inch thick and laid on juicy six ounce beef patties with sturdy sourdough buns, toasted to perfection.
By the time Weiss arrived, Neptune had already sat. No menus at the table. He'd ordered. "What did you get me?" Weiss asked, sitting across from him in the booth.
Neptune put his hands together. "They're running a special. You catch it?" Weiss shook her head. "Plum-curd bacon burger with butterleaf and sweet-pickles. Served with an arugula salad, lime-vinaigrette." Neptune smiled.
Weiss bowed her head. "I approve, thank you."
Neptune waved his hand. "Pshaw, we're not here to talk about how great I am."
Neptune grabbed his beer. "We're here to talk about how great Ruby is. In the sack." He took a sip, his brow waggling.
Weiss blinked. "What?" Ruby under white sheets, a soft smile, impulsive tongue-
Neptune set his beer down. "I'm surprised it took you this long to call me. I thought you'd be rubbing my face in it. Maybe take a page outta the newspaper. Breaking news : Ice Queen gets laid, best friend proved so wrong!" His voice was crisp like a radio announcer.
Weiss shook her head. "Neptune, no one takes a page out anymore. We have the internet. Secondly, Ruby and I didn't fuck." Silverware doesn't count.
Neptune slammed his fist against the table. "What!? Why!?" He pointed his finger at Weiss.
Weiss pulled back. She gently pushed Neptune's finger aside. "What do you mean why?" Keep it cool keep it cool it's not obvious-
Neptune folded his arms. "Oh, come the fuck on." He said. "You two were eye fucking each other at karaoke!"
Weiss rolled her eyes, arms crossing tight. "I was not eye-fucking Ruby at-" Wait. "Was she eye-fucking me?" She pointed at herself.
"YES!" Neptune yelled, exasperated. "OBVIOUSLY!"
Weiss looked down, rubbing her temple. "When. . . How could she have-"
"When she was singing, Weiss. She stared you down like a fucking gazelle." Neptune picked at his fingernail. "And not to mention the song you chose."
Weiss lifted her head from the table. Thorny and Horny. "She already knew it." She said weakly.
"She could've known "I Want To Fuck You Madly" by heart, and it still would've been you calling it out!" Neptune spread his arms. "That's a foreplay song Weiss! Sing it and wee-"
"Excuse me sweetie." A waitress said, blocked by Neptune's arm.
He quickly retracted his arm. "Sorry miss." He said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You're good. Here's the Plum-Sow." She slid Weiss her burger. "And here's the Honey-Bunches-A-Knickers." She slid Neptune his burger. "Can I get you anything else sweetie?" She asked.
Weiss held up her finger. "Yes please. I need your strongest beer, and a menu." She said.
The waitress nodded. "That all love?" She said, cocking her head.
"Yes please."
The waitress shrugged. "Suit yourself." She walked off, shoes clacking against the floor.
Weiss turned to Neptune. "I didn't suggest the song so she'd sing it at me. I suggested it because I thought she would be embarrassed!" Weiss threw her hands up. "Have you looked at her!?"
Neptune shrugged, picking up his burger. "I know you have." He said.
Weiss clenched her fist. "You need to fucking pump the brakes. Even if she was interested, which she isn't, I wouldn't fuck her. She's my sous chef."
"Mhm." Neptune turned the burger around in his hand, getting a good look at it. Plump, toasted bun, bits of fried chunks stacked like an avalanche, glistening. "Tell me, I know they call you the Ice Queen because you're frigid and aloof with the crew. But. I wonder." Neptune took a bite. "Are you also called Ice Queen because of how fucking transparent you are?" He said, chewing.
Weiss' jaw dropped. Her eyes were wide. She couldn't believe, the sheer fucking balls, the absolute- Motherfucker, this piece of shit- "Fuck you!" She snapped. "Fuck you, I don't want to fuck Ruby!"
Neptune swallowed. "Weiss, Weiss. It's okay to fuck your sous chef." He reached across the table, setting his hand on Weiss'. She didn't move, she was frozen with rage. The sheer fucking bal- "I'm a little offended you waited until I skipped out, but your happiness is all that matters."
Weiss stood up. "I'm going to kill you." She said, voice cold. "I'm going to pull your intestines from your gut and lynch you with them. I'm going to stuff your mouth with garbage soaked in gas, and run the fuse through your asshole. So, when I light it, you can feel the spark from the fuse travel through you before your skull is eating fire."
Neptune sat there with the biggest shit-eating grin on his face. "If you do kill me, are you going to fuck Ruby on my corpse?" He asked, taking another bite of his burger.
Weiss sat down. She put her face into her hands. Her knives were in the car. Too many witnesses. "Neptune, you are pushing me." She said, voice low.
"And you're testing my fucking patience!" Neptune snapped.
Weiss' head shot up. "What?!"
"Here's your beer sweetie." The waitress said. "And that menu. You ordering something else?" She asked.
Weiss snatched the menu. She found the description she was looking for, and read it aloud. "Honey-Bunches-A-Knickers. A six-ounce pattie with melted swiss cheese, lettuce, and popcorn chicken tossed in a maple-honey glaze." She handed the menu back. "Thank you. That was all I needed." Weiss grabbed her beer and started drinking.
"No problem sweetheart." She left.
Neptune held out his hand. "Why not ask me?"
Weiss stopped drinking. "I'm sorry, haven't I already tested your patience enough today?" She shot, then continued drinking. The beer tasted like burnt caramel. Delicious.
Neptune set his burger down. "Look, Weiss, I love you. You're a great cook, solid friend, and you haven't been laid in a year. And it's getting to you." He said. "And the best option since- Since ever! Is serving herself up on a silver platter!"
Weiss felt a pang in her gut. "She's like you! She's a friend!" Weiss crossed her arms. "I've known her a week, I can't just fuck her out of the blue!"
Neptune grabbed at his precious hair. "I just told you how it's not out of the fucking blue!"
Weiss bristled. "Coincidence! People sing near people all the time!" People feed each other all the time! People have drunken-
Neptune's jaw dropped. "I'm sorry, what?" He interjected.
Weiss froze. Fuck, did she say that out loud? She cleared her throat. "Uh, I was cooking with her yesterday-"
"You were cooking with her!?" Sheer disbelief.
Weiss huffed. "Yes, I was cooking with Ruby, yesterday. We made food. It was good."
Neptune leaned forward, hands clasped tight together. "What did you make for her?" He asked.
Weiss frowned. "A chuck roast with blueberry vanilla ice cream."
Neptune nodded. "So you gave her some meat and your personal flavor." He mused.
Weiss rubbed her forehead. "Neptune, stop making it so-"
"When you say you fed her, do you mean you made food for her?" Neptune interrupted. Again.
Weiss scowled. "Yes!" She snapped.
Neptune rubbed his chin. "You're lying."
"I am not lying!" Weiss stomped her foot.
"Weiss, did you feed her?" Neptune asked. "Like, put a fork in her mouth?"
Weiss rubbed her knees together. "Spoon." She whispered.
Neptune crossed his arms. "Mhm." He pulled out his phone, and began texting.
Weiss frowned. "Who are you texting?"
"Sun." Neptune said. "He owes me fifty lien."
Weiss pinched her nose and sighed. "Stop betting on me and my life!" She bit.
Neptune shrugged. "Stop having an interesting life." He put his phone away. "Where were we? Oh, right. You like Ruby."
Weiss kicked Neptune under the table. "I do not!"
Neptune winced. He rubbed his knee. "Now you're just being difficult for the sake of it. Why?"
Weiss looked away. "I'm not-"
"Weiss." Neptune said, voice low. "Weiss Weiss Weiss. Give yourself a break and tell me what the fuck is going on." Neptune folded his arms. "Or, I can use every piece of dirty laundry you gave me in the last year to annihilate your dignity." Neptune held his hands out, as if weighing options. "Tell your friend the truth? Or suffer total humiliation? Hmmmm."
Weiss looked away. She grabbed her arm, and squeezed. "I told her about the battery."
Neptune's eyebrows left orbit. "You told her about the battery?"
Weiss nodded, biting her lip. "I told her, and it felt good. It felt easy. And that scares me Neptune. It's so easy to talk to her. She just. . ." Weiss shrank into herself. "I feel at ease around her." Laughing. Talking. Offering a spoon of gravy.
Her knife. A storm of petals. "She's too close." Weiss whispered.
Neptune folded his hands on the table. "Because of your father." He said.
Weiss sighed. "Yes. Because of my father." She rubbed her fingers together. "Every step I've made has been in his shadow. I make my own way and he tugs on the strings in my back, and I dance. If I let Ruby in, I'm not letting her into my life. I'm letting her into my father's shadow. I'm opening every opportunity for her to be destroyed."
Neptune was silent. Then, softly, he started snapping his fingers.
Weiss' shoulders sagged. "Why are you snapping?" She asked.
Neptune stopped. "I thought this was a poetry reading. Nice imagery. Super edgy. And the angst, it just bleeds out of you. Brava." He offered a few claps. "Brava."
Her hands clenched into claws. The damn bastard, THIS WAS FUCKING SERIOUS! Ruby could die! Can't show love, can't show love or the love burns to ash and it grows his fucking schemes like thornbush and she can still feel the burn in the back of her throat the lump in her belly and the fire fire fire fire! Seeds of misery in his sack spreading like plagues and reaping the wealth. And Neptune thinks this deserves absolute mockery to the bitter fucking-
Weiss started laughing. It started deep in her and couldn't stop. Pouring from her like springwater, her core convulsed and all the pain snapped with her muscles, hulking breaths cutting tension from her spine. Her body felt lighter and lighter with each guffaw. She was fucking hysterical.
Weiss spied the waitress out the corner of her eye. She looked horrified. Weiss started laughing even harder.
Neptune, the self-satisfied bastard, had a soft smile on his face. "Don't you love it when people are casual about serious shit?" He asked.
"N-n-no!" She bit out between convulsions. "I fucking hate it!"
"Irreverent to all except yourself." Neptune sighed. He picked up his burger. "Your food is getting cold." He said.
Weiss' guffaws slowly evaporated. She felt her stomach growl. "Thanks." She said, and picked up her food.
Neptune smiled. "Your father is a terrible person. Dick to you. Dick to faunus. Dick to employees. Probably involved in organized crime. But, you need to ask yourself." Neptune leaned in. "If his job is to make you miserable, why are you making his job easy for him?"
Weiss felt a jolt to her core. She looked at her burger, and took a bite. Still warm. Delicious. Spiced plum and sweet, thick cut bacon.
They finished eating in silence, Neptune graciously leaving Weiss to her thoughts. She appreciated that about him. He knew what to push, when to push, and when he was done he left her alone.
Neptune paid. They got up to leave. Neptune grabbed Weiss hand. "You deserve to be happy. You know that, right?"
Weiss looked at him, and left.
Later that night, she did some paperwork for a new hire. She checked labor and worked a schedule. She had chinese delivered. She ate pork potstickers in her pajamas. Watched No Reservations. A bit of sauce spilled on her top. She went to bed, and stared at the ceiling.
Sleep crept up on her, and she dreamed.
The whole of Gele Gloxinia, wreathed in flame. Weiss coughing, wiping away tears. She slipped. Her knees blistered. Wood and ash whirled around her. She needed safety. She needed-
Ruby caught her arm. Weiss, come on! Get over here! It's not safe!
And just as Weiss felt relief crash through her, a frozen talon pierced her other hand. She screamed. A twisted chimera with her father's face roared in reply. It pulled at her flesh, tendon and sinew cracking under her skin.
Weiss felt as if she would be split in two. The fire had found its way into her belly. A hole opened. Blood and ash gurgled from her gut.
Weiss! Ruby called out. She still pulled.
Weiss looked at her. She was beautiful. Even in this hell, not a drop of dirt stained her. Not a single bead of sweat. Radiant. Weiss smiled, and shook her head. She wrenched her arm from Ruby's hold.
Weiss! Don't leave me-
Weiss fell back. Beyond the flames, beyond Ruby. Deep into a cold, cold abyss.
All was quiet.