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Ruby
It all went by in a blur.
One moment I was standing with Penny, just catching a glimpse of Nora as she kissed Ren. A little spark of surprise lit in my chest. Not that it was really that surprising.
For a moment, everything was okay. That split second was the calm before the storm.
Then the lights went black, and the room erupted in panic. The little spark in my chest combusted, throwing me into a panic, too. I just stood there, holding Crescent Rose, frozen.
I was too late to do something. Do anything.
When we could see again, people had already died. There was blood on the ground.
And Penny, my Penny, my dear friend, was standing right in the middle of it all.
—
“How do they keep doing this?!” Yang shouts angrily, pounding her fist on the table as the screen replays the altered scene of the murders.
I never believed that Penny was the one who killed those people. Not for a moment.
But now we’ve been left entirely alone. Our small little group is all we have, and everyone else thinks that my best friend is a murderer. We’re running out of options, and we’re running out of time.
Before long they’ll find us, and they’ll take her away. They want to deactivate Penny. They want to kill her. I’d never see her again.
“I don’t know how they did it,” a voice says suddenly, startling us all, “But we gotta make sure Penny is protected.”
I look up. It’s May Marigold, a member of the Happy Huntresses, and one of our few remaining allies. She stands in the doorway to the main room of our little hideout, where we’ve been stowed away since the incident.
“Listen up kids!” she says sharply, “There is a way we can save her. There is one way, and you have to do it if you want her to live.”
“We’ll do whatever we have to,” I say firmly, and I mean it.
I have to protect Penny. No one else is going to die. Not on my watch.
“Alright then, here’s the deal,” May says, walking up to us and chucking her scroll onto the tabletop.
“What is it?” Yang asks.
Penny just stares at her lap, looking worried.
“One of you has to marry her.”
May says it bluntly, crossing her arms. There’s not a single hint that she’s joking. She’s being perfectly serious.
“WHAT?!” we all exclaim at once.
She rolls her eyes.
“If you want to protect her, she’s gonna have to marry one of you. If she’s someone’s spouse, the government can’t touch her. Apparently.”
“But we’re all wanted as well,” Blake points out, “Won’t it have to be a citizen of Mantel that marries her instead?”
“Apparently not,” May says, shrugging, “It seems like if you’re Penny’s legally married to someone, since she’s an android, it has more weight. They couldn’t take her away from her spouse, no matter who they are.”
“Seriously?” Weiss says, rubbing her forehead, “Wonderful. More disaster.”
“But Penny is a wanted criminal,” Ren says, “If she really is untouchable once she’s married, no one will do it. As soon as we try to get her married, they’ll turn us in.”
“Not a problem, for enough money,” May points out, “Qrow’s out looking for someone now. We can find a tiny apartment for the two to live. Now someone has to volunteer. One of you kids has to marry her, and I don’t think it will be in the best interests of me or Penny if you make me do it. It has to be one of-“
“I’ll do it,” I say immediately, putting my hand in the air.
“-you. Alright then,” May says.
“Is that okay with you, Penny?” I ask.
Penny’s clouded over expression immediately clears.
“Of course! Thank you so much friend Ruby, thank you,” she says, bowing her head.
“Don’t thank me, Penny,” I say softly, “Whatever we have to do to keep you safe, I’ll always do it.”
Penny smiles.
“Cute,” May says bluntly, pressing something into my hand.
I take a look. It’s two, thin gold wedding bands.
“Wedding’s tomorrow. Be ready then.”
—
Later that night, I’m up on the roof. It’s one of my favorites places lately. It feels like a place all my own, where I can just get away. Let the cold air cleanse my spirit, and just forget, even for a moment. Gaze out at Mantle and pretend everything’s okay.
I stare at the gold rings in my palm. I can’t believe I’m really going to marry Penny.
It’s an arranged situation. It’s so she can live, not just for kicks, and yet somehow, even in the night cold, the thought feels impossibly warm.
“Friend Ruby?”
Penny sits beside me, and I smile.
“Hi Penny.”
“Hi. I’m sorry you have to do this.”
She looks at her lap.
“Hey, I- Penny.”
I set my hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t apologize. Even if it’s kind of a crazy situation, I will do everything in my power to protect you. That will never change. And if us getting married is the way to do that, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“You really mean it?”
“One hundred percent.”
“That sounds like a wedding vow to me,” Penny says softly, and it might just be the cold, but she looks like she’s blushing.
Can androids even blush? I would think Penny could.
I giggle at her words.
“I suppose it is. We’ll be married tomorrow, anyway.”
“Yes.”
“Penny?”
“Hmm?”
She turns to look at me, and I hold out my arms for a hug. Her embrace is so warm. I bury my face into her shoulder.
“Wow, you guys make great wives already.”
I blush furiously, letting go of Penny to glare at my sister. Yang just laughs.
“Are you ready?” she asks.
I look at Penny.
“Yes,” we both say, at the exact same time.
—
Penny
Beds are so warm…
I can feel the drool pooling out of the side of my mouth, but I ignore it. I’m just… too warm…
“Penny!”
“Mm…?”
I roll over, blinking my eyes open sleepily.
My wife walks into our room, a wide smile on her face. She’s wearing a striped apron, and her face and clothes are dusted with flour.
She sits down beside me, on the bed we share. For some reason, May only bought us one when we moved in here. Something about a ‘more convincing act.’ I will admit though, sharing the bed with another person is very cozy, especially if that person is Ruby. It’s not much of a change, either, since we used to share her bed all the time when we would have sleepovers at Beacon.
All those days are starting to feel like a very long time ago now.
“Do you want to help me make pancakes?” Ruby asks, patting my head.
My eyes fly open. Pancakes?
“Yes!”
I sit up abruptly, wrinkling the messy sheets below me.
Ruby giggles.
“Come on then!”
She grabs my hand and pulls me out of the bed, and we run into the kitchen. We’re both still in our pajamas, and with messy bed hair, too.
“I’m almost done with the batter!” Ruby says, and I lean over her shoulder as she mixes it, watching her expertise at work.
It’s been two months since the day Ruby and I got married, and surprisingly, things have calmed down a little in Mantle.
We’re happy.
I never realized that being married to Ruby was what I had always wanted, but it seems it is. Living here, with her, is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
“Look Penny!”
I turn my attention back to Ruby as she’s pouring batter into a little round pan. We stare at it as it cooks. When it’s ready, she carefully slides a spatula underneath it, tongue sticking out the side of her mouth in concentration. I love it when she does that.
“Ah!” she cries as the pancake flies into the air, flipping perfectly back into the pan.
“You did it!”
“I did it!”
We laugh delightedly, staring at the big fluffy pancake in excitement.
As soon as it’s done (and a little less hot!), Ruby picks it up with her hands, taking a bite. An expression of bliss washes over her face.
“So yummy! Try it!”
She holds it out for me to take a bite.
It is delicious.
“Yum!” I cry.
We polish off the remaining pancake just like this, not even bothering to put butter.
After that, we make four more, sitting down at the table to eat them.
Ruby reaches for the syrup, pouring way too much onto her pancakes and shrieking as it overflows off the side of her plate. I grab a napkin to clean it before it pours in her lap, but I’m too busy laughing to be fast enough, and syrup drips onto her legs.
“Penny!”
“It is not my fault!”
We both burst out laughing, shoulders shaking, cheeks aching from smiling so much.
“Penny!” Ruby cries again, flying out of her chair and nearly knocking the pancakes off the table.
She jumps in my lap and starts tickling my sides, making me cry out with laughter. I try to grab her hands to still them, but she’s too fast, and I’m getting delirious from laughter.
Why did father have to make me ticklish?!
But it’s worth it, for every moment with Ruby.
When she finally stops tickling me, I gasp for breath, before trying to tickle her back.
“Ah, no way!” she shrieks, trying to twist out of my lap.
I hold her fast, not letting her escape, but giving up on tickling her. I just don’t want her to go.
I nuzzle her cheek, arms wrapped snugly around her small waist.
She giggles, putting her arms around my shoulders and hugging me back, snuggling closer. Her pretty smile makes me feel warm.
“Being married is the best!” Ruby says happily, “I can see why everyone does it!”
I freeze. Did she just…?
“Penny?” she says, picking up on my change in mood and leaning her face near mine, silver eyes fixed on mine.
“Ruby…” I say, “Are you glad you married me?”
She smiles again.
“Of course I am. I know it was just for your protection and all that… but really. Volunteering was the best decision I ever made.”
Tears bead in my eyes.
“I just figured… that yes, you were doing it for me, but… You make it seem like it’s really what you want.”
“I think.. I think it is,” Ruby says, her eyes sincere, “I was never upset that I had to do it, Penny. I could do it over a thousand times, but I’d never change a thing. I’d choose this every time.”
She leans her forehead against mine, and I let my eyes fall shut.
“It may not have really been our choice,” she says, “But there’s no one else I’d rather be married to.”
I blink the tears away, smiling again.
“That sounds like something someone would say when they were married for real,” I say.
Ruby smiles back.
“Was it ever really fake?”
Neither of us answers, however. Instead, the distance is closed between us once again, this time, our lips meeting softly. It feels like the moment I’ve waited for for forever.
“Are you happy, Penny?” Ruby asks softly.
“More than I’ve ever been before.”
She hugs me close, snuggling against me.
“Wanna stay my wife? For real?”
“Yes,” is all I can find to say.
I close my eyes, breathing in Ruby’s familiar scent, like roses, gunpowder, and vanilla. A bit like maple syrup, as well. I can’t help but giggle at that.
“I love you, Ruby.”
“Love you, too.”