Chapter 20
"Eleven letter word for an aircraft that flaps its wings for propulsion, second letter is R"
Weiss looked up from her crossword at her driver, waiting patiently for a reply. Ruby seemed to be in deep thought at this question, her brow furrowed and her left hand was tapped against the wheel.
"Ornithopter."
Weiss looked down at the puzzle book, and gauged the word and its fitness into the slot. It fit, of course, but she was unsure of how Ruby could have known that. In what instance would she have known the name of such an aircraft?
Right, she's a nerd for mechanical things.
Weiss examined the possible questions, and decided to have Ruby help her solve the more mechanically inclined ones. Fifteen-down seemed right up her alley.
"Uh, great-war era Bullhead manufacturer, namesake of modern performance sedan."
"Too easy" came the reply "Grumman"
Weiss scribbled it into the required spot. Next was four-across. "technical term for x-ray exposure."
She could see Ruby frown at this. Her eyes floated over, and she cocked an eyebrow.
"Not a very specific question, friend."
Weiss studied the page again, and counted the spaces where this word would intersect with 'ornithopter'.
"Uh, eight letters, third letter is E" she said, and Ruby's frown decreased slightly. Weiss figured that Ruby probably didn't know this one, but the truth was, neither did she. She had been the smartest girl at Beacon, but there was no doubt that Professor Merlot's chemistry classes had gone in one ear and out the other. Even Professor Port was more engaging!
"Roentgen"
Weiss slapped the book against her knee and turned to her driver, shocked.
"How could you possibly know that?" she asked, incredulously. The beautiful woman in the driver's seat smiled back at her.
"I actually paid attention in Merlot's classes, Weiss. Third year chemistry, chapter twelve; Radiation."
I can't say I'm not impressed!
Weiss shrugged, and wrote the word in. The next few were things she herself could do, so she spent the next twenty minutes or so filling in the blanks until there were only two left. Two she was sure neither of them could answer. Wouldn't hurt to try, of course.
"Production company of 'The Achieve Men', before Studio-636"
Ruby cocked her head at Weiss, and thought for a second.
"Wasn't it Savage Animal Idiosyncrasies?"
Weiss measured the words with the spaces. Too long.
"Nope. Try again."
Ruby snapped her fingers, causing Weiss to jump a little.
"Got it. It was Wax Lyrical Records. I didn't remember immediately because I hate Yang's stupid boy band."
Weiss chuckled at this. In their four years as roommates, they were under a constant barrage of terrible boy-band 'music' from Yang and Blake's side of the room. The worst of the bunch had been the dreaded album from 'The Achieve Men' aptly titled 'Heist". It had been a heist, alright. A heist of her precious hearing.
"Okay, last one. Surgical diagnostic procedure to determine if there is free floating fluid in the abdominal cavity. Gee, I guess they save the hardest ones for la-"
"Peritoneal lavage."
That was quick
Weiss looked over at her friend. She was staring out the windscreen, silver eyes unmoving, and her knuckles were white like she was trying to strangle the old wood wheel. Her eye twitched.
"Ruby, are you okay?" She asked, worried.
"I'm fine..." Ruby seemed to brush away the question, her hands loosening their death grip on the wheel. Weiss thought about reaching out to touch the girl, but decided against it at the last moment. It seemed to be wise to change the subject. She brightened her face.
"Right! We finished it! Only took us two hours, not so bad for two people with limited knowledge of most of the covered subjects! What do you think?"
Weiss watched as Ruby shrugged. She flinched a little at this. Something was the matter, but this was not the time to press. She hoped Ruby trusted her enough to tell her what the problem was in her own time. There was silence for the next few minutes, and Weiss grew fearful that the problem might be more than skin-deep.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
More silence. Weiss slumped against the window and looked at the guardrail whizzing passed. An allegory for how she imagined their relationship was going right now. Flying by and she couldn't stop it. A lonely tear came to her eye.
I need to man up and deal with this.
But how?
An epiphany struck. Weiss undid her seatbelt and slid across the bench to where Ruby sat, and gently lay her head on her friend's shoulder. She could feel the well-toned muscles under her cheek actually soften from the contact. Glancing her head back ever so slightly and peering through her bangs, Weiss could see that a slight smile had come to Ruby's face. She put her arm around her friend's midsection. She could feel Ruby tense up momentarily before relaxing again.
"I love you" was the only thing she said for the next two hours until they reached the gas station. It had been two hours of silence, with Weiss softly embracing Ruby from the middle of the bench seat and Ruby driving them through the snow storm, one had on the wheel, the other intertwined with Weiss's.
When Ruby had pulled up at the gas pump, she stopped for a moment. Weiss sat up on the seat and looked at her friend. She watched as Ruby sniffled and rubbed her eyes, before looking over at her.
"I love you too."
These four words were said with the most honest smile Weiss had ever seen in her life. There was great sadness behind the visage of the driver who sat in front of her, but for once there was also real passion. It was true that Weiss loved Ruby, but this was the first time that Weiss could see that Ruby actually loved her.
"Thank you, Weiss"
Ruby reached her arms out and embraced her friend, and Weiss could feel her shaking, as if she was afraid. She trusted her to tell her in good time. Weiss held her until the sad brunette finally let go and stepped out of the truck. Weiss joined her at the pump, offering up her credit card once again to pay for fuel. Ruby reluctantly accepted, after much convincing from the wealthy girl.
I swear I'M going to be broke by the end of this
Weiss held Ruby's hand for the seven excruciatingly long minutes it took to fill the enormous fuel tank, but she could feel slow to a more reasonable rate in that time.
Holy gods, her grip is strong.
When the tank was full of fuel and Ruby had come back from refilling her cooler with soda and candy, Weiss resumed her position behind the wheel and fired the old engine into life. The low, sensual growl of the motor reverberating through her as she buckled the steel catch of the seatbelt. Suddenly, there was a presence at her side.
"You know, there's actually a seatbelt here. You technically broke the law for two hours."
Ruby had sat herself in the middle spot on the wide bench seat and fastened the lap belt. Weiss smiled at her and gave her a quick peck on the forehead. Ruby sat up and pouted.
"Okay fine, you big baby."
Weiss leaned over slightly and gave her friend a proper kiss, before putting the big truck into gear and pulling them back onto the highway. Ruby settled herself back on Weiss's shoulder and fell asleep.
She's my favourite.
Bar none.
Chapter 21
Weiss is best pillow
Ruby cuddled comfortably against her friend's shoulder as they drove on through the snow. The blizzard had increased in severity since their last fuel stop and Weiss was now driving at roughly half the legal limit. It would be a while until they reached their hotel. But Ruby was content to cuddle with her friend.
This is mine. There are many others like it, but this one is mine.
"Hey Ruby?"
Ruby opened her eyes a little, but refused to let go.
"Yes?"
"What was your first job?"
Ruby snorted at the memory.
"I drove a milk delivery truck in Beacon Township during second and third year. Horrible job, really."
"Oh yeah? What was so bad about it?"
Ruby furrowed her brow. The pain returned to her right arm from just thinking about it.
"That stupid van and it's stupid transmission. The synchro's were worn out in third gear, so you had to double-clutch every time, up and down. If you even missed a little the gearstick would vibrate like you were pushing your arm directly into the transmission."
Weiss laughed, and Ruby poked her in the ribs.
"Seriously! Every time I brought it up with my supervisor, he would always just ask 'does the refrigerator box still work?' Like he didn't even care that the van was probably the single sketchiest vehicle on the road!"
"Maybe you just suck at driving stick" came the reply from Weiss, followed by another jab in the ribs from Ruby.
"I'll have you know I am excellent at driving standard! My first car was a standard!"
"And how many clutches did you replace in the parking lot of our dorm?"
Ruby was quiet for a second. Damn Weiss for remembering those weekends she spent under the front end of the little red RRS with a set of borrowed spanners.
"Like, four… But they weren't expensive. Just kinda hard to access."
Weiss made an amused noise and kissed the top of Ruby's head.
I'll take that for now in lieu of real kisses.
"What was your first job, Weiss?"
The girl she was leaning on shuddered. This would be good, Ruby thought.
"Ugh. I was… a secretary at the CCT in Beacon. If you wondered why I was always so salty, that's why. People are assholes. You'd think I would just get a job in the SDC, but I declined the position offered from there until a few years later, and took one at the CCT."
"What position were you offered at the SDC?"
Weiss shuddered again, this time harder. Any more and she'd leave the seat.
"My father's personal assistant..."
Oh shit
Even Ruby shuddered at this. No one on Remnant should be forced to suffer the misery of being the PA to the loathsome Jacques Schnee.
"The worst part of the job was fetching him coffee. He would give a really convoluted order, and by the time I had finished getting it, he had arranged a meeting just so he could tell me it was the wrong coffee in front of people!"
"But you persevered?"
"Obviously. I was to become the CEO. So I did my awful job diligently, and pretended to enjoy it so I wouldn't lose my privileges."
Ruby laughed. Weiss had an expression of disgust on her face at the memory of working beneath that horrid man. Ruby turned her head up and gave her friend a quick kiss on the cheek, and Weiss's upset expression softened back into the sweet smile that she had spent the last eight years giving her. It was calm, gentle, and at the same time very passionate. It was like someone had made sweet music into a facial expression.
"Where are we staying tonight, Weiss?" Ruby asked, rubbing her head into her friend's neck. She wondered if there would be one bed or two.
I hope it's one.
"Well. There's this nice little place up in the mountains ahead."
Ruby looked through the windshield at the view. The snow had lightened in front of them and revealed a beautiful mountain vista. Somewhere in the snowy peaks was a villa resort that the ice princess had overseen the construction of. A place where there would be no prejudice.
"Sounds nice..."
Ruby cooed, closing her eyes. They had been on the road for eleven hours now, and she couldn't figure out how the white-haired girl was still awake. Not even the overly-strong coffee from the morning could keep her awake. Ruby drifted into a realm of almost-sleep, the soft humming of the big engine combined with Weiss's quiet singing kept her on the very edge of fully sleeping. Even when they turned of the highway and began ascending into the mountains toward the overnight halt, Ruby remained tightly cuddled on her friend on the comfy bench seat.
Not much in life is better than this.
Her mind wandered freely in this semi-sleep state. Visions of her and Weiss floated across her eyes.
"Good morning, sweetheart" came the musical voice of the woman in the kitchen. Ruby smiled, and descended the staircase, holding her briefcase and doing up the last remaining button on her blouse.
"I made you eggs and bacon, your favourite!"
Such a vision of beauty, the white haired woman in the kitchen was. And quite sexy in that apron, as well. Ruby sat down at the quaint wooden table, placing her tightly packed leather briefcase against one of the table's legs. It would be a busy day at the office.
"Hi, Mommy!" came the sweet sounds of two voices at her side. Ruby looked down at the two children and smiled, ruffling the silvery-white and reddish-brown mops of hair before her.
"Good morning, Kara. Hello, Lindsay. How are my little munchkins doing this morning?"
The two small children giggled and cooed their answers, bringing warm smiles to their mothers' faces.
The smell of bacon permeated her nose, and her sight was drawn towards the tiny kitchenette, where Weiss was deftly turning the delicious smelling meat over in it's pan.
"I'll take the girls to preschool, darling. I have a few errands to run today. Anything you need from the store?"
"No, I think I'll just take a kiss from the most beautiful woman in the world"
Weiss smiled at her and strolled gracefully over. Ruby leaned her head up to receive the impending smooch. Just before their lips touched, a voice rang out.
"Ruby, wake up."
"Wake up? Surely, you jest, my love. I am already awake!"
"Oy. Rubes. We're here. You can sleep after dinner. Get up before I tickle you!"
Dinner? I haven't even eaten breakfast yet!
"Ruby!"
Her eyes slowly opened, the joyous world she was dreaming of torn from her. She wasn't at the tiny kitchen table of a tiny house in a tiny village. She was slumped against Weiss on the enormous bench-seat of her own enormous truck.
NO! Bring me back to my world!
Ruby couldn't help but pout her poutiest pout. Her lower lip quivered up at her friend, who's previously annoyed expression turned to one of amusement as her eyes lit up and she laughed.
"Have some good dreams, Rose-Petal?"
FUCK YOU, WEISS
"Maybe." Ruby said, still pouting "Something about dinner?"
"Oh yes. We'll be getting dressed up for this. I insist"
Chapter 22
Weiss pulled her suitcase behind her up the long sweeping cobblestone ramp leading up to the ornate front door of the Winter's Lodge hotel. She smiled at the polished gold name plate above the door, that bared the name of her sister. She had insisted that the Lodge be named after her, as Winter had been the first person to accept her for her 'alternative lifestyle', as their father had put it. The doorman pulled the great gold handle on the heavy door and bowed as her and Ruby made their way inside. If there was ever a public place where you needed to take your shoes off before, this was it. The soft white velvet floors were crystal-clean, as was the chrome trim adorning every surface. Soft white pot lamps lit up every pillar and arch.
Modern architecture is beautiful, Weiss thought. She knew the architect personally, and it had been a cinch to turn her dream into a reality. She could hear Ruby gasp behind her as she took in the astonishing scenery. Weiss chuckled at her friend's child-like amusement and strolled to the reception desk. The elderly man behind the desk smiled at her, before realizing who he was actually looking at.
"Good evening madam, do you have a- oh my! Miss Schnee! Welcome!"
"Hello, Mister Teale. I do indeed have a reservation."
"Certainly, Madam. The Penthouse?"
He typed away on the glass screen in front of him. He paused for a second, frowning.
"It says you have booked a regular room. Are you sure this is correct, Ma'am?"
Weiss cocked her eyebrows at him.
"I have no time to spend in the penthouse this time, for my companion and I are only staying one night. It would be a shame to clean and prepare the entire penthouse just for me to use it for only nine or so hours."
The receptionist looked puzzled, but he eventually shrugged and procured two brilliant white room cards.
"Here you are, my lady. Do enjoy the room. Would you like us to refresh the sheets with silk instead of cotton? It will only take about an hour."
Weiss perked up at the man. "Actually, why not! I have to take Ruby on a date tonight, so we will need the room for a bit to change. If you could swap the sheets after we leave, that would be lovely!"
She leaned over the desk and whispered to him.
"And while we're here, could you have Ruby's truck pulled into the service bays and tuned up? It has trouble starting in the cold. Bigger primary jets should do it."
Okay, now I'm concerned that I know this much about cars.
The elderly man smiled at her and whispered back and winked.
"Absolutely, my lady. Enjoy your date."
"I'm sure I will. Thank you so much" she said, taking the room cards and wheeling herself and the starstruck Ruby over to the elevator. The crystal glass tube opened up with a soft whoosh. Her boots clicked against the glass floor as she and Ruby stepped in. The door closed again and the lift smoothly began ascending upwards.
"This place…." Ruby broke the silence. "...Is so amazing…."
Weiss gave her a sly smile. Of course it was amazing, she had overseen its construction! This architectural wonder was not only in place to look good, but it was a place where even those with 'alternative lifestyles' could feel at home. Weiss hated using that phrase, but it had become commonplace in her vernacular from living with her father. Gay people. This hotel welcomes gay people she affirmed in her head. In her momentary distraction she hadn't seen the elevator door open again on her floor and had been standing fixed in place.
"Weiss? Something the matter?" came the concerned voice at her side.
"No, it's fine. Sorry, just distracted is all."
Ruby smiled and stepped past her, swiftly removing the room cards she had been clutching and skipping off down the hall to find their room. When they had reached the door, her eager companion quickly swiped the card and stepped through the door.
It took Weiss a few minutes to stop laughing, as Ruby hadn't actually stepped through the door, she had instead crashed into it. It hadn't opened on the first try and she had bounced off the wood panel and onto her rear on the floor. Weiss's sides hurt it was so funny. Finally helping her friend to her feet, they finally made their way inside the room.
She's so clumsy it hurts ME.
I'm glad I get to love this one.
Weiss heard Ruby gasp again as she hefted her bag onto the bed closest to the door. She was glad her friend approved of the excessive luxuries even the ordinary rooms possessed. Quietly unzipping her suitcase, she lay out a few potential outfits on the bed. She could hear her friend ruffling through her duffle bag behind her.
All of your clothes will be wrinkled. Perhaps I have something that will fit her. Hmm.
Weiss pondered her own outfits. Everything was carefully folded and organized, colour-matched and tagged. She was certain that something in the bag would look decent on her, but she was unsure if it would be wise to offer her friend clothes. A voice from behind her indicated she wouldn't have to ask.
"Hey Weiss? Can I…. uh, borrow something fancy? I didn't think to pack date-clothes."
She thinks it's a date! Perfect!
Weiss turned to her friend, giving her a sly look. She beckoned the girl over and gestured to the neatly folded stack of clothing.
"Let's see what fits."
The next hour or so was spent with Weiss shoving Ruby into countless different outfits and then having her return to the bathroom to change as something was always just a little off. Lucky for them, the two girls were the same five-foot-two stature, so all of Weiss's pants, shirts, dresses and other associated clothing was the right length. Unfortunately for Ruby (but rather fortunate for Weiss as it turned out), most of the pants and blouses didn't quite fit as the lithe girl's wardrobe hadn't been tailored for her more… 'curvy' body. Ruby's thicker, more muscular build and much wider hips prevented her from wearing most of Weiss's outfits. Even the looser dress shirts that she had brought could never be buttoned up all the way at the front. For two very obvious reasons.
I'm a lucky girl.
"Ruby, I know you're a Huntress, but why are you so unreasonably buff? Do you work out?"
Ruby flinched a little at the question, and Weiss went wide-eyed, realizing what she had insinuated.
"No, wait that came out wrong! You are very attractive! Fit is sexy! I just want to know how you got this way! I'm sorry!"
She tripped over her words, causing Ruby to giggle at her.
"I know what you meant! Gosh, your face was priceless!"
Weiss wanted to smack the girl.
"Well, I do actually work out. Do you know how much my scythe actually weighs?"
Weiss shrugged.
"Twenty kilos?"
"Ha! Try more like sixty-three."
Sixty three kilograms?! It weighs more than I do!
Weiss scrubbed the shocked expression from her face and tried to focus on the task at hand. She pulled a rather plain-looking baby-blue summer dress from the bottom of her bag. She held it up against Ruby, judging the fitment. She shrugged and loosened the adjustable elastic strap that encircled the bust, and handed it to her friend, getting a strange expression in return.
"A dress? But it's snowing!"
Weiss waved away the question. "Do you have tights?"
Ruby shook her head. Weiss frowned as she tried to formulate a way to keep her friend's toned legs warm. She couldn't borrow a set from her, as the more muscular girl would likely tear them to pieces. Weiss dug around in her bag again, her hand brushing against something soft tucked into the corner. No way. Not these. She can't know I own these. Weiss's conscience was ignored again, and she pulled the offending item up from within the bag's depths.
Knee high socks. My nose is bleeding already.
Ruby's eyes perked up at the pale pink socks presented to her. Weiss tried to hide her blush and pointed at the bathroom.
"Go. Change."
Ruby retreated into the room, and Weiss took a moment to compose herself. Images of Ruby in the socks flashed across her vision. Only in the socks. Her legs nearly gave out. Weiss shook her head violently to try and rid herself of the images. She looked back over at her clothes.
Something in here will work, she figured. Pulling out a set of long, elegant white dress pants, followed by an icy-blue button-up, Weiss figured that this would be dressy enough while being respectably matched to her companion. Slipping her lithe legs into the pants, she contemplated remaining shirtless for when Ruby emerged from the bathroom. She cursed herself for even thinking this. This is not the time. Be patient she thought to herself.
Yeah, but that rack!
"No. Very no. But also yes."
She caught herself smiling, as she buttoned the shirt up her front, frowning a little as she had no issues doing up all the buttons. She reached over to where her bag lay once more and pulled out a long flowing white cotton coat, pulling it loosely on. Her attention was grabbed by Ruby's voice from the bathroom.
"Should I come out now?"
Weiss chuckled, remembering what her friend had said to her the previous morning.
"Only when you're ready."
The door creaked open. Out of the bathroom stepped what Weiss was sure was a goddess in place of the clumsy, charming girl she had sent in. The blue dress was a stark contrast to what the girl normally wore, but it looked perfectly natural on her buxom frame.
That… is an acceptable amount of cleavage.
Weiss's eyes were drawn to Ruby's chest, which was tightly squeezed into the dress. Clearly, it had been made for a smaller-chested woman, but Weiss's small adjustment to the garment kept it sensible yet still sexy.
"I feel like I'm revealing a little too much. You, uh, you're drooling."
Don't care.
Weiss shook her head and wiped her mouth on her sleeve. She had in fact drooled a little, but she had justified it in her head. Ruby was unfairly attractive in her dress. Weiss had an epiphany, and once more dug through her suitcase and pulled out one of her white silk coats, before handing it to the woman before her.
"Wear this, too. Short-length, very soft."
She watched as Ruby pulled on the coat. Weiss twitched a little as she observed her friend spin on the spot to model the outfit, the dress floating up from the rotation.
She looks better in my clothes than I do.
"Do I look okay in this colour? It seems a little stark..." Ruby questioned, her face a little worried.
You need to wear only that colour
"Ruby..." Weiss said, beaming brightly "You look absolutely spectacular in white. Better than I do, if I may be so bold"
Ruby blushed, smiling though her hand. Weiss thought it was particularly adorable the way she swayed back and forth on her heels from the compliment. The girl's muscular arms, now hidden by the coat, were pulled behind her back in a very elegant fashion. I am a fool for never truly seeing how beautiful she is. Weiss stood up from the bed, extended her hand to her friend.
"Come. I know a perfect place for our date."
Ruby took her hand, smiling as she intertwined her fingers. A real date with her best friend, who had recently been upgraded to girlfriend.
Everything was perfect.