Special Thanks
Xlyra from AO3 helped with storyline development and was one of the people
who helped inspire this story! Thank you so much for the help!
Mikotizini from FF.N helped with the editing of the final draft for chapter 1 and was the other
person whose work inspired me! Thank you as well!
Sky has helped with editing and proofreading the final draft of this chapter!
(Sky is not a fanfiction author, but is an amazing editor!
Make sure to give this great person some extra love!)
Give their works a look! They are truly amazing!
A Painting in the Park
Chapter 16
Weiss had a smile on her face as she walked into work. She no longer felt quite as worried as she did this morning after seeing the news and was able to hold herself with confidence. As long as nothing went downhill, today would be completely enjoyable. The only thing she had to do, was tell Velvet that she wouldn't be attending the party.
Luckily she had planned ahead and had been intent on asking Ruby the day before Velvets next, and last, appearance to confirm her support to the publisher. She wasn't quite sure what had been discussed in the last few meetings, seeing as she hadn't been present. Velvet was a book lover though and would want to help out this small publishing company whether she was part of it or not.
"Velvet. May I speak with you?" Weiss asked as she saw the other girl about to walk through a door just down the hall. Velvet turned and gave her a smile.
"Of course. What do you need?"
"Actually, I just wanted to let you know about something. Your ball event actually. I will not be able to attend it." Weiss said, attempting to be as straightforward as possible on the matter.
"Oh, well that's a shame. Why's that?" Came Velvets noticibly disappointed response.
"Well, did you see the news this morning?"
"There were three more murders, right? I saw a bit of it. A silver-haired man, a green haired lady, and a medical patient that had gone missing 2 weeks ago right?"
"Right. Well, the first two victims you mentioned had been following me and… a friend the same night they were killed. The two of us are worried. The fact that they left to report to someone and ended up dead the next day is… worrisome to say the least." Weiss states as calmly as she could. She felt her nerves rising again though and noticed that Velvet was giving her a worried look.
"Alright, so no ball. Got it. But what are you going to do about all this?" Velvet asked.
"Well, first off, I am going to give my invitation to Blake. She can take someone. And as for the whole 'being followed' thing? My friend and I are going to be taking up temporary residence in a new location for a little while."
"That's a smart move. But since when did you get a new friend?" Velvet asked with a slight teasing sound in her voice. Weiss smiled slightly and shook her head.
"Is it really that strange that I have another friend? I am allowed to have those am I not?" Velvet gasped when Weiss said this, obviously not expecting such a response.
"The last time we saw each other before you went off the grid, you barely trusted Coco and I enough to call us friends! Now here you are, growing up and making new friends. Well growing up in every way excluding the physical sense." Velvet teased relentlessly.
"Dear Oum. Coco really has been rubbing off on you. You used to be the shyest business woman I had ever seen." Weiss said with a smile, purposefully ignoring the comment about her height. She must admit though, these past few years really had changed her. And meeting Ruby had as well.
"Yeah, that's one way of putting it. She kept pushing me to do things differently. Eventually, I suppose I embraced all her advice."
"Yes. The fact that she kept trying to help you so much goes to show that you matter quite a bit to her." Weiss said. Velvet let out a thoughtful hum as she stood there with a smile.
"I can't help but agree. And I am quite thankful about that. But for now, I must go. After all, I do have a meeting to make." Velvet said as she turned to leave. Weiss was forced to agree, seeing as she had her own work to do.
"But Yang! I don't think you understand the problem here!" Ruby said as she neared hyperventilation. She wasn't quite sure what to do right now and she needed help calming down. Things hadn't seemed so bad earlier in the day when Weiss had been around but after she left, everything kind of just sunk in.
"Of course I don't! You aren't really explaining anything very well right now. So how about we just calm down and take a breath before you explain to me, in depth, what the problem is." Yang replied gently over the phone. Ruby followed her big sisters' instructions. After a few moments, she went on to explain everything that happened yesterday and the following morning.
"Alright. So first off, remember how you kept seeing a bunch of people with green hair?" Ruby started.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Well, turns out there was someone following me. And Weiss." Ruby confessed. She knew that Yang would freak out later.
"Alright… Go on…" Yang said with a deadly calm.
"Anyways, we managed to ditch them before coming home. We made plans to talk to the police and all of that good stuff the very next day before we crashed." Ruby explained. Yang let out a hum of understanding as Ruby sighed.
"So the next day we got up and we ate breakfast and all that, she doesn't eat much by the way. Anyways we're in the middle of eating when she asks if I would like to go to some formal dance. But seeing as how that would bring her close to her old life I told her we shouldn't."
"Smart move. But I'm getting the feeling that you never went to the police about your stalkers. Why? You know that this is a dangerous situation, Ruby."
"Well, that's what I was about to get to. We had the news station on while we talked and eventually I noticed that the news was about the discovery of a few new murders. Among them was both my stalker and Weiss'. We think they were reporting to someone when they got killed." Yang sighed.
"This just keeps getting worse, doesn't it?"
"Yes! It does! Because after that I was trying to comfort her and all that. So I told her we could stay at Blakes place if she's fine with it. Ya know since you're both planning to move in elsewhere."
"And how's that worse? You like her don't you?"
"Of course I do! And that's the problem. I was planning to ask her out at the party… And if she says no…"
"I thought you said you guys weren't going to the party though?"
"Oh, right I haven't mentioned it yet. Weiss was a bit upset that we wouldn't be able to go meet with her friends. So we decided that we'd have a smaller party between all of our friends. We were planning to have it before moving locations."
"Okay so… You guys are having a party and you plan to ask Weiss out during it… I still don't see the problem." Yang said.
"What if she says no? We're planning to move live together for at least a little while right after and that could be really weird…" Yang sighed.
"Well, first of all, I think you're both idiots and should just go tell the police. I also think you two should get your asses over there today. And lastly, I'm pretty sure Weiss is the gayest gay of all gays for you." Ruby heard Blake do a spit take and start laughing uncontrollably in the background.
"But-" Ruby tried to come up with an excuse.
"No buts. Call Weiss when she gets off of work and get everything arranged. You two can't be acting like idiots right now. Right Blakey?" Ruby heard a muted confirmation and sighed.
"Alright, alright. We'll do it. Thanks, Yang." Ruby said, feeling oddly calm now.
"No problem. Now go. I have some ranting to do to Blake about you two and your idiocy." Ruby chuckled at that.
"I don't recall agreeing to such a thing." Ruby heard the muffled reply and could only laugh harder as Yang hung up the phone. After a few moments though she calmed down and sighed.
Time passed slowly as Ruby sat on the couch. Yang wasn't due to return home until late at night and Weiss was still at work for another few hours. So, having nothing else to do, Ruby got up and walked into her art room. She had work to do. There was planning, creating, painting, and other such things.
And with that, her determination returned. She picked up the rose she had been working on most recently and finished carving it. The flower itself had intricate little snowflakes on the petals and the stem had weaving thorn vines. After doing that, Ruby painted the flower petals a soft white and the stem a beautiful and natural looking green. This would be a great way to ask Weiss out.
Weiss had only been home for a short period before she was laying face down on her sofa. Apparently Ruby had been rubbing off on her, as she never would've acted this way only a few months ago. She only smiled at the realization as it didn't bother her in any way at this point.
Her smile only widened when her phone started to ring, already knowing who was calling. The thought of Ruby calling was all the motivation she needed in order to get up and find her phone. It was only a few quick moments before she was sitting once more, phone to her ear.
"Hello, Ruby. How are you doing?" Weiss asked.
"I'm doing pretty good. I talk to Yang and Blake earlier today too by the way."
"And what did they say? I assume you asked if we could borrow Blakes apartment in around a month?"
"Yeah, about that. So first of all, they want us to pack what we want to take. Then they plan to pick it all up and move it over to Blakes place. And while they're doing that, they want us to go to the police and tell them about the other night." Ruby chattered off quickly. It was a miracle that Weiss had even caught any of it.
"Alright, when do they want us to do this?" She asked Ruby.
"Um… Right now?" Ruby replied nervously. Neither of them seemed to be very fond of this idea.
"Right now?" Weiss verified.
"Yes. Like the kind of right now, that happened 18 minutes ago." Weiss couldn't help but smile at Ruby's odd words.
"I cannot say that I am pleased with this idea."
"Yeah, but since when can we say no to both Yang and Blake at the same time? They've got like, 10 feet on us and could probably just step on us if we don't listen." This time Weiss got out a full laugh this time.
"Are you sure that is not just the because Yang is your big sister? Because I can agree to the fact that big sisters can be quite scary." Ruby giggled at Weiss' words.
"Ruby! Get to packing. I expect you and Weiss to be at the police station in 15 minutes." Yang yelled out from the background of Ruby's phone. Weiss groaned slightly as Ruby sighed.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm getting to it." Ruby muttered.
"Well, we better get it done. The sooner the better I suppose."
"You're right. I'll talk to you soon I suppose. Oh, and just letting you know - I am most definitely not looking forward to this." Weiss smiled.
"Me neither, Ruby. But if you think about it, it is the smarter option. Probably." Weiss said, doubt just barely noticeable in her voice at the end.
A/N:
Hey everyone! I'm really sorry that this chapter is so short
and that this isn't quite as amazing as I would have
hoped it would be but I'm going through a few things
Right now. That being said, I plan to take things slow this next
week or two. If I manage to get a chapter done I'll still upload it
of course but don't expect anything. I won't be longer than
2 weeks though so we'll be back soon enough! On the other
hand! Let me know in the comments some things you
want to see happen in the story or what you all think would
be cool to see happen! And maybe even help me out with
what I should have Ruby say to Weiss to 'convince' her
to go out on a date? Maybe? No, I don't get any help?
Awww I see how it is. Anyways I hope you're enjoying the
story so far and that you continue to enjoy it!