The sound of traffic woke Weiss up. Or maybe it was the hip-hop track filtering through the walls. Or perhaps the random asshole shouting at the top of his lungs before his heavy footsteps stomped down the hall.
This wasn't her quiet, airy bedroom with the sun filtering through floor-to-ceiling windows and thousand thread count sheets draped over her, yet she smiled when she opened her eyes and found Ruby lying beside her. Ruby slept peacefully, her expression tranquil and her fingers lightly grasping her pillow. Her hair, despite sticking up in tufts, could still pass for a fashion statement.
Weiss' gaze traced along Ruby's wrist, then up the outlines of her toned arms, before trailing across her exposed collarbone and finally moving down as far as the sheets allowed. Desire pooled in the pit of Weiss' stomach while warmth blossomed in her heart - an odd combination that left her wanting a repeat of last night while also content to just lie there and let Ruby rest.
Memories would be enough to tide her over for the time being. And, considering Ruby's eager participation in last night's…activities…more opportunities would arrive in due time. This moment felt too delicate to disturb. Besides, Ruby deserved rest after making all of Weiss' dreams come true…and then some Weiss had never even considered to hope for.
Her heart fluttered as the vivid replay started up again. Dinner. Ruby being so sweet and considerate. Ruby's badge, which Weiss suddenly held a giant affinity towards. 'Clearing' Ruby's room like a police officer would. Then rapidly shedding her clothing while Ruby did the same.
A soft, fragile emotion rooted in Weiss' chest as she gently set her fingers on Ruby's hand to confirm that Ruby was really there. Ruby stirred at the touch, lightly rubbing her face against the pillow before stilling again.
A siren shattered the tranquility. Ruby's eyes flew open, suddenly wide and alert, before the sound faded into the distance and her body relaxed back into the covers.
"Morning," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes before giving Weiss an adorably curious smile. "How long have you been staring at me?"
"Long enough." Weiss scooted closer when the first laugh of the day softly filled the room. Ruby's warmth trickled under the sheets to her, an ever-present reminder that they were equally lacking in clothing. She confirmed it by running her foot down Ruby's calf before intertwining their legs, bringing them that much closer.
"So…I was wrong," she said while trailing her fingers along Ruby's forearm. Ruby's eyes widened; a grin soon followed.
"Is that the first time you've ever said that?"
"Yes. It feels weird coming out of my mouth." Weiss waited for Ruby's laugh before continuing with a sly smile. "I was wrong…because you're definitely not soft in bed."
"I can be soft if that's what you want," Ruby argued before her cheeks reddened. "But you, uh, definitely didn't seem to want that, so…"
"Maybe next time," Weiss hummed, already leaning in for a kiss. A small part of her couldn't believe that she could kiss Ruby whenever. A larger part of her melted when Ruby returned the kiss, her soft lips moving in perfect rhythm with Weiss' and her hand tenderly cupping Weiss' cheek.
Weiss would never call herself a sentimental person, but there was something so romantic about a kiss that went nowhere. A kiss that was just for the sake of itself. A kiss that said something as simple as 'good morning.'
When they eventually separated, Weiss lingered close enough that her nose brushed Ruby's while she tucked several loose strands of hair behind Ruby's ear. "I had fun last night," she murmured against Ruby's lips, feeling them curl into a smile.
"I did, too."
"That means we'll do it again sometime?"
Weiss abhorred the question as soon as it slipped out but not when Ruby laughed and gently played with her hair.
"I'm not opposed to the idea…"
Satisfied with that response, Weiss tucked herself against Ruby's chest and hid a smile when Ruby's arm wrapped around her. A comfortable silence followed as Ruby absentmindedly rubbed a hand across Weiss' bare shoulders, leaving a trail of goosebumps, and Weiss pressed her ear to Ruby's chest listening to the strong, steady heartbeat.
"It's kind of hard to believe."
Brow furrowing, Weiss propped herself up on one elbow and looked down at Ruby.
"That we had sex?"
"Well, that. But also - you know -"
When Ruby motioned to Weiss, something far too close to hurt pricked Weiss' heart.
"You can't believe how amazing I am? Incredible? Hot? Smart?" Ruby rolled onto her side while Weiss scowled. "Well, come on, Ruby," she pressed. "Which of my many positive qualities can't you believe?"
"Weiss." Ruby gently touched Weiss' cheek, her silver eyes sincere and warm. Weiss instantly defused. "You're all of those things," Ruby said while Weiss laid back down and let Ruby's arm wrap around her. "It's just…Yang keeps telling me to be careful. That you're probably using me."
"Yang should spend a little more time on her hair and less psychoanalyzing people…" Weiss grumbled.
"She's just looking out for me."
Weiss bit back a harsh response before stewing over what to say next. The prideful part of her wanted to tear Yang to shreds for suggesting such a thing. The rational part of her understood the optics clearer now than ever before and worried that she would always be fighting against them.
"I'm not using you," she eventually said, finding no better way to put it.
"I know."
All it took were those two simple words and a gentle squeeze of her shoulders for the storm clouds to clear from her mind and her next breath to come a little easier. Desperate for a subject change though, she let several seconds pass before a smirk crept onto her lips.
"Although I might use you for your body from now on," she added, slipping one hand beneath the covers and sliding it down Ruby's stomach. Ruby jolted at the cold touch and grabbed Weiss' hand before it got far.
"Spend the day with me?" she asked, intertwining their fingers instead.
"Please don't say we're getting out of bed…"
"But we could get brunch. Maybe walk around a bit? It looks nice out."
Ruby motioned to the window before smiling in that heart-melting way she had. Weiss' reticence quickly evaporated.
"Fine…" she sighed. "I guess that doesn't sound like the worst idea in the world…"
"Well, we don't have to leave yet."
A grin slipped onto Ruby's lips as she seamlessly flipped Weiss onto her back and rolled on top of her, their lips already locked together.
Fortunately, Ruby meant 'late lunch' since they were sidetracked several times before they made it out of bed, then into the shower, then finally dressed and ready to go. Weiss, for all of the preparation that went into her outfit yesterday, completely overlooked bringing a change of clothes if everything went as planned.
She considered re-wearing her outfit, but Ruby convinced her to borrow some clothes - and that was how she found herself in a pair of black sweatpants, a soft white tee hidden beneath a navy zip-up hoodie, and a pair of black flats that had emerged from the very back of Ruby's closet. Flats only illuminated their stunning height difference, but her heels would be glaringly out of place with such casual attire.
Ruby dressed in an equally laidback manner with black sweats and a long-sleeve t-shirt that clung to her biceps in the most tantalizing way. What currently held Weiss' attention, however, was watching her tuck her gun into her waistband.
"Maybe I should get a permit to carry…" Weiss mused while Ruby dropped her shirt to cover the weapon.
"Maybe you should."
"Really?" Weiss asked, her brow lifting. "Shouldn't you say that's a horrible idea?"
"Why would I? You can obviously handle one, and you could use the protection." Ruby paused and then sent Weiss a curious look. "Actually, yeah. Why don't you?"
"I - because -" Lacking any legitimate reasons besides her last name, she shook her head and asked, "But where would I put it?"
"You carry a purse everywhere," Ruby pointed out while guiding Weiss into the hall. "Can't you just get a bigger one?"
Weiss pursed her lips at the suggestion while Ruby locked the door. Ruby made it sound so simple, but a larger purse threw off Weiss' entire style. Not that she minded changing styles for a good reason…
Lifting one sleeve to her nose, she took a deep breath of roses but quickly dropped her arm when Ruby turned around.
"Sorry. I know it's not something you'd usually wear," Ruby apologized for the tenth time.
"I don't mind. It's comfortable."
"And you look super cute in it." Ruby kissed Weiss' forehead before taking Weiss by the hand and leading her down the hall. Weiss' cheeks warmed from the compliment just as much as the spontaneous intimacy. She was a lot of things, but she didn't consider herself to be 'cute.' No one had ever kissed her as sweetly either, or held her hand so securely while leading her outside.
In a way, it felt like she walked into the building with one version of Ruby and left with another. This version treated her lovingly - adoringly, even - yet still offered steadfast peace of mind as they ventured into Vale, bustling as it was with midday commotion.
Traffic snarled the streets, with sporadic horns vocalizing driver frustration. Pedestrians added to the fray, hurrying along the sidewalks or ducking in and out of the storefronts. Ruby remained unphased by the hectic activity while drawing Weiss away from the apartment, their fingers still intertwined.
Holding hands with Ruby wasn't the worst thing in the world. It might actually be the best thing in the world based on how Weiss' heart fluttered. It felt like walking through a dream in some strange, alternate reality that was lighter, brighter, and happier than her own. Deep down, she knew that it was only a mirage, but she embraced it as fully as she embraced everything that had happened so far.
"We're coming back, right?" she asked before Ruby's building fell too far behind. "Because there are so many more things I want to do with you."
A blush flared on Ruby's cheeks, but she squeezed Weiss' hand and said, "Let's grab some food first."
"Right. Food. Replenish your energy."
When Ruby chuckled, Weiss beamed at her like a schoolgirl with a giant crush.
'Crush' might not be the right term, but there was something incredible about doing something as mindless as walking together the morning after being together. Could other people tell that something had happened between them? Or that something was going on between them? Did the outside world notice their joined hands or the way Weiss could hardly wipe the smile from her lips?
"How about a smoothie?" Ruby asked before long, shrugging one shoulder toward a small storefront advertising an array of blended fruit drinks.
"Will that keep you going for a while?"
"For at least the next few hours," Ruby said, already tugging Weiss to the entrance. How Ruby knew that Weiss would agree should probably be cause for concern, but Weiss' attention moved to the bright, colorful smoothie shop rather than question it.
Various fruits had been painted on the walls, and their aromas hung in the cool air. Behind the counter, a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables were neatly arranged in wicker baskets. A line of blenders waited to be called into service, and the young brunette standing behind the register greeted them with a friendly smile.
"Good morning!" Her gaze lingered on Weiss and Ruby's joined hands long enough that Weiss' heart swelled with delight before focusing on Ruby. "What can I get you?"
"I'll have the peanut butter chocolate." Ruby squeezed Weiss' hand and smiled at her. "See anything you like?"
"Besides the obvious?" Weiss batted her eyes at Ruby before reading the extensive menu above the counter. "The…triple berry sounds good, I guess. A small one."
Before the young girl finished ringing up the order, Ruby had her wallet out and removed her credit card without ever releasing Weiss' hand. "Ruby…" Weiss sighed, but Ruby just grinned at her and paid for their 'breakfast.'
"You should let me pay," Weiss insisted as soon as they moved aside to wait.
"Why?" Weiss pursed her lips, so Ruby squeezed her hand again. "I know I'm not, like, loaded, but I'm not destitute either. I can take a pretty girl out to breakfast without losing my apartment."
"If you take out any girl but me, you will lose your apartment."
"It'll be bought up by Schnee Corp. and demolished?" Ruby fake gasped, then dissolved into giggles when Weiss solemnly nodded. "Remind me not to piss you off," Ruby added, though she was all smiles as she nudged Weiss' shoulder.
Several minutes of obnoxiously loud whirring interspersed with laughter later, they returned to the sidewalk clutching smoothies in one hand and holding hands with the other.
"What do you think?" Ruby asked after Weiss took her first sip.
"It's sweet," she concluded before shrugging and sipping again. "But not bad."
"Want to try mine?" When Ruby offered her cup, Weiss shook her head. "You don't want to share straws?" Ruby teased while retracting her smoothie.
"I have no problem sharing straws with you. We shared far more last night."
"Yeah, we did." Ruby chuckled to herself before taking another sip. "You sure though? Because it'll be gone soon."
"I doubt peanut butter tastes good in a smoothie."
"All the more reason to try!"
Weiss wrinkled her nose, but any argument disappeared when Ruby drew another long inhale through the straw and then kissed her. Ruby's cold tongue overloaded her senses like sticking a fork in a socket, but the faint taste of peanut butter and chocolate soon followed. The flavor combination couldn't hold a candle to Ruby, which was why Weiss pursued those cold lips as soon as Ruby started pulling away, lengthening the kiss for several more seconds before finally breaking apart.
"So?" Ruby asked, her silver eyes sparkling. "It felt like you liked it."
Weiss licked the sugar off of her lips but, for possibly the first time in her life, failed to muster a scoff or eyeroll. "It was a pleasurable experience," she remarked only to smile when Ruby laughed.
The other surprisingly pleasurable experience? Listening to Ruby ramble while they walked. She motioned her cup to every building they passed, pointing out her grocery store, her bank, her favorite taco shop - all of which Weiss committed to memory - while filling in the gaps with work stories. Weiss would have walked with Ruby to the edge of Remnant and back, but Ruby eventually paused and waved her smoothie to a local gym.
"This is my gym," she said before draining the last of her smoothie and tossing the cup into the nearby garbage bin.
"Right down the street? No wonder you're in great shape."
"Well, that and from chasing bad guys." Ruby chuckled at the joke, but Weiss' brow furrowed. "Want to check it out?"
Considering she was already being tugged to the door, Weiss rolled her eyes but willingly followed. The lack of argument earned Ruby's blinding smile, which she basked in all the way up until they passed through the doors. Cold air and a sterile smell greeted them on the other side, combined with soft conversations, the constant whir of a treadmill, and sporadic clinks of metal hitting metal.
Most of the large machines served unknown purposes, but everyone else seemed to know what to do with them. Weiss, meanwhile, scanned the gym as Ruby led her further inside. The back of her neck prickled, leading her to search more carefully for something out of place. That was when she noticed two men wearing Vale PD shirts. Another young man wore Vale PD shorts while jogging on a treadmill. Someone's Vale PD water bottle sat unattended on a bench, either forgotten or meant to be claimed soon.
"Ruby…" she began as more evidence announced itself like neon signs. "...should I be here?"
"Sure! Why not?"
"Because -" She glanced around before leaning closer and lowering her voice. "This is a cop gym."
"So? You're with me."
Ruby's confused smile suggested that she didn't understand why Weiss might be uncomfortable. So, rather than draw attention to a potentially mood-destroying topic, she swallowed her unease and forced a shrug.
"I just figured they wouldn't want me judging them."
"Pretty sure they'd all love to be judged by someone as beautiful as you."
The compliment stole the air from Weiss' lungs, leaving her fumbling for several seconds before clearing her throat. "They won't when they hear my thoughts," she quipped, earning another laugh as Ruby led her to the back of the gym. There, near two doors leading to the locker rooms and showers, sat a boxing ring.
"Yang pretty much lives back here." Ruby pulled on one of the cords running around the platform before grinning at Weiss. "Want to get in? I can teach you some self-defense."
"How cute…you think I need to learn self-defense."
"Want to spar then?"
Weiss' brow rose at the serious question. Then she studied Ruby, with her tightly corded muscles and significant height advantage, and scoffed.
"No, thanks. I'll let you keep your ego."
"Wow, you're so generous sometimes."
"I know, right? I'm turning over a new leaf."
Weiss flashed a righteous smile, but her heart somersaulted when Ruby beamed at her - all bright, goofy, and filled with joy for the dry, borderline acerbic remark.
Or maybe it wasn't the remark earning that smile…maybe it was something in her actions. Maybe it was the entire morning, from waking up, to making their way out of bed, to exploring a gym that should be strictly off-limits. She considered asking which it was - the comment or her - but the initiative disappeared when two young women exited the changing rooms.
They were attractive, but their snug t-shirts with SWAT emblazoned across the front caught Weiss' attention. Weiss drew their interest, too - a side-eyed, 'subtle' interest that usually preceded an underhanded confrontation. When they made the mutual decision to walk over, she prepared to tell them off for suggesting that she was unwelcome. Then they smiled at Ruby, and a different kind of annoyance flowed through Weiss' veins.
"Hey, Ruby," the taller one said while the other tagged on a, "What're you up to?"
"Hey! Just showing Weiss around."
Ruby motioned to Weiss, who suddenly had every ounce of their attention.
"Weiss…not like…Weiss Schnee, right?" the shorter one puzzled out. The other frowned, so Weiss bit her tongue to prevent her first ten responses from slipping out.
"I see my reputation precedes me," was all she said. They shared surprised glances, but they hadn't walked over here to be concerned about her. The way their smiles returned to Ruby made that crystal clear.
"You'll be at workouts this weekend, right?"
"Yeah, we missed you last night."
A smirk set up permanent residence on Weiss' lips when she realized why Ruby missed yesterday and what Ruby was doing instead. More accurately, who.
"I should be!" Ruby ran her fingers through her hair and lightly shook every strand back into place, unaware of how deeply attractive the action was. Then her gaze flitted to Weiss. "Depends on if any plans pop up, I guess."
The young women were both smart enough to read between those lines, as their glances at Weiss confirmed, but Weiss just smiled - somewhat smugly - and let them think what they wanted. In all likelihood, their assumptions were correct.
"Well, I'll be here," the shorter one remarked. "We can work on our grapples again."
"And you should bring Yang!" the taller one added. "Maybe we can grab drinks after."
Weiss bit the inside of her cheek when a wink went Ruby's way, recognizing that this wasn't the place to start an argument nor the company she wanted to argue with.
"Yeah, sure! If I can make it. I'll see if she's free, too." The friendly reply reminded them that Ruby had yet to agree, but they both smiled as if already looking forward to their double date. "We should probably let you get out of here though," Ruby added. "See you at work?"
"We've got nights this weekend," the tall one groaned while the shorter one scoffed.
"Hopefully nothing exciting happens."
Both of their gazes moved to Weiss, but Weiss regarded them with a neutral-yet-quickly-growing-annoyed expression. They gave up quickly, fortunately, and left after some overly friendly waves and coquettish goodbyes. They snuck another disbelieving look at Weiss before exiting the gym locked in a quiet conversation that could only be about one thing.
Weiss' neutral expression instantly fell into a scowl.
"You can kick their asses, right?"
"I mean…" Ruby glanced over her shoulder to make sure they were gone before grinning. "Yeah, kind of."
"Good. No girlfriend of mine is anything less than a badass."
It wasn't until Ruby froze that Weiss heard what slipped out of her mouth. "Shit…" she sighed, silently cursing Ilia for planting the word in her mind. "I mean -"
"You think I'm a badass?" Ruby interrupted, so Weiss squinted at her.
"Sure…"
"And I'm your girlfriend?"
Ruby's amused yet cheerful smile was too bright, so Weiss turned away and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well, the role is currently vacant, so if you wanted it, which obviously you should because who wouldn't, then I suppose you could call yourself that."
"Wow. That was romantic."
"I'm not romantic, or patient, or particularly tolerant -"
But she knew how to shut up when Ruby's lips met hers, cutting her off with a short, tender kiss. By the time her eyes fluttered open, Ruby beamed and gently squeezed her sides.
"But you're my girlfriend, so you're automatically pretty amazing."
Weiss could have melted right through the floor and into the sewer. Or she could have dragged Ruby into the locker room to express the more physical response that comment elicited. Or she could just smile at Ruby like a lovestruck idiot and forget what even prompted the conversation.
Ruby wasn't supposed to be her girlfriend. Ruby was supposed to be a distraction - a source of entertainment - yet had quickly become something more. But even she was smart enough to frown when reality reared its ugly head.
"Are you even allowed to date me?"
"Are you allowed to date me?" Weiss countered.
"Sure. Why not? Aren't you an upstanding member of the community?"
Weiss' smile grew strained, but she still nodded and said, "I am." Ruby smiled and held out her hand, which Weiss willingly took so they could leave the gym. "And I don't care what my dad says," Weiss added. "He just…probably shouldn't find out right away."
"I'll cancel plans to shout it from the rooftops."
"If you want to do that, I won't stop you. I'll just tell him you're some crazy cop with a crush on me. That's obviously very believable."
Ruby laughed while holding the door. Once outside, Weiss took a deep breath and sighed.
"I can smell the 'cop' all over me…" she grumbled only for her heart to stop when Ruby sniffed her neck. Ruby's nose brushed the sensitive skin there, sending a shiver down Weiss' spine, before she backed away and grinned.
"Nope. That's just me."
"Fucking hell…" Weiss breathed out, her heart racing from that light touch. "You have to kiss me now."
Ruby's brow rose, but her grin widened as she leaned in for a kiss. Prepared this time, Weiss savored the softness of Ruby's lips before humming against them and dropping back to her heels. "Good," she said once Ruby pulled away.
"My kissing or me doing what you told me to?"
"Both."
"Guess I'm learning," Ruby joked before lightly tickling Weiss' sides, earning a girlish giggle that Weiss almost couldn't believe came from her. Ruby beamed at the sound though, and seamlessly retook Weiss' hand as they resumed their ambling stroll.
The hustle and bustle continued in this sliver of Vale, but the smaller details stood out as the afternoon set in. Maybe the streets were narrow and packed with parked cars and traffic. Maybe the sidewalks were cracked and bruised from too many years without being repaved. Maybe the streetlights were industrial and a film had built up on the windows. But this was the side of the city that Weiss rarely saw. Of course, it was hard to see anything when the walls of her prison stood so tall and the tint on their car windows was so dark. She would never walk around on her own even before the whole 'someone tried to kidnap her' situation. But with Ruby…exploring was easy, interesting, and enjoyable.
"I'm not usually like this," Ruby commented as they passed a cute local coffee shop, motioning with her free hand while keeping Weiss' in her other. "I've been so focused on work for forever, but you just…bring out this side of me, I guess."
"Good."
"Good?"
"That means it's special."
Weiss felt Ruby's gaze but stared at the patio umbrellas until Ruby squeezed her hand and turned away. If anyone in her family heard her say that, they would have her committed to an institution. But they were nowhere to be found, and their absence eased the constant pressure to be who they expected her to be.
"Do you have to be home by any time?" Ruby asked, either picking up on Weiss' thoughts or having impeccable timing.
"As long as my dad doesn't wonder where I am, I'm fine."
"When does he start wondering where you are?"
"When he's not busy with his meetings."
"Do I want to know what kind of 'meetings' these are?"
Weiss glanced at Ruby, trying to determine how serious the question was, before saying, "Just standard business meetings. Profit margins and cost-cutting and the like."
The lie felt filthy in her mouth, but Ruby just said, "Ah…" and moved on. Weiss glanced over again, struggling to figure out if the nondisclosure bothered Ruby - not that there was much Weiss could do about it. She couldn't exactly say that her dad looked for her when he was done bribing the city council to turn a blind eye to suspicious packages or extorting local business owners of their hard-earned money.
"Can we head back now?" she asked, wanting nothing more than to put those thoughts behind her. Ruby glanced over out of the corner of her eye and then smiled.
"In a hurry?"
"You know me…" Grasping the opportunity, Weiss slid her free hand up Ruby's arm before clinging onto her. "The break's been nice, but I want to get you out of those clothes."
Ruby chuckled and, just like that, Weiss' smile returned.
"Alright," Ruby agreed while turning back toward her apartment, with Weiss still hanging onto her far more than necessary. "You humored me, so I guess I'll humor you."
"You act like you won't enjoy it," Weiss huffed. "But I know for a fact that you will."
"Oh, you know for a fact, do you?"
"I fucking do." Weiss nodded while Ruby chuckled and shook her head. "You'll see," Weiss added. "I'll show you as soon as we're back."
"Something to look forward to…" Ruby mused before glancing at a busy deli across the street. She turned away just as quickly, brow furrowed, and Weiss opened her mouth to ask what was wrong when Ruby suddenly pulled her aside and pressed her against the nearest building. Her heart was instantly racing, torn between being turned on by the way Ruby placed her body between Weiss and the street, and being confused about the sudden action.
"Ruby?" she asked while Ruby clutched her hips.
"Hold on," Ruby whispered, looking at Weiss but clearly not seeing her. "We might have company," she added quietly, her gaze flitting to the left. "Some lady's been staring at you for the past few minutes."
"Who -?"
"Don't look." When Weiss tried to look over Ruby's shoulder, Ruby held her in place. "We're going to duck into the grocery store up ahead, ok? There's a back exit - we should be able to lose her. Ok? Do you understand?"
Ruby's commanding tone and grave expression nearly compelled Weiss to agree without a second thought. Were it not for a lifetime of ignoring instructions issued by any authority figure outside of her father, she would have. Instead, she set a hand on Ruby's arm, looked deep into serious yet worried silver eyes, and said, "Just wait a second, ok?"
Before Ruby argued, Weiss leaned to the side and searched across the street for anyone suspicious. Unfortunately, she spotted someone worse - someone familiar.
"Oh, fuck…" she breathed out when she accidentally locked gazes with a young woman with white hair tied back in a ponytail, whose wave prompted her to wave back before looking at Ruby. "That's not a kidnapper, Ruby - that's Winter's girlfriend. And I hope you're ready to meet her because she's already heading over."
Ruby's eyes widened, but she moved away when Weiss tapped her shoulder. Weiss could only imagine the conclusions that Robyn had drawn from the compromising position, but she threw on a smile and internally braced herself as the enigmatic woman joined them.
"Weiss," Robyn greeted her, smiling politely before glancing between her and Ruby. "I wasn't expecting to run into you out here."
"I could say the same to you," Weiss replied, slightly narrowing her eyes at the young woman before turning to Ruby. "This is my sister's girlfriend, Robyn," she explained, with Robyn dipping her chin. "Robyn, this is Ruby. She's the best fucking cop in the whole police department."
Robyn's brow shot up at the disclosure, but Ruby chuckled and ran her fingers through her hair.
"I'm not the best cop. I'm just…a cop." Weiss shook her head at the modesty, but Ruby squinted while shaking Robyn's hand. "Have we met before?"
"Have you visited the Museum of Art?" Robyn replied. Ruby instantly lit up.
"All the time! I love that place."
Robyn's brow rose higher, and even Weiss gave Ruby a bemused look. "My mom was really into art," Ruby explained before turning back to Robyn. "What do you do there?"
"I'm a curator for the Impressionist wing."
"Only the best wing." Ruby chuckled, either because it was supposed to be a joke or because she couldn't believe she randomly ran into someone who worked at the art museum. "Do you still have water lilies? That was my mom's favorite, but I know it was only on loan from Mantle."
"Oh." Robyn's gaze flitted to Weiss before returning to Ruby. "We do, yes. It might not be here for much longer though."
"You know what that means, Weiss?" Ruby asked. "We should go to the museum sometime!"
The excited way Ruby threw her hands in the air was so endearing that Weiss smiled. "If that's something you want to do," she even agreed, her smile growing despite Robyn's baffled head tilt.
Maybe it was unlike her to be so agreeable, but it was impossible to trample Ruby's joy just to save face in front of Robyn. Besides, she and Robyn hardly knew each other outside of a few dinners, so this might not seem out of place at all. Maybe.
"I can get you some passes if you decide to go," Robyn offered, earning Ruby's thrilled smile, before meeting Weiss' gaze. "Winter made it sound like you were stuck at home with…everything going on."
"I am, but Ruby broke me out for the day."
Weiss nudged Ruby's elbow before beaming up at her, and Ruby beamed right back before looking at Robyn.
"I haven't met Winter, but I've heard she's great."
Robyn smiled, but Weiss scoffed.
"If by 'great,' you mean she's intense and walks around like there's a stick shoved up her ass, then yes. She's great."
Ruby and Robyn both stared at Weiss for a moment before Robyn gently cleared her throat and said, "She can be a little…stringent, but she's also incredibly caring and protective. She only wants what's best for the people she cares about."
Robyn's gaze landed pointedly on Weiss, who Ruby glanced at before smiling.
"Sounds like my kind of woman." Ruby's eyes widened when Weiss and Robyn's brows both rose. "I mean -! Not like that kind of woman. I meant, like, she sounds like someone I'd get along with."
Ruby sent Weiss the most adorably pleading pout, so Weiss smiled and said, "You're forgiven," before noticing Robyn's inquisitive look. She cleared her throat and inched away from Ruby, having not noticed how close they had crept over the course of the conversation. "What're you doing over here?" she asked Robyn. "I thought you lived on the West side."
"I do. I was just picking something up -" Robyn motioned in the general direction of the stores across the street. "I should probably get back to work now. It was great seeing you though - and meeting you, Ruby."
"You, too!" Ruby said while Weiss added, "You should come over for dinner again soon."
Robyn nodded before hurrying across the street, leaving Weiss exhaling in relief. When she glanced at Ruby to read her reaction, however, Ruby's brow was creased. As soon as Ruby noticed Weiss' attention though, she smiled.
"Well, that was better than running from a kidnapper."
"Just barely," Weiss scoffed. "That's the longest conversation I've ever had with her."
"Really?" Once Weiss nodded, Ruby bobbed her head and smoothly retook Weiss' hand. "She seems nice."
"She is. At least, I think she is. She makes Winter happy - that's all that matters." Weiss shrugged and then shot Ruby a sly grin. "I didn't realize you were an art dork."
"I'm the biggest art dork," Ruby agreed with a giant smile. "My mom helped the museum with their security, so I mostly just know how expensive the paintings are and how someone might try to steal them."
"That actually sounds fascinating."
"Does that mean you'll go with me?"
"I suppose…you'll have to convince me closer to the day of though."
"I'd say you have to be convinced to do anything, but, uh…you were pretty agreeable last night…"
Weiss' stomach tightened when Ruby snuck a heated look her way. "What can I say…" she replied with a wistful sigh. "You just know how to make me say 'yes.' Repeatedly. And loudly."
Once Ruby laughed, Weiss smiled and said, "You know, my family has a decent art collection if you're interested." When Ruby glanced over, Weiss added, "All legally purchased, of course."
Ruby hesitated a millisecond too long before saying, "Sure! Sometime. That sounds cool."
Weiss glanced over but ultimately decided that she didn't want to know the reason for the hesitation.
"I'm impressed that you noticed her," she said instead, motioning lightly with her free hand.
"It's my job to protect you, and I take my job very seriously." Weiss' legs trembled at the stern, no-nonsense tone before Ruby continued in a lighter voice. "Besides, it's not hard to notice someone staring at your girlfriend."
Weiss' breathing stopped, but Ruby just kept walking, humming softly and lightly swinging their joined hands.
Weiss hadn't left home yesterday planning for this to happen - well, she had planned for some of it to happen - but most of it went far beyond what she ever could have imagined. Yet she couldn't remember the last time she felt this…happy and free…and she knew that was all Ruby's doing.
So, despite what could be tenuous and was certainly forbidden, her heart warmed when she recognized Ruby's building and her pulse quickened at the thought of spending the rest of the day in the privacy of Ruby's apartment. Just the two of them…alone…and whatever they wanted to get up to. No judgment. No prying eyes. No outside world wondering what the hell the two of them were doing together.
"Maybe we can order a pizza?" Ruby asked while they trudged up the stairs.
"Hungry already?"
"Not yet. I'm just thinking…I probably will be."
"You definitely will be," Weiss corrected. "And a pizza sounds…"
"Like something you haven't eaten in years?" Ruby teased, but Weiss scoffed.
"Whitley orders pizza all the damn time. His bed is practically built out of the empty boxes."
"He sounds like a cool guy." Ruby chuckled at Weiss' eyeroll before thinking about something for a few moments. "Maybe I'll meet him sometime," she eventually said as they reached the hall leading to her apartment. "Your sister, too."
For whatever reason, it never occurred to Weiss that Ruby would meet her siblings. She definitely hadn't considered that Ruby would want to meet her siblings. She could trust Winter and Whitley, but did that mean Ruby wanted to come over? If so, her dad would inevitably find out. Or worse, Ruby would see or hear something that she shouldn't.
But that was an issue for later.
"Maybe you will," she hedged. "They'll probably like you," she huffed before legitimately frowning. "Unlike how your sister feels about me…"
"Just give her time." Ruby nudged Weiss' elbow and smiled encouragingly. "I wasn't exactly your biggest fan at first either, but now look at me!"
"Now you're my biggest fan?"
"I like to think so." Ruby leaned close and brushed her nose against Weiss', beaming all the while, before backing away and searching for her keys. "Thanks for the walk," she added, oblivious to the outsized effect such a small, intimate moment caused. "I had fun."
"Me too." Following Ruby into the apartment, Weiss took a deep breath and sighed. This couldn't possibly be her happy place after one night, but she felt a strange, warm relief now that they were back. "But I'm sure we could've had just as much fun here," she added, squeezing Ruby's hand to get her to return to her.
"Oh, yeah?" Ruby did what Weiss silently requested, her eyes sparkling as one of her arms slid behind Weiss' back and pulled her closer. "And whatever would we have done?"
"Stupid questions get stupid answers," Weiss quipped before melting at Ruby's laughter, and at the way Ruby held her, and especially at the way Ruby leaned in to kiss her.
The kiss was so tender, so delicate, that Weiss could almost feel the words and emotions that Ruby wanted to convey. It was soft, sweet, and almost more overwhelming than any of the passion-fueled kisses they had shared before.
When Ruby pulled away and smiled, Weiss wondered if her own body gave away more than she intended. What was Ruby receiving from her that prompted such an adoring smile?
"You act like you might break me," she scoffed in an attempt to dislodge those feelings.
"You act like you want me to," Ruby replied, indulging Weiss in another slow kiss before peppering light kisses across Weiss' cheek and down her neck. "I don't want to break you," Ruby whispered while Weiss tilted her head and wove her fingers through Ruby's hair. "I want to treat you how you deserve to be treated."
Ruby might as well have reached into Weiss' chest and stolen her heart. Rather than argue that she deserved to be broken, she closed her eyes and savored every devoted touch of Ruby's lips to her skin. And Ruby gave her everything, holding nothing back and sending Weiss' pulse racing higher with little more than a few words and the most caring touches.
She didn't deserve Ruby, but she clung to Ruby as if she did. She let her breaths escape in little gasps. She arched into Ruby's body, erasing the space between them. She surrendered everything that she possibly could - her body, her mind, herself - praying that it was enough to overcome the burden gnawing at the back of her mind - the one thing she couldn't give up even if she wanted to: the family.