Flashing Lights - Chapter 14 (Patreon)

The emergency room buzzed with energy as nurses darted from person to person, checking who needed urgent help and who could afford to wait.  The most pressing cases disappeared through double doors leading further into the hospital, accompanied by quick, matter-of-fact explanations to the doctors appearing from seemingly nowhere.  Friends and family members, stunned or in tears, were shown to a waiting area with a half-stocked vending machine and thinly padded seats.  Harsh fluorescent lights made it look like midday despite the dark world beyond the sliding glass doors.  Disinfectant and an underlying hint of anxiety hung in the air.

The sheer number of police officers mulling around only heightened the tension.  Their presence confirmed Weiss’ worst fears, plunging a spike of worry through her chest as she hurried to the nearest nurse.  The moment she opened her mouth, however, someone roughly grabbed her arm and shoved her into the wall.

“Ow,” she said before instinctively tearing her arm out of their grasp - or trying, but their grip tightened.  “What the hell’s the matter with you?” she snapped only to have her annoyance matched ounce for ounce in furious lilac eyes.

“What the hell’s the matter with you?” Yang shot back, releasing Weiss’ arm with a shove.  “What’re you doing here?”

“What do you think I’m doing here?  Where is she?”

“You think I’m telling you?  You’re the reason she’s here.”

“I had nothing to do with this,” Weiss seethed.  “Now tell me where she is or I’ll start screaming her name.”

“Is that how it works?  Princess doesn’t get her way so she starts screaming?”  A derisive scoff slipped through Yang’s lips.  “She’ll be fine, alright?  And she doesn’t want you here.”

“She can tell me that herself.”

“She’s not telling you shit because you’re not talking to her.  Walk your skinny ass out of here or I’ll arrest you.”

Yang jabbed a finger toward the exit before crossing her arms over her chest and glowering.  Her presence was intimidating.  Especially when, where Ruby was lean and svelte like a cheetah, she was built like a goddamn grizzly bear.  Unfortunately for her, Weiss had been raised to fear no one other than her father, regardless of how physically threatening they were.

“You’ll have to do more than that to intimidate me, Officer.”  Her heart had unclenched upon Yang saying that Ruby would be alright, but that only made room for annoyance.  “I’ll leave once I’ve seen her with my own eyes, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“There’s plenty I can do.”  

Yang nodded pointedly to her left, where a crowd of officers watched with tense postures, poised to spring into action as soon as Yang gave the signal.  They could physically remove Weiss from the emergency room and bar her re-entry, costing valuable minutes while Weiss called their boss and forced her way back in.  She needed to see Ruby now, before her heart collapsed from worry.  

“Listen,” she tried in a more diplomatic tone.  “I just want to see that she’s ok.  Think what you want about me, but the fact that I’m here should tell you something.”

Yang’s frown eased but, the instant she realized that she was relenting, returned full force.  Before she decided Weiss’ fate, however, one of the nurses hurried over.  

“Officer?”  Noticing the tension, the young woman paused several paces away and tentatively motioned for Yang’s attention.  “We’ve moved her to a private room.  I can show you the way.”

The nurse stepped back and waved Yang after her.  Yang, meanwhile, glanced at Weiss, set her jaw, and nodded.  Weiss followed too, and Yang scowled at her but said nothing as they trailed the nurse through a maze of hallways cluttered by gurneys, carts overflowing with medical supplies, and doctors checking on patients.

Weiss glanced into every room as if the nurse might have forgotten where Ruby was.  Several twists and turns later, the young women stopped in front of a small room with cheap blinds partially obscuring the window and gestured to the door.  “The doctor will update you soon,” she added before rushing off, but her exit hardly registered as Weiss peered through the window and felt her heart return to life.

“There,” Yang huffed as Weiss stared at Ruby, alive and alert as she laid on the flimsy hospital bed.  “Happy - oh, for crying out loud.” 

Yang grabbed for Weiss’ arm, but Weiss dodged out of the way, shoved the door open, and rushed into the room. 

“Thank god,” she breathed out while hurrying to Ruby’s side.

“Weiss??”  

Eyes wide, Ruby hardly glanced at Weiss before turning to Yang.

“She won't leave,” Yang grumbled.  “But now that she’s seen you, she can leave or I’ll carry her ass out of here.”

Weiss ignored Yang and searched Ruby for injuries other than the large bandage covering her upper arm.  The dark red spots showing through the gauze turned her stomach, and the IV stuck into Ruby’s wrist made her even more nauseous, but her adrenaline began to fade at the lack of grave injuries.  

Ruby, meanwhile, watched Weiss inspect her before nodding to Yang.  Whatever that nod meant, it made Yang heave a big sigh.

“I’ll be right outside,” she told Ruby before sending Weiss one last dirty look and stepping into the hall.  The sounds of the hospital intercom and many nearby conversations softened once the door closed, leaving them in a heavy silence that Ruby broke first.

“What’re you doing here?”

“What do you think I’m doing here, dumbass?”  As soon as the word slipped out, Weiss shook her head and mumbled, “Sorry,” as tears welled in her eyes.

“Are you…crying?”

“You were fucking shot.  Of course I’m crying.”  

Voice cracking, Weiss squeezed her eyes shut and covered them with one trembling hand, willing herself to regain composure before she became a sobbing mess.

“Hey, come here.”

Only Ruby’s soft instruction could make Weiss lower her hand, and only Ruby’s little gesture to the bed could make her move closer.  As soon as she sat on the bed, Ruby touched her hand, then wrapped her in a one-armed hug that quickly led to her burying her sobs into Ruby’s good shoulder.

“I’m fine,” Ruby whispered, rubbing Weiss’ back while Weiss’ tears soaked into the thin hospital gown.  “It only grazed me.  Just got a wicked cut and a bunch of stitches.  Nothing serious.”

Ruby claimed it wasn’t serious, but mere inches separated her from something potentially life-threatening.  Potentially life-ending.  Those worries had plagued Weiss on her mad dash out of the house and the frantic drive to the hospital.  So, Ruby could say that she was fine, but she almost wasn’t.  She was almost gone.  And that made Weiss cling to her longer, embracing what comfort and familiarity remained.

Only when Weiss’ sobs quieted did she pull away, but only far enough that she could look into Ruby’s eyes.

“I was so worried,” she whispered while Ruby tenderly wiped away her tears.  “If something happened to you…I don’t - I don’t know what I’d do…”

“Lucky for you, I’m not going anywhere.”  

Ruby added a quirky, lighthearted smile before kissing Weiss’ forehead.  She lingered, sending Weiss’ heart into a frenzy.  A moment followed - a brief one - where they stared at each other, neither of them breathing as time stood still.

Their lips collided together the next second, and Weiss’ heart awakened with a jolt that sparked every one of her nerves back to life.  Her senses heightened, breathing in Ruby’s scent, relishing the softness of Ruby’s lips, the strength in the arm holding her close, and the familiar taste of Ruby’s tongue.

It was, arguably, the best kiss they had ever shared.  Weiss wanted nothing more than to melt right into Ruby there on the hospital bed.  She nearly did - pressing closer to feel even more of Ruby’s body on hers - only to jump away when Ruby yelped.

“Shit.  Sorry -”

“I’m ok.  Don’t worry.”  Weiss was worried but, as she searched Ruby for signs of injury, Ruby glanced into the hall and then stared at her hands.  “We, uh, shouldn’t have done that.”

“Why not?” 

“Because - you know - we aren’t dating anymore…”

Weiss would have been discouraged by the remark if Ruby hadn’t mumbled it, or if Ruby hadn’t just kissed her as if they had reunited after a long, awful separation, or if Ruby would look at her rather than anywhere but near her.  It was hard to feel discouraged when Ruby just wordlessly confessed that being apart had been difficult for her, too.

Silently deciding that Winter deserved a large ‘thank you’ gift, Weiss took a deep breath and mentally prepared to do something that she never thought she would, or even could, do.

“I still want to be with you, Ruby.”  As soon as Ruby lifted her gaze and opened her mouth, Weiss shook her head.  “I know.  I know you feel like you can’t trust me, but I want to change that.  I want you to trust me.  So, please, just…let me say something before Yang hauls me out of here.”

Ruby still considered whether or not she wanted to listen but eventually bit her lip and nodded.  

Hope blossomed in Weiss’ chest, along with the nerves and worry and pressing itch that this was firmly against the only set of rules she had ever followed.  She sat on the edge of the bed and resisted the urge to reach for Ruby.  To silently beg for Ruby’s help.  Usually, Ruby would hold her hand to support her through these big moments.  As Ruby kept her hands resolutely to herself, however, Weiss realized that this time she was on her own.

After glancing into the hallway, then around the room, she looked up at the ceiling, took a deep breath, and exhaled.

“My family launders money.”  

“Allegedly,” Ruby quickly added.

“No, not allegedly.  We actually launder money.”  Ruby’s brow rose at the confession, but Weiss nodded.  “Through shell corporations my dad set up all over the world.  And he uses military contacts to supply weapons to basically all of Vale’s gangs.  He’s branching into drugs now - god knows what that’ll look like.  The entire East Bay pays us protection money.  We control the city council and just took control of the metalworkers’ union -”

“Weiss,” Ruby interrupted, drawing Weiss’ gaze to her stunned one.  “Why are you telling me this?”

“I’m telling you because I love you.”  The word hadn’t even registered in Weiss’ thoughts until it slipped through her lips.  “Shit,” she sighed when Ruby’s eyes widened.  Frustration scratched at the back of her mind, so she shook her head and stared down at her hands.  “I’m fucking horrible at this…but I’m trying.  I swear I am.”

Ruby lightly touched the back of Weiss’ hand - just one finger at first before her others followed in a small but clear show of support.  “You’re better than you think,” she whispered while Weiss’ heart went into a tizzy.  After taking several steadying breaths, Weiss met Ruby’s kind, patient silver eyes.

“I love you,” she repeated more confidently, her heart silently singing the words.  “And I want you to trust me.  If that means admitting there’s nothing good about anything my father does, or that I’ve seen and heard things that no one ever should, then I will.  Because I…I trust you, Ruby.  You’re everything I never knew I wanted, and I promise I’ll always be honest with you.  I promise I’ll never make you wonder whose side I’m on.  If you give me time, I promise I’ll do everything I can to earn your trust.  I just…need you to give me another chance.”

One more chance was all she needed, but she couldn't make Ruby give it to her.  All she could do was hang her head, emotionally spent, and wait.

The moment Ruby’s fingers curled around her hand, her heart started pounding in her chest.

“Did you tip off your family?”

“I did.”  She sighed and met Ruby’s questioning gaze with an apologetic one.  “Winter was working on that deal for so long…and my dad’s testing her.  He doesn’t think she’s cut out to run the business.  I couldn't let her fail and I didn’t want either of you to get hurt, so I called her.  I didn’t even think about how it looked.  I just…reacted.  But I’m sorry.  I never meant to use you like that.”

After mulling over the response, Ruby nodded.

“Were you on a date with that dickweed?”

Weiss immediately huffed and shook her head.  

“No.  My dad made me go.  He was worried the Marigolds wanted to back out of their deal so used me to get answers.”

“Did you get them?  The answers?”

“I did.”

“Of course you did.  That guy’s no match for you.”  

The moment Ruby smiled - a bright, true, oddly proud smile - the storm clouds that had hovered over Weiss’ thoughts for the past few weeks morphed into warm, brilliant sunshine.  Ruby didn’t even need to say the words for Weiss to know that she had been forgiven.  That she would get a second chance after all.

A smile escaped as she leaned in and captured Ruby’s lips with hers.  She was careful not to jostle Ruby’s arm this time, not wanting to cause Ruby any pain as their lips silently battled for the upper hand.  She surrendered after only a few seconds and let Ruby guide the kiss only to be pleasantly surprised when Ruby’s actions became more eager, more pressing.  Ruby’s good hand held Weiss close as their tongues savored every bit of each other that they could find.  Then Ruby broke away and started kissing down Weiss’ neck, drawing a soft gasp when those lips reached a particularly sensitive spot.

Weiss’ heart hammered in her chest, but her ears picked up another sound that didn’t usually accompany it - a high-pitched, rapid beating.  Glancing at the heart monitor standing on the other side of the bed, she smirked.

“Don’t tell me you’re having indecent thoughts, Officer,” she purred, her eyes fluttering when Ruby lightly bit her neck before licking the touch away.

“Can you blame me?” Ruby murmured, pulling back and looking up at Weiss with dilated eyes.  Desire surging, Weiss bit her lip before diving in for another kiss.  That kiss would have led somewhere incredible if the door hadn’t burst open, letting in the general hospital noises along with a man wearing a white doctor’s coat.

“Oh.  I can come back -”

“No, now’s great, Doctor.”  Yang blocked his exit and glared at Weiss as she sighed and untangled herself from Ruby.  The heart monitor continued its frantic beeping, coupled with Ruby’s blush now, earning Weiss’ smirk as she sat beside Ruby and watched the doctor approach.

“What’s the damage?” Ruby asked while her hand searched out Weiss’ on the bed between them.

“Surprisingly little.”  He tucked a clipboard between his arm and side rather than reference it.  “We’ll need to change those stitches in a few days, but they’ll come out in a few weeks.  No strenuous activity with that arm until then.”

“That’s alright.  I’m a leftie.”  

Ruby winked at Weiss while Yang gagged and the doctor looked between them.  Eventually, he cleared his throat and moved on.

“It’s department policy to keep you under observation for another couple hours, but then we’ll send you home with some painkillers and antibiotics.  You’ll be pretty sore for the next few days, so try to take it easy.”

“I think I can do that.”  Weiss forced an innocent expression when Ruby glanced her way.  Ruby chuckled at the look and added, “Thanks, Doc.”

“Yeah, thank you,” Yang added as he nodded and left.  While Yang let him out of the room and closed the door, Ruby tugged Weiss into another kiss.  

“Seriously?” Yang sighed as soon as she turned around.  “What happened to her being the spawn of Satan?”

“She called you that, not me,” Ruby clarified when Weiss arched her brow.  “And I don’t know…things change?”

“Well, if you two can stop sucking faces for a second, I have updates.”

“Did you find them?” Ruby asked, but Yang frowned and set her hands on her hips. 

“Still looking.  But evidence is going over everything and we’re getting a warrant for the surveillance cameras.  Hopefully, there’s something on them, but they’re those shitty store-bought cameras that look like pixels.”

“What even happened?” Weiss asked, looking between the two officers before settling on Ruby.

“I don’t really know,” Ruby admitted.  “It was a routine arrest.  I was checking this dealer for weapons and heard a quick pop pop.  Window next to me shattered and the other bullet hit my arm.  Perp booked it while I’m bleeding all over my uniform.  I would’ve chased him, but…it was kind of a lot of blood.”

Ruby chuckled, almost embarrassed, but Weiss clenched her jaw.  Not only had someone hurt Ruby, but they made her feel inadequate at her job.  Most unforgivingly, they thought that they could get away with this type of behavior unscathed.

“Well, don’t waste too much time searching for who’s responsible,” Weiss quipped while getting to her feet, rage and indignation flowing full force now that she knew Ruby was safe.  “I don’t know who pulled the trigger, but I know who ordered it, and I’ll deal with him right now.”

“Weiss -”

“I’ll handle it, Ruby.”

“Weiss - no.”  Ruby grabbed Weiss’ hand.  “This is a job for the police.”

“That’s not how we handle things in my family.”  Before Ruby processed what Weiss intended to do, Weiss kissed her forehead.  “I’ll be back soon,” she added with a small smile.  “Don’t go anywhere.”

“I’m not - Yang -”  Ruby motioned to her sister, who popped to her feet and blocked Weiss’ exit.  

“It’s our job to find them.”

“Yes, and then you’ll have to arrest them, read them their rights, watch them post bail, and then hope the court case goes your way.”  Weiss scoffed and leaned closer, lowering her voice.  “You know how you train a dog, Yang?  As soon as they do something wrong, you correct their behavior.  I can do that in a way you can’t.”

Yang’s gaze flitted to Ruby before returning to Weiss.  Yang then nodded and stepped aside.

“Yang!” Ruby yelped, sitting straight up but still very much attached to a host of machines.  “Weiss, you better not do something stupid!”

Weiss blew Ruby a kiss and then hurried out of the hospital.  She felt like she was walking on clouds, bouncing along on her toes like nothing could hold her down.  At the same time, her blood boiled.  She wouldn't do anything stupid, but she would do something.  And she would do it now, while the memory was still fresh in everyone’s mind.  If Henry thought it was a harmless joke, well…Ruby could have been killed, and Weiss, like karma, was going to be a bitch.

On the way to her car, which she had hastily and illegally parked after the frantic drive to the hospital, she called Henry.  The late hour might seem like a deterrent, but she already had a plan to use it to her advantage.

“What’s up, princess?” he answered on the third ring.  Rather than berate him for the stupid nickname, she forced a sickly sweet smile that he would hear through the phone.

“Hey, Henry.  Are you busy tonight?  I had a surprisingly not horrible time today, so I was wondering if you could come over.”

“Like, now?” he asked, probably glancing at the time to confirm it was as late as he thought.

“Yes, now.”  She paused for one long, revealing second before adding, “Unless you’re scared?” 

“Scared?  Hell no.  I’ll be right there.”

“See you soon,” she added before hanging up, smiling to herself, and getting into her car.  The engine roared to life before settling into a pleasing purr as she made her way home.

The drive took longer than usual since she followed the speed limits and stopped at red lights, but it gave her time to think through all of the things she could say or do to him.  One thing was for certain - she would make it clear that messing with Ruby crossed a line that he did not want to cross again.  

By the time she parked, her plan was set.  Already anxious to return to Ruby, she paced the width of the courtyard rather than go inside.  The fountain drowned out the sound of the waves - maybe that was why she hated it so much - but the cool, salty ocean breeze still wafted past.

If she wasn’t so pissed off, she might be cold.  The chill disappeared entirely when a black SUV paused at the front gates before making its way up the drive.  There was only one reason why anyone would invite someone over at this hour - well, why any typical person would invite someone over at this hour - so she had half-expected Henry to show up alone.  Instead, she rolled her eyes and muttered, “Of fucking course,” when the typical cast of bodyguards exited the vehicle.

Undeterred, she flashed a smile as Henry sauntered over.  His knowing grin made her want to slap it right off of his face, but she maintained her composure and let him walk up to her without consequence, like a lion letting its prey graze a little too close to the den.

“I knew you’d come around.  It’s this shirt, right?  Everyone loves this shirt.”

Weiss glanced over the average shirt and held back a scowl.

“You’re right,” she said, abhorring the words but knowing they would catch his attention.  She still tilted her chin up when his brow rose.  “I got dumped, and she’s not taking me back.  So I could use some company tonight, and you’re first runner-up.”

“Damn.  You move on fast.”

“Life’s too short to waste on someone who isn’t worth your time,” she quipped with a dismissive wave.  

“You valuing speed bodes well for me,” he replied with a chuckle that nearly made her wrinkle her nose.  Her skin crawled when his tongue darted across his lips - for the first time looking at her as if he was going to claim her.  But she was a Schnee; no one claimed her without her permission.

“Well, come on then, Marigold,” she taunted.  “Let’s see what you’re packing.”

Her sly smile convinced him forward, and she stepped closer to match.  Her smile morphed into a smirk as he closed his eyes and leaned in, his arms reaching for her waist while her hands landed on his shoulders and shoved down.  She brought her knee up at the same moment, slamming it between his legs with a thud that sent him to the ground with a howl of pain.

“You - bitch -” he whined, curling into a ball and clutching his crotch while she glowered down at him.

“You honestly thought you could have your goons shoot someone I love and then I’d just jump on your tiny dick?” she snapped.  “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I was just - messing around!”  He groaned while trying to regain his feet, only making it to his knees before hunching over.  “They were only supposed to scare her!”

“Then their aim’s as shit as yours,” she said before roughly grabbing his ear to force him to look up at her.  He yelped again but didn’t struggle - nor did his precious bodyguards come to his aid - as he looked at her with very real fear in his eyes.

“Listen up, shithead,” she hissed, her gaze burning into his.  “If you ever come near Ruby or anyone in my family again, the cops will be dragging your bloated corpse from the river.  Do you understand?  Don’t fuck with me.”

As soon as he nodded, or nodded as much as he could while she still held his ear, she let go with a little shove that made him fall onto his ass.  He immediately covered his ear with one hand, looking nothing like the boy so full of himself that he actually thought that she invited him over to sleep with him.

“And your little stunt today didn’t work,” she quipped.  “We’re back together now.”

Having nothing left to say to him, she flipped her hair over her shoulder and strode away.

“What’s your dad going to do when he finds out you’re fucking a cop?” he shouted after her, but she just rolled her eyes and walked up to the two guards standing beside the SUV.

“Is this his?”  

As soon as they nodded, she pulled out her keys, dug one into the passenger door, and dragged it all the way to the trunk.  The horrifying screech cut through the night like a siren, reclaiming the last word as she returned to her car and slipped into the driver’s seat.  The engine hardly roared to life before she floored it down the driveway.

Her adrenaline faded by the time she reached Vale’s regular neighborhood streets, so she drove only slightly over the limit on her way back to the hospital.  Not because she cared about getting a ticket, but because she cared about the delay the ticket would cause.  Now that Henry had been scared within an inch of peeing himself, she could focus on what mattered: Ruby.

She parked normally this time and entered the hospital with her head held high.  The emergency room had quieted as the night wore on - any emergencies at this hour would be of the most pressing kind - and the police officers had disbanded once they confirmed that their comrade was in good health.  Jitters fueled her steps, and her heart fluttered when she found Ruby in a set of regular clothes now, her right arm in a sling, perched on the edge of the bed and lightly swinging her legs.

Ruby jumped down as soon as she saw Weiss and met her just steps inside the door.

“Thank god.”  One hand already resting on Weiss’ side, Ruby kissed her before leaning away to look into her eyes.  “I was about to send Yang to check on you.”

“You worry too much.  I can handle myself.”

“I know, but -”

Weiss pressed a finger to Ruby’s lips and smiled. 

“Everything’s fine, and I took care of that little problem.”

The crease between Ruby’s brow relaxed, but she still looked hesitant.  “He’s still alive, right?” she asked.  Weiss laughed.

“Jesus, Ruby.  Of course he’s still alive.  He won’t be fucking anyone anytime soon though, and I hope his balls never come back down.”

A startled laugh slipped through Ruby’s lips, but she quickly stopped herself and solemnly shook her head.  Regardless, a smile sprang onto her lips as she moved her hand from Weiss’ waist to intertwine their fingers.

“I missed you,” she sighed, her eyes admitting just how much.  “And your shockingly vulgar mouth,” she added.

“I missed you, too.  And your shockingly kissable lips.”  Weiss pressed another long, loving kiss to Ruby’s lips before pulling away and arching her brow.  “You honestly thought I’d shoot him?  That’s actually kind of flattering.”

“I’ve seen you handle a weapon…” Ruby mused, prompting more laughter that Yang interrupted by brushing past Weiss as if she wasn’t there.

“Alright, pipsqueak.  I got your meds and stuff, so we can get out of here.” 

“I can take her home,” Weiss interjected.

“How about I have the hospital kick you out instead?” Yang growled.

“You think they’ll kick me out when my family’s their largest donor?”  Weiss scoffed at the thought.  “And I’m perfectly capable of taking Ruby home.”

“She’s my sister -”

“Yang.”  Ruby ended any argument by setting a hand on Yang’s arm.  “Adult making adult decisions, remember?”  When Yang frowned, Ruby smiled.  “We have more we need to talk about.  Besides, you both act like I’m dying - I can drive myself home if I had to.”

Yang and Weiss glared at each other before Yang eventually grumbled, “Fine,” and shoved a bag into Weiss’ stomach.  She set a hand much more gently on Ruby’s shoulder and added, “I’m coming over tomorrow morning though, alright?”  Once Ruby nodded, Yang scowled at Weiss one more time before brushing past her - this time knocking into her shoulder - and leaving.  

Rather than be annoyed, Weiss moved on.  She turned back to Ruby and motioned to the door.  “Ready?”  

For a second, Ruby stared at Weiss as if she couldn't believe her eyes.  Then she smiled and nodded, so Weiss reached for her hand and led her out of the room, then out of the hospital.

“Wow, it’s late,” Ruby remarked on the walk to Weiss’ car, her gaze drifting to the stars before landing on the silver vehicle in front of her.  She blew a long, soft whistle through her lips before saying, “I forgot you have such a nice ride.”

“Are you talking about yourself or the car?”  Weiss winked at Ruby before opening the passenger door and motioning her inside.  When Ruby froze, her brow lifting, Weiss repeated the gesture with a soft sigh.  Thankfully, Ruby didn’t comment.  She just slipped into the car, and Weiss carefully shut the door before hurrying to the driver’s seat.

“Why do you always want to have sex in my squad car when you have this?” Ruby asked once Weiss started the vehicle and pulled out of the parking spot.

“Is that an invitation?” Weiss purred in line with the engine.  Ruby shrugged her good shoulder before the most heartwarming laugh slipped through her lips.  “Noted,” Weiss added, trying to focus on the road rather than the shiver racing down her spine.  

Silence quickly descended on them, but it was born out of exhaustion rather than discomfort.  She snuck frequent glances at Ruby out of the corner of her eye, still amazed whenever she found Ruby still there.  This could be a dream, but one she hoped never to wake from.  Not even as she drove extra carefully, following all of the speed limits and excessively using her signals on the familiar drive to Ruby’s apartment.

“Are you ok?” Ruby eventually asked.

“Yes.”  Weiss glanced over.  “Why?  Are you ok?  Is something wrong?”

“Uh, yeah.  A minivan just passed us.”

Weiss exhaled and then rolled her eyes.

“I’m trying not to jostle your arm.”

“It’s not that bad right now,” Ruby replied.  “They pumped me full of painkillers.”

“Well, still.  I’m in no hurry.”  

When Ruby gently scoffed, Weiss smiled and turned onto Ruby’s street.  She had pointedly avoided the entire neighborhood while they were apart, but returning now felt alarmingly like…coming home.

“You can park downstairs.”  Ruby motioned to the underground garage.  “Wouldn’t want to leave this car on the street.”

“I don’t care if it gets stolen.”  

But Weiss followed Ruby’s instruction to avoid an argument.  After turning off the engine, she grabbed the bag of medicine, hopped out, and hurried around the front of the car only to sigh when Ruby had already opened her own door and gotten out.  Ruby gave her a bemused look before taking her hand and leading her to the stairwell.

“I’m going to make them fix that fucking elevator…” Weiss grumbled as they passed the yellow caution tape.  “You shouldn’t have to use the stairs like this.”

“It’s fine.  We’ll be home in no time.”

Again, Weiss’ lingering annoyance disappeared.  Anticipation and longing took its place, guiding her up the steps that she had used so many times before.  Soon, they stood in front of Ruby’s door, where Ruby frowned and patted her empty pockets.  

“Uh…” was all she said before Weiss lightly shook the bag.  Metal jingling prompted her to open it and pull out Ruby’s keys.  She knew which one fit the lock, so she unlocked the door herself before pushing it open and stepping into another dream.

The ceilings were low, the kitchen was small, the windows were a little dirty, but she took a deep breath and sighed.

“I’ve missed it here.”

As soon as she noticed Ruby’s adoring look, she cleared her throat and turned on the lights, then locked the door and took the bag to the island.  “Are you thirsty?” she asked, pulling a glass from the cabinet.  Ruby shook her head, but Weiss filled it with water and took a sip.

“Are you tired?”

The bags under Ruby’s eyes answered that question, but Ruby sheepishly admitted, “Exhausted.”

“You should go to bed.”  Weiss left the glass on the counter and went to Ruby’s room.  As soon as she turned on the lights, however, she froze.  The room looked and smelled exactly how she remembered, like stepping into an incredible memory.

Ruby walked past her and sat on the bed with a sigh.  When she reached for her shoes, however, Weiss waved her hand away.

“I’ll do that.”

“You’re going to take off my shoes?” Ruby asked, but Weiss was already kneeling on the floor and working on the laces.

“What part of me taking care of you don’t you understand?”

“The part that involves you taking care of someone.  In, you know, a subservient way?”

Weiss tugged off the first shoe and huffed as she set it aside.  “Obviously, if you tell anyone about this, I’ll deny it.”  When she glanced up and saw Ruby smiling down at her, she stared at her hands while undoing the second set of laces.  “Just let me help, please,” she whispered toward her hands.  “I’m not as useless as everyone thinks.”

“I don’t think that.  You’re one of the most competent people I’ve ever met.”

Weiss’ cheeks warmed, but she set the second shoe aside and searched for Ruby’s pajamas rather than risk meeting Ruby’s gaze.  The loose tee and shorts had been thrown over the back of the desk chair as usual, so she grabbed them and brought them to Ruby.

“Are you supposed to sleep with this on?” she asked, trying to figure out how the sling around Ruby’s arm worked.

“Probably for the first few nights, yeah.”

Nodding, Weiss slid the sling off.  Next, she helped Ruby slip her good arm out of her shirt before carefully guiding the sleeve around the bandaged part of her arm.  Seeing Ruby without a shirt was enough to get Weiss’ blood pumping faster, but she tried not to sneak too many glances while reversing the process to drop the pajama shirt into place.

She then motioned Ruby to her feet with a quick, “Up,” that Ruby willingly obeyed.  Weiss could have sworn that her heart split in two as her fingers fumbled with the button and zipper of Ruby’s pants.  One of those hearts thudded loudly in her ears while the other dropped south in a blaze of hot glory.

“This is killing you, isn’t it.”

Catching Ruby’s knowing smile, Weiss sighed - just a bit too longingly - as she dragged Ruby’s pants to the floor.

“I’m suddenly aware of how teenage boys feel when their hormones rage out of control,” she mumbled while diligently holding Ruby’s shorts so that Ruby could take small steps into them.  Weiss then pulled them up, fitted them around Ruby’s hips, and held her hands up as if proving her innocence.

“I deserve a medal for that.”

“You definitely do.”  Ruby chuckled, eyes sparkling all the while, before motioning to the dresser.  “Your shirt’s in the drawer.”  

Ruby pulled back the covers with one hand, missing the way Weiss froze at the nonchalant remark.  Before drawing too much attention, Weiss opened the drawer and pulled out the soft ‘Vale PD’ shirt that she wore whenever she slept over.  She hadn’t realized that it was ‘hers’ until this moment, but her heart tripped and stumbled over the term.  She glanced at Ruby and, with Ruby preoccupied by getting into bed, lifted it to her nose and breathed in the scent of roses.

Smiling as the smell wormed through her veins like an antidote, she quickly stripped out of her shirt and tugged the new one into place.  Next, she kicked off her skirt, leaving it bunched on the floor, and tossed her bra on top of it.  A pleasant wave of heat rushed through her veins when she caught Ruby watching.  There was no embarrassment though.  Ruby just smiled and beckoned her to the bed.  

It wasn’t until Weiss flicked off the lights and slipped under the covers - on ‘her’ side of the bed, no less - that her exhaustion reared its oppressive head.  

“What a long fucking day,” she sighed.

“You’re telling me…”

Even though she was exhausted, she peered at Ruby through the low light filtering in from the streetlights outside.

“Ordinarily, I’d suggest fucking all night,” she said before motioning to Ruby’s arm.  “But in your condition…”

“Let’s just cuddle,” Ruby suggested, her eyes sparkling as she reached out her good arm in an invitation for Weiss to snuggle against her.

Weiss had never accepted an invitation so fast.  Settling against Ruby’s soft curves and savoring the warmth of Ruby’s skin sent her straight to heaven.  Another sigh slipped through her lips - this one content and happy.  That feeling only grew when Ruby’s arm wrapped around her, keeping her safe as she curled up against Ruby’s side.

There was no better feeling in the world.  Some feelings came close, and she hoped to experience those feelings again once Ruby felt better, but nothing beat the intimacy and security in Ruby’s arms, in her bed, with the air finally clear between them.  This was irreplaceable.  Priceless.  And she wouldn't let her father and his decisions take it away from her ever again.

“I want to make this work,” she whispered.  Ruby hugged her closer.  

“We will.”  

Weiss sighed in relief at the quiet confidence in Ruby’s voice and closed her eyes when Ruby pressed a lingering kiss to the top of her head. 

“And Weiss?” Ruby added softly.  “I love you, too.”

Weiss’ heart melted all over the sheets like a six-year-old bed-wetter.  It would probably leave a permanent stain.  It would remain here as long as Ruby did and, if Ruby ever left, it would follow.

“Of course you do,” Weiss whispered, but she smiled when Ruby laughed.  Her mind buzzed happily as Ruby’s heart thudded strongly beneath her ear, a calm, steady reminder that Ruby was there, alive and well.

They had more to talk about, but for now…they were together, they were safe, and they were happy.  There was nothing more Weiss could ask for as her eyes drifted shut and sleep finally claimed her.