Note: Sorry for the long wait between updates. As you can see, I've been busy lol. I tried my hardest to include as many WhiteRose suggestions as I could, though obviously, I couldn't include everything. A few people suggested Ruby getting drunk, and unfortunately, I couldn't find an excuse to do that. I also had to alter some suggestions to make them work. If someone suggested multiple things, I at least tried to include one suggestion. If I somehow missed you, I do apologize. Also, you might notice that this arc has been upgraded! Yep, it was so big that I reclassified it as a Major Story Arc: The Best of Times. Does it change anything? Nope! Still gonna do two more arcs after this one, which we will be getting to before you know it. But before we do that, we have to experience some WhiteRose. Some cute. Some funny. Some... other. You'll see. Thank you for your patience. Enjoy.

The day neither Weiss nor Ruby would ever forget began with a really awkward knock on Weiss' bedroom door. The heiress had set her alarm clock for precisely 8 A.M. and was somewhat annoyed to see that she had been woken from her slumber thirteen minutes ahead of schedule. She attempted to will herself back to sleep, though the knock repeated, followed by an eager call from the other side.

"Weisssssss! You awake!"

Weiss sat up and rubbed the crust out of her eyes. She pushed her sheets by her lap and adjusted her nightgown. She answered with a yawn.

"Come in, Ruby."

The door creaked open, and Ruby walked backward into the room. She nearly stumbled, and Weiss soon realized the cause of her awkwardness. She held a tray in her arms, carefully balancing upon it several plates and a very full glass of orange juice. She grinned sheepishly as she swung the door closed with her heel.

"Good morning," Ruby smiled. "I made us breakfast."

Weiss yawned again as Ruby approached her bedside. She had a few important questions. What was Ruby doing up so early? Between her and Blake, their dorm was usually a showcase of the side effects of insomnia. Did she really cook something? It smelled… good. That was strange. She didn't remember Ruby cooking very often, even when they were living together in Patch. As Ruby planted the tray over Weiss's lap, the heiress could see the meal prepared for her. The tray was full of sweet things. Waffles. Processed syrup. Bacon. More bacon. Strawberry jam on white toast. The entire set, duplicated on another plate directly next to it. A small cup of assorted fruit in a cup between them, because Ruby suspected she would get scolded if she didn't include at least the illusion of healthiness. The one—no, two glasses of orange juice swished around, settling enough to barely stay within their containers. Weiss lovingly shook her head as Ruby plopped next to her and planted a smooch on her cheek.

"Have you ever had waffles before? I can't remember," Ruby asked as she shuffled into position.

"I'm not sure," Weiss admitted. "At some point, all of the artificial flavors blend together."

"I'm sure you'll love it either way," Ruby insisted. Weiss couldn't disagree. If there was one thing she had discovered since arriving at Beacon, it was that her elegant and refined Atlasian palate could be easily bested by garbage.

"It looks great, Ruby. Thank you."

"You are welcome." She ran her fingers through Weiss's hair, trying to tidy up her bedhead. Waking up, fighting, singing—no matter what Weiss did, she still looked like an angel.

The two spent the next ten minutes eating in peace. Unsurprisingly, Weiss gorged on the processed food without the slightest hint of dignity. She was particularly fond of the bacon, which Ruby had cooked just to the edge of burning. It was salty and crisp, not unlike her favorite insults. Ruby had poured extra syrup on her own plate, and took great pleasure soaking up as much of it as possible in her waffles. Eventually, Weiss's alarm went off, and Ruby was polite enough to shut it down on her behalf. She took that as a cue to get to business.

"So, did you see the group text I sent last night?"

"The one where you told everyone not to bother us today unless someone was literally on fire?" Weiss stated. "I think that got the point across."

"I hope so," Ruby sighed. "You don't think anyone is going to get set on fire, right?"

"They better not. I still haven't told Winter about the damage to the pipes. She is not going to be happy about that."

"What's the worst that can happen? We saved her life and restored her free will. She owes us at least a few freebies."

Weiss pinched her fingers into the fruit bowl and plucked out a grape. She tested its bounce between her fingernails before gently placing it between her back teeth and chewing. "Atlasians aren't known for handing out second chances."

"The good ones are," Ruby countered. "Also, when are you gonna tell her about us?"

"When she's less stressed."

"Think she'll care?"

"I don't know. I think she'll be annoyed at first."

"Why? I'm not annoying," Ruby pouted, snuggling into Weiss's arm. "Am I?"

"You are extremely annoying," Weiss joked. Ruby rubbed up against her and flashed big puppy eyes.

"Am I annoying when I feed you yummy things?"

"Highly."

Ruby giggled, nestling her chin briefly into Weiss's neck. She kissed an exposed inch of pale skin, then returned to her breakfast. "I think holding off is a good idea. At least until things settle down. We can tell her together, and if she has a problem with it, we'll do a double-team attack and overwhelm her."

"You mean that metaphorically, right?"

"Sure."

"You are actually very funny," Weiss laughed. She plucked another fruit from the bowl: a strawberry. "Here. Eat. You haven't eaten a single fruit yet."

"I'm going to eat some."

"Ruby, you can't just eat bacon."

"I'm not!"

Weiss pushed the strawberry into Ruby's face and lightly scolded her. "Eat the fucking strawberry, for goodness' sake."

Weiss wanted Ruby to take responsibility for her health. It was the least she could do. But Ruby didn't grab the strawberry at all. Instead, after pouting at Weiss for a solid ten seconds, she opened her mouth wide and waited. Weiss rolled her eyes. Fruit feeding? Really? That old trope? She actually couldn't think of anything less sexy than stuffing one's face. But, she conceded and complied. She gently pressed the strawberry against Ruby's lips, letting it linger upon her sensitive flesh for a moment. It slowly passed the barrier onto Ruby's tongue, and the younger Huntress bit down, grinning as she tore it away. Weiss glared at her as she chewed, and a single, dry word escaped her.

"Hot."

Ruby cracked so hard she nearly choked.

After struggling to get down the strawberry and not die of laughter, she finally, finally got onto the real business. "So, anyway… our itinerary."

"I take it you found something that interested you?" Weiss had made the possibly problematic decision of letting Ruby come up with their plan. She was the best at planning after all, and arguably she had been under greater stress trying to keep their teams together. It only seemed fair at the time. Yet, well… Ruby could have eclectic tastes at times. The surrounding region of Vacuo was vast, and there was no telling what bizarre choice of activity the young Huntress would gravitate toward.

"First of all… food. Dinner. I was able to score a reservation at this place called Boutique. It's supposedly Vacuon-Atlasian fusion cuisine. Very upscale. Very expensive. I thought it would be up your alley."

"I do like fancy and expensive foods," Weiss acknowledged. "Good reviews?"

"Based on what I saw. I may have had to pull the Team RWBY card to get seated, so it seems pretty popular."

Weiss nodded in approval. "All right, that's dinner. What else?"

"For the rest of the day… now, hear me out…"

"Oh no, what is it?"

"Zoo."

Weiss blinked. "What?"

"The zoo. I want to go to the zoo."

Weiss shook her head in disbelief. "A zoo? Really? You want to go around and see a bunch of disgusting animals all day in an overcrowded, scorching hot zoo?"

"Well, I didn't realize how close we were to the Kingdom of Vacuo Wildlife Sanctuary," Ruby explained. "It's the best zoo on the planet. They have a ton of animals there that are endangered or borderline extinct. Don't you want to see some griffons? Leviathans? Really, really big Great Wolf puppies?"

"Not particularly," Weiss confessed. "I've never been much of an animal person."

"But they also have sheeeeeeep," Ruby cooed. "And you can pet them. You can pet the sheeeep." Ruby threw herself into Weiss's arms overdramatically. "Come on, Weiss. Let's go pet some sheeeeeeeeeeeeeep."

Weiss was gobsmacked. This was really out of left field. Zoos were for, like, children. Little babies. She didn't see any value in staring at animals as they rolled around in mud and napped and pooped all day. She didn't particularly care about the historical value either, how many of those animals were the last of their kind, brought to their end by limitless Human expansion. She also did not, at all, care about petting big fluffy sheep. She was astonished Ruby would pick this idea. Wasn't this the woman who threatened to burn down all of Atlas right to General Ironwood's face? The Hero of Vale? Unbelievable. Inconceivable. She knew she put Ruby in charge, but surely she could exercise some veto power—

"Please, please, please?"

Ruby reached up and hugged Weiss, pressing her chest directly into Weiss's nose.

"Sure."

"Yay!" Ruby celebrated, pulling away and throwing up her arms in victory. "I promise, it'll be fun. And we won't spend the whole day… just long enough to pet some fluffy, fluffy sheep."

Weiss's face turned red as she turned toward her breakfast in embarrassment. "If you insist."

"We'll stay till lunchtime, then we can search the local area for something to eat," Ruby continued. "Then, I figured we could go shopping for a little while until two o'clock."

"What's at two o'clock?" Weiss asked unenthusiastically. "Let me guess… a trampoline park?"

"That…" Ruby paused, eyes opening in awe. "That actually does sound fun…"

"Oh, gods…"

"No, no, we already have another appointment," Ruby said, staying on schedule. "I booked us for a three-hour spa treatment."

Weiss immediately perked up.

"A spa day?"

"Yeah, to wash off all the animal stuff," Ruby explained. "Deep tissue massage. Facials. Sauna. Other… spa… stuff…"

As Ruby pretended to know what happened at spas, Weiss's mind wandered. A spa day. With Ruby. Wrapped in towels. Nothing but towels. Relaxing. Steam. Hot. Wet. Towels.

With Ruby.

In reduced clothing.

With Ruby.

For three hours.

She took back literally everything she just thought. Ruby was a pure fucking tactical genius.

This day was going to be the best.

As many at the Kingdom of Vacuo Wildlife Sanctuary would explain, Humanity was built on the destruction of animals. In the earliest recorded days of civilization, Humanity was constantly under siege by great beasts. Dragons, ogres, and nuckelavee; giant insects and horrid sea dwellers that dwarfed entire cities; winged monsters of the sky and underground. These horrible beasts forced Humanity into small, enclosed packets, threatening to wipe them from Remnant before they even began to thrive. It was only with the first Huntsmen that Humanity was able to strike back against the vicious creatures and take their proper place at the head of the food chain. Over the course of thousands of years, Humanity successfully waged war against the monsters of the natural world, driving them back into the darkness, and ushering in new eras of peace and prosperity.

As many at the Kingdom of Vacuo Wildlife Sanctuary would explain, that narrative was highly problematic. No, none of the animals were monsters, or evil, or wanted to destroy Humanity. They were, actually, animals, that did animal things for animal reasons. While they could be territorial or predatory, they were fascinating and beautiful and, often, misunderstood creatures who were merely trying to survive. Many of the legendary creatures of Remnant had been driven to extinction, due to loss of habitat, overhunting, and artificial displacement. Currently, the Kingdom of Vacuo recognized over eight thousand different species, ranging from the smallest of insects to the mightiest of kraken. It was the Sanctuary's job to preserve whatever life they would, and show to future generations the importance of Humanity's disrespect toward the world around them.

This was the experience Ruby desired—okay, she actually primarily wanted to see some cute shit, but she also wanted to learn. Her youngest experience of being a Huntress was her mother reading her bedtime story of brave battles against dangerous monsters. Like everything else in her life, she had come to realize that story was riddled with untruths. To see all these noble animals for herself, to study the world that people like Ozpin and Ironwood wanted wiped from existence... that was something worthwhile. She wanted to hit as many attractions as she could in her short time span. She wanted an experience.

Unfortunately, from the moment Ruby and Weiss walked into the Sanctuary, the animals stopped being the main attraction.

"Hi! No autographs or photos today! Sorry!"

Ruby and Weiss pushed their way through the crowd of roughly two dozen tourists, swarming around them like hornets. The sun was beating down on them through a cloudless sky, and bouncing off the asphalt and smothered in the mass of many bodies, it became an inferno. God, she really needed to higher a bodyguard, or an entourage. Weiss was sneering as Ruby finally managed to pull her free from the crowd.

"Great plan so far, Ruby," she said dryly.

Ruby laughed nervously. "I'm gonna grab a map."

Ruby raced ahead to find a stall, so Weiss turned around and shooed away the crowd of sweaty families hoping to snap photos with her. "Sorry, everyone, I can't stop today."

Weiss's politeness was an ineffective deterrent. The people continued reaching toward her, sweaty, ignorant, and bothersome. She lowered her brow and spoke more forcefully.

"Shoo! Go away, please! I'm on vacation!"

When the crowd continued to clamor, Weiss stamped her foot. "No autographs, creeps!"

The insult was enough to shake their resolve. With pouts and disappointed groans, they eventually dispersed, having the knowledge not to screw with a talented Huntress. Weiss breathed a sigh of relief, though she knew this would not be a one-time occurrence.

Ruby returned with a map, and the two plotted their course throughout the exhibits. Knowing they were working off limited time, they wasted little and headed off.

The first exhibit was the Atlasian Water House. Flat-bellied penguins waddled around on thick patches of artificial ice. In a pen next door, a pair of polar bears only found at the northern tip of Remnant lounged lazily. A nearby plaque listed them as two of the last ten of their kind. Ruby cooed at the sight of manatees, big and blubbering as they floated around in the water like oversized logs. Tarped bipeds with big woolen flaps herded together in a pen nearby. Ruby wanted to reach into the exhibit to touch their wool. A nearby guard threatened to kick them out. The best part of the exhibit? Air conditioning.

The reptile house was less exciting. The entire section was humid, dark, and mossy, with every species kept behind a different, isolated glass case. Locating them among their habitat was half the challenge. Weiss was fairly convinced most of them were never there to begin with, because she couldn't see shit. Twenty-foot cobras? Couldn't see them. Gators? Couldn't even see the tops of their heads. Chameleons? Ironically, she actually could see that one, because the little fucker wasn't bothering to camouflage at all. It sat at the end of a dark branch, its tail drooping down like a curled vine and its bulbous eyes bouncing in opposite directions. Ruby snapped a photo of it with her Scroll, but Weiss thought it looked rather stupid. It did remind her… wasn't Blake's friend Ilia a chameleon Faunus? Weiss tried to picture her, and it came out as a normal-looking woman with gigantic, concave eyes sticking outward. She then imagined Blake being physically attracted to her, and had to stifle a laugh.

Located directly next to the house was the amphibian exhibit, and that was where Ruby and Weiss found something amusing. Specifically, one glass case. Inside the small habitat, no more than five feet wide and another five deep, were a dozen toads, each a different gorgeous color of the rainbow. Royal Toads, read the plaque beneath the case. Ruby lit up with delight.

"Small Georges."

"They have really shrunk over thousands of years, haven't they?" Weiss noted.

"You should summon Large George," Ruby suggested. "It would blow their minds."

"George won't even fit in this room."

"I know. That's why it would blow their mind."

"You are really something else."

More sections of the zoo were more interesting, and much more to their speed. Since Ruby wanted large animals, the large animal section was the place to be. Each creature within the massive enclosure was large enough to trample a house, and yet the Sanctuary maintained an excellent job keeping them properly subdued within their relative spaces. Well trained and satisfied, they were little threat despite their historical formidability. The sphynx prowled around on top of a rocky cliffside, its golden wings stretched over its body and its large ears flapping in delight as it played with the carcass of a large boar that would be its dinner. The nidhogg—which the guide mentioned was possibly the last of its kind, circled around in a lake, as its ancestors had circled for thousands of years in the oceans between Mistral and Vacuo. And then there were the goliaths, the ginormous elephants with their proud tusks and earthshaking stomps. The three that the Sanctuary had on display were a family, and even the littlest stood fifteen feet tall and would put even a Fable to shame with its size. Ruby waved innocently at the baby, and when it flicked its trunk in her direction, Ruby was sure it was saying hello.

But nothing—nothing—made Ruby more excited than the sheep.

Was this exhibit located in the kid's section of the Sanctuary? Yes. Was it meant exclusively for children? Yes. Was it highly embarrassing for Weiss to be seen in a pen of thirty sheep and several snot-nosed children? Yes. Did Ruby give a fuck? No. She was having the goddamn time of her life. She was on her knees, stroking the chin of a very good boy, living out a dream she had since childhood. Her dad never took her to a petting zoo, even though she distinctly recalled asking very hard for it when she was six. Sure it was ten years too late, but Ruby wanted to melt into her childhood, to relive those more innocent times when the world was still on its axis. She stroked the sheep behind the ears, running her fingers through the tuffs of wool on its head.

And Weiss stood to the side, arms crossed, wishing to be anywhere else.

"Weiss, you have to pet one of them."

"I don't have to do anything."

"You'll love it. You love animals."

"I distinctly said the opposite."

"You love Zwei."

"Zwei is cute."

"And these aren't cute?"

"Not like Zwei."

"Come on, you gotta. I'll be very upset if you don't."

"Ruby, people are staring at us."

"People are always staring at us."

"You can't make me."

"I will shame you."

"No way."

"Stroke the sheep, Weiss."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please."

"…"

"…"

"Fine."

"Yay."

Weiss slouched over as she approached the singular sheep. She felt the entire world laughing at her. The big, blobby thing didn't even move as she raised her hand and prepared to touch it. It didn't notice she existed. She wasn't even sure if it realized it existed. Stupid sheep. Sheep were dumb animals. Literally, they were the dumb animal. That's why it was an insult for stupid people.

Ruby gave Weiss big, encouraging puppy dog eyes. Weiss rolled hers, and placed her palm onto the sheep's back. It sunk into the wool.

Huh, that actually was pretty soft—

"Okay, I've touched the sheep," Weiss announced. "Can I stop now?"

"You're barely touching it," Ruby protested with a smile. "You gotta feel it."

"I am feeling it."

"No, I mean…" Ruby spread her arms wide, and to Weiss's disappointment, gave the sheep a gigantic hug. "Feel it."

Weiss sighed. The things she did for love…

The noble heiress sank to one knee, studying the sheep. It still didn't move even with someone hugging it. Weiss swallowed the last of her pride and mimicked Ruby's movements. She spread her arms, turned her cheek, and threw herself into the sheep's fluffy body. She sank into wool, her vision consumed by a white cloud of pure fluff. She was completely expressionless as she kneeled there, buried.

"See?" asked Ruby. "Doesn't that feel nice?"

"No," Weiss said bluntly. And that would be the only time she ever lied to her girlfriend.

"Sure, that sounds great," Weiss lied through her teeth. Could she help it? Of course not—not with Ruby's big puppy eyes and excited, salivating grin.

Cookies and ice cream. Of all the lunch options in the world, Ruby wanted cookies and ice cream.

The parlor of sweets was located several blocks down the road from the Sanctuary. Ruby was only momentarily disappointed they had to leave the animals behind, her excitement rocketing to new heights when she saw the gigantic model milkshake hanging above the shop's entrance. Cookies, Shakes, and Soft Serve, advertised the sign, though a quick look at the menu from outside indicated there were many more options available. Every conceivable sweet was offered. Brownies, cupcakes, over two dozen flavors of ice cream in hard and soft styles—if the world's economic output was purely dependent upon sugar, Weiss was convinced this humble shop would be considered a global driver of GDP. That was a horrible analogy, but Weiss was too taken aback by her girlfriend's childish wonderment of candy to really think about it.

She did have time to think about the line. The sun had only grown hotter and the reprieving clouds thinner, and the line to enter the sweet shop spilled out the door and fumbled around the corner. Weiss and Ruby waited for nearly twenty minutes in the blistering sun for their opportunity to dive into their refreshments, the former wilting like a dull flower, the latter bouncing up and down giddily. Ruby hadn't enjoyed ice cream in so long. She needed it. She craved it. She wanted to drown in chocolate syrup and whipped cream, but she also wanted to suffocate on molten lava cake and get beaten to death with a maple bacon donut. The options were overwhelming, and even though the line inched forward, it didn't feel long enough to let her thoroughly make her decision. Eventually, the pair made their way into the shop proper and were immediately hit with a blast of air conditioning. The inside of the sweet shop was small and sickly pink, filled with a handful of exceedingly high booths and tables, its walls mounted with tacky decorations of cookies and cakes. Behind the counter, half a dozen young teenagers in white rushed to fulfill the orders of the customers, forced smiles on their young faces. The line seemed to inch forward even more slowly, and Weiss crossed her arms as she grew impatient. The musk of sweaty Vacuons on all sides was only mostly nullified by the smell of fresh cookies wafting from the ovens in the back kitchen. She just wanted to sit, eat her meal, and go about the rest of her day.

When they finally reached the counter, it took another moment for them to be served. It gave them extra time to read the menu above. Weiss had made her choice. She would get a small cone of vanilla. When the ponytailed teen finally acknowledged them and asked for their order, Weiss cleared her throat.

"Hi, yes. I will have—"

"Wait." Ruby suddenly grabbed onto Weiss's wrist. With wide, astonished eyes, she pointed up at the menu. "That. We're going to have that."

Weiss and the counter lady craned their necks to follow Ruby's finger. They found the order of Ruby's dreams, and read its ingredients carefully. It was maybe the most exorbitant dessert that had ever been created by man. Weiss, though deeply reluctant, was unable to say no to Ruby's request.

"All right," she sighed. "We'll take one Big Chocolate Cookie Crunch Lover's Bowl."

"Can do," said the teenager. "Would you like to add whipped cream and toppings to that?"

Ruby nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay then. That will be 23 lien."

Weiss balked at the price, but that didn't stop her from swiping her credit card. They were instructed to wait for their order, and the couple were fortunately able to find a booth in the corner. They sat down, finally able to rest, their table situated beneath a clock that happened to be shaped like a slice of pie. The two sat in silence, Ruby tapping her foot against the ground in anticipation. After only a four-minute wait, a different teenager approached their table and placed it in between them

The bowl was thicker than Weiss's waist and as tall as her sword was long. Within it were layers of sweets: a mound of devil's food cake at the bottom, topped with dark chocolate frosting, topped vanilla swirled ice cream, topped with cookie crumbles, topped with hazelnut ice cream, topped with mousse, topped with brownie ice cream, topped with more cookie crumbles, topped with more chocolate frosting, topped with more vanilla ice cream, topped with (optional) whipped cream, chocolate, peanut butter, and hazelnut syrup, and more brownie crumbles, and fudge shavings, finally finished off with a huge freshly baked chocolate chip cookie that as larger than Ruby's face. It was a bajillion gazillion calories, contained thirteen kajulabytes of sugar, and killed three people of spontaneous diabetic comas. Those last three facts weren't true, but Weiss believed them anyway. The heiress glanced over the glass rim and the towering cookie to see Ruby smiling wider than she had ever seen.

"You are going to have such a stomachache later."

"That is a problem for future me," Ruby noted. There were two elongated plastic spoons sticking out of the side of the bowl, but Ruby reached for neither of them. Instead, she ripped off a chunk of the cookie, chocolate chips melting between her fingers, and she tossed it into her mouth. She bit down, and she became numb as the sweetness overpowered her. "Oh… my…"

"That good?"

"This is the best day of my life."

"Happy for you," Weiss sighed. She picked up one of the spoons and buried it deep into the concoction of various sweets. After scraping the edge against the side of the bowl, she was able to obtain a healthy mixture of layers within her novelty spoon. She sighed, reminded herself to work out extra hard the next day, and then took a bite.

It was pretty damn good. Not twenty-three lien good, but still pretty good. Weiss was starting to hate how correct Ruby was about things.

It took quite a while before Ruby even picked up her spoon. She snatched the oversized cookie from the bowl and nibbled away at it like a cartoon mouse. Weiss took her time, precisely cutting through layers to obtain a perfect balance on each spoonful. The two hardly talked to each other, but there was no need for that. Enjoying ice cream in one another's company was more than sufficient to keep them happy. Not a soul bothered them either. It was merely them and the mountain of sweets. Eventually, Ruby put down her cookie and took up her spoon as if it were her noble scythe, and she slashed away the ice cream with little remorse. Layer by layer, they waged war. They approached it from all angles, taking out its best defenses. It was an honorable fight, yet even the mighty Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee eventually had to admit defeat. With roughly a third of the ice cream bowl finished, they both leaned back in their chairs and let their spoons clatter against the table.

"This is the best," Ruby sighed. "You're the best."

"Thank you," Weiss nodded. "I am the best."

"We need to schedule a vacation to Vacuo more often. Or at least, we should see if we can convince them to open a branch in Patch."

"Sounds like a good use of Team RWBY Fund funds," Weiss smirked. "Ready to head out?"

"Almost. One last thing." Though her stomach was bloated and her will was depleted, Ruby's tongue yearned for one final taste. She leaned forward and outstretched a single finger. She swiped it through the top layer, scooping up a generous portion of whipped cream. She brought it to her lips and licked the digit clean. She finished it off by sucking her finger dry, removing it from her mouth with a pop. "Now I'm ready."

Ruby stood to leave, but Weiss sat for just a moment longer, letting her filthy thoughts drain away. She promised herself they wouldn't be a problem as she followed Ruby out of the sweet shop.

After consuming so much ice cream, neither Ruby nor Weiss wanted to move. It was good then, that their spa appointment was rapidly approaching. Weiss was somewhat skeptical when Ruby announced she had selected the spa—after all, Ruby knew nothing on the subject and her eye for quality was evidently weak. Weiss half-expected the building to be in the middle of a decaying wasteland with asbestos growing in the floorboards. However, Ruby had done her due diligence. She scoured the internet for the best reviews, weighed all of her options, and when the couple arrived at the spa, they were pleased to see it in pristine condition. The entrance was polished, with clean white walls and a smoothed wooden floor, all lit by an atmospheric, gentle glow. The front desk was constructed of what seemed to be thin fibers of bamboo, and light plans grew in golden vases behind the front desk. Words printed in large white on the wall said: Tranquility. Wellness. Harmony. They checked into their appointment and were provided with their towels and robes, and they hid their giddiness as they were led down the hall.

Their first instruction was to shower. They couldn't have agreed fast enough. They were sticky with sweat from walking around all day and took full advantage of the spa's facilities. There were special shampoos and soaps and conditioners neither had ever heard of, and they gladly washed away all of their troubles with the grime that clung to their skin. After changing into their robes, they were led to the massage parlor proper, used clothes in hand.

Opening the door, Weiss was struck with the smell of lavender, lemon, and bergamot. Two massage tables had been prepped for them, sheets whiter and cleaner than Weiss's hair. Three dozen candles burned quietly in every nook. Soft piano music played from a hidden speaker overhead. The receptionist informed them that their masseuse would arrive shortly, and she gave a quick set of instructions. The most pertinent, which made Weiss's heart skip a beat, was the most standard: "Undress to your comfort level."

The receptionist left with a smile, and Weiss and Ruby exchanged uncomfortable glances.

"You take that corner, I'll be over here," Ruby said quickly.

"Yes. Good idea," Weiss agreed.

The two took their places and removed whatever was unnecessary. The spa was generous enough to provide a variety of hooks and chairs on which to place the discarded clothing, and Weiss took her time folding everything properly and putting it in its proper place. Ruby threw the dress on the floor, and within two minutes she was lying face on the massage table in her underwear. When Weiss eventually turned around—and Gods, it was so fucking hard not to turn around a second earlier, she shuffled to the table with only a towel covering her bare form. She didn't let herself get excited with Ruby lying only a few feet away, nor did she let herself get annoyed at Ruby's discarding her outfit in such an undignified manner. She took a few deep breaths and tried to relax. She deserved to relax more than anyone.

Ten minutes later, the masseuse arrived. She wasn't exactly what either of them expected. She was middle-aged, with a short bob of silver-streaked hair and a face that had a few too many wrinkles. Her hands were tanned and weathered, and she looked over Weiss and Ruby with none of the enthusiasm of their usual followers. In fact, Ruby doubted she knew who they were. She wore essential oils like a utility belt and spoke in brisk, coarse sentences.

"First time for a massage?"

"Uh… yes ma'am," Ruby said quietly.

"Problem areas?"

"Well, I guess my shoulders get pretty sore sometimes, and my lower back. I have to swing around a huge scythe all the time, and it gets hard to carry—"

"Shoulders and lower back. Understood."

The older woman cracked her knuckles, lubed up her fingers with the essential oils, and then proceeded to destroy Ruby's reality. Ruby was under the impression that massages were soft, gentle things. Nope! The masseuse dug her fingers so deep into Ruby's flesh that the young Huntress thought her skin might break open. She kneaded Ruby's back like dough, pushing forcefully into her muscles and pulling apart each knot with sheer brutish power. She stretched and rolled and dug her elbows deep into Ruby's lower back, using decades of expertise to destroy the tension buried within. Ruby winced as she felt her back tear apart and reform in an eternal cycle, gelatinized and strengthened back to form. Ruby wasn't even sure what the oils were for, since all she could feel was her body being pushed into oblivion. It was hard. It was brutal. It was bordering on cruel.

And it was fucking amazing.

Fifteen minutes later, and the masseuse was finished. Ruby let out a deep moan as her body settled. The deepest pains she didn't even realize she had were gone, and she felt so full of life that she believed she could swing around Crescent Rose twice as fast. As she lay there in a relaxed, simmering heap, Weiss just stared at her, astonished by the sounds coming out of Ruby's mouth. Her view of her girlfriend was cut off when the masseuse stepped in front of her, looking down at her with what Weiss could only describe as sheer contempt.

"Problem areas?"

Weiss stared up at her in horror. "My, um… uh… l-legs…"

The masseuse said nothing as she walked around to Weiss's feet, adjusted her towel to expose her calves, and then fucking decimated her. Weiss had to stifle a gasp as the masseuse grabbed her thighs and dismantled them with her powerful masseuse energy. The task was slightly more difficult, given the complex network of machinery that lay attached to Weiss's musculature. Yet, even the product of brilliant Atlasian engineering was nothing in the wake of The Masseuse. Weiss's legs were worked over from hip to ankle, each fiber straightened and strengthened to its maximum efficiency. Weiss fell numb, slack-jawed on the table as her nerves were flooded over. When the massage was finished, Weiss felt the last of her air rush out of her body, leaving her defeated, bruised, and oh so happy.

The masseuse left the room with a brisk thank you, and then Ruby and Weiss were left alone. They looked at each other from across the gap between their tables, both smirking.

"So, um…" Ruby sighed. "Are we supposed to tip her?"

The facials were next, and thankfully, required much less brutality. In fact, Ruby could finally relax relax, as she was tended to by what she could only describe as loyal beauty servants. Her face was covered in some green goop thing that she knew people wore but didn't actually know what it was made of. No one put cucumbers over her eyes, which was disappointing, but they did wrap up her hair and wear that silken robe again, so that was pretty great. She reclined in a chair that did wonders for her now loosened back, her hands and feet raised so they may be tended to by her beauty servants. They worked away at her nails, trimming and scrubbing and filing them in perfect order.

Ruby didn't realize how much strain her Huntress work had put onto her body. She also didn't realize how good it felt to get in touch with her feminine side. Ruby's relationship with her gender was mostly defined by distance. Yang was the hot one, the girly girl, at least on the occasions when she wasn't breaking anyone's face. Ruby was merely the shy nerd who wore a cape that concealed every one of her features behind a weave of black. Her only constant reminders of her womanhood were her monthly visits from her raging reproductive organs, and if given the choice, she wouldn't hesitate to cut that stupid thing right out of her belly and throw it on the sidewalk. This, however… this was nice. She felt comfortable in her skin. She didn't deserve anything less.

Weiss sat next to her, receiving the same excellent care, and Ruby turned to her with a smile.

"Have you done these often?"

"Spas in general, or this specific thing?" asked Weiss.

"Either."

"No," Weiss admitted. "Who would ever take me? My father wouldn't let me leave the house unless I was under his supervision. My mother didn't care, and Winter was focused on her service."

"I guess that makes sense," Ruby admitted, "though I honestly would have thought you had more experience."

"Why's that?"

"Well, you know how prim and proper you are."

"That's called grooming, Ruby," Weiss snickered. "I know how to take care of myself, something you dreadfully lack."

"I can't disagree with that," Ruby laughed. "Hey, do you think the others are controlling themselves?"

"We are not thinking of the others," Weiss reminded her. "This is our time."

"Sorry. Can't help it. You're right, I'll get them out of my head." She ignored her leader instincts and focused on the treatment. "What is this stuff on our face made of?" she asked one of the workers.

They answered plainly. "Aloe vera juice and jojoba oil."

"Ooooh, jojoba," Ruby cooed. "I don't know what that is, but it sounds fancy."

"I believe it's a nut," Weiss informed her.

"How do you know that?"

"Because I'm cultured."

Ruby couldn't disagree with that either.

When the manicure and pedicure were finished, and after the facial cream was allowed to set, came the peeling. Ruby thought this was the best part of her spa experience. There was something so deeply satisfying about ripping a thin film off one's skin. Sometimes, when she was younger, she would rub a thin layer of glue on the back of her hand just to peel it off an hour later. She would never tell Weiss that fact, though she couldn't hide her excitement as the mask was removed centimeter by centimeter. It even came off in one piece! So satisfying. As they stood up, they were given a choice in how to finish their spa day. The choice was obvious, and so they were led once again through the complex. Ruby was surprised by its size. The spa was located in a strip mall… how much space could it possibly take up? Were they in some secret, underground facility? Was this all a ploy by Ozpin to lure them into a trap so he could eliminate them discretely? That would be fairly clever on his part, though unfortunately, the truth was not that exciting. The spa was just really good at floor management. It was within the cleverly compacted space that Ruby and Weiss were led to their final destination. They removed their robes, changed into their towels, and stepped inwards—into the sauna.

The massage had tenderized Ruby's muscles. The facial gave them time to rest. The sauna reduced her to nothing. As Ruby pressed herself against the wooden walls, her entire body encased in steam, she let every ounce of energy drain from her limbs. Her heartbeat slowed to a crawl. She shuddered, and it ran deep, from the back of her neck tremoring to the tips of her toes. Weiss sat across from her, feeling the same. After everything they had been through, this above all else made it worth it.

"This is reallllllllly nice," Ruby moaned slowly.

"Agreed," Weiss said softly, letting her arms and legs stretch out across the bench. "Thank you for booking this."

"It's no problem," Ruby said. "It seemed like something you would really enjoy."

"I do enjoy it. You know me so well."

"I do?" Ruby's voice fluttered slightly.

"Yeah…" Weiss nodded, her voice dreamy. "You do…"

"Thanks." Ruby wasn't sure how she did it, but she managed to stand up in the intense heat. Her legs were like rubber as she made her way across the other side of the room. She collapsed next to Weiss, barely able to stand. Yet, she had just enough strength to lean against her girlfriend, her face sticky against her hot, steamy skin. "I love you."

Weiss closed her eyes, trembling at Ruby's touch. The towel barely clung to Ruby's body, and Weiss could feel the moisture as the sweat pooled down Ruby's neck and dripped beneath. There may as well have been nothing left between them.

"I love you, too."

There was one major issue when Ruby and Weiss left the spa. Okay, two major issues. One was the price. Weiss did not think she would be spending so much money today, and they hadn't even had dinner yet! But there was a second issue… while their bodies had been thoroughly cleaned and purified, their clothes? Not so much. Most of the stench had gotten off of them during the three-hour spa visit, but they were less than comfortable walking around in them. Besides, they were supposed to head to a fancy restaurant soon. They needed to wear something that wasn't interwoven with their sweat.

They stopped by a generic retailer. Kravez Retailers, to be specific. If any major store had the clothing for any scenario, it was Kravez Retailers! Weiss and Ruby did not intend for their shopping spree to last long. They had a reservation to meet. It would be quick. In and out. Uncomplicated.

The moment Weiss thought that, she began to panic. An uncomplicated Team RWBY plan quickly dissolved into a disastrous Team RWBY plan. She wouldn't let that happen. Luckily, she had a plan. If that doofus Ruby Rose decided to wander off, Weiss would be ready for her. Before entering the store, she entwined her arm into Ruby's, locking them together. There would be no wandering, no shenanigans, and no distractions.

"Weiss, I'm not a baby," Ruby protested.

"But you do have ADHD, and that's close enough."

"I don't have—"

"You are staying right beside me, and that's final," Weiss said bluntly. "We are just going in and out. We'll grab some blouses, some nice bottoms, and then we'll leave."

"What are we going to do with our old clothes?"

"In there," Weiss said plainly, pointing to Ruby's side. When they left the spa, they were allowed to keep the robes, and the spa people were polite enough to provide large, plastic, environmentally unfriendly bags to hold them in. Would their current clothes fit within that? Ruby wasn't sure. Maybe they should buy an additional bag as well.

"We could also just go back to the villa to change," Ruby suggested.

"No way," Weiss shook her head. "Because I just know those assholes have made a huge mess, and if we visit them, we'll be forced to clean it up."

"Do you really think they've gotten into trouble?" Ruby asked worriedly.

"Don't think about it!" Weiss said firmly. "Into the store we go!"

Weiss used to hate Kravez Retailers. She considered it tacky, low-brow, and despite their massive selection of clothing, they never had a damn item of any quality. That didn't matter now—mainly because the rest of Team RWBY had lowered her standards into the gutter, but also because she didn't need anything very high quality. She needed mid. She craved mid. Any mid would suffice to get her out of her goddamn clothes…

And into different ones.

…

Weiss, with Ruby locked beside her, dragged herself into the store. It was just as overbearing as she remembered, every single square foot littered with clothes and clothes and more fucking clothes, but she navigated the many clothing racks with grace. With only a mild need for direction, she was able to locate the blouse section. There were hundreds of blouses stacked on top of each on a wall, seemingly thrown on without care, but Weiss didn't care either. She just needed one blouse in white and another in red. She felt Ruby, bored out of her mind, straining against her arm, but she went to work rummaging through the infinite selection of tops.

"Nope."

"Not that one."

"Come on…"

"There has to be something in… aha!"

Weiss triumphantly held up a frilled white blouse in the air, exactly in her size. Was it up to Atlasian standards? Everyone already knew the answer to that question. But holding it aloft triumphantly in both hands, as if it was some glimmering trophy, Weiss felt a large weight come off her shoulders: the weight of knowing she wouldn't look like trash at her dinner.

"This will do nicely," Weiss mused to herself. "Okay, Ruby, now we just need to find one for—"

Weiss turned to her right. Ruby was nowhere to be seen.

She spun around. Ruby was nowhere to be seen.

She was gone.

Just like that.

Weiss stood in shock for a long moment.

Then, she screamed.

"Are you fucking serious?"

Weiss stormed through the halls of Kravez Retailers, pushing her way through the acres of clothing. How did that even happen? There weren't any rose petals around, so it wasn't like Ruby even used her Semblance. She just vanished into thin air. Did she have the attention span of a dog? Seriously, was Weiss dating a dog that had stitched together a human suit? Unbelievable. Un-freaking-believable. Un-fuck-goddamn-believable. When she found her, she was going to have some harsh words about personal responsibility! Somehow, Weiss wandered around for ten minutes before she located her girlfriend on the exact opposite end of the store. Ruby was absentmindedly looking through the swimsuit section, her bag of robes hanging loosely from her now-strengthened shoulder. Weiss growled as she approached her, her grip on her blouse tightening until her knuckles became white.

"Ruby Rose! What did I tell you about running off?" Weiss scolded her.

Ruby turned around, surprised. "I didn't run off!"

"You literally just disappeared on me! That's what running off means!"

"I just wanted to take a look around," Ruby said sheepishly. "And you were busy with your blouse shopping. Besides, don't you think some of these swimsuits are pretty?"

"Why are we looking at swimsuits?" Weiss asked, outraged. "You have a swimsuit. I have a swimsuit. You know what we don't have? Clothes for the dinner that's in thirty minutes."

"But my swimsuit sucks," Ruby complained. "I didn't realize it until I spent so much time in it this vacation, but it's actually pretty snug."

"Then order one online!" Weiss declared. "Don't waste money in this trash place!"

"But some of these swimsuits are actually nice," Ruby said passionately. "Like… ooh, look at this one." Ruby reached into the rack of swimsuits, and what she pulled out made Weiss's mouth hit the floor. Ruby held aloft a bikini, though it was probably the smallest bikini Weiss had ever seen in her entire life. The top was basically two thin strips of paper that left most of one's sideboob and underboob exposed. The bottom wasn't any better, basically begging one's genitals to slip out of its confinement and show off to the entire world. The straps were basically strings, thinner than dental floss and half as strong, and then there was the color, or distinct lack thereof. It was practically see-through. How in the holy fuck did someone get that shit sold in a major retailer? Why by the grace of the gods would Ruby even think that was a good swimsuit to wear? It wasn't even sexy, because it was so fundamentally lewd that it looped all the way around into being disgusting. Weiss fumed, outraged by the very thought of its putrid existence.

"Why… why would you…"

Ruby cracked a smile. Because it was just a joke. She wouldn't be caught dead in it for a second, but if there was one thing this vacation taught her, it was funny messing with her girlfriend's strict sensibilities.

"Or maybe it'd look better on you."

Weiss grabbed the stupid bikini and threw it as far away as possible. It landed on the head of some distant shopper, and the couple could hear their screams radiate across the superstore. Weiss grabbed Ruby's hand without another word, face a furious red, and she led her teasing girlfriend back to the blouse section, eager to forget the whole encounter.

"I am never taking you shopping ever again…"

How does one express a culture in a single mouthful?

The history of cuisine is, in itself, a history of Humanity. A great food scholar, Crimson Corbinsky, once wrote, "Culture evolved hand-in-hand with cuisine. It was every night around a fireplace that our ancestors shared stories and founded relationships. Through the cultivation of crops, we made settlements. Through hunting, we established our role as the dominant member of the food chain. We, as a species, grew in complexity alongside our palates. We cross vast oceans for spice. We meet our future spouses over coffee and wine. Cuisine is the most fundamental meeting point of civilization, that from which all else springs forth." What was it then to say of fusion cuisine? What did a meeting of flavor profiles mean if not for a yearning for a bridge between Kingdoms, a vision into a bold future that tore away from tradition and replaced it with welcoming chaos?

Atlas prided itself on its elegance. After surviving centuries in an unforgiving cold, rapid scientific advancements allowed the development of new crops. A Kingdom-wide desire for perfection and cultural purity led to the refinement of cooking as an art, and while the new technology provided an opportunity, Atlasian culture was never one to stray from its roots. Hearty vegetables, red meat and game, stews and sturdy broths, seasonal birds—and of course, the vast resources of the ocean all filled the standard Atlasian banquet. Sauces were a frequent guest, as was butter and cream, though too much was considered gluttonous. Wine was emphasized, each course deserving of its own pairing. Among the poorest of Mantle, fresh bread was commonplace, as were figs and kale, and lesser seafood such as shellfish was considered unclean by the Atlasian aristocracy.

Vacuo's climate was harsh for all the opposite reasons. The desert climate severely limited the ability to grow food in most regions. The main cornerstones of Vacuon civilization were its rivers, the brief oases that provided springs of various life. Traditional Vacuon cuisine was comfort food, which was best shared around a table with a large family. Those who prepared it did not rush, preferring slow roasting, grilling, and braising. The favorite meats of the land were chicken and lamb, frequently skewered, served with sides of melon, cauliflower, and tomatoes. Rice and beans were found in every household, fried with onions and peppers. The humble chickpea was the most versatile, having been transformed infinite times over into new, delicious variations. The most common drink was not wine, but coffee, often iced to deal with sweltering summer days. The distinction between classes of food was nearly non-existent. The Vacuon people, always humble, simply liked to eat, and that desire alone was enough to lead to constant innovation.

So, the eternal question remained… how did one fuse these two distant Kingdoms together? One, a conservative and theocratic standard-bearer, determined to ever rise in power until it had surpassed the expectations of gods. The other, a liberal and familiar home, where the mold was constantly splintered apart yet brought back together in a gentle embrace, where rules meant nothing and boldness prospered. What would that even look like?

Ruby didn't have an answer to such deep philosophical questions. She just wanted to eat some fried food. Thankfully, Boutique had plenty of options on that front. The inside of the restaurant was as much a mixture of cultures as the cuisine: Vacuon tables with no tablecloths, Atlasian artwork on white walls, and servers dressed in business casual, a taboo in both lands for separate reasons. It was also quite spacious, which Ruby enjoyed when she was led to her table and realized she would have room to herself. Their server was polite in explaining the restaurant's concept, though it was wholly unnecessary. The only useful information was that they served boba tea, which Ruby gladly ordered, even though it was actually Mistran food. After a few minutes of deliberation, they agreed to split an appetizer of arnabeet, which was some form of lightly fried cauliflower and tahini sauce. Ruby ordered the soft shell crab with chili tomato jam, which was also fried. Weiss ordered braised lamb in wine and spices.

The service was also quick. Ruby was chewing on boba balls within minutes, and in under ten, the appetizer arrived, so light and flaky and delicate that Ruby only felt comfortable lifting it by the tips of her fingers—until Weiss told her to use a fork.

Biting into it, Ruby's eyes lit up. "Oh, yeah. That's good."

"I'm surprised you have any room left after lunch," Weiss said, intrigued. "You devoured that ice cream bowl."

"And I am going to deeply regret that later," Ruby assured her. "But I guess I just digest sweets quickly. I always have."

"Your sugar intake is concerning," Weiss mused. "Though I suppose it's fine if it's only for special occasions."

"My mom used to bake cookies for me almost every day," Ruby explained. "I guess I built up a tolerance."

"You remember that?"

"Of course."

"But you were so young when you lost her."

"All the more reason to remember," Ruby said with a shrug. "Plus, it'd be hard to forget her cookies. They were amazing. I wish she had written down a recipe. Dad tried his best to replicate them, but they were never the same without her."

"I'm sorry," Weiss said. Ruby was holding strong despite the sensitive topic, though Weiss tried to move the conversation along regardless. "Mother never really cooked anything for us. That was Klein's job."

"Was he good at it, at least?"

"He was a master," Weiss said proudly. "He could make anything, though Father held him to rather strict standards. He rarely baked desserts for us. Father believed it would make me fat."

"That sucks," Ruby groaned. "What kind of kid grows up without desserts? That must be miserable."

"I managed. Plus, it taught me discipline."

"I don't think that's how discipline works, but okay. Hey, do you think Blake ever ate desserts on Menagerie?"

"I can't imagine they had a variety of dietary choices," Weiss reasoned.

"I mean, they had to eat something. Maybe I'll ask her when we get back—assuming that the house isn't destroyed. Also, you should eat these," Ruby jabbed at another piece of cauliflower with her fork, "because they are not going to last much longer."

Weiss sighed, unfolded her napkin to rest on her lap, and gently retrieved a piece of cauliflower with her fork. She ate it swiftly. Ruby, once again, was right about something.

Their main courses arrived not long after, and they were equally delicious. Ruby didn't really get the fusion aspect. Perhaps it was her unfamiliarity with both Kingdoms, but the food just looked like food. When she heard fusion, she imagined something huge and colorful, two different food groups mashed up against each other in a big explosion, not unlike when she flew her Semblance form into someone else. It didn't diminish from the taste. Fried things were friend things and fried things were awesome, but she supposed it could have reached deeper into her imagination.

"Everything good over there?" Weiss asked, peeling apart her lamb to reveal its silken, pink insides.

"Yep! Ruby nodded. She picked up one crab by its leg and let it dangle in front of her. "Just about to eat this guy."

"Put that down and use a fork, please."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Yes, ma'am."

"Why are you rolling your eyes?" Weiss asked with a sneer. "You are a grown person in a public place. You need to act civilized."

"These are finger food," Ruby countered, pinching her digits together. "It's acceptable."

"I just bought you that new blouse, and I don't want you getting crab crumbs on it."

"Fine, fine," Ruby grunted. "I'll use my knife."

"Thank you." Weiss sighed, dialing back her energy. "I'm sorry, I don't want to nag you."

"It's not a big deal."

"Well, my father used to nag me all the time. I don't want to turn into him."

"Is that really something you think could happen?" Ruby asked, taken aback.

"Everyone becomes their parents eventually, don't they?" Weiss said dejectedly.

"I don't think that applies to massive criminals and sex offenders," Ruby stated. "And you are nothing like your dad. I've met him. You aren't like him."

"Mostly because of you," Weiss reminded her. She paused for a moment, recalling something she'd rather keep buried. She blurted it out so suddenly that it caught her off-guard as well. "Remember when I told you to kill yourself?"

Ruby stared at Weiss in shock—then burst into a bizarre laughter. "Y-Yeah! What the heck was that?"

"I really don't know…" Weiss was forced to crack a smile in return, even though she didn't find it remotely funny.

"You were so mean. Like, cartoonishly mean," Ruby giggled. She didn't remember any of the trauma of that day, which made it easier to comment on its absurdity. "Who starts a conversation like that?"

"It was perhaps too much."

"P-Perhaps?" Ruby cackled. "You called me an abortion. You said you would stab me in my scrawny chest." She leaned over the table, her voice lowered but still full of strange delight. "You had problems."

"I was… I was in a bad mood," Weiss said, pretending to be defensive. She crossed her arms and stuck up her chin, showing off her classic Schnee elitism.

"I actually can't get over how hard you went. It was like…" Ruby looked down, and without hesitating, she picked up her little crab boy by both claws and started moving him around like a puppet. She spoke in a small, nasally voice. "Kill yourself, Ruby."

Weiss stifled a laugh, turning a bright shade of red. "Is that supposed to be an impression of me?"

"Hang yourself in the attic, Ruby," said the dancing crab. "I want to deep fry you in oil, Ruby. I'm Crab Weiss."

"I do not approve of this at all."

"Crab Weiss commands you to kneel."

"S-Shut up…"

"I'm…" Ruby sputtered, unable to get her joke out cleanly. She powered through. "I'm a closeted gay, Ruby."

Weiss threw her face into her hands, melting from the embarrassment. "We are in public."

"Get me…" Ruby jostled the crab up and down to make it as aggressive as possible. "Get me some fine crab ladies, Ruby! I want to… rub them with my claws…. Okay… okay, I can't keep it up any longer…" Ruby dropped the crab and laughed, sinking deep into her chair. She found it way funnier than it should have been. Way stupider, too. To think, if she had never met Weiss that day, how different her world would have been. With Rosaline and the God's Arm, it seemed like fate that brought them together against Ozpin's manipulations. Maybe she wished fate would invoke fewer threats of suicide, but it had delivered her her best friend. Maybe the universe didn't hate her that much after all.

They joked over the rest of their meal, never letting their good times fall away. Even when their conversations drifted to the darker moments of their lives, they found a way to laugh through it. The meal wasn't bad either, though again, the fusion element was lost. Ruby was satisfied finding a blend of cultures elsewhere. When the check came, Weiss, of course, paid for it with Winter's money. Ruby suggested leaving a generous tip, so Weiss left ten percent. Ruby didn't have time to double-check before they left.

Stepping out of the restaurant into the cool Vacuon night, Ruby stretched out her arms. The sun had long faded, and the heat of the day had been replaced by gentle wind. Her stomach rumbled, signifying a very satisfied evening. Unfortunately, she still had to walk back to the villa, and that seemed far less enjoyable.

"Tired?" Weiss asked.

"A little," Ruby sighed. She checked her belongings, including their original clothes and robes in the bag from the spa. It seemed heavier than usual. "Just not really feeling like walking back."

"I think I can take care of that," Weiss smirked. There was a crowded parking space in front of them, as well as several guests making their way into Boutique for their meal. It didn't leave Weiss a lot of room to work with, but with careful perception, she found a suitable location. She raised her arm toward an empty parking space and focused. The act that once took all of her concentration had become effortless. There was a sudden flash of light and a crack of thunder, and the other dinner guests whipped their heads around in shock. Standing in the open was the majesty of Large George, and the great toad croaked in waiting for its master. A few of the guests screamed and ran toward the building. A few others grabbed their Scrolls. Weiss merely smirked as she offered Ruby her hand. "Shall we?"

Ruby accepted, and the two strolled toward their ride. A short burst of rose petals later, and the two were atop the frog, ready to head back home. With a fierce command from the Atlasian, Large George bounded off toward the villa.

Yang was sitting on the porch of the villa, bikini top and glass of orange juice in hand when she felt the earth shake beneath her. She checked her Scroll. 9:08. Later than she expected. She stood up in expectation. Each rumble was accompanied by a thunderous boom, though she remained unfazed. The large white toad bounded around the corner with gusto, and the two young Huntresses on top struggled to stay balanced. It came to a halt outside of the villa's entrance, and Yang descended the steps to greet them. Weiss and Ruby dismounted shakily; riding a giant toad right after eating wasn't the best idea, but the queasiness would dissipate. Once they returned to solid ground, Large George vanished.

"Hey, hey," Yang said calmly. "Welcome back. How was?"

"It was…" Ruby took a moment to catch her breath. "Wonderful."

"And expensive," Weiss stated.

"But worth it. I can't wait to tell you all about it."

"I think I'm good," Yang shrugged.

"I take it everything was fine while we were gone?" Ruby asked, glancing up at the villa. Several lights were on inside, though she did not hear any activity within. She hoped that meant everyone retreated to their rooms for the night, and not that there were half a dozen corpses lying around the living room.

"Yeah. It was kinda awkward, but we made it work," Yang explained. "Blake stayed in her room most of the day. I think that helped diffuse the tension."

"Did you—"

"Yes, I made sure to check on her," Yang promised. "Come on, what do you take me for?"

"See? I told you not to worry," Weiss said pridefully. "Thank you for being responsible, Yang."

"It was no biggie. Team CFVY weren't gonna start shit with me around… even if I think they hate me a little more than they did yesterday."

"If they cause trouble, they'll have to go through me," Ruby said sternly. She placed her hand on Yang's shoulder. "You're the best, Yang."

"My little sister deserves a night out, and I wasn't gonna let her down." Yang was somewhat envious of Ruby's night out, but she hid it well. The air had remained thick around the villa all day, and even a party game among the group wasn't enough to eliminate the stench—though Yang could now say she was officially stronger than Pyrrha Nikos, so there was that. Ruby had let the world weigh her down for too long, and while Yang still didn't get the appeal of dating Weiss, she was glad her sister was happy. "Go inside and get some rest. We're leaving tomorrow, right?"

"Tomorrow night," Weiss clarified.

"Well, plenty of time for the pool then," Yang smiled. "I'm gonna take a dip. You two have a good night."

"Night, Yang."

"Goodnight."

Yang wandered off, and Ruby and Weiss headed inside. After being away from the villa for so long, it felt comforting. Ruby dumped her bag onto the couch, knowing that Yang would move it later. She slumped over as she walked through the empty living room. The day had almost completely drained her. She was ready to crawl into bed and let sleep carry her off to somewhere wonderful, a perfect touchstone on a nearly perfect day. However, she was surprised to feel Weiss interlock their hands together.

"Mind if we go to my room for a little while?" Weiss asked politely. "I don't think I'm ready to end things yet."

Ruby shrugged. She supposed she could muster the energy for at least another hour. She didn't feel like walking, so she clung to Weiss's shoulder and let her girlfriend guide her up the stairs to her bedroom. As they walked through the upper corridors, they heard other sounds coming from their friends' bedrooms. Music, mostly. Coco seemed to be watching a movie. The light beneath Blake's door was off. Did she go to bed early? How peculiar. Weiss didn't let Ruby slow her pace as she opened the door to her own bedroom. It was just as clean and pristine as they left it that morning. Ruby yawned, flopping onto the bed. It felt softer than it truly was. Weiss hovered by the door, taking a moment to admire Ruby stretching.

She closed the door behind her—and made sure to lock it.

Weiss casually went about her business. These nervous thoughts had haunted her all day, but now, in the moment, she felt nothing but calm. She pulled out her Scroll, cycling through her apps until she found her music. She selected a favorite of hers and let her Scroll rest on the nightstand. A gentle piano tune filled the room, an Atlasian classic that Weiss had once sung along to in her youth. She approached the foot of the bed, smiling gently at her precious girlfriend. She extended her hand.

"Come. Dance with me?"

Ruby was surprised by the request. Weiss was looking dreamily at her, and she notably hadn't turned on the light to the room, leaving them mostly in darkness, only the moonlight illuminating them. She brushed aside her confusion, and let Weiss lift her into an embrace. The two held each other closely, Ruby keeping her arms around Weiss's waist, and Weiss holding her neck close. They began to move in rhythm. Neither was an excellent dancer, but as long as they were close, they'd make it work.

"I had such a great time today," Weiss said softly, locked into Ruby's silver eyes.

"Really? I didn't annoy you too badly?" Ruby asked worriedly.

"A little… but that's part of your charm," Weiss explained. "You always remind me of the best parts of myself. I don't know anyone else who can do that."

"Well… it's nice to have fun once in a while." Ruby blushed and looked away. Weiss held firm.

"You know, when you mentioned our first meeting over dinner… it made me appreciate everything we've been through. You've helped me so much. You don't even know. I don't think I ever want to go through my life without you."

They turned gently to the beat of the music.

"T-Thanks."

"Do you feel the same?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you feel the same?"

"Yeah, I mean… of course. Right?" Ruby said unsurely. "You're obviously very important to me, too. No doubt about that."

Weiss's smile deepened. "I'm glad." She leaned forward; not for a kiss, but to nestle against Ruby's cheek. "This might be the best day I've ever had. I'm serious about that. This whole vacation has been the greatest. I have my sister back. I have my home… and I have you. You've made every day of this vacation so special. And there's still so much more to do… so much more we can do."

She kissed Ruby's earlobe. The younger Huntress squirmed beneath the ticklish touch but did not pull away.

"You're so precious to me." Weiss kissed Ruby's ear again, moving slightly lower. "You're so smart, and talented, and amazing, and fantastic."

She kissed Ruby's jawline. She squeezed Ruby ever so tighter.

Ruby seemed to go numb under her touch.

"Do you love me?"

The question was out of the blue and caught Ruby by surprise. Where was Weiss going with this? She tried to focus on dancing, but Weiss kissed her and asked again.

"Do you love me?"

"You know I do."

"Then say it." Weiss kissed deep into the nape of Ruby's neck.

"I… I love you."

Weiss retraced her kisses, giving quick pecks up Ruby's neck, her face, and back to the tip of her ear. She pulled away to look Ruby again in the eye. Ruby's smile shifted strangely beneath the moonlight. A thin smirk crossed Weiss's lips.

"Hey."

"Hey?"

"Would you mind if I changed into something more comfortable?"

Ruby didn't object. Weiss gently pushed Ruby away, and the young Huntress fell onto the bed with a thud, sitting up rigid. Weiss's gaze had turned wicked as she tucked her fingers beneath the hem of her blouse. Ruby turned away to give her some modesty—

"No."

Ruby snapped back to attention. Weiss's gentle voice turned to a hiss.

"Don't turn away."

Ruby didn't move. She didn't even seem to react. She followed the command almost instinctively like some force compelled her to stare as Weiss undressed. She pulled off the blouse in one swift motion, and without even looking at its destination, she tossed it aside. She slipped out of her skirt with ease, kicking off the burdensome thing to some further corner of the room. Ruby had seen Weiss in a bikini. She had seen her in robes. This wasn't more than that. But it felt like more. It felt different. Standing, bold and unafraid in her underwear, pale skin radiating in the dark, Weiss let Ruby's wide gaze hover over every inch of her body.

"Like what you see?"

Ruby stammered, trying to muster a response. Her face darkened.

"I… oh… wow, I…"

Weiss smirked. Ruby's shyness was adorable. She needed guidance. Just a small push to let her true feelings flow free.

Then, a moment later, she pounced.

Slinking to Ruby's side, she took her place on the bed, pressing her skin against Ruby's arm. She wrapped her delicate fingers around the side of Ruby's head and pulled her closer. Ruby complied, only to be met with another kiss to her ear. Weiss's gentle voice had turned to a destructive whisper.

"Do you think I haven't noticed you teasing me all day?"

She placed one hand on Ruby's thigh, rubbing smooth circles around her flesh. Ruby stifled a moan.

"It was so fucking hard for me to keep my hands off you."

She kissed harder into Ruby's ear, and for just a second, Ruby felt something hot and thick lap at its curves. Her fingers curled into the mattress.

"I want to give you everything I can."

Weiss didn't hide her next movement at all: a slow lick behind Ruby's ear. She felt Ruby shudder. Her breathing sped up dramatically.

"And I mean everything."

Ruby was still as stiff as a board, and silent, and Weiss was desperate to draw more life out of her. She leaned down toward Ruby's collarbone, and Ruby felt something sharp pierce into her skin. When Ruby's gasp turned hollow, Weiss pulled away, giggling.

"Sorry. Too hard." She leaned back into Ruby's ear. "But it's your fault for being so goddamn cute."

She kissed her ear again, and her arms moved. Her right arm wrapped around Ruby's shoulder, pulling her closer, sneaking down the length of her arm. The other moved behind her back, toward the clasp of her bra.

"Who knows when we'll get another chance at this?" Weiss whispered cruelly. "We might as well make the most of it."

She couldn't see Ruby's expression as the clip snapped, and she discarded her bra with the same carelessness as the rest of her clothing.

"Come on… I know you want them…"

Weiss interlocked her fingers with Ruby's free hand, which was sitting firmly on her lap. She guided Ruby's arm up the curvature of her body, letting her fingertips trace over her hips. She aided Ruby's trembling hands up past her naval, to the soft ridges of her ribcage, and finally up even further…

"Okay, I'm good!"

And then, Ruby snapped to attention, standing up and hurrying to the center of the room.

The atmosphere had been broken.

And it collapsed.

"What… I don't…"

Weiss struggled to speak, but Ruby was the one forcing out her words. Her arms were still stiff, forced to her sides like a toy soldier, hands balled up so they wouldn't clasp anything.

"I think I'm going to go to bed now."

Weiss didn't understand.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go…

"Ruby, I…"

"I… I don't…" Ruby could barely keep herself together. Her breathing was fast—much faster than Weiss had realized. Now separated, she could see her face, and read the expressions clear through the faded light. She saw Ruby flushed, eyes wide and desperate to look away from Weiss's exposed form, her lips flickering.

She was startled. Uncomfortable.

Frightened by just how too fucking real everything became in the blink of an eye.

Weiss's world shattered.

Wait…

The reluctant movements… her hesitations to answer… the moans that sounded welcoming to her biased ear… why didn't she notice the discomfort riding beneath them? How could she have seen Ruby's nervousness as anything other than what it really was?

Fuck.

Fuck fuck fuck.

"Ruby, I—"

"No, it's fine. It's fine," Ruby repeated, though Weiss wasn't sure to whom. Weiss shook her head. This wasn't happening. This was supposed to be perfect. She couldn't have… she didn't mean to…

Gods, no.

"Ruby, please," Weiss stood up, but that only pushed Ruby further away. Ruby let out a desperate, pathetic laugh, forcing herself to cope.

"I just need to sleep," Ruby promised. "I just... I think I just need to sleep for the night, Weiss. I'm sorry."

"Ruby—"

"I can't…"

"Ruby!"

Ruby turned and left the room in a hurry. She could feel her heart threatening to tear itself out of her chest. It was just too much, and she had to leave. She didn't even try to process what had just happened. She wasn't capable of it. Not tonight.

Weiss stood alone in her bedroom. Every missed cue, every misread sign repeated back in her head in an agonizing loop. She looked down upon herself, exposed, and shamefully placed her arms over her bare chest. She was such an idiot… such a goddamn idiot…

She lowered herself beneath her covers and sobbed. The piano track came to a close. Nothing followed.