FOR THE RECORD
wordcount: 1289 summary: After losing yet another case to the infuriatingly smug defense attorney across the street, you finally storm into Ruby's office to demand answers. Unfortunately, the answer turns out to be months of unresolved tension, stolen glances, and one very overdue kiss. warnings: wlw, normal au, defense attorney ruby x prosecutor reader, fem!reader, ruby is a smug little shit (love her tho), professional rivalry, mess w your crush n annoy them cause u like them type of vibe– think that’s all !!!
The hearing ends at four thirty-seven. (Not that you're counting or anything…) "Counselors" Judge Martinez says, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I have made my ruling" You don't look at Ruby– you don't. Opting to stare at your notes instead, jaw clenched as the judge grants her motion. Again. Across the aisle, Ruby is infuriatingly calm. No celebration, no smug grin– just that composed expression she always wears when she wins. Which somehow? Makes it all that much worse. "Anything further?" The judge asks.
"No, your Honor" The stupidly smug defense attorney says smoothly. You gather your files before court is even adjourned, ignoring her little proud hum.
By the time you make it back to your office, you're still irritated– not because you lost. You can handle losing. (Mostly…) I mean, it’s part of the job, being a prosecutor wasn’t exactly a highly successful profession.
It's Ruby. It's always Ruby. The way she notices every weakness in an argument before you've even finished making it, the way she seems to know exactly which buttons to push, the way she somehow occupies an embarrassing amount of your thoughts. You dump your briefcase beside your desk and glance automatically toward the window and there she is– across the street, third floor, corner office. Looking right back at you.
Narrow your eyes, you watch as Ruby lifts a sheet of paper, her large black letters pressed right against the window: STOP GLARING AT ME
Your jaw drops. Then, without any hesitation– you raise your middle finger. Across the street, Ruby throws her head back laughing. Laughing. You’re glaring at her, clearly frustrated and she’s actually laughing. Something inside you snaps.
Ten minutes later, you're marching through the lobby of her building. The receptionist barely glances up– apparently your visits have become expected. Wonderful, something less for you to deal with. You take the elevator to the third floor, storm down the hallway and walk directly into Ruby's office without knocking. She doesn't even look surprised– she's sitting behind her desk, suit jacket discarded over the back of her chair, sleeves rolled neatly to her elbows. Unfair.
"Y’know" She says, tapping a pen against her chin and turning around in her chair to face you. "That took longer than I expected, definitely lost bets with a lot of people"
"You're impossible"
"Good evening to you too" Ruby hums simply, clearly unbothered by your evergrowing annoyance.
You point accusingly toward the window. "What is wrong with you?"
The other woman glances over her shoulder, pointing at the window with her pen. "The note?"
"Yes, Ruby the note"
A pause, she shrugs. "I thought it was funny"
"Well you thought wrong"
"Hm" You hate the way she says that, you hate the way she tilts her head, you hate the way she always seems three steps ahead. Ruby studies you for a moment, that quiet intensity you always see in her face when in court. Then says: "You're really angry about a piece of paper?"
"I'm not angry about the paper" You huff defensively, still annoyed but feeling a bit thrown off guard now that she so boldly called you out.
"No?"
"No"
A slow smile appears on her face. "Oh"
Immediate regret about opening that office door. "Oh?" You repeat.
Ruby rises from her chair– not quite crowding you, but still leaving little to no space between the two of you. "Then what are you angry about?"
Nothing. Everything. Months of this. Months of courtroom arguments, sarcastic notes, stolen glances through office windows, months of pretending there isn't something simmering beneath every charged interaction. You cross your arms. "Do you do this with every opposing counselor?" The question leaves your mouth before you can stop it.
"Do what?"
"This" You gesture vaguely between the two of you. "The notes, the comments, the emotional warfare… Whatever the Hell this is"
“Well you’re a bit dramatic today” Ruby hums, that sharp tongued, teasing sarcasm shining through as bright as ever. But still, she takes a brief pause and gives you a slightly more serious answer. "You think I stare into every prosecutor's office at midnight?"
Heat rushes into your face, so you quickly try to brush it off with a scoff. "You're impossible"
"There it is again"
"Because you are being an ass"
She tilts her head in amused interest, still eyeing you up and down like a predator about to pounce. "And yet you came over here" You open your mouth, ready with another argument, another insult, another excuse– nothing comes out. Because she's right, infuriating– but right nonetheless. Ruby's smile softens around the edges. Not much, just enough to be noticeable. "See, that's what I thought"
"Oh, shut up"
"No"
You roll your eyes, half utterly desperate and half somewhat amused. "I am genuinely starting to understand why half the courthouse hates you"
"Only half?"
You groan, dragging a hand down your face. "How do you do that?"
"Do what?" She hums with faux confusion.
"Turn every conversation into an argument" Ruby's laugh is quiet this time– less victorious, more fond. The realization hits you like a truck. Fond. God. That's somehow worse. You stare at her and she stares right back. For once? Neither of you says anything– no sarcastic comments, no objections, no clever comebacks… Just silence, the kind that's been building for months.
Ruby breaks it first, because of course she does. (Silence doesn’t agree with her) "You're staring again"
You shoot her a deadpan glare. "You’ve literally been staring into my office for the past three months"
"Four actually"
"That is not helping your case"
She’s quick to retort– that smart little shit. "I'm a defense attorney, I don't need a case"
The laugh escapes before you can stop it and Ruby's expression changes immediately. Like she's won something. "Oh, don't look so pleased with yourself" You quickly chime in.
"Too late"
You shake your head– unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable. And yet? You take a step closer. Ruby doesn't move, doesn't smirk, doesn't make a joke. For the first time since you've known her, she looks uncertain. Just for a second. It's enough. "You are the most irritating person I've ever met."
"I know" Her admission catches you off guard.
Ruby's gaze flickers briefly to your mouth before returning to your eyes. And suddenly every stolen glance through those stupid windows makes sense. Every note, every late night, every argument, every excuse to keep talking. "Oh"
Ruby huffs out a laugh. "Yeah, no shit"
"Oh" You repeat, the realization still slowly sinking in.
"That's about how I felt too"
Something warm blooms in your chest. You don't give yourself time to think about it– you lean in and Ruby meets you halfway. Mouths finally touching after months of going off at each other. Her lips are soft– somewhat that’s surprising. Sure, they were always pretty (like every other thing about her, infuriating much) but it’s probably the only thing about this woman that could be described as ‘soft’ in any way.
When you pull apart, she's smiling– not smug, not victorious. For once, she’s just smiling. It's almost unsettling. "There she is" She hums, smug as ever..
You narrow your eyes immediately. "Don't ruin this"
"I'm not ruining anything"
"You absolutely are"
Ruby reaches for the legal pad sitting on her desk. Before you can stop her, she scribbles something down and turns it around: STOP GLARING AT ME.
Stare at it– then at her, then back at the note. "Seriously?" This childish, infuriatingly adorable woman. Her grin widens, clearly enjoying getting a rise out of you.
You snatch the pen from her hand. Beneath it, you write: MAKE ME.
Ruby looks at the note. Then at you. "Gladly"
