Chapter 25
That's not fucking fair.
Ruby let herself get pulled down the hall at a reasonable pace, her socked feet quietly thumping against the carpet. To say Weiss's actions had turned her on would be the understatement of the year. She wasn't just hot under the collar. She was on fire. There was pretty much nothing she could do about the blush she was displaying, so she had to just roll with it. Weiss pulled her into the elevator at the end of the hall, and Ruby's still moving body ran into the now-stopped girl. By the time she had realized they had collided, the elevator had already begun descending. Ruby's eyes perked up as she realized she had accidentally placed her hands on Weiss's chest to stabilize herself.
Why me?
I mean, why not me?
She pulled herself off her friend, shivering with delight but trying desperately to remain composed. She could hear Weiss giggling at her.
It's a good thing I love you, or you'd be getting smacked.
Ruby's heart fluttered at the internal comment. Love. She did love Weiss, of course, but it seemed a little inappropriate to be so forward about it. While yes, she had confessed that she was in love earlier that day and received a kiss for it, somehow despite eight years of being very close friends it still felt weird to say 'I love you'. She desperately hoped that she could get over that.
"Weiss, I..."
"Hush, not now. Swimming!"
Her companion cheered, pulling her out of the elevator, which had come to a soft halt on the first floor. Weiss seemed to leap from the small vertically-constrained booth, her white bathrobe flowing elegantly around her long, lithe, gorgeous legs...
Snap out of it before you tumble, idiot.
Ruby forced her thoughts away from the ice princess's legs, however elegant they were. It was really not fair how much of an effect the girl, no, the woman was having on Ruby. Being in love was one thing, an advanced sort of crush in a way. But the feeling that Ruby had for her long-time friend was certainly different. It was carnal. Weiss actually had started to stir feelings within her that she was actually afraid of.
Lust.
Ruby watched as the graceful woman who had hold of her hand bounded down the hallway towards the glass door labelled 'spa'. She caught herself staring at Weiss's robe. Beneath the soft fluffy cotton and Winter's Lodge logo was the perfect, crystal-white skin of her girlfriend. She shivered at the images,
There you go again, calling her that.
Not that we're complaining up here.
Was Weiss her girlfriend? They had made out a few times, she guessed, and had been on a few dates. Two just today! Ruby realized that they effectively had a relationship that had lasted since they had met. Once every week since she had moved to Atlas, she and Weiss had found time to hang out, either at the manor, or at Ruby's little bungalow, and just do stuff together. She took a second to recount some of the 'stuff' as Weiss swiped her room key in a little slot next to the glass door and led them into the pool complex. Whether it had been hanging out for coffee, playing video games on Ruby's couch, fancy dinners out at restaurants, karaoke, or just watching movies in Weiss's theatre room...
...while cuddling on the couch...
Holy shit, she was always my girlfriend.
A warm feeling coursed through her body. A good feeling. She watched, frozen in place as Weiss stepped away from her toward the pool, untying her robe.
Strip show?
Ruby turned red as she watched, awestruck as the robe slipped down past Weiss's smooth, porcelain shoulders. The robe stopped about a third of the way down the girl's back. Unless you didn't know that the bikini's straps were tied up on the back of Weiss's neck, currently hidden by her hair, you'd have assumed the girl was currently becoming naked. Much like Ruby assumed.
"See something you like?"
Ruby was caught off-guard by the sudden question from her friend. There was indeed something she liked going on, but she refused to admit it. She stammered out what could only be described as 'Confused Ruby Noises', and blushed into her hands. She could hear her friend chuckle at her again, and there was the distinct whump as the robe fell to the floor. Ruby's masochistic brain flashed rather photo-realistic renderings of what Weiss might look like fully nude across her vision. Should she peek?
Do NOT peek! That would be rude!
Ruby peeked a little.
Were you even listening?
The image before her stopped her heart. There stood Weiss, clad in the reserved, yet revealing two piece ice-blue bikini that she herself had picked out not but yesterday morning. Weiss's long, slender legs extended down past the cuffs of the bottom, no signs of any scrapes or scars. Her back, smooth and silky white over the thin but still toned muscles. The thin blue straps were the only things that detracted from the splendour of the sculpture that had presented itself before her. Weiss's head was turned, and her eyes gestured down to her own posterior. Ruby followed them.
Hot damn, that is a fine bum.
It really was. The way that the suit's lower portion hugged the perfect curves was nearly incapacitating. Weiss might had been a short girl, but she had been blessed with the body of a woman. Perfectly proportioned in every way. Ruby's inner pervert wanted to see what that body looked like sans clothing. She nearly fell over as she watched Weiss wink at her before performing a graceful dive into the water, leaving the smallest of splashes in her wake.
She is beautiful, even when she's toying with my emotions.
Weiss resurfaced a few moments later on the other side of the pool. She had managed to cross it in a few powerful rotations of her arms, and she held herself upright in the water. Ruby could see her friend frown at her from across the pool.
Here it comes...
"Hey, why aren't you in the water yet? It's like a hot tub in here!"
There it is. No avoiding it now.
Ruby grimaced. Weiss effortlessly swam back over, coming to a rest at the edge, chin resting on her hands.
"Weiss, I, uh... can't...swim" she mumbled, her voice getting quiet. Weiss's eyes perked up, her expression one of concern.
"You can't? But...you're a huntress? Isn't it required for your training?"
It wasn't. It was recommended, but Ruby had never actually wanted to learn. Growing up in Patch, her and Yang never actually went to the beach, or went swimming, or anything. Vacations were rare with their father being both a full-time professor and Huntsman. Weiss frowned.
"Look, take off your robe and come sit on the edge of the pool. Besides, if you stand there any longer, you'll freeze."
Ruby was unsure what Weiss meant by freeze as she took off her robe and lay it on a nearby table, collecting Weiss's as well. Then it hit her. The pool wasn't a swimming pool, per se, it was a hot spring. And it was outside. The cold winter air cut through her exposed legs, arms, and back. She rushed as quickly as she dared over to the edge of the water and sat down, submerging her cold feet into the warm water. She noticed the snow that fell gently against her skin, and the magical way it seemed to disappear about a metre above the water's surface. It was all very...tranquil.
A feeling that was cut short about three seconds later as Weiss dragged her into the water. This was it. She was going to die. The hot pool water embraced her, Weiss's slender arms seeming to pull her down into the infinite depths of this pool. Ruby kicked her feet, and found that there seemed to be no bottom. Was it even legal to install a pool with no bottom? She was for sure going to drown, and Weiss was now the perpetrator of her death.
Bitch.
"Ruby? You can open your eyes now."
Ruby refused to obey. She would most certainly be dead, and she didn't want to see what the other side might look like.
"Oh for gods' sake. Stand up."
Ruby tentatively opened her eyes. Her head was above water. As was most of her torso and her knees. She had curled herself up into the foetal position, and was currently resting in Weiss's arms, kept mostly buoyant. She let out the breath the had been unconsciously holding. Weiss cocked an eyebrow at her and giggled.
BITCH.
"Put your feet on the bottom, you dolt."
Ruby gingerly extended her legs downward in the water, keeping her arms wrapped around her murderer's neck for support. The hard tile bottom came up much faster than she was expecting. Gingerly, she put her weight down on her legs and stood up in the water, still clinging to Weiss.
It's only chest deep. And you were worried.
Ruby made a noise. Weiss giggled.
Weiss tried to drown me! Of course I was worried!
Ruby and Weiss stood there in the warm water, still in a sideways embrace. Ruby pouted and splashed Weiss in the face. There came a shriek from the white-haired girl, but no counter-action. Now it was Ruby's turn to laugh. Weiss conceded defeat and sighed, still smiling, despite now having a drenched face. Weiss leaned her face in and Ruby couldn't help but blush as a gentle kiss was placed on her nose.
"So. Want me to teach you how to swim?"
Ruby nodded vigorously.
Chapter 26
This is a nice bum.
Weiss scowled at herself. She was supporting her friend, who was lying on her back in the water like a plank, her head back and her arms out. She had suggested that Ruby lie like this to get comfortable with having water in her ears and her face still above water. Weiss's hands were currently beneath her bum and her shoulders, keeping the brunette mostly afloat. She shifted her grip so that her left hand was better positioned under Ruby's behind, lessening the strain on her shoulder.
But also so I can better grab that booty.
"You, uh, being a little cheeky down there, Weiss-cream?"
Weiss blushed, but was quick to respond.
"No, I am re-positioning so as to support your centre of mass."
"You saying I have a fat ass?"
Weiss twitched.
If by fat you mean fantastic, yes.
"Statistically speaking Rose-Petal, a woman's centre of mass lies at their hips, where the more dense innominate bones are. Although for you, I'd say the dense part is up at the top, just above your shoulders."
"Hey!"
Weiss laughed. Ruby's reactions were always amusing, and better yet, a good way to distract her from the fact that some full-on butt grabbing was occurring.
"Okay, I'm going to let go now. Take deep, slow breaths, and you will remain buoyant. You ready?"
Ruby nodded slightly, keeping her eyes closed. Weiss gingerly lowered her hands away from Ruby's body, keeping them within quick saving-distance. Ruby floated in place, gently moving her arms in slow arcs. She was swimming!
Sort of.
Weiss couldn't help feeling a little proud at the small accomplishment that Ruby had achieved, even though floating on one's back wasn't exactly a front crawl, but it would do for now. She watched as Ruby's hips began to slowly sink into the pool, and her expression faltered. Weiss replaced her hands under the floating girl's behind and shoulders, bringing her back up to the surface. Ruby opened her eyes and smiled up at her. Weiss resisted the urge to smooch her friend in the water, lest she drop her below the surface and accidentally drown her. Ruby giggled and gave a huge smile.
"Hey Weiss, I swam on my own! I think I deserve some kind of reward, don't you?"
Weiss cocked her head down and smiled back. "What did you have in mind, my little Rose-Petal?"
As if to answer, Ruby closed her eyes and pushed her lips out, in a very inviting fashion. She remained lying on her back supported by Weiss in the water. Weiss smiled and looked around, making sure the coast was clear. Not that anyone at her hotel would judge her for kissing another girl, of course.
"If you insist, Ruby."
She leaned her head down to meet Ruby's placing the softest of kisses upon the presented red pillows. Ruby had very kissable lips, she thought, her eyes drifting shut. She could feel her heartbeat slow as she allowed the sinful pleasure of this warm feeling flow through her. Her mind wandered to more visceral ideas about her friend, but was forcefully silenced as she tried to keep Ruby afloat.
Holy shit, Ruby knows how to kiss.
This is awesome.
'Awesome' was a word that Weiss almost never used. It was overly pedestrian for her usual vernacular, as it held no real meaning. It was an ambiguous word, and one that had no true place. Except for here. There was no word that could accurately describe what it felt like to actually kiss the girl she was in love with properly, in such a romantic setting. It was awesome. Ruby's tongue flicked it's way into her mouth.
Whoa!
Weiss shivered with delight and returned the amorous action, and she could feel Ruby roll over slightly and place a hand on the back of her neck. Weiss's arms became suddenly limp...
...Causing her to drop Ruby.
"Shit!"
Shit!
Ruby flailed her arms, sending warm spring water everywhere as she slipped beneath the crystal surface. Weiss was knocked back slightly as Ruby rolled into her, legs a little weak from the lustful feeling of the previous kiss. Her head slipped under the surface, but she was quick to rotate her body and spring back up, wiping the water out of her eyes. There was a flailing mass of person before her, seemingly in the middle of drowning. Weiss dove back under the water, positioning herself beneath her friend. Her feet found tile as her arms wrapped themselves around Ruby, bridal-style. Weiss thrust the two of them upward, surfacing with the coughing mass of clumsiness in her arms. Ruby's breathing was ragged, her chest heaving as it tried to fill itself with more air than water.
"Why'd you try and drown me?!" the girl in her arms cried, turning an angry expression towards her. Weiss's heart returned to normal and she smiled back down at the frown.
"The hell are you smiling about?!"
Weiss laughed, receiving a smack in the shoulder from the girl in her arms. Only Ruby could be clumsy enough to drown in this little water, with a champion swimmer as a lifeguard.
"You're the one who wanted to kiss me while trying to swim, dummy."
Ruby looked offended, causing Weiss to chuckle. Ruby tried to punch again, but Weiss was quick to block it. The girl had one hell of a right-hook, after all. Weiss carried her through the water over to an outcropping of rocks near the other side of the pool, and sat the two of them down on an underwater bench. Ruby sighed contentedly and lay her cheek on Weiss's shoulder.
"What are we, Weiss?"
Weiss furrowed her brow and put an arm around her friend's side. She wasn't quite sure what they were. Dating? They sort of always were. They never left the other's side, save for when Ruby went away on missions or when she was away on business trips. Were they a couple? Probably, but couple didn't quite seem like the right word. They had been almost strictly monogamous, with Weiss taking occasional dates with men that her father demanded she be with. But when it came to actually being romantic, Weiss realized that she had only ever really been with Ruby. It had been an eight-year relationship. Just without anything intimate.
We'll have to remedy that.
"I don't know, Ruby. But I do know that I love it. I wouldn't change it for the world."
She lay her head on Ruby's and closed her eyes. The warm water of the spring was like a soft blanket around them, and Weiss wished that she never had to give up this feeling. Ruby whispered something quietly, and Weiss smiled and kissed the soft, wet brown hair at her cheek.
"I love you too, Ruby."
They remained in the pool for an hour or so, the snow drifting gently down over them as steam rose from the surface of the water. Weiss had humoured Ruby's attempts to play footsie under the water, their toes becoming intertwined. Weiss checked her fingers, and finding them very pruned, alerted her friend that it was probably time to return to the room. They strolled slowly through the warm water, back over to the edge where the marble steps were. Ruby bounded up them, shrieking as the cold air started to freeze the water on her skin. Weiss laughed as she watched steam pool off her friend as she too stepped out into the frigid air. They donned their robes again and retreated back into the Lodge, kissing again briefly as the elevator brought them to their floor.
This has to be my new hobby. Ruby-smooching. Yes.
Weiss giggled to herself and turned a little pink as she opened the door to their room. She watched as Ruby zipped passed her, collecting her pyjamas from their home on the floor and retreat into the bathroom. Weiss sighed and slipped out of her robe, folding it neatly and placing it on her bed. She could hear Ruby's rustling from in the bathroom as she fought with the wet, tight bathing suit she had borrowed. Weiss untied the straps at her hips and around her neck and let the blue bikini fall to the floor. She stood there and pondered how funny it would be for Ruby to come back into the room proper and catch her in the nude.
Let's get laid. We have to.
Weiss smirked and disobeyed herself, slipping her lithe, nude frame into the plaid pyjamas she had placed on the pillow of her bed.
You must hate me or something.
Or something, probably. Weiss sat on the edge of her bed and began brushing her long white hair with the fingers, untying the off-centre ponytail and working out the knots. The mineral-rich spring water had left her usually silky smooth locks in clumps, much to her annoyance. The door of the bathroom creaked open and out stepped her girlfriend, clad in her usual dorky black pyjama pants and a semi-revealing tank top. Weiss let her eyes subconsciously wander down to the roundness of her friend's breasts. There was no harsh line indicating a bra. She shivered.
Excellent.
Ruby sat down on her bed and pulled out her scroll. Weiss could hear the faint sounds of some video game coming from the glass screen. Weiss continued to argue with her hair, becoming more and more frantic with her attempts at untangling. Clearly, it wasn't working. Weiss decided that the only way to solve her problem was with a shower.
With Ruby.
Weiss yanked reasonably hard on her own hair to try and quell the thoughts with pain.
Cut that out, me.
There was a bounce at the edge of her bed. She looked over and noticed that Ruby had sat down a few feet from her, on her knees with a very serious expression on her face. Weiss looked back at where Ruby had been sitting to find the girl's scroll still open, the game seemingly paused. Ruby never stopped a game mid-play, even if she had to use the bathroom or was hungry. She would always keep playing. Weiss could immediately tell something was wrong.
"Weiss, I need to show you something, and you have to promise not to get upset."
Weiss looked over at Ruby again. The girl had turned pale, but her stern expression remained. Her hands were gripped on the hem of her shirt, looking as if she was about to take it off. Weiss chuckled at the sight.
"Ruby, I appreciate your eagerness, but you really don't have to show me your breasts if you don't want to. And I have seen them on occasion back at Beacon, I won't be upset. In fact, I'll probably be a little jealous."
The look that Ruby gave her indicated that this was not where she was going with this.
Oops.
"Weiss, this is serious!" The pouting girl nearly shouted "But thank you, though. Promise you won't be upset?"
"I can hardly think of anything I'd be upset by under that shirt, Ruby."
"Promise!"
Weiss was a little flustered by this, but she sighed and conceded.
"I promise."
Ruby gave a weak smile and began slowly raising her shirt up. There it was. Exactly what Weiss expected.
Oh my gods...
Her mouth dropped open a little, unable to form any words to explain. The scar on Ruby's stomach was nauseating, but she remained steadfast. The offending tissue ran from her hip, across her stomach to a place just under her left breast. The scar tissue was about two inches wide, and pink as a fresh strawberry. It looked like she had been sliced in half by a machete and crudely sewn back together.
"...Ruby..."
Ruby lifted her shirt a little further, exposing some underboob. There was a few matching scars that looked like puncture wounds, separated by about thirty or so centimetres. They were very distinctly the marks where fangs had entered her chest.
"...I..."
Ruby turned her body slightly to the right, and showed off a scar that ran up her flank, very clearly also made by something's teeth. The sight was frightening. Weiss tried not to scream. She had promised she wouldn't get upset, after all.
"What happened?" she managed, tears coming slowly to her eyes. Ruby was tearing up as well, as the action of showing the scars brought back memories that she desperately wanted to repress. Her usually bright silver eyes were faded a darker grey, and her chipper expression seemed almost like it never existed, replaced by a tearful military scowl.
"I was ambushed."
She gestured to the main diagonal scar, her voice wavering.
"Beowolf got me, claws tried to rip me in half."
Weiss was stunned. Ruby held her shirt up with one hand and brushed her fingers over the two puncture wounds. There was no expression on her face.
"Got me in its jaws here. I passed out from the shaking. I could actually feel its teeth inside me."
Her voice was ragged now, trying to hold back the sobbing that was likely imminent. Weiss knew she had to do something, she just couldn't fathom what.
Give her a hug, you fucking moron.
Weiss scooted over to her friend who was kneeling on the bed. She placed her arms around Ruby, under the sad girl's armpits and hugged tightly. She could feel Ruby drape her arms around her neck, and begin quietly crying into the soft plaid fabric of her pyjamas. Weiss wanted to say she was safe now, but in truth, she wasn't sure how she was even alive in the first place. It actually looked like she had been killed and reassembled by a maniac doctor in a lab somewhere ominous. She instead decided to gently stroke Ruby's soft brown hair with her hand and hum quietly. A simple melody that she used to use to get Ruby to fall asleep back at Beacon whenever she had a nightmare and would crawl into bed with her. Ruby's breathing slowed, indicating that the song was working.
"I love you. You're here now and I love you. Never forget."
Ruby slumped her weight into her, briefly causing Weiss to falter, but she kept her friend upright. They stayed like this for a while, Weiss gently humming and stroking Ruby's hair, the latter being semi-shirtless. It was calm, tranquil, and easy. Ruby had stopped crying, but still refused to let go. Not that Weiss minded. She could take as long as she wanted. Ruby sniffled. Then giggled.
"Ugh, Weiss, you stink."
But I love you.
Weiss chuckled into Ruby's shoulder and agreed. It had been nearly forty-eight hours without one, no kidding she was getting a little rank. The mild sulphurous odor from the hot spring lingered on her skin and in her nose as well. She needed a show. Weiss loosened her grip on her girlfriend and leaned away, giving her a smile. She gestured towards the bathroom.
"I'm gonna have a quick shower. Call me if you need anything?"
Ruby pouted, but couldn't help smiling. She nodded and wiped some errant tears from her eyes. Weiss kissed the top of Ruby's head as she stood up, strolling over to the bathroom before shutting the door.
Should have offered to bring her with us.
Chapter 27
Ruby sniffled. She had overcome her biggest hurdle. She had shown the scar to someone other than a therapist. And that 'someone' had been Weiss, who aside from obviously being a little shocked hadn't reacted with the animosity she had been anticipating. No, Weiss had immediately offered love and affection, as if the horrifying scar hadn't affected her in the first place.
Maybe she thinks you're really ugly...
Ruby looked away, despite the words coming from inside. She told herself it wasn't true. How could it be? Weiss thought she was the most beautiful person she had ever seen! Ruby's eyes were unconsciously drawn to the bathroom door as she heard the shower turn on. She grimaced slightly, thoughts of Weiss leaving based on appearance dancing though her head.
I'm alone...
Ruby growled at herself quietly and stood up, walking over to the large window on the side of the room. The snow had picked up in the short time they had been back in the room and was whipping against the window, leaving little ice streaks. Ruby's reflection glared back at her, the ice on the window making it look like she was still crying. Her hand came to her face and brushed away the fictional tears. Ruby turned and looked over her shoulder to the bathroom door, where a gently humming was coming from. What Ruby did next happened entirely out of her own control. She rushed over and knocked on the door.
"Weiss?"
The humming stopped, followed by a stagnant pause.
"Yes, Ruby?"
Ruby's hand was still prepped to knock on the door. She lowered it cautiously, and stared down at her feet, a little nervous.
"Can I come in?"
Ruby couldn't help but smile a little as she could almost hear Weiss drop her head into her hand and rub her temples.
"You realize I'm naked in here, right?"
Oh yeah?
"Yeah, but I'm kinda lonely out here..."
She tried her best to fake a sad-sounding tone. It wasn't difficult because she was actually a little sad still. She could hear Weiss sigh from behind the door.
"Alright. But no peeking!"
Bitch, that's what you think
Ruby cautiously pushed the door open, trying to limit the amount of creaking that it would make. To her surprise, it made no such creaking, likely due to how new and well oiled the hinges still were, she figured. The bathroom smelled vaguely of lavender, and steam coated every surface. She peeked over at the glass box that was the shower, only to find it entirely steamed up. Weiss's body was silhouetted in the steam, and she could just barely see that she was indeed naked.
Why does that surprise you? She's in the SHOWER.
Ruby leaned against the vanity and stared at the glass shower. The lavender-scented steam flowed into her nose and all around her body. She giggled quietly as she remembered the few times back at Beacon when she had walked in on Weiss in the shower, and the amusing screams that the ice princess had made. The door didn't have a freaking lock on it! It wasn't her fault!
You should join her...
Ruby's eyes shot open wide and she turned away, blushing like crazy.
Are you kidding? That's so...intimate! I'm not ready to be naked with her!
Ruby didn't listen to Ruby.
"Hey, Weiss?"
There was a squeak as Weiss wiped a small eye-level window into the fogged glass box, her eyebrow raised in a mildly mocking manner.
"Yes, my little Rose-Petal?"
Ruby blushed.
"Can...I join you? To save water, you know." she mumbled and looked away again "It's wasteful to have two showers..."
Out of the corner of her eye she could see the face behind the window turn bright red. Her hand had found it's way back to the hem of her shirt and was fiddling with it anxiously, awaiting a response. Weiss's answer came out very choppy, clearly embarrassed and a little excited as well.
"Well... I-I guess...To save water, of c-course..."
No sooner had she finished her sentence and Ruby had stripped down to her birthday suit and leaped across the bathroom to the glass door, her hands prepped to wrench it open. Weiss called out from inside, still sounding excited.
"Wait!"
Ruby waited impatiently.
"M-maybe dim the lights a little?"
Ruby's eyes shot over to the switch panel next to the door. She very slowly lowered one of the sliders and the bathroom lights dimmed to an almost candle-lit level. She returned her hand to the chrome handle on the shower's glass door.
"The no peeking rule still applies!"
That is still what YOU think.