Strangers: Become Lovers

Act III

R0S3

11:45

MONDAY

"Ruby…"

The human looked startled at having her name being called. She then put on a smile and waved at her. "O-oh, hey, Weiss. Aren't you supposed to be at Miss Goodwitch's office? For that ID thing?"

"I've already chosen my name" was the curt reply.

"Oh."

The human kept her smile for a couple more seconds before she looked down again, fidgeting in her seat.

-[10% - RUBY'S STRESS LEVEL]-

That was good. She was doing better. But… that didn't mean she was completely okay, especially after what had happened.

Weiss took a seat next to her and put her hand on the girl's thigh, causing the human to look at her.

"Ruby…" She swallowed. She was unused to speaking freely. But she would try for her dolt. "I want you to know that, no matter what happens, I will be there for you, just as you were there for me."

She didn't know if she should say anything more. She didn't think there was any need. She'd said all there was needed to be said.

Should she say more?

RUBY: Warm

Oh. Looks like there was no need.

"I know you will, Weiss," the human said, putting her warm hand on top of her own. "You saved me once. I've no doubt that you'll do it again."

"And I you."

She didn't know who leaned in first and who closed the distance. She didn't care that much either.

Their kiss was short and sweet and shy. And they lingered on each other even after they pulled apart.

She wished the kiss would've been longer and filled with more passion. She wished she didn't have to hold back. And she knew Ruby felt the same way with how she was looking at her.

But that was alright.

It wasn't as though they were going to leave each other.

They now had all the time in the world to slowly build their relationship, to make sure to let things come naturally, to not rush things.

They were free now.

Free to do whatever they pleased.

"So…" Ruby beamed expectantly. "What name did you pick? Is it something cool, like Miss Awesome? Or Gregorina the Great?" An excited gasp. "I bet it's Weiss Schnee!"

"No," she replied instantaneously.

"Aww."

Ruby took the rejection of the name at face value; it certainly played into the idea of her names both being German in origins, and she was in fact an SCHN33 model, but Weiss' logic was that the less she had to remind herself of where she came from, the better. Calling herself 'Weiss Schnee' was just a reminder of what she once was - if only very briefly, as it turns out.

She grinned. "I picked something much cooler: Ichden Keeskönntezu Frühseinumesliebezunennen Aberichliebedichtrotzdem." Her heightened processor accelerated her speaking to a point where some of the words sounded like they had joined together. Without pauses, it'd be hard to distinguish one word from another.

"Uhh…"

The newly named girl smiled, pecking Ruby on the nose to break her from her stupor of sheer confusion. "I'm only kidding," she admitted before giving out her real new name. Being able to joke of her own free will was something she would certainly relish doing. If it made Ruby smile, all the better for it.

It was hard to imagine that, less than a month ago, they were nothing more than strangers.

And now, those strangers had become lovers.

"Weiss Rose."

MISSION: COMPLETE

Author's Note:

I'd like to thank each and every one of you for sticking with me 'til the end. This story has its flaws, I know that, but I'm still proud of it, and proud of myself for finishing it. After this, I'll post a non-chapter where I'll talk about how this story came to be, deleted concepts, yadah yadah, all that jazz.

Oh, yeah, shoutout to FeugoFox42 for betaing this story! And for always commenting on each chapter, even though he didn't have to! You're a true friend, foxy!

So, uh, yeah. Sorry if this goodbye A/N is underwhelming. I'm still whipped from school, and I'd like to zonk out in bed XD just know that every little comment means a lot to me, and even if you don't comment, nor favorite, nor follow my story, the fact that you dedicated your time reading it is an honor. It means I've done something good.

So, yeah. Thanks a lot, everyone :)