I Am Just Who You Need Me To Be

The walk to the small hole in the wall cafe passed remarkably quickly. For Weiss at least. Ruby was a bundle of nerves, and she found her mind running wild.

Could Weiss tell her heart was beating so fast? Her hand was starting to sweat, was she bothered? She probably found it gross. Oh man she was already ruining it and the date hadn't even started yet. Was she walking too fast? Too slow? She should ask. No, no. Girls like confidence. Ruby should be confident. She risked a glance over at Weiss. 

Weiss noticed Ruby's fidgeting of course, but paid it no mind. She was just as nervous, even if her composure wasn't allowing that to show. She'd never been on a date before, much less with a woman. Not that dates were easy to come by without a mark. She should be grateful, happy even! But instead she was nervous. She glanced over at the bubbling font of nerves only to be greeted with silver eyes stealing their own glance at her. 

"Can I help you?"

"Oh! Just uh... admiring the view?" Ruby grimaced at her own line. "Sorry, that was so lame."

The response she got was an unexpected giggle from the heiress. A small and quiet laugh that seemed fitting for someone so reserved. 

"It was indeed 'quite lame' Ruby. If you're going to insist on this date, you'll have to get much better at flirting."

"I will I swear!" Ruby beamed. Weiss simply rolled her eyes. "I just... haven't had a lot of practice yet, that's all! Not exactly a lot of opportunities to flirt ya know."

"That's hardly an excuse."

"You do better, if you're such an expert."

Weiss scowled. Ruby, undaunted, kept her smile, idly swinging their hands between them.

"You can't just ask me to flirt on command, the moment has to be right!"

"And what's wrong with this moment? On a walk with a cute girl in the snow, seems pretty perfect to me!"

"Calling yourself cute is a bit presumptuous isn't it?"

"Would you be on a date with me right now if I wasn't?"

Weiss rolled her eyes again. She'd been doing that a lot around Ruby. This girl was just simply exasperating. She felt that if Ruby hadn't said her soulmate was the problem she'd understand exactly why this girl was single. Not that she was drowning in options either. 

Weiss scowled, the expression making her scar look that much longer. She didn't want to think like that. She wasn't on this date due to a lack of options, and while Ruby's exuberance was... a bit much, she had agreed to the date for a reason. Something about Ruby's persistence had been charming. Obviously Ruby wasn't the type of person she'd usually associate with, but that was the point was it not?

With a deep breath she turned to face the redhead, who responded with a curious look. A tress of hair tucked behind her ear, a hand gently cupping her cheek, a thumb rubbing small circles on it. She could feel a warmth building in the girl's face.

"Weiss?"

"Your eyes are... as the moon. Radiant... resplendent... I could stare into them and lose days in the process and upon waking from my stupor I would find that I hadn't the will to regret a second that had passed."

"...What?" Ruby asked in a small voice, blinking rapidly, suddenly acutely aware of the taller girl's piercing gaze locked on her own.

"I'm flirting with you. You asked me to after all."

"That's flirting? What are you a medieval poet??"

Ruby burst out laughing, a loud boisterous laugh, one that quickly expelled the air from her lungs. Her hands flew to her abdomen as she doubled over gasping for air. Weiss felt her own cheeks heat up with embarrassment as Ruby mocked her attempt.

"Oh my gosh! You really are high class, huh? Sure you should be out with a peasant like me?" 

The laughter continued, long past when Weiss' patience had thinned. She was sure she'd find the sound pleasant if it wasn't directed at her. She tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for her date to settle down.

"Yes yes, it's very funny. Are you done?"

"Hold on..." Ruby took a deep breath. "Nope, not yet!" She was clearly trying to contain her giggling which did not go unnoticed by the heiress. It did little to stop the look of indignation from showing on her face however. When the giggle fit finally subsided Ruby was the first to speak.

"That was really sweet, and a very good attempt, it was just so... fancy I guess. I'm a simple girl, I don't need to be wooed like a princess ya know?"

"No, but you are being wooed BY a princess." Weiss hated referring to herself in that way. It wasn't even technically correct, and technicalities were important. Regardless, she felt it would help Ruby understand so she stomached her dislike for now. "I don't think anything I said warranted that amount of laughter."

"Aww, Weiss, I wasn't laughing AT you, just at... well, I don't know really. The absurdity of the situation maybe?"

Weiss' eyes narrowed in response. She knew Ruby didn't mean anything by it and likely bore no ill will, but it didn't make it easier to swallow. All she had was her upbringing. Her refinement, her elegance. It's not as though she was fated for anything. What she had, she had to display perfectly, proudly. Otherwise she'd be a failure as a Schnee. She'd already lost her chance at continuing the name, she was determined to at least bear it proudly while she had it. 

"Weiss? I'm serious. I wasn't laughing at you. And while it wasn't really typical, I really did think it was sweet. I liked it a lot!" 

"I don't need your reassurance Ruby. Let's just move on. I'd like to get out of the snow as soon as we're able." 

"Right! Date! Let's go!" 

Ruby grinned wide, taking Weiss' hand once more and dragging her to the little hole in the wall café she frequented for the pastries far more than the coffee.

"They have the BEST scones here, you're gonna love 'em!"

"I'd prefer just a nice, simple cup of coffee."

"Nope! You're having a scone, I insist." 

Ruby led her in, the smell of coffee and fresh baked goods hitting their noses. The warmth spread through them, staving off the chill they were exiting. There was two other patrons, but they were sitting alone on opposite sides of the establishment. The barista welcomed them in and gave Ruby a small wave.

"Hey Ruby! The usual?" The girl asked. Weiss noticed the mark in her eye immediately. It was often where she first looked. A lotus flower. Ruby's had been... What had Ruby's been? It wasn't like her to not remember. She would have to look again when they sat down. 

"Not today Nora! Well. Not just that, I suppose. I also need a cup of coffee and a blueberry scone for my date!"

"Your date?!" The much louder girl replied, practically leaning over the counter to stare at Weiss. "You're allowed to do that?!" 

"Well, yeah? What's wrong with a date?" Ruby replied, her eyebrows knitting together.

Nora leaned in and whispered something conspiratorially to Ruby. Weiss paid it no mind. These two seemed birds of a feather in the childlike energy department. Ruby let out a small laugh and shook her head.

"That won't be necessary Nora, but I'll keep it in mind." She paid with a handful of crumpled bills fished from her pocket, before leading Weiss to a small table in the corner.

"Dare I ask what that was about?"

"Hm? Oh, Nora offered to break your legs if you hurt me." Ruby said casually.

"And you just... accepted that as normal?"

"Oh, she doesn't mean anything by it. Probably. Maybe. Uhm. Well, I just won't tell her if you do!"

"How reassuring."

"Oh come on, she's nice, just a little... weird, that's all!"

"Like a certain someone sitting at this table."

"Oh come on Weiss, you're not THAT weird!"

"I meant you." Weiss replied humorlessly.

Ruby grinned, kicking her feet under the table, struggling to contain her excitement. Thankfully Nora's soul mate arrived just then with their order. Or at least Weiss assumed given the identical mark in his eye. Maybe there was a small difference between them she couldn't see. She could never rule out the possibility given the state of her vision. Having only one working eye certainly complicated things. She thanked the man with a small bow of her head, pulled from her rumination by the scent of her coffee. She watched as Ruby poured no less than five packets of sugar into her drink, one already countless shades lighter than her own, and topped with whipped cream.

"How can you stomach that? That's downright blasphemous." 

"It's yummy!" Ruby chimed happily, taking a sip, leaving her upper lip coated in cream as she took a bite out of one of the two chocolate chip scones she'd ordered for herself. There was also a bear claw, and a muffin or three. Weiss' nose crinkled.

"That's quite a bit of food."

"I'm gonna finish it all!" 

"That wasn't my concern." Weiss sipped her coffee, black as sin, but not bitter. A good brew. The redhead at the counter, Nora if she recalled, had surprised her. Taking a bite of her own pastry she realized immediately why Ruby had been so insistent, it was truly quality, so flaky and tender. She thought it several degrees above what came out of the kitchen at Schnee Manor even.

"Mmm, I see your point with the scones, this is divine."

"Right?! I knew you'd like it!" 

"You got lucky, but I will admit it was a good decision on your part."

They finished their 'meal' in relative quiet. Weiss didn't think Ruby could carry a conversation with her mouth so full, not that she'd had much to say herself. She took the opportunity to study the mark in her date's eye. She'd always wondered what mark her own eye would have held. She figured a snowflake made the most sense, but perhaps a lily would have been fitting too. The mark in Ruby's eye was fittingly a deep scarlet, a stark contrast to the silver surrounding it. It was a small serpent, coiled in on itself, devouring its tail. It lacked detail, as all the marks did, but it was still clear that that is what was depicted.

"Uhhh, Weiss, you're staring." Ruby commented."

"My apologies. I was looking at your mark. I find them fascinating. It's always been interesting seeing how two people worlds apart can be bound by fate, and have a perfectly identical mark."

"Really? I've never found them that interesting. Especially since I found out who matches mine. It's just felt like a burden."

"Hm. I suppose I hadn't considered that. Surely you're an exception to the rule though. Outliers the both of us." She raised her mug in a mock toast.

Ruby raised her already empty cup as well, but Weiss could tell she was only half paying attention. Her eyes were fixed on Weiss' left eye. She just sighed. Of course. Everyone asked questions eventually, even if she asked them not to. It seemed no matter how much she wanted to avoid the subject, it just had to be asked. 

"You have questions. If it'll get you to stop staring, I'll answer one. Expect no more than that." 

"Are you sure? You said it was off limits. I don't wanna push..." 

"Ruby, I said it's fine, so it's fine. Ask."

"Okay, uhm. Did you... did you have a mark before...ya know"

Weiss closed her eyes. A shudder wracked her body, causing a few drops of coffee to burn the back of her hand. She set the mug down and grabbed a napkin, dabbing up the mess with slow measured movements. She hated that reaction. But every time it was brought up she just couldn't help it. The fear, the despair. The flash of steel. How cold it had felt. The pain. The heat as her own blood coated her face. The way that her father hadn't been outraged. Not angry. Not worried. Not concerned for her vision, or mental state. He had only been disappointed. Called her a failure. Unworthy of bearing his name. Not that it was his in the first place. Not that he had ever found her worthy if she couldn't continue it.

Weiss felt a warmth on her hands. Looking down she saw Ruby take the napkin from her and set it aside. She pressed Weiss' palms together, sandwiching the heiress' hands between her own. Weiss' gaze drifted upward, expecting to see pity, or concern. Instead she saw that same wide grin Ruby always seemed to wear. The expression fit her like a well tailored suit. She sighed, taking a deep breath.

"No, Ruby. There was no mark before this happened. I was born without one."

"Good!" Ruby exclaimed happily.

"Good?!" Weiss asked incredulously trying to not be offended.

"Well, yeah! It means I don't have to worry about any jealous ex-fiancé or anything, I can just date you without worry!"

"Be that as it may, being born without a mark has been nothing but miserable. I will simply never see it as a good thing. Think what you will, but refrain from calling the source of so much suffering a good thing in front of me please."

Ruby was silent. Her smile was subdued now, apologetic, but still present. Weiss sighed.

"I'm sorry, that's not fair to you. I should have a better rein on this by now. I appreciate your sincerity on the matter. It's... refreshing."

"Good! That's what I'm aiming for!"

"You aim to be refreshing?"

"Well, I aim to be impossibly charming, but this is a good start! You'll be head over heels in no time!" 

It was Weiss' turn to smile. It had become increasingly rare in recent memory, but today she felt as though it was genuine, that for once it wasn't because it was required. 

"Yes yes, you're quite charismatic Ruby. I'm swooning already."