So this isn't quite a song-fic, but it's still a music-filled chapter. To help understand it a bit, lyrics on the left side are sung by Ruby, while lyrics on the right side are sung by Weiss. Lyrics in the bold are sung by both girls at the same time.
Weiss felt like she was on death row, imagining herself as a convict in some supermax prison, waiting for her name to be called before she's taken behind the steel door to meet whatever grisly fate awaits her. Except this wasn't a prison and she wasn't an inmate, but rather she was waiting for her and Ruby's names to be called to be the next group to sing for Karaoke Night at Papa Pepperoni's Pizza Parlor. She nervously sipped her glass of water, even though it had long since been empty and was nothing more than noisy ice cubes loudly clanking together.
"Rellaaaaax!" Ruby said with a warm smile. "You're going to rock the house! And besides, you've sung in front of the crowds before."
"This is totally different!" Weiss protested. "Those were formal events, balls, galas, fundraisers - places with class and sophistication. I've never sung anything with an animatronic mouse as the DJ!"
"Well, there's a first time for everything!" Ruby said with a giggle and sipped her umpteenth coffee of the night. Weiss just sighed and looked at the television monitor, seeing how many people were in front of them. Just one, and they were currently taking the stage. Weiss swallowed hard, her hand shaking slightly. This was not like her! She was a Schnee and Schnees do not run from challenges. Taking a deep breath, she used some of the breathing exercises Ren had taught her to calm herself and bring her heartbeat down to a normal level and it partially worked. The couple on stage sang decently, but the woman's voice cracked on some of the high notes and Weiss internally scoffed. She couldn't help it, it was just her nature. She had been trained by some of the most talented singers in Atlas! The duo received mild applause, as Papa Pepperoni's felt and machine avatar announced the next singer.
"Alright, give it up for Nice Dynamite! Next up, we have a first-time appearance, so please put your hands together for White Rose!"
"White Rose?" Weiss whispered, following Ruby up on stage.
"Yeah, it's cute, right? I think it should be our couples name."
"Couples name? Why do we need a couples name?"
"Duh!" Ruby said with an eye roll, "all cute couples have couples names! Don't you read the news? Celebrities do it all the time."
Weiss was about ready to protest when the melody of the song kicked and the lyrics displayed on the stage facing monitor.
"Ruby!" she hissed. "I don't know this song. At all."
"It's cool, just sing the parts in white and I'll sing the parts in red. Then we both sing the parts in pink. Just follow the colors, Snowflake!"
Weiss took one last deep breath and stared out into the audience as she held the microphone to her lips as Ruby started to sing the first verse.
Baby seems we never ever agree
You like the movies
And I like T.V.
I take thing serious
And you take 'em light
I go to bed early
And I party all night
Our friends are sayin'
We ain't gonna last
Cuz I move slowly
And baby I'm fast
I like it quiet
And I love to shout
But when we get together
It just all works out
I take-2 steps forward
I take-2 steps back
We come together
Cuz opposites attract
And you know-it ain't fiction
Just a natural fact
We come together
Cuz opposites attract
'This actually isn't so bad...' Weiss thought as the musical interlude hit. Ruby was having the time of her life, twirling, singing, making exaggerated hand gestures along with the music. Whether she was doing it on purpose or not, she was wiggling her hips a bit while she sang and with Weiss standing slightly behind her, it was giving her emotions that could not be acted upon in public.
Who'd a thought we could be lovers
She makes the bed
And she steals the covers
She likes it neat
And she makes a mess
I take it easy
Baby, I get obsessed
She's got the money
And she's always broke
I don't like puns
And I like to joke
Things in common
There just ain't a one
But when we get together
We have nothin' but fun
I take-2 steps forward
I take-2 steps back
We come together
Cuz opposites attract
And you know-it ain't fiction
Just a natural fact
We come together
Cuz opposites attract
They sang the chorus a few more times before the song faded out. Weiss' face was sweating from the hot stage lights and from the nerves of singing this song while Ruby was bowing like an opera singer after a masterful performance.
"WHITE ROSE! WHITE ROSE! WHITE ROSE!" the crowd cheered in approval, giving the two girls a standing ovation. Weiss was flabbergasted and blushed at this show of approval, but when Ruby's arm snaked around her waist and pulled her in for a romantic kiss, those fears melted away.
"You were terrific, Snowflake," Ruby said smiling.
"It's because I had a good partner," Weiss said with a smirk. "Someone who pushes me outside of my comfort zone and makes me try new things."
"Oh yeah? She sounds pretty cool. You should totally stick with her."
"I'm thinking about it. She's cute and all, but she snores when she sleeps." Weiss said with a laugh.
"I do not snore!" Ruby protested as they walked off the stage, the crowd still cheering.
"Ruby, I admit, I'm having the time of my life tonight, but it's getting late and I still have to give that speech tomorrow..." Weiss said with a yawn.
"Yeah, you're probably right. Well, let me go cash in my tickets and we can go home sound good?" she said. Weiss agreed with a soft peck on the cheek. The two walked arm in arm towards the prize redemption center, Ruby carrying her huge cup full of bright yellow tickets she had won at Zombie Sniper. "Pick something cute, babe, and it's totally yours!"
"Oh really? Well...hmmm...I think I like that giant penguin up there." Weiss said. Ruby gave a thumbs up and dumped her tickets on the counting scale.
"Good evening, sir! I wish to partake of your giant penguin for my sweetheart here!" she said, her chest pushed out in pride. The receptionist, another vacant-eyed retail zombie, looked at the weight of the tickets and shrugged.
"You don't have enough. The stuffed penguin is 9,000 tickets and you only have 348." he droned.
"What?! 9,000 tickets?! That's impossible!" Ruby exclaimed.
"Sorry, ma'am, I don't make the rules."
Ruby sighed bitterly and rubbed the bridge of her nose, the same stress habit Weiss would do. Weiss thought it was cute to see Ruby so flustered, but she knew how obsessive her team leader/girlfriend would be over this.
"Hey Ruby, it's fine. No worries. I'm already coming home with something cute..." she said with a smile, but Ruby didn't smile back. Instead, she sized the underpaid employee up and scowled in anger.
"So, if I can't get that penguin, what can I get for 348 tickets?" she demanded. The employee, his name tag reading 'CHAD', reached behind the counter and produced a bright red Papa Pepperoni's Pizza Parlor beer cozy.
"This is normally 350 tickets, but I can let it slide this time," Chad said, his eyes dull.
"FINE!" Ruby snapped. "I'll take it." The exchange was made and Ruby huffed out of the prize room, grabbing Weiss by the wrist. "C'mon, let's ditch this place. Stupid mouse. Stupid prizes. Stupid tickets."
They made their way outside, waiting for the Ninja Taxi to take them back to Schnee Manor. Ruby was clearly upset, her cheeks flushed red with anger. Weiss wrapped her arms around Ruby's waist from behind her and nuzzled her neck.
"It's fine, Ruby. It really is. The fact you won that for me means so much to me. No one has ever tried to win a prize for me before..."
Ruby felt the anger float out of her body like a rapidly deflating balloon and snuggled closer to her Snowflake.
"You're right, I acted like a total butt. I'm sorry for being a total butt," she said.
"It helps that you have a cute butt," Weiss whispered in her ear, giving said butt a tight squeeze. Ruby blushed three shades of red. "In fact, why don't I show you much I appreciate you when we get home? I have, uh, something special I want to wear for you..."
Ruby's mouth went dry and her head started to spin, but all she could do was nod. The Ninja Taxi pulled up and both girls got in, Weiss smiling to herself and Ruby feeling like her head was in the clouds. She barely felt the car ride and coming back to the manor felt like it was all a dream. Klein had long since fallen asleep but left a note for Weiss to lock the door behind her. The girls made a bee-line for Weiss' bedroom, with Ruby double and triple checking to make sure the door was locked.
"Wait here, I'll be back..." Weiss said with a grin. She was still a ball of nerves on the inside because she had never done anything like this before. Weiss took a Victorian's Secret shopping bag buried in the bottom of her suitcase and disappeared into her private bathroom. Ruby, not really sure what to do, changed into her PJs and waited.
The idea was Weiss', but the execution was helped by Nora. The caffeine-addicted Valkyrie had insisted that she go shopping with Weiss to help her find the right outfit to 'rock Ruby's world', as she put it.
"Trust me, she'll looovvvve this!" Nora had said, pulling off an icy blue two-piece set from the racks. Weiss remembered looked at it and frowning.
"Butt floss? Really?"
"Pffttt! Silly girl, you don't wear this to wear it, you wear it to take off! One look at this and Ruby's gonna get a nosebleed that'll shoot her around the room like a rocket!" Nora had replied.
So now, Weiss had to admit, she didn't look too bad. Her hair was down, no tiara and the bra did make her breasts seem bigger. The 'butt floss' was not comfortable in the slightest, but she was hoping that would come off soon. Weiss took every opportunity to make sure everything was in place, even spritzing herself with her favorite perfume. Finally, when she was satisfied, she stepped out of the bathroom and shut off the light behind her.
"Oh Ruby, my sweet, where are you?" she said in a cute, sing-song voice. "Where has my beloved Ruby gone?"
But there was no answer, at least, nothing verbal. Instead, Weiss was greeted with loud snoring and saw Ruby spread out on the bed, sound asleep with her Scroll on her chest. She had fallen asleep watching 'CUTE CORGI VIDEOS' online while waiting for Weiss.
"...I wasn't gone that long, was I?" Weiss wondered out loud. But a quick glance at her bedroom clock revealed she had spent nearly forty-five minutes getting ready. Poor Ruby had waited as long as she could, before passing out. "I'm sorry, babe..." Weiss said, tucking her girlfriend in and snuggling closer to her. The butt floss came off, but for purely unsexy reasons. "Goodnight, my rose," she whispered.
As she fell asleep, the moonlight poked through the curtains and illuminated Weiss' trophy case where, alongside her singing and horse riding trophies, was a Papa Pepperoni's Pizza Parlor beer cozy.