10:13 AM
"So, what do you think?" Weiss held out two different outfits, looking at Yang expectantly. She was lounging on Weiss' bed, a plate of grapes beside her (that she absolutely assured Weiss she wouldn't get on her bed, so help her god!). She popped one into her mouth easily, chewing slowly. Weiss glared at her, waiting for her response.
Yang chewed.
"Nope," she answered finally, a mischievous grin on her face. Weiss bellowed a great big sigh, throwing the clothes on the floor. She went back to her suitcase.
"You're supposed to be-" Weiss grunted as she tipped the suitcase over, all the clothes spilling onto the floor. "Helping me."
Yang popped another grape into her mouth. "I know."
"Yang!" Weiss cried, exasperated. Yang just smiled.
"Just waiting on the words, Weiss," she said. Weiss sighed, collapsing onto the bed beside Yang. She muffled a long, drawn out groan into the pillow. One that she hoped would properly convey to Yang how pitiful she was, how much she deserved help.
She heard Yang pop another grape into her mouth.
Fine! Fine.
"You were right," Weiss flipped over onto her back, pushing the hair out of her face and taking a grape from Yang's plate. "I have feelings for Ruby, and-"
"The Big Gay," Yang corrected her. Weiss almost broke then, but she bit her laugh back. "Continue."
"I have feelings for Ruby," Weiss insisted. "And I want to do something at the dance, tonight. I want to... tell her, I guess."
"And...?" Yang prompted.
"And," Weiss grumbled. "I need your help. Please."
Yang put the plate between them on the night stand, then propped herself up on her elbow over Weiss. Her long hair curtained the both of them. Weiss pouted at the grinning figure over her. She crossed her arms.
"You are so absolutely welcome, Weiss Schnee," Yang cupped Weiss' cheeks together with on hand, smooshing her face together. She kissed Weiss' forehead and let go. "You're adorable."
Yang launched herself off the bed. Weiss rolled her eyes, pulling herself to sit at the edge of the bed. "Well, we need to convince Ruby of that," Weiss said.
"That's a negative, Ice Queen," Yang held up a top, examined it, then threw it over her shoulder. "We don't gotta convince Ruby of nothing. That girl is already ass over teakettle for you."
She held up three different tank tops in varying shades of white, quirked her brow, and then threw them at Weiss. "Besides, 'adorable' isn't the exactly the vibe we're going for here."
"What is the vibe we should be going for, then?" Weiss asked, respectfully folding her clothes and putting them all in a neat pile as Yang threw it at her.
"My gut check says 'sexy'," Yang said, holding up a bikini top and shooting Weiss a sultry look. Weiss snorted. "But, this isn't me and Blake, no, no."
"You're truly a maestro," Weiss said, standing up to snatch the top from Yang. The blonde put a hand on her chin, looking off into the distance in thought. Without another word, she left the room, slamming the door behind her. Weiss furrowed her brow.
Well, okay then. Weiss sighed, swinging her legs back up to lie down on her bed. She reached over for a couple more grapes.
Yang came back with a thunderous crash. She held a bundle in her hands, closing the door behind her with a kick.
"Got it," Yang announced with satisfaction. She dropped the bundle of clothes as Weiss' feet, pulling them out to give Weiss a good look at each other them proper.
"I had to dig through my closet, and I borrowed some from Blake's closet, but, ta-da!" Yang held a yellow sundress out triumphantly. Weiss examined each of the dresses. Light fabric, airy summer sundresses. Huh.
"Okay," Weiss said. Yang grinned.
10:32 AM
"So I need your help picking out what to wear, because I really want to impress Weiss, and I want to look pretty and-"
Blake held a hand over Ruby's mouth, silencing her. She nodded once, then let go to walk over to Ruby's suitcase.
"Of course I'll help- how many candy bars did you bring?" Blake held three snickers bars in one hand, digging them out from her suitcase, turning back to Ruby in question.
"I'm not me when I'm hungry, alright, quit judging me!" Ruby snatched the chocolate out of Blake's hand, unwrapping one and stuffing it in her mouth.
"Oh, honey," Blake said, shaking her head with her ears flattened.
"Ugh! You're right, this is all a bust, Weiss probably doesn't even like me like that- I'm probably just projecting my feelings onto her and we should just-" Ruby started on a tirade, her words muffled slightly from the chocolate bar in her mouth. She chewed furiously, looking embarrassed at herself as she crossed her arms tight and turned away from Blake.
"Woah, woah. Slow down, Rubes. I didn't say any of that," Blake stood up from Ruby's suitcase and walked over to the younger girl, wrapping her arms around Ruby and resting her chin atop Ruby's head. "Relax, alright? Weiss likes you plenty, I promise."
Ruby paused, swallowing her candy bar. Then she nodded. "Okay."
"Okay," Blake said, then kissed the top of Ruby's head. "So back to outfits."
"Back to outfits," Ruby sighed, lying on the bed. "What can I even wear to impress Weiss? She's from Atlas! Every day is probably, like, the freaking Met Gala."
"I think you're joking, but also I feel compelled to ask you exactly how much you actually know about Atlas, because that might be the source of all your problems here," Blake noted over her shoulder as she dug through Ruby's suitcase, respectfully folding each article of clothing as she put them away.
"You know what I mean," Ruby said, crossing her arms and turning her head to look at Blake. "Weiss is fancy, and I can't do fancy! How am I supposed to impress her?"
"Easy. Just be you," Blake said, holding up a red plaid shirt. She smiled, tossing it over to Ruby. Then a black tank top. "Ruby Rose, certified child genius, baker of cookies, and disaster gay. Own it, Rubes."
Ruby held the shirt, quirking her mouth to the side as she looked at Blake. "You sound more and more like Yang every day, you know that?"
"Only natural, as your future sister-in-law," Blake smiled smugly.
Ruby opened her mouth to gape at her, but then shut her mouth and shrugged instead. Yeah. That tracked.
"You really think this'll work out?" Ruby asked. Blake leaned against the dresser beside the bed.
"Ruby, you could wear your pyjamas and Weiss would still be smitten," she told her. Ruby frowned, then shook her head.
"No, I mean, Weiss and me," she said, her voice quiet and serious. "I really, really like her, Blake. I don't want to mess things up."
"Hey," Blake sat next to Ruby on the bed, taking her hand. "Leap of faith, right?"
"Right," Ruby huffed a dry chuckle.
"I think the two of you will be just fine," Blake spoke with absolute sincerity. "You two were made for each other."
Ruby frowned. "I thought you didn't believe in that kind of thing."
"I make exceptions here and there," Blake winked. "Really. Weiss makes you happy. You make her very happy, too. It'll work out. Promise."
Ruby took a deep breath. "You've got that much faith huh?"
"Only when the outcome is clear," Blake nudged Ruby with her shoulder.
"Okay," Ruby said after a long pause, exhaling explosively. She ran a hand through her hair and nodded. "Okay."
11:30 AM
Weiss stared and stared at the dress hanging off the hook behind the door. It was an elegant white sundress. She wasn't exactly sure whose wardrobe it came out of (she put her money more on Yang than Blake), but she had to admit, it looked gorgeous. She took it off the hook, turning to the full length mirror in the corner of the room and holding it out in front of her.
She exhaled slowly, closing her eyes. She tried to imagine it. Ruby looking at her from across the room, the smile on her face, the lovely, easy step in her gait. In her mind's eye, she saw Ruby like she always did, just wearing her simple clothes, jeans and a red jacket. She imagined Ruby sweeping her off her feet and placing her on the dance floor, right in the middle. She imagined it was dark, and there was nobody looking. No spotlights. No eyes. No attention. Just her and Ruby, swaying softly, ever so softly to the melody of some unheard song. The two of them spinning slowly and holding each other close. She tried to feel Ruby's soft skin, the warmth of her cheek against Weiss' own.
Weiss opened her eyes, finding her expression in the mirror almost unrecognizable. Calm. At ease, like the air inside her lungs was the same air as outside her lungs. She wondered if that was what Winter saw, when she knew. Maybe that was what everyone saw. She understood then, how everyone could tell her that it was so obvious.
She took another deep breath. When she exhaled, her breath shook, and shuddered. The thought of it all was killing her. The anticipation alone was torturous. And all of it based on the assumption that this would work.
When she thought about a plan, earlier, as Ruby said those three words she hadn't been able to get out of her head since, Weiss felt like she should have come up with something a little more concrete than this. But all in all, it wasn't a plan she had come up with so much as a resolve. A determination to get this all right, once and for all. The solidified desire to love, love for its own sake. For her own sake. For the smile on Ruby's face, and the song that her heart sang every time she saw it.
Take that, Atlas. Remember this as the day Weiss Schnee broke free from your clutches.
Her phone pinged with a message on the dresser table. Weiss carefully hung her dress back up on the hook before going over to unlock her phone.
It was from Ruby.
hey!
Weiss had half a mind to kick herself, because she shouldn't have been smiling so hard at just this one message from Ruby, who was also only three feet away in the other room.
Hello, Weiss typed back.
you excited for tonight?
If only she knew. Weiss held the phone to her chest, backing up until the back of her legs hit the bed, then sinking into it.
Yes, Weiss typed. Then she paused. We're only a couple feet away, you do realise?
ye :p
Weiss rolled her eyes.
I'm coming over.
She almost leapt out of bed as she headed out into the hallway. Weiss knocked on Ruby's door.
"What's the password?" came the muffled reply from inside the room. Weiss could hear Ruby's smile, god help her. She crossed her arms, even though she knew Ruby couldn't see it. She felt like Ruby could hear it, too.
"Cactus," Weiss deadpanned. She heard soft laughter, before Ruby opened the door.
"It's as good a password as any," she said, mock indignation lacing her tone. Weiss rolled her eyes, but entered the room. It seemed brighter than her own, though maybe it was just the present company. Weiss sat at the edge of the bed.
"Should I know anything about the event tonight?" she asked, watching Ruby as she shut the door and turned to face her. Ruby stood there for a few moments longer than she probably should have, and Weiss fought to keep the urge to just grab her right then and there and kiss her, to make her feel all the feelings Weiss felt. But no, that was for later. In the back of her mind, she thought that maybe being alone in her room was tempting fate a little bit. But it was fun, almost irresistible, really- this razor's edge they were walking, the middle line of hope and longing. Weiss didn't realise how fun it was to live so dangerously.
"Nothing, really. There are gonna be a couple people we know there. I'll introduce you to them. They're great people," Ruby said. "They're going to like you."
"High praise, considering our first couple interactions," Weiss countered, quirking her brow. Ruby scoffed.
"Who among us hasn't yelled at someone knocking them flat on their butt?" Ruby took to sitting on the dresser, swinging her legs.
"Most people, really," Weiss said.
"Well, most people are, like," Ruby blew a raspberry. "You know?"
Weiss breathed a laugh. "Sure, Ruby."
"Anyways, look how we turned out," Ruby gestured between the two of them.
"Look how we turned out," Weiss repeated. She swallowed thickly, the anticipation of the night caressing itself across her skin, coiling itself around her windpipe and threatening to take her out even before it began.
Maybe it was the way Ruby was looking at her, the bleeding edge of affection that made her believe. Maybe it was the way she felt, finally breaking down the doors she had locked up so securely, then desperately knocked on, wanting to badly to get back in. All the force in the world hadn't managed it, but three little words from Ruby had done the trick marvellously.
Whatever it was, Weiss would find out tonight.
3:23 PM
Ruby sighed blissfully in the summer heat, taking a seat in the back deck, on the lawn chairs Yang had decided to place there. Said older sister was already on one, sprawled out in her bikini and soaking up the delightful rays.
"Hey there, Rubes," Yang called out, dipping her aviators slightly to look at Ruby in acknowledgement.
"Hey Yang," Ruby said as she relaxed fully into the chair, interlocking her hands behind her head. Summer was delightful. Today was... kind of perfect. After the rocky start in the morning. Surprisingly, she wasn't all that nervous about the festival later that night. Even though the thought of holding Weiss close made her heart stutter and her stomach flip, she was more excited than anything. Maybe it was how Weiss looked when she answered the door earlier- happy as anything, all because she was around Ruby. That, and Blake's words lit a cool, confident fire in her. Lookit at her go.
"How are things? Where's Weiss?" Yang asked.
"She went out with Blake to check out the bookstore, you know how those nerds are," Ruby snorted a laugh. Yang hummed in agreement.
"So..." she started, turning slightly to look at Ruby. Ruby cracked open her eyes to look at Yang with a quizzical expression.
"Yeah...?" Ruby shrugged. Yang smiled.
"So, you and Weiss," Yang said. Ruby smiled, looking away. Yang laughed in response. "I assume it's going well then."
"Yeah. I mean, yeah? Yeah," Ruby scratched at her temple, feeling the first edges of doubt and worry creep in. Ah, dang it.
"You got something planned for tonight, I take it?" Yang probed further. Ruby paused before nodding. Yang sighed. "Oh, to be young and gay."
"You're young and gay," Ruby grumbled.
"Hell yeah I am," Yang clicked her tongue and winked at Ruby behind her shades. Ruby only rolled her eyes. "Come on, after the whole boat thing- you're definitely going to seal the deal tonight, right?"
"... Maybe," Ruby replied evasively. It seemed confirmation enough for Yang though, who chuckled heartily.
"Look at you go, Ruby Rose," she reached out to knuckle at Ruby's hair. "My baby sister's all grown up and stuff. Getting it on with the rich, pretty girls. The apple truly does not fall far from the tree."
"Ugh. Maybe it'll be worth it not to do it just so I don't have to endure you and Blake being all smug about it," Ruby jabbed at Yang.
"Oh, please. We both know there's not a force in the universe that could've kept you two apart," Yang said. Then she quieted for a moment, her cheerful demeanour melting away slightly. "Can I ask you something, Ruby? When did you know?"
Ruby paused for a moment, thinking about it. It wasn't a moment, not so much an on-off switch. It was more like... an instinct. A truth she had known bone-deep, even if she hadn't had the thoughts or words to articulate it. It was the red thread of fate that looped itself round and round her heart and tugged, binding her to Weiss permanently. She smiled, thinking that it was a relief to have it all out in the open finally.
"I want to say it was sometime between Christmas and New Year's. I got her a gift, and I told her about mom, and we went ice-skating. She was- is- my favourite person in the world. But if I'm being honest?" Ruby took a deep breath. "The moment I laid eyes on her, that day in class. I couldn't get my mind off her since."
Yang was silent for moment. "Damn," she muttered.
"Yeah," Ruby agreed. "What about you?" she asked.
Yang smiled wide then. "Remember when she got sick a couple summers ago? When her parents were away for a few days, and she was all alone. I was over at her place, taking care of her. She had to puke, and I was holding her hair back and comforting her."
"Wait, really?"
Yang sighed. "I was already half in love with her, but it became real then. She was at her objective worst, and all I could think about how beautiful she was. I wanted to take care of her forever, if that's what she needed. The part that really, really sealed the deal? She apologised afterwards. Said that she knew I was always taking care of everyone, and she wanted to take care of me too."
"Yang, that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard," Ruby reached over to hold Yang's hand. She knew how much that must have meant to Yang.
"It's no Titanic," she scrunched her nose at Ruby. "But I think it's pretty damn good."
"We've got it pretty good, huh?" Ruby said, looking up into the sky. All of a sudden her heart was filled with gratitude. Love, in whatever form it took in Ruby's life, was something she could never take for granted ever again. How lucky she was to find someone with so much of it to give her. How lucky she was to feel it, every single day. All the doubt in her mind dissipated. She loved Weiss. How could that be wrong?
"We've got it great, Ruby."
They sat in the sun, in comfortable, content silence for a while. Everything was going to be fine.
Yang's phone dinged. She cracked one eye open and picked it up.
"'sthat Blake?" Ruby asked, a little bit more than halfway in a nap. Yang smirked.
"Nope, it's Old Maria," Yang swung her legs to the side of the chair. "We've been summoned, oh young one."
Ruby shot up out of her seat. "Maria's here?!"
"Yeah. Let's go meet her at the lighthouse," Yang got up as well, stretching her limbs. "C'mon, get dressed. I'll tell Blake that we're going over early. They can meet us there."
3:50 PM
"Weiss, I'm just saying, have you even considered the logistics of it all?" Blake asked her, shopping bags full of books in both hands, a severe, sarcastic expression on her face.
"Blake, we're not talking about this again," Weiss groaned, though the smile on her face was wide and genuine. She unlocked the front door and stepped in, Blake hot on her heels.
"If you marry Ruby before I marry Yang, our wedding is just going to be all 'Weiss Schnee's sister in law gets married'. None of the headlines will be about me," Blake said emphatically, setting her bags down on the coffee table. "And I'm just not sure my parents will approve of that."
"I'm sure your parents will be fine," Weiss rolled her eyes.
"Sure, they'll love that I'm marrying Yang, but still," Blake pointed at Weiss for emphasis.
"You know, I didn't think that getting together with Yang would have rubbed off on you so much. You two were best friends for years before," Weiss said. Blake shrugged, a dopey little smile on her face.
"It's all about trust, I guess," Blake said absently; the look on her face indicated that she was about a million miles away. She broke out of her reverie suddenly, looking at Weiss with a serious expression on her face.
"I used to be with someone terrible. A man named Adam. He was abusive, manipulative, and angry," Blake told her. Weiss blanched.
"Blake, you don't have to..." Weiss said, stepping closer to the other girl. Blake shook her head, her eyes shut. She breathed in deep once.
"No, I want to. I haven't told you, and you're one of my best friends," Blake said. She moved over to the mantle, grabbing the first group photo that featured Yang and Ruby. "I ran away from my parents for a while, to be with him and join the White Fang. And for a while, it was everything I ever wanted. Then I started seeing all these... ugly things. In him. In the White Fang. For a while I thought the two were linked. That they were one and the same. They weren't. There was just a lot of ugliness in my life at that point. So after a long while, longer than it should have been, I left. Tried putting it all behind me. I went back home, and we moved to Vale shortly after. Then I met Yang, and I want you to know that it didn't take me very long to fall for her."
Blake spoke with clear conviction. She wasn't uncomfortable, or guilty. All Weiss could see was Blake telling a story, almost like all of this had happened to someone else, and not the raven-haired girl standing right in front of her. It was-
Well, it was honestly inspiring. Weiss wondered if she would get to that point some day soon. Thinking and talking about Atlas like it was just another bump in the road, an obstacle in her path that led to Ruby, instead of the insurmountable mountain it felt like sometimes.
"I wanted to be with her, but it felt like I couldn't trust it. Trust her. I'd been burned before, and I didn't want it to happen again," Blake took a seat on the couch, motioning for Weiss to sit beside her. She took her seat, and Blake continued. "Sometimes, I don't know, I think it maybe was a mistake to wait that long. Sometimes I think that's how it had to happen, exactly like that. But it's a happy ending. And I won't ever let the past hold me back again."
"Blake, I-"
Blake held up a hand to stop Weiss. "I'm not done. Weiss, I love you. You're going to be my maid of honour."
"Aw, Blake," Weiss held a hand over her chest, surprised and extremely touched by this frank and abrupt sharing session. Blake leaned over to plant a kiss on Weiss' cheek.
God damn, she really was surrounded by love.
"Still wasn't done. Anyway, I just want you to know that I know this whole thing with Ruby hasn't been easy for you. I've left well enough alone, unlike Yang, because I knew you'd find your way home. But I want you to know that I am very proud of you," Blake held Weiss' hand. "For being brave enough to let the past go."
Weiss turned to hug Blake, and this was one of those things that didn't take much thinking to do. Blake returned the hug easily.
"I love you too, Blake. Thank you," Weiss said.
"Phew. I've been waiting a while to tell you that," Blake said as they broke apart. "Now come on, let's get dressed. Our ladies are waiting for us at the lighthouse."
4:30 PM
"Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long, my eyes don't deceive me yet," Maria adjusted her giant, thick framed glasses on her face. She tapped her cane on the ground once, her smile wide on her face. She was old, to put it simply. Wisps of gray hair framed her face, her wrinkles pronounced and prominent. With surprisingly quick, spry movements that didn't seem to betray her age, she walked over to the two sisters.
"Maria!" Ruby exclaimed, gently reaching down to hug her. Yang joined in behind her.
They had known Maria for a long time, or so Ruby was told. She never had any memories of her from when she was young, only seeing her a couple times after her mom's funeral. Apparently, her parents and Qrow had met her in their youth, and she had taken a liking to them all. Since their parents were gone, Maria had kind of taken a de-facto role as Ruby and Yang's grandmother (though reluctantly, as she would tell them, even as she sat with them regaling stories of her youth and cups of tea). She apparently lived up near Haven, visiting the sleepy beach town every once in a while, a fact that was unknown to both of them until they met her there one summer. Tai had neglected to mention this fact to either of his kids.
"How are you doing? We didn't think you'd be down here so soon," Yang asked as they broke apart. Maria walked, slow and steady steps, towards the lighthouse.
"Neither did I, to tell you the truth," she shrugged. She looked at the two girls, a slight smile on her face. "But, well, life has a funny way of getting you places."
"It sure does," Ruby said, hands stuffed in the pockets of her jeans as she walked easily beside her.
"Where's your friend, Blake?" Maria looked at Yang, who smiled sheepishly as she tugged at her hair.
"She was out when you called. And, well-"
"Yang and her are together now," Ruby explained easily. Maria paused, quirking a brow and looking at Yang.
"Well. About damn time," she said after a little pause. Yang blew a sigh of relief, then rolled her eyes. "It was cute watching you two skirt around each other, but it got pretty tired after a while."
"Oh, then you're about to have a field day with this one, lady," Yang nudged at Ruby's arm. Maria made a sound in the back of her throat, looking slightly at Ruby. "We brought another one this time around, Ruby's little beau."
"Hey, so why are you in town, anyway?" Ruby immediately changed the subject with the blistering speed of someone who was trying to avoid embarrassment. Which, like, she was. So.
"I'll explain inside. Back to embarrassing you, though- who's this mystery person?" Maria paused just outside the door, turning to face Ruby, who looked at Yang scornfully.
"She's just- a girl. We're friends. I like her," Ruby explained haltingly, picking at the hem of her shirt as she looked anywhere except Maria's comically large eyes, magnified by the thick lenses she wore.
"Her name is Weiss Schnee," Yang helpfully supplied. Maria paused, trying to place the name. "You know, like Schnee, as in Schnee Dust Company, that kind of Schnee."
"Oh," Maria raised her brows. "Ruby Rose," she said, her tone conveying her amazement and admonishment in equal measures. "Are you going around corrupting nice, rich, Atlas elites?"
"It's not- she's not like that!" Ruby protested. Yang shrugged.
"She's a little like that," Yang crossed her arms, smirking. Ruby turned a shade redder.
"I- I mean she was," Ruby sputtered. Maria laughed, poking at Ruby's shin with her cane.
"Relax, kiddo. If you two like her enough to bring her out here," she gestured grandly at the sleepy beach-side town. "Then she must be alright. Now come on in, I have to introduce you to someone."
They entered, the two sisters both cautiously curious. Maria had seemed a little nervous, if wistful about alluding to this mysterious person, they assumed it was her reason for coming up to Haven.
Inside the lighthouse, the decorations were almost all put up. There were a few people milling about, putting up the last minute streamer, or filling up the punch bowl. There was delicious smelling food laid out on the benches that lined the floor. It looked lovely. The sun was still up, but Ruby knew that the sunset would line up with the perfect, open balcony. There was a little tent set up there, with fairy lights strew up overhead, and speakers at each corner of the tent. It was their dance floor for the night. Ruby swallowed nervously at the sight of it, imagining herself and Weiss entwined, swaying to a soft beat. Her heart almost flipped at the mental image.
Suddenly, she both dreaded and couldn't wait for Weiss to appear. She felt a little more self conscious about what she chose to wear then, picking at the edges of her flannel shirt again. What if this all went wrong? What if she and Weiss weren't meant to be together after all, and Ruby would just ruin this whole summer by doing this? Disaster Gay, right? That was what Blake called her. Accurate. Hurtful, but accurate.
She let her eyes wander back to Maria, who was now accompanied by an old man in a wheel chair. They approached the two girls. Maria visibly shifted as she stood, clearly a little uncomfortable.
"Girls, this is Pietro Polendina," she reached out and held his hand. The both of them were beaming, Maria a little more cautiously than Pietro. He had a kindly air about him. His small round spectacles clung onto the bridge of his nose, and his eyes almost squinted shut as he smiled. He had on an adorable newsie cap, and a fashionable brown vest. "He's my... we're together."
Ruby and Yang exchanged glances, almost utterly dumbfounded at this revelation.
"Maria, that's..." Yang started, but trailed off as she tried to find her words. She looked to Ruby for help.
"Great! We didn't know you were still, y'know," Ruby held her hands out, mumbling and gesturing vaguely. She withdrew her hands and cleared her throat after a moment.
"Pietro, these are... my grandkids, basically," she looked at him and smiled. Ruby's heart melted just a little bit.
"It's very nice to meet you both," he wheeled forward, letting go of Maria's hand to hold each of theirs. "Maria has told me much about you two."
"It's nice to meet you too," Yang said, holding her hand over his. Ruby echoed her statement.
They continued chatting a little more as they sat around inside. Apparently he was Maria's optometrist, with a daughter of his own around Ruby's own age. He was also from Atlas, where he had served in their military under their science division. Ruby wondered if Weiss would know about him. Their story was pretty sweet, Ruby had to admit. She didn't know much about Maria's old history of dating, only that she never married or had kids of her own. The whole thing made Ruby feel... hopeful. Suddenly, she felt like all around, all she could see or feel was love.
It was in the way Yang would always have an extra hair tie for Blake if she ever needed it.
It was in the way Maria stared at Pietro, content.
It was even all the way back in Vale, in how Jaune was always trying for Pyrrha, even after they had gotten together.
It was in the way Weiss would take Ruby's hand, sit beside her, and smile.
So when Weiss and Blake finally did appear, Ruby could feel her heart grow. She was wearing this gorgeous white sundress. The wind billowed in to ruffle the ends of it, to make the beautiful ivory strands of hair that framed her face wave. She was smiling nervously, though no less genuine than normal. Ruby couldn't help the smile of her own. All the cells in her body vibrated the moment she laid eyes on her. The beauty of it all astounded her. Ruby made herself sit still and wait as they walked over, step by agonizing step. She finally stood up as they neared.
"Weiss," Ruby said, the name natural in her mouth, the sound like a harmony in her ears. "You look," she felt her breath hitch a little bit. Pretty Atlas girls tended to have that effect on her. "Amazing. Beautiful."
Ruby reached her hand over slightly, to capture the nail of Weiss' pinky finger in her thumb and forefinger, squeezing slightly. The small contact made her hunger for more. But the party had barely even started. Her heart wobbled and wavered as Weiss' smile widened. She could drink it in all day.
"Thank you," Weiss said, her hands moving to interlace themselves in front of her. "You look... really good, too," Weiss bit her lip, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I meant to say you look gorgeous, and I-" she caught herself babbling again and clammed up. It made Ruby want to laugh.
"See, Maria, what'd I tell you?" she heard Yang say from behind her. Ruby turned to find all four of them watching the scene unfold. Both Ruby and Weiss started blushing. Ruby cleared her throat, dispelling some of the awkwardness.
"You weren't wrong," Maria tilted her head at Yang, who smiled wolfishly. Ugh.
"Weiss, this is Maria and her boyfriend, Pietro," Ruby sighed before turning to gesture towards the others. Weiss met her eyes, the surprise well hidden but apparent to Ruby. Ruby just nodded. She had told Weiss about Maria before, but it probably was still a surprise to just meet her unannounced, especially with Pietro in tow. Weiss, to her eternal credit, took all of it in stride- way faster than either Yang and Ruby had, at any rate.
"It's good to finally meet you, Maria and Pietro. Ruby and Yang have told me all about you," Weiss shook Maria and Pietro's hand in turn. He smiled politely at her, but Maria had a more mischievous look about her. Ruby scowled at the old woman, telling her to keep it cool. She merely shrugged.
"I'm sure they've left out a lot, but it's a pleasure," Maria said. Pietro acted with a little more deference.
"Miss Schnee," he said, surprise colouring the edges of his voice. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm not sure if you remember me, you were so young then, but I worked for a while under your family's employ. I'm happy to see you're doing well."
Weiss swallowed thickly. Ruby noticed she was tensing up a little. She stood by Weiss' side, giving her a small smile.
"I'm sorry, I- I met quite a lot of people when I was younger. I-" Weiss began to stammer out, flustered. Pietro laughed and waved her off.
"Please, Miss Schnee, it's alright. I'm quite aware of your upbringing," he lowered his voice a little, a glint in his eye. "You and your sister did well to get out," he winked. Weiss froze. Then she smiled, a precious thing that bloomed wide on her face.
"Yes," she said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "Thank you, Pietro."
"Alright, alright, enough with the introductions, let's get ourselves some drinks," Maria said. Weiss looked at Ruby, and for the length of a heartbeat, Ruby found that she could map out the entire rest of her life out in the depths of those blue eyes.
"C'mon," Ruby said, her body acting faster than her mind as she extended a hand towards Weiss. She took it without hesitation, gripping her tight. "We'll get the drinks."
6:15 PM
The sun was starting to set, dipping lower and lower into the sky. Weiss' whole body felt like vibrating, each and every cell that made up her being feeling the churning, wrenching excitement that the sunset brought. More specifically, the activity that would take place during sunset.
Dancing.
Weiss held her drink in her hands, watching the balcony fill up with people.
She had met a colourful assortment of locals and tourists alike. Ruby had spent her time carting her around from group to group. Weiss watched as they all in turn cheered in delight as they spotted Ruby. Apparently the Rose- Xiao Longs had made themselves quite popular in their short tenure in Haven every year.
Weiss found it fun. It was nice to be a nobody for a while. Barely anybody recognized her, and those who did only had a passing knowledge of her. She had to get through with a few dry comments and genuine smiles and sometimes raucous laughter and always, always with Ruby by her side.
They had been separated as soon as a group of them had carted Ruby away over to a keg, Yang in tow. It hadn't gotten particularly wild yet, especially compared to the usual affair of parties they dragged her to. But it was nice.
So Weiss took the opportunity to lean against a wall, her drink in her hand, watching everyone mill about, music thumping loudly outside. Summer festival, alright. Little more than an excuse for a city sponsored party, but well hey what did she know? Atlesians did far more for far weaker excuses. And this wasn't boring, so there.
And there she was across the room, just like Weiss had imagined. The sun was behind her, and oh how her heart absolutely leapt at the sight of Ruby silhouetted against the setting summer sun. Her red flannel fanned about at her hips, her sleeves pulled up to her forearms, her short hair framing her perfect heart-shaped face. Ruby walked towards Weiss, the corner of her mouth upturned in an easy smile. Weiss felt her heart pound. Her palms felt sweaty against the cup she suddenly realised she was crushing in her hands. Quickly she set it down on the nearest table and set her hands to her side, clenching and unclenching her fists and breathing in short bursts.
"Hey," Ruby said as she reached Weiss. The wind billowed about the open room, and all of it made Weiss feel light. Light, like she could take Ruby's hands and float off into the distance. Light, like she was stretched out beyond eternity, all in the expanse of Ruby's eyes. Light, like there wasn't anything she couldn't do when she was with Ruby. She was strong and brave and infinite.
"Hi," Weiss breathed. It was all she could do to not take Ruby's hands in her own and lean forward and let the universe take care of the rest. Because that's how it felt, in her heart of hearts; this was destiny. This was eventually, and eventually was now, and now was breathtaking.
"You enjoying yourself?" Ruby asked, hands in her pockets as she moved to lean against the wall next to Weiss.
"Yes. Everyone here is..." Weiss tilted her head, searching for the right words.
"Crazy? Fun? Amazing?" Ruby supplied. Weiss smiled.
"I was going to say way more exciting than anybody in Atlas, but yes, that about covers it," Weiss said. Ruby tutted.
"Aw, come on, it couldn't have been all that bad," she said. Weiss clicked her tongue.
"I suppose you're an expert on Atlas high society now?" Weiss said.
Ruby bit her lip. "Not particularly. I can't even curtsy," Ruby kicked up her legs, then launched off the wall to step forward in front of Weiss. "But, you know, you came out of Atlas, and you're amazing, so."
Weiss put her hands on her hips. "Flatterer."
Ruby stuck her tongue out. "Only for the pretty ones."
Dammit, how was Ruby so much better than her at this? Weiss blushed.
Ruby held a hand out. Weiss took it without a moment's pause.
"May I have this dance?" Ruby asked, gentle though her smile was anything but.
"Of course, madame," Weiss said. "This one, and all the ones after."
And so Ruby lead her by the hand, running towards the sunset.
6:40 PM
They danced, their bodies moving and swaying to the beat of the music like they were meant for it. Though they were swept up in the crowd, Ruby never lost sight of Weiss. She always managed to hear Weiss' breathless laughter even through all the noise. Her hand always managed to find Weiss', always when it was meant to.
And god was she beautiful. If Ruby had known that the new girl, all gorgeous and stiff, would have looked so radiant on the dance floor, she wouldn't have hesitated so much before trying. Her hair whipped about her face, an ivory halo around her. Her dress suited her wonderfully as she moved her body in ways Ruby could only dream of.
The song ended, and a moment's silence reigned as everyone caught their breaths. Ruby found Weiss next to her, breathless and giddy. Ruby wanted to capture that moment forever, sear it into her mind so she could just look at it whenever she wanted. Nothing better than seeing Weiss Schnee happy.
A slow song started playing. The beat took its time, and people started laughing and murmuring, pairing up and swaying gently together.
Ruby looked at Weiss. Weiss looked back. She swallowed thickly, her arms and hands feeling twitchy and somehow bound to the places on Weiss she thought was appropriate to touch, to dance with her. Her mind wandered somewhere else. Weiss didn't move for a while either.
"Hey," Weiss said, her voice gentle, though the way she made Ruby's heart hammer wasn't. She took Ruby's hand. "Come with me."
Always.
Weiss led her out of the balcony, back into the lighthouse. They made a beeline straight for the door and found themselves on the pier.
"Where are we going?" Ruby asked. Weiss looked back at her, eyes bright, and the answer wouldn't have mattered anyway, Ruby was fully prepared to follow her anywhere.
She led her down to the beach, both of them leaving their shoes by the pier. The music emanating from the lighthouse was faint, only the deep bass notes reaching their way down to them. The sounds of the ocean waves eventually drowned it out as they started walking down the beach, hand in hand, at this point illuminated only by the fading twilight.
"You weren't enjoying the party?" Ruby asked, pausing to pull her jeans up around her shins.
"Oh no, I was," Weiss said, turning to face Ruby. "But I just wanted to get you alone."
Weiss moved in close, putting her arms around Ruby's neck.
"Well, you've got me," Ruby whispered. Her hands moved instinctively to hold her waist.
"I hope so," Weiss breathed.
And there they were, holding each other close as they started swaying. To the music inside their souls. To the gentle rush of the ocean. To the beating of their hearts. Ruby smelled the salt of the ocean breeze tangled in with the scent of Weiss' coconut shampoo she liked using. They looked deep into each other's eyes. Ruby couldn't do anything else. She was in love, love, love. Truly. Madly. Deeply. All of that sappy stuff, and a million times more. It was all true, and it only got truer by the minute. She thought about the first time she saw Weiss. She thought about telling Winter. She thought about Weiss wrapping her arms around her from behind, and her voice, husky and genuine in her ear.
Weiss moved in closer, hugging Ruby.
"I feel so safe with you," Weiss said. They had stopped swaying. "Like I could do anything, and I'd be okay. I feel like nothing before I met you matters."
Ruby felt her hands tremble. Her breath hitched, and she moved her hands up and down Weiss' back.
"You make me so happy, Weiss," Ruby murmured into her ear. "I meant what I said before."
Weiss pulled away, staring at Ruby. Her eyes were shining.
"I know," Weiss breathed.
Then she leaned in and kissed Ruby.
Trembling, pink lips against her own.
Ruby's hand tangled in her hair, her other hand wrapped around her waist completely.
Weiss made a sound in the back of throat that sounded like rapture.
It was indescribable.
Ruby couldn't even begin to try. It was the biggest feeling of catharsis she had ever felt. It simultaneously felt like destiny, and the biggest stroke of luck. It felt like love. It felt like-
It felt like she was kissing Weiss Schnee.
God.
6:55 PM
Weiss didn't really bother with the 'why' and the 'how', at least not in the moment. She was sure her brain would eventually catch up, though. She'd always thought it was always trailing behind her heart, after all.
But the moment, as Weiss would recall it later (because she was helpless, helpless to do anything else but be in it at the moment), was as perfect as she could ask for. Any moment with Ruby was, after all. Weiss felt like she didn't breathe the entire time her lips were on Ruby's, and how could she, even? How could anyone ever want to do anything so boring as breathing when they could do something exciting like kissing?
They pulled away, and Weiss hadn't felt such disappointment in so long.
They stared at each other for a while, silver on blue. All she could manage in response was a smile. A smile that grew in tandem with Ruby's own. Ruby started laughing, and Weiss could never help it, she always loved that sound. So she kissed Ruby again, and Ruby kissed her back twice as hard, and she was smiling so their teeth clacked together once or twice but it was okay, it was magnificent, it was better than anything Weiss had ever done.
Weiss was still clutching onto the front of Ruby's shirt when she pulled away.
"Ruby," she said, and she could see her shivering in the cool summer air, and she knew it wasn't from the cold. Her eyes went from Weiss' eyes to her mouth, to the exposed column of her neck, back up to her eyes, and Weiss licked her lips in heady anticipation.
"I love you," Weiss said, and for once, for once in her life, it was easy. The words tumbled out of her like it was always meant to, like she couldn't help it at all. And if she thought about it for a half-second, she would realize that no, she couldn't help it really, even if she tried. Not when Ruby was here, and they were close, so close, and about two seconds ago, they had their lips locked and Weiss' heart was beating hard in her ears.
"You said it," Ruby exhaled a shaky laugh, and she closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Weiss'. "You said it. I love you, Weiss. God."
That was a win. That was the biggest win Weiss would ever get. It deserved celebration, surely. So Weiss kissed her again. She could do it all damned day.
They spent the rest of the night on the beach. When they returned to the house, Weiss followed Ruby back into her room. They slept holding each other close, their hearts beating as one.
Not done quite yet. One more left.