Ruby liked to think of herself as a thoughtful girlfriend. Well, she hadn't really had the experience to attach that label to herself as of yet, since she was just now finally in her first real relationship (not to mention the fact that said relationship was with two girls at the same time, both of whom were incredibly cute and amazing and wonderful kissers as she'd found out last night, but she digressed). So she was now working on that 'thoughtful' label as it might apply to her.
And as her fantastically gorgeous girlfriends had been so sweet the previous day in setting up for a memorable Valentine's Day between the three of them, Ruby thought the least she could do was to make a pancake breakfast for them the next morning while they still slumbered.
Getting up was the easy part. Once in the kitchen, however, she was reminded of the fact that she really wasn't all that stellar of a cook.
Okay, truthfully, she couldn't cook one whit.
The last time she'd tried at home, there were issues. Issues involving a flour-coated dog, solidified chocolate sealing the oven door tightly, and a few firemen.
But she was nothing if not persistent. Ruby Rose was not one to shirk from a challenge, be it Grimm or cooking or (shudder) research papers! Not even a Weiss who had been denied caffeine during finals week!
Well, the last might be stretching it a bit. But, still!
The diminutive brunette stood in the middle of the kitchen, glumly tossing her latest batch of pancakes into the trash. Whelp, at least those tasted kinda like pancakes… so long as you don't mind the cardboard aftertaste… or the egg shells…
I am so doomed.
A thought flashed through her mind, instantly perking her up once more. This called for reinforcements! And not just any reinforcements…
This called for a pancake expert.
Frantically digging her scroll out of her pocket, first pausing to wipe the hardened batter off of its surface, she quickly dialed up one of her very best friends, her sugar-rush buddy, fellow height-challenged hellion…
"Nora!" she squealed when the bleary-looking orange-haired girl answered. "I need help!"
"Ruby," the other girl groaned. "Do you have any idea what time it is right now? 'Cause I don't. I can't even open my eyes wide enough to tell."
"Never mind that!" Ruby replied impatiently. "We have a situation here! This is… a pancake emergency!"
Nora's turquoise eyes shot open and a look of calm briefly settled across her features. "All of my lifelong training has led me to this moment. Ren!" Her sudden shout almost made Ruby drop her scroll. "Kitchen! Stat!" Nora turned back to face the camera on her scroll, and she gave an excited little giggle. "We'll be right there!"
Before long, the duo were striding into the common area kitchen, still clothed in their nightwear, though each of them had donned an apron (Aprons! Why didn't I think of that?). Ren's was a cheery pink, and it read 'Please Do Nothing To The Cook', while Nora's was white with little pink hammers decorating it. Hers read, 'I Definitely Want To Do Things To The Cook'.
"Alright, Ren!" Nora announced as she sidled up to Ruby. "Place the sloth assassins on standby in case we need backup!"
"You have sloth assassins?" Ruby asked curiously.
Nora smirked. "Why wouldn't we have sloth assassins?"
"Point. Okay, so I want to make pancakes for Blake and Pyrrha. Chocolate chip ones. So far success has been minimal."
"Casualties?"
"Several cartons of eggs, my favorite pajamas, and most importantly, my pride."
"Nothing we can't do without!" Nora proclaimed. "Ren!"
"Yes, Nora," the raven-haired boy replied calmly, already assembling what he needed to create the pancakes.
"You know what to do!"
"Yes, actually, I do."
"Maximum effort!"
"Yes, Nora," Ren sighed again good-naturedly.
"Alright then! Ruby, my friend, watch and learn!"
The two petite girls stood side by side, avidly observing Ren as he expertly mixed the batter up. Ruby didn't say a word until Ren went to pour in the chocolate chips.
"More chocolate chips, please!"
Ren glanced over at her, and cautiously tipped the industrial-sized bag to add perhaps another quarter-cupful.
"Nope! More!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yep!"
Ren sighed and shook his head. He dutifully tipped the bag over while Ruby clapped excitedly, stopping only when he received approval.
"You're making enough for you guys to join us, right?"
"I believe I shall pass," Ren replied, carefully keeping the wince off of his face. "Nora most likely would participate, however."
"You bet! Never pass up on an opportunity for pancakes!"
Ruby and Nora stepped back while Ren prepped the pan, the brunette pulling her scroll out once more. She called first Blake and then Pyrrha, announcing that breakfast would soon be ready in the common eating area of the first-year dorm.
"So, Ruby," her orange-haired friend began with a sly look on her face. "I heard last night was nice."
"Yeah, it was…" Ruby murmured, a goofy grin on her face.
"Really nice?"
"Really, really nice."
"So who's the better kisser, Pyrrha or Blake?"
Ruby furrowed her brow. "I can't really answer that, Nora. They're both awesome, and adorable, and kissing them was... " She sighed blissfully. "It was like… like going for a whole month only eating bread and water, and then finally getting a whopping huge plate of warm cookies and a whole jug of milk put in front of you."
"Wow," Nora breathed, wide eyed. "That's sooo romantic!"
"I know, right? And then, watching the two of them kiss-"
"Whoa!" Nora exclaimed, grabbing Ruby by the shoulders. "Hold up! Stop the schoolbus! Pyrrha and Blake kissed?"
Ruby snickered softly. "I kinda figured Pyrrha would gloss over that bit…"
Nora grinned, a rather maniacal gleam in her eyes. "Was that the first time they kissed?"
"Nope," she giggled. "They'd, er, 'practiced' the night before. I made them reenact it for me."
"Damn," Nora giggled back, dropping her hands and turning to face the imperturbable Ren who was several pancakes in by now. "Ren, anyone you wanna kiss so's I can watch you?"
"No, Nora."
"Aww. I thought you loved me?"
"I do, Nora. But I'm not kissing anyone."
"Well, nuts." She turned to Ruby again with another grin. "Hey, can I watch you guys make out?"
Ruby tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I dunno, Nora. Blake's kinda private about that, I think, and Pyrrha might be even worse…"
"Yeah, that's true… I'm surprised you managed to even convince Pyrrha to do this three-way thing with you in the first place."
"Well… I am pretty persuasive."
"True, that. Short sister power!"
They shared a quick fist bump just as Blake walked in, followed by a sleepy Pyrrha. Both were still in their nightclothes.
"Ruby?" the Cat Faunus asked, peering around at the mess. "Er… I didn't know you cooked?"
"About that," Ruby laughed self-consciously. "I kinda… can't. Tried, but no. So I called in for expert help!"
"Good morning Ren, Nora," Pyrrha chuckled as she took a seat next to Blake at the small table there. "Thank you for helping Ruby out."
"Certainly," Ren replied smoothly as he loaded up a couple of plates. "Always willing to help out my friends."
"I was promised pancakes!" Nora declared excitedly.
"And I have a plate for you here, Nora. Be patient and let them have the first taste."
Ren tried to flash a warning towards the pair of seated girls with his eyes, but both of them were far too sleepy still to interpret said look correctly. He set a plate in front of each, three pancakes apiece with a large dollop of butter melting on top.
"Wait!" Ruby cried out. "Don't eat yet!"
She dashed around the table, leaning over Blake first. "Good morning," she grinned, giving the raven-haired girl a quick but passionate kiss. She whirled around to Pyrrha next, giving her another greeting before placing an identical kiss on her lips.
"Okay!" Ruby cheered, taking a seat across from them. "Now you can eat!"
Nora took her seat next to Ruby, the diminutive girls peering at the other pair anxiously.
Both Blake and Pyrrha took a bite after sharing the syrup, and chewed thoughtfully.
"They are quite wonderful," Pyrrha assured them. "Thank you so very much."
"Yes, thank you all, they're delicious," Blake added.
"Yay!" both petite girls cheered simultaneously. They stood up from their chairs and returned to Ren's side to fetch their own plates.
While Ruby was loudly thanking both Ren and Nora for their rescue of her morning, Pyrrha leaned over towards Blake.
"I fear I shall get diabetes before I finish my plate."
Blake snickered softly. "Just eat slowly. Ruby will finish first and then ask to finish ours."
With a giggle, Pyrrha turned her head and gave Blake a kiss on the cheek, causing Blake to blush brightly.
"Oh my Oum, you were right!" Nora squealed. "They are too adorable!"
"I know, right?" Ruby squealed in an identical pitch. "Am I the luckiest girl in all of Remnant, or what?"
"You are! You totally are!"
Blake and Pyrrha shared a light chuckle as they attempted to eat more of the heavily-chocolated pancakes.
"She's not the only lucky one," Blake murmured.
Pyrrha nodded happily. "I wholeheartedly agree."
A/N: Sometimes I worry that I write Nora as too over-the-top, even more so than RT make her out to be. I think I struck the right balance here, and hopefully had some fun with her friendship with Ruby. Personally, I think Nora would be a huge Deadpool fan.
So I've managed to write out through chapter 21 (the last two of those in the wee hours of the morning as I was suddenly struck with insomnia), and I have outlines for up to chapter 36, which will take the girls through the end of the semester and into summer break. I have some ideas for that as well. Just in case anyone was wondering how long I intend to sail on this crack ship.
Boarador: Glad you enjoyed it! I certainly had fun writing it!
TheThunderbirdRising: Don't have to be 9 to enjoy the carousel. I would ride one with my then-fiancee on dates. And that was while we were in college. Maybe it's just me who looks at them as timeless, and inexpensive, fun.
THB4: Yep Ruby's sure to be a handful at Yuletide. We'll get Tai's reaction after some time when we hit summer break, the girls will be going to Patch for the first part of summer. As far as spooning goes… let's just wait a couple more chapters, shall we?
FourNails1341: Funny you should mention that… Hopefully this chapter did a little to assuage that feeling of Ruby not being active enough in the relationship. Perhaps it's because I'm doing the chapters more from Blake or Pyrrha's viewpoint, as I'm trying to focus on their budding relationship, but I didn't think I was writing Ruby as particularly self-centered or childish. Well, maybe I just have the benefit of foresight as I have a number of chapters already written out which will also disabuse from that notion.
Growlscout: I love that your fav part was Blake realizing she can just enjoy what's going on without the guilt. It's taken her a bit to get there, but she really has arrived. Now she and Pyrrha just need to figure out what exactly it is they have together! I had so much fun writing this chapter, kinda like the culmination of what's come previously, and finally the framework for their relationship is secure.
Stay shiny!