A/N: And here we have chapter 4! You all have been awesome so far! :D

Enjoy.

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The Odd Couple - WR Special Edition

Part 4

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Working alongside Ruby Rose was a lot like trying to walk uphill in a windstorm. In the rain.

You might have your own agendas and your own goals for the finished product of whatever you were trying to accomplish. And you might have your own strength and weaknesses when it comes to your craft. But when you step on stage with Ruby, you are just swept up in her strength and presence, and taken along for the ride.

She was just too powerful. Her expressions, her gestures, her charisma. You might have grown up thinking you were a good actor, or a good singer – because, perhaps unsurprisingly, the woman could sing on a professional level as well – but when you step up to bat against a force of nature like Ruby, you are blown right back down to earth by that windstorm.

A very attractive windstorm.

Each and every scene I shot with her, from the very first take on that first day of shooting, I was led on a merry chase to catch up to her. She would dance around me, both physically and mentally, smiling her Cheshire cat smile, as if knowing no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't quite reach her.

It was maddening.

And arousing.

She had to know what she was doing to me. From our first conversation in the hallway that morning when I told her I had been her fan since she was twelve, she teased me. She would send looks my way, grinning all-too-brightly for just being simple co-workers or friends. I mean, she was clearly a friendly person; she was nice to pretty much everyone from the cast right down to the crew. But I seemed to take the brunt of her friendliness. Not that I was complaining, mind you.

And after we had our little 'talk' that morning where she all but flat-out told me she preferred the fairer sex, as I did, it all seemed to increase tenfold.

She was still outwardly the same as before; still smiling at me when she saw me, chatting with me in the hallways and in-between takes, or during breakfast and lunch in the break room. She still gave me tips and advice for different scenes – though, of course, I still was light-years behind her in terms of skill or ability – and polite words after the scenes ended.

But, even with how she still treated me the same in public, I could tell there was something new there. Something powerful, intense, and electric. She would reach out to touch me during takes, either to grasp my arm to get my attention, flicking my bangs out of my eyes as she did that first time, or to drag her finger across the back of my hand during the slower moments in a scene. Or she would sit just a little bit closer to me than the other actors, sending me knowing smiles as she did so.

And that was just during takes. Off set she would lean into my space, much more than even Nora would, so close that I could almost smell her. She reached out to the same food I was trying to pick, so that her hand out touch mine and would apologize, but it was obvious she had meant to do it. She would wait for me outside our dressing rooms, already dressed in her costume for the days shoot, so that I would be forced to drool over the ratty overalls she wore, or the jean cut-offs that showed off her perfect ass and deliciously smooth legs, or that one episode her character actually landed a date and got dolled up by painting her nails a thigh-clenching black.

It went on like that for days, and she seemed to get worse after every single one of them.

It was driving me insane.

I knew I would eventually crack. I had never been one for patience, especially in this kind of situation. With my last ex, a tall red-head named Pyrrha, we flirted around each other for about four days before I finally caved and came clean with my attraction.

But Pyrrha wasn't Ruby. Ruby was a force to be reckoned with, and while I was almost sure I was reading the correct signals she was putting out, I had to tread lightly. I couldn't make a mistake with someone like Ruby. She would walk all over me if I let her, and that would not do. I was determined to meet her on equal ground, and to do that I had to step up and fucking catch her.

I had to reach her as an equal.

I had to act like her.

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It was after shooting a particularly challenging scene that Ruby accosted me outside the studio. I say accosted – she pretty much jumped out at me as I stepped outside through the doorway, causing me to let out a small shriek in surprise, holding my bag above me like a bludgeon.

Ruby stepped back, her arms wrapped around her middle, and laughed. She laughed long and hard. By the time she finished laughing, I was scowling at the girl and two minutes had passed. Sometimes Ruby reminded me, perhaps a bit uncomfortably, of Nora.

"Having fun?" I asked as her giggled subsided.

"Absolutely." She replied, still sporting a wide grin. "That was the most I had ever elicited out of you before. Maybe I should scare you more often."

"Please don't. You just lucky I wasn't carrying any mace or something. You might have received a face full of it."

Ruby snorted, rolling her eyes. "Ouch. Yea, that would suck. That stuff kinda hurts from what I've heard."

"Mmm." I nodded, regarding the woman before me. She had shed her costume – this week the episode called for a pair of black jeans and equally black t-shirt, along with black eyeliner – in favor or her everyday clothes. Her usual dark jacket was unbuttoned at the top, giving me a slight glimpse of her pale red t-shirt underneath. And her black jeans, with matching dark ankle boots, painted at attractive picture.

I shifted uncomfortably in my sneakers, simple jeans and white winter jacket. I was getting better and better at dealing with Ruby on a regular basis, but sometimes she would catch me off guard and I would revert back to the stuttering, nervous mess I was on my first day. It just got worse when she turned on the charm.

Which I knew she was about to do at that moment.

"Sooo…" Ruby drawled out, smirking lightly. "You doing anything right now?"

Yup. Called it.

"Not… really." I said carefully, watching as Ruby's smirk widened into a knowing grin and shifted my feet again. "Why?"

"Well, if you're available, want to get a late lunch with me?" I blinked and she giggled. "Well, we got off early today and I was getting kind of hungry. I didn't really feel like having anything at the studio, and I remembered passing by a cool looking restaurant nearby on my way to and from my apartment. You in?"

I stood there for a long moment, staring at Ruby. I stared at her so long that her grin melted into an embarrassed smile. "Um… what?" She asked softly.

Her words flew around in my mind – If I'm available…Late lunch with me…– It all made sense to my mind, but somewhere along the way from my brain to my mouth, my heart leapt into my throat and I couldn't form any words.

I just let out an unattractive, choked groan.

Oh, fucking shape up already, Weiss.

"I mean, if you're busy or don't want to, I'd understand." Ruby quickly said, seeing my reaction. "I just thought it'd be nice to actually get some time alone with you." She blinked. "To, you know, get to know you a little more." Her smile was blinding, and I almost passed out right there on the sidewalk. But I knew if I did, a chance like this wouldn't come along again. I knew I had to jump at it with both hands, and damn it all to hell if I messed this up.

"No!" I shouted, much louder than was necessary. Ruby stepped back, blinking in shock. "I mean. No. I mean, Yes. I'd like that. To have lunch with you." I cleared my throat, embarrassed. "W-when? Right now?"

"Sure!" Ruby chirped, her smile returning fully charged. "It's only a few minutes away if we walk. So let's go!" And, without skipping a beat, the woman stepped up to my side and wound her arm around mine, as if we were the close friends she always said we were.

She did one better by tugging me close, so that her lips her almost touched my ear. Her breath ghosted across my skin, causing a violent shiver to travel down the back of my neck, down my spine, all the way to my groin.

"I promise you that you will love it." Her whispered words puffed into my ear, and I died a little inside.

It was a good death.

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It was a week later that all of our flirting – usually instigated by Ruby, our weird interactions with each other, and our game of chase finally produced results.

Truthfully I had gotten used to our little game of cat and mouse. Pretty much every scene we shot, whether it was with the two of us or with our fellow actors in the show, every single scene turned into a game where Ruby would deviate from the script as usual, and we would rush to catch up to her while still trying to stick to the script. It rarely worked, but somehow Ruby was able to cobble together our dialogue and turn it into a workable scene. It was a staggeringly useful ability that never failed to impress me.

It was the scenes with just Ruby and I, however, which really got to me. Not that I minded them, of course. But with her constant teasing and openly flirting with me, it was all I could do to keep a clear head and stick to the script as best I could in the face of her... well… the horrible distractions she would torture me with.

She knew what she was doing. And I could tell she loved every second of it.

It was only a matter of time before either one of us cracked and made a move.

The scene was a simple one. I was cooking dinner and Olivia was being lazy, as usual. The scene was supposed to start with myself finishing up the meal – I seemed to cook a lot on the show, as Florence was the better chef of the two – and then the script would have us talking about a mutual friend and her current romantic status with a guy that had asked her out. I knew Ruby wouldn't follow the script; I only knew she would start as I did, and we would reach the ending… somehow.

How she did it was up to her, as always. And I was just along for the ride. As always. I just had to put up with her looks, and her touches, and her fucking flirting the whole time.

This girl was going to kill me.

"So, what do you think of Velvet?" I recited my scripted lines as the scene began, taking care to stir my pot of linguine. I reached over with one hand and dumped a can of tomato sauce into the pot, continuing to stir. "Think she will last past the first date?"

Ruby was supposed to respond in the negative, saying that Velvet never really made it past the first date on her best days. And then I would chastise her and say that she should be more supportive to her friend.

That was how it was supposed to go, mind you.

"If she put out, then yea, sure. She could definitely stay attached for a while." Came the response, barely smothered behind a chuckle. "I mean, have you seen Velvet? Girls got it, she just doesn't flaunt it nearly as often as she should. Guys would totally be into her more if she let them."

I sighed audibly. It was just as I expected. This was going to be another one of those takes.

"Oh really?" I said, thinking furiously as to how I could steer the dialogue back on track. The conversation would eventually shift to our other girlfriends' chances with the guys we knew, including Olivia and myself. Now that I thought about it, the conversation was hitting a little too close to home for my liking. But I would persevere and finish the scene, as always. "And what makes you say that?"

Ruby snorted, "Like I said, have you seen her? Hell, I would totally be into her if she even gave be half a glance." She peered over the couch at me, her bright silver eyes alight with obvious intent. "You know what I mean, Flo?"

I sent a flat stare from over the kitchen counter. So now she was sending me obvious messages, even in front of the camera? Well, fine. Two could play this game. I had put up with her chases and her dance for long enough, and it was time to show Ruby that I was more than a stuttering, nervous mess of estrogen.

Fuck the script. Let's see what we could do.

I rolled my shoulders and sighed, shrugging after a moment. "Perhaps. I never really thought about it. She never really gave me a reason to think she bats for the other team." I arched an eyebrow at Ruby, eyeing her significantly. "And neither have you, for that matter." There we go, the ball was in her court now.

And true to form, after a brief flicker of something new in her eyes, Ruby was right there with her rejoinder. "Oh, I go both ways." She said, snickering. With her black eyeliner – kept from the same costume as the last weeks' episode – she looked like a raccoon. And adorably sexy raccoon.

I scowled at the girl and turned back to the stove, giving the linguine a few more good jabs with the stirring spoon. "Oh really?" I said flatly. "Could have fooled me. Sometimes you come off as pretty strait. I gotta say I'm pretty surprised."

"Dunno why. I never really hid it." Ruby said, shrugging. "I dated guys, sure. But I prefer women." Her significant look was all the reason I needed to swoon. But I fought against the urge and returned to my planned routine.

I pulled a large plate from the cabinet above me and dumped a generous portion of the pasta – cold, of course, this was a television show – on the plate. After washing my hands, I picked up the plate laden with food and walked over to the table.

"I see. Come eat." I said simply. Ruby's eyes lit up with what I recognized as delight, and scrambled clumsily over the back of the couch, cursing as she stumbled on the hardwood floor. Shaking my head in exasperation, I returned to the kitchen to retrieve a pair of forks for the meal.

"Woo! Spaghetti!" Ruby crowed, snatching the folk form my hand and – taking a moment to drag her fingernail across my palm, causing a familiar shiver to creep up my arm – began to dig in with relish. I knew the cooked, but cold, pasta couldn't be very tasty, but it was the actor's job to make it seem as such. I tucked in as well.

"This isn't spaghetti, its linguine." I muttered, shaking my head tiredly.

"Meh." Ruby shrugged, shoveling the food into her mouth with relish. Damn her, she could even look porking out attractive. "What about you?" She said after a few moments, her mouth full of pasta. I grimaced at the sight, but at the same time silently wish I could be that pasta. As long as a part of me was in her mouth— Okay… disturbing thought. But I stand by my fantasies.

"What about me?" I asked, confused. The script was already long gone, we were supposed to have left the topic of guys long behind after starting our meal, and gone onto weekend plans, but now it seemed as though we were taking the scene in a completely new direction.

"You think Velvet is hot?"

My lip twitched, hearing the unspoken question behind her words. If I though Velvet was attractive, then maybe I would find other girls attractive as well, maybe even you, Olivia.

Desperate to keep some sort of control over the conversation, I flicked my fork against my plate and averted my eyes. "She's… not really my type." I finally decided on. There, I deflected the question, but still left the option open.

"Oh really?' Ruby grinned widely. "Anyone else? What about Penny?"

I blinked. "Penny's not gay."

Ruby barked out a laugh, "Oh, come on! Penny's so far in the closet, she's having adventures in Narnia."

"The fuck?" I couldn't help the laugh that spilled from my lips and I blushed heavily at my blunder, covering my mouth with my hand. I laughed, and Ruby laughed in turn, the two of us giggling madly like the friends were supposed to be on camera, regardless of our differences in personalities and characteristics. It was, perhaps, the first time the two of us were actually friendly with each other on the show. And we were not even following the script. It was just us, Ruby and Weiss, chatting. It was a great feeling, and I finally began to understand what Ruby might be aiming for when we wanted organic, flowing interaction between characters.

"What about me, then?" She suddenly said, and my laughter died out instantly.

"Uh… what?" I sputtered.

"Me. Olivia." She said again, her eyes searching mine. "Am I your type?"

I was silent for a long time, my eyes locked onto hers. We were still in character. We were still Olivia and Florence, the Odd Couple. But Somehow I know, deep down in my heart, that the words Ruby spoke, and how I responded would mean so much more than something the script wold hold within.

"I… um…" I mumbled, my eyes flicking away from Ruby in search of something… anything… to draw my attention away. There was nothing except for the set, and the stage lights blinding me to anything past the edge of the stage. It was just myself and Ruby, and nothing else.

"I don't know if you've noticed…" Ruby continued in an uncharacteristically soft voice to her normal tone, setting her fork down and reaching across the table to take my hand. Her fingers felt warm, and my skin tingled with the contact. "But I have kind of had a thing for you since day one. I mean, I didn't really know you, but I just felt that we had a connection, you know?" Her lips quirked up into a smile. "Why do you think I have been kinda flirting with you, Flo?"

As dry as my mouth was, I was shocked I got the next words out. "There… was no 'kinda' about it, Olive."

The girl laughed, her cheeks flushing with sudden embarrassment at her nickname. She continued laughing for a moment, and then melted back to her serious, pensive face. It was a deliberate change, and I had expected it, but it still gave me a little emotional whiplash.

"Yea… sorry. When I get interested in something, I am pretty heavy handed about it." She grinned guiltily. "But I wanted to make things pretty obvious, while at the same time giving you an 'out' if you weren't into it."

I blinked, my heart hammering in my chest. "I am. I so am. Into this, I mean." Wait, what the fuck was I saying? Were we will still talking about Florence and Olivia? Or Ruby and Weiss? God I was so confused.

The sunshine laden grin Ruby flashed at me was all I really noticed before she cleared the table in two steps and pressed her mouth against mine.

Holy. Shit. This was really happening.

My stomach tied itself into the tightest knot I never felt, and my fingers gripped my fork, scratching the tabletop with an uncomfortable noise I barely even noticed. My toes curled in my shoes, and I felt a strangled moan leak from my throat as all I could concentrate on was how fucking soft and perfect Ruby's lips felt against mine and not even the taste of cold linguine could ruin this moment.

The only thing that could ruin it chose at that moment to speak up, clearing his throat that pulled us to a grinding, jarring halt.

"Uh… ladies? This is all well and good but… we kind of totally left behind the scene. Cut, please?" Stephen called out from his chair.

There was a smattering of chuckles that traveled around the set, likely from the crew, and after another unbearably short second, Ruby pulled away from me. She stepped to my side, obviously to exit the set, but paused by my ear, leaning down to whisper five words to me:

"My dressing room. Ten minutes."

I whimpered aloud, and shivered as her lips parted and I felt her teeth pinch the skin of my earlobe as she stepped away from me.

It would be a fucking great death.

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End of Part 4

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A/N: Hoo boy. Weiss has no idea what she is in for.

Happy father's day to all the dads out there! Be sure to tell your dad how much you love him :D

***Will work for glomps***