Slotting the laser into the machine, I slipped my red goggles over my eyes. I placed my headphones over my ears, pulling out my Scroll to put on music. With several clicks on the device, music started playing.

Obviously, I'm listening to the music my girlfriend makes. She really is a good singer. All of her music, though, is fairly depressing and dramatic. It sounds really good, don't get me wrong, but I wish she'd make some happy music.

With a shake of my head, I decided to get back to work as the music filtered into my ears.

This was my tenth test on gravity dust. My goal was to try and reverse the function of normal gravity dust and create negative energy density. Or, in more simple words, I want to make space-time curve up instead of down.

See, dust is really weird. For one, it is not made up of atoms, yet it still is matter, meaning it has mass and takes up space. So, then, what is it? Well, the fundamental unit of dust is…nano-dust. I know, real creative. Nano-dust is a type of core-shell nanoparticles, the outside shell being positively charged and the inner core being negatively charged.

What am I doing here, exactly? I'm trying to make dust do the opposite function it usually does. When dust activates, it is due to the charge of the nano-dust getting forced away from a neutral charge due to outside interference, making the particle collapse inwards.

I am, therefore, trying to make dust expand by shooting a UV laser into supercooled nano-dust. The outside, positively charged shell is far denser than the inner core, meaning it doesn't interact very strongly with UV rays. My hope is that the UV rays will go through the shell into the core, making the core vibrate rapidly and cause the nano-dust to expand through photoexcitatio—

Ring, ring, ring.

I turned my music off and yanked off my goggles, answering my Scroll only seconds after the call. "Hey, Weiss!" I saw her face in my Scroll. She looked pretty as always. "Still wearing your uniform, hm?"

"I haven't had the chance to change yet." She rolled her eyes, smiling at me. "Or would you prefer for me to wait longer to call you?"

"Nope, I'm completely fine with you wearing that." I make a show of looking over her, my eyes moving up and down her figure. "You look cute in it."

She huffed, the camera of her Scroll angling up to the roof as she started walking somewhere. "Hush, you."

"You don't really mean that. Anyways, where are you going? I thought you were already in your dorm?" I curiously asked her, watching as the tiles of the roof flowed by. "Or were you so eager to call me that you did it as soon as you got out of class?"

"Your calls are the best part of my day, dummy." Weiss stopped at a door, likely the door to her dorm. "So, I was…eager… as you said."

"Awww." I playfully said, stretching the vowels. "I'm the best part of your day? That's pretty stupid of you. I'm a terrible conversationalist, you know."

"Mh, just dreadful." She agreed, pushing a key into the doorknob. With a twist and a turn, the door swung open. "Perhaps I should just hang up, considering how foolish it is for me to enjoy your terrible conversations."

I snorted, speaking in an utterly flat tone. "Oh no. Don't hang up, it'd be so dreadful."

Weiss laughed, a melodious thing. She truly has a beautiful voice. "You're like I like you." With that, she flopped onto her bed, camera finally angling at her face.

"Like?" I questioned her, tilting my head. "Clearly, it is love, you mean."

"Don't push your luck." Weiss dryly said, eyes lit with amusement. She looked at me with fond eyes. "I think like is good enough for you."

I shook my head, walking over to my chair and plopping myself down onto the seat. "But I'm too greedy for that." I whined, the edges of my eyes curling up. "What could I do with just your, blegh, like? You like your rapier, and I'd certainly hope I'm slightly above that."

"Above Mystenaster?" She said with faux-incredulity, hand moving to her hair. "Now why would I think that? I'd put you below Mystenaster, slightly above Ruby, and a dash under vanilla ice cream."

I gasped, holding my chest in horror. "Only slightly above Ruby? What have I done to thee, fair lady? What have I done? I darest pray it t'was not for my audacious, mediocre humor. Or my unruly, foolish counsel for thy troubles, fair lady."

Weiss rolled her eyes, fingers working to let down her ponytail. "Perhaps you have a point—I may have been too hasty, jester-of-mine. Vastly above Ruby. Satisfied?"

"But still below vanilla ice cream?"

"Maybe if you'd acknowledge its superiority…" She trailed off, giving me a look.

"Mhm, no." I crossed my arms and shook my head. My voice grew into a mockery of a defensive tone. "You may like basic flavors, but one day you will recognize just how far above vanilla cotton candy is. When compared to vanilla, cotton candy is practically apotheosized, you foolish woman."

"Apotheosized?" She tasted the word slowly, trying to piece it together. "Changed to the level of the divine, I presume?"

"Yup." I agree, smiling. "Apo for change and theo for god. And I'm glad you recognize the superiority of cotton candy."

"Hey! I did no such thing. Don't put words in my mouth. Vanilla is clearly the better flavor. It is simple, sweet, and not excessive. It lacks the frivolity of childish flavors like…cotton candy. It is the ultimate flavor, chocolate being penultimate."

"Well, at least we can agree chocolate is second best." I shook my head sadly. "But I am afraid you are too far gone. I might just have to cut you off for your blaspheming."

"If anything, you are the blasphemer. Everyone knows vanilla is better" She shot back, narrowing her eyes.

I tilted my head. "And is everyone in the room with us, hm? Yeah, thought not."

"We aren't even in the same room." She dryly said.

"Bah, semantics. But, because I care for you so…I suppose I can forgive your blasphemous beliefs. " I gave her a charming smile. "Anyways, why'd you take down your hair? You never do that." I gasped, feigning shock. "Oh my gosh, did you meet a cute boy? Who is it!"

Her stare was positively dull. Clearly, my humor was just so far beyond her that she couldn't conceive it. "I wouldn't call him cute."

I squawked. "Hey! I resent that."

"I was going to add that I'd refer to him as handsome, but…" She shook her head, lips curling up. "I guess I will just refrain from doing so."

A pout fell over my lips. "And who is the lucky prat?"

"The lucky prat is the person I am unfortunate to be dating."

"Ouch." I kept pouting.

She closed her eyes, exhaling. If I didn't know better, I would say she was annoyed. But I do know better. The tiny curve of her cheeks gave her away. Weiss opened her eyes, suddenly reddening. "Suppose I did take down my hair for a cute boy. Would…" She trailed off, grasping for words. "Would he like it?"

"I think he'd love it." I instantly said. "Of course, that is assuming you took down your hair for that prat—actually, no. I'd love it no matter what."

"...you would?" She grew incredibly awkward, unable to keep eye contact with me. Weiss looked incredibly different with her hair down, but she remained as beautiful as always.

"Of course. I'd find you beautiful if you were bald. I'd find you beautiful if you were fat or if you were crippled." I shrugged my shoulders, giving a loppy grin. "You stun me."

Her eyes were wide at my soppy words. If her cheeks were red before, then now she was completely crimson. "You think too highly of me…" Weiss said in embarrassment. "But...thank you."

I bit my lower lip, frowning. I averted my gaze for the moment. We'd been dating for weeks now and, well, I love her. And I want to say it.

But what if she doesn't love me? It'd be awkward, then. Really weird. I mean, then she'd feel bad. And I'd feel bad. And it'd suck.

Yet…I still want to say it.

"Nico?" Weiss prods. "What ar—"

"Hey, Weiss," I began, meeting her gaze. "I love you."

"Wha—" She choked on her words. Big eyes met my own, shock written on her face. Weiss didn't say anything. Didn't talk. She just gaped like a fish, mouth opening and closing. I was starting to worry that I'd overstepped.

Had I overstepped? Did she not feel the same? That would suck, then. Be pretty terrible, honestly.

I should probably turn it into a joke. Play it off. Moving to open my mouth, I was cut off before I could talk. "I—I love you, too." Weiss said, a sheen to her eyes. "I'm not completely sure what love means, but I know I love you. No one—no one has told me that before." She admitted, looking away. "I love you."

No one had ever told her that they love her.

What the fuck.

What the absolute fuck is wrong with her family? To not tell Weiss that they love her? My chest felt tight, gut heavy in my stomach. I was furious. Furious for her. "I love you." My voice was wonky, my throat dry. It almost felt like a hand was holding my vocal cords, squeezing them as I spoke. "And no matter what anyone says, you are loved. I love you."

"I—" She shook her head. "Thank you. The two months I've known you are the best months I've lived. So…thank you, you complete dolt."

I cracked a smile, trying to shove down the anger I felt at Weiss's family. "I'm going to figure out how to see you everyday, Weiss. Soon. By the Vytal Festival, expect me."

"Is that a promise?" Weiss asked me. "Because I will be holding you to it."

"If I were there, it'd be a pinky promise." I agreed. I would need to figure out how to do it sooner than the Vytal Festival. That was too far away. "Anyways, off of the lovey-dovey stuff. I know you hate feelings—so, where is the rest of your team?"

She blinked, taken off guard by the change in topic. "Them? They are going shopping in Vale. I turned them down when they asked me to go, I have no desire to prance about with a horde of morons."

"Prance about with a horde of morons?" I repeated what she said, snickering under my breath. "You say that, yet I know you are fond of them."

"F—fond!?" She looked at me as if I had grown a second head. "Of Ruby, Yang, and Blake? Those three? Ridiculous."

I hummed. "Yes, those three. You like them, at least a little. You'd be sad to leave them."

Weiss pouted, looking away. "I have no clue what you are talking about."

"Uh-huh. You just like pretending you dislike them. It's part of your charm."

"I have no clue what you are talking about." She huffed, looking back at me. "And even if I did like them…no, I will not even entertain the idea."

"...you brew them coffee. You literally told me about this."

"Lies." She blushed. "Lies and slander. If you were here, I'd hit you for that."

"Lucky me." I dryly said, meeting her lovely eyes. "And you help Ruby with her homework, if I recall."

"As a good teammate would do." Weiss deflected, meeting my gaze with equal intensity. "I am only doing my duty as a member of team RWBY. It would be irresponsible for me to do otherwise."

"And the board games you play with them?"

"...team-spirit building?" She weakly said.

I narrowed my eyes. "Really? Team-spirit building? Does that also go for the pillow fight?"

"...maybe."

"Uh-huh."

She kept pouting. She pouted a lot around me. I doubt she does that for others, so I'm lucky to see it. Mostly because she managed to make the expression cute instead of childish. Weiss sighed. "Okay…maybe I don't completely…hate…them."

"And you might, in fact, slightly like them?" I offer.

Weiss sighed even deeper. "...and maybe I might…possibly…maybe like them." She then huffed, rolling her eyes. With how often she rolled her eyes, I'm surprised that her eyes didn't start to make a clicking noise when she rolled them. Squeaky hinges and all. "Happy?"

"Just peachy, Weiss." Then, I gave a dopey grin. "But of course I am happy. I'm talking to you, aren't I?"

Her cheeks became as peachy as my mood. "That was terrible, you know that? If I were any less sophisticated, I'd have developed cavities from your cringe-inducing words."

"While I have no clue how sophistication helps dental health," I begin cheerily, "you still blushed. Something I said must've been likable."

"Hush. You've lost speaking privileges." Weiss playfully responded, fighting a smile.

"My lips are seale—" From Weiss's side of the call, creaking could be heard. Weiss's eyes widened comically, finger moving towards the hangup button. Unfortunately for Weiss…

"Weeeeiiiiiiiss!" A stream of red slammed into the girl, causing Weiss to yelp. "I got you ice cream! Vanilla with the blue sprinkles, just as you like i—oh! Did I interrupt you? Sorry!"

"You complete idiot!" Weiss scolded, still not in the camera frame. I was currently looking at the ceiling of Weiss's dorm. Her Scroll fell on the floor, I imagine. "What if you damaged my Scroll? But…thanks for the ice cream…and I was just ending the call, so it is alright."

"I'll pick up your Scroll for you!" Then, I saw a hand reach down to pick up Weiss's Scroll.

"No!" Weiss squeaked out. "That's alright. I'll—I can grab it myself! Yeah. So—so don't pick it up? Please?"

"It's alright! I will pick it up for you, Weiss!" Moments later, I was looking at a girl with reddish-black hair. The girl was looking back at me. Our eyes met. The girl looked towards where Weiss was. Then back to me. Then back to Weiss.

Ruby's jaw dropped, eyes rapidly flickering between Weiss and myself. "You have a boyfriend!"

"Give me that!" Weiss shouted, lunging for her Scroll. She failed to grab it, Ruby moving out of the way.

"Hey, Weiss's boyfriend!" Ruby cheerfully said, looking at me. "How long have you two been dating? It must've been romantic when you met! Weiss must've been all, like, I need a knight in shining armor and then you were her Prince Charming! Oooh! Is that how you met? Are you a huntsman? You must be! Is that a workshop?" She gasped. "Do you make your own weapons, too? What kind of ammunition do you use! I lik—"

"—give me that!" Weiss snatched the Scroll from Ruby's hands. I was then met with Weiss's beet red face. "Why didn't you hang up?" She hissed, glaring.

"...your friend doesn't seem that bad?" I weakly offer.

She huffed, dodging a swipe from Ruby. "You're getting an earful tomorrow. I am hanging up now."

From the back, I heard Ruby yell in horror. "Nooooooo—!"

The call ended. I stared at my Scroll. Then, I started giggling like a loon. I couldn't help myself, the whole situation was hilarious.

Well, time to get back to work. I'd need to tell Weiss to make happier music some other time. Let's see if I can make those particles expand, yeah?