Flashing Lights - Chapter 1 (Patreon)

And the next saga begins...

This is one of my favorite versions of Weiss. I think she's more complex in this story than in many previous ones, and you know I love some good character growth.

That being said, she might not be for everyone! If you're not a fan, then this might not be a story you want to dive into. If you are a fan, then you're probably going to be a big fan. Also, Ruby's pretty great in this one, I think.

Enough about that. Let's begin!

***

‘Come home now.’

Her father hadn’t bothered to include a ‘please’ or even an explanation, yet Weiss jumped into her car like a sheep called home from pasture.  A very annoyed, very agitated sheep, but a sheep nonetheless.  Now, she tapped her fingers on the steering wheel while waiting for metal gates strong enough to stop a battering ram to open.  As if anyone might forget who owned the mammoth property beyond, the Schnee family crest had been emblazoned in the middle of the gate for all to see.  

As soon as the opening was wide enough, and well before the guard stationed at the entrance waved her through, she dropped her foot onto the accelerator and listened to the engine hum as it ferried her home.

A well-illuminated mansion, which might as well be a castle considering its size, sprawled across the horizon at the end of a long, long private drive.  Several other buildings were sprinkled around the immaculately landscaped property - guest houses, pool houses, garages, and a converted barn, each with its own separate drive splitting off of the main road.  They had their own streetlamps, for crying out loud, and an unused trail laid along the cliff’s edge with a beautiful view of the ocean.  All of it, however, paled in comparison to the arches and columns dotting the magnificent building up ahead.

Weiss paid the extravagance little mind while soaring home at a speed that her mom would scold her for.  Her foot only touched the brake, coupled with a frown tugging at her lips, when she noticed a fleet of black SUVs parked at the end of the drive.  

Parked all over the drive would be more accurate.  Normally, Weiss could swing around the loop at the front of the house and make her way to the attached garage.  Instead, she parked at the back of the logjam and hopped out with a huff.

“Who the fuck is this?” she asked one of the men standing guard nearby, gesturing roughly to the vehicles.

“The Marigolds.”

“The Marigolds?” she repeated before scoffing and striding up the path.  Several men and women loitered near the SUVs, looking bored with their pitiful task of ‘keeping watch.’  

“Nice parking, assholes,” she snapped at them while entering the courtyard.  She still had to pass the long, rectangular pond, featuring several fountains that made way too much noise, before reaching the set of arches above the front doors.  She spared only a glance for the burly man standing outside - for some dumb reason, he wore sunglasses even though the sun had nearly set - before letting herself into the massive foyer beyond.

Far from warm and cozy, the entryway rivaled prestigious hotels in size and beat them in opulence.  The ceiling, etched with silver, towered several stories overhead.  Four of the SUVs could have parked side by side across the marble floor, which would have been a less irritating place for them, honestly, and one could have driven up the ornate staircase leading to the second-story balcony.

The staircase also led to peace and quiet for the night, but Weiss couldn't indulge in such blessings quite yet.  She headed further into the foyer instead.  Past the lavish living room on her left and study on her right.  Past her father’s office, hidden behind heavy wooden doors.  Past the dining room and kitchen.   Past all of the silver sconces, silver accents, and priceless works of art adorning the walls.

Her heels clicking on the hard floor was the only sound she heard until she reached the more ‘functional’ wing of the massive home.  Voices reached her ears then, and she arrived at a doorway occupied by two large men shortly thereafter.  They nodded and moved out of her way, so she eyed the guns holstered at their hips and brushed past without a word.  Several more armed men lingered around on the less extravagant sofas and chairs, whispering amongst themselves but otherwise useless for the time being.  She passed them without a glance or incident, following the voices into one of the mansion’s many meeting rooms.

Her father, with his short, meticulously combed white hair and mustache, stood in the center of the room speaking to a tall young man who had his back turned to Weiss.  The conversation looked genial - that became especially apparent when her father beckoned her over.

“Weiss,” he said while setting a hand on the young man’s shoulder and turning him around.  He had light-blue eyes and dull-blue hair shaved on one side of his head, then swept to the left so it hung in front of his face.  He looked like a boy band reject suffering an identity crisis, caught somewhere between an emo and pop phase, but his unabashedly leering gaze chafed her most.

Turning her nose up at the boy, she focused on her father.

“You wanted to see me?”  

“I wanted to introduce you to Henry Marigold.  I’m sure you’ve heard of his father.”  Weiss glanced at the boy and, again, found nothing she liked.  Her father, unfortunately, extended a hand toward her and said, “Henry, this is my daughter, Weiss.”

“Nice to meet you.”  Henry reached for her hand and, had her father not been standing there, she would have slapped him rather than let him kiss the back of it.  He straightened up and smiled, oblivious to the way she jerked her hand away, and turned to her father.  “She’s even more beautiful than I expected.”

Weiss held back a snarl, but the ass-kissing worked - her father stood taller and his mustache twitched with pride.

“Henry’s brought us an interesting proposition,” he explained.  “While we’re working on the details, you two should get to know each other.”

Henry’s smile became so aggravatingly smug and his posture so self-righteous that Weiss scowled.  She knew what ‘getting to know each other’ implied, but she could nearly choke on the ego oozing from his pores.  However, since literally stepping on his balls was out of the question, she did the next best thing.

“Pass.”  Henry’s eyes widened - his arrogance taking a direct hit - but she smiled sweetly at her father and said, “If that’s all you needed, I’m going to find Mom now.”

Her father nearly smiled, finding some sort of wicked pleasure in her dismissive response, but ultimately pursed his lips.  He didn’t force the issue though - not now, at least.  He nodded instead, and Weiss left the room with her head held high but her jaw clenched.  As soon as she was out of sight, she stormed away from the goons and guns and backdoor dealings that evidently had to involve her.

Her feet led her to the terrace at the back of the house, visible through doorway after doorway of floor-to-ceiling sliding glass.  The marble floor extended onto the terrace as if the space was actually a continuation of the home’s interior - plush area rugs and expensive furniture suggested the same.

The two women seated outside looked so similar with their stark white hair, which they kept short unlike Weiss’ long braid, and the light blue eyes that ran in their family, but the similarities stopped there.  One had a wine glass tucked between her thumb and forefinger while casually lounging in one of the armchairs.  The other sat forward, fingers pressed together as if they would grant her patience, and watched another glass of red disappear.

Neither of them was enjoying the spectacular view beyond the terrace’s short, stone railing.  The ocean lay to the left, expanding as far as the eye could see.  To the right, lush, impeccably landscaped grounds offered a park-like setting.  Two guest houses rested in the distance, but their tile roofs hardly detracted from the rolling hills and purchased serenity.

“What’s Dad doing with those cokeheads?” Weiss asked, dropping into the unoccupied chair between her mother and sister.

“Language, Weiss,” her mother chided, swirling the remaining wine in her glass before draining it in one gulp.  “Your father’s looking into expansion opportunities.”

“Lovely.”  Weiss rolled her eyes and picked up the glass of sparkling water a butler set on the table beside her.  “Now he wants me to ‘get to know’ the idiot son,” she said while stirring the drink with the plastic straw.  “Isn’t his dad a vicious asshole?”

“Language,” her mom chastised her with another sigh.  “And Charles Marigold is…not the nicest man in the world.  Spending time with his son might not be a bad idea though.  Many families strengthen business ties that way.”

“Have Winter do it then.”  Weiss flippantly gestured to Winter, who somehow leaned back while still maintaining her ramrod-straight posture.

“I’m already seeing someone.”

“Sure, but do you really want to date a museum curator when you could date a piece of shit drug dealer?”

“Language,” her mom tried for the third time.  Weiss rolled her eyes at the slurred word but backtracked when Winter frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Sorry, Winter.  I think Robyn’s great.  She just doesn’t, you know, fit.”

“Maybe that’s why I like her.”

Weiss might not understand her sister’s choice of romantic partner, but she sipped her water and let it go with a shrug.

“Winter won’t have time to deal with the Marigolds anyway,” their mother added before beaming.  “Your father just gave her an important task.”

“The Flint deal,” Winter elaborated when Weiss turned to her.

“He gave it to you.  As in -”

“Wants me to plan it from beginning to end.”  

Weiss’ brow rose at Winter’s definitive nod, but she opened her mouth and found no words to voice her many thoughts.  

“And she’s going to do a wonderful job,” their mom voiced in blind confidence before tilting her glass to her lips.  Discovering it empty, she pushed herself to her feet and swayed before catching her balance.  “I’m due for a refill,” she explained, brandishing the glass for them before stumbling off in search of the nearest server or housekeeper.  As soon as she disappeared into the house, Weiss leaned closer to Winter and lowered her voice.

“Are you really ok planning that deal?”

Winter’s gaze flitted to the doorway before a sigh slipped through her lips.

“It doesn’t matter what I want.  Dad told me to do it.”

“Yeah, but -”

“‘But’ nothing, Weiss.”  Weiss shut her mouth, so Winter offered a soft, vaguely reassuring smile.  “We all have to do things we don’t want to sometimes.  That’s part of life.”

“But you hate guns,” Weiss pointed out anyway.

“I’ll survive.”

Weiss clenched her jaw but didn’t unleash the many choice words she had on the matter.  It was just another reminder that Winter - poised, stoic, capable Winter - had as little control over her life as Weiss.

“Want to trade?” Weiss joked.  “I’ll handle the Flints and you go out with the guy who thinks he’s god’s gift to women.”

“I told you - Robyn…”

“I know, I know.”  Weiss waved off the comment and dropped the teasing.  “How’s she doing, anyway?”

“She’s fine.  Work’s been busy.”

“How busy can an art curator possibly be?  Doesn’t she just look at paintings all day?”

“You’d be surprised.”  Weiss scoffed and subtly rolled her eyes, but Winter peered at her before adding, “And I don’t want you involved in the Flint deal anyway.  Or any deal.  You and Whitley both.”

“I knew it.  You want the empire for yourself.”

Weiss chuckled at the idea, and Winter soon joined in with a smile, shaking her head.  “I only want the best for you two.  You know that, right?”

With Winter’s gaze silently beseeching honesty, Weiss fought the urge to respond with sarcasm.  “I know,” she said instead.  After resituating in her chair, she added, “What’re you getting Whitley for his birthday?”

“No idea…” Winter sighed.  “I’ll probably just ask him what he wants.”

“I’ll handle his gift if you get me out of Mom’s book club next week.”

“Deal.”

Weiss smiled and had another response all cued up, but it died on the tip of her tongue when her father walked out of the house.  Winter’s gaze followed Weiss’ and, if possible, her posture became even more rigid.

“Weiss.” 

That was all he said, combined with tilting his head toward the doorway, before walking away.  Weiss held in a sigh but shared a commiserating look with Winter before pushing herself to her feet and following.  He hadn’t bothered to wait for her but, thankfully, she knew where he went.

A burly guard stood on either side of his office door, but she paid them no mind while entering the room with high ceilings and dark wood paneling that made her feel as if the walls were closing in.  Her father sat behind an impressive mahogany desk, flipping through reports that could be from any number of businesses.  A massive portrait of him hung on the wall behind him, reminding her of who owned the house and all who lived there.

“Sit.”

She did as instructed, taking the rightmost chair in front of the desk, which was too large and stiff to be comfortable.  Her nose tingled from the faint smell of cigar smoke and expensive cologne, but she curled her fingers into her lap to prevent herself from rubbing the sneeze away.  Her father didn’t acknowledge her for several minutes, so she sat there quietly and watched him flip a page, frown, and continue.  Annoyance crept through her veins, but she knew better than to let a drop of it show.  She glanced at the shelves lining the walls instead, each filled with leather-bound books that looked like they hadn’t been touched in years.  Eventually, he set the document aside and blessed her with his attention.

“All of this will be yours one day.”  He raised his arms toward the walls of the room but meant far beyond.  Weiss, on the other hand, frowned.

“What about Winter and Whitley?”

“They’ll play their roles, but you - you have what it takes to carry on in my place.”  The look in his eyes sent a shudder down her spine, but he continued unaware.  “It’s my job to make sure you have everything you need to continue what I started.  Sometimes, that means doing things we don’t want to do.”

“Like having sex with Henry Marigold?” 

Her father, like any father with a thin thread of connection to his daughter, recoiled from the blunt suggestion.

“No.  But I want you to consider your actions in the context of this family.  You’ve reached the age where you can play a direct role in our success - you need to start behaving as such.  Do you understand?”

Saying ‘no’ was never an option, so she tilted her chin down, and he nodded.

“Good.  Now, Henry will be around more often while we work on an…arrangement…that could be lucrative for everyone.  Spend some time with him before deciding whether or not you ‘pass.’”

Weiss’ fingers curled into her skirt at the thinly masked order, but she still smiled and said, “Of course.”  He then motioned that she could leave, but she hardly stood up before another thought sprang into her mind.  “Dad?” she asked, drawing his piercing blue gaze.  “I was thinking…maybe I could set up the Flint deal instead of Winter.”

She had his complete attention now.  He even set down his pen in order to peer at her.

“I’m already more familiar with the products,” she reasoned.  “And I could learn everything else easily enough.  We both know Winter’s no weapons expert.”

He pursed his lips at the offer but, ultimately, shook his head.

“I’m happy to see you taking an interest, but I have bigger plans for you.”

“But -” she began only to fall silent when he arched a brow.

“One day, you’ll make the rules.  Until then, you’ll follow mine.”

Weiss closed her mouth, nodded, and left rather than risk a scolding.  She didn’t know which would be worse: him admitting that he was just whoring her out to the highest bidder or him saying that he actually had big plans for her.  His plans wouldn't match her plans, of course.  Not that she even had plans for herself.  What was the point in making plans when someone else could erase them on a whim? 

Her jaw clenched at the thought, and she stormed back to the entryway with a scowl firmly set in place.  Unfortunately, she reached the foyer at the same time her brother walked through the doors.

“Hey Weiss!” he greeted her with a big smile.  

“Not now, Whitley,” she grumbled, his upbeat energy already deflating her sour mood.  “I’m heading out.”

“But you said you’d practice with me…”

Hearing the pout making its way onto his lips, she sighed and turned toward him.  Despite being her ‘little’ brother, he towered over her and Winter now.  He looked so much like their dad, minus the mustache, but he couldn't be more different from the cold, calculating man running the enterprise they called family.

“Later, ok?” she promised.  “I just need to blow off some steam.”

“And what better way than by popping off some rounds at a guy who looks like a big blob?”

While Whitley mimed holding a gun and firing several times, Weiss gestured to the front door and said, “A way outside of the house.”  

Fortunately, Whitley understood the underlying tension.  His blue eyes even flitted toward their dad’s office before returning to her.  

“What’d he do this time?”

“Nothing.  He just wants me to date the Marigold’s shithead son.”

“Henry?”  When Weiss nodded, Whitley wrinkled his nose.  “I can’t stand that guy.  He always calls me ‘Champ.’”

“Well, lucky for us, he’s going to be around all the time since they’re working on a deal.”  Whitley scrunched up his whole face this time, so Weiss added, “Yeah, best news I’ve gotten in a while,” before lowering her voice and adding, “Bet he’s got a tiny dick to go with that miniscule brain.”

As soon as Whitley giggled, Weiss smiled and patted his shoulder.

“I’ll be back in a bit, ok?  Then we’ll watch one of your dumb movies.”

“You mean amazing movies,” Whitley replied before adding, “But deal.”

Satisfied with the compromise, Weiss finally escaped the colossal mansion and took a deep breath of clean air.  The fountain still bothered her while she walked by, but the obnoxiously loud spouts of water were nothing compared to the annoyance-filled sigh that escaped her lips when she reached the driveway.

All of the horribly parked vehicles had cleared out except one.  A massive black SUV with windows so darkly tinted that they were almost blacker than the paint idled at the entrance to the courtyard.  Two men in tight, black, muscle tees loitered around the vehicle, but Henry straightened up and grinned when he saw her.

“Oh, good.  You’re still here,” she drawled as he put out his cigarette on the ground.  “And you smoke.  Lovely.”

“Only sometimes!  And we didn’t get a proper introduction -”

“We don’t need one because I already know who you are.”  Weiss brushed past him on the way to her car, but he grabbed her elbow to stop her.

“But you don’t know me at all.”

She glared at his hand, so he wisely withdrew it and stuck his hands in his pockets.  All she wanted to do was put some space between her and her father’s suffocating presence, but apparently Henry wanted to force a conversation.  So she would give him a conversation.

“Don’t I?”  She turned towards him and crossed her arms over her chest.  “I know Vale U. kicked you out for running a drug ring on campus.”  When he grinned at the piece of trivia, she scowled.  “That’s nothing to be proud of, moron.  You got caught.  By campus security.  Now, you think you’re going to run with the big boys and - what - build an empire?”

He puffed up at that word, but she scoffed and added, “Empire’s already been built, dumbass.”  

She jerked a thumb to the mansion behind him - her family’s mansion - and walked away when he turned around to look.  In a shocking display of idiocy, he pursued her.

“Vale U. was years ago.  I know what I did wrong -”

“Then why haven’t you gone back and done it right?”

The comment briefly froze him in his tracks.  When she reached her car and pulled the handle, however, he lunged forward and shoved the door closed.

“Let me take you out for a drink.  Your dad’s obviously interested in working together - you should be, too.”

He probably thought that he had a charming smile - he didn’t.  The only reason Weiss paused was because her father just told her to make decisions based on what was best for their family.  Not their family though - for the family business.  

“I’d rather drink poison.  Now, if you’ll excuse me.”  She pointedly nodded to his hand, and his smile fell into a frown.  He removed his hand though, so she yanked open the door and got into the car.  The engine roared to life instants later, and she tore away at an unadvisable but statement-worthy speed.

She glanced in the rearview mirror once before shaking her head and pushing the young man with his stupid haircut out of her thoughts.  The slowly opening metal gate delayed her freedom, but the streets beyond offered a respite from all of the aggravating news clumped into one short evening.

She pushed the accelerator closer to the floor as soon as she reached the freeway.  Even with no destination, she intended on getting there fast, and the powerful engine was plenty capable of accomplishing that.  Streetlights and headlights flashed by in a quick, rhythmic sequence that gradually took the edge off of what felt like death by a thousand cuts.

Her dad told her how to live.  He told her where to go to school, what major to study, what she was and wasn’t allowed to do, and now who she was supposed to do.  And she hated it.  She hated feeling like her life belonged to someone else.  She hated feeling out of control.  She hated being nothing more than a dumb cog whose only purpose was being part of a bigger machine - the family.

Her dad would make her give Henry a chance unless the deal fell through or she proved that he was a worthless piece of shit.  Unfortunately, her definition of a piece of shit didn’t match her father’s.  

Soaring past a minivan that might as well be stuck in mud, she coaxed the car faster and blew a long, slow breath through her lips.  Driving offered a semblance of control - just her, the steering wheel, the accelerator, and streets ripe for the taking.

Of course, some twisted form of cosmic justice decided to throw red and blue flashing lights in her rearview mirror.  She lifted her foot off the accelerator and moved over one lane, then sighed when the lights followed.  As thrilling as a car chase sounded, she took the next freeway exit and pulled over near a gas station and fast food restaurant.  The police cruiser stopped behind her, lights still flashing and headlights shining directly into her mirrors, making her swear under her breath while searching for her license.

This was not at all how she wanted the night to go.  As she watched the officer get out of their vehicle and walk up to her door, however, she realized this might be just what the doctor ordered.  She might not be in control of her life, but she had a fair share of sway over others, and she was about to flex that power.

Vaguely excited, she rolled down the window and was pleasantly surprised to find an attractive young woman with short brunette hair and stunning silver eyes.  Glancing at the name badge pinned to the right breast pocket, she flashed a warm smile.

“Good evening, Officer Rose.  What can I help you with?”

“Can I have your license and registration, please?”

“Absolutely.”  

Weiss obediently handed over her documents and watched the young officer read them.  

“Do you know how fast you were going?”

“Fast enough to get your attention,” Weiss quipped, her gaze traveling over an enviable physique trapped in a tight, blue uniform.

“Are you late for something?”

“No.  I just don’t care what the speed limit is.”

Weiss flashed another winning smile, but the officer lowered Weiss’ license and frowned.

“Most people at least make up an excuse.”

“You mean they lie,” Weiss corrected before motioning with one hand.  “In that case, I knew you were there and wanted to meet you.”  

She batted her eyes and smiled when Officer Rose blinked, then frowned again.

“You aren’t taking this seriously.”

“Why would I?” Weiss asked, finding it hard not to chuckle while gesturing to the young woman. “You look like you dressed up as a cop for some sexy costume contest.”

“Yet I can very literally arrest you.”

“Sure you can.”  

Weiss rolled her eyes, but Officer Rose worked her jaw back and forth before glancing at her police car.

“Would you rather take this down to the station?”

“You’re kidding, right?”  Weiss’ disbelief morphed into bemusement when the officer pulled out a set of handcuffs and dangled them in front of the window.  “Hold on.  Before I assume you’re a complete imbecile, you know who I am, right?”

“Sure.  Weiss Schnee.”  Officer Rose held up Weiss’ license and pointed to her name before returning it through the window.  “You’re Jacques Schnee’s daughter.  But being rich and pretty doesn’t mean you get to break the law.”

The flattery smoothly slipped from Officer Rose’s lips, and surprise flickered through Weiss’ chest.  “Are you flirting with me, Officer?” she asked, unable to hold a pleased smile at bay.

“No, I’m just stating the facts.  Now, will you behave or do we need to go for a ride?”

Officer Rose was making it too easy.  Weiss nearly felt sorry for her.  Nearly.  But not nearly enough to stop playing this game.

“I think you’ll have to take me to the station, Officer, because I don’t see myself behaving anytime soon…unless you’re talking about a different type of ride.”

Weiss slowly, and pointedly, let her gaze roam over the officer, but the forward remark didn’t even earn a flinch.

“You think you’re funny?” Officer Rose replied without a shred of amusement.  “Alright.  Out of the car.”

Weiss scoffed again but, when the officer tapped the door and motioned her out, begrudgingly complied.  Honestly, she couldn't believe this girl was even going through the effort.  It was pointless, self-defeating, and so, so funny.

“Turn around and put your hands on the hood.”

Holding back a smile, Weiss set her palms on the hood of the car but turned around to look at the young woman.

“What’re you going to do - frisk me?”

“I’m going to pat you down for weapons.  It’s procedure.”

“Oh, sure.  ‘Procedure.’”

Weiss smirked and turned forward, but her breath caught in her throat when the officer’s hands landed on her sides.  Unfortunately, the interaction passed quickly, efficiently, and without any lingering heat left anywhere but in Weiss’ veins.

“Sure you checked everywhere?” she teased.

“I’m sure.”

“You’re no fun, you know that?”

“This isn’t supposed to be fun, Miss Schnee.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.  ‘Miss Schnee’ is my sister.  Call me Weiss or I’ll make your life a living hell.”

“Are you threatening an officer?”

“Just making pleasant conversation,” Weiss countered.  She then watched, in no small amount of amusement, as metal handcuffs looped around her wrists and locked in place.  “In front?” she asked once that was done.  “You do like me, Officer.”

The officer shook her head and glanced into Weiss’ car.

“Need anything?  Your purse?”

“Sure.  It’s right there.”  Weiss pointed both hands to her purse before frowning.  “Wait a second.  What about my car?”

“The tow company will pick it up.”

“You’re going to tow my car?”  Her voice rose, and she vigorously shook her head.  “Hell no.  Give me my phone so I can have someone come get it.”

“That’s not procedure -”

“So you want to be liable when the tow company fucks up a two hundred thousand dollar vehicle?” she shot back.  When the officer’s brow rose, and those pretty silver eyes flashed to the car, Weiss motioned for her purse.  “Get my phone.”

It probably shouldn’t be so satisfying to watch the officer break from procedure so quickly, but Weiss was beaming by the time her phone reached her hands.  She didn’t bother with a ‘thank you’ - she just dialed a number she knew by heart and held the phone to her ear.

“Need something?” a low, gravelly voice said as soon as the call connected.

“I need you to come pick up my car.  Just off the Bralen exit, near the gas station.  Some rookie cop thinks she’s going to arrest me.”  Weiss threw a cheeky smile at Officer Rose and waited for his, “Will do,” before hanging up and dropping her phone back into her purse.  “You’re carrying that for me, I guess,” she said and walked to the police cruiser without waiting for a response, leaving Officer Rose to catch up.

Weiss waited for the door to be opened then ducked into the back of the vehicle.  Her nose instantly wrinkled at what she could only imagine was years of sweat, piss, and soil clinging to the seats.  Metal bars separated her from the front seats, where Officer Rose dutifully fastened her seatbelt before driving them away from Weiss’ car.  A stream of radio chatter filled the silence, but Weiss couldn't make out any details over the sound of the engine and the tires on the pavement.  

“You didn’t correct me,” she prodded before long.  “So you are a rookie.”

“Depends on your definition of ‘rookie.’”

“Newbie.  Amateur.  Idiot.”

“Then no.  I’m not.”

Weiss chuckled and leaned against the backseat only to quickly lean forward again.

“I have an idea.  Why don’t you take me out to dinner instead?”

“Why would I do that?”

“So we can get to know each other.  Share a meal.  Swap cop stories.”

“What kind of cop stories do you have?”

“Plenty.  Believe me.”  Weiss met the officer’s pretty silver eyes in the rearview mirror and smiled, but the young woman shook her head and didn’t reply.  “At least give me your first name,” Weiss pressed.  “‘Officer’ feels so bad in my mouth.”

“That’s unfortunate since you’ll have to keep using it.”

The sardonic response first caught Weiss off guard, then made her laugh.

“You have a sense of humor, don’t you?  Buried somewhere under all that…blue.”

“These are our uniforms.  I didn’t pick the color.”

“If you could, what would you choose?”

“Whatever gets you to stop talking.”

Weiss huffed and sat back, staring out the window to keep her mind off of the disgusting backseat.  She wanted to point out that nothing could make her stop talking if she didn’t want to, but a tall, gloomy building made of chipped, weathered stone bricks captured her attention first.  Moments later, they turned into a parking lot filled with identical police cruisers.

“You realize your boss is going to kill you, right?” she goaded her temporary chaperone.  “Well, maybe not kill you, unless the department has actually grown a set of balls.”

“Are you always so crass?”

“You have a vocabulary, too?” Weiss gasped, touching a hand to her chest before chuckling.  “Fuck, that’s hot for a badge.”

She grinned when the curse word earned a head shake and little else.

“If you like it, just say so,” she teased.  “I can be even dirtier, I assure you.”

“Why don’t I doubt that…” Officer Rose muttered under her breath before slamming the car into park more vigorously than she probably intended.  The reaction confirmed that Weiss was getting under her skin - a feat Weiss reveled in as the officer shoved the door open and got out.  The passenger door opened moments later, and Weiss was pleasantly surprised that, despite obvious agitation, Officer Rose gently helped her out.  The patience and consideration almost made Weiss feel bad about what was about to happen.

Almost.

She held her head high and kept her shit-eating grin tempered to a smug smile while walking into the police station.  They bypassed the reception area courtesy of the officer’s badge and passed through a sturdy glass partition to enter the main office.  Cluttered desks, tacky lamps, and depressing chairs filled the space, along with two holding cells helping some young adults sober up.  It was the typical police department scene, but she was far more interested in the officers currently ‘hard at work.’

The first ones who saw her - and recognized her - did a doubletake.  Then their eyes widened, the whispers started, and the general aura of ‘oh shit something’s about to happen’ filled the air.

“Feel that?” Weiss whispered to Officer Rose, who at least had the decency to frown.  “That’s the feeling of impending doom.  Your impending doom, to be exact.”

Officer Rose proved difficult to rattle, but she glanced around before leading Weiss to a desk that was actually somewhat organized.  “Sit,” she said, motioning to a pathetic plastic chair adjacent to the desk, but Weiss remained standing and looked around.

“So, where’s your boss?”

“Officer Rose.”

“Ah.  There she is.”  

Weiss smirked at Officer Rose before putting on her best innocent expression for the woman striding over.  In her mid-forties, with neatly styled sandy-blonde hair that accentuated her features, and a crisp blue uniform covered in metal bars and stars, she looked more like a politician stuffed into a police uniform than an actual officer.

“Chief Fowler,” Weiss greeted the woman.  “It’s so nice to see you again.”

“You too, Miss Schnee.”  Weiss’ skin crawled at the title, but she clamped her mouth shut as Chief Fowler noticed the handcuffs and widened her eyes.  “Ruby, what do you think you’re doing??”

“‘Ruby?’” Weiss repeated, arching a brow at the officer.  Officer Rose - Ruby Rose - hardly glanced at her.

“Pulled her over for speeding,” Ruby explained.  “Then she wouldn't shut up and said she wanted to come down to the station, so here we are.”

Chief Fowler struggled for words, caught somewhere between dismay and anxiety, before shaking her head and saying, “Do you have any idea who this is?”

Weiss beamed at Ruby, whose brow furrowed.

“Sure I do -”

“Then take those off at once.”  Chief Fowler motioned to the handcuffs, making Ruby scoff, before turning to Weiss with an expression steeped in apology.  “I’m so sorry, Miss Schnee.  This is a misunderstanding -”

“She was going a hundred in a sixty-five.  How’s that a ‘misunderstanding?’”

Sensing the poor officer struggling to accept the abrupt power shift, Weiss decided to help out…by tilting the scales even more in her favor.

“I might’ve been going a little fast,” she told Chief Fowler, her smile returning when Ruby scoffed. “But I’m so glad that Vale’s officers are doing such a great job keeping the streets safe.  That’s exactly what my father hoped for when he donated to your campaign.  He’ll be happy to hear that you’re fulfilling your promises.”

“Of course.”  Chief Fowler beamed at the praise.  “Protecting Vale has always been my calling, and your family’s support has made it an even more achievable goal.”  With the campaign speech out of the way, she jerked her head for Ruby to undo the cuffs.  Ruby hesitated but, when Weiss grinned and held out her hands, grabbed the key from her pocket and undid the locks.

“Thank you,” Weiss replied, earning a grumbled response as Ruby shoved the handcuffs back into her belt.

“Don’t worry, Miss Schnee.  Officer Rose and I will have a little talk, and this won’t happen again.”

“I appreciate that.”  Weiss briefly considered leaving the interaction at that, but then an idea popped into her head, and she snuck a sly smile Ruby’s way.  “I’d also like her to drive me home, seeing as how I’m not near my car anymore…”

“Absolutely.  Officer.”  

Chief Fowler jerked her head for Ruby to do as Weiss instructed, and Weiss couldn't possibly hide her triumphant smirk.  Ruby ground her jaw back and forth before swiping her keys off of the desk and brushing past Weiss with a brusque, “Follow me.”  Weiss saved one last smile for the Chief of Police before leaving the department with one of its officers wrapped tightly around her finger.

Ruby reached the police cruiser first and frowned when Weiss made no motion to get into the passenger seat.

“What’re you doing?” 

“Waiting for you to learn some manners.”  

Weiss nodded to the door.  Ruby crossed her arms over her chest, revealing the muscles in her upper arms as the fabric strained to hold them in.

“Can’t open a door for yourself?” Ruby shot back.

“Oh, I’m perfectly capable.  I just don’t want to.”

Weiss waited, grinning all the while, as Ruby glowered at her.  Then Ruby glanced at the station, dropped her arms to her side, and strode around the front of the car.  She brushed against Weiss while yanking the door open, then returned to the driver’s side and got into the vehicle without another word.

Pleased by the response, Weiss slipped into the passenger seat and acclimated herself with the much more spacious and comfortable interior.  Various buttons and switches, along with a navigation system, filled the dashboard.  The center console held several radios, a couple bottles of water, and a stray granola bar wrapper.  It even smelled better - a vaguely floral aroma that probably belonged to the surly officer sitting beside her.

Weiss hardly closed the door before Ruby started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.  Ruby didn’t ask for directions, so Weiss didn’t bother providing them.  She turned away from the window so that she could fully experience Officer Rose stewing at the turn of events.  Her knuckles were white from her death grip on the wheel, and her jaw remained clenched as she chewed over words that she ultimately never spit out.

“Can’t say I didn’t warn you,” Weiss teased, but Ruby gripped the steering wheel harder and said nothing.

The urge to poke harder - to make Ruby snap - swelled in Weiss’ thoughts, but that felt a little cruel to do to someone who wasn’t entirely awful.  She sat back and savored her victory instead.  Because it was a victory - the stony silence said as much.

Unfortunately, that sense of levity faded the moment a tall metal fence came into view.  Memories of why she’d left returned to the forefront of her mind despite her efforts to cling to the present.  With real life intruding on her fun, she frowned at the mansion as Ruby stopped at the front gate, where two guards left their station and approached the driver’s side window.

“Name and ID,” one of them ordered.

“Nope,” Ruby replied before jerking a thumb towards Weiss.  “Just delivering the princess back to her castle.”

The man ducked down and, once he saw Weiss, nodded.  “Welcome home,” he told her before motioning for the other guard to open the gate.  One push of a button later, the Schnee crest split down the middle and the metal doors slid apart.

As they crossed the threshold from public to private property, Weiss’ mood darkened as if storm clouds had just parked above her head.  Ruby might be sulking at the thought of returning Weiss to freedom but, in reality, she was returning Weiss to a big, beautiful prison.  Her dad was probably still at home, planning his next big ‘operation.’  Her mom was probably passed out on one of the sofas by now.  Winter would be planning the Flint deal that she wanted no part of.  And Whitley…well, he would be hiding in his room waiting for Weiss to come home.

Officer Rose cared about none of that.  She drove to the top of the drive, put the car in park, and waited for Weiss to get out of the car, her hair, and her life.

“I still want that dinner,” Weiss found herself saying before she even considered reaching for the door handle.

“Sure,” Ruby scoffed.  “How about ‘no.’”

“Oh, come on.  I was only having a bit of fun.  It’s not like you got fired.”

“Right.  Just humiliated in front of my coworkers and told off by my boss.  No big deal.”

“Exactly.  Who cares what they think anyway?”

Ruby stared at Weiss before shaking her head, but Weiss didn’t budge.

“Dinner,” she insisted.  

“You’re kidding.”

“Sometimes, yes.  Right now, no.  You have a price - tell me what it is.”

Ruby laughed - a dry, dismayed laugh conveying no joy - and rolled her eyes.  “Ok,” she said, still chuckling.  “How about - I’m not getting dinner with you, but I might if you can prove that you actually have a soul.”

“How do I do that?”

“I don’t know.  Do something a nice person would do?”

“Like donate to charity or some shit like that?”  When Ruby huffed out a breath but shrugged, Weiss fished her checkbook and a pen from her purse.  “What charity?  Do you have one in mind or will any do?”

“You’re not writing a check right now.”

“I am.”  Weiss guessed an appropriately large dollar amount, filled out the check, and held it out to Ruby.  “Why don’t you just fill in the name.”  

When Ruby stared at it rather than take it, Weiss folded it in half, tucked it into Ruby’s front pocket, and then patted it.  

“I’ll see you at Cava’s tomorrow at seven.  They have a dress code, so wear something nice.”

Before Ruby found a rebuttal, Weiss got out and left the stunned cop behind.  A smirk snuck onto her lips as she crossed the courtyard and let herself into the foyer, which was cold and empty yet not as unbearable as before.

Her father might control anyone who walked through the doors, but she had her own version of power.  Officer Rose - Ruby Rose - let her wield that power tonight, and the results were oh-so-satisfying.  As an added bonus, she just bought herself another little jailbreak if she wanted it.  She could always no-show if she found something better to do, but the option was there, and that was what mattered.  

Smiling to herself, she headed to Whitley’s room to fulfill her promise to her younger brother.  Now that she was in a remarkably better mood, she would willingly watch whatever god-awful movie he wanted.  And start mentally preparing an outfit for tomorrow…if she decided to go.