Diva - Chapter 20

Ruby blinked, tilted her head, then rubbed her tired eyes and squinted at the canvas.  Nothing erased the general mind-fog she had woken up with this morning, making it impossible to decide if she was looking at a masterpiece or a piece of trash.  Unfortunately - or fortunately given her current mindset - she didn’t have time to dwell on the conclusion.  Even though it felt like she just got home, it was time to go to work again.

Weiss had been right: their new schedule left little time for trivial things like life, free time, or eating consistently.  Ruby snuck in as much painting as she could and kept her sketchbook on hand for the unpredictable lulls in filming, but the results were as groggy and scatterbrained as she felt.

After shaking her head at the blue, flowy something, she set her paintbrush and palette down on her desk to be used again later.  The nearly empty tube of sky blue paint caught her attention, so she picked it up and tested the weight to see when she needed another one.  Considering blue had become a starring color in much of what she did, she should probably pick one up soon.

A chime rang out from the corner of the desk then.  The sound alone prompted a smile and transported her to another realm as she grabbed her phone and read the message.  It was a simple, ‘Good morning,’ yet the sender was anything but simple.  Complex, difficult, a true mystery…all of those words fit Weiss better than ‘simple’ ever would.  Even sending a good morning message seemed out of character.  

Ruby wouldn't complain though, just like she hadn’t complained the last few days.  She sent back an enthusiastic, ‘Good morning!’ before following up with, ‘leaving now.’  Any concern about her unfinished painting disappeared as she spun around to leave.  In her sudden hurry, her hip knocked her painting palette - with paint still on it - off the desk.

She caught it.  But she caught it by yelping, flailing her arms, and pinning it between her arm and her leg.

“Aw, man…” she whined at the new, bright splotches of wet paint on her jeans.  “So much for saving time…” she muttered while returning the pallet to her desk, further from the edge this time, and wiping off some of the excess paint.  If she had the time, she might try to save her jeans.  Since she didn’t, she snapped a photo of the disaster before hurrying to her bedroom, changing into another pair, and rushing out the door.

‘Guess what I did this morning?’ she sent to Weiss after boarding the bus.  She included the photo and grinned just imagining Weiss’ possible responses.

‘Murdered a smurf?’ 

A loud laugh slipped through her lips, drawing a curious look from the man sitting across from her.  Ignoring his look, she shook her head and typed her reply.

‘What kind of person murders a smurf before breakfast??’ 

‘I would bet my entire career that you’ve already eaten.’

‘Got me,’ Ruby replied, chuckling to herself before sneaking in one of the questions she coveted the answers to.  ‘Your career’s the most valuable thing you own?’

This time, the pause was long enough for her to glance out the window, making sure that she didn’t miss her stop.  As soon as her phone chimed, however, it had her full attention.

‘That’s what I’ve been led to believe,’ Weiss sent - another simple response that begged to be delved into.  Without being able to read Weiss’ emotions through her almost impeccably neutral posture and expressions, Ruby accepted the response at face value and changed the subject.

‘Excited for today?’

‘No.’

Again, Ruby laughed out loud and ignored the second curious glance she received.  She could practically see Weiss’ straight-laced expression through the phone, punctuated by that single, disdainful period.

‘Well, I am!’ Ruby offered, knowing that a joyful response would make Weiss roll her eyes.  But Weiss might roll her eyes and smile - the holy grail of reactions in Ruby’s book.

‘What could you possibly be excited for?’ Weiss asked, opening the door for Ruby to inundate her with every little exciting thing that would or could happen once they reached the studio.  There was free food, of course.  There was the suspense of not knowing what she would have to do or if today was the day that Cinder bit someone’s head off.  Plus, she really liked some of her coworkers - including the person reading her messages, which she tried to imply without making it overly clear just how much.

While waiting for one of Weiss’ responses, Ruby glanced outside and quickly hopped up.  The bus stopped mere moments later, releasing her onto the sidewalk in front of Crescent Productions.

‘Grabbing your jet fuel now,’ she sent to Weiss while hurrying into the coffee shop.  She probably didn’t have to send that message, but she didn’t want Weiss to think that she’d grown bored with the conversation.  The opposite was true, but someone had to pick up a morning boost of caffeine.

‘Get yourself something,’ Weiss replied, prompting another smile from Ruby while she waited in line.  It was an order, and Ruby knew better than to disobey a direct order.  When she reached the front of the line and reached for her credit card, however, her smile disappeared.

“The usual?” the barista asked, already keying the order into the register.

“Uh, yeah.”  She patted all of her pockets but found them empty.  Remembering the unfortunate paint incident, she smacked her head and searched through her bag for spare change instead.  As fortune had it, a crinkled ten-dollar bill had been stuffed in the side pocket.

“And a chocolate chip cookie,” she added before handing over the money.

“Did you get a new boss or something?” 

“Nope.  Same one!”

“Ah.”  The girl handed over Ruby’s change, then filled a cup with Weiss’ coffee, and finally grabbed a cookie from the display case.  “You won her over then.”

“Or I lost so bad that she took pity on me,” Ruby joked, dropping the change into her bag before grabbing the coffee and pastry bag.  “See you tomorrow!”  

After a quick wave, she made her way onto the Crescent Productions campus, but the barista’s observation lingered on her mind even after she boarded the first tram.  Had she lost the battle of wills or had they come to a mutually agreed upon ceasefire after the incident with Cardin?  She got so caught up in the possible answers that she was already standing in front of the studio doors before she realized something important: not only had she forgotten her credit card, but she’d left her badge in her other jeans, too. 

Undeterred, she peered through the glass but didn’t see anyone who could let her in.  Scrunching up her face, she turned away and tried to decide whether she should go all the way back to Main B and beg for a new badge or just wait for someone to let her in.  

A limousine pulled up beside her at that moment.  Her heart promptly fluttered, then she scolded herself for feeling so jittery and convinced herself that it was probably just Pyrrha or Cardin.  Although Cardin usually drove some ridiculously flashy sports car and Pyrrha alternated between a limousine or town car based on her schedule.

It must be Pyrrha, Ruby assured herself up until the very second the chauffeur stepped out of the vehicle.  She recognized him just as much as she recognized his fruitless attempt to reach the passenger door before it opened from within.

At first, Weiss looked surprised to find Ruby standing right there in front of her.  Then she smiled and exited the limousine with the grace and beauty of a supermodel.

“Waiting for me outside now?” she asked while plucking the cup of coffee from Ruby’s hand.

“Uh…yup!  Curbside service is all the rage, isn’t it?”

When Weiss laughed, Ruby’s heart melted all over the sidewalk.  As fun as it was to exchange messages, it was a thousand times better to see Weiss’ smile and hear her laughter versus imagining it on the other side of the phone.  Once Weiss’ laughter trailed off, however, she hummed at the pastry bag in Ruby’s hand.

“Chocolate chip cookie?”

“How’d you know?” 

Weiss waved away the question.

“You’re predictable when it comes to sweets.”

“I am?”  When Weiss nodded and set off toward the building, Ruby followed.  “Does that mean you can predict what I’ll eat and when?”

“I’m sure I can.”  Upon reaching the doors, Weiss reached for her bag before stopping.  Ruby mustered the most neutral face possible, but Weiss dropped her bag, nodded to the door, and said, “After you.”

“Oh, well, they say ladies first, right?  So, you know -” 

When Ruby motioned to the door, Weiss’ amusement turned into smugness.  

“They usually say that while holding the door for said lady,” Weiss pointed out, so Ruby blushed and ran a hand through her hair. 

“Uh, yeah, I’d love to do that.  If you could just…unlock it first.”

Ruby’s blush grew when Weiss responded with no small amount of triumph.

“You lost your keycard.”

“I didn’t lose it!” Ruby protested while Weiss laughed.  “I know exactly where it is.  But ‘exactly where it is’ is at home.”

“Did the smurfs do this?” Weiss asked with such a straight face that Ruby dissolved into laughter.

“And that’s why I killed them?”  Ruby laughed harder when Weiss stoically nodded.  “I guess you could say that.  I had to change pants and forgot to switch my badge over to these.”

“Unfortunate.”  Weiss briefly commiserated with Ruby’s misfortune before pulling out her own badge.  “You know, they use these to prevent unauthorized access to the building.  What if a crazy fan is on the loose?  There are important people in there.”

“Aren’t there important people out here?” Ruby pointed out.  Weiss pursed her lips and nodded.

“You’re right.  I should get inside then.”

“Wait!”  Ruby grabbed Weiss’ elbow, and Weiss was laughing by the time Ruby turned her around.  “You’re being difficult on purpose,” Ruby whined, but Weiss gave her a patronizing smile.

“Oh, Ruby…you know I don’t have to try to be difficult.”

“Right, right,” Ruby replied, bobbing her head.  “Demon blood runs through your veins - how could I forget?”

When Ruby flashed a cheeky smile, Weiss’ eyes flashed with delight.

“You really know how to flatter a girl…” Weiss replied in such a sultry tone that Ruby’s heart climbed several inches higher in her chest.  

“I, uh, you know, try.”  

Ruby’s mind and body struggled to keep up with Weiss’ seamless shifts between facetious and seductive, sometimes blending so well that she couldn't tell which was which.  Weiss enjoyed the confusion, as evidenced by the near smile making it onto her lips.  Before long, however, she narrowed her eyes and thoughtfully tapped her chin.

“If I let you in…you’ll owe me.”

“You mean, like, I’ll have to do whatever you want?” Ruby clarified.  As soon as Weiss nodded, she grinned and said, “Great!  Because I have to do that anyway.”

“In that case, I guess I don’t need to let you in.”

“Fine!”  Ruby grabbed Weiss’ elbow before Weiss left her outside.  “I’ll ‘owe’ you one, or several, or however many you want.  But we should probably get to work before Cinder yells at us for being late, right?”

“Cinder would never yell at me for anything,” Weiss replied before growing more serious.  Eventually, she sighed and said, “I suppose we should though…”

Ruby tilted her head at the sudden downtrodden aura as Weiss swiped her badge to unlock the door.  Ruby held it open as promised, but Weiss walked inside with nothing more than a soft, “Thank you.”  Though quick to follow, Ruby was even quicker to try to bring their light-hearted banter back.

“So now that I’m in your debt, what do I have to do?” she asked as they headed further into the building.  “I can get you breakfast?”  She motioned to the breakfast table, which had yet to be set up, but Weiss scoffed and shook her head.

“You really think you’ll get off that easy?”

“I mean…I can hope?”

Weiss scoffed again - this one softer and accompanied by a near smile.

“You know what they say about making a deal with the devil, right?” she asked before walking to her room, leaving Ruby stunned in her wake.

“If I see him around here, I’ll keep that in mind!” Ruby called after her, making her glance over one shoulder and wink.  She then flipped her hair over her shoulder with a tremendous amount of flair, leaving Ruby smiling and unable to tear her gaze away.

At one point in time, she would have been terrified about the possibilities that might come with ‘owing’ Weiss something.  Today, she looked forward to learning how and when that little interaction would spring back into her life.  It would be unexpected but glorious - of that, she was certain.

“Good morning, Ruby.”

Jolting out of that daydream, Ruby smiled when she discovered Pyrrha standing beside her.

“Morning, Pyrrha!  Ready for the day?”

“I believe I am.”  As usual, Pyrrha exuded effortless poise as she smiled and nodded.  Her emerald eyes flitted in the direction of Weiss’ room, and she nodded that way before asking, “How are you two doing?”

“Good!” Ruby proclaimed before uncertainty crept into her mind.  “At least, I think?  It’s hard to tell sometimes, but…”  After glancing at Weiss’ door, remembering some of their more recent conversations, Ruby couldn't help but smile.  “I think it’s good,” she concluded with an assured nod.

“That’s wonderful,” Pyrrha responded, smiling genuinely before glancing at Weiss’ room again.  “She’s here early, even.”

“She is?”

“It’s just me and Cardin in the first scene, but maybe she came to watch.”  Ruby’s brow furrowed at the suggestion, knowing how much disdain Weiss held for all things related to Cardin, but Pyrrha brightened.  “Actually, you know what would be helpful?  If you read lines with Weiss for her scene today.  I’m sure she’d rather rehearse with you than Cardin.  Plus, Cardin will be busy all morning.  It might shorten the day a bit.”

“A short day doesn’t sound bad…” Ruby mused before giving Pyrrha a searching look.  “You really think that’d be helpful?”

“I do.”  Pyrrha erased Ruby’s lingering worries by lightly patting Ruby’s shoulder.  “Why don’t you take her some breakfast and see if that’s something she’d like?”

“Weiss eating breakfast?” Ruby joked, already beaming as she backed away.  “But yeah, I’ll do that!”

“Thank you, Ruby.  I’ll let Cinder know.” 

Ruby pressed her hands together in gratitude before grabbing her radio and then setting up breakfast.  “Morning!” she greeted Velvet and Oscar, who had reappeared from whatever morning task they’d been assigned.  “Sorry, I’m late.  Forgot my badge.”

“Did you have to get a new one?” Velvet asked while removing several trays from the first box.  Oscar smiled and motioned for Ruby to take the remaining trays, leaving him to open the next box and gather the rest.

“No, actually.  Weiss let me in.”

“She did?” 

Velvet’s brow rose when Ruby nodded.  

“I probably owe her my soul or something now, but she did.”  Ruby chuckled at the thought while arranging the food on autopilot.  “Pyrrha suggested that I help Weiss with lines, so I’m going to do that after this is set up.”

Ruby smiled at the task, but Oscar stepped up beside her and frowned.

“Again?” he huffed while dropping the usual array of fruit onto the table.  “It feels like she’s always taking your time.”

“I think that’s a lovely idea,” Velvet interjected, nudging Oscar’s elbow before smiling at Ruby.  “Our job is making their jobs easier, and this is one way to help.  I’ve read lines with Pyrrha many times.”

“Right!”  Ruby smiled at Velvet before turning to Oscar.  “Plus, this might speed things along.  Maybe we’ll even get out on time today?”

A few extra hours at home must be at the top of everyone’s wish lists by now, but Oscar mumbled, “Cardin never reads lines with me…” before arranging the fruit and pastries on their large platters.  Ruby frowned at his response before glancing at Velvet, but Velvet shook her head and waved off his mood.  Still, Ruby looked at him one more time before setting out the plates and utensils that some coworkers were already waiting for.  

After everyone else went through the line, she loaded a single plate with as much food as it could carry.  Eggs, bacon, two pancakes, a blueberry muffin, some grapes and strawberries, and a banana that stuck in her pocket along with the chocolate chip cookie from the coffee shop.  She grabbed two forks, too, even though she had little belief that both would be used.

Laden with that haul, she knocked twice on Weiss’ door.  “I bring gifts you probably don’t want,” she joked, waiting only a few more seconds before Weiss let her in.

There was always a little moment when they first saw each other when Weiss stared into Ruby’s eyes, and it might be true that Weiss stole a little of Ruby’s soul each time.  Then her gaze lowered to the plate, allowing Ruby to breathe once more.

“You’re right - I don’t want it,” Weiss quipped before returning to the sofa.  Ruby understood the implied invitation to come in but made sure to shut the door before setting the plate on the coffee table.  Rather than plop down on the floor in front of it, however, she remained standing and lightly rubbed her hands together. 

“So…Pyrrha said maybe you’d want me to rehearse with you while they’re working on the first scene?”

“She did?”  Weiss’ brow rose at the suggestion and then furrowed at Ruby’s nod.  “I…suppose we could…” she mused, her brow remaining furrowed until she shook her head.  “Eat first.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice.”  Ruby sat cross-legged on the floor and grabbed a fork.  “Sure you don’t want some?” she asked, like she always did.  Weiss shook her head, like she always did, before leaning forward and snatching the blueberry muffin.  Ruby could never tell if Weiss actually wanted the muffin or if she only did it so that Ruby stopped badgering her, but it made her happy regardless.

“Hopefully, we get a real lunch break today,” Ruby commented between bites.  “But if it’s another packed day, probably not.”

Weiss’ expression clouded at the words, and she picked at the muffin rather than respond.  The silence expanded until it grew uncomfortable enough that Ruby frowned.

“What’s wrong?” she eventually asked, drawing a blue gaze her way.

“Nothing.  Why?”

“You seem a little…unhappy.” 

Weiss shook her head but, when Ruby’s eyes narrowed at the potential lie, sighed.  “I’m just not looking forward to today,” she admitted instead.

“Anything I can do?”

“You can finish your breakfast.”

“How does me eating help?” Ruby asked before obligingly sticking a forkful of pancakes into her mouth.

“It just does.”

The short response suggested a poor mood, but Weiss seemed troubled rather than aggravated.  Still, Ruby raised her hands and resumed eating rather than press a sensitive subject.  If Weiss wanted to speak her mind, she would.  If Weiss wanted Ruby to finish her breakfast, then Ruby would finish her breakfast.  She had learned that Weiss’ motivations might become clear over time, or they might always be a mystery.  Either way, it was typically best to just do what she asked and hope that it made her happy.

So Ruby ate breakfast in silence broken only by the radio chatter in her ear.  Cinder needed a fresh battery.  One of the lights blew and had to be replaced.  Cardin went ‘missing’ for several minutes until Oscar found him napping in his room.

While all of that happened just outside the door, Ruby finished eating and Weiss’ mood gradually changed.  It didn’t brighten, but her brow unfurrowed and her frown disappeared.  She bit the corner of one lip instead, so deep in thought that Ruby set the fork down but didn’t disturb her.  

“They’re filming now,” Ruby commented once the message relayed through her radio, yet Weiss nodded and remained silent.  Ruby took the opportunity to pull out the chocolate chip cookie she’d saved for last.  Weiss’ eyes instantly landed on it, so Ruby broke it in half and offered one piece to Weiss.  When Weiss shook her head, Ruby broke off an even smaller piece and offered that instead.  Weiss rolled her eyes but took it, making Ruby smile while munching on the rest.

“Are you sure you want to rehearse with me?” Weiss eventually asked, nibbling on the edge of the cookie rather than making eye contact.

“Of course!  Why wouldn't I?”  When Weiss pursed her lips, Ruby nodded and added, “How many people get the chance to read lines with someone like you?”

“‘Someone like me…’” 

“An incredible actress?” Ruby elaborated.  Weiss’ expression remained the same, so Ruby popped to her feet and offered her hands to help Weiss up.  “It’ll be fun!  I’ll do my best Cardin impersonation.”

Weiss looked at Ruby’s hands, then at her eyes, before scoffing and letting Ruby pull her to her feet.

“Please don’t,” she said before smoothing her hands down her skirt and looking around the room.  After finding her well-worn script, she flipped through the pages until she reached a spot near the end.  “I’d prefer if you were just yourself,” she added while handing it to Ruby.

“You sure?”

“I’d prefer it,” Weiss repeated, making Ruby chuckle as she looked at the page.  Focusing on the words became impossible when Weiss moved close enough that Ruby could smell the hint of flowers in her shampoo.  

“Start here,” Weiss instructed, pointing at the page before looking up and freezing Ruby in her blue gaze.  After briefly forgetting how to breathe, Ruby hastily nodded when Weiss’ brow furrowed.

“Yeah, sure, of course.”  Humor returned to Weiss’ eyes as she moved away, leaving Ruby to glance at her once, then twice, before clearing her throat and forcing.

“We need to get out of here,” she read aloud, then ran her hand through her hair as the page told her to.  “They’ll find us.”

“Don’t worry.  I have an idea.”

“They’ll find us,” Ruby repeated, trying to sound panicked.  “They’ll recognize me.”

“I have an idea,” Weiss repeated more forcefully.  “You need to calm down.”

Weiss set her hand on Ruby’s shoulder, but Ruby looked at the page and said, “You realize what happens if they catch us, right?”

“Of course,” Weiss scoffed.  “We go to prison for the rest of our lives.”

“And?”

“‘And?’” Weiss repeated before pausing and shaking her head.  “No, that’s not it,” she muttered, stepping away from Ruby.  Ruby looked at the lines to confirm that she hadn’t missed one before watching Weiss take a deep breath and release it in a big exhale.

“We can start over?” Ruby offered before adding, “That was still incredible.  It feels like you’re a different person.  Makes me feel all…swept up.”  

Weiss’s smile fully reached her eyes this time, yet she searched Ruby’s expression before tapping the booklet in Ruby’s hands.  Ruby cleared her throat before starting from the beginning.  

“We need to get out of here.  They’ll find us.”

“Don’t worry.  I have an idea.”

“They’ll find us,” Ruby repeated with more panic this time.  “They’ll recognize me.”

“I have an idea.  You need to calm down.”

Weiss set her hand on Ruby’s shoulder, but Ruby said, “You realize what happens if they catch us, right?”

“Of course,” Weiss scoffed.  “We go to prison for the rest of our lives.”

“And?”

“‘And?’” Weiss repeated, this time with near amusement.  “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of prison.”

“Everyone should be afraid of prison,” Ruby replied before glancing to her left, per the instructions.  “Shit, they’re looking over here!”

“Oh, for the love of god,” Weiss sighed before grabbing the front of Ruby’s shirt and pulling her so close that their chests pressed together.  Ruby’s eyes widened and a small gasp slipped out at their sudden and unexpected proximity.

“And that’s when I’d kiss you,” Weiss whispered.  Her hands remained curled in Ruby’s shirt for a long, unspeakable moment before letting go.  “But only with your permission.”

“O-oh.”  Ruby’s mind shot into overdrive, struggling to comprehend what was happening while being inundated with so many new sensations.  “That’s - that’s fine.  I mean.  Will that help?”

Ruby didn’t even know if Weiss meant her.  Was Weiss talking about her or just hypothetically a person?  Did it matter?  It mattered, probably, but Ruby wasn’t sure how much it mattered - especially when a rampant blush colored her cheeks as Weiss stared at her.  It felt like Weiss was reading her mind, or maybe just her blush, and deciding what response those reactions deserved.

Then Weiss reached out, curled her fingers into the front of Ruby’s shirt, and pulled her into a kiss.

Ruby’s mind instantly went blank, stunned into submission by Weiss’ lips pressed to hers.  Then her mind caught up and, suddenly, she could feel everything.  How soft and perfect Weiss’ lips were.  How the tip of Weiss’ nose grazed her cheek.  How Weiss’ hand gently yet firmly clutched a fistful of her shirt.

Before Ruby could decide whether to reciprocate or reciprocate, Weiss pulled away.  The abrupt loss left Ruby dazed and confused, but Weiss lingered within a breath’s distance.

“That worked, didn’t it?”

Ruby blinked at the question, then blinked and furrowed her brow.

“What?”

“The line, Ruby.”

Weiss whispered the words, but they hit Ruby like a truck barreling down the freeway.

“Oh!  Right.  The line.”  

The line.  Ruby looked at the script, her eyes darted all over the page trying to find her spot.  “Um,” she stalled, struggling to get her heart back in the right spot under what suddenly felt like an immense amount of pressure.

She didn’t find her spot before Weiss plucked the pages from her hands and dropped them on the table.  Then Weiss stepped closer and rested one hand on Ruby’s arm, watching Ruby’s eyes as Ruby’s heart thundered in her ears and her breathing came to a complete standstill.  She didn’t know if she was supposed to move or say something - all she could do was stare into light blue eyes and desperately wait for something to happen.

Weiss leaned in, hesitantly at first, and paused so close that her breath dusted across Ruby’s cheek.  She stayed there for what felt like an eternity, presenting every opportunity for Ruby to move away.  

Ruby closed the gap between them instead, meeting Weiss’ lips in a soft, slow kiss.  Her fingers landed lightly on Weiss’ sides at first, but Weiss hummed against Ruby’s lips and pressed closer, encouraging Ruby’s arms to wrap around her back and hold her tighter.

Ruby briefly reveled in how small yet strong Weiss felt in her arms, but Weiss’ lips quickly demanded her full attention.  The way they moved against hers, passionate and firm yet gentle and yielding and genuine, left her wanting more.  That first kiss easily turned into two, then three, then she stopped counting as Weiss’ fingers brushed through her hair.

For as demanding, confident, and unrelenting as Weiss pretended to be, in this moment Ruby sensed uncertainty, doubt, and vulnerability that made her want to sweep Weiss up in her arms and never let go.

“Anyone have eyes on Weiss?” 

The question crackled through her headset and sent her springing away as if it shocked her.  Weiss quickly turned to the side, a blush on her cheeks as she tucked her hair behind her ear.  

“She’s probably still in her room,” Velvet replied over the headset.  “Ruby?”

Still staring at Weiss, breathless and disheveled, Ruby reached up and tapped her mic.

“Yeah.”  Her voice came out husky, so she cleared her throat and tried again.  “Yeah, she’s here.”

“We’re ready now.”

“Ok.  Um.  We’ll be right there.”  Ruby let her hand fall to her side while watching Weiss, searching for any explanation or reaction to what just happened.  “They’re, uh, they’re ready for you,” she eventually said, drawing a fleeting glance.

Though Weiss opened her mouth to say something, she simply nodded once and headed to the door.  Ruby took a deep breath and followed, exchanging the privacy of Weiss’ room for the hustle and bustle of a studio between scenes.  

Without a word, Weiss headed to the hair and makeup department, leaving Ruby to aimlessly make her way to the stage.  Noticing Pyrrha’s curious glance, she forced a smile before searching for something to do.

The next scene came together in a daze.  Someone pointed at items that needed to be carried from one location to another, so she moved them.  Someone needed help running cables, so she helped them.  The entire time, her mind remained stuck in Weiss’ room, replaying that kiss over and over again.

Weiss kissed her.  They kissed.  Twice, actually.

Butterflies fluttered through her chest, delighting in one of the most enjoyable yet unexpected experiences of her life.  At the same time, a pit opened in her stomach as she worried that she might have just ruined their fledgling…friendship.  Because she could almost call Weiss a friend now - at least, she could until that happened.  Now…what did Weiss think of her?

Hoping to find an answer, she glanced Weiss’ way nearly every other second, but Weiss never made eye contact.  Not once she changed into her outfit, not once her hair and makeup were done, not even when she made her way to the stage.  She saved a disdainful look for a smirking Cardin, who knew well enough to keep his distance, before meeting with Cinder and Ozpin.

The serious conversation pricked Ruby’s interest, but Ozpin nodded along with whatever Weiss said and Cinder joined in with a firm nod of her own.  Ozpin then motioned Cardin over while Cinder walked away, tapped the microphone in her ear, and said, “Close the set.” 

“‘Close the set?’” Ruby repeated while Velvet motioned her and Oscar to the front doors.

“That means only necessary people should be inside,” Velvet explained, taking a moment to relay the message to several other crew members before leading everyone outside.  Ruby glanced over her shoulder, finding Weiss, Cardin, and Ozpin discussing the scene, before heading through the doors and finding a spot on the sidewalk out front.

“Why would they do that?” she asked as the rest of the crew filtered out with them.

“Weiss must not want everyone watching.”  Velvet glanced around to see who was outside before pursing her lips.  “I can understand…I wouldn't want an audience when I had to kiss someone either.”

“‘Kiss?’” Ruby repeated before the pieces fell into place.  “Oh,” she added, the word forced out as if the knowledge just punched her in the gut.  

The lines she read with Weiss today were for the current scene, and that scene included a kiss.  Only instead of Ruby, Cardin would be the beneficiary.

“So we just…wait out here?” 

Velvet nodded but then pressed a finger to her lips for Ruby to be quiet.  Absent conversation, Ruby paced - silently - outside the studio.  She glanced at the front doors but didn’t dare move closer or try to peek inside.  Part of her wanted to press her nose to the glass, but the other part felt too nauseous and definitely jealous to do such a thing.

“You ok?” Oscar whispered, sitting on the curb watching her.  She nodded and mustered a quick smile before slowing her pace.  She didn’t want to draw attention to the emotional hurricane raging in her mind, though Velvet’s sympathetic glance suggested that she wasn’t as successful as hoped.

Why would she be jealous?  This was Weiss’ job, and Weiss was a professional.  If the script called for her to kiss Cardin, then she would kiss Cardin regardless of how much she despised him.  That was fine.  But why had she kissed Ruby?  Was that just a practice?  Rehearsal?  A warmup, like how athletes ran laps or stretched before a game?  

It hadn’t felt like practice.  It felt real.  To Ruby, at least, but she wasn’t exactly swimming in experience with fake versus real kisses.

“All clear,” Cinder eventually said, unwittingly saving Ruby from descending further down that rabbit hole.

As Velvet waved everyone back inside, Ruby was one of the first through the doors.  Despite telling herself to act nonchalant, she immediately searched for Weiss, finding her standing off to the side making light conversation with Pyrrha.  There was something so…normal about it.  As if nothing noteworthy happened.

But Weiss’ gaze landed on Ruby within seconds, and Pyrrha followed that gaze immediately.  Pretty soon, they both turned toward Ruby, drawing a blush to Ruby’s cheeks as she debated walking over or retreating to the other side of the room.  

Pyrrha decided for her by motioning her over to them.  Ruby obliged, her feet more than happy to carry her to Weiss even though her thoughts scrambled the closer she drew.  Pyrrha then said a few words, lightly touched Weiss’ shoulder, and walked away right before Ruby got there, leaving them suddenly alone.

“Did she need something?” Ruby asked, motioning after Pyrrha.  Weiss looked over before shaking her head.

“I don’t think so.”

“Ok…”  Ruby glanced at Weiss before looking down and shuffling her feet.  “So, uh, how’d it go?”

“Fine.”  When Ruby looked up, Weiss scoffed, flipped a hand through her hair, and added, “We both know I can sell a kiss.”

“Right.”  Ruby’s expression fell, but she tried her hardest to smile.  “Y-yeah, I forgot about that…”

They stared at each other until she gave up and looked away.

“They’re setting up the next scene now,” Weiss eventually pointed out, prompting Ruby’s attention to the stage.

“Yeah, I should help with that.”

As soon as Ruby turned away, Weiss caught her by the elbow and said, “You don’t have to.”

“But I’ve been gone all morning.  I don’t want people to think I’m slacking or…something.”

‘Or something’ held more weight than it ever had, but Weiss stared at Ruby for several long seconds before letting go.  Ruby stayed there for a while longer, trapped in Weiss’ gaze, before hurrying away.

She was an idiot.  Of course Weiss is a great kisser.  That was just a practice kiss, not a real kiss.  

Except it hadn’t been a practice kiss to her.  Because she wasn’t an actress.  She was just an idiot.

The rest of the day passed like the slowest form of torture.  Her skin tingled and her cheeks warmed every time she felt Weiss’ eyes on her.  The last scene of the day hardly held her attention - she sketched instead.  Puppies, kittens, cows, horses - anything to keep her thoughts away from Weiss.  Except that she had to think about Weiss when almost the entire day passed without her requesting a bottle of water.  She took Weiss the water unprompted, earning an oddly grateful look, before retreating to her sketchbook again. 

The day ended eventually.  Not as early as hoped, but not as late as the previous days either.  Weiss left with a lingering glance but no ‘goodbye,’ leaving Ruby to clean up the set before following – though she took the tram and bus rather than being whisked home in a limousine.  Her knee jittered on the uncharacteristically silent bus ride and she glanced at her phone multiple times before sighing and shoving it into her pocket.

Was she in the wrong?  Weiss had kissed her, but was she not supposed to reciprocate?  Maybe Weiss thought she was a bad kisser.  Or hadn’t intended for her to react overzealously.

By the time she trudged into the apartment, she had more questions than possible answers.

“Look who it is!” Yang called out.  “I was starting to think you already moved out and didn’t say anything.”

“Sorry.  Work’s been busy…”

“You don’t say,” Yang teased as Ruby dropped her bag in the entryway and kicked off her shoes.  “How’s it going?”

“It’s been -”  The kiss instantly flashed to the forefront of her mind, but she shook her head to clear it away.  “It’s been fine.  Nothing to complain about.”

“Nothing?”  Yang chuckled and shared a glance with Blake.  “Things have really changed, huh.  From hating your boss to loving her.”

“W-what?  I don’t - I don’t love her.”  

Yang’s brow furrowed at the emphatic response, which also drew Blake’s contemplative interest.  Recognizing that the conversation could only go from bad to worse, Ruby waved her hands in front of her and said, “I’m going to go paint or something.”  

“Ok…” Yang said while Ruby hurried to her studio and shut the door behind her.  Only then did she sigh, shoulders slouching as the air left her lungs, and prod herself over to the half-finished canvas.  Blue, blue, so much blue.  Every shade reminded her of Weiss, either by being darker than Weiss’ eyes, or lighter than Weiss’ eyes, and never as pretty as Weiss’ eyes.

She stood there and stared, knowing that painting would be useless when her mind was such a jumble.  She should consider herself lucky.  How many people could say they’d kissed Weiss Schnee?  Not just kissed her - kissed her.  It was the most incredible thing she had ever experienced.  So gentle and passionate and amazing.  

Her phone rang then, shocking her out of her mesmerized state and sending her fumbling to pull it out of her pocket.  Her brow creased at the unknown number, but she answered regardless.

“Hello?”

“Hello, this is Winter Schnee from The Diamond Gallery.  Sorry to call so late, but I wanted to let you know that we’ll be putting up your works next Saturday.”

“Really??”

“Yes.  If you want to see them, feel free to stop by whenever you’re free.”

“I will!  Absolutely!  Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.  Have a good night.”

The call ended then, leaving Ruby with her phone in her hand and an indecipherable mix of emotions.  On the one hand, she was ecstatic.  Her art would be in a gallery - a legitimate gallery - for all to see and potentially buy.  She could invite Yang, and Blake, and Penny, and everyone else who had supported her for all these years.  On the other hand…this was Weiss’ doing, and Weiss kissed her, and that kiss was incredible, but also why had Weiss kissed her when she could kiss anyone else?

Ruby’s phone chimed with an incoming message then and a smile sprang onto her lips as soon as she saw the name on the screen.  It might not look like much to an outside observer - just a picture of another clean, delicious-looking meal accompanied by a simple ‘Dinner’ - but it was an invitation to talk.  To gush about the food and anything else that popped into her mind.  To open up a line of communication that might not end until late in the night.

Weiss could have ignored Ruby all evening.  Instead, she reached out.  Because she wanted to talk even after what happened.

Ruby’s heart somersaulted at the memory, but she knew that the kiss wouldn't come up.  The problem was…that kiss had unlocked some feelings that had escaped her notice until now.  But the butterflies, the unavoidable smile, the urge to dance around the room and giggle at every response Weiss graced her with, made it hard to ignore.  She wanted to kiss Weiss again.  Longer this time.  With all of the desire and emotions currently begging to break free.  

Because Ruby had a big, huge, massive crush on the devil, who was actually more of an angel, and her name was Weiss Schnee.