Planting Seeds of Life
It has been three years since Ruby and Weiss Schnee had their fateful bedtime conversation. Weiss has become Director of Development for Blake Xiao-Long’s non-profit organization The Faunus Foundation. Thanks to her excellent leadership, both morale and productivity have skyrocketed for the Atlas Branch of the organization. Now, her duties consist of starting fundraisers and convincing philanthropists to donate. Having learned to thrive from her experience in the Schnee Dust Company, it felt like a real fit.
Ruby Schnee, meanwhile, consistently stays at her wife’s side as a bodyguard. Many volunteers at the organization attest to her work ethic and cheerful mood. Although offered many promotions and job opportunities, she would always politely decline. Nothing compares to standing at her wife’s side. Ruby had always heard of marriages declining over time, but her love for Weiss grows more with each day.
Now, the two have a day to themselves. Citizens across Remnant celebrate the anniversary of Salem’s defeat, and victory at the Battle of Atlas. Following the advancements and change encompassing the two’s lives, it’s nice to have a lazy day. Plans for the two consist of staying at home, in their pajamas, and watching cartoons. Even if she had all the glamor and wealth in the world, there is nothing Weiss would want more.
So, the two stand in front of their spotless bathroom mirror, brushing their teeth.
Weiss, with her white hair down, wears a luxurious nightgown. Using a plain-colored toothbrush, and high-quality mint toothpaste, she brushes methodically in back-and-forth motions. Mumbling groggily to herself, her blue eyes blearily blink, still adjusting to being awake. If it wasn’t for her current upright position, she would crash right back into bed. However, the sight of her wife makes that quite impossible.
Ruby bounces energetically, humming a delightful tune that brings a smile to Weiss’s face. Wearing a small t-shirt that accentuates her muscular frame, her legs sway in baggy pajama pants and her feet tap in fluffy pink slippers. Using a red, patterned toothbrush, she favors children’s bubble gum flavored toothpaste. Wide awake and bubbling with excitement, her positivity seems to brighten up the room. How she can stay this positive, even without a morning cup of coffee, astonishes Weiss.
“What are you staring at?”
Snapped out of her stupor, Weiss realizes she has been gazing intently into Ruby’s silver eyes this entire time. Immediately, she begins to feel her heart quicken and her mouth go agape. Quickly, she realizes a stream of toothpaste is dribbling down her chin. Spitting into the sink, she rinses it down the drain and daintily dabs the remaining spot on her face. Directing her gaze back, she sees Ruby giggling delightedly.
“I was… I was staring at how much of a dolt you are! I mean, bubble gum toothpaste. What are you, five?” Weiss stammers.
“Well excuse me, Mrs. Tenth Dentist! At least I’m brushing for two minutes instead of looking at my wife the whole time.” Ruby childishly sticks her tongue out in defiance.
Before Weiss can even understand what’s happening, she embraces Ruby in a passionate kiss. Feeling her hand wandering, she senses Ruby’s brown hair between her fingers. She gets lost in the scent of roses. A taste of mint bubble gum is shared between the two. Both can stay here forever.
Despite the two being together for so long, it’s clear that they have very different tastes in cartoons. Ruby enjoys high-paced, action-packed cartoons that balance comedy and fighting. In contrast, Weiss enjoys soapy school dramas filled with drama and sappy romantic subplots. So, the two come to a compromise. Alternating between shows, both get a chance to share their interest with the other while teasing at the same time.
Weiss enjoys an artisanal pastry with a cup of bitter, black coffee. In contrast, Ruby devours a bowl of breakfast cereal drowned in chocolate milk with extra sugar sprinkled on top of it.
“It’s sweet, just like you!” Ruby quips.
Normally, the thought of such a meal would make Weiss feel queasy. Yet, seeing Ruby’s genuine happiness and enjoyment allows her to tolerate such a culinary atrocity. All her life, Weiss had struggled to be seen as mature, adult, sophisticated. Never in a million years would she imagine herself sinking into a cushy couch, her head resting on her wife’s shoulder. That’s where she is now, and she’s happy.
Diverting her attention to the cartoon, a sudden new plot twist! The main character’s mother is expecting. Imagination swirls for the protagonist as she thinks about having a brother or sister. Time is spent in school talking about the idea. Her parents grow closer, and excitement is palpable. Finally, the baby is born and is just the cutest little thing.
“Weiss, are you… thinking?”
Startled by the question, the avid viewer snaps off her wife’s shoulder, nearly falling before propping herself on the couch’s arm. Weiss snaps her head towards her wife, who looks at her with a sense of concern. Guilt eats away at her. She should be spending quality time with Ruby, instead of constantly zoning out on her.
“It’s not about work, is it?”
“Certainly not! I promised not to think about my job today, and I intend to fulfill that promise.” Weiss counters.
“Then, is it about pleasure~”
Weiss nearly spits out her next sip of hot coffee, taking care not to joke on her next bite of pastry. Her face begins to grow hot, a red hue flushing over her fair skin. Glancing back up at her wife, she sees that Ruby has the biggest grin on her face. After a fit of coughing from nearly choking on her food, Weiss clears her throat. Taking a deep breath, she steadies herself.
“Wha—no! And what if I was? We’re married, you dolt. How can you be such a cinnamon roll and a perv at the same time?”
With a simple shrug, Ruby sinks back into the couch. Stretching an arm around her wife, Ruby brings Weiss close, gently rubbing her arm. Blue eyes race nervously as the flustered woman’s mind races with thoughts. Twiddling her thumbs, her eyes lock onto the floor. With a deep breath, she ventures to break the silence.
“Sorry about teasing you, I didn’t mean for you to suffocate on a croissant.”
“It’s a danish, Rosebud. And it’s not that, it’s just…”
Weiss feels silver eyes locked on her. Ruby raises a brow, perplexed by her wife’s silence.
“Remember that time in bed, three years ago?”
“Oh, when you were a Princess, and I was your knight?”
“Huh—no!”
“Or when I was a bad student, and you were my professor?”
“Ruby…”
“Do you mean when I was a boss, and you were my secretary? Because I always saw it as more the other way around--“
“I mean when I talked about a baby!”
Weiss sighs, crossing her arms and leaning back onto the couch. Regret fills her instantly. What if they’re not ready? Is it too much of a commitment? Does asking right now make her seem desperate?
Snapped out of her ruminations, Weiss feels a hand rest on her thigh.
“What got you thinking about this?”
Feeling herself grow in disbelief, Weiss gives a big exhale.
“You weren’t watching the show, were you?”
“Mmh, not really. I think watching your reactions is a lot more fun! I was concerned when you didn’t gasp or give some kind of squeal.”
Scooting some away from Ruby, Weiss gives a small pout. To which, Ruby returns with a gentle peck on the cheek.
“If I recall right, you wanted us to do this together. Has that changed? Because I’m totally fine being the one to carry—”
“No! We’re in this together. Besides, I want our kids to have each other, like you and Yang, or my siblings and I.”
“Then I know just who to call.”
Huddling in front of the blue light of their scroll, both sit in eager anticipation for a return to their call. Weiss busily straightens her hair, having not expected to be with anyone other than Ruby today. Ruby simply drums her hands in her lap, eager to speak with her friend again. Clearing their dishes out of the way and turning off the television, Weiss tries her best to create a somewhat tidy environment. Finally, after a minute or two, an answer.
The sight that greets them is two brown bunny ears.
“Hang on, just a second!”
Panning down, the camera further shows the pair of ears belonging to a woman with long, messy brown hair and dark brown eyes. Simply wearing a baggy Adel Fashion t-shirt and shorts, she sits in the chair with hands neatly folded in her lap. Her office is littered with children’s drawings and baby pictures. The raucous screaming of children roars in the background.
“OK, kiddos, settle down. Mommy’s on a call right now!” A new voice cheers in the background. Riotous noise simply turns to hushed chatter and giggles.
Stomping down the hall, a new figure looms in the door. Wearing a Kashmir brown jacket with dark satin pants, and a series of scarfs bob around her neck as she barges into the door. With sunglasses hanging from her collar, the woman confidently struts over to the scroll. Scratching the t-shirted girl’s ears, she leans in for a smooch on the cheek.
“Sorry about that, Honey-Bun.”
“It’s OK, Coco-Bean!” the bunny-girl smiles, returning the kiss. Ruby giggles at the cute interaction, while Weiss simply shakes her head from the cheesy nicknames.
“Mrs. and Mrs. Schnee,” the fashionable woman does a mock curtsy before winking at the camera.
“Coco.” Weiss nods with a polite smile.
“Hi, Coco!” Ruby beams, waving excitedly to the camera.
Strutting to the door, Coco blows a kiss to the bunny-eared girl, who swoons dramatically. Gently closing the door behind her, she quietly shushes the children and ushers them away. A stampede of little footsteps booms in the hallway, leaving the office still and quiet. Straightening her posture, the woman sits upright in her squeaky office chair. A slight sadness haunts her expression.
“I know a lot of people enjoy the quiet, but I miss hearing the kiddos.” Her ears droop slightly, her countenance lowering before she suddenly perks up again, a spark returning to their eyes. “Oh! I was just at an emergency call. Sorry if I’m a bit of a mess.”
Velvet Adel is a registered doula and midwife. Whether a mother needs support at a hospital, or feels more comfortable delivering at home, Velvet serves as an advocate and a supportive figure. Being a Faunus herself, her services could be particularly useful. Despite change over the years, many Faunus can be discriminated against, even in a medical setting.
“That’s perfectly fine, Velvet!” Weiss chuckles nervously, sweeping the couch for any potential traces of cereal crumbs.
“Try not to get too hung up on messiness if you have kids, it happens. So, what brings you to call?”
A silence grows over the couple for a bit. With such a delicate topic, how do the two bring it up? All the while, Velvet waits patiently. Even while waiting, her dark brown eyes sparkle with delight. Clearly, she shares in their excitement. Still, she remains patient.
“We were thinking…”
Both women speak at the same time before quieting. An air of awkwardness floods as both waits for the other to speak. Weiss opens and closes her mouth, struggling to voice her request. Velvet is very busy, and Weiss wants to honor her time. Finally, she begins to pipe up—
“We want to start a family!” Ruby blurts out, before covering her mouth.
Velvet gives a squeak of excitement, leaping out of her chair with delight. Pumping her fists in the air, she dances around joyfully before bending over, running out of breath. Calming herself down, she sits back into her chair and rests her hands on the table. Still shaking with excitement, she gives the biggest grin.
“That’s positively wonderful! Have you two considered adopting?”
In addition to serving as a midwife, the Adels also had a very large foster family. With a big house and Coco’s ownership of her fashion company, there was more than enough room to care for them all. While taking any lost or abandoned child, the Adels are particularly renowned for their caring of Faunus children. Thanks to them, countless Faunus kids were able to find safe and secure homes. But Velvet always pushed the opportunity to any couple she knows.
“I’m not sure if I can.”
Despite everything she’s done, to some, Weiss is still only a Schnee. As a result, paparazzi and journalists are eager to bombard her with questions or catch her off-guard. She and Ruby are publicly married. If she’s caught with a Faunus child, questions of infidelity or affairs might arise, scandal which she doesn’t want to bring to The Faunus Foundation.
“No need to explain. Just let your friends know, or anyone looking to start a family. OK?”
“Of course!” Weiss takes a breath of relief; thankful the situation can be clarified.
“Now, which of you is planning on carrying?”
Gazing into each other’s eyes, the couple sit to be closer together. Holding hands over their lap, they both nod affirmatively at each other. Looking back at the scroll they sit up, both firm and strong. Both have come to a decision. What they do, they do together.
“Actually… we were both planning on carrying.” Ruby answers.
Velvet claps her hands excitedly. Although the camera now only shows her from the waist-up, it can be inferred that her legs are kicking giddily under the desk. Realizing she must look ridiculous; she settles down only to be met with blank stares by the two. Suddenly, the room fills with laughter as all free ease the tension and share in the humor of it. Whatever tones of formality this call may have started with has officially disappeared.
“Oh, that’s so fantastic! But, how to go about it for a same sex-couple? IVF is always popular, but IUI might work better in your case. There’s the at-home treatment of course! Oh, so many options…” Velvet quiets upon realizing she’s geeking out but is reassured by Weiss’s and Ruby’s amused smiles.
“Doesn’t IVF involve needles?”
Weiss clings tightly onto Ruby’s arm, her face going very pale. Noting the reaction, Velvet gets out a yellow notepad and begins scribbling furiously. Able to catch a glance, Weiss notes how stellar Velvet’s penmanship is. The fact that Velvet can write so legibly in such a short period of time astounds her. Finally, the Faunus returns her attention to the call.
“In that case, IUI is always an option! You would consult a sperm bank, or find a trusted donor—”
“Absolutely not!” Weiss snaps, startling Ruby slightly. “I will not involve some… some man in this. This process should be between Ruby and me.”
Clicking her pen, Velvet continues with her notetaking. With each clarification, her excitement only grows, seeming to relish the challenge this presented. Her hand seems to move faster than her thoughts. Finally, after a while, she stops. Taking the time to clear her mind, she tries to fully give her attention to the couple before her.
“I like it when a couple knows what they want! There’s a method I can think of to suit your requests, but it’s relatively new.”
“No needles?” Ruby looks worriedly down at Weiss.
“No needles.”
“No… other genetic material?”
“Nope!”
“We’ll take it,” both women reply at once.
Hopping with joy, Velvet races over to the door. Soft and sweet whispers are audible through the call. Agreeing, the servant in the background races off, only for Velvet to jump in her chair once again. It seems to take real effort to compose herself. Finally, she gets relatively calm.
“Excellent! You should receive a package later this afternoon, if not this evening. Just be very careful to read the instructions, OK? Good luck you two! I know you’ll both be super moms.”
“Thank you, Coco!” Ruby squeezes Weiss close to her as the satisfied woman leans in close to the phone.
“Please, if there’s anything we can do…”
“There certainly is! Can I help you two? I don’t care if you want to have the baby at home, in a hospital, in the water, even in the woods! I just want to be there. With you two as moms, you’re going to have some beautiful babies.”
Both women are flustered by Velvet’s comments and her nearly overwhelming amount of enthusiasm. Needing little time to think, the two arrive at a consensus. They’re going to need all the help they can get, so it only seems reasonable to find someone as eager as Velvet to lend a hand. With a long road ahead, it’s helpful to have signs to guide them. Nodding, they keep their attention on Velvet.
“We’d love to.”
“Fantastic! Seems like the babies miss me. Call if you need anything, OK?”
Waving goodbye, the call is ended as Weiss and Ruby settle back into the couch. A mutual sense of awe fills the room as the couple revels in the moment. Soon, they’ll be moms. Both with rough backgrounds, the only family they could find was their friends at Beacon. Now, they can make the home that they never had.
Not even noon has passed when three sharp raps sound on their front door. A delivery driver stands on the front porch carrying an Adel Fashion Company package. Meeting the guest, Weiss signs the necessary forms before paying them a generous tip for their trouble. Carrying the box, she sets it on the dining room table as she and Ruby stare down at it curiously.
“Why would clothes help with this?” Ruby grabs a boxcutter making quick work of the package.
“I think that’s just the box it comes in, Ruby.” Weiss chuckles.
Grabbing the instruction manual, silver eyes scan curiously as Ruby’s eyes squint to properly read it all.
“What’s a ‘sapphodisiac?’”
“I think that’s aphrodisiac, Ruby.” Gently swiping the document out of Ruby’s hands, blue eyes now methodically scan the document. The more she reads, the more her eyes widen. A subtle blush creeps across her cheeks. Her eyes return to Ruby. “I think we need to go to the bedroom for this.”
Weiss Schnee feels unusually self-conscious. At times when she’s tired, or in the mood, instinct allows her to cozy up close to her wife. Now, she feels embarrassed, standing in the bedroom wearing nothing but her underwear. Her eyes trace Ruby’s figure, her muscular physique, and her powerful frame. Comparatively, she feels very thin and frail.
“So, what now?” Ruby stands confusedly.
“Now, I think you need to use your semblance.”
Weiss concentrates on the ground, trying to reason out the procedure in her mind. Looking up, she feels a swell of adoration. A vibrant trail of red hovers in front of her, red rose petals dancing in the air. Perfect for Ruby, she thinks. Plucking a petal out of the air, she delicately places it in one of the provided petri dishes.
“Okay, your turn!” Ruby smiles, dropping gently on the floor.
Taking a deep breath, Weiss feels herself surge with energy. If not herself, seeing Ruby as her true self helped to restore confidence in them together. Summoning her knight, the figure stands tall and stern. Regal, dignified, protective, just like Weiss. Ruby plucks a snowflake of energy from the figure, placing the sample in a second petri dish.
Next, Weiss opens two jars of provided dust. One is vibrant red, fire. Another a cold blue, ice. Hesitation grips at her. Steadily, her hand freezes on one of the jars.
“I want this, even if it hurts. If I’m going to be a mom, I need to be able to take pain.”
“Weiss, this isn’t going to hurt. I’ll make sure of it! You’re going to be a good mom, no matter what. If you’re anything like that smart, sweet woman I married, you will.”
Filled with love at the kind words, Weiss opens the jars of dust. Adding the fire to Ruby’s semblance, and the ice to hers, she mixes the solutions thoroughly. Both petri dishes fill with a new kind of substance. Ruby’s is bright red, laced with rose petals. Weiss’s is an icy blue, with snowflakes dancing in the dish.
Weiss’s hand wildly shakes, hovering over the two syringes provided on the box. Freezing, she feels her hand delicately grasped by another. Ruby’s hand gently clasps around Weiss’s, until it stops trembling. Easing still, Weiss looks pleadingly up at Ruby. Her hand is gently set aside.
“It’s alright, I can do it.”
Lying back on the floor, Weiss watches Ruby work. Steadily leveling the syringe, Weiss looks away as she sees Ruby draw the solution into the tool. Weiss has always had a fear of needles. Ever since she was a sickly little girl, constantly poked and prodded by uncaring doctors. As a huntress, it embarrasses her, but Ruby has always been supportive.
“Would you like to go first?”
Ruby smiles at Weiss kindly. Setting the syringes back into the box, she crouches on the floor, meeting Weiss at eye level. Reaching out, she gently runs a hand through white hair. Weiss lets out a breath she didn’t know she was holding, the tension in her body seeming to diminish. Ruby continues to look at Weiss curiously.
“Yes, thank you. Just… just please get it over with.”
“This syringe doesn’t have needle! Would you like to feel?”
Trembling, Weiss gradually rests a hand on the tool. Flinching at first, she feels nothing pointy, sharp, or metal in the object. Settling on the floor, she gestures Ruby over. Carefully slipping Weiss’s panties off, Ruby nudges Weiss’s legs apart before gently leaning in. Weiss yelps in return, flinching back.
“Weiss, what kind of hair do you think your baby will have?”
“Brown, like yours.”
Glancing quickly at the syringe filled with the red solution, Weiss’s squeezes her eyes shut. Turning her head away, she desperately squirms to get herself away from the object. Ruby sets a hand on her shoulder, Weiss’s thrashing stills. Gently nestling Weiss’s head in her hand, Ruby tilts up so the two make eye contact. Smiling, Ruby’s calm helps Weiss to relax.
“How about their eyes?”
“Silver.”
“You want your baby to look like me?”
“You’re the prettiest of the two of us.
Dotting kisses up Weiss’s neck, Ruby’s head rests near Weiss’s ear. Hot breath makes her hair stand up. She can feel Ruby’s presence observing her. Ruby nuzzles against her ear, while Weiss leans in. Placing above, Ruby places a kiss before leaning in closer.
“We both know that’s not true,” Ruby whispers.
Weiss feels a shiver of pleasure creep up her spine. A feeling of warmth flows through her, like drinking hot chocolate in front of a hot fire. Weiss’s eyes ease open, she sees Ruby placing the used syringe back in the box. Her underwear is back on, and the discomfort she felt beforehand has all but vanished. Placing a hand on her stomach, she feels a fullness inside of her.
“All done! How do you feel?”
“I would not mind doing that again.” Weiss replies earnestly, gathering another giggle from Ruby. Moving to sit up, she is quickly nudged back down. Remembering the manual’s instructions, she complies. Glancing back to Ruby, the woman is also now lying on the floor, her boxers now around her ankles. Ruby is taking deep breaths, seeming to concentrate on a particular spot on the ceiling.
“What about you, Ruby? How would you want your baby to look like?”
“I’ve always loved your white hair, though maybe with tips of red. That would help set them apart.” Ruby shakily eases the syringe in her opening.
“And their eyes?”
“Blue, like yours.”
“Do you not like your eyes?” Weiss asks concernedly.
“I don’t want our babies to go through that.”
“Well, if going through what you did makes you who you are, I hope they can be like you.”
Smiling, Ruby sets the used syringe next to her, lying back with her hands on her chest. Taking a deep breath, she tries to remain still, save for the tapping of one of her feet. Both women lie contentedly, enjoying each other’s company. The clock seems to tick slowly. Time appears to drag on.
“How do you feel?”
“Cool, like I drank a glass of cold water. Not ice-cold, just refreshing.”
As the time passes, Ruby begins to shiver. Not as Weiss had shivered, but like she was freezing cold. Likewise, Weiss begins to pant. Her pale skin glows with color. Small beads of sweat begin to trickle their way down her body.
“Weiss…”
“I know, Ruby. But the instructions said to lie still for fifteen minutes!”
“Weiss, remember how it said sap, uh, sappho—"
“Aphrodisiac?”
“Yeah, that.”
“What about it?”
“Well, I want you.”
“I want you too, Ruby.”
“Then let’s have each other!”
Starting up on their feet, the two lock into a passionate embrace. Weiss feels Ruby’s fingers lock behind her, undoing the clasp of her bra and pulling her underwear down. Likewise, Weiss hoists Ruby’s shirt over her head and tears off her pajama pants. The heat fully encompasses Weiss, rubbing herself against Ruby. Cold overcomes Ruby, who nestles closer to Weiss. Grinding herself against Ruby’s leg, Weiss feels Ruby’s hands knead on her chest.
“Woah, Weiss! You’re hot.” Ruby growls.
“Well, you’re pretty cool!” Weiss moans.
The feverish rhythm continues. Weiss feels a wetness between her legs as Ruby’s shivers begin to turn into shudders.
“Ruby, I-I’m gonna~”
“Not without me, you’re not!”
The heat grows into a fire inside of Weiss. Ruby’s knees begin to knock against each other as the waves of pleasure continue to crash against her. Finally, Weiss cries out, orgasm rippling throughout her entire body. Soon after, Ruby drowns in a sea of pleasure, falling back onto the floor as the two’s noises pound off the bedroom walls.
For several minutes the two stay together on the floor, heaving to catch their breath as they ride out the sensations.
“Snuggle?” Weiss whimpers.
With her shaking having ceased, Ruby gradually staggers upright. Carrying Weiss in her arms, she gently sets her wife into bed before climbing in herself. The two quickly pull the covers over each other, cuddling close to each other. Both of their hands rest onto the other’s stomach, hoping deep down that their wish came true. Finally, a rumbling sound boom as Ruby looks up to Weiss pleadingly.
“Order food?”
“Five more minutes.”
So, the two rest together. Each mind races with thoughts. Both hearts pound with love. Both smile with glee. Above all, both wonder.
Both wonder about how things will change.