Just Like the Movies - Chapter 7

Anyone peeking into Ruby’s office right now would find her with pen in hand, eyes trained on the paper in front of her.  Hard at work, they’d probably think to themselves.  They would be right, although the monumental task absorbing her focus had nothing to do with the Skyfall Saga or Crescent Productions.

The recipe had dogged her mind so incessantly that she had caved and printed a hard copy.  Now, she marked a small dot beside every ingredient stashed at home.  Last night’s grocery run had been successful, but there was nothing wrong with being fastidious.  The last time she invited someone over was…well, a long time ago.  And tonight felt far more momentous than any event she remembered.

Her gaze slipped to her phone, where Weiss had recently confirmed her attendance.  ‘I’m looking forward to it,’ she even said, to which Ruby replied, ‘I can’t wait to see you.’  In another universe - one where possible soulmates didn’t meet in bathrooms - that might be too forward.  In this universe, Weiss responded with a heart.  Ruby, knowing how busy Weiss was, left it at that.

A knock drew her attention away from her phone and persistent musings.  Spotting Oscar motioning for her, she waved him in and flipped over the recipe before he made it through the door.

“What’s up?”

“Have you seen this?”  He held up a sheet of paper before sliding it over to her.  “We’re way ahead of projections.”

Ruby glanced over the numbers, seeking the bottom line figures before diving into the details.  They surpassed even the astronomical goals that she set for herself, yet seeing them in print still felt unreal.  

“And the reviews?” she asked while poring through the document.

“Overwhelmingly positive.”  Oscar perched on her desk and lightly kicked his feet.  “I did some digging online - lots of clamoring for Phoenix info.  Most of them sound really excited.”

“I’m excited for Phoenix.”  Ruby set the numbers aside as her thoughts raced through the movie that most of the world had turned out to watch over the weekend.  “I feel like a gamemaster sometimes.”

“You do hold all the cards.”  Oscar chuckled and swept a hand through his perennially wind-swept hair, then glanced over when Ciel arrived.

“Oscar.”  Ciel gave him a curt nod before focusing on Ruby.  “I have the evening reports,” she explained and, once Ruby nodded, referenced the clipboard in her hand.  “I’m sure you’re already aware, but Quantum Knights broke opening weekend records.  The positive reviews and updated marketing campaign are expected to drive a record-breaking second weekend as well.”

Ruby high-fived Oscar as Ciel continued.

“‘Skyfall Saga’ is trending across all major social media platforms.  ‘Phoenix’ is close behind.  So is ‘Astral can arch me,’ whatever that means.”

Ruby choked back a laugh but, at Ciel’s quizzical look, motioned to continue.

“In other news, Starforce is finishing set design; Coco said they’ll have a start date in a couple weeks.  Department heads are still being interviewed for Phoenix; Velvet said she’ll get you a budget as soon as possible.  Oh, and the art department sent this up for Project Ice.”  

Ciel unclipped a manila envelope sealed with red ‘Classified’ tape and handed it to Ruby.

“Lastly, Cinema Scoop requested an interview.”

“With who?  Me?”  Ciel nodded, so Ruby groaned.  “But that means hair and makeup and a million outfit changes and a microphone taped in your bra -”

“The board wants you to do it.”

“Yeah, yeah.  Doesn’t mean I want to though…”  Ruby briefly frowned but, ultimately, accepted her fate.  “Find a spot for them on my calendar, and thank you for this.”  

Ruby held up the manila envelope, so Ciel nodded and left the room as she had entered: swiftly.  Oscar watched Ciel whip the heroes back into frenzied work - on a Friday afternoon, no less - before leaning closer.

“Are those…?”

“Frostfire’s concept art,” Ruby answered, opening the envelope and sliding out a stack of images printed on glossy white paper.  Her heart stopped the instant she laid eyes on the beauty staring back at her.  

Frostfire, after many iterations, had flowing white hair that she sometimes tied up in a ponytail, sometimes styled in elegant waves, and sometimes left down to wisp in any slight breeze.  For her hero outfit, they chose a pleated skirt with a form-fitting bodice and gloves that nearly reached her shoulders.  A sheer material, imbued with an advanced vital monitoring system, left her collarbones and shoulders exposed yet covered.  While primarily white and silver, the ensemble contained various sparks of red - a constant reminder of the undying fire burning within that ‘cold’ exterior.

“She looks incredible.”

“Doesn’t she?”  Ruby sifted through the pages featuring their newest hero in a variety of poses, outfits, or action sequences before ending up at the beginning.  

“Does she look how you imagined her?”

Ruby opened her mouth but, before answering, considered the images a second time.  Through no fault of her own, Frostfire had been modeled after someone with unparalleled beauty.  Unless Ruby had given the art department Weiss’ photographs to replicate, Frostfire was guaranteed to be gorgeous but not quite what Ruby imagined when she daydreamed about her blue-eyed beauty.

“She’s gorgeous,” Ruby answered, so Oscar nodded and returned to swinging his feet while Ruby returned the pictures to the envelope.

“Jaune asked if we’re meeting tonight for more Frostfire incubation.”

“Oh.”  Ruby glanced at the time - a burst of nerves trickled through her veins - and then shook her head.  “Sorry, not tonight.  I have plans.”

Despite how easily Oscar brushed past her Frostfire response, that answer earned a curious gaze.

“You’ve had a lot of plans recently.”

“I know, but it’s been good.”  Ruby smiled thinking about Weiss.  Oscar’s furrowed brow, however, prompted her to pat his shoulder.  “I’ll explain later, ok?”

“Ok…”  His brow remained furrowed as he attempted to solve the riddle then and there.  No such stroke of inspiration struck him, so he sighed and hopped off Ruby’s desk.  “I’ll let everyone know.”

“Thanks.  Oh, and Oscar?  Have a great weekend.”

Finally, he blessed her with a smile.

“You, too.”  

He left her office to find Jaune and Penny.  The three of them might decide to meet without Ruby, which was fine by her.  A part of her, however, hoped that they would get out of the office, too.

When one of the heroes joined Oscar in the elevator, chatting as if they were best friends, Ruby smiled to herself and began packing her things.  Realistically, the rumor mill would fill Oscar in before she did.  One or two extra glances and a couple of whispers had followed her in the halls this week - she found great delight in imagining what they were saying.

‘Did you hear?  Ruby has a gorgeous, sophisticated, unbelievably sexy girlfriend.’

Another smile tugged at her lips as she tucked the Frostfire designs under one arm and left her office.

“Alright, Heroes,” she addressed the room of assistants, who obediently paused their work.  “I’m headed out.  Don’t stay too late, ok?”

Their mostly wholehearted agreements followed her onto the elevator, where she took a deep breath and began her mental preparation for the best part of her day.  As if the great Quantum Knights news and reviews weren’t enough, her week would end with Weiss.  

Tonight, unlike their previous evenings together, felt different.  More substantial, somehow.  Ruby had daydreamed plenty about how she hoped the night would go and spent an equal amount of time trying not to get too caught up in those musings.

By the time she entered her freshly cleaned and organized apartment, she had resolved not to obsess over what might happen.  All she had to be was herself, and all she had to do was enjoy her time with Weiss - the rest would fall into place as it so easily did between the two of them.

With that thought in mind, she left the Frostfire designs in her office, arranged their movie choices for the evening, and then camped in the kitchen to prepare dinner.  The ingredients that she so meticulously triple-checked were arranged on the gleaming countertops, and the first recipe steps followed to the letter.

Her phone rang while she was chopping garlic.  For a split second, she worried that something had come up at Weiss’ work but, upon seeing her sister’s photo on the screen, used her pinky finger to answer.

“Hey, Yang.  What’s up?” she asked while returning to the cutting board.

“Just wondering what you’re up to on this lovely Friday evening.”

“Making dinner.  Weiss will be here in a bit.”

If Ruby hadn't been holding a knife, she would have smacked herself for adding the last part.

“You’re making her dinner?”  Yang’s interest radiated through the phone.  “What’re you planning?”

“Dinner.”

“And…?”

Despite the blush racing onto Ruby’s cheeks, she dramatically sighed and said, “Can I talk to Blake instead?”

Yang laughed but obligingly passed the phone to Blake.

“She wanted to make sure you weren’t working late,” Blake explained.  “Now that she knows you’re home, we can finally start our night.”

“Uh oh…Yang’s in trouble.”

“I’m not -!”  The phone rustled for a second.  “I’m not in trouble,” Yang said.  “And don’t act like this isn’t something you’d do.  When Blake and I started dating, you called literally every night making sure I was texting her.”

“Only because you were being weird and shy!”

“I wasn’t shy!”  Blake laughed in the background while Yang tried to convince them both.  “I was - ok, a little shy.  But mostly just head over heels in love.”

“Ugh.”  Ruby could see the adoring look they shared without even being there.  “Well, not all of us have text aversion when we fall in love, so…”

“Are you saying you’re in love??”

“No - god, Yang!” Ruby whined.  If her cheeks got any warmer, she wouldn't need the stove to cook dinner.  “I’m saying -” she continued over Yang’s laughter.  “ - that I’m not ignoring her, so, you know, don’t worry?”

“Oh, I’m so not worried right now.  I’m blissfully unworried.  I don’t think I’ve ever been less worried.”

Hearing Yang’s coat-hanger-sized smile through the phone, Ruby forced out another sigh and said, “Can I talk to Blake again?”

“Sorry, Blake can’t come to the phone right now.  She’s, uh, temporarily gone mute.”

Ruby scoffed at the same time Blake did in the background.

“Is that really the best you could come up with?” 

“Hey, not my fault someone took all the brains in the family.”  Ruby rolled her eyes - she hoped Yang heard that, too - but Yang moved on.  “We saw Quant-Knights, by the way.  It was awesome.”

“Yeah?  What was your favorite part?”

“Besides all of it?  Probably when Nova got surrounded by all those Void Spawns and kicked serious ass.  Or that new villain you’ve got -”

“Ravenna?”

“Yeah!  She’s awesome.”  Yang chuckled and whispered, “Blake and I call her the ‘hates poor people chick.’”

“You call her that,” Blake piped in.

“You don’t disagree,” Yang replied, to which Blake probably grumbled but couldn't argue.  Ruby smiled at their antics, which remained both entertaining yet embarrassing.

“Oh!”  Remembering something mega-important, Ruby finally set down the knife.  “I’m getting you a job offer, and you better seriously consider it.”

“It’s not with Coco Adel, is it?”

“Not this time.”  Yang hardly breathed a sigh of relief before Ruby added, “It’s for Velvet Scarlatina.  Coco’s…um, let’s just call her a very serious muse.”

“You mean lover, don’t you.”

“A little bit.”

Ruby grimaced as silence extended for several seconds.  Finally, Yang laughed.

“I can’t decide if that’s better or way worse.”

“Let’s just say it’s better!  And you promised you’d consider it, remember?  So…consider it, please?  I really want to work with you.”

Ruby put as much heartfelt, puppy-dog, baby sister pleading into the request as she could.  It must have worked since Yang sighed and said, “I will.  Of course I will.”

“Good.”  Happy now, Ruby glanced at the time and squeaked in surprise.  “Crap, I need to finish dinner.  Talk to you later!”

“Have fun!  Go get that rich Schnee ass!”

Millimeters from ending the call, Ruby stopped.

“I’m disowning you.  My lawyer will send over the paperwork.”

She hung up to the sound of Yang’s laughter and smiled at the phone before moving on.  She had missed this - chatting with Yang on a random Friday night, joking and teasing each other like they used to.  And, as annoying as it could be, she wouldn't change Yang’s pestering for the world.  Yang’s pestering led Ruby into this situation, after all.  If Ruby hadn’t wanted to appease Yang by creating a fake girlfriend, then tried wholeheartedly to keep up the act, she never would have spilled the story to Weiss in that restroom.  They wouldn't have shared any of the incredible times that they had.  Ruby wouldn't be a bundle of excited nerves as she thought about Weiss being here, in her apartment.

“Dinner first,” she reminded herself, preparing the rest of the ingredients according to the recipe.  She then set everything aside, leaving the actual cooking for later, and did one last sweep of her apartment.

‘Apartment’ might be a misnomer for the penthouse flat that she called home, but she shared the building with others so…it somewhat applied.  Over the weekend, while much of the world flocked to Quantum Knights 2, she hemmed and hawed about how much to tidy up.  Too much and it would be disingenuous.  Too little and she might look like a slob. 

She wanted neither, but she also knew - somehow, without Weiss ever commenting on it - that Weiss wanted to see the real her, mess and all.  Vacuuming, dusting, and straightening out a few piles of clutter seemed appropriate but, other than that, she left her knick-knacks and work projects on display.  Now, on the cusp of Weiss’ arrival, she inspected the living room with a mixture of excitement and pride.

This was her.  Nothing hidden - Weiss could see it all.  She wanted Weiss to see everything, like discarding the last shred of distance between them.

The doorbell chimed then.  She glanced at the time, smiled at the precise arrival, and hurried to the entryway.  She saved one last glance in the mirror for her reflection before taking a deep breath and opening the door.  That deep breath left in a swift whoosh the instant her eyes met Weiss’.

Ruby could only think about how good Weiss looked.  Weiss always looked good, but she looked even better tonight.  As if she was glowing somehow.  And, as one of her eyebrows rose and the corner of her mouth curled up, Ruby realized that she had stared for a bit too long.

“Uh, hi!”

“Hi.”  Weiss’ smile brightened when Ruby blushed.  “These are for you,” Weiss added, holding out a light pink box.

“Is that chocolate chip I smell??”  Ruby took the box and sniffed the seam.  “And…snickerdoodle?”  She flipped up the lid and felt her heart swoon when her suspicions were confirmed.  “You’re the best.  Thank you.”  

Ruby kissed Weiss without even thinking about it.  By the time she did think about it, Weiss was melting into her, hands sliding around her neck and pulling her close.  The kiss, which had started as a fleeting expression of gratitude, jumped back to the night of the premiere as if their lips wanted to pick up where they left off.  

That urge doubled when Weiss pulled Ruby closer.  A soft gasp that left Weiss’ lips as her back met the wall, but her arms only tightened around Ruby’s neck, drawing herself up into Ruby in a way that made Ruby crave even more.

When Ruby attempted to press her hands to Weiss’ hips, however, the bakery box provided an unexpected obstacle.  The disgruntled sound that slipped through her lips was probably the only thing that could have pulled them apart.  Weiss looked down and, spotting the source of Ruby’s dissatisfaction, laughed.  The sound cut through the lust-filled haze, clearing the air as Ruby laughed along with her.

“Sorry,” Ruby said, her cheeks warm but her smile wide.  Weiss quickly shook her head.

“It’s fine.  It’s…perfect, really.”

Weiss brushed her fingers through Ruby’s hair, her arms still loosely wrapped around Ruby’s neck and her body still blocked between Ruby and the wall.  Her twinkling eyes suggested that she was quite happy to remain there, but the position was rapidly eroding Ruby’s composure.  So, blushing harder now, Ruby backed away and cleared her throat.

“Uh, welcome to my home!”

Cookies still in hand, she motioned to her apartment.  Weiss’ gaze finally left hers, taking in the expansive living room with its high ceilings and spectacular view of nighttime Vale, the chandelier hanging over the dining table, and the well-appointed kitchen with sparkling granite counters.

“To think I once worried about you making a decent living…” Weiss mused, her blue eyes sweeping every nook and cranny.  

“But you know I’m not interested in your money, right?” Ruby blurted out.  Weiss’ brow rose as she turned around.

“What kind of question is that?”

“I just…want to make sure, I guess.”  

Weiss studied Ruby for a moment, testing the comment’s legitimacy, before a smile settled on her lips.

“Ruby, I’m the one who barged into your life.”

“Yeah, but -”

“And you physically squirm whenever I pay for something.”

“Because I have plenty of money!”  Ruby flung her arms out wide, signifying the fancy apartment.  

“So do I.”  Weiss inched closer and picked up Ruby’s free hand, the touch sending tingles down Ruby’s spine.  “Isn’t that great?  Neither of us has to worry about paying.”

“And both of us can be uncomfortable when the other does?”

“Exactly.”  The sparkle returned to Weiss’ eyes, and the two of them were laughing again in no time.  “Now,” Weiss eventually said.  “Do I get a tour?”

“Of course!”  Ruby had imagined this part of the evening at least a dozen times, so she set the box on the entryway table - she should have done that right away, really - and hopped in front of Weiss with a grand flourish.  “This is the entryway, obviously.”  The entryway was unexciting, so Ruby tugged Weiss further into the apartment.  “Then we have the living room, with its tables and chairs and stuff.”

“Anything else?”  When Ruby tilted her head, Weiss gestured around the room.  “It feels like this should be the point in our relationship when I discover something endearingly embarrassing.”

“Like your secret stash of books?”

Ruby was giggling by the time Weiss sighed and said, “Yes.  Like those.”

“I create superheroes for a living.  How much more embarrassing could I possibly be?” 

“Superheroes aren’t embarrassing.”

“Did you think that before you met me?”

“Well, no…” Weiss admitted.  “Mostly because Whitley’s so obnoxious about them, but now I can see that they have a certain…allure.”  As soon as Ruby started laughing, Weiss relaxed and said, “Fine, I love them because you do.  But I’m sure I’ll love them myself in time.”

“That’s more than enough for me.”  Ruby kissed Weiss’ cheek and then led her to the bookshelf taking up an entire living room wall.  “Behold,” Ruby said, extending her arm to the shelves.  “The nerdiest, most embarrassing display in…well, maybe not existence, but in this building, probably.”

“You’re lucky Whitley doesn’t live here,” Weiss joked before peering at the items on display.  Various knives, blades, and laser blasters sat beside signed photographs of cast and crew.  A bedraggled script covered in her handwriting rested beneath an acrylic case.  A collection of premiere invitations and VIP passes were scattered about.  Several golden trophies, accompanied by a dark green helmet, occupied their own glass case.

“These are all from your movies?” Weiss asked, slowly moving from one item to the next.

“And other movies I love a little too much.  There’s more at my office, but these mean the most to me - and fit in my car.”

Weiss pointed at the collection of otherworldly weaponry.

“Can you tell me about them or will that spoil something?”

“Eh…”  Ruby made a so-so gesture with one hand.

“After, then,” Weiss concluded before venturing on.  “But none of this is embarrassing.  They’re clearly treasures - and literal trophies.”  Weiss’ gaze swept over the glass case before returning to Ruby.

“Well, you haven’t seen my office yet.”

“Your office?”  Perking up, Weiss accepted Ruby’s hand for the short walk to Ruby’s office.  Ruby pushed the door open and motioned Weiss inside.

“You spend a lot of time here.”

“Probably too much,” Ruby admitted.  She rubbed her neck when Weiss sent her an understanding look before inching across the room.  Besides the desk covered in scripts and other projects, a sofa sat across from a media console holding a television and an endless supply of movies.  Framed concept art depicting landscapes from imaginary planets or early iterations of characters hung on the walls.  

The desk drew Weiss’ attention.  Rightfully so, considering the sheer amount of documents and notebooks loitering in the open.  

“This looks promising.”  

Ruby’s eyes flitted to the envelope holding Frostfire’s designs, but Weiss swept up the sketchbook beside it.

“It’s just doodles.”

“Doodles?”  Even though Ruby said ‘just’ doodles, Weiss’ eyes lit up.  “Can I see?”

“Knock yourself out.  They’re nothing special.”

Weiss dove into the sketchbook as if the drawings were printed on gold leaf while Ruby leaned against the desk and watched her.  Her eyes absorbed every page with a feverish hunger that filled Ruby with a mixture of bashfulness and pride.  

“Ruby…”  Only a quarter of the way through, Weiss paused and looked up.  “These are really good.  I didn’t realize you drew.”

“It’s just something I do to get the ideas out.”  Ruby motioned to her head.  “Otherwise, most of it would get stuck in there, and that’s no good.”

While Ruby chuckled, Weiss bit her lip and looked down at the drawings.

“You’re sure there are no doodles of me in here?”

Ruby started shaking her head but then remembered several late nights spent drawing to help herself calm down and sleep.  

“That’s a yes.”  Weiss’ eyes sparkled as she returned the book without searching for the hidden doodles.  Faced with a choice, Ruby flipped to the last few pages and motioned for Weiss to look.  Weiss still gave her another chance to back out but, when she nodded, took the sketchbook.  

As soon as Weiss stilled, her gaze stuck to the drawing, Ruby lightly coughed into one hand.  Weiss brushed her fingers over the page before turning to the next one and doing the same.  Upon reaching the end, she gently cleared her throat, then cleared her throat again.

“I’m not this pretty.”

Just like that, Ruby’s mortification evaporated.

“Are you kidding?  You’re prettier.  I’m just not good enough to capture it.”

Weiss opened her mouth to argue.  Instead, she stared at the drawings for another second before softly shutting the sketchbook and returning it to the desk.  Her index finger lingered on the cover as she turned Ruby’s way.

“I like the way you see me.  It makes me feel…special.”

“You are special.” 

If Weiss could see into Ruby’s mind, she would realize just how special she was.  Since she couldn't, Ruby gently tugged her hips closer and touched her cheek.  All of the flowery words stopped at the tip of Ruby’s tongue, unnecessary and unneeded compared to the light touch.  Weiss lightly nuzzled against Ruby’s hand before taking it in her own and gesturing to the door.

“I’m sure there’s more to see around here.”

“Just a little.”

Ruby smiled and led Weiss down the hallway, past a guest room, bathroom, and storage closet, before reaching another closed door.

“I bet this is what you really wanted to see,” Ruby teased, swinging the door open to reveal her bedroom.  In Ruby’s mind, there wasn’t much to see besides the window, bed, and doors leading to the bathroom and closet.  The way Weiss entered the room, eyes sweeping every inch, suggested discovery of a new world.

“Is that your closet?”

Weiss pointed to one of the doors, so Ruby nodded and led her over without her asking.  

“You can probably call it ‘Yang’s second closet,’” Ruby joked while opening the door.  Weiss needed no prodding to walk inside, poring over the shirts, dresses, and pants hung from hangers or stacked on shelves.

“Impressive…” she mused, peeking at the dresses from previous premieres before returning to Ruby.  “You’re very organized.”

“Oh, yeah.  If I don’t keep things together, I forget what goes with what.”  Ruby motioned to the many, many articles of clothing and then rubbed the back of her neck.  Weiss hummed and gave the closet a second glance, her hand seamlessly slipping into Ruby’s in the interim.  Sensing that Weiss’ curiosity had been satisfied, Ruby grinned and tugged her out of the closet.

“Ready to see the best room in the whole place?”

Ruby expected a smile, or even just muted interest, but Weiss’ expression fell.

“Oh…you actually invited me over to watch movies, didn’t you.”  Ruby’s brow shot up so fast that it might’ve left her face entirely, but Weiss quickly laughed.  “I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” she added, squeezing Ruby’s arm and then poking her stunned expression.  “I’ve just always wanted to say that.”

Somehow, despite the heat crawling across her skin, Ruby chuckled as well.  “You sure?” she asked, her gaze dashing to her bed immediately after Weiss’ did.

“I’m sure.”  Weiss wrapped her arm around Ruby’s.  “I need to watch your movies before Whitley spoils everything.  And before he drives me insane asking if I’ve watched them yet.”

“I’m surprised you’ve held out this long.”

“I’m surprised, too.  Believe me.”

A short laugh slipped through Weiss’ lips as Ruby guided them back into the hall and tried not to read too much into the comment.  Instead, she focused on leading Weiss to the other side of the apartment, where a wide door waited to be opened.

“Tadaaa…”  She watched Weiss’ reaction as the room was revealed, and Weiss didn’t disappoint.  There was a blink, then delighted laughter as she leaned into Ruby’s side.

“Of course you have a home theater.”

“It’s nicer to watch rough cuts and edits at home,” Ruby explained.  “Then no one judges me for eating an entire carton of ice cream at the same time.”

“Eating a carton of ice cream at the office is taboo…”

“See?  You get it.” 

Weiss chuckled while checking out the theater room.  Several plush sofas were arranged in two tiers, each with armrests wide enough to hold drinks, plates of nachos, bowls of ice cream, or, in the case of the armrest nearest to them, a stack of movies.

“Are these…?” 

“That’s all of them, yeah.”

Under ordinary circumstances, Ruby might’ve fiddled with her hands and rubbed the back of her neck while Weiss silently counted the cases.  With Weiss still leaning against her, holding onto her arm as if seeing no reason to separate, she held still.  Her heart didn’t remain still - it jumped around her chest when Weiss smiled.

“You’re such a surprise,” Weiss said.  “A good one,” she clarified, trailing her fingers over the top cover before turning to Ruby.  “There’s no way we can watch all of these tonight.”

“Not unless you have a time machine.  But we can watch one or two - that’s a start, right?”

“At that rate, I’ll be over here a lot.”

“I don’t mind.”  Ruby blushed at Weiss’ knowing smile.  “But we should eat first,” she added, drawing Weiss back to the kitchen.  “I’m making something I’ve never made before, so I hope it turns out alright.”

“You draw and cook?”

“Not a one-trick pony,” Ruby playfully boasted before pulling out a barstool at the island and patting the cushion.  “It should only take a few minutes.”

Because Ruby had planned the meal in advance and read the recipe more times than she read some scripts, she knew exactly what to do.  The only thing she hadn’t planned was Weiss’ effect on her.  Blue eyes followed her to the refrigerator, then to the stove, then to the cabinets - everywhere she went, every action she took, Weiss observed.  And Ruby couldn't help but laugh at Weiss’ unflinching interest.

“Do you need any help?” Weiss offered, the sparkle in her eyes reflecting the bubbling delight in Ruby’s chest.

“Nope!  You worked hard all day - I want to do something for you.”

“You also worked hard all day.”

“Yeah, but this is my place, so…”  Ruby glanced over her shoulder and shrugged as if her hands were tied.  Weiss, thankfully, sat back and smiled.

“I must’ve done something right to deserve this.”

“You deserve to be treated like this every day.”  

As soon as Weiss’ brow rose, Ruby coughed and ducked the seeking blue gaze.  “You do,” she added before busying herself with finishing their meal.  If she ignored all reason, she could convince herself that the heat on her cheeks was simply a result of standing over the stove.  When she snuck a glance at Weiss, whose affectionate smile warmed her heart, any such delusions disappeared.

“Almost ready.”  With only a few minutes left on the timer, Ruby lightly prodded Weiss off the barstool and over to the dining table.  “Be right back,” she said before hurrying off to plate their dinner.  Everything came together mostly as imagined, though not quite as pretty as the recipe’s professional photograph.  Regardless, she carried two plates to the table and set the first in front of Weiss.

“Is this…?” Weiss asked while Ruby sat across from her.

“Seafood pasta.  You said it was your favorite, so…”

“I did.”  While Ruby picked up her silverware, Weiss bit her lip before following suit.  She then took a bite and, in the best moment in Ruby’s life so far, closed her eyes and moaned.  Ruby actually stopped eating in order to stare, and nothing convinced her to stop eating.  Except Weiss, apparently, who rounded out that first bite with a delighted hum.

“I’m definitely coming over more often.”

“You’re welcome anytime.  Like, seriously, I’ll give you a key right now.”

Ruby was halfway out of her seat before Weiss reached over to stop her.

“Let’s at least eat dinner first.”  Amusement swam in Weiss’ eyes as Ruby settled back into her chair.  Once Ruby gave up that - in retrospect, very forward - idea, Weiss let them get several bites into dinner before opening the conversation.

“I should tell you congratulations.  I saw that Quantum Knights is doing well.”

“Oh, thanks.  That’s - yeah.  I’m glad people like it.”

“‘Like’ it?  The article literally said it was ‘dominating’ the box office.”

“You’re reading articles about me now?” Ruby teased.  

“Like you aren’t doing the same,” Weiss teased right back.  For an instant, Ruby considered playing coy - she laughed and came clean instead.

“I have an ‘EcoCell’ alert on my phone.  I had no idea the battery market was so intense.”

“If you have any questions…”  

“You have answers?”  Once Weiss gestured obligingly with one hand, Ruby beamed.  “Ok, I have a lot of questions.”

“Really?”  Weiss’ brow furrowed despite Ruby’s emphatic nod.  “But batteries are...”

“Cutting-edge technology that will change the world as we know it?  Futuristic devices that could definitely be used to power spaceships and phase rifles on other planets?”

Ruby could have gone on for longer, but Weiss waved both hands in front of her.

“Alright, I get it.  What do you want to know?”

Weiss’ brow rose when Ruby grabbed her phone and opened the list of questions that she had started on the night of the EcoCell launch.  “Ok,” she began before launching into her curiosities - some serious and some less so.

As usual, Weiss indulged Ruby’s hypothetical, out-of-this-galaxy questions with the same intellectual vigor as the practical explanations.  The delicious food almost became an afterthought to their conversation, throughout which ample laughter and teasing were shared.  Honestly, how could Ruby not adore someone willing to debate the scientific merits of using expanded battery storage to power intergalactic continental rifts?  

By the time they took their plates to the sink, her mouth hurt from smiling.  The best part?  The night had only just begun.

“That was delicious,” Weiss said while Ruby took her plate from her.  “Thank you.”

“No problem.  It’s been a while since I flexed my cooking muscles.”  Ruby playfully flexed her arm before clearing away the dishes.  “Movie time?” she asked.  Weiss hummed and took Ruby’s hand, the two of them returning to the home theater together.

“I gave Flynt’s autograph to Whitley, by the way,” Weiss said before chuckling to herself.  “Pretty sure I watched his soul leave his body.  Then he started asking questions like, ‘What’s he like?’  ‘What did he smell like?’”  Weiss clicked her tongue and shook her head.  

“He smells kind of like trees, I think.”  Noticing Weiss’ surprised gaze, Ruby laughed it off and pulled her over to the stack of movies ready for their viewing.  “Which one do you want to watch first?”

“Which one did you make first?”

“Sentinels.”  Ruby pulled the case from the middle of the stack.  “It’s not connected to the universe or even very good -”

“But that’s where you started, so that’s where I want to start.”

“Knew it,” Ruby teased, gently poking Weiss’ side.  “You like doing things in order.”

“Except when it comes to you.”  A cute smile flitted across Weiss’ lips before she tucked her hair behind her ear and subconsciously straightened the movie cases.  “Please don’t think too horribly of me for my lack of superhero knowledge.  Whitley tried talking my ear off about it, but…I wanted to learn from you.”

Weiss couldn't have been more adorable if she tried.  And Ruby…well, Ruby couldn't have been happier with the response.

“Sentinels it is.  Why don’t you make yourself comfortable while I get it set up?”  

Ruby gestured to the sofas and went to the back of the room to turn on the projector.  By the time she returned, Weiss had settled in on the double-seater in the front, middle of the room.  Since there was plenty of room, Ruby sat beside her and had just about pressed play when her phone buzzed in her pocket.

“Ah, shoot.”  Ruby checked her phone and then huffed.  “It’s just Yang,” she explained while silencing it.  “I told her you were coming over, so she’s being obnoxious about it.”

“Is she asking about my recreational drug use?”

Ruby snorted while Weiss concealed a smile.

“No.  Not this time, at least.”

“Then she’s not being obnoxious,” Weiss quipped.  Her smile appeared upon Ruby’s laugh, and soon she was nestling into the sofa while Ruby handled the remotes.

“Prepare yourself…” 

Ruby could have been uttering the advice to herself.  As soon as the lights were turned down and the movie began to play - a loud, booming introduction that deserved her cringe -  she realized that this would be another night where the film held her attention for mere seconds at a time.

Unlike the premiere, they were in private and had no barriers between them.  Weiss sat close enough that Ruby could put an arm around her shoulders, but Ruby spent the entire opening act internally debating the pros and cons of such a gesture.  

The movie was diving into the main character’s arc when Weiss set a hand on Ruby’s thigh, temporarily shocking Ruby’s body into a state of paralysis.  A ship literally exploded on screen, but even that didn’t pry Ruby’s focus from the gentle weight of Weiss’ hand and the subtle warmth of her palm.

Three…ten…thirty seconds passed before Ruby got the hint, yet she still hesitated before wrapping her arm around Weiss’ shoulders.  She could swear that Weiss faintly laughed before leaning into Ruby’s side, letting Ruby’s arm drape around her.  The resulting position was so comfortable that it should be illegal.

Considering Ruby didn’t need to watch the movie, she devoted her focus to Weiss instead.  Studying Weiss’ reactions as various events played out, memorizing the way Weiss’ body felt tucked against hers, and marveling at how easy this was.  If this was what it was like to be intimately comfortable with another person, no wonder Yang had been so hard set on Ruby finding someone to share these experiences with. 

The credits arrived before Ruby had had enough - she might never feel like she’d had enough - but she removed her arm so that Weiss could sit up.  Weiss only leaned forward enough to turn towards Ruby, mulling over several thoughts before holding Ruby’s gaze.

“I can see how you became so popular.”  Ruby blushed at the compliment, but Weiss continued.  “You said it’s not good, but that was really good.  Unique, heartwarming…and it had your sense of humor.  I loved that.”

The lights were still off, but Ruby’s cheeks must be red enough to read by.  Her heart also felt two sizes too big for her chest but, even so, she rubbed the back of her neck and then snuck Weiss a grin.

“Want to watch the next one?”

“Absolutely.”

Ruby beamed as she popped to her feet and set up the next movie.

“This one’s called Starlight, which is where I started getting the idea for Starfall,” she explained as she returned to the sofa.  When Weiss snuggled back into her side without hesitation, she suddenly couldn't remember why the film inspired her, but that mattered little as it began.

If there was such a thing as the perfect movie-watching partner, Weiss was it.  Whenever she laughed - and she laughed at all the right parts - Ruby’s heart soared.  Whenever a small gasp slipped through her lips, pride swelled in Ruby’s chest.  Ruby loved when people loved her stories, but she needed an entirely different word to describe how it felt for Weiss to enjoy them.  Unparalleled.  Indescribable.  The greatest feeling in the entire galaxy.  If Ruby could bottle that feeling, she would have everything that she needed for the rest of her life.

She always thought that what Yang and Blake had was cute, sweet, adorable…quaint…but this was the furthest thing from quaint.  She wanted Weiss in every conceivable way, and in some ways she hadn’t even known existed.  She regretted not having more movies so that they had a reason to sit here forever.  She regretted not making obnoxiously long credit sequences to drag out the film even longer.  Besides those subtle regrets, however, she was mostly unbelievably grateful for the time they had now.

Starlight returned to the menu screen before either of them moved.  Only then did Ruby stretch her arms above her head while Weiss sat up and straightened her shirt.

“So that’s how our…”  Ruby paused and chuckled.  “I can’t remember what date this is supposed to be.”

“Sixth.”  Weiss checked the time on her phone before sending Ruby an amused smile.  “Are you the one who’s going to forget our anniversary?”

“Don’t worry.  I’ll put it in my calendar.”

Weiss leaned in, her eyes glittering like diamonds in the light from the screen.

“And what date will you use?” she asked, a playful grin sneaking onto her lips.

Ruby floundered.  Which was their first date - the restaurant or the miniature golf course?  The restaurant was more of a chance meeting than a date…but should they commemorate that day and their first ‘official yet unofficial’ date?

“The same one as you, probably,” she eventually answered.  Weiss brightened, and then she laughed - one of those laughs that made Ruby’s heart want to launch itself right out of her chest.

“Good.”  Weiss nodded and composed herself, though her smile remained bright and warm.  “I guess we’ll see next year then.”

Next year.

Ruby’s heart came undone.  Her smile couldn't get any wider.  At that moment, she wanted to give Weiss anything - everything - and she knew just where to start.

“Can I show you something?  It’s extra, super top secret.”

“I won’t tell a soul.”

Ruby needed no more assurance.  “Wait here,” she said before hurrying to her office.  Her skin tingled as she grabbed the manila envelope from her desk and brought it to the theater.  “I just got these today,” she explained, sitting beside Weiss and pulling out the images.  “This is our next hero.”

Weiss’ eyes widened when Ruby handed over the professionally rendered drawings.

“Her name’s Frostfire,” Ruby explained, her knee jittering full force as Weiss peered through the designs.  “She doesn’t have superpowers like the other heroes, but she’s powerful in her own right.  She’s from a wealthy family but is tired of fulfilling their expectations.  She wants to make the world a better place, so she uses her connections to create elemental abilities that help her save lives in a more direct, in-person way.”

Weiss lowered the photos to her lap, staring at Ruby instead, so Ruby picked up her favorite image: Frostfire striking a standard heroic pose.

“She’s beautiful, smart, generous…and has a heart of gold.”  Ruby ghosted her fingers across the fictional image before meeting Weiss’ gaze.  “You’re my inspiration for her,” she admitted.  “She’s like you…but not as pretty.”

Ruby chuckled at that last part, but Weiss opened and closed her mouth searching for words.

“Ruby, I -”  Weiss picked up the pictures but then set them right back down.  “I have no idea what to say.”

“Do you think she’s cool?”

“Do I -?  She’s - me.  You made me a superhero.  That’s…calling it the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me doesn’t even -”  Weiss shook her head and took a deep breath.  “This is beyond sweet, Ruby.  I’m speechless.”

“You don’t mind that I used you for inspiration?”

“‘Mind?’  Why would I mind?  It’s flattering.  And I’d - I’d very much like to kiss you right now.”

“Oh.”  Ruby’s heart thumped in her chest as Frostfire and Skyfall and anything other than this moment flew from her thoughts.  “That’s, uh, fine by me,” she hardly got out before Weiss pulled her into a passionate kiss.

The pictures made it onto the armrest somehow, not that Ruby cared about what happened to them.  She was far more concerned with Weiss’ lips on hers and Weiss’ fingers in her hair and Weiss’ legs pressing against hers.  As her pulse raced higher, she wondered if this was it - the moment she had hardly gotten out of her mind since the movie premiere.  They had privacy, they had time, and she certainly wouldn’t stop it.

She wouldn't force it either.  When Weiss broke away and gently pressed a hand to Ruby’s chest to prevent pursuit, her first concern was that she had gone too far.  She nearly apologized, but Weiss’ intent, hungry eyes expressed no regret.  Neither did Weiss’ free hand, which trailed down Ruby’s side and teased at the hem of Ruby’s shirt.

“Have you thought about the first time we were…intimate…with each other?”

Even though Weiss asked softly, she might as well have shouted the suggestion into Ruby’s thoughts.

“I, uh, I mean…”  Ruby swallowed.  It was increasingly difficult to think and track Weiss’ hand at the same time.  “I mean, it’s been months, supposedly.  Surely something would’ve happened.  Unless…you have a reason you want to wait?”

“I don’t.  Want to wait, I mean.”  

Weiss’ eyes and posture said so very clearly, but her hand stilled, waiting for Ruby’s response.

“Then…it was probably a night like this,” Ruby answered, blushing crimson yet not shying away from Weiss’ gaze.  “You came over, we watched a movie, and one thing led to another…”

“Maybe I came over with that intention all along,” Weiss mused.  Ruby drew in a quick breath when Weiss’ fingers slipped under her shirt, cold fingertips sliding along her stomach.

“Maybe.  But I’m sure I was already thinking about it.” 

“And?” Weiss asked, a smile tugging at her lips as Ruby’s attention split in two.

“And…and it was incredible.  Best sex either of us has ever had.”

“Of course it was.”  

Weiss lightly huffed before staring at Ruby, the two of them locked in a brief impasse.  Then something clicked and their lips crashed together again.  

“We should probably - test run, right?” Weiss got out between kisses, her hands already exploring in earnest while Ruby tugged at her clothes.

“Just in case,” Ruby agreed.  

Weiss laughed as Ruby pulled her to her feet and hurried her to the bedroom.  That laughter soon became another form of communication, a conversation that Ruby had never so desperately wanted to have with another person.

Ruby had always thought that Skyfall was her moment - the one big thing that life had set her up for.  She was wrong.  

Skyfall was the preamble.  Skyfall was chapter one.  Skyfall was that thing that felt like the most important thing in the world until something better came along.  Skyfall, for all its installments and box office sales and glowing reviews and growing popularity, didn’t hold a candle to Weiss.

A year ago, she couldn't have imagined thinking such a thing.  Tonight, she couldn't believe that the realization had taken her so long.