Chapter Text
It was a cool Halloween night and Penny Polendina found herself sitting in a circle of friends right across from her adorable girlfriend Ruby. The night had been going really well and this was her first time ever really going to a party. Yang had invited her and Ruby and while Ruby usually didn’t come to her sister's parties, Penny absolutely wanted to dress up and see what fun costumes people would wear. Her orange braided curls bounced with excitement when Ruby came to pick her up. Penny had found a witches hat big enough to fit over her near endless braids and a matching dress with more frills and fluff than most ballroom gowns. The outfit had nearly swallowed Ruby when Penny almost tackled her in a hug. After untangling herself from her girlfriend, Penny got to get a good look at what she wore. Her girlfriend stood in what Penny felt was a rather dashing suit jacket and her normal thick black boots. The attire wouldn’t look that out of place on Ruby except now a pair of massive bolts stuck out from the sides of her neck, accompanied by a painted scar over her left eye that lead up to a streak of silvery white hair. “Frankstein!” Penny pointed out with much glee before the two made their way to the party.
People from all the different programs of the college had shown up to this party. Yang had made a habit of either getting to know as many people as possible, or causing just as many people trouble. Penny could swear that she even saw some of campus security participating in enjoying the food table and some of the punch. It had been a wonderful time, but as the night went on, people began to slowly leave, some having obligations in the morning, others wanting more wilder pursuits, and some were just tired. It was down to about only a dozen friends that Penny actually recognized when Yang got a devious smile on her face and suggested they all play a game. That’s how Penny found herself seated on the floor, drink in hand and with a spinning bottle right in front of her. When the bottle stopped it had pointed at her and a deep blush began to creep up her face as the bottle had previously pointed at Ruby. With a wicked grin and glint in her eye, Yang ushered the two off to a small private room in the house. Now they weren’t the first pair to get caught up in this, plenty of others had returned with lipstick marks and or disheveled hair. Yang pointedly went first with Blake and came back with smeared lipstick all across her face and neck. This led to Penny having a loose idea what was happening, but still being incredibly nervous and judging by the look on Ruby’s face, she probably felt the same.
The two of them plopped down on a makeshift bench and with a giggle, Yang shut the door and left them there. They had seven minutes and the immense social pressure to keep the pair company. “I am so sorry about this” Began Ruby “I love her to death but Yang can be pushy at times.” Her hands fidgeted and the color on her face gave her name a run for its money. “If you wanna go, we can go. I can completely understand this being a bit-” Penny just rested her hand on Ruby’s and the girl calmed down a bit. “I’m having a wonderful time Ruby, but if you want to go, we can go.” Ruby began to relax and began to lean on Penny, head resting on the upper arm of her ‘oh so tall’ girlfriend. “No, I'm also having a lot of fun. I just want to make sure you’re not uncomfortable.” Penny squeezed her hand, and the two enjoyed the quiet company. Penny was glad that Ruby was comfortable with whatever pace they set, and yet a thought came to her. Maybe it was the atmosphere of the party, maybe it was the few accidental sips of whatever Yang had been drinking throughout the night, but as she looked down and beheld the girl now breathing gently next to her Penny couldn’t seem to help herself. Right as their time was up and just before Yang opened the door, Penny leaned down, uttered Ruby’s name, and as the girl turned to address her, Penny stole a kiss right from her lips, soft, gentle and quickly. She then got up and was already walking out the small room, leaving an absolutely stunned Ruby and failing to hide her own bright beaming smile as she made it back to the group.
As she sat back down no one had paid her any mind except for Weiss. Penny couldn’t quite figure out the look she was getting from the girl, as Weiss was wearing an exceptionally good Phantom of the Opera mask, she could at least tell the girl's face was a bit flushed and she looked like she wanted to say something but alas she refused to share. Maybe Penny would ask Ruby later, Weiss had been her roommate for well over a year and while occasionally butting heads, the two were obviously very good friends. Penny also quite liked Weiss on the occasions they hung out together. Much to Penny’s surprise, she had learned they were from the same city, though unlike Penny, Weiss never enrolled in Atlas University and instead came to Cross County, a rival school, of her own choice, much to the chagrin of her father.
Eventually Ruby returned to the group and the night went on. The bottle continued to spin with much humor and even some surprises, the bubbly Nora having kissed almost everyone in the group being the biggest so far. The bottle landed on Penny for the fourth time that night followed promptly by Weiss. Once the two were sat on the bench, it became clear to Penny that something had been on Weiss’s mind. As the night went on, she stole more and more looks at Ruby and Penny and had slowly become a bit more snappy. Perhaps she had gotten her drink from the wrong punch bowl. Before Penny could breach the subject though, Weiss cut her off. “So how was it?” Weiss had removed her mask and begun to fiddle with it. “How was what, Weiss?” “How was Ruby? I mean how did it feel to kiss her? I know you did. Your smile said it all” Weiss’s eyes sank towards the floor. “Are you ok? Did I do something wrong?” Pondered Penny. With that Weiss snapped her head up and shook wildly before sighing. “No…. no, this was my own fault. The only person to blame is myself.” “Wanna talk about it? It’s just the two of us here.” Weiss would give her a look of skeptical contemplation only to be met with such a face of genuine concern and kindness that she could not help but open up.
“When I first met Ruby, I despised her. All I saw was a clumsy girl with more guts then brains and zero idea on how to plan for her future. And yet, when I faltered and failed she had been there to pick me back up. And that's when things started to change. We found we could work very well together, the arguments turned to plans and she quickly became one of my best friends. Yet part of me knew I wanted to be more than just friends with her. And yet I refused to acknowledge that part of myself, refused to acknowledge those feelings until it was far too late. That day she introduced me to you Penny, was when that illusion shattered and I realized what I was truly feeling. And on top of it all, I bore witness to how fantastic you are as well and how you two were together. You’re a good friend Penny, even despite how jealous I am of you and how much I wish it was me sharing a kiss with her tonight. I missed my chance, but I refuse to hold it against you. I will move on from this, eventually.” Weiss’s face looked anguished and miserable but her eyes and brows seemed resolute and firm. She truly did not want to throw a wrench into her best friend's relationship, so Penny would just have to do that for her.
“Then you should ask her out tonight.”