Work Text:
Nicole didn't even know why she was mad. It wasn't like she and Ruby were together, which was mostly her fault. Their relationship was a hot-and-cold cycle, almost as if they were trying to make each other jealous. It was complicated—they'd shared countless intimate moments, kisses that lingered too long, touches that crossed the line between friends. But Nicole continued to deem their relationship as friends, because she was afraid. Afraid that their relationship would go up in flames after one wrong move. And so, she would dip her toes into the water, pulling them out before things got too far, even going as far as flirting with Brad to keep herself in line.
Yet no amount of distance could stop what was already happening. Her feelings were taking over, consuming her slowly, like thick, woody vines snaking up an oak tree and choking its branches in a stranglehold. They were becoming more than friends; their eyes would catch each other's every time they walked into the same room; they would stand close—too close—to each other when given the chance, and the endless list goes on.
But it was Valentine's Day; if Ruby really liked her back, she would take the chance to ask her out, right?
Four hours of staring at her phone. Four hours of waiting for Ruby's name to light up the screen, for those words: "do you wanna be my valentine?" But the screen remained dark, and with each passing minute, Nicole felt that hope crumble inside her chest.
She didn't want to make the first move because, well, it seemed right that Ruby should do it instead. And so, Nicole took it upon herself to ignore the redhead until she asked her out.
"Hey, Nic."
Nicole's breath caught. She froze mid-motion of clocking in, her card grasped in her hand, as that familiar voice—Ruby's voice—cut through the fog of her despair. Her heart pounded violently against her ribs, betraying every ounce of resolve she'd built over the past four hours. But she didn't turn. Every muscle in her body screamed at her to face Ruby, to respond to that voice that made her weak in the knees, but Nicole forced herself to remain still, staring straight ahead at the small machine mounted on the wall. Her jaw clenched as she heard Ruby's footsteps approaching her. She gripped her time card tighter, using the thin piece of plastic to keep herself rooted in place, refusing to give in—not yet, not until Ruby said the words she was waiting for.
"Nicole?" Ruby asked, her brow furrowed. "Are you okay?"
Feeling a light tap on her shoulder, the blonde swiped her card and turned around at last.
"Fine," she said with a curt nod, walking away before Ruby could say anything else.
The next three hours passed in a blur of orders and tables—apparently, heartbreak was the secret ingredient to actually getting work done. Nicole moved through the restaurant on autopilot, grateful for the distraction, grateful for anything that wasn't Ruby.
"Joey and I are clocking out early tonight," Amber announced, leaning against the counter with a dreamy smile. "We're having a romantic, home-cooked meal. I can't wait."
Trick snorted, leaning back against the wall with a smirk. "That the best he can do? Man's an executive chef, and he's still too broke to take you anywhere."
Bridgette rolled her eyes, but she was grinning as she nudged him hard in the ribs. "Oh, really? And where exactly are you taking me, hotshot?"
Trick caught her hand before she could jab him again, pulling her close with a lazy smirk. "Somewhere you'll actually enjoy, baby. Unlike a certain someone's sad little kitchen situation."
Bridgette smiled, content with her boyfriend's answer. She turned to Nicole, who was silently contemplating as she played with the ends of her light hair.
"What about you, Nicky? You're weirdly quiet today. Did something happen?"
Nicole stood a little straighter at the acknowledgement of her, looking up. "What do you mean? I'm fine. Just planning my wonderful evening of takeout and corny romcoms."
"What about Brad?" Amber asked, curious about her best friend.
"What about him?" Nicole blinked, returning her attention to her hair—anything to keep her mind off a certain crimson-haired line cook.
"Are you not gonna go out with him?"
"No, I'm not," she shook her head.
"How about Ruby?" Bridgette suggested, "There's something between you two; I can just feel it."
At the mention of Ruby, Nicole scoffed—a sharp, dismissive sound. "Something? Please. That's just the friction from her pretending not to know and me not caring. Very romantic."
Amber and Bridgette exchanged knowing glances, but Nicole was already turning away, done with the conversation. She needed to check the schedule anyway—see what fresh hell the week had in store for her.
The schedule board hung near the office, a chaotic mess of names and shifts scrawled in Terry's barely readable handwriting. Nicole scanned down to today's date, her eyes tracking across the closing shift.
Nicole - Server - Close
Ruby - Sous Chef - Close
Of course. Of course.
Her jaw tightened. She rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt, letting out a sharp breath through her nose. Six hours of waiting, and now the universe was forcing them to spend the entire closing shift together? Alone in the restaurant after everyone else left?
"Perfect," she muttered under her breath, turning on her heel. "Just perfect."
She needed to grab more napkins from the kitchen anyway. Might as well get this awkward encounter over with.
As expected, the kitchen was pure chaos—the hiss of the grill, the clatter of pans, the calls of "Behind!" and "Hot!" Nicole pushed through the swinging door, her eyes automatically finding Ruby at the line.
Ruby looked up the moment Nicole entered, her dark eyes locking onto her. There was something in her expression—hope? Confusion? Nicole couldn't tell and didn't want to. God, she really needed to stop noticing things like that.
"Hey, Nic—"
Nicole walked right past her, heading straight for the supply shelf in the back. She could feel Ruby's gaze burning a hole into her back.
"Nicole."
She grabbed a stack of napkins, keeping her movements deliberate and unhurried. Don't react. Resist the urge.
"Nicole, seriously?" Ruby's voice was closer now, tinged with frustration. "Are you really gonna ignore me?"
Nicole finally turned, her expression carefully neutral. "I'm working. You know, that thing we're supposed to be doing?"
Ruby's jaw clenched. "What's your problem?"
"I don't have a problem." Nicole's tone was light, almost breezy, as she adjusted the napkins in her arms. "Why would I have a problem?"
"You've been weird all day. You won't even look at me."
"I'm looking at you right now." Nicole met her eyes for exactly two seconds before glancing away, as if Ruby was just another coworker. Nothing special. "See? "Look-ing," she enunciated each syllable sassily, her eyebrows raised.
Ruby stepped closer, lowering her voice. The kitchen noise swirled around them, but it felt like they were in a bubble. "Did I do something? Because if I did, just tell me—"
"You didn't do anything." Nicole's smile was sharp, practiced. "Absolutely nothing. That's kind of the point, isn't it?"
Before Ruby could respond, Nicole brushed past her, her shoulder barely grazing Ruby's arm—close enough to feel the heat radiating off her, close enough to catch the faint smell of kitchen smoke and something distinctly Ruby.
"I've got tables," Nicole called over her shoulder, not looking back.
Ruby stood there, spatula still in hand, staring after her with confusion and frustration etched across her face. Her eyes drifted toward the kitchen door Nicole had just disappeared through—she was rattled. And she hated not understanding why.
Nico glanced over from the grill, raising an eyebrow. "Dude, how did you make her so pissed on Valentine's Day?"
The words hit Ruby like a blow to the face. Valentine's Day. Shit. Shit, shit, shit. She was going to ask Nicole out, and now Nicole hated her, and she had no idea why. Awesome.
By 10:47 p.m., the last table had paid their bill and left out into the cold night. Amber and Joey left together, her hand tucked into his jacket pocket. Trick and Bridgette followed shortly after, Bridgette's laughter echoing down the street. The kitchen fell quiet—no more tickets printing, no more shouting, just the hum of the walk-in cooler and the sound of closing duties.
Nicole wiped down the bar, hyper-aware of Ruby moving through the kitchen behind her. Every clink of a pan, every footstep on the tile floor made her shoulders tense. She could feel Ruby's presence like a physical thing, and she knew—knew—that Ruby could feel hers too. The air between them had shifted. It was just the two of them now.
The lights flickered off abruptly while Nicole was rolling the last of the silverware into the basket. Startled, she looked up to see Ruby's silhouette in the dark, standing in front of the entrance.
"You wanna lock up or should I?"
Naturally, Nicole didn't answer, just kept her eyes on the silverware as she finished rolling it into the basket.
"Fine then," Ruby said, her voice sharp. "I'll do it."
Nicole sighed and walked to the back to put on her coat before returning to the front, where Ruby was.
They both exited the bistro, the front door locking with a soft click.
Nicole huffed, turning away from Ruby to get to her car.
She stopped in the middle of her stride when a warm hand, neither tight nor loose, gripped her wrist. Taking a deep breath, she looked down at their hands, her skin tingling with anticipation.
"Nicole. Talk to me." Ruby's desperate voice cut through the silence, and Nicole's heart ached. "Please."
"Talk to you about what?"
"What did I do wrong?" Ruby ran a hand through her hair, "Tell me, and I'll make it up to you."
"I was waiting for you." Nicole said in a small voice, "All day, I've been waiting for you."
"What?" The redhead was beyond confused, waiting for what??
The blonde groaned, spinning around to leave again.
"Fuck- Nic, stop!" Ruby yelled, running a hand over her face as the realisation hit her like a brick. "Is this because of Valentine's Day?"
Nicole paused for a moment before facing the woman standing behind her.
"I'm so sorry, Nic, I completely forgot about today. Everything has just been such a blur, shit, I don't even know what day it is. I'm not big on holidays or whatever, and I'm just a big mess. I'm so unorganized, I don't have reminders on my phone, I'm just not the perfect and organized type that you are, okay? I-" She paused to take a breath, "I'll never be like you."
A tear ran down Nicole's cheek, and Ruby swiped it away with her thumb.
"Look, I fucked up. And I," Ruby looked deep into her eyes, like she could see through her, into her soul, "I'm missing you. I'm missing the way you light up when you laugh, your smile, that dirty look in your eyes. You were just so... empty today, and that ruined me, Nic. God, I can't handle seeing you upset."
The long-haired blonde laughed and sniffled, "You still haven't asked me yet."
"You light up my world. I'm sorry for getting all sappy, but I don't think I've ever wanted someone as much as I want you. Nicole Ashley Brown, will you be my valentine?"
Instead of answering, Nicole pulled Ruby's face down to meet hers in a passionate kiss, Ruby happily kissing her back. Even though they had done this before, it felt magical—like it was the first time.
They pulled apart for air, the visible breath vapour between them mingling. Nicole traced circles into Ruby's red hair and whispered, "That's all I ever wanted to hear."
The women's lips met in another kiss, Nicole's hands looped around Ruby's neck while the latter gripped her hips. Ruby's tongue swept Nicole's bottom lip, seeking entrance. The blonde moaned quietly as their tongues fought for dominance.
They broke apart again, their foreheads staying together. As Nicole caught her breath, Ruby asked, "My place or yours?"
"Yours," Nicole breathed, her fingers still tangled in Ruby's crimson hair. "Definitely yours."
The drive to Ruby's apartment was pure torture for both of them; they stole glances at each other, and Ruby's gentle but strong hand rested on her thigh, her thumb brushing against the blonde's soft skin. Nicole's heart hammered against her ribs, excitement coiling tight in her chest.
Ruby's apartment was small but warm—bookshelves filled with books in the living room, a worn leather couch, the faint smell of coffee and cinnamon. The door had barely clicked shut before Ruby's hands were on her waist again, pulling her close.
"I've wanted this for so long," Ruby murmured against Nicole's lips, walking her backward until her shoulders hit the wall.
"Then shut up," Nicole whispered, tugging at Ruby's shirt.
Ruby's laugh was low and breathless as she helped Nicole pull the fabric over her head. Nicole's fingers traced the lines of muscle along Ruby's shoulders, down her arms. Ruby shivered under her touch, her breath catching.
"You're so beautiful," Ruby said softly, her hands sliding under Nicole's shirt, warm palms against bare skin.
Nicole's response was lost in another kiss, deeper this time, more urgent. They stumbled toward the bedroom, shedding clothes along the way—Ruby's jeans kicked off near the couch, Nicole's shirt abandoned in the hallway.
When they finally tumbled onto Ruby's bed, tangled together in the dim light filtering through the curtains, everything else fell away. There was only the warmth of skin against skin, and the sound of breathless laughter and whispered names.
Later, as they lay wrapped in each other's arms, Ruby pressed a kiss to Nicole's temple. "You hungry?"
Nicole caressed Ruby's jaw, "Trust me, I just had one hell of a meal."
"You're insane," Ruby chucked, her warm breath against Nicole's neck.
"You love it." After a small pause, the blonde added, “It was so hard trying to ignore you all day… I’m sorry.”
She felt Ruby’s smile against her hair, “That difficult trying to resist me, huh?”
Nicole turned away, trying to hide her blush, “Don’t flatter yourself too much.”
A moment of silence passed as they both savoured the sated afterglow of their passion. Ruby turned Nicole's face towards hers, the tips of their noses touching.
"Stay," she whispered.
Nicole's fingers traced lazy patterns on Ruby's collarbone. "I'm not going anywhere."
Five Years Later
Nicole woke to sunlight streaming through the curtains.
Stretching her arms, her hand reached across the sheets instinctively, finding only cool fabric where her wife should have been. For a split second, her chest tightened, but then she heard it: the muffled sound of giggles from the hallway, the creak of floorboards, Ruby's hushed voice saying, "Shh, careful, baby. We don't want to wake mama up, do we?"
Nicole smiled, sinking back into the pillows.
The bedroom door swung open, and there they were—Ruby balancing a tray full of coffee, pancakes, and strawberries, and their daughter, Grace, clutching a fistful of daisies like they were the most precious treasure in the world. The two-year-old's blonde curls—so much like Nicole's—bounced as she toddled forward, her pajamas mismatched and one sock missing.
"Mama!" Grace squealed, launching herself onto the bed with the reckless confidence only toddlers possessed.
Nicole caught her, laughing as tiny hands patted her cheeks. "Good morning, Gracie."
"We made b'ekfast!" Grace announced proudly, though the syrup smudge and crumbs on her chin made Nicole think she'd sampled it first.
Ruby set the tray carefully on the nightstand, leaning down to press a kiss to Nicole's forehead. "Happy Valentine's Day."
Nicole's throat tightened, the same way it did every year when Ruby did this—when she remembered, when she planned, when she made sure Nicole knew she was loved. "You set an alarm again, didn't you?"
"Every year," Ruby said softly, brushing a strand of blonde hair from Nicole's face. "I'm never forgetting this day again."
Grace wiggled between them, holding up the daisies. "Fowers for you, Mama!"
"They're beautiful, sweetheart." Nicole took them, inhaling their faint, earthy scent. "Did you pick these out?"
"Mommy helped," Grace admitted, then pointed at the tray. "And pancakes! With strawb'ies!"
Ruby handed Nicole the coffee—made exactly how she liked it, two sugars, a splash of cream—and settled onto the bed beside them. Grace immediately climbed into her lap, stealing a strawberry from the plate.
"There's a card too," Ruby said, nodding toward the tray.
Nicole picked it up, her fingers tracing the construction-paper heart glued to the front—clearly Grace's handiwork, complete with glitter and crooked edges. Inside, Ruby's handwriting was messy but familiar:
To my beautiful, stunning, wonderful Valentine,
Five years ago, I thought I'd ruined everything. Now I wake up every day grateful I didn't. You and Gracie are my whole world.
Love,
Your favourite mess
Nicole's eyes stung. She set the card down carefully, reaching for Ruby's hand. "You're ridiculous."
"I know." Ruby grinned, squeezing her fingers. "But you love it."
Grace, oblivious to the moment, shoved a pancake piece toward Nicole's mouth. "Mama! Eat!"
Nicole laughed, taking the bite. "It's perfect, baby. Thank you."
They ate together in the warm morning light—Grace rambling about the "big fowers" at the store, Ruby stealing bites from Nicole's plate, syrup somehow ending up on the sheets despite their best efforts. It was chaotic and messy and exactly what Nicole had never known she wanted.
When Grace finally wiggled free to find the cat plushie she'd left in the hallway, Ruby leaned back against the headboard, pulling Nicole into her arms.
"I can't believe you planned all of this, you're too amazing," Nicole murmured, closing her eyes as hugging the strong arms enveloping her.
"Thanks," Ruby's lips curled up into a small smile against Nicole's hair. "You're really amazing too."
"I'll never be like you."