Winter Has Already Come

“Good news. I’ve signed us up for the neighborhood talent show.” 

“Talent… show?” 

Ruby nodded and reached for a pair of tomatoes, pausing for a moment when she remembered their world was black and white. She took a knife and sliced a piece off the fruit to taste it before continuing to slice it up and add it to the pot in front of her. “I figured that it’d be a great way for us to get to know the neighbors and to have a bit of fun. How do you feel about doing a magic act?” 

“Ruby, we  do not know any magic tricks.” 

“I know, but… it’d be fun to learn.” Ruby finished stirring the stew she was making and quickly covered it to let it finish. “I checked out a few books from the library and its all just illusions anyway. All we have to do is make it seem like something’s levitating or appear out of thin air and then we can live a normal life with friends and neighbors.”

“I am still not sure I like this idea.” 

Ruby walked over to Penny and took her hand. “Everything will be fine. No one will find out you’re an android or that you’re a maiden. You’ll just be you.” 

Penny nodded and smiled. “If you’re sure.” 

“I am. Now please, go wash up before dinner. It’ll be ready soon.” 

Ruby let Penny go and watched her walk up the stairs and to their room. Her body relaxed once Penny was out of sight and she sat down on the couch and turned on the radio to listen to some music. This world was perfect. No grimm, no Salem, just her and Penny living a perfect, normal life. 

She closed her eyes for a moment as she listened to the music from the radio, keeping a nose on the smell of the stew as it cooked. 

The music cut out for a moment, and a new voice came out from the radio. 

“Ruby, are you there?” the voice asked. “Can you hear me?” 

Ruby opened her eyes and quickly changed the dial on the radio to another station, letting Weiss’s voice fade away. And yet, her heart raced. The very idea that Weiss had been looking for her shook her to her core. She was happy here, and now someone wanted to pull her away from it. 

She took a deep breath and tried to relax again. “I wont let them distract me or destroy what I have now.” 

“Who’s trying to distract you?” Penny asked as she entered the room again. 

“No one,” Ruby lied as she sat up. “Just talking to myself about the talent show tomorrow.”

“You were always nervous being out in front of a crowd.” 

Ruby nodded and went to dish up the stew in a pair of bowls. “But I’m better when I have you around me.” 

“Everything will be fine.” 

Ruby smiled and brought a bowl over to Penny, pausing for a moment. “Scallions. I forgot the scallions.” She ran over to the kitchen, opened the fridge and pulled out some scallions. She grabbed a knife and started to cut them, wincing as the blade of the knife sliced into her finger. 

She quickly went to wash her hand and the scallions, pausing when she saw red blood against her skin. 

Penny walked over. “Everything okay?” 

“Just a small knick,” Ruby said as she quickly found the first aid kit and bandaged her finger. “Cut the scallions too quickly.” 

Penny nodded and kissed her. “If you’re sure, my love.”