Weiss was no fool. Going to Ruby's apartment presented an opportunity she hadn't had since coercing Ruby into her bedroom what felt like a lifetime ago. Of course, on the night Ruby stood in her bedroom, they were practically strangers. She was yanking Ruby's chain for the hell of it, enjoying how the composed officer had to bend to her whims.

Today, her past actions sat poorly in her mind, so she focused more on putting the finishing touches on her outfit. She had spent literal hours scouring every corner of her closet for the perfect combination of flirty, sexy, just a little racy, and - not to be forgotten - easily removable. Her shortest black skirt fit that bill; she could hardly bend over without flashing her underwear: lacy white lingerie that she had never worn but fit the occasion. A white top draped off of her shoulders, revealing her white bra straps along with the sapphire pendant hanging on a silver chain. Matching earrings dangled from her ears. Black, strapped heels added several inches to her height, and a brand new purse held her other valuables.

She checked her reflection and nodded at what she found. Fashionable? Yes. Put-together yet teetering on immodest? Definitely yes. If the outfit didn't get Ruby's blood pumping, then Ruby lacked a sex drive altogether.

Weiss knew that Ruby had plenty of built-up sexual desire though. She felt it in the way Ruby kissed her, the way Ruby pressed against her, and the way Ruby's hands explored her body. Now, it was time for Ruby to claim every inch of Weiss for herself.

Smirking at the thought, Weiss slung her purse over her arm and headed downstairs with time to spare. After the previous unexpected delays reflected poorly on her, she was determined to be waiting when Ruby arrived. The advance planning paid immediate dividends when Whitley arrived home right as she entered the foyer. He glanced at her while dropping his backpack on the floor, then did a massive double-take as she walked over to him.

"Uh, what happened to your clothes?"

"I'm going out." She checked her reflection in the hall mirror and fixed a flyaway hair. "Does it look like I'm trying too hard?"

"No…it's pretty slutty though."

"Perfect."

She grinned at her reflection but noticed Whitley wrinkle his nose beside her. Then his eyes widened.

"Wait. Are you meeting up with the cop?"

"'The cop' has a name, which I won't tell you, but yes. I'm going to see her."

"To fuck her?"

"God willing," she sighed before pausing and pursing her lips. "I don't know why everyone has such a problem with that word. It sounds so good."

"They're prudes," Whitley concluded, earning her smile.

"If all goes well, I won't be home tonight. Can you cover for me? Say I went to bed early or something."

"Only if you cover for me next weekend. I got tickets to see that band Dad hates."

"Deal."

The two of them facetiously shook hands while Winter entered the room, saw Weiss, and froze.

"Why are you dressed like that…?"

"She's going to go get laid," Whitley bragged, much to Weiss' amusement, before smirking at Winter. "Is that something you and Robyn do or are you anti all sex?"

"That's…none of your business." While Whitley snickered at the non-answer, Winter squinted at Weiss. "Should you be going anywhere now that those men are loose?"

"Don't worry. I'll be very safe."

"Because she's fucking a cop," Whitley whispered behind one hand to Winter, whose eyes widened as he laughed. Weiss glared at her brother before straightening her posture and tilting her chin up.

"Like I said, you don't need to worry."

"Yeah, Wints! Can't be anywhere safer than a cop's bed, right?" Whitley patted Winter's shoulder while she rolled her eyes at the nickname - or at his insistence on divulging too much information.

"If Dad asks, I'm sick in my room."

Whitley dutifully nodded when Weiss looked at him, but Winter sighed and shook her head.

"Have fun, I guess…"

"I definitely will."

When Whitley raised his hand, Weiss rolled her eyes but high-fived him before heading outside. With Whitley and Winter serving as alibis, her parents would never question where she was, leaving her free to disappear for the night and return sometime tomorrow. That was, of course, if the evening went as planned.

She wouldn't force anything to happen, but she would make her desires known. And she wasn't above a little seduction if necessary. She didn't think she would have to resort to those measures, but if she did…

The pleasant thought joined the excitement tingling through her veins and the smile tugging at her lips as she crossed the courtyard. The driveway was empty when she arrived, just like she wanted, so she leaned against one of the columns and waited.

Ruby said it as a joke, but it did feel like a jailbreak every time she arrived. While not exactly a knight in shining armor, she still wore a uniform and had the squad car to back her up.

But Officer Rose wasn't breaking Weiss out of prison today. Ruby arrived in her own car, and Weiss' heart swelled upon seeing the boringly average vehicle pause at the gates. She wondered what Ruby told the guards - did she say that she was picking Weiss up for a date? - because it always worked. The gates opened moments later and the car pulled through.

Weiss had flown up the driveway so many times that she knew Ruby could easily drive twice as fast. But Ruby drove safely, which would be cute if Weiss was patient. Instead, she crossed her arms, tapped one finger on her upper arm, and sighed. Entire minutes passed before Ruby hopped out in front of her.

As soon as Ruby saw Weiss' outfit, however, she froze.

"W-ow…"

Weiss never knew that 'wow' could be a two-syllable word, but she loved hearing it from Ruby's lips just as much as she loved the dumbstruck expression accompanying it.

"You look -" Ruby tried again before clearing her throat. "You look - wow."

"You don't look too shabby yourself."

Weiss took a long second to appreciate Ruby's outfit: dark jeans and a red button-up that clung to her chest but would be a hassle to remove later. She licked her lips and met Ruby's gaze, finding a mutual desire for a kiss that almost convinced her to say 'fuck it' and drag Ruby in right then. Considering the location, however, she stepped closer - close enough that their hips nearly touched - smoothed her hands across Ruby's collar, and stared into Ruby's eyes.

"Do you like this top?" she asked, smiling when Ruby looked right down the front of it before tearing her eyes away.

"Um. Yes. I do."

Ruby's gaze returned to Weiss' chest, sweeping over every inch of exposed skin and lacy undergarment before moving on. The intensity in Ruby's eyes stoked a blazing desire wherever they landed. It felt as though Ruby was trying to see through the fabric - a thought that sent a shudder down Weiss' spine.

"Let's get out of here," Weiss said. Fortunately, Ruby nodded and opened the passenger door. Weiss arched a brow at the gesture, and at Ruby's teasing smile, but slipped into the passenger seat rather than question it.

"You said you need to go somewhere?" Ruby asked after returning to the driver's seat.

"My nail salon. It's on Bleeker across from the mall."

"You want me to take you to get your manicure?" Ruby asked, glancing at Weiss while driving.

"Well, I would have gone myself, but someone insisted that I not go anywhere without them."

"I'm surprised you listened."

"I can follow directions when I want to," Weiss huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

The action drew Ruby's gaze and another soft blush. That blush only intensified when Weiss crossed one leg over the other, dragging her skirt up even higher. Ruby's frequent glances confirmed that it was as big of a distraction as Weiss hoped it to be. Her smirk grew when Ruby nearly missed the turn onto Bleeker and quietly swore under her breath while making a hasty lane change.

This date had only just begun and Weiss was already enjoying herself a criminal amount. The electricity crackling between them made her feel alive. The comfort and security of Ruby's presence made her heart content. And Ruby's sudden insistence on opening doors for her was thinning her impulse control to the point where it would eventually snap.

But she loved walking on the razor's edge of desire. Every breath felt heavy with need - by the time they got to Ruby's apartment, her lungs would be filled with it - and every glance or casual touch made her mind reel with possibilities. She hoped Ruby felt it, too. She hoped Ruby was a little disappointed that they didn't immediately abscond to the privacy of her apartment. Weiss wanted that too, but she strode into the nail salon to take care of an important task first.

Several chairs filled out the waiting area, where sleek shelves displayed all manners of nail care products. The plush manicure and pedicure chairs rested beneath contemporary light fixtures providing bright, clear light. The technicians wore stylish blue or pink outfits fitting the sophisticated ambiance. One of them - a pretty, young girl with a long brown ponytail and an abundance of freckles - hurried over as soon as she saw Weiss.

"Hey, Weiss. Thanks for stopping in."

"Ilia," Weiss greeted her with a small nod. Noticing the questioning glance Ruby received, Weiss set a hand on Ruby's arm. "This is Ruby. She's here to…supervise."

Ilia's gaze lingered on Weiss' hand, which Weiss quickly removed, before studying Ruby with her mouth open in a slight 'O.'

"Don't worry," Ruby assured Ilia, smiling warmly. "She's just being dramatic."

Weiss scoffed but, when Ruby beamed at her, rolled her eyes and said, "I'm not dramatic all the time."

"Just most of the time," Ruby teased. Weiss opened her mouth to respond but, noticing the way Ilia's gaze bounced between them, let Ruby win that little battle of the wills. She looked expectantly at Ilia instead, and Ilia spurred into motion.

"We can get started now?"

When Ilia motioned to one of the chairs, Weiss nodded and went to sit down. "I'm going to look around," Ruby said, lightly touching Weiss' arm before gesturing to the back of the salon. Weiss nearly asked why but, catching Ruby's meaningful head tilt, nodded.

"What do you want today?" Ilia asked, already removing the old polish from Weiss' left hand. Weiss' gaze flitted to Ruby, who inspected the different tools and machines that she passed.

"I'll go with the opaque rose but shorter this time."

"'Shorter?'" Ilia repeated before her gaze dashed to Ruby. "Oh…right. Got it."

Ordinarily, Weiss would detest someone making such an assumption about her. In this case, however, she smirked and sat a little straighter in the chair. Ilia's blush vindicated her very real desires, which she hoped to act upon as soon as this was over.

Thankfully, Ilia was one of the best nail technicians in Vale, as far as Weiss was concerned. She worked efficiently and, despite her generally anxious persona - or perhaps because of it - rarely made a mistake.

"Is that your girlfriend?" Ilia asked only after her blush faded, but Weiss' brow creased.

She didn't know exactly what she and Ruby were to each other. She knew that Ruby had wormed her way into the small circle of people who Weiss paid real attention to. She knew that being around Ruby made her feel and do things that she had never considered before. She knew that her heart responded to Ruby in a way that it had never responded to anyone. Most importantly, she knew that if she and Ruby were ever alone in a room with no interruption, she would be quickly ridding herself of clothing and liberating Ruby from hers.

Was there a label for that? Was it 'girlfriend?' Would Ruby even accept that label if Weiss gave it to her?

"She should be, shouldn't she…" Weiss mused instead of outright answering. Her gaze drifted back to Ruby, who had struck up a conversation with one of the other nail technicians.

The conversation appeared friendly from Ruby's side. The other technician, who had short blonde hair and a big smile, was clearly more flirtatious than friendly. Weiss bit her tongue at the grating giggles following every word that left Ruby's mouth and convinced herself not to fly out of her chair to end the interaction.

She and Ruby might not officially be anything, yet she still felt like Ruby was hers. Not in a possessive way, exactly. Not like a possession. Ruby wasn't hers to boss around or control, but Ruby was hers to…well, to enjoy the company of. To make laugh, spend time with, and tease in a way no one else could.

"Who's that?" she asked when the flirty blonde casually touched Ruby's shoulder.

Ilia hardly glanced away from her work before saying, "Oh, that's Jezebel. She started a few weeks ago."

Clenching her jaw as the interaction continued, Weiss imagined how easy it would be to get the girl fired. One phone call and she would never have to hear Jezebel's aggravating giggles again. In the midst of her plotting, however, Ruby's gaze flitted her way. Then Ruby's gaze kept flitting her way even as the girl continued talking. Jezebel inched closer; Ruby inched away. Jezebel reached for another casual touch; Ruby subtly moved out of reach.

She and Weiss weren't officially anything. She could flirt with anyone. Yet there she was…behaving as if she was taken.

Weiss sucked in a breath as something powerful grabbed ahold of her heart, and a smile eased onto her lips when Ruby finally escaped the conversation and returned to her.

"Sorry that took so long." Ruby glanced around for a place to sit before reluctantly taking the unoccupied chair beside Weiss. "I've never been to one of these places before."

"Your first time?" Weiss smirked when Ruby nodded. "You should get one, too."

"Ah. No, thanks. People at work would never let me live it down."

"You can't tell me that your sister doesn't get manicures. No way she puts that much effort into her hair and not her nails."

"She doesn't!" Ruby shook her head before biting her lip and glancing to the side. "She's, um, a little self-conscious about her arm."

Weiss had sensed as much from her sole interaction with Yang but, picking up on Ruby's near-equal investment in the matter, let it go. "Well, probably for the best," she added, dismissively waving the hand Ilia wasn't working on. "It'd probably be ruined after one shift anyway."

"Yeah! Yeah. Exactly."

Ruby's relief and gratitude shone so brightly through her silver eyes that Weiss looked away before it overwhelmed her. Ilia, sensing the lull in conversation, glanced up at them.

"What do you do, Ruby?"

"I work for Vale P.D."

"Really? What do you do there?"

"I'm a police officer."

"She's the best damn officer they have," Weiss added proudly. "She's led the entire department in arrests for the past few years."

Ilia's brow rose even higher, but Ruby chuckled and shook her head.

"Don't bother denying it," Weiss told Ruby before she downplayed her success. Ruby waved both hands in front of her while Ilia glanced between them.

"How'd you two meet?"

"She tried to arrest me."

"I pulled her over for speeding," Ruby corrected. Her smile, however, could only be labeled as adoring. "But she started talking back, like she does, so then I tried to arrest her."

"Her boss loves me though."

"I don't know about 'loves,'" Ruby replied with a soft chuckle. "But that definitely didn't go as planned."

"And she hasn't been able to get rid of me since," Weiss concluded, beaming at Ruby now.

Ilia, meanwhile, beamed up at them before saying, "That sounds like the beginning of a love story," and returning to Weiss' nails as if the comment meant nothing.

If it actually meant nothing, Weiss and Ruby wouldn't have shared a stunned look before quickly finding other places to focus their attention. Weiss' mind recoiled from the word, yet her heart prodded her to sneak a glance at Ruby before long. Ruby picked at invisible lint on her sleeve, blushing all the while. She didn't look upset though, or mad, or incredulous that something could even be thought about the two of them. And that was, somehow, just as shocking.

"Do you have any interesting arrest stories?" Ilia asked, drawing Ruby out of her shell.

"Oh, yeah. Tons."

In a single question, Ilia unknowingly saved them from whatever that awkward moment was and unlocked a side of Ruby that Weiss never knew existed. While Ruby regaled them with exciting, humorous, or gasp-worthy tales, Weiss listened in equal parts fascination and disbelief that she had never thought to ask.

Ruby, as it turned out, was a marvelous storyteller, and her passion for her work radiated in warm, upbeat waves. Her eyes lit up at the exciting parts. Her expression tightened and her voice lowered at the tense moments. Then she regained her typical energy upon reaching the inevitable conclusions of criminals landing behind bars.

Weiss soaked in every story and the resulting commentary on society. She added little to that conversation, instead shifting uncomfortably as Ruby and Ilia spoke about how they wanted to make Vale a better place. While they shared ideas on how to make that dream a reality, Weiss' gaze hardly left Ruby, searching silver eyes for a hint of blame or incrimination. But, as Ilia packed away her tools and started cleaning up her workstation, Ruby just smiled and offered an arm for Weiss to steady herself with as she stood up.

"It was great meeting you, Ruby," Ilia said while Weiss reached into her purse and pulled out twice the amount she typically paid.

"You, too! I hope you figure out what you want to do soon."

"Me, too."

Ilia smiled, but her eyes widened when Weiss pressed the bills into her hand. Hoping not to make it a scene, Weiss just nodded and said, "Thank you," before leading Ruby outside. Ruby reached forward to get the door, prompting yet another, "Thank you," as they returned to the cool evening air. After taking a deep breath, she sighed and playfully shook her head at Ruby.

"I hope you're happy. The best manicurist I've had in years is probably going to quit so she can 'find her purpose.'"

"I doubt she'll do that," Ruby replied, laughing softly. "Hopefully, she'll find something though. Her heart's in the right place."

Before wondering what that meant about her heart, Weiss held up her newly manicured nails.

"Like them?"

Rather than simply nod or agree, Ruby captured Weiss' hand in hers and inspected the light pink polish shining under the streetlights. Feeling Ruby's warm skin on hers was enough to still Weiss' heart, but the thoughtful way Ruby poured over her hands slowed her lungs to a complete stop.

"I really like the color. It's cute on you."

Weiss couldn't remember the last time someone called her 'cute,' and she was blushing by the time Ruby ran a thumb across the edge of one of her nails and paused. "Oh," was all Ruby said as she released Weiss' hand, their blushes now matching.

"Um, dinner now?"

Ruby pointed at her car and headed over once Weiss nodded. Ruby opened the door again, warming Weiss' heart to match her cheeks, before whisking them off to her apartment. Weiss' anticipation, which had run rampant since the night before, returned with every block that passed. Having no idea where they were headed didn't concern her in the slightest - she paid avid attention to their surroundings because she wanted to know everything about the place Ruby called home, including the neighborhood around it.

"It's right there," Ruby said as if she could read Weiss' thoughts, pointing out a nearby apartment building. The brick structure stood amidst many others like it, with various little shops and restaurants occupying the ground floors. A solid line of cars had parked along the street. Fortunately, Ruby turned into an underground parking structure blocked by a rickety gate.

Plenty of comments flew through Weiss' mind, but Ruby's uncharacteristic silence persuaded her to keep her mouth shut for once. She observed instead, noting the cracks in the cement floor once they left the vehicle and the out-of-service elevator blocked by yellow caution tape.

"Sorry. That's been broken for forever now."

Ruby paired the apology with an equally apologetic grimace before propping open the door leading to a stairwell, but Weiss frowned after walking through. The industrial metal stairs left much to be desired, but she abhorred Ruby's subtle embarrassment far more. This was supposed to be exciting. Fun. Exhilarating. But it could be none of those things while Ruby's lips remained set in a grim line and her brow stayed slightly furrowed.

They could have just gone to a fancy hotel and had their way with each other, but Weiss didn't want that. She wanted to see where Ruby lived, how Ruby lived. That was, shockingly, her most profound desire tonight. Everything else was just…a hoped-for bonus.

They reached the third floor while she searched for some way to put Ruby's mind at ease. Soon, they stood outside a regular door matching all of the other doors in the long hallway. Ruby fished her keys out of her pocket and, with a deep breath, unlocked the door and pushed it open.

"Here it is…"

Ruby stepped inside and moved out of the way so that Weiss could enter. Her silver eyes remained locked on Weiss though, reading every bit of Weiss' reaction as Weiss entered the apartment.

The modest space had average-height ceilings that felt too low compared to what Weiss was accustomed to. The walls had been painted an off-white color with slightly brighter moldings. The hardwood floor had accumulated plenty of scratches and grooves during its extended lifetime. The kitchen, living room, and dining room were all located in a single area, and the dining room was less of a 'dining room' as it was a small round table surrounded by four chairs. The overly white kitchen with white cabinets, white backsplash, and white counters had a small island with two barstools in front of it. A small, brown sofa faced a television in the living room with a bookshelf covered in knick-knacks nearby.

"I know it's not much…" Ruby said, subtly wringing her hands while Weiss looked around. "Working for the police is more of a calling than a way to get rich."

Weiss slipped her hand into Ruby's without thinking and didn't let go when a stunned silver gaze landed on her.

"It's perfect," she breathed out, looking around Ruby's home one more time before lowering her gaze. "My dad won't let me live on my own," she admitted. "But I'd give anything to live somewhere like this."

This was freedom. No surveillance. No pressure. She couldn't remember the last time she took a breath knowing that her father couldn't tell her when to exhale. He could still reach her here - he could reach her anywhere - but his power felt so small and insubstantial. This was Ruby's space. It smelled like her. It belonged to her. And she had invited Weiss here to share it with her.

Still holding Ruby's hand, which fit around hers so perfectly that she might never let go, she went over to the bookcase and looked at the photographs on the shelves.

"Is this your mom?" she asked, pointing at a picture of a beautiful young woman in a police uniform. When Ruby nodded, Weiss turned back to it. "God, you look just like her." Same silver eyes. Same brunette hair. Same bright smile.

Her gaze then slid to a silver, star-shaped medal hanging beside the photograph.

"Robbery gone bad," Ruby explained before Weiss even asked.

"I'm sorry…"

"It's not your fault. It just…is." Ruby picked up the photo of her mom and peered solemnly at it. "Tomorrow's not guaranteed for any of us. She was unlucky, and he's sitting in prison for the rest of his life."

"Serves him right."

"Does it?" When Weiss frowned, Ruby returned the frame to the shelf and sighed. "I used to be so angry. Now, I just kind of…wish there were better options for everyone, so no one ever had to go down that path."

When Ruby shrugged, Weiss squeezed her hand and said, "You can have my mom. I won't miss her."

"You don't mean that." Ruby met Weiss' gaze and shook her head. "She's your mom, and you love her. No matter what her flaws are."

"Drinking herself into a stupor every night is definitely a flaw," Weiss replied with a dry laugh.

"Sounds more like a cry for help." Weiss froze, but Ruby gently squeezed her hand before letting go. "I'll start dinner now, but feel free to keep looking around."

The loss of Ruby's hand left Weiss with a peculiar type of loneliness, but she watched Ruby remove several items from the refrigerator before glancing at the photograph of Ruby's mom one last time. She had always assumed that she wouldn't care if she lost one or both of her parents - they were miserable people, in her opinion, who never should have gotten married and shouldn't have had children - but hearing from someone who had lost a parent…perhaps she should reconsider that cold-hearted stance.

After briefly browsing the rest of the shelves, she was inevitably drawn into the kitchen to be near Ruby. Since the space between the counters and island was fairly narrow, she perched on one of the barstools rather than get in Ruby's way. From there, she had the perfect view of Ruby moving confidently around the kitchen.

"Can I help?" she asked after a pot of water went onto the stove.

"You can sit there and look pretty." Ruby glanced up from chopping an onion and added, "Perfect. Just like that."

Ruby beamed, but Weiss blinked and then huffed as her cheeks warmed.

"What a line. Did you come up with that in advance?"

"Nope. Just popped into my head."

Ruby took the onions to the stove, leaving Weiss to dwell on being called pretty in the most sincere way she'd received in quite some time.

"Are you sure I can't help with anything?" she pressed after several minutes, but Ruby shook her head.

"It's ok. I know you don't cook."

"I'm sure I could if someone taught me."

Ruby paused, her brow furrowed at the clipped response, but then a heartwarming smile appeared.

"I want to make you dinner," she admitted. "But you can help next time."

Every time Ruby earmarked something for 'later' or 'next time,' she took a piece of Weiss' heart as a down payment. Pretty soon, she would own the entire thing and Weiss was powerless to stop it. Not that she particularly wanted to stop it.

Instead, she watched Ruby buzz around the kitchen, discovering new mannerisms that she had never noticed before. Like the cute way Ruby stuck the tip of her tongue between her lips while concentrating. Or how one strand of hair kept falling into her eyes, which she would brush away only for it to fall right back. Or the way she hummed to herself - some tune that Weiss didn't recognize but would probably get stuck in her head. Or the way she moved around the kitchen with a level of confidence and certainty that Weiss would never grow tired of seeing.

Before long, the apartment smelled like the delicious meal Ruby had in store. Vegetables had been sauteed in a white wine sauce, and Ruby turned off the stove before sticking a spoon into the pot and holding out a spoonful of creamy risotto.

"Want a taste?"

Faced with cheerful silver eyes, Weiss let Ruby feed her the spoonful of pasta. Ruby then waited expectantly for a verdict while Weiss hummed and nodded.

"Good?"

"Very."

Ruby beamed and returned to the stove. Weiss' gaze followed, and her disbelief grew when Ruby pan seared some scallops and plated everything like a pricey restaurant. "We can eat at the table," she said, nodding to the dining table that had already been set for two. Weiss slid off the barstool and took one of the seats while Ruby followed with the freshly prepared meal.

"For the lady."

Ruby simultaneously set one plate in front of Weiss and kissed her cheek before returning to the kitchen.

Somehow, Ruby acted as if that was just something she always did, yet Weiss stared at the plate while a blush rose on her cheeks. She couldn't even comment on it if she tried. What was she supposed to say - that it was so domestic yet absurdly wonderful? That it felt like something Ruby would do with someone she genuinely cared about? That Ruby was treating her so sweetly and tenderly while she had come over here with some sinful thoughts?

Maybe Ruby only invited her to have dinner, and maybe that was fine. It was cute, actually, especially considering the amount of thought Ruby had put into it.

"Alright." Ruby set a salt and pepper shaker in the middle of the table before sitting down and motioning to the food. "Dig in," she said, grabbing her silverware and heeding her own advice.

Weiss picked up a fork and proceeded at a more refined pace. As she tasted each item on her plate, however, her surprise increased. If Ruby could cook this good, then sex was definitely back on the table. Well, not literally on the table. Although, it felt sturdy enough to hold their weight…

"How do you like it?" Ruby asked between bites.

"However you'll give it to me," Weiss replied on autopilot. She realized the mistake as soon as Ruby's eyes widened but batted her eyes and rolled with it. "Though preferably on a bed or somewhere soft…unless you're going to bottom, then I'm sure I'd like it just about anywhere."

Ruby sat there, frozen and jaw dropped, while Weiss bit her lip and mentally undressed her.

"I meant…the food?"

Weiss glanced at her plate before returning her gaze to Ruby.

"It's fantastic. I didn't know you could cook."

"There's a lot you don't know about me."

"I want to learn more." As soon as Ruby grinned, Weiss stared at her plate and carefully cut some of the vegetables into bite-sized pieces. "Since you already know so much about my family, maybe you can tell me more about yours?" When Ruby started laughing, she looked up and added, "What?"

"Nothing. It's just…you can be manipulative sometimes."

"Of course I can be. How do you think I deal with my dad?" She flipped her hair over her shoulder but, when Ruby hummed at the answer, frowned. "I wasn't trying to be manipulative though."

"I know," Ruby replied simply. "But what I know about your family is all from the internet or work - I don't actually know a lot about them, or you probably don't want me to believe what I do know."

"Depends on what it is." When Ruby just chuckled, Weiss set her fork down and cleared her throat. "I, uh, wanted to apologize though."

"For your family?"

"If I start apologizing for that, I'll never stop." Weiss frowned, but when Ruby reached across the table and squeezed her hand, her heart fluttered and she found the strength to continue. "I wanted to apologize for the first few times we met…making you take me shopping and come to my house. I was just…having a twisted form of fun, I guess. But it was at your expense, so I shouldn't have done that."

If Weiss worried that dredging up the memories would cause hard feelings, Ruby's enamored smile blew them all away.

"Totally forgiven."

She squeezed Weiss' hand again before returning to her meal, leaving Weiss sneaking small smiles at her while doing the same. With the opportunity to make Weiss grovel for her actions, Ruby swept it away as if they never had to bring it up again. Such sincere pardons didn't exist in Weiss' household, but the resulting levity made her wish that they did.

"If you ever wanted to change careers, you could become a chef," she commented as they finished their meals.

"I'm not that good. It's just something I do to unwind. Plus, you know I love to eat."

"I do know that."

An unstoppable smile slipped onto Weiss' lips at the implication that she knew Ruby. Maybe not everything, but she knew enough that they could be considered…close. And they would only get closer after sharing light conversation over their meal, with Ruby doing most of the talking as she filled Weiss in on her day. Weiss, remarkably, loved to listen. To Ruby's stories, but also just the sound of Ruby's voice rhythmically rising and falling, usually leading them both into laughter.

Somehow, dinner ended too soon.

"I'll help clean up?" she asked as soon as Ruby got to her feet.

"Naw, don't worry about it." Weiss had already picked up her plate, but Ruby waved off the gesture and took it from her. "I'll deal with it tomorrow," she added before taking the dishes to the sink. Wanting to do something, Weiss carried the salt and pepper shakers back to the counter. There, her gaze landed on Ruby's badge and holster lying on the countertop.

After glancing at Ruby, she carefully picked up the badge, which shone as if just polished yesterday. She had never held one before, so she tested the weight of it in her palm before tracing her fingers across the metal grooves and the smooth leather on the back. Noticing that she had Ruby's attention now, she held it up like an officer would and said, in the most commanding voice she could muster, "You're under arrest."

It was a joke, but something in the bottom of her stomach tightened when Ruby froze and her eyes bored through Weiss like a drill.

"Oh?" Weiss asked, a smirk already slipping out. "You liked that, didn't you," she teased, only for the location and situation to come screaming back to her when Ruby swallowed and stepped forward. She wrapped one hand around the badge still in Weiss' palm while her other landed on Weiss' waist, seamlessly spinning Weiss around so that her back pressed into the counter.

"You really liked it," Weiss added, suddenly breathless. "Having indecent thoughts, Officer?"

"The counter's as good a place as any, isn't it?"

Ruby's low voice rocked Weiss' world harder than an earthquake. What started as joking about having sex had suddenly become talking about having sex. The first was fun and exhilarating. The other set her skin ablaze, the heat steadily building and heading south the longer Ruby stared at her.

Because Ruby didn't just look at her - Ruby looked at her. Saw her in a way no one ever had. Even now, as Ruby wanted her - a desire that Weiss knew how to deal with - a softness that Weiss could hardly comprehend lingered in those silver eyes.

It made no sense. They made no sense. Yet, when the last strand of Weiss' self-control snapped, they collided like stars in the night sky. Their kiss sent fireworks bursting through her veins. Her hands, freed of the badge that Ruby took and threw onto the counter, grabbed and touched every inch of Ruby that she could find.

Ruby's stronger, larger frame pinned her against the counter. Ruby's tongue was already in her mouth, tasting her while she gave up any semblance of dominance or control. She moaned into Ruby's mouth when Ruby's hands slid behind her and groped her ass before sliding up the front of her shirt. Her own fingers fumbled with the buttons keeping Ruby's shirt tight around her fit form, but she only managed to undo the first two before Ruby started kissing her neck.

At any other time, she would be mortally embarrassed by the indecent moan that started in the back of her throat and filled the kitchen. Instead, she tilted her head and curled her fingers in Ruby's hair while gasping for air.

"When do you have to be home?" Ruby mumbled against Weiss' neck, the reverberations making Weiss lean onto her tiptoes as if that might move Ruby's lips lower faster.

"I don't have to be home," she got out breathlessly, only to be disappointed when Ruby pulled away to look at her.

"Really? Your dad's letting you stay out all night?"

"My brother and sister are covering for me." When Ruby's brow furrowed, Weiss curled her fingers into Ruby's hair and added, "I'm safe here with you, aren't I?"

She desperately needed that answer to be 'yes,' and relief appeared when Ruby snuck her a sly grin.

"Well, I don't know…" Ruby mused, leaning close enough that their lips nearly brushed and grinning even more when Weiss tried to kiss her. "Maybe you should check my room first," she whispered. "Make sure there are no intruders."

Weiss blinked, then laughed and kissed Ruby again.

"Can I use your gun?"

Ruby started shaking her head but then stopped. "Safety on," she ordered instead.

"Obviously." Weiss rolled her eyes but beamed when Ruby handed over her pistol. She then grabbed Ruby's hand and dragged her to the bedroom door. There, she dropped Ruby's hand and held the gun in both hands like in the movies.

"Right to left," Ruby firmly instructed.

"Fuck…" she breathed out, turning to Ruby. "You can use that voice again."

When Ruby winked and motioned for her to get on with it, Weiss turned back to the door and opened it in one swift motion. She aimed the gun in front of her, scanning from right to left as the room revealed itself, a small spike of adrenaline convincing her that Ruby might have actually planted a surprise.

It was just a room though. With a bed, desk, chest of drawers, and another door leading to what was probably a bathroom.

"Clear," she said while Ruby took the gun from her hands and set it on the desk. "And jesus, Ruby, why are you so…tidy?"

"I cleaned before you came over."

"Oh?" She arched a brow while Ruby's arms encircled her waist and pulled her back into Ruby's chest. "Why would you do that?"

"Same reason you're wearing that shirt," Ruby mumbled while pressing kisses to Weiss' neck.

"Why don't you -?" Weiss sucked in a breath when Ruby nibbled at a very sensitive spot. "Spell it out for me -?" she barely got out when Ruby's hands started tugging at her top.

Ruby's hands briefly stopped, but then her lips were on Weiss' ear, her hot breath sending pure, unfiltered desire racing down Weiss' spine.

"So I can throw you on my bed and have my way with you."

"I swear to god if you don't -"

Ruby shut her up with a searing kiss that erased all other thoughts from her mind.