Chapter Text
(Final Chapter. Warning. Worst writing quality of the bunch. Too burnt out.)
Chapter 4
Fold & Bail – The Untenable Bet.
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– Rubies are Red. Roses are too. But what kind of huntress, does that make you?
An emotional slipstream; from blinking bewilderment to unease to suspicion then denial because it wasn't possible he'd gotten her scroll number, just, impossible... But apparently it might well be the case.
In the end, Ruby's natural curiosity decided it. The way the word, Red, stood out couldn't be ignored. Still, Ruby hesitated, finger hovering nervously, as if the message would somehow bite her.
Feeling silly, she scoffed and tapped it open.
From Unknown :: ("A scroll not set on silent within thirty seconds of this message being marked as read sings what?")
"Crap baskets." Ruby scrambled to check the settings tab while scampering to the open balcony door. She'd set her scroll to auto-activate silent mode past 8pm, but better safe than noisily sorry.
Confirming it enabled with tent seconds to spare and feeling glad she'd taken the couch, Ruby padded out onto the balcony, gently sliding closed the door behind her.
The fresh night breeze and star-filled sky provided a welcome respite from the stuffy suite, but it didn't calm the wild speculations regarding Torchwick's motives from blitzing about her tired brain.
Pranks? Blackmail? Mockery? Whatever his reasons, she'd damn well give him a piece of her mind...
Bzzz-Bzzz
Inhaling deeply, exhaling slowly, Ruby hit (Answer), raised the scroll to her ear and, nursing a fragile hope it wasn't him, choked out an almost polite "H-hello."
"Hey there Red. How's my favourite little swashbuckler fairing this evening? Partying hard or hardly partying?"
The voice sounded slightly altered, but its cocksure attitude, tone and inflections effectively fumigated the feeble butterflies of hope in her belly, and from their corpses inarticulate fury irrupted.
"Y-y-y-you-you-you-you-you-you-you-you-YOU!" Ruby sputtered, struggling to moderate her volume.
"This again?" Torchwick groaned "Red, You're worrying me. Did you have a stroke on your way to the dust shop? I don't remember you being quite this retarded at the park."
Recomposing herself, Ruby hissed "h-how did you get my number?!"
Playing coy, he drawled "Sorr-ryyy. Trade secret."
"Theft of personal information is a crime! You're a criminal!"
"Ooo you catch on fast. Way to go clever-clogs. But as you've surely deduced, I'm more than your average pickpocket. See, crime, its my passion, my paycheck my... calling. Something where work and play are one in the same; not dissimilar to what you probably imagine being a full-fledged huntress feels like. Speaking of which. Stellar performance, Red. Bravo." He actually applauded "Absolutely nailed it. I mean, yes, you missing the curtain call and chasing me did slightly complicate things, but ya can't deny we improvised one hell of an encore. Risky but worth it "
"Worth it... I, I cannot believe you!" Ruby hissed squeakily, sputtering "You shot at me, four times!"
"Five, actually."
"Wow that's sooo much better." Ruby falsettoed sarcastically.
"And you shamelessly tried to bisect my precious bowler, you little monster, and you did it right after shooting that poor guy's hat."
"Oh screw your stupid bowler."
Mortified, Torchwick gasped "No. No! This won't stand. You do NOT mess with a man's hat, Red." Such a emphatic admonishment.
"Enough about the hat already!" Ruby squeaked "What were you thinking pulling that dust crystal stunt!? There were civilians in that building!" The floodgates of wrath had burst.
"I know. Wasn't it great." The bastard crowed, his outrage magically vanishing so suddenly it gave her whiplash "You totally saved the day, well ignoring your little, episode. I mean what was that about? You'll never make it as a huntress if you freeze up under pressure. But fear not, Professor Torchwick's patent teaching method has already put you on the right track to cultivating solid stress-tested crisis management skills. Haha, finally that teaching licence I forged is earning its keep."
His cavalier condescension only further aggravated her "You endangered innocent lives and you're treating it like entertainment!"
"No more than any journalist would. And why wouldn't I? Its a solid narrative. Young heroine confronts notorious criminal, protects shop owner, defeats henchmen, saves building full of civilians blah-blah-blah then Glynda Gatecrasher Goodwitch drops outta nowhere to assist... No seriously, how'd she get up there?" He sighed "Only downside was Ol' Witchy-poo and Queen Bitch totally upstaged us with that lights-show. Still; all's well that ends with a bang, I say."
"It did not end well! If it had you'd be in prison!" Ruby snapped, fist clenched "D-do you even care that your actions could've killed innocents?"
"Do you?"
"...What?!" She choked off her shout "What's that supposed to mean!?"
"Pfft. Nevermind. You wouldn't get it. I swear, do-gooders like you spewing your whiny sophistry, can't see the forest for the fucken trees..." Torchwick grumbled, blandly amending "But that's just who you are."
Exasperation flooded Ruby "And if I'd known who you are, I'd have never... Rggh! You tricked me, you stupid jerk!"
"If I'm stupid, what does that make you?"
"Dust. Do you ever deactivate that semblance?" Ruby bitterly snarked, audibly confusing him.
"Semblance?"
"Douchebaggery amplification. Cause you just keep getting doucheier."
"Ohohoho, this coming from the girl who's semblance is farting rose petals."
"I don't f-f-fart, ugh, grr-y-youuu..." Coherency again fled Ruby.
"Sounding a little constipated there, Red. What, the flachalence acting up again? Well don't abstain on my account. As the saying goes; wherever you be, let ya rose petals blow free." He giggled.
Flushing, Ruby got prickly "You'd know about blowing wind Mister Compulsive Monologuist."
"And Glorious monologues they are. No-no, please, keep being jealous."
"Excuse me a moment; my narcissism detector just exploded." Ruby irately sassed.
"Hey Red, shut up a moment. Are you standing outside?"
Ruby blinked, thrown for a loop "Huh? Y-yes, on the hotel balcon...Wait, what's it to you, Creepwick?""
"Tsc. Creepwick, hehe. What hotel was that again?"
"Oh its the... Grrr. Like I'd tell you!"
"Actually wait, don't tell me."
"Wasn't going to." She groused, pouting.
Short silence, then "Brace yourself Red. Ya old pal Creepwick may be about to get creepier.. Sooo, hotels with balconies. The background traffic and wind noise says you're pretty high up, and that faint in-house electro funk, only one shithole nightclub in Vale plays that classless trash; meaning you're either staying at The Freeform Cannery orrrrr more likely The Fort Port Hotel; stupid-ass name. Aaaaand at a glance, on the one-two-three, seventh floor, fifth room's balcony of the latter... Huh, pink love-heart pyjama bottoms, pfft, looking good Red. Teehee."
"Eeeeep!?." Darting closer to and crouching behind the covered guardrail in a puff of rose-petals, Ruby peeked over it, silver eyes scanning the beautifully expansive view of southern Vale, her aura now amusedly warning of observers unseen. She wasn't embarrassed, she was simply... taking cover from potential enemy fire; yes, like any sensible huntress would "W-where are you?!"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
Dust! The smugness of this man.
"Yes I really would like to know so I can come over and kick your creepy, evildoing butt."
"Ooooo, fighting crime in your PJ's. You'll be an inspiration for aspiring huntsmen everywhere. A positively global phenomenon."
"Were you following me? Spying on me?" Ruby demanded, ignoring his provocation, then gasped "You're a stalker."
"Uhh, no. Did you not just hear me piecing clues together. Good grief Red. You'll never make it as a huntress if you're this sloooooow." He drawled in baritone.
"I'll make it just fine because there's no way you figured all that out from background noise alone you lying, stalky, stalking-stalker!."
"Heeey, you make me sound like some low budget B-movie slasher; and accusing me of lying too, how rude." The sound of a lighter igniting followed, then "Look Red, you don't survive as long as I have in this business without knowing your own territory inside and out; although admittedly the helpful clues you blabbed made it way easier. Ever heard of Op-Sec? You'll never make it as a huntress with those loose lips. I mean you just sunk your own battleship." Torchwick chortled.
"Stop saying that." Ruby whined pitifully, peeking further over the rail...
"Oh for the love of... stand up and talk like a normal person. I know I know, tall order; but seriously, the Pjs aren't that bad. Honest."
He had a point, and she refused to be ashamed of her favourite pyjamas.
Standing, Ruby accused "You really enjoy making people feel uncomfortable, huh."
"Wouldn't do it if I didn't."
"How are you watching me anyway?" Maybe if she pressed this angle he'd expose his location.
"Ten points for effort, zero for execution. Buuuut, suffice to say I am the proud owner of a cheaply-acquired specialist spyglass."
"You stole it, didn't you."
"Why Detective Rose, you have me at a disadvantage." His aristocratic sarcasm was palpable.
Scowling into the distance, Ruby vehemently brandished her middle finger.
"Charming, though way too right afield." He advised and Ruby adjusted "A little further left, a little higher aaaand HA! Made you flip off Beacon Academy!" He crowed triumelephantly.
"rrgh... I, hate, you, SO much." The venomous words of a venomless girl.
"Since you're whispering, I'll assume you're sharing that suite."
"I am." Ground Ruby "And I'm whispering because I don't want them waking up to hear me on the scroll to Vale's Biggest Scuzzball ."
"Meh. They'll probably just assume your sneaking midnight chats with your boyfriend or something. You are at that age."
"Boyfriend? You?." Blanching, Ruby actually dry-heaved "That's disgusting."
"Aaaand she completely misunderstands." He sighed in revulsion "Way to make it weird Red. And don't flatter yourself, someone as slow as you could never bag a catch like me; Tonight proved that much."
"Cut the crap already!" She whisper-snarled "What do you want from me, Torchwick? Wasn't tricking me into being your accomplice amusement enough for you?"
"Unwilling accomplice technically. See contrary to your baseless assertion, I never lied to or betrayed you. Lets jump eight hours back in time to recap the standout portion of my presentation when I clearly said, to find and resolve a bad situation in an honest, above board fashion without knowingly or willingly cheating … Ringa-Ding-ding?"
"Dress it up however you want, you still lied." Ruby insisted, now pacing.
"Lying and obfuscating are two different things; just a little life lesson for the future."
"Unknowing, unwilling, it doesn't matter. I still conspired with a criminal to cheat the system."
His shrug was in his voice "Well, its your own dumbass fault for trusting a complete stranger, one whom you repeatedly accused of being creepy to boot."
"Could you please come over here so I can punch you in your insufferably smug face."
"Nah thanks. I'm good right here. Its a cool night, nice breeze, great view, comfy chair, good glass of scotch, a fullbodied cigar and spyglass view of my very own court jester's live performance. Oh, unrelated, but can you dance on your hands while juggling lit firecrackers with your feet and singing I'm a little teapot? Asking for a friend."
"You're not funny, Torchwick." She grumbled.
"Me? Not funny? Hahaha, that's hilarious. Good one Red."
Ruby flipped him off again "Was I closer this time?"
"Do I lie and say yes. Or do I lie and say no. Decisions decisions."
Ruby pouted, upset at his immunity to her moral indignation. Maybe she'd been wrong about sensing glimpses of human decency in him. Is this pointless? Should she just hang up? Not yet. She may yet get him to slip up and reveal his motives.
"...sooooo."
"So what? And don't say buttons." Warned Ruby, fed up.
"Did it work?"
"Did what wor... oh."
"Yes. Oh." Said the condescending ass "Did Ol' Oz take the bait. Do tell, I'm dying of curiosity."
"Hmmm, do I lie and say yes? Or do I lie and say no?" Ruby poked her tongue out. Maybe indulging him in caustic banter might get results where moral indictments failed.
"And she brought it back." Slow clapping sounded over the scroll "Too bad that upbeat undertone you're failing miserably to hide suggests the latter... weeeeelllll?"
Ruby sighed and smiled despite herself "Yes... it worked."
"Congratulations! You've earned your ticket to the prestigious Beacon Academy For Young Impressionable Idiots, Idiot! And its all thanks to me!"
"Yes. All thanks to you being a big stupid, manipulative, misleading jerkface." She tittered, dancing a mocking little jig for his benefit because this jester has sass "Not that I'll ever thank you for it."
"That hurts Red. Can't a guy indulge in a whimsical act of selflessness without ulterior motives? Just how low do you think of me?"
"No Lower than any other insidious creep looking to blackmail young innocent teenage huntresses. That is why you're calling, right?"
"Oh heavens no."
"Then what's your angle. Why help me?"
"C'mon. Is it really that hard to believe I helped you out of the goodness of my heart."
"Hard is an understatement."
"Ouch, right in the altruism."
"Altruism huh. It must be microscopic; like your heart." She jabbed.
"Ha, you've got me there. But lets just say in your case I'm making an exception. Call it my one selfless act of kindness for the year-no, decade, definitely decade."
"Aww you're such a magnanimous soul. Bless you Saint Torchwick."
"No, bless you, Revered Mother Red"
"Thank you. Now bless me with the truth, please." Oh the sarcasm's strong with her tonight. Actually it unsettled Ruby how naturally she'd fallen into bantering with him. She'd even enjoy it were he not utterly deplorable.
Torchwick laughed, a real laugh, and Ruby guffawed despite herself "I just did. Not my fault your too cynical and jaded to trust me on it. Have some faith in humanity little miss hero-complex."
"Fine. Don't tell me." Hands on hips Ruby resorted to her ace, weaponized cuteness and pouted out at the city, at him as the breeze tousled her hair "And don't claim reciprocity, I'd never buy that."
"Spitting the big words now Kid. You read that one in a grown up book. It'd explain the gross misapplication."
"I am not a-ah-ahh-choo." This sneeze came courtesy of the villainous wind and the ticklish wayward lock.
"Uhh, might want to wipe that booger, its one dangling doozy-ARGH no not with your sleeve! Use a fucking hanky you filthy little savage! Ewww-yessh. Can you say hygiene, Red?"
"Snff. Never heard of it." Ruby falsetto'd, smirking.
"...Touche." Roman conceded reluctantly "Well... getting back on track and away from your revolting, tendencies..."
"Right. You were about to tell me why you really helped me."
"I wasn't, but..." He sighed a long, tired sigh, the melancholic authenticity of it piqued her attention "I guess I saw a little of my own younger, driven self in you in the park."
"Are you saying you once, wanted to be a huntsmen?" She was astonished, hopeful even.
"What? Haha. No-no. Crime and villainy has always been my bread and butter, just like heroism and self-sacrifice is yours. What gave me deja vu was your absolute certainty of what you want in life. Very few teens your age get that look."
"So I'm like, your dark mirror? Or light mirror in your case." Ruby sniffled back another sneeze, finding the notion oddly, something, she couldn't quite define it, but she liked it.
"Ho no Red, you're definitely my dark mirror. All that puke inducing, self-sacrificing goody-goody-blargh, ain't anything more dark and dooming than that. But like I said back then. I respect the ambition. Its those simple untainted goals, be they conquering the underworld or defending the innocent from monsters, and whatever personal code you achieve them by; well a retarded personal code in your case, but still."
"Heeeey."
"Not that I'm judging."
"That was totally a judgement!"
"If you say so. Point is you're set on doing it your way. Thus I decided to give you a little help in a way that wouldn't violate your retarded personal code... not completely anyways.
"You're still judging." She sang accusingly, then, forcing a jagged, table-turning subject change, prodded "Actually. Isn't it a bit strange for a guy so contemptuous of self-sacrifice to stain his precious record with a failed robbery all for the sake of a poor sad girl he randomly met in a park? Seems kinda noble for such a big bad crook, hmm?"
"..."
"I'm right aren't I? You're secretly a big softy inside, aren't you?"
"... That's one way to look at it. But Red. How do you know everything I just said wasn't a bunch of bullshit. What if I really do have sinister ulterior motives."
"I don't. But how do you know I didn't plan everything from the beginning knowing I'd meet you in that park after weeks of stalking you, learning everything I could about you all to manipulate you into doing everything you did for my own sake. Didn't think of that did you mister criminal mastermind. Maybe you're my bitch now. How does that feel? Huh?"
"...Hahahahahaha. Hoho, good one Red. HAHAhahaha." The thwacking sounds said he was slapping his thigh or knne in his mirth "Ahhh thanks Kid, I needed that laugh. Hehe, made my day."
"Hey, I was being serious." Ruby sulked but began laughing too, or quietly snickering at any rate. Might as well. Raging at him wasn't accomplishing anything anyway. If only he weren't a baddie, this'd be genuinely fun.
"Red, If you truly were a diabolical mastermind capable of orchestrating this, I would kneel at your feet and pledge myself eternally to your service. But since I know for a fact you didn't, that will never happen."
"Aw rats. It would've been so cool having Vale's Most Wanted as my henchmen."
"Damn straight it would. But ya don't. Besides, having a criminal henchman, you're reputation would be ruined,
"And really, who am I to deprive Remnant of getting its Future Greatest Huntress Of All Time two years ahead of schedule... assuming you don't get eaten by a griffin or something before then, hehehehe"
Ruby's cheeks grew terribly warm at remembering her, in retrospect, rather childish boast, made in jest though it was, not that becoming the GOAT was a bad goal or anything... Still, saying that to a total stranger who later turned out to be Vale's very own crime lord "Why am I so stupid?"
"Aww and now she's blushing. Remembering something embarrassing are we? Hmm?"
"T-that was just a joke, a-a-and stop watching me and giving commentary like that. Its creepy, even creepier than your introduction earlier. Creepwick..."
"Fine, fine, I'll put a more macho spin on it. You sounded more like Haul from the Tokken series boasting about being the strongest in the universe. There, better?"
"But he's so dumb..."
"Hence the comparison."
"Ass. Wait. Y-you play Tokken? I love those games."
"On and off, life takes priority. Bet I can guess your favourite character. Either that stupid girl with the stupid name and the annoyingly evasive fighting style or that skitzo ninja Moshiyutsu and his idiotic moveset."
"Ugh, no. I can't stand Xariou. Moshi is fun and kinda cool, but my actual favorite is two hundred percent Cyan Fury. Didn't expect that, did ya?"
"No, no I did not." He sounded pleasantly surprised "Didn't take you for a fan of villains."
"He's a hulking, highly advanced cyborg who loves guns. What's not to like? and his laugh is really cool, least until they changed it. Also he's not a villain, his cybernetics just drove him insane, he's a tragic character."
"Sure, and you can fix him with the power of friendship or whatever." He muttered, then "Wish they'd hurry up and make 8 though."
"I know right, they've been milking 7 for four years now and... For dust sake, am I seriously discussing hobbies with a real life bad guy. Okay, pretending that never happened, I will now return to biting your head off with suitable moral outrage in three, two."
"Too late... Bench Buddy."
"Shut up."
"Oh don't feel too put out; no way in hell we like the same genres of music. You're probably into that pop crap."
"Uhm, no." Now that one did offend her "I actually don't dislike the jazzy stuff probably you're into, but its not my thing."
"Half right. The jazzy stuff's alright, prefer dark violin themes when on the clock. But off it, I'm a heavy rock fan and metal head to the core."
"...Dammit." Ruby whispered, not unheard.
"What was that? Is precious noble :Little Red a rebellious metal head?"
"No, no, no, we are NOT bonding over rock and metal.. That is off limits."
"Awww, and here's me thinking we could've become such good friends, had slumber parties, done eachother's hair, help eachother with problems. Ya'know, all that friendship crap."
That last part of his spiel, about helping eachother; it reminded her of her ridiculous theory from earlier, and with that reminder... He'd been giving her grief this entire call. Its revenge time and she'd use her own silly theory to get it "I'm going to end this call on a victory dammit!" She mentally psyched herself, them aloud, timidly, tentatively asked "Roman? Do you... need help?"
An extended pause then, cautiously "...If, hypothetically, I did need help... could you look past my actions today to offer it.?"
Certainly not the expected response, she'd anticipated laughter and mockery; perhaps he anticipated her trap and was aiming to verbally trap her first, but no way he'd see this one coming.
Ruby tilted her head from left to right in thought "Hmmmmmm...No-P."
"Nope?"
"Nope."
"Not even to repay my generous help?"
"Nope."
"I, seeeee... Why ask then?"
"Because you need real professional help. I'm not qualified."
"Iiiiiii Don't follow."
"I mean first turning yourself in to the authorities. Then after explaining your, condition, they can hire a therapist to work with you in prison. You'll be able to reform and get treatment. Its a triple victory"
"My, con-dition?... Uhm," Never had she heard him sound so baffled "I pride myself on thinking outside the box, but you've totally lost me here, Red..."
"Its okay. You don't need to pretend with me, it isn't anything to be ashamed of. I'll even vouch for you. I'll testify that Evil Torchwick made you do all that crime stuff and that your good side, you, is trying to make amends. I promise, I'll be there for you every step of the way for moral support and even comforting hugs."
Silence...
Dead, silence filled the line.
The silence of a man slowly, quietly dying inside.
"...Y-you're, you're, an idiot. A completely unhinged, delusional nutcase cabbage patch child. Arrrghh, good lord what was I thinking! T-this... This was a mistake! A terrible, horrible, unutterably hellacious mistake. Hoo shit, what have I done..." He sounded like his whole reality was burning down around him as he choked on its smoke and ashes.
"Shhh-shhh, its okay Roman. The truth is always hard to hear. But please, pleaeease don't let Evil Torchwick keep making you live this way. I know there's good in you, I saw it on the rooftop, little flashes of remorse, the sad expressions you tried to hide, the tears of frustration, trying to resist Evil Torchwick and warning me before he fired at the crystal. You were trying snfff, so-s-so hard not to, to..."
"Woah! Y-you know what Red. Let's just pretend that none of this ever happened. Okay. We never met, I never called. You got into your stupid school, and I suffered a momentary bout of cosmic horror levels of insanity helping you get there. Right, nice chatten but..."
"It wasn't insanity." Ruby quietly blubbered so convincingly that she was even scaring herself "How can you deny your inner-goodnesssspffff-kukukuahuhuhu." Ruby couldn't keep it together anymore and she doubled over, free arm hugging her violently vibrating ribs, almost dropping her scroll with the titanic effort of hold in the tidal wave of deranged laughter trying to tear out of her "J-j-j-just kidding. Ahahahaaaa-your reaction, pricelss-eeehehehekukuku."
"...W-Why, why you little shit-pfff,hahaha," He sounded on the verge of a breakdown "Hahaha-Holy shit kid. You actually had me going there. Never expected that level of acting from you..hahahaha. Well played." Were those tears in his laughter? She'd hoped for annoyance, but his inexplicable relieved humor was, indefinable... Oh well, victory achieved regardless. Target trolled.
"Serves you right." She smirked broadly out at the moonlit cityscape, at him.
As Ruby's giggle-fit ebbed, she heard Torchwick's own peter out into a distracted mutter under his breath "...Huh. Sparkling silver..."
"I'm sorry?" Ruby tremulously queried, feeling as puzzled as he'd sounded.
"Its nothing. Well, you're taking initiation once the new school years starts, right? You excited." He was trying to play off the fact she'd suckered him with small talk, it would've been adorable coming from someone less duplicitous.
"Ignoring my guilty conscience?"
"Dunno what that is but it sounds annoying. So, yes, ignoring that."
Ruby guffawed, expecting as much, but answered honestly "Yes... Yes I suppose I am, and," She gulped, hardly believing what she was about to say "And... I suppose, I somewhat owe making it there to you, uhhm, so, uhhh. Yep, that..."
"Was that a thank you I just heard?"
"N-No... It was an, acknowledgement, of ignoble services rendered." The burning cheeks were back and the cool night air was impotent against them.
"You trying to chew your lip off or are you just hungry. Should be snack machines in the lobby."
"What did I just say about the creepy commentary." An involuntary yawn supplanted her exasperation. She was ready to abort this stupid call, but, aw what the hell. One more try at tripping him up, maybe into confessing...? Oh, yeah, that'd do "Uhm by the way, are Junior's guy's you hired okay. I'm worried I might've, gone overboard." A trick question, she knew they were fine; her guilty tone though was half-real.
Not deceived, Torchwick didn't miss a beat "Don't know this Junior your referring to, but their parents should be ashamed of themselves, stick'n a kid with a name like Junior. As to my helpers, they were just six nice fellas who kindly offered to carry my suitcases for me."
"Uh-huh. Nice, heavily armed not-at-all crime averse fellas who just played along with a robbery. How convenient."
"I'll say. Talk about commitment, bumbling commitment but, free horses and all that. As to their status; dunno, don't care. Can't imagine they're in great shape though; ffffff-so many broken ribs;"
An unintelligible whine escaped Ruby "Oh whatever, I'm tired, I'm drained and I'm done with this pointless conversation. So unless you're going to blackmail me, which I highly doubt you'd be able to do anyway, I'm going back to sleep."
"Nah. No blackmail."
"...Really?"
Softly he chuckled, the sound tinged with self-mockery "Yes, really."
"Oh, uhm, thanks; for not blackmailing me, but I still hate your guts."
"Wouldn't have it any other way, and if hating me helps you pass initiation, by all means hate away."
"I don't understand why you're so invested in me passing..."
"Let's just say somewhere down the road, I may be able to help you prevent something happening."
"Prevent what?"
"Na-uh. You just focus on surviving initiation for now. I'll be rootin for ya."
" Don't bother, I've got family for that... And please don't call me again. I really don't want to go through the trouble of changing my number..." For politeness sake she awaited his acknowledgement but instead...
A deep, complicated sigh reached her ear, then, adopting the air of an old timy radio presenter, he intoned "...Goodbye Red and goodnight. Sleep tight. Oh, and, Ruby..."
"W-What?" Stammered Ruby, startled by him using her name, having forgotten introducing herself to him in the park.
"Don't let the conscience bugs bite."
Ruby's sweet smile brandished its thorns "Goodbyyyye Mister Clockwork."
"OYY!"
Snorting, Ruby hung up, cutting off his indignant objection "Pff, wow. That man is such a, a..." A villain with a shred of human decency? Maybe. She does believe in the inherent goodness of others, or strives to "...uggggh I'm going to sleep."
For good measure, Ruby struck a cheeky smirking pose, flipped him the bird, Torchwick being the only person she'd ever deemed deserving of her middle finger, while switching off her scroll. Turning, she paused, glanced back, and whimsically offered a half-polite half-taunting little wave and bow before sneaking back inside. Leaving the door open to encourage fresh air circulation, Ruby Padded to the kitchen, poured and downed some cold milk, rinsed mug and mouth with fresh water then returned to flop face-first onto the lounge, sinking into it.
She thought insomnia would cost her the remaining hours, but a strange sense of peace overcame the girl and she was out like a light the moment she rolled over and found a comfortable position.
As she sank into the fog between waking and dreaming, Ruby thought it strangely sad that Torchwick was a bad guy, because truthfully, their back and forth just now, her anger aside, was actually fun.
The dreams she submerged into however were only of Beacon and beyond, a journey and destination in which that criminal became a quickly forgotten footnote.
A tainted dream it might be, but it is still her dream.
Thank you for reading. Sorry to end it this way, I'm just burnt out, but I totally understand if you guys get annoyed at my laziness. Though I did make it clear from the start I'm neither dedicated or skilled and to not expect much. It probably shows that I stopped trying halfway into this chapter and just leaned into silly, dorky OOC dialog, out of place refferences etc. But I despise leaving things unfinished, so a half-assed conclusion beats no conclusion at all IMO. Still, I'm surprised I accumulated a handful of followers, especially given my self-depreciating Author Notes. So, my gratitude to those who found value in my fleeting project of whimsy. I wish you all good health, and a nice day. Thank you again for spending time reading my silly little fic. I hope it at least amused you. And a heartfelt thank you to those who review. All feedback, be it positive or critical, is sincerely appreciated..