Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or the characters.
Belle stood backstage again the next night, watching Ruby sing and dance from a spot next to the small stairs leading up to the stage. She held a notebook in her hands, but hadn't even bothered opening it. The music in the stadium pounded as her heartbeat began to sync up to it.
"Not out in the crowd tonight?" Emma shouted in Belle's ear to be heard. Jumping, Belle turned to face Ruby's manager.
"Not tonight," Belle responded. "I don't think I could handle two back to back nights in the crowd. Ruby's concerts get pretty intense."
"Especially when she gives you the sex eyes while she sings, right?" Emma said dryly.
Belle felt her cheeks turn red. "I, um, I don't think I'd call them sex eyes. I'm sure she was just playing around."
Emma shook her head. "I've known Ruby for five years, Belle. I know when she has set her sights on someone, and I know that she seems to have decided to act on whatever feelings she has for you," she sighed. "I won't tell Ruby how to live her life or who she can or can't try to pursue, but I can ask you not to put anything that you might learn about Ruby from whatever personal relationship the two of you may or may not form into your articles."
Belle felt her back straighten. "I am a professional, Miss Swan. I would never cross any ethical lines or print anything told to me in confidence."
Emma nodded. "I just wanted to be sure."
"You've probably forgotten that any kind of personal relationship with someone about whom I'm writing is not exactly encouraged by the industry," Belle added. "I don't particularly like the idea of losing my job."
"You'd only lose your job if your boss found out," Emma replied.
Belle blinked. "You're giving me very mixed advice here, Emma."
"I might be Ruby's manager, but I was her friend first," the blonde admitted. "If you like her and she likes you and neither of you let it interfere with your work, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to spend some time together in whatever way the two of you want," Emma rubbed her forehead. "Did that make any sense?"
"I think so," Belle smiled. "Thank you."
Emma waved as she turned around. "I'm going to make some calls to make sure everything is set for tomorrow's concert. It was nice talking with you."
Belle turned to continue watching the concert, applauding along with the crowd as Ruby ended one of her hit songs. As the band started on the next song, Belle opened up her notebook and began writing.
Hot pink leather pants, black crop top, her hair is a mess (as usual), and she's giving this song ("Try and Forget" I think…) everything she has. Ruby's makeup is probably smeared by now but her lips are still perfectly bright red. Actually, her lipstick looked a little darker last night in the hallway…
She scribbled out the last sentence as the crowd erupted into wild applause again. Belle looked up to see the band coming off stage, leaving Ruby alone to wave and bow for her fans. She spun and flounced off stage, her hair swaying behind her. Ruby blinked as she stepped into the darker area of the backstage, eyes quickly landing on Belle. Grinning, she jumped down the stairs and strutted over to the journalist.
"What did you think?" Ruby asked, voice still overly loud to be heard over the audience screaming.
"I think they want an encore," Belle laughed.
Ruby grinned. "I'll get back out there in a minute. First I want you to tell me something."
"Alright," Belle said. "What do you want to know?"
Ruby took a step closer to her, reducing the space between them. "I could have kissed you last night and you wouldn't have minded."
"I don't see how that is a question," Belle replied.
"Am I right?" the singer asked, moving the tiniest bit closer again.
Belle took her own small step so that they had less than an inch of space between them. "You are right."
Ruby grinned, teeth white against her painted lips. "And if I kissed you tonight?"
"I definitely wouldn't mind," Belle murmured, blue eyes locked on Ruby's brown ones.
Without another word Ruby slid a hand behind Belle's head and pulled her in for a kiss. Their lips met in a surprisingly soft kiss, brushing against each other in a quick flash of heat. Belle wrapped an arm around Ruby's waist, holding onto her as they deepened the kiss slightly. Ruby slid her tongue along Belle's lower lip before lightly nipping it and pulling away. The singer kept both her hands cupping the journalist's face as she pressed their foreheads together.
"We will do more of that just as soon as I'm done with this freaking encore," Ruby murmured against Belle's lips before pulling fully away and walking back onstage with her band. Belle pressed a hand to her lips, trying and failing to suppress a huge grin.
"This one is for all of you in the audience who are going to get lucky tonight!" Ruby yelled out before launching into a song called "Burning Night." Belle bit back a laugh as her cheeks heated up.
When the encore was over Ruby came bouncing off stage and grabbed Belle's hand, tugging her along as they made their way further backstage. The two women stopped when they were outside Ruby's dressing room. Ruby opened the door and pulled Belle in, finally letting go of her hand. She pressed the journalist against the closed door, kissing her again before pulling away and moving to the mirror and makeup table. She tugged a brush through her wild hair and threw a black leather jacket on over the crop top.
"Ready to make the dash for the car?" Ruby asked, smiling at Belle.
"You might want to fix your lipstick first," Belle laughed as she moved across the room. She wiped away a bit of lipstick that had been smudged at the corner of Ruby's mouth. "We probably shouldn't start any rumors. You take the car and I'll catch a taxi."
Ruby frowned. "Alright. I'll see you back at the hotel?"
Belle nodded, a smile forming on her lips again. "Maybe I could join you for your swim tonight?"
"Now that plan I like," Ruby replied, grabbing Belle's face and kissing her again. They both smiled against each other before stepping back. Ruby winked before leaving the room. "I'll see you at the pool, cutie."