Sakuya arrived at the outskirts of Beacon, a sprawling academy nestled in the heart of the kingdom. The grand, almost intimidating structure was bustling with students, a constant flow of life that made her task of infiltration more difficult. Her goal was the Headmaster's office, a place of power and secrets. A simple, almost childlike logic led her to the student dormitory. It was a school day, which meant the students would be in class, leaving their living quarters deserted. The thought of an easier path was a welcome one.
"Coast is clear," she whispered, her voice a soft murmur in the quiet hallway. She peeked around a slightly ajar door, her eyes scanning the empty corridor before she slipped inside.
"Finally, I'm in."
The dormitory was a labyrinth of identical doors and unmarked corridors. "I need a map," she muttered, a hint of frustration in her tone. Then, as if an answer to her plea, her eyes landed on a large, detailed map of Beacon Academy pinned to a nearby wall.
"Convenient," she remarked, a small smile playing on her lips. She quickly memorized her path, her destination clear: the Headmaster's office.
Her run through the corridors was a blur of motion, her focus singular. A sudden turn around a corner brought her to an abrupt halt. A teacher, a stern-looking man with a book clutched in his hand, was coming from the opposite direction. Panic flared. She didn't have time to react, to think. Her hand reached out, fumbling with the nearest doorknob. It was unlocked. She slipped inside, closing the door just as the teacher's footsteps faded away.
"Safe," she breathed, leaning against the door.
A small, inquisitive sound made her jump. "Uhm?"
"Hold up, wait a minute, something ain't right," she thought, her eyes darting around the room. She wasn't alone. A girl with short black hair and a vibrant red cape was sitting on a bed, a half-eaten cookie in her hand. The sight was so funny, so innocent, that it made Sakuya's carefully constructed professional demeanor crumble.
"..."
"..."
"I'm just going to go," Sakuya said, her voice barely above a whisper as she slowly reached for the doorknob.
"Please! Don't tell the teachers I'm skipping class to eat Dad's cookies!" the girl blurted out, her voice filled with a desperate, nervous energy. She had moved so fast that she was now standing in front of the door, blocking Sakuya's exit.
"Wait, is your name by any chance Ruby?" Sakuya asked, a glimmer of recognition in her eyes.
"Yes! My name is Ruby Rose, at your service!" she declared, a cheerful, bright smile spreading across her face.
"So... cute and bright," Sakuya thought, her own mood brightening. She quickly snapped out of it, reminding herself of her mission.
"Okay, there's been a bit of a misunderstanding. I wasn't supposed to be here, so I have to go," she said, once again reaching for the doorknob.
"Then why are you here?" Ruby asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "You don't look like a teacher, but you look like a maid... are you Weiss's maid, sent by her parents?"
"Uh, yes! Yes, I am," Sakuya blurted out, latching onto the convenient lie. "I'm here to, uh, bring something to her."
"Oh, then let me take you to her! Well, maybe at lunchtime," Ruby said nervously, a hint of a lie in her tone.
"Uh, sure," Sakuya replied, equally nervous.
"So, you like cookies?" Ruby asked, her eyes wide with childlike wonder. Sakuya could swear there were stars twinkling in them.
"Well, I can make cookies if you want," Sakuya offered, a rare moment of genuine kindness escaping her. The words had the desired effect. Ruby's eyes lit up, and before Sakuya knew it, she was being dragged through the labyrinthine corridors and into the school's kitchen.
"Hold up, how on Earth?" Sakuya muttered, completely bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
"Here!" Ruby exclaimed, gesturing grandly at the kitchen. "Go and make me cookies!" And with that, she was gone, leaving Sakuya alone in the massive, industrial kitchen.
"Man..." she sighed, before a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. Time seemed to stop as she moved with a supernatural speed, a flurry of flour and sugar, a symphony of baking.
After what felt like a moment and an eternity, time resumed its natural flow.
"I'm back!" Ruby called out, entering the kitchen with a bounce in her step. "Eh?"
The kitchen was spotless, and a fresh batch of cookies, still warm from the oven, lay on a tray. Sakuya stood there, her hands clasped in front of her, the perfect picture of a professional maid.
"It's all done, Miss Rose," she said, her voice as smooth and polished as her persona.
Ruby grabbed a cookie, taking a huge bite. Her eyes widened, and a sound of pure bliss escaped her lips.
"...THIS IS THE GREATEST COOKIE I HAVE EVER EATEN!" she declared, her voice echoing through the kitchen.
"Oh my, she's adorable!" Sakuya thought, a genuine smile on her face. She quickly regained her focus.
"So, Ruby, can you bring me to the Headmaster? I have something to give him from Jacques Schnee," she said, her tone professional once more.
"Uh, ma-ybe- later," Ruby replied, her mouth full of cookies. "I'm eating right now."
"She's not even chewing," Sakuya thought, before her eyes widening in disbelief. "I can tell it's... is she just breathing it in!?"
After finishing her last cookie with a satisfied sigh, Ruby beamed up at Sakuya. "All done!" she announced happily, her hand shooting out to grab Sakuya's. "Now let's go!"
"Wait, wait, slow down!" Sakuya pleaded, barely keeping up as Ruby pulled her down the bustling hallway. Her words caught in her throat as Ruby suddenly looked back, a mischievous grin on her face. It was just a second, but it was all it took. Ruby tripped on an uneven floor tile, and they both tumbled forward. Sakuya braced for impact, but the world was a blur of motion before she found herself pinned to the floor, her lips inches from Ruby's.
"So..." Sakuya began, her voice barely a whisper, her face flushing crimson. She scrambled to her feet, offering a hand to Ruby.
Ruby took it, her own cheeks tinged with pink. She rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "Sorry about that! I guess I got a little too excited."
"No, no, it's totally fine," Sakuya said, trying to steady her racing heart. "Let's just... keep going to the headmaster's office, okay?"
"Yeah, sure!" Ruby said, her usual cheerful energy returning in a flash. She led Sakuya to a sleek, chrome elevator. "Here it is!"
Sakuya bowed slightly. "Thank you so much, Ruby."
"No problem at all! And you really don't have to bow, we're friends now, right?" Ruby grinned, giving her a friendly wave before heading back down the hall.
"What a cute girl," Sakuya thought to herself, a small, genuine smile on her lips. The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and her focus immediately sharpened.
The mission. She stepped inside, the doors sliding shut as she began her ascent to the headmaster's office.