"No…no…no…" Weiss muttered under her breath while thumbing through the shirts on the rack. Finding nothing she liked, she moved to the next rack and started over. "No…no…god no…"
Disappointed, she clicked her tongue and left the store without looking through the rest of the clothing. Crescent Avenue's boutiques usually yielded one or two gems for her ever-expanding closet, yet nothing caught her fancy. Of course, this was the first time she had ever gone shopping with a particular person in mind - she hadn't expected the endeavor to be so frustrating.
"Miss?" the bulky man wearing a black suit that hardly contained his biceps prodded when she stood on the sidewalk, glowering, for a moment too long. Two more men, who were practically his twins, lingered several feet to either side of her, forming a protective bubble that was more stifling than reassuring.
Rather than respond to him, she sighed and entered the next boutique. She wanted a new outfit for when she saw Ruby again, but apparently finding something suitable was just as impossible as getting Ruby to ask her out.
They had exchanged messages for several days now, but Ruby had yet to pick up on Weiss' blatant hints to set up another date. Weiss would do it herself but, after their time at the community kitchen, she wanted Ruby to initiate. She wanted Ruby to want to see her. So, despite imagining what would happen if she showed up at the police department and demanded Ruby's attention - the last time had ended with a little too much excitement for her taste - she restrained herself. Patience wasn't a virtue she possessed in great quantities, but she was willing to try new things for Ruby.
"Can I help you, Miss?"
Weiss clenched her jaw and turned on the poor sales associate ready to unleash a slew of unkind words but held her tongue at the last second. "Yes," she responded in a clipped tone. "Do you have anything that's not puke green or designed for a nun?"
For emphasis, Weiss flipped the sleeve of an ugly green shirt that would cover every possible inch of skin.
"I'm sure we can find something you like. What are you looking for?"
"I want something I can look at without thinking of old carpet, that's stylish but revealing enough that even a priest would have indecent thoughts."
"O…k." Despite a fair amount of shock, the woman held her smile. "I think…we might have something. Follow me."
Holding no amount of hope, Weiss followed the woman to the back of the store and watched her shuffle through shirts. Eventually, she pulled one out and held it up for Weiss to see. "Something like this?" she asked while Weiss inspected the fitted satin top with a deep V-neckline. It was understated yet sophisticated, and the plunging neckline offered plenty of opportunity to flaunt.
"Exactly like this." Weiss ran the sleeve through her fingertips before taking the hanger from the woman. After confirming it was her size, she smiled. "Have anything else like it?"
Over the next few minutes, the saleswoman showed Weiss the most revealing articles of clothing for sale. Nothing was excessively bawdy, of course, but Weiss found several pieces that she liked, tried on, and ultimately purchased. Having succeeded in buying something, she left the store in much brighter spirits.
Those spirits suffered once she shoved the shopping bags into one of her bodyguard's hands and checked her phone. "Christ, how hard is it to respond to a message?" she complained to no one in particular. Her frustration disappeared almost instantly, and she felt almost guilty for being so harsh when Ruby had warned that she was at work and would respond when she could.
Ruby could be saving children from a burning building right now, yet Weiss was pissed off that she hadn't received a message in over ten minutes. She hated waiting though. The past few days had been excruciating enough.
If Ruby would just ask her out already, everything would be fine. If she asked Ruby out, it wouldn't be 'asking,' and it might ruin the way they left things when they saw each other last.
Weiss' heart fluttered when their kiss flitted through her thoughts, and a soft sigh slipped through her lips without permission. The hulking man beside her didn't notice, though he probably wouldn't notice if she started spilling her life story or dancing down the sidewalk. His gaze swept from one person to the next, taking his job so seriously that he couldn't possibly engage in conversation. Of course, Weiss would also take her job seriously if her father had ordered her to do something, even something as trivial as taking his daughter out shopping.
Fortunately, she would be rid of their suffocating presence soon. Her last stop was off of her usual path, but she knew the destination too well from the countless times Whitley dragged her there 'just to see' what they had in stock.
'KICKZ' the graffiti-esque sign read. She rolled her eyes at the use of 'z' instead of 's' but walked through the open doors without a second thought. The store had a clean, minimalist design. Sleek floating shelves lined the walls, showcasing the newest and most exclusive sneakers - a collection of bright colors and bulky fabrics that hurt her eyes. The sound system pumped out the latest hip-hop track, adding to the energetic vibe but also to her desire to leave as fast as possible. The store was empty save for the sole employee leaning over the sales counter, tapping away at his phone until he noticed her.
"Oh, hey." He stowed his phone beneath the counter and frowned at her shoes - designer heels that probably cost more than anything here. "Uh, can I help you?"
"I'm looking for a present for my brother -"
"Wait a sec - you look familiar." He held up a finger and literally made her wait. "Hold on, it's coming to me…" She sighed and rolled her eyes, but he eventually snapped his fingers and grinned at her. "Are you related to Whitley?"
"Yes, that's my brother -"
"Right on! He's such a cool guy. Didn't know he had a hot sister."
If Winter hadn't already fulfilled her side of this bargain, that remark and the drawn-out look accompanying it would have forced Weiss to emasculate the boy before storming out. But Winter had already gotten Weiss out of their mom's insufferable book club, and this was for Whitley's birthday, so she clenched her jaw and continued as if he hadn't attempted to decrease his life expectancy.
"He mentioned a pair of limited edition sneakers by…that brand he likes. I'd like to buy those."
"The Azure Speeds?"
Weiss rolled her eyes at the obnoxious name.
"Are they blue?"
"Yeah, like, really blue."
"Then those are the ones."
"They're super limited edition though," the boy added, clearly not catching on to how little Weiss cared. "It'll be hard to find a pair, and pricey."
Weiss set her purse, which must cost more than he made in a year, on the counter, and said, "Price isn't an issue." He missed all of those hints but eventually shrugged and pulled out a half sheet of paper from under the counter.
"Just need your deets and I'll see what I can do." He slid the paper to her and dropped a pen on top of it. "We'll call when we find a pair and give you a price."
"Perfect."
Weiss wrote down her contact information, including the phone number she used for dumb shit like this, and shoved the page back to the boy. Assuming he didn't need anything else, unless he wanted to embarrass himself some more, she grabbed her bag and left just as swiftly as she had entered.
"We can go home now," she instructed her chaperones, who fell into step with her as they made their way back to the black SUV parked several blocks away. She checked her phone and sighed again when she found zero unread messages. A desperate person would send a follow-up message, but she would never stoop so low. Ruby would message, eventually. Weiss just had to wait for all the children to be saved and old ladies to be helped across the street first.
She clicked her tongue at the thought, not particularly caring about the children or old ladies but knowing that Ruby did. It was dumb but also kind of sweet how seriously Ruby took her role as an officer. Like, who actually wanted to help people?
Waiting to cross the intersection, Weiss scoffed at the tragic thought. Out of the corner of her eye, however, she noticed a small commotion in the alleyway running behind Crescent Avenue. Two young men stood over another man who, based on his filthy clothing and wild hair, called the streets home. Boisterous, taunting voices reached her ears as the young men heckled their unfortunate prey, who sat and stared straight ahead rather than engage.
Knowing better than to stick her nose where it didn't belong, she scowled at the two idiots before turning away. The light at the intersection changed and she started across, but her steps faltered when one of the young men shoved the homeless man over with his foot. The ensuing jeers combined with pained yelps struck a strange chord deep in her chest, making her stop, frown, and then sigh.
"Shit," she muttered under her breath before spinning around. She motioned her security detail after her while hurrying to the other side of the street. She wasn't angry, but she was very, very annoyed as she stalked to the alleyway, where the morons had decided that someone who wasn't even fighting back deserved a beating.
"Hey, assholes," she called out once close enough, drawing their startled attention. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
She snapped her fingers at the three men surrounding her, towering over her more accurately, who were armed with very real weapons. "Make them piss their pants a little," she muttered to them, and two of them sprinted forward like shots out of a cannon.
For two 'tough guys' so high on themselves moments before, the blood drained from their faces remarkably fast. They bumped into each other and tripped over their feet in their haste to leave. One of them yelped as he skinned his knee on the pavement, but his buddy yanked him to his feet as they stumbled away.
"Fucking cowards," she called after them as they sprinted out of the alley like their hair was on fire. Her bodyguards ended their pursuit at the street, but she considered telling them to track the vagrants down and give them a taste of their own medicine. A soft groan diverted her attention.
He smelled like he hadn't showered in years, and his jacket literally cracked with layers of caked-on dirt, but she knelt nearish to him and searched for any obvious injuries. "Are you ok?" she asked, but he only glanced at her before squeezing his eyes shut and curling in on himself even further. He appeared to be in pain, but she had no way of knowing for sure if he wouldn't say something.
One of her guards cleared his throat, so she turned away and heaved the biggest sigh of her life when a patrol car parked at the end of the alleyway.
"Just fucking great…" she muttered while standing, noticing several bystanders watching the commotion. One of them must have called the police instead of actually helping, and if she ever figured out who it was, she would have some choice words for them. Instead, she watched the officer get out of his vehicle and saunter over.
"What's going on here?"
"Some idiots attacked him," she explained, motioning to the man on the ground before waving in the direction the young men ran. The officer glanced behind him before kneeling to check on the victim.
"Sir? Sir. Are you ok? Do you need medical assistance?" After receiving no response, the officer stood up and turned to Weiss. "What's your name, Miss?"
"Is that really relevant?"
"I have to get your statement," he replied, so she sighed.
"It's Weiss. Weiss Schnee."
His brow rose, but then he pulled out his radio and pointed to a spot near the side of the alley. "Wait here while I call this in."
"Sure. I have nothing better to do," she snapped.
"Good. I'll be right back."
He started speaking into his radio while returning to the patrol car, so she dropped her head back and sighed. "This is why people don't help each other," she grumbled to her guards, one of whom actually cracked a smile. All she wanted to do was go home and wait for Ruby to text her. Now, she crossed her arms over her chest and scowled while waiting for the officer's return.
"Taking his sweet ass time, isn't he?" she muttered before returning to the man on the ground, who the officer seemed keen to ignore. "Feeling any better?" she asked. This time, he actually glanced at her before looking away and quickly nodding. An ambulance pulled up behind the patrol car then, and two EMTs jumped out. "Oh, good. They called for actual help."
She backed away as the EMTs knelt beside the man and started asking questions. They had as much success as Weiss, but at least they tried. The officer, meanwhile, finally returned with a pad of paper and a pen in hand.
"Really?" she asked, scoffing at the notepad. "My family dumps millions into the department each year and you're still using pen and paper?"
"It's procedure." He shrugged and flipped the pad open. "Tell me what happened, then you can get going."
"Fine," she huffed. "We were heading back to the car when I saw two assholes bothering this guy. They knocked him over and took turns kicking him. I asked them to stop, and they took off like the little bitches they are."
"Can you describe them?"
"Typical boys? Tall-ish, mid-20s, one had light brown hair and one had blonde hair. They were wearing t-shirts and shorts." While the officer kept writing, Weiss gave him a dubious look. "Are you even going to look for them?"
"Only if this guy presses charges." The officer pointed his pen at the man, whom the paramedics had coaxed into a seated position. "If I can grab statements from your guys to corroborate, then you're free to go."
"Sure. Fine. Whatever."
Weiss motioned for the three men to do what the officer wanted then crossed her arms and tapped one finger on her arm while waiting for the inconvenience to play out. Another patrol car arrived, and she was mid-eyeroll when Ruby hopped out. Abruptly, Weiss cared much less about the police department wasting resources and much more about the butterflies soaring through her chest as Ruby jogged over.
"Are you ok?" Without waiting for an answer, Ruby lifted Weiss' hands and swirled around her. "What happened? Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, Ruby."
Ruby finally stopped circling and exhaled. "Thank god. When I heard the call, I thought -" She shook her head rather than finish the thought, but she already said enough to prompt Weiss' smile.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you cared about my wellbeing, Officer."
"Of course I do." As soon as Weiss' brow rose, Ruby rubbed the back of her neck. "I mean, I care about everyone's wellbeing. That's why I'm a cop. To protect people."
"Do you rush to every crime scene to check on the people involved?"
"Um, not usually." Ruby's cheeks were turning red, much to Weiss' delight, but Ruby blew a puff of air through her lips and rubbed at her blush. "This is, um, a special situation though. The Chief read us the riot act on how important your family is to the city and all, so the department's pretty keyed up on everything you do."
"I'm flattered," Weiss replied dryly, though she must admit that she would willingly accept the attention if it meant Ruby came flying to her aid. "Have you been busy?" Weiss asked.
"Yeah, kind of. Just arrested a drug dealer and booked him downtown."
"Drug dealer? What was his name?"
"Uh, Derrick, I think." Ruby scrunched up her nose before narrowing her eyes. "Why? He wasn't yours, was he?"
"Please," Weiss scoffed. "I've never touched that shit."
"Surprisingly, I believe you."
"Why wouldn't you believe me?"
Ruby chuckled and shook her head rather than answer. "What happened?" she asked, gesturing to the scene in the alleyway.
"Some dickheads picked a one-sided fight with this poor guy." Weiss motioned to the man still being treated by the EMTs. "But didn't want to fight these guys." She jerked a thumb to her bodyguards, who had finished giving their statements and now loitered nearby.
"So…you saw something bad happening…and stepped in to help?"
Ruby tilted her head as a funny smile played on her lips, but Weiss quickly shook her head. "Don't make it a big deal," she warned, but Ruby looked almost certain to do exactly that. Fortunately, one of the paramedics gestured for their attention.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said before turning fully to Weiss. "He wants to speak to you."
Weiss glanced at the man, who had no business asking anything of her, but sighed and walked over. Ruby trailed close behind, either curious or apprehensive about how the interaction would go. The man was sitting now, looking mostly fine outside of several scapes on his jaw. His green eyes lit up as Weiss approached though and, when she was near enough, he reached out and clasped one of her hands in his.
"Thank you," he said while she tried not to wrinkle her nose at how dirty and calloused his hands felt. "You're an angel. My angel. You saved me - just like I knew you would. I knew you would."
"Uh, sure. You're welcome." Weiss subtly retracted her hand from his grasp before attempting a gracious smile. "I hope you feel better soon."
He beamed at the well wishes, providing a glimpse of a once-attractive man with sparkling eyes and a nice smile, but she spun around and quickly left his overwhelmingly fragrant presence. She motioned for one of her bodyguards to give her a handkerchief, which she wiped her hands on before tossing it back to him and continuing out of the alley.
"Weiss." Ruby reached for Weiss' arm only to pull back when Weiss instantly paused at the sound of her name. Ruby kept her hands to herself instead, much to Weiss' disappointment, but still smiled. "You did a good thing, Weiss. That could've escalated, but he's safe because of you."
"Because of these guys, actually." Weiss motioned to the imposing security detail, but Ruby glanced at them and shook her head.
"We both know they don't do anything unless you tell them to. You could've walked away, but you didn't. You helped."
"Yes, well…" Weiss hadn't thought about it much at the time, but now she shook her head. "I could only imagine how disappointed you'd be if you ever found out." That sounded idiotic out loud, but Ruby's adoring smile made Weiss uncomfortably warm and jittery. "Stop looking at me like that," she eventually snapped.
"Sorry, no can do." Ruby shook her head and just kept smiling, so Weiss stared at the concrete beneath their feet and eventually scoffed.
"What's it even matter? The assholes got away, and the police won't even look for them."
"Sometimes, the bad guys get away. What's important is that no one was hurt."
The comment drew Weiss' gaze back to Ruby, and she searched silver eyes wondering if the first part was supposed to be a dig at her family. But Ruby's eyes held no judgment or accusation. Just…simple, straightforward thoughtfulness.
"Are you free now?" Weiss found herself saying without a second thought. "We can get a late lunch. Or early dinner, I suppose."
"Oh, sorry, I would, but my shift's not over until late tonight."
"Ah. I understand."
Internally, Weiss chastised herself for asking first, but outwardly she tried to seem accepting.
"I can drive you home though?" Ruby offered before glancing at the three behemoths still patiently waiting. "I know you've already got your ride here and all -"
"Duke?" Weiss called out, drawing the man's attention. "I'll find my own way back." After motioning them away, which drew their puzzled acceptance, she grinned at Ruby. "Ready when you are."
After glancing at the men returning to the SUV alone, Ruby chuckled and shook her head.
"Duke…what a typical goon's name…"
"Want me to change it?"
"Change…his name?" As soon as Weiss nodded, Ruby's expression filled with disbelief. "You can't just change his name!"
"Wrong - I can. But I'd have to pay him and would never waste money on that. Besides, it'd be a little cruel to make him change it again."
"Again?"
Ruby's high-pitched voice forced out Weiss' smile. Finally catching on to the joke, Ruby dissolved into laughter. Besides the deliciously lewd moan Ruby made when eating those damn cookies, there was no better sound in the world than her laughter. "It's that easy, huh?" she asked, eyes sparkling with undeserved delight.
"It can be," Weiss replied, leaving out the 'for you' that fluttered through her thoughts. Ruby's little grin suggested the words hadn't needed to be spoken aloud, but she held her tongue and gestured Weiss over to the police cruiser.
"I'm taking her home," Ruby informed the other officer, who nodded and returned to supervising the cleanup. The paramedics were packing up, and a young lady who appeared to be a social worker now spoke to the man with bright green eyes. He caught Weiss' gaze and gave her another big grin before she finally turned away.
"I know how much you hate riding in here," Ruby said while opening the passenger door. Weiss gave her a curious look before getting in. The next thing Weiss knew, Ruby leaned in right after her, filling the limited space inside the car with her warmth and the gentle breath of roses. "Let me help with that," Ruby murmured, grabbing the seat belt and leaning across Weiss to clip it in, her soft brunette hair brushing against Weiss' chin in the process.
Weiss was about to ask why she needed help with her seatbelt when Ruby turned to the side and kissed her. The air left Weiss' lungs as if sucked into the void of space, yet her heart shot into the stratosphere as she melted into a fucking useless puddle. She set one hand on Ruby's cheek and savored Ruby's hand on her side, providing balance as Ruby leaned precariously through the open door. Then Ruby's lips disappeared, taking the rest of Weiss' oxygen with them and leaving her gaping like a fish out of water as stunning silver eyes and a slight smile were aimed back at her.
"What was that for?" she asked, her voice embarrassingly breathless.
"Dunno. Just felt like it."
Ruby shrugged, her smile never faltering, and Weiss came up with the dumbest response possible: a quiet, submissive, "Oh…"
Ruby outright grinned before ducking out of the vehicle, closing the door, and jogging around to the driver's side. The reprieve offered Weiss the chance to collect herself, and reprimand herself, before re-engaging.
"You know, this car's starting to grow on me," she commented once Ruby sat beside her. Ruby laughed while starting the engine and Weiss concluded that there must be something magical about Ruby's laugh…that was the only way to explain how it pried a smile from her as the alley slid out of view.
From strangely annoying and frustrating to oddly rewarding, the moment would linger in Weiss' memory for far longer than it ought to. But that kiss had been inexplicably cute, and now she got what she wanted: Ruby's company. And, in a moment that stirred her emotions into even more of a frenzy, Ruby drove past the freeway entrance in favor of the longer, slower surface street route home.
"So what were you up to?" Ruby asked, gesturing with one hand while Weiss bit back a smile. "Before all the chaos, I mean."
"I was just out shopping."
"Ah." Ruby bobbed her head and grinned at Weiss after stopping at the next intersection. "Find anything good?"
"Maybe you'll see one day."
This time, Weiss noticed how the sparkle started in Ruby's eyes before her expression brightened and laughter spilled from her lips. "Maybe I will," Ruby agreed, her attention returning to the road as traffic started moving. She snuck a glance at Weiss though, which Weiss caught because she hadn't yet turned away. "I hope you don't think I've been ignoring you. I've been working doubles, so by the time I get home I usually just shower and pass out."
"Why would you -?" Weiss began before the answer came to her. "Oh. You're making up the patrol hours I cost you." She frowned at the ironic outcome of her actions, but her frown morphed into confusion when Ruby glanced at her. "What?" she asked.
"Nothing." Ruby shook her head but softly chuckled. "It's just…nice that you pay attention." Weiss' frown returned, confused more than upset this time, but Ruby continued. "And yeah, I'm close to having all my hours. I should make it just in time for the next class."
"What happens then?"
"Then I start training!"
Ruby's voice inflected higher, but Weiss' brow furrowed as she stared out the window. "Does that mean you won't be driving around like this anymore?" she eventually asked, motioning to the car.
"I'll do both at first since we're low on patrol officers right now. But eventually, yeah."
"What's so good about the SWAT team, anyway?"
"I don't know…I've just always wanted to do it. It's higher intensity, higher pressure, split-second decisions -"
"You mean it's more dangerous."
"Basically."
Ruby chuckled, but something unhappy tightened in Weiss' chest. Weiss grew up rolling her eyes at the police officers who found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, but those were faceless men and women who accepted the dangers of their job and failed to avoid them.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" she asked, finally turning away from the window. "I mean, being a patrol officer seems dangerous enough as it is. What with all the homeless people around."
Stupidly, Weiss made it a joke, so Ruby chuckled rather than take it seriously. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure," she said, so Weiss nodded and let it go. That future left an unpleasant feeling in her stomach though, so she shoved it out of her mind and searched for a distraction.
"Have you ever had sex in here?"
"What?" Ruby squeaked. "No! Why -? Why would you even ask that?"
"Because I was thinking about it, obviously." Weiss snuck a smirk Ruby's way, and Ruby's cheeks flushed such a deep red that Weiss chuckled and added, "You fluster easily."
"Yeah, well…" Ruby floundered for words before saying, "Well, you don't like people showing you any type of gratitude."
"I don't?" Weiss asked, laughing at the toothless comeback. "What makes you say that?"
"Your reactions to people saying 'thank you.' You act like they're assaulting you with garbage."
"They might as well be."
"Any reason?"
The conversation shifted from joking to serious in a single breath. Weiss had no idea how Ruby did it, but she knew that Ruby wanted an honest response from the subtle glance sent her way.
"You know why," she huffed, so Ruby sent something worse than a glance: a patient, understanding smile. Sighing, Weiss stared out the window and sorted her feelings into words. "Some people might argue that my family is the reason why things are…like this. So it feels…wrong…for them to thank me. It feels like I should be apologizing instead, which is kind of bullshit."
"Because you've done nothing wrong."
"I haven't."
"Yet?"
Weiss caught the glimmer of hope in Ruby's eyes, and she wanted to tell Ruby not to waste time hoping for something so foolish. She shook her head and leaned against the door instead, putting her chin in her hand and staring at the tall metal fence separating her home from the rest of the world. The black bars provided as much protection as isolation, and the gate probably shouldn't open as often as it did.
Ruby didn't press the subject. She didn't say anything at all as they stopped at the front gate. The guards stepped out again, and she rolled down her window again, but she smiled and waved at them this time. They recognized her, but they still ducked down to see Weiss before opening the gates.
Despite Ruby taking the long way home, and despite the conversation veering into uncomfortable territory, their time together ended sooner than Weiss wanted. A sigh even slipped through her lips as Ruby navigated the long, smooth drive at a calm, confident pace.
"You know what my mom used to say?" Ruby waited for Weiss to motion with one hand before continuing. "Whenever Yang and I asked how people could do such horrible things yet still love their families and friends, she'd say, 'Sometimes bad people do good things, and sometimes good people do bad things.'"
Weiss frowned, but Ruby glanced over and added, "What makes us one or the other is who we try to be. Who we want to be when we go to sleep, and who we would be if the world didn't put us in bad situations."
"If you're trying to say I'm a good person, I might hurl."
"There's a bag in the glove box." Ruby chuckled when Weiss rolled her eyes. Reaching the top of the drive, Ruby parked the car and turned toward Weiss. "And I'm saying…I don't know who you are, Weiss. But I want to find out."
An uncommon warmth spread through Weiss' chest, a feeling she held onto just as much as the sincerity in Ruby's eyes. She didn't think she had much choice in who she was meant to be, but she was overwhelmingly grateful that Ruby hadn't already written her off one way or the other. She would have if she were in Ruby's shoes, especially as they sat in front of a sprawling mansion steeped in illicit money.
The moment ended when Ruby cleared her throat and found a more relaxed smile.
"Maybe you can stay out of any trouble needing the police for a while? The stress isn't great for my health."
"I can try, but trouble just has a way of finding me."
Weiss batted her eyes and scooted closer to the center console as their 'goodbye' approached. She wasn't saying goodbye without another kiss - she wouldn't even leave the car without one - and she knew she wasn't the only one who felt that way when Ruby subtly leaned closer and then glanced at the house.
"Uh, we probably shouldn't be seen together here, right? Since the car and, you know, the uniform?"
"Depends on who's looking."
Before Ruby asked more questions, Weiss looped a finger into the collar of her uniform and dragged her into a kiss. The only thing Ruby's soft, tender lips accomplished was making Weiss hungrier for more, so the kiss started passionately and only deepened when Ruby responded.
Oh, how Ruby responded…she set one hand on Weiss' neck and gently yet firmly guided Weiss closer using just her fingertips. Her lips moved in perfect rhythm with Weiss' until, in a heartstopping moment that Weiss would remember forever, Ruby swept her tongue between Weiss' parted lips before Weiss even recognized herself granting permission.
Her body couldn't say 'no' to Ruby, making the center console a maddening barrier preventing her from getting everything she wanted. Her soft, frustrated growl, however, ended as a gasp when Ruby lightly bit her bottom lip. Their heavy breathing and quiet gasps filled the car, making it impossible to care about anything else as she developed an addiction to having Ruby's mouth on hers. She was pressing closer, trailing her fingers through Ruby's hair, when rapid, frenzied voices broke the spell.
"Hold up," Ruby suddenly said, pulling away and tilting her ear toward the police scanner. Her brow furrowed as words filtered through, too quick for Weiss to parse in her current state, but Ruby suddenly sat up straight.
"Ah…uh, that's actually really urgent. I need to get over there." Weiss had hardly blinked at the abrupt reversal of fortune when Ruby pecked her on the lips and said, "I'll text you though?"
"Oh. Ok, sure. Be safe."
Weiss inwardly cringed at how caring that sounded, but Ruby grinned at her as she left the car. Once outside, she watched the police car fly down the driveway. The lights and siren started once it reached the road as it tore off to a destination unknown. Weiss, meanwhile, combed her fingers through her hair, straightened her clothes, and waited for her breathing to return to normal before floating inside as if riding on a cloud filled with Ruby's soft lips, commanding touch, and the taste of her tongue.
Weiss was fully prepared to dwell in that moment for the rest of the afternoon, but the bright, cheerful cloud turned into a storm when her father marched into the foyer.
"Good," he said when he spotted her. "I need to speak with you."
He motioned her after him and, with her brilliant mood effectively destroyed, she sighed before following him to his office. He waited for her at the door and shut it behind her, implying this conversation should remain private, before marching to his desk. "Sit," he ordered with a gesture to the chairs in front of him.
She took the seat on the right, as usual, and sat on the very edge of it. While waiting for him to speak, she swept her fingers through her hair again, hoping it didn't look as frazzled and ruffled as she felt. Fortunately, he hardly seemed to notice her appearance as he looked straight into her eyes.
"I'm concerned about the Flint deal. Things aren't progressing as quickly as they should be."
"Winter can get it done," she offered in her sister's defense. To her surprise, he nodded.
"I'm sure she can. Can she succeed is the bigger question." When Weiss tilted her head, he stood up, grasped his hands behind his back, and paced in front of her. "Winter lacks…shall we call it…a killer instinct. You or I would have the job done already. She spends too much time worrying about…collateral damage."
Weiss frowned when the homeless man in the alley popped into her thoughts. He was the type of collateral damage her father meant. He was the type of collateral damage who she shouldn't care about. If he got in the way and got hurt, then so be it. As long as they didn't get caught and were paid, the end justified the means.
"I know you don't want to step on her toes, but I might need you to take over this one."
"She can do it," Weiss repeated, a little too pleadingly this time. "Can't we just…give her a little more time? It's her first solo job, and you know she's a perfectionist. She's probably planning everything down to the second."
He pursed his lips, and she held her breath waiting for his response. "Fine," he concluded, and she released that breath as a sigh of relief. "I'll give her more time, but if things don't start moving forward, it goes to you."
"Of course." She nodded and, when he seemed satisfied with the result, stood to leave. Before turning away, however, she remembered something. "Oh, Dad? I heard the department's paying extra attention to us. Because of the whole kidnapping thing."
"Good." Her brow rose, but he nodded. "They'll forget in time, and we'll be careful until then. Make sure your brother and sister know, will you?"
"Of course."
She bowed slightly before leaving the room, closing the door behind her, and briefly shutting her eyes. Her thoughts valiantly tried to return to moments earlier - a far simpler time when all she wanted was Ruby's hands and lips on her - but she shook her head and headed to the back of the house in search of her siblings.
She found them lounging on the veranda. Neither of them spared a second thought for the breathtaking view of the sun glistening off of the ocean as they stared at their phones, but she wondered what Ruby would say about the picturesque scene. She then shook her head and sat next to Whitley.
"I'm supposed to tell you that the cops are paying extra attention to us right now," she said when they both glanced at her. "So, you know, don't do anything stupid."
"There goes my weekend," Whitley quipped, grinning like a fool while Weiss and Winter rolled their eyes.
"How's the Flint deal?" Weiss asked Winter, who sat back at the direct question.
"Oh, yeah!" Suddenly interested, Whitley leaned forward and smiled. "What type of hardware are we talking about?"
"It's fine," Winter directed to Weiss before turning to Whitley. "And none of your concern. Neither of you should be involved in this."
"Come on, Wints," Whitley whined, using the nickname he knew Winter hated. "Let me live vicariously. Dad'll never give me anything cool when he's still pissed at me for leaving the garage door unlocked."
"You should really stop doing that," Weiss reminded him.
"It basically never -" He froze mid-sentence, then his eyes widened and he shot to his feet. "Be right back," he muttered before running into the house.
Weiss watched him go before smiling and shaking her head. "I'm glad you two are spending time together," she told Winter.
"Trying," Winter admitted with a sigh. "He can be a…frustrating creature."
"'Creature,'" Weiss repeated before glancing around to make sure they were alone. "Hey, listen, Dad's antsy about the Flint deal -"
"I know. Don't worry. It'll get done."
"What's the hold up?"
"They're just…dragging their heels making a decision."
"'Making a decision?'" Weiss repeated before scoffing. "This should be a done deal."
Winter shrugged, so Weiss blew a breath through her lips and said, "Give me your phone." When Winter frowned, Weiss motioned for her to hand over the device. "Let me help you. I'm not going to run this entire damn family by myself."
With Weiss waiting, her patience quickly wearing thin, Winter weighed her choices before reluctantly pulling up the correct contact on her phone and handing it over. "Thank you," Weiss said before pressing the call button, flipping her hair over her shoulder, and holding the phone up to her ear. It rang twice before connecting.
"Winter," a man with a gruff voice answered. "We're still working on things -"
"It's not Winter," Weiss interrupted. "This is Weiss Schnee, the one you didn't want calling you, but you've fucked around for too long so here we are. I need to know if we have a deal."
"I - we're still talking it over. We're just not sure they'll all be clean -"
"You're entitled to your incorrect opinion," she replied in her most condescending tone. "But I'm telling you they're good, so they're good. Now, I need an answer."
"It'd be a lot easier if the price was a little lower…"
"You think you're in the position to negotiate?" She laughed. "You have twenty-four hours to get your shit together or we're giving the entire shipment to the Royals for free so they can hunt all of you down." There was stunned silence on the other end of the line, so she smirked. "Didn't think of that, did you? Stop fucking around and get us an answer."
With a huff, she hung up. "That should do it," she said while returning the phone to Winter, who stared at her for several long seconds before looking down.
"How do you even know all that?" Winter eventually asked.
"I have eyes and ears and read the news?" When Winter's frown deepened, Weiss patted her sister's knee. "You'd run a great business, Winter, but this isn't a business. Choice is an illusion. They either work with us or we kill them. Metaphorically, of course. Though from what I've read, the Royals will actually kill them."
While Weiss chuckled at the turf war brewing on the other side of town, Winter studied her long and hard before slowly nodding. The conversation ended when their mother strolled onto the back patio with a glass of wine in hand and a clumsy sway already in her steps.
"Weiss, there you are." She took a step toward Weiss, stopped, teetered, and then blinked at Winter. "Oh, Winter. I didn't see you there."
Weiss rolled her eyes at Winter, who responded with a much more cordial smile.
"We were just catching up."
"I just love seeing the two of you together." Their mother sank onto the sofa with Winter and smiled at Weiss. "Have you gone to dinner with Henry yet? He's a charming young man."
Just like that, the last shred of Weiss' good mood evaporated.
"No," she grumbled. "I don't plan on it either."
"Oh, sweetie. He's not so bad. At least he's handsome, and he's particularly keen on you."
"Well, I'm not keen on him," she stated. "I'd rather spend my time with someone capable of more than kissing Dad's ass." Her mind drifted to Ruby, but she cleared Ruby from her thoughts when Winter's eyes narrowed.
"You're being too hard on the poor boy," their mother responded before taking a long sip of her wine. "Your father was nothing special at that age either. Your grandfather hated him, actually."
"Gee, I wonder why…" Weiss muttered under her breath while Winter wisely led the conversation in a safer direction. Whitley returned several minutes later, providing her even more cover to half-listen to the conversation and check the news on her phone.
Nothing had been reported yet that seemed worthy of Ruby racing away like the world was on fire. It was probably something stupid like a downed telephone pole or a broken traffic signal, but Weiss kept refreshing the page anyway. Her other option was to sit here and listen to her mother's slurred retelling of an important lunch gathering or feel unnerved by the contemplative glances Winter kept sneaking her way, neither of which she wanted anything to do with. She would much rather dwell on her time with Ruby…and hope that Ruby's promised text came soon.